The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-04 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, Nov. 3.—Late last night this isle was
affrighted from its propriety by the reports of musketry,
and the rapid flash and roar of great guns, denoting
some awful calamity in the vicinity of this dcckyard.
This extraordinary circumstance soon caused a vast
multitude to assemble on the shore on either side the
harbour, with anxious faces, asking each other, " Where's
the fire?"—the general belief being that a fire had
broken out in one of the ships up the harbour, the re-
peated discharge of guns appearing to confirm that
opinion. Nor was the alarm and apprehension thus
created confined to the shore. About a quarter to ten
o'clock, the third great gun in succession having been
fired, and the flash and report having been made out to
proceed from the north -east quarter of the dockyard,
the Victory, 100, Captain Pasco, ordinary guard-ship,
then becoming alive to the fact of some most unusual
and incomprehensible disaster having been discovered in
some important portion of the naval establishment in or
adjacent to the harbour, beat to quarters; the men in-
stantly " turned cut" of their hammocks, manned all her
boats, hoisted the signal of " fire" (four lanterns vertical)
at the peak, and dispatched the boats, each in charge of
an experienced officer, to ascertain the whereabouts and
the particulars of the supposed calamity, and render all
the assistance in their power. All this naturally in-
creased the alarm already most general ashore, and
watermen's boats were seized by the eager throngs to
fallow the men-of-war's men, we have no doubt with the
same most praiseworthy and laudable intention.
The first boat manned was dispatched to the St. Vin-
cent, 120, flag-ship (on board of which the most unac-
countable apathy seemed to prevail), a few oars' strokes
across the harbour, to inform them that firing was going
on up the harbour, when the officer in the boat was
coolly informed over the side of the ship—" Oh, we heard
you beat to quarters, and expected you to come; it's the
Excellent practising with shell at the old Leviathan;
we've three boats away guarding the creeks!" The
officer in the boat then pulled across to the Victory, to
allay the increasing alarm on board that ship, which was
also communicated to the whole fleet in ordinary.
Upon these extraordinary facts being made known to
our correspondent, he immediately took boat and pro-
ceeded as far towards the scene of folly as the "boats
away guarding the creeks would allow him, and then,
surely enough, he found the Excellent blazing away with
live shell at the helpless old hulk, which, notwithstanding
the full moon, was illuminated from stem to stern (!), to
render her a more certain sacrifice to the famed profi-
ciency of the " Excellent" gunner. Having taken up a
favourable position, he watched with chilly impatience
for an hour and a half the progress of the firing, but
not one of the fiery-tailed missiles did he see strike the
illuminated target.
Independently of the unnecessary alarm created ashore,
great blame attaches to some one afloat, as, why were
not the ships in ordinary (all having officers and men
quartered in them) and the ordinary guard ship, Vic-
tory, let into the secret as well as the St. Vincent ? And

why, again, did not the St. Vincent immediately com-
municate with her opposite neighbour when she heard
the drums beat to quarters, instead of allowing the
officers and crew of that ship to be disturbed from their
rest, and the boats to be lowered and manned, and dis-
patched in various directions ?
The Emerald tender, which returned yesterday from
Devonport, was dispatched last evening to order the
Nat.tilec an old coffin of the 10-gun class, from her sta-
tion off Brighton fisheries, into port, to be in readiness
to take dispatches to Lisbon ! The Nautilus made Spit-
head about ten last night, and awaits orders.
The Scourge steam bomb-vessel, Commander Caffin,
arrived this morning from Rochefort, and_came into har-
bour to coal.

The Comet steam-vessel, Lieutenant-Commander
Johnstone, arrived at Cork from this port on Thursday
last, and found there the Rhadamanthus steam-vessel,
Master-Commander Aylon; the Acheron steam-vessel,
Lieutenant-Commander Dunlop; the Dee steam-vessel,
Master-Commander Driver; the Blazer steam-vessel,
Captain Washington; and the Myrmidon steam-vessel,
Lieutenant-Commander Jenkin; which vessels were
about being sent to various ports along tho Irish coast
with meal to relieve the prevailing distress, which is in-
creasing along the coast to the westward.
The Sampson steam-frigate, Capt. Henderson, was at
Valparaiso on the 27th July, all well.
The Contest, 12, Commander Bl'Murdo, was in Fun-
chal Roads on the 4th of Sept., about to sail immediately
for the coast of Africa.

The Columbia steam surveyiug-vessel, Lieutenant-
Commander Shortland, was at Campo Bello on the 9th
of October, and with no praspect of returning home for
the next twelve months.

Woor.wwil, Nov. 3.—The Belvidere, formerly a
36-gun frigate, and now converted into a store-ship,
arrived at Woolwich to-day, having been towed up the
river by the African steam-vessel. She will be taken to
Deptford to receive stores for the poorer inhabitants of
the western coast of Scotland.

Captain Williams, late of the Avenger steam-frigate,
with the other officers and crew of that ♦essel, arrived in
the Belvidere, and the Captain and a part of the officers
went on board the Amphion steam-frigate, to which they
have been appointed.
The Vixen steam-vessel has been taken into the west
dock to have her defects made good.
The Monkey steam-vessel was undocked to day.
The Sphynx steam-frigate, Captain Cragg, left Wool-
wich at eleven A.M., for Portsmouth, where she will be
paid advance, and receive further orders.
The Lightning steam-vessel, Master-Commander
Petley, strived at Woolwich yesterday evening, and is
taking in a fresh supply of coals.
The Gladiator, Captain John Robb, on her arrival at
Portsmouth, was ordered on an immediate particular
service, and the orders for the embarkation of Major
General Sir H. Pottinger and suite in her were counter-
manded. Subsequent orders have been issued, and Sir
H. Pottinger, with Captain Young, of the Royal Artil-
lery, his aide-de-camp, will embark in th.i Pottinger,
belonging to the Oriental Steam Company, for a passage
to the Cape of Good Hope, that vessel proceeding round
the Cape to India on her next voyage.
A series of experiments have been made in the pre-
sence of a board of officers from her Majesty's dockyards
to test the qualities of cables made by hand at Depcord
dockyard, with cable of the same dimensions, made by
machinery at Chatham dock> ard. The experiments
were made with six fathoms of cable, of hand and ma-
chine make, and averaging from 15 to 16 inches in
circumference. The experiments cannot be considered
conclusive, as the machine-made gave the most satisfac-
factory results in the first instance, and at a later peri,d
the hand-made had the advantage. It is, therefore,
int' nded to repeat experiments of a similar nature
before the report of the committee is given in to the
Admiralty. The experiments took place at Woolwich
dockyard, with BramAh's powerful hydraulic machine.

HARWICH —On Tuesday the Mayor and Town
Council of the Borough, gave a sumptuous entertainment
to their worthy High Steward, J. liagshaw, Eta. Th,-
dinner and winos were most excellent, and the whole
afFair did great credit to Mrs. Bull, the excellent caterer
of the Three Cups Hotel, where the dinner was given.
The whole affair went oil in an excellent convivial way,
the more so probably from its being the first occa,ion ut
this Corporation ever entertaining their High Steward.—
Ipvtich Express.
PRICE OF GOLD.—The premium on gold at Paris
is 16 per milk, which, at the English Mint price of
31. 17s. lOid. per ounce for standard gold, gives an
exchange of 555 ; and the exchange at Paris on
London at short being 25 65, it follows that gold
is 0.39 per cent, dearer in London than in Paris.
By advices from Hamburgh the price of gold is 432
per mark, which, at the English Mint price of 31. 17s. 10:4d.
per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 13 gi-;
and the exchange at Hamburgh on London at shot t
being also 13 8L it follows that the price of gold is at pre-
sent the same at Hamburgh and London. The course of ex-
change at New York on London is 108.; per cent.,
and the par, of exchange between England and
America being 109 23-40 per cent., it follow::
that the exchange is 0.83 per cent. against England
But the quoted exchange at New York being for bills
at 60 days' sight, the interest must be deducted from
the above difference.

A VESTRY MEETING INTERLUDE.—THE DANGER
OF CHUCKING UNDER THE CHIN A VESTRYMAN'S
SERVANT MAID.—At a vestry meeting held on Tuesday
in the St. Pancras Vestry-hall, Gordon-square, the fol-
lowing interlude was performed between the solemn
acts of discussing what was to be done with the Poor-
law Commissioners' report, touching the management of
the parish workhouse, and the conuct of the officials.
A candidate having been chosen agent of inquiry for the
parish from a list of unsuccessful candidates read
(amongst whom was a Mr. Pike), Mr. Douglas rose and
moved that Mr. Pike be called in before the vestry, to
give him an opportunity of explaining away a report
that had been circulated, viz., that he had taken, during
his canvass, indecent liberties with a vestryman's
servant maid. The motion being seconded, ad( bate
pro and con took place of far more farcical description
than we ever witnessed en the mimic stage. During
the discussion, however, the indecent liberties towards
a vestryman's servant maid dwindled down to a charge
of having " chucked her under the chin." In vain did
Mr. Crouch and a few other members designate the
motion as childish and disgraceful, as a frivolous waste
of time, unworthy men with beards on their chins; it was
carried by a triumphant majority, and Mr. Pike was
called in, that he might have an opportunity of clearing
his reputation from the heinous charge of having
" chucked a vestryman's maid under the chin" while
calling to solicit her master's vote. Mr. Pike, a stern
iron-gray person, having been summoned before the
vestry, and hearing the charge solemnly read to him by
the chairman (Churchwarden Howarth), denied it in in-
dignantly sonorous sentences. "It is untrue," he ex-
claimed, "upon my honour ; in the presence of my God,
it is untrue. I know myself better than to be guilty of
so humiliating an act. I have more respect to myself
than to chuck any servant-girl under the chin, and least
of all, the servant of a vestryman of St. Pancras." This
declaration seemed to satisfy the chairman and his fel-
low-vestrymen. They told Mr. Pike so, and ordered
him to retire ; this he did, muttering as he squeezed
himself between the folding-doors, that if he knew who
it was who bad circulated the foul report, so fatal to his
canvass for parochial office, he would kick --.
PEDE3tIIIA.I4 ISM EX.TRAORDINART.—On Monday
Young Mountjoy performed the following extraordinary
feat within the space of
.one hour at the Northumberland
Cricket Club Ground, in Newcastle forward
o ie mile, walked backwards
one mile, ran one mile, trun-
dled a hoop half a mile, hopped on one leg 200 yards,
ran backwards 200 yarns, pwiciktv up with his mouth 40
it,ciisuching the ground
eggs, placed a yard apart,
with his knees, or the eggs witr
, and' after-
ter without
wards depositing them in a bucket ohfanwdas
'
breaking any of them, and finally lea
dies placed 10 yards apart. ping over 20 hur-
HERTFORD BRANCH OF THE EASTERN CotiNT,t„
XAIEWAY.—The double line will be in working d
or er in
obout a fortnight.

Now ready, in three vols. post Svo.
j 0 TIN OF ENGLAND.
A ROMANCE.
By HENRY CURLING.
Richard Bentley, New Burlington-street.
**. To be had at all the Libraries.

STAFFORDSHIRE AND SHROPSHIRE
JUNCTION COMPANY.
At a MEETING of the SHAREHOLDERS of the STAFFORD-
SHIRE and SHROPSHIRE JUNCTION RAILWAY, called by
virtue of the statute 9 and 10 Victoria, c. 25, and pursuant to the
notice duly published, respectively, in the " London Gazette " of the
23d of October last, and in the " Globe," " Sun," and " Standard,"
three London daily newspapers, on the said 23d of October aforesaid,
and held at the offices of the Company, No. 6, Gray's Inn-place, in the
county of Middlesex, on MONDAY, the 2d day of Nov., 1546, Charles
Dickson Archibald, Esq., one of the members of the Committee of
Management, was, by the members of the same Committee, there
then present, unanimously elected Chairman, and immediately after
such election tmeeting proceeded to, and did elect, as scrutineers, Mr.
Arthur Kinsey, Thomas Lewen Marsden, and James Walten, three
shareholders in the Company, to take the votes of the shareholders
entitled to vote, and cast up and declare the same.
It was then moved and seconded, that this Company be now
dissolved.

And it was also moved and seconded, that the rote of dissolution
shall be taken to be an act of bankruptcy. The Chairman duly put
the questions from the chair, and the said scrutineers proceeded to
take and record the votes thereon, ar.d having certified that the fol-
lowing votes were given :—For dissolution, 4,027 ; against, nova ;
for such dissolution to be taken to be an act of bank-
ruptcy, 2,295 ; against, 1,732 ; and the total number of
scrip and receipts for deposits on shares actually issued or given be-
tore the 31st day of March, 1846, amounting to 6,015. I, the said
Charles Dickson Archibald, as such Chairman as aforesaid, do hereby
certify that by the above voting it has been decided that the Com-
pany shall be dissolved, and that such dissalution shall not be taken
to be an act of bankruptcy.
(Signed) C. D. AMCHIBALD, Chairman.

(Countersigned) ARTHUR KINSEY,
JAMES WALTON, Scrutineers.
THOMAS LEWEN MARSDEN,
Mr. Archibald having vacated the chair, and Mr. Clarke having
been called thereto,
Moved by Mr. J. MEE MATHEW, if. Sq. ; seconded by ROBERT BURR,

Esq. ; and resolved—
That the cordial thanks of the meeting be given to Mr. Archibald,
for his able and impartial conduct in the chair.
A vote of thanks was also carried to the Scrutineers.

RAILWAY SHARES BY PUBLIC SALE.
MESSRS. LAMOND, SMALE, AND
LAMOND, Railway Share Auctioneers, beg to thank their
Friends and the Public for their continued support and patroiage,
and to announce that their Public Sales of Railway Shares, &c.,
take place every TUEiDAT and FRIDAY, at One o'clock, at the
Hall of Commerce, Threadneedle-street, London, to which place,
fa voUes,'containing instructions (with a reference), are respectfully
requested to be addressed._

All Scrip and Share Certificates must be deposited, the day
previous to 'their being offered ; and advices of results will be
:orwarded by the first post after the sale, and the proceeds imme-
diately disposed of according to instn.:ctions.
Offices, Hall of Commerce, Threadneedle-street, London.

THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.
THIS EVENING

Will he performed the Opera of STRADELLA. Alessandro Stra-
della, Mr. W. Harrison ; 6ignor Bassi, Mr. Wei;s Barbarino,
Mr. Burdini ; Malvolio, Mr. Stretton ; Leonora, Miss Rainforth.
After the Opera will be performed a grand Ballet entertainment,
entitled UNE KERMES. In which MM. Paul, Theodore, Tell ;
Mdllea. Adele Benart, Anita Dubignon, Louise; Mdes.
Theodore, and Les Scours St. Louin wilt appear.
To conclude with DER FRF.ISCIIUTZ. Adolph, Mr. D. W.
King ; Caspar, Mr. Stretton ; Linda, Miss Rainforth ; Rose, Miss
Poole.

THEATRE ROYAL, ILLY3IARKET.
Under the Management of Mr. B. Webster, sole Lessee.
TIIIS EVENING

Will be performed an original Comedy, entitled LOOK BEFORE
YOU LEAP; or, Wootngs and Weddings. Mr. Oddington, Mr. W.
Farren ; Mr. Rashleigh, Mr. Hudson ; Mr. De Pere, Mr. Holl ;
Mr. Brandon, Mr. Howe; Mr—Hardman. Mr. Rogers; Jack Spriggs,
Mr. Webster; Tem Tilley, Mr. Buckstone ; Miss Brown, Mrs.
Glover ; Claribel Oddington, Miss Fortescue ; Mary Oddington, Miss
P. Horton ; Elinor Mortimer, Mrs. Yarnold ; Fanny Hardman,
Miss Julia Bennett.

After which a new Farce, called SPRING GARDENS. Lord
Courtington, Mr. Holl ; Sir Arthur Love', Cr. Howe ; Scoreup,
Mr. Buckstone ; Lady Clarissa, Mrs. Buckingham ; Mrs. Scoreup,
Miss Julia Bennett.

During the evening the Band will perform the Aria, " Vivi Tu,"
Cornet a Piston; the " Gnis an Prag " (Polkas); the " Sophien
Tanze" (Waizer); and the " Lestocq " (Overture).;
To conclude with a New Comedy, in three acts, entitled QUEEN
MARY'S BOWER. Principal characters by Messrs. Webster,
Hudson, Ilowe, Brindal, Braid ; Miss Fortescue, Miss Telbin, &c.
Box-office open from Twelve till Four ; under the direction of
Mr. T. Archer, Box Book-keeper.

THEATRE ROYAL, LYCEUM.
tinder the Management of Mrs. Keeley.
In consequence of numerous applications, " The Magic Horn " will
be performed for one night more. "Mrs. Harris" will appear
every evening till further notice.
THIS EVENING

The performances will commence with a New Comic Drama,
TO PARENTS AND GUARDIANS. Principal characters by
Messrs. A. Wigan, Meadows, and Keeley; Mrs. Wooßidge, Mrs. A.
Wigan, Miki. Hicks, Miss Turner, Miss Howard, and Mrs. Keeley.
To he followed by a New Farce, called MRS. HARRIS. Henry
Masker, Mr. A. Wigan ; Mr. Slickey, Mr. F. Mathews ; Biliary
Shivers, Mr. Meadows ; Fanny Platt, Miss Arden ; Mrs. Harris,
Mr. Keeley.

To conclude with the Burlesque of THE MAGIC HORN. In
which Mr. Keeley, Mr. A. Wigan, Mr. Frank Matthews, Miss Vil-
lars, Mips Keeley, Miss Fairbrother, Miss Bromley, and Mrs. Keeley
will perform.

THEATttE ROVAL,
UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MADAME CELESTE.
THIS EVENING

Will be perfet med a grand Fairy Spectacle, founded on the Ballet
of LA GISELLE, entitled THE PHANTOM DANCERS; or, the
Wills Bride. Principal characters by Mr. Wright, Mr. P. Bedford.
Mr. 0. Smith, Mr. Cullentbrd, Madame Celeste, Bliss Marian Taylor,
Miss Emma Harding, Miss Ellen Chaplin, and Mrs. Laws.
After which will be produced MRS. GA MI"S TEA AND
TURN-OUT ; a Bozzian Sketch, in one act. Principal characters
by Messrs. Cullentord, Worrell, Ryan, Wright, Munyard ; Miss
Ellen Chaplin, and Miss M. Taylor.
To conclude with a new domestic drama, entitled EUGENIA
YLAIRCIL ; or, The New Found Home. Frederick Stan-
'lmre, Mr. Worrell; Mr. Rugleigh, Mr. Cullenford ; Tofrey, Mr. Paul
Redford ; Mr. Buzzard, Mr. Lambert ; Ilugh Matlock, Mr. 0.
; Pegg, Mr. Munyard ; Mrs. Todey, Mrs. F. Matthews;
Eugenia Clairtille, Madame Celeste.

PRINCESS'S THEATR, OXFORD-STREET.
J. M. Maddox, sole Lussee and Manager.
THIS EVENING
Will be p^rformed Masslnger's flay, entitle.' A NEW WAY TO
RAY OLD DEBTS. Wellborn, Mr. J. Vining; bir Gnus Over-
reach, Mr. J. R. Scott; Marra, Mr. Compton; Allworth, Mr. R.
Roxby ; Lady Allworth, Miss Harrington ; Margaret, Mrs. Stirling.
After which a new farce, entitled KEEPING A PLACE. Major
Spikespur. Mr. Granby; Crocus, Mr. Compton ; Miss Dorothea
Danzers, Mrs. Foshroi:e ; Tidy, Miss Laporte.
To conclude with a new Comic Drama, entitled ALL FOlt THE
BEST. Mr. Walkinpop, Mr. Compton ; Alfred, Mr. A. Harris ;
Parchment, Mr. Smith ; Isaac, Mr. limner ; Clara, Miss Homier.
Te conclude with the Musical Entertainment of THE QUAKER.
In which Messrs. Barker, Leffler, Homier, Compton, Miss Grant,
Mrs. Fosbroke, &c. will perform.