The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-17 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, AUGUST 15.—Admiral the Hon. Sir
Thomas Bladen Capel, K.C.8., will succeed Sir Charles
Ogle as Commander-in-Chief of this:port, should his no
mination be approved by her Majesty, in which case
Captain Charles Eden, of the Victory, will remain flag
captain. Mr. Richard Haig, the highly respected and
indefatigable secretary to Admirals Sir Charles Rowley
and Sir Charles Ogle, will be secretary to Sir Thomas
Capel. The Commander-in-Chief entertained the fol-
lowing distinguished guests at his hospitable table this
evening:—Admiral, Mrs. and Miss Prescott, Admiral
and Miss Douglas, Captain Eden, Captain Halliday,
R.M., Colonel Gibsone, R.M.A., Captain Ogle, of the
Victory, Captain A. Lowe, Dr. Rolph, Mr. James Hos-
kins, Flag-Lieutenant Cochrane, Mr. E. Ogle, Mrs.
Ogle, Mrs. Talbot, Mrs. H. Ogle, Mrs. Lowe, Mrs.
Gibsone, &c. •

The Cyclops steam-frigate, Captain the Hon. G.
Hastings, was paid off to-day.
Wind S. by E.; light airs and cloudy.
WooLwlcu, AUGUST 15.—The Persian gun-brig and
the Teazer screw steam-vessel, have been towed from
Woolwich to Deptford by the Monkey and Charon
steam-vessels, to be brought forward at that dockyard.
The Spiteful steam-sloop was taken out of the basin
to-day, and will proceed down the river to-morrow to
try her machinery, and if found perfect she will not re-
turn to this port, but hold on to Sheerness, where she is
to be stationed as an advanced war steamer until com-
missioned.

The Niger steam sloop, fitted with a screw propeller,
was taken out of dock today, and if found perfect on
trial down the river, she will proceed to Sheerness and
remain there as an advanced war steamer.

The Princess Alice, Dover mail steam packet, Lieut.
Striven, arrived from Dover on Saturday last to have
some repairs effected, which will be completed in the
course of the present week.
The Medina steam-vessel was taken into the dock to-
day, which was vacated by the Niger. The Medina is
intended to serve as a packet on the Mediterranean sta-
tion, where the Merlin, a sister vessel, is already em-
ployed.
The Basilisk steam-vessel, building in this dockyard,
is ordered to be launched on the 26th inst., and she is
to be fitted with engines of 400-horse power.
The Ariel steam-vessel, fitting with smoke-consuming
apparatus by Mr. Haig, is nearly ready for trial. The
inventor appears to have made great improvement in
his mode of attaining an object so desirable on beard
steam-vessels, and the whole of the new works are under
deck instead of above, as in the first trial. The result
is anxiously looked for, as, in the event of the plan
being thoroughly successful, steam-vessels consuming
their smoke will be of great importance even during
peace, when engaged in the pursuit of slave vessels.
The Marine Society's ship Iphigenia is ordered from
Deptford to Woolwich, and the boys to be transferred to
the Venus ; and the latter ship will be moored of Charl-
ton-pier as her proper station.
The Sinbad lighter, Mr. Follett, master, has arrived
from the western yards with stores for Woolwich and
Deptford.
A large quantity of mud, accumulated in the outer
basin, is ordered to be removed by contract. The quan-
tity amounts to some thousands of cubic yards.
Twenty-eight of the engineers and engine fitters re-
cently employed in the factory at Woolwich Dockyard
left this place on Thursday last to solicit employment on
the London and North-Western Railway, and on pro-
ducing a certificate of their previous employment were
immediately engaged in preference to hundreds of other
engineers applying from all parts of the country. The
places of the engineers who have resigned on that line
are nearly all filled up with careful and skilful men well
able to perform the duties they have undertaken, com-
pletely masters of their profession, and capable of re-
medying any disarrangement of the engines entrusted to
their charge.
UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZE MONEY.—Mr.
Woodhead has given notice to Captain H. Chads and the
officers and crew of the Styx, steam-sloop, recently paid
off from the coast of Africa, who were actually on board
and entitled to share in the proceeds arising from the
capture of the slave-vessel Rolla, on the 17th day of
September, 1846, that the distribution will be made on
the 6th day of September next, at No. 1, James-street,
Adelphi, and where the list will be re-called every Wed-
nesday and Friday, for three months :
Commander (captain) £123 10 3:41
Third class (lieutenants) ... 16 9 4i
Fourth class (surgeons, pursers, &c.) ... 8 4 81
Fifth class (warrant-officers) ... 7 8 21
Sixth class (midshipmen, &c.) ... 4 18 9
Seventh class (petty officers, Ist class) ... 4 2 4
Eighth class ditto 3 5 10i
Ninth class (ditto 2d class) ... 2 9 41
Tenth class (A.B.'s, marines, &c.) 1 12 11-1
Eleventh class (landsmen, &c.) 1 4 8-4-
Twelfth class (boys, Ist class) ... . 016 5i
Thirteenth class (boys, 2d class) 0 12 4
The new and unjust regulations for the unequal dis-
tribution of prize money are now coming into operation.
We truly hope that the Admiralty will see the justice
of procuring an Order in Council, cancelling this most
unfair and unintelligible system. The lieutenant has
ten times as much as the able seaman, and twice as much
as the officer next in rank to him (the mate, purser,
surgeon, second master, lieutenant of marines, &c.), but
the commander has seven times and a half as much as
the officer next in rank to himself, and nearly 70 times
as much as the A. B. The commander has indeed the
lion's share in every capture; not so the lieutenant, for
he may be sent away in a prize, and thus lose the oppor-
tunity! of sharing in any captures made in his absence.
rho commander seizes vicariously and gets seven times
and a half as much for his share as the lieutenant, or
master, who does the work. How can the Admiralty
expect lieutenants and subordinate officers to serve on
the coast of Africa when there is such an unequal, and
therefore unjust distribution of the rewards for' such
I hazardous services?—.Herald.

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM AND THE WEATHER.
During the last four or five days the extensive parish of
St. Pancras has been placarded with bills, issued by the
vestry at the instigation of the " St. Pancras Complete
Suffrage Association," convening a meeting, to be held
on Tuesday at two o'clock, at the New Vestry Rooms, for
the purpose of giving expression to the opinions of the
ratepayers as to the necessity of an extensive Parlia-
mentary reform. It was announced the borough Mem-
bers were to attend. Shortly after two o'clock, the
Members for the borough, Sir Benjamin Hall and Lord
Dudley Stuart, as also three or four hundred of the
parishioners, were in attendance, but, to their surprise,
a written notice was posted at the door, announcing that
in consequence of the unsettled state of the weather,
there would be no meeting. The people, the borough
Members, and the vestry clerk, however, proceeded to
the vestry-room, when Lord Dudley Stuart stated that
himself and Hon. Colleague had attended, at great in-
convenience, and they as much regretted as any one that
the committee of the vestry was not there to receive
them, and that there were no resolutions to propose.--
(Loud cries of " Shame.") Sir Benjamin Hall stated
that he had, at very short notice, travelled 310 miles to
attend the meting.
IMMEDIATE MEETING OF THE IRISH BISHOPS.—
Rumours have reached us of the probable intentions of
the Government in reference to the State prisoners. It
is thought that marked leniency will characterise their
acts, now that they have practically succeeded in assert-
ing their authority, and extinguishing insurrection. It is
mbayndthat the Archbishop
prMinucirpraayi
also said that the Catholic Bishops of Ireland are sum-
,obtjoect of
meet
thaetironcein
Dublin ;and
;imme-
diate assembling is to petition the Queen, through
the Lord-Lieutenant, for the pardon of those engaged
in the late movement. It is believed that their
petition will not be altogether disregarded. At any
rate, we understand that the Catholic Bishop of
Cork has received a summons, and has gone to Dublin.
Rumour also has it that another subject will come
under the discussion of the hierarchy—namely, the pro-
bable intention of the Whigs to propose some provision
for the Catholic clergy. What may be the decision:of
their Lordships on this subject, of course, it would be
presumptuous to speculate ; but while they will un-
doubtedly repudiate pensioning and State connexion, it is
probable that the attaching of a house and glebe land to
each parish, as a permanent endowment, may, meet with
their approval.—Cork Examiner.
LAUNCH or A SHIP.—On Thursday next a ship,
named the British Tar, of 367 tons, will be launched
from 's ship-yard, at the Cligi She is a
noble Ilr.
.
vessel,Y andle is the largest that has been built at
this port for many years. Excursion trains are adver-
tised, in order that persons from a distance may witness
the interesting sight. We understand there will be
other attractions, but we have not been fayourea with a
detail of them.--Ipswich Express.

SOUTHAMPTON DOCKS.

The half-yearly meeting of this company was held at
the offices in Southampton, on Tuesday—Colonel Barlow
in the chair.

The SECRETARY read the minutes of the last meeting,
and the following report:—" Notwithstanding the general
depression of trade and commercial enterprise, the busi-
ness of the company is still progressive. The earnings
for the half-year to the 30th of June, 1848, have been
9,3511. 10s. 7d., those to the 30th of June, 1847, were
7,6261. 1 le. 11d. ; being an increase of 1,7241. Bs. Bd. in
the earnings of the half-year to the 30th of June, 1848,
as compared with the earnings of the corresponding half-
year of 1847. The accounts exhibit a balance, after the
payment of expenses, of 3,1801. 13s. 11d.; and the di-
rectors are, consequently, enabled to recommend a di-
vidend, clear of income-tax, of 1/. per cent. for the half-
year (ten shillings per share'), being at the rate of 21.
per cent. per annum. The directors have the satisfac-
tion to report that they have concluded an arrangement
with Mr.. Joseph White, of East Cowes, for the establish.
went on the company's land, contiguous to the dry
docks, of a yard for building ships of the largest class ;
and that the necessary workshops and offices have been
already erected. This arrangement will ensure at all
times every possible facility for the repair of ships in
the company's dry docks. The directors have been
much disappointed by the rejection, by the Committee
of the House of Lords, of a Bill which had passed the
House of Commons, for the construction of seven miles
of railway between Harrow and Brentford, which would
have connected Southampton with the North-Western,
the Great Northern, and all the narrow gauge railways
in the kingdom, and would have afforded to the docks an
unbroken narrow gauge communication with the whole
of the manufacturing districts. This connecting link is
on every account so important to the interests of the
country at large, as well as those of the port and the
docks of Southampton, that the directors feel satisfied
that its construction must be sanctioned in the next ses-
sion of Parliament; and as the works can then be exe-
cuted in less than a year, that they may still rely at no
very distant period upon the means, without change of
carriage and break of gauge, of distributing imports to
all parts of the country, and of bringing down from the
north to the ship's side in the docks return cargoes,
which are alone wanting to ensure a vast increase of
trade, and to render Southampton one of the first ports in
the kingdom. In the meantime, the best must be made
of the accommodation which is about to be afforded by
the opening of the Great Western line from Reading to
Basingstoke."

Comparative statement of earnings for the half years
ending respectively-
30th June, 1844 £9sB 13 4
30th June, 1845 . 3,862 2 11
30th June, 1846 4,800 18 0
30th June, 1847
30th June, 1848 9,351 10 7
31st December, 1844 3,059 14 1
31st December, 1845 5,115 8 1
31st December, 1846 8,402 3 5
31st December, 1847 9,707 2 8
The CHAIRMAN then briefly addressed the meeting,
observing that he would not detain them long, but
should be most happy to answer any question that might
b e put to him. He then drew attention to the satisfactory
increase in the income of the company and the decrease
in the working expenses; but in works of this character
there were expenses to be met, whether the concern was
profitable or not. At present the great object was to
have a direct communication with the north of England,
and to get ships for the East and West Indies, America,
and all parts of the world. No port in England was so
well adapted for the purpose as the port of Southampton.
Mr. LANKESTER believed that every inhabitant of the
town was desirous of procuring a railway to the north-
ern parts of England, and trusted that every exertion
would be made to procure a narrow gauge to the north.
The CHAIRMAN said that if the North-Western as well
as the South-Western Railway Company took up the
line, there would be a perfect unanimity in the question;
and with their support, the shipping. interest, and the in-
habitants along the line, any opposition they may meet
with in the next session of Parliament would be over•
come, and the Bill triumphantly carried. He then pro-
posed that the report be printed and circulated, which he
was the more happy to do a,s it declared a dividend.
It was then proposed by the CHAIRMAN that a divi-
dend of 24 per cent. be declared, which was seconded by
Mr. Stow, and carried unanimously.
In reply to a question from one of the shareholders,
the CHAIRMAN said that their dry docks would take in
the longest steamer ever built without difficulty, or even
the Great Britain; and he was quite sure that they were
sufficiently capable enough for an 120 gun ship.
Votes of thanks were then passed to the auditors, the
chairman, and directors, and the meeting broke up.

THE POTATO DISEASE.
TO THE EDITOR OE THE " EXAMINER."

Sir,—Whatever you may hear with respect to the
potato blight, I con report it as a fact that in this county
it is universal, and much worse than any previous year.
The plant at the beginning of last week looked re-
markably healthy, and, in my walks, I was admiring
its unusually healthy appearance, but by the end
of the week the plants were exactly as though
fire had been applied to them, and the rapidity of
the destruction is the worst feature about it. Potato cul-
tivators have generally lost about one-third of the pro-
duces of their fields. Should the amount of loss much
exceed that, it will no longer be worth while to plant it.
I should say, indeed, the loss of this vegetable is now
quite certain.

Having for some years planted potatoes and
carefully watched the causes of this strange
destruction of what appeared to be so hardy a
plant, I can confidently offer it as a fact that the loss of
this root is to be attributed entirely to the abuse of it in
cultivation. The potato is decidedly a perennial plant.
transformed into an annual by the wants and luxuries of
man. In its native woods and savannahs, the potato
continually throws out its roots and tubers, which latter,
being on the surface of the ground, and remaining there
the whole year, are hardy and healthy, and in a fit con-
dition for throwing out stems, flowers, and pods of seed.
In its state of cultivation it is more abused than any other
plant. Whereas, with other vegetables and roots the very
finest spLeimens are taken for seed, the potato is planted
from the smallest and most worthless tubers—" it will du
for seed," is constantly said—why I know not ; but, for
my own part, having always chosen the healthiest tubers
for seed, I have been more fortunate than others. If it is
intended to save the root for the purpose of food, I wish
to suggest two plans, otherwise its loss to this country is
sealed. One is the planting of beds of potatoes, and
allowing them to remain three years, because, as I before
observed, the support of a succession of tubers is requi-
site for the production of a healthy one fit for seed. It
is not from the roots of a potato that a healthy potato
will prooceed, it is from a parent tuber, the proof being,
that the instant a tuber reaches its full size, it will throw
out a short string, at the end of which another potato
will begin to grow, and which, if left to itself, would
be the edible root, arriving at perfection the
following year, the parent throwing out the
stem, leaves, and flowers, and exhausting itself
naturally. The tubers having, by cultivation as an an-
nual plant, become enfeebled and delicate, now rot, and
become a mass of filth: this has rotted the entire plant,
extending to the leaves. The fact proves itself; because
a tuber planted for seed, if healthy, will remain so, and
may actually be boiled and eaten, though from its sub-
stance stem and leaves have extended themselves above
the ground, and potatoes formed below. No potatoes
now can be dug with this original tuber in a sound con-
dition.

The second suggestion I have to make is that we
should return to the original wild plant again, if such
can be met with. It would be worth the trouble to em-
ploy one of her Majesty's ships on such a service, with a
competent botanical officer, so that we might have a
fresh stock to work upon, and avoid the past errors in
its cultivation.
Some have declared the disease to be caused by an
insect, others by certain winds, &c. I assure you these
are not the causes. All plants have their peculiar and
incidental insects, particularly if not in a healthy state,
and winds of an injurious nature can hardly have re-
turned so exactly and perseveringly at the very time the
potato is ripening.—l remain your obedient servant,
Hertfordshire, Aug. 10. W. T.

CLERICAL INTELLIGENCE. —PREFERMENTS.-The
following appointments have taken place :—The Rev.
Geo. H. Fell, . M.A., Fellow of Magdalene College,
Cambridge, to the incumbency of All Saints Church,
King's-cross, London, rendered vacant by the death of
the Rev. F. Colman Wilson, M.A., on the nomination
of the Rev. H. Hunter Fell, M.A., incumbent of All
Saints, Islington ; the Rev. Richard Sleeman, M.A.,
to the rectory of W hitchurch, Devonshire, ren-
dered vacant by. the death of the Rev. P. Sleeman,
M.A., on the nomination of the representatives of
the late incumbent ; the Rev. William Brown, M.A.,
Fellow of St, John's College, Cambridge, to be
principal of the Huddersfield Collegiate . School,
Yorkshire ; the Rev. John Davis, of St. David's
College, Lampeter, to the vicarage of Lien-
deloi, Pembrokeshire, with the vicarage of Llanhowel
annexed, rendered vacant by the cession of the Rev.
John Davis, on the nomination of the Very Rev.
L. Llewellin, D.C.L., Dean of St. David's, and the
Chapter of the Cathedral Church; the Rev. John V.
Lloyd, 8.A., perpetual curate of Llandeilo Grabun,
Radnorshire, to the vicarage of Hope, Flintshire, with
the perpetual curacy of Llanfynyd, rendered vacant
by the cession of the Rev. John Meredith, on the
presentation of the Bishop of St. Asaph; the Rev.
C. Car, M.A., to the incumbency of Whitworth, Dur-
ham, on the nomination of the Very Rev. Dr. Wadding-
ton, Dean of Durham, and the Chapter of the Cathedral
Church; the Rev. William Thickens, M.A., to the in-
cumbency of Keresley, near Coventry, on the nomina-
tion of the Lord Bishop of Worcester; the Rev. Edward
John Owen, curate of Cy ffylliog, near Ruthin, to the
vicarage of Llanfair Dyffryn-Clwyd, Denbighshire, on
the nomination of the Bishop of Sr. Asaph; the Rev.
George Lemon Church, M.A., curate of Kenwyn,
Cornwall, to the perpetual curacy of Chasewater in the
same county, on the nomination of the Rev. G. J. Cor-
nish, M.A., Vicar of Kenwyn ; the Rev. J. J. Evans,
8.A., to the chaplaincy of the Training Schools, Gray's
lan-road, London ; the Rev. G. J. Sayre, M.A., to the
perpetual curacy of Slapton, Devonshire, rendered vacant
by the cession of the Rev. 11. J. Bowden, M.A.; the Rsv.
Dr. Stansbnry, chaplain of liingston Gaul, to the head
mastership of Pantile Grammar School.
Lieutenant Munro was on Tuesday liberated from
Newgate. Before his release an application was made
to Mr. Baron Alderson at chambers for a summons to
be directed to the Governor of Newgate, to show why
he refused to give up the prisoner to certain sheriff.'
officers who held an execution against him, but the
Learned Judge refused the application, and the debt was
subsequently settled.
SOUTHAMPTON, AUGUST 16.—The steam-ship
Tiger, Captain Bingham, arrived here this morning
from Oporto, with a cargo of very fine e pp, which arog
being landed for sale in the docks.