The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-02 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, WEDNESDAY.—The Retribution steam-
frigate, Captain Lushington, remains at Spithead for
orders. She requires so much alteration and improve-
ment before she can become a serviceable ship, that it is
considered probable she will be given over to the
engineers and dockyard hands, and her officers and
ship's company, than whom there is not a more efficient
body of men in the service, if we may believe the testi-
mony of Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Commander-
in-Chief of the Squadron of Evolution, turned over to the
Amphion, 36, screw propeller, at Woolwich. The re-
sult of the official inquiry into the state of the Retribu-
tion's engines yesterday has not transpired. The re-
port of the court was transmitted to the Lords of the
Admiralty last night, and she awaits their Lordships' de-
cision, which has not yet been received.
When she left the squadron, the Prince de Joinville's
force was up the Mediterranean, but daily expected down
to cruise off Cadiz and the other southern ports, to pre-
vent any arms, &c., being landed for the peasantry or
the people to use against the authorities favourable to the
Montpensier alliance.
In our mention of the operations of the squadron on
Tuesday, we omitted to state that the Cyclops steam-
frigate, Captain Lapidge, bad proved herself so efficient
a vessel in all the trials under Sir William Parker, that
that officer had pronounced her a most useful and su-
perior war steamer, and inferior to no ship under his
command under sail.
We omitted to mention also that when Sir William
Parker discovered the imposition practised by the Ter-
rible, in exhibiting crossjack and mizentopsail yards; for
which she had no sails, the Admiral ordered those yards
to be immediately struck.
- _

The return home of the St. Vincent, 120, and the
Queen, 110, would, we are informed, make Vice-Amiral
Parker's squadron vastly inferior to that under the
Prince de Joinville. Much dissension and discomfort
prevailed on board the St. Vincent by the last advices
from the squadron,
Major G. E. Balehild, R.M. (1827), of the Queen, 110,
died at Cadiz on the 15th, and was buried on the 16th
inst., ashore, with full military honours. The gallant
deceased, we are informed, was upwards of 60 years of
ace. His services are thus recorded in Allen's New
Navy List :—" G. E. Balchild was Second Lieutenant
serving in the Edgar, Discovery, and Meteor, in various
actions against fhtillas and batteries between Dunkirk
and Boulogne, 1805-6, and in the latter was severely
wounded at the passage of the Dardanelles, in 1807. Ile
continued serving in the Meteor until 1810, and was
present in action' with gun-boats in the Bay of Naples ;
at the defence of Rosas, w here he was wounded ; and
in several boat actions in the Adriatic. Commanded a
rocket_,equipment
,at the attack on Craney Island ; the
taking of Hampton ; and occupation of Kent Island, in
14hse Chesapeake, 1813-15 ; and served in a rocket aril
mortar battery at Plattsburgh. Gazetted 1807." Major
Balchild was attached to the Chatham division.

The Childers, 12, Commander Pitman, arrived at
Simon's-bay, Cape of Good Hope, on the 16th of July,
from this port. She would repair damages (having
sprung her bowsprit) and proceed to New Zealand.
The Snake, 16, Commander Brown, was to sail from
Simon's-bay on the evening of the l 7th, or the morning
of the 18th of July, to join Rear-Admiral nacres in the
President, at Madagascar.
The Falmouth navy lighter arrived to-day from the
eastern yards with stores.
WOOLWICH, SEPT. 30.—Her Royal Highness the
Princess William of Prussia will embark in the -black
Eagle steam-vessel, Master Commander S. B. Cook, at
12 o'clock to-morrow, Oct. 1, at Woolwich Dockyard for
'a passage to Rotterdam.
The Lightning steam-vessel, Master Commander
Petley, returned to Woolwich to-day from Grimsby,
having towed tko Kestrel yacht, with the remains of the
late Earl of Yarborough, to that port.
The Plover surveying vessel, Captain Collinson, C. 8.,
is to be paid off at Woolwich on Monday next.
PROMOTIONS.

George Giles, to be Second Master of the Grappler ;
George lit'Grath, Acting Gunner of the Excellent.