The Sun.
London, England, 1848-06-17 00:00:00

from the returns made in the week ending June 13,
1848, is 245. 0,4 d. per cwt.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, FRIDAY.—The boats of the squadron
at Spithead were got out this morning, and their crews
exercised in general practice, firing, &c.
The Medusa steam-packet, Lieutenant-Commander
J. 0. Bathurst, was undocked yesterday, and the Fairy
docked in her room, to be painted, gilded, and have
a new coating of Hay's composition put upon ker
bottom.

The Trafalgar, 120, Captain Charles Hope, sailed yes-
terday for Sheerness, to be paid off. 700 men will thus
become available for other ships.
The Vindictive, 50, Captain Michael Seymour, was
paid off and dismasted to-day.

COMMISSIONED SHIPS IN PORT.

Victory, Illustrious, Excelkut, Victoria and Albert,

Hastings, Blenheim, Helena, and Frolic; Rolla and
Fanny tenders, Portsmouth yacht; Sharpshooter, Mer-
lin, Medusa, Lightning, Fairy, Fire Queen, and Echo
steamers.

At Spithead—St. Vincent, Powerful, Prince Regent,
and Amphion Stebenheath freight ship.
Vessels in dock—Pembroke, Ajax, Orestes, Merlin, and
Fairy.

Vessels in the Basin—Growler, Malabar, Frolic, Cor-
morant, Fire Queen, and Medusa.

In the Steam Basin—Jackal.

Wind, S.W., moderate breezes, and cloudy weather.
Her Majesty's frigate, Vindictive, 50 guns, Captain
Michel Seymour, lately the flag-ship of Vice-Admiral
Austin on the West India command, was out of commis-
sion on Friday at Portsmouth. A correspondent, speak-
ing of the dismantling of the Vindictive, observes :
"It is a distressing sight to a contemplative mind to
witness the destruction incidental to stripping a ship ;
in this process wantonness and waste go hand in hand;
any matter which appears to offer a small amount of
trouble for the hands the hatchet quickly demolishes ;
the waste and destruction in the rigging alone of a ship
in dismantling to be paid off, would, if put before the
eye in comprehensive terms, present one of the most
important items in the catalogue of the national expen-
diture. I should say, the damage done to
the fittings of the Vindictive amount to at least
10,0001., all which must be replaced substantially before
the ship can again go to sea. Had the important matter
narrated here been brought prominently under the eye,
and made forcible to the ear of the Premier when he was
Perambulatingr the dockyard of Portsmouth with the
Lodsof
the
Admiralty, and one or two of his Cabinet
colleagues, on Tuesda, the reatest benefit might have
arisen out of that impromptu visitation; but such mat-
ters were kept away
thefrom
the vision of the Prime
Minister."
The Tweed, 20 guns Commander Lord F. Russell,
fitting out at Dev -
alpsee
is rigging very expeditiously,
has entered half her crew, and
onpd
Atittiously. The Pilot, 16 guns, Com-
mander Lyons,
they will rendezvous at
When out at Davenport, is being
rigged very rapidly,
hen ready for sea, it is believed
Spithead, with the Helena, 16
guns, Commander Smith, fitting at Portsmouth (has only
entered 40 of her crew),
mender Vansittart, mannedan and the
Frolic, 16 guns, Com-
pot.. and fitting out at the latter

CHATHAM, JUNE 16.—The Ranger, 6, Commander C.
F. Newland, sails to-morrow, the 17th inst., when she
will be inspected by the Port Admiral at the Nore,
whence she will sail for Portsmouth, there to await the
mail for the coast of Africa.
The Nerbudda, 12, Commander Edward Peirse, is
stripped and all ready for paying off. She is now wait-
ing for the pay books, which have been returned to be
corrected.
The Aid, Smallman, master, sailed on the 15th inst.
with stores for Portsmouth.

Mr. 0. W. Lang, assistant-master shipwright of this
yard, is ordered to furnish the Admiralty with a design
of a steam-vessel of 40-horse power, calculated to obtain
the greatest speed.
Arrived on the 13th inst, the ship Jane, Robert Bick-
ford, master, from Sierra Leone, with timber for the
Dockyard.
The Admiralty have ordered that none but men be-
longing to the establishment are to be enrolled in the
Dockyard Brigade in future.
THE FIREBRAND STEAM-FRIGATE.—The Firebrand,
6, steam-frigate, Captain Hope,:C.B.,lwill be paid off at
Woolwich this day. The gallant Captain has taken
good advantage of the recent Admiralty order in filling
up his vacancies by rating the boys. We trust that the
good crew of the Firebrand will not be lost to the ser-
vice, but that sufficient encouragement will be given to
them to re-enter. Under their gallant Captain they
have had superior training, and have shown the effects
of it in their daring bravery against the enemy in the
severe actions in the Parana ; and whilst they have
by rigid discipline been rendered smart sailors, they
have also by proper treatment been made good
men, and thus the Firebrand has been a happy
ship. It has been with the Firebrand as with the
Racer sloop, when commanded by Captain Hope—his
boys preferred their position as boys in his ship to supe-
rior ratings in other meu-of-war. Captain Hope, it will
be remembered, won his C.B. for the affair at Obligado
Point, in which action he, with his gig's crew, cut the
. .

. .
chain which moored the enemy's ships in a line across
the river, and then forced the passage. He led and
directed many other gallant affairs in the Parana, which
have never been reported, and have consequently never
been rewarded. Captain Hope is the sou of the late
Admiral Hope, one of the most gallant and thorough-
bred seamen and officers the British navy ever produced.
It is a glorious satis►action to the old friends, shipmates,
and admirers of the late Admiral to see his son emula-
ting his father's high character, and keeping up his good
name in the service.