The Sun.
London, England, 1848-10-23 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, SUNDAY.—The Revision Commit-
tee left this port yesterday morning for the Admi-
ralty, accompanied by Captain Chads, C. 8., of the
Excellent.

Yesterday being the anniversary of the battle of.
Trafalgar, the Victory was decorated with flowers and
evergreens, and the men served with extra fare. The
usual commemoration dinner took place in the ward-
room in the evening. A number of the el4e of this
port and neighbourhood paid congratulatory visits to
the Commander. the Hon. Sir Bladen Capel,
yesterday in honour of the day, in which he
took so glorious a part. A brilliant circle dined with
him in the evening.
Captain Martin, of the Prince Regent, 951, at Spit-
head, also gave a Trafalgar dinner to a party of naval
officers.

The Reynard steam-schooner, Commander Cracroft,
and the Stromboli steam•sloop, Commander lord
Aurelius Beauclerk, are ordered to complete for sea •
with all dispatch. The Reynard, when ready, ►ill
have a trial of speed with the Plumper, a similar
vessel. The Rifleman steam-schooner, Lieutenant-
Commander
Crofton, and the Sharpshooter iron
schooner, Lieutenant-Commander Bailey, will also
be tried together at the back of the Wight by Captain „
Austin in a few days.
The Tweed, 18, Commander Lord Francis Russell,
arrived at St. Michael's on the 23d ult., from Cork,
and sailed for Rio on the 26th.

The Helena, 10, Commander de Courcy, arrived at
Madeira from Cork, on the 28th ult., ex route to the -
West Indies.

The Favourite, 14, Commander Murray, sailed
from St. Helena on the 25th of August, to cruise on .
the,west coast of Africa.

The Encounter screw steam-sloop is ordered .to be
brought forward for commission as soon as possible.'
The Devastation steam-sloop is ordered to be fitted
as an advance steamer immediately to join Captain
Austin's squadron.
By a private letter, dated St. Helena, August 19,
received from Lieutenant Charles Oakes Hall, we
learn that the noted slave ship Polka was taken prize
by the Penelope steam-ship, the Siren being insight,
off the Mayumba, coast of Africa, and was taken into
St. Helena by the above named gentleman.—Deeon...
port Independent.
SHIPS AND VESSELS TO BE COMMISSIONED.--The
Superb, 80 guns, on her way from the Mediterranean
to England to be paid off, will, it is reported, on ac-
count of the ship being in a condition so much in
accordance with her name, be almost immediately re-
commissioned. The Amazon 19-gun corvette, at
Devonport ; the Daphne 18-gun corvette, at Chatham;
the Orestes 18-gun corvette, and the Sappho, 16-gun
sloop, at Portsmouth, are all ordered to be masted,
rigged, stored, and elsewise prepared for immediate
reception of their officers and erews. The Growler
steam-sloop will also be shortly put in commission at
Portsmouth.

APPOINTMENTS.
Master—P. Wellington, late of the Belvidere and
Adventure, to the Caledonia, vice Roberts.
Mate—J. W. Watson to the Caledonia.
Assistant-Surgeons—Thomas John Breen to the
Rifleman ; John W. Cleave to the Bramble, in the
Ea4t Indies.

Midshipman—Edward Field to the Victory, at
Portsmouth.

Master's Assistant—G. A. C. Brooker to the
Medina, steam vessel.
Acting Boatswain—Charles Blackadone to the
Illustrious.

THE PRINCE REGENT. —This splendid man-of-war,
at Spithead, has, we believe, realised by her per•
formances more than was expected of her ; and now
it is determined to give this 2,600 tons ship the arma-
ment which the nearly 3,100 tons ship, the Albion,
was designed to carry, but failed to take. The Prince
Regent is to have throughout 8-inch guns (68-
pounders) on the lower deck, of 55 cwt. each; long
32-pounders, of 56 cwt. each, on the main deck ; and
long 32's, of 42 cwt each, on the quarter-deck and
forecastle. This will give her a single broadside
power of throwing 2,0481b5. of shot. Engaged on both
sides, her destructive power would be 4,0961b5. at each
discharge of her guns. She will then be nearly equal
to the three•decker Queen in weight of broadside
metal. At present she is very well and efficiently
manned; with her heavier armament she will,
perhaps, have another company of Marine Artillery.
GOOD SERVICE WARRANT.—At gength we are
enabled to have the gratification of announcing
that this boon, which has for some time past,-
been enjoyed by the army, will immediately,..,
be brought into force in the navy and marines.
We hope to be enabled in our next number to gite
full particulars of this desirable arrangement, which,
we feel assured, will give universal satisfaction.
Much as the regulation will enhance the condition of
the petty officers and seamen, it will confer that re-
ward on the non-commissioned officers and privates
of the marines which has been so long withheld from.
them ; and they will be placed on an equality with
the seamen with regard to their provisions.--,Mutiad
Standard.

PLYMOUTH, OCT. 21.—Rear-Admiral Sir John
Louis, Admiral-Superintendent, struck his flog yes-
terday morning, on six days' leave of absence.
Her Majesty's brig Ferret, 8, is ordered to be fitted. -,
for commission, to proceed to the coast of Africa.
It is probable that the Seagull, which went ashore
on the German Rock, will be put out of commission
in consequence of general defects.
The south dock in the Devouport Yard is to be
filled with rubble. This dock was intended to be
taken into the new basin, but the order has been
countermanded. The south dock is one of the oldest
in the yard, having been built in the reign of William
and Mary.
The Hermes steamer, with supernumeraries for
Portsmouth, started a second time on Thursday night.
34/
Superannuations.—Six shipwrights, at 1141. ; one, at
four labourers, at ; seven smiths, at 20/. one sailmaker, 241.;
sawyer 1SI.; two oar makers, and one
.
The Finance Committee (Lords of the Admiralty)
will be here on Friday next, the 27th of October.
The Cork Steam-ship,Cornpany's steam-ship Preus-
richer Adler, Captain Tooker, from London, passed
about noon yesterday, 20 milts east of the Start, the ' •
American packet-ship Northumberland, bating up
Channel from New York, for London.
BOTHWAT'S BLOCKS.—The trial of the 20-inch
block manufactured on the plan of Mr. Bothway,
against the 26-inch service block, took place this day
(Friday) in the Testing House of the dockyard, in
the presence of Captain Carter, her Majesty's ship
Caledonia ; Captain Sir Thomas Maitland, her Ma-
jesty's ship San Josef; Mr. Henderson, master at-
tendant ; and other principal officers of the dockyard.
The object of this trial was to ascertain whether
a 20-inch block, iron-strapped internally, would
stand a strain equal to that of a 2C-inch block, iron-
bound in the ordinary way adopted in her Majesty's
service, and to ascertain the strain at which
each of the blocks would be rendered unserviceable.
The 20-inch block was first submitted to the test,
when the hook gave way to a pressure of 19 tons;
the shackle was then applied to the block, and at a
strain of tiOf tons the tackling gave way, but the
block was uninjured, excepting that the middle shiver,
over which the rope broke, it was found did not travel.
The 26-inch block was then put to the test; the hook
broke at 42 tons, thus showing a superiority equal to
22 tons over the antagonistic block ; the block, how-
ever, gave way at a pressure of 27 tons only, givingan advantage to Bothway's block of 23h tons. The
result of this trial may be fairly stated to be in favour
of Mr. Bothway's block, but the superiority of tin
block is much detracted from in the weakness of
the hook. This is to be remedied by having
heavier metal, but then one of the points (;""
superiority, lightness, would be considerably sacri-
ficed. On the whole, however, we think Mr. Both-
way has the advantage, his block is more compac
and if the necessary increase in the size of the book
does not add materially to its weight, is cer-
tainly to be preferred. The Government blocs-
weighed 6 cwt. 1 qr. 18 lb., the length of pin
inches, diameter 2 inches, deflection after trial of an
inch. The weight of Bothway's block, 2 cwt. 1 €1.1:.
A trial was subsequently made on a 20-inch bloF1;►
the largest used in the service. The hook of thiswent at 26 tons, and the block at 21 tons. The
weight 2 cwt. 3 qr. 'l7 lb., length of pin 191 inches,.
deflection after trial is of an inch.—Devonpart
Ttlegruph.
WOOLWICH, OCT. 21.—The Teazer steam-vessel..
was commissioned to-day at this port by Lieutenant
Commander Selweyn, and the other officers and crew
of the Myrmidon have been turned over to her.
Lieutenant Neewt, 1 sergeant and 14 privates, the
latter all mechanics, embarked yesterday for a Pas-
sage to the Island of Ascension.
_ge?
l
One sergeant, 2 corporals, and 20 privates, of
Woolwich division of Royal Marines, ernbarkil
yesterday on board the Fisgard frigate, for service 1
that vessel.

BIRTHS.
On the 15th inst., the lady of R. J. Dobree, Esq., of Rot-
terdam, of a daughter.
On the 19th inst., at Stratford-green, Essex, Mrs. IL G'
Layard, of a daughter.

DIED. f
At St. Servan, France, on the 2d inst., Major Hawker, Stll —r"
Veteran Battalion, formerly in the 12th Dragoons.
On the 10th inst., at Charmouth, Dorset, aged 62,,W• -: :' I
Maling, Major, half-pay Royal Artillery. ,
On the 14th inst., at Brighton, 'l'. Tuck, Esq., aged 73' iy.' '''
On the 18th inst., at Hemmingford-Tillas, London,
Austin, Esq., of Ceylon, aged 37.

F

London: Printed and Published by 141URDO YOUNG, ,T.
No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun 01E4: No. 11';
ttrand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the county oi

aliddleiez, Monday, October 23,1845.