The Sun.
London, England, 1848-11-30 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

SIR C. NAPIER'S SQUADRON.—PORTSMOUTH, WED-
NESDAY.—It blew a heavy gale with squalls of rain from
the westward last night, which made the squadron under
Sir Charles Napier get their top-gallant masts on deck ;
the wind has somewhat lulled, but it still blows strong,
with foul weather, therefore there is no probability of
the squadron putting to sea. The Rifleman hoisted the
white ensign and pendant yesterday; she is now in dock
" all standing," and will come out again about the Ist of
December.

The Superb, 80, was re-commissioned at 11 A.M. to-
day by Csptain E. Purcell. Her marines were embarked
fiom Clarence-yard aethe same time. She paid of yes-
terday in an unprecedentedly creditable manner, which
speaks more for the character and discipline of the crew
than volumes of eulogy could. She had not a man drunk
or disorderly out of the entire crew (720). Two men
were indebted to the Crown (instead of having money
to receive) for slops, &c., and were ordered on board the
Victory, to work out the amount each respectively owed,
but their shipmates came forward and made up the
money, and it is question which was the happier of the
two parties—Jack relieved or Jack relieving.
The Rifleman, screw steam schooner, Lieutenant..
Commander S. L. Crofton, was docked this morning to
examine some leakage which has been manifesting itself
in her run, near the propeller. This vessel has been
placed under the orders of Rear-Admiral Sir Charles
Napier, and consequently hoisted a white ensign and
pendant this morning.
The Plumper screw-steamer, Commander Nolloth,
completed her adjustment of compasses this morning,
and her crew were paid two months' wages in advanee.
Letters have been received here from Woolwich,
stating that the Arrogant, 46, screw-frigate, in her pas-
sage from Deptford to Woolwich, on Monday, went
eight knots through the water. The Monkey tug pre-
ceded her at starting to tow, but it was soon evident she
was only in the way. The Arrogant steered easily, and
answered her helm quickly. The log was hove three
times; both the line and glass having been carefully
looked to beforehand, there was no mistake therefore
about this nnlooked-for achievement in point of speed.
Mr. Penn, the engine-maker, was on board at the time;
the engines answer admirably, and work most perfectly
and harmoniously. After next springs a trial down the
river, with guns and seagoing stores on board, will be
made. Her trip on Monday augurs well.
The Kingfisher, 12, Commander Harvey, arrived at
Madeira from this port on Monday, the 13th inst., last
from Plymouth, whence she sailed on the 3d. She was
thepla c ecdh
oi
Inc
rqau a
brae
nt
gi n er
eopno rht
eedr arrivaln
gi
Ina
nedo. n s esqhuee nscaei
eodf
again on Tuesday afternoon, and will touch at St. Ni-
cholas and Sierra Leone, whence she proceeds to Ascen-
sion. She had several cases of sickness on board, but
chiefly colds occasioned by changes of climate. She
experienced very bad weather in the Bay of Biscay.
The Peterel packet arrived in six days. She only re-
mained long enough to get provisions and water.
The labourers and artisans of the dockyard were
mustered this afternoon by the Admiral-Superintendent
and principal officers of the yard. As it is customary
to do this at the end of every quarter, no surprise would
have been excited had it taken place a month later; but
in the middle of the quarter it has caused anything
but a pleasurable sensation, those most concerned anti-
cipating considerable reductions.

APPOINTMENTS.
.Captain the Right Hon. Charles Philip Earl of Hard-
wteke (182.4), to the Vengeance, 84-gun ship, at Naples,
vice Lushington, to the superintendence of the Bombay
marine. The gallant Earl and family left Southampton
yesterday in the Euxine packet for Malta.
Captain Edward Purcell (1828) to the Superb 80-gun
ship, at Portsmouth. Captain Purcell took up his ap-
pointment, and hoisted his pennant on board the Superb,
yesterday. morning, in Portsmouth harbour. The Superb
is to have the reduced complement of 466, officers and
men, at present.
Commander William C. Aldham (1844), at present in
the Vengeance, to the Superb. Commander Aldham
will return to England on being relieve&
Commander John W. Tarleton (1846), to the Ven-
geance, 84, vice Aldham. Commander Tarleton takes
passage in the Rosamond steam-sloop, from Plymouth,
to join his ship.
Surgeon—J. Lardner (1838), to the Superb.
Paymaster and Purser—G. V. Oughton (1807), to the
Superb.
Mate—George Pideock, to the Hastings flag-ship, in

the East Indies.
Assistant-Surgeons—Geo. Duncan, M.D. (1845), G.
E. Nicholas, M.D., to the Superb; E. Lawless (1845), to
the Mohawk steam-vessel, on the lakes of Canada.
Clerk-in-Charge—G. L. A. Warren, to the Ardent
steam-packet on the Mediterranean station.
Midshipman—J. G. C. Evered, to the Superb.
Master's Assistant—J. P. Clements, to the Superb.
Clerk's Assistant—John Weeks, to the Victory flag-
ship, at Portsmouth.
Carpenter—George Johnson, to the Superb.
Boatswain—W. Smith, to the Superb.
Augustus J. Kingston, who was acting mate of the
Acorn, 16, paid off some months since, from the East
Indies, and who passed in seamanship January, 1848,
but whose name does not appear among the 100 mates
in the Navy List, "by authority," has been promoted to
the rank of Lieutenant.

Commander William S. Hall, promoted some months
since has been appointed to study steam, at Woolwich.
Midshipman Harry Huxham, to the Inconstant, 36,
at the Pacific.
Gunners—William Buckle (acting), to the Excellent;
Joseph T. Earl, to the Illustrious, ordinary depot-ship
at Portsmouth.
In our naval intelligence of yesterday we stated that
" A rather curious incident took place with regard to
the Sampson. It has been a standing order ever since
the Amphion, 32, Captain James Fellow, was blown up
in Hamoaze, Plymouth, for all vessels to remove their
powder before coming into any harbour containing an
arsenal. It has been repeatedly violated ; but, by way
of exemplifying Shakspere's adage of ' keeping the
word of promise to the ear, and breaking it to the sense,'
the Sampson's powder, ` to prevent accident,' was taken
out abreast of the dockyard, with her steam still up,
after she had been four hours in harbour." This is an
unfounded statement. The steam was not up when the
powder was taken out of the Sampson. So soon as the
vessel was made fast the fires were all raked out, and
this was done at least one hour before the powder ma-
gazine was opened ; and not only was the steam not up,
but we can positively assert that every fire, including
even the fire in the captain's cabin, was extinguished
some time before they commenced to " take out" the
powder.
PLYMOUTH, Nov. 28.—The following is an extract
from a letter written by an officer on board her Majesty's
ship Plover, and received here on Friday last:—" We
arrived at Madeira on the 16th February, after a most
boisterous passage—nothing but heavy gales of wind ;
and had the old craft not been a good sea boat (being so
deep in the water), Z fear very few would have been left
to tell the tale. We lost our head-rails, and were other-
wise very severely knocked about. After repairing
damages, we sailed again on the evening of the 17th,
with a fine breeze; but in getting under way, the fort
fired three shots at us. We immediately hove to, and
the first lieutenant went on shore to ascertain the cause,
and found that the governor directed the officer in com-
mand of the fort to be placed under arrest (by our con-
sul's request), fearing the fire might be returned.
On the first lieutenant's return we made sail, and
egotig httoe e
n themLo
ri ne e
biyn tewa
len
an tsy fi
and
delightdays,
;detaincr o s s
ee
dd
the linein 18 deg., 58 sec. W., and got the S.E. trade, with
fine weather, until we got off Rio de Janeiro, when the
weather became very bad, and on passing the River
Plate, came on to blow very hard, and on nearing the