The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-13 00:00:00

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NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 12.—The Ajax steam guard-
ship, 56 guns, 1,761 tons, and screw power of 450
horse, was taken out to-day for a trial, under the corn-
i mind of Commander James Agnew Stevens, of the
Blenheim. This was the third *trial, or rather
the' third attempt at a trial, the vessel having
been
.prevented on the two former occasions from
achieving any result, owing to her pistons breaking.
The result of the present trial amply repaid the max-,
ieties and disappointments of the former. Sbe left the
harbour at ten o'clock, with the following officers ons
board:—Rear- Admiral Prescott, C. 8., Captain Chads,
C•B., Captain Halsted, R.N., Commander Stevens (in
charge), Messrs. Mandalay and Field, the makers of the
engines, Mr. Lynn, civil engineer, &c. The crew of the
Blenheim manned the vessel. The tide was running in
almost at its utmost strength as the vessel was working
out, notwithstanding which resistance she made excel-
lent speed, and on emerging from the harbour's month
made Spithead in most triumphant style. She then
pursued the course of all large ships round the buoy of
the Spit, and steamed through the squadron of evolution
towards the steamer's course in Stoke's Bay, where the
measured knot is marked by posts. Whilst at this im-
portant experiment, the Fairy royal yacht, with his
Royal Highness the Prince Consort, General Wemyss.
and Commander Crispin on board, came up from
Osborne, and his Royal Highness, seeing the huge
vessel making her progress along the course, . and
being informed of the highly important nature of the
trial, expressed a wish to go on board and become
more minutely acquainted with its results. Accord-
ingly the yacht was steered alongside, and the Royal
barge quickly transferred the Prince from the yacht to
the ship. It is almost needless to say, the visit from the
illustrious Prince was as unexpected on the part of the
gallant party on board the vessel as it was spontaneous
on the part of himself, but the result was one of unmiti-
gated pleasure to all parties. Rear-Admiral Prescott
escorted his Royal Highness all over the ship, and ex-
plained her nature and the object of such floating bat-
teries under the guidance of steam ; Captain Chads ex-
plained the mode of fighting such batteries, and every
particular connected with ship gunnery. Messrs.
Maudslay succinctly described the character and work-
ing of the engines and machinery; to all which details
the Prince paid the most assiduous attention, and showed
the interest he took in such pursuits by putting sundry
pertinent questions touching the subject of the steam-
engine, showing this acquaintance therewith, and much
interest in its progress. These items having been all
accomplished, the Royal Consort ascended to the upper
deck to note the speed of the ship, which was, on an
average of four runs, 6.4 knots per hour under allcircum-
stances; with the tide, the maximum speed was 8.2 knots.
She steered most easily, and went round 16 points in 2
minutes 10 seconds. This is the greatest experiment
and the most satisfactory result yet achieved with the
screw in propelling large bodies. The Ajax was brought
down to her load line by extra ballast, so that she drew
as much water as if provisioned and stored for 500 men
fur three months. The Prince Consort remained on
board an hour and a halt, highly pleased with his im-
promptu visit. He left the ship in Stokes Bay at a
quarter to two, accompanied by General Wemyss and
Commander Crispin, and landed ut Osborne. On leaving
the Ajax, both officers and crew sprang to the side, and
gave their illustrious visitor three sailors' cheers. The
ship returned to harbour about 4 P.N.
We are glad to hear that the report of the death of
Commander Baynton, which we adopted from a Hamp-
shire paper, is incorrect. The gallant officer is not only
alive, but in good health, and is a candidate for active
service of any kind. The death of a relation of Captain
Baynton was mistaken for his owe.
PRIZE MONEY FOR THE CAPTURE OF SLAVERS.
THE SEALA.RR.---MY. Woodhead has given notice to
Captain Gooch and the officers late of the Sealark dur-
ing her former period of service on the coast of Africa,
of the registry in the High Court of Admiralty, on and
after the 22d instant, of the proceeds of the following
prizes:—
The slaver Aquia, captured on the 22d October, 1846.
The slaver Boceto Porto, on the 21st October, 1846.
And also to the ship's company of the Sealark, when
commanded by Lieutenant (now Commander) White, of
the registry of the slaver Gustavo Premiero, captured
April 18, 1847.
THE STYX STEAK-SLOOP.—Mr. Whitehead has also
given notice to the captain and the ship's company late
of this vessel, paid off from the coast of Africa, of the
registry of the proceeds arising from the capture of the
slaver Anna and Constance, on the 19th January, 1847.
APPOlNTMENTS.—Midshipmen—Richard Morris, to
the Superb, 80, at Portsmouth; Charles A. Johnson,
Thomas M. M. Wynyard, Richard J. Lawrence, Logie
A. Whymper, and Charles Broadhead, to the St. Vin-
cent, 120, flag-ship of the Channel squadron; Thomas
J. Young, to the Excellent, gunnery-ship; J. T. Jeyes,
to the San Josef, flag-ship, at Devonport; W. K. Bush,
to the Plumper, screw-sloop, at Spithead.
We stated yesterday that two 60-gun frigates are to
be built at Deptford. They are not designed by the
Surveyor of the Navy. Sir Baldwin Walker does not
profess to be a naval architect, and his business, it
appears, is not to originate but to approve of designs,
exercising his well-known abilities as an officer and
seaman in judging of the excellence of the lines laid
before him.
The Phaaton, 50, has had her bottom coppered, and
has been taken out of dock at Chatham. This frigate,
designed by White, at Cowes, having no official patron, it
is said, has been placed in ordinary.
The Iris, 26, has been taken into dock at Chatham, to
have her detects made good and be fitted for commission.
The Daring, ft, was taken to Chatham, from Sheer-
ness, on Saturday last, to be docked, to have her defects
made good.
SHIPBUILDING AT BOMBAY.—The last mail brought
news of the launch of the Meeanee, two decker, of 80
guns, at the Royal Dockyard of Bombay. The event
came off on the 11th ult., in the usual manner, in the
presence of the representatives of the home Govern-
ment, naval, military, and civil. Her keel was
laid in October, 1841. She was designed by the ex-
surveyor of the English navy (Captain Sir William
Symonds), and has been built of the choicest teak; her
model and general workmanship challenging comparison
with any that has issued from the most famous building
yards at home. Her dimensions are principally as
follow : Feet. Inch.
Length of the gun-deck ... ... 190 0
Length of keel for tonnage. ... 158 3
Extreme breadth ... ... ... 56 9
Breadth for tonnage • ••• ••• 56 0
Breadth moulded ... ... ... 56 3
Depth in hold ... ... ... 23 4
Burden, about 2,600 tons.
She will be navigated to England, to be, fitted for
service.

The squadron of exercise was last night at anchor off
Portsmouth, detained by the weather. It was joined in
the morning by the Rifleman and Sharpshooter, screw
gun-boats. _
.... _

- Commander John H. Gennys (1845) will be the com-
mander of the Centaur, steam pendant ship, for the West
African command.

Commodore Sir Charles Hotham, K.C.8., in the Pene-
lope steam-ship, was at St. Helena on the 28th October.

THE COAST OF AFRICA.
Extract of a letter from the Amphitrite, 26, Captain
T. E. Eden, dated Bights of Benin, October 3, 1848:
" I take the opportunity of a prize going to St. Helena
to give you a slight sketch of our proceeding here since
the date of —'s letter, mentioning the capture of the
slave schooner Antonio, with 301 negroes. After part-
ing company with the prize, the Amphitrite proceeded
to the windward part of the station, and off Quintah fell
in with the Cygnet brigantine, Commander Kenyon, on
the 13th, and completed her with provisions to five
months. On the 14th we found the Star, 8, off Whydah,
and gave her provisions to the samelamount. On the 15th
we fell in with the Dolphin brigantine off Lagos, and
gave her provisions to complete to five months. On the
17th, about sixty miles off the laud, between Palmas and
Oady, we sighted a brig at 8 A.m.; chased her all day,
lost sight of her in the night; we were then about
twenty miles to windward of Cape Formosa ; during
the night we hauled to the wind and stood out. At
daylight on the 18th our friend of the day before was
Braivheiar,Dfocullhy.
She proved
Bight again ;we instantly gave! chase, at about 12
reported three miles to leeward ofus,ruanbn
dinginto the
llbersigofffrotmle
came up wbiethalißerratezinliamb
equipped for the slave trade; her crew comprised thirty-
two men.
On the 19th the Amphitrite bat up to wind-
ward to her station off Whydah. On the Ist of October
she was off Palma, in company with the Firefly steam
vessel, and employed in sending provisions, as in the
beforenamed cases, on board. About a week ago the
Star captured an empty schooner off Whydah. The
squadron, generally, is healthy. You will see from the
foregoing that all the vessels iu the Bights are crammed
with provisions, which is much against their efficiency,
as well as detrimental to the health and comfort of the
ship's company. There is not a vessel here but has her
lower deck crowded with casks. The main deck of the
Amphitrite was only cleared on the Ist instant. This
should not be. More attention to the health and com-
fort of seamen serving in this ungenial climate ought to
be evinced. The Amphitrite proceeds in a few days to
Princes for water, and then returns to the Bights again.
There is some talk of her being in Ascension in No-
vember to meet the Commodore. 600 slaves were lately
murdered by the chiefs at Palma, who were unable to
dispose of them."

- -
THE CHOLERA AT CAIRO, EGYPT.—That awful
and mysterious disease has continued its ravages from
the 14th of last July till the 13th of last month; and, in
this city alone, has swept away, according to the best
computation, about 9,000 souls ; and it is said that in
the whole of Egypt, there died from the same disease,
about 200,000 souls.—Jewish Chronicle.

[ADVEBTISEMENT.]—PainfuI Wounds in the Legs
ana Body Cued after Seventeen Years' duration by Hol-
loway's Ointment and Pills,—Extract of a letter from Mr.
W. Staples, dated Belgrave-gate, Leicester, November 9,
1848. To Professor Holloway, Sir,—" I was an invalid
for seventeen years, suffering dreadfully with painful
ulcers in my legs, and different parts of my body; during
this period I was attended by several most eminent sur-
geons, but their remedies failed to do me the least good.
I then commenced using your Ointment and Pills, and
by these invaluable Medicines alone, I am pleased to
state that in a short time all the wounds were soundly
healed, and lam restored to excellent health." Sold by
all Druggists, and at Professor Holloway's establishment,
244. Strand, London.
We beg to call the attention of our readers to a
case in our advertising columns, appealing to the sympa-
thies of the public in behalf of Miss Langstaff. Her late
father, Mr. Langstaff, for many years enjoyed a high re-
putation as a surgeon, but was more particularly known
to the scientific world as the founder and completer of
the largest and best private anatomical museum in this
country; in the formation of this museum he expended
all his property, so that by his death his daughter was
left without any means of support. The case Is one well
deserving the sympathy of the benevolent.—Chronicle.