The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-03 00:00:00

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NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, Nov. I:—The Sappho, 16, Commander
Gambier, was paid off yesterday.
The Cyclops steam-frigate, CaptainLspidge, left Spit-
head this morning at half-past eight for Portugal, taking
out Colonel Wylde (Equerry to Prince Albert) and his
two sons, upon an important mission ; also supernume-
raries for the squadron in the Mediterranean, and dis-
patches for Vice-Admiral Sir William Parker, Bart., the
Commander-in-Chief. The Cyclops lay with her steam
up, and ready to start at a moment's notice, the whole of
yesterday.
The Mariner transport, Lieutenant W. Still, agent,
arrived thismorning from Deptford, bound to Bermuda,
with convicts. •

• The Mercury tender; Second IN/faster Searlett, sailed
yesterday for Plymouth, with the Marines of the Sappho,
belonging to that division. -
The Mapceuvrer. lighter arrived , this morning from
the eastern yards, with stores.
The Crocodilatroop*shirietCommander Lowe, has been
surveyed and fopnd unfit for service as a troop-ship, but
it is considered that Ate would yet makes good trans-
port for:-other purposes.... If she is paid off, -we hope her
gallant commander, who has only bad-her for a few
months, will either be promoted, or have the command of
another and a better ship.
The Talbot, 26, Captain Sir T. Thompson, Bart., is
hourly expected from the Pacific, with freight. -
WOOLWICH, OCT. 3p.--,The Geyser steam-vessel was
commissioned at Woolwich to•day, by Commander
-Francis T Brown (1840).
The Amphion, 36-gun frigate, with screw-propeller,
has hoisted- the pendant of Captain Williams, of the
Avenger; and the officers and crew of the latter vessel
will be transferred to the Amphion.
The Kite steam-vessel was towed to Deptford yester-
day by the Chgron steam-vessel, to be-,nietktted for the
surveying service.
The Dwarf steam-vessel- was' taken into dock This
afterwon, to have some alterations made, lite speed of
her recent trials being only between three and four knots
per hour on the first, and about five knots on the senonci
trip, with screw propellers.
The Philadelphia North American notices a valuable
nautical invention, which is attracting much attention.
It is an invention of It. C. Holmes, agent for the under-
writer of Captain May, and is pronounced by the first
seamen the greatest improvement ever accomplished in
the machinery of steering vessels. The greatest diffi-
culties under which the steering-gear of ships labour are
completely obviated by it. The making slack of the
vibration of the tiller and the change in the tiller-rope
are prevented. By the fixed position of the machinery,
the ropes always lead fair through the blocks and wind
regularly, avoiding all chafing of one part against the
face of the other. All danger of accident to the steers-
man, too, in strong currents, from the slacking of the
rope is rendered impossible. So taut and yet so simple
is the machinery, that instead of the constant watching
of the wheel heretofore required, and the freqnently
harassing labour of the helmsman, a child almost could
manage it in the heaviest sea; and in a gale of wind a
vessel would almost lay to itself. The principle is two
barrels, or drums, instead of one; as fast as the rope
accumulates upon the upper one, it is carried off by the
lower. The invention is a new feature in mechanics,
nothing like it having been discovered in the books at
the Patent-office.