The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-21 00:00:00

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NAVALJ.A 11412 ZEL,I99E*CE.
PORT ROYAL, . 23.—The Alarm, 26,
Captain Charles C. Frankland, sailed on the 15th inst.
to reinforce the squadron in the Gulf of Mexico.
The United States steam sloop of war Spiteful, Com-
mander Harris, arrived on the 19th inst. from Nassau,
whence the United States steamer Vixen hsd just sailed
for the Gulf of Mexico, having on board Commodore
Perry, on his way to supersede Commodore Connor in
the command of the American squadron there. The
Spiteful is leaky, and having assistance from the naval
yard here; she is bound to Chagres, where it is said the'
United States Government arc about to form a line of
packets between that place and New York. She has also
dispatches on board for the Pacific.
The Pickle, 3, Lieutenant Henry Bernard, sails to-
morrow for Havannah, with the Hon. Colonel Bruce, the
brother and secretary of our late respected Governor, on
his way to Canada. Captain Darling is to officiate as
secretary to the Lieutenant-Governor pro tem.
Colonel Fancourt, the superintendent of the Honduras
settlement, who has been here for some time f)r the
benefit of his health, sailed in the Bathurst for his seat
of government on the 10th inst.
The Eagle, 50, Captain Henry B. Merton, C. 13., and
the Alecto, Commander F. W. Austen, are expected
here from the Brazil station to reinforce our squadron,
and they will not arrive before it is time, for the Little
Pickle is again left to protect alone the whole of the
West India islands.
The Endymion, Electra, Rose, and Daring, are in tl.e
Gulf of Mexico, while the Vindictive, Hyacinth, P.. r-
sian, Viper, Vesuvius, and Columbia, are all at the
northward.

The Royal Mail Company's steamer Severn sails
to-
day at noon with the mails for England. The Forth is
or. the Spanish Main, the Tweed at Bermuda, and the
Tay on passage to this island from Grenada.
PORTSMOUTH, OCT. 20;—The Scourge, steam bomb
vessel, Commander Caffin, arrived this morning from the
eastward, and came into harbour.

The greatest expedition is being used to get the St.
Vincent ready for sea by Thursday.
The Cyclops steam-frigate, Captain Lvidge, is also
being re-fitted for sea with all possible dispatch.

APPOINTMENTS.

Henry Robinson, gunner, to the Excellent for Retribu-

tion; Thomas Beavis, boatswain, to the Excellent for
Retribution; David Jones, carpenter, to the Excellent for
Retribution; Andrew Clark, acting assistant-surgeon, to
Ilaslar Hospital; John Findlay, surgeon, to the Ferret;
Gilbert T. M. Martin, surgeon, to the Wanderer; Charles
F. Y. Kevern, surgeon, to the Bittern; Alexander Mit-
chell, assistant-surgeon, to the Devastation; George A.
Allion, assistant-surgeon, to the Devastation; John Duff
Macdonald, assistant-surgeon, to the Thetis; Alexander
Lane, surgeon, to the Penelope; William P. Ward;
acting assistant surgeon, to the Penelope ; C. Forbes,
assistant-surgeon, to the /Bolus; John T. U. Bremner,
assistant-surgeon, to the Belvidera; Andrew Coates, as-
sist.mt-surgeon, to the Andromache; John A. Luttrell,
naval cadet, to the Collingx o, c 1 ; henry I). Selby, gun-
nery mate, to the Thetis ; Robert 11. Swinton, naval
cadet, to the Thetis ; Coldstream C. Robinson, navel
cadet, to the Rattlesnake ; Thomas APGillon, acting
second engineer, to the Sphynx; William Archers, mas-
ter, to the Penelope.
SHEERNESS, OCT. 20.—The Wasp, 16. Commander
S. 11. Ussher, arrived on Friday from Spithead and tho
coast of Africa, and was towed into harbour on Satur-
day, to be paid off.
The plus, 42, was commissioned on Friday, by
Master-Commander John Thomas.

The Formidable, 84, has been hauled in the dock
vacated by the /Eolus, where she continues her fittings
for commission.

The Birkenhead steamer is to have a complement of
100 officers and men, and be accompanied by a com-
mander. She will be ready for the pendant the first week
in November.

The Rover cutter, Lieutenant Stephen, has again pro-
ceeded to the northern ports, to enter seamen fur the navy.
The Duck lighter arrived from Woolwich on Saturday,
with stores for the dockyard.
The Worcester, 50, with the exception of her masts,
has been discharged from the basin, complete in her
fittings, as an advance-ship.
Captain Arthur struck his broad pendant on board the
Ocean on Monday morning, Vice-Admiral Sir Edward
King, the Commander-in-Chief, having returned to his
command.

NAVAL PREPARATIONS IN
FRANCE.

The Presse announces, that important contracts have
been concluded by the Minister of Marine at the ports
of Cherbourg, Brest, L'Orient, Toulon, and Rochefort.
"It is known," adds the Presse, " that the Chambers,
during the last session, struck with the deplorable defi-
ciency which appeared in the stock of oak in the dock-
yards, voted considerable credit to the Minister of
Marine to enable him to procure a sufficient supply.
The late contracts were concluded in ,compliance
with this resolution of the Chambers, and amount
to not less than from 25,000 francs to 30,000
francs, and embrace a period of three years.
The amount of these contracts, and the political
importance, which is so legitimately attached to
every matter which constitutes our maritime resources,
justify the care which we have taken to collect accurate
information relative to the contracts concluded in the
different ports, and which have been submittal tfuld
m;.-,;.. c___ • _ • •
amount to 32,260 steres of oak; for Brest, 40,150 steres;
for Cherbourv, 24,960 stores; for L'Orifnt...tstpro:.)f;
and for Rochefort, 32,910 stexes. The ,
comparison
the quantity contracted for the secondary ports
with that for Toulon, leads us to suppose that the
upon other resources, otherwise it would
be difficult to explain the improvidence of neglecting
our principal naval arsenal in the Mediterranean,
which may be called some day to perform an
important par: during a political complication. Eng-
land possesses more foresight ; she purchases enormous
quantities of timber in the Adriatic and in the Black
Sea. Why should not we imitate her ? After the
burning of the Mourillon, at Toulon, the Mnister of
Marine gave orders to one of our most experienced
engineers, to explore the abundant stock 01 timber for
ship building to be found in the neighbourhood of the
Black Sea. That engineer has returned, he has
rendered an account of his mission, and, if we are well
informed, his report has fully justified the previous in-
,rmation. A new source of supply for our arsenals may
be opened in that quarter. But even that must not dis-
pense with our internal resources, and in this respect the
administration of some of our ports has ill understood
the mission intrusted to it.

CITY OF LONDON MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.—The
second quarterly meeting of the elocution class belong..
ing to this establishment took place last night in the lec-
ture room of the institution, Gould-square, Crutched
Friars, on which occasion several young gentlemen,
members of the class, recited selections from the works
of our best dramatists, including Shakspere, Otway,
Sheridan, and Centlivre. There was a due proportion
' the " grave and gay" comprised in the entertainment
aPPe"-,ts most creditable to those who provided it, and
audience u. -,ve the utmost satisfaction to a crowded
Rowley oecupteu
wai,and_nemong those who took
and friends of the institution. Mr.
part in the recitatio..:
rQh,and Cross.. The.
ssrs. George, Walter,
celaarsrs°al'pp9elaldloFcuormYbine the tw
dividual improvement and the gene-
institution. of aiding tn..
-6 of
THUNDER STORM IN SPANISH Towx.—.. the
severe thunder storm was experienced in Spanish
between three and four o'clock on Sunday last, which was
succeeded by one of the heaviest falls of rain within the
recollection of the oldest inhabitants. In this city
(Kingston) the rain commenced early yesterday morn-
ing, and continued for the whole day wita little or no
intermission. The streets overflowed with water, and in
consequence very little if any business was transacted.—
Jamaica Morning Journal, Sept. 23.
WANTON DESTRUCTION OF SHEEP IN THE ESSEX

MARSHES.—For the last two or three Sundays the in-
habitants of Plaistow and East Hain have been subjeeed

to considerable annoyance by the incursion of a largo
number of Cockney sportsmen into the parish, for the
ostensible purpose of spending the Sabbath by shooting
in the marshes, but as the following will show, for the
real purpose of doing considerable damage to the sheep
and cattle turned into the marshes prior to being brought
up to Smithfield Market. The "sportsmen," who ge-
nerally belong to the working classes from the neigh-
bourhood of Shoreditch and Whitechapel, muster in con-
siderable force. as many as from thirty to forty being
seen " popping" at whatever may come in their way at
a time. During the last week a number of sheep have
been taken ill, and on one or two of them dying they
were opened, and a large quantity of shot discovered in
their insides. Others have been driven into the deep
ditches with which the marshes abound, and have been
drowned. Three men were arrested on a charge of the
above description, and taken before the magistrates at
Ilford Petty Sessions. They were, however, discharged,
owing to some informality.
DESTRUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE BY

1...7 A. I •.a \A W.. •••
FIRE.—MArDsTorrE, OCT. 17.—The night before last a
disastrous fire broke out on the farm premises of Mr.
Alichin, of Linton, near this town. Mr. Allchin was
from home at the time, but one of his neighbours wit-
nessed at a distance the first burst of the flames, and
hastened to give the alarm. The most laud.ble alacrity
was at once evinced by all within bail to render assist-
ance, none being more assiduous or daring in their
efforts to stop the ravages of the flames than the labourers,
especially those in Mr. Allchin's employ, many of
them exposing themselves to imminent peril by ascend-
ing to the top of the burning stacks and attempting to
tread out the flames, until the fire acquired such an
ascendancy that they had no time to descend by the
ladders, but were obliged to throw themselves off pre2i-
pitately to avoid being consumed. An engine from
Maidstone was quickly on the spot, but all efforts to
stay the destruction were in vain—upwards of 160
quarters of wheat and 100 loads of straw falling a
prey to the devouring element. Fortunately Mr. All.
chin is insured.

WIGAN.—RAPID RISE IN PRICE OF PROVISIONS.—.
This is now the prevailing topic, and people complain of
their bread being advanced to 2d. per pound, and of its
inferior quality, owing to its being adulterated with an
excessive quantity of Indian meal and potatoes. Typhus
fever is very rife here, and seems on the inc•rease, and
some precaution is necessary to prevent the disease from
spreading amongst dense localities, but there can be
little hope whilst the staple food of the population is
mixed with diseased ingredients. It is said in the
neighbourhood of Wigan, that some of the corn-law
repealers have bought up large quantities of American
flour, as speculations likely to turn out profitable. The
people ought to petition Government, urgently, to open
the ports immediately, both for their own sake and tct
thwart the ends of the avaricious speculators who are
seeking to accumulatc wealth from a starving people.—
Preston Chronicle.

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