The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-04 00:00:00

APPOINTMENTS.

Midshipman—A. W. B. Blackwood, to the Prince
Regent 90-gun ship in the squadron of exercise.
Naval Cadet--J. R. D. Cooper, to the Brilliant cor-
vette, on the Cape of Good Hope station.
CHATHAM, SEPT. I.—The Southampton, 50 guns,
Captain Nicholas Cory, was towed out of this harbour
by the African and Fearless steam-vessels and navigate d
to the Nore this day, and, after being inspected by the
Port-Admiral, will sail for Plymouth, when Rear-Ad-
miral Reynolds will re-hoist his flag and proceed to the
Cape.
The Mars, 80 guns, having been coppered up to light
water mark, and fitted for a state of ordinary, was put
out of dock on Wednesday last, and was immediately
towed to her moorings at Gillingham-reach by the Fear-
less and African steam-vessels.
The Acorn, 16 guns, was taken into dock yesterday, to
have her defects made good, and to be brought forward
for commission.
The Warspite, 50 guns, advanced ship, was towed from
Gillingham-reach to the sheer hulk yesterday, by the
African and Fearless steam-vessels, to have her masts
and bowsprit put in their places; she received them this
day, and will resume her former moorings to-morrow.
CAPTURE OF SLAVERS.—The Penelope steam-frigate,
Commodore Sir Charles Hotham, K.C.8., arrived at Lo-
ando on the 25th of June, and remained there on the
Ist of July—all well. On their way down they fell in
with the steam-slaver Theresa, on the 22d of June, about
60 miles off Kabenda. The morning was very foggy,
and they were close to her before she could make
any attempt to escape. She was sent to St. Helena
for condemnation; she had no slaves on board. The
Penelope expected to leave for England about the end of
October. The slavers are tumbling in very briskly; the
captures will exceed those of any other period. The
Contest was at Loando on the 24th of June, all well.
On the 3d of May she captured a vessel with 497 slaves,
and on the 14th of May she destroyed a vessel of 252
tons. _ .

PORTSMOUTH, SEPT. 3.—The Fairy Royal yacht
will embark her Majesty and the Court to-morrow
morning at Cowes, and convey them to this port en
route to London.
The Myrtle steam-vessel, Acting-Master Balliston
commanding, came into harbour yesterday for a supply
of coals, which she took in, and then was dispatched to
Plymouth and Cork with supernumeraries for the brigs
of Sir Charles Napier's squadron to take out to the
stations (Brazils, Mediterranean, West Indies, and
China) to which they will be severally dispatched on re-
turning to Cork. The Myrtle has been surveying under
Captain Sherringham during the past week.
Lieutenant George Fraser (1821) died at Chichester
on the 26th ult. He was midshipman of the Revenge,
and served in her boats at the cutting out of a privatut r
from Palamos in 1813, for which he was gazetted.
Ho
was the youngest son of the late Major-General Fraser,
of Ashling-house, Sussex.
Sir Charles Napier's squadron was passed off Cape
Clear on Wednesday last by the Troubador merchant-
ship, arrived in port.
The Admiralty have ordered that in the future distri-
bution of prize money the engineer boys of the first and
second classes shall share the award in the 10th class,
and boys of the third and fourth classes to share in the

filth class.
The work for the Government Artesian well in the
meadow lines opposite the Queen's rooms, Portsea, has
commenced, The shaft has been sunk, and the boring
has begun.
The Asia, 84, Captain M. Stopford, flag of Rear-
Admiral Phipps lioinby, C. 8., Commander-in-Chief
in the Pacific, was at Callao on the 12th of July, till
well.

Th© Plover, Commander Moore, arrived at Callao
from England on the 4th of July, and sailed on the sth

for Behring's Straits, en route to the Arctic seas, to search
for Sir John Franklin.

Dr. Alexander M'Kechnie, surgeon and medical stone-
keeper of the Royal Hospital at Haslar, it is expected
will be appointed Deputy Medical Inspector of the Nt, val
Hospital at Malta, vice Watt, deceased.
The Kingfisher, 12, is to be ready for commission by
the Bth inst. at this port, to convey the October mail to t be
Coast of Africa.

Wind W., light breezes, and fine weather.
PLYMOUTH, ►SHPT. I.—Her Majesty's steam
Hermes, 6, sailed yesterday for the river Shannon, with
50 seamen and riggers, to bring to this port the Andro-
meda and Andromache depots.
Her Majesty's packet Crane, 6,Lieutenant-Commander
John Parsons, sailed this morning. She leaves Falmouth
on the 6th inst. for the Brazils.

Her Majesty's brigantine Spy, 3, Master Commander
James I'. Moon, from Chatham, is now (four o'clock
P.m.) under Penlee, reaching into the Sound. Orders
are received for her to be got ready immediately and
forwarded to her destination, the Coast of Africa.
WOOLWICH, SEPT. 2.—The Plumper steam-vessel,
fitted with a screw propeller, went down the river at
eleven o'clock on Friday last under the charge of Lieu-
tenant Robertson, and was tried three times down and
three times up the measured mile at Long Reach,
making an average ,speed of rather more than six
knots and a quarter per hour, the engines making 40
revolutions per minute. The engines are by Miller
and Ravenhill, and work well, but cannot be got up
to their full speed, owing, it is supposed, to the ves-
sel being too full at the stern. Captain Halstead. R.N.,
and several scientific persons were on board during the
trip.
The Sharpshooter is ordered to be taken into dock to
have some alterations made in her stern, as she does not
steer well; and it is now ascertained that vessels with
full sterns are not eligible for the application of the
screw propeller, and that they acquire greater speed
when their bows are of considerably less draught of
water, the great immersion of the screw propeller giving
it a greater purchase in the water. The Teaser is having
her stern altered at Deptford to a more tapering form
and one of the two rudders with which she WU tried will
be dispensed with in future.
WOOLWICH DOCKYARD BRIGADE.—The thunderstorm
on Thursday evening last prevented the conclusion of
the drills on the 31st of August, and the men assembled
for exercise on the parade-ground on thelst ofSepteinber
and went through their evolutions in a very creditable
manner, having made excellent progress during the drill
season.

The Boat Brigade finished their ball practice in the
marshes on Thursday afternoon, and out of the thirty-
five shots tired at 950 yards' range, the target was twice
knocked down and five shots perforated it. The prac-
tice was carried on although a sloop was anchored in
the range, warning haying been given to her to move,
but the parties on beard paid no attention to the order.