The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-05 00:00:00

PROMOTION,-

.ratio; _Salamander,
and latterly First-Lieutenant of the Vixen steam sloop,
whose gallantry and skill in the affair of St. Juan de Ni-
caragua was the subject of official commendation, has
been appointed to the rank of Commander, his commis-
sion beat lug date the 28th of June.
The Fox, 42, Commodore Sir Henry Blackwood, Bart.,
will be paid off to-morrow.

SHIPS IN POUT -AND FITTING..
In Harbour.—The Victory, 22, flag ship ; the Illus-.
trious, 10 ordinary guardship ; the Blake, receiving
hulk, guardship of steamers ; the Fox, 42 ; the Victoria
and Albert, Royal yacht.; the Excellent gunnery prac-
tice ship ; the Rolla, exercise brig for boys ; the Fanny.
Port-Admiral's yacht ; the Portsmouth, superintendent's
yacht ; the Sharpshooter, Fairy, Lightning, Myrtle, Fire
Queen, and Echo steam-vessels.
In Dock.—The Ajax, b 6, steam guardsbip ; the En-
counter steam-vessel; the Carysfort, 26 ; the Pembroke,
72, the Sharpshooter steam vessel, and the Cormorant,
steam-sloop.
In the basin for ships.—The Malabar, coal depot; the
Orestes, 18.
In the basin for steamers.—The Retribution, Centaur,
Salamander, Dwarf, Gleaner, and Jackall.
At Spithead.—The Powerful, 84, and the Virago
steam-sloop.
Building.—The Royal Frederick, 110 ; the Prince of
Wales, 110 ; the Princess Royal, 90 ; the Argus and the
Furious steam-sloops.
Wind, W.S. W.; moderate breezes and cloudy weather.
Woorawics, Atm. 4.—The Reynard steam-vessel,
Commander Cracroft, having taken in her powder from
Put fleet on Wednesday,. left Greenhithe yesterday for
Portsmouth, and after receiving further instructions at
that port, will proceed to the coast of Ireland. Ac-
cording to present arrangements, after trying her com-
parative merits with other vessels of Rear-Admiral Sir
Charles Napier's squadron, she will ultimately proceed
to the coast of Africa.
When the Termagant, 24-gun frigate, went down the
river on Tuesday last on au experimental trip, she had
not a fair opportunity of testing her speed until she ar-
rived at the Nore, when, instead of going direct to
Sheerness, she proceeded into the deep Water, and had
two fine runs with and against the tide from the Nore
to the Mouse-light and back, and a greater degree of
steam being obtained than she bad in the river, her
speed increased from 7.12 to 91 knots on the average.
Lieut. Robertson and -Mr. Elson, master attendant in
charge of the 'vessel, Mr. Atherton, chief engineer of
the Woolwich Dockyard, Mr. White, who designed her,
and Mr. Seaward, who fitted-her engines, with a party
of friends, returned in the Monkey steamer on the fol-
lowing morning from Sheerness.
CHATHAM, Aua. 4.—The Mars, 80 guns, recently
launched at this dockyard,, was taken into dock on the
2d instant to have her bottom coppered. When finished
she will be laid up in ordinary.
The Columbia steam-vessel was taken into dock on
Wednesday last to have her,defeets made good, and to be
fitted for sea.
The Spy, 3-gun- ifitigantine, fitting for service, it is
expected, will take out' the September mail to the coast
of Africa.
The ship George 'Wilkinson, Mr. Brown master, has
h has
discharged arrived
arrived from Quebec with a cargo of timber for the
dockyard; also the ship South Durham, Mr. T. Ayr°
master, from Leghorn, with a cargo of timber.
nc k Mr. Jo h
and after
she master,
has
stores'lhe fromD Woolwich,
cargo she will reload with stores for Devonport.

EXCURSION TRAINS TO SCOTLAND.—The first di-
vision of these trains left the Euston Station, Euston-
square, on Monday evening last, at a quarter before
seven. It will be gratifying to the friends of those who
were of the party to know that they arrived safe in Edin-
burgh, on Tuesday, at one O'cIOCIC.
COMMENCEMENT OF THE OYSTER SEASON.—Yester-
day morning, at six o'clock, the annual sale of oysters
commenced at Billingsgate and Hungerford Markets.
There was an ample supply and a brisk demand at both
marts.;
• I LIE CONDEMNED CONVICT BuRTON.—IIUNTING-
DON, FRIDAY.—At the late Assizes for this county,
Charles Burton, a rag and bone collector, was left by
Baron Parke for execution for cutting the. throats of
his infant and child, at Stilton, near Peterborough. At
the trial the medical man gave it as his decided belief
that the wretched man was not in a sane state of mind
when he committed the shocking act. In a memorial
which ofState,thpera)h.iigngh
for a remission of the sentence, this important fact, with
others tending to show that insanity was common in the
convict'safsafinoiriwy,arwdsesd tsoetthoeutS,
yesterdayeacnrerydta
sheriff of the county received a communication from Sir
George Grey, to the effect that the Crown had ordered a
w
respite of the convict till the 10th of April, 1849 (Spring
Assizes), when he will, in all probability, be tried upon
the other indictment for the murder of the child, and
all the evidence relating to his insanity will be gone
into.
COMMENCEMENT OF HARVEST.—Wheat cutting
has partially commenced in this neighbourhood, and will
shortly be in full operation. An opinion generally pre-
vails that on the (higher soils the produce will be d. fes-
tive. There is some truth in that opinion. But when
it is considered that, on the lower lands, the crop is re-
markably luxuriant, the inference may be fairly drawn,
provided fine weather prevails, that we shall have a fair
. average crop,—.Doncaster Gazette. •