The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-06 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, JAN. s.—Her Majesty's brig Bittern,
Commander Hope, came to Spithead on Saturday morn-
ing. She was kept in the Downs some days by bad
weather. It would appear that the Bittern was hurried
from the port of Sheerness without being sufficiently
fitted, or a smart gale of wind has done her much injury,
for she has produced a long list of defects, and this
morning it was found necessary to send out a party of
shipwrights and carpenters in the Echo steamer, to put
her in a fit state to go to sea. Her chain messenger,
rudder, and sundry other matters are out of order. The
dockyard artificers will be occupied fire days. She is
then to be paid, and probably will not sail for the coast
of Africa before the middle of next week.
In former times, when men of war had trifling defects,
they were made good by the carpenter and his crow, but
now the dockyard aid is generally required. The hurry
and bustle which took place at Sheerness in getting the
Bittern to sea, has been the means of retarding her, so
much being required now she has arrived at Spithead.
Unless counter orders should come down, Commander
Hope will carry out the Government money to the colony
of Sierra Leone, and the dispatches for Commodore
Jones. The period fixed for this officer to meet the
French Admiral at Fernando Po is postponed, owing to
ti e melanaholy wreck of the French steamer Papin,
bound to Senegal.

The Daring brig has been paid this day, and she is to
Fal 1 on Wednesday morning for Bermuda and the West
Indies, taking officers and dispatches for the Admiral on
the station.

The Retribution first-class steamer, another vessel
fitted at one of the Eastern ports, has so many defects,
that the dock-yard officers report they have a fortnight's
work fur them to perform. She may probably require
docking ; however, as she is not wanted immediately,
being intended to form one of the experimental squadron
of steamers, to be tried in the spring, the delay is not of
so much importance. The Scourge, another of the ex-
perimental steamers, is in dock to have her copper in-
spected, and can be ready next week if wanted ; with a
10-inch n4ortar, and a 56-pounder long gun on board,
she will prove a most valuable auxiliary in any squadron
required to act offensively.
The Alban steam-transport has been in dock as long
as requisite, and will complete her refit alongside the
jetty. About this day week she will be ready for sea,
and goes to Plymouth and Cork, taking marines to
re-
place invalids and others that have left the battalion in
Ireland.

The Rodney, 92, goes into dock on the 9th fora tide
only, unless more serious injury to her copper is dis-
covered than expected. It is believed she will be sent
on foreign service, with relief troeps, as the 24th and 73d
regiments are on the roster to relieve two corps coming
home.

It appears that the breaking down of the General
Palmer transport, at Gibraltar (declared unfit on sur-
vey), is the cause of the Canopus, 84, being ordered to
perform her duty, and she has doubtless been selected in
preference to the Albion, Superb, and Vanguard, in con-
sequence of her very superior capacity to stow water, a
great quantity being required for troops. The Rodney
has already shown her power of accommodation as a
troop ship, having carried the 7th Dragoon Guards to
the Cape of Good Hope.
The Janus, the Earl ofDundonald's projection, and on
which some thousands of pounds have been expended, is
to come to this port, to see if Mr. Taplin, and his able
assistants at the metal mills in the dock-yard, can
make her a serviceable vessel. If she can be rendered
seaworthy she will form one of the squadron of experi-
mental steamers.

The President, 50, with the flag of Rear-Admiral
Dacres, was at Madeira on the 27th, all well ; and
would sail for the Cape next day. They had two days
bad weather in the Channel; but afterwards everything
was as pleasant as could be wished. The Alecto steamer
was also at Madeira at the same time. Both vessels left
their ports on the 10th December.

The Endymion,44, has beencompelled to put into Fal-
mouth by stress of weather; she was there on the Ist of
January.
The annual entry of twenty-five shipwrights' appren-
tices in this dock-yard took place this day • they are
nominated by the Admiralty, and generally the children
of mechanics working in the yard.
WOOLWICH, JAR. s.—ln addition to the Polyphemus
being paid off to-morrow (Tuesday), the crews of the
William and Mary yacht and ihe Black Eagle steam-
vessel will be paid wages due to the 30th June last.
The Harpy steam-vessel, Lieut.-Commander H. B.
Procter, is ordered to be hastened, and the workmen are
to be employed extra time upon her.
Mr. Egerton J. Filmore, son of the late Captain Fit-
more, RN., is appointed to the third class Admiralty
Register-office for Seamen.

THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT ON
THE NORFOLK RAILWAY.

ADJOURNED INQUEST.
THETFORD, MONDAY NICUT.—The inquiry concern-
ing the deaths of William Pickering, engine-driver, and
Richard Hedger, stoker, who lost their lives by the re-
cent accident on the Norfolk Railway, was resumed for
the third time at the Guildhall ,his morning, before the
same jury and Mr. Robert Eagle Clark, the borough
coroner.
The CORONER, in re-opening the investigation, re-
marked that in compliance with the jury's request, he
had forwarded a letter to Sir James Graham, the Secre-
tary of State, desiring that Government would send down
a competent engineer to examine the line, in order to
give them the fullest information in coming to a verdict,
to which he had received the following reply :
Whitehall, Dec. 31, 1845.
" Sir—l am directed by the S‘cietary, Sir J. Graham,
to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 30th inst., rela-
tive to the inquest which you are holding on the bodies
of the engine driver and stoker recently killed on the
Norfolk Railway, and I am to inform you that a copy of
your letter has been forwarded to the President of the
Board of Trade, to whose department the matter more
immediately relates.-1 am, Sir, your obedient servant,
" S. M. PHILLIPS.
ee B. B. Clark, Esq., coroner for Norfolk, Thetford."
Mr. Till, the secretary, and several others connected
with the railway company, being present,
The CORONER then asked the gentlemen who repre-
sented the Company, if they knew General Pasley in-
tended to attend the inquiry, or whether they had
any communication from him ?
Mr. Till, the secretary, said he had no instructions
from that gentleman. General Pasley called upon him
at his office on Saturday, and informed him that his re-
ports of accidents were sent to the Board of Trade,
which forwarded them to the House of Commons, when
they were printed. Ile generally admitted the incon-
venience of such a course, but that he had no power to
remedy it. He visited the spot of the accident on Wed-
nesday, and saw the foreman of the jury, and he (Mr.
Till) did not hear any communication made to him that
it was the desire of the jury that he should attend and
give evidence at that inquiry.
The CORONER replied that it was very desirable that
the jury should have the General's opinion as to the