The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-15 00:00:00

Her Ma:*.ty's paddle-wheel steamer Vesuvius, COM
manger 11031 e, is undergoing active repairs in theWhel-
wich Dockyard. Her principal damages were confined
to the rigging, which have been made good by the arti-
sans of the fleet. The Vesuvius has rendered important
services in her reconnoitring surveys over the enemy's
'movements throughout the whole of the. siege, and was
under fire during most of the operations since the cern•
meecement of the war. She sailed frora Portsmouth on the
111th of August, 1853, and proceeded to Gibraltar,
Malta, and the Bosphorus, whence she had to return to
Malta to ship new boilers. Thence she took out the
28th ]Regiment to Callip `.eyed the Black Sea
during the fearful gale in whieh the Tiger was lost.
She subsequently accompanied two French vessels with
traops to the Crimea. The Vesuvious has been men-
' tionei in the despatches as having performed some con-
spicuous parts. She was at the Sulina Mouth, where
she suffered the loss of five men, and the second master
was wounded. In an action at Sebastopol her beam
was cut away and some shot passed through and lodged
in her hull. At the Alma the well-directed fire of the
Vesuvius forced the left wing of the Russians from their
forward movement. She was also in some desperate
attacks with the Samson, Fury, and Terrible, at Sebas
topnl, and towed her Majesty's ship Queen to the atack
on Fort Constantine. On the 14th of November the
Vesuvius lost her mainmast, mizenmast, bowsprit, and
three guns (one a 68-pounder), in a gale, and went
into Ealaklava a complete wreck at the time, when 11
other ships foundered close to her. Fur five months she
was emp!oyed supplying men and officers for the batte-
ries, and doing harbour master's duty ; Captain Powell,
her commanding officer at the period, obtained his pro.
motion, when Capt. Sherard Osborn succeeding to the
comneand, refitted, and blockaded Kertch, and being
senior officer there fired the -first shot. They were there
met by the fleet, and were enabled to cover the landing
of the army under the command of Sir G. Brown. The
Vesuvius then anchored off Yenikale, entered the Sea of
Azoff, with orders from the Admiralty to seize, burn, •
destroy all public property within reach. Afterwards
she, took the rounds, with Captain Edmund Lyons, in
bombarding Arabat, and destroyed all stores, granaries,
and other Government property in Taganrog,Marionpol,
Gheisk, l3erdiansky, Genitch, and anchored off Peto,
where the Vesuvius was obliged to remain for six months
till the end of the a aeon, and thence scoured the.whols
coast. The refitting her boilers, &e., and other neces.
eery repairs will not be completed under six weeks. The
medals were distributed on Saturday on board to the
officers and crew, who have likewise a claim to the Alma
clasp, having been actively employed in the whole of
that engagement. With an intention of bombarding the
town ofPetrefsberge at the entrance of the river Berdo,
the Vesuvius having anchored off the town, a field bat-
tery opened fire on her, cutting away her fore shroud,
royal yard in rigging, and doing her severe injury ; but
the men were speedily at their quarters, and before they
had forced a dozen shells the earthwork forts were dis-
mounted, and the enemy were obliged tee retreat with
their field pieces, not having a sufficient force to main
tain a resistance. The Vesuvius did not at the time
land her crew, but ultimately returned with the allied
squadrons and shelled the town, landed the crews of the
vessels, which were attacked by the artillery in the rear,
and destroyed the fsrtifications. When refitted, tse
Vesuvius will be despatched for operations in the Baltic
next spring.
Her Majesty's steam-sloop Pearl has received her crew
and marines from the hulk. The Devastation has
shipped her life-boats, and will go from the inner to the
outer basin to-day. The Kite, third-class paddle-wheel
steamer, from Bermuda, has arrived at .Woolwich to be
refitted and rigged.
The following appointments were made yesterday at
the Admiralty :
Vice-Admiral Manley H. Dixon to the Reserved List
of flag officers in receipt of service pensions, Vice-Ad-
miral Curry, deceased. Henry Lamb, acting second
master, to the Magicienne.
The sailing transport Nelson is embarking at Clarence-
yard, Portsmouth, 500 tons of provisions of various
kinds for the army in the Crimea.
The Cmsar, 91, screw-ship, Captain Robb, was taken
out of dock at Portsmouth yesterday, having had a
thorough overhaul.
The Lucifer steam-vessel sailed yesterday from Ports-
mouth for Pembroke, with Mr. Tonkin, Second Master
Attendant, of the first-named dockyard, and a narty of
riggers, to navigate round the new screw-sloop Pioneer,
of 6 guns.
Major Boyd, of Roslare-house, Wexford, has received
the following letter from the Earl of Cardigan, in answer
to one addressed to his lordship on the subject of the
contemplated monument to the men and officers, natives
of Wexford, who fell during the present war.
" London, Jan. 6.
" reply to your letter of the 23d ult., I beg to
state that I shall have much pleasure in giving my sup-
port to the object you have in view, viz., to do honour to
the memory of any officers or men who fell in the memor-
able charge of the Light Cavalry at Balaklava' and in
which I must say, although I had the honour of leading
it, every officer and man distinguished himself by his gal-
lantry—every man doing his duty. I am also happy, more
particularly, to pay every respect to the memory of Lient.
Haughton, who had served some time in the 11th Hussars,
under my command. " CARDIGAN.
" Major Boyd, J.P."
The following detachments of regiments embarked
yesterday on board the screw-transport Borussia, No.
33, at Portsmouth, for conveyance to the Mediterranean :
ithißoyal Fusiliers—Lieut. Courtenay, Ensign C,ek,,,
Ensign Kirwan, and 84 men ; 23d Royal Welch Fusi-
liers- Ensign Delmnee, Ensign Romilly, and 100 men ;
East Kent Militia—Ensign Bridges, Ensign Suden, and
20 men ; Northampton Militia-48 men Commander
W. A mshurst, of the Princess Royal, 91 screw, is a
pas-en,r,-r in this ship She takes out a quenrity of
ordnance stores arid 130 tens of ground coffee, 70 tons
•if an, & for the army. Flavitrz embarked the rh
rrson, the Berre.sie went nut of harbeur, and, after tak-
ing po ider at Spithead, will sail for her destination,
saltine a!, Plymouth to embark a d. ta,chment of the
Land Transport Corps.
The depot of the 59th Regiment, in the Belfast dis-
trict, being about 600 strong, an order from the Horse
Guards has been received, calling for volunteer,, to an
unlimited number, for corps in the Crimea—the volun-
teers to receive a guinea bounty, one-half to be raid im-
mediately, and the remaining half when they join their
new corps.

THE NAVY.—We yesterday made a few observations
on the duties of those contractors who have undertaken
to deliver at a certain time the vessels entrusts 1 to them
to build by the Admiralty, and we do hope that we shall
not be compelled by any dilatory acts on their part to
allude more particularly to the subject. There is an old
saying, which will and must apply in this cave, " Where
there is a will there is a way." The vessels have been
contracted for ; the Lords of the Admiralty gave the
prices asked, and it is too late now to begin making ex-
cuses. The surveyor of the navy is not an unreasonable
man. On the contrary, he is considerate to a degree, and
he will exact nothing to which the most fastidious and
crotchetty person could object. The shipbuilders have
grown wealthy under the protection afforded to them
by the navy ; and a moment like the present, when
" England expects that every man will do his duty," is
a fitting time for them to show their gratitude even by
making some pecuniary sacrifice to meet the emergency.
We repeat our words of yesterday, let masters and men
commune together in a proper spirit, and all will be
well. To be determined to overcome difficulties is half
the battle in getting rid of them.—Morning Herald.