The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-01 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
THE SCREW•PHIGATE ARROGANT AND THE WEST-
ERN SQUADRON.—The auxiliary screw steam-frigate
Arrogant, Captain Robinson, as we have stated, arrived
at Spithead on Sunday, bringing news from the squa-
dron up to the 17th of December. The whole of the
officers of this ship speak very highly of her in every
respect. In her speed under sail she was but little in-
ferior to any of the ships, less than might have been ex-
pected to result from the great weights she has to carry
in machinery and coals, and from the relatively less power
of sail. Several letters have been received by this ship,
and, according to the usage in separate statements of the
performances of ships under trial, there are great dis
crepancies in the accounts of the relative merits of the
several ships. In accounts received, the Arethusa, 50,
Captain Symonds, it is alleged, is the crack ship in
strong winds—the ship under the most direct comparison
with her being the Phaeton, 50. Captain Elliott. In
the neighbourhood of the Isle of Wight extracts of a
letter from the captain of the Arethusa have been put
into circulation stating that on the 18th of
November, the two ships being under all
sail on a wind—Arethusa standing up well,
and Phaeton inclining a good deal—the Are-
thusa beating at the rate of quarter of a mile an
hour—the Phaeton was disabled in the trial. Of the
Leander, 50, Captain Dacres, and other ships, it is stated
they " were literally nowhere, as we beat them nearly a
mile :an hour. Nothing could be more easy than Are-
thusa." On the next day, the 19th, a further trial was
made, the Arethusa being directed to form close to the
Phaeton, both being under close-reefed topsails. " Are-
thusa shook out three reefs, all the others two. Phaeton,
however, very unwillingly, apparently, shook out another
just before starting." The signal was then made to
carry all possible sail on a wind-10 minutes afterwards
we were all started, when Arethusa set topgallant
sails over single-reefed top-sails, courses, jib, and
spanker. Phaeton sent men up to loose topgallant sails,
but their hearts failed them, and the men were called
down. For 40 minutes we sailed, going nine knots
against a very considerable head sea, weathering and
fore-reaching fast on Phaeton, who seemed to pitch ex-
ceedingly heavy, for her bowsprit seemed to me to dip
under the water, and I saw her run from amidships to
right aft when she pitched. The easiness of the Are-
thusa was the astonishment and remark of all
on board. The Phaeton carried away her jib-
boom and both topsail sheets, whilst the
Arethusa continued some time longer on her
course. The Arrogant's top-gallant sails and jib were
blown away, and she and the Leander were left far to
leeward. The Phaeton having reported by signal that
her foretopmast was sprung, she was ordered to Eng-
land to repair her defects. The captain of the Are-
thusa observei :—" Curiously enough, in the only three
breezes we have had, Phaeton has been each time dis-
abled, and bas also broken several topsail yards, while
Arethusa has never carrit d away a royal sheet or
strained a rope yarn." A little at variance with all this,
Captain Elliot stated of his ship, the Phaeton, when she
was recently in England, that she was very easy in her
motions ; and as to speed, that she beat the whole
squadron 1 What confidence oan be placed in such con-
flicting statements ? Who can so discriminate as to se-
parate the true from the fake part of such reports ?
Such er parte accounts of ships' performances cannot
promote the interests of the navy, but they tend rather
to make its operatious the object of ridicule. Zeal is in-
dispensable to a good officer, but zeal without discretion
subserves a very foolish object."
From our experience of the flaming reports of the ex-
surveyor's ship, we place not the slightest confidence in
them. We remember too well the terms that Captain
Roue applied to them, and we also remember the cruises
of the Flying Fish and Espiegle.—Herald,
The Rev. J. Jenkins has been appointed chaplain to
the Victory, flag-ship at Portsmouth, and not the Belle-
rophon, 78, at Devonport; the Rev. T. W. Bennett is
the chaplain of the Bellerophon, having been re-ap-
pointed to that ship, and obtained leave of absence pre-
vious to joining her.
We are sorry to say that Captain Sir Henry Black-
wood, of the Vengeance, 84, at Portsmouth, has been
seriously ill at his lodgings in High-street. He is rather
better, but still confined to his bed.

Captain G. IL Seymour will commission the Win-
chester, 50, at Portsmouth, on Wednesday, the Bth of
January, as the flag-ship of his father, Vice-Admiral
Sir G. F. Seymour, to relieve the Wellesley, 72, on the
West India station. The Winchester was taken out of
dock yesterday, and put under the sheers and masted.
She will immediately have a gang of riggers put on her.
Amphitrite, 25, Captain Frederick, is receiving her
tanks, stowing her holds, and receiving her anchors, at
Portsmouth. She has not entered many seamen. There
seems to be a great scarcity at Portsmouth, for Captain
Frederick is a popular man, and Jack is generally a good
judge. _ _ _

frlonde, frigate-bulk, has been taken into dock at
Portsmouth, in lieu of the Winchester, to be coppered.
Electra, 14, and Rapid, 8, have been removed from
the basin up the harbour to ordinary moorings at Ports-
mouth, having been reported ready for commissioning.
PRIZE MONEY FOR THE PHILOMEL.—Messrs. Stilwell
have given notice to the officers and company of the
Philomel, Willoughby J. Lake, Esq., acting commander,
that they will be paid, on Tuesday, the 29th of January
next, at No. 22, Arundel-street, Strand, their respective
proportion of tonnage bounties for the Albertina, seized
July 3, 1849, and that the list will be re-called o❑ Tues-
days and Thursdays for the three following months:—
Flag share, 531. I Is. 3d.; commander's share, 2541. 18s.
51.; third class, 331. 19s. 9d.; fourth, 161. 10s. lid.;
fifth, 151.55. 11d.; sixth, 101. 3s. I Id.; seventh, 81. 9s. Ild.;
eighth, 61. 15s. lid.; ninth, 51. Is. lid.; tenth, 31. Bs.;
eleventh, 2/. 1 Is.; twelfth, 1/. 14,..; thirteenth, 11. ss. 6d.
PRIZE MONEY FOR THE CENTAUR.—Messrs. Still-
well have given notice that accounts of the proceeds and
tonnage bounties for the slave felucca Sirens, fe:zed
31st May, and name unknown, seized 12th June, 1849,
by the steam-frigate Centaur, flag-ship on the coast of
Africa, will be deposited on the 26th inst.
PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 21.—The royal yacht Victoria
and Albert, Captain Lord Adolphus Pitzularence,G.C.il.,
was paid off this day. All her officers except the
master were re-appointed, and ho will be provided with a
more comfortable berth.

The Arrogant, 46, Captain Robinson, steamed into
harbour to refit this morning.
The Fantome, 14, Commander Gennys, bent sails last
evening. She will be ready this week to proceed to New
Zealand.

WOOLWICH, DEC. 31.—Paymaster and Purser Thomas
Rowe (1812) has been appointed to the Cumberland, 70,
guardship of ordinary at Chatham.
The whole of the children or Sunday-school scholars
attending the dockyard school were yesterday invited to
take tea, and about 150 very clean and tidy children sat
down to an excellent repast in the school-room, which
was decorated with the flags of all nations and appro-
priate mottoes. The Rev. J. C. Connolly presided on
the occasion, and the pleasing spectacle was witnessed
by almost all the heads of the departments. There was
an ample supply of cake and cottage broad, and the
children aGparated shortly after eight o'clock, p.m., highly
gratified with their pleasant tea-party.