The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-29 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, FRIDAY.—The Simoom iron serew-frigate-
steamer was taken out by Captain Henderson, of the Blen-
heim, this morning,-along the measured mile in Stakes Bay,
to try her spaed ; if she answers, her alterations will be pro-
ceeded with to convert her into a troop steamer.
The Prince Regent has her lower rigging and tops over the
mils', heads and her topmasts pointed though the caps. She
will have new yards, her old lower yards having been found
rotten at the yard-arm. She is taking i i her t: nks.
The Penelope has her topgallant masts in. She has got an
excellent crew, a few vacancies are purposely kept open. She
will be tried along the measured mile on Monday nest, &act
will be ready for service on the 10th proximo.
The Birkenhead is at the buoy off the King's-stairVaking
in provisions. She is nearly ready for service, but I*r crew
is not yet complete.
The Pike, old packet-steamer, has been taken into dock
to repair.
The Argus has been masted and taken into the angle
dock to be coppered, and have some holes cut for her wash-
deck pumps.
The weather continues variable, and the wind veering from
N.W. to S., with rain and fine weather at intervals; it still
blows fresh.

PLYMOUTH, FRIDAY.—Her Majesty's steam-frigate Retri-
bution, Captain Frederick Warden, went up harbour last
evening to have defects made good and to be refitted.
The steam-vessel Alecto sailed on Wednesday with mails
for the coast of Africa.

The steam-vessel Vulture made a trip on Wednesday to
the Eddystone, to try her engines.
The brigantine Bonetta, bound to the Brazils, and the Ma-
deira mail-packet Brilliant, continue in the Sound.
A court-martial will be held to-day on bard the flag-ship
Impregnable, to try a boatswain (borne c n the books of the
St. George, but doing duty in the Nile, in ordinary) for dis-
obedience of orders.

Mr. Rodgers, one of the Commissioners of Emigration,
and Mr. Walcot, secretary to the board, visited this port on
Tuesday, and made an official inspection of the present
emigration deppt at the Baltic-wharf, and of the Mill-bay
prisons, formerly occupied by the French prisoners of war,
but now and for many years out of use, to judge of their
capabilities for the accommodation of em,graws prior to
departure for the colonies. They also made a cursory
survey of the port, the fine anchorage of which, and its con-
tiguity to the entrance of the Channel, have for several
years past proved it to be admirably adapted for the pur-
poses of emigration.
Some anxiety has been lately felt about the Vulcan
steamer, purchased last year by Messrs. Keene, from the Re-
venue service, and dispatched by them from London to Cali-
fornia Her final port of departure was Plymouth, and she
had not been heard of since arriving at Rio, until the re-
ceipt of the last mail from Valparaiso and Panama, by which
we learn that she had steamed away from the former, and
was daily expected at the latter port. She was delayed in
the Straits cutting wood. The coal mine near Sandy-point
was visited, and is described as about six miles up towards
the mountain, in a very inaccessible ravine, through timber
the whole way. The difficulties do not seem insurmount-
able, "but it is one of the last places in the world that pro •
mises any inducement to work it to a person who can go
elsewhere." The penal settlement at Sandy-point, estab-
lished by the Chilian Government, will in all probability
increase in importance, as there is land in its neighbour-
hood which is capable of great improvement. They have
abandoned Port Famine; the anchorage, however, is open
and bad at Sandy-point, and the site not well chosen.
The officers of the Vulcan are quite satisfied with the en-
gineer, and none of the crew have left, whilst other vessels
are nearly deserted. The reputation of the Vulcan has pre-
ceded her, and she is well received everywhere. Good coal
was obtained at Valparaiso at 10 dollars per ton; and at Pa-
nama, it is said, the price is only 7 dollars.
APPOINTMBSTI3.

Woormlcir, MAI-1ca28.1 Lieutenant George T. Colvile
(1847), to the Excellent gunnery-ship, at Portsmouth.
Assistant-Surgeon Archibald Armstrong, M.D. (1W), to
the Hecate steam-sloop, at Portsmouth.
Clerk William J. Stevens (1849), to the Penelope steam-
frigate, at Portsmouth.
Commander Francis P. Egerton (1844), and
Samuel J. Brickwell (1841), have been appointed
steam at the factory at Woolwich Dockyard.
The Cyclops steam-frigate had her steam up yesterdaY,in
edie ttleten st uadnyt
the basin, and the Caradoc and Tartarus their steam up day, to try the working of their engines, and the" vessels
are all now in an advanced state.

COURT CIRCULAR.
The Queen and Prince Albert honoured Drury-lana
Theatre with their presence
yesterday evening. The Royal
suite consisted of the Countess of Desert, Hon. Amelia
Murray, Lord Elphinstone,
Bouverie. Lord Alfred Pagiit, and Colonel

yenesuctoeiusrrdiaalgYoiynnagliorning attended
His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on horseback
by Colonel Bouverie.
Westminster. highness i ince Albert presided yesterday
I r
afternoon at a meeting of the Commission for promoting and
the fine arts, in the rebuilding the Palace of
his Royal Highness arrived at the Palace of Westminatct
at a quarter before three o'clock, attended by Colonel Bou.
verie. The Commissioners present were the Earl of Car-
lisle, the Earl of Aberdeen, Viscount Canning, Lord Col.
borne,
thy. Right Hon. the Speaker, Lord John Russell,
Viscount Mahon, the Right Hon. Sir James Graham. Sit
The Secretary, Sir Charles Lock Eastlake, and Mr. Au
Robert llarry Inglis, Bart., and Mr. Hallam.
bray Bezze were in attendance.
The meeting broke up at half-past five o'clock.
The Royal Family took their accustomed.exercis ye.ter-
day in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.
The Queen's private band was in attendance out Thursday
evening, after dinner, at the Palace, and performed the fol-
lowing :
Overture, "Il Barbiere" .........
Selection, " Dieu et la Bayardere"
March, " David"
The Transatlanctic Packet Station Commission met yes.
terday, at the office of the Board of Trade. Present —Earl
1 Granville (chairman), Sir James Gordon, K.C.8., Sir John
'F. Burgoyne, K.C.B.Captain StePinnign Ilerb7l i 144 Lid
t ligbart (occretory).