The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-15 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

Commodore Michael Seymour, the new superinten-
dent, arrived at Moorhean's Royal Hotel Devonport,
frOm Sheerness, by the mail train, on Friday morning,
and was immediately waited upon by the principal
officers of the dockyard. The Gallant Commodore
visited the port admiral, and from thence proceeded in
his barge to the St. George, 120, when his red pen-
dant was hoisted on board that ship, and the usual
salutes fired by the St. George and the Impregnable.
He then returned to the dockyard and entered on his
official duties.

The secretary to Captain Seymour at Sheerness
was a clerk of the dockyard, end his appointment
entailed no additional expense on the establishment,
but at Devonport it is understood that Mr. Dyer, a
paymaster and purser of the navy, late secretary to
Lord John Hay, is to fill the office of secretary to
the new superintendent, thus usurping the legitimate
position of a clerk of the establishment, and adding
some 4001. a year extra to the navy estimates. This
appointment is neither fair nor economical, nor is it
an advantageous one to the public service. In the
course of a few days we may have something more to
advance.

THE NAVAL AIDES-DE•CAMP.—In giving Sir G.
Pechell, Bart., the appointment of A.D.C. to the
Queen, the senior captains, Sir E. Parry, W. J. Min-
gaye, J. E. Walcott, and Lord Spencer, C. 8., have
been passed over. Sir George Pechel has never
served a single day since he was posted (1822), and
altogether has only seen 15 years active service in the
navy, whereas the gallant and distinguished Arctic
voyager Sir E. Parry has been about 35 years on full-
pay service, and has served his time as a captain for
his active flag rank. Capt. Mingaye has also served
24 years afloat, and is likewise eligible for his active
flag. In conferring the other vacancies on Captains
Wyvill and Hotham, a still greater injustice has been
inflicted by passing over at least more than a dozen
officers of long standing and superior claims. The
lucky favourites are captains of 1832 and 1833; but
in going so far down the list, the following are among
the senior officers who have good reason to complain
of neglect :—Ryder Burton, K.H. (1824) ; Hon. R.
S. Dundas, C.B. (1824) ; Lord Hardwick (1825);
G. R. Lambert (1825) ; Sir Henry Leeke, K.H. ;
Freemantle Yates; G. B. Martin, C. 8.; Sir R.
Grant, Purcell, Richards, C. 8., Duntze, H. Smith,
C. 8., and many others whose standing and services
we do not for the moment remember.

ROYAL NAVAL SCHOOL, NEW CROSS.—Rear-Ad-
miral Murray has liberally subscribed 101. in aid of
the " Church Building Fund " of this institution.
CAPTURE OF A SLAVER DT THE FLYING FISH.—
The Flying Fish, 12, Commander G. E. Patey, was
at Whydah on the sth of August. She had been
successful in capturing another slaver. The follow-
ing are the particulars from a private letter :—" Her
Majesty's ship Flying Fish, July 14, 1851, at anchor
off Little Popo Island, got hold of another slaver after
a beautiful chase of two or three hours. On standing
in for the land this morning, about eleven o'clock,
we observed our friend stealing along shore as close
as possible, evidently trying to shy us. Hands make
sail' was soon piped, when the reefs were out and
starboard studding-sails set in double-quick time.
On our approaching him we fired a blank gun to
make him show his colours, of which he took no
notice. We then waited until we got within good
gun shot, and sent a 32-pounder acrows his bows,
but this not producing the desired effect, a gunner's
crew kept hammering directly at him, and it was de-
lightful to see the good practice they made—two shots
through his foretopgallant sail, another shot his
lower studdingsail boom away ; another through his
mainrigging, across the quarter-deck, and shot his
mainboom through. The fellow then put his helm
hard-a-starboard, and it was thought he was going to
beach her, but supposed the surf was too high for him,
as he again righted his helm, let run all his studding-
sail halyards, and after a few shots from the marines he
came towards us. She is a pretty brig, named the
Pepeta, and was going to take in 500 slaves, but we
disturbed him in the middle of it ; for he had only
time to take 70 on board, when be saw us in the cffing,
upon which he cut his cables, and run down along the
land, thinking we should not take notice of him. We
only returned from Princes' island the day before,
and relieved the Sampson at Quits, which vessel we
saw this morning to leeward of us, running to Why-
dab, and had not been long out of sight when we pin-
ned our friend, otherwise she would share with us."
The slaver was sent to Sierra Leone the same evening,
at which place she has arrived, for condemnation.
This is the 10th prize captured by the Flying Fish
since she has been on the station ; and the efficiency
and discipline maintained on board this fortunate ves-
sel is highly spoken of'. Commander Patey had re-
ceived orders to meet Commodore Bruce about the 22d
October, and, having taken the mail on board, would
sail for England, and may be exyected to arrive before
Christmas.

Rear-Admiral W. W. Henderson, C. 8., the new
Commander-in-Chief for the Brazils, in his flag-ship
Centaur steam•frigate, Captain St. Leger Cannon,
sailed from Spithead on Saturday at one o'clock, pro-
ceeding out through the Needles on his passage for
Rio, to relieve Rear-Admiral Reynolds, C.B. We
understand Mrs. Henderson and Miss Henderson ac-
company the Admiral out to Rio.
Lieutenant Richard Moore, mate of 1849, and pro-
moted to be acting lieutenant of the Gorgon, steam-
sloop, in the Pacific, July 5, 1850, has been con-
firmed in his rank, having arrived borne and passed
the usual examination.

The following mates and midshipmen passed last
week at the Naval College in navigation :--Messrs.
Grenville Marshall Temple, Edward H. Howard,
Charles J. Slaughter, Robert E. Pakenham, William
G. H. Johnstone, James Wylie East, Edward Spencer
Mears, John B. B. Telfer, John B. Anderson, Henry
R. Douglas M'Murdo, and William N. Cornewall
and F. B. Youel, for master. On and after Novem-
ber next the examination day will be on the second
Wednesday in the month, instead of the first Monday
after the first Wednesday.
The undermentioned young gentlemen have been
found qualified at the Naval College for the appoint-
ment of naval cadet, and joined the Victory for the
purpose :—Messrs. G. Powys, Herbert, Hilton,
Mervin Bradford Medlycott, Charles R. K. Smyth,
Francis M. Ommanney, Uvedale C. Singleton.
Shearwater, steam. vessel, Lieutenant-Commander
Horton, arrived at Devonport on Friday, and having
received a fresh supply of coals, proceeded en route to
Constantinople.
PORTSMOUTH, Suimir.—The Vernon, East India-
man' for Calcutta, arrived outward-bound at Spit-
head on Saturday evening.

THE STATUE IN CAVENDISH-SQUARE TO LORD
GEORGE BENTINCK.—On Saturday, at the weekly meeting
of the vestry of St. Marylebone, Henry Lewis, Etzq., in the
chair, a report was presented from a committee appointed as
to the making of two crossings from Holles-street to the
garden in the centre of Cavendish-square, that the present
crossing and gate might be removed from the centre, so as
not to interfere with the statue now about to be erected there
to the memory of the late Lord George Bentinck, the inabi-
tants of the square or parties applying for the change agree-
ing to pay the cost of the alteration themselves.
The report
was adopted.

THE CHEAP EXCURSION TRAINS..--A very im-
portant trial is likely to come on in the Court of Exchequer
during the next term, unless the Board of Inland Revenue
should think proper to abandon a claim which they are at
the present time endeavouring to enforce against several of
the leading railway companies who have been running cheap
excursion trains. Most of our readers are doubtless aware
thot the railway companies pay a large sum annually to the
Board of Inland Revenue for passenger duty. In the Act of
Parliament which passed in 1845, compelling ;railways to
carry passengers in third class covered carriages, certain ex-
ceptions were made, which were stated in the Act" to secure
to the poorer classes of travellers a means of travelling at
moderate fares, at or under one penny per mile." These
were exempt from the Government tax. When the compa-
' nies began to run excursion trains they looked upon this
particular description Oman as coming within the meaning
of the Act, and did not include their excursion passengers
in their return to Government, as it did not amount even to
d. per mile. The Board of Inland Revenue, however, de-
mand the whole amount of duty that would be payable on
ordinary trains. The first company to which application was
made was ' the London and South-Western. Mr. Chaplin,
my., the chairman, immediately put himself in communica-
tion with :other railway companies who have been running
cheap trains, and the result is, that they have agreed to fight
the battle with the Board of Inland Revenue, unless they
forego their demand.—Sunday Paper.
BOROUGH OF GREENWICH REGISTRATION.—The
revising barrister has not yet fixed the day for his attend-
ance, but we believe it will be in the first 'week of October.
Notwithstanding that a general election is expected in the
spring, there seems to be but little or no party spirit in the
borough to prepare for a contest. Not a siugle objection has
been made, but the number of fresh claims is larger than
usual. The claims sent in are as follow :—Greenwich, 159 ,
St. Nicholas, Deptford. 27 ; St. Paul, Deptford, 86 ,
Wool-
wich, 21; Charlton, ;22 ; Plumstead, 34 ; making . a total
of 342.

NAPLES, SEPT. 4.—His Neapolitan Me 3 esty very
narrowly escaped death on Saturday last. The king was
driving some members of the royal family in the vicinity
of the Caserta Railway, and, was about to cross the line,
not observing a train was rapidly advancing. A countryman
rushed forward and held the horses' heads, to the great
y, who, not perceiving the danger,
consternation of his Majest
imagined a hostile intention on the part of the man who was
in fact baying his life.

THE GATHERING OF ,TRE
HIGHLAND CLANS.
BRAEMAR, FRIDAY.—Tbe gathering of the clans
in olden times was " a great race' in the national
history of Scotland. From the time the Earl of
Mar raised the standard of rebellion in 171.5, almost
within gunshot of where Victoria now has her
Highland home, down to the fatal battle of Culloden,
the Highland clans were mustered in strong force
when the signal was passed through the glens. Now-
a-days we have a " gathering" once u year in the
" country of Marx.," but the signal to rally is the
olive branch, and the clansmen muster to show off
their Highland dress, and disport themselves in
harmless Highland games.
The gathering of 1851 was a grand affair. At
early dawn crowds of pedestrians were to be seen
wending their way to Castleton, most of them wear-
ing the Highland dress. By rine o'clock all sorts of
conveyancer, from the ricketty cart to the splendid;
berouche were arriving in the village, and groups of
the people were congregated at different points, some
dancing to the music of the bagpipe, and some trying
their hands at the caber or the stone.
About noon the Duff Highlanders passed through
the village, splendidly dressed in their clan tartans,
and haudsomely accoutered for the sports of the day.
Tney were followed by the Duke of Leeds' retainers,
a fine body of men, beaded by their Duke as their
chief, in splendid costume. Then came the men of
Athol!, the Queen's body guard in Scotland, led on
by the Duke of Athol!, and marching with music
and banners. The clan Farquharson mustered strongly
rind in their elegant tartans were greatly admired.
They were headed by their chief, Mr. Farquharson,
of Invercauld.
The place chosen for the games was a spacious
lawn in the park, in front of the old castle of Marr—
once the hunting lodge of Malcolm Canmore. Here
the clans formed into three sides of a square, each
clan having its standard bearer in position and its
piper ready for the dance. The rear of the clans was
flanked by the carriages of the aristocracy who are
now in the district, and multitudes of the people who
had gathered to witness the games.
At one o'clock the terrace of the castle presented a
brilliant display of beauty and fashion, among whom
were the following :
From Balmoral—Colonel Phipps, the Hon. Alex-
ander Gordon, the Hon. Miss Byng, Dr. Baker, and
Dr. Robertson.

From Abergeldie—Captain Couper, Lady Augusta
Bruce, and Lady Frances Bruce.

From Inverciuld—Mr. and Mrs. Farquharson and
family, their sons elegantly dressed in the Highland
garb ' • Lord and Lady Charles Clinton ; the Hon.
Miss Murray, Miss Grant of Congleton, and Miss
Dalrymple of Logie Elphinstone.
From Marr Lodge—The Duke and Duchess of
Leeds, the Duke and Duchess of Athol], the Misses
Lane Fox, the Hon. Mr. Osborne, Captain and Mrs.
Sutton, the Rev. Mr. Hudson, Colonel Hudson, and
Colonel Foster.
From Corriemulzie—Lady Agnes Duff and the
Misses Duff and Master Duff, Sir James and Lady
Catherine Carnegie, Sir Maxwell and Lady Wal-
lace, Mr. Brooke, Mr. W. Tayler, Mr. John
Blaikie, &c.

The Queen and Prince Albert sent a donation of
251. towards the prizes for the games, but, the Court
being in mourning, did not honour the gathering
with a ♦isit. The Messrs. Duff; M.P., and Mr.
Ricardo, M.P., who are at Corriemulzie, and other
members of the Duff family, were absent out of
respect for the memory of General Duff, who had
always taken_a lively interest in the mustering of
the clans.

The games began about two o'clock, and for two.
hours the Highlanders distinguished themselves by
strength of arm and agility of limb. A stone of 141 b.
weight was bowled as many yards with ease; a barn,
mer of 16lb. weight was thrown 69 feet 11 inches ; a
pole or tree, 15 feet high by 6 inches in diameiter,
called the "caber," was poised with little effort and
tossed right end over end; reels, Strathspeys, the
sword and other dances, were danced as none but the,
Highlanders here can dance them, and a foot race or
1,400 yards was contested by a dozen of Gillies, the,
winner going over the ground in 5i minutes. For.
merly the foot race was upon a steep bill, but Vac)
Queen having, with her usual consideration, suggwited
that this was rather a dangerous game, the stewlards
abandoned it for a race in. the park, which was a, most
exciting scene.

The games being nearly over, a large party had lun-
cheon in the Castle, which was tastefully decked with
evergreens, monograms of the Queen and Prince Al-
bert being interwoven with festoons of heather, bell,
the thistle, and the rose. Here also a ball was held at
night, where the peer and the peasant mingled in
joyous harmony ; and thus concluded the gathering of
the clans in the "country of Mart." for the year 1851.

COURT CIRCULAR.
BALMORAL, FRIDAY.
Her 'Majesty and his Royalillighness Prince Albert,
accompanied by the Princess Royal and Princess
Alice, drove yesterday to Ballater.
The Marchioness of Douro was in attendance on
her Majesty. There was no addition to the Royal
dinner party yesterday.

SATURDAY.
Her Majesty, attended by the Hon. Miss Byng,
rode yesterday morning over to Alt na Giuthsacb,
where her Majesty will remain till this evening.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert went out deer-
stalking, and joined her Majesty in the evening at
Alt na Giuthsach.

THE GREAT EXHIBITION.
O❑ Saturday the receipts at the doors of the build-
ing amounted to 1,4411. 155., there being 16,273
visitors. By the sale of season tickets 21. 103. was
realized.

Another scheme has, we understand, been proposed
for the appropriation of the surplus. Its projector
(Mr. Wallis) suggests that the Crystal Palace should
be retained, and converted to a variety of uses. The
main avenue and transept, with the adjoining spaces,
should, according to his recommendation, be made
into a winter garden. The north side he advises should
be set apart as a college and museum of manufactures,
and the south as a national gallery. In a pamphlet
which has been issued for private circulation he inge-
niously advocates this plan, which certainly has the
advantage of embracing all the others seriously con-
templated. Whether, however, so extended an un-
dertaking is practicable or desirable under the cir-
cumstances, must be left to public opinion to deter-
mine. Mr. Wallis advocates a closing ceremonial on
the 15th of October, similar in its character to that
which took place at the opening. A public thanks-
giving should, in his judgment, be offered up, and
the Exhibition should be closed by her Majesty in
person.

ROTHERHA3I.
FIRE AND LOSS OF TWO LIVES.
(PROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
The inhabitants of the quiet town of Rotherham,
were this (Sunday) morning aroused between three
and four o'clock by the alarm of fire, and the ringing
of the fire-bell of the parish church. It was soon as-
certained that the Black Horse Inn, in High-street,
the property of the Earl of Effingham, occupied by
Mrs. Nicholson, was in flames, and had it not been
for the active and persevering exertions of the firemen
belonging to the engine of the Sun Fire-office, the
North of England office, and the engine of the feoffees
of Rotherham, there is no doubt but much more pro-
perty would have fallen a sacrifice to the devouring
element. Mrs. Nicholson, the landlady (and one of
the oldest inhabitants of the town) was found almost
in a state of nudity in the bar severely burnt ; she
was immediately removed to the house of her daughter,
who keeps the Elephant and Castle, in High-street,
and notwithstanding the attention of several surgeons
who were in immediate attendance sbe expired about
five o'clock. One of the servants (with the grandson
of Mrs. Nicholson in her arms) jumped out of the
chamber window into the street, and the little infant
received such a severe concussion of the brain that he
shortly aftewards died. The servant was much, but
not fatally hurt. It has not yet been ascertained how
the fire originated, nor is it known whether the pro•
perty or buildings are insured. Mr. Badgor, the
county coroner, has fixed to open an inquest tomor-
row,are and he will no doubt inquire not only into the
origin of the fire, but into all the circumstances at-
tending this melancholy event. It is some'wht
rnvearryk a bs
hl eo
rtthastptalicies iosf tht
iemfief:t fifth
ufitr e
thein Rotherham
ttehserliitblituanat
does not recollect any fire in that town occasioning
the loss of life.

_
SoIITH-WZSTEEN, BRICEITON, AND JuNcTiow•—lt is stated that a scheme ie now in progress
MID-KENT
for promoting the construction of a railway from:the South•
Railway at Wimbledon to the Brighton Railway'
at Croydon, and thence to Maidstone. The length of the
line is stated to be thirty-six miles,
proposed capital 600,000/. One of the professed objects 01
and the amount of at!
the scheme is to enable the South-Westem Company to
trains to the terminus at London-bridge, and also to
run
the London, Brighton, and South Coast Company trains to the Waterloo-bridge terminus of the London
South-Western Railway Company.
r At the 67f,
MARYPORT AND CARLISLE RAMS" ":..ectors Of this
meeting of the newly constructed boardnofi.4owiy elected
company, Mr. G. W. Ilartley was
of 71,-". L• B. Dyles,
chairman of the board, in the room of Dn. and
resigned.

THE ISLE or SKYE.--The Isle of Skye is nearly
one hundred miles long and thirty broad, and yet it is so in-
dented that one cannot stand on any part of it and be more
than three miles from the ses. It is at once. the most valu-
ehaese censuso.
5500 f the eom3lpsatreodf
valu-
able and picturesque of the Western Hebrides group. The
population of Skye, according
gnga dtoecrt
March last, was 22,532,
with the returns of 1841. The population comprises 77
with lots of from 8 to 30 acres each, 1,886
gentlemen's families, 380 shopkeepers and tradesmen,
41 farmers and tacks Men of 30 acres of land and upwards,
less than eight acres each, and 1,765 cottors, or
oc,cupy. huts without 11124 Illti
selgroSuasfttettreer:ian,:iwithsho_
PIT 0 rent
414.