The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-01 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

THE NEW COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF AT PORTSMOUTH.
-Admiral Sir Thomas Briggs. G.C.M.G., who has
been appointed to succeed Admiral the Hon. Sir
Thomas Bladen Capel, K.C.8., as commander-in-
chief at Portsmouth, has served on full pay no less
than 43 years-with the exception of Rear-Admiral
Owen, perhaps more than any other flag-officer in the
navy. With Captain George Bohun Martin, C. 8.,
his son-in-law,t and Flag Lieut. Pasley, his relative,
the gallant admiral, was expected to arrive at Ports-
mouth last evening to take office this morning, when
the flag of Admiral Capel, red at the main, will be
struck, and that of Sir Thomas Briggs, blue at the
main, hoisted. Sir Thomas Briggs, born in 1780, is
only surviving son of the late Stephen Briggs, Esq.,
formerly chief surgeon at Madras, by Magdalena,
youngest daughter of the late James Pasley
Esq., of Craig, county Dumfries, nephew,.
maternally, of the late Sir Thomas Pasley,
Bart., Admiral of the White, who died Nov. 29.
1808 ; and first cousin of the present Sir T. S.
Pasley, Bart , captain R.N., and of the late Admiral
Sir Charles Malcolm, Kt. This officer entered the
navy September 10, 1791, as first class volunteer on
board the Bellerophon, 78, commanded by his uncle,
Captain Thomas Pasley, whom he soon afterwards
accompanied as midshipman into the Vengeance, 74,
lying in the river Medway. We next find him, from
April, 1793, until the year 1798, attached under
Captain Charles Tyler to the Meleager, 32, Diadem,
64, and L'Aigle frigate, and participating during that
period in the operations against Toulon and Corsica
is 1793-4, and in Hotham's partial actions of March
14 and July 13, 1795. From L'Aigle Mr. Briggs,
who had been confirmed in the rank of lieutenant
September 28, 1797, removed to the Ville de Paris,
110, flag-ship off Lisbon of Earl St. Vincent, and he
shortly afterwards joined the Princess Royal, 98,
bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Thomas Lennox
Frederick off Cadiz. Assuming the acting command
July 10, 1799, of the Salarniue, 16, to which sloop he
was officially appointed June 30, 1800, Captain
Briggs assisted at the reduction of Genoa; took,
January 21, 1801, in company with the Caroline,
36, a xebec, laden with arms, and mounting
4 guns, with a crew of 24 men ; and in
March following was sent by Captain Manley Dixon,
of the Genereux, 74, then at Port Mahon, to Rear-
Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren off Toulon with
the intelligence of M. Ganteaume having sailed from
the latter place with troops for Egypt, in consequence
of which the French Admiral was pursued and in-
duced to put back. While next engaged in the ex-
pedition under Lord Keith and Sir Ralph Abercromby,
for his services during which he obtained the Turkish
gold medal and the order of the Cresent, Captain
Briggs was promoted to post-rank by commission
dated July 24, in the same year. his succeeding ap-
pointments afloat were, in August following to the
Madras, 54, flag-ship of Sir Richard Bickerton, off
Alexandria-in 1802 to the Agincourt, 64, on the
Mediterranean and home stations-December 14,
1805, to the Orpheus, 32, in which he captured,
September 25 and November 12, 1806, the privateers
Guadeloupe, of 3 guns and 54 men, and Susanna, of
4 guns and 20 men, and was subsequently wrecked
on ne t
wh ea
sc orreasle reeee
dreef,effthe Jamaica,
bowspritJ ayu a ref 2h3i s
slhBio,
p7b wheny
the
a IbBooa
8t belong-
ingtethe to the 'Elephant, 74-April 27, ,
present Lieutenant Henry
BeiseY in
temporary command of the Theseus, 74, off L'Orient
-November 7, in the same year, to the Clorinde,
38, on the East India station, where he
took, January 28, 1810, L'Henri privateer of
8 guns and 57 men, proved of material service
in disembarking the troops at the reduction of the
Isle of France in December, 1810, and was next em-
ployed in the China Sea-in October, 1814, to the
Leviathan, 74, which ship, after serving on the Lisbon;
Cork, and Mediterranean stations, was paid off July
19, 1816-and May 15, 1818, to the Queen Charlotte,
100, as flag captain at Portsmouth to Sir Geo. Camp-
bell, with whom he continued until February, 1821.
In 1823 Captain Briggs was nominated resident
commissioner of the navy at Bermuda. He removed
to Malta in 1829 ; attained the rank of Rear-Admiral
June 27, 1832 ; was appointed about the same period
superintendent of Malta dockyard, where he remained
until 1838 ; received the G.C.M.G. in 1833 for his
services in the temporary command of the Mediter-
ranean squadron ; and was made a Vice-Admiral
Nov. 23, 1841. Sir Thomas Briggs married, in 1814,
Isabella Harriet, daughter of General Trepand.
Sir Bladen Capel went on board the Victory and
mustered the ship's company yesterday for the last
time. He was received on board by Captain Black-
wood and the officers, with manned yards.
The departure of Mr. Secretary Haig (whose
suavity of disposition, thorough knowledge of busi-
ness, and conciliating manner have gained him the
esteem and regard of all officers and gentlemen that
have come in contact with him, both those residing
inside and outside the dockyard walls) will be much
regretted. He has served the office of secretary to
three consecutive commanders-in-chief,-viz., Sir C.
Rowley, Sir Charles Ogle, and Sir Bladen Capel.
Mr. Haig will be succeeded to-day by Mr. Triphook.
THE ADMIRALTY.-Sir F. T. Baring, Bart.,
Rear-Admiral Berkeley, iC.B,, Rear-Admiral Ho-
niton :Stewart, C. 8., Captain Milne, Sir Baldwin
W. Walker, K.C.8., and Colonel Green, paid the
annual visit of inspection to Sheerness Dockyard yes-
terday.
Captain Charles Hope, whose appointment to the
auperintendentship of Sheerness Dockyard we gave
about a fortnight since, will most likely assume the
duties of his office to-day.
Avon steam-tender, that brought seamen to Ports-
mouth for the Bellerophon on Monday, returned in
the evening to Plymouth.
Echo, steam-tug, proceeded to Spithead with 20
tons of coal for the Dauntless, 33, screw-frigate, Cap-
tain Halstead, yesterday. The Dauntless also took
on board a large quantity of packages and letters for
the Lisbon squadron. She will probably sail to. day.
Fire. Queen is to be payed over again with Mr.
Hay's protective compoiition, which has been reported
of favourably.

Herald, 26, in ordinary, is to be placed for the uFe
of the shipwrights in Porchester Lake, while em-
ployed breaking up the Topaz.
Netley tender, arrived at Halifax from Bermuda,
Sept. 10.
Rodney, 92, Captain Graham, has fidded her top
gallant-masts, and is all ataunt at Portsmouth,