The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-17 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLTGF,'N7cE.

;; t. . • 046),
tne .e.xcellent, whose shell:, nava beeu tso successtedy
tried in the course of the experiments ac Portsmouth,
we have reported within the last fortnight, has been pro-
moted to the rank of captain.
RETURN OF THE BIRKENHEAD, STEAM TROOP•SHIP.
—The Birkenhead iron troop-transport, Master-Com-
mander Salmond, arrived at Spithead on Saturday, at
nine o'clock, having made a most expeditious passage
both out and home to and from Gibraltar, remaining at
anchor there about six days. She has only been away
altogether twenty days, having left Cork on the 26th ult.
with a part of the 55th Regiment on board. She arrived
at Gibraltar on the 2d inst., and left again on the Sth,
with four companies of the 47th, a few of the 27th, and
some invalids, for Portsmouth. She went into harbour
on Saturday, and landed the detachment of the 27th
Regiment and the invalids; and in the evening went
down to Cowes to land the four companies of the 67th,
who go to Parkhurst Barracks. To day the Birken-
head will convey the detachment of the 45th Regiment
to Southampton, who go on board the Singapore steamer,
and will sail for the Cape this evening. The Birken-
head, we understand, will convey the 13th Regiment
Light Infantry (which has arrived at Winchester) to
Gibraltar, to relieve the 67th, that proceeds to Antigua,
relieving the 54th, that proceeds to Canada.
We have before observed that the Powerful, 84, was a
most comfortable ship during the whole term of her
three years commission under Captain the Hon. R. S.
Dundas, C.B. Wo are glad to see further corroboration
of the truth of our previous remark. The three war-
rant officers, Thomas Quinn, the gunner; James Wilson,
the boatswain; and J. B. Gage, the carpenter; have
each been presented with a valuoble silver tankard, as a
testimony of their just appreciations of the correct and
efficient manner in which these officers performed their
several duties during their term of service in the
Powerful. Captain Pandas and the officers also pre-
sented to the boatswain, Mr. Wilson, a very handsome
telescope, for the instruction and attention he bestowed
on the young gentlemen in instructing them in sea-
manship.
Ajax, 60, screw guard-ship, Captain Quin, dropped
down from Queenstown (Cove) to the outer roads to test
her stern and quarter armament, to see whether the
discharge of the guns would have any effect
on the engine or screw, or do any damage
to her stern-frame, as it was supposed the latter was
weakened by the hole cut through her dead wood for
the screw. She fired her heavy guns shotted and double-
shotted with an extra charge. In the engine-room and
the screw shaft space the vibration was scarely felt, and
the shock was so slight that the loose scales of white-
wash hanging to the beams overhead were not in the
least disturbed. The trial has been satisfactory,
proving that the jar or concussion on firing the guns
has not the least injurious effect on either the engines
or ship.
Prince Regent, 90, Captain Harris, was removed from
the angle dock, Portsmouth, on Saturday, and taken
under the sheers in the basin, when all her masts were
taken out; the mainmast only, however, is defective,
but she will have a new set, as the old masts require to
have the cheeks taken off to be examined.

Penguin, 6, Commander Etheridge, arrived at Madeira
March 2, and left the next day for the coast of Africa.
Sprightly steam-tender, Master-Commander Allen,
was placed by the commander-in-chief at Portsmouth,
on Saturday, at the disposal of Vice-Admiral Sir George
Seymour, wbo, with his family, went out to the Cum-
berland, 70, in her. The Cumberland will sail, as we
before stated, this day for Bermuda.
PORTSMOUTH, MARCH l6.—The Cumberland, 70,
Vice-Admiral Sir George Seymour, K.C.8., has not yet
left Spithead, but is expected to sail this evening or at
daylight to-morrow for the West Indies.
The Alecto steam-sloop, Commander Lavie, arrived
on Friday from Woolwich. She yesterday embarked
packages, letters, papers, and dispatches for the Coast of
Africa squadron, and sailed in the evening for Plymouth
to ship the mail.
The following acting-mates, &c., passed examination
for lieutenants at the Royal Naval College last week:—
licssrs. H. M. Miller, F. T. Thompson, W. B. Alexan-
' der and C. D. Robinson; and Second-Master Mr. G.
H. Obree passed for master.
At the quarterly examination of officers on subjects
connected with the marine steam-engine at the Royal
Naval College last week Captain J. J. Stopford and
Lieutenant F. J. D'Aguilar qualified for service.
The following young gentlemen passed for cadetships
in the Royal Marine Corps last week at the Royal Naval
College:—Messrs. A. J. V. Collins, C. C. Eden, A. J.
Somerville, and C. G. Fane.
PLYMOUTH, SATURDAT.—Her Majesty's packet Pe-
terel arrivep on Thursday from Falmouth.
Her Majesty's steam-vessel Vesuvius went round the
Eddystone on Friday, and on her return towed the Pe-
terel into harbour to be paid off.
The packet brig Brilliant, Captain Colbeck, from Ma-
de ira ; arrived at this port on Friday night, at 11 o'clock,
heaving left Madeira on the 12th ult. She transhipped
her mails, which were heavy, off Falmouth on board the
British and Irish Company's steamer Devonshire, which
arrived hero in the afternoon, when they were sent by
the ordinary mail-train to London. The weather in
Madeira has been very inclement during the winter.
She brings some valuable articles from Madeira for the
E.Lhibition. She brought a quantity of green peas,
grown in Madeira; they are in as great perfection as
ours would be in August.
Her Majesty's brig Bonetta, 3, arrived on Saturday
morning from Chatham. She will be paid advance of
wages here and receive her final orders for the Brazils.