The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-03 00:00:00

NAVAL IN TELLIGENcE.

THE NAVY CLUB DINNER TO THE FIRST LORD OF
THE ADMIRALTY.-,-The Thatched House Navy Club
dinner to the Right lion. Sir Francis Bving, Bart., tho
First Lord of the Admiralty, Vice-Admiral Sir Samuel
Pym, K.C.8., in the chair, is postponed from Thursday,
July 10, until Saturday, July 12, on account of Sir
Francis being prevented by Parliamentary duties from
dining with the club on the former day.
Apollo, 8, troop-ship, Commander Rawatorne, arrived
at Port Royal from Gibraltii, with troops, June 8. She
was en route to Halifax. I'.

Alban, steam-tender, Lieutenant-Commander Cran-
ford arrived, June 2, at Port Royal. from Greytown.
Brisk, screw-sloop, launched at Woolwich, arrived at
Greenock from Woolwich last Thursday, to have her
engines fitted by Scott and Sinclair.
Hecate, 6, steam-sloop, Commander Hand, left Ports-
mouth for Lisbon, on Tuesday afternoon.
THE NEW FLAG-OFFICER.-Rear-Admiral Houston
Stewart, promoted last week, is one of the members of
the Board of Admiralty, and has served about 20 years
afloat. He is about 61 years of age, is second sur-
viving son of Sir Michael Shaw Stewart, by Ca-
therine, daughter of Sir W. W. Maxwell, Bart., and
is brother of the Duchess of Somerset. The follow-
ing is O'Byrne's sketch of his services:-" This officer
entered the navy Feb. 5, 1805, as first class
volunteer, on board the Medusa, 32; served in the Re.
venge, 74, off Brest and L'Orient, and witnessed the
capture, September 25, 1806, of four heavy French fri-
gates by a squadron under the orders of Sir S. Hood.
On the latter occasion he was present in the boat which
took possession of La Gloire, of 46 guns. In the ensu-
ing October he joined the Imperieuse, 38, Captains Lord
Cochrane and Thomas Garth, in the boats of which ship
we find him, 7th January, 1807, contributing to the de-
struction of Fort Roquere, at the entrance of the Bay of
Arcasson. In July, 1808, he aided in enforcing the
surrender of the Castle of Mongat, by which the road to
Gerona, then besieged by the French, had been com-
pletely commanded; in September of the same year he
united in destroying the semaphores at Bonrdique, La
Pinde, St. Maguire, Frontignan, Genet, and Foy, with
the houses attached to them, 14 barracks belonging to
the Gendarmes, a battery, and a strong tower on Lake
Frontignan; and in November, 1808, he served on shore
at the defence of the fortress of Rosas, beseiged at the
time by a French army. He was subsequently placed
in command of La Juliet an armed xebec, which he had
assisted in cutting triet;frooe under theet!atteries at Port
Vendres; and was sent to= cruise in her, as an armed
tender, in the Mediterranean. He then accompanied
the expedition to the Walcheren; where, during
the siege of Flushing, he obtained the thanks of
Captain Garth for suggesting the firing of shells (pre-
viously provided by Lord Cochrane) from the maindeck
guns, whereby, the formidable fort of. Terneuse was
blown up, and the frigate relieved from a very critical
position. Was ;promoted Ist August YBll, to the rank
of lieutenant. &feed in the Tigre, 74, 'off Rocheford, in
the San Josef, and as signal lieutenant to the Queen
Charlotte, 100, bearing each the flag of Lord Keith in
the Channel, 3d March, 1814, as acting captain to the
Clarence, 74, stationed off Brest. He was confirmed a
commander 13th August in the same year; was employed
in that capacity between January, 1815, and March,
1817. in the Shark, Royalist, and Rifleman sloops, on
the Jamaica station; and was there, in the course of the
month last mentioned, nominated acting captain of the
Pique, 36, and Salisbury, 58. Captain Stewart's post
commission bears date 30th June, 1817. His next ap-
pointment was 21st October, 1823, to the Menai, 26, in
which vessel, stationed on the coast of North Americs,
he continued until December, 1828. During that period
he had charge for two successive winters of the dock-
yard and port duties at Halifax. In command from
9th April, 1839, until May, 1842, of the Berliner,
72. With the Carysfort, 26, Magicienne, 23, and
Zebra, 16, under his orders, he was intrusted during
the operations on the coast of Syria, with the bom-
bardment of Tripoli. He also, in the months of
September and October, took possession of the island of
Aronad, attacked Tortosa, which was afterwards
evacuated, saved the consuls of Aleppo and Alexandria,
and destroyed the governor's house and stores at the let-
ter place; took possession of Ltiatakiah for the Sultan;
and distributed above 6,000 stand of arms to the moun-
taineers. In November. 1840, he was selected to corn.
mend of a force destined for Soanderoon Bay; and ex-
pedition eventually, however, pot required. In the at-
tack upon St, Jean d'Acre, off which place he was for a
time senior officer, the Benbovv was the first ship in
action. During tae evacuation of Syria by Ibrahim
Pacha, Captain Stewart had command, from 21st De-
cember, 1840, until Ist March, 1841, of the British and
Austrian forces employed of the coast. As a reward for
his conduct at St. Jean d'Acre, Captain Stewart was
nominated a C. 8., 18th December, 1840. He was or-
dered, in the absence of Sir Franbis Augustus Collier, to
act, 17th July, 1846, as superintendent of the dockyard
at Woolwich, and Captain of the William and Mary
yacht; and on the 13th November, 1846, he was ar-
pointed comptroller general of the Coast Guard. Captain
Stewart married, 10th February, 1819, Martha, youngest
daughter of Sir Wiliam Miller, Bart., now deceased, of
Glenlee, by whom he had issue three sons-the eldest,
William Houston, a commander, R.N.; and the second,
Houston, a lieutenant in 32d Regiment, who died a short
time since.

PORTSMOUTH, WEDNESDAY.—The Centaur steam-
frigate, late flag-ship on the coast of Africa station, was
paid off yesterday.
The Cuckoo steam-vessel, Commander Le Febvre,
sailed on Monday for Sheerness, where the will remain
and transfer her crew to the Dasher steam-vessel, which
will do the Cuckoo's service off the Channel Islands.

The Trafalgar, 120, Captain Stopford, is ordered from
Sheerness to Spithead to make up her complement to
sea-going strength.
The Tiger, new steam-frigate, having swung for the
adjustment of her compasses, will go out on a trial cruise
in a day or two under the direction of Captain Hender-
son, C. 8., of the Blenheim.
The Excellent gunnery-ship, Captain H. D. Chads,
C. 8., was paid off on Monday, and re-commissioncd
yesterday by the same captain and officers.

APPOINTMENTS.

WOOLWICH, JULY 2.—Surgeons—Joseph Henderson,
M.D. (1850), to the Waterwitoh, 8, Sloop, at Chatham;
and James Niven, M.D., to the Express, 6, brig, at De-
vonport.
Mate—Rowland Thomas George Legg (1849), to the
Waterwitch.

Assistant-Surgeon—Robert Mungle (1846), to tho
Myrmidon steam-vessel, at Deptford.
Assistant-Engineer—Samuel Madden, to the. Asp
paddle wheel steam surveying vessel, tender to the Vic-
tory, and serving at Holyhead.
Clerk—Wm. M. Shanks (1846), to the Impregnable
flag-ship at Devouport.
Gunner—Richard Jennever, to the Express; and act-
ing gunner Henry Davidson, to the Waterwitch.
The Vivid steam mail packet, Captain Smithett, ar-
rived at Woolwich to-day, from Dover, and brought
round Sir John Hamilton, who will accompany the King
of the Belgians on his return to the Continent. His
Majesty, with the Duke de Brabant, the Comte de Flan-
, dreg, and the Princess Charlotte, with their Royal
1 Highnesses' suite, will embark here at halt-past eight
to-morrow. Two of the Royal carriages of his Majesty
arrived this afternoon at Woolwich, to be put on board
the Vivid.

The Cyclops steam-frigate, Master Commander Hoff-
meister, left this port at half-past one o'clock yesterday
morning, having embarked Capt. Faddy's company of
the Royal Artillery on the previous day for the Cape of
Good Hope.