The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-18 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

The Elfin royal steam-yacht, Master-Commander Bel-
liston, with Captain Crispin on board, proceeded from
Portsmouth to Southampton at seven o'clock yesterday
morning, on purpose to convey his Royal Highness
Prince Albert across the Solent and back.

Vice-Admiral Sir G. F. Seymour hoisted his flag
(blue at the fore), ou Thursday afternoon, on board the
Cumberland, 70, at Chatham; it was struck at sunset, the
Admiral proceeding on leave of absence.
Fairy has gone into the Camber at Portsmouth, but
i❑ consequence of the south-west wind backing the water
in the harbour, she has not been able yet to ship her
new screw.

Captain Sir B. W. Walker, the Surveyor of the Navy,
visited Portsmouth yard on Thursday, going on board
the Arrogant and Tiger steamers.
Penelope steam-frigate got up her steam at Ports-
mouth, on Thursday, in the basin, to try her machinery
after repair.
Amphitrite, 26, Captain Frederick, is alongside the
dockyard at Portsmouth, and is taking her guns on
board.

Spy brigantine, Lieutenant-Commander Edward Hill,
is completed by the dockyard at Chatham, has entered
her complement of men, and will be ready for sea in a
few days.
Bonetta brigantine is in dock at Chatham, nearly com-
plete in her rigging, and will be ready for the pendant
in about a fortnight.
PORTSMOUTH, FRIDAY.-It blew an excessive gale,
accompanied with squalls of wind and rain, last night.
There was a very high tide, but we have not heard of
any mischief being done. The Fantome brig still lies at
Spithead, wind and weather bound; and the Margaretta
Evans and the London, New York packet-ships, are at
the Motherbank. The London sailed yesterday, but put
back at night. _

Letters from China to-day inform us of the death of
Mr. Crouch, chief clerk to the secretary of Rear-
Admiral C. J. Austen, C. 8., the Commander-in-Chief.
The young gentleman W 23 carried off by fever on the
20th of November. The Admiral and family were in
good health, but had been bumped ashore in the Hon.
Company's steamer Phlegethon, just below Canton,
where she took the rocks and knocked three holes in
her bottom. Letters from the squadron say the Admi-
ral contemplated a voyage to Calcutta, in his flag-ship,
the Hastings, 72.
The Birkenhead iron steam-frigate has been taken
into the Sidon dock to-day, to have a topgallant fore-
castle fitted.
The Simoon iron steam-frigate has been brought
down alongside the jetty to-day, for overhaul. It is ru-
moored a treaty of sale to a commercial company is
pending respecting her.
The rumour is very strongly revived again here re-
specting the Mediterranean command and Admiral
I) da s.

DEVONPORT, THURSDAY.—It blows as hard as ever.
Lieut. Saumarez, who was swamped in the boat return-
ing from the Volcano yesterday, is very unwell at his
lodgings, but no danger is apprehended. The smack
Industry, of Guernsey, waterlogged and abandoned,
drifted into the back of the Mewstone yesterday, but
went to pieces immediately. A portion of the stern
washed on shore, with the name. All hands are sup-
posed to be washed overboard. In the Sound, the
Volcano.

PLYMOUTH, THURSDAY.—The Thetis, Captain Kuper,
which sailed from this port, October 10th, arrived at
Madeira on the Mb, sailed from Madeira the 22d, and
arrived at Rio on the 21st of November, all well.

This place aad the vicinity have lately been visited
by a succession of heavy gales, which have, however,
committed no material damage within the limits of
the port. The shipping both to the eastward and west-
ward have suffered.

Le Fletan, French brig, Captain Khnel, from St. Va-
lery, on the east, having on board the owner, M. de Reg-
nue, of Barsac, near Bayonne, for which port she was
bound, put into Morlaix through stress of weather, and
sailed therefrom on the 7th of January. On Tuesday,
the 14th, she was struck in the Channel by a very heavy
sea, which threw her on her beam ends, whoa her owner,
panic-struck, jumped into the brig's long boat and cut
the eizings, when it immediately capsized. Three of
the crew and the cabin-boy got into a lesser boat, which
also capsized. The master left with only one man,
speedily cut away the weather • landyards, when the
brig's mast gave way and she soon righted, which being
observed by the three seamen, they crawled over the
floating rigging and got on board again, but in order to
save the boy were compelled to return acd fasten a rope
round his waist. The unfortunate owner was observed
to sink just under the brig's stern. It was impossible to
hoist any c.invass, and to prevent the vessel from going
whore on Tuesday night her captain lowered into the
sea a largo hemp cable to act as a dram. On Wednes-
dAy morning they found that they could not make Ply-
mouth Sound, and as the brig's ballast sand had been
pumped out, pumps choked, and the vessel leaky and un-
manageable, they were compelled to run her ashore in
Whitaand-bay, and selected a beach near the Preventive
station at Downderry. The master and another, who
could swim, leaped into the sea with a small rope and
safely reached the shore, where they found Mr. J. G.
Anderson, Master R N., and the men belonging to the
station, who humanely assisted in saving the remainder
of the crew, conveyed the whole to their cottages, and
furnished them with clothing and necQssaries. The brig
has since gone to pieces. Mr. Luscombe, the French
Consul at Plymouth, is protecting the interests of all
!concerned.

Yesterday morning, about 10 o'clock, a sunken sloop
was observed between the Mewstone and Shagstone, to
the eastward of this port, and she eventually came ashore
near Wembury Church. The name Industry can be
made out inthstinetly on her stern, the print of a Jersey
sailmaker is on her jib, and from the fact of her having
ring bolts in her sides it is concluded that she must be a
cattle trader from the islands. The body of a seaman,
apparently one of the crew, floated ashore in the even-
ing. Her boat having been picked up three or four
days since at Yealm, it is supposed that she was disabled
in the storm of Wednesday, the Bth inst.
The screw steamer Propontis, with the mails for the
Cape of Good Hope, will not go to sea before to-morrow
(Friday).
Wind southerly, blowing strong, with thick weather.
WooLwlcsl, JAN. 17.—The Apollo troop-ship, Com-
mander James Rawstorne, when the whole of the lug-
gage of the troops she brought home from Jamaica is
discharged, will be taken to Sheerness, and it is expected
she will be paid off at that port, having been in commis-
sion since the 29th of December, 1848. The Resistance
troop-ship, Master Commander Bradshaw, remains for
the present at Woolwich. The officers of these vessels
dined yesterday evening at the mess of the Royal Ar-
tillery in the garrison.
Commander Edmund Anthony Glynn (1848), who
had for several months studied steam at the factory at
Woolwich Dockyard, was examined yesterday as to his
knowledge of the working of marine steam-engines by
Mr. Humphrys, Chief Engineer, and having passed in
a highly satisfactory manner, received his certificate
to-day.

SUICIDE FROM WATERLOO-BRlDGE.—Yesterday
morning, between three and four o'clock, an alarm was raised
that a respectable female, having first divested herself of her
bonnet and shawl, had jumped into the Thames from one of
the recesses of Waterloo bridge. It being a fine moonlight
night, the unfortunate creature's struggles were distinctly
visible, and some lightermen hastened to her assistance, but
she sunk and was drowned. About half-past six her body
-was found in the mud on the Lambeth shore ; it is that of a
female about 25, dark complexion and middle stature, wear-
ing a plum-coloured silk gown ; it was removed to the vault
of St. John's Church, Waterloo-road, for an inquest and to
be identified.

We understand it was resolved by the Gresham
committee yesterday that on and after Monday, the 27th
instant, the hour of closing the gates for admittance to
'Change
shall be a quarter to four instead of a quarter past
four, as hitherto. The final clearing of the Exchange
will
take place at a quarter-past four, instead of half-past.
arrangement, we believe, will meet the views of all parties.—
Times.
POLITE, BUT SLOW.—A stuttering Vermonter was
asked the way to Waterbury. With great politeness. he
strove to say that it was right a-head, but in vain. The
more he tried the more he couldn't.. At last, red in the face
ye; you'llgig-gt-get there afore I
and furious with unavailable exertion,. be. burst forth with
"Gug-gug-go-long darn
can tell ye !"—Aretv oak
Cyclops,

.FATAL STEAM BOILER EXPLOSION.
WIGAN, THURSDAY.—Thi3 morning, about half-
past six o'clock, a boiler exploded at Ho'me:house
colliery, causing the death of two persons, and injuring
some others. The explosion took place at No. 3 pit of
the colliery. At this place there are two engines of GO
and 30-horse power respectively, supplied with steam
from three circular boilers, which are situated between
the two engine houses. It was the newest boiler that
exploded. The boiler itself rebounded from its bed a
distance of several yards. The boiler house was
completely destroyed. The explosive discharge took
place in an opposite direction to that in which the
boiler had been forced. The end plate, which would
weigh nearly 3 cwt., was impelled into an adjoining
field a distance of about sixty yards, and a massive
portion of the inner tube was projected also a great
distance. This field, which skirts the Wigan and
Preston turnpike-road, near the entrance to the Earl
of Crawford and Balcarres' demesne, was completely
strewed with fragments of timber, scraps of iron,
and brickbats. These were firmly imbedded
in the greensward, some of the heavier projectiles
having been forced several inches below the sur-
face. Portions of the brick work were driven a dis-
tance of 300 yards. The engineers who were on
duty had only arrived at their posts half an hour
when the explosion took place ; the night men had
gone away, and a fresh supply of water was being
admitted into the boiler in question at the time of
the sad occurrence. There are evidences in the boiler,
which satisfy all the scientific men who have in-
spected it that the supply had not been suffered to
diminish to such an extent as would induce danger
when a cold stream came to be admitted. The real
cause of this misfortune has not yet been ascertained.

The persons killed are—Ann Turton, thirty-
five years of age, who was found among the ruins of
the boiler house, and Jeremiah Price, aged twenty-
five, a lamp-cleaner, whose body was found con-
suming away on the fire in the lamp house, which
was also destroyed, being situated quite close to the
boiler shade. A basket-maker employed there was
very much hurt by the missiles which were scat-
tered with irresistible impetus on every side. The
underlooker also sustained considerable injury in a
similar manner.