The Sun.
London, England, 1851-08-01 00:00:00

FRIDAY

AUGUST

to be said pro and con., and we have every confidence
that it will be well and maturely weighed by the Cora-
mibsion.— Times.

NTELLIGENCE

THE NAVY LIST FOR AUGUST.
Tho Navy List for August contains the revision and
re-adjustment of the lists of naval officers under the new
scheme of naval retirement. The active list of flag-offi.
cers of course comes first, and consist of-
-Ist. Admirals of the fleet, 2; admirals, 21; vice-admi-
rals, 27; rear-admirals, 51. Total, 101.
2d. Then comes the list of flag officers, or reserved
half-pay in receipt of good service pensions—namely,
7 admirals, 1 vice-admiral, and 2 rear-admirals ;
total, 10.
3d. Flag-officers on reserved half-pay; admirals, 2 ;
vice-admirals, 18; rear-admirals, 21; total, 41.
The retired rear-admirals under the order in council
of 1846 are the same-41 ; and the additional retired
rear-admirals on the pay of retired captains is increased
according to the terms of the retirement order in council
of 1846, to 59.
The retired captains of 1846 are now 36; but those
on the 18s. list have been increased to 64, thus
making up these lists now to 200, including
the retired rear-admirals. The officers who have re-
cently been added to this list, in accordance with the new
order in council, are—Samuel Price, 1831 ; Andrew
Atkins Vincent, K.H., 1832 ; Samuel Radford, K.H.,
1832; Joseph Harrison, 1832; Patrick Duff Henry Hay,
1833; Henry Shovel! Marsham, 1833; Charles Crowdy,
1834; Thomas Mansell, 1834; William Townsend Dance,
1834; John James Ouslow, 1834; William Hamley,
1834; Abraham Mills Hawkins, 1835; John Drake,
1835; Edward Aug. Frankland, 1835; James Bur-
ney, 1835; James Morgan, 1836; Richard Barton, 1837;
William Slaughter, K.H., 1837; Thomas Gill, 1837;
William Allan Herringham, 1837; Robert Gordon, 1837.
Their retirements date from July 1, 1851.
The "active captains' " list is now reduced to 465.
The promotion of 50 of the senior commanders to be
added to the retired captains' list of 1840 have been
given to the following officers. With the exception of
the first five, who were commanders of 1813, they were
all commanders of 1814:—Thomas Sykes, Charles Ray-
ley, Matthew Connolly, James Oliver, Robert Lowthian,
Samuel Trevor Dickens, Bouchier Molesworth, John
Jordan Arrow, Francis Edward Seymour, Richard
Streatfeild, Pringle Home Douglas, Richard Henry
Hollis Pigot, Christopher West, George Hilton, Curry
William Hillier, Sir Alexander Dixie, Bart., John Fisher,
Henry Elton, John Watson, Abel Wantner Thomas,
William Forbes Leith, George Bowen, John Hilton,
Alexander Francis Elphiustone, George Penrad-
docke, Francis Duval, John Henry Rhodes, Charles
Cowper Bennett, William George Carlisle Kent, Ed-
mund Turberville, James Edward Huggins, James Stir-
ling (b), Francis Le Hunts, Rose Henry Fuller, James
Townsend, William Henry Nares, Samuel Hoskins, Ed-
ward Boys, John Davy, Anthony Blagrave Valpy,
Charles Ilutehinson, Charles Greene, Edward Johnson,
John Francis Lascelles, John Lindsey, Sir Edwyn
Francis Scudamore Stanhope, Bart., Richard Stevens
Harness, Charles Pengelley, William Laugharne,
Mitchell Roberts.
The active commanders' list is reduced to 573, no less
than 206 having been placed on the new " reserved half-
pay list."
The retired commanders' list of 1814 are as before,
with the exception of the two or three promotions to
death vacancies; but to the retired commanders' list of
1830 have been added Lieutenants of 1810, Commanders
J. Wardle, J. G. Naps, W. Phipps, N. Atkin, J. C.
Gosselin, John Edridge, H. Brett, W. L. Brake, R.
Hetherington, T. C. Festing, F. Draffen, E. Luscombe,
and H. F. Sewell.
The active list of lieutenants is reduced to 1,237; for
no less than 886 have been placed on reserved half-pay.
The promotion by selection for the active lists of
their ranks to be captains and commanders, on "reserved
half-pay," are the following:—By the terms of the
order in council, fifty commanders are to be promoted to
the rank of captain, and of this number twenty are to be
selected in the present year. Of this number eighteen
have been selected as follows, their promotions bearing
date, July 28, 1851:
CAPTAINS ON RESERVED HALF-PAY.—Commanders—
Nicholas Alexander, James Gabriel Gordon, James
Robertson Walker, George Bignell, Samuel Wriford,
Edward Hollingsworth Delafosse, Richard Howell
Fleming, William Grint, Thomas Lowton Robins, Ri-
chard Douglas, Thomas Furber, John Pearse, Francis
Ormond, John Cornwall, Spencer Smyth, Thomas Pitt
Robinson, Joseph Cammilleri, John Reeve.
Of the fifty lieutenants to be seleeted, nineteen
out of the twenty for this year have been promoted—
namely, to be
COMMANDERS ON RESERVED HALF-?AY—Lieutenants
—George Williamson, Richard Bastard, John Picthorn,
Thomas Jackson (a), Thomas Clack, Thomas Archer,
Joseph William Crabb, Henry Garrett, James Sedg-
wick Lean, Charles Haydon, 'Edward Brown Addis,
Henry Parry, Redmond Moriarty, Charles Friend,
Henry G. Etough, Henry Lancaster, James Carter (b),
Thos. Woods, William Lory.
We hear that Major John B. Castieau (nearly at the
top of the list of captains), Royal Marine Artillery, has,
or is about to, retire on half-pay.
Clerk—John Sweatman (1845), of the Fisgard, has
been appointed to the Britannia, 120, at Portsmouth.
Masters' Assistant—W. C. Bicknell, to the Styx
steam-sloop, Devonport.
Clerks' Assistant—D. G. Guy, to the Centaur steam-
frigate, Portsmouth.
DOCKYARD.—We are glad to find that Mr. John Lee,
of Woolwich Dockyard, of long servitude, and one of
the most deserving officers in the service, whose claim
could not have been again passed over, has been pro-
moted to be first-class clerk, vice Morgan, appointed store
receiver at Woolwich.
PORTSMOUTH, THIIRSDAY.—The Trafalgar, 120, Capt.
H. T. Greville (acting), weighed from Spithead yester-
day, at noon, accompanied by the Oberon steam-vessel.
On reaehing the Knab-light she was signalised to dis-
charge Lieutenant Cavendish B. Here to the Victory,
who, it appears, had subjected himself to a court of in-
quiry for being absent without leave, the ship being
under sailing orders, in consequence of which the
Trafalgar anchored in St. Helen's-roads, where she still
remains.

The Black Eagle Admiralty yacht, Master-Comman-
der Petley, came into harbour yesterday from Woolwich,
to attend on the Lords of the Admiralty, and take them
to the Channel Islands.
The Dauntless steam-frigate, Captain Halsted, was
taken in the Angle dock last evening, but was undocked
this morning, it not being long enough to receive her;
she will go into the south dock on Friday to undergo
considerable alterations.
The whole of the steamers in the new basin will be taken
out to-morrow, for the purpose of draining the water out
to overhaul the dam of the new dock.
The Monarch Indiaman sailed from Spithead to-day
for Calcutta.
A terrific thunderstorm passed over this port yesterday
afternoon doing considerable damage afloat. The storm
took a south-west direction. The forked lightning was
fearfully vivid, followed by heavy peals of thunder, the
rain falling in torrents. A thunderbolt fell near the
Platform Battery. The Port Admiral's yacht Fanny was
struck by the lightning about a mile from the Spit
buoy, which shattered her topmast to pieces, and so
shook her lowermast as to render it completely useless.
The electric fluid ran down the lowermast and forced its
way through the deck to the cabins, laying four of the
crew prostrate, and striking several of the others sense-
less, but without injuring either of them. It then ran
along the bell-wire, dismounitng the bells, and passing
through the vessel's side, knocking a bolt
out in its pas-
sage. Notwithstanding the damage she had received,
the captain (Mr. Scarlet) proceeded to St. Helen's, where
she had been ordered, to take Lieutenant Hore from the
Trafalgar to the Victory. She was towed into harbour I
by the Oberon in the evening.
Admiral Cape! went on board this morning to inspect
the yacht, and after hearing the particulars of the fear-
ful disaster congratulated Mr. Scarlet and his crew on
their providential escape.

HE LOCK CONTROVERSY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—As the lock controversy engages much attention,
perhaps you will be so good as to allow us to state,
through your columns, how the matter, as regards the
Bramah lock, stands at this date.
On the second of last month (June) Mr. Hobbs was
allowed to take wax impressions of our Bramah lock,
and between that date and the 21st inst. made, as far as
ho could, instruments therefrom.
On the 22d inst. Mr. George Rennie, Professor Cowper,
and Dr. Black met and arranged the plan of operations.
At Mr. Hobbs' request thirty days were given him as
the period for the trial of his skill, the lock being
screwed to a door, and the keyhole, when Mr. Hobbs
was not at work, being covered by an iron band under
his own seal; all access to the lock is therefore taken
from us, agreeably to our own suggestion.
On Thursday last (the 24th) Mr. Hobbs began his
operations on the lock, repeated them on Saturday,
again on Monday and yesterday.
He commenced work yesterday at five minutes past
nine in the morning, and did not leave the room till
after five o'clock; he was therefore engaged eight hours
in one day.
This morning he began again at eight minutes past
nine and is now at work.
After this severe test from the hands of this most
celebrated operator, we cannot fear for the high public
reputation which the Bramah lock has enjoyed for so
many years. The period for the trial being so long, we
feel it due to our numerous friends and the public to lay
the above facts before them, and from which it must be
evident to all that for every purpose of security the
Bramah lock still maintains its pre-eminence over all
its competitors.—We are, Sir, &0.,

M
124, Piccadilly, London, July BR A
31, 1851. AH AND CO.
P.S. Mr. Hobbs has this day been at work on the
lock from eight minutes past nine in the morning till
ten minutes to six, and the lock remains unopened.

[ADVERTISEMENT.] TRAVELLERS.—CommerciaI
travellers are, of all men, the most social; their profession
often places them within situations where they are obliged to
freely patronize the science of gastronomy, and to yield to
the seductive allurements of the "rosy god;" no harm from
these indulgences would ever be felt if they were to take
two or three of Old Parr's Life Pills at night. This fine
stomachic medicine would, without the slightest disturbance
or pain, clear off all acidities, which would otherwise remain
in the stomach and bowels, and: produce feverish headache,
and all other unpleasant symptoms. On account of their
mild and effective operation they are new more used by all
travellers than any other medicines are. For sea voyages
they are acknowledged to be all that is required, preventing
all scurvy, iisc. Sold by Messrs. Barclay and Sons, Farringdon-
street ; Edwards, St. Paul's Church-yard; Sutton and Co..
Bow Church-yard; Sangar, 151, Oxford-street; and liannstY
and Co., Oxford-street.

1, 1851

MAGAZINE DAY.
BLACKWOOD.
Two features especially mark the current number
of Blackwood--the commemoration of the death of
"Delta," and the continuation of Sir Bulwer Lytton's
" Novel" under the name of Pisistratus. Politicians
will, of course, turn with a greedy inquisitiveness to
the opening article for August, being a disquisitio❑
on " The Census and Free Trade,' and, what is
more, a disquisition from the hand of no less trenchant
a publicist —or we are mistaken than Archibald
Alison, the historian. Attractive, however, though
this remarkable chapter in illustration, and we might
say, also, in depreciation of the newly-organized
science;of political economy, is, its interest to ourself,
is marvellously subordinated by the two other and
already-mentioned contributions. The tribute of ad-
miring and affectionate respect to the memory of
David Macbeth Moir does honour to the pages
of Blackwood. Eminently deserved though every
word of praise is, the graceful manner in which
each syllable of the eulogium is expressed, does
infinite credit to the writer both in regard to his
sensibility and his rhetoric, and sheds a lustre, at the
same time, mournful but still agreeable, over the ho-
noured pages of the periodical. Upon the additional
chapters of " My Novel" it is scarcely possible to re-
mark otherwise than incidentally, seeing that the
plot of the story is even now but dimly and gradually
developing itself, insomuch that conjecture would
inevitably mar the interest of the fiction ; and to dwell
upon the narrative without uttering some such insi-
nuated anticipations would be impossible, in conse-
quence of the interest aroused in the mind of the reader
by the master mind of the novelist. In consequence
of his application to the eccentric but generous-hearted
homcnopathist, Dr. Morgan, Leonard Fairfield acci-
dentally discovers his illegitimacy—discovers that be
is the child of shame, the child of Nora, a child unto
whom the law has denied a father. The description of
his emotions on hearing a truth so terrible to his
proud nature, is beautiful indeed, and beyond all in
that touching moment when, in a sudden paroxysm of
tears, he apostrophises the memory of his mother.
John Burley, already known to the reader as the fan-
tastic fisher of the one-eyed perch, developes, in the
course of the chapters here published, into a remark-
able and substantial character. As an example of an
author of the last generation, Burley is pencilled in a
manner as admirable in its truthfulness, as Fallen was
delineated by the same facile hand as the representa-
tive of a writer of an age more remotely antece-
dent. His gorgeous day-dream of what an author
ought to be—" A being between gods and men, who
ought to be lodged in a palace, and entertained at the
public charge upon ortolans and tokay," one who
"should be kept lapped in down, and curtained
with silken awnings from the cares of life, having
nothing to do but to write books upon tables of
cedar, and fish for perch from a gilded gal-
ley," is lamentably contrasted with his own er-
ratic course and chequered existence, his slumbers
in a garret, and his midnight orgies iu the midst of
tobacco smoke and the lowest ranks of topers and
boon companions. From him Leonard learns the
snares and pitfalls which beset the writer for fame,
as much almost as from conning the grand and ter-
rible tragedy revealed by the biographer of Chatter.
ton. The passages referring to the life of this mighty
genius—in regard to precocity the mightiest genius
the world ever saw—are finely and at moments most
touchingly written. They well deserve reference at
the hands of any future memorialist of the " wondrous
boy," as elucidative of the great moral which is to be
derived from his history. " Voltaire in the Crystal
Palace," besides being an enthralling eccentricity,
attracts the attention of the reader by its very title,
rendering him by suggestion doubly curious to see the
promised but as yet unpublished romance of the same
edifice, by Mr. 'Warren. After this article comes
another, containing some very attractive " Pictures
from St. Petersburgh," pictures the more
attractive from the circumstance of their
novelty. " Paris in 1851" is certain to secure to it-
self innumerable readers, by reason of its very desig-
nation ; so that it can dispense with any commenda-
tion : not so the " London Diary of a German Au-
thoress," which justice compels us to pronounce more
amusing than the majority could have anticipated.
" The Raid of Arnaboll," a tale of the bygone year,
lends a❑ additional charm to the magazine, which is
completed by a brief allusion to the election at Scar
borough.

TAIT.
Turning rather sour in its old age, Tait must needs
fall foul of two very inoffensive personages, the one
for delivering a lecture on Pope, the other for writing
some vesres about the Rhine in answer to Becker.
Peregrine proses in a mood essentially cantankerous,
though affectedly well-natured, about the Earl of
Carlisle, and some very petulant reviewer, with-
out a pseudonym, indulges himself in an on-
slaught upon the Hon. G. S. Smythe, M.P. We
must confess that we have an equal distaste for that
petulance which can
.see _nothing worthy in an ene-
my's effusion, as for that sycophancy-which discovers
only sublimities in the babblings of some demented
favourite. Mr. Smythe's verses were nothing as
toundingly wonderful, it is true, but they were very
fine and very beautiful nevertheless ; and, therefore,
it is rather too bad to see them spitefully depreciated
as mere crambo and balderdash. Such criticism as
this is scarcely befitting the reputation of Tait.
Added to these and several other contributions too
numerous, and some of them too insignificant, to be
particularized, are continuations of " The Working
Man's Way in the World," and of " Craigallan
Castle," together with the conclusion of " A Lay to
the Briefless."