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

NAVAL TWTF.T.T:TaPNCP.
the whose have tien successtully
tried in the course of the experiments at Portsmouth, as
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 ,ut and home to and from Gibraltar, reaiaining at
twitcher there Sig ..ut six days. She has only been away
altogether twenty day e;, having teq Cork on the 26th ult.
with a part of the 55'h R,-giinent on board. She arrived
at Gibraltar on the 2,1 inst., and lett again on the Bth,
with four companie, 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 tour 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 Care 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 daring the whole term of her
three years commission under Captain the Hon. R. S.
Dundas, C.B. We 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 valuable 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 Dundas 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.

j;iti

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. Sho fired her heavy guns shotted and double-
allotted with au 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 Regeut, 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. with his family, went out to the Cum-
berland, 70, in her. The Cumberland will sail, as we
before stand, this day for Bermuda.
PORTSMOUTH, MARCH 16.—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
Friday from Woolwich. She yesterday embarked
packages, letters, pape:s, 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 :
Messrs. H. M. Miller, F. T. Thompson, W. B. Aleran-
dui., 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. Stepford and
Lieutenant F. J. D'Aguiiar 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, SITUR.D.A.Y.Her Majesty's packet Pe-
terel arrivep on Thursday from Falmouth.
Iltx Majesty's steam-vessel Vesuvius went round the
Eddystone on Friday, and on her return towed th© Pe-
terel into harbour to be paid off.
The packet brig Brilliant, Captain Colbeck, from Ma-
deira; arrived at this port on Friday night, at 11 o'clock,
having 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 heen very inclement during the winter.
She brings some valuable articles from Madeira for the
Exhibition. She brought a quantity of green peas,
grown in Madeira; they are in as great perfection as
ours would b., 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.

APPOINTMENTS.
WooLwicil, MARcu 5
Wiliam H. B. Jones, M.D.I-8u
(1837),r
o,Juvict-ship. 15.—Surgeon-Sup
then- S uAp eurrionrtae nhired
t
Surgeon Richard Carpenter (1842), to the Penelope
steam-frigate at Portsmouth.
First Engineer Hugh Roberts, to the Echo steam tug-
vessel, of 140-horse power, at Portsmouth.
Second• Engineer William Furnell, to ithe
Echo.
Master's-Assistant John M. Missing, to the Fisgard
flag-ship at Woolwich.
THE BRAZIL SQUADRON.
The following is an extract of a private letter, dated
Rio, January 10:
"Our squadron has lately
suffi-
cient number of vessels, but they
been inecereemaspeidaitnoeda
ef as
being too large for the service required
unfortunately, steamers require great deal of engineer
ar
of them, and,
repairs. This has lately been thecasewith
8, ser
the
ew.
Cor-
morant, 4 Captain Schomberg, and Conflict,
Sloop, Commander Drake, thereby causing some suspen-
sion of their active employment.
" A sad accident has befallen the Geyser steam-sloop,
Commander Tatham, she having struck on an unknown
sunken rock, between Illa Grande and the Main, striking
on her starboard bilge when going a-head at full speed.
She immed;.ately made for the harbour, arid could barely
keep herself clear of water by applying the steam power
to her pu'.nps. She is being cleared, for the purpose of
lightenieig her, with great expedition, and then the ex-
tent of her damage will be more fully developed. As it
is, she must keep one wheel turning whilst at anchor, to
free herself of the water, and thus the admiral is deprived
of her service for come months.
" The flag-ship Southampton has been capturing slave
vessels—that is, by her tender, the Harpy steam-vessel,
for she it is that did the business while she lay quietly
at anchor. On the sth of January, having information
of a vessel, reported as a slaver then beating out, she
proceeded in chase and captured her about six miles off
the port. The Brazilians occasionally take vessels ar-
riving from the coast; but the temptation of a bribe they
cannot resist, and so connive at their fitting out."

SHIP NE WS.
LIVERPOOL, MA.Acit 14.—Wind, W.—Orion, which
arrived at Charente on the 6th inst., hence, struck seve-
ral times on the Ile de Re, unshipped her rudder, broke
wheel, &c., and became leaky; in going up the river,
between Rochefort and Charente, she ran into a sloop at
anchor, and lost bowsprit, head, cutwater, &c., and re-
ceived damage in her bows; the sloop received but little
or no damage. Helen M•Lachlan, arrived here from
Ardrossan, has lost foreyard, &c., and had one man
killed, through collision with the Aristides, for Palermo,
which has put back with damage. Henry Cerwen, from
the Mauritius for London, Was bpoken, and reported
having been boarded off the Cape by a brig, supposed to
be a slaver, which took some water from her. Juno,
from Sierra Leone for this port, 'has arrived, and is re-
fitting. March 16th.—Wind, N., light. —Razee, loading
for Calcutta, in the Prince's Dock; was discovered to be
ou fire last evening, and immediately hauled into the
south Lock, and the fire subdued' after doing consider-
able damage to the vessel. Laidmans, arrived hero on
the 13th inst., struck three times, apparently upon a
sunken rock, during thick weather, on the 6th inst., in
lat. 46, long. 26, but did not receive any damage. Ivan-
hoe, from New York for this port, was seen ashore on
the round shoal of Nantucket on the 24th ult., with all
sails set, and apparently with a list to starboard, by the
Joseph Walker, arrived here.
SOUTLIAMPTON. MARCH 14.—A French barque named
the Eliza, bound for California, with 210 passengers on
board, was blown up by gunpowder in Rio Janeiro har-
bour, just before the Teviot sailed; ten persons were
missing, and twenty or thirty injured.
The Aristides, for Palermo, has put back with damage,
from contact with the Helen, which lost bowsprit, foreyard,
kc., and one man killed. The Witch, arrived here from Cal-
cutta, passed some wreck in 38 N., 42 W., and 39 N., 39 W.
On the night of the 9th inst. saw a large water-spout formed
of congealed ice, which broke close to her, and completely
deluged her with small particles of ice.
SOUTHAMPTON, DIARCH 14.—Wind N.E.—Arrd. United
States frigate, St. Lawrence, New York, and Cowes Roads;
Montrose steamer, Gibraltar.
PLYMOUTH, Mancit 14.—Wind variable.—Arrd. Argen-
tina, Bahia. Off port, Bosphorus, Buenos Ayres.
FALMOUTH, MARCH 14.—Wind variable.—Arrd. Diadem,
Rio Jareiro; Violet, Bahia.
CARDIFF, MAncit 14. oVind N.W.—Sld. Joshua, Ha-
vannah ; Thomas Wright, Savannah.
SWANSEA, MARCH 14.—Wind N.E.—Arrd. Sunbeam,
Cuba.

GRAVESEND, MARCH 16.—Wind N.W., light, fine.
Arrived—Genges, from the Mauritius; Henry Wal-
ley, from Antwerp; Mary Stoddart, from Madras;
Magnet, Giraffe, and Rainbow, from Rotterdam; Diana
and Roscommon, from Harlingen; Stadt Dordrecht,
from Dordt; Syria, from China; Factor, from Oporto;
Skud, from Lisbon; Isabella Walker, from Alexandria;
Jane, from Calcutta; Carl Mauran, from China; Emilie,
from Jaffa; Ann, from Boulogne; Juene Ernesto, from
Calais; Union, from Bordeaux; Dee, from Guernsey;
Sirene, from Bahia; Lady Louise, Reward, Prince Al-
bert, John Wesley, Sprite, and Ajax, from Guernsey;
North Star, from Ancona; Codrington, from Odessa;
X. L., from Dieppe; Ypres, from Dunkirk; La Coq,
from Cherbourg; St. Leonard, from Dunkirk; Condor,
from Dieppe; John and Elizabeib, from St. halo;
Lively, from Guernsey; Hannah, from Copenhagen;
blenai, from Calais; City of London, from Dunkirk;
Thames, from flamburgh; W. Joliffe, from Havre.
Sailed—Queen, and Governor Von Ewick, for