The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-07 00:00:00

The division of the Channel fleet which had pro-
, ceeded to Lisbon from England was lying in the
Tagus at the time of the Geyser's sailing, but was
to leave for Plymouth Sound on the 6th inst.
The Firebrand, 6, paddle, Commander J. M.
Bruce, was prevented leaving Portsmouth harbour
yesterday for Spithead, as had been ordered, owing
to a strong gale having set in from S.S.W.
Her Majesty's sailing sloop Amethyst, 26, Capt.
S. Grenfell, from China and the Pacific stations,
arrived in Plymouth Sound yesterday morning.
She left St. Bias, Mexico, on June 20, arrived at
Panama July 16, sailed therefrom on the 23d,
reached Valparaiso Aug. 28, sailed Sept. 15, arrived
at Rio Janeiro Oct. 14, and left on the 20th.
Strong (contrary winds were experienced for 13
days after, and during most of the remainder of the
passage unfavourable winds from the north have
prevailed. On Sunday, Dec. 2, lat 49 N, long 14
W, there was a heavy gale from the south-east.
Passed, Nov. 25, lat 40 10 N, long 35 17 W, the
Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company's steam-
ship Hannibal, and the ship John Knox, both
homeward bound. The Amethyst left the screw
steam corvette Pylades, 21, Capt. M. De Courcy, at
St. Blas ; the screw steam corvette Clio, 22, Capt.
T. Miller, at Panama ; the screw steam sloop Mu-
tine, 17, Commander W. Graham, the French line-
of-battle ship Doguay Trouin, and two other French
ships of war, at Valparaiso ; and the screw steam
frigate Curacoa, 31, Capt. T. S. Mason, at Rio
Janeiro. She brings 13 naval invalids from the
Pacific and South American stations: The Ame-
thyst was commissioned in July, 1856, and was
first employed on the North American station; she
was engaged at Fatshan, in China, June 1, 1857,
and for five months was lying close to the
Shameer forts, assisting at the blockade of Canton.
Since her present commission, four years and five
months, she has lost five seamen and one officer,
Paymaster Warrington, who died at the Cape of
Good Hope in March, 1857. During her absence
from home she has made good 66,037 miles. She
sails so well that on the voyage home no ship passed
her. The Amethyst is reported to be in very good
condition, and the crew expect to be paid off at
Plymouth. She is ordered to discharge her powder
and go up to Hamoaze.

The screw steam frigate Ariadne, 20, Capt. Van-
sittart, was removed yesterday (Thursday) from
Keyham to her moorings in Hamoaze.
The screw steam corvette Satellite, 21, Capt. J.
C. Provost, from the Pacific, is hourly expected at
Plymouth.

The paddlewheel steam sloop Spiteful, 6, Com-
mander Wilson, put to sea from Plymouth Sound
on Wednesday evening, in search it is supposed of
some vessel in the Channel, and returned again
yesterday (Thursday) at noon.

Steam was got up yesterday (Thursday) morning
on board the line-of-battle ship Royal William, 91,
in Hamoaze, preparatory to her going outside the
Breakwater at Plymouth, to try her engines, but
owing to the unfavourable state of the weather the
trial was postponed.

The Royal Commissioners for the inquiry into
the management, &c., of the dockyard will arrive
in Portsmouth, accompanied by their secretary, Mr.
A. Price, R.N., on Monday next.
The following appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty :—W. H. Adam, assist.-surg.,
additional to the Impregnable ; J. G. Francklyn,
assist.-paymaster, to the Barracouta ; and J. H. F.
Maxwell, clerk, to the Excellent.