The Sun.
London, England, 1869-07-20 00:00:00

THE FLYING SQUADRON.

A correspondent of the Evening Standard, writing from
on board the Liffey, Madeira, July 2, describes the cruise
of the Flying Squadron up to that port.- After
referring to the misadventure which happened to the
Barossa just as the squadron was leaving Devonport,
the correspondent goes on to narrate their further
progress. The first signal made was to rendezvous
seven miles south-west of the Eddystone ; but
the winds were so light that it was past noon of June 19
before the squadron had taken up their stations. The
Scylla shewed herself by far the fleetest ship ; the
Liffey came next ; the Liverpool and the Bristol
were about equal ; the Endymion was the slowest.
Towards evening the wind freshened up from the
north-west, and the vessels bowled along at six knots
an hour. On Sunday, 20th, the vessels were off Ushant.
The routine with regard to sail drill was carried out on
Monday, 21st, and all hands were very glad when the dinner
pendant released them from their toils. On Tuesday, several
boating excursions were caused through a temporary change
of naval instructors for the examination of the midship-
men under their charge. The Bay of Biscay was now in
full roll. Nevertheless on Wednesday, the 23rd,
Admiral }lornby inspected the Liffey, coming
on board under circumstances of wind and sea that would
have deterred any but the most energetic of young admirals.
June 26 saw the wind in the south-west, and by noon the
Liffey was 2241 miles from Madeira. The heat was now very
oppressive, and the hot wind made the very small allow-
ance of five quarts of water a day for drinking, washing,
and shaving a serious trial. Under these circumstances
a cruise of two or three years lost a good deal of
its romance for the young officers, and the elder ones
reckoned that the small sum of 3s. a day expended in
coals would relieve all this distress, as one ton of coals
giVes 2,000 gallons of water. On the 29th the vessels found
themselves 140 miles from Madeira, and baffling winds com-
pelled them to retrace a portion of their way. It was
not till Wednesday that they sighted and passed the
beautiful island of Santo Porto, 30 miles north of Madeira;
but at:6.30 all the ships were hove to, as all the captains
and commanders were invited to dine with Admiral
Hornby, on board the Liverpool. While at dinner
the homeward-bound African mail steamed up along
side of us to get the mails, but, alas ! none were ready.
The flagship, however, detained her sufficiently long to
send home some letters. On July 1 "the ships were tan-
talised by a near view of the land, but as they lay be-
calmed, with but distant prospects of anchoring before
evening, it was the reverse of agreeable ; while native
boats, which hovered about, were tempting in their offers
of transporting us to the shore."

THE VICARAGE OF DONCASTER.—MC Arch-
bishop of York has offered his vicarage of Doncaster,
vacant by the nomination of the Roy. Dr. Vaughan to the
Mastership of the Temple, to the Rev. A. W. Thera!,
M.A., Prebendary of the York Cathedral and chaplain to
the Archbishop. Mr. Thorold has declined the appoint-
ment, preferring to retain the ministry of Curzon Chapel,
Mayfair, to which 111 was presented a few months since
by Earl Howe.

DEATH OF THE BIZOTHvR OF PIUS IX.—A com-
munication from ilome states that the Pope continues to
enjoy good health, but that he was much affected by the
news of his brother's death, who has just expired at Sini-
gaglia in consequence of a fall. lie was titled Count
Gabriel Mastai Ferretti, was 90 years of age, and the head
of his Holiness's family.