The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-14 00:00:00

Her Maj est?, j ship Amethyst, 26, has been in-
spected by Vioe -Admiral W. Hope Johnstone, at
Sheerness. Th e officers and crew were mustered
and exercised al t general and fire quarters, the books
and logs were ( carefully examined, and everything
found in good ( order. The Admiral called the crew
aft, and express ;ed the highest approbation, saying
that he had not inspects d such a ship's company
since his appointment ; that the exercise in all re-
spects was very Rood, and he should make a very
favourable and special report to the Admiralty re-
garding them. The A .methyst has been nearly four
years and a half in commission, and took an active
part in the former CJhinese war, the battle of Fat-
shan, and the block ade of Canton, since which she
has been engaged. "in important operations on the
coast of Mexico.. She returns having circumnavi- '
gated the globe, and brings back a large proportion '
of those who sailed in her from these shores. As
the Admiral was leaving the ship, the petty officers
came on the quarter-deck and respectfully requested
that he would kindly petition the Admiralty to ex-
tend their leave of absence to eight weeks instead
of six (as is customary), in consequence of their
lengthy commission in very unhealthy climates. Ths
Admiral received the request in a courteous manner.
Letters received from the Espoir, 5, screw, dated
Sierra Leone, Nov. 20, state that fever broke out on
board on her passage from the Gambia to Sierra
Leone, and that a third of the ship's company, with
the commander, were down with it at one time.
The sick were landed at Sierra Leone to recruit
their health. No deaths had occurred. While at
Sierra Leone intelligence arrived that a slave brig
was off the coast at no great distance. Commander
Douglas, though suffering from fever, immediately
put to sea, and fell in with her as she was run-
ning in to ship her slaves, 250 being ready for her.
She afterwards was towed by the Espoir, after
much difficulty, to Sierra Leone. The slaver had
no colours or papers.
Letters received from the Victor Emmanuel, 91,
screw, lying in Malta harbour, represent her hull
to require extensive repairs ; the majority of her
seams being very much warped and open. Her
expansive valves have proved to be useless from the
weakness of their original construction. Their
principle is stated to be good, but they have failed,
as have those of other ships on the station, from the
cause already stated. New valves were about to
be cast having bearings at each end, three-quarters
of an inch in diameter and four inches long, to re-
volve in leashes let in at each end of the chest, and
which would take the pressure of the spindles
on to the valves themselves. In every other re-
spect the engines, which are from the manufac•
tory of Maudslay, Field, and Sons, gave the
greatest satisfaction, and are described as " work-
ing splendidly."
The Harrier, 17,screvv, Commander Sir M. M'Gre-
gor, at Portsmouth, has drawn charts for the Aus-
tralian station. She is expected to sail on Monday
next.

The total cost for preserving and repairing the
machinery of the vessels in steam ordinary at Ports-
mouth, including stores and pay of engineers and
stokers, for the half-year ending the 30th Septem-
ber last, amounted to £7,690.
The Osborne, paddle yacht, Master Commanding
George K. Bower, arrived at Portsmouth yesterday
at 5 p.m., from Madeira and Lisbon.
The members of the Royal Commission for the
inquiry into the management of the royal dock-
yards, returned to town from their duties at Ports-
mouth yesterday.
The undermentioned gentlemen have been nomi-
nated to naval cadetships :—Mr. Charles Lucius
Cary, Mr. Palmer Smythie, and Mr. Cecil E. Yates.,
The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Lieut. George Worsfold, addi-
tional, to the Desperate; John H. Tully, second
master, additional, to the Cumberland for the
Griffin ; James Harvey, surgeon, to the Mars; and
Wm. Nottridge, clerk, to the Jason.