The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-15 00:00:00

Till? P eIs7INSULAR .11,1 AI GS.

SOUTHAMPTON, SUNDAY EVENING.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Tagus, Captain Christian, has arrivoi with mails in
charge of Lieutenant Seaward, R.N. Her thtes
are Gibraltar February 5 ; Cadiz, 6 ; Lisbon, 9 ;
Vigo, 10. The Tagus brings 16 paslengers, suecir•
value 11,7321., 100 boxes of eg2s, 52 boxes of tan-
gerines, 516 boxes of almonds, and 102 packages
Of sundries.

Stormy weather from the eastward set in at
Gibraltar on the afternoon of the 29th ult. Heavy
squalls, accompanied by rain, thunder, and light-
ning, occurred at intervals throughout the night.
On the 30th a gale of wind b'ew from the eastward
with a heavy sea rolling into the bay fri.tia the Me-
diterranean, which gradually moderated on the 315,,
and terminated in copi ~us showers during the night.
followed by fine weatbe-r on the Ist inst. and a light
breeze from the north-west. Num-rous casualties
to shipping during the gale were r: ported.
Lisbon exthange,i are quoted, t his packet, at three
months on London 53j to 53, with money over at
the latter rate, bills continuing scarce on London,
as also on the continent, at 532 for Paris ; Amster-
dam, 52i ; Hamburg, 471 ; Genoa, 530. Three
per Cent. Stocks had been less in demand at 451 to
47 ; Coupons, 461 to ; and Deferred, 28i to 29 ;
Bank of Portugal shares, 10/1 to 11 per cent. pre-
mium ; and Oporto Bank shares, 20 to 2214 per
cent. premium.

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

Orders were yesterday received at Chatham by
Major-General W. H. Eden, commandant of the
garrison, directing the officers in command of the
three battalions of infantry to boll in re uliness
additional reinforcements, to the number of nearly
1,000 men of all ranks, to embark for India, for
the purpose of augmenting the service companies
of those regiments now stationed in Bengal,
,Msdras, and Bombay. The above detachments
are in addition to the officers and men at present
under ordtrs for India, which will make nearly
2,000 men of all ranks in readiness at Chatham
Garrison to embark for India as soon as tonnage
has been taken up for their conveyance.
The volunteering for the line, from the 3d Royal
',mark Militia, in Kilkenny, closed on Wednesday
evening, exactly the number of men asked for, 112,
having volunteered, although onl subsequently
" paid the smart."

Admiral of the White John Sykes died at his re-
sidence, Wilton-terrace, on Friday last. By his
death the following promotions take place :
Admiral of the Blue Sir George Francis Seymour,
K. C. 8., G. C. H., Commander-in-Chief at Ports-
mouth, to be Admiral of the White.
Vice-Admiral of the Red the Hon. Sir Fleet-
wood Broughton Reynolds Pollew, C. 8., K.C.H.,
to he Admiral of the Blue.
Vice-Admiral of the White Sir John Gordon Sin-
clair to be Vice-Admiral of the Red.

Vice-Admiral of the Rue Provo William Parry
Wallis, Commander-in-Chief ou the south-east
coast of America station, to be Vice-Admiral of the
White.

Rear-Admiral of the Red William Fanshawe
Martin, Superintendent of Portsmouth Dockyard,
to be Vice-Admiral of the Blue.
Rear-Admiral of the White Henry Smith, C. 8.,
to be Rear-Admiral of the Red.

Rear-Admiral of the Blue Henry John Codring •
ton, C. 8., to be Rear-Admiral of the White.
C.:iptain Richard Henry King (1839) to be Rear-
Admiral on the reserved half-pay
Captain Richard Laird Warren (1839) to be
Rear-Admiral of the Blue.

By these promotions the appointment of Sup3r-
intendent of Portsmouth Dockyard and the gift of
a good-service pension fall to the patronage of the
Admiralty.

The sailing frigate Cambrian, 40, Captain James
J. M'Cleverty, bent sails on Tuesday, and was
tome i on Thursday from liarnoaze into Plymouth
Sound.

Tt.e steam frigate Valorous, 16, Captain W. C.
Aldharn, from Spithead, which arrived in Plymouth
Sound ou Thursday, went up Hamoaze on Friday
evening to make good defects. She is to convey to
Sheerness Captain Storey, and the officers and crew
of the Eagle, who are appointed to the screw block-
ship Russell, 60, fitting to replace the Eagle at
Falmouth.

The screw steam frigate Euryalus, 51, was placed
alongside the sheer hulk at Devonport Dockyard
Friday, preparatory to her being put in commission.
It is reported that she will be sent to the Pacific.
The screw steam sloop Encounter, 14, Captain
O'Callaghan, which returned from the China and
East India station on Sunday, the 7th inst., was
inspected by Poit-Admiral Sir Barrington Rey-
nolds, K.C.8., on Tuesday, and is ordered to be
paid off at Plymouth.
The screw steam ship Royal Albert, 131, flag of
Admiral Lord Lyons, on returning fi-om the Medi-
terranean, is ordered to be paid off at Plymouth.
The Southampton, 50, guardship, is to be re-
moved from Harwich harbour. The Pembroke,
60, is expected to succeed the Southampton on the
station.

Ou Friday courts-martial assembled on board the
flag skip Waterloo, Captain Henry Harvey, at
Sheerness, to try Commander Armin() Wodehouse,
Henry D. Sarratt, master, and Mr. John John-
ston, the last being in pilot charge of the screw
steam gun vessel Alacrity, to inquire into the cir-
cumstances under which her Majesty's ship Alacrity
was run aground (while under charge of the said
John Johnston) on the Shingles Spit, at about
4.20 a.m. of the 3d of February. After hearing the
evidence for the prosecution and the defence the
Court fully acquitted Commander Wodehouse and
Mr. Sarratt, the master, from any blame whatever,
highly eulogised them for the exertions they made,
and for the judicious management and sound judg-
ment exercised by them in getting the Alacrity off
the Shingles Spit and into Sheerness. The court was
then dissolved, and immediately sworn in to try Mr
John Johnsten, the pilot. The pr Boner, on the
case closing for the prosecution, was asked if he
was prepared with his defence and if he wished
to call any witnesses. He replied that lie was pre-
pared with his defence, but did not wish to call any
witnesses. His defence was then read by the Deputy
Judge-Advocate, wherein he informed the Court
he had held his warrant for nearly 12 years ; that
during that period he had never had the misfor.une
to get any ship on shere under his charge ; that
had he been on board a merchant ship he should
not have got under weigh during a dark night such
as it was, but knowing he was in charge of one of
her Majesty's ships, and in company with the Royal
yacht squadron, he considered, when he was
ordered to get under weigh, he was hound to do so.
He attributed the accident to the very thick wea-
ther and darkness of the night, having repeatedly
to alter his course in a narrow channel to avoid col-
lisions with the other vessels in the Alacrity's
course, and to the strong current setting her over
to the northward and running direct across the
Shingles Spit. He produced certificates from a
great number of naval command rs. The sentence
of the Court was to the following effect :
"That they were of opinion the result was owing to
the thick weather, and having to repeatedly alter her
course for other vessels, and from not making a sufficiet t
allowanoe'for the current running across the Shingles
Spit ; but in consideration of the high character given
Sarratt,
the pi isoner by Commander Wodehouse and Mr iu
by b
the master, also the high testimonials produced d
from other naval commanders, the Court do adju
him to be admonished to be more careful for the future,
and that he is hereby admonished accordingly.
The new .crew steam corvette Racoon, 22, of 400
horse-power, Capt. J. A. Paynter, at Sheerness,
commenced on Saturday last to have her compasses
adjusted.
The Russell, 60, Lieut. Robinson, is ordered to
be ready on the Ist March. Mr. J. Martin, assist-
ant surgeon, took up his commission on Saturday
last and joined.
The Royal George, 102, screw steam ship, has
had her fitment completed at Sheerness. She was
put out of the basin on Saturday last and berthed
at harbour moorings next the Formidable, guard-
ship of ordinary.
On Saturday last her Majesty's ship Challenger
was launched from the building-slip at Woolwich.
Her b ittery will consist of 20 8-inch guns of 65 cwt.,
and one pivot 68-pounder of 95 cwt., carried for-
ward or aft as may be convenient. The propeller
is designed so as to be lifted by the spanker-boom.
Arrangement* are ordered to be made for laying