The Sun.
London, England, 1832-09-03 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

(From the Portsmouth Herald of Sunday.)
PORTSMOUTH, SEPT. I.—His Majesty's ship
Blossom, 16 (surveying vessel),Commander Richard
Owen, arrived on Thursday from Halifax, after I,
passage of seventeen days, having sailed thence on
the 12th ult. She left there his Majesty's ship
Winchester, 52 (bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral
Sir E. G. Colpoys, K.C.8.), Captain the Right
Hon. Lord William Paget; Columbine, 18, Com-
mander H. 0. Love ; and Monkey, tender to the
Blossom, commanded by Lieut. S. Mercer. The
Winchester was to sail on the 15th ult. for St.
John's, New Brunswick, with the 34th Regiment.
The Blossom left England in December, 1829, and
has been employed, together with her tender, in
surveying in the West Indies, chiefly of late the
Bahamah's Bank, a great portion of which still re-
quires examination. She has been ordered home,
owing to the bad state of her hull. The Blossom
brings passengers, Captain Ed. Bailey, of the 34th
Regiment; Mr. C. W. Plummer, Midshipman, to
join his Majesty's ship Isis; Mr. P. Cracroft, Mid-
shipman, to join his Majesty's ship Columbine;
Mr. R. V. Rawlings, Clerk of the Winchester ;
and seven invalided seamen and marines from the
Nest India squadron, besides Mr. Jeremiah Carey,
late Gunner of his Majesty's ship Gannet, and Mr.
James Wilson, Boatswain of his Majesty's ship
Blanche, both invalided.

His Majesty's gun-brig Plumper, 10, Lieut. T.
Creser, arrived on Sunday from the Western Coast
of Africa. She left the River Gambia on the 16th
of June, and Sierra Leone on the 10th of July, at
which latter place was his Majesty's ship Favorite,
18, Com. J. Harrison. The Plumper brings pas-
sengers, Lieut. Smithers and the other officers and
crew of the Conflict, gun-brig, which vessel has
Seen laid up at Sierra Leone. She brings also Mr.
James Hawker, Mate of the Charibdis, nine inva-
lids from the African squadron, and one distressed
British subject. The Plumper, owing to a long
prevalence of calms, was obliged to touch at Fayal
on the 15th ult. for supplies. She has sprung her
foremast, and is leaky. On the 4th ult. in lat. 29.
17. N. and long. 33. 27. W. she picked up about
fifteen feet of the heel of a merchant ship's lower
mast, which did not appear to have been long in the
water. On the 27th of July, there was a total
eclipse of the sun for the space of twelve minutes,
being totally dark and the stars shining in their
fullest lustre. The re-appearance of the sun was
extremely beautiful, being instantaneous. The
Plumper came into harbour on Tuesday, under
orders to be paid off into ordinary.
His Majesty's steamer Lightning, Mr. J. Allen,
Master, having embarked the Board of Admiralty,
together with Rear Admirals Sir F. L. Maitland
and the Hon. Sir C. Paget, proceeded on Sunday on
an official visit to Plymouth, where she arrived about
two o'clock on Tuesday afternoon. The Board
visited the rope and hemp houses of the Dock-yard
immediately after their arrival, and on the following
day (Wednesday) they mustered the men in the
Dock-yard and Ordinary, with a view to the super-
annuation of any of the former, who from old age or
sickness might be incapable of further service.
Their Lordships afterwards inspected the Break-
water. It was expected they would proceed to sea
with Sir P. Malcolm's fleet, to witness the trials
between the new vessels about which such a general
interest has been excited.

His Majesty's ship Lightning, JB, Commander
T. Dickinson, arrived on Tuesday from the South
American station, and anchored at St. Helens,

whence she came up to Spithead on the following
day. She left Rio de Janeiro on the 4th of July,
and has brought home a small freight of 6,000 dol-
lars. She called off Terceira on the 17th ult. for
supplies. His Majesty's ship Warspite, 76, hearing
the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir T. Baker, K.C.8.,
was at Rio, all well, when the Lightning sailed.—
She came into harbour yesterday, preparatory to be-
ing paid off. _

His Majesty's revenue brig Shamrock, 16, Lieut.
W. Aldred, arrived at Spithead from Cowes on
Tuesday.

The Amphitrite transport, Lieut. Cooley, agent,
sailed on Thursday with Government stores for
Deptford.

The Wasp was docked on Monday, to undergo a
thorough repair. The Medina and the Seaflower
were docked on the same day. The Princess Char-
lotte was undocked on Wednesday, and remains in
the Basin. The Java has been taken out of the
Basin and remains alongside the Dock-yard, and the
Prince Regent was docked on Friday.
His Majesty's ship Dryad, 42, Commodore John
Hayes, C. 8., arrived on Wednesday from Cork, last
from Torbay, and anchored at St. Helens, whence
she came up to Spithead on the same day. She
came into harbour on Friday, to prepare for paying
off. She will, it is said, be commissioned immedi-
ately by Capt. Paton.
His Majesty's cutter Cracker, 1, Lieut. John
Morgan, was paid off into the ordinary of this port
on Friday.

His Majesty's cutter Seaflower was commissioned
yesterday by Lieutenant John Morgan, late of the
Cracker cutter. The Seaflower is intended for the
Portsmouth and Jersey station, and not as a tender
to his Majesty's ship Victory, as has been recently
reported.

His Majesty's cutter Raven, Lieut. Wm. Arlett,
will sail in about ten days for Gibraltar and the
western coast of Africa with despatches for Rear.
Admiral Warren, C. 8., and for Com. Belcher, of his
Majesty's ship 'Etna, Surveying vessel.
His Majesty's steamer Alban, Lieut. H. 'Walker,
was paid off on Friday, and recommissioned on the
following day. She will proceed to Woolwich on
Friday next to have her engines repaired.
His Majesty's steamer Dee, Lieut. Oliver, an-
chored at St. Helens on Monday night from Sheer-
ness, and proceeded for Plymouth on the follow.
ing day.
At Spithead—Blossom.
In Harbour—Victory, Royal George, Excellent,
Alban, Dryad, Lightning, Cracker, Raven, and
Plumper.

PROMOTIONS, APPOINTMENTS, &C.—Lieut. John
Morgan, late of his Majesty's cutter Cracker, is ap-
pointed to command his Majesty's cutter Seaflower.
—Mr. W. C. Pettigruo, Second Master, and Mr.
Wm. Cotsell, Clerk, are re-appointed to his Majesty's
steamer Alban.—Mr. W. C. Lamb, Assistant-Sur-
geon, and Mr. Cornelius Dealy, Clerk, late of his
Majesty's cutter Cracker, are appointed to the Sea-
flower.—Th. Luke Kent, Carpenter of the Carnatic,
is appointed to the Prince's Charlotte, vice At-
waters.—Mr. George Simpson, Carpenter of the
Vindictive, is appointed to the Carnatic, vice Kent.
—Mr. Wm. Reynolds, late Carpenter of the Mada-
gascar, is appointed from the Cheque to the Vin-
dictive, vice Simpson.—Mr. Joseph Morrison, As-
sistant-Surgeon of the Tremendous, cholera hospital
ship, is appointed to the Columbia, steamer—Mr.
Bailey, Carpenter, late of the Dartmouth, is ap-
pointed to the Conquestador.—Mr. E. Williams,
Second Master and Pilot of the Cracker, is ap-
pointed to the Seaflower.—The Hon. G. F. Has-

bogs, Mate, is appointed to his Majesty's ship Ex-
cellent.—Messrs. G. F. Rowe and J. Wiley, are
appointed Supernumerary Assistant-Surgeons of his
Majesty's ship Victory, vice Walker and Thompson,
appointed to Plymouth Hoital.
ROYAL MARINES.—Second Lieut. H. G. Mit-
ford, of the Woolwich Division, is promoted to the
rank of First Lieutenant and appointed to the Ports-
mouth Division, vice Chaproniere, deceased.—Se-
cond Lieutenant James Buchanan, of the Ports-
mouth Division, is promoted to the rank of First
Lieutenant, and appointed to the Woolwich Divi-
sion, vice Missing, deceased.—Mr. Tucker, As-
sistant-Surgeon of the Ordinary at Sheerness, is ap-
pointed to the Woolwich Division.
Our readers are aware that by the late alterations
in the Civil Departments of the Navy, the Navy
Board has been abolished, and is now blended with
the Admiralty. A modification of this plan has
lately taken place. A Board, or Committee, is formed,
consisting of three Naval Officers, of whom Ad-
miral Stopford is chairman; Captains Bochsa and
Chambers, members; and Mr. Brenton, secretary.

We understand their duty is to consist in receiving
and reporting on all schemes and inventions which
may be submitted to them. We thus see that the
present surveyor, Captain Symonds, is relieved from
the individual responsibility which was attached to
former Surveyors, inasmuch as on subjects of prac-
tical difficulty he must, of course, obtain professional
assistance; and on all suggestions of a questionable
nature, the above-named Committee are to decide.
Hence the principal duty which will devolve on the
Surveyor will be the planning of ships.
An order was received from the Admiralty on
Thursday last, for the discharge of the ninety-eight
men, whom we mentioned last week, as having been
selected for superannuation.
The name of the 16-gun brig to be built in this
Dock-yard, on the plan of Captain Symonds, to
which we alluded some time since, is Racer.
(From the Devonport Telegraph.)
His Majesty's ship Orestes sailed from Cork, for
Oporto, on Sunday se'nnight.
The Diadem, 64, receiving-ship, is in dock,
taking to pieces.
The Echo (steamer) left yesterday, for Falmouth,
from whence she will take out the next Lisbon mail.
The Roslyn Castle, convict-ship, put in yesterday,
from the River, bound to Cork, to embark convicts
for New South Wales.

Remaining in Hamoaze—San Josef, Champion,
Cockatrice, Royalist, Lapwing, Dee, and Lightning,
steam-vessels.

At the Island—Prince of Wales, revenue cruiser.
In the Sound—Donegal, Vernon, Stag, Castor,
Tyne, Nimrod, Trinculo, Snake, York, and Roslyn
Castle, convict ships.
(From the Hampshire Telegraph.)
We would give un account of the relative quali-
ties of the new ships in Sir Pulteney -Malcolm's
squadron, if we could at all reconcile the contradic-
tions of at least half-a-dozen letters lying before us.
On Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday, the weather
admitted of very good short trials; the wind each
day blowing very fresh ; that on Monday was in the
presence of Sir James Graham, and the Admiralty
Board. It appears pretty clear, that the Snake, 16,
is the most weatherly and best sailing ship of the
squadron, and that the Vernon is the next, but her
superiority over the Castor is not great; on Monday
last, when the ships were under courses, single
reefed topsails, and top-gallant sails, with a stiff
breeze, neither of these ships could boast of going
through the water more than eight and a half
knots ; and this rate of sailing they signified to the
Admiral by signal. In running large, the Snake
could not keep way with the two frigates. The
Campeadora schooner yacht, however, is more
weatherly than all the squadron; and the Prince
of Wales, Revenue brig, is a remarkably five vessel.
Lord Belfast's vessel had not joined the squadron on
Thursday, but was expected. On Wednesday, Hr
Pulteney put into Plymouth Sound, having then with
him the Donegal, Vernon, Castor, Tytie, Snake,
Trinculo, Nimrod, and Prince of Wales ; and on
Thursday morning he was joined by the Stag, 46,
Captain Sir T. Trowbridge, from off Oporto. The
Vernon lost a man off her fore-yard as she was
going into Torbay on Monday last, and although
every exertion was made to save him, he went
down and was lost. One of our informants
states, that the midshipmen of the Vernon sent a
challenge to their brother tnids. of the Castor, to try
which ship sailed best, for fifty guineas, but the bet
was not accepted.

The Donegal, 78, Vice-Admiral Sir P. Malcolm,
Capt. A. Fanshawe, with the Castor, 36. Capt. Sir
R. Grant, came into the Sound on Thursday morn-
ing, from Torbay, the Vernon, 50; Tyne, 28;
Nimrod, 18; Snake, 16; and Trinculo, 18; having
anchored the evening before. The Stak, 46, Capt.
Sir T. Trowbridge, brought up on Thursday fore-
noon, distinct from the squadron, having come in
from off Lisbon. The Dryad, 48, Commodore
Hayes, we understand, had gone on to Portsmouth
to be paid off. The Dee, (steam-vessel) \*,, Com-
mander R. Oliver, also arrived on Thursday morn-
ing, and ran into Hamoaze; she is to be attached to
Sir P. Malcolm's squadron. The Tyne has come
up harbour to refit for the South American station.
The squadron has been cruising for several days off
the Start, in fine breezes and some blowing weather.
The general result of these trials is not yet satisfac-
tory as to the relative merits of the different
vessels, though as far as they go we understand that
on the first two days the Castor beat the Vernon at
most points ; on the third, in strong gales, the Ver-
non distanced the Castor. The latter fetches best
to windward, but the Vernon forereaches consider.
ably. The little Snake had the advantage of both,
but the Prince of Wales revenue brig took the lead
of the whole squadron.