The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-23 00:00:00

DE&TH OF ADMIRAL BROWN.

Admiral of the Blue Thomas Brown died at his resi-
denca, Rockstone-terrace, Southampion, on the 17th
inst., aged 80. He was midshipman of the Phoenix, 36,
at the capture of the French frigate Resolute, 46, in
1791, and of the Minerva, 38, at the reduction of Pondi-
cherry in 1793 ; was Lieutenant of the Flora, 36, com-
manding her launch at the landing in Egypt, 1801, for
which he received the gold medal ; was commander of
the Orestes, 14, in 1804, and was frequently engaged
with the enemy's flotilla, captured two armed schuyts
and engaged a praam. mounting 13 guns, bearing a Rear-
Admiral's flag, in the presence of a flotilla of 30 sail ;
he subsequently destroyed the Orestes when he got
,
aground off the aaravelines in 1805, to prevent her fall-
, ing into the enemy's hands; was Captain of the Solebay,
32, Yengeur, and Bulwark, 74, and actively employed
on the coast of France from 1808 to 1811, and of the
Loire, 38, and Saturn, 56, on the coast of America ; he
was twice engaged with Barney's flotilla on the
Pataxent, and actively employed in that river and
in the Potomao during the war, landing frequently
with the seamen and marines. He had seen 38
years' service afloat, and was in receipt of the Ad-
miral's good service pension of 3001. a-year. His
commissions were dated as follow :—Lieutenant, Oct.
I 24, 1794 • Commander, Oct. 8, 1802 ; Captain, Jan. 22,
' 1806 • Rear-Admiral, June 28, 1838 ; Vice-Admiral,
June 8, 1849 ; Admiral, July 4, 1855. By the death
of Admiral Brown the following promotions take place
on the flag list :—Vice-Admiral of the Red the Hon. Sir
Anthony Maitland,
K.C.8., to be Admiral
of the Blue ; Vice-Admiral of the White the Hon. Sir
F. B. R. Pellew, C. 8., K. 0.13., to be Vice-Admiral of
the Red ; Vice-Admiral of the Blue A. R. Sharpe, C. 8.,
to be Vice-Admiral of the White ; Rear-Admiral of the
Red E. Collier, C. 8., to be Vice-Admiral of the Blue;
Rear-Admiral of the White Sir H. Ducie Chad; K.C.8.,
Commander-in-Chief on the Irish station, to be Rear-
Admiral of the Red ; Rear Admiral of the Blue Sir T.
Hastings, 0.13 , Clerk to the Ordnance, to be Rear-Ad;
miral of the White ; Captains J. B. Maxwell and J. R.
Carnac to be Rear-admirals on the Reserved List ; Capt.
Sir T. Maitland, 0.13., to be Rear-Admiral of the Blue.
By the death of Admiral Brown and the promotion of
Sir T. Maitland an Admiral's good service pension, an
Aide-cle-Campship to the
Queen and the command of
S. Excellent (the " best thing afloat") revert to
the patronage of the Admiralty.

During the storm which prevailed on Friday night
last about 30 feet in length of the wall recently erected
to enclose the extension of the Royal Arsenal, Wool-
wich, fell with a tremendous crash into the Plumstead-
road, the foundations having give, way.

" Her Majesty Queen Victoria completed her
38th year on the 24th inst., which it may not be I
very gallant to state, but Queens must pay some
penalty for their greatness,.and the annual, revels-
tion of their age is one of them. This auspicious
event was seized hold of by Lord Napier, the new
British Minister at Washington, to inaugurate his
social advent; and he could hardly have adopted a
happier expedient to crown the popularity he has
so rapidly aCquired. For a week past his invita-
tions lava been flying about Washington, and
many an expectant was full of suspense lest their
hopes of sharing in the .gay scene might be disap-
pointed. These pleasant missives were distributed
with tact and liberality, and when the occasion
arrived all the fashionable world of Washington,
with a few outside barbarians, were driving 'from
all directions to the scene of festivity.
" His Excellency the English Envoy has rented
the `late residence of Governor Fish, which was in
quite a shabby state when it came into his hands
a few weeks since, but the paperhangers andgilders
haVe been kept busy at work, and the appearance
of the mansion on the night of the ball was the
wonder of all who remembered its recent sorry con-
dition. It had a bright, fresh, and jaunty look,
and the radiance of numberless lustres and candela- '
bras threw a brilliancy over its aspect that asto-
nished some and delighted all.
"By 10 o'clock most of the company had assem-
bled, and the large and curious crowd that sur-
rounded the house without had quite a treat in
'gazing at the showy toilettes and distinguished tier
sons that rapidly lighted from their carriages and
passed Within the glittering precincts. • Three large.
rooms were thrown open to the guests, one of Which
was used as the ball-room, while a fourth of equal
size was reserved as the supper-room. Dancing
began at half-past 10 o'clock, at which time the
crowd was at its height. Unusual vivacity seemed
to pervade the throng, which may, in part, be
attributed to the unexpectedness of such an enter-
tainment at this dead season of the year, as well as
to the splendour of the scene itself, but more still,
perhaps, to•the unlooked for novelty of assembling
once more under the hospitable 'roof of a British
Minister, when only a few months since it was sup-
posed that years might elapse before such rn event
would probably occur again. Joyousness was on
every face, animation iu every movement. The
ladies were wreathed in smiles, while grim-visaged
men looked placid and disposed for enjoyment. It
would be too severe a tax on your readers to attempt
any detailed enumeration of all the beautiful wo-
men and their costly toilets, or the remarkable and
distinguished men that shared in the bounteous
hospitalities of Napier-house, as it might be very
properly called, and yet it were a slight to the thou-
sands who look to your columns for news both
grave and gay, not to make some brief mention of
those who were more or less ' the observed of all
observers." It would be hardly less than rudeness
not to single out at a start the noble host and his
lovely partner for a word of merited compliment.
Lord Napier has scarcely resided two months in
Washington, and yet the remark. is universal, that
be is the most popular Minister that England has
ever sent us. This unanimous admission does credit
to the discernment of the town, for to say nothing
of the rare intelligence which manifests itself in the
smallest things, he is the personification of a well-
bred gentleman. Unassuming in deportment, re-
fined in manners, gentle in phrase, he is at all times
and places—in his own house and elsewhere, cour-
teous, straightforward, distingue, yet conciliating.
On the present occasion he moved noiselessly about,
seeking in every way to promote the hilarity of his
guests, flattering some by a pleasant smile of recog-
nition, entertaining others with a lively word of wel-
come, and not omitting some kindly attention to the
humblest of those bidden to the feast. Should the
, reader be inclined to regard this hasty portrait as one
of studied panegyric, let him, if he be a New Yorker,
step forthwith into Brady's famous gallery and con-
template the inimitable photograph of his lordship
suspended there, and then, be he, or she the
most superficial of physiognomists, they will be
convinced that Lord Napier looks every word I
have pronounced him, aye, ' every inch a noble-
man.'
" Lady Napier is in every respect worthy such a
compeer. In person her ladyship is of the medium.
height, and of symmetrical figure. Her face is
handsome, but it is its expression of genuine affabi-
lity that constitutes its greatest charm. A winning
smile of kindness is constantly playing over her fine
features, and any one can see it is the reflex of the
happy disposition within. She received her company
on Thursday night with such ready welcome, ex-
tending her hand to nearly all, as to captivate every
one who approached her. With becoming taste, she
was dressed in the simplest attire, that she might
not rival the toilets of her lady guests. A rich neck-
laoe of diamonds and emeralds was the only orna-

ment she wore.
" The diplomatic corps assembled in great force
to do honour to their new confrere, and, in compli-
ment to the day several of them wore their various
orders and decorations. The French Minister,
Count Sartiges, was conspicuous from his broad red
riband of the Legion of Honour, and the star on his
left breast. The count is quiet and subdued in his
manners, with a spice of hauteur that does very
well in an ambassador. His countess, ci-devant
Miss Thorndike, was one of the ornaments of the
ball. She was elegantly attired iu blue satin, with
white lace flounces. Though somewhat stout for so
young a person her claims to beauty are undeniable.
Her bust is magnificent, and her face is singularly
attractive from its expression of real good nature.
Her bearing, too, is easy and distinguished, and
reminds one of a duchess of tile Faubourg St. Ger-

main.
" The Russian Minister, the Baron Stoeckel, tra-
velled all night from New York rather than fail in
responding, in person to the invitation of tue Eng-
lish Minister, which would have been a serious
slight, as the ball was in honour of the Queen. The
peculiar relations, too, that are suppose 3, on the
strength of rumour, to exist between our Govern-
ment and those of Russia and England in reference
to China at this juncture, would have led to all
kinds of inference if the Russian Minister had
missed the ball. In order to dissipate suspicion and
prevent surmise, Baron Stoeckel was unusually
animated in his attentions to all parties, and seemed
anxious to do all in his power to contribute to the
éclat of the fete. His charming wife, aulrefois Miss
Thompson, of Massachusetts, whether from a hint
of her diplomatic spouse, or from her own inclina-
tion, was exceedingly gay. She danced the whole
evening, and was singularly graceful in her move-
ments. She is a tall and well-shaped woman,
pleasing expression of face, and delightfully unaf-
fected manners. Madame Cramer, the wife of a
Secretary of the Russian Legation, attracted much
attention. She is a Russian by birth, but was ad-
mired more for her beauty than that. She wore
her hair a la Chinoise, which enhanced the effect of
her striking physiognomy.
" The absence of the amiable Minister from Prus-
sia, Baron Gerolt, was regretted, but he is now on
his way to Europe on leave. There were many
others of the diplomatic world worthy of remark,
but I must turn my attention now to other quar-
ters.
" It did credit to the Cabinet that they turned
out to a man on this interesting occasion, and,
happily for the ball, they brought their wives and
daughters with them. The Secretary of State,
General Cass, was not there, and if any one could
find fault with this amiable man, he would deserve
it now. He ought to have taken a hint from Baron
Stoeckel, and shown himself at the house of the
English Minister lest quidnuncs might infer a
number of absurd things from his absence. Every-
body knows he is writing a despatch to Lord Napier,
and in the ticklish state of things existing between
the two countries General Cass ought to have imi-
tated Paul Pry, and just " popped in," if only for
a moment. The truth is, however, that the Gene-
ral carries out his hygienic habits and regulations
with the rigour of the laws of the Medes and Per-
sians. So careful is he of his health that ho will
not dine out, not even with the President, and I
doubt if he would sit up after 10 p.m. were he sure
of the nomination in 1860. Twenty years ago, in
Paris, at balls at his own splendid house—and he
gave no end of them—he would quietly slip off to_
bed at 10 o'clock as though he dreaded the
fate of Cinderella ; but fortunately, he left his
amiable wife, three charining daughters, and a host
of attaches to supply his place. Verily, he has his
reward, for at 75 he has the appearance and vigour,
mental and bodily, of a man of 50, and he will go
through his career of Secretary of State with the
rattle and dash of an impetuous juvenile, but witlr
the caution and sagacity of an experienced veteran.
The tall and very gentlemanly Secretary of the
Navy, Governor Toucey, was there with his wife,
who is nearly as tall, and equally distinguished in
appearance and demeanour. The genial face of the
plump Secretary of the Treasury wore an expres-
sion of the liortiot satisfaction. Snell Cobb i 4