The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-04 00:00:00

MONTSERRAT.

We observe with deep regret that this generally
healthy island is suffering from small-pox to a fearful
degree. One of the Antigua papers (the Observer),
of the 18th January, says that 700 cases of the disease
were then existing in the island. Looking at the in-
creasing poverty in this place and of its inhabitants,
and their consequent helplesness, we really think
thheirpresent affliction one that calls for sympathy and
elp.

Since the above date we learn that the disease had
increased to a frightful extent, and that a large pro-
portion of the cases proved fatal. The disease had also
been introduced into Antigua, from Montserrat. The
Antigua Weekly Register, of Feb. 5, says—
" The board of health held a meeting on Friday to
concert the best means of laying out the 2001. granted
by the Legislature in aid of the sufferers from small-pox
at Montserrat, and provisions and nourishment to a large
amount were purchased and forwarded immediately. It
is to be hoped that this benevulent assittance, which
could be hardly afforded, owing to tLe embarrassod
sta'e of the treasury, will be judiciously employed by
those to whom its distribution Lai been intrusted."

PANAMA.
We have news from Panama to the 22L1 of Janu-
ary. The Oregon steamer had arrived from San
Francisco with upwards of 2,000,000 of dollars' worth
of gold dust, and 300 passengers, many of whom bad
returned from the " diggings " dispirited with their
adventure, and is nowise improved in their resources.
Others, on the contrary, had been more for-
tunate. Among the passengers in the Oregon
was Colonel Fremont, together with his lady and
daughter.
There was a great deal of fever existing in Pa-
nama, but no serious cases ; it yielded to mild reme-
dies, but it takes a considerable time for the patients
to regain their strength.
The British steamer New Granada was hourly ex-
pected.
The railway had not commenced, notwithstanding
the fine weather was so very favourable for its begin-
ning. It is generally supposed that capital was still
wanting to carry out the project. It was current at
Panama that Baring Brothers had invested 50,000/.
in the line.

Traffic on the Isthmus was increasing daily to a
very considerable extent.

Admiral Hornby was collecting his squadron a
Callao.

The news from San Francisco reached to the 31st
of December, the details of which have already been
published in England.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

The service will be glad to hear that the Right
Hon. the First Lord of the Admiralty, who has been
severely indisposed, and has been confined to his bed
during the past week, is fast recovering, and will
shortly be able to attend to his Parliamentary duties.
Admiral the Hon. Sir T. Bladen Capel, K.C.8., re-
turned from short leave, and his flag was re-hoisted
on hoard the Victory, in Portsmouth harbour, on
Friday evening.
CAPTAIN AUSTIN'S ARCTIC EXPEDITION. The
.._

;-
Ptarmigan is to be named the " Resolute," instead of
the " Baboo," which ship is to be called the " Assist-
ance," the Resolute being the " flag-ship." Mr. Par-
minter, appointed clerk in charge of the Assistance,
did not decline the appointment; but has been obliged
to forego the service on account of his health, the sur-
geon having pronounced him unfitted by constitution
to contend with the climate of the icy regions. Some
tons of waste lignum via wood, the refuse from the
blockmaking machine at Portsmouth, with a quantity,
of old broken shivers, have been forwarded to Wool-
wich by railway, to be supplied to Captain Austin's
vessels for fuel in their N.W. search. The lignum
vitro wood makes a much stronger fire than coals ; it
ignites quicker, and while burning emits a most
agreeable aroma. The wood itself, although very
heavy, stows in a very small compass.
CAPTAIN PENNY'S EXPEDITION.--ThS Admiralty
have ordered ice saws to be forwarded from Woolwich
to Aberdeen for the use of Captain Penny's vessels in
his N.W. search.

SURVEYOR'S AND STEAM DEPARTMENT.—Orders
have been received at the dockyards for the authori-
ties to send all correspondence relative to steam ma
chinery to the, Surveyor of the Navy, instead of to the
comptroller of steam machinery, as heretofore, the
latter office having been merged in the former.
Mr. Waller Clifton, who has been at Somerset
House with the charge of the steam department, has
returned to the Admiralty, Whitehall, on the break-
ing up of that department.
Lieutenant Baker, R.N., of the coast-guard ser-
vice, stationed at Garrison Point, Sheerness, made a
seizure last week of a vessel, 62 tons burden, the
Mary Ann, of Rochester, which, upon boarding her,
was -found to contain 62 tubs (half-ankers) of
foreign spirits.

The Royal yacht Victoria and Albert, Captain
Lord A. Fitzolarence, was moved under the large
shears in the new steam basin at Portsmouth, on
Saturday, for the purpose of receiving her new
boilers, which are now ready for putting on board.
The Lively lighter, returned to Portsmouth, from
Dungeness on Friday, having recovered one of the
bower anchors and the kedge anchor lost by the
Dart, brigantine; she has also weighed and brought
round a Dutch anchor which she found off Dunge-
ness (when sweeping for the other bower, lost by the
Dart), for which the men employed on board the
Lively will get salvage.
The Sharpshooter, iron screw steamer, Lieut. Com-
mander John C. Bailey, arrived at Spithead on
Friday evening frotn the Mediterranean, having been
ordered home from that station to fit for the Arctic
expedition. She went into harbour on Saturday
morning, and alongside the :coal depot for fuel, and
it is supposed she will go round to Woolwich, as her
boiler tubes require repair. She went out of dock
at Malta on the 2d February, having gone in to have
her iron bottom cleansed, it having become very
foul. By getting rid of the weeds, she increased
her speed, when under full steam, two knots
per hour. It appears she is not a desirable
vessel ; that she is either very hot or very cold,
and th damp and iron rust spoils the chattels of the
crew. Lieutenant Bailey, her commander, is suffering
from an accident, having fallen, when at Malts, and
hurt his knee-cap. Mr. Truman, promoted from the
Triton, and Mr. Winstanley, late clerk in charge of
the Medina, have come home in the Sharpshooter as
passengers. The orders countermanding her return
to England did not reach here in time.

DEATH OF " THE MAN-0'- WAR'S-MAN "or Black
wood.—Died, on the 18th of February. in London,
aged 66 years, Mr. David Sta wart, journeyman
printer. He was known in literature as the
author of a most interesting and popular series of
papers, under the above title, descriptive of a sailor's
life in the royal navy, which originally appeared in
Blackwood's Magazine, and were subsequently pub-
lished in a separate volume. He likewise contributed
to the Naval and Military Magazine, besides fugitive
pieces to other 'periodical journals. He died in po-
verty in St. Bartholomew's Hospital, after undergo-
ing an operation for a most painful disease. One
might have hoped for a more prosperous career for
one who could write so well.—Herald.

MALTA, FEB. 22.
DISTRIBUTION OF TILE MEDITERRANEAN SQU ADRON.
In Malta Harbour—Ceylon rcceiving ship, bearing
the flag of Rear-Admiral Edward Harvey, Superin-
tendent of Malta Dockyard, and second in command ;
Volage, 6 (surveying ship), Captain Thomas Greaves;
Oberon (laid up), troop-ship ; Waverley, Captain J.
Morgan ; Locust, in ordinary.
At Gibraltar—Janus steamer, Lieutenant Powell.
At Leghorn—Spitfire, Lieutenant Gardiner.
At Patras—Frolic, 16, Captain N. Vansittart ; Tar-
tarus' steam-vessel, Commander Sir G. Webster.

At Salonica—Research, surveying tender to Vc-
lage, Lieutenant Lord John Brown.
At Syra—Spiteful, steam corvette, Commander J.
Carmichael.

At or near Athens—Queen, 116, Captain C. Wise,
bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir W. Parker,
G. C. 8., the Commander-in-Chief; Caledonia, 120 ;
Captain T. W. Carter; Howe, 120, Captain Sir J.
Stirling; Belerophon,i7B, Captain Robert L. Baynes ;
Powerful, 84, Captain the Honourable R. S. Dundas ;
Vengeance, 84, Captain Sir H. M. Blackwood ;
Ganges, 84, Captain H. Smith ; Firebrand steam-
frigate, Captain T. 0. Knox ; Bulldog, Commander
Key (on a cruise), Rosamond, Commander Foote,
Ardent, Lieutenant Nowell, steam-sloops ; Odin, the
Hon. F. Pelham, Dragon, Captain W. H. Hall,
steam-frigates ; Porcupine, Lieutenant E. F. Roberts;
Growler, Commander Stoddart ; Scourge, Lord F.
H. Kerr ; and AuxiliaVy, surveying tender to Volage,
Mate Commander J. H. Gover.
En route from Mata to Gibraltar, Lisbon, and
England Sharpshooter, Lieutenant Commander
Bailey.
En route from Malta to Corfu—Racer, 12, Captain
Beddow.

MAIL STEAM-PACKETS.
At Malta—Merlin, Lieutenant J. H. Turner ;
Triton, Lieutenant Glinn.
En route from Malta to Marseilles—Medusa, Lieu-
tenant Bathurst.
En route from the lonian Islands and Greece to
Malta—Antelope, Lieutenant Smitb.
En route from Malta to Alexandria—Medina,
Lieutenant A Darby.
PENINSULAR AND ORIENTAL STEAM NAVIGATION
COMPANY'S FLOTILLA.

At Southampton—Pasha, Queen, Tagus, Hindos-
tan, Euxine, and Pottinger.
En route to Gibraltar and Southampton from Malta
—lndus.
En route from Southampton to Malta—Ripon.
En route from Constantinople and Black Sea to
Malta.—Sultan.
At Constantinople—Erin.
UNITED STATES' SQUADRON.
At Naples—lndependence frigate, bearing the flag
of Commodore Charles W. Morgan.
At AlfibCA—Stv WIT/egiCep Gapes PAuldia~•

At Constantinople—The Mississippi steam frigate,
Captain Long.
At Genoa—Constitution frigate, Captain Conover,
and Jamestown corvette, Captain S. Mercer.
At Messina—Cumherland, Captain Latimer.
Foreign Ships of War and Packets in Port—The
French steamer Eurotas. Yachts —The Firefly,
Petrel, and Nautilus; lonian Government steamer
Eptanisos ; Tbmis Government brig Suria ; Russian
brig Ptolome.; Neapolitan steamer Ercole ; steamer
Oronte.
PoaTsmourn, SUNDAY.—Orders arrived yesterday
morning to expedite the Lily, 12, for the reception of
officers and men. She will probably be commissioned
this week.
The Adventure naval store ship, Mr. Peter Wel-
lington, Master-Commander, will leave Spithead for
A.cension and Rio as soon as the wind is fair.
The Castor, 36, Commodore Wyvil), Commander-
in-Chief on the Cape of Good Hope station, with the
Geyser steam-sloop, Commander Brown, the Athol
troop-shit', Master• Commander Pearne ; the Serin-
gapatam store-ship, Master-Commander Russell ; and
the convict ship Neptune, were in Simon's Bay on
the 7th of January.
The Centaur steam-frigate, Commodore Fan-
shawe, C. 8., Cammander-in- Chief on the West
Coast of Africa, was at Sierra Leone on the 19th of
January.
The Hound, 8, Commander Patten, sailed on the
17th of January from Sierra Leone fur the Cape of
Good Hope.
The Alarm, 26, Captain G. Ramsay, sailed from
Sierra Leone on the 17th of January for Bermuda.
The alterations and additions to Southsea Castle
(military prison) are to be proceeded with during the
next year, the original charge for which was 3,6401.,
but it has been reduced by a revised estimate to 2,0001.
The covered ways of the Semaphore tower battery,
are also to be completed, and the parapet of Block-
house Fort is to be raised to mount a 56-pounder.
The new mess-room and officers' quarters, building
at Forton, for the Portsmouth division of Royal
Marines, are nearly equipped, and if the weather
prove favourable, will be occupied by midsummer.
PEMBROKE DOCKYARD, MARCH 2.—The custom-
ary annual admission of boys into this dockyard as
apprentices, having been ordered by the Lords of the
Admiralty, took place this week. The candidates for
the vacant apprenticeships were previously examined
in the presence of the Captain-Superintendent, Sir
Thomas Pasley, the Master Shipwright, Mr. R. Abe-
then, the chaplain, &c., and the result was that six of
the best qualified were ultimately selected and entered
as apprentices. With one exception,
.they are the
sons of workmen employed in the establishment. By
this annual entry the number of efficient and experi-
enced workmen in our dockyards is kept up.
The Valarous steam man-of•war, now in course of
building, is to be fitted with the patent flange, similar
to those given to the Samson steam-vessel at Woolwich.
The Board of Admiralty have instituted an inquiry
at this yard, with the view to ascertain what elaborate
and complicated accounts can be dispensed with, prior
to a reduction of clerks.

The handsome adornments and fittings of the
Royal Sovereign yacht are to be carefully preserved,
in order that they may be used again when required.
They were found to be remarkably sound and good.

APPOINTMENTS.

WooLwicn, MARCH 2.—Mate—R. B. Pearse
(1849), to the Resolute, fitting for the Arctic expe-
dition.

Naval Cadet—Cecil G. Stanley to the Victory,
101, flag-ship at Portsmouth.
Boatswain—Henry Osbourne, to the Assistance,
fitting for the Arctic expedition.
The Magicienne steam-sloop is to have a second
experimental trial, and will leave Woolwich on Fri-
day next for the Nore, where she will be tried between
that light and the Mouse-light, in deep water. She
will return to Woolwich on Saturday to discharge
her ballast, and will then be taken to Chatham, where
she is to be made ready for sea.
Preparations are in progress for the erection of gal-
leries to witness the launch of the Nankin, 50-gun
frigate, which will take place at Woolwich on Satur-
day, the 16th inst. One of Porter's anchors of 47
cwt. 2 qrs. 201 b., and one of the common anchors
made at Portsmouth dockyard in 1825, of 48 cwt.
2 qrs. 211 b., hare been supplied, and will be sus-
pended at the bows of the vessel when she is launched.

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.
The Pioneer steam-vessel has made considerable
progress during the present week, and will be out of
the hands of the shipwrights and engineers by the
end of the present month. On cutting out par-t
of
her planking to admit of strengthening her, she hat
been found to have been built of excellent oak, and
the workmanship of timbers would have been
creditable to any dockyard. Her gunwales are to be
strengthened with teak, and her sides with a species
of American ash, which is lighter than teak, and has
a great power cf resisting the action of water.
The Resolute and Assistance sailing vessel-, fitting
at Black wall are to be both barque-rigged.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
DONCASTER SPRING MEETING.
Weights for the Grand National Steeplechase handicap
of 15 sous. each, 10 It, and 5 only if declared on or
before the 6th inst.

st. MI st. lh.
Peter Simple
British Yeoman
11 1213i11y-from-Brigg ... 10 0
Abd el-Kacler .....
Farnham .. . ll 0' Mercury
Lucy Neale lO 12Young Lottery
Rachel lO 4; eestling (late Cali-
Ace of Trumps
The iDoncast, r Handicap of 10 sous. each, h ft, and 3
only if declared as above. St. Leger Course.
Age. at. lb.. Age. at. lb.
Lady Hylda . 6 8 7 Present
Foreclosure 6 8 4 Lady I- am-0ff...... 5 7 0
Meaux . ... 6 8 3 Good Girl
Prieq-ss 4 7 13 Reversion
Pelham
Quiz
froublesomeJohnn) 6 7 7 Laura
Luxor
King Hal 6 7 3
If the highest weight accepting be under Bst 71b, it
will be raised to that weight, and the others in proportion.
Nominations for tie Handicap Hurdle-race.
__ _

Mr. J. R. Scott's ch m Good Girl, 5 yrs—Mr. Cun-
ningham's ch h Quadruped, aged—Mr. Hady's b m
Mischief-maker, 5 yrs—Mr. Phillips's b g Tally ho, aged
—Mr. Gardner's br f Little Queen, 4 yrs—Mr. Lister's
hr m Wharfdale Maid, aged—Mr. Hargreaves na b h
Chintz Print, aged (halt-bred)—Mr. Inman's br h Gil-
nochie, 5 yrs—Captain Reynard's hr g Jack in the
Corner, 5 yrs—Mr. Forter'a ch m Fanny, aged (half-
bred)—Mr. E. Thorp na Lansquenet, aged—Mr. T. C.
Percival's ch g Dunchurch, aged (halt-bred).
Nominations for the Grand Stand Stakes of 5 soya each,
with 30 added, for two yrs old, &c.
Mr. A. Shepherd's ch f Emma, 3 yrs (1, a'f-bred)—Mr.
G. Barton's La- c Leonidas, 3 yrs (51b)—Mr. Barker's
br c Tordesillas, 3 yrs (51b)—Mr. Barlett's ch c Young
Bamboo, 3 yrs—Mr. Dawson na b e Mark Tapley, 3 yrs
—Mr. Jamieson's b c Tower, 3 yrs (51b)—Mr. R. Hes-
seltine's b c Timothy, 3 yrs (51b).
The Sheffield and Rotherham Stakes, a Handicap cf
6 soya. each, h It with 40 soya. added by a few friends
of racing in the above towns, for horses that before the
entry never won at any one time 160/. clear. The
winner to pay 5 soya. towards expenses. One Mile.
Mr. J. Osborne's b c Tity, 4 yrs—Mr. Rickarby's
br f by Touchstone—Lady Emily, 3 yrs—Mr. G. Bar-
ton's b c Didsbury, 4 yrs—Mr. J. Shepherd's b • Kill or
Cure, 3 yrs—Mr. R. Hesseltine's b c Timothy, 3 yrs—
Mr. B. Green's br c Osbaldeaton, 3 yrs—Mr. B. Eddit-
SOWS br f Eliza Middleton, 3 yrs—Mr. Mangan's b f
Portia, 4 yrs—Mr. J. Taylor's br h Luxor, 6 yrs—Mr.
Styan's br m Ellen, 5 yrs—Mr. Barker's ch c Young
Bamboo, 3 yrs—Mr. Dawson's na be c Reversion, 4 yrs
—Mr. Cowelb's b c Patrick, 4 yrs—Mr. Hopkinson's
ch c
AND LEAMINGTON SPRING
vv(lunizvv,
MEETING, 1850.
Acceptances for the Willoughby Handicap.
Rat-trap, aged, 11A 71b—Eagle's Plume, 5 yrs, 11st
41b—Yard arm, lOst 111b—Reversion, lOst 101b—Fugi-
tive, lOst 91b—Andalusian, lOst 71b—Jack of all Trades,
lOst 51b

Free Handicap of 10 soya. each, sft., and 25 added.
Cosachia, 5 yrs, Bst 71b—Rathmines, 6 yrr, 8A 11b—
New Forest Deer, aged, 7at 131b—Doubt, 4 yrs, 7st 31b
—Andalusian, 4 yrs, 7st 31b—Christian, 4 yrs, 785 lib—
Docility, 4 yrs, Est 13113--Knight ( f Grv)nne, 3 yrs,
6st 51b—Eunuch, 3 yrs, 6st lib.
Acceptances for the Great Warwickshire Handicap.
Ballinsfad, 6 yrs, Bst 71b—lle Dart, aged, Bst 6113
Bst—Pelham, 4 yrs, 755 91b—Eagle's
YrP'
yrs, 7st 91b—Deceptive, 5 yrs, 785 81b—
Kp aged, 7st 71b—St. Antonio, 5 yrs, Tat 51b—
Yard-arm, aged, 7st 31b—Emma, 3 yrs, Set 101b.—The
biCel declared 1850.
rest declared.
CoBol:l:NeaTeß:wSitThElEoPoLadEdCeild.AS:ortMeiEtsEtTol
Handicap for the Craven Steeplechase Stakes, of 10
on the 7th March.

Knight of Gwynne, 1 lst 121b—British Yeoman, 1 lst
91b—Rattrap, list 61b—The Victim, list 31b—Chand-
ler, llst lib—Proceed, lOst 1 11b—Farnham, lost 111 b
Vainhope, lOst 8 lb—Sir Peter Laurie, lOst 61b—Meath,
lOst 61b—Rory be airy, lOst 61b—Miss Collirgwood,
lOst 31b—Laurel gelding, lost—Tipperary Boy, 9st 101 b
—Bayonet, 9st 61b—Vengeance, 9st 61b.
Free Handicap (Hurdle-race) of 10 bOVA. Each, h ft in
case of acceptance, with 40 added.
Fugitive, list 51b—Half-and-half, 10st 71b—Mischief-
maker, lOst 71b—Legislator, lOst 21b—Lansquener, lOst
21b—Volatile, lOst 21b—The Streamer, Wot—Vant
Wee, Ost 81b—Docility, 9st 81b—liawkstonr, 9st 61b—
Jatk-uf-all-trades, 9st 61b—Slug, 9st 61b—Veritas, 9st
51b—Sotersides, 9st 21b—Syrup, 9st 21b.
elrOa:ti
31b—Latitat, gat 91b—
Free Handicap (Steeplecandadseed). of 5 sous. each, and 30
10Tstr3u1sb:LmTe-hneoit,,hrlulasht,
Bless Bess, 9st 41b—VeritSo,
9st 41b. 10; 31b—Volatile,
316—Foresit°Msto7n1arb—ch, V
Forfeits
thtsfoe 7th of
rallthemaabreovh.e handicaps to be declared on
or before

Viscount and Viscountess Hardinge gave a grand
entertainment on Saturday last, at their mansion, in
Greatotjgplitageos py.
hope;rattreet, to Lord and Lad? Gvnsb sod •
di