The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-08 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

- - -
PORTSMOUTH, TIIURSD tT.—The Hydra steam
sloop, Commander Skipwith, sailed in the night for
Slierrness, to be paid off. She took a portion of the
marines paid off from the Raleigh, belonging to the
Chatham division, and the Sprightly steam-tender,
Master-Commander Allen, took the other portion.
The Winchester, 50, has been brought down from
her moorings among the ordinary to-day to the hulk
off the dockyard to be overhauled.
The Basilisk new steam-sloop has been removed
from dock to. day.
The French ship Joseph, Kirist master, from
Havre to Havannah, with a general cargo, drove from
her anchors, at Spithead, and was in danger of loss
on the Horse Shoal yesterday, in the gale. She made
signals of distress, and the agents to Lloyd's sent as-
sistance to her, as did the French vice-consul aiter-
wards. To-day the Admiralty steam-tug Echo
brought her into harbour with loss of anchor and
cable.

The French brig Magnifiqup, Compayra master,
bound from Havre to Port-au-Prince, with a general
cargo, put in here yesterday.
The Revenue cruising cutter Viper, 40 tons, was
sold to-day at this port by the Commissioners of
Customs. The putting up price was 2001., and she
was knocked down to Messrs. Garrett and Gibbon,
the agent to Lloyd's at this port, for 2051.
The Drake lighter has brought in from the Her-
cules, at Spithead, eight soldiers, to go to Parkhurst
Prison, Isle of Wight, and invalids from the 67th,
94th, and 96th Regiments.
Wind—Westerly, strong breezes and ,cloudy
weather.

PLYMOUTH, FEB. 6.—Sir Baldwin Walker, Sur-
veyor of the Navy, and Captain Eden, arrived per
South Devon Railway on Monday evening. On
Tuesday, in company with Captain Brandhurst,
Messrs. Cubitt, Walker, and Rendle, civil engineers,
and the principal officers of the yard, they examined
the North Dock in the Devonport Arsenal, for the
purpose of preparing a report as to the most expedient
measures for completing the works of the dock.
Sir Baldwin Walker and Captain Eden subse.
quently went on board her Majesty's ship Vanguard,
80, to inspect her present condition, and to enable
them to judge of the most suitable measures for com-
pleting her repairs.
It has blown a very heavy gale from S.W. all night.
This morning it veered a little to the northward ; but
there is such a heavy sea in the Channel that a power-
ful merchant screw-steamer, bound to Ireland, was
obliged to put back, after having been outside. The
emigrant-ship Mary Ann, Captain D arke, which
left this port for Sydney on Monday, is reported to
have been driven up Channel. The emigrant ship
Bussorah Merchant left Plymouth the same day for
Port Adelaide.

Wind westerly, very strong.
APPOINTMENTS.

WooLwrcu, Fin. 7.—Commander William Moor-
som (1848), to the Excellent—additional, for special
service.

Lieutenant John B. Scott (1846), to the Prince
Regent, 92—additional, for service with the experi-
mental squadron at Lisbon.
Chief Engineer Samuel Pemberton, to the Sphynx
steam-sloop at Portsmouth.
Assistant-Engineers James Scott, Samuel S wift,
and John D. Lamont, to the Sphynx.
Naval Cadet Thomas Adela Chaumette, to the Phi-
lomel, 8, sloop, at Devonport.
Gunner John Welsh, to the Philomel.

Lieutenant John A. Sanford (1847) has been ap-
pointed to study steam at the factory at Woolwich
Dockyard: _ _

The following notice has been given for the infor-
mation of officers :

"Admiralty, Feb., 1850.
" Sir Francis Baring will receive officers on Tues-
days, at one o'clock. Those officers wishing to see
Sir Francis Baring will hare the goodness to enter
their names in a book kept for that purpose in the hall,
stating their Christian names and rank."
Captain Alexander Milne returned to the Admi•
ralty this evening, from an official visit to Devonport.
The Archer steatu-sloop, at present at Devonport
as an advanced war•steamer, has been recommended
to their Lordships as a vessel better adapted to proceed
to the Arctic regions than the Acorn. The Archer
is about the same draught of water, and being well
adapted as a sailing vessel, in addition to being fitted
with a screw-propeller, is considered to have many
advantages requisite for the expedition.

EXPERIMENTS WITH BALLOONS.

Mr. Shepherd, civil engineer, attended at the Ad-
miralty at one o'clock to day, to exhibit his plan for
circulating printed notices of the positions of the
searching vessels when they reach the Arctic regions
by means of balloons sent up with the notices attached
by a cord, which is liberated, and the notices scattered
in the air, when a slow match burns a certain period
of time. Their Lordships, with a numerous arty of
ladies and
e gentlemen,
sent
e nt
u went into S. James's-park,
p
. The first balloon stuck in
where the experiments took place, to witness the
balloons bin
one of the trees in the garden. The next was of larger
dimensions, and when it went up it hovered for somq,
time over the park, and then made rapid progress
for a short period, ultimately alighting in the meadow
of a dairyman named George Dickens, at Rotherhithe.
In a glass bottle attached to the balloon was a notice
that the person finding it would receive a reward of
3/. on bringing it to the Admiralty. Mr. George
Dickens, who, strange to say, is an old sailor himself,
and received a naval medal about a fortnight ago,
brought the balloon to the Admiralty by a quarter
pAst tyro o'clock, and received the promised reward
from Rear- Admiral Beaufort. The third balloon sent
up was found at Charlton, near Woolwich, and
brought to the Admiralt=y in the course of the after-
noon. The printed notices attached to the experi-
mental balloon had upon one side, "Read the other
side, No. 6.—G. B ," and on the other side " Notice.
—Experimental balloon, London, Jan. 30, 1850.
Any person who may pick up this slip of paper is
respectfully requested to forward it immediately (per
post) to the Secretary at the Admiralty, London,
stating the time and where found.
" Found on 1850. kto be filled up.)'

WRECK OF HER MAJESTY'S STEAM-
PACKET ONYX.
We have received intelligence from Ostend of the
running ashore on Wednesday last, at that place,
of her Majesty's Dover mail steam-packet Onyx, in
endeavouring to make the harbour during the heavy
prevailing gales. The passengers and mails were
safely landed, but small hopes were entertained for
the recovery of the vessel. The Onyx was com-
manded by Lieutenant Raymond. She is an iron
vessel, built about four years since, has machinery of
128-horse power, and cost about 12,5001.
The watchful and experienced commander superin-
tending the packet service at Dover, immediately on
learning the accident, dispatehed her Majesty's steam-
packet Princess Alice to Ostend, with anchors, cables,
&c., to render assistance.

NEW NORTH-WEST ARCTIC EXPEDITION. -It
having been finally arranged that a nerr expedition is to
start early in spring, to proceed in the direction of
Davis's Straits, Lancattn Sound, and Barrow's Straits,
in search
of Sir John Franklin and his gallant com-
panions, the services of our townsman, Capt lin Penny,
late master of the Advice whaler, have been retained by
Lady Franklin at her own private expense, and he will,
we understand, proceed with this expedition to the
Arctic regions, with which he is so well acquainted, and
where his advice and assistance will be most valuable."
—Aberdeen Journal,
THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.--A lecture was de-

livered at the London Institution on Wednesday evening
by Mr. Weld, of the Royal Society, on Arctic Expedi-
tions, and more particularly on that under the command
of Sir John Franklin. Some interesting letters bearing
on the subject were read, and the lecturer stated that a
communication had been received from the United States,
in which it was announced that a subscription had been
set on foot, headed by a retired millionaire with the sum
of 5,000 dollars, for a private expedition in search of Sir
John Franklin. At the conclusion of the lecture a mes-
senger balloon, on the plan adopted by the Admiralty,
was elevated in the theatre, and scattered a quantity of
me•sa.,ei, printed on slips of paper, amongst the au-
dience.
REPRESENTATION OF COLCHESTER.—The nomina-
tion of a candidate to represent this borough and fill the
vacancy caused by the resignation of Sir G. 11. Sava),
Bart., took place yestcrday. Lord John Manners was
proposed by Mr. Round, the Laaker, and seconded by
Mr. W. 11. llawkin., on the Protectionist interest. Mr.
G. Wingrove Cooke, the barrister, was proposed by Mr.
Stephen Brown, and seconded by Mr. W. Havens, as the
candidate of the Free-trader=. On the show of hands
there appeared a large majority in favour of Mr. Cooke.
A poll was demanded on behalf of Lord John Manners,
which is fixed fur this day (Friday), to close at four
o'clock.
KIDDERMINSTER ELECTION —We are informed
that a petition has been prepared for presetation against
the return of Mr, Best for Kidderuainster on the ground
of briLery and corruption.