The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-13 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, TUESDAT.—The Winchester, 50, WAS
docked to-day fur repair.
The Royal yacht Victoria and Albert was taken into
the steam-basin to-day to receive her boilers, &c. The
Termagant screw-frigato and the Hecati paddle-sloop
were also taken in, to lay up until required for service.
An accident, which might have been attended with
most disastrous consequences, occurred in the harbour
this afternoon about three o'clock. As one of the gigs
belonging to the York convict hulk was coming down the
harbour, by the strength of the ebb tido she got drawn
in between the Dutch ship Clara Lasing Immsgonda
and the Topaz receiving-hulk, when the top of the boat's
mast fouled the Dutch ship's chain, and capsized the
boat, throwing the keeper and four convicts into the
water. Fortunately, by the assistance of the Dutch
crew, and ropes hanging over, they were enabled to
clamber into the ship, and were saved. The boat drifted
out of the harbour.

Wind, W., strong breezes and cloudy, with passing
showers.

Woo',wren, FEB. 12.—Captain Austen, C. 8., has
been again a: the Admiralty to-day, making the noces-
ary arrangements for the expedition to the Arctic re-
gions, and in the afternoon, with Captain Sir Baldwin
Walker, K.C.8., Surveyor of the Navy, proceeded to
Blackwell, returning to the Admiralty about four o'clock
r.sr. It is understood the expedition will consist of two
sailing-vessels and two small steamers, having a small
draught of water, and both fitted with screw-propellors,
A plan, submitted by Mr. Tucker, one o f the foremen
of shipwrights at Woolwich, for tilting a screw-propeller
astern of the dead wood of the vessel, has been highly
spoken of, and there is every reason to believe it will Le
adopted in ono of the steamers.
Mr. Penny, formerly master of the Advice, who was
retained by Lady Franklin, had interviews yesterday
with the Lords of the Admiralty and with Captain Aus-
ten, but his mission to the Arctic regions will be in a
vessel of his own selection, at present at Aberdeen, and
she will be entirely under his own control, independent
of Captain Austen's expedition, excepting the mutual
good services they may render to each other, should they
meet in the Polar seas.
Captain W. Peel was at the Admiralty a considerable
time yesterday, and is most anxious, if he does not ob-
tain the command of one of the ♦essels, to act as an ad-
ditional captain for a land party, or to proceed over the
ice. Captain Caffin, formerly commander of the
Scourge, has also volunteered his services to proceed
with the expedition, and had conferences yesterday
with Captain Austen and Captain Bird, the latter having
been consulted on many subjects connected with the ex-
pedition, but is not expected to accompany it on this oc-
casion.

Mr. J. Barrow, F.R.S., one of the senior decks at the
Admiralty, has been most indefatigable in collecting in-
formation of a useful nature from the valuable papers
in his possession, and Rear-Admiral Beaufort, 1i.C.8.,
F.R.S., and Captain Sir G. Back, have unceasingly af-
forded their able assistance and advice on every subject
connec:e.l with the expedition, and no exertion will be
spared to render it the most efficient ever sent t) the
Arctic Regions.

COTTON.-It having been represented to the Board
of Customs that it is very desirable, for the interests of
merchants and others engaged in the cotton trade, that
an account should be taken of the several kinds of cot-
ton wool exported, the board have issued an order di-
recting that in future all cotton wool entered for expora-
tation be described in the shipping bills by one or other
of the specific denominations commonly recognised, or
by such other denomination as may correctly indicate its
growth. This new regulation has resulted from an ap-
plication recently made to the Customs authorities from
the brokers and merchants of the port of Liverpool, and
others interested and concernod in the cotton trade, in
order that a correct knowledge may at all times be ob-
tained of the stock of cotton actually existing in the
kingdom.