The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-24 00:00:00

river as far as they might ascend it, and return to their
respective vessels before the 23d inst. They ascended
the river about thirty miles beyond where I left them.
In this distance they met with but two natives. They
passed everal places where they were obliged to unload
and haul these light boats over. They found, also, the
pine trees scattered about in two's and :hree's a litele
distance from the bank.
. The river, from the mud and leaves hanging on the
banks, showed that, at same period of the year, it was
at least ten feet above the level at that time.
The absence of spars and wood of any description on
the frequent bridges of rocks across the river, on the
tops of the many spots of sand, or on the summit of the
banks, which bear evident marks of having been over-
flown at some season, shows that the Buckland is not the
source from which the enormons quantities of wood
found at Choris Peninsula is derived. We have never
found a particle of wood on the eastern face of this
peninsula—all is on its western.
Commander Mooreand his party returned on the 19th.
We now commenced to prepare for our departure south-
ward. The Plover's house was nearly completed, and
as much provisions as he could stow or take care of were
placed on board her.
September 26—By this day we were ready to start,
having completed all the Plover's masts. She was not
dismantled, nor did Commander Moore intend doing so
until sho was fairly laid up on the beach.
In consequence of the illness of Mr. Shedden, of the
yacht, and of my having previously removed his chief
mate, I was obliged to direct Mr. Parsons (second
master), of this ship, to take charge of her and navigate
her to Mazatlan, where he might expect to meet me.
Early on the morning of the 29th of September I
weighed from Kotzebue Sound, with a fair breeze from
the north-east, yacht in company. At the time of our
departut e there was early snow on the low lands—the
streams were still running. In fact, the whole month of
September had been remarkably fine—generally with
strong winds from the eastward.
We experiencei very hard weather on getting out of
the Sound; parted company with the yacht.
Passed Behring's Straits on the morning of the 2d cf
October in a heavy gale from the N.N.W.
October 11—At midnight passed the Alentian Group
by the Straits of Amonkhta, in longitude 171 deg. W.
These straits are thirty-five miles wide, perfectly sate
and free from the races frequently met with in the other
straits of this chain.
On the 13th of October, in latitude 47 deg. 30 sec.,
and longitude 106 deg., we experienced a heavy northerly
gale, with an unusual heavy see, which broke on board
ef us and nearly swept our decks.
On the 19th of October, in latitude 43 and long :Vide.
106 we bad another gale at S.S.E. Between this and the
14th of November, when we anchored at the port of
Mazatlan, there was nothing remarkable but the preys' -
fence of north and south-east winds, which forced us to
the coast, within 100 miles of San Francisco, before a e
got the north-west wind.
At Mazatlan I found lying ber Majesty's ship A mpb!-
trite and the Nancy Dawson yacht, this li-tle vessel
having arrived the morning previous.
I have endeavoured in this letter and the accompany-
ing documents to give their Lordships a detailed account
of my pi oceechngs whie in the Arctic circle, which, I
trust, will meet with their approval. -
And, in conclusion, I hope far the consiile alon
their Lordships for the office s serving under my com
mend, who have, as heretofore, witheut an ext eptio-
diepla)ed uncommon zeal in their respective duties.
I have the honour to be, Sir, your very obedient se
vent,

HENRY KELLETT, Captain.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

COMMANDER J. C. D. HAY, OF THE COLUMBINE.
—We have authority for stating that the promotion of
Commander J. C. D. thy, of the Cllumhine, 12, rs-
cently engaged in service agait:st the Chinese pirates,
has not taken place ; and that, however acceptable to
his friends the canfirmtion hereafter of the incorrect
report of some of our contemporaries may be, it is at
any rate premature. 'We have little doubt, however,
that when.the dispatches detailing the gallant conduct
of Catrmander= Hay and Wilcox come in due course
before the Board of Admiralty, their Lordships will
as favourably appreciate their services against the pi •
rates as they did those of Captain Lyons, of the Pilot ;
Captain Flrquhar, of the Albatross ; and Commander
Lnekye•r, of the Medea.—He,rald.

, .
DEATH OF COMMANDER P. LE VEAlONTE.—Corn-
mander Le Vesconte. (1816), for many 3 ears British
Consul at L'Orient, Brittany, died at that place on
the 16th inst., aged 64. He was the son of a purser
who lost a leg in Howe's action, and served 21 years
afloat during the war from the date of his first entry
into the navy, in 1794. " As midshipman of the
Saturn (says ‘"O'Byrne's Biography'). he was pr:•-
sent in Hotham's partial action with the French fleet
off the Hyeres Islands. In the Monarch, 74, Csp
tain .James Robert Moose, Mr. Le Vesconte bore a
part, and was wounded in the battle of Copenhagen.,
April. 2, 1801; in consequence whereof he was pro-
moted, May 23 following, to a lieutenancy in the
Glatton, 50. His next appointment was Sept. 6,
1803, to the Magnificent, 74, Captain William Henry
Jervis, in which ship, when forming part of the in-
shore squadron off Brest, it was his misfortune to he
wrecked, during a gale of wind, Mitroil 251804.:
On being restored to liberty after seven years of c 4-•
tivity, we find him joining, in' the course of 181.1,,
the L-opard, 50, arrne in -Ate," Auguo,
1814, the Queen, .74. Ile returned home frona.the
Mediterranean in December, 1815, and has since
been on half-pay."
POILTSMOtTIit WEDNESDAT. The Conteit, 12,
Commander the Hon. J. W. S., Spencer, arrived at
Madeira, from England, en route .to the coast of
Africa, on the 10th inst. • ,
The Dauntless screw steam-frigate, in dock, will
be ready for the pendant about the Ist proximo, when.
it is expected she will be put into commission-.
The students of the Royal NaVal College resumed
their duties on Monday.
THE SAILOR'S HOME —Captain SIT .4,tlirle Ster-
ling, of her Majesty's ship Howe, 'l2O, in the Me-
diterranean fleet, has forwarded a donation .'of 51.
(which will be continued annually) towards the above
highly deserving and meritorious object, and con-
sented to become one of the vice-presidents of the
institution. Commander Wilson, of the Howe, has
also subscribed Si. towards the same object.
PORTSMOVIII GARRISON.—The first of a series of

lectures on military science, instituted by the Lieute• •
nant- Governor of the District, to the soldiers of the
garrison, with a view to their moral and intellectual
improvement, will be given in the Queen's-rooms,
Portsea, on Saturday next, under the patronage of
his Lordship the Major-general Commanding. All
the officers of the army and navy, and the non-com-
missioned officers and men, with their families, are
invited to attend. Civilians will also be admitted by
tickets, which may be obtained at the Town-Major's-
office. The expense of these lectures to the troops in
his district will be defrayed by the Lieutenant-
Governor, but as the lecture-room is gratuitously
afforded, and the services of the lecturer rendered
upon the same complimentary terms, together with
the loan of the necessary apparatus for illustration by
the Admiralty, his Lordship's purse will not, we
hope, be &awn upon to any inconvenient extent.
PLTMOUTU, JAN. 22.—lier MAjtsty's frigate
Arethusa, 50, was commissioned on Sunday, by Cap-
tain T. N. C. Symonds, and is to have a complement
of 500 men. This morning 86 privates, 3 corporals,
3 sergeants, and 1 lieutenant of Royal arines, were
detached from the division here and sent on board.
The Captain ( f Royal Marines is not yet appointed.
The Indefatigable, 50, Captain Stuart, is yet in
the Sound ; her complement is not complete, and it
is intended to send out draughts to join her at Lisbon.
There must be something wrong in the discipline of
the navy when a ship like the Indefatigable is de-
tained so long at home in a profitless effort to obtain
a crew.
The steam-frigate Terrible, Captain Hope, came
in yesterday, from Portsmouth, and this time did
not run aground.
The steam-frigate Stromboli, Captain Lord A.
Beauclerk, was off the port on Sunday afternoon, and
havingi signalised the Indefatigable in the Sound,
proceeded down Channel, probably to overtake and
assist Commodore Collinson in the Arctic expedition,
which left the port the same morning.
The Crane packet came in on Sunday from Fal-
mouth, and is gone up harbour to refit.
The Diligence transport arrived on Sunday from
Deptford.
Wind, easterly ; light breeze.
APPOINTMENTS.

WooLwxc a, JAN. 23.—Chaplain—The Rev. G. E.
Purchas, to the Arethusa at Devonport.
Naval Instructor—G. F. Parker (1836), to the
Arethusa at Devonport.
The Volcano steam-vessel, 140-horse power, has
been taken into dock to have her bottom cleaned and
examined. Although covered with copper sheathing,
it has been found covered to a considerable extent with
shells and corals, several of the clusters being of nearly
three inches projection, which must have greatly im-
peded her progress.

CAPE OF GOOD Hors.—We have received Cape
of Go.,d Hope papers of the 15th Nov., at which date
the convict question remained in much the same unsatis-
Letory state as when the previous vessel quitted that
shore. The Neptune still continued off the Cape ; and
although petitions after petitions had been presented to
the Governor, Sir 11. Smith, praying that he would order
the Neptune away, he peremptorily refused, assigning
as his reason that he would not commit "an act illegal,
impolitic, and of dangerous example." The colony was
quiet ; but several of the shopkeepers who bad fur-
nished the Government with provisions were utterly
euined,-th© colonists having refused to purchase of them
nny,longer. Threats of actions for damages had been
made by some of the tradesmen so circumstanced ; but
it
w4Bl
uWt
b e b
expected
o'&!. if trial followed, the object
souglte
eDanisvpartocvhienscefsrewmetrheerGecoevievrendayrsesotf thed North Ame-
rinia.l-office. Dispatches were also receivederayat the
yesterday Cole -
from the Lord High Commissioner of the lonisn
Islands.

BCCILINdIIAMSIIIRE RAILWAY.— Of the 22 miles,
17 are now nearly completed, and it is expected that an
engine will soon be able to make its way to Banbury,