The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-22 00:00:00

-7. pi, 4, JANUARY 22, 1850,

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

THR CHINA SQUADRON.
HONG KONG, Nov. 3.—Her Majesty's steam-
sloop Fury, Commander Willcox ; the Columbine,
12, Commander J. C. D. Ilay ; and the Hon. Com-
pany's steamer Phlegethon arrived here on the Ist
inst. from Hainan, having met with splendid success
in their expedition against the piratical junks which
had so long been committing depredations on the
merchant shipping unmolested.
Her Majesty's ship Mariner, 12, Commander
Matheson, arrived here on the same day from Shang-
hae, with ten invalids from her Majesty's ship Arab,
12, Commander Morris, which she loft at Chusan in a
very sickly state. Her assistant alurgeoe, Mr. E.
Butler, and seven of the crew had died in a single
month. The Mariner sails this evening for Wham-
poa, to relieve the Medea, which is also in a sickly
state. The Pilot, 12, Commander Lyons, remains al
Amoy, and the Arab at Ningpo. The Amazon, 24,
Captain Troubridge, is at Singapore, and the Alba-
tross, 14, Commander Farquhar, is in the Straits of
Malacce.` Her Majesty's ship Cleopatra, 26, Cap-
tain Massie, the screw-sloop Reynard, 11, Com-
mander P. Cracrofr, and the Apollo troop-ship, Com-
mander Rawstorne, are expected this month from
England. The only change in the squadron since
the packet sailed is the appointment of Lieutenant
H. J. Grant, additional of the Hastings, to the Ma-
riner, vice Nicholson, invalided.
NOVEMBER 29.—Her Majesty's ships Cleopatra and
Reynard, from England, and the Pilot, from Amoy,
arrived here oo the 15th inst. Previous to the arri-
val of the Cleopatra, Captain Morgan, of the Hast-
ings, had been carrying on the duty of senior officer
in China, but he was relieved by Captain Massie, who
is senior to him, and has made several changes, espe-
cially among the junior officers.
On the 26th instant the Pilot sailed for Shanghae,
and on the 2d of December the Reynard will proceed
to Amoy, to replace the Pilot. The various reports
which had reached this station during the last year
relating to the Reynard had excited much interest
respecting her, especially among the naval commu-
nity, and since her arrival she has been an object of
universal curiosity. The Chinese, who have never
before seen a screw steamer, though familiar enough
(to their cost) with others, regard her with infinite
amazement, exclaiming, " Hi yaw," as they pass her
long, low, mysterious-looking hull. Notwithstanding
all her detractors, her various performances from
point to point of her long voyage from England will
challenge comparison with any that can be adduced by
other vessels in similar circumstances. Her sailing
qualities have proved infinitely superior to what might
have been expected from reports, rendering it neces-
sary to. test her steaming qualities much ; but the
screw did much service in towing her Majesty's ships
Cleopatra and Tweed out of the bay cf Rio de Janeiro,
and again in picking up the former (becalmed and
short of water), and towing her from the Straits of
Banta to Singapore. She beat up to her anchorage
in Hong Kong roads against the north-east mon-
soon and a strong ebb-tide in such an admirable
manner as few vessels except the opium clippers could
equal. Lieutenant J. H. B. Wainright came out in
her to join her Majesty's• ship Hastings as Flag
Lieutenant to the late Rear-Admiral Sir P. Collier,
but not having arrived until after the Admiral's
death, he has joined the Hastings as an additional
Lieutenant. The Mariner, 12, Commander Mathe-
son, is at Whampoa ; the Arab, 12, Commander
Morris, is at Ningpo ; the Pilot, 12, Commander
Lyons, en route to Shanghae ; the Amazon, 24, Cap-
tain Troubridge, and Albatross, 12, Commander Far-
quhar, in the Straits of Malacca. The Fury, steam-
sloop, Commander Willcox, sailed for India on the 3d
inst., to look for Commodore Plumridge and bring him
on to Chins, should he decide on coming here, in
which case he will hoist a broad pendant as Com-
modore of the First Class on board the Hastings.
The ships at present here are the Hastings, 72, Capt.
Morgan; Cleopatra, 26, Csptain Massie; Columbine,
16, Commander Hay; Royalist, 10, Commander
Bate, about to proceed on a surveying cruise to
Borneo; Reynard, 11. Commander Craycroft; the
Minder, store-ship, Master-Commander Mitchell ;
and the Alligator hospital-ship, Dr. Bulkier. The
Medea steam-sloop, Commander Lochyer, is also
here at present.
I must tell you the pirates have for some time
defied the Chinese Government. Leu, the Imperial
Commissioner, sent two mandarins and twenty-three
large armed junks to capture them. The pirates
took them all, and he (Leu) had to pay 2,000 taels
of silver for their ransom Lately he offered the
Chief Shap'ng-taai a rtd button (the highest rank
of mandarin) if he would take a commission in the
Government service for the protection of the coast
against piracy, and for protecting the revenu'. Leu's
envoy was treating with him at the time her Ma-
jesty's ships Columbine, Fury, and Pnlegethon made
their appearance, and thinking there was treachery
on their part, and that they had shown those ships
their rendezvous, he had them all lashed and secured
below, and they were blown up in a vessel.
Captains Lyons, of the Pilot, Farquhar, of the Al-
batrose, and Hay, of the Columbine, having been
promoted by the Lords of the Admiralty expressly
for the especial service rendered by those officers
against these pirates, it is earnestly hoped that Com-
mander Willcox, of the Fury, will receive a similar
reward. He has ever been foremost in readiness with
his vessel, which has been kept in most efficient order,
and always ready to go on any duty; besides which,
the last official letter written by the late Admiral
contained one expressly soliciting the Lords of the
Admiralty to promote Commander Willcox. This
was before the affair of the last piratical expedition
enhanced further the claims and merits of that officer.
The following letter will also show Commander Will-

cox's deserts as appreciated by the gallant late Corn-
mander-in-Chief

" Her Majesty's ship Hastings,
Hong-Kong, Oct. 5, 1849.

" Sir,—Having received from Commander J. C. D.
Hay, cf her Majesty's ship Columbine, a report of the
operations of the Ist ins'. against a formidable piratical
force in Bias-bay, in which he states that to Commander
Willcox, of the Fury, must be given the principal honour
of the day, and that to the Fury's unrivalled accuracy
of firing mutt be attributed the bloodless t,rmination to
us of this affair, I have to express to you my w artn ad-
miration of your judicious and gallant conduct through.
out these operations. Iw a 3 per'ectly Ett'it,fied, from the
high state of dicipline of the Fur), and her excellent
gunnery order; that she would distinguish herself if thc,
opportunity were allowed, and it gives me the highest
gratification to Fee how fully my opinions have been
justified... You will express to the officers, seamen, and
marines of the Fury, who were engaged in the late
operations, that their steady and gallant conduct has
merited my warmest approbation.
"I am, Sir, your obedient rervant,
" F. A. COLLIER,
" Admiral, Commander-in-Chief.
"To Commander Willcox,
cf H.M.S. Fury."
_ _ _

The day the Fury left Hong Kong the merchants
of China held a meeting and 'got up addresses, and
voted thanks to Commander Hay, of the Columbine,
and Commander Willcox, of the Fury, and also voted
each a service of plate, as marks of their grateful ap-
preciation of the services rendered by those officers to
the mercantile interests of China by their successful
attacks upon the pirates.
The following changes have taken place among the
officers of the squadron in China :
Lieutenant—H.l3. Everest, late in command of the
Royalist, to the Columbine, invalided for passage to
Europe.
Mates—F. A. Close and E. Chambers, from the
Hastings to the Columbine.
Midshipmen—W. H. Wright, A. Broadhead. J.
Murray, to the Pilot, lent pro. tern. from the Has-
tings ; E. J. Webb, ditto, the Reynard.
Naval Cadet—J. C. Grant, from the Reynard to
the Hastings.
Masters.-Assistants—W. May, from the Hastings
to the Royalist ; G. Nixon, from the Hastings to the
Fury; David Brown, from the Fury to the Colum-
bine.

Assistant- Surgeon—ll. D. Speer, from the Alli-
gator to the Columbine.
Mr. Arthur Price, Secretnry to the late Com-
mander-in-Chief, goes home overland by this mail.
Woomvicu, JAN. 21.—The Megaerd, 10, steam-
frigate, of 350-horse power, is to be navigated from
Woolwich to Sheerness, to be kept in the ordinary at
the latter pore.

ashore and repaired. From the Royal William Vic-
tualling-yard 13 tons of preserved meat were dis-
patched on Thursday, and from the dockyard
there have been forwarded soldering irons and
solder for repairing leaks in the tin cases of pre-
served meat, pumps for clearing the ships' holds of
foul air, a great quantity of leather hoses, small cord-
age, &c. From the Gun-wharf they hare received
some patent aerial telegraphs for *se in the Arctic
regions, by which exploring parties detached
from the ships in different directions may communi-
cate with each other, or with the ships. The gins
made at the dockyard and sent on board on Friday
are described as being composed of iron somewhat in
the shape of a bulbous inverted cone, the point of
which is of hardened steel, made very sharp. This
instrument, which weighs 141 b. or 151 b., is attached
to a teakle and fall to the outer end of the bowsprit,
and being worked on the ship's deck, is allowed to
drop suddenly on the ice, which it will penetrate
when of ordinary thickness, and thus clear a passage
for the ship.
From Plymouth the expedition sails direct to Val-
paraiso, where fresh provisions will be obtained.
Thence it crosses the Equator, and proceeds to the
Sandwich Islands, where the Commodore will wait
instructions from the Admiralty at home, prior to
joining the Plover brig, which is to accompany the
Investigator and Enterprise to Behring's Straits, and
assist in the prosecution of their perilous adventure.
PEMBROKE, JAN. 21.—The Royal Sovereign yacht
is now in dock at this yard, for the purpose of being
taken to pieces. The Hope, hitherto used as a guard-
ship on the quarantine ground at Milford, has been
removed into dock ; and having on a survey been
found unserviceable, will forthwith be broken up at
this establishment. The whole of the quarantine
establishment, for many years in Milford-haven, was
abolished a few days ago.
The Saturn, receiving•ship at Pembroke, recently
commissioned for the pennant of the Captain Super-
intendent of this dockyard, is being fitted up in the
best manner—mechanics of every description are ac-
tively engaged on her. She is now moored in a most
commanding situation, sweeping with her broadside
every approach by water to the dockyard ; and it is
proposed that she be furnished with proper artillery,
to be manned in case of emergency by the trained
boat brigade of the dockyard battalion, in which
event she would prove a most formidable battery for
the protection of the arsenal.—Times.

SURREY THEA TRE.
A new scene was last night introduced, for the first
time, into Alfred Crowquill's admirable pantomime of
the Moon Queen, which harmonised most effectively
with the general character of the performance, and
participated as much as its author could desire, in
the great public favour which had been bestowed on
each successive night at its representation at this
house. It is also the production of the same
esteemed pen, and its intention is to present a pan-
tomimic satire on the " counter-jumpers," and
a picture of the treatment which the poor semp-
stresses receive from these chops taken col-
lectively as a class. The scene represents the ex-
terior of Messrs. Vampire and Grindtheirbones'
establishment, covered with plate-glass and brass,
and the windows well filled with all the nouveauttg
of the day. An advertisement appears outside
the door, for shirt hands at 2s. 9d. per week, and a
large number of young women came apparently to
apply for engagements, but are driven away uncere-
moniously enough by the counter-jumpers, attired,
according to the rule, in white neckcloths, while
others, who have been more successful, go away home
completely :exhausted and disheartened with their
long and poorly-remunerated labour. In the mean-
while the clown and pantaloon pursue their little lar-
cenies with impunity, and Columbine and Harlequin
contribute to the general effect by their grace and
activity, and many a joke is founded upon the pla-
cards which usually adorn the outside of drapers'
shops. The scene concludes with the girls meetipg
the assistants outside the doors, and giving them bat-
tle, when they at length gratify their vengeance by,
driving their opponents in doors. The entire per-
formance was sustained with the utmost spirit and
talent, and the number, novelty, and ingeniuty of the
ticks called forth repeatedly the applause of the
audience.

CAStIALTY ON THE RlVER.—Yrsterday afternoon,
shortly after three o'clock, the Wir:al, Woodside
steamer, was coming across the river, and had nearly
reached the landing- tige, when she was compelled to
increase her speed to avoid coming in collision with a
flat, which she escaped by a hair's breath. The conse-
quence was, that the steamer, instead of slackening its
speed, approached the landing-stage at a very rapid rate,
and, running stern foremost into it, splintered one of the
posts, and bent the iron by which it was bound. The
vessel rebounded, and a second crash was only prevented
by the prompt use of the rope-fender, which was corn-
p!etely flattened between the side of the steamer and the
edge of the stage. The passengers were considerably
shaker, but fright was the most serious injury they sue-
tained.--Liverpool Albion of yesterday.
MELANCHOLY SUICIDE AND DEATH FROM FRIGHT.
—On the morning of the 7th inst., about eleven o'clock,
Mr. Richard Trinick, of Salcombe, was discovered by
his grand daughter in his bed-room with his throat cut.
and so effectually was it done that life was soon extinct.
Mr. Gillard, the surgepn, was immediately called, and
quickly arrived, and on entering the room was so shocked
at the appearance of poor Trinick that he fainted, and
was carried home to hia house in a state cf insensibility,
and, sad to relate, never after rallied or spoke. lie expired
on Tuesday morning at five o'clock, leaving a widow in a
precarious state of health and several children. Trinick
was about 82 years of age, and had lately been unwell,
but no cause can be assigned for the rash act he has
committed.—Plymenth 7Yines.
THE BITERS BIT.—On Saturday last, a somewhat
novel r aee of fraud was brought before the magittrates
at the county office at Canterbury, when the defendant
parties, three in number, were charged by the authori-
ties of the South Ea, tern Railway Company with having
travelled in a second-class carriage from Canterbury to
Grove Ferry with third-class tickets, with an intention
of defrauding the company of the additional amount of
fare. By the evidence it appeared that Walker, a guard
on the line, was passing down to Ramsgate, off duty,
on the night of Sunday, Dec. 30, by the last train, and
on reaching Canterbury the d• fondants took their seat
in the same carriage in which he was travelling. On
the road the three became over-communicative, and they
mutually exulted as t ) how easy it was to take one class
ticket and travel in another. But Walker, having his
lantern with him, threw a new light on the discussion
by showing his companions who he was. When the
train reached Grove Ferry station the excess of fare was
tendered by defendants, which the clerk refused to accept
on hearing Walker's statement, and summonses for the
fraud under the Railway General Act were in conse-
quence obtained. The case having been clearly shown
to the satisfaction of the court, the parties were con-
victed and mulcted in mitigated penalties of 20s. each,
which was immediately paid on its being understood by
them that there was no alternative between doing so or
committal to St. Augustine's House cf Correction for
three months.—Kent Herald.

ROYAL NAVAL BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.—The an-
nual general meeting of the members of this society was
held yesterday at the Thatched House Tavern, Sir
Charles Adams in the chair. The minutes of the last
quarterly meeting were read by the secretary, Captain
Dickson, and confirmed. From the statement cf the
quarterly and annual aecounts, which were passed on
the motion of Captain Ryder, seconded by Captain
Marshall, it appeared that the kalence in hand on the
30th of September last was 1,2651. 10s. 2d. The life
subscriptions and donations during the last quarter
amounted to 96!. 155.; annual subscriptions, 119/. 125.;
tc tsl, 1,4851. 11s. 6d. The total disbursements were
582/. 17s. 10d. The number of new subscribers was
51; life ditto, 8. The number of deaths and with-
drawals from the society was 116, In pro: f of the in-
adequate amount of support afforded to the society by
the officers a the navy, it was stated that out of 5,973
(the number of officers in the " Navy List") there were
only 1,160 subscribers to the society in 1549. It was
also mentioned that a very erroneous impression pre-
vails in the navy respecting the amount of subscription
which constitutes a claim to the aid of the society. A
sum of 334/. has been raised by private subscription for
the family of Lieutenant Charles Mackenzie, whose dis-
tressing case was brought forward at the last meeting.
Four wards have been elected to the Adult Orphan In-
stitution since the last report. The secretary announced
that be had received as unpaid letter through the Post.
office from the notorious Joseph Ady, offeringtof, e
the
pro-
cure 1,000/. for the society on payment of usual
e c
of 1/.—(Loud laughter.) Two
with other naval benefit societies
received communications of a Mon
'ha nature from that
appointed a vice- presi-
gsteantetlim that ney had
n connected
individual. Sir John West wmas
of
isir
If. Whitshett,
de ri t
deceased,o f
meeting afterwards raefeterwarda proceeded, with
closed doors, to consider a motion of which notice had
been given by Paymaster Purser Lean.
Coax AND R
thea and the '
ON ATLWAY•—The continua-
_
tion of thisli BAND ox
from Ballinhassig to this city is being
rapidly entered on by the contractirs, Messrs. Fox and
Henderson. They have already commenced the weeks
at Skahabeg, Evergreen, and there is little doubt but
the line will be completi wittein twelve months. One
hundred and fifty waggons are on their wey f om Eng-
land, and en their arrival, which is expected in a
week's time, several hundred hands will be act to work,
thus affording most valuable employment at the present
depressed period.—Corh Constitution.
THE CHINESE JUN K.—Yesterday the Lord Mayor's
permission havieg been obtained, the numeruus river
steamers moored between the Temple Pier and Arundel-
street, were removed to make room for the celebrated
Chinese junk, which, in the course of a few days will be
towed up from Blackwell, and moored off the Temple
Yier f 9; public exhibition.