The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-25 00:00:00

WEDNESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 25, 1850.

DANGERS OF BALLOONING.
TO T.HE EDITOR OF TEE SUN.
SIR,-An almost univcrsal opinion prevails that bal-
looning is a dangerous art, but notwithstanding the
apparent danger of going up with balloons, few lives
have been lost, compared to the number of ascents
which have been made.
At least a thousand persons have ascended with bal-
loons, some of them many times : cur Mr. Green, for
instance, has made 450 ascents; Signor Orlandi, the
Italian aeronaut, 420 ; and Mr. Green's son has made
more than 200 ascents.
Many others might be mentioned who have made
numerous repetitions of the experiment, but it is not
necessary to mention them here. Suffice it to say,
that near 3,000 balloon ascents have been made, with
the less of only 15 lives, and these were through care-
lessness, imprudence, want of caution or presence of
mind.
Of those who condemn ballooning as dangerous I
ask—Where is the danger ? Bat before we proceed
further, let us see what has been the cause of each
fatal balloon accident.
June 15, 1785. Messrs. Rozier and Romaine as-
cended from Boulogne with two balloons—a fire and
a gas balloon ; the latter being placed above the for-
mer, it was, as M. Biot remarks, similar to placing a
furnace under a powder magazine. When high in
the air the balloons took fire ; the two aeronauts were
precipitated to the earth and killed.
The " Encyclo[mdia Britannica" states that the
next fatal accident with balloons happened in Italy
several years later, when a Venetian nobleman and
his lady tell from a great height and perished. The
details of this accident I am not acquainted with.
Nov. 25, 1802. Signor Oliveri ascended from
Orleans, in France, with a fire balloon made of pa-
per, held together by a few strips of linen. The
balloon was consumed in the air, and the aeronaut
dashed to the ground.
April 7, 1806. M. Moament ascended from Lisle,
standing on a platform, which served him instead of
a car. His lifeless body was soon afterwards disco-
vered not far from where he ascended, and it is sup-
posed that he lost his balance while throwing out a
parachute. Having only a platform to stand upon,
there was 'nothing but the cords left to prevent his
falling off, and these were too far apart.
July 17, 1812. Herr Bittorff, a German aeronaut,
ascended from Mannheim with a fire balloon. When
at a great height the balloon took fire; the aeronau
fell on a house, and was so injured that he died next
day.

narrow passagr The car knocked a coping-stone
down, which fell on a man and caused his death.
In 1845 Signor Comaschi, an Italian aeronaut, as-
sceuded from Constantinople with a balloon, and dis•
apVeared rather mysteriously. The general supposi-
tion is that he was drowned. This is, however, rather
doubtful ; for previous to his ascent Signor Comaschi
had got into debt as much as possible, and took par•
titular care to provide himself with passports to assist
him after his descent, so that most likely he came
down safely, and instead of returning to Constanti-
nople he hurried away in another direction. Comaschi
bad been in France, and had ascended there with his
balloon.
In 1847 an aeronaut ascended from Bagdad with a
balloon ; his name is stated to have been Rosset, and
it was also stated that he was a Frenchman. Now
this M. Rosset was probably no other than the Signor
Comaschi who ascended from Constantinople, for the
latter gentleman having been in France much of his
time might, if he understood the language, easily
disguise himself and pass for a Frenchman. How-
ever, even supposing him to have been drowned, be
should have taken the precaution to have provided
himself with a water car.

In 1847 the newspapers stated that M. Ledet, a
French aeronaut, had ascended with a balloon from
Petersburgh, and that the following morning his
balloon was found, with its car empty, on the Lake
Ladoga. It was for some time supposed that M.
Ledet was drowned, but at length his true fate was
made known. It appears that M. Ledet having a
quantity of jewellery on his person and also a large
amount of gold, on descending a short distance from
Petersburgh was assisted by three men, who after-
wards murdered him for the sake of his money and
jewellery, and let the balloon go. The three men
quarrelled about the spoil, and one of them being
much dissatisfied with his share informed the autho-
rities of what had taken place, and his two companions
being brought to justice were ordered to be put to
death.

Lately a man was killed in Essex by being struck
with the grapnel of Mr. Bell's aerial machine. The
man intending to stop the balloon threw himself on
the grapnel, which with the balloon was proceeding
at the rate of twenty miles an hour, and he was so
injured that he died next day.
These are all the fatal balloon accidents on record,
and, as we have before said, are all owing to a want
of caution or presence of mind, to imprudence or
carelessness and ignorance. The accidents that have
happened with fire-balloons have been through their
taking fire, and this might easily have been prevented
by making the linen or cloth fire-proof, which is very
easily accomplished. I have heard Lieutenant Gale
state that a balloon was as safe a conveyance as a
stage-coach, and I shall not be stating too much by
saying that not one fatal accident would have hap-
pened had the aeronauts been cautious. An aeronaut
should always have a plentiful supply of gas and
ballast. The bursting of a balloon has never been at-
tended with fatal effects. After bursting a balloon
forms into a parachute shape, but here the aeronaut
must be cautious, and must fix himself in a stooping
position previous to striking the earth.—Yours, &c.,
September 23, 1850. AERO.

Sept. 21, 1812. Count Zambeccari, with a friend,
ascended from Bologna, in Italy. The balloon was
filled with hydrogen gas, and at the lower part of it
there was a spirit lamp, by the aid of which they
thought they would be able to ascend or descend at
pleasure, by rarefying the gas or allowing it to con-
dense by extinguishing the lights of the lamp. On
descending the balloon came down on a tree, and the
shock upset the spirit lamp, spreading the spirit all
over the car, which was immediately in a blaze. The
two aeronauts leapt out, and Zambeccari was killed
by the fall—his companion escaped.
July 7, 1819. Madame Blanchard ascended from
Paris at night with fireworks. Through the careless-
ness of the workmen the rockets shot into the balloon,
set it on fire, and precipitated the lady on to the roof
of a house, from whence she fell into the street, and
was killed.
May 25, 1824. Lieutenant Harris, R.N., ascended
from the City-road, London, with a young lady.
The balloon had two valves, with a string to each.
Previous to ascending, the string of the largest valve
was tied to a car or hoop, and when the balloon had
been up some time, on Lieutenant Harris opening the
smaller valve the balloon became elongated, throwing
the whole weight of the car on the valve-line which
was fastened to it. The large valve was, therefore,
opened, and the gas rushed out, Lieutenant Harris
supposing the balloon had burst. He was killed by
the fall, but his companion escaped with her life. Had
Lieutenant Harris taken the precaution to have fixed
himself in a stooping position he might have been
saved, or had he known the cause of the balloon's
rapid descent, and cut the valve-string, great part of
the gas might have been retained in the balloon.
Sept. 29, 1824. Mr. W. W. Sadler ascended with
his servant from Bolton, in Lancashire, and descended
at Whalley, where some country people who came to
assist, after holding the balloon a short time let it go,
and Mr. Sadler, not thinking of looking in the direc-
tion the balloon was going, it struck a chimney, and
he was thrown out of the car. He died the follow-
ing morning. He might have prevented the balloon
from coining in contact with the chimney by throw-
ing out ballast, of which he had sufficient for the pur-
pose, but he does not appear to have looked in the
direction he was going.
July 24, 1837. Mr. Cocking was killed in a para-
chute descent. The parachute was attached to the
car of the Nassau balloon which ascended from Vaux-
hall• gardens, and at the height of 5,200 feet Mr.
Cocking separated the parachute from the balloon. It
descended with frightful rapidity, and by the violent
concussion with which it struck the earth the un-
fortunate gentleman was killed. Some persons at.
tribute the death of Mr. Cocking to his having
wound the string by which he liberated himself
round his wrist, and the string being fastened
to the car of the balloon, he would of course be
drawn to the upper part of the parachute, when the
rope would break, and he would fall down again into
the basket of the parachute. This does not appear
unlikely ; and, indeed, it was said at the inquest held
on his body that there was a mark on his wrist, which
had evidently been made by a rope drawn tight round
it. Even admitting this latter story to be true, Mr.
Cocking might have descended without losing his life,
had not the circle or hoop which kept the parachute
expanded given way---it collapsed, and this was the
cause of his rapid descent. The parachute was of
enormous dimensions,-, being 107 feet in circum•
ference, and had a convex surface, and not a concave.
Since the accident many trials have been made of
parachutes on Mr. Cocking's principle, and animals
have been let down from great altitudes with this kind
of parachute, and have always descended safely. In-
deed, the great surface of the parachute would have
met with great resistance from the air, and had it
continued expanded—that is to say, had the hoop,
which was of block-tin, been made of a stronger mate-
rial, of ash for instance, the descent would not have
had a fatal termination. The experiment was, how-
ever, an useless one, for even if parachutes should
ever be found to answer any useful purpose, the im-
mense size of Mr. Cocking's would render it of jec-

REPRESENTATION OF POOLE.
The polling took place yesterday. It commenced
at nine o'clock and terminated at four. The following
is the result :
For Seymour (Free-trader) . 188
For Savage (Protectionist) 167
Majority for Seymour —2l
Mr. Seymour was consequently declared duly
elected.

LORD PALMERSTON.
The following letter has been addressed to Viscount
Palmerston by the British merchants of Hayti :
" Port-au-Prince, Aug. 16.
"My Lord,—'We, the undermentioned British
merchants established in Hayti, beg leave most re-
spectfully, through the medium of her Majesty's Act-
ing Consul, to present our united, sincere, and heart-
felt congratulations to your Lordship on the occasion
of your late triumphant vindication, in the House of
Commons, of thoseprinciples of liberal and enlightened
policy which you have ever maintained, and which,
associated with your Lordship's name, have placed
you, my Lord, amongst the statesmen of whom Eng-
land has the greatest reason to be proud.
" Situate as we are, nobody can better appreciate
the noble and manly spirit which induced you to state
that English subjects should, in whatever land they
reside, have justice done them ; and that, failing to
obtain it from the local tribunals of the country, they
might look with confidence to their own Government
for redress.

" We will not, for obvious reasons, state why such
a declaration is peculiarly satisfactory to ourselves,
but will, in conclusion, most humbly offer you, my
Lord, our thanks, trusting that your Lordship may
long preside over the foreign relations of Great Bri-
tain, and being assured that so long we can look with
confidence to the impartial but just and firm protec-
tion of her Majesty's Government. We have the
honour to bz., my Lord, your Lordship's most obedient
humble servants,
" JOHN HEARNE and Co.
" ARTHUR B. WHITE and Co.
" MAUNDER BROTHERS and Co.
" SCRIBNER,_ ROWE, and BROWN.
" EDWARD LLOYD and CO.
" BALLARD, SMITH, and Co.
" ROBERTS, WENTWORTH, and Co.
" YOUNG and GERDES.
" EDWARD LLOYD.
" CHARLES KILLICK and Co.
6' COLES, MORRISON and Co.
" J. OSLER and CO.
" Viscount Palmerston, &c., Foreign-office, London."

GEMINI IRON T WIN STEAMER.
Yesterday an experimental trip was made from
131ackwall by the patent safety iron steamer Gemini,
which is the first vessel that has been built and fitted
up on the patent recently granted to Mr. Peter
Berrie, for improvements in the construction of
double-hulled or twin vessels, and is intended to ply
on the Thames.
Her principal dimensions are:—Length between
perpendiculars, 140 feet; ditto on deck, 146 feet;
breadth of each hull, 6-1 feet ; space between hulls,
8 feet ; breadth on deck, 21 feet ; depth from under
side of deck to cabin floor, 64 feet; draught cf water,
2f feet ; tonnage of each hull, 27 84-94 tons 0. M.
The hulls are chiefly construct( d of iron, and are
securely bound together side by side, with a space or
canal between them. Thus joined, the hulls afford a
great extent of deck-room ; and there is ample ac-
commodation for the conveyance of from eight hun-
dred to one thousand passengers. The cabins are
four in number and 30 feet long by 54 wide each, and
are fitted up in the most convenient and comfort-
able manner. In addition to this it is intended to
increase the accommodation by the construction of a
saloon 40 feet long and 12 wide. A leading peculia-
rity of this vessel is that its keels and stems are not
placed in the centre of the hulls, but are situated to-
wards the inside of them, thereby diminishing that
tendency of the water to gorge up between the hulls,
which has been a great drawback to the success of
twin steamers hitherto. She is also eminently adapted
for the trade for which she is designed, by having
each hull divided into five compartments by water-
tight bulkheads, which, in the case of accident, will
preserve her from sinking; and as the buoyant parts
are at the extremities of her breadth, there will be
comparatively little tendency to heel over when
crowded with passengers. She was constructed and
fitted out with her machinery by Messrs. Robinson
and Russell, of the Millwall Iron Works; and her
two engines, which are on the oscillating principle,
are of 50 horses' power collectively, the boilers being
tubular. The experimental trip yesterday was made
between Blackwell and the Lower Hope (a few miles
below Gravesend). The vessel, with a party of up-
wards of 100 on board, left the Brunswick Pier at
half-past twelve, and returned at half-past five, amidst
loud cheering from a crowd of spectators. The trial
made of her capacities appeared to give general
satisfaction.

[onable.

July 9, 1849. Mr. Richard Green ascended with
a balloon from Cardiff,
arid was carried in the direc-
tion of the Bristol Channel, and after remaining with
the balloon several hours, he appears to have descended
to the surface of the water, and was either:washed out
of the car, or abandoned it with the intention of swim-
ming to shore. Indeed, this latter appears the most
probable, for when the balloon was found twenty
miles inland, the car contained his coat, waistcoat,
boots, neck-tie, &c. However, be this as it may, the
aeronaut was drowned, his body being washed ashore
at Kewstoke about a week afterwards. Mr. Wad-
man, the proprietor of the balloon, stated that when
he found the balloon there was at least 150 pounds
weight of disposable matter in the car, which the
aeronaut might have parted with to keep himself
suspended in the air. The aeronaut might also have
seated himself on the hoop, and cut away the car,
which has frequently been done by other aeronauts.
It was a very imprudent act to attempt to cross a
large expanse of water without a proper car. A life-
boat should aim us be used for aeronial marine
voyages, so that if the balloon will not hold out suffi-
ciently to cross the water the aeronaut might in the
boat float on the surface of the water till the arrival of
a vessel.

afterwards. His
Oct. 2, 1849. M. Arban, a noted French aeronaut,
ascended from Barcelona and lost his life in the same
we ikn the Rea, and his
bmoadnyn e r
wasas
wMars. Ge
dr e
ae
silt; He fell
e
car was constructed simply of wicker-work, and not
at all suitable for a sea voyage. A car constructed
on the same principle as a life-boat would have
orea
saved him.

The particulars of the death of Lieutenant Gale
are quite fresh in the recollection of the public, and
therefore do not need repetition here. The death of
this gentleman was evidently caused by imprudence
on his own part, and ignorance and carelessness
of the country people who were assembled at his
descent. It has been stated that Lieutenant Gale
was not perfectly sober at the time of his ascent, but
had drunk more than his usual quantity of spirituous
liquors. He had also a very imperfect knowledge of
the French language, and his directions being given
in English to the country people were misunderstood,
and the balloon was let go again, ascending to a great
height, and the lifeless body of the aeronaut was after-
wards found at a distance of a mile from the balloon.
Some persons think he must have been suffocated, and
afterwards thrown from the car; but if this had been
the case, the balloon, losing so much weight, would
have gone more than a mile.
My own opinion is that Lieutenant Gale descended
on the tops of the trees (for his body was found in a
%, ood), and while exhausting the balloon, by opening
the valve, the car upset, and he was precipitated to
the ground.

PREPARATION OF FLAX WITHOUT STEEPING.--
This simple and economical mode of preparing the fibre for
the spinner is attracting important attention at this; moment
The machinery employed is exceedingly facile and inexpen-
sive; the flax may immediately be taken from the field,
dried, and prepared ; and the yield is one-third more, and
the strength one-third greater, than when it has been treated
in the ordinary way. Not being tanned by steeping, it is
bleached as easily as cotton ; and the essential oil remaining
in the fibre imparts a lustre to the flax, and supplies that
" nature" which will enable the spinner to rival the finest
hand-spinning, both in quality and brilliancy. So econo-
mical is this process, that the woody part broken away clean
from the fibre, and retaining much of the essential oil of the
plant, is admirably adapted for cattle feeding; and thus not
one single atom of this valuable produce of our soil need be
lost. There is, moreover, a peculiarly idiosyncracy in flax
so prepared to unite " kindly" with fabrics of silk or wool,
imparting great strength and beauty, and considerably les-
sening their cost.
ABBOTSIIAM.—The Puseyite Parson of this parish
has endeavoured to prevent the Rev. Benjamin Arthur, a
Dissenting Minister of Bideford, from preaching in hie vil-
lage. Mr. Arthur, it appears, was in the habit of occasion-
ally preaching in a room kindly lent by one of the villagers.
On Sunday week, on going as usual, he was told by the poor
woman who rented the house, that the clergyman had been
there, and ordered her not to let him preach any more, but
to send him down to the parsonage if he came again. Mr.
Arthur waited accordingly on his reverence, who issued his
apostolic command to him not to preach again, at his peril.
Mr. Arthur intimated that be should disregard the priestly
injunction, and preached accordingly but before lie had half
finished his discourse, the parson presented himself, and
ordered the congregation to disperse, as it was Sunday, "and
they ought to know how to reverence the day;" a few left,
but most of the congregation felt much annoyed at this un-
Christian like interruption, and stayed until the service was
over.— Western Times.

This fatal accident makes the total number of per-
sons killed by ballooning fourteen, and one killed in a
paracEute descent.
It is true that others have lost their lives with bal-
looons, but not in the ordinary practice cf the art.
In 1786, while Lucardi was preparing to ascend
from Newcastle the balloon escaped into the air,
taking up with it Mr. Heron, who was only a spec-
tator, but who had twisted one of the cords of the
balloon round his arm. When 200 feet high the cord
broke ; he fell, and was killed. Persons who go to
witness a balloon ascent should not meddle with the
balloon unless requested to do so, and even then they
should be cautious. In 1838 Mrs. Graham and Cap-
tain Curtis deocended in Itlaryletivue-lane, in a

BETHLEHEM IlosrrrAL.--The governors have or-
dered some additional cells to be lined and floors covered
with kamptulicon, forthe comfort of the unfortunate patients
of their hospital.

THE ARMY.
CKATIIAM, SEPT. 24.--The under-named officers,
with detachments of corps from the provisional batta-
lion at this garrison, will embark at Gravesend on
the 27th inst., on board the freight ship Duke of
Bedford, for Madraq, viz.: Captain E. L. Woolley
and Ensign F. C. Kennedy (51st, King's Own Bor_
derers), and 24 men ; also Lieutenant Kenney and
Ensign Chatt, 84th Regiment, with 86 men, and 4
men of the 25th Kilig's Own Borderers :making a
total of 114 men with 8 officers. The usual number
of women and children on this occasion will be
allowed to embark with the troops. Colonel William
H. Slade, commanding Engineers, is to be relieved
at Chatham by Lieut.-Colonel H. D. Jones, R.E.
Trooping the guards at Chatham has been discon-
tinued by garrison orders, and the troops of this gar-
rison, consisting of the ine and Royal Marines, are
ordered to commence wearing their black cloth trou-
sers. The sth and 9th company of the Ist battalion of
Rifle Brigade marched into Chatham barracks on Mon-
day, the 23d, from Gravesend. The band of the 12th
went out of the town to meet them, and they played
them to the barracks. The troops disembarked at
Gravesend from the ship Emily, from the Cape of
Good Hope, which ship sailed on the 12th of July.
The strength of both these companies consists of 6
sergeants and 95 rank and file, with 8 officers, viz.,
Captain Edward Roper, Captain H. Hardinge, Lieu-
tenant Honourable L. Curzon, Lieutenant H. S. H.
Cornewall, Lieutenant Hon. H. Clifford, Lieutenant
G. P. Evelyn ; Second-Lieutenant H. G. Lindsey,
and Assistant-Surgeon J. R. Lewis, M.D.; 12 rank
and file of the 95th Regiment, who were left sick at
the Cape when the regiment sailed for England, came
to Chatham, they having disembarked from the same
ship as the Rifles; three women and five children belong-
ing to the Rifles arrived with the baggage. The troops
this day underwent medical inspection at Fort Pitt,
and those not fit for service were turned over to the
Invalid Depot, St. Mary's Barracks ; and those of the
Rifles fit for service will march on Thursday for
Canterbury, to join their head-quarters. Privates
Patrick Doyle and J. White, of the Rifles, on the
passage from the Cape, died at see.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
DANGER TO PORTSMOUTH DOCKYARD.—On MOM-
day night about ten o'clock, one of those dangerous
machines, a fire-balloon, descended in Portsmouth
dockyard. It fortunarely fell on the new ground,
and was seen by one of the policemen. The tow or
hemp, which bad been saturated with turpentine,
was still on fire, and when touched the balloon again
inflated, but the fire was immediately extinguished,
and the balloon conveyed to Lieut. Hall's (the direc-
tor of the police-office). Had the balloon accidentally
fallen unperceived amongst the light wood, chips,
oakum, or shavings, or amongst any of the inflam-
mable stores which abound in all parts of the yard,
the consequences might have been dreadful. On the
balloon was a written intimation that any person on
finding the balloon, and conveying it to the Royal
Clarence Gardens, would receive a reward of half-a-
crown; it is therefore to be supposed that it was sent
up from that place, which is about a mile from the
spot where it fell. We believe there is
no law prohibiting the exhibition of these
dangerous machines ; but the sooner some
enactment is passed the better, as in the
thickly-inhabited district of Portsmouth a fire-balloon
could scarcely descend without endangering the
houses, the dockyard, and shipping. The balloon
(which is a large one of the sort) has been sent to the
office of the Admiral Superintendent of the yard, and a
report of the circumstance has been forwarded to the
Admiralty.
THE KAMPTULICON TARGET.—The iron butt, lined
with kamptulicon, was practised at, at the distance of
450 yards, from the Excellent, last week. The butt
was regularly riddled, but in consequence of a small
portion of the butt about the centre having been lined
with this substance, two shots only struck it, one of
which separated a large portion of the kamptulicon
from the iron work. In consequence of the smallness
of the portion lined no correct idea could be formed as
to the prevention of iron splinters from flying off, or
as to the prevention of the shot fracturing. The butt
has therefore been landed, and whether the parties
interested will go to the expense and trouble of lining
a butt properly is as yet uncertain. However, this
has been no test, for the lining merely formed a cen-
trical bull's eye in the butt that has been recently
fired at.
Blonde, old frigate, fitting for a receiving hulk in
Portsmouth basin, has been hauled under the stern of
the St. Vincent to receive the poop of the latter ship,
which, being removed from her, will be put on the
Blonde.

Caradoc, packet steamer, has received orders to
prepare for paying off at Falmouth. She is returning
stores, &c.

Fox, 42, Commodore Lambert, for the East Indies,
and Thetis, 38, Captain C. Kuper, C 8., for the south-
east coast of America, arrived in Plymouth Sound on
Monday afternoon, en route to their respective desti-
nations.

Hercules,, store-ship, Master Commander Fulton,
sailed for the river, from Portsmouth, at 4 P.M. on
Monday.

Portland, 50, Captain H. Chads, flag-ship of Rear-
Admiral Moresby, C.B , for the Pacific, was taken
out of No. 5 dock at Devonport yesterday, and will
now be prepared, with all dispatch, for sea.
Rolla, apprentices' brig, Lieutenant Commander
Fenwick, with his crew of naval apprentices, was
under weigh at Spithead this afternoon, exercising
great guns.
Widgeon steam-vessel, Captain Bullock, left New-
haven on Saturday, to resume her survey on the coast.
Mr. Samuel Paramore, a clerk of Devonport, who
has been a very long time in the service, has been
recommended for superannuation.
PORTSMOUTH, SEPT. 24. The Hecate steam-
sloop, Commander Hand, hoisted the pendant yester-
day. She will be employed on the home station.
The Apollo troop-ship, Commander Rawstorne,
sailed from Spithead for Barbadoes with Royal Artil-
lery yesterday morning.
The Dragon steam-frigate, Captain Giffard, re-
mains at Spithead. The reason her assistant•surgeon
has no cabin is, that the Admiralty have not ordered
one to be constructed for him, and the dockyard can.
not build one without such orders. Captain Giffard
has no influence in the matter. The Admiralty
yielded tubmissicn £0 reluctantly to the justice of
the case of the assistant-surgeons that we are not
surprised they retard the fulfilment of the order as
much as possible.
The Retribution steam• frigate, Captain Warden,
bent sails to-day, and will be at Spithead by the end
of the week.
The Furious steam frigate, jury-rigging in the
basin, will be ready in a few days to leave for the
river to get her engines. She has topgallant toasts
up and lidded, and is rattling down. She is a remark-
ably handsome-looking ship.
CHATHAM, SEPT. 24.--The Albatross, 12 guns,
Acting Commander Elliott, arrived here yesterday
from Singapore ; she was towed up the river by the
African steam-vessel. It is stated that her number of
men on board, including marines, consists of 130.
She is expected to be paid off on Thursday next.
The Rattlesnake surveying-vessel, on her passage
home from Sydney, Acting Commander Yule, is or-
dered to be paid off here. Her arrival is expected
next week.

Mr. W. Saunders, supernumerary gunner, and Mr.
W. Roberts, supernumerary carpenter, both of the
Cumberland 70, ordinary guard-ship here, are super-
annuated on a pension of 50/. per annum each.
Admiral Baron Mackau, the French ex-Minister of
Marine, accompanied by an interpreter, and another
gentleman stated to be a master shipwright of one of
the French dockyards, paid a visit to this dockyard on
Saturday last. An Admiralty order had previously
been received, directing the authorities to allow
the ex-Minister to view the yard, and to pay
every attention to the distinguished officer that is due
to his rank. The gallant admiral was received by
the captain superintendent, Captain Peter Richards,
C.B , and Mr. Lair, the master shipwright, with
Lieutenant Wise, R.N., director of the dockyard
police, and they attended the visitors during their in-
spection of the yard. The Cressy, 84 guns, on the
stocks, and ready for launching, was the point of at-
traction ; the Admiral and party remained on board
above half an hour, having minutely inspected every
part of this magnificent ship. Afterwards they pro-
ceeded to the third dock, and went on board the Ho-
ratio, fitting for a steam guard-ship; there they
remained on board some time ; thence they proceeded
to the metal mills, also to the saw mills and the
ropery, and after viewing the new docks they returned
to the Government-house, and there they were enter-
tained for two hours by Captain Peter Richards. The
Admiral and his two friends left the yard and went
on board the Adder steam- vessel, and proceeded to
Sheerness Dockyard, to view that yard.
Woomvica, SEPT. 24.—The Jasper and Advice
steam-vessels left Woolwich yesterday afternoon for
the Downs, to tow the Hercules store-ship to Green-
hithe, where she is expected to remain and discharge
her cargo, her draught of water being so great. The
Hercules has brought home a detachment of Royal
Sappers and Miners from Gibraltar, and they will
joinhead-quartors at Woolwich.

- The Bellerophon, 78, Captain Robert L. Baynes,
.C. 8., is hourly expected at Plymouth from the Aledi-
terranean station, and as she is to be paid off all stand-
ing, her Marines will be put on shore on their arri-
val, and their places filled up with officers, non-com-
missioned officers, and men of the Woolwich and
Plymouth divisions. A selection of 2 sergeants, 2
corporals, 2 drummers, and 80 privates took place this
morning on the guard mounting parade of the Wool-
wich division for service in the Bellerophon, and they
will leave Woolwich to-morrow morning, under the
command of Captain William F. Hollins, and pro-
ceed by railway to Plymouth. A similar number
of non-commissioned dams and men will be selected