The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-17 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

DEVONPORT, DEC. 16.—Panclora, Eurveyirg vessel,
will be commissioned this week.

Advice, steamer, arrived on Saturday evening, and
will be supplied with coals to-morrow.
In the Plymou h Sound—Albion and Indefatigable.
In Barnepool—Bellerophon.
In Harbour—lmpregnable, St. George, Calliope, Pen-
guin, Sylph, Nautilus, Avon, Advice, Confiance, Dili-
gence, Tran-port, Camel, and Rochester, lighters.
Spy, briq,antine, in dock making good defects, is fast
progressing at Chatham. She is partly rigged, and will
soon be ready for the pendant, and will proceed again to
the coast.

Bonetta, brigontine, is in dock making good defects at
Chatham, and will soon be ready for commissioning.
Inconstant, 36, Captain Sheppard having been paid off
at Dcvonport on Saturday last, a log of her commission
may not be uninteresting:—Her Altjesty's ship Incon-
stant was commissioned at this port on the2d December,
1847, and left on the 30th January, 1848, for the River
Plate, she arrived at Rio de Janeiro on the 29 tla February,
1848, and taking on board Capt. the Hon. George
Gore, Charge de A ffeires, to arrange affairs in that river.
She left Rio de Janeiro on the Bth March and arrived at
Monte Video on the 17th March. She remained in the
river until the 18th Sept., 1848, when she left for Rio t 3
perform the duties of senior officer. On the 27th No-
lember, 1848, she left Rio with provisions and stores f• r
the squadron in the River Plate, and arrived there on the
sth December; left again on the 11th for Valparaiso.
She arrived at Port William, Falkland Islands, on the
21st December, and remained in that miserably dull and
dreary port until the 30th December, when she sailed for
Valparaiso, and arrived there on the 19th January,
1849, where she remained until the 28th of February,
when she left for San Francisco, calling at Callao, and
arriving at the former place on the 16th of April; here
she remained until the Ist May, when she left for that
beautiful spot, Vancouver's Island, and arrived at Esqui-
malt Harbour on the 11th May, and remained there till
the 4th June, enjoying a most delightful three weeks,
rambling through the most magnificent scenery, and
getting capital sport ; she left on the 4th Jane for San
Francisco; on the 14th June, 1849, she received on board
a freight of 180,000 dollars in the precious metal, and
left fur Valparaiso on the 21st June, 1849, and ar-
rived there on the 9th August; she remained at Val-
paraiso until the 20th, when she sailed again for San
Francisco, where she arrived on the 4th September;
she remained there until the 19th, rendering assistance
to our commerce and shipping, her services on this
occasion have been very handsomely acknowledged by
Lloyd's through the Admiralty. She manned and
officered, provisioned, refitted, loaded, and ballasted
four vessels on account, and sent them to Valparaiso ;
she received on board about 80,000 dolls. in dust, and
left on the 19th Oct. for Valparaiso, and arrived there
an the 24th Dec., visiting the island of Juan Fer-
nandez, where she procured a small quantity of fresh
meat, and a few vegetables for the sick. On the 4th
Jan., 1850, she again left Valparaiso for Callao, and
arrived there on the 12th, remained there to the 18th
January, when she left fur San Blas and Magatlaw,
West Coast of Mexico; she arrived at the former
place on the 18th Feb., and sailed on the 223, having
relieved the Amphitrite, for Mazatlan, and ar-
rived there on the 24th February, where she remained
until the 20th June, when She sailed for San Bias and
arrived there on the 26th, and left that post on the
2nd July for Valparaiso. with 760,000 dolls. on board,
arrived there on the 21st August; sailed from this
port on the 2d Sept. for Rio; rounded Cape Horn on
the 22d September; on the 23d she passed a very large
iceberg, in lat. 58.25 S , and long. •50.52 W., and ar-
rived at Rio Janeiro on the 19th Oct., and sailed on the
16th ;or Enaland. On the 22d NOT. passed through

APPOINTMENTS.
WOOLWICH, DEC. 16.—Lieutenants—,john AT.Jackstri
(1846), and Wilaam L. Staittforth (1848), to the Am-
phittite, 24, commissioned at Poirtrooita andt John Richardsh.
Masters—Vine,nt Williams ( s
(1847), to the Pandora, 6, at Dzvonport.
• Paytuas:or and Purser—William Morgan (1841), to
the Amphitrita.

Actirig Master—Thomas Kerr (%econd master 1847),
to the Pandora.

Second-class Assistant Engineer—James Lawlor, to
the Advice, steam-under to the Ajax steam-guard-ship
at Cork.

Second Assistant Engineer—James Driver, to the
Volcano steam-vessel .t Wcolwicb.
Master's Assistants--Andrew Farmer, to thePandors,
and Charles K. Harwell, to the Amphitrite.
Clerk in Charge—William Simmonds (1846), to the
Pandora.

Clerks—Willis Price (1848), and Abraham Howard
(1850) to the Amphitrite; and A. M. Spong (1850), to
the Pandora.

Gunners—John Oliver, to the Fantome, 12, at Ports•
mouth, and Edward Snell, to the Amphitrite.
Boatswain—John Holmes, to the Amphitrite.
Carpenter—James Fraser, to the Amphitrite.
The Locust steam-vessel, Lieutenant-Commander
Curtis, had her compasses set this morning by Captain
Johnson, and was expected to leave Greenhithe in the
afternoon or early to-morrow morning for Plymouth.
The Locust has now received her sailing orders and
charts for the coast of Africa, which we originally
stated to be her destination. That statement was eo -
often contradicted, and the Braails station named by a
contemporary professing authentic information, that
many of her efficers believed she would proceed to the
Brazils. She will now, however, take out the mails
from Plymouth of the 20th inst., and the Volcano will
take out those of the Ist of January, 1851.-- Times.
Tne Watcrwitch, 8, sloop, Commander Richard R.
Ruin, arrived at Sheerness on Friday last, having been
towed from the Downs by the Monkey steam .vessel, and
on the folio% ing day was inspected by Captain Greville,
of her Majesty's ship Ocean (fur the Commander in-
Chief), who expressed in most complimentary terms lig
approbation of the efficient state of the crew, and the r
admirable practice both in gunnery and in the small-arm
and cutlass exercises, as well as of her extreme cleanli-
ness. After the inspection the Waterwitch was taken in
tow by one of the etc:am-tenders, and proceeded to
Chatham to be paid off. She is now rapidly dismantling,
and will be put out of commission in a few d.ys. She
will then be Wien into dock, and be again brought for-
ward for commission as soon as possible. There has
only been one punishment is the Waterwitch since she
went to the coast of Africa in May, 1848, being a period
of service on that station of two years and eight months.
Her punishment-hook is blank during the last eight
months, not the slightest offence requiring to be entered
having taken place.

REAR. ADMIRAL SIR C. NAPIER AND THE
NAVY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING HERALD.
Sir,—llowever much your correspondents may dis-
sent from Sir Charles Napier's opinions, he not only
d serves to be treated as a gentleman, but with all the
cinsideration due to well-tried service and experience.
I trust, therefore, that nothing which escapes my pen's
pint will offerd him. I pass over the firs portion of
his letter which appeared some days hack in your
columns without particular comment. There is too
much truth in his pithy summary of our own demerits
without. seeking for a somewhat unworthy consolati
in the fact that others have sinned to the same ex•
tent as ourselves. More: Ter, though many old cus-
to-as and imp- rvenients, firmilisr to our service, have
teem paraded as recent French inventions by th.- pub-
lic prints, there is, I fear, some cause to believe that
the principles of naval architecture are better under-
stood ant practised by our neighuours across
the Channel than at he:me. This admission,
however, without prejudice to the fact that instead
of locking for the mote in the aforesaid neighbour's eyes
we sre constantly watching for it in our own; and, sir,
I for one, have no wish to see our glances directed else-
where. But with Sir Charles Napier's ♦iews respecting
the steam department of the Royal navy there is room
for difference of opinion. Your correspondent " W."
in believing that, with respect to the Sidon, " ncsnaval
officer but her gallant constructor would wish to see
such another paddle-wheel steamer built to carry
main- deck battery," stated neither more nor less than a
fact ; for the ship in question is considered a failure on
all hands, and by all people. With her coals and shot
xpended, and on a seaway, she would be unmanage-
able, despite her great engine power, made more effec-
tive since her boi!ers were renewed in 1849. It is not,
however, on the Sidon's merits that I wish to enter the
lists with Sir Charles. I will leave Lim, too, all the sa-
tisfaction he can derive from the clear deck of the Leo-
pard, an unquestionable improvement upon the "engine
carriers "which have preceded her birth. One line to-
wards the end of his letter contains the proposition to
which I demur :—" What we want is a greater number
cf large paddle-wheel steamers."
Now, Sir, I contend that what we do not want is any
aldition to that particular class. The screw, in the in-
fancy of its application, has proved, by the Basilisk and
Niger trials, its vast superiority, even in actual delivery
of power: and once that point disposed of, there remains
the enormous advantage of the steamer so fitted being a
perfect sailing sbip. Indeed, I will go further, and as-
sert, that a Is•ss horse-power per ton applied on the screw
principle will yield a better return than the greater with
the paddle-wheel. As to the block-ships, we may leave
them out of the question: but all Sir Charles Napier's
clever writing will not show that the Sidon is not far in-
ferior to the Arrogant and Encounter screw-steamers,
and that without meddling at all with the peculiar prin-
ciple on which she was constructed. The paddlewheel,
except on the feathering principle, is, after all, but a
rude means for the transmission of propelling force.
The loss of power in broken water is prodigious; and
bit by bit the ocean steamers of our mercantile marine
are preparing to substitute the more expensive improve-
ment, of which Morgan was, and I believe is, patentee.
surely there is a lesson to be learned from this fact: but
the day is not fur distant when both, in my judgment,
will give place to the screw. That a man of Sir Charles
Napier's acuteness should not bare seen the shadow of
that cond. g event would surprise me, if I could forget
how often a strong opinion becomes inveterate.
I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
A CIVILIAN.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
BRISTOL, DEC. 16
STOCK EXCIIANGE.—The market was more active to-day
than for some time past, and a considerable share of basimss
was transacted, but the only alteration in value we have to
notice is in Great Western Stock, which closed at 78k.
LIVERPOOL, DEc. 16.
STOCK EXCHANGI.— The share market was very firm to-
day, and prices for most description of stock have improved.
The transactions were as follow:—Aberdeen, 1114—Birken-
head, Lancashire, and Cheshire, 211. Shares, 61,,
(lonian, 10%—Chester and Holyhead, 17—Ditto, Preference,
guaranteed s'l per cent., 1371—Eastern Counties, 6 5-16
tast Lancashire, 1278—Ditto, Preference, Quarters, 7 11-16
—Great Northern (A), 6IA —Kendal and Windermere, 774
—Lancashire, and Yorkshire, Consolidated, 59—Ditto, Fifths,
6 15-16 dis.--Lancaster and Carlisle, Thirds, 6 p.—Lancaster
and Preston. Three-quarter Shares, 31 p.—Leeds and Thirsk,
145¢—London and North-Western, 128-Ditto, New Quar-
ters, 4C p. - Ditto, Quarters (C), 8 p.—Manchester, Sheffield
and Lincolnshire, 27,N—Ditto, Quarters (No. I), 7% per
cent. till 185 S, 12—Ditto, Preference, 10 13-16—Ditto, New
61. Preference, p.—Midland, 50—Ditto, Halves, 19 dis.—
North British, Bq—North Staffordshire, 814 c. dis.—South.
Eastern and Dover, 231 A—York, Newcastle, and Berwick,
19144—Ditto (unpaid up), 3% dis.—York and North Mid-
land, 24!4—Dutch Rhenish, 4,fi disT-Rouen:and Havre, 104

BIRMIN6HAII, DEC. 16.
STOCK EXCHANGP..—The share market coatintas animated,
and prices are well supported. There was a considerable
amount of business transacted to-day. The following were
the closing prices :—South-Eastern and Dover, 23 Shrews-
bury and Birmingham (A), 6►4 dis.—Ditto (B), 54 dia.—
Shropshire Union, 3 dis.--South Staffordshire, 3 dis.

THE GREAT NORTHERN RAlLWAY.—yesterday
afternoon,' shortly after three o'clock, an accident of a' very
frightful and alarming, as well as fatal, character took place
at the terminus of the Great Northern Railway, at King's_
cross. It appears that a large body of miners and other
workmen have been for some time past engaged in excavat-
ing a tunnel which is to pass from the eastern side of the
Maiden-lane-bridge, under the Regent's-canal, into the per-
manent station on the sites of the late London Fever and
Small-pox Hospitals, at King's•cross. These men were in
the employ of Mr. Hodge, the sub-contractor to the Messrs.
Jay, the contractors for the terminus, and at the time men-
tioned the miners had returned from their dinner about an
hour, and were at work in groups in various parts of the
tunnel. One group of miners, headed by a man named
Abel Wynne, were at work in the tunnel about 40 yards
from its mouth,:and were engaged in making ready for what
is technically termed the " cill"—a portion of timber used in
supporting tunnels before the brickwork is introduced. He
had just exclaimed, " Come, my men, we must pitch into
this work and get the' cill' in," and had made one er two
strokes with his pick, in conjunction with a man named
Samuel Edwards, when a large amount of ,earth gave way
and fell upon them and other workmen. An alarm was
instantly raised, and after some delay the men were dug
out, when it was found that the poor man Wynne had his
head crushed in a frightful manner. He was conveyed to
Randall's cottages, near Randall's Tile-kilns, in Maiden-
lane, but life was quite extinct. The other men were but
slightly injured.
sgnedfocrhthreacfatellri, and
very t
h e e
alt
hin the
o u
he
tunnel,ca whicanch
be as
is
of
a i
clayey character,
very dry.
SUICIDE AT THE CHURCH OF ST. BOTOLPH,
was held before Mr.
ALDGATE.—On Saturday
liv ilWilliam
night,am
p a yante eight,iun ,
ao'nedlocak,raesnpeincqtaubealet
jury, in the Committee-room, Fountain-court, Minories, on
)view of the body of John Smith, aged sixty, for many
sexton of Aldgate Church, who, on Saturday forenoon
•
' shot himself himself through the bead with a pistol, in a vault at-
tached to the church.— Verdict, " Temporary Insonity."
PREVALENCE OF BIEAsLEs.--A gentleman who
keeps a large educational establishment near this town
day,in-
g) thheisotshcherool,
tw tehnattyowuteroef •
sfoixrintyelyouusn(gt hgeenLtlieemer
absent in consequence of attacks of the measles, telling us
at the same time that the disease, in a milder form, is pre-
valent in almost every school in the kingdom, and that in
the neighbourhood of Bristol a large school had been entirely
broken up in consequence of all those who were living in it
haying been attacked by this malady.