The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-10 00:00:00

APPOINTMENTS.

Lieut. G. A. Willes (1844), son of the late Captain of
the Vanguard, 80, and who ably commanded the Spit-
fire, steam•vessel, in the Mediterranean, has been ap-
pointed first-lieutenant to the Retribution steam-frigate,
at Portsmouth, and joined his ship yesterday.
Lieut. J. S. Darell (1846) has also been appointed to
thelietribution.

Mr. Moriarty, who was appointed master of the Dra-
gon, 6, steam-frigate, has been transferred to the Retri-
bution, and Mr. Francis Edington (1841) has been ap-
pointed to the Dragon, vice Moriarty.
Chief Engineers—Alexander Langlands, to Dauntless
rerew-frigate. Portsmouth; Edward Cassey, to Retribu-
tion, steam-frigate, Portsmouth.

Assistant Engineers—James Taylor, E. Deely, John
Saunders, C. H. Houghton, C. R. Chamberlain, and St.
George C. Davis, to the Dauntless; W. M. Jones, An-
drew M'Farlane (second), G. IL Hewlett, Samuel Ste-
vens, to the Retribution.

The following gentlemen passed for gunnery on board
the Excellent, on Thursday morning:—Lieut.Jones. late
of her Majesty's ship Howe; Lieut. Majendie, late Ven-
geance; Messrs. Campbell, Green, Gray, Pearson, and
Blakiston, late Howe; Dalison, late Excellent; Pechell,
late Amphitrite. Lieut. Jones and Mr. Pearson ob-
tained the full numbers, end all the other gentlemen re-
ceivrd first-class certificates.

(SHOT PRACTICE FROM THE EXCELLENT.—Captain
Milne, from the Admiralty, arrived at Portsmouth cn
Thursday morning, and was empoljed on official busi-
ness in the dockyard on Thursday and yesterday. lie
went on heard tae Excellent on Thursday, is witness
some shot and shell practice at the new butts, under the
superit.tendence of Captain Chads. A number of per-
cussion shells invented oy Captain Moorsom, and other
concussion shells invented by Mr. Moore, of the Artil-
lery, that have been recently tested at Woolwich, were
also thrown at the new wood butts, at the distance of
500' and 830 yards. The iron butt with the timber
sheathing outside the iron was also fired at yesterday,
as we before stated—the oak sheathing plank is three,
four, and six inches in thickness. Three shots were
fired yesterday—two solid 32-pounders, and one 8-inch
hollow shot. We understand the planking had not the
desired effect of preventing the shot from breaking to
pieces, and the hollow shot was completely smashed.
Further practice took place to-day; but we have not
heard the result. The shells were very correct in their
trusting and the practice is correct.
MELANCHOLY ACClDENT.—Yesterday morning, about
eight o'clock, Mr. John Wilson Rogers (grandson of Mr.
W ilson, late draughtsman at Somerset House), a clerk
in the storekeeker s-office at Woolwich-yard, was pro-
ceeding down the river in a boat, when it upset, and he
was unfortunately drowned. The waterman was picked
up by the boat of .the Trinity, dredging vessel, lying
below Barking Creek. The unfortunate young gentle-
man was about nineteen years of age, and very much
respected in the yard.
The rotary engine, upon Captain the Hon. W. E.
Fitzmaurice's plan, recently under trial at Woolwich, is
to be sent to Deptf )rd..
By the death of Lieutenant Harris, agent of the Prin-
cess Royal transport, an aut-pensioner of Greenwich
Hospital has beOdme vacant.
Apollo troop-ship, Commander Rawstorne, is being
surveyed at Portsmouth. She will be refitted, and will
resume her services as a troop-ship. There are no
orders for paying off.
Camel lighter, Faber master, has returned to Devon-
port -IfOra Lone, . after laying down moorings at that
port.' '
Perseus, Lient.-Commander Greet, was paid off at
Deptford yesterday; and the Crocodile is to be commis-
sioned t& day by Lieut. Greet.
Princess Alice, Dover steam-packet, is to have her
iron bottom coated with Mr. Hay's composition.
Tiger steamer has been fitted with her engines at
Deptford, by Messrs. Penn, and will proceed to Chatham
on Monday. •
Tortoise lighter arrived at Woolwich yesterday af-
ternoon from Holyhead and Devonport.
Victoria and Albert royal yacht, Captain Lord A.
Fitzclarence, returned tqPartsmouth from Osborne yes--
terday afternoon, and will remain till Monday, when she
returns to Cowes Roads.

DEVONPORT, AUG. B.—Our annual rowing regatta
was to have come off yesterday. The morning was
floe, and a good day was anticipated, every preparation
made, and the sport actually commenced, when it came
on to rain, which continued all day and entirely put a
stop to all. Bills were printed stating that it was-to-
coma off on the first fine day; a flag was to be hoisted on
the column, and the sport was to commence at one P.M.
this day; but there has been no chance, as it has been
hard rain all day.
PORTSMOUTH, FRIDAY..--The Britannia, 120, adianced
slip, had her main and mizen masts stepped to-day.
As soon as the Admiralty minute was promulgated
here relative to the award of the privilege of the ward-
room to assistant•surgeons, Captain Sir Henry Black-
wood, of her Majesty's ship Vengeance issued an order
that the assistant-surgeons of the Vengeance should
take their seats in the ward-room.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
• BRISTOL. AUG. 9.
STOCK EXCHANGE. —The market does not show any
improvement to-day, either as regards the amount of business
done or the prices, which still have a tendency to fall. The
transactions were principally confined to, Great Western
and Bristol and Exeter, without any alteration in prices.
LIVERPOOL, AUG. 9.
arms EXCITANGE.—There was a moderate business done
to-day, and prices were firm. The transactions were as fol-
low Lancashire and Yorkshire, Fifths, 9 7-16 dis.
London and North-Western, 1114 c —Ditto, New Quarters,
p.—Ditto Fifths, 1 p.—Ditto, Quarters (C), 11/8 p.—
Midland, 333/4—Ditto, Halves, 241,4 din—Shrewsbury and
Chester (oswestry and Chester), 61,x —.South-Eastern and
Dover. (No. 4), Registered, 43/I—Ditto, Thirds, s—York
and 'North Midland, 161,4—York, Newcastle, and Berwick
(G. N.E. Purchase), 6 per cent. till 1850, 5 dis —Bolton,
Blackburn, Clitheroe. and West Yorkshire (No 1), 4.
MANCHESTER, Auo. 9.
STOCK EKCIIANOK.—The share market to-day was
very dull, and prices were rather weaker.
i—ceTshaere srhaathreermdeaprkreestsewd.as dull and in-
BIRMINGHAM, Auci. 9.
actSiTyrto-EdaXil and ib;
Lr.

RUSSIAN GIIAIN.-A vessel belonging to Meek-
lenburgh, which has just arrived from Riga, has
brought /5,000 quarters of oats, the produce of Russia.
This cargo of oats, whizh is admissible for home use under
the repealed navigation laws, is probably the largest which
has ever been brought on one occasion from foreign
countries.
-MARSALA WINE.—A vessel arrived in the docks
from Marsala, has brought the following large quantity of
this description of wine, preferred by some as a light
dinner wine, viz., 114 pipes, 130 ' hogsheads, and
418 smaller casks, besides other 'articles, the firoductioa
of the place. 3