The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-30 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

MALTA, DEC. 18.—The French steamer from the
Levant, due here on the 14th instant, has not yet made
her appearance. The mails will be closed this evening
for the continent by the Pericles, %hich will leaae to-
morrow morning, having waited the prescribed time.
The European mail by the French steamer via Naples,
&c., from Marseilles, due yesterday, has also been
delayed.
The Neapolitan mail of the 12th did not come in, the
Mongibello having fouled a vessel from the Levant, and
is ordered to perform a long quarantine at Civita
Vecchia.

The Alecto, with the India mails, duly arrived here on
the 15th. She had a very rough passage ; but the re-
port of her being damaged waa untrue. The Oriental
put to sea on that night.
A court-martial sat on the 9th and 10th inst., an board
of her Majesty's ship Formidable, to try James Nichol-
son, boatswain of the Snake, on charges of quarrelling
and fighting. Sir Lucius Curtis presided, with Captains
Rich, of the Formidable, and Lord C. Paget, of the
Aigle ; Commanders Carpenter, of the Geyser, and Can-
non, of the Oreftes, as members. Mr. Milner, of the
Geyser, officiated as Judge-Advocate.
This Court was ordered by the Board of Admiralty
on application front a Mr. Streathfield, father of a
boy who was formerly a midshipman on board. The
following are the facts of the case which may be re-
lied on :

Some months ago Mr. Nicholson being unwell, went
into the cabin of the surgeon of the ship for
some medicine. Finding him labouring under no
serious indisposition, the surgeon asked him to
" take a glass," which he accepted. Mr. Streath-
field was present, and made some very imperti-
ment remarks as to the right that Nicholson had to be
in the cabin ; replies were given and a wordy quarrel
ensued, Nicholson winding up by saying to Streathfield,
" Your father's a soldier, but you're six feet of bad stuff."
The next morning Streathfield, smarting under the in-
sult he had received, and which he had brought on him-
self, told the prisoner he had insulted him and wanted
to fight. Prisoner refusing him, the midshipman struck
him several times, whereupon a fight ensued. On this
coming to the ears of the officer on duty ho was put
under arrest, and a court of inquiry was held, which,
though it exonerated the prisoner from the blame of com.
mencing the quarrel, resulting in his being sent out the
ship and in the middy leaving the service.
The case hauing been proved against the prisoner, he
was sentenced to be severely reprimanded, and to be put
at the bottom of the list for twelve months.

Excellent testimonials of character and good conduct
were produced, and Capt. Devereux, of the Snake, in
giving evidence, said, " I never had a better man under
my command, and nothing would give me more pleasure
than to have him on board again."
Her Majesty's steamer Hecht returned to port on the
11th inst. She did not bring Lady Hardinge, for her
Ladyship having been on board, suffered so severely that
she put back, and defers her departure till another occa-
sion. The Hecla left us yesterdny for Alexandria, having
on board Mr. Hardinge, son of the Governor-General of
India, and some other passengers.

The Duke of 13eaufort is, we are happy to say,
gradually recovering from the attack of gout under
which his Grace has been suffering during the past
week. The Noble Duke still remains at Hampton
Court, but we believe the family will leave that place
for Badminton to-day, in the event of his Grace's health
permitting it.
The Dowager Duchess of Cleveland, previous to
her departure from Newton House for Raby Castle, dis-
tributed a liberal supply of beef, clothing, blankets, coal,
and money to all the poor inhabitants of the villages of
Exelby, Leeming, and Newton.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Ely, though un-
avoidably absent from Ely Lodge, have, with their usual
liberality and kindness, ordered the distribution of a
large quantity of clothing suited to the present season
among the poor of the district.