The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-04 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, OCT. 2.—The authorities of this borough
are busily stirring themselves in the matter of how best
to celebrate the arrival of the King of the French at this
port. All aro zealous in the endeavour to give becoming
eclat to the visit of so important a potentate, but of
course many conflicting opinions are offered upon the
subject. The report of the intention of the naval officers
in commission at this port to give a splendid ball and
supper to the officers of the French squadron in the
Royal Naval College, mentioned by us on Monday, is
well-founded, but has, we are informed, met with most
violent opposition from officers on half-pay, retired, &c.,
who consider the proposition looks like exclusion to
them. The consequence is, that nothing is yet resolved
upon in the way of preparation. We trust, however,
that the dissension thus created will soon subside and
give place to an unanimous feeling of desire to co-operate
with each other in the endeavour to render the reception
of the French officers at this first naval port in the
world a subject of lasting remembrance. The credit of
the officers at the port is involved and the honour of the
service at stake in the rapidly forthcoming meeting.
Let Rot, then, any party feeling mar the carrying out of
those arrangements so essential to the preservation of a
good feeling between the two services. At all events,
let not good breeding be sacrificed in the endeavour to
exclude those officers from subscribing who happen to be
on the long list of those " out of commission."
The Devon lighter arrived this morning from Devon-
port with stores.

The Osprey, 12, Commander Patten, left the harbour
this morning for Spithi ad, under canvas, with a spank-
ing breeze, indeed, almost a gale, which, however, did
not show off her sailing qualities to any very great ad-
vantage. She shipped one or two seas in her passage
near the Spit-buoy, although not crowded with sail.
The impression created was not near so favourable as
that made by the Pantaloon yesterday, which went out
in dashing style.
A Danish frigate, of 50 guns, supposed to be the
Thetis, from Tangiers, was observed beating up St.
Helen's-roads this morning, apparently with the endea-
vour of making the anchorage at Spithead, but a thick
haze having come on, and there being a heavy sea run-
ning and a fresh gale blowing at the time, she did not
succeed, but brought up and anchored off St. Helen's.
The Apollo, 8, troop-ship, Commander W. Maclean,
arrived this morning from Quebec in St. Helen's-roads
with troops, where she was obliged to anchor, the fresh-
ness of the gale preventing her making any further way
towards the harbour.
The St. Vincent, 120 ; Queen, 110 ; and Caledonia,
120, are expected to arrive at Spithead the latter part of
this week, to increase the respectability of the force
already assembled there to greet the arrival of the
French squadron.
OCT. Clio, 16, Commander Fitzjames, arrived
in the the night from China, with sycee silver on board.
She anchored at Spithead and saluted the Commander-
in-Chief at sunrise this morning.
The Apollo, troop-ship, Commander Maclean, with
troops from Quebec, which arrived yesterday at St.
Helen's, was not observable this morning. It is be-
lieved she has gone round to Chatham to disembark.
The Danish frigate Thetis, 50, saluted the Port-
Admiral this morning.
The Cornwallis, 72, Captain Richards, flag of Vice-
Admiral Sir W. Parker, is expected, as also are the St.
Vincent and Queen, at Spithead hourly, a very favour-
able wind having been blowing all day.

RIOT AT THE WALLSALL RACES.—About five
o'clock •n Wednesday afternoon last, an alarming scene
took place on the race-course, facing the grand stand.
Mr. Jones, who preferred an information a week since
against William Howson, the driver of the Birmingham
and Walsall coach, was recognised by some persons on
the race-course, when an instantaneous attack was made
upon him, and cries from all quarters were heard of
" Down with him, kill him," &c. Two of the Walsall
police, Jennings and Thomas Smith, perceiving Jones in
the hands of the infuriated mob, rushed to his assistance,
and soon became hemmed in. The crowd was now
about fifteen hundred strong, and the cries and shrieks
increased from all quarters. Notwithstanding the pres-
sure, which was very great, the two constables, at
the risk of their lives, gallantly fought their
way through the infuriated mob, and ultimately
succeeded in placing Jones in the grand stand.
Thus baffled, the fury of the rioters was now directed
against the police-constables, when, fortunately at this
critical juncture, Mr. Rofe, the chief constable, came up,
and at once proceeded to the rescue of his men. After
considerable difficulty, he being literally lifted over the
heads of some of the better disposed, succeeded in reach-
ing the spot where Jennings and Smith were defending
themselves, the mob increasing every minute, and hem-
ming them in more closely. The situation of the officers
now becoming extremely perilous, and Mr. Rofe finding
expostulation useless, drew a pistol from his breast
otecet, which caused the mob to fall back, and thus " a
ring" was formed. At this moment a large stone was
thrown by one of the mob, which struck Mr. Rofe on the
head, perforating his hat, and laying the skull bare.
Although the blow stunned him for the moment, and
covered him with blood, Mr. Rofe still kept fighting his
way through the crowd with the other constables, and
the party finally extricated themselves, capturing one of
the ringleaders, whom they succeeded, after some diffi-
culty, and amidst showers of stones, in safely lodging in
the borough gaol. Mr. Rofe, with an increased force,
immediately returned to the race-course, and conveyed
Jones in safety out of the town.—Birmingham Journal.
MR. ALDERMAN WOOD AND THE MAYORALTY.—
Yesterday a meeting of the friends of Alderman Thomas
Wood took place at the Swan with Two Necks, Lad-
lane, to consider of " the best mode of keeping alive the
present strong expression of public opinion in favour of
the Alderman's claim to fill the civic chair." Mr. WM.
Coates was called to the chair. Mr. Alderman Wood
addressed the meeting at great length, complaining of
the Times newspaper. Mr. Deputy Muddell then pro-
posed the following resolution :—" That Mr. Alderman
`'Mood's Committee, in consequence of the great disap-
pointment felt by the Livery at his rejection by the Court
of Aldermen, and of the numerous additional promises
of support which they are daily receiving, announce to
his friends that they will continue to meet from time to
time to watch every opportunity, and to act upon every
occasion wherein the necessity may arise, and in which it
may be considered useful fir them to afford their stre-
nuous exertions to further the important object of their
first formation, in the hope thereby to bring back to
their pristine state the influence of the Livery of London
in Common Hall assembled." The resolution was unani-
mously carried, and the meeting separated.