The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-07 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

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On Monday last, at Devonport, Admiral iir David
Milne, Commander-in- Chief, and Admiral Sir Samuel
Pym, Superintendent of the Dockyard, went on board
the San Josef, at that port, for the purpose of com-
municating to Barnes, late carpenter's mate of the
Resistance, troop-ship, who remains there a prisoner,
having been sentencediby a court-martial to death fur
striking the boatswain (Lee) of the same ship, and
who has since been dismissed the service by a court-
martial also, the decision of the Lords Commissioners

....
of the Admiralty, in answer to the recommendation
to mercy made by the Court at the conclusion of the
trial. Their Lordships have been pleased to commute
the sentence to two years' imprisonment, and the cul-
prit is to remain on board the San Josef until further
orders.
The Clarence, advance ship, at Devonport, had her
masts, bowsprit, and anchors, put on board on Tues-
day last, and will b 2 taken to her moorings.
The Goodwill, lighter (Pledge, master), sailed from
Devonport on Tuesday morning, with stores for
Sheerness and Chatham.

The Cornwallis, 72, Captain H. Richards, with the
flag of Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Adams, has arrived
at Portsmouth, from the East Indies. When off Tor-
bay, a bottle, containing a letter addressed to the Ad-
miralty, was thrown overboard. The bottle eventually
drifted on shore, and was picked up in the bay and
the letter forwarded to the Admiralty, where it was
received the day before the_ Cornwallis arrived at
Spithead. Admiral Parker arrived at the Admiralty
on Tuesday evening. The Cornwallis has been in
commission between three and four years, and is to be
paid off. She remains at Spithead waiting fur orders.
The Fair Rosamond, 9, Lieutenant-Commander
Bulman, which recently returned from the West
Indies, is to be paid off at Portsmouth. She has
gone into harbour for that purpose.
The Vesuvius, steam- sloop, Commander Ommaney
which arrived from the Mediterranean on Saturday,
is to be paid off at Woolwich. She left Portsmouth
for the river on Monday. The Vesuvius has been in
commission nearly four years.
The Locust steamer, recently paid off at Ports-
mouth, is to be brought forward for commissioning
immediately. Her late officers state her to be a most
excellent sea boat. _

The Cleopatra, 26, Captain Wyvill, has captured
several slavers off the south-west coast of Africa.
She arrived at the Cape from Mozambique the day
previous to the Cornwallis leaving it. The other
vessels lying at the Cape at the time the Cornwallis
touched there, were the Winchester, 90, Captain
Eden, with the flag of Rear-Admiral the Hon. Josce-
line Percy ; the Isis, 44, Captain Sir John Marshall ;
and the Thunderbolt steamer, Commander Broke.
The Cornwallis and the Isis left the Cape together
on the 31st of August, the former for Ascension and
England, and the Isis for Ichaboe.
We are happy to state that, previous to the Corn-
wallis leaving Ascension, the inhabitants of that island
had been relieved from their state of suffering from
the want of water, as the continued drought had at
length given place to heavy falls of rain, which
caused a plentiful supply.
The Scourge, steam sloop, is to be launched, or
rather floated out of the dock in which she has been
built at Portsmouth, this day. She will be brought
round to the river to be fitted with her engines, which
are being made by Messrs. Maudesley, and are to be
of 420 horse power.
The Firebrand, steam-frigate, Captain Corry, which
left Portsmouth with the experimental squadron of
brigs, and touched at Plymouth on her passage
down Channel, has answered the expectations that
were entertained of her. During her passage she
proved herself to be a fast and an excellent sea-boat.
The Basilisk ketch is ordered home from the Pacific
to be paid off, as she has been in commission consider •
ably above her time. This is the vessel in which
Queen Pomare took refuge during the recent occupa-
tion of Otaheite by the French.
The experimental brigs, when they have com•
pleted their trial cruise, will be dispersed to different
stations to relieve such vessels of their class as may
have been in commission above their time.

WooLwicH, Nov. 6.—The Vesuvius steam-frigate,
Commander Erasmus Ommanney, arrived at Wool-
wich yesterday evening from Portsmouth and the
Mediterranean, and is to be paid off here after a
period of service extending to four years and four
months on the Mediterranean station.

The Amphion 36 guns, building at Woolwich
Dockyard, is ordered to be completed by March next.
She is to be fitted with engines and a screw propeller,
and her bow is to be lengthened according to a plan
submitted to the Lords of the
:Admiralty, by Mr.
White, of Cowes.

Messrs. W. W. Chilcott and G. W. Watton, second
class engineers, from the Victoria and Albert, are
ordered to be borne as supernumeraries in the William
and Mary yacht, at Woolwich.
Commander Beadon has received their Lordships
Permission to study at the factory in Woolwich Dock-
yard.
The Gladiator, steam-frigate, has been coppered,
previous to her being taken to l3lackwall to be fitted
with her machinery, by Messrs. Millar and Raven-
hill, Blackwall.
Vessels in Harbour—William and Mary yacht,
Black Eagle, Lightning, Monkey, and Vesuvius
steamers.

In the Basin—Dwdalus frigate, Widgeon, Rattler,
Beaver, and Gladiator steamers.

In Dock—Tremendous frigate and Avon steam-
vessel.

ALARMING FIRES.
This morning, at two o'clock, a most alarming fire
burst forth from the first floor of the house, No. 75,
Wells-street, Oxford-street, in the occupation of Mr.
Weedon, furniture broker, &c. By the judicious con-
duct of police-constable C 67, the doors were pre-
vented from being opened, and thR flames confined
from the action of the current of air, and before the
fire had extended to the staircase so as to cut off the
usual communication, the family were able to escape
over the leads, to the house of Mr. Littlewood,
butcher, at the corner of Castle-street, almost in a
state of nudity, and in the utmost alarm and fright.
A plentiful supply of water being readily obtained
the fire was soon subdued, but not until much damage
was done to the building, stock, and furniture. How
the fire originated could not be satisfactorily ascer-
tained; neither could it be learned whether the occu-
pier is insured.
Shortly after one o'clock this morning a fire, the
light of which was distinctly seen from the City
bridges, broke out in- the extensive premises belonging
to Messrs. Smith and Co., cabinet and chair-makers,
Francis .street, Tottenham-court-road. Without
delay the police communicated the information of the
circumstance to the several engine depots, and in a
very short space of time, engines from the western,
northern, and City stations were upon the spot. Mr.
Braidwood having arrived before two o'clock, he
directed the hose to be led through premises in
Francis-street, and also along the extensive buildings
in the occupation of Messrs. Collard, Collard, and Co.,
the eminent pianoforte.makers, in Tottenham-court-
road, whose manufactory was at one time considered
in great danger. Fortunately, through the exertions
of firemen, police, and strangers, the several engines
were not only got to work, but the volumes of water
poured upon the flames subdued them most effec-
tually by half-past two o'clock, when the further ex-
tension of the fire was stayed. The damage done is
considerable. How the fire originated is not known,
nor could we ascertain whether the firm is insured.
Yesterday afternoon, shortly after five o'clock,
much alarm was occasioned in the vicinity of Hanover-
square, owing to the outbreak of a serious fire at the
mansion of Sir Samuel Brown, situated at No. 4,
Hanover-street, and which at one time threatened the
most devastating consequences. It appears from in-
quiries made of the fire brigade authorities, that her
Ladyship had occasion to go into her bedchamber,
a front room on the second-floor, with a lighted candle,
and through some unfortunate circumstance fired the
drapery attached to the bed. She immediately en•
deavoured to tear the curtains down, so as to extin-
guish the fire, but ere she could accomplish that de
sirable object the whole had become ignited. Her
Ladyship instantly ran to the head of the stairs and
alarmed the domestics, who forthwith attempted to
subdue the flaming property, by throwing a quantity
of water on it. It had, however, gained too great an
ascendancy for their feeble efforts, and fortunately for
the preservation of the mansion, the brigade and their
engines from the King- street station, who were called
by some of the neighbouring gentry, were prompt in
their arrival, and eventually succeeded in pre-
venting the destructive element extending from the
apartment in which it originated. The damage ef-
fected, both by fire and water, is rather heavy, but
Sir Samuel is fully insured in the Imperial Insu-
rance-office. Whether her Ladyship was burnt:or
not, could not be ascertained ; if she was not, her es-
cape may be considered a most providential one.

The Earl of Aberdeen has left his seat in Scotland,
on his return to town.

MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS.
FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.
CITY, WEDNESDAY EVENING.
TIMES.—From certain indications in the Morey
Market it may be inferred that the new Banking Bill is
now exercising a decided influence upon it, and that this
influence is of a salutary description. Every one who
has paid any attention to the matter, is aware of the
multitude of new and extended schemes for railways
which have lately been introduced, and of the eagerness
with which they have been sought after, not so much fur
investment as for the sake of the premium at which,
with scarcely an exception, they have been brought into
the market. From such beginnings, at many former
periods, panics in the money market have usually
arisen ; and could the means of aiding these specula-
tions have been furnished them, as they were for-
merly, in the shape of local notes, issued at discretion
and without_ control, there is little doubt that this
would now be the case. Luckily for the country,
the local banks situated in those districts where
such schemes are mainly encouraged and dealt
in have all or most of them reached the limit
which is permitted them by the new law, and
are sending up to London for supplies of bank-notes for
such of their customers as require aid, which must be
governed, however, by a very different principle from
that which might regulate their own issues; and the
caution thus induced, will soon check, without further
harm, all gambling in railway shares, and any purchases,
except for investment. No notion prevails that the
banks themsel►es regard this as an inconvenient restraint
upon theta, as a prudent banker would be as scrupulous
in issuing his own notes as those for which he must give
sterling value, and his having reached the limit of his
circulation is always a sufficient answer to those cus -
tomers whose advances he would think it right to stop,
but whom he would not venture to disoblige if they knew
he possessed the power of issuing without cost to himself.
The English Stock Market is taking a very firm
tone, from the increased operations of the Government
broker. Besides purchasing 15,000/. Three-and-a-
Quarter per Cents. on account of the savings'-banks,
which exceeds his usual purchase by 5,000/., he has this
day bought 15,000/. Three per Cents. for the South Sea
guarantee fund. Similar operations were effected yes-
terday. As may be readily supposed, the circumstance
of 30,000/. being brought daily into the market has an
influence on the value of money, which is easy at 2 per
cent.
POST.—According to some of the reports current, it
would seem to be the intention to have the whole French
loan of three hundred millions of francs, or say twelve
millions sterling, paid up by instalments restricted within
the very short period of three months. It is scarcely
possible, if that be the case, that a financial operation of
such magnitude should not materially derange the money
markets of Paris and London, if not of other conti-
nental capitals. There can be no question that a con-
siderable portion of the loan is destined for disposal in
this market, and that, indeed, it would not be under-
taken by any firm which should not be backed with a
large subscription list of English capitalists before pro-
ceeding to tender for it. The withdrawal of such a
sum as twelve millions from active circulation in the two
countries, and even in reference to this, might create
serious inconveniences. For it may not be lost sight of
that the French Government are under no exact pres-
sure for the money at present, as all the chief appropria
tions for the current services of the year were supplied
by the Chambers in the last session. The
only 11 plausible reason assigned why the entire
remaining part of the loan authorised is now to be called
up, should such prove to be definitively the determina-
tion, is, that it would be most advisable to profit by the
actual easy state and abundance of money, and the ab-
sence of any disturbing political elements. As the loan
is realised, the proceeds will be paid, according to cus-
tom, into the Bank of France, there to lie till drawn
against. Some portion may be required for carrying on
the extensive fortifications, the construction and im-
provement of the arsenals, docks, dockyards, and other
public works, decreed -and now actively in progress on
the largest scale, in several of the principal ports of
France, such as Havre, Cherbourg, Toulon, &c. But
France alone will receive the benefit of the portions so
required as put in circulation. As the execution of
those works, however, will be thrown over several sue-
cessive years, the proportion of the loan which shall be
returned into circulation cannot be considerable for some
time to come, and the mass would be lying dormant in
the coffers of the Paris Bank.
The loan itself, by the abstraction of so much capital,
might prove an awkward obstacle to the progress of
railway enterprise in this country. It may b supposed,
however, that the subject has not escaped attention in
the highest banking quarter, where it should naturally
excite some solicitude.
SUN.—Consols closed at 1008 for Money, and 1001 for
Account. Reduced Three per Cents. touched v. 993.
Bank Stock closed at 204.
The Foreign Investments were dealt in to a moderate
extent. Spanish Five per Cents. left off at 24 to 1, and
the Three per Cents. at 353 I. Colombian were 14 to 3;
Chilian, 101 ; and Brazilian, New, 84 to I. Portuguese
Converted advanced to 55 and 56. Belgian Bonds
were 1014.
The additional transactions have been these :—Cam-
bridge and Lincoln were 3 ; Chester and Holyhead, :41 to
; Ely and Bedford, 1 ; Great Southern and Western
(Ireland), 51 ; Great Western, 63 ; Ditto, Fifths, 131 ;
Lancaster and Carlisle, 31 ; South-Western, 333 ; Lynn
and Ely, 13 ; Manchester and Birmingham, Quarter, 3 ;
Newcastle and Darlington, 28 ; Northern and Eastern,
111 ; York and North Midland, Scarborough Br inch.
28 ; Ditto, Selby Scrip, 59 ; Orleans and Vicrzon, 68 ;
Orleans and Tours, 311; Paris and Lyons, a ; and Paris
and Orleans, 191 3 premium. Eastern Counties have
bCen 111 3 discount. London and Westminster Bank
Shares were 63 premium.