The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-16 00:00:00

LITERATURE.
GASTON DE FOIX. 3 Vo's.
Mortimer, London, 1844.
Most readers of history are acquainted with the
strange career of Gaston de Foix, .Duke de Nemours,
and nephew of Louis, the Twelfth of France. .At the
early age of twenty-two; this extraordinary young
man made • a
.successful stand against some of the
ablest commanders of.his day, overran all Lombardy,
of which was appointed Viceroy, and closed his
triumphs.by the decisive victory of RaVenna, one of
the most fiercely contested battles of ancient or mo-
dern times, where he received his death-wound.
Gaston de Foix seems, like•Napole-on, to have been a
born genius for war; prudence, enterprise, and skill
were combined in him in nearly equal proportions ;.
and had he not been cut-short in the very dawn, as it
were, of his greatness, thete is little, doubt that he
would have achieved a renown in arms second
to that of no - warrior in modern history.
His character is delineated with very re-
spectable accuracy in' the voluMeS before us,
of which he is the hero, and the principal inci-
dents in his public career - appear to be detailed
pretty nearly as they occurred, with but little help
from the fancy; while, by way of relief to the uni-
formity of a mere military chronicle, the author
has represented Gaston de Foix as desperately
enamoured of a high-born Venetian girl, Mariana,
daughter of the Count Avogaro, who has been taken
in arms against the authority of France, and is 'con-
demned to die the death of a traitor on a public
scaffold. The scenes wherein Gaston vainly endea,
yours to persuade Mariana to accept his hand,
assuring her that .by so doing she will save her father's
life, are witten in. a
.very impassioned spirit, and con-
stitute by far the most effective portions of the story.
The closing sketch of the battle of Res enna is some-
what wire-drawn, and deficient -in . the nerve and
animation that should characterise such a description.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
PORTSMOUTH, APIUL 14.—THE Nary. 12-GUN
Another of the experimental 12-gun brigs, the Flying Fish,
upon Sir W. Symonds's (Surveyor of the Navy) principle,
was launched at Pembroke Dockyard on Wednesday, the 3d,
and was immediately ducked to be coppered and jury-rigged,
preparatory to being brought to this port for commission. , It
is reported that when ready the brigs will be sent to Ireland,
to augment the squadron of Rear-Admiral Bowles, under
whose orders and directions the trial of superiority, &c., will
take place, which is looked forward to in the naval world-with
intense interest.
The following are the dimensions and draught of water of
the Flying Fish : Feet. Inches.
Length between perpendiculars lO3 1
Length of keel for tonnage Bl 7
• Breadth, extreme 32 4
Breadth for tonnage 32 . 0
• Breadth moulded 3l 6i*
Depth in hold l4
Draught of water afore 9 0
Draught of water abaft l2 2
Burden in tons 445 49-94.
The Prometheus steam-vessel was undocked yesterday,
and the Collingwood, 80, docked in her stead, to have her
copper cleaned, preparatory to being commissioned by Capt.
Eden for the flag of Sir G. Seymour, who has, we are in •
formed, accepted the command in the Pacific. Several flag-
officers are named as likely to succeed Sir George at the Ad-
miralty Board, but to whom the vacant seat will fall is not
yet announced.
The Pearl, 20, Commodore Stopford, is daily looked for in
England, having left Rio de Janeiro on the 28th of January.
The Cleopatra, 24, Captain Wyvill, was in-Simon's Bay en
the 18th of January, refitting.
The Pilot, 18, Commodore Jervis, left Simon's Bay on the
28th of January, for Singapore and Hong-Kong. She left
Rio on the 18th of December. _ _

The Winchester, 50, flag of Rear-Admiral Hon. Jocelyn
Percy, C. 8., was in Simons Bay on the 30th of January, and
was shortly to proceed to the western coast of Africa.
The Switzerland, American packet-ship, arrived at Spit-
head yesterday evening.
In bock—Prince Regent, Collingwood, Rodney, Athol,
Scourge, Lily.
In Harbour—St. Vincent, Victory, Excellent, Victoria and
Albert, and Black Eagle, Echo, and Fearless s:eamers.
At Spithead—Switzerland, American packet-ship.
DEVONPORT, APRIL 12 —The Pantaloon, 10, Lieutenant
C. H. Lapidge, arrived yesterday from the coast of Africa.
She left Gambia River on the 29th of December, and Sierra
Leone on the 7th of January, touched at Ascension, from
whence she sailed on the 13th of February. The Madagascar
and Heroine had left Ascension some days prior, the former
for the Cape Verds, and the latter for Accra. The Ferret was
off Cape Mount on the 12th of February. The Pantaloon
touched at Porto Praya on the 10th of March, for water, from
which place the Madagascar had sailed on the sth to cruise
among the islands. The Pantaloon left on the 12th of March,
and in the early part of the present month experienced very
heavy gales off the Western Islands. The First Lieutenant
(Walter Reid) of the Madagascar came home in the Panta-
loon. The Pacific, Rear-Admiral Thomas, Commander-in-
Chief, was off Sabre on the Ist of January.
The Petrel, 6, Lieutenant Commanding T. Crozier, arrived
from Falmouth on the 4th, and, having completed her stores
and provisions, will be paid wages in a few days, and return
to her station at Falmouth.
SIIIPS ADVANCED AND FOR IMMEDIATE COMMISSION--
The St. George, 120 ; the Royal Adelaide, 104 ; the Nile,
92 ; the Bombay, 84; - the Clarence, 84 ; the Calcutta, 84 ;
the Vanguard, 80 ; the Foudroyant, 78 ; the Implacable,
72 ; the Endymion, 44 ; the Melampus, 42 the Persian, 16 ;
the Pandora, 16.
The flag-ship Caledonia, 120, Captain A. MiMes, went out
of harbour on Thursday, and proceeded on a short cruise. She
returned to her moorings, which have been laid down for her
in the Sound, the same afternoon.
In Harbour—The San Josef, the America, and Coufiance.
In the Sound—The Caledonia, the Pantaloon, and Petrel.
SHEERNESS, APRIL 12.—The Pylades, 18, is ordered to be
sold out of the service. She was built by Sir Robert Sep-
piegs, and was one of the experimental squadron of 1830, and
contended with the Columbine, also built by Sir Robert Sep-
pings, and Orestes, built by Dr. Inman, both which ships
proved her superiors.
The Bunetta, Commander Brock, and Sparrow, Lieut. Otter,
surveying vessels, are nearly ready for sea at Chatham.
The new 12-gun brigs Mutine and Espiegle will be launched
about the 20th at Catham.
The Phoenix steam-frigate is being got ready for commis-
sion at Deptford, and will soon be completed, also the Virago
new steam. vessel.
The Raven cutter, Lieutenant Commander John Stephen,
arrived on Saturday from Plymouth.
The Boscawen, 70, was taken into the basin on Tuesday,
and docked on Friday.
The Amazon, 42, in addition to other alterations, will re-
ceive a new square stern.
In Harbour—Camperdown, Ocean, Raven, and African.
In Dock—Boscawen, Ganges, Amazon, Cygnet, and iEolus.
" PROMOTIONS.

Commanders--W. Smyth and G. Dobson, to the rank of
Caßptetnesd;
coWin. Smtyailned,etros±De
.rasuhkeowferne,tiret.dK.Capct. Bacon,ain.
Knight, J. Valobra, T. Consitt, to be retired Commanders,
udder
euotrednearaitns
no u.Feather-.
,3CO
.t hB of. Hamilton, January,lCB.l
J.
stone, M. Thomas, to the rank of Commanders ; S. Sisoa, B
Po feltiheey
of
Thirlwall, B. Ashley, G. Ramshay, V. W. H. Boyle, to be
retired Commanders, under order in Council of thelst
November, 1830.
Mates—G. G. Phillips. J. Townsend, H. G. Veitch, J. H.
Shairp, J. W. Probert, G. M. Alldridge, P. W. Gibson, C.
Raynier, H. G. St. John Mildmay, B. E. Hawke, F. C. Her-
bert, to the rank of Lieutenants.
Second Masters—W. E. Hyne, H. D. Burney, T. C.
Pullen, G. Collier, V. G. Roberts, to the rank of Masters.
Assistant Surgeons—F. N. Slight, M.D.; J. Walsh, M.D.;
R. D. Mason, W. W. Baynes, R. J. B. Chambers, H. M‘Far-
lane to the rank of Surgeons.
Midshipmen—C. M. Shipley, F. F. Nicholson, to the rank
of Mates.
Masters' Assistants—W. Brodie, W. H. Petch, C. Grigg,
J. Wallace, F. Macbean, A. 0. West, G. H. Foster, W. T.
Chapman, W. F. Farraut, to the rank of Second Masters.
APPOINTAIENTS.
CoMmander—Henry Layton, to the Pandora.
Lieutenants—J. to. Agassiz, to the American; Thomas
Anson, from the Queen, to the Aigle ; H. F. Elliott, from
the Illustrious to the A:batross ; A. E. S. Winthropp, from
the Cormorant to the Ardent, vice Bridge, who exchanged ;
J. J. Palmer, from the Serpent to the Cambrian ; G. S. Tay-
lor, to the Clio ; G. R. Holiday, from the Alfred to the
Daphne ; J. Hunt, from the Starling to the Dido ; H. St. J.
George, from the Racer to the Growler ; W. J. R. Cart, to
the Hyacinth ; J. H. Shairp and H. G. St. J. Mild:nay, ad
ditional, to the Illustrious; A. D. Jolly, from the Illustrious
to the Ringdove ; Hon. G. D. Keane, to the Vernon; E. C.
Miller, to the Volcano ;T. 11. Downes, to the Firefly. •
Masters—J. N. King, to command the Alligator, vice
Browne; P. Wellington, to the Maiden; 11. Paul, from the
Wolf to the Thalia.
Surgeon—G. Willis, acting, to the St. Vincent, for service
at Haslar Hospital.
Second Masters—W. Linstone, to the Pigmy ; N. Levell,
acting, to the Rapid ; G. S. Carr,, acting, to the Tyne ;
D. Beach, acting, to the Vernon. : .
Assistant-Surgeons—G. H. Ryan, J. A. Addison, and W.
H. Burt, all additional, to the Illustrioua• R. Beith (acting),
from the Starling to the Dido ; C. Al Anderson, to the
Formidable ; D. Thompson, to the Griffin, vice Laffer ; J. W.
Moffatt, to the Hermes, vice Goodrich, promoted; C. Coffey
to the Hyacinth ; R.D. Pritchard, to the Maiden ; H. Weld,
additional to the Queen ; T. F. Woolridge, additional to the
Caledonia.
Clerks in Charge—J. Mallard to the Albert ;S. Winter to
the Firefly.
Master's Assistant—J. 11. Kerr to the Flamer, from the
Victory.
• Midshipmen=—J. Harwood, to the St. Vir cent ; Molyneux,
to the Excellent; C. Chapman, from the Caledonia, to the
America. •

COAST GUARD.
ArrorsrmExTs.—Lieut. W. G. Grand, R.N., to Leigh sta-
tion ; Lieut. C. W. Poynter, R.N., to the Sylvia, revenue-
cutter, vice Brewer; Lieut. T. Brewer, R.N., to Sennin sta-
tion, Cove ; Lieut. G. F. Westbrook, R.N., to the Tartar,
revenue-cutter, vice Botcher, resigned; Lieut. R. Butcher,
R.N., to Portobello station • Lieut. J. Robinson (11) R.N., to
Lepe station, vice Westbrook ; Lieut. J. Davidson, to 24,
Tower, vice Lory.
REMOVAL—Lieut. C. B. Warren, from the Cadmus to the
Mothercombe tation, vice Larne, resigned.

1~ ;t•,

Prince Demetrius Galitzin, who recently died at
Paris, was buried last Friday in the Russian chapeloue
Neuve de Berry.
SOUTHAMPTON, APRIL 14.—The Oriental Company's
steam-ship Lady Mary Wood, Captain Cooper, arrived here
this morning at 10 oTclock from Gibraltar, and landed the
Peninsula and Mediterranean mails, which will be forwan'ed
by the mail train to-night to London. Her dates are—Gi-
braltar, the 6th inst. ; Cadiz, the 7th ; Lisbon, the 9th ;
Oporto, the 10th ; and Vigo, the 11th.
RATS IN THE HEl3RlDES.—Generations have passed
away without seeing a rat on the small island of Tarin-
say, on the west coast of Harris. An innumerable
swarm t,f these annoying and destructive vermin have
of late spread over the island, notwithstanding the efforts
made by Mr. Macdonald, the tacksman, to extirpate
them. They appear to be increasing so fast that they
threaten to overrun the whole island, and keep violent
' possession of it. They are supposed to have come from
the island of Soapy, which lies at the distance of about
three miles from Tarinsay, and into which the Earl of
Dunmore, some years ago, ordered rabbits to be sent.
Soon after this, the rats, which were formerly very nu-
merous in the Island of Soay, completely disappeared,
having removed in a body to the neighbouring Island of
Tarinsay, from which they are not' inclined to take their
departure in a hurry.—Scotsman.