The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-19 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

DEATH OF CAPTAIN TAIT.-We regret to announce
the death of Captain Robert Tait (1827), on the re-
tired list of 1846. Captain Tait was fifth son of
William Tait, Esq., of Pirn, county Midlothian,
where his family, originally from county Peebles, has
been seated for many generations. He was fifty-
seven years of age, and had served sfl9at nineteen
years. According to O'Byrne's Biography he en-
tered the navy December. 9, 1806, as ordinary, oil
board the Renown, 74, in which ship (he attained the
rating of midshipman in July, 1807) he served of
L'Orient until the early part of 1808, and then pro-
ceeded in pursuit of a French squadron to the Medi-
terranean, where he assisted at the blockade of Tou-
lon, and united in October, 1809, in the pursuit which
led to the self-destruction, near Cape Cette, of the
ships of the line Robuste and Lion. In the Scipion,
74, he accompanied the expedition against Java, and
tuuk part, as mate of the signals, in the operations
connected with the reduction of that island. Was
advanced to the rank of lieutenant December 13,
1813. His next appointments were to the Arnphion,
32, Euphrates and Tagus frigates (the latter com-
manded by the present Rear-Admiral Dundas), Al-
bion, 74, and Glasgow, 50, all in the Mediterranean ;
where he was promoted, Dec. 7, 1819, to the Larne,
20, which vessel he brought home and paid off in Oc-
tober, 1842. Obtaining command, March 30, 1826,
of the Heron, 18, he went out in the fol-
lowing August to the Brazils, where' in March,
1827, he was appointed acting captain of the Volage,
28, then in the Pacific, on which station he was after-
wards for eight months senior officer. As he had,
however, been promoted to post rank in England
April 17, 1827, Captain Tait, in February, 1828, was
superseded from the Volage, and returned home a
passenger in the Blossom, 24, Captain Frederick Wil-
liam Beechy. He was next, in October, 1832, selected
by the late Sir Michael Seymour to command his
flag-ship the Spartiate, 76, in South America, where,
from the death of Sir Michael Seymour, in July,
1834, until the arrival in the ensuing December of
his successor, Sir Graham Eden Hamond, we find him
discharging the duties of senior officer (having re-
turned to England in the meantime), he accepted the
appointment of Flag Captain to Sir G. Hamond ; and
in July, 1836, sailed in the Imogene, 28, for Rio de
Janeiro; and remained in the Dublin, 50, until paid
off on his return home in May, 1838. This was his
last appointment. Captain Tait married, in March,
1819, Lucy Matilda Margaret, daughter of Dr. John
Allen, surgeon of the Royal Naval Hospital at
Malta, by whom he has issue, 11 children.
DEATH OF MR. SECRETARY WALLER•-Edward
Waller (paymaster and purser of 1845), a very much
respected and clever officer, died on Wednesday
morning at Stakeshill Cottage, Purbrook, aged 47,
deeply regretted. He served as secretary to Sir John
Ommaney, K.C.8., when Commander-in-Chief in the
Tagus, in the temporary command-in-chief of the
Mediterranean station; afterwards with Rear-Admi-
ral Sir Thomas Cochrane, Commander in the East
Indies for upwards of five years, and shared in all the
operations carried on at Borneo. His last appoint-
ment was Secretary to Rear-Admiral B. Reynolds,
C. 8., Commander-in-Chief on the Cape of Good
Hope station, whence he was compelled by ill health
to invalid home in her Majesty's steamer Inflexible.
Long service in India and China broke up his consti-
tution.
TRIALS OF THE TERRIBLE AND SIDON STEAM
FRIGATES.

The Terrible, 21, steam-frigate, Cap!ain Hope,
C. 13., only completed her coaling on Thursday, having
now on board 565 tons. She went out of harbour at
about half-past eleven o'clock (closely followed by
the Sidon—the latter, however, failed to come up
with her). She ran along the measured mile in
Stoke's Bay twice, and then anchored at Spithead to
take her powder and live shells on board. She takes
out a great number of supernumerary seamen, some
marine-artillery men, and some stores fir the Lisbon
squadron. She is ordered to proceed to Devonport
.frer two o'clock, r.m., on Sunday. At the latter
Fort she will be paid in advance, and will sail with
die Indefatigable for Lisbon.

The Sidon, steam-frigate, having completed her
coals alongside the yard jetty, was again taken out
for trial to the measured mile in Stoke's Bay yester-
day, by Commander Stevens and Mr. Allen, of the
Blenheim. She went out at half-past eleven, pre-
ceded by the Terrible about ten minutes. Something
like a chase took place, but the Sidon, although she
appeared to slightly overhaul the Terrible, could not
Come up with her. When the Sidon went out on her
trial on Wednesday last she drew at starting 16 feet
4 inches; aft, 16 feet 3 inches. At her return, from
having altered her trim by shifting guns, she drew
forward 16 feet 2 inches ; aft, 16 feet. Yesterday
when she left the harbour her draught was 17 feet
9 inches forward and aft, or an even keel, being
deeper to-day than she was on Wednesday by 1 foot
7 inches. Admiral Sir Charles Napier, Captain
Chad>•, and a strong muster of naval officers went out
again in the Sidon to-day.
Not having the opportunity of being present at
either of the trial•, a contemporary has kindly
favoured us with the following result :-
Ist mile. Knots. 2d mile. Knots. Mean.
Terrible ..... 6m. 3s. 9.917 ... 6m. 30s. 9.250 9.573
Sidon .... 6m. Bs. 9.873 ... 6m. 325. 9.184 .. 9.528
Thus making the Sidon's speed a shade inferior to
that of the Terrible. The Sidon, however, had four
more runs, and arrived at an average speed of some-
thing less than nine knots and a quarter per hour.—
Herald.

THE TERRIBLE AND SIDON STEAM-FRIGATES,--•
These first-rate steamers went out together yester-
day morning from Portsmouth Harbour to Spithead,
to try rates of steaming. Commander J. A. Stevens,
of the Blenheim, and a navigating party from that
ship, took out the Sidon ; and Captain Hope, C. 13.,
of course, commanded the Terrible. The latter only
made two runs at the measured mile in the Solent,
the first of which she accomplished in 6 min. 3 secs.,
which gave a speed of 9.917 knots ; and the second in
6 min. 30 secs., which gave a speed of 9.230 knots,
corresponding with the two first runs of the Sidon,
which were accomplished in 6 min. 8 secs., and 6 miff.
32 secs., giving a respective rate of speed of 9.783
knots, 9.183 knots. The latter made four runs along
the cruise, and arrived at an average speed of some-
thing less than 9f knots per hour, after which she
came into harbour. Sir Charles Napier, Captains
Jones, Chads, and Cant ; Commander Stevens,
Ahssrs. Macdonald, Murray, Allen, Brown, Ozzard,
and other naval and engineer officers, were on board
the ship during her trial.—Chronicle.
The Admiralty have been engaged for several
weeks past, at Somerset House, in "reference to the
estimates in course of preparation for the ensuing
official year."
Rear-Admiral Austen, C. 8., as we anticipated, has
selected his nephew, Captain Austen, as his flag-cap-
tain. Tne Hastingg, 72, will be continued as the
flag-ship, and the Gallant Admiral will proceed over-
land to India next month. He will most likely re-
ceive his commission, and formally hoist his flag on
board the Fisgard, at Woolwich, and strike it again
this day.
The Traf.lgar, 120, at Sheerness, is ordered to be
got ready for commission, and the dockyard officers
are to report as to how long it will take to get her
ready in every respect.
The Phaeton, 50, Captain G. Elliot, when ready
at Sheerness, is ordered to proceed to Devonport to be
paid advance, previously to sailing for Lisbon.
Tne Northumberland (old), 74, towed to Deptford I
and ordered to be broken up, is now to be advertised

for sale,instead of being taken to pieces by the dock-.

yard. We presume she is not worth the expense of
breaking up.

The Arethusa, 50, at antonno/t, will most likely
have the pendant hoisted on Monday, Captain T. E.
Symonds, the son of the ex-surveyor, being appointed
to the command.

The Fox, 42, in dock at Portsmouth, is ordered to
be reported as to her state of forwardness for com-
mission. She will not come out of dock for three
months.

The Enterprise, Captain Collinson, C.b., and the
Investigator, Commander .111:Clure, will be out of the
hands of the dockyard at Devonport this day. They
are to proceed to Cape Virgin, so as to give them
ample time to arrive at Behring's Straits in July
next.

The Ajax, 60, screw two-decker, is rigging along-
side Portsmouth yard, under the sheers. Her lower
riggings, tops, and caps are over the mastheads.
The Niger, screw -sloop, at Woolwich, was com-
pleted in the engineer department on the 29th Dec.,
but shipwright's defects will detain her until the 6th
February.
The Hermes, 9, steam-sloop, Commander G. E.
Fishbourne, will be completed by the shipwrights at
Woolwich by the 28:h.
The Arid, old steamer, at Woolwich, has been lent
to the proprietors of Haig's smoke-consuming
monthsingflPP
ratus, for expel imental purposes, for three
f: (An the 11th of January.
The Myrtle, steam-tender,
Msatsetreara-
yC o mm
morning,an d er
Bradder, arrived at Portsmouth ye h
from Plymouth, with
o supernumeraries,sheerte
i fors tanedewasitli
east-
ward. She will proceed on
return to Portsmouth.
The Sprightly, Master-Commander Allen, the new
tender at Portsmouth, was to have gone to Devon-
port with supernumeraries, but they have been put
on board the Terrible for a passage.

. -
PRESERVATION OF IRON VESSELS.---We understand
that Air. Peacock's cotnpositionf or the preservation
of iron ships' bottoms, as now applied by order of the
Admiralty to the Vulcan, new screw steam-frigate, at
Chatham, has been eminently successful with the
Peninsula and Oriental Steam Company's iron vessels.
EXPENSIVE SYSTEM OF COALING AT PORTSMOUTH.
—lbe Terrible was two days and nights alongside
the Malabar, coaling, which process has not been
much expedited by the mechanism, railways, and
tomfooleries, that have cost so much money, and
with which this ship has been fitted. The money

- 41.111111
expended on her would have sufficed to have built a
good pier and wharf—with sufficient room for stack-
ing quantities of coal—at the entrance of the CIA -
rence Creek, where there is sufficient water for large
ships. A wharf at this point has long been talked of,
and it is high time it was built. All vessels in a
hurry are now obliged to come alongside the yard
jetty to coal, and the coal as it is at present stacked
about the jetties is a great nuisance to the dockyard.
The Sidon came alongside the yard on Thursday, and
took on board as much in twelve hours as she would
have done alongside the Malabar in three days.
De•cKvaare—Mr. Fincham, the master shipwright
of Portsmouth Dockyard, has been summoned to
town this day by the Admiralty.
The pupils of the Central Mathematical Dockyard
School at Portsmouth resume their studies today.
THB ARCTIC EXPEDITION.
PLYMOUTH, JAN. 17.--The Enterprise, Captain
Collinson, laboured and strained so much in the very
severe easterly gale of Monday that it has become ne-
cessary to caulk her topsides. On boaavred
beenthe bn
siEnter-
prisebusily
and the Investigator the crews b
engaged while in the Sound in re-stowing the ship's
holds. Large quantities of preserved meat, which
have arrived from London, have been sent off; and
from the Gun-wharf, at Devonport, some carronades,
muskets, and shot have been forwarded. At the
smithy in the Dockyard the men are making, with
all speed, some strong iron gins, which are to be fixed
in the ships' bows for the better penetrating the ice.
A quantity of religious and other books, in various
languages, from the central societies in London, have
been placed in charge of the officers of the ships.
The expedition will not leave until Monday or Tues-
day ; the crew are all cheerful, and in good spirits.
Her Majesty's frigate Indefatigable, 50, Captain
Smart, was yesterday towed by the Fearless and
Confiance steam-vessels from Barnpoolinto the Sound.
Her Majesty's steam-vessel Myrtle sailed yester-
day for Portsmouth with supernumeraries.
Wind—North-west; light air.
CHATHAM, JAN. 18.—The Vulcan steam-frigate
was put out of dock on the 16th inst., and was on
Thursday towed to Sheerness by the African and
Adder steam-vessels. The Vulcan will remain at that
port until required for service.
In consequence cif an entry for apprentices in
this yard, nearly sixty candidates have been ex-
amined as to their scholastic attainments and phy-
sical fitness by the schoolmasters and others. The
result of such examination has been forwarded to
the Admiralty, but owing to an Admiralty order
received, the number of apprentices as shipwrights
in this yard is only to be seven, instead of eleven,
in consequence of the numbers in the different
yards being over the establishment. There are to
be entered two apprentices to ropemakers—a class
of workmen who have not had apprentices for many
years.

Arrived, the Duck naval lighter, Savage master,
with stores from Portsmouth ; and the Drake, naval
lighter, Blakeney master, remains loading for Ports-
mouth; and the Goodwill, Pledge master, is alongside
the dockyard, loading with stores.
Patrick Gartlen, a sergeant of the Bth Foot, who
was tried by a court-martial last week, was sentenced
to imprisonment, with hard labour, in the military
prison, Fort Clarence, and to be reduced to the rank
of a private soldier, for absenting himself from his
duty as clerk in the Brigade-office, and torreceiving
351. O. Bd. from the Pay-office, and denying it, and
for carrying away 321. 14s. 21. public money.

APPOINTMENT.
WOOLWICH', JAN. 18.— S econd- Master James
Plummer to the Castor, 36, Cape of Good Hope.
The Monkey steam-vessel, Master-Commander
William Bryant, left Woolwich yesterday morning
for Sheerness, and conveyed to the latter port several
of the recently discharged operatives from the factory
at Woolwich, who have been appointed to permanent
situations at Sheerness. There were several of the
men borne on the books at Woolwich dockyard lent
to Sheerness, but they have now returned to Wool-
wich, and permanent hands are employed instead.
Mr. Forbes, smith at Woolwich dockyard, has re-
ceived his appointment as foreman of smiths at Sheer-
ness dockyard.
Commodore Henry Eden returns to Woolwich on
Wednesday next, to resume his duty as Superintend-
ent of this dockyard.