The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-18 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, Nov. 14.—The Griffin, 3, Lieutenant.
Commander C. Jenkin, arrived at Spithead, this day
at noon, from Port Royal, bringing invalids from
the squadron.
The Vindictive, 50, is reported ready for commission,
and is expected to hoist the pendant in a few days, to
supersede the Winchester, 50, Captain Eden, flag of
lear-Admiral the Hon. J. Percy, as flag-ship on the
Cape of Good Hope station.
The Nautilus, 10, Lieutenant •Commander W. Robson,
is equipping in the harbour to protect the fisheries on
the Sussex coast, her former duty.
The Fair Rosamond schooner, paid off on Saturday,
is being surveyed for re-commission.
The Lynx, 3, Lieutenant-Commander Nott, was in
Tarbert Roads on the 11th instant, expecting sailing
orders for Lisbon daily.
The Lark, schooner, Lieutenant- Commander Lawrence,
was at Nassau, New Brunswick, on the 20th of Sep-
tember,all well.

The Cornwallis, 72, Captain Richards, went into har-
bour at Devonport, on Saturday, to be paid off.
The Amazon, razie 42, at Sheerness, is reported com-
missioned by Captain J. J. Stopford.
The Nimrod, 20, Commander Glasse, was ordered into
harboui yesterday at Devonport, to be paid off. She ar-
rived. at Bombay on Saturday, having made the passage
ie seven weeks. She was inspected in the Sound, on
Tuesday, by Captain Dickson, of the San Josef.
Th© Resistance troop-ship, Commander Patey, left
Plymouth Sound for Cork, on Sunday, but was driven
back by stress of weather, on Tuesday.
The Flamer steam-vessel, Lieut.-Commander Postle,
went into Barnpool on Wednesday, her crew having pre-
viously received wages. She will leave in a day or two,
for Gibraltar.

Very heavy gales have been blowing on this coast
since Sunday, from S.S.W. to W.S.W. They somewhat
abated this morning. Extraordinary high tides prevailed
during the gales. The water rose much higher than bas
been observed for three or four years, and the houses
alongshore have been deep in water in the cellars, and
considerable damage and inconvenience occasioned.
THE EXPERIMENT AT PORTSMOUTH WITH

CAPTAIN NORTON'S SHELLS.
PORTSMOUTH, Nov. 15.—The trial of these shells
took place this morning on board the Excellent, in the
presence of General the Hon. Sir Hercules Pakenhaw,
Captain Sir Thomas Hastings, Captain F. Rowley, Capt
Norton, Colonel Dansey, R.A. Colonel Trevor, and
several engineer and artillery officers. The firing com-
menced at nine o'clock, and the shells were thrown from
a 68 and 32-pounder guns. The old Swiftaure is lying
aground at the distance of about 1,400 yards from the
Excellent, heeling over at an angle of about 20 degrees,
her deck exposed to that ship.
A large canvas target was placed at the port side of
the Swiftsure's bow, the intention being to strike her in
that part of the ship ; but a strong breeze blowing
directly across the line of fire, prevented that accuracy
of aim which, no doubt, would have been entirely per-
fect but for this circumstance. As it was, the practice
was most perfect, as the following account of the shells
fired will show :

Shell No. 1. Missed the ship, when striking the mud
a second time exploded.
No. 2. Struck ship at the chestrees and exploded.
No. 3. Struck the fore pole, or mast, and exploded.
No. 4. Missed ship, exploded on striking the mud.
NT -

No. 5. Missed, exploded in mud.
No. G. Struck ship, port ride midships, and exploded.
No. 7. Missed ship, exploded in the mud.
No. S. Struck starboard cathead and exploded.
No. 9. Entered port broadside and exploded on the
main deck.

No. 10. Struck ship's deck starboard) side and ex-
ploded.
No. 11. Struck deck and starboard rail and exploded.
N 0.12. Struck the forecastle and exploded in the head,
blowing out the planking.
No. 13. Entered through the quarter-deck by the
main hatchway combings and exploded, blowing out part
of the starboard side.
No. 14. Struck bulwark of forecastle and exploded.
No. 15. Passed over Swiftsure and exploded in the
mud.
No. 16. Entered ship's deck abaft forehatch and ex-
ploded on main. deck.
No. 17. Entered the deck near main-hatch and ex-
ploded on main-deck.
No. 18. Entered the deck near fore-hatchway and ex-
ploded on main-deck.
No. 19. Entered the deck by after-hatch and exploded
on main-deck. _

_No. 20. Entered the deck abaft the mainmast and ex-
ploded.
No. 21. Missed, and exploded on striking mud.
No. 22. Struck deck by fore-hatchway and exploded.
No. 23. Struck the canvas target a few inches above
the bull's-eye, entered the ship at the port side, forward,
and exploded.
It will be seen, from the above list of shells fired, that
the firing was very splendid, very few shells missing
the ship.
We visited the Swiftsure after the firing ceased, and
we were most astonished at the destructive power of these
shells, and at the extreme accuracy of the fuzes ; every
shell exploded in au instant after striking the object ; j
eventhe concussion on striking the mud had the effect I

of bursting it, the iron of the shell splitting into small
fragments. The quarter deck, main deck, and even the
lower deck, were literally strewed with the fragments,
accompanied by quantities of splinters of deck stanchions,
&c. Had the Swiftsure been fully manned, the decks,
from the twenty-three shells fired, must have been com.
pletely cleared of men—hardly any could have escaped.
We are decidedly of opinion that this shell is by far the
most deadly and destructive that we have ever seen,
principally from the correct and timely bursting, from
the ingenious effect of the •concussion on the fuze ; and
we have no doubt but the competent officers that are
ordered to report thereon will give a very favourable
account of it.

To-morrow, we understand, a further trial will take
place, and likewise a trial of Colonel Dansey's shells.
(From the Devonport Independent.)
Her Majesty's ship Cornwallis, 72, Captain Peter
Richards, C. 8., was towed into harbour on Saturday by
the Flamer and Confiance. She will be paid off on
Thursday next.

Her Majesty's steamer Alban, Lieut. Frederick Lows
arrived on Thursday from the Cove of Cork.
Her Majesty's sloop Pelican, 16. Commander Justice,
may shortly be expected from the East Indies, with the
second instalment of the Chinese ransom ; and we have
reason to believe she will bring home the officers and
crew of the Minden, orders having been received to pay
that ship off at Hong-Kong.
Her Majesty's ship Inconstant, 36, Capt. Fremantle,
and the Spartan, 26, Captain the Hon. Charles Elliot,
were at Vera Cruz on the 2d ult.

Her Majesty's sloop Rose, 18, Commander Henry
Sturt, was at Tampico on Sept. 25.
Her Majesty's surveying vessel Lark, Lieut. G. Law-
rence, was at Nassau on the sth ult.
Her Majesty's ship Vestal, 26, Capt. Charles Talbot,
arrived in Simon's Bay, Cape of Good Hope, from Hali-
fax, on her way to the East Indies, on Sept. 13.
Her Majesty's sloop Bittern, 16, Commander Edmund
Peel, from a cruise ; and the Thunderbolt steam-sloop,
Commander George N. Broke, from Algoa Bay, arrived
in Simon's Bay on Sept. 13.
Her Majesty's ship Cambrian, 36, Capt. H. D. Cbads,
C. 8., arrived at Madras on Sept. 2, on her way to Eng-
land to be paid off.

MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.
(From the Limerick Chronicle, Nov. 14.)
A company of the 35th marches from Nenagh, to-
morrow, for Portumna, to relieve a company of the 54th.
Captain Beamish's company, 35th, marched from Ros-
crea for Nenagh, this day, to join head-quarters.
Captain Wheeler's company of the 54th will march
from Portumna for Mulhngar, on Friday, to join head-
quarters, on being relieved by a company of the 35th,
from Nenagh.
A company of the 69th, from Templemore, replaces a
company of the 35th, at Roscrea.
A sergeant and 15 privates, invalids of the 54th Re-
giment, arrived in Dublin yesterday, to appear before a
medical board.

Captain O'Brien, 72d, has got notice of an action at
law, for breach of promise of marriage to Miss Forrest,
of Mitchelstown.

Lieut. Stokes, 65th, having been promoted, by pur-
chase, to a company in his regiment, will shortly resign
the command of the Veteran Pensioners at Tralee, as
local staff officer.

The 6th Regiment has got the order of readiness to
embark at Liverpool for duty in Ireland, in place of the
72d, proceeding from Cork to Gibraltar.
Colonel Macintosh, K.H., Assistant-Adjutant-General
of the Northern District, Belfast, is about to retire from
the service, and will proceed to Scotland in a few days.
The 77th depot will move from Carlow to Waterford.
Captains Fraser and English, Lieutenant Faris En-
sign Wilson, 35th, have embarked at Gravesend on
board the ship Bombay, for the Mauritius, to join the
service companies.
The Royals remain at Barbadoes; the 85th relieve the
46th at St. Vincent, Demerara, St. Lucia, and Dominica;
the 23d go to relieve the 71st at Trinidad, Tobago, and
Grenada•, the 71st to Antigua and St. Kitt's.

Sergants A. Watson, 6th Dragoon Guards, and J.
Findlay, Scots Greys, are awarded 171. each gratuity,
with medal, in addition to pension, for meritorious con-
duct.

Captain Seward, 37th, at Portsmouth. is released from
arrest, by order of the Commander-in-Chief.
Captain Cruise, 95th, left Ceylon on the 10th of July,
landed at Deal on the 17th October, and joined the
depot at Kinsale on the 31st. He is now on leavo to his
brother in-law's seat, Kelly's Grove, Ballinasloe.
Capt. Knox's troop, 13th Light Dragoons, has moved
from Cardiff to Brecon.

Lieut. Puddicombe, R.M., has joined the head-quarters
of the Portsmouth division, from Cork.

Col. Maxwell, 36th, has just issued from the press
" My Adventures," with portraits.
The half-yearly examination of the officers and
gentlemen cadets at the Royal Military College, Sand-
hurst, concluded on Thursday, when the following
were presented with certificates of qualification :
Captain Hamilton, Scots Fusilier Guards ; Lieutenant
Gordon, 75th Regiment, to which special honorary
additions were made of their high qualifications
in military surveying. And the following cadets
were recommended to his Grace the Commander in-
Chief, Ensigncies in the Line, without purchase :
Arthur W. Cameron, William E. F. O'Brien, Charles J.
Ewen, Christopher E. Blackett, James M. Buchanan,
James S. Richards, Charles H. Slessor, Thomas W. J.
Lloyd, Charles W. Aylmer, Edmund J. Gardiner, Bar-
clay Thomas, Charles F. T. Daniell, Francis W. T.
Caulfeild, Henry Nangle, William C. Rose, Viscount
Malden, Edmund Y. Peel.

One sergeant, one corporal, and 22 privates, invalids,
65th regiment, have arrived in Dublin for examination
by a medical board.
Lieut. Cochrane, 19th Regiment, has been appointed to
the charge of Salisbury sub-division, in succession to
Captain Ricard, 75th, who joins his regiment at New-
port, in consequence of promotion.
Lieut. Sherson, 72d, promoted, by purchase, in the last
Gazette, to a company in his regiment, is a student at the
Royal Military College. Capt. Gore, 72d, who has sold
out, is a son of Francis Gore, Esq , Derrymore, county
Clare.

Lieut. Colonel Grant, Ist Grenadier Guards, Captain
Drought, 65th, and Captain Gore, 72d, sold out of the
service on Friday.
Colonel Grant, a Peninsular veteran, has retired from
the command of the Ist Grenadier Guards, and from the
army, after 40 years' service. He is succeeded by Col.
Clive, of the same battalion, a Peninsular and Waterloo
officer.

Colonel Sir Joseph Thackwell, K.C.8., of the 3d
Light Dragoons, on his return from India, is to be
created a Baronet.

Awarded 151. gratuity, with medal, beside pension, for
meritorious conduct : Sergeant-Major Walsh, Ist ;
Quarter-master Sergeant Oliver, 2d ; Colour. Sergeant
M`Carthy, 13th ; Colour-Sergeant Blow, 14th ; Colour-
Sergeant Doyle, 15th ; Sergeant Scotcher, 16th ;
Colour-Sergeant Baxter, 47th ; Sergeant Chelton, 61st ;
Colour-Sergeant Nutley, 67th; Colour-Sergeant Talbot,
72d ; Sergeant Robertson, 87th ; Sergeant Clements,
96th ; Sergeant-MajorFlory and Colour-Sergeant Power,
Ist Rifle Brigade ; and Staff-Sergeant Rankin, Invalid
Depot, Chatham.
Lieutenant Jervois, Royal Engineers, was robbed by
the Caffres on the frontier of Fort Beaufort, Cape of
Good Hope, who threatened to cut his throat if he resisted.

FRIDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE.
DIVIDENDS.
At the Court of Bankruptcy, Basinghall-street.
E. Edwards, draper and hosier, City-road, St. Luke,
Dec. 6, at half-past one—T. Watson, victualler, Camo-
mile-street, City, at one—H. Tisoe, carpenter, Hertford,
Dec. 6, at half-past eleven—E. Holmes, warehouseman,
King-street, Cheapside, Dec. 6, at twelve—J. Harman,
common brewer, Whitefriars, Dec. 6, at eleven—R. Hal-
ford and Co., bankers, Canterbury, Dec. 13, at eleven—
J. Goren, coachmaker, Orchard-street, Portman-square,
Dec. 10, at half-past one—W. Broome, linendraper, Ox-
ford-street, Dec. 6, at two.

In the Country.
D. Storm, builder, Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Dec. 20,
at eleven, at the Bristol District Court—J. Hawksley,
merchant, Arnold, Nottinghamshire, Dec. 10, at eleven,
at the Birmingham District Court—J. H. Allen, timber
merchant, Porth Cawl, Newton Nottage, Glamorgan-
shire, Dec. 19, at one, at the Bristol District Court—G.
Grove, Wick, and Abson, millers, Gloucestershire, Dec.
13, at one, at the Bristol District Court—G. Robertson
and Co., ship chandlers, Liverpool, Dec. 11, at eleven,
at the Liverpool District Court—O. D. Ward, merchant,
Manchester, Dec. 10, at twelve, at the Manchester Dis-
trict Court—S. Price, machine maker, Blackburn, Lan-
cashire, Dec. 10, at twelve, at the Manchester District
Court—lL and R. D. Dunn, merchants, Wakefield,
Dec. 12, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court—T. Hill,
Uppingham, Rutlandshire, Dec. 12, at eleven, at the Bir-
mingham District Court.