The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-13 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

SHEERNESS, DEC. 11.—The alterations of the fortifi-
cations at Garrison Point, so as to mount from sixty to
seventy guns of the largest calibre, which have been
impeded for some time, owing to the experiments re-
cently instituted at Woolwich, as to the best mode of
pivoting the carriages of the guns, to determine whether
or not they are to be secured to the masonry, are about
to be recommenced with vigour, the result of the expe-
riments being in favour of fixing the platforms by
pivots to the masonry, which must necessarily be strong
to bear the recoil of such enormous guns as are now
intended to be placed on all our fortifications. The ex-
cavations for the masonry on which the several travers-
ing platforms are to rest, are now being bedded with
concrete, and the greater part of the stones are already
hewn and ready to be laid down. A cargo of granite
blocks for the pivots have arrived to-day from London.
The Funs are daily arriving from Woolwich ; the
following have arrived up to the present time., viz.,
8 eight-inch guns.
,? 66 cwt. each, 9 feet long, or
" 68-pounders; 13 six-and-a-half inch guns, 56 cwt.
each, 9 feet 6 inches long, or " 56-Rounders ;" 4 six-
and a-half inch guns, 32 cwt. each, 6 teet 6 inches long,
or long " 32-pounders ;" and 4 eight-inch guns, 98 cwt.
each, and 11 feet long A number of pivots ave also
arrived. The guns are to be mounted on traversing
platforms, 16 feet long, and will be fired over the para-
pets, and pointed in any direction. The earth battery,
with its deep fosse, forming opposite the dock-yard
gate, progresses most rapidly, and when completed will
be mounted with guns in a similar manner.
The Electra, 18, Dido, 20, Snake, 16, and Ferret, 10,
remain in dock under repair. The Dido's timbers have
been found in a very defective state, as well as her plank-
ing, many of them being quite rotten. The Ferret's
timbers are also in bad condition, but not quite so bad
as the Dido's. All are being rapidly refitted for imme-
diate commission. The Fearless steamer, second-master
George Brockman, recently arrived from Woolwich
to replace the Dwarf steam-tender, has been de-
tached to the Chatham station, and is replaced here
by the Wildfire steamer. The Bittern, 16, Commander
Thomas Hope, progresses rapidly with her rigging and
other fittings in the babin. She has her topmasts up,
and will be all ataunt this week. A party of seamen
from the flag-ship are assisting in her outfit, about forty
men only having joined her. She will proceed to Spit-
head when fitted, and will doubtless pick up a crew there.
The African, steamer, is in the North Camber, making
good extensive defects which she sustained at Brighton.
The Fury, steam-sloop, building, is nearly complete ;
the ways are laid for launching, but the tides will not
serve till the latter end of the month. The 27th has
been named, but it is probable that the launch will not
take place till the 29th or 30th. The Sampson, steam-
frigate, Captain Thomas Henderson, is to have a com-
plement of 180 officers and men ; and the Viper, brigan-
tine, Lieutenant Edward Gray, is to have a complement
of 60 officers and men. Neither have yet hoisted the
pennant.

The Admiralty, with the view of still further encou-
raging seamen to remain in her Majesty's service, have
recently issued an orth.r increasing the pay of seamen or
extra riggers in the eockyards from 2s. 6d. to 3s. per
diem, with the understanding, as stated in the original
order issued about fifteen months ago, that they joined
the service afloat when their services may be required.
The Admiralty also, by a recent order, have been pleased
to allow boys who enter the service as engineers' ap-
prentices, to serve the last year of their time in the dock-
yards.
PonTsmounr, FRIDAY.—Rear-Admiral Hyde Parker
has re-hoisted his flag on board the Victory, Captain
Mowbray having returned from leave.
The Daring, 12, Commander Station, is in harbour re-
fitting with all dispatch.
The Rodney and Superb are being caulked at Spit-
head, as their coming into the harbour is at present un-
certain.

The Nelson, 120, has undergone a repair in the basin,
and will be docked to be coppered as soon as possible, to
be ready as an advance ship. The Nelson was built in
1814, and although so old a vessel, has never been com-
missioned. The shape of her stern was altered a short
time since at a great expense.
The masts with which the Lizard iron•steamer, Lieut.-
Commander Fylden, left Woolwich, having been found
too heavy, have been taken cut, and are to be replaced
by three light ones, such as have been found to answer
so well in the Fairy.
The Scourge steam mortar ship, Commander Coffin,
is rapidly preparing for sea. Lieut. W. Crawford joined
her yesterday.
At Spithead—The Rodney, Superb, Alarm, and
Nautilus.

In Harbour—The St. Vincent, Vietcry, Excellent,
Victoria and Albert, Fairy, Comet, Lizard, Echo (tug),
and Daring.
In the Basin—The Nelson, Trincomalee, Scourge,
harlequin, and Bee.
In Dock—The Prince Regent. Amphitrite, Rattler,
Wanderer, and Childers.
Building The Princess Royal, Royal Frederic,
Leander, Arrogant, Dauntless, and Rifleman.
The half-yearly examination of the students at the
Royal Naval College has commenced. The following
are the officers studying at this establishment :
Captains--Jones, Giffard, Hun. G. Hastings, and
Halsted.
Commanders—Sullivan, Fisher, Ingram, Fishbourne,
Helpman, and M'ClevertY
Lieutenants—Griffiths,..Royer, Ryder, and Wood.
Mates—Parish, West, Brandreth, Partridge, and
Mulyneux.
Lieutenants of Marines for the Artillery Companies—
Meade, Gell, Henry, Davis, and Baynes.
Mr. Fincham, the master shipwright of Portsmouth
Dockyard, and one of his assistants, are ordered to
make a strict investigation into, and report to the Ad-
miralty the cause of the continued leak in the Daring,
l'-gun brig, Commander 11. J. Matson. She still
leaks, but nothing of consequence; but sh© smells
so
otf.eisively that sonic of her officers have been driven
from their sleeping cabins. The smell proceeds from
the lining of the vessel, and, it is said, ryas perceptible
before she was filled with salt water at Plymouth. It is
supposed to be occasioned by some shaving and sweep-
ings not properly cleansed out from between the timbers
while building.
In consequence of the increased number of contract
workmen at Portsea, a chaplain is ordered to be pro-
vided to assist the incumbent of St. John's, in attending
to their spiritual necessities.

MARGATE.—The high price of bread, and conse-
quent scarcity thereof to the poor, is most severely felt, and is
greatly increased by the almost total failure of the potato
cp--as much as 12s a sack now being asked for that neces-
,atv appendage to the -sinner of a poor and large family.
the arrival of the news of the probable abolition of the
corn-laws was most cheerfully received by all such sufferers.
Every tradesman in the town begins Co feel the injurious
effects of a dear loaf, it being quite evident that the more
money that article of food costs the poor man with scanty
wages, the less he can have to lay out with other tradesmen
for other necessary articles, including clothes, shoes, &c.—
Kent Herald.