The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-05 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

WOOLWICH, SEPT. 4.—The Eclair steam-frigate, Com-
mander Walter G. B. Estcourt, commissioned at Wool-
wich last week, and having a crew of 145 men, has been
ordered to be made ready for sea with the greatest dis-
patch, and at the early hour of five o'clock this morning
her First Lieutenant, P. A. Alket, went on board, and a
great number of hands were immediately set to work to
complete this fine vessel for service. The activity dis-
played in the Dockyard to have the Eclair ready by
Friday, the day named in the order, is equal to the dis-
patch used on a former occasion in fitting out the Cyclops
steamer for Ireland, when Captain T. Austin, C. 8., com-
missioned, rigged, and made her ready to proceed to sea
in the short space of thirty-six hours. All hands not in
the secret are anxiously asking, this morning, " Are we
to have war ?" Our reply has been, "It is not likely ;"
the Eclair is only wanted to form one of the royal squad-
ron to accompany her Majesty to Scotland, on a mission
of peace to her loyal subjects in that romantic and favoured
country, now about to be honoured with the presence of
her Majesty and Prince Albert a second time.
The Volcano steam-vessel, at present in the river un-
dergoing repairs, is ordered to be ready by the 9th inst.,
and, if completed in time, is expected to form one of the
vessels of the royal squadron.
The Thedalus, late 42 gun frigate, is now nearly ready
for sea, and is to be commissioned. The whole of her
guns, forming a very powerful armament, are on board,
consisting of six 8-inch or 68-pounder guns, weighing
about 52 cwt. each 4 one 56-poundergun, Monk's pattern,
on traversing carriage ; twelve long 32-pounder guns,
weighing from 49 to 50 cwt. each ; one 12-pounder brass
howitzer, and three 12-pounder carronades. Four of the
long 32-pounder guns occupy the captain's cabin, and
the six 6S-pounder guns are placed three on each side
midships, and must give tremendous broadsides, while
Monk's 56-pounder on traversing carriage throws its de-
structive missiles at all points of the compass, without
altering the course of the vessel. The shot and shells
are also on board, and there appears to be ample room to
work these large guns on board this fine frigate.
PORTSMOUTH, SEPT. 4.—ln a recent number we took
occasion to mention the very insecure and unprotected
state of our ports and home interests. We resume the
subject for the purpose of pointing out how both may be
protected. It has been said, and very often during. the
last month, " that the best way to preserve peace is to
be prepared for war." We agree with the axiom, but
are we prepared for war, and so possessed of the essen-
tial for preserving peace ? Alas, no I It is true we
have a large number of ships in our harbours and
basins, but what are they without men ? And how
proceeds the scheme of entering men for " general
service" to man our ships at a moment's notice? Why,
at this port, 54 (I) have been entered in the space of
a fortnight, about the same number at Devonport, and,
we believe, not nearly so many at Sheerness. Thus
clearly the scheme is a failure. On the announcement
of the project we hailed it with considerable satisfaction,
imagining it would relieve the distresses of many,
and keep others from entering other service ; but the
result has proved that a true and good seaman will not
enter until he knows his craft. He gives his own country
the refusal of his services before he enters for any other
employ. Why not, then, have commissioned the new
brig squadron when they were ready, instead of letting
them lie idle in our basins occupying valuable space ?
This would have preserved hundreds of the finest seamen
England could boast. Had larger ships at length been
found of more utility to commission, their crews could
easily have been turned over to the larger craft ; but as
it is, neither brigs nor line-of-battle ships have received
commissions, and our seamen have left, and are still
leaving, our ports for the merchant and other service.
We daily are informed of this 120 being masted, that
84 advanced, and the other 72 brought forwent], but
none are commissioned, nor any pains or efficient mea-
sures taken to provide hands for them in the event of
their hoisting the pendant. It will be seen by our naval
news below that the Scourge steam sloop, now on
the stocks in this dock, is being expedited by extra
hands being put upon her, and all to work extra
time to get her afloat this month. For what ? For
commission, or to relieve the solitary loneliness of that
splendid frigate Firebrand, which has been ready for the
pendant for months ? We suppose the latter. Our
ports and harbours are truly in a most defenceless state.
Why is not the Firebrand commissioned ? Why are not
her six guns shipped and the pendant hoisted ? Ports-
mouth would then have one effective sail, which would
prove of more service in an emergency than a fleet of
" Collingwoods" at Spithead. We are more open to
annoyances from an enemy than any other port, and with
less to protect us.
The 'Victoria and Albert, we are informed, is ordered
round to Woolwich to be in readiness for the embarka-
tion of her Majesty. There is one feature connected
with this fine yacht which has hitherto escaped mention.
When in the Channel on her late trial cruise, and going
fourteen knots an hour, a bottle was dropped overboard,
when her engines were reversed, and she backed astern,
and picked up the bottle all in the space of four minutes.
This appears almost incredible ; but we are assured of
the authenticity of the statement. We are informed the
experiment was tried to see how quick a man could be
picked up who had fallen overboard.
The Black Eagle Admiralty yacht, Master Commander
S. B. Cook, left the harbour last evening for Woolwich,
to be in readiness to convey the Lords of the Admiralty
on their visits of inspection to the other ports.
The Victory, 110, Captain Henderson, and all hands on
board ships in ordinary, were paid six months' wages
on Monday.
The hands employed on the Scourge steam-sloop, now
on the stocks, are ordered to work earlier and later to
expedite her launching.
The 100 seamen ordered to be entered for " general
service," or employed as " riggers," are far from com-
plete as to number, not more than 54 having as yet
been entered, notwithstanding the order has been out a
fortnight.
The Goodwood lighter arrived last evening with stores
from Chatham.

The Powerful, 84, is in the basin for masting.

GRAVESEND.

The following is a return of passengers landed and
embarked at the Terrace and Town Piers, Gravesend,
in the month of August, 1844 :

Terrace Town
Pier. Pier.
Star Company with 5 boats... 95,764
Blackwall Co.
Diamond Co 6 — 78,737
Sons of Thames Co 2 — 31,399
Eagle Co.
Commercial Co 1

188,682 122,160

Terrace Pier, with 9 boats,
Town Pier, with 10 boats,
Balance in favour of the Terrace Pier

during the month of August, 66,522
Gross number of passengers
Of which to and from Blackwall,
To and from Hungerford Market, Waterloo-
bridge, Old Swan, London-bridge, and other
places through the Pool,