The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-25 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE

PORTSMOUTH, FEB. 23.—The Rodney, 92, Captain Collier,
C. 8., has been taken into the basin to be fitted for sea. Her
masts were taken out on Saturday. A recommendation
having been sent to the Admiralty by the dockyard au-
thorities for the fore and main masts of this fine ship to be
removed and stepped further aft, an order to that effect was
communicated on Friday. She will consequently have to be
docked in order to undergo the required alteration. It is a
great pity the defect of the masting of this ship was not
made known to the Admiralty when she was paid off up-
wards of twelve months ago—she could then have been
altered without so much loss of time, and causing so great an
outlay as will now be the case, as she is wanted to join the
line-of-battle-ship trial squadron early. The foremast will be
removed, we believe, some thirty inches, and the mainmast
about twenty inches further aft, which will make her a
much easier ship on a wind in a head sea. The above
alteration will not appear a. very considerable one to the
uninitiated, but it will require all the decks to be altered,
and other contingent reformations. There is no doubt
but that the change will much improve the ship, as in-
deed we believe it would almost all our men-of-war, great
and small. An accident occurred on board this ship
on Wednesday to two riggers, whilst gammoning the bow-
sprit. One of them, named Benham, had his jaw dreadfully
fractured, and the other was knocked down and much in-
jured, by the breaking of the gammoning, which is made
of chain, instead of rope, as in former years. The latter is
infinitely superior to the former, both in point of safety, ease
of working, and other advantageous features. Benham lies
in a most dangerous state, having been unable to take food
through the regular channel. It is much feared lock jaw
will ensue.

The Fantome, 16, Commander Sir F. Nicholson, Bart.,
arrived from Sheerness this morning to complete her crew,
and receive advance wages. She saluted the flag of Admiral
Rowley, and brought up at Spithead. The Comus, 18,
Commander Thompson, arrived about two hours after the
Fantome, saluted, and anchored at Spithead.
The Eagle, 50, Captain Martin, arrived from Sheerness on
Wednesday, to complete her crew (of whom she is short up-
wards of 150), and receive advance wages. Captain Rowley
went alongside in the Admiralty yacht, on the arrival of
this fine frigate, and took out her captain in his cot and con-
veyed him to the official mansion of his uncle, the Com-
mander-in-Chief, Sir C. Rowley, Bart., where he remains
confined by illness, brought on by over exertion at the fire in
Chat ham Dockyard.
The Royalist, 10, Master-Commander Parkinson, was at
Singapore, last. from Port Essington, on the 19th November.
Three of her commanding officers having died within twelve
months (Lieutenant Chetwode, and Acting Lieutenants King-
sley and Wells), and no official communication having been
made to the vessel for upwards of a year and a half, the
Second Master, Mr. Parkinson, was compelled to promote
himself to keep the pendant flying.. Her masts being both
sprung, and her gear in a very dilapidated condition, Mr.
Parkinson took her without orders to Singapore, where at
the time our letter left he was waiting a reply from Rear-
Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, the Commander-in-Chief, to
some dispatches sent to that officer explaining the woful
condition and distress of the vessel. The garrison of Port
Essington are anxiously looking out for 21rellef, having been
hi their present quarters six years. Lieutenant Graham
Ogle was at Hong-Kong awaiting the arrival of the Royalist
to take the command.
The Cyclops steam-frigate, Captain Lapidge, at Tarbert,
has hoisted the ensign for volunteers for the navy. The
Lynx brigantine has also hoisted a similar ensign at Dingle.
The Vindictive, 50, Captain Seymour, flag of Vice-Admiral
Austen, is rapidly completing crew and fittings alongside her
hulk. Her topgallant masts are swayed up, and she presents
a serviceable appearance.
The Vengeance, 84, is expected to be put in commission
shortly.
The fortifications are being repaired and strengthened.
The old gun carriages on the King's Bastion have been re-
placed by new, and eight 32-poun.ders, instead of four,
mounted. Blockhouse Fort, commanding the mouth of the
harbour, will shortly display a double instead of a single (as
formerly) row of teeth, and we believe it is contemplated to
remove the old victualling store, upon which stands the old
telegraph on the platform, in order to extend the Platform
Battery to the Round Tower. Works will also be erected
on Southsea-common, between the Castle and the King's
Bastion.

PROMOTION'S.
listCO°fMl
confirmed as Master of the
Acting Master—G. George,
Tartarus.mB3aontdoertsh—atNo.f3,llB76g.er and J. Pasley, from the retired