The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-05 00:00:00

- • NAVAL --INTELLIGENeFr.---
PORTSMOUTH, MARCH conseqnence of the recent
.alterations in the convict -department, it has been found ne-
ccessary to engage numbers of free labourers -at the various
Royal Dockyards, to fill up the vacancies which the sudden
decrease of convicts had created, but theliands entered-hav-
ing been confined to the present demand, a rumour has been
circulated that the crew of the Victory were to be-employed
as labourers at this port. Thiti rnmourhas been confirmed this
week, by an order from the Admiralty to enter 400 men on
the books of the above celebrated ship (which, is not to in-
clude her harbour complement) to work as labourers or' me-
chanics; according to their , qualifications, in. this yard, but
to be convertible to sea service in the event of an emer-
gency. They are rated as able seamen (Bs. 6d. per week),
and will have an allowance of 7s. per week for provisions,
and are to live ashore.
The Queen, 110, Captain Rich, in the Mediterranean, is or:
dered home to be paid off, and Admiral Sir E. W. C, R. Oweu
will hoist his flag on the -Formidable, Captain Sir C. Sullivan;
who, in that event, will exchange ships with Captain Rich.
Commander Kitchen, of the Queen, is appointed to the De:
vastation, vice the Hon. Captain Carnegie, returning home to
occupy his seat in Parliament. • .
_ The America, 50, was commissioned at Plymouth, by
:Lieutenant C. W. Lindsay, on Tuesday last, for the Hqn.
Captain John Gordon. „ • . -
The Firebrand 'is reported ready for commission, and will,
it is expected, hoist the pendant in a day or two.
Theßelena, 16, Captain Sir C. Ricketts, arrived, on the
25th of January at Madeira from Plymouth, and sailed on
the 28th thence for Mexico, having on board Mr. Bankhead
sad. suite.
Tie Growler, steam-vessel, Captain Buckle, was at Bahia
on the 29th, of December, :having just returned from a

.cruise.,
The Hyacinth, 18, Commander Scott, arrived at Madeira
on the 31st ult. from Plymouth, and sailed on the 2d inst. for
thetape 'herd Islands.
The Daring, 12, now building at this yard, will be ready to
leave the stocks in the early part of Next month. -
, - The Falmouth, Davis, master, arrived on ➢londay from
Havannah, which she left the 18th of January.
- The Emerald, tender, sailed on Tuesday, with - seamen-
gunners from the Excellent, to join the America, 50, at Ply-
mouth.

The Colombo, East Indianian, Captain Thompson, sailed
for Mauritius and Bombay on Tuesday, encountered a heavy
gale off the Land's-end, and was compelled to bear up again
for Spithead, and anchored on the Motherbank on Thursday,
where she now remains, together with a small fleet of mer-
chantmen, weather-bound.

The SaMarang, 26, Captain Sir E. Belcher, K.C.B. wwa
about to proceed to examine an island to the eastward of
Formosa, preparatory to commencing a survey of the islands
to the south-east of the China Sea.

The Alligator, 26, Master-Commander Brown, was ex-
pected at Calcutta with captured Chinese guns, whence she
would proceed to Trincomalee for stores, &c., for the ships in
China.

The Starling surveying-vessel, Lieutenant-Commander
Hunt, was put out of commission on the 26th of October last
at China.

The Thalia, 42, Captain Hope, was at Bombay on the 17th
of December, whence she proceeded to join. Rear-Admiral
Thomas in the Pacific.
•

The Rattlesnake and Sapphire troop-ships are on their
passage to England, with invalids of both services.
The Fox, 42, Capt. Sir H. Blackwood; Bart., is expected to
proceed from the Shannon to Devonport, to equip for foreign
service.

The Curagoa, 24, Captain Sir Thomas Pasley, Bart., wag
on Christmas Day at Rio Janeiro, refitting, preparatory to
joining Commodore Purvis's squadron at Monte Video, from
which latter place the Racer, 16, was daily expec'ed at Rio
de Janeiro.

The Resistance troop-ship arrived yesterday from Devon-
port to embark detachments of the 23d and 71st for Canada,
and the 2d battalion of the Rifle Brigade for Nova Scotia, on
Monday.
The Waterwitch, 10, is undergoing repairs by Mr. White,
at Cowes, and being very rapidly proceeded with. Mr.
White has the construction of two new 12-gun brigs, which
will be launched in May next.
The Pestonjee Bomanjee transport, Lieutenant W. Still,
agent, is gone to bring home the remainder of the 59th from
Barbadoes.

The Magpie surveying-vessel, Commander Brock, has
been paid off at Woolwich. She has just returned from the
Mediterranean.

The Tortoise store-ship, Commander Finlaison, is ex-
pected at Spithead next week from Chatham, on her way to
Ascension.

The Mercury tendef, Scarlett master, sailed on Wed-
nesday, for Sheerness, with draughts of men for the Cain-
perdown. • _ _ _

The Emerald 'tender sailed en Tuesday for Plymouth with
supernumeraries.
In Harbour—The St. Vincent, Victoria
.and Albert, Vic-
tory, Excellent, and Echo ; Dee and Fearless, steam-vessels.
In Dock—The Rodney, Athol, Prince Regent, Magicienne.
and Lily.
At Spithead—The Prince George and .Resistance.
DEVONPORT, FEB. 29.—The Lancier, Dutch schooner,
was towed out of the harbour into the Sound on Friday, by
the Confiance steamer, and as soon as the weather will per-
mit will sail for the coast of Africa.
The Raven cutter, Lieutenant Stephens, arrived on Friday,
from Sheerness, with hands to navigate the Fort, 44; to
Deptford to be broken up.
The Caledonia, flag-ship, 120, 'Captain A. Milne, will be
taken into dock in a day or two, to have her copper examined.
She was paid wages on Friday.
The Larne, 18, Commander Brisbane, was towed into har-
bour on Saturday, and is having her defects made good. The
Grecian, 16, was docked on Saturday for the same purpose.
The Falmouth, lighter, was undocked on Saturday, having
undergone complete repair.
. The Aid, lighter, arrived from Portsmouth on Sunday,
'ith stores for this yard.
The crew of the Resistance, Commander Patey, were paid
wages on Tuesday, preparatory to sailing for Portsmouth.
- The Diligence, transport, sailed yesterday for Woolwich
and Deptford, with stores. _ •

.
The Atna,.• 6, Lieutenant G. C. Butler, arrived from-Liver-
pool yesterday, to be paid off.
The Raven, cutter, sailed for Sheerness yesterday.
The Flora, 36; Creole, 26; and Amethyst, 26, are to be
launched this year from this yard, and the frames of a 90-
gun ship, to be named the Marlborough, and a frigate of 50
guns, to be named the Liffey, are ordered to be laid down.
In Harbour.—Caledonia, America, San Josef, Express,
Larne, Confiance, and /Etna.
In the Sound.—Lancier, Dutch schooner.
There is a report in circulation, which is tolerably welly
founded and generally believed in naval circles, that a limited
flag promotion is shortly intended, in consequence of so un-
precedented a number of admirals having died during the
last few months.
SHEER-NESS, Feb. 29.—The Chichester, frigate, was teWed.
into this port on Saturday last, from Woolwich, where she
was built. She will be taken into the basin the first oppor-
tunity.
The Adventurer, transport, has been taking in large quad,-
titles of old stores at this yard. She also took in the stores
which were lent to bringfdown the Vulture from Chatham-
She sailed on Tuesday for Devonport.
The Ganges, 84, is to be got ready as an advance-ship, and
not to be commissioned, as reperted.
The Boyne, transport, was taken to Deptford on Tuesday.
In Harbour.—The Camperdwn, Speedy, Ocean, and Afri-
caine.

In Dock.—The Ganges, Shannon, Cygnet, and Eolus.
The Captain Superintendent (Fisher) of this dockyard re-
ceived a slight stroke of paralysis on Tuesday last, whilst en-
gaged in his office, and has been confined to his bed ever
since.