The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-17 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

Porn:stolen', Nov. 14.—Her Majesty's steam.sloop Geyser
Commander E. Carpenter, arrived at Saithead yesterday afternoon,
from Malta and Gibraltar. She had not a particle of news, the
usual mail having announced that she was on her passage to Eng-
. Some supernumeraries and invalids have been transferred
o the flag-ship, and the Geyser has been ordered by telegraph to
proceed to Woolwich to be paid off, having been nearly four years
in commission.
The Dee steamer, and an Ordnance vessel, arrived yesterday
[room Woolwich, having the field guns and ammunition to be
shipped on board her Majesty's ship President, for conveyance to
the Cape of Good Hope or Mauritius, as may be required. Rear-
Admiral Dacres, his family and suite, have embarked this day, and
the Admiral having got his sailing orders, the President will put
to sea to.morrow. Rear-Admiral Dacres is to relieve Rear-Ad-
miral the Hon. J. Percy in the command at the Cape of Good
Hope, and that officer will return to England forthwith In her Ma-
jesty's ship Winchester.
The second trial of the Scourge steamer with the 13-inch mor.
tar and 56-pounder long gun took place yesterday, and was of.
much longer duration, but equally satisfactory as the first trial
She left the harbour at 9 A.m., with a number of officers from the
Excellent, and Naval College, and seamen gunners (the Marine
Artillery were dispensed with). Captain Chads, C. 8., again had
the direction of the proceedings, and Captain Stevens, R. M.A.,
and Mr. Taplin, engineer and mechanist of the dock-yard, were on
board to attend to the engines, &c.
On getting outside the Nab Light the shell practice commenced,
and fourteen shells, with a full charge of 201bs. of powder, were dis-
charged from the mortar, the range was nearly 5,000 yards; not the
slightest impediment in the steering of the vessel, or in the working
of the engines, took place ; she was kept under steam all the time,
but the precaution was taken of moving the men from the after
wheel to the midship wheel. The result of the shell practice
being most conclusive and satisfactory, the Scourge was anchored
and the people went to dinner. After this was concluded, two
boats were carried out 3,000 yards from the vessel, and moored
about 150 yards apart, and the practice at them with the 56-
pounder gun commenced, the full charge of 141bs. of powder was
used, and 42 shots were fired with great precision, but without
striking the boata,the shot pitching close to them at every fire ; this
concluded the experiments for the day, and the boats having been
got on board, the Scourge returned to the harbour about six o'clock
in the evening. The shell-room and magazines were admirably
worked, and Captain Chads expressed to the officers and seamen
his high approval of their skill and dircipline. Not a single ca-
sualty took place. The Scourge is in harbour, and will doubtless
be soon put in commission, and if two carronades are added to her
present armament, she will be a most formidable vessel, as she is
very swift.
A general garrison court-martial has assembled this day in the
mess-room of the Royal marine barracks, for the trial of Second
Lieutenant George Sheddon Dunbar, Royal Marines, charged with
" ungentlemanly conduct on the afternoon of the 39th October
last, being in a state of intoxication at the Victualling-store
Barracks." The following officers compose the Court :—Presi-
dent, Colonel John M'Callum, Royal Marines; Lieut.-Colonel
E. J. Crabbe, 74th Regiment; Lieut.-Colonel Gibsone, Royal
Marine Artillery; Major J. .1. Wipes, Royal Marines; Major
H. Smyth, 68th Light Infantry; Major J. Fordyce, 74th Regi.
went; Captain W. L. Dawes, Royal Marines; Caitain the
*Honourable F. O'Grady, 74th Regiment; Captain W. G. Gillman,
68th Light Infantry ; Captain P. J. J. Dusantoy, Royal Marines);
Captain H. Evans. Royal Marines ; Captain J. R. Wesley ;
Royal Marine Artillery; Captain J, F. Holmes, Bth Regiment:;
Lieutenant C. J. Hadfield, Royal Marines ; Lieutenant F.
W. Evans, 74 Regiment. Lieutenant and Adjutant Langley,
Royal Marines, officiating as Judge Advocate. The Court have
this day been examining witnesses in proof of the charge. The
prisoner will be allowed until to-morrow or Monday to prepare his
defence. The proceedings and sentence will be laid before the
Commander-in-Chief, before the result is known to the public.
Lieutenant Dunbar is a son of the late Captain Sir J. Dunbar,
Bart., Royal Navy, and has only been in the Marine corps since
March. 1842.
SHIMILNILIS, Nov. 13.—The Eclair steam-sloop, Lieutenant
commanding C. Haraton, steamed down from Standgate Creek,
and took up moorings in the harbour on Tuesday. Having