The Sun.
London, England, 1842-11-18 00:00:00

MALTA.

MALTA, Nov. 6.—NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.—Under
this head we have little to add to our communications
by the overland (India) mail of the 30th, and the
Great Liverpool's mail of the 31st tilt., our movements
since having been confined to the arrival on the Ist
inst. of the Locust steam-tender from Tripoli, bring-
ing nothing of interest, and the Hellenic corvette
Amalie, from Poros, and the departure on the 3d of
the Indus ship of the line for Smyrna, but whose ab-
sence will not, it is reported, exceed six weeks. The
Alecto steam-packet, left forthe lonian Islands and
Patras on the Ist, and
nn
2dDevastation war-steamer
n
for Tripoli and Tunis
eThe news of the
rising of the Arabs against the French (which I gave
you in my last) is confirmed, and it is stated that up
to the 31st ult. the loss of the French in officers alone
already amounted to 26 !
The news from Syria has opened the eyes of our
naval Commander-in-Chief to the necessity of having
a force in the East. The Howe three-decker, bearing
the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir F. Mason, puts to sea to-
morrow for Salamis. The Inconstant (inspected on
the 11th by Sir F. Mason), follows immediately, but
her destination is said to be Beyrout ; and the Van-
guard ship of the line, for the same quarter, is fitting
with all despatch. All these vessels have completed
five months provisions. The boats of the fleet con-
tinue exercising under the immediate eye of the Ad-
miral, who, with reference to the late acquittal of a
seaman of the Queen, charged with a serious crime,
in consequence of a flaw in the indictment, has issued
the following memorandum :
" The court-martial which has assembled for the
trial of John Sloner, seaman of the Queen, for not
only having used abusive language to the ship's cor-
poral in the executiorf of his duty, but having drawn
his knife and made a cut at him, has, after great con-
sideration, acquitted the said John Sloner of that
offence.
" I rejoice in this merciful interpretation of the evi-
dence, which enables me, without ordering the inflic-
tion of punishment, to call the attention of the officers,
petty
.officers, and others of the fleet to the necessity
of giving timely check to a self-willed indulgence in
drunkenness, which, whilst it excites the ungovern-
able passions of the vicious, and leads to the commis-
sion of every crime, destroys the health of those who
yield to it, and interferes most mischievously with the
comforts and more rational enjoyments of men around
them.
" I have observed with great regret, that evil has

arisen in very many cases from this self-willed in-
dulgence by the vicious, which has led to similar re-
sistance in other cases to the immediate authority of
those placed over them. This is in itself an evil to
be checked, but when the use of knives is resorted to
in cases of intemperance and quarrel, it is so disgust-
ing to the generous character of British seamen that
I need not allude to it, but as a degrading act which
calls for marked example.
" A less merciful interpretation of the evidence upon
John Sloner's case must have subjected him to the
heaviest penalty the law can inflict.

" E. W. C. R. OWEN."
SHIPS IN Powr.--The Queen, 110 (bearing the
flag of Vice-Admiral Sir E. W. C. Rich Owen,
K.C.8., G.C.8.) ; Howe, 120 (bearing the flag of Rear-
Admiral Sir F. Mason, K.C.8.) ; Ceylon, 6 (bearing
the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir John Louis, Bart.) ;
Impregnable, 104; Monarch, 84; Vanguard, 80;
Inconstant frigate, 24; Snake brig, 10; Prometheus
and Locust steam-packets; Stork, Najad, and Ante-
lope yachts; Mentor, Sesostris, and Eurotas French
steam-packets; and the Amalie, Greek corvette.