The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-23 00:00:00

THE ROYAL NAVY.

PORTSMOUTH, TUESDAY. —The Winchester, 52, Captain
Thomas W. Carter, arrived at Spithead yesterday morning,
from the West Indies and North American station; she left
Bermuda last, and has made a very quick passage of only six-
teen days. She will come into harbour in the course of the
day, and will either be paid up, or paid off, all standing. In the
event of her being paid off, she will be recommissioned forth-
with, as she is under orders to proceed, as soon as possible, to
the Cape, with the flag of Rear-Admiral Hon. Josceline Ptrcy.
Previous to her being recommissioned, she will be taken into
dock and overhauled. At the time the Winchester left Ber-
muda, the following ships were lying there :—lllustrious, 72,
with the flag of Sir Charles Adam ; Pique, 36 ; Spartan, 26 ;
Volage, 26; and Spitfire steam-vessel. The Racehorse, 18,
had sailed a day or two previous for Barbadoes, and the Illus-
trious was on the eve of leaving Bermuda for the same place.
Commanders Ogilvy, Murray, and Fisher, who have been re-
cently promoted in the late brevet, came home passengers. as in
the Winchester.

Rear-Admiral Hon. Joceline Percy is expected down to-
day or to-morrow, to hoist his flag on board the Winchester,
in which he will proceed to the Cape, to take the command at
that station. There will then be five Admirals' flags flying at
this port—those of Admiral Sir Edward Codrington, on board
the St. Vincent (white at the main), he being the Com-
mander. in-Chief of the port— of Vice-Admiral Sir Edward
Owen, on board the Queen (red at the fore), who is about to
assume the command of the fleet in the Mediterranean—of
Rear-Admiral Hon. D. P. Bouverie, on board the V.etory
(red at the mizen), the Admiral-Superintendent of the Dock-
yard here—of Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, en board
the Excellent (blue at the wizen), who is going out to China
as second in command—and of Rear-Admiral Hon. Josceline
Percy, on board the Winchcster (blue at the mizen), about
to proceed to the Cape.
The Formidable, 84, Captain Sir Charles Sullivan, has
proved herself, in her voyage from the Downs to this port, to
be an excellent sailer. She left the Downs four hours after the
Alfred. and arrived here half an hour before her, though on
a previous occasion, when the two ships left Sheerness to-
gether, and anchored at the Sunk, the Alfred had a slight
advantage of her. She has again sprung her capstan, which
will in all probability be replaced by a new one. It is
not expected that she will leave Spithead within a fortnight
or three weeks, as she is nearly a hundred hands short of
her complement.
The Carysfort, 26, Captain Lord George Paulett, has go::
nearly ready for sea in a very short space of time. She has
been commissioned but a very few weeks, and although she
only came out of the basin a day or two ago, she has her
top-gallant masts up and all her running gear rove. In all pro-
bability, she will leave the harbour the latter end of next week.

The Alfred, 59, Commodore Purvis, has some defect in her
rudder. which it is thought, will render it necessary for her
to come into harbour to have repaired. This, however, Rill
not detain her beyond the time she would otherwise remain to
complete her stores and men. She is about fifty hands short
of her complement.
The Queen, 110, Capt, Rich, with the flag of Sir Edward
Owen, has now got nearly the whole of her hands, and will
leave in about a week, for the Aleditterranean.

Ships at Spithead.—Queen, 110; Formidable, 84 ; Win-
chester, 52 ; Alfred, 50 ; and Wolverine, 16.
Ships in Harbour.—St. Vincent, Victory, Excellent,
Royal George yacht, Vindictive, Carysfort, Ringduve, and
Nautilus.

NEGRO WIT.—A short time since a gentleman
driving on the road between Little River and this town, was
overtaken by a negro boy on a mule, who attempted for a long
while, without success, to make the animal pass the carriage.
At length the boy exclaimed to h s beast, " I'll bet you one
fippenny I make you pass this time ;" and after a short pause,
again said, " you bet?—very well." The boy repeated the
blows with renewed vigour, and at last succeeded in making
him pass ; when the gentleman, who overheard the conversa-
tion between Quaco and his steed, said to him, " Well, my
boy, now you have won, how are you going to make the mule
pay you?"—" Oh, Sir," says Quaco, "make him pay me very
well; Massa give me one tenpenny for buy him grass, and me
only buy him a fippenny-worth !"—Brighton Garette.
A DISTRESSING VASE.—'Tuesday afternoon, about
three o'clock, the feelings of the people passing along the High-
street were excited in no ordinary degree, with deep sympathy
and pity, for a poor womanewho was wending her way in the
direction of the High Church burying-ground, with a coffin
under her arm, evidently enclosing the remains of her dead
child. She had an old tartan mantle thrown over her head,
and with the skirt she was endeavouring to hide the sad
emblem of death. Her squalid features bore the marks of ex-
treme grief, and her legs, which were without any kindly
covering, tottered beneath the weight she was carrying. At
her side was a boy, about ten years of age, the only being ac-
companying her in the last melancholy duty of conveying her
child to the "narrow house." Altogether the scene was one
of the most soul-harrowing description—it was sufficient to
make humanity blush. Who could think that in Britain, "on
whose dominions the sun never sets,"—that in religious Scot-
land, in Glasgow, her commercial capital, such a display of ex-
treme destitution should be witnessed in her streets ? This
single occurrence speaks volumes. It is, indeed, a lesson of
awful importance to our legislators; but when will they turn
wise ? Glasgow Saturday Post.
The 13th Light Dragoons which were quartered
at Slough, Maidenhead, and Colebrook, during the King of
Prussia's visit to Windsor Castle, have marched into this town
and Norwich. Previous to the regiment leaving Slough, a
Court-martial was held at the Crown Hotel, on Sergeant Scott,
who was charged with neglect of duty and absence from quar-
ters. On the day following, the troops mounted, assembled,
and the commanding officer read over the whole of the evidence,
showing that the charges were clearly proved. The command-
ing-officer then pronounced the sentence of the Cour;, that
Sergeant Scott be reduced to the rank of a private. The
ceremony of ripping off his stripes was then performed, and
the man "fell into the ranks. He had been in the regiment
fourteen years, and up to this period had conducted himself
with propriety. He appeared deeply to feel his degradation.—
Ipswich Express.
On Tuesday evening the town of Crich was the
scene of great disturbance and confusion. The principal part
of the inhabitants, to show their disapprobation of Sir Robert
Peel's proposed scheme for the Corn-laws, made an effigy of
Sir Robert, of straw and old clothes, and carried it round the
town. It was received with shouting and hooting as it pasted
along. After the town had been perambulated, Sir Robert
Peel—the man of straw—was burnt near to the King's Arms
Inn, amidst the most dismal yells, hisses, and groans. In the
Market-place some scoundrel picked Sir Robert's pocket of a
watch, made of a large turnip, and having part of a plough
chain and an iron bolt, for the chain and key. The rogue has
)et escaped detection ! !—Correspondent of the Derbyshire
Chronicle.
THE PRICE OF BREAD IN GLASGOW.--Our atten-
tion has been called to this subject, and we must say that we
think there is something in it which requires at least an expla-
nation. The price of the 41b. loaf, it seems, has been 10d.
for many months past in this city, and nothing less, whilst in
other places it has been selling for some time at 9d., and even
(.iltotoaf fi6nde. 8d in,
as low as Bd. On looking over our file, we find that of late the
ssC--4ond lb
1
price of bread in Perth has
,s fineashha...sbeene
w
second ditto 7d. ;
Paisley, Edinburgh, Dumfries, &c., 41b. fine loaf 9d. From
the Caledonian Mercury, of 12th February, we learn likewise
that in Cup,,r of Fife the price of the 41b. loaf, as in Perth, is
only Bd. This is certainly an extraordinary difference, and
we have no doubt but the public must be satisfied as to the
cause of it.— Glasgow Saturday Post.
THE CORN-LAWS.—It is already known, that a
Deputation from the American Chamber of Commerce of this
port, consisting of Mr. Todd, Mr. Brown, Mr. Bolton, and
others, have had interviews with Sir Robert Peel and the
Earl offßipon on the Corn-laws, as they affect the trade be-
tween Great Britain and the United States. The Deputa-
tion stated, we hear, among other reasons, that the southern
States were anxious for an extenson of the intercourse with
Great Britain and the eastern States ( the seat of manufac-
tures), desirous that it should be limited; the middle States
were wavering on the subject, but ready to throw their weight
on the side from which they might hope to derive the greatest
advantage. That the settlement of the Corn-law question in
this country would have a material influence on the condition
of .things in the United States, if that settlement should lead
to the regular import of corn from abroad, and on terms on
which the American grower could eompele with the Conti-
nental grower, then the middle States would, in all probabi-
lity, side with the southern, and thus greatly extend the
market for British manufactures, which was limited, at pre-
sent, by the state of the law, which practically prohibited
the exportation of " bread stuffs" in return for our mar u-
factures. I hat the system of taking the averages operated
disadvantageously for the United States, and that a longer
period than six weeks—say, eight or ten—would be requisite
to put the American merchant on an equal footing with the
Continental merchant in the supply of the British market.
These and other arguments the Deputation pressed on the
Premier's attention, who promised to give them all the consi-
deration in his power.—Liverpool Albion.
ASTLEY'S AMPHITHEATRE.—It has been confidently
but erroneously asserted, that Messrs. Grissell and Peto were
about to rebuild this celebrated establishment. They have
declined doing so, and it is now of course, impossible that it
can be completed by Easter Monday. It will be erected by
Mr. Cobbold, who has obtained from the Archbishop of Can-
terbury, at a ground-rent of 6001. per annum, a lease for forty
years. Mr. Batty, now performing at the Circus, Westminster
Baths, is to be the lessee, and succeeds Mr. Ducrow, on Easter
Monday, 1843 ; in the meantime he is engaged, with his stud
and company, by Mr. Willis Jones, for the Surrey Theatre,
where the equestrian performances commence on the 25th of
March. Madame Ducrow's stud, &c., under the management
of Messrs. Hillier and Broadfoot, appear on the same evening
at Sadler's Wells ; where, by a new and singular contrivance the
stage (not the pit as heretofore) is to be converted into a circle.
The half-yearly meeting of the Proprietors of the
Incorporated General Steam Navigation Company was held
yesterday, at the office of the Company in Lombard-street.
The chair was taken by Wolverley Attwood, Esq., at two
o'clock, The Report and half-yearly accounts were read, and
appeared to afford general satisfaction. The usual bonus and
dividend were declared, and after voting the cordial thanks of
the Proprietors to the Chairman and Directors, the meeting
separated.
Monday week Lord Panmure formally made over
to the new Mechanics Institution, Brechin, the handsome
apartments which he had erected for its use, together with
the fine collection of paintings which decorate the hall. His
Lordship at the same time handed to the President and Vie, -
Pi esident a check for 1,000/, to be vested in Trustees for
behoof of the Institution. Thus, by the enlightened liberality
of this Nobleman, the youth of Brechin have been provided
with elegant schools and the mechanics with a splendid hall,
and the means of obtaining instruction in useful knowledge and
rational amusement in all time coming.—Aberdeen Herald.
A CONTRYMAN, OUTWITTED.—On thursday week
an artilleryman, belonging to the East India Company, met a coun-
tryman driving a team of horses near the Star, on Chatham.hiil.
They got into conversation, and the soldier persuaded his com-
panion to go and have something to drink. After drinking some
time, the soldier got the countryman to etchaiige clothes, and
" see how well he would look in regimentals." They did so, the
soldier put on the countryman's clothes and contrived to slip out
of the room, but forgot to return, taking with him a watch and
7s. It was some time before the countryman found his compan.
ion had bolted, and he was at length obliged to drive the team in
full regimentals. As he passed through Chatham he was take up
rs a deserter, and conveyed to the barracks, where the cause of
his military appearance became known. The deserter has not
beets heard of since.—Dotter Chronicle.