The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-15 00:00:00

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE—This day.

LONDON, Dec. 15.—Wind this day at noon—South-
Easterly; moderate breeze, azd cloudy weather, with a
slight tog.

MILFORD, Dec. 14.—Wind S.E.—Arrived—Due Cog-
nate, from Newfoundland for Cardiff. Sailed—Sarah,
steamer, for Jamaica.

FALMOUTH, Dec, 13.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Sparkle,
from Calcutta.

PORTSMOUTH, Dec. 14.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Chal-
lenger, from London for. Shanghai.

(BY MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.)

GRAVESEND, Thursday Morning.
Arrived, Dec. 14—Furet, from Gravelines—Meteor, from
Petersburg—lda Engelsken, from Emden; Ark, from
Dantzig—Calcutta, steamer, from Calcutta.
Arrived, Dec.—Cavon, from Hudickswall--Augusta and
Aurora, both from Emden—Express, from Helsinborg—
Concordia and Emilie, both from Groningen—Ann and
John, from Lanskrona.

Sailed—Triton, steamer, for Boulogne.
DEAL, Thursday Morning.

Passed, Dec.l4—Maria, for Demerara—Lady Broughton,
for Cape of Good Hope—Night Watch, for Mogador—
Eaglet, for Oporto—Flying Cloud, for Moreton Bay—all
from London.

Passed, Dee. 15—Aurora, Ecrew steamer, from London
for Bordeaux—Harold, from Shields, for Naples.

Liverpool Cotton Market—This Day

Market quiet. Sales, about 5,000 bales.

TIIE ARTS CLUB.—The annual dinner of this
club took place yesterday evening at its house in Hanover-
square. The chair was filled ty Mr Thomas Hughes, and
about sixty gentlemen (the necessary limit) sat down to
dinner. The proceedings were as little formal as possible,
and after "Prosperity to the Club," "Art," " Literatut e,"
&c., had been given, the mouThers present adjourned to the
conversazione afterwards held in their rooms upstairs.
Several fine oil paintings, portfolios of water colours, cud
other works of art were exhibited by various members of
the club. This interesting gathering, which was success-
ful in every way, did not break up un'il early this morn-

ing. Amongst those present were—Mr Horace Jones (vice-
chairman), Mr F. W. Burton, Mr Val Prinseps, Mr
Edmund Yates, Mr A. F. Cockerell, Mr F. Walker, Mr J•
C. Parkinson, and Mr Tom Angell (hon. sec.).
LORD PALAIERSTON.—The political life of Lord
Palmerston has been longer than that of any states-
man of the present century at home or abroad. That of
Prince M.etternich lasted 51 years, from 1794 to 1843 ; that
of Count Nesselrode also the same number of years—viz.,
from 1802 to 1856; that of the Duke of Wellington lii tle
more than 45 years, dating from the time when he was Chief
Secretary in Dublin to his death; that of Sir R. Peel even
less still. But Lord Palmerston entered the House of Com-
mons in 1806, and has held office, with very slight inter-
missions, since 1807, or seven years more than half a een-
tury.—. Once a Week.

IHE MONT CENIS TUNNEL.—In a highly inte,.
resting article by Emile Level, in this fortnight's
Revue Contemporaine, we find some curious details about
the piercing of the tunnel between Modane and B adoneche.

It is well ktviwn that the whole length of the tunnel, when
completed, will be 12,200 metres. Tke machine used for the
purpose is M. Sommelier's perforator, set in motion by com-
pressed air. It consists of a piston working horizontally in
a cylinder, and carrying a chisel fixed upon it like a bayonet,
which at each stroke dashes with violence against the rock
to be pierced. Each time the chisel recalls, it turns round
in the hole, and as the latter is sunk deeper and deeper, the
frame or shield, which carries, not one, but nine perforators,
advances in proportion. While the chisel is doing its work
with extraordinary rapidity, a copper tube of small diameter
keeps squirting water into the hole, by which means all the
rubbish is washed out. Eehind the shield there is a tender,
which, by the aid of a pump set in motion by compressed
air, feeds all these tubes with water. The noise caused by
the simultaneous striking of all the chisels against the rock
is absolutely deafening, enhanced as it is 1,37 the echo of the
tunnel. All at once the noise ceases, the ohield rece .es
behind it, and the surface of the rock is perceived riddled
with 80 holes, varying in depth between 80 and 90 centi-
metres. These holes are now charged with car:ridges, slow
matches burning at the rate of GO centimetres per minute
are inserted, .and the workmen retire in haste. The explo-
sion seems to shake the mountain to its roots ; when all is
over the ground is found covered with fragments of the rock,
and an advance equal to the depth of the holes has been oh.
tained. On the Brandoneche side this year the average nd-
eown Nidgantoe sideth
ivtahnacse per
not
meoxnatehe
dhe ads
381 e emn
estOr ms epterre s
greater hardness of the rook on that side; there still re-
;moonnthth,
mains a length of about 8,250 metres to go through. \% hen
completed the tunnel will have required the piercing of
1,200,000 holes, 550,000 kilogrammes of gunpowder
1,550,000 metres of slow match ; the number of bayonets
rendered unserviceable will amount to 2,4so,ooo.—(talig-
nani's Messenger.

A NEW DODGE.—A correspondent of the Times
writes as follows : —On Friday night, about six o'clock,
I was walking near Covent-garden, when a man came
up to me and, presenting a small piece of paper, asked
me if I could tell him where that was. I concluded that
he wished me to tell him what I thought was an address
on the paper. While trying to make out this address by
the aid of the gaslight, I thought I felt something touch
my waistcoat pocket, and, looking down, I saw my watch-
chain dangling loose, whereupon I immediately knocked
the inquirer down, and seizing him by tho throat demanded
my watch. This was at once restored to me, and the fel-
low escaped, unluckily.
ARRIVAL OF SPECIE FROM MEXICO.—ST. NA_
LAIRS, October 15.—The steamship Lousiana has arrived
here from Mexico with 5,000,000 fr., 2,000,000 fr. of which
are on account of the French Government.

About £65,000 in gold was taken into the Bank
yesterday, but 302,000 sovereigns were with.

drawn.

The last week's railway receipts,
ascertained up
to this day, are in round figures as under :

1864. 1863.
Great Western ....................£63,958 £60,708
North- Western ........ 10', 381 95,385
........... . ~,
South- Western
Brighton ............. •
Midland ................... .
South Eastern ... ...
: : : 1419618(1)6261' 32
42119501 :: 0.31 :05
Great Northern
Lancashire and Yorkshire.. 34,340 35,010
Bristol and Ezeter
North Eastern 59,213
Msnelle6ter. Sheffield, and Linc01n...... 17,3'24 175.),587
,61+
Great Etta -ern

These reiurna are in one or two instances of a
less satisfactory character. Oa the Lancashire and
Yorkshire there is a neoree.se of £740; ManchestLr,
Sheffield, and Lincoln, £293; South Western,
£417; Great Western, however, shows an increase
(if £3,250; North Western, £6,996:; Brighton,
£1,476 ;
"."--:411d, £4,402; South Eastern, £343;
Great Northern, £1,954; Bristol and Ewer,
£383; North Eastern, £4,656; and the Orc.4
Eastern, £950,

The frigate thus launched is in many respects
an improvement on what threatens to be the
ordinary routine of ironclad ships of war in
regard to the plating, though in oue respect its
backing is very far from being an improvement.
Her length over all is, in round numbers, 3`.',oft.,
her breadth extreme, 561., and her depth amid-
ships, 371 ft. Her tonnage is 4,220 tons; she is
to have engines by Messrs. Salkeld and Co., of 900
nominal horse power, which can work up safely to
3,000, and her armament is to be 20 guns of the
heaviest calibre which we yet know how to con-
struct, or at least to use with safety to the gunners.
Vessel, guns, masts, and rigging,—in fact, every-
everything but crew, will be English, when she is
delivered to the Turkish authorities in the Golden
Horn, and she has been built under the inspection
of officers of the Admiralty specially appointed for
that purpose, and on the same plan of internal cone
straction as that adopted in the Warrior. Minotaur,
and other of the most celebrated vessels in our
service. The improvement in the plating of the
Mahmoud consists chiefly in making the plates
thicker at the waterline, and gradually tapering
them off as they rise to the level of the upper deck,
so as to keep the great mass of dead weight as
nearly as possible on a level with her centre of
gravity, or line of flotation. At the water-line her
plates are 51in. thick, lessening upwards in a
gradual reduction of thickness to 41 in. She was
launched with no less than 172 of these plates,
weighing about 700 tons, fixed on, so that now
only an equal number of thinner plates remain to
be bolted on to make her fit for active service.
Though only a vessel of the Hector and Valiant
class, she is, unlike them, coated with armour-
plates from stem to stern, and fitted with a sub
merged prow or beak, for use as a ram as opportu.
nities may offer. This beak is of the kind now
tolerably well known as the swan-breasted bow,
which projects under water some 10ft. beyond the
apparent bows, or what seems to be the actual
length of the vessel. The theory of its use is,
of course, that of striking an armour-clad
enemy below the watereline, and therefore also
below its armour. We, however, may venture Wetly
that if the Mabmoud is to be armed with such a
number of 300 and 150 pounder Armstrongs as it.
is stated she is meant to carry, her beak will, after
all, prove but a feeble auxiliary to her offensive
powers, especially if she should realise the expecta-
tion@ confidently formed of her, and bo able to steam
at the rate of 13 knots an hour. This beak, however,
is strengthened entirely for running down purposes,
and, though having a solid iron edge of only three
inches wide, is formidably strengthened by wrought
iron supports, which pass back into the main body
of the ship behind. It is only in the backing behind
the armour-plates that the Mahmoud appears to be
inferior to the vessels of the Warrior and Black
Prince class. The latter have transverse beams
of teak 11 inches in thickness, the Mabmoud, like
our Minotaur and Agincourt, has an additional inch
of iron in her armour ; but to compensate for this
increase of weight, has the teak behind it tednced
from 18 to 9 inches. This alteration in the thick•
ness of the backing was one of the most serious
blunders the Admiralty ever made in their iron fleet
though, fortunately, the mistake is robbed of half
its ill effect by other Powers having weakly followed
their example, and followed it too precisely, like
our own Admiralty,without anything to guide their '
hasty judgment. All experiments in iron targets
have shown that the thickness of the armoureplate
is relatively of less importance than the strength of
the backing which keeps it up to its work. Thus,
the Warrior plates of 41 inches with 18 inches of
teak behind have withstood the most concentrated
fire, while the Minotaur target of 5i inches armour
with 9 inches teak at once buckled and almost
trampled up under the fire of even the smoothabore
68 pounders. The Minotaur would, no doubt, be a
heavy overmatch for several of the old wooden screw
liners, but, on the other hand, so would the Warrior
prove an overmatch for two or three iron Minotaars.
The general build of the Sultan Mahmoud only
illustrates another phase of the now useless struggle
to make frigates of such strength as can defy ord-
nance of any strength. It is the old question of
armour versus guns, and the guns keep always win-
ning, no matter what the thickness of the armour
of seagoing frigates. This Turkish vessel is to carry
18 150-pounders, nine on each side, with two upper
deck 300-pounders fitted amidships to fire fore and
aft. Such an armament will be much above the re-
sisting powers of any arznourclad that floats, herself
of course included, just as the wooden three-deckers
are little more than basketwork as opposed to the
63-pounder and 10-inch shell guns of the old smooth
bore artillery, In fact, the old armourelad knights
and men-at-arms would stand as much chance
against the Enfield rifle as armourclad ships stand
against the rifled ordnance which this country at
least possesses. That Mr Reed's Bellerophon may
partly answer against light loaded 150-pounders has
been shown, that it will not stand for a single shot
of the 300-pounder is equally well established, and
the Sultan Mahmoud has not more than half the
resisting strength of the Bellerophon.
After the launch visitors were entertained at an
ample dejeuner given by the Thames Iron Company
in the mould loft of the works. At this, after the
usual loyal toasts had been given, " The Health of
'His Majesty the Sultan' was drunk aral.d loud
applause.

In reply to this M. M MMUS, the Turkish Ambas
sad or, said—I beg to offer you my sincere thanks for
the cordiality with which you have received the toast
proposed in so kind a manner by the
chairmanin
h
honour of my august Sovereign. I am vertlol
see that the virtues:of my gracious master Yareas onY
known and apprrciated in this country. Sir.cewheis
accession to the Throne his Imperial M jtrstY has
devoted his earnest solicitude
-°Promote the welfaret
t
of his vast empire, by reforming its financial system,
introducing administrative imiirovements, increas-
ing the means of communication, establishing new
schools, encouraging agriculture, commerce, and
industry, and thus opening for his subjects the road
to wealth and moral prosperity. But his Majesty
knows that, as in nature a good harvest cannot be
relied upon under the mischievous influence of in-
clement and stormy weather, so withont external
peace and internal order he cannot secure the suc-
cess of his noble end generous efforts. This Is the
reason why one of his first objects is to make as
perfect as possible the organisation of his army and
navy, and bring their efficiency to the level of the
high mission intrusted to him by Providence, the
mission of maintaining peace and order in the E 39:

The iron frigate Achilles, 20 guns, 6,079 tens,
1,250 horse power of engines, Capt. Vausittart, com-
menced her official trials in her sea-going trim yes-
terday, at Portsmouth, with her runs over the trial
ground at the measured mile in Stokes-bay, with
full boiler power, and in making her circles—also
under full power. A gunboat left the harbour at
8 30 a.m., for Spithead, with the officials oa board
to conduct the trial, the latter comprising Comman-
der Brett, of her Majesty's ship Asia; Messrs Ward
and Murdock, of the Steam Factory and Steam Re-
serve Departments; Messrs Brain and Elliott,
Assistant Master Shipwrights, &c, On the officials
reaching the ship she at once steamed out from the
anchorage to clear her fires in readiness to enter on
the mile. It was nearly 11 a.m., however, before
the ship commenced her first run, owing to a diffi-
culty experienced with her coals. The ship's draught
of water was 25ft 6in forward, and 26ft 10in aft.
She was not quite complete in all her stores, though
the deficiency was but trifling, and she had 560 tons
of coal in her bunkers, when she could have stowed
760 tons, The wind was moderately fresh, about 4
in strength, from E.N.E., with smooth water. The
engines drive a four blade Mangin screw, the blades
being fixed at equidistant intervals round the boss
on the shafting, the diameter of the screw being 241 t
bin and its pitch 26L Sin. The engines are pre•
cisely the same power as those of the Warrior-
-1,250 horses—made from the same patterns and by
the same makers, Messrs Penn. The ship's midship
section is stated to be precisely the same as the
Warrior's; in fact, she is a second Warrior, both in
hull and engines, with the single but important
exception that she is an Admiralty " im-
provement" on the Warrior, inasmuch that
the Achilles has had her bilges pulled out a little,
her floor also slightly lengthened forward, her ar-
mour plating carried up to her main deck above the
water line round her bow and stern, her hull being
also minus figurehead and quarter galleries, and four
masts plat into her in lieu of the ordinary three.
With these supposed improvements it might ream
sonably have been expected that the Achilles would
yesterday have beaten the Warrior in point of speed
at the measured mile, but the contrary was the re-
sult, and the Warrior still retains her proud position
as the fleetest ship under steam in her Majestys
navy. The following are the results of the Achil-
les' run yesterday :
No. of Time. Speed of ship. Steam. Vacuum. Rev. of
Run. ms. Knots. Lb. Inches. Engines.
1 413 14.220 221 2G 491
2 5 6 11.764 23 25 49
3 4 3 14 815 231 251 491
4 5 8 11.668 22 26 :481
5 356 15'254 23 251 49f
6 516 11392 231 25 50
7 350 15.652 23 25 50
8 619 11.285 25 26 50

Throwing the two first runs out of calcula•
tion, the remaining six give the ship a speed of
knots of 13 419. To appreciate the exact value of
this result we must refer to the ship's trial at light
draught off the Maplin Sands in April hat, and the
Warrior's trial in her seagoing trim in Oct., 1861.
The Achilles on her light trial dro-r? 22ft Gin_
of water forward, and 23ft 91n aft, or a mean draught
of 23ft 2in, and she attained a mean speed in her
six runs over the measured mile of 14 357 knots.
The Warrior, in her deep seagoing trim in October,
1861, drew 25ft Gin of water forward, and 26ft Sin
aft, giving a mean draught of 25ft 111 in, end she
attained a mean speed in her six runs over the mea•
cured mile of 14.354 knots. The Achilles yesterday
had thus a mean draught of water of 3ft in excess
of her draught on her light draught trial in April
last, and a mean draught of 21in in excess of that of
the Warrior in October, 1861. Two and a half
inches mean excess of immersion must necessarily
have its due effect on a ship's speed at the measured
mile; but it will not account for the knot difference
in speed, for it cannot be really called less, between
the Achilles and the Warrior, and the cause must,
therefore, be looked for elsewhere. This cause may
not possibly be found attached to any one point of
difference between the two ships, but rather to
several causes, the most prominent of which are—
the substitution of a four-bladed " Mangin" screw
in the Achilles for the two•bladed "Griffiths'' of
the Walrior, and the extra weight imposed on the
bows of the Achilles by the forward, or bow mast
(as the ship has four masts there is a difficulty in
naming them, so as to be understood clearly by the
reader), and her topgallant forecastle. A ship can•
not be loaded with impunity over its bows when
sent on a trial of speed over the measured mile
any more than a racehorse could be sent over the
course at Newmarket with a heavy weight sus-
pended round its neck. The Achilles has, however,
been thus unwisely weighted, and in her trial of
yesterday she paid the anticipated, and, indeed, un-
avoidable, penalty in a commensurate lose of speed,
if we attribute the greater portion of her loss to
this cause and not to the change of screw alone,
which may be fairly done. After the runs had
been concluded over the trial ground in Stokes-
bay, the ship was tested in her turning powers in
making circles with the following results:—
To Port.—Half circle made in 4min. 21sec. ; full
circle, Bmin. 36seo. ; angle of rudder, 25.5 ; turns of
wheel, 3; men at wheel, 21 ; time in getting up
helm, lmin, 4sec.; revolutions of engines, 47.
To Starboard.—Half circle made in 4mia. 4sec. ;
full circle, imin. 56sec. ; angle of rudder, 25'5;
turns of wheel, 3; men at wheel, 18; time in get•
ting up helm, lmin. 40sec.; revolutions of engines,
44.

The next step and the final experiment of the
day, was to test the engines in their working to
signal, which give the following satisfactory
results:—

Engines stopped from time of moving telegraph
on the quarterdeck bridge in 19sec., started ahead
in 6sec., and from that position started astern in 16
secs. The engines made 13250 revolutions during
the day, and their indicated power during the runs
over the measured mile was, as near as possible,
5,000 horse. The temperatures taken during the
first and last runs were—

When On Engine Fore Aft
taken. deck. room. stokehole. stokehole.
Ist run 48 70 84 63 94 92 114 116 125 118
6th run 48 74 88 65 9) 104 118 123 130 128

Of the engines no particular description need be
given, as they are counterparts of those of the
Warrior, and they did their work quite as satisface
torily yesterday as the Warrior's did on the day of
her trial. More than this cannot be said in their
favour, for the simple fact that it would be impos•
sible to award them a higher meed of praise, They
were in sole charge throughout the day of the chief
engineer of the ship, Mr. J. Leys. Messrs. Penn
were represented on board by Mr. Matthews, a
member of the firm. As regards the ship herself
and her general appearance, at a distance she looks
with her four masts a very bad imitation of the
Great Eastern, and this appearance will not be ines
proved until the bow mast is taken out of her and
her foremast proper is removed some 15 or 20ft. for-
ward of its present position. The forward or tow-
mast,
ship's
with its square rig, is not only an eyesore to
Tia h.ip's general appearance and retards her speed
under steam,
as was proved in yesterday's trial, but.
it is also all but useless when the ship
cisuvnad:risenatlot,
for if the wind is well aft the beam its an
wanted, and if the wind is at all sh, rt, er on the
bow, its canvas cannot be made use for its yards
of the
cannot be braced op sharp, owing to ,he had
stays and other gear, This mistake in the st • ' s rig,

The 19th ordinary general meeting of this com-
pany was held yesterday at the Londcm Tavern—
Mr T. Farquhar in the chair.
Mr G. Groves, the secretary, having read the
notice convening the meeting, the report, an ab-
stract of whieh has appeared in The Sun, was taken
as read.

The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report, said that at the meeting held that time last
year they had paid the same dividend es they pro.
posed to pay on the present eccasion; They had
to draw on sums at the credit of revenue, to make
up the dividend last year ; but, although they now
proposed to pay the same dividend, the whole
amount of it would be paid out of the profits of the
year; and they hoped in future to have better re-
sults. This dividend was earned without any addi-
tional aid from the new railways now in progress
of construction. The works on the branch of the
London, Chatham, and Dover Railway were ad-
vancing in front of the Palace, but they had not
yet the benefit of any traffic from that line, but
would probably next year. The result of the year's
working consisted in having received £72,a00
against £58,600 in 1863, showing an increase of
£13,900 from the pure and legitimate traffic of the
company. That had enabled them to supply the
deficiency in the profits of last year, and he hoped
in future they would realise better results. (Hear.)
'That was the main item, and it enabled them to pay
2s. a share, or 2 per cent, dividend, without inter-
ferit, with any 13.gepagary oathsy on the buila.ug,
which was being gradually improved in value. Is
was originally conetruc!ed in a hasty manner, in
the course of which improper materials were used
that no doubt were suitable materials for the build.
ing in Hyde Perk, but not for a permanent purpose.
Tney had heretofore to repair and improve the
building out of revenue, and everything was now
done to render it permanent. It was very satis-
factory to:the Board that after a careful inspection
by Mr. Nasmyth, who was one of the best autho-
rities on the subject, the building was found by him
to be in a very effioient aad substantial state. He
considered that the repairs and improvements had
been executed in a substantial manner for perman-
ence and stability, and at the same time they were
done most economically for the benefit of the coma
pang. With regard to their prospects for
the coming year they had made satisfactory
arrangements with the Sacred Harmonic
Society for carrying out the Handel Fes-
tival on a scale of magnitude and completeness
surpassing even former festivals, They would not
have on that occasion to go"to the expense of pre-
paring an orchestra for the purpose, because that
part of the building was now camplete, and conse-
quently next year they expected a much better re•
suit in connexion with that subject. He then adverted
to a circular that had been sent to the shareholders
by some one proposing that the salary of Mr Bewley
should be doubled, but Mr Bowley had had nothing
whatever to do with it, and he (the chairman)
thought that it was the work of some enemy, but
such a question could not be brought forward at that
meeting. He was happy to say that Mr Bowley,
their excel:ent manager, was perfectly content to
remain as he was, and the directors were perfectly
content to retain him. (Hear, hear.)

Mr A. ANDERSON seconded the motion for the
adoption of the report.

Mr WILSON considered that various items of ex-
penditure for repairs acid other matters were larger
then they need be; he thought that the external
gardens were very beautiful, and had been main-
tained at a considerable saving of expense.

Mr Goa* said it appeared to him very satisfac-
tory, from the accounts, that the attractions of the
Pal lee had increased, and he trust( d that a still
larger number of the 3,000,000 in London would be
attrict d to that delightful place when the Loudon
and Chatham Rail-ie ay from Ludgate-hill to the
front of the Palace was completed and in operation.
(Hear, hear,) He suggested that some arrangement
should be made with the Chatham Company for in-
cluding the railway fare in the price of the season
tickets to and from the Palace. He thought the
competition of the new company would enable then*
to accomplish so desirable a matter, which they
could not induce the Brighton Company to do.
By facilitating the access to the Palace he believed
the number of season tickets would be increased.
The shops at the Palace were very attractive,
and the prices were reasonable. The refreshment
department was, he thought, well conducted. He
suggested that if some of the walks were asphalted
it would add much to the comfort of visitors, and
would be appreciated by the public. The orchestra
might be greatly improved by the erection of screens
made of light wood, so placed as to send back the
sound to the central portion of the audience, w here
the music was not so well heard as at the sides. He
had been travelling in Italy and over the Continent
lest summer, and he did not believe there was a
more beautiful spot in all Europe than their Palace
and grenade.
Mr PUNCHER believed that every department was
conduced in a proper manner, and suggested that
43 small a sum as posoible should be expended o❑
specialties. They had expended daring the past
year £24,800 o❑ special attractions, but if they bad
expended only £14,800 there would have been
£lO,OOO more for dividend, which would have given
them an additional 1 per cent.
Mr ELIOART suggested that the officials c.l u 1 d in
some way be interested in increasing the dividends;
and that as soon as possible they should sell off the
houses on the Dulwich-wood property.
Mr WILSON objected to that course, and main-
tained it was for the interest of the company to keep
that property and use the income.
The CHAIRMAN repliedto the various observations.
The expenditure alluded to by Mr Wilson was for
repairs and new boilers; another we's for the re-

The receipts for the fortnight ending the 30th of
November amounted to £10,561, and for the corres-
ponding period of last year to £8,736, showing an
increase of £1,825. The receipts since tha com-
mencement of the present book year, on the Ist of
May, including the above, amounted to £165,766,
showing an increase as compared with the corres-
ponding period of last year of 122,670. The working
expenses for the fortnight amounted to £4,265, or
40.39 per cent., and for the corresponding period of
last year to £3,911, or 4510 per cent., ehowisg an
increase of £325. The working expenses from the
Ist of May to the 30th of November last amounted
£59,916, or 36.14 per cent,, and thoee for the year
1863 64 were 3S 16 per cent. of the receipts.

RAILWAY BENEVOLENf INSTITUTION.

Tne half-yearly meeting of the members took
place yesterday at King's-cross Station; Mr H.
Oakley in the chair.

Mr MILLS, the Secretary, read the report, which
congratulated the members on the steady progress
of the institution. The net balance was £8,935,
which in the previous year was £6,879, and in 1862,
£5,134. The subscriptions for the year amounted
to £998. During the year 350 officers and clerks
had joined the institution, but still many distressing
cases could not be relieved because the head of the
family was not a subscriber. It etas proposed to
uave a urriaunity fund- tur---ei-r., t..mporary ussiotanco
by:a donation not exceeding £5,

The CHAIRMAN, iu moving the adoption of the
report, adverted to the laudable (ff iris of the friends
of the institution in extending its ramifications.
There had been an increase in the subscriptions of
£220, and they looked forward to a still further
increase next year. The number of members was
very large, and, as an instance, he might say that
of the 800 clerks in the Great Northern Company,
25 per cent. were members, and it was hoped that
that per tentage would
ishortly be considerably in.
course.
Mrin other railway
eosse
motion,
which was
creased. It was the ntehtion of the Board to
endeavour to induce
deed same t
tbeol
k e
companiesß Ro tooK follows ee oo
nth
carried unanimously.

Annuitiesthen granted to three
per
oofwlidloOwegaeoh erfwlatee
members, and a late
station master.
sons—tw

approving the Bite,.
to theessuaityFund,
chairman closed the
arpanr toAdicoeanreedvos fioontiteughtseoi. rules lwhe
asanswktisht he
tnroePgtlatisrsect