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

FRE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 15, 1864.

however, oannot be justly laid on the Admiralty, as
it must be fresh in the minds of everyone who pays
attention to such matters that the majority of people,
naval officers included, were smitten with the idea
that our long ships required more than three masts;
and this idea was cherished and promulgated right
and left without perhaps due consideration being
given to the effect such an addition to a ship's mast•
ing would have upon her balance when under sail.
The Achilles is the first vessel we have treated in
this waj', and as her efficiency has been seriously
impaired, the sooner we revert in her case to the
wisdom of our forefathers the better for the ship. The
hull of the Achilles when seen in close proximity
has a handsome sheer well out of the water at her

line of ports, a clean round stern, and a very hand-
some bow, over which project her light bowsprit
and jibboom. Ia board ehe has a fine roomy upper
deck with a topgallant forecastle, the latter very
much in the way when work is going on under the
direction of the officer in charge forward, and should
be taken out of the ship with the bow mast.
The general fittings of the upper deck have
been executed in a manner that reflects the
highest credit on the officials of Chatham
Dockyard. Among the most noticeable of these
fittings is a brass standard counter, with a dial
which gives the direction of the engines and the
number of revolutions they are making, and a very
cleverly executed light line of railway between and
round the funnels, for transporting the ashes when
hoisted from below. The ship's armament on the
upper deck consists of four HO-pounder breech-
loading Armstrong guns. The main deck fittings
have been executed with the same care and efficient
arrangement as those of the upper deck. On the
main deck the ship carries 16 smooth-bore guns
(coil built Armstrongs) of 9.22 inch calibre, throw-
ing round shot of 100 lb. weight. These are the
guns which have been, as a compliment to his Grace
the Duke of Somerset, as First Lord of the Admi-
ralty, termed the " Somerset" gun, and certainly
they possess good. smashing powers for smooth•
bares when firing steel shot with their full powder
charges. On deck. and belo w the ship is in excel-
lent order, and a great amount of work must have
been expended by her captain and. officers to have
got her and her crew into their present condition
during the comparatively short time the ship has
been in commission.

To-day the ship will make her trial with half-
boiler power, weather permitting.

Railway and other Companies.

CRYSTAL PALACE.

The 19th ordinary general meeting of this com-
pany was held yesterday at the London Tavern—
Mr T. Farqahar 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 as they pro•
posed to pay on the present cccasion. 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 fu►ure 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 Itei!way 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 L 72,600
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-
fering with any necessary outlay on the building,
which was being gradually improved in ♦alue. It
was originally constructed in a hasty manner, in
the course of which improper materials were used
that no doubt were euitable materials for the builds
ing in Hyde Park, but not for a permanent purpose.
They 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 efficient and 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 cum.
parry. 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•
salt in connexion with that subject. Ile then adverted
to a circular that bad been sent to the shareholders
by some one proposing that the salary of Mr Bowley
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 excellent 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 and other matters were larger
than they need be; he thought that the external
gardens were 'very beautiful, and had been main-
tained at a considerable saving of expense.

Mr GOEZ said it appeared to him very satisfac-
tory, from the aceounts, that the attractions of the
Palace had increased, and he trusted that a still
larger number of the 3,000,000 in London would be
attracted to that delightful place when the London
and Chatham Railway 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 them
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, where
the music was not so wet heard as at the sides. He
had been travelling in Italy and over the Continent
last summer, acd he did not believe there was a
more beautiful spot in all Europe than their Palace
and grounds.
141 r PUNCHER believed that every department was
conducted is a proper manner, end suggested that
as small a sum as possible should be expended on
specialties. They had expended during the past
year £24,800 on special attractions, but if they had
expended only £14,800 there 'would have been
£lO,OOO more for dividend, which would hove given
them an additional 1 per cent.
Mr ELIOART suggested that the officials ehould in
come way be interested in increasing the dividends;
end that as soon es posaiblo they eleculd 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 replied to the various ()bier vations.
The expenditure alluded to by Mr Wilson was for
repairs and new boilers; another was for the re.

newal of some of the external statues with substan-
tial materials. The heating apparatus must be re-
placed, and everything had to be kept up in a sound
state and in good order. As to the season tickets,
they hoped to make an arrangement with the Gnat-
ham and Dover Company, as suggested by Mr Got z.
With regard to asphalting the walks, he considered
that as a luxury, and not a necessity, He would,
however, give every attention to his suggestions
respecting the orchestra. The directors were most
careful of expenditure, but everything must be
done in that establishment in an tfficient manner,
and worthy of a great company. They had
not yet got the individual leases for the Dulwich•
wood property, but they hoped soon to be able to
sell the houses on it. They had recently let a part
of the land for £2OO a year. The directors had
now ten years' experience, and were beginning to
understand their business; they hoped, with the
able assistance and guidance of their excellent ma-
nager, to accomplish in future more satisfactory
results.

The report was then unanimously adopted, and
on the motion of Mr. PETTARD, seconded by Mr.
PUNCHER, a special vote of thanks was given to the
directors, to Mr. Bowley, the manager, to Mr.
Groves, the secretary, and the heads of departments,
for their constant exertions in promoting the inte-
rests of the company.

tickets, which were given up and handed to the guard, with
directions to deliver them to the stationmaster at Hitchin,
and get the right names of the parties. Mr Martin said they
had threatened to do for him when he got out of the train.
John Eaton and William Bamford, the guards of the train
on the 13th of November, confirmed the evidence as above
given of a complaint having been made that a gentlenan in
the train had been insulted, and the two defendants were
also identified as having been at the station at Irchester and
wanting to smoke in a carriage, and also as having been seen
on the platform of Oakley stafion walking from the direction
of the carriage in which Mr Martin was seated towards the
third class, where they were found. Mr Jeffery, addressing
the Bench, said that the guard had reported the occurrence
in the usual way. (The report was handed in.) As Mr Scott
was not able to attend, that was all the evidence he had
to bring forward. Mr Shepherd, for the defendants, urged
that whatever had been said was only in " chaff," arising
out of the defendants considering that Mr Martin made
himself disagreeable by objecting to smoking or having the
windows open. The defendants were men of the highest re-
spoctability, and would never be guilty of using the dis-
gusting and disgraceful language which Mr Martin had
detailed. If the Bench would allow his clients to give evi-
dence one for the other, the real facts would be manifest,
which certainly at present was not the case. The Chairman
said,—«%e are quite satieffid that the case is distinctly
proved, and we are sorry to find that people of such good
character and position should havobeen brought here having
been guilty of such foolish conduct, not to say worse. We
inflict the full penalty and full costs.