The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-29 00:00:00

-
THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 29, 1864.

N°. 22,548

MARY HOWITT'S NEW NOVEL.
Now ready at all the Libraries, in 3 vols.,
THE COST OF CAERGWYN.
By MARX HOWITT.
Hurst and Blackett, 13, Great Marlborough-street.

rrio PERSONS SEEKING LANDED
E;:,..ATES, TOWN AND COUNTRY Rt3IDENCES,
FREEHOLD AND LEASEHOLD INVESTMENTS, AND
PROPER PIES GENERALLY—
To BE HAD GRATIS, at the principal Railway Bookstalls
throughout the kingdom, or at the Auction and Estate Offices,
No. 67, Chancery-lane, London, Messrs. E. and H. Lumley's
"FREE PROPERTY REGISTER," containing a varied selection
of landed and house properties now in the market, from
the nobleman's mansion, with its manorial domain, to the
cottage with its few acres.
OWNERS OF PROPERTIES wishing to Sell or Let can em-
brace the opportunity that the medium of this Register
affords, by sending the particulars of their properties to the
Estate Offices, 67, Chancery-lane, London, as the Messrs.
Lumley can in most cases introduce immediate customers,
where the property is of an eligible chara..ter, thereby avoid-
ing the disadvantages of delay and its attendant incon-
veniences.
THERE IS NO CHARGE incurred, unless a tenant or pur-
chaser is introduced through Messrs. Lumley's Agency,
and then only the usual moderate commission.
Auction and Land Offices, 67, Chancery-lane, London.

that a gold watch which she held in her hand might be con-
veyed to some distant portion of the room. Immediately
afterwards the concert was resumed; the bells, tambourine,
and horn became excited, and the lady exclaimed that the
watch was gone. On the candle being lighted, it was found
on the carpet at the feet of Dr Ferguson. One of the bells
was also found in the lap of a gentleman sitting near him.
Some doubt having been expressed as to whether it was
possible for the Brothers Davenport to have moved chair
and all in the darkness, so as to elevate the musical instru-
ments in the air, and make them play, another illustration
was volunteered by Dr Ferguson. Mr Fay took his place
among the visitors, holding a hand of each as before. A
gentleman present then sat down between the Messrs.
Davenport, and placed his hand upon the head of each,
while he rested either foot on the tut of the Davenports)
which were placed close together in a parallel direction to
each other. The Devonports then clasped the arms of the
gentlemen, and in this position it would have been absolutely
impossible for one of the group to have moved without dis •
turbing the others. This pose having been arranged to the
satisfaction of all present, the light was extinguished and
the guitar was again heard as if moving in the air close to
the faces of all present. Mr Fay. as before stated, was seated
in a row, clasping hands with the persons right and left of
him, while Dr Ferguson was similarly placed in another
portion of the room.
With this last-named illustration the seance terminated.
It had lasted rather mere than two hours, during which
time the cabinet was minutely inspected, the coats examined
to ascertain whether they were fashioned so as to favour
a trick, and every possible precaution taken to bind the
hands and feet of the persons whose presence appeared to
be essential to the development,oLase manifestations.

tory. He was sorry to perceive that tLe publication of the
traffic returns were very irregular.
The CHAIRMAN said they were regularly sent to the
stock-exchanges,and orders had been given to send them to
the papers. The rains in Scinde had of late years be-
come unusually heavy, and the line had been flooded, hence
the necessity for the culverts and drainage. The net re-
venue shown in the report was no criterion of what it would
be when the accounts were properly adjusted. Altogether
he considered that their affairs were in a highly satisfactory
state. The Indus Valley line would complete the link be-
tween the Scinde and the Punjab and Delhi Railways.
Along the left bank of the Indus was to bl found the
shortest, cheapest, and best route fa the Indus Vall,y line.

Now ready, at all the Libraries„ in 3 vols.,
CUMWORTII HOUSE.
By the Author of "Caste, its"
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creature. There is no creation of modern romance or even of
modern poetry to compare with her. She is like one of
Shakepeare's women a Cordelia or a Rosalind."—The
Reader.
Hurst and Blackett, 13, Great Marlborough-street.

Now Ready, in Crown evo.,
FOOTPRINTS ON THE ROAD.
By CHARLES KENT.
Chapman and Hall, 193, PLeadilly.

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CLERGYMEN and GENTLEMEN ABOUT TO FUR-
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THE ILLUSTRATED INGOLDSBY
LEGENDS, from 60 Original Drawings by Crnikshank,
Leech, and Tenniel.
A Library Edition, 2 Vols. Svo., with the Oeginal Plates,
from Drawings by Cruikshan'c and Leech, 218. Also, an
Edition without Illustrations, fcp. Svo., 58. ; or on toned
paper, 7s. 6d.
Richard Bentley, Publisher in Ordinary to her Majesty.

NEW NOVEL BY GB STAVE AIMARD.
This Day is published, at all Libraries, in 3 vols.,
IHE BEE-HUNTRESS.

By GUSTAVE AIMARD.
John Maxwell and Co., Publishers, 122, Fleet-street.

PARLIAMENTARY DESPATCH AND AGENCY OFFICE,
No. 5, Upper Charles-street, Parliament-street.
AN ANALYTICAL INDEX to the DIVISIONS
of the present SESSION (1864) is in course of compila-
tion by Mr. GEO. M. MITCHELL, and will be ready for circu-
lation at the prorogation of Parliament. Th's work will
show members and tteir constituents how each member
voted, whether for or against public and private measures
during the session; total number of times, with majorities
for and against, &c.
Subscription, One Guinea.
Members can have their Divisions for the whole Parlia-
ment in exten'o upon application to the above office.

It may be asserted that all the illustrations above enu-
merated can be tracei to clever conjuring. Possibly they
may, or it is possible that some new physical force can be
engendered at will to account for what appears on the face
of it absolutely unaccountable. All that can be asserted is
that the displays to which we have referred took place on
the present occasion under conditions and circumstances
that preclude the presumption of fraud. It is true that
darkness is in some cases an essential condition, but dark-
ness does not necessarily imply deceptim. But, putting
aside the cabinet manifestations, there is abundance left to
excite curiosity and challenge attention of the scientific.
Learning, we know, is not a limited quantity; it is inex-
haustible for all mankind, and here is a field for the inves-
tigation of the scientific world. In the present state of know-
ledge upon the subject of occult forces, dependent more or
less upon the will, all that can be said is, that the manifes-
tations of Messrs Devenport and Mr Fay appear to be alto-
gether inexplicable.
In a little time we believe it is their intention to give
seances at the Egyptian Hall or some other suitable place,
when the public will be afforded an opportunity of witness-
ing some of the astonishing feats of which we have given
an outline, For the present it is sufficient to say that they
invite the strictest scrutiny on the part of men of science,

Extraordinary Manifestations.

JULLIEN'S CONCERTS.-HER MAJESTY'S
THEATRE.
Fourth Appearance of
THE BAND OF THE DANISH GUARDS, AND OF
THE DANISH NATIONAL VOCALISTS.
Fourth Night of the Engagement of
THE BAND OF THE IST LIFE GUARDS
(by the kind permission of Lieut.-Col. the II ,n. Dudley Rosy.
Fourth Appearance of the Performer on the Saxophone,
ALI BEN JEN-KINS, in his peculiar Costume.
Fonrth time of the new Danish Fanta,ia, arranged ex-
pressly for this occasion by M. Ju lien, entitled
DAN SKE TONER.
Vocalist Mdlle. Liebhart.
Violin M. Lotto.
Conductor M. Jullien.
Admission—ONE SHILLING.
M. JULLIEN'S ANNUAL BAL D'OPERA on WED-
NESDAY, October 19.

Yesterday evening, in the front drawing-room of a house
in the immediate neighbourhood of Portland-place, a select
number of persons were invited to witness some strange
manifestations which took place in the presence, if not by
the agency, of three gentlemen lately arrived from America,
and who have passed in their own country as spiritualists
of the most gifted order. The party consists of two brothers
named Davenport, 24 and 25 years of age, and a Mr Fay, a
gentleman born in the States, but, we believe, of German
origin. They are accompanied by Mr H. D. Palmer, a gen-
tleman long and favourably known in New York in connec-
tion with operatic matters, and by a Dr. Ferguson, who
explains the nature of the manifestations about to be pre-
sented, but who does not venture to give any explanation of
them. At the Cooper Institute in New York, the Brothers
Davenport, accompanied by Mr Fay, have recently per-
formed some astonishing feats which have hitherto puzzled
the ingenuity of the curious and baffled the acumen of the
most scientific persons of that city. It should be stated at
the outset that the trio, who appear to be gifted in so extra-
ordinary a manner, do not lay claim to any particular phy-
sical, psychological, or moral power. All they assert is,
that in their presence certain physical manifestations take
place. The spectator is, of course, at liberty to draw any
inference he pleases. They invite the most critical exami-
nation (compatible with certain conditions to be observed),
and those who witness the manifestations are at liberty to
take all needful precautions against fraud or deception.
The party invited to witness the manifestations last night
consisted of some 12 or 14 individuals, all of whom are ad-
mitted to be of considerable distinction in the various pro-
fessions with which they are connected. The majority had
never previously witnessed anything of the kind. Some were
avowed sceptics, while others were what spiritualists call more
impressionable in regard to occult influences than others. All,
however, were determined to detect, and, if possible, expose
any attempt at deception. The brothers Davenport are
slightly built, gentleman-like in appearance, and about the
last persons in the world from whom any great muscular
performances might be expected. Mr Fay is apparently a
few years older, and of more robust constitution,
At the upper end of the apartment was placed what might
be called a skeleton wardrobe, composed of walnut wood less
than an inch in thickness. The portion in which the drawers
of a similar piece of furniture are usually to be found was
empty, but a seat or bench, perforated here and there with
holes, was fitted to the back and ends. The doors consist of
three pannels, which shut inside with a brass bolt; thus,
when the middle door is open, any person can put his hand
in and bolt the side doors. The bolt of the middle door
was shut by some invisible agency from the inside. The
brothers Davenport having seated themselves vis-a-vis on
the end bench, their hands and feet were securely tied by
those present so as to prevent the possibility of their using
those members. A guitar, a tambourine, a violin and bow,
a brass h ,rn, and a couple of bells were placed on the
seat inside, and the doors were shut. At the top of the
pannel of the centre door was a diamond-shape opening
about a foot square, with a curtain secured on the inside.
Instantly on the centre door being closed the bolt was se-
cured inside, and hands were clearly observed through the
opening. A gentleman present was invited to pass his hand
through the opening, and it was touched by the hands
several times. The musical instruments and the bells then
commenced making all sorts of noises and knockings,
snatches of airs were distinctly heard, and suddenly the
centre door was burst open, and the trumpet was thrown
out into the room, and fell heavily upon the carpet.
The doors were subsequently closed by persons who, when
doing so, were touched by invisible hands, and the noise of
undoing the cords was distinctly heard. A moment or two'
afterwards the brothers wore found sitting unbound, with
the ropes at their feet. The next illustration was more
Curious still, for, after an interval of perhaps two minutes,
the brothers were found to be securely bound with the
same cords, the ends of the ropes being some distance
from their hands. One of the company present was then
invited to take a seat in the cabinet, so as to assure him-
self that whatever might be done could not be accom-
plished by the brothers. A gentleman having volunteered
to be imprisoned in such mysterious company, his hands
were securely tied to the knees of the Davenports, whose
hands were fastened behind their backs by cords passed
through the holes in the bench. Their feet were also tied
together with a sailor's knot. A tambourine was then laid
in the gentleman's lap, upon which a guitar and violin
were placed, as also the trumpet and a couple of handbells.
Any interference with these articles by the gentleman in
whose lap they were deposited was rendered impossible,
by reason of his hands being tied. He states that the in-
stant the door was closed hands were passed over his face
and head, his hair was gently pulled, and the whole of the
musical instruments were played upon; the bells were also
violently rung close to his face, and the tambourine beat
time on his head. Eventually, the musical instruments
were flung behind him and rested between his shoulders
and the back of the cabinet. During these manifesta-
tions one of the gas-burners of the chandelier was lighted
and two wax candles were burning in different parts of the
room.

and that, whatever be the theory involved, they repudiate
any active agency in the production of the extraordinary
manifestations which take place in their presence. it is per-
haps well for them that they were not in the flesh a century
and a half ago, as, in the then state of human knowledge
and social enlightenment, they would unquestionably have
been conducted to Smithfield, and burnt as necromancers
of the most dangerous type.—/Iforning Post.

ST. S A 111 E S'S H A L L,
Entrances in Regent-street and Piccadilly.
Profeszor ANDERSON'S Grand Entertainm nt, the
WORLD of MAGIC,
And Miss ANDERSON'S extraordinary powers of SECOND
SIGHT,
has made a success hitherto unparalleled in the annals of the
Art Magique
The PROGRAMME, in its present form, will be repeated
every Evening at Eight.
On SATURDAYS, a FASHIONABLE JUVENILE DAY
PE RFORMA. at Three p.m.
Doors open at seven and two.
Stalls (Dress, Numbered, and strictly Reserved), 3s. ; Bal-
cony, 2s. ; Area and Galleries, is. Juvenile Tickets for the
stalls ar.d balcony, 2s. each.
Reserved seats may be secured at the Ticket Office, 28,

MR. GERMAN REED'S New OPERA di
CAMERA ENTERTAINMENT.—TO-NIGHT, at
Eight o'clock, THE SLEEPING QUEEN, by M. W. Balfe,
Esq., the libretto by H. Farnie, Esq., and sustained by Miss
D'Este Finlayson, Mr. Whiffin, Mr. Wilkinson, and Miss
Poole. To be followed by TOO MANY COOKS, adapted
from M. Offenbach by Mr. German Reed, the libretto by C.
Furtado, Esq., and in which Miss D'Este Finlayson, Mr.
Whiffin, and Mr. J. A. Shaw will appear. ROYAL GAL-
LERY of ILLUSTRATION, 14, Regent-street. Every
evening (except Sat ,rday), at 8. Saturday morning, at 3.
Unreserved seats, ls., 25,; stalls, 35.; stall chairs, 55., can now
be secured at the Gallery without fee.

T " 0 XFOR D,
6, OXFORD STREET, W.
The Oxford and Canterbury Hall Company (limited).
LA FAVORITE. MARTHA, THE TROVATORE, ,
by the following Artistes, viz., Misses Russell. Fitz-Henry,
Walmsley, Tyrral, &c. With augmented Band and Chorus,
conduoted by Mr. F. Jonghmans.
Mr. JACKSON HANES, the Champion Skater, in his per-
formanc., on the Drawing Room Skates, of Quadrilles,
Varsoviennes,
UNSWORTH (or any other man), EUGENE, W. Randall,
H. Nash, Herr Hermann, and Mdlle. Cavalho.
Admission—Area, 6d. ; stalls and balcony, le. ; private
boxes, 105. 6d.

Several other manifestations having taken place in con•
nection with the cabinet, Dr. Ferguson explained that it
would be desirable that the company should clasp hands,
and that the lights should be altogether extinguished. A
small writing table had been previously placed in the centre
of the room, with a chair at either side. The musical in-
struments, bells, &c., were placed on the table. The Bro-
thers Davenport were then manacled by the hands and
feet, and securely bound to the chairs by ropes. A chain
of communicaticn (though not a circular one) was formed,
and the instant the tights were extinguish ed the musical
instruments appeared to be carried all about the room, The
current of air which they occasioned in their rapid transit
was felt upon the faces of all present. The bells were loudly
rung ; the trumpet made knocks on the floor ; and the tam-
bourine appeared running round the room, jingling with all
its might, At the same time tiny sparks were observed as
if passing from south to west. Several persons exclaimed
that they were touched by the instruments, which on one
occasion became so demonstrative that one gentleman re-
ceived a knock on the nasal organ, which broke the akin
and caused a few drops of blood to flow.
Thcso manifestations having been repeated two or three
times with nearly similar results, the Brothers Davenport
joined the chain of communication, and Mr Fay was bound
in the chair. His hands were bound tightly behind his back,
and his feet were firmly secured, as in the cabinet. A gen..
tleman present was then asked to desiro him to take off his
coat the instant the light was extinguished. This was done
--a whizzing noise was heard : " It's off," exclaimed Mr
Fay; the candle was lighted and the coat was found lying
in the middle of the room. Astonishing though this appeared
to be, what followed was more extraordinary still. Dr Fer-
guson requested a gentleman present to take off his coat and
place it on the table. This was d^ne, the light was extin-
guished—repetition of the whizzing noise was hoard and the
strange coat was found upon Mr Fay, whose hands and
feet were still securely bound, and his body tied almost im-
movably to the chair. A gentleman present then inquired
whether, if he were to place two finger rings on the table,
they could be transferred to the hands of Mr Fay. Dr Fer-
guson said he could not undertake that this feat would be
accomplished, but that an essay would be made. The rings
were deposited on the table, the candle extinguished, and Mr
Fay immediately exclaimed " They are on my finger," and
surely enough there they were. The owner of the ring then
expressed a wish that they might be restored to his fingers.
As soon as the room was darkened the musical instruments
commenced their mysterious concert, and, after an interval
of about 20 seconds, a gentleman (not the owner) exclaimed
that the rings had been placed on his fingers. This
was found to bo the case, A lady next expressed g dojo

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. ,
After some further observations tho report was unani-
mously adopted, and the proceedings concluded with a vote
of thanks to the chairman.

The report of the directors states that tho guarantee at
the rate of £39,360 per annum had been received by the
company in settlement of the same up to the 30th of June,
1863. The accounts for the half- year ending December 31,
1863, were now before the Government, and the directors
were assured that no unnecessary delay would occur in exa-
mining and passing them to the finance department for pay-
ment. The directors adverted to thejust and liberal treatment
which the company had uniformly received at the hands of
the Imperial Government, and stated that it was cause for
congratulation to the shareholders that a Government new
to the practice and difficulties of joint-stock enterprise
should so readily have acquiesced in the measures necessary
to carry out this undertaking successfully. The revenue
account for the half-year did not exhibit so good a result as
was expeoted. On taking over the maintenance of the line
it was hoped that a considerable saving might be effected
under that head, but, owing to the great length of time
during which the line had been under construction, it was
found necessary to make a large outlay for actual renewal,
especially as regarded sleepers. The works on the second
section were progressing very favourably. The capital ac-
count showed that £1,175,865 had been expended, leaving
a balance against the company of £154,974. The revenue
account
showed
thatf o for the£9 ,6hsal -dinf
had yea rb
eeen nreg he e
veed
,3aont hd oxflJl,uln4le
-t
pended, showing an excess of £1,493 over receipts.

NORTH BRITISH.
The half-yearly meeting was held at Edinburgh on Tues-
day. Mr. Hodgson in the chair.
The report was held as read.
The CHAIRMAN congratulated the shareholders on the
first paragraph in the report, which stated that the receipts
from traffic on the North British system had gradually and
steadily increased during the last four half years. They
would remember that a number of years ago they had to
submit to a diminished dividend in consequence of the pres-
sure upon their revenue created by the construction of new
works. They were now beginning to retrieve that loss. Two
years ago they divided only at the rate of 3 quarters per
cent., the next half year that was increased ,to one and a
quarter, and in the following half year it amounted to one
three-quarters, while this half year the directors were in a
position to declare 2 per cent. on the ordinary stock of the
North British Railway. He saw no reason to apprehend
that that increase of traffic would not go on, or that a cor-
responding increase of dividend would not be obtained,
They had a number of lines now nearly completed or in
course of construction, which were a burden on the com-
pany at the present moment, but soon most of them would
become remunerative to the shareholders. By the end of

1865 all the lines in course of construction would be com
pleted, and although there were other works which had been
undertaken the directors had postponed them until the
volue of money was less than at present. With regard to
the Queensferry line and the proposed bridge across the
Forth, he said that if a bridge were practicable, and :could
be constructed at anything like the expense to which they
would be put in constructing piers and working ferries, in
contradistinction to the expense of working a railway, it
would be unwise if they did not retrace their steps and
substitute that which would give much better accom-
modation and be of much more benefit. They had
_not
gone headlong into the idea of constructing a bridge;
they had made their calculations and investigations, which
were still in progress—and if they were satisfied that the
bridge could be made a test not much exceeding the
other works, they would come before the shareholders
with a bill enabling the company to substitute a bridge
and approaches to a bridge, instead of a ferry and approaches
to a ferry. He calculated that the actual saving of ex-
pense in the construction of works, &e., if a bridge were
erected, would be about £560.000. This matter was
simplified by the Edinburgh and Glasgow company being
in a position to act in conjunction with them for the con-
struction of this bridge. With regard to the agreement be-
tween the North British and Edinburgh and Glasgow Com-
panies he said it seemed to work remarkably well, and that
there had been complete harmony between the joint com-
mittees. The continued increase in the receipts of the two
companies, which amounted to £2,000 a week, was the best
proof that the system had not worked ill up to the present
moment. He believed it would be for the benefit of the
shareholders of the two companies that there should be a
still closer union between them. The causes of the failure
of the tripartite agreement between the Scottish Central,
the Edinburgh and Glasgow, and Caledonian Railways
could be easily accounted for. It was unequal among the
companies themselves ; it was unjust and improper towards
the public ; and it was an agreement that could not be de-
fended in equity either before Parliament or elsewhere. He
stated that the directors had come to the resolution again
to adopt the system of issuing return tickets at reduced
Tates, which had been discounted for a considerable time.
The report was adopted.
On the motion of Sir J. D. WATICHOPE, seconded by Sir
W. JonssTox, the thanks of the company were given to
Mr Hodgson for the able manner in which he had presided
at the Board, and in acknowledgment of these services
voted him as chairman of the company £l,OOO per annum,
commencing with the current half-year.
The_meeting then separated.

Trial o

Company meet the travelling public. A nThle 'Veit"
tilation exists throughout, and the height of the
cAbio ct flings is seven feet clear of the beams.
The dimensions of the chip are given as 10110 WE on
the invitation end;—
_ .

PRICE ..4d.
STAMPED'....Sd.

ft. in.

180 0
.. 24 0
.. 12 6

iperial.

Length..
Breadth
Depth ..
Engines ISO horse power nominal,
Tonnage, 510.
The speed attained on the four trial rune was—
I\l in, SEC. Knots,
.. 3 19 .. 15.09)
.. 4 3 .. 14.815
.. 3 20 .. IS•00‘)
3 59 .. 15 063

The London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Com-
pany tried the first of their new Dover and Calais
boats yesterday afternoon at the measured mile on
the Maplin Sands. The new boats are three in
number, and although alike, and from the same
shipyard and rnouldir gA, they are essentially ex-
perimental. The Landon, Chatham, and Dover
Railway are, in the Prince Imperial and the other
ships, feeling their way to the throwing across the
Channel that bridge about which so much used to
be said in after dinner:speeches. They contemplate
sooner or later to set down passengers on the soils
of France and England in the most safe, expedi-
tious, and comfortable manner attainable by ship-
building and engineering science. They contem-
plate divesting the Channel passage of all its
terrors, real and imaginary, and by that means in-
ducing those to travel on the Continent and in
England, who up to this time have not had courage
to make the venture. The task is one of time, diffi-
culty, and expense. It is attainable only by the
construction of a series of experimental ships, which
have first to be ordered, next to be constructed,
tried, and paid for. Little less than a year serves
the purpose of one experiment, and then the lessons
of an experiment are not mastered and improved
easily, because it is natural for the London, Chat-
ham, and Dover Railway Company to take the
most favourable view of the performance of their
costly purchases, and natural for the engineer and
shipbuilder to affirm, and to support the affirmation
by argument, that better machines never left a
workshop, and that more symmetrical, better de-
signed ships were never built. Probably a year is
taken up in arriving at the reel facts—that is in reso-
lutely looking the matter in the face and once more
striking out with new ships, in which shall be em-
bodied all that is supposed worth embodying,
and in rejecting all Lthat it is presumed should be
rejected. As most people are aware, the London,
Chatham, and Dover Railway has been in operation
some years, and the process of ship rejection, insti-
tuted from the first, has been, it is believed, vigo-
rously and faithfully carried on. The early and
later boats of the company may with truth be said
to mark the satisfactory progress of ship construets
tion science. When first required to produce ships
of great stability and speed for the London, Chat-
ham, and Dover Railway, shipbuilders and engi-
neers doing their very utmost could in a compare•
tive sense accomplish very little. In a relative
sense, that is, compared with the results of the pre.
sent day, there was nothing worthy of being de-
signated as speed, and of stability there was none.
Foul and heavy weather rendered a passage prac-
tically impossible, or if possible it was under an
oppression of shaking about and misery, net to
speak of time, that was sickening even to the oldest
salts. Going to Calais from Dover, or to Dover from
Calais, was only to be thought of if the weather was
calm, if the water was smooth, and if the barometer
was assuring. The state of things was intolerable.
New boats were ordered, and the previous ones
withdrawn, and got rid of in some way. Bat great
as was the improvement of the new boats on the
old there were still grumblers. The public were
put to trouble by the great depth of water of the
boats, that depth of water being given in the hope
of securing the steadiness of ship which all desire,
and the outcry against trans-shipment into small
boats was long and loud. Equal to the occasion, the
London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company
set to work anew, and the Prince Imperial tried
yesterday is the fruit of the experience, in the gross,
of the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Com-
pany—the point which shipbuilding and engineer.
ing science has at the present time attained.
The builders of the Prince Imperial and the other
new ships are Messrs. James Ash and Co., Cubits
Town, Poplar, and the engineers, Messrs John Penn
and Son, of Greenwich. Of Messrs John Penn and
Son it is unnecessary to say a word. Their fame
as engineers is world wide, and seldom has fame
been better earned. In the employment of Messrs
John Penn and Son the London, Chatham,
_and
Dover Railway Company may fairly claim the ut-
most confidence of the public. There will be no
breakdowns, and once steam is set on it will not be
shut off until the ships are tied up in harbour. So,
equally, in the employment of Messrs James Ash
and Co. Mr. Ash, although not an old man, pro-
bably occupies the enviable position of one of the
first naval architects in England. With few excep-
tions all the best merchant ships afloat are from his
designs ; they are his handywork. The highest
position attainable by a naval architect in the Eng-
lish private service was for years held by him. Mr
Ash was the naval architect of the Thames Iron
Works and Steam Shipbuilding Company ; the
greatest shipbuilding establishment, public or pri-
vate, in Europe or the world. For some three years
past he has built a fair share of the fastest ships that
have run the blockade, and some months ago he
constructed the Eothen yacht for Mr Anderson, the
chairman of the Peninsular and Oriental Company.
Mr Ash's partner, a young man also, is a practical
engineer, favourably known as the son of Mr John
Stewart, of the Blackwell Iron Works. Thus in
the firm of Messrs James Ash and Co. there is a
combination that is rare ; excellence in the
art of designing ships, and practical skill in the
fitting of engines. That the London, Chatham,
and Dover Railway Company should place their
latest ships in the hands of Messrs James Ash
and Co. is a high compliment to the profes-
sional ability of the firm; and that the trust has
been worthily bestowed will to some extent be
obvious from the performance of the Prince Imperial
yesterday on the measured mile. But yesterday
only brought out the fair weather qualities of the
ship, as she has chiefly been constructed to face the
worst weather blowing in the English Channel.
That trial has yet to take place when the Prince
Imperial is put upon the Calais station—but the
result is not involved in doubt. During the heavy
gales which prevailed ten days ago the preliminary
trial of the Prince Imperial took place en the
Maplin Sands, and the behaviour of the ship wat
held to justify the impression which prevailed on
board, that once the Prince Imperial is put upon
the station there will be few passengers who will
care to patronise the older boats. The preliminary
trial showed that experience has not been thrown
away on the officers of the London, Chatham, and
Dover Railway Company, and that the Prince
Imperial and the sister ships will be a satisfactory
approximation to all that can be wished.
In the fittings of the Prince Imperial there are
some novelties. On deck there is a fine state saloon
suitable for a monarch, or a princely bride and
bridegroom. Engagements for the state deck saloon
will necessarily require to be effected in advance.
On deck also, and in the centre of the ship, there
two other less commodious, and slightly less aristo•
cratic, but still princely state saloons. Such are
deck innovations. Between decks there are three
more state saloons of the same class. The chief
saloon or cabin is elaborately, chastely, and con-
veniently fitted in white and gold with morocco
stuffing. In the centre there are the usual tables,
and around the tables the usual cushion seat but with
arms at intervals, which will contribute greatly to
the general comfort. Above the usual cushion seat,
but receding from it, is a circular sofa round the
ship, upon which the weary may rest their limbs
and be out of other people's way.
To the ladies'
saloon there is a separate staircase from the deck, and
all the lying down accommodatieonfitthtiantgesa eavreerilnikmeloy.
to be required. Here again tb
r theo en o.
same Forward,comfort
ash i n the
firstclass,theremuch
with
downnleapsascoe.f the old boats,
found
should be, are in the Prince Im.
Pp ea nssi ae In gweerlfil' caredas they
fo r Fromdet a
ct
hh
ee d cao nedi r
ccuamb cabin a the
captain's state room is
which, better than any other thing, shows the spirit
in whi94 be London, Chatham, and, Dover railway

Firest Run
Second Run
Third Run
Fourth Run

or 19 328 mein statute

16 knots,

This is understood to be unprecedented in a vcssel
of so small dimersiens. After the suns a :urnptuous
defettner was served in the saloon ; Mr Penn in
the chair. The following were among those pre-
sent:—Mr Penn and Mr Mathews, engineers;
Mr Ash and Mr Stewart, ship-builders; Sir L.
Smithett, Mr. ChuTchward, Colonel Evelyn ; Mr.
Scudamore, General Post Office ; Mr Luke and Mr
Thornton, surveyors of Admiralty ; Mr Martley,
engineer ; Mr Harris, 'assistant manager; Mr
Bishop, superintendent ; Mr Godbold, continental
secretary of the London, Chatham, and Dover
Company; Mr M'Gregor, assistant secretary to the
Board of Trade ; Mr Lumley, the inventor of the
improved rudder.
Numerous toasts followed the removal of the
cloth.

Mr Churchward stated that the turning point of
the Channel passenger traffic had now been reached.
He had long looked iorward to the providing of
proper ships, and at length ships were about to be
put on the station which were unrivalled. He bad
long known Mr Penn, over a period of five and
twenty years, and as for Mr Ash, he had known his
great grandfather, his grandfather, and his father.
Mr Ash's grandfather was the great naval architect
of his time, and the ability to construct ships was
hereditary in the Ash family. in the fruquent
union of Messrs James Ash and Co. and Messrs
John Penn and Son he took great pride, and anti-
cipated the best results to the Chatham and Dover
Railway Company and the public.