The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-22 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The Admiralty paddle yacht Enchantress, Staff Comman-
der Petley, with the Lords of the Admiralty on board and
the Admiralty:ensign flying at the main, arrived at Spithead
at 10 a.m., on Saturday, from Cowes roads, attended by the
Fire Queen steam yacht, Staff Commander Paul. The En-
chantress steamed slowly through the Channel Fleet, and,
alter their Lordships had communicated with the Edgar
flagship of Rear-Admiral S. C. Dacres, C.B, left Spithead
again under full steam for the eastward.
A letter dated Malta, Aug. 16, says :—" Her Majesty's
steam surveying vessel Firefly, arrived from Sfax on the
11th, having completed her soundings along that coast, and
found them to vary with those marked on the Admiralty
chart as taken many years ago by Admiral Smythe, She
will leave shortly to check the soundings taken at the same
time between Marsala and Malta. Her Majesty's screw
steam frigate Phoebe left on the 15th for Susa, and her Ma•
jesty's screw steam corvette Chanticleer on the same day for
Sfax. Her Majesty's screw steam corvette Chanticleer is
under sailing orders to join the flag of Rear-Admiral Ye!-
verton, at Tunis. The schooner Cecile arrived at Malta on
the 10th of August, from Cork and Algiers, having on
board the Marquis of Drogheda. The cutter yacht Mary
left Malta for Palermo on the 14th of August."
The Aurora, screw frigate, Capt. Sir L. M'Clintock,
arrived at Spithead on Saturday, from the westward, and
joined the Channel fleet.
The Royal Sovereign, turret ship, Capt. Sherard Osborn,
C. 8., was undocked at Portsmouth on Saturday, having
completed the work of fixing the teak band at her load line.
The Reindeer, 17, 950 tons, 200 horse power, one of the
squadron of wooden vessels lying on the building slips at
Chatham Dockyard, on which no hands have been employed
for several years, has undergone a survey by the officials
connected with the Master-shipbuilder's Department, in
accordance with orders to that effect received from
the Admiralty, with the view of ascertaining till time
it would take to complete her in order that she may be fit
to be launched and towed away from the harbour. The
Reindeer is about half completed, and as the present de-
mands at the dockyard will only permit of a comparatively
small number of shipwrights being employed, on her, it
would take two or three months to complete her for launch-
ing. The service for which the Reindeer is required is not
stated.

Major-General Sir Robert Walpole, K.C.8., who has re-
cently assumed the command of the forces in the Chatham
district, held his first review of the troops quartered at
Chatham garrison on Saturday afternoon. The several
corps assembled in front of their respective quarters at 2
o'clock, and the various dispositions having been made, they
marched to Chatham great lines, where they were formed
in contiguous columns of companies. The forces on the
ground comprised all the available troops now quartered
at the garrison, with the exception of the Royal Artillery,
mid it eluded the head-quarters of the Royal Engineer forces,
numbering six companies, the three battalions of infantry
of the line, consisting of the depot companies of the Ist and
3d battalions of the 4th King's Own, Ist and 2d battalion of
the 12th Regiment, Ist and 2d battalions of the 19th Regi-
ment, Ist and 2d battalions of the 20th Regiment, 31st Regi-
ment, 35th Regiment, 43d Light Infantry, blst King's
Own Light Infantry, 52d Light Infantry, 75th Regiment,
77th Regiment, 81st Regiment, 63d Regiment, 91st Ar •
gyllshire _Highlanders, 94th Regiment, 101st Royal Bengal
Fusiliers, and the 102 d Royal Madras Fusiliers; and the
Chatham division of Royal. Marines Light Infantry, con-
sitting of 28 companies, the whole forming an infantry
force numbering several thousand bayonets, but necessarily
destitute of cavalry. On the arrival of Sir Robert Walpole,
who was accompanied by Capt. H. M. Moorsom, aide-
de-camp, Brigade-Major W. Congreve, and other officers,
the line gave the customary salute with colours lowered,
after which the proceedings of the day commenced by the
customary inspection of the regiments and companies
forming each brigade. This completed, Major-General
Walpole took up his position at the flagstaff, when the
entire force matched past by sub-divisions, in open column,
in slow and quick time, the whole of the bands being massed
together on the occasion. A body of skirmishers was then
thrown out, and preparations made for the customary ad-
vance of the troops to repel a supposed attack upon the right
11 ink, thi disposition of the forces leading to the inference
that the attacking force was very strong in cavalry. The
movement's ordered by Sir R. Walpole were somewhat com-
plicated; but the whole were carried out by the troops with
steadiness and rapidity, showing the high state of training
to which the corps forming the garrison at Chatham have
been brought. The final movement of the day was the for-
mation of the whole troops in square to resist a supposed
advance of cavalry, after which, in consequence of the rain
beginning to descend, the battalions were formed into line,
and a few of the commanding officers were called to the
front and addressed by tit- R. Walpole. The several corps
were then marched off the ground to their respective quar-
ters, each being headed by its band.

The division at Aldershot assembled for field mar osuvres
at 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning on the common near
the Roial Pavilion, Major-Gen. B. Taylor commanding, in
the absence of Lieut.- Gen. Pennefather. The programme of
the day comprehended a sham fight, An opposing force,
consisting ot B battery, 4th brigade Royal Artillery, and
the 2d battalion 60th Rifles, under command of Lieut.-Col.
Turner, R.A., was detached from the division, and took up
a position to the west of Cassar's camp. Gen. Taylor quickly
made his dispositions to defeat the anticipated foe, despatch-
ing the Royal Horse Artillery and the cavalry to form the
left of his force on Hungry-hill, the right being near the
Pavilion. The first brigade, consisting of the Ist battalion
6th, 59th, and 73d regiments, under command of Lieut.-Col.
Lodder, formed the advanced line ; and the 2d brigade, con-
sisting of the Ist battalion 14th and 62d Regiments, under
command of Col. Ingall, C B.,the left advance, The 3d brigade
consisting of the 3d battalion Grenadier Guards, 39th, 79th,
and'B3d Regiments, under command of Col. Prince Edward
of Saxe-Weimar, formed the reserve. The engagement was
commenced about 20 minutes past 10, by Brigadier Turner
firing a signal gun from the heights, which was quickly
answered by General Taylor. A continuous cannonade
followed, during which both sides advanced skirmishers,
the enemy pushing them nearly to Cassar's camp, apparently
to ascertain the strength and position of our army. Prince
Ed ward formed his brigade into two lines, the first consist-
ing of the 3d battalion Grenadier Guards and the 75th
Regiment (two companies of the latter skirmishing), and
the second of the 83d and 39th Regiments. This brigade
then lay down, while the battle progressed between the light
troops. The cavalry brigade might now be seen dashing
round from Hungry-hill to the plateau on the westward to
attack the enemy's right. Brigadier Turner, perceiving
this movement, fell back in the face of the superior force in
the direction of the Waterworks, while Gen. Taylor,
finding that his artillery and cavalry were succeeding in
clearing the heights, brought his infantry and artillery
round the base to the north-west, and steadily advanced in
that direction. The enemy, having dropped down the hill
to the Waterworks, continued his retreat to the northward,
and took possession of Rickley Copse, where he made a de-
termined stand. At this juncture the cavalry, consisting
of the Royals, Scots Greys, and 14th Hussars, with B and
D Batteries Royal Horse Artillery, descended the hill, and
again threatened the right of the foe. At the same time the
three brigades advanced on to Burns's Plain, the artillery
and light troops pouring in a continuous fire. The combined
attack forced the enemy again to fall back and to take up
another strong position on Long-hill and Cockdd Hat-wood.
To dislodge him Gen. Taylor rapidly concentrated the whole
ot his troops to bear on the position. The 14th Hussars, the
Royals, and the Greys charged the right of the enemy, the
artillery fired from every quarter, and Prince Edward
bringing his fine brigade into action opened a splendid fusil-
lade, which was admirably taken up by the Brigadiers Lod-
der and Ingall. The enemy warmly returned the fire, but
the concentrated attack proved too strong for him, and his
force fell back across the valley between Pyettock and Eel-
moor_hill—a movement which was performed in good order
and with steadiness, although in front of a superior force.
This retrograde movement secured to Brigadier Turner the
position of Eelmmr-hill, which he made good use of by
keeping up a splendid fire upon our army. Several attempts
to dislodge nim were ,node by General Taylor, but without
success, and when the last shot was fired at it few minutes
after 12, he remained defiant as ever. His force, in consi-
deration of its extra fatigue and dexterous movements, was
allowed to proceed direct to barracks; the remainder of the
division marched past as usual before leaving the ground.
The 11-inch cast-iron Blakely gun, which burst at the
proof on Thursday at Woolwich Arsenal, was not purchased
by thee War Department, as stated in The Sun of Friday,
but was ordered by them conditionally on passing satisfac-
torily the tollowing proof :—Two rounds of 70Ib, of powder
ti and one shot weighing 4001 b.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE,

GREAT NORTHERN.

The half.yearly meeting of this company was held on
Saturday at the King's-cross station—Col. Packe,
in the chair.

The Secretary having read the notice convening the
meeting, the report was taken as read.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
said he thought he might follow the example of chairmen
in other similar undertakings by congratulating the proprie-
tors on the increased receipts during the past half year.
The increase on their line had amounted to upwards of
£lOO,OOO, but with the increase in the receipts there had
also been some additional expenses. There were two or three
items more prominent than others—for instance, an in-
crease in the item for maintenance of the permanent way.
Their engineer had relaid 19 miles of permanent way with
entirely new rails and sleepers at a cost of £25,000, but in
the corresponding period of last year only eight miles were
relaid, so that the value of the property had been increased
by the entire renewal of 11 miles of railway. In the loco-
motive department a considerable addition (X 21,000) had
arisen from running a great number of miles, by which they
had earned the increased receipts. There had also been an
increase of £11,300 in the expense for renewals and repairs
of carriages and waggons, but the cost of all the imps ove-
ments in Mr Sturrock's department had been placed to reve-
nue account, as they had done on former occasions, so that
the property was decidedly increasing in value instead of
deteriorating. In respect of the merchandise traffic there
had been an increase of £5,000. There was an item for com-
pensation in respect of losses and accidents of £14,366,
which was a large amount, but when explained he thought
it would be satisfactory. The greater portion of the ex-
pense was caused by the Witham river having flooded the
canal, overflowed its banks, and inundated the country, and
for this purpose £7,000 had been set aside to meet any ex-
penses to which they might possibly be liable ; but it was
not certain that they would be liable, and whether they
were or not he believed they had reserved sufficient to cover
the expense of the dilapidation. The company were the
owners of the navigation, and had been sued for compensa-
tion in consequence of damage from the overflow of the
river. There had also been an increased charge this half-
year for interest on money previously expended, which had
been raised in 1861 as new 5 per cent preference stock, to be
entitled to no interest for three years. There were other
items, but altogether the increased expense was not more
than at the rate of 50 per cent of the increased receipts. He
had no doubt that many of the shareholders had gone
through the accounts and compared the items with those for
the corresponding period of 1863. The directors had endea-
voured to give them a detailed statement of the expenses
and liabilities on capital account. With respect to the par-
liamentary business of the last session, the directors had
been very successful in defeating their principal opponents
who promoted the Great Eastern Northern Junction scheme,
The bill for that line had been rejected unanimously by the
committee of the House of Commons. Mr Bidder, on
the part of the Great Eastern, opposed the Great
Northern Bills for the completion of their loop line
from Gainsborough to Doncaster and for a line from Lin-
coln to Honington, in which he was defeated; but, not
content with that, Mr Bidder opposed their Bills in the
House of Lords, and was also defeated in that opposition by
the unanimous vote of the committee. He (the chairman)
thought, after two such defeats as those, there was not much
ch'ance of the Northern Junction line being sanctioned. In
addressing the Great Eastern proprietors, at a recent
meeting of that company, Mr Bidder contended that
committees should be required to give reasons for re-
jecting a Bill. He (the chairman) could give the
reasone for rejecting the Northern Junction Bill; they
were simply that the Great Northern proved that they had
a better line than the Great Eastern proposed, and that
when the Great Northern lines were completed to Gains-
borough, and between March and Spalding, they would be
prepared to take the whole of the traffic upon fair and equit-
able terms, similar to those they had with other companies.
The committee thought this proposal so fair and equitable
that they inserted clauses in the bill to the effect that, upon
the Groat Eastern giving one month's notice, they might
make use of the Great Northern facilities sanctioned by the
Legislature. They had always been peaceably inclined
towards their neighbours if they would only agree with
them, and they hoped that some arrangement would be
made to prevent the Great Eastern from attacking them
any further in their own district. The directors would use
their utmost endeavours to protect the property of the pro-
prietors. (Hear, hear.) The directors had succeeded in
carrying the Great Northern Bill for the line from Donciase
ter to Gainsborough ; and this, when completed, would,
with the loop line from Lincoln, Boston, Spalding, and
Peterborough, enable the Great Northern Company to put
as much coal on the Great Eastern line as they wanted to
carry, upon terms to be agreed upon between the two com-
panies; or in case of disagreement they would leave the terms
to be decided by arbitration, as provided for in the act. The
loop line from Doncaster, when completed as they proposed,
would extend to Peterborough, and the worst gradient upon
it would not exceed 1 in 400, and in many places it would be
level up to that point. They proposed, with regard to the
London, Chatham, and Dover, to advance them £300,00.)
on their City lines undertaking at 31 per cent. interest in
perpetuity, in return for which the Great Northern would
have many advantages. They would have running powers
over the line to Blackfriars, to the Crystal Palace new
station on a level with the main floor of the building, also
from Blackfriars to the Victoria station, Pimlico, and all
the distance from Blackfriars to Dover fur their coal and
coke traffic. In reply to a question, he stated that this
agreement with the London, Chatham, and Dover was for
999 years.

Mr ASTELL, M.P., seconded the motion for the adoption
of the report. _ _

Mr HIGHES had no doubt that, as the meeting was to be
made special, the directors had taken the precaution to se-
cure their position by obtaining a large number of proxies,
and therefore it might appear that but little could be done
by any observations shareholders made in ieferenco to the
company's affairs, or in opposition to the policy of the direc-
tors. Still, it was a mistake to suppose that observations at
their meetings from time to time had been fruitless. It was
not so ; on the contrary, they were from time to time accom-
plishing what they desired. For instance, the shareholders
had obtained the taxation of their law expenses, the holding
of their meetings at King's-cross station instead of at the
London Tavern, the appointment of a law clerk, and ether
things which the chairman at first told them when proposed
that they could not be done. Thus it was that the opinion
of the shareholders had worked its effects on the board. He
thought there was another point which the directors were
about yielding to the shareholders. Hitherto, when a ca-
cancy occurred at the boatel by death or resignation, the
directors immediately filled it up by the nomination of some
friend of their own, wher as the spirit of the Act of Parlia-
ment was directly in favour of the election of directors being
vested in the proprietors. He perceived that on this occasion
they had not nominated a successor to the late Mr Barff,
and, if the directors intended to concede the principle and
leave the election to fill the vacancy in the hands of the pro-
prietors, he would congratulate them on the occasion. He
presumed they would soon have Government auditors, as
by the act of 1844 Government might in 1867 purchase the
line, and those auditors had the power of examining all the
accounts during the three years antecedent to the time at
which they might exercise the option of purchase. He com-
plained that the accounts were mystified, and that law
charges were mixed up with compensation for accidents and
other items, so that it was impossible for them to tell what
the whole of the law charges amounted to in any half-year.
Mr MORGAN, one of the auditors, said the accounts were
kept with the greatest clearness. The accounts of capital
and revenue wets kept perfectly distinct. With regard to
the law expenses, he had told Mr Hughes on a former oc-
casion that he would not be responsible for them, as the
Ward were alone responsible. They were incurred in de-
fending the interests of the company, and the bills had to
be paid.
After some observations respecting the accounts,
Mr MARRIOTT called attention to the proposed outlay of
£40,000 on a potato market.

The CHAIRMAN said the money was being expended.
From the first they had a potato market near King's-cross,
which had absorbed to itself the potato business of the me-
tropolis, and it was necessary they should provide every
convenience for carrying on their business. At one period
last year they had 900 trucks full of potatoes at their goods
depot, and the dealers had no immediate• means of getting
at them, nor the company room to empty the waggons, so
that there were great complaints and loss from the detention
of waggons. He hoped the new market would be ready by
September, as it would handsomely repay them for the out-
lay. In reply to Mr Hughes, he stated that the vacancy at
the board by the death of Mr Barff remained open in con-
sequence of Mr Denison being unable to attend the board
meetings.
A SHAREHOLDER asked whether it was intended to im-
prove the approaches to the King's-cross nation, as they
were very muddy in wet weather, and if it was contemplated
to get rid of the old hoarding which disfigured the front
of the building.

The CHAIRMAN said he was glad the shareholder had
called attention to the subject, as the directors had attended
more to works of utility than those of ornament—(laughter)
—but if they could combined the two at a moderate charge
they would. The subject would no doubt have the consi-
deration of the board.

The report was then unanimously adopted ; the various
preference dividends of 1 per cent., 4 per cent., 41 per cent.,
and 5 per cent. were declared, and also at the rate of £2
15s per cent. for the half-year on the original undivided
stock, of 3 per cent. for the half year on the B stock, of £2
lOs per cent. for the half-year on the A stock, of 178 9d Per
cent. on the first instalment of the now ordinary stook, all
payable on the Ist September.
The meeting was theu made special, and the directors
were authorised to raise £300,000 by the creation of new
ordinary stock, under the powers of the London, Chatham,
and Dover Railway (city lines) Act, 1864, to be offered to
the proprietors at the rate of £125 for each £lOO stock, on
condition that the whole amount be paid on or before the
10th Sept. next ; and to offer at the like rate to the proprie-
tors the balance of ordinary stock, £51,050, created on the
12th April, 1864, upon the same conditions as to payment
and otherwise as the stock created under the foregoing
resolution.

The CHAIRMAN then proposed that under the powers of

the Great Northern (Boston and Sleaford) Stock Act, 1864,
£200,000 be created entitling the holders thereof to a perpe-
tual preference dividend at the rate of £5 5s per cent. per
annum, and under the powers of the Great Northern (Lin-
coln to Bourn) Act 1864, £24,000 Great Northern Bourn
and Essendine stock be created entitling the holders thereof
to a perpetual dividend of 5 per cent. per annum from the
Ist Jan. last. It was stated that the £24,000 represented
£48,000 capital.
The resolutions were agreed to. -
The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to
the chairman and directors,