The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-27 00:00:00

shell constantly penetrated, while, as might be ex-
pected, the rough iron segments of the Armstrong
shell as constantly and signally failed to do so. In
making the fragments of the shell and its bullets or
segments ricochet upwards from the ground the
Boxer shrapnel again had a clear advantage, the
dense spherical bullets glancing easily from the
earth, while the rough iron segments of the Arm-
strong cut into the ground and soon stopped them-
selves. So also in trials for accidental bursting too
soon in front of troops the Boxer shell again had a
clear advantage—an advantage, however, which
must be considered in connexion with the following
qualifying statement—ln exploding his shell at
short distances in front of troops, or the targets
which represented them, Colonel Boxer used his
large charge of 12 drachms in order to get the
greatest effect from the pieces of his broken case.
At the long distances he used the light charge in
order to get the greatest effect from his bullets shot
out of the case. When this alteration of charges in
shells which were supposed to burst too soon acci-
dentally came to the knowledge of Sir William he
at once protested against it, and demanded fresh
trials, or, at all events, that a note should be ap.
pended to the results, showing that varying charges
had been used to accomplish them. The Committee,
after long deliberation, have, however, decided that
in future varying charges must not be used, and
that experiments shall be made with the high and
low charged Boxer shell from Mr. Whitworth's gun,
and if the results given by the different charges are
material, a note to that effect is to be appended to
the returns of the Whitworth shell practice made
by such means. It is the opinion of many that
these gun trials should not have been conducted at
the same time with the trial of the new and expe-
rimental shell of Colonel Boxer; but we confess we
cannot regret anything which has brought to light
a missile likely to be so valuable to the service and
the country as Colonel Boxer's shell promises to
become. With cominon shell—that is, a thin case
of cast iron, filled with powder, lit from the front
by a percussion or time fuse, the Whitworth gun
was very distinctly beaten by both of Sir William's.
Mr. Whitworth, to a certain extent, frankly admits
this victory, and explains it clearly enough by say-
ing that an error of judgment was committed in
making the common shell half a diameter too long,
which has, to a certain degree, spoilt its shooting..
We give this explanation or excuse as we gave Sir
William's about the steel tube of his breech-loader
not expanding under the explosion of high proof
charges, as it is said it would have done had the
whole tube been of wrought coiled iron. But while,
for the satisfaction of the competitors, we make
their apologies public, it must not be forgotten that
they are excuses to which both the public and the
committee will wisely turn a deaf ear, and look to
results alone. Both competitors had the most ample
time to mature their preparations and elaborate
their weapons to the utmost, and by those which
they have now at last put forward they must be
content to stand or fall.

After the trials with common shell were over
each competitor was allowed to fire shell after his
own fashion, through embrasures at old guns sur-
rounded with dummy figures and with empty
limbers in the rear. In this contest the Arm-
strong shunt gun gained a marked superiority.
The practice with the 70 pounder has now ad-
vanced to a stage at which the experiments
against the iron plated Warrior target have com-
menced. The trials with the large guns, if we
may so far miscall the 70 pounders, which have
led up to these armcur plate experiments, have
included the first stages of firing for range and
accuracy, during which both the shunt and the
Whitworth were as nearly as possible equal in ac-
curacy, though at 3,000 yards range the Whitworth
had an advantage of nearly 200 yards. A breech
loader of Sir William's, not cn the old vent-piece
system but one more recently invented, which opens
the breech at the side with sliding wedges, was
included in these trials; but we may dismiss the
performances of this piece altogether, as it was on
Friday very wisely withdrawn from competition.
Thus, as far as we yet know, tha second system of
breech loading for large guns has for the present
been given up by Sir William. The trials against
the Warrior target took place on Thursday and
Friday, and in this competition a decisive victory
was looked forward to for the Whitworth gun,
which from the very small diameter of its shot

_ -
has generally been found most effective for —at
leest penetrating the armour plates if it did not
damage them much. Contrary to all expectation,
however, at this contest Sir William's shunt gun
achieved a decisive victory over the Whitworth,
both with shut and shell, beating it in the ratio of

at least two to one. The length to which this notice
has extended precludes our giving the details on
this occasion; but we shall take the earliest oppor-
tunity of referring fully to this great stage of the
competition which is likely to be the most decisive,
as it is beyond all question the most important, of
them all.

upon this movement to say that there are but
few military men in the North who do not consider
it fraught with much greater danger than any which
the army has yet encountered, and no friends of
the South who do not fervently hope that nothing
will prevent General Grant from attempting it.
Reinforcements continue to be forwarded, but
they are chiefly raw recruits and emigrants who have
not been six months in the country—men who
doubtless do not lack courage, but who have not
acquired the habits of discipline or the professional
pride of the trained soldier. And however nume-
rous these reinforcements may be, it is not probable
that they more than half fill up the successive de-
pletions which the army of the Potomac has suffered
during the last five weeks. The frightful loss of
life in every battle does not account for more than
20 or 30 per cent. of the 100,000 men who have
disappeared from the effective force of the army
since the passage of the Rapidan. To these have
to be added the wounded who fell in fair fight under
the shot and shell of the enemy, the prisoners, the
deserters, the three-year Volunteers whose term has
expired, the tattered and attenuated remnants of
whose once complete regiments continue to march
through this city. Bat whether reinforced in whole
or in part, General Grant has but little superiority
in numbers over General Lee ; while the latter has
an immense advantage not only in position, but in
everything that goes to elevate the morale and in-
crease the heroism of an army.
In anticipation of the next battle, news of which
is hourly expected, the military hospitals of this
city have been cleared of every man fit to bear re-
moval to his home in the north or west, and all
preparations made to receive from 6,000 to 10,000
men. Baltimore has not the accommodation for
the wounded to be found at Washington, which a
gentleman just arrived from that city describes
as being one huge hospital ; but such ac-
commodation as it has is kept in constant requi-
sition. The hospitals are situated in various parts of
the town, and tax to their utmost the professional
resources of the place. I visited one of them a few
days ago, immediately a: ter a clearance had been
made of the most advanced cases of convalescence,
and saw as much human suffering in the space of
half an hour as I care to see again in a lifetime. Ten
houses—one of them a large hotel situated on one
side of Camden-street, and six, including a piano-
forte manufactory, directly opposite—have been
hired by the Government, connected one with the
other, and form the chief military hospital of Balti-
more. The wards are clean and airy, and every pos-
sible adjunct of health and comfort is provided for.
the wounded. Such as remained on the day of my
visit were for the most part fatal cases, or cases of
which the surgeons had bat faint hopes. There
were men who had lost legs and arms, and men who
were awaiting resignedly—and many of them un-
consciously—the inevitable amputation that might
or that might not save their lives, and who seemed
to have lost all interest in the war and the world,
and in everything around them, save perhaps in the
friendly care of some sympathising nurse, who
smoothed their pillows or offered them their drink
or their medicine. There were some who had the
crowns of their heads carried off by fragments of
bursting shells, and yet survived ; some shot through
the lungs and certain to die, but yet thinking by a
look any kind-hearted surgeon who ventured to tell
them, against his convictions, that there was yet
hope ; others whose jaws had been torn away, some
shot in the foot, some in the hand, some through the
shoulder, and some in the head—the ball in one in-
stance not being merciful enough to take life, but to
leave insanity behind it. The rooms were tastefully
adorned with the Federal gag, vases of flowers, and
sometimes with aquariums, or Wardian cases of ferns,
and the walls hung with portraits, among which that
of Jenny Lind was most conspicuous, and appeared
in every room. These gifts were contributed by the
nurses, all of whom were Northern and principally
New England ladies, who had read of Florence
Nightingale, and, inspired by her example, had de-
voted their time, their kindness, their care, and their
money to the relief of suffering humanity, and the
elevation of the common hospital to the comfort and
the dignity of a home. Among these ladies was cne
in deep mourning, whose husband married her two
years ago, started from the altar to the battle-field,
and returned no more. Another, who paid two visits
daily to the hospital, was not exactly a nurse, but
did something of a nurse's duty in her own peculiar
way. She was about 60 years of age, scrupulously
neat in her attire, was dressed in decent black, car-
ried a basket of crkes on her arm, and seemed as if
she had been permitted to come into the hospital
to carry on her humble trade among the soldiers.
She stopped at every bed, or at every chair in which
a soldier sat up reading, and offered her frugal ware,
looking hurt if it were not accepted. But the good
woman was no merchant. She made the cakes
herself fresh every morning, aed they were her free-
will offerings to the man. It was all she could
afford, and it was the only way that suggested
itself to her mind in which she could be of service.
It was supposed she had lost a husband, or more
probably a son, in the recent battles, but as she said
nothing about it and seemed to shun conversation,
no one cared to invade the secrecy in which she
chose to envelope herself. In addition to her
cakes, she carried in her basket a collection of newly
gathered roses ; and when in her peregrinations
through the wards she came to a bedside of which
the occupant was palpably doomed to rise no more
alive, she placed a rose upon his pillow if he slept;
or, if he were awake, put it into his hand, with a
look of motherly commiseration, and passed on.
And who shall deny the wealth of pity in her gentle
action, or assert that in her humble ministrations
there was no portion of those heavenly characs
teristies which we ascribe to the angels ?
Although the ladies of Baltimore, with this one
exception, left to the ladies of a more Northern
and Eastern latitude the duty of attending to the
wants and cheering the last hours of the Federal
wounded, it must not be supposed that their sym-
pathies were not as abundant as those of their
Northern sisters. The sympathies existed, but they
flowed in another direction. There were no Con-
federate wounded to be cared for, but there were
Confederate prisoners in Fort Delaware and other
places in the vicinity who required the kindly atten-
tion of those who believe that they suffered in a
righteous cause. The military autocrat of Balti-
more—who rules as stringently es Butler before
him, though he may seo treason and disloyalty in
the expression of sympathy with Southern captives,
has not yet deemed it expedient to say so, or to pro-
hibit the good Samaritans of his satrapy from feed-
ing the hungry and clothing the naked, even if the
hungry and the naked be the enemies of his Govern-
ment. The good Samaritans therefore—all of them
ladies—having full command of their husbands'
purses for this object, if for no other, no sooner hear
of the arrival of a detachment of Southern prison-
ers than they meet to apportion the wants of the
captives among them, and to provide them, each
according to her means, with the clothing and other
coraforte they may require to render captivity less
irksome. One lady, three days ago, clothed 100
prisoners at her own expense ; another provided
for 50, another for 20, and many more provided for
two or three. They were not allowed to deliver
their bounty personally, but were permitted to re-
ceive the epistolary thanks of the recipients. The
letters of the prisoners are in every style of com-
position, from the ungrammatical to the correct,
from the business-like to the romantic, but all con-
vey the same manly gratitude and the same un-
wavering confidence in the fuel triumph of the
came for which they have suffered so much and are
ready to suffer to the end.

The Semaphore of Marseilles states that the at-
mospherical variations which have so prevailed during the
last month have now ceased, and that summer has regularly
set in, Daring the last few days the thermometer has stood
at from 26 to 28 deg, Centigrade (79 to 80 Fahrenheit),
[ADVERTISEMENT.]—HoIIoway's Pills. Sick Head-
aches.—Thousands suffer from this worrying annoyance
when the body and brain ere depressed by warm, damp
weather. Holloway's purifying pills Present a ready means
of cure for indigestion, biliousness, faintness, and flatu•
lency. In debilitated constitutions and nervous habits
these pills are the best restoratives—they correct all the
unpleasant torpidily of the liver, they remove distension,
and never fail to obviate all obstructions of the bowels, and
to induce their regular action. For all abdominal ailments
Holloway's pills are the safest possible medicine—they at
once give easy and comfort, and naturally strengthen the
whole series of organs concerned in the process of indiges-
tion; will be found useful in every household,

Her Majesty's screw steam sloop Racer, now in commis-
sion at Woolwich, was on Saturday hauled out of the inner
basin and received her complement of 130 men and boys,
and a detachment of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, in
readiness for sea. The following officers have joined
Commander Isaac N. T. &Wei (November 13th, 1854),
Lieut. W. E. Darwall, lately of the flagship Nile, on the
North American and West India stations'; Surgeon Andrew
M'Clure, M.A., from the Royal Marine Artillery at Fort
Cumberland. Mr George W. Muir, paymaster, promoted,
on paying off the Ardent; Mr Samuel M. Spry, master ;
Mr Hogg, Mr Jenner, and Mr Hoar have also joined.
The Admiralty yacht Black Eagle, Staff Commander
Whillier, recently returned from the Danish waters, having
laid in stores for a three months' cruise, got up steam, and
sailed from Woolwich on Saturday morning for Norway.
Her Majesty's steam storeship Supply, Staff Commander
Bawden, has arrived at Woolwich, laden with a cargo come
pleting the residue of the garrison stores left at Corfu after
the departure of the troops. Capt. Bawden, who has been
suffering from teVere rheumatic fever, was on Saturday re-
moved in a cot from his ship to the Royal Naval Infirmary
at Woolwich, and is progressing favourably.
The War Department steamer Lord Panmure, Master
Commander Moore, returned to Woolwich on Saturday
laden with platforms, shot, and general stores, from Ports-
mouth, whither she sailed on the previous Sunday with a
full cargo of heavy balks of timber to supply the new labo •
ratory, under the superintendence of Capt. Bailey. Thus
the two shipments, discharges, and double voyage were
completed in about 140 hours.
The Caspar, the first of the fleet of vessels taken up this
year by the Admiralty for the conveyance of Russian hemp
to Chatham Dockyard, has arrived at that establishment
from St. Petersburg, and has commenced discharging her
cargo alongside the dockyard.
The Racoon, 22, screw corvette, Capt. Count Gleichen,
sailed from Spithead, on her northern cruise, on Saturday,
Lieut, Prince Alfred rejoining from leave previous to the
corvette weighing her aachor. The Prince, accompanied
by the Prince of Wales and Prince Louis of Hesse, arrived
at the Queen's private station in the Royal Clarence-yard,
Gosport, from Windsor, at 10 45 a.m.., where, on alighting,
the Royal Princes were received by Major-Gen. Lord Wm.
Paulet, C,8., Admiral Sir M. Seymour, G.C.8., Rear-Ad-
miral Harry Edgell, C. 8., Capt. Scott, C.B. (aide-de-camp
to the Queen), Col. Thackwell (Assist. Adjutant-General),
and other officers. Their Royal Highnesses immediately
embarked on board the Fire Queen steam yacht, Staff. Com-
mander Paul, which conveyed them out to Spithead, and
transferred them to the Racoon, lying at anchor with the
Channel fl-et, but with steam up in readiness to start on
her voyage. Soon afterwards a signal was made from the
Racoon to the Edgar, flagship of the Admiral commanding
the Jhaunel squadron, that "the Prince of Wales would be
glad to see Admiral Dacres on board the Racoon." The
Admiral at once went on board the corvette. At 3 p.m. the
Racoon weighed her anchor, and, after steaming about the
Channel fleet for some little time, stood out to see by the
eastern channel, with the Fire Queen in attendance. Off the
Warner light-ship the engines were stopped, and the Prince
of Wales and Prince Louis of Hesse, taking leave of Prince
Alfred, left her, re-embarked on board the Fire Queen, and
returned to Portsmouth harbour, landing at the Royal
Clarence Victualling-yard, and thence proceeding by spe-
cial South Western train for Windsor, via Basingstoke, at
430 p.m. In accordance with the wish expressed by the
Prince of Weiss, no public honours of any kind were paid
him beyond the attendance of the chief military and
naval authorities at the Royal Clarence-yard. The
inhabitants of Portsmouth, however, considering themselves
free from any official trammels or etiquette, decked out their
Victoria Pier, at the entrance to the harbour, gaily with
flags, and cheered most lustily as the Fire Queen steamed
in and out of the harbour, the Prince of Wales lifting his
hat repeatedly in answer to the crowd assembled on the pier.
The Channel fleet remains at Spithead, awaiting orders
from the Admiralty. The experimental squadron, consisting
of the Research, 4, 1,253 tons, 200 horse power, the En-
terprise, 4, 993 tons, 160 horse power, iron cased frigates,
and the 'Wolverine, 21, 1,703 tons, 400 horse power, arrived
at the Nore on Friday evening from their cruise in the
North Sea, in order to be joined by the Fawn, 17, 750 tons,
100 hot- power, and the paddlewheel steamer Salamis 855
tone, 250 horse power, before proceeding on particular ser-
vice. On Saturday evening, in accordance with orders re..
ceived at Chatham by telegraph from the Admiralty, the
Wolverine and Salamis proceeded to the Down, where they
will be joined by the remainder of the squadron. The Enter-
prise was occureed nearly the whole of Saturday in coaling.
The Fawn has shipped the whole of her guns, shot, shell,
and powder, and the officers recently appointed to her have
joined and taken up their commissions, and she will be ready
to take her departure during the present week. The whole
of the vessels will rendezvous at the Downs, where they will
join the ships composing the Channel fleet, under the orders
of Admiral Dacres, C,8., and await the final instructions of
the Admiralty.
The contractors' trial of the engines of the screw steam
frigate Ocean took place outside Plymou h breakwater
on Saturday last. Her keel was laid at Devonport in Aug.
1860, for a wooden line-of battle ship, to carry 100 guns,
but on the 30th of June, 1861, she was ordered to be "con-
verted" into an iron-cased frigate, mounting 34 guns.
The Ocean was accordingly lengthened 20 feet amidships;
her stem and stern were altered. She was launched on the
9th of March, 1863, and has since been protected with iron
plates and fitted with bilge pieces at Keyham. This frigate
is now classed with the Caledonia, Royal Alfred, Royal Oak,
and Prince Consort, all of about 4,000 tons, and her engines
and machinery, built by Messrs Maudslay, Sons, and Field,
are precisely like those of the last named vessels, with the
exception only that the pitch of the Ocean's screw is 22ft
6in, while that of the Prince Consort is 25ft. The trials of
the Prince Consort's engines took place on the 23d, 24th,
and 25th of September last year, and were reported at the
time. The Ocean left Hamoaze at 9in the morning, in
charge of Capt. 'William Edrnonstone, C. 8., chief of the
steam reserve. There was a numerous company on board,
including Rear-Admiral Thomas N. C. Symonds, C. 8.,
superintendent of the dockyard, Mr. Maudshsy, and Mr.
Herbert Maudslay. The trial was superintended on the
part of the Government by Mr James Steil, assistant-
engineer at Keyham, and Mr William A Dinnen, inspector
of machinery afloat ; and for the contractors by Mr War-
rener. The weather was fine, wind being from the ti .N. W.,
with a force of from 4to 5. The sea was moderately
smooth. The temperature in the stoke-hole was about 10.),
and on deck 65. Under full boiler power the mean of six
runs at the measured mile gave 12.895 knots; revolutions,
58 per minute ; vacuum, 251. Under half boiler power the
mean of four runs was 10.691 knots; revolutions, 471 ;
vacuum, 261. These results are considered sufficiently
satisfactory to prevent the necessity of any further trial.
There were no hot bearings, and all the machinery appears
to be in perfect order. The speed attained does no.: equal
that of the Prince Consort's in September last, being 2:6
less, but that frigate was not then fitted with bilge pieces,
and, not being so deeply laden, drew 51 inches less aft than
the Ocean.

The screw steam-sloop Cordelia, 11, was placed in com-
mission at Davenport on Friday with a complement of 130
men. She will receive draughts of seamen, marines, and
boys to-day, and be stored forthwith for the hame station
temporarily. The sloop is now in the Prince's dock, where
her valves will be overhauled and bottom cleaned.
The whole of the troops at Alciershott turned out for a
field-day on Friday, under the command of Lieut.-General
Sir John Pennefather, K.C.8., and proceeded to the com-
mon, near the Royal Pavilion. After marching past the
division took grcund to the westward, and formed in order
of battle on the high ground south of the common to attack
an advancing enemy, supposed to be occupying the village
of Cove, with his right resting on Pyestock and his left on
Cove-common. 'I he heavy brigade of cavalry, under com •
mend of Col. Darby Griffith, consisting of the Carabineers,
the Royal Dragoons, and the Scots Greys, commenced the
fight. They advanced in line of contiguous columns in close
order at a trot, followed by the light brigade, under the
command of Col. Soame Jenyns, and consisting of the 13th
and 14th Hussars. The heavy brigade was accompanied by
a half battery of Royal Horse Artillery on either fl ink, and
the light brigade by a half battery similarly disposed. The
heavy brigade deployed into line on the right squadron of
the Royals, the batteries of this brigade taking up position
in advance of the right and left fronts, and opening fire.
Having aroused the enemy, the artillery limbered up, and
the brigade advanced at a gallop, accompanied by the guns.
Tae Hussar brigade, which had deployed into line during
the above movements, advanced at a gallop and halted.
The heavy brigade then retired by sections of threes from
the right of regiments, and reformed line in rear of the
Hussars. The heavy brigade next advanced, and the light
retired by open column of troops from the left of the line.
The heavy brigade halted, and the artillery
again threw in
several rounds. The heavy brigade then retired .by open
column of troops from the right at a trot, thus clearing the
front of the infantry and artillery, who were in position,
forming three lines, The Royal Artillery commenced a
heavy cannonade, supported by file firing, from General
Taylor's brigade, General Russell's brigade advanced in
line, and halted close to General Taylor's, thus forming
funr ranks, the latter kneeling, and both throwing in a
tremendous file fire, While the artillery pounded away
without intermission. The enemy fell back; a few more
combined and well -ex9cuted movements completed
his disorder; and soon he was beating a hasty retreat
to the westward, hotly pursued by the victorious troops
until they were lost to the sight of the visitors. The whole
of the manoeuvres were rapidly and skilfully executed.
The division returned to quarters about 1 o'clock.
By direct'on of the authorities at the War Department,
a series of experiments will be carried out at Chatham dur-
ing the present summer by the officers and men attached to
the Royal engineer establishment in order to test the merits
of the new description of pontoon, similar to that in use in
the Austrian army, which it is proposed to introduce into the
English service. The superiority claimed for the Austrian
pontoon is its increased strength and buoyancy. It is found
to be far more portable than the ordinary Blanshard pontoon
which has been adopted in the corps of Royal Eagineers. It
can, besides, be turned to use by an army when on the
march and in the field—an advantage not possessed by the
Blanchard pontoon, which, from its size and unwieldy train
and proportions, causes tle transport of the pontoon train
to be attended with considerable difficulty. The experi-

A Wharncliffe meeting of this company was held on Fri-
day at the Gray's inn Coffeehouse, Holborn, Mr Boyle in
the chair, for the purpose of considering a bill for autho-
rising the Rhymney Railway Company t& make and main-
tain their Cardiff and Caerphilly and other railways; also a
bill for authorising the Rhymney Railway Company to
make and maintain lines of railway to join the Brecon and
Merthyr Tydvil Junction Railway, and the Merthyr,
Tredegar, and Abergavenny Railway, and the Rumney
Railway respectively ; and a bill to enable the Brecon and
Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway Company to construct
new lines between their authorised lines and the Rumney
and Rhymney Railways, and to connect the Rumney and
Rhymney Railway, and between the Rumney Railway and
Caerphilly and Llantwitfardre, and to join the Taff Vale,
the Llantrissant and Taff Vale, and the Rhymney Railway,
and new lines to join the Great Western and Monmouth-
shire Railways, and to raise further moneys.
Mr Roy, the solicitor, having read the heads of the bills,
The CHAIRMAN moved formal resolutions approving them.
Mr AUSTIN seconded the resolutions, which were adopted,
and the proceedings terminated.

GREAT INDIAN PENINSULA..
The adjourned half-yearly meeting of this company was
held on Friday at the London Tavern, Mr W. J. Hamilton
in the chair.

Mr Watt, the secretary, read the notice of adjournment
to receive the audited statement of accounts, an abstract of
which has appeared in the Sun.

The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the audited
accounts for the half• year ending the 31st of Dee. 1863, said
they fully bore out the correctness of the statement laid
before the proprietors at the last meeting by the directors.
There was only one point to which he would advert—from
the Ist of July to the end of Demmber, 1863, they had paid
for compensation £23,700. Were it not for that serious item
their net receipts wculd have stood in a more favourable
position as compared with corresponding half years, than
ever they did in any previous half-year. (Hear, hear.)
That large amount of compensation was chiefly for damage
to cotton exposed during the monsoon, and to unfortunate
fires on the line. The proprietors might depend that the
directors both here and in India had taken every precaution
in their power to prevent those fires in future. The habit
of the natives sending uni ressed cotton to the railway had
been the cause of much loss, which had resulted in an order
against carrying it in that state—and they had put on a
very heavy additional price to cover the risk. They had at
times been obliged to refuse unpressed cotton altogether.
Fixed presses were now being erected at stations on the
upper part of the line, so that they hoped soon to have a
much larger quantity of cotton brought to them in a proper
state for conveyance oNer the railway.
The resolution was then unanimously adopted, and a
vote of thanks to the chairman and directors concluded the
proceedings.

INDIAN BRANCH.

The half-yearly meeting of this railway company was
held on Friday at the London Tavern, the Marquis of
Tweeddalo in the chair.
The report was taken as read.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
said the undertaking was for the purpose of establishing a
permanent light system of railways in India. Their com-
pany was the first that had undertaken to make rail
ways without a guaranteed rate of interest. All
the railways that had been guaranteed were subjected
to Government c introl, delay, interruption, and increased
expense. The terms upon which they carried on their ope-
rations did not allow of interference with their works, or
limit their dividend to 5 per cent. Their engineer, Mr
Wilson, had returned to England for the benefit of his
health, and he was glad to see him in the room, (Hear.)
He thought the Government were right in waiting for the
working of the Nulhattee line before conceding to the com-
pany the whole of the lines in Oude and Rohilcund. The
Government had undertaken to supply the land, the road,
and bridges, with the exception of the bridge to Moorsha-
bad. The late Governor. General, Lord Elgin, had visited
the line when in course of construction, and had expresses
his approval of the plan and works. The Deputy-Governor
of Bombay had also inspected it, and, finding Everything
complete, agreed that it should be opened in January last for
traffic. The receipts to March 31 amounted to £1,650, and
the expenses to £6BO, having £970, which was equivalent
to 5 per cent. on their outlay of £2,300 per mile, which was
the cost to them when the line was completed in all re-
spects. The company were to have 796 miles conceded to
them in the rich, productive, and populous district of Oude
and Rohilcund. They were of easy construction, and the
climate was well suited to the cultivation of most valuable
produce for home consumption. The best districts had been
selected by the Government for those cheap lines, which
would not only greatly dovelope the resources of those
districts, but prove important feeders to the main line of
the East Indian Railway between Benares and Delhi.
Mr WILSON, the engineer in chief, gave an account of
the company's proceedings in India. The receipts on the
Nulhattee line for the three months it was open gave a net
return of 51 per cent on the capital, hut this was no criterion
of what it would be when it was in operation a longer time.
It was difficult to divert the traffic from the old route, but
since they had established through booking between Cal-
cutta and Moorshabad, and vice versa, the traffic had
greatly increased. He had received a letter, dated the 16th
of last month, from which it appeared that the goods traffic
alone for seven days on the Nulhattee line amounted to £122,
and he had no doubt that the goods traffic on the Indian
lines would equal the passenger traffic. The principle upon
which their system rested was economy, lightness, stiffness,
in obtaining the same strength with half the weight of
material judiciously put together. The carriages for con-
veying 200 persons weighed about 7i tons, bat on the ordi-
nary construction the dead weight of the carriages would be
four times as much, or 30 tons. The same result was ob-
tained in conveying goods ; therefore a heavy engine was
not required, and a light one was adopted. The Govern-
ment subsidy of £lOO per mile per annum for 20 years was
equivalent to £1,350 per mile, which, added to £2,:.00 for
the Nulhattee line, or to £2,650 for the Oude and Rohilcund
lines, gave the total cost of them per mile. On the Nul-
hattee line the subsidy was ( quivalent to 21 per cent. per
annum for 20 years, and the net traffic for the short time it
had been opened 3'16 per cent., even without a junction
with Moorshabad, as the people had to cross the river to
and from the railway. But in the Oude and Rohilcund dis-
tricts the traffic would be far greater than on the Nulhattee
line. There were 23 coach companies on the road between
Cawnpore and Lucknow, from which they could form some
idea of what the traffic would be on their line, which
would run all the way by the side of the road. In Lucknow
there were 350,000 inhabitants, and in Fyzabad beyond it
there were 2.50,000 inhabitants. The whole district was
more densely populated than any part of Europe, and there
was ample traffic to pay them a vary large dividend. There
could be no doubt that railways economically constructed
in ludic( would pay handsomely.
Mr DENT, in seconding the motion for the adoption of the
repoe, explained that the Government gave the company
the land for the railway, and a subsidy of £lOO a mile per
annum for 20 years, which was equal to £1,300 in cash.
This was given in lieu of making the roads for the branch
railway company, and that was about the average cost to
the Government of rn- king the ordinary roads. This was
done in cases where the Government had no road to give the
company. The concession for the lines in Oude and Rohil-
cund was agreed to be given them by the late lamented
Governor-General of India, Lord Elgin. They had no
doubt that final terms would be come to, and that the sub-
sidy for those lines would be granted. The concession was
for 99 years.

After some observations by Mr Sheward, Mr Powell, and
Mr Turnbull, as to the favourable prospects of the under-
taking, resolutions were passed adopting the report; autho-
rizing the directors to barrow £lOO,OOO at 5 per cent on