The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-29 00:00:00

WE NAVY.

The screw steamer Meanee, 81, 400-horse power,
which has been commissioned at the Nore, by Capt.
Wo!ie•r,,us.-, for service in the Medittrran.:-.n, in

the eoutbe of a few weeks will be reedy for sea. A

number of her crew have already joined from the
Coastguard and other ships. The Afeanee is a teak-
built ship, and was constructed some years ago in
the East Indies. She is sister ship to the Bombay,
81, both vessels having originally been built as sail-
ing ships at Bombay dakyard, but subsequently
converted in this country to line-of-battle screw
steamers. The Meanee is an exceedingly fine ship,
and is believed to be one of the strongest in the navy.

since her alteration to a screw steamer she has been
attached to the steam reserve in the Medway. The
following appointments to the Meanee had been
mide by the Admiralty up to yesterday, most of the

officers having joined and taken up their commie•

sions :—Commander B. S. Pickard, Lieuts. the Hon.

F. O'B. Fitzmaurice, A. Tarbuteau, J. L. Way, C.
E. Domvile, and W. Bailey ; Master W. F. Par-

sons ; Sub-Lieuts. J. W, Harvey, F. It. Bromilaw,
and E. A. F. Baxter ; Surg. J. Andrews, IVLD.
Assist.-Surg. G. B, Beale, M.D. ; Acting Assist.-
Surg. A. Robertson, M.D. ; Paymaster S. Fisher ;
Assist.-Paymasters F. Parker and E. B. Pillans ;
Chief Engineer G. Aitcheson ; Engineer J. J. Blun-
den ; Acting First-class Assist.-Engineer W. C.
; Acting Second-class Assist.-Engineer T.
Griffiths; Second•class Assist.-Engineer H. Bur-
stow ; Second Master J. E. Price; Master Assistants
A. Wallis and C. A. Browne : Assist.-clerk A. Court.
The Racer, 11, screw sloop, Commander Lyons,
whose arrival at Spithead from Halifax was an-
nounced in The Sun of yesterday, landed her in-
valids during the morning and sailed in the after-
noon for the eastward, to be dismantled and paid
out of commission. She sailed from Charleston on
the 19th, Baltimore on the 27th, and Fortress Mon-
roe, Hampton Roads, on the 28th October. She
arrived at Halifax on the 3d of November, and
sailed again on the 6th. On the 25th inst. the Ame-
rican ship Shakspeare was spoken, from London,
bound for New York.
The Arrogant, 47, screw, bearing the broad pen-
dant of Commodore Elphinstone, arrived at Spit-
head early yesterday morning from the West Coast

of Africa, having sailed from Sierra Leone on the
22d Oct. A succession of northerly and easterly

winds were experienced throughout the homeward
passage. She is ordered for inspection at Spithead
to-day, and will afterwards go into Portsmouth
harbour to strip, return stores, and be paid out of

commission. The Arrogant's officers and crew have
rendered important services during their period of
service on the coast, and particularly during the
Badiboo war and in an attack on a formidable stock-
ade in front of Sabba. On Nov. 21, in lat. 46 54 N.,
long. 15 44 W., the Arrogant spoke the bark Silvia,
from the Cape of Good Hope, bound for Falmouth.
The Algiers screw line. of-battle-ship, Capt. E. B.
Rice, arrived at Spithead yesterday afternoon from
the Mediterranean. She sailed from Malta on Nov.
4, and from Gibraltar on the 15th. On the 22d, in
lat 42 31 N., long. 12 55 W., she spoke the bark

Dee, for Sierra Leone. Strong north-easterly winds
were encountered after leaving Gibraltar. The
military and naval officers, troops, and seamen
who have arrived in the Algiers as passengers and
invalids comprise, from Malta, Lieut. Smyth, 9th
Regiment ; Lieut. Leigh, 22d Regiment ; Mr. Hen-
wood, R.N.; Mr. Curry, R.N. ; 47 invalids from
various regiments ; 24 naval invalids, 23 women,
28 children, and a few military and naval invalids
from Gibraltar. The invalids are ordered to be
landed. at 8 a.m. to-day, after which the ship will
be officially inspected, and discharge her ammuni
tion preparatory to going into Portsmouth harbour,
where she will be dismantled, cleared of her arma-
ment and stores, and paid out of commission.
The Sutlej, screw frigate, Captain M. Connolly,
flagship of Rear-Admiral J. Kingcombe, commenced
swinging in Portsmouth harbour yesterday to
ascertain the deviation of her compass, prepara-
tory to leaving the harbour for Spithead and the
Pacific. In the midst of the operation of swinging
the hawser broke, and the completion of the work
bad necessarily to be postponed until to-day.
Her Majesty's screw steam gun vessel Lily, 4,702
tons, 200-horse-power, which has recently been
commissioned by Commander Henry Harvey for
service on the North American and West India
Station, was taken from Sheerness harbour to the
Maplin Sands on Thursday last, for her final official
trial of speed and machinery. The vessel was in
charge of Commander Offiey Crewe Read, of her
Majesty's ship Cumberland, guardship of the steam
reserve at Sheerness. Mr. Rumble, inspector of
machinery afloat, had the superintendence of her
machinery, and Mr. S. L. Townsend, foreman of
engineers in the dockyard at Sheerness, was also in
attendance. The Lily attained an average speed at
full boiler power of 10087 knots per hour, pressure
of steam being 191; vacuum, 25; revolutions of en-
gines, 80 ;at half-boiler power the average speed
was 8.466 knots per hour; pressure of steam, 16} ;
vacuum, 25 ; revolutions, 69. The circle was made
at full speed in five minutes, being equal to a rate
of 101 knots per hour. The machinery and vessel
worked in amost satisfactory manner, and the result
of the trial was highly gratifying. The Lily will
be inspected by Vice-Admiral Sir W. J. Hope John-
stone, K.C.8., Commander-in-Chief at Sheerness,
this day, and on Monday will proceed to Plymouth,
where she will await final orders.
The officers of the steam reserve at Sheerness
'4 an official visit to Chatham yesterday in the
pat,
Fearless, tender to the Cumberland, to inspect the
Pylades, 21, screw steam corvette, 1,278 tons, 350-
horse power, which has been undergoing thorough
and extensive repairs, and has been strengthened
in her hull, in Chatham Dockyard. The vessel was
ascertained to be quite complete, and ready for the

pennant.
Orders have been received by the authorities that
the Conqueror, 86, screw steam line-of-battle ship,
2,846 tons, 500-horse power, is to be placed in dock
at Sheerness Dockyard, in order to be brought for-
ward for the first division of the steam reserve.
in September last, while several British ships of
war were lying at anchor in the Bay of Naples, a
very severe storm occurred, accompanied by heavy
thunder and vivid lightning. The mainmast of her
Majesty's ship London was struck by the lightning,
but the ship. being protected by the conductors now
universally used in the royal navy, escaped unin-
jured. The following official communication on the
subject was sent by Capt. Chads to Vice-Admiral
Sir W. F. Martin, K.C.B. :
" H.M.S. London, Naples, Oct. 22.
" Sir, have the honour to inform you shat, during the
night of the 20th September, her Majesty's ship under my
ruratnalad, lying in this bay, was struck by lightning dur-
g a heavy thunderstorm.
" 2. The sparks from the electric fluid were distinctly
seen on the conductor abaft the mainmast, and a few nails
of the conductor at the maintopmast head were started.
The ship shook and trembled with the shock, which was felt
by everybody on board, and which much resembled the
shock of an earthc
4, No damage whatee,;er was a
pass-
ing through the ship,. bottom into the sea, proving the effi-
ciency and utility of our
present admirable lightning con-
ductors.—I have the honour to be, sm.,

" HENRY CHLDS, Captain.
To Vice-Admiral Sir W. P. Martin, K.C.8.,

The screw steam CorvetteYeiln", 21, Commodore
F. ,B. P. Seymour, from the
-which arrived in Plymouth Sound on
station
stlSt. Helena on
afternoon, left Sydney on July 'g--- on Thursday'
Horn on September 4th, arrived at r"nded
Cape
October 14th, and left on the 21st.
line on the 28th. Frorn the Bth to 1112etrhia:bileuudtg ;tieise6,
in I.:tilude about 53 S,, and in longitude
W.. she experienced a strong easterly g
a force of 6'olll Bto 10. Bet wren Sept. 10 :ring
in lat. ;36 50 S., long. (30 W. several icebergs ;3'
ob-ierVed. Frottr the 3d to the 18th she was detained
ee
off Cape _Horn by dead calms, the :.ea being
fine weather was experi-
smooth. On the whole very
enced, end she was understesm only six: days between
New Slut!, Wales and Englan d. The screw steam
corvette Orpheus, 21, Commander Robert H. Bur-
CB
ton, flag of Commodore William F. Burnett,
C.B.
appointed to relieve the Pelorns, arrived at Sydney
on the 18th of July.
The French armed transport La Rhone, from the
Mauritius for France, was at St. Helena. When tile
P_elorus arrived at St. Helena, it was discovered
that her rudderhead had sprung, and the necessary

repairs were made before she left the island. She
is at present in a very leaky condition, and will
probably proceed at once to Portsmouth, where her
crew will be paid off and she will be repaired. She
was put in commission at Plymouth, July 17th
1857, and has been employed two ye is in India,
and two years at New Zealand, during the war
with the natives. Since then she was stationed at
Sydney.
The construction of the new experimental ship,
the Research, at Pembroke Dockyard, is to be
pushed on as rapidly as possible. Additional hands
have been placed on the work, and others will be so
when the vessel is far enough advanced for the pur-
pose. The Research is the second of the three ex-
perimental vessels now building from the designs of
Mr. E. J. Reid. She is about 1,200 tons burden,
yet with this large tonnage it is intended that her
armament shall be four guns only, of the heaviest
description, however,—viz , 110-pounders. This
fine vessel will be rigged for ocean service, and will
be iron-cased with 44-inch plates. With this heavy
armour, however, it is calculated, from her peculiar
build, that her draught of water will be less than
with wooden vessels of the same class.

By the promotion of Capt. George Ramsay, C. 8.,
to the rank of Rear-Admiral, a captain's good ser-
vice pension is placed at the disposal of the First
Lord of the Admiralty.
The Duke of Somerset returned:to his official re-
sidence yesterday from visiting the Right Hon.
the Speaker of the House of Commons, at the
Ossington-park, Notts. Capt. Alfred P. Ryeer has
entered on his duty as private secretary to his
Grace.

The following appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty :—Lieut. James Buchanan
to the Geyser; and James Redgrave, acting second-
class assist. engineer, to the Dromedary.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

TRAFFIC RETURNS FOR. THE WEEK.

The traffic receipts of railways in the 'United Kingdom
amounted for the week ending the 22d of November, on
10,499 miles, to £518,067, and for the corresponding week
of last year, on 10,186 miles, to £499,972, showing an increase
of 313 miles, and of £18,095 in the receipts. The gross re-
ceipts on the following 14 railways amounted in the aggre-
gate on 7,221 miles, to £405,127 ; and for the correspond-
ing week of 1361, on 7,006 miles, to £392,901, showing an
increase of 215 miles, and of £12,226 in the receipts. The
increase on the Caledonian amounted to £1,170; on the
Great Eastern to £94 ; on the Great Northern to £273;
on the Great Western to £1,993; on the Lancashire and
Yorkshire to £5l; on the London and North-Western to
£3,273; on the London, Brighton, and South Coast to
£1,236 ; on the London and South-Western to £2,726; on
the North British to £405; on the North-Eastern to
£1,006; and on the South-Eastern to £1,410; total,
£13,637. But from this must be deducted £669, the de-
crease on the Great Southern and Western; £648
on the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire; and
£94 on the Midland ; together £1,411, leaving the in-
crease, as above, £12,226. The goods and mineral traffic on
those lines amounted to £239,597, and for the correspond-
ing week of 1861 to .1230,870, showing an increase of
£8,727. The receipts for passengers, parcels, &c., amounted
to £165,530, against £162,031, showing an increase of £3,499.
The traffic receipts on 64 other lines amounted, on 3,279
miles, to £112,940, and for the corresponding week of last
year, on 3,180 miles, to £107,071, showing an increase of
99 miles, and of £5,869 in the receipts. Tho passenger
traffic on the principal lines shows a falling off of £6,560 as
compared with the preceding week. The total receipts of
the past week show a decrease of £4,553 as compared with
those of the preceding week, ending the 15th inst.

Miles Opened. Receipts.
-, .

Railways.
1862. 1861. 1862. 1861.
X X
Belfast and N. Counties 136 136 2,007 1,867
Belfast and Comity Down 49 49 617 564
Blyth and Tyne 22 22 1,263 1,614
Bristol and Exeter l2ll 167 5,:175 5,629
Caledonian
Cockermouth & Working-,ton 134 81 308 3.5
5
Cork and Bandon 2O 20 359 3
Cork, Blackrock, & Passage 6l 64 173 17,,
Cork and Youghal ... 324 27 305 213
Cornwall 531 531 1,
233 1,010
Deeside l7 17 266 284
Dublin & Belfast Junction 63 63 1,398 1,361
Dublin and Drogheda 63 63 1,532 1,659
Dub. & Wicklow and Wext d 4Bl 481 1,574 1,426
Dundee, Perth, & Aber. Jun 3l 31 1,121 1,118
Edinburgh and Glasgow 1691 1695 7,328 7,693
Forth & Clyde Junction
Furness, &c 5O 5) 2,655 2,327
Glasgow & South-Western
Gt. Eastern,Nrfk.,&E. Union
Great Northern 330 330 28,187 27,914
Great North of Scotland 5B 58 1,828 1,803
Gt. Northn. & Westn. (Irel.) 57 451 397 317
'lt.Southn. & Westn.(lrind.) 329 329 7,619 8,288
Great Western 992 MI 52,484 50.491
Inverness & Aberdeen Juno 735 735 1,011 847
Irish North-Western 145 130 1.804 1.767
Irish South-Eastern
Lancashire & Yorkshire 3ts 32441 81,469 1111218
Limerick and Ennis.
Limerick and Foynes 26 261 158 200
Llanelly 4 461 511 489
Londen & North-Western
(London and Blackwell 5l 51 1,616 1,371
London & South-Western
Lond. Brighton, &S. Coast 2414 241/ 16,057 14,-21
London, Chatham, & Dover 725 725 ,2,e,95 1,592
Lond., Tilbury, & Southend
Han.,Sheffield, &Lincolnsh
Manch. S.Jun.&Altrincham.. 94 95 1,021 1,081
Ma port and Carlisle
Midland (incl. N.-Western) 630 6141 38,716 38,810
Midland Gt.Westn. of hind 1921 1921 4,128 4,022
Monkland 7l/ 711 1,559 1,562
Monmouthsh. Rail. & Canal 44 44 2,502 2,567
North British, Edin., Perth .•
and Dundee
'- Car. _ 894 f 8671 41,156 40 150
,

N-Eastern and New. & .., ..._ _
North London 9 9 3,152 2,723
North Staffordshire 248 246 7,669 6,923
Oswestry and Newton 42 42 1 815 613
Rhymney . . ...... —.... 19,1 19i 915 759
St. Helen's Canal & Railway 52 52 2,085 1,961
Scottish Central
Scottish North-Eastern 132 132 5,565 5,028
Shropshire Union 29 291 1,000 1,020
Somerset and Dorset 391 376
South Devon
South-Eastern 306 306 18,181 16,771
Stockton and Darlington ..., F.,5 161 11,410 9,016
Taff Vale 54 54 5,296 5,154
Ulster
Vale of Clwyd lO 10 130 118
Vale of Neath 2s} 25} 2,064 1,704
Waterford and Kilkenny 3l 31 412 338
Waterford and Limerick 77 77 11,305 1,489
West Cornwall 274 274 752 731
W.Hartlepoolllarbr.&Rail 39 39 3,742 4,421
W'haven,Cleator,&Egrmint.„ 7 7 570 406
Whitehaven Junction l2 12 800 680
Whitehaven & Furness Jun.,

FOREIGN AND COLONIAL.
Antwerp and Rotterdam 52 52 1,153 1,240
Austrian B2B 828 40,090 53,372
Belgian Eastern Junction 264 264 323 324
Buffalo and Lake Huron l6ll 1614 2,377 2,351
Detroit and Milwaukie lB5 185 5,061 5,063
Dutch Rhenish
Eastern of France
East Indian
Grand Trunk of Canada lO9O 100 20,450 20,129
Great Indian Peninsula 4371 3504 4,799 3,987
Great Luxembourg 134 128 4,4!8 3,85'2
Great Western of Canada 345 345 14,269 10,563
Madrid, Saragossa &Alicant 429 435 15,894 12,812
Northern of Canada
Northern of France
Norwegian Trunk
Ottoman
Paris, Lyons, & Mediterrn 1491 1351 138,172 140,785
Paris and Orleans 1340 1201 00,576 58,126
Pernambuco 6O -- 688 -
Royal Danish 69 69 623 525
Sambre and Meuse 6B 68 1,567 1,354
South Austrian - -
Southern of France " 777 777 28,468 26,382
Welland.. • •
West Flanders
W. and N.W. of France 758 758 38,399 45,616