The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-08 00:00:00

EASTERN STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY.

A half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors of
the Eastern Steam Navigation Company was held on
Saturday at the London Tavern, when a highly inte-
resting and full report from the directors of this impor-
tant undertaking was read, and unanimously adopted.
Arrangements have been made for the construction of
the engines and hull of the first ship of the company,
the former being on the aggregate of 2,600-horse power,
and the dimensions of the latter—length, 680 feet ;
breadth, 83 feet ; depth, 58 feet ; with screw and paddle
engines. Such will be the gigantic proportions of
these noble vessels, which are destined to cause
a revolution in our present system of , ship build-
ing. The size above-mentioned is considered to be
the smallest that will insure the requisites of com-
fort, speed, and economy. These vessels will not be
obliged to call anywhere for coal, but will carry all that
is necessary for the entire voyage, besides 5,000 tons
measurement of merchandise, and 500 cabins for passen-
gers of the first class, with ample space for troops and
lower-class passengers. The speed estimated to be ob-
tained is fifteen knots per hour, and will reduce the
voyage between England and China, by the Cape, to
thirty or thirty-three days, and between England and
Australia to thirty-three or thirty-six days. The hulls
of the vessels will be of iron, of unusual strength, and of
double construction, and divided into ten completely
water-tight compartments. In concluding our notice of
di a report, we close with the following remarks of the
rectors :____

any n directors would have refrained from publishing
tyhri;
like
of their calculations
rying capacity for
tions of failure estimates, but having to meet the predic-
think it right to state that the result
class of vessel: made by those interested in the present
, passer,,,ers, 651
rate of V. 103. s (made on the assumption that the car-
ssiensoluan
pefoods outward should be occupied at the
frraetiegsh tfso,ranfit otn. ly entc'en4lalbfeiontgthceonsidberably below present
occupied,
3elca.t.
vessel's
and third-cl 2
asspelay
they homewardfgv- c.
nl ass st , 0
h
of the respective classes
bsuemocoinugptiheadtoonnl one-third and as-
capacity would
the most ample allowance for working is that after making
depre-
ciation, wear and tear, and insurance,"king expenses,
equal to forty per cent. per annu a surplus remains
invested. With these prospects, bamsecl upon
the l
commer-
cial principles, this company requires' sound commerassistance ; all that is necessaryis
that noo Government ,
rival company shall be subsidised to yournpr rival route or
" Such are the views and considerations wietjhavidye.
directors have been led to make their final
arrangements.
your
They believe, as they have before stated, that eyge,.,Te_ntS•
tphrocvaironsreaFmnd.
pany, and every individual engaged in steam naviiiazz
has gradually become convinced by experience of the advan.
tage of size. .
In conclusion, your directors desire to state that they
believe the vessels of this company will supply the great
desideratum of the day, and will afford the speediest, the
safest, most punctual, and most economical means of com-
munication ever devised between this country and her
most distant Eastern colonial possessions."
____--..........

A LEGAL JOSE.-" Well, George," asked a friend of
a young lawyer, who had been " admitted" about
The
a
year, " how do you like your new profession ?"
reply was accompanied by a brief sigh to suit the occa"
'"il—`` My profession is much better than my practice.

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS.

( From the Registrar-General's Return.)
Last week the Registrar-General issued the quarterly
return of the marriages, births, and deaths registered in
the divisions, counties, and districts of England.
This return comprises the births and deaths registered
by 2,190 registrars in all the districts of England during
the spring quarter ending June 30, 1853 ; and the mar-
riages in 12,025 churches or chapels, about 3,396 regis-
tered places of worship unconnected with the established
church, and 625 superintendent registrar's offices, in the
quarter that ended March 31, 1853.
The return of marriages is not complete ; but the de-
fects are inconsiderable, and approximative numbers
have been supplied from the records of previous years.
The increase of marriages proceeded at an accelerated
rate through the first three months of the year ; in April,
May, and June the births of children exceeded the aver-
age numbers of preceding spring quarters, but fell a few
hundreds short of the births in the spring quarters of
the two previous years.
The spring in town and country was unhealthy ; and
the mortality, chiefly owing to the cold weather and
the scarcity of potatoes, was considerably above tle
average.