The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-02 00:00:00

FATAL ACCIDENTS. ,

A fatal accident occurred on Thursday night at Ports-
mouth, on board her Majesty's steamer Powerful, 81,
Captain Eliott, to a seaman, who fell from one of the tops
on to the quarter-deck, which killed him on the instant.
A similar accident befel a seaman of the Malacca, who fell
from her chains into the dock, whereby he sustained such
severe injuries that he survived but a short time after re-
moval to the Naval Hospital at Haslar.

PROMOTION OF CAPTAIN MORRIS.
The Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance, by general
order, dated August 28, has appointed Captain H. 3.
Thomas to the command of the troop of the Royal }lone
Artillery, yaont by the c#ololo Qi PO; 411111ges

DEATH OF MAJOR-GENBRAI4 CHARLES STUART
CAMPBELL, 048.
We regret to learn the deatlitif this gallant general,
which took place on the 29th Wt. General Camp.
bell was for many years in the Ist Foot, from which he
retired in 1838. Ha served in Egypt in 1801, and in Por-
tugal ;And Spain in 1808 and 1809, and took part in the
battle of Commis. He was in the expedition to Walche-
ren and at the siege of Flushing. He returned to the Pe-
ninsula in 1811, and was engagedin the several campaigns
until the close of the War, in 1814, having shared the
perils and honours of the battle of Vittoria, siege and as-
sault of St. Sebastian, at which he was severely wounded
in the thigh, the ball never having been extracted. The
General was nominated a Companion of the Order of the
Bath in 1831, and had received a silver medal for Corunna,
and a medal and clasp for Vittoria and St. Sebastian. His
commissions bear date as follows :—Ensign, 7th Dec.,
1796; lieutenant, 14th Dec., 1797; captain, 14th May,
1804; major, 21st Sept., 1813; lieutenant-colonel, 25th
1828 ; colonel, 23d Nov., 1841; and major-general at the
general promotion this summer.

MALTA, &c.

Our correspondent at Malta, writing on the 26th of
August, says :

" I an happy to announce that the sick per Medway are
now doing very favourably. There have been no more
deaths since Wednesday, except one reported to-day as
very unexpected, in the lazaretto.
" On Friday night the remainder of the convalescents
were removed to Fort Ricasoli, and the lazaretto is nearly
deserted, 14 men alone remaining an the hospital there.
" Every possible means to divert their thoughts from too
much reflection on their case has been adopted. Books,
newspapers, chess, &c., have been supplied, and the pre-
sence of the Governor at their sick bcda, and the personal
attentions paid them by Captain Graves, R.N., Superin-
tendent of Ports, have had a conceivably rallying effect
upon the spirits of the prostrate sufferei s.
" In the city and its environs the cholera is decreasing.
Since the 7th of July till to-day there have been about
300 cases and 190 deaths.

" This morning arrived, after a very long passage, the
hired transport Harbinger, with the following officers :
" General the Hon. Sir George Cathcart, Rear• Admiral
Stopford, Brigadier-General Torrens, Colonel Wyndham,
and Lieutenant• Colonel Seymour ; Captains H. Smith, the
Hon. C. Elliott, Greville, and Gordon, R.N., ; Lieutenant
Pallas, Surgeon Monroe, Mr. A. Jones, secretary to Admi-
ral Stopford, Mr. Coppinger, Commissariat department,
Chekib Effendi, interpreter, 36 men of her Majesty's 46th
Regiment, 10 Commissariat clerks, 21 servants, and 22
horses. One horse died on the passage.
" The Harbinger will leave port this afternoon for the
eastward."

OFFICIAL DESPATCHES
FROM
GENERAL HARRY Ti.JONES.

[FROM LA ST NIGHT' 'OA ZETTEL
WAR DEPARTMENT, SEPT. 1.

His Grace the Duke of Newcastle has received two
despatches, of which the following are copies, addressed tn
his Grace by BiigadiQr General lb rry David Jones, of the
Royal Engineers :
No. 5.

Camp before Bumarstind,

MY LORD DUKE, .1-'l„ugust 16, 1854.
In my despatch No. 4, under date the 14th instant, I
stated that there was every prospect of being able to open
my batteries, erected against Fort Nottich, yesterday
morning : I have now the honour to report that at 8 a.ni.
yesterday morning I ordered the two batteries which were
manned by seamen from the fleet and detachments of
Royal Marine Artillery, under the command of Captain
Ramsay, R.N., to open their fire ; this was done in a very
effective manner, by a spirited and extremely well-directed
fire. By 3 p.m. the interior of the tower was laid open, and
all the guns silenced. At 6 p.m., a white flag having been
hoisted, I directed my Brigade-Major, St. George Ord, who
had offered his services to take his tourof duty on the batteries
and who was then so employed, immediately to proceed, and
take possession of the fort. •This duty he performed in a
very -satisfactory manner; but finding that it would not
be possible for him to keep open his communication with
my advanced posts after day light, in consequence of the
proximity of the principal work, he, brought off three of-
ficers and 115 soldiers, who gave themselves up to him as
prisoners : I have in consequence sent them to the admiral,
Sir C. Napier, for shipment.
In the fort were sixteen 18-pounder iron guns, and two
32-pounder iron guns.
Garrison—

1 Lieutenant of Engineers, 1 Captain of Infantry, 1
Sub-Lieutenant, Infantry, and 12J men, Artillery
and Line.

•
There were 6 killed and 7 wounded.
Notwithstanding the heavy and well•directect fire upon
our batteries, both from Fort Nottich and Presto, the
casualties were very few, but amongst that number I have
to regret the loss of a very promising young officer of En-
gineers, Lieutenant the Honourable C. Wrottesley, who
received a mortal wound from a cannon ball, which had
struck a trunnion of one of the guns.
My thanks are especially due to Captain Ramsay, R.N.,
and the officers of the Royal Navy, and seamen ; and also
of the detachment of the Royal Marine Artillery, fcr the
spirited and energetic manner in which they performed the
laborious duty of dragging the 32-pounders up the moun-
tain to the site of the batteries. From my second in
command, Colonel Graham, of the Royal Matines, and
Aide-de-Camp to her Majesty,
and from all the officers
re-
ceive the most willing assistance. Althoughl continue to
the operations
of the last 48 hours may appear to be insulated and and men employed under my orders,
in-
dependent of thou) carrying on by the French troops, I
have to state that I have eonstv.utly been acting in close
communication with General Baraguay d'Hilliers,_ and
that whatever I have ordered to be done, or executed, has
been part of the general plan of attack, and which now
must bo considered as drawing to a close.—l have, &c.
(Signed) HARRY D. JoNRB,
Brigadier-General.
His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, &o. &c.

MNor;
6.hLa3vßepthDeUllßE;our to OLtnp
of the
nnd'
16th the 'tire from the fleet was resumed, and after about
two hours' firing, the white flag was hoisted on the large
fort of Bomarsuud, and the garritsobfoii,
ey
of hsr ready to open,
errendered uncon-
ditionally, and were embarked in two hours afterwards.
The interior of the fort showed that the fire from the
ships had been excellent; nevertheless the icjury to the
works
have
bprrieniandcehui,cpeaatlin and
Governor,.
well casemated work, to have surrendered. The cause
antivmaan may
nebode
prospect
consideredosp workse c to
f taken,r that,
liae
f, findingitw broachingua
d r
be a sacrifice of life to
hold out any longer : thus has been lost to Russia a most
important military post, and, judging from the nature of
the works existing, those partly erected, and the foun-
dations of others which have been laid, it was evi-
dently the intention of the Russian Government to
have created a first-rate fortress. The position of Bomar-
Bond at the entrance of the Gulfs of Finland and Bothnia,
with a beautiful and extensive anchorage well shel-
trared, points it out as a position of the most favourable
nature, and no expense apparently has been spared in the
construction of the works already built, and the walla of
those partly erected are of the same substantial nature.
The position of Bomarsund is naturally very strong, and
favourable for defence ; bold and rocky, with a fine com-
mand of the ground in its immediate front, and when oc-
cupied with suitable advanced works would make its cap-
ture a very long operation, awl if fully garrisoned would
-require a very large force fur its, reduction. The Admiral
has sent home his report accompanied l.y a joint report
from the French General Niel and myself, upon the prac-
ticability of holding Bornaraund in its present state. That
report will have reached Londeit before this despatch, it
is therefore needless for me to recapituolyaatle
Ethneginsueebrsst,anthcee
of that report, as your Grace will have been acquainted
with it ; in fact I have no copy, as it was called for in
great haste, *and no time was allowed me to do so before
the
bearer o
fdeparturethe
Admiral'so
f L ieu t. isf uent, R
despatches.
This the first operation of the combined forces having
been brought to a successful termination, I may be per-
mitted to state that the utmost cordiality and good feeling
have pervaded every branch of the service employed, Eug-
Bah as well as French ; and in making these observations
I should not do justice to the officers of the Royal Navy,
the seamen and marines of the fleet who were employed
under my orders on shore, if I did not notice the great
order and regularity as well as the great zeal with which
every duty was performed, and the strict discipline which
was observed in camp; not a single complaint has been
made to me of any irregularity on their part.
From Captain Ramsay, R.N., in charge of the seamen,
and from Colonel Graham, in command of the Royal Ma-
rin% I him Mind gbiFizcit re* ‘illist4oo, for which

The report of the directors of this company to the
proprietors, to be presented at the general meeting on
Thursday next, states the directors have to report that
the receipts of the company for the half-year ending on
the 31st of July, 1854, have been 430,911/. Ils. 6d., in-
cluding 313/. Is. 7d. received of the Brighton Company
for toll ; and the working expenses and renewals
177,1901. 6s. 7d. The sum of 6,233/. has been laid aside
for renewal of permanent way. The rates, taxes, and
tolls amount to 20,136/. Os. 3d. ; the Government duty
to 11,861/. 13s. 11d. ; the rents of the Greenwich Rail-
way, Deptford-creek-bridge, and Angerstein-wharf and
Branch, to 23,289/. ss. 5d., which sums, in addition to
the interest on the mortgage debt, South-Eastern An-
nuities, and guaranteed stock of the company, 88,269/.
10s. 101, make a total deduction from the gross earn-
ings of 326,979/. 17s. The profit and loss account shows
a balance of 2,601/. Bs. Bd., after providing for the last
dividend and steam-boat reserve, as well as 9,212/. 45., the
net earnings at the credit of steam-boat account, and is
debited with the sum of 3,600/. 16s. Bd. for Parliamentary
expenses, &c., leaving a balance of 112,214/. 10s. 6d.
The total increase in traffic for the last half-year, as
compared with the corresponding half-year ending 31st
July, 1853, is 48,080/. 15s. ld. The revenue account,
exclusive of the net earnings of the steam-boats, shows,
as compared with the similar period of 1853, an increase
of receipts amounting to 47,985/. 9s. 11d. The
net receipts of the steam-boats, after deducting 2,500/.
for the renewal fund, agreeably to the resolution of the
proprietors in March last, are 9,282/. 4s. The charge
for working expenses, renewals, rates, and Government
duty, for the same period are increased to the amount of
37,099/. 4s. 9d. The profit and loss account begins
with a balance of 2,601/. Bs. Bd., against 1,520/. 12s. ld.
last year ; and the balance of 224,672/. 14s. 9d. less
9.282/. 45., earned by the steam-boats, making 215:490/.
10s. 9d. brought from re, enue account, is larger for
this than the comparative half of last year by the sum
of 10,886/. ss. 2d. Against this balance, the charges
for rents, interests, Parliamentary expens_s, &c., are
larger by the sum of 9,105/. Bs. Bd., which includes one-
third of the Parliamentary and other expenses incurred
by promoting a line to Lewisham, Croydon, and Brom-
ley, in the session of 1853, and to Lewisham and Brum-
ley during the present year. The balance of net revenue,
viz., 112,214/. 10s. 6d. is 11,974/. 13s. 9d. larger than
that for the corresponding half year of 1853. This will
afford a dividend for the half-year ending July 31st, of
Bs. 6d. per 30/. stock, or at the rate of 21. 16s. Bd. per
cent, per annum ; and this rate of dividend the directors
recommend to be paid. There will then remain the sum
of 6,9041. Os. 6d. to be carried forward to the following
half-year. The excess of expenditure in the various de-
partments is thus explained :-In the locomotive it has
arisen, first, from increased mileage and from increased
cost of coke, which has averaged during the half-
year 22s 41., instead of ISs. 11 2.5 d. per ton ; se-
condly, from an advance of wages ; thirdly, from the
higher price of all materials used in the renewals and re-
pairs of the rolling stock. The total running of the
engines has cost, including repairs and renewals, 9.3321 d
per mile, against 7.9772 d. per mile for the half-year end-
ing July, 1853. In,the carriage department, the excess
of expenditure amounts to 1,614/. 14s. Bd. It is caused
by the higher price of materials used in the repairs and
renewals of stock, and to a continued advance in the cost
of labour, Thirty-seven vehicles have been completely
renewed during the half-year, and 65 carriages have
been newly painted, besides the usual incidental repairs.
The reports of the locomotive and carriage superintend-
ents certify that the rolling stock is in efficient working
order, and well maintained. Tho amount expended by
the engineer for the maintenance of way, works, and
stations, is 26,935/. 12s. 21., being 7,8881. 19s. id. more
than in the same period of 1853. The renewals have
cost 17,619/. 16s. 7d., beinv. 2,177/. Gs. 6.1. les-. than in
1853 ; and the total amount expended under the latter
head has been charged as usual against the reserve fund.
This fund, which has so materially relieved the charges
against revenue for the last few half-years, bas been
heretofore supported as well by the sale as the transfer of
old materials to sidings at their market value, for which
capital account was debited. The stock being nearly ex-
hausted, the fund must in future be dependent for support
upon the reserve set aside in each half-year. Notwith-
standing the amount of 6,233/. received from revenue for
the half-year, the fund, as shown by the accounts, is over-
drawn to the extent of 6,080/. 12s. Bd., which sum ap-
pears in the balance-sheet. It is manifest, even with a
diminished expenditure, that the amount heretofore
laid by for renewals, at the rate of 46/. per annum per
mile maintained, is inadequate for the purpose : it must
either be increased, or the fund must be abolished and
the cost of renewals made a; charge against revenirein
each half-year. The condition of the waY, works, and
stations, is such that no reduction under the head of
• renewals can be expected.

The directors regret that they cannot agree with the
auditors as to the importance of maintaining the re-
serve fund ; on the contrary, they consider that the
revenue of each half-year should in future be charged
with the full amount of all renewals, leaving it to the
engineer to equalise as far as practicable the expendi-
ture under this head, which will, it is believed, effect
the same result as a reserve fund. To prevent, how-
ever, any undue pressure upon the current half-year,
which, if this recommendation be adopted, would not
only have to bear its own burden for renewals, but also
the sum of 6,0801. 12s. Bd. overdrawn in the reserve
fund, it is proposed by the directors to retain out of the
amount available for the present dividend the sum of
6,9041. Os. 6d. referred to in a preceding paragraph. The
miscellaneous working expenses exceed those of the
corresponding halfyear of 1853 by 11,7091. 2s. 2,1.
The excess of expenditure has arisen—first, in the
goods department, from a necessity of providing addi-
tional labour, commensurate to the increased work
done, particularly in the collection and delivery of
parcels and merchandise ; and, secondly, from the
general increase of wages and additional pay for length
of service which was brought into operation during
the autumn of 1853. The gross receipts from traffic for
the half-year exceed those of 1853 by 48,080/. 15s. ld.,
of which the passenger department earned 30,5981. 10s.
and the goods 17,4821. 4s. 6d. The goods and cattle
traffic shows a steady and satisfactory increase, and 539
tons of additional merchandise have been carried to the
continent, giving a gross receipt for tolls of 6871. in ad-
vance of the corresponding period of last year.
The company's steam-ships have performed their voy-
ages with the accustomed regularity. During the half-
year, 31,956 passengers have passed via Folkestone and
Boulogne, and 12,132 via Dover and Calais, making an
increase of 5,613 passengers over the same period of 1853.
The tidal service to Paris daily, via Folkestone, is in full
operation ; and an agreement has been concluded with
the Northern of France Railway to continue the fixed
service to Paris daily, via Dover and Calais, for a period
of three years, the South Eastern Railway receiving from
them a daily subvention for performing the steam-boat
service.
The circumstances under which the board was recon-
structed in March last especially require the absence of
all reserve in this report. The directors feel that their
duty is to state frankly and fully to the shareholders the
condition in which they found the company's affairs at
that period, the policy they have adopted, and the mea-
sures they have taken to fulfil, so far as time has yet
permitted, the expectations which were indicated. by
the changes then made by the proprietary. Before do-
ing so, however, they think it right to state, that all
their subsequent investigations have confirmed their
confidence in the natural resources of the line under
prudent and economical management. It runs through
one of the most fertile districts of the kingdom, bor-
dered by a highly favoured sea coast, studded with po-
pulous watering places easily accessible from the metro-
polis by its means, and is the shortest high road for all
traffic to the Continent and the East. That the pecu-
niary results of such a line should have hitherto disap-
pointed the just expectations of the shareholders, is no
doubt, in a great degree, attributable to the want of
system and foresight with which the Legislature has dealt
with railway property in general ; but your present
directors cannot withhold the expression of their deli-
berate opinion that your disappointment has been in-
creased by premature and indiscreet extensions of the
line, and the absence of prudent and economical ma-
nagment of your affeirs ; and it is to remedy time
defects that they have hitherto devoted and will devote
their attention. Economy of management has had a
prominent place in the deliberations of the reconstituted
board during the past half-year, and the result has been
mat omodiato 44•10 proapoctive reduction of