The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-13 00:00:00

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

The manner in which the ships were handled by the
crews was the subject of general approbation among the
officers on board the Duke. The Royal George was
particularly conspicuous for the short time in which she
got under weigh after having received her signal, and
wore round like a cutter in the most splendid style. The
Tribune, too, one of the smartest ships in the navy, and
reported to be a match for any three British ships of her
size—Russian ships not known—got away in splendid
style. The Imperieuse and the St. Jean d'Acre also
fully sustained their previous reputation, and upon no
occasion was there ever a squadron which got under
weigh in such excellent order. The double power which
the screw has given to our navy was admirably displayed
in the manner in which the ships, filled with their heavy
engines, fuel, and armaments, stood out under canvas
alone. It is but a few years since the screw propeller was
first tried in the navy upon the Rattler, and with so much
success that, having attained a speed of ten miles an
hour with engines of 200 horse power, the Admi-
ralty, in 1845, ordered four old ships of the line of 74
guns and four old 46-gun frigates to be fitted with
screws, as block or guard-ships. The Blenheim, Hogue,
and Ajax were fitted with the screw, and those ships,
instead of serving as mere block-ships, are now three of
the finest ships in Admiral Napier's squadron. The ad-
vantages which this class of ships must possess for naval
purposes are evident, for, disabled in their screw, they
can make good sail ; or damaged in their rigging, they
have steam power to fall back upon ; while, with steam
and sails combined, the screws may successfully give
chase to the enemy ; nor need we, as in the late war,
circumnavigate the globe in pursuit of a foe.
Although we are an insular nation, and the Bri-
tish people take a just pride in their navy,
there are comparatively few in this country who
have seen a first-rate under full sail, and still
fewer who have witnessed a fleet of men-of-war get
under weigh. A grander or more interesting sight can
scarcely be imagined than to see ship after ship obey her
signal, and send her men aloft to spread out her broad
areas of dazzling canvas—to see topgallant, top, and
main sheets slowly descend in majestic folds—to see the
vast and complicated anatomy of masts, spar, and rig-
ging gradually clothed with their covering of sails—to
see each giant ship arrayed in her flaunting robes, and
bedecked with her gay-coloured pennants and ensign, as
she seeks to attract the notice of the ever-varying god—
and at length, when .Eolus, that fickle deity, brez.thes
upon the swelling canvas, then instinct with life and
animation, to see the gallant ship walk majestic on the
waters. Of the few privileged persons who on Saturday,
by the kindness of the Admiral, were permitted on
board the Duke of Wellington, and who for several
hours remarked the immovable rock-like character of
that floating battery, there might have been some
who endeavoured to detect the first move which the
giant ship might make, and to watch the progress of
getting her under weigh. Far aloft, at giddy heights
above their heads, might be traced the slow unfurling,
sails, while on deck, to the merry sounds of the fifer 's
strain, came the measured tread and cheerful chorus of
the gallant tars, as with lusty sinew they coiled the
massive cable round the capstan, and heaved the pon-
drous anchor. But so easily does the colossal bulk move
through the waters, that with the most careful watching
they might have failed to notice the moment when from
a state of perfect repose she passed to one of progress,
and cleaved the water at the rate of eight knots an hour ;
and it could be only upon looking over her stern that,
far down below, as the white path was seen which she
had made for herself in the water, and was already half
a mile from her anchorage, that a person might believe
that he was sailing to the Downs in the largest ship in
the world.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

SOUTH-EASTERN.

The half-yearly report of the directors to the proprie-
tors states-" That the receipts of the South-Eastern
Railway Company for the half-year ending on the 31st
of January, 1354, including a sum of 9,9421. 16s. Bd. the
net earnings of the steam packets, and 387/. 7s. Bd. re-
ceived of the Brighton Company for toll, have been
465,1421. 10s. 9d. ; and the working expenses and re-
newals 173,3401. 4s. The sum of 6,2151. 15s. has been
laid aside for renewal of the permanent way. The rates,
taxes, and tolls amount to 18,5301. Bs. 6d. ; the Govern-
ment duty to 13,0061. Os. ld. ; the rents of the Green-
wich, Canterbury, and Whitstable Railways, and the
Angerstein Wharf and Branch, to 24,9221. 17s. 9d. ;
which sums, in addition to the interest on the mortgage
debt, South-Eastern Annuities, and Guaranteed Stock
of the company, 87,5801. 14s. 3d., make a total de-
duction from the gross earnings of 317,380/, 4s. 7d. The
profit and loss account shows a credit of 1,1231, 16s. 9d.,
after providing for the last dividend ; also a sum of
1951. 17s. Bd., for dividend and interest on Canterbury
and Whitstable securities, in the hands of the company ;
and 4,965/. 15s. 10d., being the balance on the steam
packet revenue account to the 31st July, 1853 ; and is
debited with the sum of 272/. 7s. 4d. for Parliamentary
expenses : leaving a balance available for dividend of
153,775/. Bs. Bd. The total increase in traffic for the
last half-year, as compared with the corresponding
half-year ending 31st January, 1853, is 32,4011. 13s.
11d. ; the through traffic to and from London and
Folkestone and Dover and Ramsgate and Margate
for the half-year ending on the 31st January, 1853,
Folkestone and Dover, decrea,e under 1852, 10,7111.
18s.; increase over 1853, 4,761/. 18s. 6d.; Ramsgate and
Margate, increase over 1852, 5,5551. 2s. 5d.; increase
over 1853, 5651. 17s. 10d. The receipts on revenue ac-
, count for the half-year exceed those for the comparative
half-year of 1853 by the sum of 40,595/. 25.; and the
charges for working expenses, renewals, rates, and Go-
vernment duty for the same period are increased by the
sum of 18,4381. 14s. ld. The balance of profit 260,265/.
18s. 2d., is larger for this than the corresponding half of
last year by the sum of 22,1561. 7s. 11d. The charges
for rents and interest are larger on this occasion by the
sum of 13,88; 18s. 3d. The purchase of the eight steam-
ships-Lord Warden, Princess Helena, Princess Clc-
inentine, Prince Ernest, Princess Maude. Queen of the
French, Queen of the Belgians, and Princess Mary-
from the South-Eastern and Continental Steam Packet
Company, was completed on the 4th Nov., by the pay-
ment of a sum of 99,4061., and interest on that sum from
the Ist Feb. to the 4th Nov. at 4 per cent. per annum,
3,239/. 17s. 7d. It will be gratifying to the proprietors
to observe that the account shows a credit of profit on
the working of the steam-ships for the year of 14,9081.
12s. 16., namely, 4,965/. 15s. 10d. for the half-year end-
ing on 31st July, 1853, and 9,942/. 16s. 3d. for the half-
year ending 31st Jan. It will be proper to fix upon a
sum to be laid aside for depreciation in value of these
steam-ships from year to year, and the directors will pro-
pose a resolution to that effect. As there is a continually
increasing merchandise traffic between Folkestone and
Boulogne beyond the means of carriage of the company's
present steam-ships, the directors recommend the pro-
prietors to consider whether it would not be desirabla
to outer into a contract for building' two sere* -steam-
` ships i)eciall; adapted for that trafhc, in order to 'oid