The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-07 00:00:00

MORE SAPPERS FOR THE WAR.

The Ist Company of the Royal Sappers and Miners are
to be forthwith made up to the war establishment. in rea-
diness for removal to the East, for which purpose it is
expected that they will be removed from Chatham to
Woolwich the beginning of next month. •

MORE TRANSPORTS WANTED.
Notices were posted yesterday in the Exchange and Un-
derwriters' Rooms of Liverpool, inviting tenders to be
sent to the Transport-office, Sornerset-house, London, on
or before Tuesday, the 12th instant, for the hire of one or
two steamers, from 700 to 800 tons (new measurement), to
convey biscuits to the Black Boa, from Deptford, Ports-
mouth, or Plymouth, to be paid for at a rate per ton for
the quantity delivered.

SIEGE OPERATIONS AT CHATHAM.—NIGHT
ATTACK.
The Royal Sappers and Miners, together with those in
the East India Company's service, are progressing with the
works for the siege. The attack on the left of Chatham
lines is fast drawing to a termination, when the crowning
of the glacis will be commenced with. This, no doubt,
will bo effected by a lodgment, in which the single and
flying sap will be employed, when breaching and counter
batteries will be constructed. When these works are com-
pleted a night attack and defence of a citadel will take
place, in which the troops of all arms of the garrison will
take part.

RAILWAY PASSENGERS' ASSURANCE COMPANY. The
tenth half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of this com-
pany was held yesterday, at the offices, 0 .., Old Broad-
street, City ; Sir John Dean Paul, Bart.,
,
thesum of 7,527/. half-year, and the interest on
in the chair.
The Secretary read the directors' report, which stated
that the amount received for premiums during the half-
year ending 30th June last, was 4,119/. 10s. 4d., and
17s. 4d. to
theicwnl iuvt
dehis
crediti tl themget ehh tea os if
, as
hur cemev completedef
onr fou mel ,
e 0 lastaBount. The disbursements, in-
and
1501. in replacement of preliminary expenses, amounted
to 4,7691. 12s. 5d., leaving a balance invested in hand and 2/. 11s. for compensation,
due from agents, of 3,733/. Bs. 4d., from which the direc-
tors recommended the payment of interest on the paid-up
capital for the half-ye. • %rat the rate of 4 per cent. per annum
free of income tax. The directors expressed their regret
that this statement did not show an increase in the com-
pany's business compared with the corresponding period
last year, although a considerable increase over the
previous year was still maintained. This circumstance
they accounted for by the great number of accidents of
an alarming character that occurred in the spring of last
in of which a director of the Great
year, oneWestern
Railway, insured with this office for 1,0001., lost his
life. The advantages offered by the company were thus
brought more prominently under the notice of the pub-
lic, and a great increase in the number of tickets issued
was the result. The report concluded by announcing;
that the South-Eastern Railway Company, which was
up to June last the only railway not connected with the
company, had consented to the issue of the company's
insurance at stations on that line, and that now the Pas-
sengers' Assurance Company embraced all the lines in
the country. The Chairman moved the adoption of the
report, and the declaration of a dividend of 4 per cent.,
which was agreed to, and the meeting terminated.
TEE COLLIERY EXPLOSION NEAR MANCHESTER.
An inquest was held on Tuesday before Mr. W. s,
Rutter, on the bodies of the two men who were killed
on Saturday, by an explosion of firedamp, at Messrs.
Knowles and Sons colliery, at Clifton, near Manchester
and on the body of another man who had died since.
The part:Culars of the occurrrence have already appeared
in Tite Sun. The verdict was " Accidental Death," the
jury censuring Croft, who was himself much hurt, for
the careless use of his lamp or candle.