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

MORE SAPPERS FOR THE WAR.

The Ist Company of the Royal Sappers and Minors 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 wore posted yesterday in the Exchange and LTD.
derwriters' Rooms of Liverpool, inviting tenders to be
sent to the Transport-office, Somerset-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 Sea, from Deptford, Ports.
mouth, or Plymouth, to be paid for at a rate per ton for
the quantity idelivered.

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
lines is fast drawing to a termination, when the crowning
of the glade will bo commenced with. This, no doubt,
works for the siege. The attack on the left of Chatham
will be 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 aro com-
pleted a night attack and defence of a citadel will take
of the garrison will
take part.
ainrt which the troops of all arms

RAILWAY PASSENGERS',ireAaeue Paul,taorr
tt: which
ASSURANCE
,4 OsEp COMPANY,. —The
stated
tenth half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of this com-
r
pany was held yesterday, at the offices, 3, l
in tdheßcrhoaaidr-.
Thest r street, e t
Secretary, City
readSirJ theohn D
l
that the amount received for premiums during the half-
year ending 30th June last, was 4,119/. 10s. 4d., and
with the balance from last half-year, and the interest on
investments, completed the sum of 7,527/. 17s. 4d. to
the credit of revenue account. The disbursements, in-
cluding the sum of 1,802/. lls. for compensation,
and
150/. in replacement of preliminary expenses, amotnted
to 4,769/. 12s. 5d., leaving a balance invested in hand and
due from agents, of 3,7331. Ss. 4d., from which the direc-
tors recommended the payment of interest on the paid-up
capital for the half-year at 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
year, in one of which a director of the Great Western
Railway, insured with this office for 1,0001., lost his
life. Tho 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 i
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.
THE COLLIERY EXPLOSION NEAR 111.1N"CHESTER.—
An inquest was held on Tuesday before Mr. W. S.
Rutten, 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 particulars of the occurrrenco have already appeared.
in The Sint. The verdict was " Accidental Death," the
jury censuring Croft, who was himself much hart, for
the careless wit) of his lamp or candle.