The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-08 00:00:00

DARLINGTON AND BARNARD-CASTLE.

The provisional directors state that concessions having
been made by the Duke of Cleveland, it is intended to
apply to Parliament for powers to construct the above
line.

PLYMOUTH, TAVISTOCK, AND DEVON
CENTRAL.
It is stated that the survey for a line from Plymouth
td Tavistock, forming portion of a scheme for a central
line through the county, in connexion with the South-
Western, has been completed ; the estimated cost is
250,0001., but only 180,0001. is positively required to be
subscribed.

DUNDALK AND ENNISKILLEN.
A special general meeting of the shareholders of this
company was held at the offices of the company, in
Dundalk, on Friday, the Right Hon. the Earl of Erne,
chairman of the company, in the chair. •
The meeting was convened for the purpose of taking
into consideration the expediency of constructing a rail-
way to connect the towns of Armagh and Cavan, form-
ing a junction with the company's main line at or near
the town of Ballibay, passing through, or near, the
several towns of Keady, Monaghan, Rockcorry, and
Cooteshill, pursuant to advertisement, and was nume-
rously and influentially attend€d.

His Lordship, when introducing the subject to the
meeting, remarked that this company already intended
to construct branch lines to Cavan and Monaghan, but
the extension to Armagh had been forced upon them by
the company called the Belfast and West of Ireland
.'unction, who, in projecting their scheme, have entered
into direct competition with this company's main line,
also stopping the traffic both north and south. Persons
getting into carriages at Monaghan and other places
would, in the "West of Ireland line, be carried by the
Mullingar Company to Dublin. This company's pro-
posed extension also gives facilities to the great flax
markets of Ballibay and Cootehill, which is of immense
importance. In fact, he believed the present the best
schemb both for the shareholders and the interest of the
country at large. If any gentleman wished for further
information the directors would be most happy to
afford it.

Mr. J. MURRAY asked, why go to Armagh ?
The Earl of ERNE explained that it was necessary to
go for the Eng as a whole, not wishing to interfere with
the Ulster Company, if they chose to make the line from
Armagh to Monaghan, and it might be that they should
not have to make it ; but, as stated before, they should
go to Parliament for a whole scheme, else they would
have no chance to carry their measure.
Some other questions were put, and the matters ex•
plained by the Deputy-Chairman, Hon. Captain Jocelyn,
and Mr. Macrory.

Lord RODEN, ir n moving the resolution for the adop-
tion of the scheme, expressed his entire approbation of
it, and his opinion of the importance of securing for the
port of Dundalk the decided advantages of connection
with the west. His lordship, in very happy and eom;
plimentary terms, alluded to the exertions of his noble
friend the chairman of the company, for his untiring
zeal in the invaluable assistance rendered to the under-
taking, expressing his thanks particularly on behalf of
the Dundalk portion of those interested.

The Earl Of ERNE expressed his thanks, and
The meeting separated, after pledging themselves to
give their assistance to the project.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

THE NEW COMMODORE SUPERINTENDENT
FOR WOOLWICH.
(From the Morning Gerald. )

Captain John Shepherd (1840), late of the flag-ship at
Portsmouth, nominated to succeed Commodore Eden,
has served 24 Years afloat since he first entered the
navy in 1805. We believe he was never under fire in
his life, and we have no record of his being engaged in
any enterprise or expedition that has served as an excuse
for a special despatch or for a paragraph in the Gazette.
He was made a lieutenant in 1813, and in that capacity
attained the reputation of a smart officer, but he served
only in the Spartan, 28, Acasta, 40, up to 1815 ; and it
was not until 1829 we find him employed in the Rifle-
man, 18, and Druid, 46, and was made a commander
iu August, 1828. As a commander be served in the
Barham, 50, Donegal, 78, and then in command of the
Sparrowhawk, 18, in the West Indies. He was posted
in 1840 ; and in 1846, not having served previously as
a captain, he became flag-captain to Sir F. Collier, in
the St. Vincent, 120, for. a..frq months. In. December,
1847, he commissioned the Inconstant, 36, and com-
manded her for three years with a vigour that made
him most unpopular in the Pacific. In December last
he was selected by Sir Thomas Cochrane as his flag-
captain.

We dare not be silent on this act of gross official in-
justice—we must not forbear publishing the fact that
this appointment is a most invidious one, for in Captain
Shepherd's whole career there is no one thing—no one
act of service that entitles him to be preferred to his
seniors, or to be preferred to juniors who have gallant,
dashing, and long service to recommend them. This ap-
pointment has completely surprised the navy. It is so
outrageous a preference for an officer of no service and of
no claims that naval men are struck dumb at the bare-
faced contempt with which they have been treated by
the selection. There are no less than 140 captains on
the list senior to Captain Shepherd, and of these 140
perhaps, at least 100 have infinitely superior claims to
his, irrespective of mere seniority.
There is Captain James Scott, C.B. (1828), who stands
28th on the list, aboutllB of whose years of active ser-
vice afloat were during actual hostilities. It would be
superfluous to enumerate his claims, for he is one of the
most distinguished officers in the navy. He is a C.B.
and has the good-service pension. His last gallant
services were in command of the Samarang in the China
war, where he mainly contributed to the various suc-
cesses, by both planning and executing the enterprises.
Why was Captain Shepherd preferred to such an officer,
who has every quality, whether of gallantry or seaman-
ship, to recommend him ?

•
Captain Baynes is more than 100 senior. Why was
this officer passed over when it is well known that he is
a candidate for a dockyard appointment ? He has served
25 years afloat. He was in the expedition with Sir
James Gordon to New Orleans, and was promoted
twelve years before Captain Shepherd for having dis-
tinguished himself as second captain of the flag-ship at
the battle of Navarino, for which he obtained the C.B.
decoration. He has since commanded a frigate and a
line-of-battle ship.
Captain Purcell (1828) is 100 senior to Captain Shep-
herd.. He has served 23 years afloat, was in the Wal-
cheren expedition, was proinoted by Sir James Sau-
marez for his gallantry against the enemy, and did good
service under the late Sir Nisbet Willoughby in putting
down smuggling on the coast of Ireland. His last ser-
vice was in command of the Superb, 80.
Captain Lushington (1828), 11 years senior to Captain
Shepherd, has seen much more service than he has. For
years he was engaged in the suppression of piracy in
the Mediterranean, and commanded the Etna bomb
at the siege of Morea Castle, for which he was decorated
and promoted. He has commanded a sailing frigate
and a steam-frigate, has been supezintendent of the
Indian navy, and is now in command of the Albion,
90, in the Mediterranean, and yet this 1840 captain is
preferred.

Then there is Captain Duntze, next in seniority to
Captain Lushington. He has served 19 years afloat,
commanded the Tribune at the blockade of Callao, and
the Fisgard, 42, for three years, in the Pacific. Captain
Duntze is the nephew of the late admiral of the fleet,
Sir G. Cockburn, which fact should certainly be no dis-
qualification for such an appointment as Captain Shep-
herd has been preferred to.
Captain Michell (1830), of the Queen, 116, is ten
years senior to Captain Shepherd. He has served 25
years afloat, mostly during the war, in which he received
no less than eight wounds. At the battle of Algiers,
when it was thought Lord Exmouth's flag captain was
mortally wounded, Captain Michell was sent for by the
commander-in-chief, and directed to act in his stead.
Captain Michell commanded the Inconstant, 36, on the
coast of Syria, and saved the Scout sloop from wreck.
Captain R. F. Rowley (1840) is ten years senior to
Captain Shepherd. He is the son of the late Admiral
Sir Charles Rowley, and has commanded, as a captain,
the Sapphire, 28, and St. Vincent, 120, and has served
16 years afloat.
Captain Charles Graham (1840) is ten years senior to
Captain Shepherd. He has served about 23 years
afloat, was at the capture of Porto d'Anzo and the ope-
rations against Leghorn and Genoa. He has com-
manded, as captain, the Rattlesnake, 28, Castor, 36,
and is now in command of the Rodney, 92, in the Me-
diterranean. He was made a C.B. for conducting, as
senior officer, the operations against the New Zealand
rebels. He is brother of Sir James Graham.
Captain T. W. Carter (1831) is nine years senior to
Captain Shepherd. Captain Carter entered the navy
five years before Captain Shepherd, and has served
afloat about 26 years, two more than Captain Shepherd.
He was in the battle of Copenhagen, in Lord Cornwal-
lfs's pursuit of the French fleet, was in the expedition
to Walcheren, commanded the Emulous, Carnation,
and Wasp sloops, and in the latter captured a Venezue-
lan sloop of war ' • and as a captain he has commanded
the Vestal, 26, Winchester, 50, Caledonia, 120, and
is now flag-captain to the commander-in-chief in the
Mediterranean. This officer we know has been a can-
didate for a dockyard for many years, and yet he is
passed over for Captain Shepherd.
Captain Sir Thomas Pasley, Bart. (1831), is nine
years senior to Captain Shepherd. He is son of the
celebrated admiral, has served about 19 years—for the
last four as Superintendent at Pembroke Dockyard.