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, spars, 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 .4-Eolus, that fickle deity, breathes
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-
drone 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, 1854, including a sum of 9,942/. 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 173,340/. 4s. The sum of 6,215/. 15s. has been
laid aside for renewal of the permanent way. The rates,
taxes, and tolls amount to 18,530/. 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 24,922/. 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 1,123/. 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 4,9651. 15s. 10d., being the balance on the steam
packet revenue account to the 31st July, 1853 ; and is
debited with the sum of 2721. 7s. 4d. for Parliamentary
expenses : leaving a balance available for dividend of
153,7751. Bs. Bd. The total increase in traffic for the
last half-year, as compared with the corresponding
half-year ending 31st January, 1853, is 3_2,401/. 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,lBs3,
Folkestone and Dover, decrease under 1852, 10,7111.
18s.; increase over 1853, 4,761/. 18s. 6d.•' Ramsgate and
Margate, increase over 1852, 5,555/. 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. id. The balance of profit 260,265/.
18s. 2d., is larger for this than the corresponding half of
last year by the sum of 22,156/. 7s. 11d. The charges
for rents and interest are larger on this occasion by the
sum of 13,887 18s. 3d. The purchase of the eight steam-
ships-Lord Warden, Princess Helena, Princess Cle-
mentine, 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 99,406/., 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 14,908/.
12s. ld., namely, 4,9651. 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 desirable
to enter into a contract for building two screw steam-
' ships specially adapted for that traffic, in order to avoid

- -
carrying merchandise in the height of the MaeOn
the passenger steam-ships. The branch line from Bpi A
to Rye Harbour is just completed, and the pier erecteC"
there will afford facilities for French traffic from t_ ,b6/1-
coast of Normandy and other parts, which could not '
so conveniently received at any other of the South.' 7'
Eastern ports. The contract with thp,,Northern of.
France Company to continue the 8.10 a.m. daily train
from the London-bridge Terminus to Dover, and the
steam-packet service in connection therewith to Calais,
and a direct service to Paris, continues in force to the
Ist July next • the tidal service from the London-bridge
Terminus daily, in correspondence with a steamer at
Folkestone, to Boulogne continues, and an express train
from Boulogne to Paris daily, in correspondence, will
be resumed on the Ist May. It is gratifying to the di-
rectors to be able to state, on good authority, that the
remaining portion-of the Lyons Railway from Chalons
to Lyons, 82 miles in length, will be opened for public
traffic in May next ; and the portion from Lyons to
Avignon, which will complete railway communication
through France to Marseilles, will be finished in June,
1855 ; and then the route by the South-Eastern Railway
for the Mediterranean and Indian traffic will be more
properly established, and it will no doubt obtain the
larger proportion of the traffic. Since the Government
gave permission for the examination of the baggage of
passengers at the Custom-house at the London-bridge
Terminus, arriving by the night mail train leaving Paris
at 7 p.m. and arriving in London at 7.45 a.m., that faci-
lity has been availed of 2,290 passengers, and 4,451 pieces
of baggage have been examined by the Castom-house
officers at the London-bridge Terminus. The directors pro-
pose applying to the Lords of the Treasury to grant the
same facility to passengers using the tidal service front
Paris to Loudon during the ensuing season. In the
course of the last half-year three locomotive engines were
constructed at the Ashford works, and six more are in
progress of construction. There is charge to capital ac-
count in this respect amounting to 9,4201. ss. 10d.
Since the commencement of the present half-year, two
engines out of the four contracted for with Messrs. R.
Stephenson and Co., at 2,4501. each, have been delivered.
In the half-year ending on the 31st January, 1853, the
number of miles run by engines was 1,425,356, the coke
consumed was 16,910 tons ; the total cost being 14,608/.
9s. Bd., or 2•4597 d, per mile. During the last half-
year the number of miles run by engines was 1,475,014;
the coke consumed was 16,526 tons—being an average
of 25'091b5. per mile, at a cost of 18,342/.155., or 2.98 d.
per mile. The engines, therefore, ran 49,658 miles
more last half-year than in the corresponding half of the
preceding year, and consumed 384 tons less coke, at an
increased charge of 3,734/. ss. 4d. The total running of
the engines has cost 9•321 d. per mile, which includes
3•160 d. per mile for repairs and renewals. The carriage
and waggon stock of the company is in good order ; the
whole cost of repairs and renewals of new for worn-out
stock during the half-year is charged to revenue. There
is a charge to capital account for additional new stock
completed and in progress of construction of 7,811/. 12s.
2d., which includes an addition of 17 vehicles in the pas-
senger department and 10 in the goods department, and
the expenditure incurred on 28 vehicles in progress of
construction in the passenger and 10 in the goods depart-
ment. To provide for the increasing traffic the directors
contracted on the 19th January for 200 goods and coal
waggons, and 60 third class passenger carriages, and
they are constructing at the works at Ashford, 18 coke
waggons, 24 new brake second class carriages, 14 brake
luggage vans, and 20 ballast waggons. The charge in the
account for the maintenance of the permanent way during
the last half-year is large ;it is 23,558/. 4s. 9d., against
13,449/. 17s. in the corresponding half-year. It will
be observed that the mortgage debt of the company,
which at the commencement of the half-year amounted to
1,950,225/., at the close of the half-year amounted to
2,363,4251., showing an increase of 413,100/. The
average charge on this debt is at the rate of 4.2388 per
cent, per annum. The directors completed the purchase
of the Canterbury and Whitsable Railway on the 12th of
December last, by the payment of the subscribed capital
of 58,350/. The mortgage debt of that company amounts
to 38,670/., which will be liquidated by this company as
it falls due by the issue of mortgages to a similar amount.
The contract for the construction of the line from Strood
to Maidstone has been let by tender, after public adver-
tisement, to Mr. George Wythes, and the works will
proceed at once, as the completion of the line, besides
being enforced by parliamentary enactment, will, in the
opinion of the directors, improve the position of the com-
pany, and add to its profits. It will be necessary to
authorise the issue of 45 per cent. stock for the purchase
of the land required for this line and for the works. One
of the conditions of the contract is, that the directors
shall have the right, if they see fit, of making payment
in V, per cent. stock at par, in lieu of payment in cash.
The engineer has submitted' that the increased traffic of
the railway requires an extension to be made to the pre-
sent London Bridge station, and plans have been pre-
pared by him which would, in his view, answer the ob-
ject, and make improvements in the present arrange-
ments of the terminus for an enlarged traffic, and for
the comfort of passengers, the waiting rooms and other
conveniences being in a state which necessity alone has
justified. The purchases of land required for this pur-
pose, the arching, and other works are estimated at a sum
of 54,380/. Until this question is decided, it will not
be judicious to proceed with the bonded warehouse at
this terminus for French traffic, although its construc-
tion, the directors are convinced, will considerably
augment the traffic of the line. The construction of this
addition to the terminus will enable the traffic to be more
economically and conveniently conduct* as it would
afford space for a -larger number of carriages at the
London-bridge terminus, and prevent the necessity of
frequently removing trains, at considerable expense, to
and from the Bricklayers' Arms station. The directors
addressed the proprietors, on the Ist of December, on
the subject of the lines of railway and various undertak-
ings which were projected by other parties, and in-
tended to be submitted to Parliament in the present
session ; and on the 16th of February they submitted
to the proprietors a revised list of these schemes, enu-
merating only the plans for which had been deposited,
and the deposits paid. In the former case, the number
of schemes projected was twenty, which, in the latter, were
reduced to seven, and these are now pending in Parliament.
Two of these schemes are for railways to Bromley and
Farnborough, connecting themselves with the Brighton,
and not the South-Eastern line. In the anxious position
in which the directors are placed, of responsibility and
watchfulness over the company's affairs, it was their
duty to consider in what way the general interest of the
company could best be protected and promoted under
the circumstances, and the resuit was that the majority
of the directors considered it advisable to submit to you
the propriety of constructing a branch railway from
Lewisham to Bromley, which was a part of the scheme
submitted to Parliament in the preceding session ; hav-
ing on that occasion the addition of a junction with Croy-
don, and being put forward on joint account with the
Brighton Company. The estimates submitted to the
directors show that an expected outlay of 136,000/, on
this branch, six miles in length, would secure a return
of upwards of 5 per cent. ; and the facilities which it
would enable the directors to give to the traffic at the
New Cross, the Lewisham, and the Blackheath stations
would be of undoubted value. It will be for you to
determine definitively whether it is advisable to proceed
with this measure. In the view of the majority of the
board it will be remunerative and advantageous. In
order to make the Lewisham and Bromley project and
the company's schemes more intelligible to the pro-
prietors, the directors enclose a map of the district,
denoting the different lines. The extension of the
Green lines from Farnborough to Tunbridge and
Maidstone was proposed by the projectors of the Sydea-
ham and Farnborough line, and the notices were given ;
but their project at present pending before Parlia-
ment extends only to Farnborough. The directors
whose term in office expires at the ensuing meeting
are Mr. Robert Browne, Mr. Charles Ironside, and
Mr. Henry Lewis Smale, and under the resolution of
the directors announced in March, 1852, Mr. Charles
Ironside will not offer himself for re-election. The term
in office of Mr. John Morgan as auditor also expires at
the ensuing meeting, and he has given notice of his in-
tention to offer himself for re-election. Mr. Charles
Whetham, of 38, Gracechurch-street, and Mr. Frederic
Rowton, of 25, Coal Exchange, have also given notice
of their intention to offer themselves for election to the
office of auditor. The sum of 153,7751. Bs. Bd. at the
credit of profit and loss, will provide for a dividend of
12s. per 30/. stock, or at the rate of 4/. per cent, per
annum, and leave a sum of 5,101/. Bs. Bd., out of which
a steam-ship reserve fund may be set aside. Since the
commencement of the present half-year the traffic shows
considerable improvement."