The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-25 00:00:00

at the Admiralty, and had not returned at about four

s('-'cri,;:eigketePoimu-St.lS;2'o.l'rt.,t zi,n_ilakl';e''a..l2:a.i.Pie?:7O: tee vessel
will be well tested to-day.
VALUE OF STEAM IN WARFARE.—Extract of a letter,
dAtcd on board her Majesty's steam-sloop Inflexible,
Trincomalee, Dec. 9, 1848:—" Our captain offered to
move an entire regiment, by taking 400 men on board
the Inflexible, and tow at the same time any large mer-
chant ship with the remainder, which vessel could at the
same time take all their baggage and camp equipage in
her hold. This offer was made in consequence of an
urgent requisition from the government at Calcutta for
two native regiments. We were lying in the Madras
roads when the Bengal steamer Fire Queen arrived with
the requisition. The captain's offer was accepted imme-
diately, and the Claudine barque was freighted. As the
Claudine had not good accommodations, and there being
upwards of 200 camp followers, the Fire Queen had to
take a portion. We started with the Claudine in tow
about three hours and a quarter after the Fire Queen,
she leaving at a quarter past nine o'clock A.M., of the
17th of October, the Inflexible at half-past twelve
o'clock. Fire Queen was out of sight when we got
away, yet by eleven that night we were
abeam of her. At daylight next morning no-
thing but her smoke could be seen, and at 10:A.M.
Of the 18th inst., smoke and all was out of sight. We
anchored in the harbour of Khyouh Phyoo, on the Ar-
racan coast, just 24 hours before the Bengal steamer,
Fire Queen, thus beating per with a vessel of 560
tens (new measurement), in tow, by 27 hours on the
run. Our average velocity, per patent log, while steam-
ing, was 81 knots per hour. We anchored at noon of
the 22d in Kh3 ouh Phyoo, landed the 28th Madras Native
Infantry there, and embarked the 40th Bengal Native
Infantry for Calcutta; saile-1 from the latter at two P.M.,
of the 26th, and anchored off Fort William at two P.M.,
of the 29th, thus moving about 1,500 men 1,400 miles
in twelve days, out of which time four days were taken
up in embarking and disembarking the troops, their
baggage, and tent equipage. We must have steamed
with the Claudine in tow nearly two knots an hour faster
than the Fire Queen. After having coaled at Calcutta
we sailed, and arrived at Trincomalee on the 31st of last
month. We are now coaled, provisioned, and have water
on board, and are ready to start when Cambrian arrives
with our orders. Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Collier is
collecting all his squadron in case of any disturbance
breaking out. When the gates of Canton are opened a
row I leara is expected."

blowing

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
SOUTH-EASTERN.

A meeting of shareholders in this company was
held on Tuesday, at Manchester ; Mr. J Windsor in
the chair.

Mr. SIMPSON said that it was stated at the last half-
yearly meeting, 825,0001. would finish the works, but
the financial statements lately issued showed that
1,132,7241. would be required. He did not see how the
difficulty was to be met without the creation of prefer-
ence shares. He recommended the abandonment of the
Ashford and Hastings branch, and of the Tunbridge
Wells branch, and concluded by moving a resolution to
the effect that a committee be appointed to inquire into
the great increase of capital mentioned, and to protect
the interests of the company.
The Rev. Mr. BIRLEY thought it unfair to make state-
ments in the absence of the directors, and after some
discussion respecting the adjournment of the meeting,
i❑ order that the directors might be communicated with
on the subject, he moved an amendment.
In the course of conversation, it was agreed that a
committee be appointed to inquire into the discrepancies
in the capital account as exhibited at the last half-yearly
meeting, and in the report lately issued to the pro-
prietors, and into other matters relating to the general
interests of the company.
The meeting was then adjourned to Thursday; in the
meantime the committee to intimate to the directors
that the shareholders would be glad if ono of their body
could then attend to give explanations. The proceed-
inks concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman.