The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-03 00:00:00

THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

The New York Herald says :—" Orders have been re-
ceived at the Brooklyn Navy-yard, from the Navy De-
partment at Washington, to fit out for sea, with all pos-
sible despatch, the frigate Minnesota, first rate, 46 guns,
3,000 tons ; the frigate Tennessee, second rate, 23 guns,
2,135 tons ; and the Shawmut, fourth rate, three guns,
410 tons. In consequence of this order there are signs of
unusual activity in the yard, and it is more than likely
that an additional force of workmen will be taken
on to complete the work at the earliest pos-
sible day. The Tennessee is almost ready to go
into commission. She has been coaled, and is ready to
receive her guns and provision. The Minnesota has yet
a great deal of work to be done on her before she can float
out of the dry dock and receive her spars and rigging.
Now there are only the lower masts standing. The
Minnesota cannot be ready for sea under two months at
least, and probably not then. The Shawmut is still on
the stocks, having been almost entirely rebuilt. She will
be ready for launching in a few days, and can be made
ready for sea in two months if necessary. Work will be
pushed ahead on her until she is completed. It is under-
stood that orders have been given to the commanders
of the Boston, Portsmouth, Philadelphia, and Norfolk
Navy-yards to fit out with expedition several
ships of the first and second rates. No less than twelve
vessels of various classes are to be put in sea-going con-
dition at once. For what particular purpose this little
squadron is preparing is not known. Unless Congress
votes an increase of seamen, it is difficult to see how these
ships are to be sent to sea. There are no men to man

them, and recruiting is practically stopped, or, at least, it
is going on so slowly that it would be impossible to
furnish men for a first-class frigate within several
months. There is no trouble whatever in enlisting
good men if the law allowed the increase. But it
does not, and there is the rub. It is impossible
to keep a navy afloat without men, but Congress
has essayed the experiment at a time when, if
ever, our flag ought to be shewn in the East as well as in
European waters, since war and civil disturbances imperil
the lives and property of American citizens. Look at the
Asiatic squadron, to which is entrusted the care of pro-
tecting American interests in Japan, China, the East
Indies, and the far distant islands in that quarter of the
globe. To accomplish the task of visiting the widely-
separated ports of nearly half the world, the Navy Depart-
ment is only able to keep on the station the frigate
Colorado, 45 guns, the flagship of Rear-Admiral John
Rodgers ; the corvette Alaska, 12 guns, Commander Homer
C. Blake ; the corvette Benicia, 12 gims, Commander
Lewis A. Kimberley ; the Ashuelot, Commander Taylor,
a shaky old paddle-wheel of six guns ; the Idaho,
storeship, seven guns, Lieutenant-Commander Wallace,
never again to go to sea ; the Monoca3y, Commander
E. P. M'Crea, six guns ; the tug Palos, no guns, Comman-
der Beardsley—a grand total of seven vessels, carrying 88
guns, and, deducting the Idaho as worthless, our strength
is represented by six vessels, carrying 81 guns. These
have to cruise over ground that cannot be properly
covered by twice the force, especially as the vessels for
the most part are compelled to sail from port to port,
using their steam as little as possible. The Secretary of
the Navy, it is understood, will ask Congress to increase
the number of men in the navy, and will then be able to
shew our flag more frequently in distant parts where
American interests are to be fostered and protected."

THR PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.—At the
Council held by her Majesty at Windsor, on Tuesday,
Parliament was prorogued to the 17th January. This is
only an ad interim, prorogation, and the 2nd of February
will no doubt be the day of meeting for the dispatch of
business.

THE LATE LIEUTENANT--COLONEL PRDIBERTON.-.•
The interment of the remains of this gentleman, lately
military correspondent in Germany, will take place
on Saturday, the 3rd inst., at Newton, in Cambridgeshire,
in close proximity to the seat of his father, Major Pem-
berton.

THE EMPRESS EUGENIE —A correspondent in-
forms us that the Royal Artillery from Woolwich, when
out for a march on Monday, halted on Chislehurst-
common, and were inspected by the ex-Empress of the
French and the Prince Imperial, the formerbeing introduced
to Sir David Wood, who was in command, by an officer with
whom she was acquainted. Her Majesty looked in good
health, and walked from battery to battery along the line
of troops, carrying in her hand the walking cane without
which she seldom goes abroad..
THE CHAIR OF GEOLOGY IN THE EDINBURGH
UNIVERSITY.—We understand that Government have
signified their intention of contributing the sum of
£2OO per annum towards the endowment of a chair of
geology in the University of Edinburgh. This comes in
as as a supplement to the endowment made by Sir Rode-
rick Murchison, which, we believe, will yield £5OO a year.
There is every probability that the foundation of the chair
will at once be proceeded with bythe SenatusAcademicua.
—Scotsman.

The statement which has appeared to the effect
that Mr. Burrell, who has succeeded to the Barony of
Gwdyr, will be the new Lord Great Chamberland, in the
room of Lord Willoughby d'Eresby, is, to say the least,
premature. The office vacated by the late Lord
Willoughby is claimed, we hear, by his two sisters, Lady
Aveland and Lady Carington; though how ladies can
perform the duties of the post is not clear. Yet it would
seem necessary to provide for the performance of those
duties, and the question of appointing an acting Lord
Great Chamberlain is, we believe, under the considera-
tion of the Government ; but nothing has yet been settled.
—Daily Telegraph.

-
ELECTION OF SCHOOL BOARD FOR COVENTRY.
—The election of a School Board took place on Wednes-
day. There were twenty candidates. The following were
declared elected :—Messsrs. John Gulson, W. Lynes, E.
Petre, John Rotherham, jun.; W. H. Hill, John Bill, W.
Franklin, L. S. Booth, W. Odell, jun., D. G. Barnes, and
F. Bird. Messrs. Gulson, Hill, Rotherham, Bill, Frank-
lin, and Booth were nominated by the Liberal party, and
are pledged to undenominational teaching. Messrs.
Lynes, D. G. Barnes, and F. Bird were nominated by
the Conservatives. Mr. Odell was an independent nomi-
nation, and Mr. Petre is the representative of the Roman
Catholics of the city. The election passed off very
quietly. About two-thirds of the burgesses voted. The
scrutiny occupied the whole of Thursday, and was not
completed till a late hour.

SUBSCRIPTION FOR 20,000 FIVE PER
CENT. PREFERRED SHARES OF £lO EACH,
In 2,000 Certificates of 10 Shares each,.equal to £lOO stock each

Certificate, of the
BEDFORD AND NORTHAMPTON RAILWAY.
With Interest Secured in Perpetuity by the Revenue
Guaranteed by the
MIDLAND RAILWAY COMPANY.

Price of Issue, £92 10s. per Certificate of £lOO, equal to £9 ss.
per share, yielding to the investor £5 Bs. per cent. per annum
interest.

Messrs. J. and A. SCRIMGEOUR are authorised by the Con-
tractors to receive applications for 20,000 Preferred Shares of
the Bedford and Northampton Railway, in 2,000 Certificates of
10 shares each, bearing 5 per cent. per annum interest in Per-
petuity.
The price of the Preferred Shares now offered is £92105. for
each Certificate of 10 shares (equal to £lOO stock), and payment
will be accepted as follows :
£lO on each Certificate subscribed, payable on application.
17th December, 1870.
17th February, 1871.
17th March, 1871.
17th April, 1871.

22105,

£92103.
The preferred shares will bear interest at 5 per cent. per
annum from the Ist December, 1870, on the full amount of £lOO,
equal to £5 Bs. per cent. per annum on the amount invested,
and the option is given of paying the whole of the instalments
on allotment or on either of the above dates, in which case dis-
count willbe allowed in addition, at the rate of 5 per cent. per
annum on such prepayments.
The interest will be payable half-yearly, on the 31st January
and 31st July in each year, at the banking house of Messrs.
Robarts, Lubbock, and Co.' No. 15, Lombard-street, London.
By special agreements, incorporated in the Acts of Parlia-
ment, the Midland Railway Company is to maintain, manage,
stock, and work the Bedford and Northampton Railway, and to
pay over 50 per cent. of the divisible receipts, such receipts
being taken in the accounts between the two Companies at the
minimum of £3O per mile per week, which, on the twenty miles
of the railway, gives minimum guaranteed receipts to the
Bedford and Northampton Railway Company of £15,600 per
annum.
The Midland Railway Company take over the line on its com-
pletion, when their guarantee comes into effect ; the Contrac-
tors are under engagement to finish the line by the 31st August
next, and they will pay interest on the Preferred Shares until
the line is so taken over, at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum on
the full £lOO per Certificate, and the amount will be invested in
Consols in the joint names of
W. C. CURTIS, Esq., 15, Lombard-street, London,
(Messrs. Robarts, Lubbock, and Co., Bankers),
and
Colonel W. B. HIGGINS, Picts' Hill, Bedford,
(Chairman of the Bedford and Northampton
Railway),
who have consented to act as Trustees for the preference share-
holders, and will apply the amount in the payment of such
interest.
Provisional Certificates of 10 Shares each will be issued in
exchange for the bankers' receipt, to be substituted, when fully
paid up, for Certificates of the Company, the shares being then
transferred into the name of each applicant, free of all stamp
duty.
The share capital of the Company is £400,000 in 20,000 shares
of £2O each, converted into
Preferred Shares-20,000 half shares, £lO each, bearing
5 per cent. per annum interest (being the shares £200,000
now offered)
Deferred Shares-20,000 half shares, £lO each—to re-
ceive no dividend until 5 per cent. is paid to the £200,000
Preferred Shares
. With the usual borrowing powers, viz., £133,000 in Debentures
or Rent Charges.
Copies of the Company's Acts of Parliament, containing the
Agreements with the Midland Railway Company, can be seen
at the Offices of the Company, also at the Offices of the Solicitor
to the Company, and at the Offices of Messrs. J. and A. SCRIM-
GEOUR, 18, Old Broad-street, E.C.
In the allotment of the shares, applicants will be considered
in the following order :-
Ist. Applicants who desire to pay up the shares in full on
allotment under discount for investment.
2ndly. Applicants who may be holders of Leicester and
Hitchin Railway Stock, Midland Railway Stock, and general
applicants.
Applications, accompanied by the payment of £lO for each
Certificate applied for, will be received on the Form enclosed in
the prospectus, which must be filled up and forwarded to
Messrs. ROBARTS, LUBBOCK, and Co., Bankers, No. 15, Lombard-
street, E.C., London or to the NORTHAMPTONSHIRE UNION
BANK, Northampton ; or to HOWARD LANCASTER, Esq., Secre-
tary of the Company, 2, Westminster Chambers, Victoria-street,
S.W., London or to Messrs. J. and A. SCRIMGEOUR. 18, Old
Broad-street, E.C., London, of whom Prospectuses may be
had.
London, 2nd December, 1870.

Ip MOSES and SON invit) special attention
!..J• to their large stock of GEN £LEMEN'S DRESSING
ROBES, at 18s. to 20 Guineas ; the assortment is unequalled
for variety of materials and designs, and neatness and elegance
of finish.