The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-01 00:00:00

THE
_SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 1, UM

cylinders having a diameter of 62k in., and a length
of stroke of 3ft. They drive a two-bladed
screw fitted with Maudslay's shifting blades, having
a range of pitch from 22ft. 6in. to 27ft. 6in. The
present pitch is 26ft., the diameter 16ft., and the
length 2ft. si-in. The engines worked in the most
satisfactory manner throughout the trial, no hot
bearings or delay of any kind occurring from the
time of starting from alongside the dockyard in the
morning to the time of the shipbeing made fast again
alongside the dockyard after the trial. If compari-
son be made between the results obtained yesterday
with the Simoom's new engines and what was ob-
tained with her former set the balance will be found
greatly in favour of those employed yesterday. The
ship had previously to yesterday made six trials at
different dates between 1850 and 1856 over themea-
sured mile, but four of these were reported at the
time as imperfect from stated causes. Selecting,
therefore, the two favourably reported trials of the
ship, we shall find that on the 25th of February,
1854, the ship was tried at a mean draught of water
of 17ft. 63-in., and attained a mean speed of 7.926
knots. On the 25th of November, 1856, she was
tried at a mean draught of water of 15ft. Min., and
attained a mean speed of 10.861 knots. Yesterday
she was tried at a mean draught of water of 17ft.
llin., and attained a mean speed of 11.588 knots.
The admirable 'internal arrangements of the Simoom
have already been fully described in the Naval In-
telligence of The Sun. In common with all other
of her Majesty's troopships, however, the Simoom
has no accommodation provided onboard fora chap-
lain, although she will necessarily at times have a
large number of sick military officers and soldiers,
with women and children, on board, returning to tng-
land from foreign service. She willalways have, when
freighted with troops, upwards of 1,000 people on
board. Wehavealready observed thatit is one of the
strange anomalies of our navy that while a 21-gun
corvette, with a crew of about 300 men, carries a
chaplain, a troop steamer, with upwards of 1,000
people on board, is allowed no chaplain, her captain
being supposed to be always ready to administer
religious consolation when required by the sick or
dying, notwithstanding the many and unceasing
duties which must always attend upon the com-
manding officer of a ship carrying troops.
The Conqueror, screw line-of-battle ship, Capt.
Luard, sailed from Spithead on Tuesday after sun-
set for the Nore and Sheerness.

The Woolwich portion of the Royal Marine
Brigade returned from Japan arrived at headquar-
ters on Tuesday evening, and were played up from
the railway station by the divisional band with the
appropriate air " Here we are again." They en-
tered the parade, where Col. Maxwell and the whole
of the officers and men of the division, were in wait-
ing, when a loud shout of welcome was given, in
which they vociferously joined. They were yes-
terday paraded under shelter in consequence of the
rain, and each man desiring it was granted a pass
for the night for London. After receiving their
pay they will be allowed to go on furlough. Those
whose friends or relatives reside in England will
obtain six weeks' leave, and natives of Ireland or
Scotland eight weeks'. The health of the detach-
ment appears to be very good.
The Chatham contingent of the Royal Marine
Light Infantry which formed a portion of the Japan
battalion was also inspected at headquarters, Chat-
ham, at which the officers and men had arrived the
previous evening from Portsmouth, after disembark-
ing from the Conqueror, 78, Capt. W. G. Luard.
On marching into the barracks on Tuesday evening
their comrades turned out on the parade-ground,
and gave them three hearty cheers. The inspection
of the officers and men of the detachment was made
yesterday by Col. J. 0. Travers, C. 8., the com-
mandant
of the division, who expressed himself well
pleased with the appearance of the non-commis-
sioned officers and men after their lengthened ab-
sence. At the same time a letter from the Admi-
ralty was read to the detachment, in which their
lordships expressed their sense of the exemplary
manner in which the officers and men had carried
out the duties in which they had been engaged since
their absence from England. The non-commis-
sioned officers and men will be paid their arrears of
pay on the arrival of the lists from the Royal
Marine-office, immediately after which they will be
granted several weeks' leave of absence for the pur-
pose of visiting their friends.
The following medals and gratuities awarded by
the Board of Admiralty to the Woolwich division
of Royal Marine Light Infantry for good conduct
and long service were yesterday presented by Col.
Maxwell, Commandant : Colour-Sergt. Jonah
Holder, a medal and £l5 ; and Drummer Charles
Hines, a medal and £5. Capt. Allen, Lieut.
Rutherford, one sergeant, one corporal, and five
privates Royal Marines yesterday left Woolwich by
rail to join the Doris at Plymouth for service. The
Royal Marine detachment told off for the Island of
Ascension yesterday went up to Deptford from
Woolwich in the steamtug Monkey, and took up
their berths on board the Megmra in readiness for
departure, the order for their embarcation at Wool-
wich having been cancelled.

The depot of the 4th Regiment, consisting of two
captains, six subalterns, eight sergeants, four drum-
mers, 242 rank and file, 21 women, and 11 children,
is held in immediate readiness to proceed from Col-
chester to Dover, to await the headquarters of the
regiment on its arrival from India. Major Gregory,
Lieut. Rennie, Lieut. O'Niell, and Ensigns Foster,
Chappell, and Freke will accompany the depot from
Colchester; and Lieut.-Col. Robinson, Capt. Hodg-
son, and Lieuts. Halahan and Bald will join the re-
giment at Dover on the expiration of their leave of
absence. The depot of the 56th Regiment, consist-
ing of three captains, three subalterns, seven ser-
geants, four drummers, 178 rank and file, 12 1
women, and 16 children, is held in readiness to pro-
ceed from Colchester to Portsmouth on or about to-
day, the headquarters of the regiment being expected
to arrive from India early in the ensuing month,
and to be stationed at Gosport or Portsmouth.
Major Anderson, Capts. Godley and Huskisson,
Lieut. Bell, and Ensigns Walmsley and Prickett
will proceed from Colchester with their depot ; and
Capts. Couran and Bradley, Lieuts. King and
Campbell, and Ensign Knox will join headquarters
at the expiration of their leave of absence.
The troops brought to England in the hired sailing
transport Talbot, from Bombay, were disembarked
fram that ship at Spithead yesterday morning, by
one of the Portsmouth dockyard steam tenders.
The detachment of the 72d Regiment (two cora-
panics) under the command of Provost-Major
Hastings, were landed at Gosport and quartered in
barracks, there to await the arrival of the head-
quarters from Bombay, now expected daily at Spit-
head in another sailing transport. The time-ex-
pired soldiers were landed at Portsmouth and sent
on thence by railway to the depots of their respec-
tive regiments. The invalided men were forwarded
to the Royal Victoria Military Hospital at Netley.
The authorities at Deptford dockyard were yes-
terday engaged, in pursuance of instructions from
Somerset-house, in testing the powers of a steam
fire-engine ordered by the Lords Commissioners of
the Admiralty, for Bermuda, and supplied by
Messrs. Shand, Mason, and Co., to supersede the
use of fire-engines worked by manual labour. The
experiments took place in the presence of Captain
Chads, the Captain Superintendent ; Mr. Robert-
son, R.N., chief engineer and inspector of machi-
nery ; Mr. Gossage, from Somerset-house ; and the
various officials of the yard. The water was drawn
from a depth of 12ft., and was projected in various
streams with different sized jets. The fire was laid
with wood and shavings, and was kindled at 2 45
p.m. Steam was obtained in 11m. 10s. of 601 b.
pressure to the square inch, at which pressure the
engine was started, when the water immediately
issued from the jet, and was projected high above
the roof of the building slip adjoining. The best re-
sult obtained was with a jet 15-16ths of an inch in
diameter, which reached a height of 218 ft., the
steam pressure being 1251 b., and the water 1051 b.
to the square inch.
The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Lieut. Cottrell B. Powell, to
the Cumberland, vice Barnes ; Lieut. Philip N.
Tyrwhitt, additional, to the Princess Royal, for dis-
posal ; Francis C. Alton, chief engineer, to the
Doris ; Geo. Grandidiw, paymaster, to the Prince
Albert ; Julian P. Taplin and William li. Leeson,

engineers, to the Doris ; George Metcalf, engineer,.
to the Indus, for charge of the engines of the Repple;
G. Tyrer, second-class assist. -engineer, and John T.
Trickett, acting second-class assist.-engineer, to the
Doris ; C. F. A. Broadway, clerk, to the Prince
Albert ; E. P. Rimell, clerk, to the Royal Adelaide ;
J. Barnes and T. Guard, assist.-clerks, additional,
to the Duncan, and E. W. P. Edwin and F. B. J.
Matthias, assist.-clerks, additional, to the Topaze ;
Capt. Roderick Dew, C. 8., to the Royal Adelaide,
additional, for service in the Lord Clyde ; Capt. J.
J. Kennedy, C. 8., to the Frederick William, vice
Heathcote, whose period of service has expired ;
Capt. C. Vesey, to the Doris, commissioned ; Com-
mander Iltid T. M. Nichol], to the Ddalus, vice
Field, whose period of service has expired ; Sub-
Lieuts. C. W. Atkinson, J. H. E. Parker, and A.
P. Watson, to the Caledonia, as supernumeraries,
for disposal ; T. W. Haverfield, paymaster, to the
Trafalgar; S. G. Robison, paymaster, to the Si-
moom ; W. S. Chambre, second master, to the
Topaze ; E. 0. Hallett, second master, to the Vic-
toria; C. H. Stone, assist.-paymaster, to the Simooin;
J. Rothery and W. Ross, engineers, additional, to
the Princess Royal; J. Aitken and W. Thomas,
first-class assist.-engineers, additional, to Princess
Royal ; and Henry D. King, clerk, to the Simoom.

The Volunteers.

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CENTRAL LONDON RIFLE RANGERS.

The fifth annual general meeting of this corps
(40th Middlesex) was held last night at the drill-
shed, King's Head-court, Gray's-inn-lane, for the
transaction of business. In the absence of Lieut.-
Col. Somerset, the senior officer present, Captain
Walters, occupied the chair.
The Chairman called upon the hon. secretary, Mr.
R. T. Taylor, to read the annual report. It adverted
to the continued prosperity of the regiment. Al-
though during thepast year there had been increased
expenditure, through the rent of the range having
been raised from £5O to £BO a year, yet, by the exercise
of strict economy, the expenditure had been kept
within receipts, leaving a balance. In consequence
of the increased payments to the members of the
instrumental band the balance-sheet was not so
favourable as that of the general fund. Apprecia-
tion was expressed relative to the services of Cap-
tain and Adjutant Cooper and Captain Isaacs, hon.
treasurer to the band fund, for having organised the
annual theatrical performances, which now formed
an institution of the regiment. Allusion was made
to the continued interest in the corps evinced by the
inhabitants of the neighbourhood, by whom the
committee were again enabled to offer many prizes
to be shot for by the members ; and the members
were urged to obtain recruits to fill up the blanks,
which, from many causes,were constantly occurring
in a body of men like the 40th ; and also stimulated
to increased energy so as to render the corps, both in
number and efficiency, second to none in the country.
Captain Lowe and Captain Lumley proposed and
seconded that the report be adopted ; and on the
motion of Captain Woods, seconded by Quarter-
master Scott, it was unanimously carried.
The following gentlemen were then elected the
committee for the ensuing year :—Messrs. Relley,
Sherrard, Wilton, Wilson, Jones, Phillips, Bell,
Cromar, Walker, Phillips, Wigley, and J. G.
Taylor; with hon. members Messrs. Clark, Bray,
and Horsley.

Captain WOODS, having previously given notice,
moved, " That the uniform of the regiment, namely,
the tunic and trousers, be in future made the same
as those of the 60th Rifles, and that all members be
expectedAto provide themselves with the uniform
in time for the Easter review." He explained that
the cost of altering uniforms recently made would
be 55., and that new uniforms, tunic and trousers,
could be obtained at an expense of £2 7s. 6d. He
advocated the change on the ground of harmony of
colour and personal convenience.
Voting papers having been circulated amongst
the members, the result was declared by the Chair-
man. There was not one-fourth of the efficient
members in favour of the motion, whereas it re-
quired three-fourths of " efficients."
After votes of thanks to the office-bearers, and
to Captain Walters for his conduct in the chair, the
meeting separated.

Commissioners of Sewers.

~. --.......•

The Commissioners of Sewers of the City of Lon-
don met in the Court-room at the Guildhall on
Tuesday, under the presidency of IL De Jersey,
Esq. (Deputy), the chairman.
After the disposal of certain applications, one of
the contractors to the commission, named Stephens,
was summoned for neglecting to remove the dust
from a house in his district for six weeks. The case
was proved by one of the inspectors, and the con-
tractor was fined £lO.

A very numerously-attended deputation waited
upon the commissioners and presented a memorial
signed by all the leading occupiers of premises in St.
Paul's-churchyard and Ludgate-hill, urging the
Court to carry out a public improvement by remov-
ing the house No. 1, St. Paul's-churchyard, and
widen the thoroughfare at that spot. It was stated
that a favourable opportunity now presented itself
for carrying out the improvement, as the ground
was now vacant ;
and it was further stated that the
improvement was one of such importance that the
Corporation, as well as the Metropolitan Board of
Works, would, doubtless, consent to contribute to-
:wards the cost of carrying it out.

Deputy FARRAR warmly supported the prayer of
the memorial.

The CILUR3IAN observed that this question had
received very careful attention at the hands of the
Improvement Committee, who were prepared to
bring up a report that day in reference to it, and
perhaps it would be as well that it
..should be at
once read.

Mr. DAw, the principal clerk, then read the report
of the committee, stating thatthey had been in nego-
tiation with a view to carry out this improvement by
rounding the corner at No. 1, St. Paul's-church-
yard, but the sum demanded for so doing was £2,500,
and that a still further sum would now be required
fcr the ground necessary for the purpose. They
thought, however, that the present opportunity for
carrying out the improvement should not be lost ;
and they therefore recommended that the necessary
notices should be given for taking the whole plot of
land of the owner.

After some remarks by several members of the
Court, the majority of
whom advocated the carry-
ing out of the improvement, the report of the com-
mittee was put and carried, and the necessary no-
tices for taking the ground were ordered to be served
accordingly. It was then referred back to the com-
mittee to carry out the improvement as they might
be advised, and to confer with the Improvement
Committee of the Corporation thereupon, with a
view to obtain the assistance of the Court of Com-
mon Council by a grant in aid of the cost thereof.
Mr. JOSEPH DAW, the
principal clerk to the com-
missioners, laid before the court a letter he had re-
ceived from Mr. G. Dickins, the assistant-secretary
at the Custom-house, upon the subject of the report
presented at the last court by Dr. Letheby with re-
spect to the intended sale at the Commercial Sale-
rooms, in Mincing-lane, of a quantity of damaged
tea, which had been recovered from the ruins of the
fire in Beal's Wharf, which the medical officer
stated was quite unfit for human consumption. In
reply, it was intimated to the commissioners thatthe
Board of Customs had no power to interfere with
the sale of the goods in question.
Mr. W. J. BAYLIS, the solicitor to the commission,
stated that he had, in accordance with his instruc-
tions, served notice upon the auctioneers, Messrs.
Brown and Roberts, that the tea was unfit for hu-
man food, and also upon the superintendent of the
Commercial Sale-rooms, and had given notice of the
facts to the Commissioners of Customs. The sale,
however, was proceeded with by the auctioneers on
the 25th inst., and a portion of the tea was knocked
down at prices ranging from lid. to 101 d. per lb.,
but he had since heard that none of the tea was
really sold.
After some conversation, the solicitor was in-
structed to issue a summons on behalf of the com-
missioners against Messrs. Brown and Roberts, for
offering the tea for sale.

Dr. LETHEBY reported that the markets and
elaughterhousea of the City had been duly inspected

during the past week, and the officershad condemned
4,2641bs of meat as unfit for human food. It con-
sisted of 5 sheep, 5 pigs, 6 calves, 24 quarters beef,
and 4 quarters venison. He also directed attention
to the fact that recently a large quantity of animals
affected with the prevailing rinderpest had been sent
to the City markets for sale as human food ; but in
the opinion of the inspectors it had not been fit for
food, and it had therefore been seized and con-
demned. He also reported that the day previously
a large quantity of boiled meat unfit for human
food was condemned in Newgate-market, and he
submitted that the case required further considera-
tion, with a view to legal proceedings being taken.
He also stated that the day previously four pieces of
meat from an animal that had died of the rinder-
pest had been condemned in Newgate-market, and
the inspector had condemned nine quarters of beef
in a very diseased condition, both of which cases,
it was urged, required further inquiries.

There were 51 births and the like number of
deaths in the City during the previous week, and
Dr. Letheby stated that the mortality returns were
greatly below the average for the corresponding
period of the last ten years.
The Commissioners subsequently adjourned.