The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-28 00:00:00

LAMBOURNE.

Marksman had a mile and a quarter gallop this
morning along with Summertime and the Cordelia
colt ; and Stockstill was again set to lead the year-
lings. Beeswiug, too, is now leading a batch o
promising youngsters. Glenderg is amiss. John
Halifax took Trapez arid Spurgeon a mile and a
half. Somerled was trotting and cantering about
by himself. The Ancient Briton colt merely walked•

THIRD EDIT lON .

SUN OFFICE, 7 o'CLocK.

The "Fresh Man's " Prophecies for 1866.

The Grand Metropolitan Steeplechase, one of the
last great races of the season, has just added an-
other laurel to the many obtained this season by
the writer in The Sun. So nutnerous have been his
successes in spotting winners of great events, that
those who have followed his predictions must be on
the right si le of the ledger. There has not been a
great handicap ran this year but in the first
three he has selected the winner turned IT.
In the Derby, the Two Thousand, the One Thou-
sand, the Oaks, the Ascot Cup, Goodwood Cup,
and Doncaster Leger, he his named the, winner.
In the Chester Cup, Ascot Stakes, Goodwood
Stakes, Cesarewitch and Cambridgeshire Stakes, he
named the winners ; and, to close the season, he
has actually placed the first and second to-day for
one of the most uncertain races of the ,season.
Mostly the whole of the Loudon prophets are
" floored to a man." To show that genuine and
exclusive information is to be got, we will conclude
by quoting " The Fresh Mau's" prophecy of last
Monday, when it will be seen that he actually
placed the first and second :

The only other one with any attraction for me
is Globule, who has been reserved to do a good
thing, and may be successful here. Fit and well at
the post, my choice is
GLOBULE or ASTROLABE.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

CROYDON RACES--THIS DAY.
BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

MATCH.
Scandal beat Spitfire.
SELLING STEEPLECHASE.
Selling Steeplechase Handicap of 3 sovs each, with 20
added; winner to be sold for 40 soya; about two miles.
Orontes
Sinite

Redwing ,

• •
4)

Four ran.
STAND PLATE.
The Stand Plate of 40 sous (handicap) ; winners after the
publication of the weights ( ) 71b extra; about two
miles and a half.
Flyfisher
Pine Apple

Seven ran.

METROPOLITAN STEEPLECHASE.
The Grand Metropolitan Steeplechase Handicap of 20 eovs
each, h it, with 200 added ; winners of any steeplechase
handicap value 200 sovs after Nov. 16 (at 11 a.m.) 101 b,
of 100 sows 71b extra ; the winner of the Croydon Cup
51b in addition to any other penalty, any other winner
31b extra ; the second to receive 30 sovs out of the stakes;
about three miles and a half.
Globule
Astrolabe 2
Patience •• 8

1

RACING FIXT I
FEBRI

Lincoln ..
Harrow..

MA:

Liverpool 5
Chelmsford
Bromley

JRES FOR 1867.
UARY.

Nottingham 2l
Derby
:CH.

West Drayton l9
Epsom
Lewes
IL.

Northampton
2
Windsor
Newmarket Craven 8
Thirsk

' Newmarket Ist Spring 22
Durham , 22
Catterick
Chester
'AY.

York 7
Doncaster spring
Salisbury 9

Ascot 4
Windsor
Manchester
Bi bury
Newton l9

Bath
Harpenden
Epsom
21

Stockbridge 25
Chelmsford 26
Newcastle
'Worcester

JULY.

Carlisle 2 I Down Royal Corporate. 17
Newmarket 2 Huntingdon.. . 23
Reading ..... 9 I Southampton
Nottingham l6 GI-Jodwood
OCTOBER.

Northampton Autumn.
Newmarket 2d October.

I Cheltenham l5
Newmarket liougnton 2l.

The Cornhill Robbery.

TARNER v. WALKER.

(Sittings in Error in the Exchequer Chambers, this
day, before the Lord Chief Baron, Barons Bram-
well, Channell, and Pigott, and Justices Byles
and Keating.)

In this case, it will be remembered that plaintiff
claimed a reward offered by the defendant, Mr.
Walker, the jeweller and watchmaker, for the re-
covery of a considerable portion of his property,
which had been stolen from his premises, and which
he alleged was owing to the information he gave,
but which was disputed, was to have been argued
to-day on an appeal from the decision 43. f the Court
of Queen's Bench. However, it was postponed till
next term.

ME WESTERN FISHERIES.—NearIy 2,000 hogs-
heads of pilchards have been enclosed by three seines in
St. Ives Bay, Cornwall, since Thursday, and the drift boats
have taken from 4,000 to 10,000 per boat. Several hogs-
heads of splendid mackerel have also boen secured, and
most of them despatched to London. A vessel left St.
Ivos on Friday for Genoa, with 600 hogsheads of pilchards,
and in the course of the present week a vessel will leave
for Venice with 590 hogsheads, and another for Naples
with GOO hogsheads. At New Quay about 2,000 hogsheads
are being shipped for the Mediterranean, having been sold
at £3 per hogshead. Large shoalsof fish having been seen
on the Cornish coast, several seines have been again put

n pay.
THE BODY OF MARMONTEL, the author of " Beli-
saire," "Contes Moraux," and the once "Perpetual Secre-
tary of the Academy," was transferred, on the Bth instant,
from the private ground in which it lay, in. the hamlet of
drt
the
Bide of l i h
i eo
u of
ts
Habloville (where he died, in retirement, in 1799) to the
Cemetery of the commune, at St. Aubin. M. Marmontel„
ignratnhdesconanosefrtt.hatir
eoceel: deliveredbrate
celebrated
writer,
d and e s
s Professor a
second grave, which was listened to amid marks of the
liveliest emotion.
An Admiralty telegram received yesterday after-
noon at Portsmouth dockyard directed the imme-
diate coaling and preparation of the transports
Tamar, Capt. Sullivan, C. 8., and Orontes, Capt.
Hire, for the embarkation of troops this morning
for conveyance to Ireland. Gangs of men were im-
mediately told off to coal the ships, which was to be
carried out through the night, as was also the issue
of all other stores required from the various store-
houses of the yard. Both vessels were to be ready
to embark the troops, understood to betwoinfantry
regiments, by 8 o'clock this morning.
In accordance with a sudden order received from
the Admiralty, the following officers and men left
the headquarters of the Chatham division of the
Royal Marines, before daylight yesterday morning,
ht detachment for service in Ireland, viz., Capt. J. F. Sanders,
First Lieut. O. Tracey, Second Lieut. H. S. G.
Schomberg, four sergeants, four corporals, on©
drummer,
b y andrai
railway
ptro wheretacmehty pro-
ceededwil
i v
Plymouth,es . The
embark for Queenstown, and be accommodated on
board her Majesty's ship Frederick William, 74,
500-horse power, Capt. J. J. Kennedy, C.B.
The following divisional order was yesterday
issued at the headquarters of the Chatham division
of the Royal Marines Light Infantry by Major-Gen.
J. O. Travers, C. 8., on his relinquishing the com-
mand of the division, consequent, . on his promotion
to be Major-Genera.l:
,
can-
not relinquish the commalnidaJwoiri-ieGhenl; leh'rhasv
ehresl d for nearly two years without expressing to the officers,
non-commissioned officers, and men the sense lie
entertains of the readiness and goodwill with which
they have carried out his wishes during that period,
and in their several capacities contributed to main-
tain the credit and efficiency of the division. To his
second in command, the field-officers, heads of de-
partments, staff, and officers in charge of compa-
nies, he begs to tender his best thanks for the zea-
lous and cordial support which they have on all
occasions afforded him in the discharge of his du-
ties, and which has rendered his command a source
of satisfaction to him. Major-General Travers,
although removed from it by promotion, must con-
tinue to feel a deep interest in the division with
which he has been so happily associated, not only
recently, but in former years, and bids farewell to
all ranks with sincere and hearty wishes for their
future well-being and prosperity."

Railway and Other Companies.

LONDON, CHATHAM, AND DOVER.

A meeting of the common fund holders in this
company was held yesterday at the London Tavern,
for the purpose of considering the steps necessary to
be taken to maintain their rights.

Mr. W. HARTRIDGE, having been called to the
chair, said that the meeting had been convened by
himself and three other holders in the common fund
It had always been held that the cemmon fund
was a first charge upon the company after the pay-
ment of the working expenses. That bad never been
denied by persons in authority until very recently,
when the common fund holders were assailed by
certain debenture holders. In consequence of that
be address( d the Board of Directors, inquiring
whether it was their intention to take any steps in
reference to the pending proceedings in the Court
of Chancery ; and in reply the Board stated that it
was not necessary to take any steps in the matter.
It was, therefore, thought by those :who had con-
vened the present meeting that the expense of con-
ducting the proceedings should be borne by each
holder according to the amount of stock held by
him. lie represented £20,000 of the common fund
stock, and those with whom he acted represented
£115,000. Tt was proposed that the committee to
be appointed should take steps to place themselves
in association with the directors in order that a ge-
neral meetingshould be heldon the subject to ascer-
tain what shouli be done. What they had in con-
templation would involve a very heavy expense in
Parliament and in the Court of Chancery to protect
their property. They must endeavour to press upon
the directors the necessity of maintaining these sec-
tional movements, and he contended that the per-
sons at,the head of those movements should take an
active part in thereconstruction of the undertaking.
The present being a preliminary meeting for the
objects he had named, he did not think that it would
be advisable to enter generally upon the position
of the London, Chatham, and Dover Company.
Their sole object was to protect their po-
sition as shareholders in the " common fund"
of the undertaking. He then moved that a
committee of five common fund shareholders be ap-
pointed, with power to add to their number, for the
purpose of maintaining the priorities of payment and
other rights as specified by the London, Chatham,
and Dover Railway (additional powers) Act, 1862,
and to take such steps in Parliament, in the Court
of Chancery, and elsewhere in relation thereto as
they might deem necessary.
Mr. BURBURY, in seconding the motion, said that
as a bill had been filed in the Court of jJhancery
against the common fund shareholders, it was felt
incumbent upon them to take steps to protect their
property.
The motion was unanimously adopted; and Mr.
W. Hartridge, dlr. Burbury, Mr. W. Denison,
Q C., Mr. Glover, and Mr. Tuke were appointed
the committee, with power to add to their number.
A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the
proceedings.

I
MARYPORT AND CARLISLE.

A special meeting of this company was held at
Maryport on Monday, Mr.G.W. Hartley in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN said the meeting had been called
to enable the directors to carry into effect the bor-
rowing powers under the Derwent Valley Branch
Act. He then moved that the directors be autho-
rised to borrow the sum of £20,000, and stated that
the whole of the permanent rails, with the exception
of six chains, were laid, and in a month's time the
bridge over the Derwent would be completed.
_ _

Mr. SENHOUSE seconded the motion, and, after
some observations by Dr. Fidler, the motion was
carried, and the proceedings were concluded with a
vote of thanks to the chairman.

-GENERAL CREDIT AND FINANCE OF LONDON
(LIMITED).

An extraordinary general meeting of this company
was held yesterday at the London Tavern ; Mr.
Bramley-Moore in the chair.
The report stated that the directors bad had their
attention for some time past directed to the im-
portance of reducing the liability upon the shares of
the company so soon as a convenient opportunity
should present itself. This opportunity had now
arisen. The liabilities of the partnership on the 31st
of October were third parties as follows :—Bills
payable, £33,123 ; deposit receipts, £24,002 ; ac-
counts current, £157,300; and sundries, £3,650—
total, £258,975. The contingent liabilities were
for calls that might be made on sundry shares the
property of the company, £44,225, it being believed
that not more than half of this amount was likely
to be called for some years. The company was
under a covenant to lend money on the shares of
an English railway now in course of construction
(with an undoubted personal guarantee for the re-
payment) to the extent of £118,500 during the year
1867, repayable on the 31st of December, 1868.
The company was further under an engagement in
respect of a foreign Government loan to the extent
of about £45,000. Ou the other hand, the assets of
the company consisted of 19 items, including
£137,618 cash at bankers, £26,818 on Consols,'
loans on various securities, making together a total
of £2,041,100. In other words, to meet the liabili-
ties of the partnership—to the public, v 258,075 ; to
themselves—capital £1,500,000 ; reserve £175,000;
making together £1,933,075 ; showing a balance of
£108,025. The directors did not mean to repre-
sent to the shareholders that every one of the items
of assets was perfectly good—they could hardly ex-
pect to pass through such a year without making
some losses—but the directors had not made any
debt which could at the present moment be pro-
nounced positively bad, though item No. 16, re-
lating to a railway in Portugal (X. 151,300), was in
an unsatisfactory state. The only actual losses
hitherto made were from sales of securities, the loss
on which had been wholly written off before making
up the foregoing statement of assets and liabilities ;
and further, after careful consideration of the out-
standing debts, the directors considered the doubt-
ful debts would be fully met within the limits of
the reserve fund. A new company, under the title
of the General Credit and Discount (limited),
was formed for the purpose of taking
over the business, the liabilities and the assets of
the old company as on and from the 31st of Decem-
ber next. The new company would have a capital
of £2,000,100, formed by 200,010 shares of £lO
each, £7 10s. being paid up. The shareholders in
the old company would in lieu of their present hold-
ing receive shares in the new company as follows :
For every five shares of £2O each, which a member
of the old company at present held, having already
paid thereon in all £3O, and being further liable for
£7O, he would receive four shares of £lO each, on
each of which £7 10s. would be credited as paid,
making together £3O paid, with a further liability
of only £lO. The new company would thus start
with a subscribed capital of £2,000,100, of which
£1,500,075 was paid up.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report, said it was so explicit that it left him very
little to say to convince every one of the_importance
of that arrangement to the partners in the company.
It was a cause for congratulation that they had
Passed through the crisis successfully. He thanked
the shareholders who had so handsomely and
promptly responded to the call on the proprietors in
June last. The directors, after a great deal of con-
sideration, had adopted the propositions they bad to
submit for the approval of the proprietors. He
would not take up their time
figures, which were as familiarin going through the
to the shareholders
as they were to the directors, but would mention
that they had divided among the shareholders out of
profits £362,000, which was equivalent to £ll 2s.
per cent. per annum on the capital of £910,000. In
snaking up the accounts to Oct. 31 they had then
£500,000 in a liquid state—that was, in such secu-
rities that they could all be realised at a day's notice.
They were in a position to change this company
into another if the shareholders should express their
wish to do so. The unpaid calls to Oct. 31 only
amounted to £26,000. With regard to the item
which was represented in the report to be in an
unsatisfactory state it was a sum of £151,000 lent to
a railway company in Portugal. The directors did
not mean to say that it was lost or jeopardised, they
believed there would be a delay in its realisation,
and that it would be recovered. From his know-

ledge of the Portuguese, who had always acted in
good faith, he believed the Government would never
consent to confiscate a property upon which above
£1,000,000 had been expended for the development
of the resources of that country. Negotiations were
going on at present, and two of the directors would
shortly go out to Portugal to.assist in those nego-
tiations, so that a new company might be organised
there, and he had no doubt that every shilling would
be recovered. He would be glad to answer any
questions, and concluded by moving the adoption of
the report and a series of resolutions connected there-
with.

Mr. BLOUNT, a director, seconded the motion.

Mr. F. MowATr contended that the resolutions
should be put separately.
Mr. TULLOCH, having pointed out some of the
advantages that would arise from forming the new
company, suggested that there would be less risk if
they confined their operations in future to a discount
business.

Colonel BATHURST agreed in the observations of
the last speaker, and thought the shareholders should
have the privilege of examining the books of the
company, or at least they should be open to a
committee of shareholders when they thought pro-
per to examine them.
Mr. GALSWOItTHY said he was disposed to support
the general proposition, but he did not like the idea
of being bound by articles of association which they
had not seen, and thought copies of the articles
should have been circulated among the shareholders
before they were asked to sanction the arrangement.
A long discussion ensued, in which Dr. Coates,
Mr. Gustenburg, Mr. Bathurst, Mr. Stewart, and
other shareholders took part, principally in respect
of the articles of association of the new company,
the fees of the directors, and the mode of paying
dissentient shareholders.

Mr. ROSE, the solicitor, explained that they could
not discuss those questions at the present meeting.
If when they joined the new company, they objected
to any of the articles of association, they could alter
them in the usual legal form.

The CH AIRMAN replied to the various observations,
and explained that in some respects the articles of
association of the new company were an improvement
upon the articles of the -present company. The di-
rectors believed that the shareholders were unani-
mously of opinion that the proposition for the re-
duction cf their liability should be carried out. It
was provided that those who might dissent from the
proposition should be paid the market value of their
shares subject to arbitration. It would be impos-
sible to carry on a discount business if shareholders
were to have the privilege of examining the books.
The auditors had extensive powers to examine the
books and securities, and to report to the shareholders.
He believed that the share capital was intact, and
that the reserve fund would be more than sufficient
to cover any loss it was probable they might sustain.
Mr. MACDONALD, the manager, explained the posi-
tion of the assets and liabilities of the company ap-
' parently to the satisfaction of the meeting.
_ _ _

Mr. Mow Arr moved an amendment to the effect
that the meeting be adjourned for a fortnight to en-
able the directors in the meantime to send a copy of
the articles of association of the new company to the
shareholders.

Mr. BLOUNT defended the course adopted by the
directors, and contended they bad exerted them-
selves in every way to promote the interests of the
company. _

The amendment not being seconded was of no
effect.

The CHAIRMAN then moved a formal resolution
approving the report, declaring a dividend of 6s. per
share for the year 1866, including the interim divi-
dend already paid of 2s. per share; that the com-
pany be wound up voluntarily ; that Mr. J. Mac-
donald and Mr. R. J. Butler be the liquidators, and
that a new company be formed in accordance with
the recommendation in the report.
Mr,. BLOUNT seconded the motion, which was car-
ried by a very large majority, there being only a few
dissentients, Mr. Mowatt being one of them.
The proceedings concluded with votes of thanks
to the chairman and directors.

ALBION MARINE INSURANCE.

A special meeting of the shareholders of this com-
pany was held at Liverpool yesterday, to discuss a
proposal for the voluntary winding-up of the com-
pany ; Mr. Crosfield presided.
From the statement laid before the meeting it ap-
peared that the capital of £lOO,OOO had almost al
been lost, and the estimate in view of proposed wind-
ing-up was that about £lO,OOO would be available
to cover any outstanding claims. It appeared that
£30,000 had been lost by the Calcutta cyclone.
A motion for voluntary winding-up was sub-
mitted, and an amendment for the appointment of a
committee of investigation was proposed, but after
discussion withdrawn, and the original motion was
unanimously adopted.

State of Trade.

~-

MANCHESTER, Nov. 27.—The shipping yarn mar-
ket to-day has been flat, and to make sales lower
prices would have to be taken. Some few orders
have been given out at full prices, but generally
spinners have had to make a slight concession to
effect sales. Home-trade yarns have also been much
quieter as compared with last Friday, and the busi-
ness has been much less than an average. There was
not much giving way in prices, as spinners sold rather
freely last week, and are not pressing their yarns on
the market. In some cases they are under contract.
In cloth, after the large businessdone last week, prices
became a little firmer, but they have since become
easier, with less doing. The decline is attributed
a good deal to news of a drop in prices of cotton
in America. We close to-day with lower prices,
and with a flat, dull feeling, after a market which
has not resulted in much business. We learn that
at a meeting of Omerod, Jervis, and Thompson's
creiitors this afternoon the liabilities were estimated
at
£94,340, and the assets at £43,281. A commit-
tee to investigate the affairs and report to a future
meeting was appointed. A feeling was expressed
that the personal expellees of the parishes had been
large, and that the business bad Wen of too specu-
lative a character. The late floods have been found
to have done immense damage in cotton mills. In
three, out of a number flooded in Salford, the da-
mage has been estimated at £5,000, £7,000, and
£ll,OOO. Mills on every stream and in all parts' of
the district have suffered more or less, and some of
them more severely than in Salford. Messrs. John
siagg and Co. report of the cloth market:=--" Upto
Saturday there was more activity in our market,
with a disposition on the part of buyers to operate,
and a considerable amount of business was trans-
acted. To-day there is a falling off in the demand
and we close with a flatter market and a decided
weakening in prices."
CARDIFF, 26th.—Heavy purchases of steam coal
continue to be made on foreign account, and the
exportation trade is very brisk. The docks are
crowded with shipping taking in Welsh steam, and
tonnage is in request among the coal, shippers.
Lugo quantities are being cleared out for the coal-
ing stations of the mail packet service, and as orders
were coming iu rather freely a good winter's busi-
ness is expected. The London and Merthyr Steam
Coal Company (limited) have commenced opera-
tions at their new works near Hirwain, and through-
out the district several new collieries are being
opened. There is a lively demand for steam coal
on inland account, and the metropolitan
markets are taking increased q la n t ities. The
improvement noticed in last report in the in-
quiry for house qualities is maintained, and a good
business is being done with coasting buyers. Last
week about 4,000 tons of iron were cleared out for
foreign markets, chiefly. for the Southern States of
America, which of late have taken large quantities.
Orders from the United States are being placed
with tolerable regularity, and they are likewise com-
ing . in steadily from British North America for
spring delivery. A small business is being done with
the Egyptian markets, and with most of the other
markets there is no alteration to note in transactions.
A few orders have been given out on home account,
but they are not much worth, and this branch of the
sd state.
markets
tradeLEEiDs
si,n2a7tvhe.ry_
jdreup_rdeasys
n
halls have lacked animation. The b
numberothtlie
ofbcul cloth-
halls have
comparatively small, and they showed little in-

clination to purchase unless goods were offered as
bargains. But the stocks of really saleable goods in
the halls are not large, and few job lots are offering.
A sprinkling of heavy goods was purchased by
home-trade buyers, and the rest of the goods which
changed hands comprised a fair proportion of ordi-
nary cloths, including a moderate quantity of mel-
tons. The supply of tweeds in the market is small,
and the manufacturers of such fabrics are well sup:
plied with orders. The warehouse trade, both for
home consumption and for exportation, is small.
The German trade is more than usually so, consi-
dering the season of the year, and the same may be
said as to France and the continent generally. The
country clothiers complain that their orders for
early delivery are not large, but there ig not any
absolute want of employment. Prices, those of wool
and woollen yarns as wellas those of goods, are no-
minally the same as last week.

ROCHDALE, 26th.—Though winter is fast ap-
proaching the demand for heavy flannels is rather
flat, and only a small quantity was sold to-day. In-
deed, there was but a small attendance of buyers,
and the market was devoid of animation. The chief
cause assigned is that both wholesale and retail
dealers are refraining from purchasing, except in small
quantities, till they have completed stock-taking,
upon which many of them are engaged. The York-
shire goods trade is also quiet, and only a very
moderate business was done to-day. The wool trade,
too, was rather dull, and some of the lower qualities
are a shade lower.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

VALETTA, Nov. 23.—Her Majesty's ironclad
frigate Resistance, 16, Capt. H. S. Hillyar, C.B. (as
stated in a postscript by last mail) arrived here on
the afternoon of the 16th inst. She was only three
days from Canada, and might therefore have been
expected to bring news of interest. The accounts,
however, continue to be very conflicting. Although
we hear of fresh reinforcements having landed from
Greece, and of the insurgents holding out in their
mountain fastnesses, there can be little doubt the re-
bellion is substantially quelled. Many chiefs are
said to have proceeded from the interior to make
their submission, but a sort of guerilla warfare was
still being carried on against the Turkish troops.
For economy of fuel the Resistance, on leaving
Canea, took in tow her Majesty's gunboat Wizard,
2, Lieut.-Commander P. J. Murray, also ordered
to Malta, but owing to boisterous weather had to
cast her off when about midway between this and
Candia. The wind continuing to blow hard for
several days from the northward and westward the
Wizard did not succeed in reaching Malta harbour
till the evening of the 19th. Her Majesty's screw
wooden frigate Endymion, 21, Capt. C. Wake (of
Bulldog fame), arrived on the 19th inst. in 22 days
from Portsmouth. She is a fine vessel of her class,
and has come out to reinforce the Mediterranean
squadron. She proves to be a fast sailer, making
12 knots, but her rate of steaming does not exceed
ten knots an hour. Her Majesty's despatch vessel
Psyche arrived the same day from Alexandria, hav-
ing on board Captain W. R. Mends, C. 8., Director
of Transport service at the Admiralty. Her
period of quarantine will expire to-morrow. After
a short stay here Captain Mends will proceed to
Marseilles in the Psyche, which will then be at
the disposal of Sir Henry Storks for passage to
Malta. his excellency's return has been unex-
pectedly delayed, on account of the death of a near
relative. We learn by telegraph that his Excellency
would be able to leave Paris before the 10th of De-
cember. The Malta and Alexandria Telegraph
Cable stopped working on the evening of the 16th
inst. The fault is supposed to lie between Benghazi
and Alexandria, near Ras-Sem, in the neighbour-
hood of which interruptions have before occurred
after stormy weather, the coast being very much ex-
posed and the bottom rocky. 'The screw steamer
Hawk, belonging to the Telegraph Constructionand
Maintenance Company, was despatched on the fol-
lowing day, with a competent staff of engineers and
electricians, to effect the necessary repair. By orders
of the Naval Commander-in-Chief, Lord Clarence
Paget, her Majesty's ship Cossack, Capt. R. D.
White, was also despatched to the scene of rupture,
to render any assistance that may be required. A
Prussian gunboat, the Blitz, 3, Lieut.-Commander
Jung, arrived here on the 16th inst. last from Al-
giers in four days, and is under orders to proceed to
the Piraeus. A French gunboat, La Corse, 2, ar-
rived on the 20th inst. from Cherbourg and Gibraltar,
bound for Constantinople. Vice-Admiral Lord
Clarence Paget and Lady Clarence Paget held their
first general reception at the Admiralty House on
Wednesday evening, which was exceedingly well at-
tended. Among the guests were the commanders of
the Prussian and French gunboats in port. The day
being the anniversary of the birth of her Royal High-
ness the Princess of Prussia, the usual hoisting of flags
took place. The Prussian gunboat Blitz also dressed
for the occas'on. Her Majesty's ships now assembled
in Malta harbour are :—The Victoria, 102, line-of-
battle ship (bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral
the Right Hon. Lord Clarence Paget, C.R.,
Commander-in-Chief) ; Hibernia, receiving ship
(bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Henry Kellett,
C. 8.) ; Gibraltar, 81, line-of-battle ship ; Prince
Consor, 30 ; Resistance, 16 ; Royal Oak, 35 ; and
Enterprise, 4- -ironclads ; Endymion, 21; Cruiser,
5 ; Psyche, 2, despatch vessel ; Wizard 2, gunboat ;
and Megmra, storeship. Foreign.—Blitz, Prus-
sian gunboat ; and La Come, French gunboat.
A trial of a steam launch fitted with machinery
by Messrs. J. and G. Rennie, for her Majesty's
screw frigate Mersey, took place at Portsmouth, on
Monday, under the supervision of the Admiralty
officials of the port. The engines of the launch are
understood to have been originally built by the
Messrs. Rennie to illustrate the principle adopted
by the firm in this particular class of machinery in
the forthcoming Paris Exhibition, and for this
reason deserve a more extended notice than is
usually given to such trials. The engines are direct
acting, with a single cylinder only to each, are
fitted with surface condensers, and are also worked
at high pressure. The diameter of each cylinder is
six inches,-and the stroke of the piston 4in. Each
engine drives independently its own screw with
shafting secured in bearings under the base of the
boiler. The fore end of the shafting, by means- of
bevilled gearing, works the pump which circulates
the water through the condenser. The surface con-
denser is convertible into the.injection system by a
connecting pipe. The boiler is multitubular, with
return tubes over the fire-box, the combustion
chamber being at the after end. The tubes, about
40 in number, have an outside diameter each of ltin.
and a length of 3ft. 6in. The fire-grate is about
26in. wide by 30in. long, and the smoke-box is at
the stoking end. The two propellers are each four-
bladed, of 2ft. 6in. diameter and 3ft. Gin. pitch, and
are right and left-handed. The total weight of
madeov over the Sto
unfavourable
fav Beua
the engines and boilers, with the latter filled
with water, is about three tons, 17 cwt. The
trials
under most
and weather, but very fairyrraebnslule illtsec°onwndeirMteioonanstdtoaaifyne weredind
as
regards speed, although differing in no material
speed
firettsenultswiathaa
launchestdreigasreeeffrsotemamthe
dinouedbleon
cylinder
former
engines. Given, however, an equality in point of
speed between single and double cylinder enained
steam launches, a fact as yet by no means estab-
lished, the turning power of the boat fitted with the
single cylinder engine must ever remain very in-
ferior to the one fitted with two cylinders, owing to
the difficulty of suddenly reversing the action of
single cylinder engines, and herein appears to be
vitiated the main feature of the turnscrew principle.
The principal figures of the trial of the steam launch
on Monday were as follows :—Four runs at high
pressure.-1, 7.142 knots ; 2, 7.438 knots ; 3,
7.531 knots ; 4, 7.287 knots ; mean speed of the
launch by the four runs, 7.416 knots. Four runs,
condensing.-1, 7.7018 knots ; 2, 7171 knots ; 3,
8.035 knots; 4, 6.806 knots ; mean speed of the
launch by the four rums, condensing, 7.516 knots.
The maximum number of the engine's revolutions
were, at high pressure, 273, and, condensing, 268.
In testing the launch in circling with both engines
going ahead, the half- circle was made, both to port
and to starboard in 34sec. ; the full circle to star-
board in Imin. 12sec., and to port in lmin. 14sec.
With the starboard =gine going ahead and the port