The Sun.
London, England, 1857-09-17 00:00:00

SARDINIA.

We have tidings of sad misfortunes by firs and
flood in different parts of the Sardinian States. At
Se-tri Ponente a fire broke out about midnight on
the 12th, in a shipbuilder's yard, which, in conse-
quence of a strong wind, was not subdued until
4 am. next morning, after having consumed
three vessels and a great quantity of timber. As
soon as the news of the firs was conveyed to Genoa
by telegraph, the authorities sent six engines, with
a force of firemen and soldiers, to the rescue. The
Intendant-General and the Assistant-Intendant and
the Commandant. of Gensdarmes reached the scene
about 1 a.m., by which time two vessels. were
already consumed, and a third in a fair way of
being so. The workmen of the neighbouring foun-
dries were turned out: by their employers, and as-
sisted the military, police, and Custom-home people,
so that after several hours' hard work, the flames
were isolated to that part of the yard where the
already burning vessels were, and by four o'clock
in the morning it was all over.
The value of the property lost is valued at
about 300,000 f. Most fortunately no one was in
any way wounded. The cause of this disaster has
not yet been ascertained, but every inquiry is being
made on the subject.

BANK OF ENGLAND.

MEETING_ THIS DAY.

The half yearly general court cf proprietors in the
Bank of England was held this afternoon in the Bank
parlour, Threadneedle-street—Mr. SHEFFIELD NEAVII,
the newly elected Governor, in the chair.
The GOVERNOR stated that the net profits for the half
yeas ending on the 31st August last, were 775,6501. ; to
amount of rest on day 3,840,625/. I.a. 3J. ; and that the
amount of rest, after providing for a dividend at the
rate of 5. per cent. for the half year, would be
3,040,2101. ls. 31. The Court of Directors, therefore,
proposed that a dividend of s:i par cent. for the half
year should be paid without deduction for income-tax.
(Cheers.) _

Mr. J. PILCHICII ob3erved, that some of the younger
banks with small capital paid a much larger dividend
than the Bank of England.

The GOVERNOR said that the difference was more
nominal than real. The banks which the hon. proprietor
alluded to had a very small capital in comparison with
the Bank ,of England, and therefore the amount of
profits must yield a large interest on capital, whereas the
capital of the Bank was 14 milliotts, and thus, although
the profits might be very large, they did not yield eo
high a dividend.
Mr. PILOLLED said he thought the capital ought to be
more extensively employed.

The GOVERNOR said they had nothing except what
as prudent bankers they ought to keep in reserve. In
the position which the Directors of the Bank of Eng-
land held they were of course obliged to keep a larger
reserve then private banks.
Mr. FILCHEx doubted if it were necessary.

The GO/ MINOR said thatlaz the present dividend was
larger than that of the previous half-year, it was neces-
sary thet it should be confirmed by ballot, which would
take place on Tuesday next. The meeting would conse-
quently be adjourned until Wednesday next to receive
the reeult.

A vote of thanks to the Governor and directors ter,
minated the proceedings.

TDB ENGLISH FLEET `AT ALGIERSL

A letter from Algiers, of the 10th inst., contains
an account of the cordial and hospitable reception
given to Admiral Lyons and the officers of his fleet
on their late arrival there. On entering the port of
Algiers on the 4th hilt., and after exchanging the
usual salutes with the batteries, the Admiral
landed and paid a visit to Gen. Renault, acting
Governor-General io the absence of Marshal Ran-
don. General Renault, accompanied by his staff,
returned the Admiral's visit the same afternoon.
The officers and se tmen of the fleet visited the
town during the sth, 6th, and 7th inst. On Sun-
day, the 6th, a great part of the population of
Algiers visited the English fleet. At 6 o'clock the
same evening General Renault gave a splendid
dinner to Admiral Lyons and several English and
French officers. On their arrival the band of the
68th Regiment struck up " God save the Queen.".
The most perfect harmony prevailed at the dinner,
and when the dishes were removed, General Re-
nault priposed the health of Q
ueen. Victoria hi the
following terms :

" Gentlemen,—ln presence of the Illustrious Admiral
who so g %neatly 0 m banded the British fleet during the
war in the East, and who afforded ro c a-dial and so com-
plete an assistance to our armies both by sea and land, I
feel myself natural'y impelled to propose a toast, in
which you will heartily join. To the very gracious
Queen Victoria who giycs so many pledges of sympathy
to Franca—to the august Soverelun who maintains so
high the honour of Great Biitain.'
This address was received with shouts of applause
from the guests. The Admiral, in returning thanks,
expreit ed. the satisfaction he experienced in visiting
the port and city of Algiers, and proposed the
A
health of his Majesty the Emperor of the Ffench.fter dinner there was a reception, at which the
entire corps of British officers was present, as well
as the civil and military functionaries of the place.
Ors Monday the Admiral gave a grand dinner to
General Renault on board the Royal Albert, to
which were invited the company of the previous
day and several ladies. The dinner was extremely
gay, and several toasts were drunk. Admiral
Lyons gave "The Emperor of the French." Gen.
Renaul proposed " Queen Victoria and Prince
A lbe t," General Baziine proposed " The health
of Admiral Lord Lyons," atnd the Admiral, in re-
turn, gave "Prosperity to Algeria." On Tuesday
morning the English fleet s,iled for Mahon.

The inauguration of the small line of railway which
runs from La Teste to Arcaehon took place on Sunday
test at the latter place.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT PLUMSTE&D.--Abollt ORO
o'clock yesterday so 'ruing a fire broke out on the pre-
mises of Mr. Brown, a.builder, residing at Cageelane,
Pluinstead. A party' of police from the Royal Arsenal
were immediately on the spot with the fire hose of
that este.h!ishment, 'hut as no water could be obtained,
the wly le of the premises, including the furniture,
stock in trade, &e., were, entirely consumed.
Mdlle. Rachel has just left Paris for Cannot, a village
rear Cannes, where she proposes to pass the winter. The
great trigedienne has ta'een this c iurse by the advice
of her medical 4Vendant, Dr, Raper. Her state
now causes great anxiety to her friends, and her serious
illness may be inferred from the fact that a department
of a railway carriage Iraq been specially retained fur her.
The Emperor, I are informed, immediately before her
departure, sent a despatch from' the camp at Chalons to I MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
make inquiries after health.
EXTRAORDINARY AND DARING ROBBERY.--A ta,
ROYAL LEGITIMACY IN PERSIA.— " According to the
well dressed young man, who gave the name of William
last accounts from Persia," says the Independence of
Ward, was brought before Mr. Beadou charged with
Blessele, "an event of great political importance has the following audacious and impudent robbery :
Madame Victorine Paul, tobacconist, No. 12, Sher-
gamy is permitted in Persia, and the Shah, as well ass
rand-street, Goldene3quare, deposed tint on the previous
Lis subjects, can have several wives. It is the custom in
taken place at Ttheran. It is well known that poly
night, about eight o'clock, the prisoner came into her
the East for Sovereigns only to marry princesses of the
shop and purchased a cigar. While she was giving him
blood royal. The Shah has departed from that cuetorn, and
a light., he looked round and said, "You have a fine
bee nue attached to one of his seraglio, who, although
arlour there; will you allow me to smoke my cigar
not belonging to a princely family, possessed great in-
t there I" She consented, and he went in. She went in
telligenee and power of mind. She, therefore, became
also, and he then shut the door. The parlour adjoined
gave birth to a son, who,
1 the shop, and there was a door between. As soon as
hfriosin taavovuerryiteeasrullytanaag. She
age,
was distinguished by Fuch re-
roarkable intelligence that the Persian people were she bad entered the room the prisoner laid bold of her
by both her arms, and said ho had no time to stay then,
plowed to corniider Ili ii a: their lawful heir to the throe©•
but would come back at 10 o'clock. He then went out,
Their wishes have just been grat.fiei', for the presume-
and she followed Lim into the shop. At that time she
dee heir having diei last year, the Shah has designated
had no suspicion that anything was wrong, but her
the young son of his favourite sultana as his successor.
suspicions were considerably aroused, by seeing him as
A ceremony conducted with extraordinary pomp, at-
teneed this annow cement. A e
a matter of course'con-
could. She then put her hand to her pocket, and missed
sidcrable jealousy was excited in the seraglio by this
measure, but the people have been unanious in the ex- I her purse containing 12/. se. 6d. in gold an Police"
slilise r
I soon as he reached the street, run away as fast as he
pression of their joy at the choice made by their trove-,1 •
1 and " Stop thief," into Goldeu-squaro, where
fter the
reign. Legros, a friend of hers, joined her, and
Ire:To
The Mersey, 49, the largest screw steam frigate abet was
prisoner as far as Warwick-street,
in the world, which is now building at Chatham, hew' said to her,
money. She pursued the prisoner, saying out ' Po ;or"
• has all the available force of the establishment at stopped, and as soon as she go p
-,' she again called out
1 work on her, in order that she may b
a completed Si police,,,and d
and a constable, 344 A, came up, e-
, early in the ensuing year. ' o'ined to take the charge, alleging as his reason that
IThe Russell, 6J gulls, screw steamship, is beingprisoner was his friend. She insisted upon him doing
brought forward for commission in the fittina basin is duty, and he eventually arrested him. A great
" let me go, here is your purse.
a
crowd bad by that time assembled, and some thief stole
at Sbeerneen. . .
- . .