The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-10 00:00:00

RAILWAYS IN ALGERIA.

The Moniteur publishes a report addressed to
the - Emperor by the Minister of War on the
subject of the formation of railways in Algeria :
After alluding to the advantages which must
accrue from that rapid mode of communication to
agicultural and other undertakings in the colony,
the Minister proposes to his Majesty to sanction
the construction of-Ist, a line running parallel
to the sea uniting the chief towns of the three
provinces, and serving the principal loca';tiet—
to the east, between Algiers and Coustantina, pass-
ing near Auinale and Setif; to the west, between
Algiers and Oran, passing near Bliclah, Amorah,
Oleausville, St. Denis-du-Sig, and Ste. Barbe ; and
2d, lines starting from the principal ports and joining
the above line so as to place Bona and Philipville in
communication with Constantina, Bougia with betif,
Tenez with Orleansville, and Mostaganem and Arzew
with Relizane. The parts of the country to the S. of
the main trunk line would communicate with it by
means of the roads already formed by the array.
The report goes on to state that, from the statistical
details which have been collected, there are three

lines on which the transport of merchandise and
passengers would he sufficient to secure success to
the undertaking-Ist, between Algiers, Blidah, and
Ametu.sh, serving the great Arab markets of the
plain of the Chetiff; 2d, betwen Constautina and
Philipville, now the most frequented commercial
transit ; and 3d, between Oran and St. Denis of
the Sig, a section which would serve to convey the
rich productions of the plains of the Sig, the
Tielat, and the Eghris. These three lines the Mi-
nister proposes to have conceded to private com-
panies on conditions to be hereafter determined.
The report also recommends that, in addition to
these three lines, when the governor shall have
troops unemployed at his disposal, they shall be
employed in forming embankments and other
earthworks for the great sections which are to be
hereafter placed in connection with the railways
now in contemplation, and would thus prepare for
the ulterior execution of a general system of rail-
ways in Algeria."
The xeport is followed by a decree carrying out the
above suggestions.

SEAMEN'S HOSPITAL _DREADNOUGHT,
OFF GREENWICH:

The ordinary quarterly meeting of the court of this
admirable society was held yesterday, at the offices in
King William-street, City ; but there being only 14
members present, and the deed requiring 15 to consti-
tute a court, the meeting stood adjourned. The super-
intendent's quarterly report of patients admitted from
the let of Jan. to the 31st of March, 1857 (which would
have been presented to the court in the usual course),
gives the following statement :
From her Majesty's ships 3
425
British and foreign merchant ships
151
On board lst January

On board sick
Convale,cent ...........................
Fit for duty ...................
Discharged since Ist of Jauu y

Number on the registry book

Oat-patients from Ist January to 31st March ... 340

THE IRON TRADE.—BIRMINGHAM, April 9, —The se-
cond quarterly meeting of the ironmasters of this dis-
trict was held in the Town-ball here to-day. The nature
of the business was much the same as at Wolverhamp-
ton on Wednesday. The trade prices were reported
tirro, with a steady husinea doing.

VISIT OF THE SULTAN TO THE ROYAL
ALBERT.

The Royal Albert shifted her anchorage from
Bujudere, at the Black Sea end of the Bosphorus,
to a position immediately opposite the Dolma Bak-
tchi Palace, which has been recently erected for the
Sultan at an enormous expense. On the afternoon
of the 27th the Admiral issued 'an order which set
at rest the reports of the Sultan's intention to visit
this ship :—Captains and officers of the squadron
to repair on board the flag-ship, in full dress, at
10.30 a.m. on Saturday morning, the 28th, to re-
ceive the Sultan ; ships to man yards, and the rig-
ging on the port side, that facing the Palace; ships
to be dressed at the same time ; Turkish flag at the
main ; the Royal Albert to hoist the Sultan's stan
dard at the main. The early part of Saturday,
morning was showery, but with our usual good for-
tune after 8 o'clock the weather cleared up quite
fine. We made the best preparations that we
could in the shape of carpeting the ladders and
deck, up to which his Majesty had to ge.
Shortly before 11 o'clock the Pashas who were to
be in atten dance came on board. They were Redschid
Pasha, Grand Vizier; Riza Pacha, Minister of War;
Mehemet Ali Pasha, Minister of Marine ; Omer
Pacha, Generalissimo of the Army ; and Ethera
Pacha, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Lord Stratford
and suite came on board about the same time.
About a quarter before 12 the Sultan was seen to
step into his caique.• The ships immediately manned
yards and rigging, dressing with flags, and a salute
of 21 guns was at the same time fired by the Cu-
ragoa and ourselves. The Marines formed the guard
of honour on both sides of the quarter-deck, and
presented a fine specimen of British troops.
.The
band was across the poop, and the officers were
standing on the after part of the quarter-deck. Six
of the youngest naval cadets acted as side boys,
two at the bottom of each ladder. The Sul:an
was received at the entry port on the middle deck
by the Admiral, Ambassador, Pachas, and Cap-
tains of the fleet. He was conducted to the
upper deck by the Ambassador, who was obliged
to help kiln up the ladders. He wore the
fez, with a button on the top, a loose overcoat, the
collar and cuffs of which were a mass of diamonds
worth about 60,000/. He appeared very much ex-
hausted and nervous, and did not seem to be at all
at ease. After he had recovered a little he threw
open his coat so as to show the Riband and. Star of
the Garter, telling the Admiral that he felt proud.
to be able to wear it before so many "brave sol-
diers and sailors." A chair was brought out for
him, which he refused, saying in French, which he
speaks fairly, "Je ne suis pas fatigue."
After the usual complimentary speeches bad
been exchanged the Admiral conducted him to the
cabin, and after a short rest be again came on
decked and walked forward. Returning be no-
ticed the Crimean medal on the breast of one of the
Marines, and said he observed that all the men
wore the same decoration. The Marine, poor
fellow, was evidently very uncomfortable at
having become so conspicuous. While on deck
this time the Sultan had evidently got
over his nervousness, and laughed and chatted a
good deal, apparently taking considerable interest
in all he saw. On returning to the admiral's cabin
he requested the admiral, ambassador, and pachas
to be seated, a thing that I believe has never before
taken place. The Sultan then begged Lord Lyons
to inform her Majesty the Queen how grateful he
felt for the prompt assistance that had, been ren-
dered to his country, and for having sent such a
man as the admiral to be one of the defenders of
Turkey. He afterwards' paid the admiral a very
handsome compliment. His Majesty said—" I
loved you when I first saw you, and that affection
and regard has since been increased by the noble-
ness of your conduct, and I feel that it is no small
thing to come on board such a ship to see such a
man ; and I trust that, if again England become
the defender of Turkey, your Sovereign may choose
you, if your services can be spared, to again com-
mand the fleet, and I hope that you may long live
to adorn the profession of which you, are such a
bright ornament." The captains and commanders
of the fleet were then presented, as also the
officer of the guard of honour, Captain Adair,
R.M., of this ship. Before leaving the Sul-
tan walked along the maindeck, and, after
having been on board about three-quarters of
an hour, left the ship, the same honours being
paid to him, with the addition of the ships'
companies giving three such hearty cheers
as his Majesty probably never heard before. The
caique in which the Sultan came off was very hand-
some, painted white, the top inside and out being
richly carved and gilded. In the bows was the
figure of a white dove. This marks the Sultan's
caique.

We left the Bosphorus on the following evening.
The squadron weighed together and steamed a short
distance up the Bosphorus ; then turning came
down, passing the Palace quite close, all ships a*
they passed manning yards and rigging and dressing
with flags, the Curacoa and ourselves firing a Royal
salute. The Ambassador was on board during the
time, and on his leaving the ship off Seraglio Point
was saluted with 19 guns. In the morning, before
leaving, Lord Lyons had a farewell audience of the
Sultan, who received him without the slightest
ceremony and without any one being present ex•
cept the flag-lieutenant, a nephew of the Admiral,
and the Turkishinterpreter, Mr. Sarrell, one of the
dragomans to the British Embassy.
The squadron are at present anchored in Bashika
Bay, about nine miles out of the Dardanelles,
*here we remain for two or three days, and then
leave for Smyrna, thence to Malta.

THE TOLUNTARY PARTY AND THE
GENERAL ELECTION.

The executive of the " Society for the Liberation
of Religion from State Patronage and Control,"
have issued a document detailing the steps taken
by them during the recent general election, and
reckoning up the gains and losses of the party of
which they are the leaders. As the facts are of
considerable interest, we give the report in a con-
densed form .
"So soon as a general election became certain,
an address to the electors of the United Kingdom,
accompanied by a paper of information for electors
was published and circulated, to the extent of
75,000 copies. The votes of M. P.'s on ecclesiasti-
f•al questions during past sessions were distributed
through the constituencies, and it is known did
good service in stimulating the efforts of the elec-
tors. Short and pungent appeals were inserted as
advertisements in the leading journals during the
stir of the election, urging practical attention to
the leading topics of our policy.
" In several constituencies the struggle was
made to turn on steadfast and consistent 'adherence
to the principles of voluntaryism, rather than on
approval or condemnation of the policy of the Go-
vernment towards China. The total abolition of
Church rates was insisted on as essential to the
programme of a Liberal candidate and care was
taken that there should be on tin's question no
room for misunderstanding or compromise. Mr.
Miall's motion for impartial 'disenawreent in Ire-
land was a topic frequently of cross-examination.
Indifferent and faltering candidates were con-
strained by the resolution of those whose suffrages
they solicited, to consider subjects which they had
neglected, and to adopt and pronounce unmistake-
able opinions. Candidates who were hostile, and
who proved inaccessible to persuasion and argu-
ment, in many instances were dismissed, or de-
feated at the poll.
" We have won for those who.bave promised to

advocate our policy seats at Plymouth, Norwich,
Rochester, Sandwich, Bodmin, Frome, Falkirk,
Reigate, Bury,. Great Yarmouth, Cardigan, New-
port, the City of London, and others, in the towns
and boroughs of England and Wales ; in the
counties, Glamorganshire, South Durham, Bells,
Cambridgeshire, south Essex, West Surrey, West
Kent, and others— all of which were formerly
in the possession of our opponents. We have
lost, as boroughs, Bolton, Guildford, Leeds, Maid-
stone, Aberdeen, Cambridge, Rochdale, andothers;
and, as counties, Lancashire North and Hampshire
North.

" A careful analysis of the returns of 'the new
Parliament, from England, Wales, and Scotland,
not including Ireland, gives, of former members
who have been re-elected, about 50 who might be
relied on for their votes on all our religious liberty
questions. The new members amount to 168. Of
these, according to present knowledge, it may be
reasonably expected that, in their ecclesiastical poli-
tics, as compared with their predecessors, 30 will
be found to Le losses; 66 gains, and 72 exchanges of
members ecclesiastically similar ; making, as the
result of this election, the probable clear gain of 36
votes (exclusive of Ireland) to the religious liberty
party in Parliament.

"-Whilst a general survey thus plainly indicates
that our cause has made substantial progress since
the last election, there is a pat titular and personal
aspect which cannot be contemplated without deep
regret. For reasons which are believed to be sepa-
rate and distinct, many members of the late House
of Commons, who were conspicuous on our behalf,.
are not found on the list of the new Parliament. The
loss of such faithful friends will occasion inconveni-
ence fora time, at least in our parliamentary proceed-
ings, and is a serious diminution to the joy with which
we welcome an increased number of adherents. The
work which has been so well begun cannot be ar-.
rested in its progress. The additions and omissions
in the new Legislature alike furnish to those who
discern the signs of the times, the assurance of the
tkccelerated progress of genuine religious freedom."

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