The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-04 00:00:00

Naval and Military intelligence.

The Ral3igh, 50, sailing frigate, Commodore the
Hon. H. Keppell, C. 8., on her way from England
to the East India staton, was all well on the ith of
March, a letter from her of which date says, "We
have not yet reached a port in India, but hope to
do so to-morrow."

Her Majesty's new steam troopship Urgent,
Commander Phillips, arrived at Barbadoes, 27th of
March, after a good passage from Spithead. The
officers speak highly in their letters of the accom-
modation and attention they received. The heat at
the date of our advices was very great during the
day (thermometer 83). After landing the 49th regi-
ment at Barbadoes the Urgent left that island for
England (bound for Spithead) on the Bth of April;
she may therefore be hourly expected.
The Sphynx, 6, paddlewheel sloop, Captain A.
P. E. Wilmot, was paid off at Portsmouth on Sa-
turday. She landed the gun, the Sultan's present
to Queen Victoria, before mentioned, at the Gun-
wharf, Portsmouth, on Friday, where we be-
lieve it will remain for her Majesty's inspec-
tion in passing frore Gosport to Osborne on the
7th inst. The gun is of cast brass, and reported to
be about 200 years old ; it is 13 feet 5 inches in
length, and fires a shot of between 18 and 24
pounds. It bears the following inscription in
Turkish :—" A present from his Imperial Majesty
Sultan Abdul Medjid to her Britannic Majesty
Queen Victoria, 1857." The gun is of beautiful
mould, and is covered with designs and emblems of
great artistic execution, and with ornamental em-
bossing, chiefly of Oriental flowers. There are
other inscriptions upon the piece in the Arabic
language. The carriage is of walnut, with wheels
of oak, all elaborately carved. An Admiralty order
was sent down to Portsmouth on Thursday for the
gun to be landed at ►he Royal Clarence-yard, and
there mounted, to remain for the inspection of her
Majesty on the Royal visit to Osborne on the 7th ;
but it was found difficult to land the gun as or-
dered, owing to the want of the necessary ap-
pliances, and it was therefore landed at, the gun-
wharf.

Her Majesty's screw two-decker Majestic, 81,
Capt. J. Hope, which arrived at Spithead. on Fri-
day from the Mediterranean, with about 50 military
invalids, left for Sheerness (where she was commis-
sioned on Feb. 10, 1854) to be paid off.
The sailing corvette Amphitrite, 25, Capt. Tat-
ham, has bent sails in Portsmouth Harbour, and had
her compasses adjusted. She goes to Spithead this
day, and thence to her cruising station as a coast-
guard ship on the Sussex coast.
The Melville, 72, hospital-ship, fitting for China,
is blocked down at Portsmouth, in readiness for
painting, and will be out of hands in a week.
The screw store-ship industry, 2, Com. G. J.
Hodges, with stores from Chatham, arrived at
Plymouth on Friday.
The Boscawen, 70, Capt. Powell, was warped to
the jetty and docked at Devouport on Saturday.
In pursuance of the recent regulations issued at
Woolwich commanding all officers of the Royal Ar-
tillery garrison to make application for barrack-
quarters, it has been found necessary to add con-
siderably to the accommodations hitherto allotted
for that purpose. The line of buildings known as
Mill-lane, fronting the Artillery Barracks, pertain-
ing to the Engineering Department, is now being
demolished, and a spacious barrack residence is to
be erected on the site. The inconvenience suflered
by the want of accommodation for Divine service
within the garrison is likewise about to be reme-
died, as the ground will also afford an eligible spot
on which it is intended to raise an appropriate
church for the use of the troops.
The committee, headed by Major-General Sir
W. F. Williams, Commandant of Woolwich Gar-
rison, constituted to receive contributions in behalf
of the distressed labourers discharged from the
Dockyard, have commenced fitting up the Royal
Artillery riding-house for the purpose of giving a
vocal and instrumental concert in furtherance of
their desire to collect a fund to assist the unem-
ployed who are desirous of emigrating to Can'ada,
The services of Madame Anna Thillon, Miss Birch,
Miss Poole, Mr. Wyllie Cooper, Mr. Frank Bodda,
and other artistes have been engaged for the occa-
sion, which is fixed for Wednesday next.
The Admiralty yacht Banshee, lying at her moor-
ings off Woolwich dockyard, was on Saturday run
• foul of by a brig sailing down the river. The brig
suffered considerable damage, and the Banshee had
her jibboom carried away, and underwent various
injuries of minor importance.
The Winchester, 50 guns, sailing frigate, Capt.
T. Wilson, was inspected at the Little Nore on Sa-
turday, by Capt. Wise, of the Vesuvius. The crew
were put through various evolutions, after which
she was towed to Chatham to he paid off. The Win-
chester sailed from Hong Kong on the 13th Dec.
last, arrived at Singapore on the 23d, sailed from
Singapore on the 27th, arrived at Angier Point,
Java, on the 31st ; sailed from Angier Point Jan.
the Ist, and arrived at Simon's Bay February the
11th. She remained at anchor until the 26th
of Feb:, when she sailed for St. Helena, left the
Penelope, 16, paddlewheel steam frigate, there.
The Penelope had lost two officers—viz., Mr. Han-
ning, master's assistant, and Mr. C. F. Hockings,
clerk—and 26 of her crew, most of whom died from
dysentry and debility. The Winchester arrived at
St. Helena on March 8, sailed from St. Helena on
the 10th, arrived at Spithead on April 27, sailed
from Spithead on the 29th, and arrived at Sheer-
ness on May 1. The Russian frigate Aurora sailed
from Hong Kong three days before the Winchester,
met her again at Singapore, and also St. Helena.
She left all her guns, shot, ammunition, &c.,
at the Amour River settlement. The Russians
are fortifying Imperial Harbour with the view of
establishing a grand naval arsenal there, with
marine factories, &c. Imperial Harbour is about
130 miles south of Castries Bay. The harbour is
commonly called Pallas Harbour ; it is situated in
lat. 48.58 N., long. 140.17 E. The remains of the
Pallas' which the Russians destroyed and sunk to pre-
vent her being captured by the English squadron
on their cruising off that station, are still in the
nortth-west bight of the harbour, near which are
two heavy batteries which were erected by the
Russians during the late war. The Winchester has
brought home the crew of the Bittern, 12-gun
sloop, and the following officers, late of that vessel:
—Mr. C. G. Johnson, master ; Lieut. F. Robin-
son, Lieut. W. Walsh ' • Mr. C. G. Burney, pay-
master - ' and Mr. G. B. Newton, assistant-surgeon
—in all 59 of the old hands ho left England in
her. The Bittern is left as a tender to the Cal-
cutta, flagship, and is officered and manned from
that ship with a crew of 56 officers and men.
The Hesper, screw steam storeship of 120 horse-
power, Master-Commander J. S. Hill, laden with
stores, gun, shot, shell, ammunition, &c., arrived
at Sheerness from Woolwich ou Saturday. She
proceeds to Hong Kong, and carries a number of
supernumeraries out for the squadron of gunboats
destined for the China Seas.
The Creasy, 80 guns, screw steamship, of 400
horse-power, arrived at the Great Nore on Satur-
day, and anchored about two miles below the Nore
Light-vessel. She will be inspected at the Nore
this day by Captain Charles Wise, of the Vesuvius
—immediately after which she will go into harbour
to be dismantled, paid off, and placed in the 2d
division of the steam squadron of reserve at this
port.

- The commander of the coast-guard cutter Scout
and her crew, by part of whom the mariner Hock-
ings was saved from the Curlew when she was run
down by the steam-vessel Baron Osy, are ordered
to appear before the Privy Council on the Bth inst..
to give their evidence at an inquiry then to bem-
stituted as to the sinking of the Curlew by running
her down and drowning seven persons, the Curlew
being at the time riding in on the Mouse Sand, out
of the fairway and ioadstead of the entrances to
the Medway and Thames. Mr. Jackson suc-
ceeded yesterday's high-water in getting the lighter
by which the Curlew was weighed in upon the
beach, at Cockleshell-hard, on the Isle of Grain
side of the river Medway.
The Dee, 4 gnu paddle-wheel steam troop-ship,
Master-Commander Thomas C. Pullen, made her
number on demand from the flagship Waterloo at
Sheerness, yesterday, at 12.30 p.m. She is from
Devonport and Portsmouth with supernumeraries
for the Cumberland and Vesuvius.
On Saturday morning a detachment of six non-
commissioned officers belonging to the depots of
the Indian regiments at Chatham proceeded from
the provisional Battalion to the School of Mus-
ketry at Hythe, for the purpose of acquiring a per-
fect system of rifle instructions under Colonel C. C.
Hay, previously to embarking for India, where
they will act as instructors in musketry to their re-
spective corps.
Commander E. K. Barnard and Commander
Thomas Cochran were on Saturday promoted to
the rank of captains ; Lieut. J
Jam es R. Veitch,
Lieut. Henry Harvey, and Lieut. J. H. Howard
were at the same time promoted to the rank of
commanders.
The following appointments were made on Satur-
day at the Admiralty :
Lieut. E. F. Holmes, to the Leopard;gl. Fawkes
and E. G. Kirkby, mates to the Princess Charlotte;
the Hon. K. H. Legge, mate, to the Vesuvius ; H.
C. Wogan, mate, to the Cordelia; the Hon. G. Fitz-
clarence, mate, to the Leopard ; T. A. De Wahl, C.
F. Walker, and 0. B. Reid, mate, to the Boscawen;
J. S. Trotter, C. J. Geneste, G. Hesketh, and G.
F. Lyon, midshipmen, to the Princess Charlotte ;
H. Hilton, midshipman, to the Vesuvius; G. King,
midshipman, to the Centurion; E. H. R. Everard,
H A. Wilmot, and the Hon. M. R. Wingfield,
midshipman, to the Leopard; W. H. Maxweil, J.
W. Dennistoun, R. B. Lambert, C. S. W.
F. J. Pitt, J. R. T. Fullerton, and 11. Bayfield, •
midshipmen, to the Boscawen ; C. W. Allen, F. R. I

Boardman, G. C. E. Lockhart, R. Smirke, and H.
Bridger, naval cadets, to the Leopard ; H. T. Skef-
fington, A. Master, R. Galloway, and G. 0. Moore,
naval cadets. to the Princess Charlotte ; E. Day, R.
H. Haniond, C. E. Domville, the Hon. A. S. Daw-
son, and C. J. Doxat, naval cadets, to the Bosca-
wen.

RAIL WAY INTELLIGEIVCE.

NORTHERN OF FRANCE.

The general meeting of this company was held
on Thursday, at Paris, Baron James Rothschild in
the chair.

The meeting being declared duly constituted,
M. DELBECQUE, one of the directors, read the re•
port, which explained the circumstances connected
with the loss of the 'securities in shares and bonds
that had been stolen in September last. The of-
fending parties bad taken refuge in America,
whence, without any doubt, they would before long
be conveyed to France on an application of extra-
dition from the Emperor. The office for the deposit
of shares had been established in 1849 with every.,
possible precaution, not less than three keys being
affixed to the room, one being held by the person
intrusted with the care of the securities, and the
two others by two of the directors. The precautions
taken for the safe keeping of the deposits had never
been departed from. (" Oh, oh !" and loud mur-
murs.) Such was certainly the case, as would ap-
pear hereafter, when all the circumstances of the
case were made known, but in order not to inter-
fere with the course of justice it was thought advi-
sable not to say more at present. (Renewed mur-
murs.) The two principal delinquents had been for
many years in the service of the company, and had
always been remarkable for their assiduity and in-
telligence. (Laughter.) When the head cashier
died in 1846 these two young men were promoted
without any solicitation, simply on account of their
good conduct—one on May 28, 1846, and the other
on May 23. But on the Ist of September follow-
ing it was ascertained that both had disappeared.
An immediate examination was instituted, .and it
was found that all their accounts and money were
in perfect order. A few days after, however, a cer-
tain number of shares were missed, and after a mi-
nute investigation a loss was discovered of not less
5,752 shares and 1,000 bonds. It so happened,
however, that the greatest portion of the loss fell on
securities belonging to the house of MM. de Roths-
child. That firm had determined to support the loss
of these securities. The meeting would, without
doubt, appreciate fully, as the Board of Directors did
the high sentiment of dignity and equity which
had actuated MM. de Rothschild in so doing.
(Cheers.) The loss which that firm would have to
support was not less than 5,071 shares and 270
bonds, or Ave-sixths of the whole securities miss-
ing. (Renewed cheering.) As to the small por-
tion of the loss falling on the shareholders, the
Board recommended them to distribute the loss
over a certain number of years, so as to render it
less onerous •, to that end the Board would propose
to set aside 100,000 f. for the next year as a special
reserve to meet the case. (Hear, hear.) With re-
spect to continuing the deposit of shares at the
offices of the company the shareholders must decide
for themselves. The works which were in course
of execution were being urged on with activity.
As to the new lines, from Paris to Soissons, Bou-
logne to Calais, Rouen to St. Quentin, a line to
the collieries of the Pas de Calais, and Chantilly to
Senlis they were 432 kilometres (270 miles)
in length, and would involve an . expense of
110,000,000 f. (4,400,0001.), for which new shares,
say 125,000 in number, would be issued, the pre-
sent shareholders having the preference. As to
the traffic, the receipts could not be expected to
equal in 1856 those of 1854, which was an excep-
tional year on account of the Universal Exhibition.
The receipts for 1856 were 47,337,970 f. (1, 893, 5191.),
and the expenses 18,965,402 f. (758,6161.), leaving
a profit of 28,372,402 f. (1,134,903/.), which sum,
after providing for the sinking fund, the interest
on loans, reserve fund, old and new, &c., would
leave a total dividend on the year of 56f., of which
sum 16f. had been already distributed, the 40f. re-
maining one would be paid at the office of the
company on and after the Ist of July next.
The accounts were then approved, and the divi-
dend fixed as proposed.
On the question being wit from the chair for
setting aside a special sum of 100,000 f. for a special
reserve to meet a certain portion of the loss falling
on the shareholders from the robbery.
A SHAREIOLDER said that he had no doubt that
every person present would second his proposition
for a vote of thanks to M. de Rothschild for his
most liberal conduct in taking on himself so exceed-
ingly heavy a loss as that caused by the dishonesty
of two officials. He begged leave to propose such
a vote, leaving it to the whole meeting to second it.
(Cries of " All, all t" and loud cheers.)
• The vote was then put by the shareholders them-
selves and carried by acclamation.

Baron J. DE ROTHSCHILD, in returning thanks,
said that he had been greatly affected by the loss
alluded to, not on his own account, but on that of
the shareholders ; and rather than permit any one
interested to suffer inconvenience and feel uneasi-
ness he had preferred taking the loss on himself.
(Loud cheers.) At the sam;time, be must remind
the meeting that if the shareholders decided on leav-
ing their shares in deposit they would do 80 at their
own risk. The board of directors would be de-
lighted to be relieved of the responsibility of guard-
ing them. (Hear, hear.)
The meeting then voted the 100,000 f., and de-
cided almost unanimously on still leaving their
shares in the care of the company as before.
Full powers were then voted to the board to con-
clude arrangements for new concessions, and to
adopt such financial measures as might be deemed
necessary.
M. Delbecque, the Duke de Galliera, M. Adam,
and Baron Alphonse de Rothschild were re-elected
directors ; and M. Vernes was appointed in the
place of Mr. Moss, of Liverpool.
The proceedings then terminated.