The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-10 00:00:00

Woot.wrca, FEB. 9.—Several workmen have been selected from
the Woolwich Dockyard to proceed to the Island of Ascension, for
the i urpose of establishing a small steam factory, for the repairs
of the machinery of the stearn.vesaels of the Royal Navy employed
upon the African station. It is expected these men will leave
about the 18th instant, and proceed from Chatham in the Tortoise
cur., ship, Master-Commandet James Wood, going out to Ascen.
sion to be stationed there as a receiving ship.
Tire Prometheus steam-vessel. Lieut. Commander W. J. E. M.
Pasco, left Greenhithe on Monday for Portsmouth and Plymouth,
and will be paid wages in advance at the latter port.
The Ariel steam-vessel, Master-Commander L. :Sinithitt, arrived
at NVooNich from Dover on Wednestlay, and her crew will take
bark the Charon steam vessel to Dover to-morrow (Saturday).
The Adventure transport ship arrived at Woolwich from Sheer.
Des 4 on Wednesday, to load for Pembroke.

The Aid will sail early next week for Portsmouth and
Plymouth.

The Rattler stearn.vessel, with screw propeller, was tried down
the river to-day with a new screw formed of three distinct pieces
in the diameter instead of two, the number previously used. The
new screw is a beautiful piece of workmanship, and is thickly
sheathed with brass.

Royal Adalery.—By private letters from Graham's Town, Cape
cf Good Hope, the troops stationed there are represented to
be in excellent health. On the 28th of October last the Lieute- -
nant-Gosernor inspected Major England's demi-battery at Gra-
ham's Toun. The men appeared on the parade ground in field
battery order, with one light 6.pounder gun, a 12-pounder how.
hzer, and a rocket carriage with 12 pounder and 3.pounder rockets,
and went through their evolutions in a highly creditable manner,
and the Lieutcnant.Governor expressed himself pleased with the
soldier-like appearance of the men, and the admirable condition of
the bosses. His Honour passed a high eulogium on Major Eng.
land, the Commanding Officer, and alluded to Captain Buchannan,
the second in command, as an officer to whom the service was un.
der obligations for the zeal and ability with which he performed his
duties. The Governor also noticed the excellent manner In which
the non.commissioned officers and gunners and drivers performed
their exercises, which would have been deserving of praise had they
taken place at Woolwich.
The 91st Regiment—This gallant corps, stationed at Graham's.
town, Cape of Good Hope, under the command of Lieutenant.
Colonel Lindsay, was reviewed by the Lieutenant-Governor on the
30th of October, and went through their exercises to the entire
satisfaction of Colonel Hare, K.H., the Lieutenant-Governor of
the Eastern District. The gallant Colonel afterwards proceeded to
Fort England, and inspected the messes and barracks, with all of
which, and the excellent appearance of the men during the day, he
expressed himself highly satisfied. In the evening the Lieutenant.
Governor dined with the officers, and many pleasant toasts re.
minded them all of their native land.

PORTSMOUTH, FEB. 7.—The Dordrecht, Dutch store-ship, Cap.
tain the lion. de Haare Bomme, from Surinam, sailed on Monday
for the Texel.

The Russian sloop Irtish went out of port yesterday morning, and
brought up at Spithead, and, after saluting the Admiral and Go.
veinor, made sail for Kamschatka.

The Alban steamer arrived at this port on the sth inst. from
Cork, with the depi.t of the 45th Foot, which landed at Gosport.
By letters received from the Cape, dated December 5, it Is stated
that her Majesty's ship Winchester, 50, Captain Eden, flag of
Rear. Admiral the Hon. Jocelyn Percy, C. 8., was ordered to sail
from Sitnon's-bay on the lot of January, for the Coast and St.
Ilelesa. She had just returned from a cruise, when the above
fresh sailing orders reached her.
The Java transport arrived from the West Indies on the 4th
inst., with Colonel Macdonald, 18 officers, and 520 men, of the 92d
Highlanders, and sailed for Leith on the 6th to land them.
It is in contemplation by the Government to convert Fort
Dloneton Barracks, near Gosport, Into a military prison.
PLv➢MOUTU, Fee. 6.—The Penelope, 22, steam.frigate, Captain
W. Jones, after putting into harbour to have the damages which
she received during her late experimental cruise repaired, has re.
ceived orders to sail for a three months' cruise ot the coast of
Africa, and then return home.

DEATH OF MAJOR-GENERAL WALKER, C.B.—ln-
telligence of the demise of the above gallant and distinguished offi.
ea, ccmmanding, with local rank of Major-General, the 21st
Royal North British Fusiliers, at Madras, was received by the
Overland Mail. General Walker had been forty.flve years in the
service. He had served at Bhurtpore, and compaigns of Lord
Lake, and siege of Kaloonga, under Major. General Gillespie, who
was killed. He was appointed Colonel of the 21st Fusiliers.
THAMES AND MEDWAY CANAL COMPANY—Yes-
terday a special meeting of the Proprietors of this Company was
held at the George and Vulture Tavern, Combat, John Moron,
Esq., in the chair, ter the purpose of considering a proposal which
has been made for taking a lease of the canal, with a view to the
immediate construction of a railway from Gravesend to Rochester,
and for carrying the determination of such special meeting into
effect. A report was read, from which it appeared that the object
of the Thames and Medway Canal Company is to connect Graves.
end with Stroud, Rochester, Chatham, and Brompton, by laying
down a single line of rails on the Company's property, which they
are enabled to do under their powers of incorporation, and by
which the navigation of the canal will not be affected. Proposals
have been received from an eminent contractor, to guarantee the
completion of the railway stations, and works, and to provide the
carriages, engines, stock, and every requisite for conducting the
traffic, for the sum of 65,0001., the contractor taking the loan
notes for the whole of that amount, and to open the line at six
mouths, from the execution of the contract. The traffic has re.
cently been calculated with great care, and the gross estimated
amount expected on the railway is 24,0001., from which deduct
working expenses, 8,0001., there would be a nett income of
16,0001. ; from 'which take interest on 65,0001. additional
capital, 3,2501., so that an estimated sum of 12,7501. annual sur-
plus would be devisible amongst the present share and loan note
holders of the Canal Company. After a long discussion between
Mr. Hlchens, Mr. Vi Haan, Mr. Mocatta, Mr. A. Harkey, and other
gentlemen, as to the manner of apportioning the surplus amongst
the peseta holders of shares and bonds, the report was adopted, and
a resolution was also passed for raising the money for the proposed
railway, without opposition. Mr. Hayman moved a vote of thanks
to Mr. Ilichens for the manner in which he had pleaded the cause
of the Shareholders in the Committee as to their Fortion of the
surplus expected, and a vote of thanks was also passed to the chair.
man for maturing a project so likely to be beneficial to the old Pro.
prietors. The meeting then separated.

. -
PRESTON GUILD ROBBERY.—APPRICHENSION OF
ANOTUER OF THE PARTIES CONCERNED; Ever since this auda-
cious robbery was committed, a careful look-out has been kept for
the companion of Eliza Bailey, who has been fortunate enough to
escape fur the time the punishment which she has met with ; and
a young man, named Joel Hobson, answering the description of
the supposed offender, was arrested a few days ago at Bristol, and,
after being seen by Mr. Marquis, the gentleman who was robbed
at Preston, has been brought to Birkenhead, and underwent an
examination on Wednesday, before J. H. Harden, Esq. Hobson
was fully identified as the man who was in company with Eliza
Bailey, at Birkenhead, the day after the robbery, when the two
bank.notes were so unluckily dropped by one of them, and which
led to the conviction and transportation of the female. The case
was remanded to obtain further evidence from Preston and else.
where. We believe he was apprehended on this charge in conse.
quence of his answering a description which had been given of him
in the hue and Cry Gazette.—Liverpool Mercury.
FRENCH PLAYS, ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.—These
attractive performance' have been visited during the week by the
Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, the Earl and Countess of Chester-
field, the Earl and Countess of Errol, Lady Meux, Lady Mary
Stanley, the Countess of Tankerville, the Marquis of Normanby,
the Marquis of Douro, the Baron Dedel, Lord Fitzroy Somerset,
Sir Augustus and Lady Forster, the Countessof Charlemont, Lady
Hope Vere, Lady Curteis, the Baron and Baroness de Rothschild,
Count Kielmansegge, Viscount Maidstone, Lord Auckland,
Lady W. Paulet, the Earl of Clarendon, Sir George and Miss
Talbot, &c.

Negotiations for the purchase of the Chester and
Birkenhead Railway are in progress by the London and Birming.
ham Railway Company and other parties, with a view of making
it a branch of the great line which it is proposed to form from
London to the Irish Sea, and which, if these negotiations should
result favourably,
its chief terminus at Holyhead,
will have a terminus at Birkenhead, in addition to