The Express. — London, England, 1853-02-08 00:00:00

A NNt. ALMEETING OF THE I H M AMAR OF COMMIE y t .tertlay, et one o'clock, the annual general meet see of the meo.bers of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce piste in the Association floosie, liachange Build lie the absent* of the president and vice-president, Vanua Reuel's., Esq., was celled to the chair. The Cit•ianew, in opening the proceedings, referred so the u-Ovinels of the association, the increase of its in , sobers, the volume subjects embraced in the report, the drain Ice had and the hope he entertained of seeing the " Re es wiseciations of the town supporting by their in seam. the (Member of Comme rce , believing that such • pro cv,,,,eg sou k! render that institution the most useful in the weal, and c•mcluded by calling upon the secretary to seed the WLLewiatt RIPORT OF Till 001/NCIL: The Council of the Liverpool Cheinber of Commerce have the pleaeure of laying before the members an account cd their proceedings upon the principal subjects which have eccupied their attention during the year 1862, the third of the i eidetice of the chamber; and, in doing so, they would f awn weir regret that owing to late occurrences in poli uvi ; Juin, the progress of several subjects of high im portance has been unavoidably arrested. Their attention is weverthele still directed towaids such mitten, as well as others in the ...".justment of which more immediate action c‘ a be Lei. n. Of the subjects of general interest to the mercantile eurnmunity thus placed in abeyance, Custom. house Reform stands first. fi ince the Council made its half yearly report it has been impossible to take any further steps. but your thereon have much pleasure in repeating that there exists, on the part of the authorities, every dive'mon to meet the requirements of trade ; and many restric tions, now rendered unnecteesery through the altered condi wai of the tariff, have either been removed or modified. The Studio?, C..atnaittee continues its attention to the sub ject; and on the re-assembling of parliament, the council will tarn its influence for the realisation of such other of the reeonituendetions of the chamber as have not already been adopted. " MAIWIAL LAW REFORM AND TRIBUNALS OF Coßsiiitti as with much gratification that your coun cil can report that these important questions, so intimately anoroand with the original objects of the chamber, are steadily progreiaing. The special report issued by your council, labeled to at the last half yearly meetiog, has been eateasively circulated, ant was tergeently referred to as eintaiuine valuable information and suggestions at the conterence, held in London in November last, on law reform, under the auspices of the Society fur Promoting the Amendment of the Law, and at which your chamber was represented by a deputation, in common with most of the leadiug towns of the kingdom. Although the practical conclusions of this eooference were confined to bringing forcibly before her Majesty's government and the public the role arising out of the want of the consolidation and swinalation of the law, yet an opportunity was afforded to the Liverpool deputat ion for urging upon the representa tive' of the commercial communities of the provinces, what, to them, is a tar greater inconvenience and pecuniary loss, n amely, the absence of permanent local courts, with sommary powers and equitable jurisdiction over all cases of meecounde dispates. This clams of tribunals is essentially main, perhaps, only in the positions throughout which, at present, the admiaistratton of civil justice in all dia. rated amounts over MIL is suspended during flee-sixths of the year, while the costs are multiplied intiedmitely by the system of working all preliminary proceedings through Loodon. The late reforms of the courts of law do not touch the leading grievances under which the amiss and other towns labour; and your mined cannot declare too =plastically that, if these grievances are to be abolished, the commercial communities of the trovioces must help themselves ; fur it can be neither the interest met tho wish of the metropolitan circles, whether pronmeismill IN met- Smile, to kelp them. As a body, the provimal immuni ties entirely concur with the views of the Liverpool cham ber, sad par council will take into early enedderation the expedient, of inviting a general conforms of the eomatereial association, of the kingdom to be held in Liverpool. In the meantime, it will be imembent oa she new manell, at the remaimeblag of parliament, to embody, as far as they may emakior etit, the penonoil elniness embraced in Iho mart to by minims ft em pediment nein "Maier this sobjed. the teasel duds to need EMS poomeneatty Moir mom ot the many and attention which the lopmtatioa hem this chamber received from the Imasagios essimmittio of the lambs essisity for Pmeatiog the Animminsat et the Lew, nod the value they Mimi to the namrying esieksee of that emedelim to memo the slim of legal Mimi pressing es the iamestoof trade and imammeme when owes satiated of their exisisam. "Passion's ACT ANIXDVIST BlLL—l:fader this heed yoga , asnail can only repeat their exproaioas of regret end it• the balf.pearly aisesting, that so few of the amend =Ms paned by Wit special twounittee ware adopted by =l.24end Mat a mason or such important, should as passed in so objectionable a shape. ..CWILUTRIN WITH I.IIIIIILITY.—A motion was height before your 001111111i1 by ore of the division to the effect that tht chamber should memorialise governmein against granting to shipping companies charter.) with limited impossibility ; but, after giving the subject the fullest con sideration, it was /noised that the question of limited part nerships, being one of the greatest inspostaaes, should be eppeotetteet with the utmost caution. The matter, as re gards shipping wets, therefore, deferred until refo , the conneil as hltll its intention of taking up the entire subject. ENNIWAL OP 11111 EAST INDIA COMPANY'S CNAATIII. .—This smatter, though brought soder the notice of the chamber, has bees referred to the East India and China Assosiation, in deference to the intention expressed by the body of giving it their full consideration. Your council will be lad, bersattor, to co-operate with the Bast India A :for bay desirable object in connexion then witL .....rgicten Dort ow SOAP.—A 11111118rila bail bees kw warded to the Cheaeoller et the itieshereer, urging so the oteridezeties et boor liejiates sevessawat the nail evils eel*, wet of this ellesetlemehie kopek mg pintail for it ,belfries. Awl yews abeam have reeeteed, is reply, the emewese tbet the wiliest will ready, the best eoseklers ties et the gmemna. - - - " FAUX? Lw Aussinortliasp-This bill lr awl Ms am bosoms kw; Ils ommlowsis psspaisti= mail see isimend sa is 1r INS IMlliseely swum _ _ _ " Dwetre• CIMAINCT.--41 veibieselisea sepia ee the ;sweeties seibjest. by • quid.-tarmilles maimed =bee bees ealemeively eleseleted ; midi • emmeriel, ea its sessitilems. Were die buds d &pri mates et else greeesseae. TYt were bee seteeeled greet seeados eel pees else es stomeras eoemesieelleme to the eseei4 may esateksies valuable Wets sod leibresatios. Tees anima believe that Ilse vestry is mese seedy for ebe desimsble shop bete Winded dew is sueseelly use" " Tits 'abaft of a heel ebeneler ere " Dors ABRANOIXINTS AND inis Ititow 111111 M—It will to remembeeed that complaints hate latoli beTwori ferr to the {solid ar est rancomiests at the &sok reap tlie d upset Mode. Nunes' from yews unwell Warmed We meeshoes of this that a metes of wag polkas had boos hreardol sW be Obi yose Se he dela asseadues on Ws solieeL amen Ohm wqmossa laths• boa been mnie. sod per ilk sod ihal Is por ter. Oaths deok osershloo Mr shyest ear sordial sessoores ; bet, to under hi halides litre pert itesimes serge with the assideode of hi ozpoot tinily sad to err the setive rivalry of ober ports, rosy Improvereets ate still urgently oohed hr. Tito for menage mode by dr Lair owl Idarg i V i alleos ilik Elway Garay ars rill perisesd la, awl a oesidoesbio penis' of the export trade geld& would Sow throgli his post is thereby diverted to Loader TM spiral ..amuse to whom thew Behjetts kar bees rehired eastran to give them its hest coosideratica. "POSTAL Aaautonnairre . —Your council have plume ia reportme that arrangements him at lost been made for the despatch of an additional mail for Glasgow and Edits berth, truing here at 9 p.m., an advantage the want of which was mach felt. And they hope eh way also to an. lona a change in the despatch of the Landau aserniag mail. now sot du here wild a Reuter past 8 p.m., by for warding it by the morning empress train, leaving London at bait-put 9, and aniline here at halll-past 3, as the ogees easy arrangements have lately been suds. It has been in timated to your evened that a change is contemplated is the port of tunesl sad departing of some a the Asterisms mail steamer*, bat, as nothing is positively knows ma yet, all that your directors at present can do is to watch events, end so be prepared to oppose such change. "Tie RIMOVAL OP TBa BWILLT ROCKIL—A memo rial in favour of this wit forwarded to government, and the stoma is happy to Gad that it has been decided to carry oat this desirable object. "Hart ae aa T oe Diaaceona.—During the Fast per your conned have lost the services of Mr. Ryder, by resig nation, and the vacancy thus occasioned has burn tiled up, is accordance with the laws, by the election et Mr. Junes smith. The chamber is also deprived of the services at the Council Board of the following directors, who retire by Mates, and are ieeligible for re-election for one year; namely, Mr. H. Husby, Mr. T. B. Houle% M.P., Clarks Holland, Mr. Edward Heath, Mr. John Aikin, sad Mr. Robert Rankin. It will, therefore, be for the Members of the Chamber to elect successors. In conformity with the law, a statement of the attendance of the directors of the meeti ngs of the council is laid upon the table. " In closing their report, it is with pleasure that your maned have again to refer to the very valuable IlerviClMl rendered to the chamber by the members for the borough sad the southern division of the county, and by Mr. Hots- WI. )IP. for Derby, and they, therefore, tender to those geetkmen a most cordial vote of thanks." After the report had been read, the TkIASVIIEII nude kis annual statement, from which it anposred that the as sociatioa had increased 84 in number during as the pt ear ; that several of the leading Arras of the town, who y had hitherto held aloof, had now become members; that the total strength of the emaciation amou nts 497 ; and that the bin ince eikah on band at presen to 871. 19s. Id., spout 291. Is. Bd. at the last anneal meeting. Os the mot i on of Mr. Baown, M.P., seconded by Mr. Bawb , s, the report and statement were unanimously . . A long discussion then followed as to the propriety of altering the law which readers retiring directors ineligible for re-election. Po that the chamber might not lose the ser vices of th•ne directors who now retire. Ultimately, to avoid repealing a fiihdamental law for a temporary pur- Pow. a resolution was adopted whereby the retiring (heel- Stis could be associated with any committee on any partl- RIR suhttet, with full power to act and rot* on that tollaiittee. Addams& upon several of the subjecta mentioned In the Mort were given by the directors in charge of the parti es:at matters, after which the members retired to the be lotimg room to record their votes for the new dire Mon, mod the sands* them broke up. The somm of the new directors will not be deelared until to-day ; and the new thairma n . i n room o f M r . H am b y, will be elected by the commit of the chamber. NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY. The fourteenth half-yearly general meeting of the, shareholders in this unplug was held at the Leeds Court house, at noon. yesterday (Monday)—llnhitt ALcuca, Esq., the deputy-chairman of the board col directoss pre siding. Thue was a considerable attendance uf :hue holders. Mr. Was Low, the secretary, having read the notice con• vexing the meeting, the seal of the company was affiud to the register of shareholders. Thu Secretary next read the directors' report as follows : " The accounts for the half-year coding 31st December, .1852, an abstract of which is appended to this report, have 1111411 carefully made tin and audit.d. The cceipts from traffic married over the railway auaount to 72,738/. 75., and the rents and interest to 1,2941. he. 10d., making together a pees income of 24,0521. 15e. 10d., against 16,6401. 5..6d., foe Use corresponding period of the previous year. After payment of 11,3791. 3s. ed. to the Midland Company for working and m.untaioiug the line; 1,3011. 13s. 3d. fur reuse of stations and expenses of management. and 2411.115. 7d. the mown of sundry debts incurred previous to the 30th June Ms; a balance of 11,1301. Ps. ed. remains to be carried to tbe °wilt of the general revenue account. The balance at the debit of that account on the lit of July (i,0851. 3s. &I.), and the payment of the half year's interest on preference share capital, debenture debt, amount owing for land, i l balances due to contractors, and others, banker's balance, and the expenses attendant on the procuration or bons, amounts to 11,2911. Bs. 6.1., leaving a balance or 1811. Is. to be carried to the debit of the revenue account Ole the current half year. Your directors have received Man • gentlemen who holds a large number of original AMMO in the undertaking, a protest against the payment of Ma MOM of 3,0851. 31. &l. out of the revenue of the half por k sad be will probably make some proposal to the meeting with reference to thee item, but your directors are ef *puma that the accounts as stated are on the only cur• Mt end fair principle, in which the auditors fully concur, sad they trust that the general body of shareholder. will approve the same. The payment' on ea .ital account for the half year amount to 21,9721. 16e. 3d., the total expenditure to 31st of December, 1852, being 1.094,9441.6.. The arrears "death; have been reduced by the suns of 7,1711. 14s. 11d., and active measures are being taken to compel payment by defaulters who, having had ample time allowed and being maw able to pay, have neglected to do ea. The whole of the company's acceptances have been paid off, the contrac tor's balances have been liquidated, and se many of the outatanding lead purchases as possible completed. The de- Immure debt lass been placed on better terms as to the rates of Material, and on the 31st of December the amounts were as follows: 114,3501. at 5 per cent. • 3,0401. at 41 per cent. ; te,9501. at 4 per cerst.; 2,2471. 3a: 10d. at 3t per cent.; 0001. at 31 per cent. ;—Total, 182,0871. 3s. 10d. Your directors find no difficulty in renewing any loans that fall dim, at the reduced rate of per ceat., and they ate mew refugiaq offers of loans at 4 per cent., under Me conviction that the nature of the security which Mere company can give, will always secure a sufficient sum of snowy at the lowest rata of interest paid by any railway oseapsay. The traffic continues steadily to increase, clim e:lay that which comae ea to the line at Morecambe, In the 'maintenance and extension of which the Midland company have been able to 'iv; your directors material as sistance. The demand for additional harbour accommoda tion and increased facilities for new and extended traffic at Morecambe, has gradually pressed itself upon the attention of your directors, and small additional works have been constrasted flom time to time, to meet these requirements, but they feel that it the interests of the aompasy are coo. salted,• further eonsiderable outlay will be necessary. It is a matter f.r congratulation that whereas, during the gale tia the 27th December last, damages to a very mina extent were sustained at neighbouring ports in blereesiske Bay, sad at every other port on the west coast of England, vessels were driven from their moorings with loss of life and property, the wo r k s of ACTot More cambe escaped comparatively harmless, and that every vessel wider shelter of the breakwater stood out the whole of the gale, without sustaining the aligh.est damage. An arranguaent has been made with the Midland Conspeay for the workbag of the company'. steamboats betweea Morecambe and Piel, under which interest at 4 par ait. per me mis secured on the capital expended in the boats. Thiserposition offered by parties interested in the Fket. mid eleampokote hos hitherto curtailed the advantages MUMMA Mt Mistimmgany trona the steampaskets plying be en= Maramabi and Belfast, but your directors in eon -11111111811 with the Midland board have need, and will con dom M nee, way legitimist* means for securing to More- Moho • fair parties of the large traffic to sad from the sea of Ireland, mil it is to be hoped that ere long some Mitaamaguatiat may be made, and the advantages gto the railway trim the Belfast traffic materially in- Greased. trader the provisions of the new act of parliameat the while of your director. go out of office at this meeting, boa ars eligible for n-election. Mr. hares, one of your seams likewise retires, and he is also eligible for re alastice." Tbeeaelatex said it wet not notary for him to take up stash of the time of the abareirshisre, as the re port salmi very lA, kinked/ the MUNI on which the dinettes bad say sestaden se gift. He thought there we. only one pint es wlish any nuestiou could arise, end that wee fanfmsaee to the payment of the balance of 3,')861.3e. id. out of the renew of the ball-year. The dim ton did net expect say objection to this, bat one gentleman (Mr. Harkill), who was • Liz o ire ptister, had seat in a madam against the payment. *at it ought to stand to the debit of espied acermat. sum referred to was paid to the bidden of pretenses einews, the revenue for the peedowi lislf-year being deadest to that amount. If they bed net paid this sum, it wenn have had to come oat elf the mem amemat at areedser half-year ; and it bad theme's* bees paid end brought into the scootau is the wily mil& the amain= bad approved as correct. The sharebeidses woad me Item tis s e se r e stbat during the 41.1=then had bees • ideroose of trot beged weld mathise. that neat Wi rt/it they might be able se most the shwebeidsse with a small dividend ea the original shares. (Hear, Isms) Re theeibt they bed a moral sertelaty of be abbe to do Ws. Their thanes of makiog • dividend bad Mermaid Cr.. Ming able to borrow mosey at a losses rase of inte rest. m leans maid now be obtained at 31 per cont. In ansindes, he moved the adoption of the report. Mr. Mann (a director) emended the moths. Mr. ham: amanita, said he bad sat la • pretest against abarging the below. of 3,0861. se the ',runt half-year's revenue, act become be ebj.eted to the payment of the profteestiel dividends, bet blame he mesidared it illegal to Mitten mosey est of fee the of paying penAreatial dividends; bat , baying so pur borrowed it, be =tt it should renew abargeabis to capital astwant he revenue eetountowdd Masbate it. ecliiiiiiiFT6llll;:lresiracwTraTatakin all 'lq m%, that Chia nears bad bon borrowed bud capital usawat. Mr. lionall.z. thought that made little digitises', whe ther it was borrowed from capital or elsewhere. The gaieties wee whether it meld be legally borrowed for the pmepose of paying mi./ease Coattails. la oonelusion he maw/ a resohitioa to the u.cs that the payment of prefer ease divides& last half-year by the directors when they had set =Seisms mosey is bead woe illegal, and that the re far the preseat half-year could not be applied to re in Maee them for limey borrowed for emit a purpose. Mr. Lurrom (a director) said the iaterest ea the pre ference shares had never beat paid out of capital, bat always out animas*. Mr. Facer, one of the andiron, mid he should n have allowed preferential dividends to be paid out of capital; it hid always been paid oat of renegue, sad the anginal sharelsoldets lost nothing by the transeeties. Mr. °SOUS seconded Mr. Barkill's motion. Yr. Btta [ tW dieelaimsd and ;troit7 sayia g any thing which could by possibility nu& of repudiation, but thought that what had bees date was not quite legal or regular. A good deal of discussion ensued upon the point, after which Mr. Harkin withdrew bis motion. The CHAIRMAN, in answer to questions pat to him, said the company owed about 16,00 W. for Med, but they bad money at their bankers amounting to 23,0001. The solicitor's bill had been settled, and he would be entitled to &boat 3,0001. The Quitman then put the inetion for the adoption of the report, sad It wee carried saanintonsly. The neat business was the election of directors. Mr. Padsey Dawson and Mr. Robinson, two of the retiring directors, did not offer themselves for re-election. Mr. Gill proposed that the other five retiring directors, namely, Mears. Muck, Lupton, Hind, Kitson ' and Hare, be re-elected, and that Mr. hue Burkill, of Leeds, and Mr. Thomas Horsfall, of Hurley Hall, be elected to all the places of Messrs. Dawson and ltrbinson ; the sum of Oa ! to be placed at the disposal of the board, as remuneration for their service, dozing the year. The CHAIRMAN said there was no personal objection to any of the gentlemen proposed, but the directors doubted the propriety of selecting . those who were members of other railway boards, particularly of the Great Northern. Mr. &whiff, of whom he knew nothing, he understood was a director on the Great Northern board, and as that com pany were not en the beet terms with the Midland Com pany, he was afraid his appointment might interfere with the free action of the North Western hoard in any 'assails ti sus they had to enter into with the Midland Company. Mr. Burial' was one of their largest proprietors, and, aa he had said, he and his colleagues had not the slighest personal 1 objection to act with him, and after statiag what he had, ha would leave the matter in the hands of the meeting. Mr. Smear', solicitor, said he understood that the Mid land were carrying out their agreement with this company in a manner which wee satisfactory to the directors, but as the Midland Company were about to enter into an amalga mation with the London and North-Western Company, it was important to have a gentleman like Mr. Harkin on the directory of this company. It was necessary to have some one who would look with a little jealousy at the movements of the London and North Western Company, or their amalgamation with the Midland Company might be the destruction of this (the Little North Western) Company. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Humana. said he had no wish to be one of the direc tors, having a sufficiency of other engagements to attend to ; but if elected, he should endeavour to promote the in terests of this company, in which he had a larger stake than in the Great Northern ur any other company, and to carry out the agreement made with the Midland Company. He was opposed to the agreement when made, but as it was made he should endeavour to carry it out. As to the Great Morthetn, his disposition was not to be again elected a director, bat as to that he did not bind himself. After sores farther eoa•ersatioa to the sass effect. the list as proposed by Mr. G:U (including Mr. Barka!) was adopted unanimously. Mr. locum, the retiring auditor, was then re-appoiated: and alter some general oonversatiern as to the position and prospects of the company, particularly as regard, the traffic at Morecambe Bay, which was said to be promising, a vote of thanks was awarded to the retiring directors and to the chairman. The meeting then broke up. LY AND CHESTER RAILWAY. A special general meeting of this company was held at Shrewsbury on Monde) , lest. Resolutions were' passed on behalf of the directors, and also of the body of shareholders who at rece n t mee ti ng . h ave b een opposed to 1 the directors, which have a direct tendency to put an end, to the differences which have recently sprung up in this company. In the last session of parliament bills were brought before the house for carrying into effect an agree ment, dated 18.51, for amalgamating the two Shrewsbury Companies with the Great Western Company. The bills paced Hours the Bou of Commons, but were thrown out in the House of Peers, on a non-compliance with the Wharncliffe Standing Order. Similar bills were lodged this session' on behalf of the Great Western Company and the two Shrewsbury Companies, and were liable, of course, to' a similar failure, unless the opposite parties in the Shrews bury Company come to tome understanding. Having oh hafted the consent of the Great Western Company, the directors of the Shrewsbury and Chester Company called a general meeting of their shareholders for Monday lint, the 31st ult., for the purpose of having authority, " without prejudice to existing agreements," to make such ',rang.- 'tient' as appeared calculated to obtain a satisfactory and final settlement in the present session of parliament. This desirable project was simplified, in consequence of the London and North Western Company having like wise brought bills before parliament for giving effect to their proposals for the acquisition of the line. the directors proposed that both classes of the shareholders should agree to acquiesce, and adopt the bill pasted by' , the Committee of the Commons, whether their decision ' should turn out to he in favour of the Great Western Bill, or the Linton and North Western Bill—leav ing open, of course, to both these great c 'meanies a fair field of conflict, both before the Commons and the Lords. The object of the several resolutions passed on Monday, on the part of the directors and shareholders, are intended to produce that effect. They are devised to bind the shareholders who have hitherto supported the London and North-Western Company, to adopt the Great Western bill, if the bill of the latter company shall pass ; and impose on the former supporters of the Great Western Company a similar obligation of acquiescence, in ease the London and North• Western bill shall peas the ordeal of the Commons. The Hone* of Commons is, in point of fact, constituted by the arrangement the sole arbitrator, as they ought to be. in a question of so mush importance to the public as well as to the two railway companiee—and we cannot forbear expressing our cordial approbation of the good sense which has ehmacterised the share holders, in coming to such an arrangement as has been submitted to them by their directors. We shall rejoice to find, that this is a first step towards an amicable and final settlement between the two great companies themselves. There was no poll demanded, the directors having declined to vote on the resolatiose of the shareholders, as some parts of them seemed to trespass somewhat too cOoely on the terms of "existing agreements," which, until a decision be pronounced by the Commas., may in no way, directly or indirectly, be interfered with. The state of the votes on the proxies lodged showed, if a scrutiny had taken place, a total favourable to the directors of 8,108, and against them of 7,718, giving a majority for the directors of 1,388. The re solutions proposed by the directors were, however, carried unanimously, we may pay, the exception being merely three or four pugnacious hands, who ventured:on no explanation of their obstinacy. The capital represented at the meeting exceeded one-half of the whole capital of the company.— Chester Chronicle. TIE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 8,185 a. length, sad originally latended to form put of a communal cation with Southport —may be said to be entirely urea duties, as it is not used either for pamenger Or marcher dim traffic; but in the event of be company establishing the proposed communication between Bt. Helens and South port this branch will form part of it, and the directors are sweated will became a profitable portion of your under ing tak. "In then circumstances the direetors are confident that In advising the shareholders to apply to parliament fur authority to construct the proposed new works they are pro moting Umbel interests of the undertaking. " The directors have taken the opportunity of an appli cation to parliament, to ask for power to c,.nvert the mort gage debt into a stock, bearing a fixed rate of interest in perpetuity, and forming the first charge upon the com pany's net ee . It is not anticipated that this power will at once become practically beneficial, but the time may arrive when an easy state of the money market, combined with an increased confidence in the stability and value of the undertaking, will enable the directors to diminish the fixed charges of the company, by the exercise of the powers now intended to be sought " Since the lot meeting, the conversion of your paid up share capital into stock has been effected. " Three directors retire from Ake by rotation, and are eligible for reelection--vis., James Riley, of Halifax, mer chant, deputy chairman: James Pilkington, M.P., of Black burn, Esq.; and Richard Fort, of Read Hall, Whalley, "The recommendation of the committee appointed for selecting auditors, will be submitted to the meeting. " By order of the board, " TMOILILI DUODALB, Chairman. " Bury, Feb. 4, 1863." Revenue fur the half-year ending December 31st, 1852: Dr. To Sled charges, viz.: a. 1. Interest en loar.s, 954,026, at 41. Si. 2d. per cent. per annum 20,724 6 11 Dividend on preference stock and shares : Six per cent preference capital sto It, 264,394, at 61. per cent. per annum 7,931 1G 3 Pr. ft *ince fifth shares, 208,783, at 61. per cent. per annum Calls in advance on ditto, 25,11 d, at 51. per cent per annum Interest— On the average amount advanced by bankers on tha capital account, say 67,428, at 21. 10s. per cent. per ann. 842 16 5 On deferred payments, say 36,639, at 41. per cent. per annum 732 15 8 Rents—Payments 713 14 71 Leta receipts 6lB 16 8 94 18 111 Balance of the Leads and Liverpool canal lease account 40,321 11 at To propoced dividend on ordinary stock, 2,221,300, at W. per cent. par annum Total amount chargeable upon revenue, 3,777,8771. Balance tarried to the reserved fund 870 811 £74,61110 23 Cr. E s. d. By amount of profit, u shown above .... 73,770 16 0: By interest allowed by bankers upon the net revenue ba lances B9l 4 4 By interest on arrears of calls and debts due to the company 22 15 8 913 19 10 Lereommistiospaid to bankas 178 6 8 740 14 2 £74,611 10 22 AUSTRIAN AND FRENCH OCCUPATION OF TEE ADMAN STATES. Last night a public meeting was held in the New Vestry Hall, King's-road, St. Pancras, for the purpose of taking into coasidtratinn the motion of which Mr. Dun combs has given notice in the House of Commons, " pray ing her Majesty to use her good offices in order to put an end to the present oecuoaticn of the Roman States by the troops of Austria and Fiance." Professor Hueneme took the chair, and was suppoiled by Lord Dudley Coutts Stuart, Mr. David Masson, etc. Mr. Cntenome ANeTEY rose to move the first resolution, to the effect," That this meeting contemplates with feelings of horror and indignation the bigoted and cruel oppres sion of Christian men in the dominiens of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, for their profession of religious belief ; bu: that this meeting hereby records its conviction that religious liberty is impossible without the existence of civil freedom, of which it is a certain consequence, and, believing thus, the meeting is farther of opinion, looking to the re la lions of civil and ecclesiastical government in the Italian states at the present time, that the com plete political freedom and independence of Italy would be the beat guarantee of religious liberty in Tuscany, and an incalculable gain to the cause of religion liberty for the world." This resolution so entirely coincided with his sentiments, that he did not see that it was necessary for him to say much upon the subject. Ile could not help de claring his surprise at the sentiments he heard expressed at a meeting at which he wes present the ether day. lie was there merely as a spectator, for tee wording of the bill con vening the meeting prohibited him from offeriug any re marks. It was there argued that civil liberty was of no esweequence provided religious liberty was secured. Now les contended that religious liberty was only to be obtained by securing to Vie people that which :he protestant meet ing denounced as unimportant—civil liberty ; without this no real liberty could be obtained, not eve n b_y all the pro selytising societies in the world. tHear .) For his part, he saw no difference where persecution Came from—Roman catholic or protestant; for his part, he would not owe alle giance to any church which considered it heterodox to con demn the late persecutiou in Tuscan). He should like to see realised the oft.eznressed wish of O'Connell, that the secu lar power of the papacy should be for ever swept away. (Hear, hear.) He freely expressed hie sentiments, and he was prepared to take the consequences. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Ansley concluded by reading the resolution. A. Teixeira, Esq., seconded the resolution, and con demned the doctrine of nos-intervention. It was monstrous for any country to look quietly on and allow France to go into a sister republic at the point cf the heyonet, as was the case three years ago, when the French took possession of Rome. (Hear, hear.) Not only was Austria allowed to occupy a similar position by this doctrine of nun-interven tion, but there was no doubt that had this country but raised its arm in the cause of Hungary, without shedding one drop of blood that country would now be free, and Eugland looked up to as its saviour. (How, hear.) Non intervention was never heard of until weaker mittens sought to right themselves. (Hear, hen.) The resolution was carried news. die. Lord DUDLEY STCART rose to address the meeting, and WI received with loud cheers. He felt much pleasure at seeing so large a meeting, and at seeing the noble Vestry Hall granted for so noble a purpose. (Cheers.) He then referred to the terms of the resolution proposed by Mr. Annoy, and thought it must be heartily concurred in by every friend of civil and religious liberty, for who: could be a more melancholy spectacle then to see a country held in subjection and forced to submit to a course which it ob jected to, by the bayonets of a foreign power—(hear, hear) —and when it was borne in mind, that that country was the same which for many years was considered the centre of civilisation and which gave laws to the world, that this was once Imperial Rome, he was sure that all possessing a knowledge of the history of the world would be filled with indignation. (Cheers.) It had been truly said by the mover of the resolution, that civil liberty and religious free dom were insoperable. Those who met at Exeter Hall and elsewhere to declaim and clamour against the religion of Rome were pursuing an erroneous course ; they forgot that unless power and liberty were given to the people, they could have no security for freedom of conscience. (Cheers.) He was for freedom of conscience for all; not for protestants, catholics, Jews, or Greeks, but for universal freedom, under which every oLe might follow out his religious opinions, whatever they may be. (Hear, hear.) Wherever there had been despotism, there had been round religious as well a. civil slavery. (Cheers.) They would find that there had been monarchs more tyrannical even than the Pope himself, and who have invited the Pope to persecute even more than he himself was inclined. The pages of history also informed us that pontiffs had used their influence in Spain and elsewhere to mitigate the severity with which despotic monarchs pursued heretics. (Hear.) They would find the greatest oppres sors had sprung from the house of Hapsburg; find Charles the Fifth in Germany, Phillip the Second in Spain, Fer dinand 11. in Bohemia, and Leopold I. in Hungary, pur suing those whom they considered heretics with unrelent ing persecution. (Hear.) They would find at the present day, also, that Austria was still carrying on the spirit of persecution. It was since the Grand Duke of Tuscany has had the assistance of his Austrian Main, the Emperor, that he hail carried on his abominable practices. (Hear.) It was most desirable to every lover of freedom that Italy should be freed from French rule, but .it would he lamentable to relieve the Italians from the French to put them under Austrian rule. (Hear, hear.) His lordship had much hopes in the present government; it was gratifying to find that a men who had so ably exposed the prison system in Naples held a prominent part in the government, and that the nobleman to whom Mr. Gladstone addressed his writings was at the head of the government. It was equally gratifying also that that old and tried statesman, Lord Palmerston, held a part in the present government, and although be did not fill his old post, there was no doubt he would exercise some influence in the foreign policy of the country. (Hear, hear.) His lordship concluded amidst loud applause. Mr. MASSON then moved the following resolution, and urged the immediate separation of the temporal-spiritual supremacy of the Pope : " That Thomas S. Duncombe, M.P., having given notice of his intentita to move an ad dress from the House of Commons to her Majesty, to use her good offices in order to put an end to the present oc cupation of the Roman States by the troops of Austria and France, the present meeting declare their approval of this motion, and do hereby adopt the following petition, to be signed by the chairmen of this meeting, and presented as the petition of the meeting:" " To the honourable the Commons of the United King dom of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament assembled, the humble petition of the undersigned, showeth, " That the mode in which the Roman republic was estab lished in February, 1849, and the entire course of its pro . endings during the trying period of its active existence as described iu the deopatelles from the British Consul at Rome to her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreiga Affairs, and since printed, presents a remarkable picture of combined wisdom, courage, and virtue, which ought to have secured the sympathy of every free nation, and more especially of protestant and constitutional England. "That instead of expressing any such sympathy, Lard ' Normanby was instructed to state that her Majesty's go vernment approved of the national crane committed by the French government, in their armed intervention in sup ' port of the pope. " That the plea under which that sympathy was expressed was that the pope should be restored under an improved format government. " That the foreign occupation of Rome has now lasted ' nearly four years, and has restored and maintains in its ' very worst form the old priestly despotism. "That - the Pope in 1848 refused to share in the war of ' Italian independeace because Croats were Christians, and ' be could not shed Christian blood,' but that since his resto ' ration he has been imprisoning, torturing, and exiling his own subjects by thousands and shooting them by hundreds. " That in October lest alone, this shooting Pope made • room for fresh victims in his overcrowded dungeons by haring sixty of his subjects publicly shot, being at the rate • of two per day for the whole month. "That the national character of England is implicated in these horrible proceedings, by the expressed consent of her Majesty's government to the restoration of the Pope. "Your petitioners therefore humbly_pray your honourable house to present au address to her majesty, praying that ' her Majesty will use her good offices to put an end to the occupation of the Roman States by France and Austria. And your petitioners will ever prey, &c." Mr. Pirrete, a working man, seconded tho motion, I which was adopted by acclamation, and the assembly hay ; tug been addressed by Mr. Bronteree O'Brien and other I gentlemen, a vote of thanks was given to the chairman, I and this enthusiastic meeting broke up. ZETRAORDINARY LOBS OF PROPERTY.-A gen tleman in this city haying left his counting-house on Wednesday evening at too late an hour to lodge hie daily receipts in the bank took home with him 971. in notes and 19 sovereigns made up in a cartridge. Those be deposited in au interior drawer in a secretary in his bedroom. The following morning, on opening the drawer, be was amazed at perceiving a quantity cf greasy, black ashes, on removing which he perceived the roll of sovereigns, the paper around which was perfect, and some letters not even soiled. The notes were gone. The appearance of the drawer catmint doubt, in his mind that the ashes were those of the notes, particularly as he could not conceive how fire could have communicated with them. He removed the drawer and its contents; these he submitted to the manager of one of our banks, who immediately declared that the ashes were not those of notes, as he had seen many thousand notes burned, the ashes of which were white and dry. The manager without hesitation con. luded that the notes must have been stolen, and that the ashes of burnt brown paper were placed in the drawer to de ceive. This made the gentleman extremely uneasy, as he could not suspect any of his domesties of being a thief. Consulting with a friend on the subject, be recommeuilvd him to have the ashes examined through a magnifying glass. lle accordingly placed them in the hands of Mr. Hawkesworth, on the Wand Parade, who discovered ow the particles the scrolling and figures of bank notes. It is sup posed that when placing the notes in the drawer a spark tram the candle which the gentleman held, fell among them, and they smouldered away. The letters sad th_ papers on the geld, brio; glared and smooth, did not catO, the fire. Another curious incident is, that the gentleman had passed the hour for m eking the daily lodgment in the bank, from being engaged in preparing a hill of parteulare of the loss he sustained by a fire which took place in iii, establishment that day month, and which it was necessary to forward by the next mail to the Insurance Comeany, whose policy he held. His claim in that case was but uol. Cork Conatitution. EAST LANCASHIRE RAILWAY. The report of the directors, which 11 to be pre sented at the half-yearly general meeting on February 16, says:— " The met profit of the half.year enables the directors to recommend a dividend at the rate of 3 per cent. per an num on the ordinary stock of the company, and to tarry to the reserved fund the sum of 8701 Bs. 4i1., after paling all fined charges ' and debiting the earnings with the interest on capital, both productive and unproductive. The following statement shows the general result of the half year's working of the railway, as contrasted with the cor responding period of 1851: _ Gran Restipft WorkingEspeages. Natftwit. 1862..131,014 11 6 67,243 16 61 73,770 18 Of 1861..118,246 15 101 62,878 18 63 65,368 17 of lumen - 1 - a - 1 - 862.. 12,788 16 71 4,388 17 0 8,401 18 74 " The ertensiaa of the Bacup Branch, is length about miles, has been opened for passenger traffic since the lat or October, and for goods traffic since the Ist instant. This is the may addition to the company's mileage during the half-year. The in ream of net profit, shown above, may therefore be fairly taken as the memoir of the gradual im- I prevailing in the reeourees of the railway. The edema. tars of the Barth satensiee, the directors believe, will bismuth apparent in the course of the current half-year. " Although the directors have every confidence in the stability of the undertaking, and the future increase of the receipts of the railway, they consider it their duty to re mind the proprietors that the last six mouths of the year are, sad will °entices to be, the most productive to the company' and, therefore, the Christmas dividend mast sot be taken as a certain indication of the amount which the eempaey may be able to pay at Midsummer. " The directors have satisfaction in stating, that in con =Me lassieess of the company eines you were last *r etry have been able to work amicably with neigh ies. Bzperienee having shown the advan tr.% allure accrued, to all the companies concerned, from tin& ernagements of a limited kind, your board coseladed a more comprehensive •greemeet in December last with the London end North Western Railway Com pany, and with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company for the teem of seven years, by which the receipt, upon all traffic at competing points are now divided in fined proportions. As this arrangement secures the transinimiou of the merchandise traffic by the shortest mate, sod enables the Ltheethire sad Yorkshire and Bast Lancashire Companies to week the traffic at the Liverpool, Manchester, Blackburn, and Bentley stations with one staff, it has the advantage of securing to the public the shortest and beat communication for the trade of the district, at the same time that it assists the railway companies in conducting their business in a more economical manner. ;Theonii&aiAUFlCtO the satisfaction uperienoed by the directors with respect to your position with other um ponies, is the stale of the question as regards the tollave payable for the moot the Clifton and Salford line, and the neutintre to this company's claim to the parliamentary toll oat the Liverpool . , Crosby. and Southport Company's Vale suing the joint has into Liverpool. The easy state of the mosey market has enabled the directors further to reduce the avenge ram of interest upon your mortgage debt, sa will be seen from the following statement : Dee. 31st, 1861.—Averagerateofinterest..£4 9 2 percent. June 30th, 1862. 19 • • 4 7 7 „ Dec. Slat, 1852. . 46 2 "The expenditure on capital aceount . for the half-year moots to the sum of 31,7901. 13a. Id., a ecosiderable part of which has been expended upon the construction of the Baeop Branch. " In aecordanco with the suggestion made at the meeting held is January, 1860, the directors have each half-year since that time published a statement, showing the 'resent remaining to be expended to complete the railway, accord ing to "admits' then submitted to the proprietors; and, & asap subseqseut investiga tion and inquiry have satisfied the board of the substanti accuracy of diem estimates, they find that the continued publication of 'statement pro fessing to show the future expenditure upon each section of the lice, under distiact heads, has ceased to be of any practicable value, and therefore they have discontinued it. "The works on the Dock Branch have not yet been com menced, as it has been the desire of the directors of this company and the Lancashire and Yorkshire Company, joint proprietors of the line, to secure in connexion with that branch the best communication with the rapidly-ex tending dock accommodation of the port of Liverpool. The directors are endsavonsing to make the necessary arrange ments with the dock authorities fur seenfiag this object, and they expect that these works will shortly be proceeded with. "The directors have taken taken the necessary prelimi nary steps for istrodneing into parliament in the nest session bills for the following objects: " Ist. The extension of the railway from Clifton to Sal ford. "2nd. The making of a branch from Oraskirk to South port, and ea extension of the Skelmersdale Branch to B.aiaford. " 3rd. Power to convert the mortgage debt of the company into perpetual annuities. " The directors have not come to the conclusion of recom mending the shareholders to prosecute these bills, without most anxious and deliberate consideration. " A survey of the country between Clifton and Salford was, in the first instance, undertaken by the board, in con. 'Nemo* of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Company having disputed your right to use that portion of their railway for all your traffic into Manchester upon the terms of the agree- meet entered into with that company. This survey, and a consideration of the probable cost of the proposed line, have satisfied the board that it is essential to the interests of the company that this extension should be proceeded with. " A communication with the rising town of Southport— the most important watering place on the West Coast of Lancashire—hex long been desired by your board. The country between Ormakirk and Southport is singularly favourable to the construction of a cheap line of railway, of easy gradients, and the traffic between Southport and the various populous towns on the East Lancashire Railway is very large, and constantly increasing. " The importance to your company of the proposed branch and the Shelmendale branch extension is enhanced by the circumstance that the St. Helens Canal and Railway Com pany are applying to parliament, in the present session, for powers to extend the St. Helens line to Itainford, there to form a junction with the proposed Skelmeradale extension, and thus connecting Southport arid Ormakirk with St. Helens and places beyond. "At present the tikehneridale branch—three miles in RAILWAY AND OTHER BILLS ON STANDING ORDERS. Yesterday the standing ceders were declared com• plied with iu the following important eases: LONDUIII AND NUTTY WDaTIaN RAILWAY.-.-Ther• were four hills connected with this sonspesty, which after some oppontioa passed the standing orders. the first bill was ler their proposed branches to Steurbridge and lunation with the Orford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway, the expense to be defrayed oat of a surplus of 359,0001. The second bill was for branches to Bt. Albans sad Ansersham, the expense to be defrayed oat of a earplug of 2 00 ,0001. and upwards. The third ball was for an extension from Crewe to Shrewsbury, railway from Primrose-hill to Willesden, and additional hails at Rothbury, Stafford. Warringtoa, and Camden—to be defrayed oat of a surplus of 5 0 0.0004. The third bill was for branch from Northampton to Market Harborough, to be defrayed out of a earplug of 300,0001. Sanxwanoar AND CAUTIS RAILWAY.—For adjust ment of share capital, borrowing powers and mortgage debt, conversion dame capital into stock, scale of voting, creation of new shares for payment of debt, powers to run over the Warringtoa and Munn:haat Junction and Chester and Holyhead Railways, ad for consolidation and repeal of acts. SHILIWINUILY AND BIRNINOKAN AND BKRILYSIIDZY AND CLIENT= RAIL/MTS.—For their amalgamation. Coax AND BANDON ILAILWAY.—For extension to Ban try and breathes to Clonakilt and Skibbereen and at Albert Quay, power to raise further capital and guarantee by county of Cork and baronies. Estimated cost, 223,041. ANSIDLOATIL NOTTINGHAM, AND BOSTON RAILWAY.— (No. 1 Bill.) CALIDONIAN AND RD/NW/ZOE AND GLASGOW RAIL WAYS.— le authorise thejobst working and management of the two undertakings- KILDNOSSAN RAILWAY:FOS esle or lease to Glasgow and South Western. _ DARLINGTON AND BARNARD CASTLI RAILWAT.—For construction at an estimated coat of 80,0001. TTNIMOOT/1 DOLL ANDD MIORPETIt AND &WILDS Dins= IiALLWAT. flregvne;nlbillepaased ware :—Bangor Waterworks (cost, 6.94 W) ; Inesll Va'Fey Waterworks ; Teignmouth Harbour and River Taiga Navigation ; Bristol and Clifton 0.. Light Amalgamation ; Bristol Gas Light Company (increase of Capital and Blum= et Limits); Roundels and Bump Waterworks; Swain= Drainage. The Hamilton Water ' works Bill wu withdrawn. SHIPWRIGHTS AND BUNDIALLND, SATVADAT NIGHT. This evening a meeting as. held in the hall of the Lyceum in this tows, for the purpose of forming a nun similar to the Cassius do Prualiontates in Frame, for the settlement of all matters that might arise in dispute', between the shipwrights and the shipbuilders of the town. There bad been several meetings held previnel on both sides, fir the purpose of aosang to u u on the subject; and this evening about one buadred shipwrights, *sleeted from the body of operatives, met Mr. P. Laing, Mr. Candlish, Mr. Booth, it,. J. Pile, Mr. N. Pile, and Mr. Watson, deputed by the masters to consult with the sea. Alter a most interesting discussion, doing credit to the intelligence of the town, and ezbibit. lag • great spirit of Linter es the part of the abets, it wee unsaintostaly molted, sub ject to the ratilicatica of the majority of the em ployee sad workmen as both sides—that • court of arbitra tion be formed, the wodusen pledging themselves to give it a fair trial. That each party appoint a committee of nine from their body to knit the proposed court. That a chair man be chosen sot of the trade, sad that he have the cast ing vote. That all alleged pavanes, practical or general, and all projected alteration or changes affecting the builders and their workmen, shall be referred to the court, with a view to their amicable adjustment, and to prevent the intervention of strikes or the interruption of busbies,. And that the decision of the court be linaL That the court bo open to the trade and to the reporters, bet that no one, except the court, be allowed to take • part in the proceedings. Any one disturbing the proceedings to be put out. Mr. William Mordey, surgeon, Mr. Edward Bath house, banker, and Mr. Knott, operative blacksmith, were unanimously chosen chairmen, to preside in their turns over the proceedings of the court. This is considered the most important movement that ever took plan amongst the working men of the north, for the adjustineat of matters that should arise in dispute between them and their em *Gann. Hundreds of thousands of pounds have been wasted in fruitlessatrikes amongst mama, pitmen, and shipwrights daring the past half esatury. NARROW ESCAPE OF A RAILWAY TRAIN.—OR Friday week as the down mail train of the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway was on its way to the north, end not far from the Milathorpe station, some wicked and malicious persons had placed two sleepers on the line with the intent of throwing the mail train off the line. Fortunately no accident occurred save the breaking of the ash box belong ing to the engine. A diligent effort kas been made for the discovery of the miscreant,. Another attempt of the same character was made near Burtun, where about 12 cwt. of stones were found put upon the line at six o'clock on Wed nesday morning. —Carlisle Patriot. FIRE AT CARLEY MAIN COLLIERY, BARNSLEY.— We are sorry to say that all attempt, to eztinauish the fire which has been going on in the workings at Doyley Main for the let fortnight have proved ineffectual. A large number of hands have been thrown out of employment-- Leeds Intelligenotr. CLIFTON SUSPENSION BRIDGE—AII hopes of pro- ceeding with this undertaking appear to have been aban doned. It has been stated that the wrought iron, which has been so long ready for the proposed structure, has been sold to the West Cornwall Railway Company, and in.teed of forming part of the "permanent way ' across the water rota Clifton to Leigh, it will perform that office on the line of the above railway.—Bristol Journal. FOREIGN TRADE OF PLYMOUTII.—The number of vends entered inwards at the Custom-house, Plymouth, from foreign parts during the year ending the 6th instant, was 643, against 666 in the year ending the sth Jan., 1852, and ao in the year ending the same time 1861, chewing a decrease compared with 1852 of 23 vessels, and an increase over 1851 of 63 vessel'. We believe, however, that the ton nave of those entered in the last thirteen months exceeds that of the previous year, as there have not been near so many im4ll French studs in the last three months as in the corresponding three months of the previous year. This is exclusive of the Cape, India, Australia, and African mail packets, which do not report at this Custom-house. THE PIGEONS OF GUILDHALL - At a committee of aldermen, held nt Guildhall, Alderman Wilson 'mein repreiseated that Mr. Temple, the hall-keeper, had given directions to some of the peruses in waiting upon the several committees to destroy the pigeons witch have been sheltered in the nooks and crannies of the building for many years, and have of late become tamed iogly numerous, that officer was called before the aldermen to account for having issued an order so much at vatiauce with the taste of the corporation. The Hall-keeper said the inhabitants of Kine-street, in the immediate vicinity of Guildhall, bed often com plained of the nuisance occasioned by the pigeons, a nui sance of which none but those who were subjected to their frequent visits could form en adequate opinion. Tho dresses of several ladies who happened to sit under the ele vations on which they perched themselves in ►warms, had suffered more or less from the birds, and the familiarity with which they were treated by the people all round ac tually caused them to Ay in at windows and down chimneys to the great annoyance of (studies. (Laughter.) Alderman Wilson—l should wish to hear some instances in which the poor pigeons have given such mortal offeuce. (Hear, hear.) Sir James Shaw, our old chamberlain, with whose kindness of heart we are all acquainted, took grc..t delight in supplying them with food, considering that it was essential to the character of Guildhall for hospitality that such harmless tenants should receive a littie of the bounty of the corporation. The Hall-keeper said that about three or four yearn ago the splendid dress of a lady who eat at the Lord Msyor's dinner in the hall was completely destroyed by the unceremonious conduct of some of the pigeons above her head (Laughter.) Two years ago, when his servant girl went into one of the bedrooms she was horrified by ■ noise in the chimney, and immediately afterwards down titmtiled a quantity of soot, end a pigeon in the midst of it. Hut that wu not the may disagreeable coesequence of the un welcome visit, for the bird in its fright fluttered not only against the walls of the room, but sguirst the curtains cd the bed, and did a gr.-at deal of damage, very much to the annoyance of his wife, and the terror of his children. (Laughter.) s Aaernuat Lawrence—How much soot came down upon that occasion ? The Halt Keeper—The room was covered with it. Alderman Lawrence—lt sei me, then, that the pigeon saved you the expense of employing a etiimney-sweeper. It is quite evident, Crum the quantby of soot which accom panied the bird in its visit to your to drount, that you don't lay out much money iu currying ou: that portion of our sanitary regulations. (Laughter.) The Hall.Keeper—The passages to my /inure are een gauntly covered with dirt from the multitude of pfgeonv. They were endurable when there were no more than 1.5 or 10 ut them about the building, but the number has in creased to 70 or SO, and lam owe I would be obliged to any one who would kill them. Alderman Hurnphery.—No, no! I would recommend you Mr. Hall.keeper, to torn what you a . em to be bi disgusted with to advantage, by setting up a guano shop and eel ing it as manure, (Laughter.) Alderman Cubit' said : at Venice pigeons were so much respected that they were maintained at the publ.c expense, and nobody was permitted to molest them. " Ile could not see why the Guildhall pigeons, which had, as it were, be come part and parcel of the corporation sh ou ld b e disturbed, except, indeed, it was intended to make ;its of them for the use of the corporation. (Great laughter). Alderman Hump:nay said, he thought the Hallkeeper could give the committee a very fair idea of the flutingr of the birds as he bad so great an anxiety to put them to death. The Nall-keeper.—l assnreyou,sir,that I never tastedone of them in mWe. Alderman Wilson—We will certainly not allow a whole sale destruction of the pigeons, which ere objects of interest in the neighbourhood, rnd bad been all of them born under and upon the roof of the building. ' After some further conversation, in the course of which it was admitted that it would be very proper to dispense with ' the presence of the pigeons at the dinner of the 9th of November, the hall-keeper succeeded so tar in substantiat ing his complaint as to obtain trom the committee their consent to decrease the number of the °Modem to about $ moiety. It was agreed that the argument of the injury to the ladies' dresses, not to say a word about the beards and bald heads of the ambassadors, and the wigs of the bishops and judges and terjeanta learned in the law, was fatal to the cause of the birth.. which are said from their chattering and cooing to take delight in the mischief they dropped upon the magnitimnee below. Alderman Wilson advised the hall-keeper to employ some of the pigeons he was about to banish to scour all his chimneys before they departed. SPORTING. TATTERSALL'S.-31oxDAT. NOTTINGHAM SPRING HANDICAP. 3 to 1 agst Mr. Meson's The Bishop (t) 7 to 2 Mr. J. Osborue's B.dd Davie (t) NOTTINGHAM TWO-YEAR•OLD STAKES. 7 to 4 aest Lord J. Seutt's Lady Audrey (t) 3to 1 Mr. J. Osborne's Bridesmaid LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE. 6 to 1 agst Mr. Mason's Miss Mowbray (t) 8 to 1 Mr. Mason's Oscar (t) 11 to 1 Mr. Barnett's Sir Peter Lanrie (t) • NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES. 20 to 1 •tat Mr. Luniley's Maria NEWMARKET HANDICAP. 10 to 1 apt Mr. T. Parr's Contentment 15 to 1 Mr. H. Boyee's Herbert TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES. 4 to 1 apt Duke of Bedford's Sittingbourne (t 9 to 2) 4 to 1 Mr. Bowes's West Australian (t 9to 2) METROPOLITAN HANDICAP. _ _ 7to 1 eget Mr. 1. Par's Contentment (t) 20 to 1 Mr. J. IL Cowley's Lansytttlo (t and aft off) 25 to 1 Mr. Kimberley's Snowdon Dunhill (t and att off) 25 to 1 Mr. Lmuley's Maris (t) We give the lest quctation aget Contentment, about whom, however, 10 to 1 was laid once to a small sum, and 8 to 1 to 1601. CHESTER CUP. 20 to 1 apt Mr. T. Parr's Contentment (take 25 to 1) 35 to 1 Mr. Saxon's Richard Primmer (take 40 to 1) - DERBY. 10 to 1 apt Mr. Bowes's West Australian (taken) 14 to 1 Mr. Powney's Cineas (taken) 16 to 1 Duke of Richmond's Pharos (taken) , 16 to 1 Duko of Bedford's Si!tingbourne (taken) 20 to 1 Mr. Spencer's Elnuthorpe (land alt off) 3.5 to 1 Mr. T. Parr's Contentment (40 to 1t) 40 to 1 Mr. Suttees's Honeyuoood. Owing to the departure of many of the anbeceiben for Nottingham, the betting was dull, and except in the in stance of Contentment, who is 'quotad at a decline, without say material influence on the praxes. SCARCITY 01 , SAILORS.—In our police report of Friday will be found the case of a man named Gavle, a sailor, sentenced to ten days imprisonment, with hard labour. Mr. Castle stated that to his own knowledge there was a vessel now lying at Kingrood, and the owners had sent to Cardiff, Newport, G oucester, London, Lire►- pool, and other ports, to get a crew, but could not complete the required number, owing to the present great scarcity and demand for seamen.—Reino/ Mirr or. --• • -• • DESTRUCTION OF A VESSEL BY FIRE OFF TIIE KENTISH COAST.—LVDD, Fkk. 6.—A serious lose took pleas yesterday morning off Dungeness, by the destruction of a French vessel by fire. She was a fine schooner, called the Zelinia, Viand, master, and was bound to Loudon front Nantes, with wine and a general cargo of merchandise. She was wending her way up channel elf this coast, when the crew were alarmed on discovering a fire to be kindling some where in the hold. Every effort was wade to arrest the I progress of the destructive element, but to little purpose ; and with a double view of preserviug their own lives, aad as much as possible the vessel and cargo, it was deter mined to make for the shore in the west bay of Dungeness. Her approach had been ohm reed from the coact, and assist ance sent off to her. She at length took the ground nctween No. 3 and 4 stations, some four miles to the weetwerd of the Ness, when, with the aid of the coast guard and other par ties from shore, increased exertions were mace to extinguish the fire. It had obtained, however, too powerful a hold of the ill-fated craft to admit of her preservation. The most prompt measures were therefore taken to save all that was possible of the cargo, and much, it is reported, ICA go: out. In the meanwhile the flames continued to exter.il over the Tinsel, until at length she was burnt to the water's edge. It is gratifying to add, however, that the crew and all those who assisted in endeavouring to stay the conflagration, stle.. eeeded in reaching the shore in 'piety, out a lite being lest. At present the cause of the fire has not transpired. The unfortunate ship and cargo are reported to have been in mired fur considerable sums. A BOSTON VESSEL WRECKED ON PLYMOUTH Bansustimsn.—The smack Ocean, of Boston—Giistellow, master—was wrecked on Plymouth breakwater on Wed 'lmlay night last. The o.,ean was laileu with wheat, con signed to Messes. Collier and Sons, merchants, .ol Ply mouth, which she had embarked at Shoreham. 'tbe mas ter, who was also principal owner, 'ming a strangi.r to the port, thought the lighthouse on the eastern end of the breakwater, instead of the western end, and ran the vessel right end on the breakwater. The night was very dark, and {here was a strong swell at the time. The vessel be came a total wreck; but, fortunate/y, the master and crew, two men and a boy, were saved, haring been taken off by the crew of the Tavy, thi: yacht of Mr. Thompson, the Queen's harbour muter at Plymouth. Neither the vessel nor cargo was insured, we believe. EnTILtORDINAKV MARINE CONVULSION. - 011 Saturday information WaA received at Lloyd's, under date Liverpool, Feb. 4, of an extraordinary marine convulsion experienced by the Manes im her pes,ige from thence to Caldera. On the morning of the 13th of October, the ship being twelve miles from the equator, in long. 19 W., a rumh.ing noise appeared to issue twin the ocean, winch gradually inereased ha sound till the uproar became &alin ing the sea rose in mountainous wave/ ; tie wind blow ing from all quarters, the control over the ship was lost, and she pitched and rose hightfully, al on board expecting each moment to be their last. Tins continued film* ea The water then gradually subsided, when several vessels in tight at the cammenctimmit el the ironvultion ' were found to have disappeared. Shortly afterwards • quantity of wreck, • pact of a ACC, w strainer, were pasted, to :lost some vessels and lives were lost. A r