The Express. — London, England, 1850-02-28 00:00:00

re ent of Frame refusing to withdraw from the Roman s ites, the Neapolitan army will be mod by Atirria in endetoouring to force them to do so. That the piTt , rumrn t anticipates hostilities is evident, acd as N e plr• r epresents Austria, such is the supposition of the latter power also. I 1 ERMANY. BERLIN, Pas. 25. ft:c Chambers to-day have held their last business ▪ . To-morrow the melon will be formally 4 01 In tic Palace. The First Chamber passed the Li rent op by the Second for the higher taxation of heat-clot auger. Then the alterafons made by the klecord Chamber in the l)istriet Adjustment Bill, and the bill for bringing Posen into the circle of the Berman confederation. Finally, three members were eheeen commirsioners of the natior.al debt. The It to c.d Chamber also 'treed three commissioners. Ihe containa two laws, which have ecilved the royal assent ; one concerns the forma ti,s the comniesion of the national debt, and the vote the removal of land-tsx exemptions. fhe (.4.lnr (...sseVe has telegraphic messages from Bella of the 26th. 'rite first states that the closing sits tg of the Chamber had just taken place. The the ministry otf k iated oo the occasion, ▪ communicated to the Chamber the regret felt by aloj s . r at being compelled to be absent; has !mi.'s,. wished the deputies a Frosperoas journey b ow % The president of the ministr7 then reminded It.. Chenber that this was the firet regular termina tion o f the parliament, and added a few words of F r.eitutte to the Kirg for having taken the oath to / s e c me:Potion, taking advan•age of the opportunity a .ai to anr.o..noe that the Prince of Previa had a A kcowledged the constitution. With respect to ti.e tql• n.** performed by the Chamber, the president of the rn!ristry mentioned that In addition to the reel- War of the constitution fifty projecs of law had been ro mal. In exp• niing the maney which had been to the govirom.nt regard would be token of iserifices made by the country, and its interests honour ihou:d be protected. he ceremony was over at haltpast ten. second s.lcgraphie Ty-usage states that Herr 41.1.chwirgh has handed in his resignation as an plenipotentiary and president of the Ver • ...—rath. I . r tt.trd eonfi:ms the second, and adds that Herr ! . • ....!elschwingh will be succeeded by Herr von Ra • i Loan, 103. National Vat, S. Bask :I.—Fin per One Metatkpos, to•. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. V.'e rave dates from Cape Town to January 7. 1 . on'T item of interest (and that is more of a t:. .tan 'a general character) was in the result of •he cmaected with Mr. Advocate Ebdeu's d removal frau the direction of the "Mutual I..fr A•Stliallee tMeiety of the Cape of Good Hope." The meeing of member.; took place on the Stb, whet ?Ir. Purbaim wee called to the chair. Mr. Adenre F.bt'en attended the meeting. Mr. J. T. Pocock p opoicd, and Mr. P. J. Haupt !waded: Tt u tt is the mpisioe of this me:tine that Mr. John 'Wens &Nest's conbausree in °thee will be prejudicial to the ...ter... , of the witty, it IS re.olved that the said Mr. Et,:ee HAL cost to be , any :or ger a director of the xame. IZ , . pr•pa• r prefaced the resolution by a very few remarks. stating tLat the ground* span which the re so:tei•ii was bawl were so well known, and had bees so gtherMly canvassed out of doors, that it was ten ures-Ty for km to say anything open them, claim ing. however, the iihorty of making a few remarks is reply. it anything which might fall from Mr. Ebdea or his friends 'Maid seem to demand it. Mr. Any. Ebiiu thin, in a speech of considerable length, attempted to de•etd that part of hie conduct L.ch he beloved hat Ir..en the cause of offence, at the same time ouricnicit the members against the &ace rots priheip:e wlrch they seetr.ed about to se and which they might some other day, when lard( r Ices excitement, bi• telly regret. A,lnel Elden, proposed, as an amendment: cone .sterotscf the Mutest Lite Assurance Society will ess.iiitte by shoeise Mr. J. W. Ebden, II A., to we: as Linear, so inroad basing been laid for ,r. John Raid seconded the amendment, which was 10.0. The original resolution wss then pot .amid; whertupon Mr. Mv. Ebden demanded .r. residted in a majority of 166 against Eden, who entered into further explanation of ii•iats on which he thought he was saisaader -. Lad tenicred his thanks to those gentlemen :..d given him their support, am well es to those :.l remained neutral on the occasion. AMERICA. vroll ora owy COIIIIIIIPONDENT. prket-ship A:bert Gallatin arrived in Liver s morning, having left New York on the ith tews is cotitaiatory of that received by tele . Hada, Twr last .teamer, with the excep roe price of ovum was tot lower, although ,tea in that article was langu.d. IHI NEW YORK LINER L Z. . :et from a passenger ou board the L. Z . w.• published on tile Vita inst., bas elicited the v comma ication from the muter of a vessel 4..; to the sone owners now at Liverpool. Oar kc psh.isktiug the fisst letter wu to obtain to rt i-to the cast. It does not appear to us that ststemeat• made by our present correspondent are r, man to .-.perseds the necessity of inquiry. The irons o: the passenger Canning may be exalt.- red. or even untrue, but they cannot be disproved LTA a supp•sit:ons ; and Captain Kicker, net been on bmrd at the time of the wreck, has .t.g else to odor. The wwwortniness of the L. Z. teen caLtd in qu•stion, consequently the cer .v of the surveyor-rue:al at Liverpool is mg to the purism,. . . -- 70 TAX L141 , .11 01 TAN DAILY wives. —la year paper of the 26th inst. appear a letter .c Cassini, • second cabin r, professing to tireseniances attending t lass of the Anencan •,• I. I , M,ued Iron Nsw York to Liverpool. !cements riff.cieg both on the ownen, eaptaln, - • ar • ••• calumnious and untrue, that I feel called ..••• m this c •atrailietion. Having emoted of fs belcosien to the sane oween, and which • ...ar the L. Z when the litter sailed, I know mere of the facts and probabilities than a pee. Alt :few York better rquipp d or hatter com• • as the L. Z. She was a tine ship, rely one year 11 wan. Captain Moses is an experienced sad s• area. Nose of the s►lps of that line cony •• * tie crew. The ship was well mowed, died ant • •freeing Let 171 feet yaw. 'Winn s ship of • • tows she has so her previous voyages draws two • I was fraqu•etly ea heard of her while toadies, . th► day she lelt, arid lay la►t wade to Captain .• '• Your ship Win bee trim to make a passage." alb Red to have occurred Indite the ship sem • may pribably be safely uer:he Ito the abyss , • • ?sweep's, and it way be true that the .ate, ' .rc.• as his hands, prevented the pain/arra at that D. seat from lumberiep the beets with lunar n. 4 .) Eves were in imminent dancer. • inteligent and eapa` le young man, and • ea•r, awl 1 la !are Ida conduct is rather to h 4 l•'• pt diseraton tM for anything violent :LP Pe!. d thepala of Jut. 13, which WY SO .7 it 1.1 **Dna ..thm ships which lel! New York the I to( sad et.. astivisc len with the Celestial tt.e L, Z. e.t.c I brit wormy shout her. From the e.todt,hei it pr.bab:o that in the male eke . t.utt rr, 44.thi.ra the kind, and the PulePe fret' i•► t• r ,',mitt" • parties of her cargo. the • ..d 101.1w.d Mt. ea board to abandon her. • •ie ere isivrentelli from this wreck, The -....!,..r.-...7. n ti..,,,,tzh sand oeearrid at the eeeoad abli" •a•i• t!Ptre..lay, are an more th.n 'West b- ex •vi accideats. As y,n have takes the trouble th• Itwesotat i.l Mr. Canning, may I beg the sri4 give this the sane peblicity ?-1 am, M. I). Melton. AtiPir my Ptir to you of to-dere date, 1 en..1...d eirlikate, which 1 rust you will publi-ls in connexion with my foresee I ` 3l INur obedient 'etyma, M. U. Iticx en. rions t a S dr y, 'ore Offing, 31, Tower buildings, Liverpool, Yob. 24, • satire, t your isipsiry, we have to state that we .n. l .t •h p" L. Z.," Captain Moises, is the IhrP, lot the eaaveyanee of emigrants .-• New Yurk, and that we found her tight, awl 'boor t, w. U equipped, sal p. rfectly seaworthy I.red her a bist-clan vessel lot the She was built in Boston, baited —W• are, sir, yo ur obedient servants, J•wzii, ()mminent Surveyor. Wibuati 11A.ILItt?4, ditto. " *. i t I WO). bhip Cast • tines, Liver pool. I t.). 2.1 I 3 • • • • r t• • 1111 I.er rt.. t • 1 c. t .• • • 'st 71 14 is tr. • gbe Court, The Qseen aced Prince Albert, accompanied by his Royal Highness the Duke of fitaxoCnburg Gotha, honoured the performance of the French Plays with their presence yesterday . vesting. The Royal salts oonsistent of the Counter of Mount Bagmen* Lord Byron, Colonel Buckley, Lieut.-Colonel the Ron. Alexander Gordon, aad Baron d'Apel. Hie Rupl Richness Prince Albert rode oat on horseback yesterday monolog, attended by Limit •Colonel the Hun. Alexander Gordon. Their Royal Rishaesees the Prises of Wales, Prince Al lred, the Prams Royal, the Princess AN*, the Prieetes Hasse, sad Princess Lanes, took walking sad pony ezercdse yesterday. The Building Committee of the Commission for the Eattifdtion of 1851, somaiting of Mr Cabin, Mr. Brunel, Mr. Barry, Mr. Cockerel!, sad Mr. Donaldem, met at the new Palace of Westminster yesterday. Mr. Gewge Duncan, M.P., had an interview with thelt , ibt. Hon. H. Labouehere yesterday at the *Moe of the Board of Trade. Nate Quarles Comisat..—lt is stated that the Lunt Chaste,nor has intimated hit intention to elevate the uodernamed gentlemen to the rank of ...Queen's cossoel " : Mr. Pzatmek, Mr. Edwis James, Mr. Prendergast, Mr . Grainger, Mr. Bine, Mi. 01Esrey, Mr. Macanity, Mr. (heaves, Mr. Townsend, and Mr. Carpenter Rowe. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON. A general meting of the proprietors of this College took place yesterday, is Gower-street, Mr WARM' II TON, one of tie senate, in the shut. Vitro were W.., pre sent Mr. Bishop, Dr. Boot, Mr. Ha•ton Mr. Robinson, Mr. Oreenbough, Mr. Gibson, Mr. T. Gibion, Mr. 'teensy,' Taylor. Mr. ease, Dr. Mackenzie, Dr. Hatton, Mr. Hatton, Mr. Brookshire. end other,. Mr. WARBUR roN said that they were met to choose a president, vier-president, and other members of the council for the ensuing year. It was desirable that the ballot should he allowed immediately to commence, and in the meantime the 'secretary would read the report. Toe SECRETARY then road the report, which stated— That then were in University College, London, in the auk* 1148 and 1849 the following number of s'udente. In the faculty of medicine, 8I; in the faculty of art., 281 ; in the juniat school, 285—total, 8.50 students In the patriot tend class for echoolmasten there were 47 students, and in the Birlebeck course of practical chemistry, B. In the junior school the highest number in ane one t• rea was 231. The amount of fees was 13,4141. 25., vin , for the medical facul y. 4,9841. 11a.; kr the tecalty of arts, 4,1281.; and for the junior dale, 4,3291. 10s. The shares of the professors and masters besides the annual augmentations, were 9,1081. 10s. 31. The college portion was 2,9311. The sum of 1,3431. was received from students for attendance on hos pital Frailties., and consrihated is support of the charity. The council observed that, by the supplemental charter granted in the course of the year, the powers of the univer city in granting degrees had be en extended, and that the degrees in arts and laws might be con'en. d after examination on cendidates of the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and their a-venal enllers, sad of Ur uni 'ties of Dur ham, Edinburgh, Giset,w, and St. Andrew, the King's College of Aberdeen, Marischal's C o llege of Andrews, and the University of Dublin, on s waiving the authorities of the university that they had completed a course of instrae• tion required by the ngulations of the university. The committee had received notice of a legacy of 1001 by Mr. Wilkins. of Meekweth, Derbyshire; and was also indebted to Miss Drones for a gift of works by her late brother. in• law, Flazegan. To* only vacancy which had occurred in the faculty of errs and laws was that of the professorship if jurisprudence, Mr. Chas. Jas. Foster having been appointed in the plan of Mr. Hargrave. Dr. Walsh had been ap pointed professor of mediine on the nsignstion of Dr. Williams: Dr. rarities, professor of clinical medicine, as sue. c•serr to Dr. Walsh; Dr. Jenne, to the profeesorehip of pathological anatomy: Dr. Oarrod, professor of meteria medic', vacant by the decease of Dr. Thomson ; Dr. W. 1). Carpenter, peon ear of meciral correspondence. Drs. Jenne? and Hare bad been appointed assistant physicians to the hospital. . _ It was moved st,d rectinded that the report be printed and circulate I amongst the proprietors. F. I'. WOOD, L L.D , did not ea•ch whether the re port implied any approbation of the supplemental charter or not. Mary member, might be ignorant of the charter, and of the way in which it was obtained. Thrre were two clauses, one permitting the university to grant degrees to those who had graduated in any university, and the wend enabling them to grant degrees to persons without their pledging themselves to haying gone through t►at course of regular education which had always been conaidend to be implied by Vie poweision of as Univenity degree. From ire view which had been taken of it by the gra (irides of the University of London, it was an Myr ati,:n likely to prejudice cot only 'heir own degrees, Du: the degrees of any unirer ity in the British empire. A degree supposed that a gentleman had been for some time iu soas institution where be had gene through a regular course of .education. lie therefore moved, that this setting viewed with regret the acceptance, by the Senate of the University of London, of the late supplemental charter, ena bling them to confer degrees without the g tee of that sufficient and general course of educed°n which was under etrurd to be implied in the universe y degree. The fustian= haying been carried that the report be printed and circulated amongst the propreton, Mr. WARBURTON said that, as a matter of order, it was iseompetrnt fur any gentleman to insert in a report of the council to the proprietors, any alieration. lie might move a re.olution is condemnation of the whole or any passage in the report, but he could not alter it. He (ffir. Warburton) entirely dissented from the opinions which the proprietor had ezpresind on tai. occasion. There were two parts of the charter. The first part everybody must commend, without tee pion, for it was notorious that the iruivenity of Cambridge ' with the greatest liberality, always allowed persons who entirely dissented from the doe trines of the Church of England, to reside in its colleges dur ing the whole period of the usual academical career, to be educated eti.h their members, to pas. through an eaaraina don for the degree, and to be classed amongst those wno tad taken the degree with honour. They gave all but the concluding degree of bachelor. It was well known that there were gentlemen who hod taken some of the highest honours, who were precluded from receiving that tes'intonial of peoficiency in the arts. Now such a power was given to the senate, under the new charter, to receive the seatimesiale of good conduct and prohciency in the arta. In this Uaiver-ity, which had beat hi hi forth as a modi I of what was tilers' and comprehensive, did he hear aoy objection to that ? (Hear.) Then they came to the second part of the charter, which said, that indepenceatly of degrees on such suojces as these, the *mate of the Univer sity might think proper to examine and grant certifi:ates of efficiency in the arts. The government might say, we are about to -end oat an espl Itifla expedition, and a competent naturalist is required, and was it net fitting that an oppor tunity should be given is such ca,.didates as might be will ing t have an examination ? There was a charter already granted. Was there anybody but the senate who were cesepetect to entertain that question ? It might be a fit sebjeet at some future period, that the graduates of the IJaiversity should have some recognition, bat it was not the ease at present. Dr. WOOD then proposed his amendment u *substantive anion, which was seconded by Dr. Foiter. A lengthened discussion ensued, in the course of which the views of the roposer were warmly supported by . Mr. Crabb Robiason. Mr. Hutton, Mr. Taylor, and other afluenti..l members of the council. It was ultimately arranged that the question ri spiting the supplemental charter of the university shut not then be put to the vote, but that a special meeting of the pr-prieton should he called to consider it. A requisit.on for the purpose was immediately signed by almost all the memben of the council and proprietors present. The following members having been nroposed and ballntted for, were hire declared elected:—For president, Brought.; for vier•presidrat, the Karl Foliose ; for trimester, John Taylor, Esq., P. 11.9.; for co ncillon, Charles Crompton, El., the Iti.rht HOll. 8.1. James It G. Graham, Bart., M.P., 0' torte Grote, Roo, Thomas Martin, Esq , Gene Mesk, Esq., Edward Mortally, Esq. ; for auditor, Charles Wentworth Wks, jun., .E.-q Thanks having been voted to the chairman, the meeting separated. IMPROVED WATER BOPPLT.—Yeeterday a Tett''y meeting of the ishshatants of the united parishes of B'. Mary Wolnoth and St ll,ry TV odcbusch, was held in support of the ot.j eta of this associsti n, when a petition to parliament was adopted sod rign .1 by the rector, who pre-idrel, praying the house forthwith to pass a measure which should WUn to the labs dtants of the metropolis a 'Patty increased amply of pure water, on the principle of conduit senile end high pressure, and for reducing the p e ke by I da e Oug the menagern.nt of its distribution in the hawk of a public board, to be .elect d by the ratepayers and owners of pro,serty in the venous pandas included in the metropolitan districts . PRESENT FROM PRINCE ALBERT TO ETON COL- Lion —Prism Albert has just pre.cnted to the boss of Rte. Cohere a espy of the lame work of Grunter, " On the Amin the Medieval Ages.' On the flyleaf preceding the title-peg• is a.e, following inscririor ' in the handwriting nl Lis Royal Highness : " Presented to the boys of E" a College, with a hope that this book may not be considered inertly as an ornament to their lihrary, but as a work freely to be used by th.m for recto e.t . a% ant the acquirement of taste.—Albert. Windsor Cattle ' Idt , tt, 11340 " A great number of works, written by theArcVishop of Cant( rbury, have also just been presented to tho boys' library by his Gram wsowe. ACCIDENT TO A RIVER STY.AMElL—Yeaterelay =wring, between nine and ten o'elciek, some alarm was ere.ted on baud the Waterman steen b No. 8, in cense qw nee of tee v.ca I having met with serious injury on its p ...sage up to lew.lon. It ag pears that the hoot lea Wool wich at the usual time hat town, calling at ths several piers on tl•.e way. The vessel proceeded sa.ely until cif Lime house, when (it is suppowd) she ran her bottom on to the sharp point du anchor whirl forced in the wo &c.a. The boat, hswever, went on, and upon caul, g Lqadoo.bridge it was discovered that water was fast making its w.y into the cabins. TM csfitain hail the passengers landed with all g ,,,, o gg e speed, as it was wildest the yard would soon be tilled with water. The vessel was taken germ the water to V.. l'breniz Coal Wharf, in the occupancy of Mr. Naghani s I Pegg, of Bankside, and all bands set to work most actively is keeping a poll is of the water out. At high water the vessel was so far righted as to be taken in tow mil removed to Deistical, when it wi.l remain for a short time to undergo repairs. THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 28, 1850. RAILWAY MEETINGS. The next abject submitted by the Chairman to the meet ing was the question of giving free palms to the share holders to attend the meeting. After some irrepler diseste sion it was derided that the practice should be abandoned. Mr. BROWN proposed that the prohibition should be extended to the directors, but, after some discussion, it was determined to leave the matter to the discretion of the directors. EASTERN COUNTIES. Yesterday, the half-yearly general meeting of shareholders in the above company was held at the London Tavern. The roost was densely crowded, and the proceed isgs were so very disorderly as to render the giving any con 'meted account of them a matter of considerable difficulty. Tee c i t ; was taken at 1 o'clock by Mr. B. L. Barre, &Muslin of the company. The secretary, Mr. Roney, 1 proceeded to read the report, which stated that The results of the put six months' er eking of the lines, in receipts and expenditure, paid or incurred, are fully set forth In the accounts which bays been published and distri. buted amongst the proprietots. These exhibit that the ro e/int., when compared with the corresponding half-year of 1848, have slightly increased. The expenses have been kept down as much as hitherto practicable. To comes?e them with the charges for the like period of 1848 would be erroneous, as, in the opinion of the Committee of Investiea• lien, the latter were not stated correctly. 'laid's which, the accounts of the board for the past half-year ex hibit and debit all the expenditure incurred during that period, whether actually paid or not—a system of accuracy which was not adopted in the former balance sheets of the com N pany. ote of the capital has been treated as unproductive, and the whole of the Interest upon guaranteed stocks and deben ture" is, thirster., for the first time, charged whist The directors have debited the revenue of the past half year with every expense to which it can juetly be considered liable, and it will be observed that the charge upon it for renewal of locomotive engines, carriages, and waggon having accrued due, but not actually pall, is taken into amount The amount charged against the revenue of the half year for the renewal of engines and carriages worn out is 11,9601. Tin sum of 16,0001. has been set apart for the renewal of the permanent way and works, and catried to the credit of that fund, according to the resolution of the proprietors. It is pryer, likewise, to draw attention to the fact, that the interest payable to the Northern and E istern Company on their quarter shares has been diotioist.ed to the amount of 1,2871. annum, from an amount of capital hitherto temporarily entitled to 6 per cent., beng under the agree meat of amalgamation reduced to carrying 6 per cent. The auditors were re-elected, and their malaria Axed at 1001. per anima each. A SHAREHOLDER moved that the Norfolk and Eistern Cannata antounta oe kaki separate when practicable. Agreed to. The out-goicg directors were then re-elected, and thanks having been voted to the Chairman, the nremedinp termi nated at 6 o'clock. . The entire revenue of the half year has been 424,678/. I6s. ld., of which 69,2941. 4.. 9J. have been earned upon the Noriola Railway. It was the wish of the proprie tors at the last meetieg to have the rec,ipts of each company kept separate, and this has been done. The charges for maintenance of way have also been kept separately, but it is impracticable to preserve any separaUon in the locomotive expenses and in the great bulk of the carrying and general charges. The working tip:noes, disbursement, and charges spinet the half year amount to 372,6201. 81. Ild., leaving net 51,9581. 6s. 24., to which the surplus of 9761. Os. Id. left after pas iug the last dividend must be added, makings balance of 52,9311.6 x. 3d. The directors have, therefore, to recommend a dividend of 3s. per share upon the consolidated stock of the Esatern Counties C >topaz, ; and the payment to the Norfolk Com- ' pany, in term, of the agreement b tween the two companies, ut such a sum as shall be sufficient to pay au equivalent dividend upon the consolidated stock of the latter company. The professional acc;untants have not yet completed their examination of the account of the capital ezpetked, and in consequence the board have been unable ti fulfil the pro- mise made in their last report that a full statement of the Compary's ex:.enditure on capital would be furnished previous to the present half-yearly meeting. The utmost farther sum requiring to be now raised is 100,0001., in which sum is include I 90,0001. for the construction of the Shelford and Shepreth line. Probably a less sum than 160,0004 will be inefficient. But the aggregate of capital mentioned in those acc , unts will be the extreme upon which jab rest and cividends will he payable. 'That the direct n might better acquire a full knowledge of the liabilities of the Company, and arrive at the desirable con elusion within what sum the capital account could be closed, they caused advertisements to be inserted in the public papers, requiring all claims against the Company to be sent in fur examination. Many were received ; their amount wrs not greater than had been anticipated ; most of t►em are in course of settlement and liquidation, and means will be tans to bring all matters in diepute to • final deter mination. It is intended to tare early measures for realising the surplus leads and other available property. Considerable sums have, in former years, been improperly taken from capital, and applied to payments on account of revenue. Although these were reduced by the proprietors consenting to forego the payment of a dividend for the lest half-year of 1949, the amount now ascertained by the accountant, to be still remaining in suspense is 169,323/.13s 91. This amount must be regarded as a loss to capital, and be so treated in the company's both', uuless the proprietors shall otherwise de•ermine. The unsa•isfactory state of the company's preference stock, in conwouence of • large amount remaining unregistered, caused much labour and responsibility to the officers. The direceon have cal!. d in the whole for registration, and nearly ell the No. 1 and No. 2 Five per Cent. Stock, and the New Six per Cent. Preferential Shares have been registered. The last treated Five per Cent. Stock Converted Turk Exten sions still remains in the form of a debt, bearing interest in perpetuity at five per cent. The whole amount of this stock es £43,920 only. It cannot be registered under the existing sets of parliament, and the directors intend to cancel it, either by paying it off, or by the substitution of terminable debentures. Toe financial pcsition of the company is so improved, that the directors have not hesitated to publish in the accounts the actual state of the debenture debt of the company in detail. Its smell amount, compared with the magnitude of the share capital, and of the property in security, is a matter for great congratulation. There can be no doubt that the company will not 'fiance the least dilfizulty in keeping outstanding this amount of debt, until the proprietors determine up in distharging it ; azd that the renewals of bonds faliind due will be off.cted at a reduced rate of interest. The directors also hope to reduce by &considerable amount the rates charged upon the railway, by the pinches through which it parses. The directors hays been desirous to obtain the opinion of the proprietors resvectiog the measures that may be brought before parliament, relative to the audit of railway accounts; and aliticugh the hill prepared by • committee of delegates from the boards of the principa l railways has been aban doned, they thick it right to give the following abstract of the answers received from their constituents : Circulars were issued to all the shareholders, of whom only 2,219 returned answers. Of these, 1.429 approved of the bill, 115 disapproved of it, 620 were in favour of • government audit, and 5,228 returned no answer. It will be rememb:red that the principal provisions of the bill consisted in the appointment of two auditors, to be named by the shareholders, ar.d of a public accountant, to be named by the auditors, and that the audit of the accounts should be continuuse. This mode of audit had already been adopted by the Eastern Counties Railway Company, under the present direction. Mr. James Reeves and Mr. William Mayhew have audited the accounts, and examined them with the vatobers laid before them by Messrs. Quilter, Ball, and Co., public accost tante, who have had constant access to and continuously examined and audited all the company's books and accounts, and who have made out the financial state ment for the past haltyear. The board found only one auditor in o ffi ce, Mr. Reeve, who had been appointed by the shareholders, and they considered that as the proprietors had chosen Mr. Mayhew as one of the committee of investigation he was the fittest person to be the second auditor. The proprietors will be enabled at the present meeting to confirm and coctinue the appointment of Mr. Reeve and Mr.Mayhew, or to appoint other auditors as they may think fit. It is the anxious wish of the board that the audit of all the cow pony's accounts should be coatiouous, crutiniaing, and com blete; and they recommend that a committee be appointed y the px.prietors at this meeting to consist of three or more shareholders, to confer will the tielegates of other com panies, and determine upon the proper measures to be adopted for additional legislation on this subject. The directors of the Eastern Counties Railway Company, not moldering It necessary to proceed to parliameat this year, in reference to the amalgamation with the Norfolk Company, and the burl of that company concurring in this proceeding, the Norfolk line has been worked under the agreemi nt between the two companies, set forth in the last half-yearly report. The accounts between the two companies have also been SO arranged under the same agreement that the Eastern Counties Company are not under any advance to the Nor folk Company, nor will they be ri quired to advance any amount on loan to that company, but merely to pay up the remainder of the purchase money which shall be due by the Eastern Counties Company for the Norfolk Company's rolling stock, store', Ile. The amount already paid towards that purchase money is stated in the capital account. By the agreement referred to, the Norfolk Company is bound, in ease of no amalgamation taking place, to re-purchase its rolling stock at the same amount of valuation as now egad by the Buten% C unities Company, under the award of Mr. RAsert Stephenson, and the Norfolk Railway directors have, at the TI quest of the Eastern Counties hoard, since consented that the Eastern Counties Company may hold 25 per cent. of that purchase money in hand, better to secure such re ruche., if it should have to take place. Since the 12th of December last, the Eastern Union Rail way has I. , en opened to Norwich and • portion of the traffic between t city and Lo doa has passed over the Colches ter line of 'he Eastern Counties. An amicable gemeat ram b-on made with the Eattcrn Union Company, which will enah'e each railway to take and dceelope its own proper portion cf the traffic, and the public to benefit by the in creased facilities of travelling. Abetracts of the statement of ace aunts of the auditors' and aecoui.tante reports appeared in the Express of Saturday The report seemed to cir gectral wh.;sfaction, as several p im ps were greeted with loud cheering from the auditory. Atter some diecu.sios, Mr. PRICY. moved an amendment to the report con demnatory Norfolk amalgamation. The amendment was put and negatived, and the report sad accounts earri , ol unanimously The CHAIRMAN said that the next question was that of audit. It was proposed 'hat these gentlemen should be selected by the shareholders to confer with the delegates from other companies as to the proper method to be adopted Is prosaring additional legislation on the subject of audit. He bi hared there were four or five other companies which had appointed delegetes. Mr. fferjeant GAZELER supported the proposition, and warmly recommended the shareholders to give their lull confident* to the directors. Ile advised them to avoid per. sonelitie", sa they might depend upon it, if they did not, they would not ho able to get gentlemen to till the office, and their direction would be handed over to adventurers. The following audit committee was then appointed; Messrs. Christie, Sherwood, and illartin. a mile of their line at Birmingham, and with full accommo dation at their dello. in that town, which had cost the Lon , don amnesty 600.0001. (Rear) Mr. WYLIE went on to complain of the items under the storekeeper's account, and further stated that there was shoat 6,0001. of bad and doubtfal debts charged as meta. Mr.Wylie,who said that he represented stock tone amount of 450,0001 , concluded a long speech by moving the following resolution: That the report be now received, and the adoption postponed foe the present, it appearing that in the present critical position of the company's affairs it is essential that the management of its affairs should be entrusted to than persons who poems the entire and full confidence of the proprietary, and each not being the case at present, it is necessary that the board be so reconstructed that the share- holden nay be induced to give their confidence and support to the &ninon." Mr. BOOT wounded the motion. He and the suffering shareholden wanted redress (he said); they could not live on the ehainnan's honour. Mr. BARROW said that not one of the charees made to-day could have been considered when the committee eat ; and it was inconsistent with British justice that men should be tried over and over again ; if the shareholders had any regard for their pro2erty they would put a stop to this perpetual anarchy. The CHAIRMAN said, even though Mr. Wylie's amend ment were carried, the directors would not resign, but would call a special meeting to consider the question: if however the amendment were 'd it would deprive the proprietors of a dividend. A divisien then took place on Mr. Wylie's amendment, and about a *core of hands only were held up in favour of it: all the rest of the shareholders present held up their hands against it—The Chairman declared the amendment to be lost. Mr. WYLIE —I demand a poll. Immense groaning and cries of " shame," the muting presenting a very excited and even angry appearance ; Mr. Wylie was strongly urged not to persist in his purpose to demand a poll, he however declined to accede, and the p ing immediately commenced. Mr. CARBUTT said that the direetors had refused to accept proxies, this wu mani.estly an attempt to take the meeting by surprise, and wha'erer the result the directors would not resign. T►e CHAIRMAN announced th►t no further call on the 601. shares would be made until July. During the progress of the scrutiny, a long discussion took place upon the audit question, and a deputsti In of three was appointed to confer with other companies upon the matter. A variety of other subjects were also discussed. The result at the scrutiny was u follows : For Mr. Wylie's motion—votes present, 678 ; for the mo tion—proxies, 1,827; against the motion—votes present, 4,242; proxies, nil. Resolutions were passed, declaring tree dividend, with other resolutions of a formal character, and the meeting separated after six hours' proceedings. MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, AND LLNCOLN- 'HIRE. The half-yearly meeting WllB held yesterday in the Corn Exchange, Manchester. The report and accounts having been printed aid given to the shareholders, some days since, were se' epted as real. They wire published in the Express of last Friday. The CHAIRMAN (the Earl of Yarborough) moved "that the reports of the directors and engineer, and the statement of accounts now produced, be received and adopted." Mr. BLAIR—I move as an amendment— Mr. WEBSTER—I have an amendment. (Great up. r9r..) Mr. TURNER (a director) seconded the adoption of the reports and accounts. Mr. WEBSTER said be had to move as an amendment that a portion of the report, which he should specify, be re ceived, and another portion be referred to a committee of investigation. (Great uproar.) Mr. WEBSTER said he had come to the conclusion that a sweeping investigation was necessary, but let them not go and pull their own property iu pieces—(cheers)—by taking violent measures, on the strength of reports whico might turn out to be mere gosAp. (Cheery.) The shareholders felt that • mod important change in the management was necessary, and he was ready to take issue with the noble chairman on that point, and at the last half yearly meeting the shareholders understood' that a most substantial change would be made in the destitution of the hoar 1. The direc. tors had not fulfilled :heir pledge, and he had no confidence in the board as at present constituted. He concluded by moving as an amendment, "That the report now read be received, so much as related to the retiring directors, be adopted, end that T. R. Barker, Esq., C. F. Young, Esq., G.M. Vernon, E.g.. W. Hulton, Esq , G. Gamble, E'q., and W. H. Brooke, Eeq., be appointed to the vaunt seats at the board ; and that J. L. Jack, Esq , G. Hounsfield, Esq., S. R. Heeley, E q , W. C. Fosbury, Esq., J. High- field, Req., the lion. A. Neville, end the two auditors, he appointed a committee of investigation, with full power to ex soothe into and report upon the affairs of the company." Mr. MORTON, after considerable interruption, raid, the question was, what sort of investigation they would have ? (Hear, beer.) There was a large staff of legal gentlemen ' present, who bad been participants, and perhaps ,expected to be so again, of the funds of ibis company. When he looked to the nature of the amendment, he could not help thinking it was a mere sham to put off • thoreuch investigation. It looked tco much like a thing cooked in the board-room. (Cries of " hear, hear," and cheers.) lie felt that it was so; and that being the case, it lessene I still more bar confidence in the directors. He moved that the consideration and adoption of the directors' and engineers' report be adjourned, and that this meeting do now proceed to consider and deter mine upon the propriety of appointing a committee of share holders to investigate the affairs of the Manchester, Sheffield. and Lincolnshire Railway Company, as well as those of any other company connected with or that might have merged into it or become incorporated with it. That the innings Lion embrace all such transactions and matters in the past and present matter and policy of the company as the commit. tee shall think fit to inquire into, and that the committee have power to examine all proceedings, papers, and documents la the custody of the company, and to employ such accountants and clerks as may be necessary, and be instructed to cower from time to time with members of the board, in con nexion with any works, as they may think desirable, and have access to all papers that they may wish; and that the committee report thereon to tho shareholders ; the expense of such committee to be defrayed out of the funds of the company. (Loud applause.) Mr. GILL, of Leeds, seconded the amendment The CHAIRMAN thought that they should go to the vote firm up" the first amendm:nt. (No.) Mr. COMER wished for • fair and full investigation, and wished to know if the chairman was aware a member of the directory and lawyers connected with the company had pocketed 12,00 W. in connexion with the Humber Ferry pur. chase ? (Cries of " Hear," and " Name.") He believed it was a fact that • solicitor, who moved the amendment to defeat the investigation beyond a certain point—(the first amend ment), had received 5001. of that money. He went on to state that the directers were spending 130,00 W on the double tunnel at Woxlhead, which would not bring a penny extra tratlie to the company, and the contract was let to the bro. therein-law of the vita-chairman. He thoneht he had said enough to justify the motion for inquiry. (Applause.) Mr. BRADSHAW, amidst cries of time," rose to read a list of charges against the directors, but the statement was unintelligible, owing to interruptions and impatience from the meetiert. _ Mr. WHITTAKER mid it had been stated to him that the Humber Ferry was bought for 10,0001., and he so stated to parties who waited upon him on Saturday. He did say that the conduct of Mr. Ellison appeared to be very wrong to Aim, but he hoped a committee of investigation would e'er it up, and show he we, not blamable. (Hear, hear.) He might have ban wrong in making the comma. nica•lon. (Cries of" No.") He had himself been charged with receiving a bonus of 5001. apes a lean of money. He denied it most flatly, and he hoped if a commi:tee of raven• tigstion was appointed it would not take his word, but thoroughly inveattga'e the matter. (Cheers.) The CHAIRMAN then proceeded to put the first amend ment, amidst loud cries of dissent, end demands that the last amendment be put first. The CIIAUtMAN said the first amendment would be put and id carried it became the crigin•t motion, and the aecm•d amendment would be put, and so on with the others—his object being to put, as his duty was, every amendment. After a stormy meeting of four hours the first amacdment was put, at five o'clock, and carried by a large majority. The second amendment, by Mi. Maxwell, was then put and lost. Then came the ami ndment of Mr. Morton fn • thorough investigation, which was clinicd by a large ma. jority. MIDLAND. - - - Yeiterde_y the half-yearly meeting _of this company Dwu held at •rby, Jour Ettte, Eq., M.P., in the their. The following report of the directors was read by Mr. Batt, the secretary: From the statement of accounts already ia the hands of the proprietors, it will be seta that the following have been the receipts from trifle for the half year ending 31st December, 1849: -Passengers, 295,0621.75. 6d. ; parcels, 20,4361.65. 9d. aaniallosi die., 9 .7281. 12s. 11d. ; mails, 9,6121.185. 7d. ; rattle, 6 . 8 771. 19s. 10d.; merchandise, 188,8691. 6 /. ; minerals 87,6731. 12s. 2d. ; A s hby Canal, 3,6391. Os. 8:1.- Total tnflie receipts, 600,7901 3d. • being • decrease from the sane sou rc es when compared with the corre sponding balf of 1848 of 19.7271. 12a. Bd. The decrease in pas wagers has been 13,4401. 12s. 2d.: is iambi 1 . 9861 . 2 .• in horses, carriages, &c.. 3981. Os. Bd. ; cattle, 7981. 91, 3d. ; mails, 3,1291. le. 11d. Total decrease, 19,7271. 12s. Bd. But the receipts from the mails actually conveyed during the two half years have beea neatly equal, the increase in the half year ending 1848 having arisen from a balance re ceived duriag that period from the settlement of some arrears due from the Poet-office. The receipts from the other sources Of tram* proem • small increa.e, :- Merchandise, 1.953/. Os. 2d. ; minerals, 1,7714 8 .. 24. ; Ashby Canal, 371. 7s. 141.; total increase, 3,7721. 16s. 6d. The ',cilium' available fur divid:nde is 104,0391. 6.. Q., which will enable the proprietors, if they think tit, to livid. 11. ss. upon each 1001. Midland Consolidated Stock ; 115. 3d. upon each 1001. Consolidated Birmingham and Derby Stock; 31. upon each 1001. Consolidated Preferential Stock; 11. 10s. per share upon the Erewaah Valley Shares ; leaving 11 iOll. Os. 1:1. to be carried to the nest account The'whike of the interest upon the 501. ;lures for the half-year has been changed to revenue, as intimated in the last retort, though some of the lines upon which the money has been expended are not yet open tor traffic ; and othen were only opened dunng a portion of the half.year—via , from Desford to Lek:este., in August; and fromAirkby to Mansfield, in October. The furiher diminution of the dividend will, no d3ubt, disappoint the expectations of the shareholders, as it hu done that of the directors. The large decrease in the receipts from the coaching traffic which the 'maws exhibit is in a great measure to be ascribed to the further opening of competing lines, which, in wale instances, has lessenni the mileage travelled over the Midland Railway, whilst in others the traffic has been ab stricted altogether; but there is no doubt that the great lawns which have been sustained by many who have em barked their property in railways, together with the preys. linen of the cholera during the autumn, have else largely contributed to this unfavourable risult. The directors are endeaw.uring to increase your resources by negotiating with other companies for the interchange of traffic, and for the r.ieing of rates wherever practicable. They have thought it their duty to reduce the salaries of the officers aid the wages of the servants employed, as well as to lessee their number. The parochial rating of the railway and its branches forms a large item of expenditure, the assessments have always been felt to be excessive, and the most vigorous exertions have been made to obtain redress. Only 459 mil* a of railway were open for traffic in 1849, against 491 miles in 1849. Mr. Barlow, the engineer of tne company. reports fa vourably of the general condition of the way and works, and th it considerable saving has been effected in the cost of maintenance. The aggregate amount espended during the three years has beau 142,1601 . , of which 60,5001. has been expented in 1849, and 19,0001. during the last half year; far this latter sum 203 engines have been re paired, I . ixtensively so, and 18 have been reconstructed so Completely that very HAN of the original machines remain. The present stock of engines consists of 275, including 17 too light for the present traffic, and which are laid by for sale. The rolling stock further consists of 519 carriages, 222 break vans, 111 horse boxes, 100 carriage trucks, 6,850 waggons. EiAht new second clan carriages and torty goods ete , ge.lll have been added to stock out of revenue, in addi tion to the ordinary repairs for the half-year. The attention of the directors has been most assiduously devoted to the closing of the capital account, and no exertions will be spared to accomplish this most desirable object. With a view to placing the accounts of the company on a basis more satisfactory to the shareholders, the director , have obtained the services of a public asenuntant, and the accounts for the Wiper have been accordingly prepared and signed by him as wed as by the auditors. As respects the question of the future audit of accounts, the directors retain the opinion which they have heretofore a:premed, that a system of audit, under the contr.,' of a go vernment department, would email great prunes' evils, would sacrifice the independence of the company, and affirm the princip:e that the shareholders are incompetent to manage their own affairs. The report of the auditors stated that the accounts had bun sat isfactotily kept. A PROPRIETOR made some complaints of excessive charges in the engineer's department, and said that he came 500 miles for the asks et hosting explanations. Mr. 11. STEPHENSON, M.P., said that an outcry of this sort had been going on for years ; even before the mania ot 1845 ended, that sort of clamour was going on; sad with the view to put a step to it, he suggested that which he believed was the most equitable and practicable mode of remedying ' the evil ; tut was that the work should be done by the mile, and the result was that very much lees was paid to the engineers on all the lines with which he was connected, than under the original system. He did everything in his power I to discourage the new schemes of 1945; in his evidence before parliament he had over and over again told corn ' mitten that people were mad, and represented in every way the evil that must result from making bad lines, and from excessive railway competition ; and he did think that it was exceedingly unfair for ohanholders now to cone forward, in a time of great depression of railway property, and com plain of charges made by their engineers for work which thky toiled most laboriously to perform, and which they almost compelled them, in a time of great excitement, t o execute. Tear.) Dr. O'B lEN—Why did you not tell us that we were going to make bad lines, and prevent us from entering into such bad bargains? Mr. STEPHENSON—I am glad that the question has been rut. It must not be forgotten that I was the servant of the directors, and although I adei.e, I could not assume any antagonistic rosition to them ; but it must be recollected that the question was not always whether the new lines were good or had, but whether the property was to be swamp-el altogether. In some cases the new engagements , entered into were necessary as a protection to the interests of the proprietary. I think it a most disgraceful thing that attacks should now be made on those who laboured night and day for the iotereste of their employers. The CHAIRMAN then rose and moved the adoption of the report. With respect to the accounts, he had only ' to say, that they had been prepared se explicity as pos sible, and that Mr. Jordan, of Bristol, a gentlem in of mi. nence in his profession , by whom they had - been declared to be in a tatishactory state. (Hear, hear.) With respect to toe, he stated, with regret, that he had been to some extent disappointed in the result. And he believed that if only the usual charges had been made against revenue, their earnings would have enabled them to pay a dividend of 3 per cent. with a small surplus ; but it had been determined to take everything possible into account in the shape of charge, in order that they might start fair for the future. (Hear, hear.) Now the mule of their last half•yearly earnings, u compared with others, de clared some curious results. He found that during the half-year ending 31st December, 1849, they carried 2,658,903 passengers for 295,0671, and that for the half year December 31, 1848, they carried 2,535,943 missengen for 308,4921., the increase in pawners in 1849 being 122,960, whilst there was a &crease in the receipts of 13,42.51. He accounted for this in some measure from the fact of other companies running over their lice paying a toll which greatly increased the number of passengers con veyed without adding proportionately to the receipts. The hon. gentleman proceeded to advert to various matters of detail in connezion with the concern. Mr. Ellis concluded by moving the adoption of the report. Mr. CARBUTT seconded the motion. After some 'equities from Dr. O'Brien, Mr. IRONSIDES read a lengthened paper, suggesting that the capital account should be closed, and various other iseprovencints in the management. Mr. T. OISBORN E. in the course of a long speech, lewd upon the shareholders an efficient audit, and the appoint m il thata well h p o a u id id an h d av e e ffi a ei c e o n u t n i!Seer to manage the whole like;c of three or five share holden, holden, with whom to consult ; they wanted (he said) a man nt o f who would have his eye over every part of the line, and until they adopted this plan they would never have good management. As for boards, he had no confidence in boards of any kind. Mr. WYLIE, of Liverpool, had monied the accounts fully, and he thought their affairs heel arrived at ouch a Crisis that it was time fur the shareholders to look them fairly in the face. He had embark. dat this inquiry, and lie was determined to do his duty tu.afully regardless of impu tations, come from what quarter they might. IL , denied that he had ever in his life Jobbed in shai es. and with that observation be hoped ihathe bad disposed of the charge for ev er. He knew !Aug it was to fins himself in opposiii .... to a railway board, and he felt bound to say so much in Idus. nation • f the purity of his motives. lie felt himself, how• ever, celled upon to speak plainly, and therefore he unbend- tatingly said the! there were some at the Midland board in whom he could not place confidence. The balance was emu,. thee unfaithful. In the general statementit wee s. t forth that there was 231,6781, debts due to the company. and thin was 'Am as positive assets. Now of thi. ouin 61,0001. was due by ether companies: out of this sum no less than 15,0001. was called dee by the Bristol and Birmingham Company, whereas it was in feet a loss in the working of that line instead of a credit. There was another sum of 16,0001. assessed as lose on this concern in 1846. Mr. BEALE said that t‘te account was still open, and the subject of arbitration, and that, in consideration of 15,0001., which represented for tea years half the loos of the Bridal and Birmingham purchase, the London and North Western COMpsay had given to this company 'Magellan to ran over SOUTH WALES. Ifts'erdsr, the tenth half-yearly meeting of the shareholders in this company took place at the Paddington Station, C. It M. TALBOT Beg , M.P., in the chair. The directors' report stated that— " Since the halt-yearly gerund meeting in August Is -t, the directors ha,- prosecuted the work. on the line with ell the vigour and despatch consistent with a due regard to economy, and they have now the pleasure to inform the shareholders, that the portion of the road between Swansea and Chepstow will be ready for traffic within a few weeks fern Cie pr. sent time, aed they have every reason for believing that the whole line from Swansea to Gloucester will by opened to the public early i.i the rest year. Tney look forward to the commencement of the receipt of revenue as an important assistance in enabling the company to obt a in on debentures the sum required to complete the whole undertaking. By the time the line is emelt d between (alone. ,ter and Swansea, the whole of the immediate avail- WO.. ~hare capital of the company will have been absorb d, and t .e.to pswer to carry out the remainder .1 the under taking will then depend on the re-issue of torteited and other shares and debentures. Negotiations have taken places between deput-tions of the Great Western and South Wales companies on the subject of a =Gelid estioa all the CitlioliliOele o, the guarantee and lease, but without le .ding to any result which the irectors can Avis • the ropri. tole to ad pt . . It would ap t ear dist cos Great Western Company venni!. r the contin ,,. ney of the S 'nth Wales Com, any being enabled to fultil tneir obligations et edit too remote to iedue . them to oiler terms such as the South Wales Company would be jus.itt. 1 in accepting. On the other band, your directors h ave ....g- Rested the basis of a modified lease, which they think would he mutually advantageous to the two companies, but their propoeition has been elected. It appears, thrre.ore, that it will be absolutely necessary, for the interests of this cons pan y, that the works to the westward of Swansea, now sus pended, should be resumed at as e arly a pettiest' after the com pletion of the line from Gloucester to Swansea, as the funds, at the dispirit.' of your directors, will permit. Four nine. tors of the company have to retire at th.t present meeting, in accordance with the proviaions of the act of parliament— namely, Mr. Saunders Davies, M.P., Mr. D av id Lewis, hireb at h,:we, and Mr. D av id M orr i s, M P ., and it will be for the proprietors to determine by whom thew ;r" be filled. The tlire offer them:elves. for re•election. Th e vacancy caused by the retirement p. Mr. Pauli, one of t h t au di tors the company, will also now . 71411 to be filled "t up. named The em report of the gentlemen appointed' to ....7Teittiga.. the affairs salasi a gk o is a c , o ara p ne iB d y ;h v is h dy i a for cli hoseyour already I nade b.en ra n th ti: . .. :' f ec w * oof dis have been introduced into parliament in the present sealiOn, for the purpose of obtaining an extension of the tisae fur the exercise of the compulsory powers of the company over cer tain portions of the line west of Swansea, of authorising an alteration in the Forest of Dean Railway, at.d for various other purposes, which will be brought more immediately before the proprietors at a meeting to be specially co nvene d for the purpose. The directors have again to recommend that the forfeiture of 1,515 shares, which was brought under the consi leration of the proprietors at the last half yearly meeting be new confirmed." Tat SECRETARY next read the financ:al statement, by whieb it appeared that the recti,ds up to the 30th of June, 1849, were 1,816,3021. Os. 6d. ; the receipts to the 31st De cemher 1819, were 277,4821. 18s. Id. Total receipts, 2 093.7841. 18s. 7d. The expenses to the 30th of June, 1849, were 1.777,1431. 61. 3d., ditto to the 31st Deceseb , r, 1849, 21,0211. 124. 21, twakirlis 2,086,2141, 18s. 6,1.; balance, 6,570 f. Os. : weal, 2,091,7041. lie. 7d. The CHAIRMAN begged to move that the report and finane'al statement then read be adopted, printed, and Cifen !mid amongst the shareholders. He begged to state, that the line, when open to o:ouceeter, wkuld be, he had no duubt, the best paying line in the kingdom. It would pay by the goods traffic alone, even though a single pusenger did not travel by it. (Hear, hear.) He then p u t th e quest i on , as to whether the rep , rt should be adopt e d, p r i n t e d, an d circulated, which was carried. Mr. hi`Naughten was then elected a director in the room of Mr. MOlll4. M.P. _ _ ..... . . Mr. H. GWYN move s tha reelection of Messrs. Davies, M.P., Lewis, and Mathew., the directors who retired is ac cordance with the provisions of the sit of parliament. The Rev. Mr. SPENCER beggsd to move that Mr. Wa llies' be elected a director. Mr. WILLIAMS felt the deepest inter.st in the line, and would devote u much time and attention al possible to it. Were he elected, whatever remuneration he should receive, he would refund it to their treasury. Several gentlemen baring objected to the election of Mr. Williams to the office o , dirtetar, The CHAIRMAN called for a show of hands, which he declared largely in favour of Mr. Williams. A poll 1,11,1 then demanded, but postponed until the meet ing should have closed, it bailie agreed that the poll should not be declared before n.xt (t day, in order to give the absent shareholders an opportunity of recordist( their votes. Mews. Davies, ',MI!, and Mathews were thin re-elected diretters; and Mr Anthony R. Baker was elected auditor in the r. not of Mr. Paull, who resigned. The CHAIRMAN es:: moved that the 1,515 reported as forfeited be then declared so, which, after a brief conversa tion, was carried. The b•isineie of the general meeting having terminated, the meeting wen then made special, when The CHAIRMAN announced that it had been recom mended to reduce the number of direc,ors from 18 to 12, and that the rate of r-muneration to fixed at 1,2001. per annum. He had also to move that the report of the deputation of ahareholdera be adopted by that meeting, ea emended on the 15th Dec,mber,_lB49. Mr. BUSKS moved that the report, as amended, be reecive4; the rceornmendetion to suspend payment of interest he omitted. The CHAIRMAN then pst the question u to whether the report b • received as amended, or altered in comp:lance with the anotiol of Mr. Burk', when the meeting egreed to adopt it in its in•egrity. The weal v )te of thanks way then awarded the chairman, and the meeting *owned. PARLIAMENTARY AND FINANCIAL REFORM. MEETING AT ROTHERHITHE. Yesterday evening a public meeting, convened by the Be nnotdecy and Roth•_rhithe Parliamentary and Finan cial Reform Assoc stion, was teld at the Europa Tavern, Church street, Rotherhithe, with the view of making known and furthering the objects of the association. The chair wu taken by Mr. J. }JAMUL The CHAIRMAN said the question for consideration was a national one—it was the necessity for financial and parlia mentary reform. He believed the even the agricultural classes were now disposal to j4in in the movement, a 4.1 that they would ultimately be numbered among the best re formers. A farmer with whim he 1110 lately conversed had declared to him his intention to join the Cobden party, be cause he considered the protectionist leaders unworthy of trust. (Hear, hear.) Mr. JACKMAN moved the following resolution : " That this meeting is of opinion that the taxation of this kingdom is based upon ',August and unjust principles, and, at the same time, that its government ever disuse, amount , ing, as it does, including the cost of collectins, to above sixty millions annually, is highly prejudi dal to the general interests and welfare of the country." In commending the resolution to the secsptence of the meeting, he stated that the object of the association was to aid in carrying out the reform bill to its legitimate results. On. point kept in view was the increase of the registration ' list by the addition of holders of portions of tenements. It was also intended to provide for the delivery of lectures, and the holding of public meetings, for the elucidation of their principles. It bellow( the residents of that neigh bourhood to unite with their fillow-eountrymen in securing a revision of the whole system of taxation. (Hear, hear ) Mr. KINNERSLET, in seconding the resolution, con tended that the objects of the association, more especially as regarded the national burdens, were thoroughly national, and urged all present to join ix aiming to secure fiscal reform. The resolution was carrh d inimously. Mr. DEYKES moved the followiog That this meet ing is of opinion that the reform act should be amended, so as to bring it into more intimate harmony with the wishes and wants of the people, and to make it, as it was meant to be, ;he teal and pra:tical charter of their libnties, by conferring the franchise on all persons of legal age who may have occupied, for not leu than twelve months, any house, or pan of a house ; by giving the security of the ball ,t to the voters ; by a fair and equitable distribwion of the right of returning members, instead of the present ano malous and uidust mode ; and by limiting the duration of parliaments to three yews." He congratulated the meeting on the union of the reformers of Rotherhithe and Bermondsey for the promotion of licancial and parliamentary reform, and urged the duty of making in creased efforts for national amelioration. Mr. R. HARRIS, seconded the reicantin, which was agreed to. On the motion of Mr. W. HORRARD, honorary secretary to the association, the meeting adopted unanimously the following resolution " That the best thanks of this meeting are due, and are hereby given, t the lib, ral press of the metropolis, especially the Daily .vt tea and 3t.rning .1,11.,r -fiser, for their untiring and consistent advocacy of the rights of the people ; and, in con.idcration of the assistance ren dered by these papers to the CalllP of par:iamentary and financial reform, this meeting pledges itself to support them to the utmost extent of its power." After a vote of thanks had been given to the chairman, the meeting separated. MEETING AT COLCHESTER. On Monday a public meeting w•as held at Col- chester, fur promoting the objects of the Financial and Par liamentary Reform Association. Many of the leading mem bers of the lioeral party were present, with a large concourse of the inhabitants. Deep interest was evidently felt in tlua object of the meeting, the working classes especially giving unmistakeable signs of their iii.satisfaction wi•h the present wasteful expenditure of the public money, and the imp, elect Vats of zhe representation of the country in the Rouse of Commons. Mr. JoHNCIIAPLIX, of 1,91,1 ea. wu Calktl the chair, and in introducing the business of the evening, road the objects of the National Associ+tion, ezpressicg his con currence in them, and urging upon the meeting the propriety of uttitin,r for the purpose of carrying out great principles without needless:7 discussing salmi. details. Several gentlemen having sp, ken, resolutions in accord ance with the objects of the ineetin4 were then adopted, and a local committee appointed to carry out the views of the Re form Association. IRELAND. Drscre, Fen 27. Nothing could be more eff (qua: in dulUipatingfor ever any small amount of plitularity which the pro tectionists might have laid claim to in Ireland, than their factious and inveterate opposition to the Irish Franchise BiL Tneir pretensions to any Irish sym pathy sic utterly blasted. They have arrayed them selves in ho.tlity to the Irish people on precisely the most vital of their interests at this moment; and that fact is felt. If Sir William Somerville's Franchise Bill be lost, Ireland will be left without a constituency, but she will, on the other hand, once for all, have the eatisfacion of being convinced that the landlord party can never, under auy change of circumstances, be other than her enemies. The death of Thome Clooncy, Elq., of Craizte, an old 'OB man, and popularly known as "Genteel Money," front the part which he took in the IVex ford insurrection, apps try to-clr} in the obituary of the Frerman's Journal. Mr. ('looney was also the historian f the rebellion in which he was engaged, and was one of the most intimate friends of the late Mr. O'Connell. dfoerrActdh r e w a rd his bro t h e r o t of h f r 1 11)::net1t. so r h a s ick frightful 6 E - h e m n n uti a t t h r m w e ed mbnayen manner last wat T t o n w i t it government in the King's County. Tits romw'lru EARLY A 550t . R .,,,,, krld a lArgo alerting on Monday night in Sr. Andrew's 8. M. Pato. Mq., M.P., in the chair. The kall was crammed in curl part, and the ~peahen w ere loudly spplatided. • - t. 41 47, . .~, r ; \.~ I I i i