The Sun. — London, England, 1859-08-13 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN. The directors of the London and North-Western Railway Company, at the half-yearly meeting of proprietors to be held on the 19th inst., will recom mend a dividend at the rate of 44- per cent. per an num for the half-year ending the 30th of June last, carrying forward a balance of £9,236. The directors of this company-have just issued their report and statement of accounts. The report states that the receipts include those of the Chester and Holyhead Railway and steamvessels for the half-year and corresponding period of 1858. The receipts from passengers, parcels, mails, &c., amounted to £812,758 for the past half-year against £758,383 in the corresponding period of 1858, showing an increase of £54,375, and the receipts from merchandise, &c., amounted to £850,529 against £756,606, showing an increase of £93,923, making the total receipts for the past half-year L 1,663,287 against £1,514,989 for the correspond ing halt of 1858, showing an increase of £148,298. The working expenses were £731,808 against £688,834, showing an increase of £42,974, leaving the net increase £105,324. The report goes on to state that the increase of £148,298 in the receipts arises mainly from additional traffic in passengers and goods, and is attributable in a limited degree only to the cessation of competition at reduced rates ; in fact, the partial restoration of fares hitherto has been to a great degree nen . tra se y the frequent running of excursion tramsl and the existence of special contracts for goods at low rates which have not only very seriously interfered with the proceeds of the ordinary traffic between the more important points, but have also added mate rially to the cost of working. During the past six months, as compared with the corresponding period of 1858, the increase has been—Number of passen gers carried, 449,348 ; weight of goods, 265,432 tons; weight of minerals, 178,207 tons; mileage of passenger trains, 144,570 miles ; mileago of goods trains, 259,300 miles. Throughout the e n -. tire system (including the stations on the Chester and Holyhead Line) the local traffie has shown a steady and satisfactory increase of receipt both in the passenger and merchandise branches. The widening of the railway from Willesden to Bletchley has been completed, and the additional line was opened throughout for the use of the goods and mineral trains on the Ist of July. The result of the several applications to Parliament affecting their interests made by this company and others has been, on the whole, satisfactory, although 'the rejection by the House of Lords of the bill for authorizing arrangements between the London and North-Western, the Great Northern, and the Man chester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Companies, and which had been approved by the committee of the House of Commons, is much to be regretted, as it will interpose delay and difficulty in giving to the proprietors of the several companies and to the pub lic the advantages and the accommodation which the agreement, fully carried out, would afford. A renewed application will be made to Parliament, and in the meantime effect will be given to the agreement as far as practicable. Acts have been passed, for authorizing the construction of a rail way between Garston and Edge-hill, near Liver ; for authorizing the partition of the London- Station, Manchester; for authorizing working arrangements between the London and North- Western and North Staffordshire Railway Com panies ; for authorizing arrangements between the Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction, the London and North-Western, and Great Wes tern Companies jointly; and for the construction by the London and North-Western Company of a short line from the Aston station on the Grand Junction, near Birmingham, to Sutton Coldfield. The projected lines between Dewsbury, Ossett, and Wakefield, and Batley and Adwalton, have not been sanctioned; but the committee on the bill for the amalgamation of the Lancashire and Yorkshire and East Lancashire Companies have granted access over the lines of those companies to Bury, Halifax, Bradford, Wakefield, and Normanton, with the needful station accommodation at those places. the principal objects for which those bills were promoted have been attained without entail ing upon this company the contemplated and other wise necessary expenditure of capital. In the same act access over their line from Ardwick to Stock port and Macclesfield has been granted to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Company on the same terms and conditions. After alluding to the proposed arrangement be tween the Birkenhead Company and the London and North-Western and Great Western Company, for a transfer to the two latter companies of the Birkenhead undertaking, the report"states that the Government having expressed a desire to have the communication between England and Ireland acce lerated as far as practicable, and having passed a bill authorising the use of locomotives on the piers and on the railways crossing the streets of Holyhead, the directors have intimated their readiness to make the necessary arrangements, so that a considerable improvement will probably be at once effected. The directors request a vote of the proprietors for £63,097 for additional sidings and station accom modation. The net proceeds Mr the half-year amounted to £497,226, to which was added £23,196 from the preceding account, making a disposable balance of £520,422. The dividend recommended at the rate of 41 per cent. per annum would absorb £511,186, and leave £9,236. At the corresponding period of 1858 the disposable balance was £450,704, includ ing £43,347, brought from the preceding account. The dividend then declared was at the rate of 34 per cent. per annum, and absorbed £444,778, leav ing a balance of £5,925 for the next account. GREAT WESTERN. Yesterday at 1 o'clock the half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors of this company was held at the Paddington Station for general purposes of business and for the purpose of submitting for the consideration and approval of the shareholders an agreement proposed to be entered into by the Bir kenhead Railway . Company for the transfer of the Birkenhead Railway to the London and North- Western and Great Western Railway Companies jointly. There was a large attendance of proprie tors. The Earl of Shelburne, chairman of the com pany, presiding. The report stated that, from the gradual revival of trade, an increase of £50,999 had taken place in the past half-year in the receipts on the Great Western lines, and £20,082 on the Shrewsbury lines, making a total of L 71,081. The report goes on to state,—" Notwithstanding such increased re ceipts, the general working expenses, with one ex ception, have diminished. The maintenance of way and works is substantially , the only item for which any greater charge has arisen, and this is attribut able partly to the reconstruction of timber struc tures, adverted to in last report of the directors. It must be added that several new lines of railway, opened in 1857 and 1858, have since become a charge on the revenue for maintenance ; and that a new system of removing and reinstating two or three miles of continuous lengths of permanent way, has been resorted to as a method of insuring a m ore permanent improvement of the line, but which has been attended with additional cost,. It will be seen by the accounts that £l,OOO has been set aside from revenue under the head of Reserve for Fire Insu rance premiums.' The directors think it judicious to provide a fund to meet losses, which the company, as self-insurers in many instances, might otherwise have to defray , out of the current revenue, whenever they occur. They therefore recommend £2,500 to be debited in each year, until a sum of £20,000 shall become available to meet any loss from fire, which reserve fund should be treated in like man ner with the Accident Fund, already accumulated to that prescribed amount. An additional charge of £5OO has been appropriated to meet any bad or doubtful debts, and both sums are comprised within the working expenses of the last half-year. The *traitors have personally superintended the taking ° Stock of all stores belonging to the company at are Swindon,kept. for at every other station where stores the board their entire use. They have reported to r t. entire satisfaction with the result of that investi gati on, has verified the actual pos session of the be in stock on stores represent e d represented by the a ccoun t s t o 30t last. The disposable bal ance, after providi ng un for all interest o n l oans an d as fixed rents, amounts dividends pay able by the company, man ena tato £96,256 ; from which the directors reco mm aodtividend to be declared at the rate of 2 per ce annum on the consolidated *stock and Windsor sh ares, pay able to the propriet ors in t he usuall wa y be n e and. after the Ist Septem ber, leavin g i 3,BB3seen -that out of £ 77,000 due for liabilities, £26,394 have `been paid, while, on the other hand, -e — 21,63 0 have - been received in part of the value of surplus lands, &c., expected to realise in the aggregate £ 1 02,000. The Brentford Railway And Docks were opened f or c *rtain descriptions of traffic on the 18th of July ; b nt, inasmuch as some portion of the work remains to be completed by that company, the conditions of th e permanent lease, with respect to the q uant it y of goods to be sent there do not yet come into °p rat ion. The act of Parliament ratifying the agree tam it with the Brentford Dock Company has received the Royal assent. It is with peculiar sotis£ action your directors mention the friendly co .op' ration and mutual support given during the pr' 'sent session by the London and North-'Western am. !• Great-Western Companies to two bills, pos sess . 7 32 g -a common interest for th e i r re spective pro prif f o rs . The prolongation of the West London R a i ' w ay- from Kensington to join with the South- W e Eteril and Crystal Palace Railways, on the soul of ti Thames, intended to be connec t e d with , Ae the Victoria Railway Station in Westminster, ap- ' peared to be so important for the acquisition of additional traffic for both systems, as to lead to an arrangement for obtaining Parliamentary sanction to that undertaking, to which the South-Western and Brighton Campanies were also parties." The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said it was a subject of no little gratifica tion to him to be able, on the first occasion on which he had the honour of meeting the proprietors as chairman, to address them on a state of things which, as shown in that document, presented not a few favourable features. There had been a con siderable increase in the traffic receipts of the line, and that increase had been obtained with out a corresponding increase in the working ex penses—proving that the directors had neither been neglectful in developing the large re sources of the company on the one hand, nor, on the other, in the practical observance of those principles of economy on which they un dertook to administer its affairs. His gratification, however, was not wholly unmixed ; for there was undoubtedly a very large increase in the expendi ture for the maintenance of way and works, though with respect to a portion of that increase, they might look forward to its disappearance after the lapse of a certain ;Lumber of years, because, being attributable to the substitution of stone for timber in viaducts and other works, it would cease altogether after the line had been put in a per fectly satisfactory state. Even after deductingthe items for the maintenance of way which had refe rence to the viaducts, a very large and unpleasant increase undoubtedly remained. That was owing chiefly to the adoption of the new system of remov ing and reinstating continuous lengths of the line, instead of what might be termed patching it. The great increase in that respect came upon him and his brother directors with much surprise, but it was impossible for them to have been aware of it before the accounts were made up. He hoped, however, in future a reduction might be made under that head without impairing the efficiency of the line, and v_ith that view the board would give its best atten tion 1 "; . 1 the subject in all its details. Since the last general ri2eeting the Brentford Railway and Docks had been ope'ed , and the boa rd saw no reason to change the opinitn they had previously formed of the merits of that selZeme. It had, however, been opened for so short a time hat It would be prema ture to appeal to retrospective i'Tsults , But several contracts had been made for carrying coal over that line and through the dock, and the directors were sanguine as to future profits. With respect is the Abingdon line, the directors had in the first instance undertaken to work it at cost price, but fin ding they could work it at 60 per cent. working expenses they had made an arrangement with that company satis factory to both parties, and which would place the town of Abingdon in direct communication with the Great Western system. He had to express the gratification which he and his brother directors felt not only with reference to the support given to two bills, possessing a common interest for their respective proprietors, but also as a general prin ciple the London and North-Western and Great Western Companies were now working together in perfect amity, which he could not doubt would tend to the advantage of both. (Hear.) One of those two bills related to the Birkenhead Railway - , re specting which this meeting would afterwards be made special to consider an agreement for the future working and management of that line. The other was the prolongation, by a deviation at Wormwood Scrubs, of the West London Railway from Ken sington, to join with the South-Western and Crystal Palace Railways on the south of the Thames, and eventually be connected with the Victoria Railway station, by which an admirable access to Westmin ster traffic would be given to both the London and North-Western and the Great Western systems. It was needless to dwell on the value of that access, provided it could be had on reasonable terms. The companies concerned, instead of endeavouring at the outset to convince each other that the great object in view was the benefit of itself, had been able in a short time and in an amicable spirit to agree upon a plan uniting them all with the West London extension scheme. With reference to the Metropolitan Railway, he was able to state that the most valuable support had been given to that project by the corporation of London, and with that assistance and under the auspices of its present management, it was likely to be carried out in an efficient and speedy manner. He hoped it would not only be remunerative as a railway scheme, but also the means of conferring great bene fits on the public at large, and especially on the working classes. (Hear, hear. A paragraph in the report of rather a peculiar nature related to the church and schools at Swindon. " The time (said the report) has at length arrived when the funds for the support of the church and schools erected at Swindon by the voluntary subscription of proprie tors and other friends to those institutions, have be come nearly exhausted, and some provision ought to be made for the future." That was a question entirely for the proprietors themselves to decide, and no proposal would emanate from the board in reference to it. If he offered an opinion on the subject it would be as an individual. The church and schools at Swindon were founded in 1844 and '45, and had since been supported out of the money at that time subscribed. The institution had since continued to flourish and had been a great benefit to the place, and therefore to this company, who had so large an establishment there. Looking at it as a question of policy, he thought it would be impolitic to allow the church and schools to fall into decay, which they must do if not supported from some quarter or another. After adverting to the loss the directors had sustained since the Febru ary meeting, in the deaths of their colleagues, Mr. R. C. Brown, of Cirencester ; Mr. Thos. J. Badger, of Shrewsbury ; and, more recently, of Mr. R. W. Clive, M.P. ; and to the retirement of Mr. Atkin son from the office of auditor, the duties of which he had discharged to the complete satisfaction of the board, the chairman concluded by moving the adoption of the report. _ _ _ A PROPRIETOR - congratulated the directors on having at last, after spending, he might say, thousands on thousands of pounds in squabbling and fighting, come to be on terms of amity with the London and Noith-Western Company ; and he trusted the result would be smsibly felt in an increase of dividends. He added it was re ported that the Great Western Hotel was paying a very high percentage; and, inasmuch as this com pany was extremely useful to the company who managed the hotel in providing it with visitors, he thought it only fair that they should demand a liberal rent. He asked what the cost of the hotel had been, and the rent that was paid for it. Mr. SAUNDERS said the cost was about £50,000, and the rent about £3,500. • Mr. GILES, of Bristol, said " Happy the country whose annals are dull" was a proverb ; and he con gratulated the meeting on the report for the last half-year. From 1846 to 1858 their annual re ceipts had increased from £1,000,000 to £1,600,000, but in the meantime, their dividend had fallen from £8 to 255., and in the last year, although their re ceipts had not increased in a greater ratio than during the last six years, the dividend had risen from nil to £2 per cent. (Hear, hear.) He com plained that the company had been involved in extensive schemes and guarantees which had sapped and mined the dividends, and he trusted that for the future they would see no more of those sappers and miners. (A laugh.) He also complained that there was a deficiency of accom modation on the line for third-class passengers, who were the mainstay of railroads, and that the convenience provided for second-class passengers was not what it ought to be. He desired to know what were the services performed by Mr. Brunel as consulting engineer of the company. He also pointed attention to the circumstance of Mr. Gooch, the head of the locomotive department, having been for some years the chairman of the Rhuabon Coal Company, besides being consulting engineer to other companies, and being concerned in other patent rights, all of which necessarily encroached on the time he was expected to devote to the interests of the company. He held that it was desirable to have the undivided rather than the eccentric attention of a man of great ability such as Mr. Gooch. Mr. SAUNDERS, in reply to a proprietor, said from the first he had held that the arrangement re specting the Brentford Railway and Docks was a desirable one, and had never denied that it would redound to the advantage of this company. (Hear.) Major COURT pointed the attention of the meet ing to the debenture statement in the report of the several amounts of loans and rates of interest, form ing an aggregate total of £10,274,078 6dd. The accountant of the company could, he had no doubt, state that the total amount of interest chargeable upon all loans was £245,768 9s. 3d. But, as com pared with that sum, the meeting would observe that the en t r y o f Charge against revenue was £257,301 15s. Bd., making an excess 0fX11,533 6s. 3d., or more than an equivalent to an addition of per, cent. to the half-yearly dividend. There was another matter of account chargeable to capital to which he would call attention. In the account for the half -year just end e d th e b a l ance o f estimated liabiliti es for liquidati on was represente d to b e £75,151 13 s . B d., but he submitted that the truc amount was £32, 545 Ds 4d. be ll pu e rg c e o d nt o e f n a de n d um t b h e a r t t o the capital account ought mourn; as an of items, and conclud e d by moving amend ment that a committ ee b e appointed to examine the capital and revenue accounts embodied in the half year's statement before the meeting. Mr. COTTLE , in seconding the a men d ment, sub mitted that the time had arrived when th e proprie tors should understand hear)—tahhed that true until l t t capital the company_. account was closed they would never know the ex- THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, AUGITST 13, 1859. tent of their liabilities. (Hear, hear.) He was ' not a large proprietor, but he knew the grievous loss which had been entailed on his family, several of whom were of the weaker sex, by the diminu tion of the dividends, and he was afraid there were but too many instances of that kind. Mr. EDWARDS said the motion for the appoint mint of a committee was tantamount to a vote of censure on the auditors of the company, implying, in fact, that they were incompetent to the discharge of their duties. The capital account had been di nishing, instead of augmenting, during the last half-year ; the affairs of the company were progress ing satisfactorily ; and he thought such a commit tee was totally uncalled for. Mr. E. HARPER, an auditor, explained that £5,081, part of the £11,533 odd mentioned by Major Court, had become chargeable in the past half-year, in excess of the ordinary interest which would have been charged against the half-year in consequence of some bonds having been paid off , on which interest had been paid up to the time of their having been discharged. He also explained how by the treatment of another sum of £6,800.in the accounts, which Major Court had not taken into account, the discrepancy of £11,500 odd, of which the major complained, was reconciled. Mr. SAUNDERS, in further explanation, said in 1849 a committee of consultation required from the directors a statement of the amount which then be- Came payable in respect of the company's liabilities. An hccount was thereupon stated of the whole amount the company would have to pay on the one side and that which they would have to receive on the other, and a balance was struck. In 1850, with the full assent of the committee of consultation, £350,000 was stated as the balance which the com pany would have to pay, and which would be paid gradually. Every half-year subsequently the amount paid and received had been shown. Tho company had paid a total sum of £315,000 ; but they had received £41,362. Practically speak ing, when they declared on the face of their accounts the balance of their liabilities to be £350,000, they showed also they had paid £315,000. They had paid £315,000 on account of £350,000, and they had shown in the accounts that they had received £41,362. He pledged himself that there had been no " cooking" of the accounts. Major COURT protested against the accuracy of Mr. Saunders's figures, and was about to state his reasons, when being reminded that he had already spoken, he resumed his seat, remarking that the statement he had made was founded on infallible truth. A PROPRIETOR suggested that thP dividend should be paid without any deduction in respect to income tai, which might be paid out of the balance in hand. On a show of hands, Major Court's amendment was lost, and the motion for the adoption of the report carried, with few dissentients. The CHAIRMAN said, in answer to Mr. Giles, the question of an increase of third-class accommodation should be considered by the board. That of the second-class carriage accommodation had been con sidered by them already, and orders had been given to increase it. With respect to the question of gua rantees, he did not consider a line such as the Abingdon came within that category. It was a question of a working arrangement which was re munerative to the Great Western Company. The Birkenhead line again was a ease of positive trans fer, and must be considered on its own merits. With respect to Mr. Brunel, at the time he became consulting engineer to the company there were questions pending affecting it, involving vast sums of money, and his services had been extremely valu able. These services had occupied so much of Mr. Brunel's time that if he had had to make out a bill for his trouble and loss of time it must have amounted to much more than the salary he received. He also gave evidence before railway committees, for which the company would otherwise have had to remu nerate him. As to Mr. Gooch, no doubt he was connected with the Rhuabon Coal Company, and other enterprises. That gentleman intimated on a former occasion that if there was the least idea on the part of the directors that his services to the company would be interfered with by his connection with other subjects he was perfectly ready to resign his situation. The matter was well considered by the board, who were then, as now, of opinion that if Mr. Gooch were to resign the com pany would be the first to- suffer, for they would lose a valuable servant whom they would find great difficulty in replacing. . A proprietor asked what Mr. Gooch's salary was. The CHAIRMAN replied £1,500. Mr. SAUNDERS, in reply to Mr. Nicholson, said, touching the Metropolitan Railway, he had within the last few hours seen a very influential gentleman connected with the city, who had taken a very active part in the project, and who had assured him that by the middle of September the arrange. ments would be complete for carrying it out: Mr. NORRIS, M.P:, said, with the view of dissi pating any doubt as to the bona fides of the Metro politan Company, they had obtained an act of Par liament extending their power, and had nearly, if not entirely, completed their subscription list, to which the corporation of London had engaged to contribute £200,000. (Hear, hear.) On the motion of the CHAIRMAN, it was resolved that a dividend at the rate of £2 per cent. for the half-year ended on the 30th of June be paid on and after the Ist of September next on the consolidated and ordinary stock of the company and on the Windsor shares. 6 It was also resolved, on the motion of the CHAIR MAN, that a sum be set apart annually, until the aggregate amount reached £20,000, to be applicable to all losses by fire. On a vote of thanks being proposed by the CHAIR MAN to the auditors, one of whom, Mr. Atkinson, at the solicitation of gentlemen in the meeting, agreed to forego an intention he had previously intimated of resigning, and to continue to act for anotheryear. Mr. H. TAYLOR said he considered the ceremony of auditing the accounts a piece of humbug. (A laugh, and some disapprobation.) The auditors came at stated times, walked about the room, had their lunch, and then they went away. (A laugh, and renewed disapprobation.) Mr. SAUNDERS, in reply to this charge, bore his testimony to the stringency, efficiency, and extreme impartiality of the audit. _ some further discussion took place on the subject, but it had little public interest ; and eventually the motion was carried almost unanimotsly. Mr. NiciioLsoN proposed an addition of ,E5O a-year to the salary of each of the auditors. Mr. ATKINSON, the principal auditor, expressed his thanks; but said he did not wish an increase of salary, and would not accept it. (Cheers.) He had consented to act, he said, because a considerable part of his property had been embarked in the under taking since its commencement. He had retained that property in the hope of better times ; they ought to have better times ; and if the capital ac count was kept down they would have in three years a dividend of from £3 to £4 per cent. (Hear.) A discussion ensued on a motion of Mr. NORRIS M.P., to set apart £3OO a-year for the support of the church and schools at Swineon, where about 1,000 persons in the employment of the company live, and where some 700 children are receiving education in the schools ; but it ultimately fell to the ground, the chairman engaging, however, on a suggestion by Mr. Saintsburv, to consider, with the rest of the directors, how the necessary funds might be raised by voluntary contributions on the part of the shareholders. The meeting was then made special for the pur pose of considering and sanctioning an agreement for the transfer of the Birkenhead Railway Com pany to the Great Western and the London and North-Western Companies. The CHAIRMAN said the meeting could have little doubt as to the policy of the proposed transfer. The Birkenhead lines formed, in fact, already a portion practically of the Great Western system, for without them the Great Western could not have access to one of its great natural outlets to the sea. If this agreement were not carried out this company would still be deprived of that out let, and be liable to a diversion of its traffic and various other inconveniences. From the summary of the proposed agree ment between the Birkenhead and the London and North-Western and Great Western Com panies, it appears that the undertaking of the for mer is to be transferred to the two latter com panies, as from the Ist of January, 1860, for which they are jointly to assume theliabilities, amounting to £512,000, and to pay dividends half-yearly, on a capital not exceeding £2,000,000, at the rate of 2 per cent. for the years 1860 and 1861, at the rate of 3+ per cent. per annum for the four follow ing years, and in 1866 and thereafter at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum. There are also contingent advantages dependent on the increase of traffic. After some discussion as to the advantages of the measure, and the facilities it would afford to the Great Western traffic, not only to Birkenhead, but to Manchester. a formal resolution authorising the directors to carry the agreement into effect was unanimously adopted. The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman. the right to use the Sheffield station of the Man chester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Company; and in buildings at King's-cross for the use of the Mid land Company, that company paying interest on the sum expended. On the credit side of the capi tal account satisfactory progress has been made in the issue of the new 4 per cent. irredeemable de benture stock, nearly £400,000 having been re ceived on that account during the past half-year, in addition to £271,907 previously issued. The call on the 5 per cent. preference stock, redeemable at 5 per cent. premium, appointed to be paid on the 11th of July, has been properly responded to by the proprietors. The asset and liability state ment shows that the company had, on the 30th of June, available powers to the amount of X 311,000. The total receipts on revenue account for the half year ending the 30th of June last amounted to £596,939 against £587,028 in the same half of 1858, showing an increase of £9,911; the total ex penditure amounted to £330,243, against £327,194, showing an increase of £3,049, leaving the net re venue £275,232, against £272,802, showing an increase of £2,430. The fixed charges amounted to £193,950 against £191,482, showing an increase of £2,468, leaving the available balance for divi dend on the originable A and B stocks £81,282. The dividend, therefore, would be at the rate of £3 7s. 6d. per cent. per annum on the original stock, ' yielding 3 per cent, for the half-year to the B, and 7s. 6d. per cent. to the A, leaving a balance of £337. Although the dividend will be the same as in the corresponding half-year of 1858. it should be observed that the sum available for division in 1858 was exceptionally increased by receipts from the Redpath estate and other sources to the extent of about £15,600. The increase in the traffic 'receipts of the past half-year was £21,313, while the decrease in sundry receipts was £15,651. The coaching traffic receipts exceeded those of the corresponding half of 1858 by £27,000, and the merchandise traffic by £15,000: but the coal traffic yielded less by £21,000, owing to increased compe tition by other companies. Since January last 84 milts, principally on the " up" line, have been " fished" at the cost of £15,000, £lO,OOO of which has been charged to revenue, and the balance (X 5,000) will be charged to the current half-year. The bill promoted by the company for an improved junction with the North London Railway, as ap proved at a Wharncliffe meeting of the proprietors, has become law ; but that introduced by the Lon don and North-Western Company, jointly with the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Company and the Great Northern Company, to render per manent the arrangements entered into last year, after being passed by the House of Commons, was rejected by the Committee of the Lords. The Lancashire and Yorkshire and East Lancashire Amalgamation Bill, which was rejected last session by the House of Lords, was this year promoted ' successfully. It contains the important " Through Booking and Forwarding Clauses," , inserted last session at the instance of this company. NORTH LONDON. It appears that a net balance of £25,549 is avail able for dividend out of the past half-year's traffic, which will admit of a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum, leaving a balance of £1,174. _ - works or plant, losses by accidents, &c.) as occa sionally to subject the holders of tlic; preferential shares so restricted to abatement from their dividend, to the subsequent advantage of the ordinary shareholders." If it could be sup posed. that capitalists are to be duped like children into parting from their money without taking these things into account, some glim mer might be gained of the intentions of the clause, and this actually seems to have been the idea. Sixty millions of preference capital was already in existence subject to no such restrictions (the wis 'dom of Parliament having been at fault on the matter up to 1858), and the possibility of making new and inferior issues which the public would suppose to 13 , :, as good as the old is the only con ceivable temptation th a t cou ld h ave led to the change. As a remedy Captain Galton suggests that companies should, at all events, be compelled to insert the new condition in whatever certificates they may issue, and, although it seems hard that traps should be set by legislation, and that further legislation should then be required to give warning of them, this is obviously a safeguard that will become essential. Meanwhile the practical results of the tehder care thus exercised have already been illustrated in the fact that the Hertford, Luton, and Dunstable Railway Company, after having procured in their Act of last session the insertion of the clause in question, applied this session to have the restriction repealed, " on the ground that it has tended •to prevent their disposing of the preferential Stock so restricted." But the House of Commons are stubborn upon the principle, and have refused th e m re li e f, t e lli ng them that if,. owing to the obnoxious clause, they cannot get money at 5 per cent. they are at liberty to give 6, but that the clause must remain intact. Unifor mity, however, is evidently not the object, since, apart from the fact that 60 millions of capital exists without the new restriction, some of the acts now passed li m it th e preferential dividend to the profits of a whole year, and others to the profits of a half-year only. Captain Galton, regarding capital in its true light as a commodity, suggests, moreover, that " it is not apparent why such a re striction should be applied to a company's contracts for money rather than to their contracts for works or services, or to their contracts for money raised by means 'of preference stock rather than to their contracts for money raised by means of debentures or debenture stock. The principle, too, if it be cor rect, should be extended to all enterprises, and espe cially to all connected with passenger traffic. It would be convenient to the great mail steam com panies if they could get funds on preference shares and occasionally by paying no interest on them make up for the loss of a ship worth £120,000. Parliament, to be logical, must afford the same thought and protection to all. Otherwise, instead of sending out to instruct the authorities at Cal cutta in finance, we had better retain every means at our command for enlightenment at home.— Times' City Article. GREAT NORTHERN. The directors state in their report that the expenditure on capital account during the past half-year amounted to £64,758, making the total expenditure to the 30th of June last £11,470,811. The land and compensation account includes the purchase of property necessary for the new junction with the North London Railway itt King's-cross, under the Act obtained in the present session ; as also payments on account of some older contracts outstanding. The principal expenditure upon new works, &c., has been incurred in the purchase of ASSIZE INTELLIGENU. HOME CIRCUIT.—CROYDON, AUG. 12. (Before Mr. Justice Blackburn and a common Jury). REDHEAD V. RICH. This was an action to recover the amount of a promissory note for £5O, given by the defendant to the plaintiff. The defendant had put several pleas upon the record, but the material one relied upon was, that the note in questi on was g i ven fpr an illegal and immoral consideration. Sergeant Parry and Mr. Paterson were counsel for the plaintiff; Mr. Hawki is, Q.C., and Mr. Doyle appeared for the defendant. Sergeant Parry, in opening the case to the jury, said that, under ordinary circumstances, all that was necessary to do in an action upon a bill of ex change or a promissory note was to prove that it was made by the defendant ; hut in consequence of the extraordinary plea that was put upon the re cord by the defendant, it would be necessary for him to give a short detail of the circumstances under which this note was given. He then proceeded to give a narrative of the facts detailed in the evidence, and said he could not deny that there had been an intimate connection between the plaintiff and the defendant; but he believed that when the jury had heard all the facts, they would be of opinion that the plaintiff was entitled to recover in the present action. Elizabeth Redhead, the plaintiff, a woman about 30 years of age, was then examined. She deposed that in the year 1854 she was employed as a dress maker, in John-street, Oxford-street, and she was then in the habit of going to a public-house close by to have her dinner. Upon one occasion the defend ant followed her, and, while engaged in reading the newspaper, he touched her on the shoulder with his stick, and they entered into conversation toge ther, and she told him where she lived, with her mother, in Vauxhall-road. They became very inti mate after this, and the defendant agreed to allow her V. a week, and he invited her to nis house in Lodge-road, St. John's-wood, and introduced her to some members of his family, and told her he would give the £1 a-week as long as she lived. In September, 1855, the defendant gave her a promis sory note for £2O, payable on demand, but said she was not to make any use of it while she received the £1 a-week, and witness kept that note until 1856, when she gave it back to the defendant upon his giving her the note for £5O that was the subject of the present action. The defendant discontinued paying her the £1 a-week in April last. Cross-examined byMr.Hawkins--Witn ess h ad been a dressmaker all her life. She was earning about 9s. a week at the time she became acquainted with the defendant. Mr. Hawkins (pointing to the white-headed, de crepid old man, stated to be 78 years old, who was sitting near the counsel's table)—ls that the old fellow ? (A laugh.) The witness said it was. Cross-examination continued—The first thing that occurred in the publie-house was the defend ant touching her on the shoulder with his stick while she was reading the newspaper. (A laugh.) She told him she thought he was very rude, but she did not speak very cross to him. On the first interview she told him where her mother lived, and made an appointment for him to come and see her. The fact was she was very much attracted by his looks. (Laughter.) She did not introduce the old gentleman to her mother when he called the first time. • Mr. Hawkins—Why did you not introduce him to your mother ? Witness—l don't suppose you tell your mother everything you do when you are out. (Laughter.) Mr. Hawkins--I certainly should not tell her if I took a fancy to an old woman like that (pointing to the defendant). (Renewed laughter.) Cross-examination resumed—The first improper intimacy that took place between her and the de fendant occurred about three weeks after their first interview. She did not tell her mother anything about that. (A laugh.) The defendant afterwards took a lodging for her, and he introduced her as his wife, and paid all her expenses. Witness did not know the age of the defendant. He used to say he was 50. (Laughter.) She did n t knowthat he was considerably over 70. He had certainly begun to look very old latterly. Would swear that she had not had so much as £7OO or £BOO from him. He used to pay the £1 a week regularly down to the present year, and sometimes fie gave her a few shillings besides during the week. When she gave up the £2O bill the defendant said to her, " If you give me thatbilll will give a larger one, ‘Duckey.'" (Laughter.) Re - examined—Defendant always called her " Duckev." (Renewed laughter.) He used fre quer.tly to come and take his meals with her, and he generally brought about half a pint of wine and his pipe in his pocket. (A laugh.) Mrs. Jane Smith, the sister of the plaintiff, proved that she saw the defendant give her the £5O bill. She also said she was aware that he was to allow her £1 a-week. By Mr. Hawkins—She declined to state what the £1 a-week was to be given for. She might imagine in her own mind something upon the mat ter, but she did not attend there to say anything upon that subject. (A laugh.) Mr. Hawkins, at the close of the case for the plaintiff, submitted that the defendant's plea had been made out, and that there was nothing to go to the jury. Mr. Justice Blackburn said that the plea involved a question of fact, which he should leave to the j ur y. He should, however, certainly rule, as a matter of law, that if they believed the considera tion for the note in question was that the plaintiff should live as a prostitute with the old fool, the defendant, she could not recover in the present action. Mr. Hawkins then made a met humorous speech to the jury on behalf of the defendant. He said that his learned friend was quite right in stating, in his opening address, that iiirwas one of a very_ peculiar `and delicate character,il. and he thought the jury would have no difficulty in coming to a, conclusion as to what were the real facts of the case. This old fool, who was nearly in his d otage, had been pick . ed . u . p by "Ducky,' and she had m a d e a very good thing indeed out of him. It was perfe c tly a b sur d t o suppose that there had ;er been a n ythi ng lik e a ff ection existing _between the parties, b u t th e plaintiff evidently thought she had got hold of a foolish old man, who would lavish money upon her, and " Duck - ey" seemed to have been pretty wide awake . all through the proceed ings. She had got more than a hundred a-year out of the old man ever s i nce s h e had been acquainted with him, and he said he thought she ought to have • EDINBURGH AND BATHGATE. The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders was held at Edinburgh on Thursday, Mr. T. Hill in the chair. The dividend account showed that out of the half-year's rent due on the 31st of July of £4,750 there remained, after payment of debenture interest, &c., a balance of £3,295 applicable to dividend. The receipts on the capital account amounted to £251,886, which had all been expended, except a balance of £l2O, and of the above capital £62,700 consisted of debentures, on £25,000 of which 4/ per cent. was paid, and on the remainder 4 per cent. The report stated that the directors were enabled at last Whitsunday to renew the debenture bonds then falling due at a reduction from 5 to 4 per cent. The directors recommended a dividend at the rate of 6s. 3d. per share, free of income tax, and 4 per cent. on sums paid in anticipation of calls. The CHAIRMAN moved the approval of the report, and, in answer to questions, stated that 'with the reduced rate of debenture interest, the dividend would be increased next half-year; and that the traffic was satisfactorily increasing, giving them the prospect of eventually receiving the half of the surplus profits. The report was unanimously approved. ITALIAN JUNCTION. The first section of this railway, between Bouveret and Martigny, was opened for traffic on the 14th ult., and the inauguration took place on the 6th inst. The proceedings commenced with the ceremony of blessing the engines by the clergy of the district, and were concluded by a dinner in the usual man ner. This portion of the line is about 25 miles long, and commences at the eastern end of the Lake of Geneva, running up the valley of the Rhone. The heart of Switzerland is thus connected by means of railway and steamer with Paris and London. A further section of the railway will probably be opened in October next, and a third section to Sion in April, 1860. Th:s railway forms the nearest route between Paris and Milan, and the effect of the late peace will probably be very advantageous to it. When complete it will place Geneva in direct railway communication with Mil an and th e res t o f Italy. The gradients are considered good, the steepest being 1 in 100. THE PROFITS ON RAILWAYS. For years past the commercial public have con sidered that although a multitude of legal encum brances to the transaction of business still remain, the tendency of Parliamentary action steadily sets towards their removal, and that, whatever caution may be requisite in sweeping away old follies, every new measure now passed involves some step in the direction of sound principles. This is a popular delusion. Cases showing that modern economists and free-traders can acquiesce in errors no less gross than those which prompted the finan ciers of half a century ago could be cited every week, and one of the latest and most prominent has just been described in the annual railway report of Captain Douglas Galton to the Board of Trade. The paternal control exercised over this branch of enterprise ft om its commencement, and which has led to results notorious throughout the world, is being ex tended with greater vigour every year, and has received its highest development in 1858. The total of their capital, the extent of their borrowing powers, the limits of the liability of the share holders, the direction of the lines and the tariff of charges of the various companies having been all dictated by the wisdom of the Legislature, it has lately been thought fit for their especial protection to prescribe the terms upon which the shareholders shall deal with their own profits, so far as those profits may be turned to account as a security to enable them to borrow money on the best terms. L.: recent railway bills a clause is ac cordingly introduced prohibiting the company from creating any preference shares entitled to a fixed dividend. They . may issue such shares nominally bearing a certain interest, but this interest is to be dependent on the net profits for the year ; or in some instances even the half-year. They must not go into the market and say, " Our annual receipts have upon the average been of such and such an amount, and have in the main shown a steady increase. They are obviously sufficient to render the payment of a 5 per cent. dividend on £lOO,OOO a matter of coot linty, although accidental fluctuations have occurred, so that shortcomings in the year would have to be made up in the next. We will pledge ourselves to this 5 per cent. Will any one lend us the required amount ? The very existence of the railway, the completion of some important link that will make all the difference be tween traffic and no traffic, may depend upon the money being obtained, but Parliament forbids the transaction unless the public will lend the money in a speculative manner—that is to say, with the possibility of finding in occasional half-years that their investment will yield them no income what ever. Of course, the result is, that the loan is re fused, except at such a rate of interest as will com pensate for this uncertainty, and, as the charges for risk are always calculated at their extreme point the protected company find themselves compelled to submit to those extra and onerous conditions, always enforced in a restricted field. The public cannot fail to discern that if a company is bound to pay dividends to a certain class of persons out of the profits only of a certain number of mouths, it will usually be to its' advantage to throw the cost of any serious accident upon the immediate period, instead of spreading it, as in all properly managed concerns, over a rational average of time. For instance, if there are £lOO,OOO 5 per cent. preference shares outstanding, and the annual profits of the company with an ordinary share capital of £500,000, fire RlO,OOO, and sonic damage is sustain ed to the. o , un t. embankments, o 0;n0e0n0t, from any a will be the object of the directors to meet it entirely out of the revenue of the next two years, since there s o sother collision cause, or • the iit hen be no profit to show, and the preference shareholders will consequently be deprived of divi dends; whereas, if, the total had been spread over 10 years, these persons would still get regularly paid, and the full loss would be borne by the cem• pony, whose divisable profits for the term would be reduced from £5,000 per annum to £3,000. The law, in fact, to use the words of Captain Galion, " places it to some extent in the power of the direc tors so to adjust the time of payment of outgoings chargeable to revenue (e.g., for renewal of extensive been satisfied without endeavouring to get this additional fifty pounds. He then urged that it was impossible to doubt for a moment for what purpose the promissory note in question was given, and that the defendant was clearly entitled to a verdict. Mr. Justice Blackburn having briefly summed up and explained the law to the jury, they at once returned a verdict for the defendant, at the same time stating they had no doubt that the note was given for an immoral consideration. WESTERN CIRCUIT.—WERLs, Aug. 11. CROWN COURT. _ THE CASE OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FORBES.—This morning Lieut.-Colonel John Alexander Forbes was called on to surrender and take his trial on a charge of sending an obscene letter to Miss Lucy Adelaide Fenton, of Bath. The accused did not appear, and his recognisances, and those of his surety (Mr. Frederick Morris, of Bath) of £4OO each, were ordered to be estreated. On the application of Mr. T. W. Saunders, who appeared for the prosecution, a warrant was granted for the *apprehension of Lieut.-Colonel Forbes, and his lordship expressed a hope that, in cases where persons in a higher station of life were charged with offences and sent for trial, the magis trates should take such an amount of bail as would prevent the ends of justice from being defeated. POLICE INTELLIGENCE-Aug. 12. B 0 W-S TREE T .—EXTRAORDINARY POST OFFICE CHARGE.—Miss Catherine Flint, a lady residing in Lyndhurst-terrace, Peckham, appeared on a summons before Mr. Jardine, to answer the following extraordinary charge, preferred by the Post-office authorities, Mr. Sleigh , being in atten dance as counsel for the defendant. Mr. Peacock, the solicitor to the Post-office, after referring to the Aet of Parliament under which the present proceedings were taken, and which declared it to be a " felony" to take, by force, or otherwise, any letter from the possession of any letter-receiver or other person in the service of the Post-office, expressed his regret that it had been his duty to make a charge of this serious nature against a lady of the defendant's respectability. It would be shown, however, that on the afternoon of the 4th inst. the defendant caused a letter to be posted at the Peckham office, which was kept by Mrs. Eliza Bull, who also carried on the business of a stationer. Shortly after this occurrence, the defen dant called at the office and saw a young lady, Miss Amelia Tucker, who assisted Mrs. Bull in the busi ness. The defendant, who was known personally both to Miss Tucker and Mrs. Bull, stated that she had just sent her servant with a letter, which had been unfortunately misdirected, and mentioning the address upon the envelope, begged that it might be returned to her. Miss - Tucker replied that it would be contrary to the rules of the Post-office to return any letter. The defendant then begged very hard that she might see it, and, if possible, correct the address. Miss Tucker then looked among the letters, and found one of the address described, upon which Miss Flint took it out of her hand. Miss Tucker, however, immediately recovered possession of it, a portion of the envelope being torn off in the struggle. By this time Mrs. Bull arrived in the shop, and the letter was handed to, her, and she was applauding the conduct of her assistant for having refused to give it up, when the defendant snatched it out of Mrs. Bull's hand and left the shop, stating that she would take the responsibility upon herself. The circumstances were very pro perly reported to the Post-office, and this prosecu tion was the consequence; it being of the utmost importance to the public that all letters, after being posted, should pass uninterruptedly to their de,- tination. Mr. Sleigh said he was far off from complain ing of the course which bad been pursued by the Post-office, but before this case proceeded far ther he would venture to ask his worship if it would not amount to something like absurdity to brand this lady with a charge of felony, even adm. - it ting all the circumstanees detailed by Mr. Peacock. Miss Flint had, no doubt, acted very indiscreetly, and conscious of this, she had apologised to Mrs. Bull for what had occurred. The fact was she had written two letters to some relatives, and by an unlucky accident, she had placed one of them in the envelope belonging to the other—a mistake which she did not discover until after the first had been sent to the post. No doubt the letter related to matters in no way concerning the cor respondent addressed, and in her anxiety to correct this unfortunate error, she very improperly took back her own letter, on seeing it in Mrs. Bull's hands. She saw no harm in this, and as for the " felonious intent," which was an inseparable in gredient in the offence of larceny, it was insult ing to common sense to say that it existed in the mind of his client for a single moment. Mr. Jardine said if it was not a case of stealing, what else was it. The depositions must be taken. Mrs. Bull, the postmistress at Peckham, and her assistant, Miss Tucker, then stat e d th e circum stances as describ e d by Mr. Peacock, the latter witness adding that Miss Flint was in a very excited state, and appeared to attach great import ance to the mistake which had occurred. She told her that the postmistress could be fined and dis missed for returning a letter. Witness saw no harm in sh ow i ng t h e defendant the letter, on her expressing a wish to see it only—little thinking that Miss Flint would snatch it out of her hand. 7_t was addressed to Mr. Flint, East-street, Brighton. Mr. Peacock said he would represent the case to the Postmaster -General, having now performed his duty ; and it was eventually decided to adjourn the summons for a week to await the result. The defendant then left the court with her friends, HAMMERSMITH.---CAPTURE OF A FASHION ABLE SHOPLIFTER. SINGULAR DEFENCE.--A fashionably well-dressed young woman, who gave the name of Sarah Wilson, and refused her address, was charged before Mr. Dayman with stealing four pieces of ribbon, value £2 ss. from the shop of Mr. James Colbourne, a linendraper, of High street, Kensington. Mr. Martin appeared for the prisoner. William Baker, assistant to Mr. Colbourne, de posed that about one o'clock that afternoon, the prisoner entered the shop and requested to look at some satin ribbons. Witness was desired to serve he 4 and he placed a drawer of ribbons before her. When he opened the lid he saw her cover a portion of her mantle over the end of the drawer. She selected a piece, and then told him to cut off a yard. H e showed her another piece of ribbon, but the drawerappeared not to contain the width of ribbon she reL quied. He went to the end of the shop, aedaloabo tained the reserve box of ribb ons , which he placed before her. She selected two pieces, and re quested him to cut a ya r d o ff each. During the time he saw her draw her hand along the drawer under her mantle, and suspecting she had stolen some of the ribbon, h e went and communicated came had et forward andoccurredto accused his ho r employer. of Mr. robbery, . Colbour ne stoutly denied it, and expressed great indignati on sa a hs t ke s o u dd c e h hc el a i rn c te h od a a g , an e l beingdk then ht oe n t htue r made, nbea do kt oo gof the . Colb ourne th en shop, which brought back and g i ven into custody. Emma Harris on , the said femal t e searche u r t a ' t t S h h e e K w en a - s sington poli ce station, that when she proceeded to search her the prisoner told her she would give up what she had taken, and at the same time placed in her hand the four pieces of ribbon. She appeared exceedingly well dressed, and wore a very goldilnianhdersopmnerae6 in watch and chain, and she also had his gold and Bs. 6d. in silver. Mr.. Ma r ti n askeds worship to deal at once with the cas e , as s h e admitted tak i ng the r i bbon. She was a respectable married woman, and she as sured him this was her first offence. He understood she was pregnant, and he believed she was seized with some uncontrollable desire for the ribbons. They all knew that persons in high stations of life, when in that condition, were often guilty of singu lar acts, and this was one of them. Inspector Rigarlsford said the prisoner had re fused to give any address, and he should like to have time to make some inquiries about her. Mr. Colbourne said he had no doubt she was in collusion with two men who were outside at the time. When she came out they pressed up against her, apparently for the purpose of relieving her of what she might have. When they went away she called after them " Jim, Jim." The prisoner, who had a num b er of rings upon her fingers, declared she never spoke to any person. Mr. Dayman said he should remand her, to find out if anything was known of her. IMPORTANT TO SHIPPERS.—The suspension of a Liverpool shipping agent (announced last week) has pro ved a source of great inconvenience and loss to the shippers in Manchester and Glasgow, whose business he transacted, as their goods are in some instances detained by the carriers for carriage accounts, and in others the bills oi lading with held by shipowners for freights due by the insolvent for prior shipments. Whether carriers and shipowners have the power thus to detain goods or securities is likely to be decided legally. In the meantime, the whole subject is one of interest to the Manchester trade. [ADVER TISE:IIENT.]-11olloway's Pills, a Remedy for Bilious and Liver Complaints.—Those who suffer from bile and liver complaints should try the effects of this valuable remedy, a few dozes of which will make the suf ferer feel elastic and vigorous, remove all impurities, give a healthy action to the liver, and strengthen the stomach. If bilious attacks be allowed to continue without using such a preventive, more serious casualties may arise, and the sufferer consigned to a bed of sickness. Holloway's Pills are an extraordinary remedy, acting immediately in the removal of acidity from the stomach, indigestion, debility, and nausea, preparing the food thoroughly for assimilation, rendering each tributary organ perfect in its function, and stimulating the kidneys. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. BETTING AT MANCHESTER—FRIDAY. ZBOR HANDICAP. 7 to 1 agst Shafto (taken) 8 to 1 agst Starke (taken) 10 to 1 agst Coroner (taken) 10 to 1 agst Volatile (taken) 10 to 1 agst Archduchess (taken) 14 to 1 agst Punch (taken) HORSES STRUCK OUT OF THEIR ENGAGEMENTS . On the sth inst., at 1 p.m., Odo out of his engagements at Reading, the Convivial and Gimcrack Stakes at York, the Nursery at Oxford. and Stamford Biennial at Wolverhamp ton. On the sth inst., at 1 p.m.. Kinnersley out of the Whitley Handicap, Reading. On the sth inst., after 6 p.m., Leamington out of the Lewes Handicap. On the Bth inst., at 9 a.m., Paul out of the Wolverhampto n Stakes. On the Bth inst., at 9 a.m., Certainty and Atalanta out of the Yorkshire Oaks. On the Bth inst., at 9 a.m., Mary Stewart and colt by Her mit out of Lady Ann out of the Convivial Stakes. On the Bth inst., at 9 a.m., Lord Lumley out of the Eglintel l Stakes at York and Cleveland Stakes at Stockton. On the Bth inst., at 9 a.m., Atalanta, Certainty, Strathere , and Killingworth out of the Zetland Biennial at Stockton. On the Bth inst., at 9 a.m., Trabuco and Little Agnes, out of all their engagements at York and Stockton. On the Bth inst., at 9 a.m., all Mr. Ten Broeck'l horses out of the Warwick Handicaps to date. On the Bth inst., at 9 a.m., Belle out of all handinaPe• d On the Bth inst., at 3.30 p.m., Des Chiles, Cincinnati, an Lincoln out of their engagements at York. On the Bth inst., at 3.30 p.m., Des Chiles out of his engage ments at Warwick. On the 9th inst., Jordan out of his engagements at War wick. On the 9th inst., at 9 a.m., Viatka out of the Stratton An d- ley Stakes at Oxford. On the 9th inst., after 8 p,m., Gift out of the Bulmershe Plate at Reading. On the 9th inst., after 8 p.m.. Minster out of his Oxford en' gage ments. COUNTRY MARKETS. LIVERPOOL—Aua. 12. We had a small attendance of millers and dealers at our corn exchange this morning, although the weather Was we t ' and the demand for wheat was quits in retail, holders being. unable to establish an advanc e . Fl our i n 'f a i r r equest,..:" full prices. Indian corn hail only a moderate inq Oats and oatmeal are still difficult to move, both 11 ", and old, and must be quoted—the former ld and the lat te i 3d per cental lower. Beans, peas, and barley in retail, previous prices. WAKEFIELD—Aua. 12. The weather here continues fine for harvest work. The show of wheat is fair, and fi n e fresh qualities meet to";d able demand at the prices of Friday last, but chamb er parcels are a slow sale. A few samples of new are offering' and as yet make comparatively high rates. Barley .0.2„ a nal. In beans, oats, and peas the market was dull, '— quotations unaltered. Wheat, per qr. of 8 bushels 601 b., Essex, Suffolk, reds Kent, white, old, 48 s t o 52s ; new , 48 s to 53s ; ditto r ed , old, 42s to 455; new , 42 s t o 45 s ; Li nco l ns hi r e and York shire white, new, 46s to 50s; red, 411 to 445. EXETE. In consequence of the late but few purchases made. Wheat, white.. 5s Od to 5s 3d Barley.. .. 3s 9d to 4s 0 1 Ditto red ..4s 3d to 4s 6d Oats . 3s Od to 3 5 3 —Ana. 12. rains the market was firmer' Flour, fine, 30s to 31s ; seconds, 29s to 30s per sack. CATTLE—The market was poorly supplied with stocki A moderate attendance of farmers. Pork carcases in 00 01 supply. Fat beef,p score, lOs to 10s6d Ewes, per lb .... 6d 0 Odd Pork carcases, do 9s Od to 10s Wethers, d 0..... ., el to Lambs, per lb. .. 7d to 7id Fat calves, do ....51d to 6a Rough fat 4d per lb. BRISTOL SUGAR—AuG. 12. Our market is better furnished with samples, but el: trade is quiet, and in order to effect sales importers ha v a had to submit to a decline of fully 6d per cwt. Befi ll ,S goods are also less inquired for, and prices must be quc a. in favour of the buyer. There have been some small par cols of rum cleared, but the trade rules dull. COAL MARE (Prices of Coal per Ton at :ET—AuG. 12. the close of the market.) s. d. Burnhope. 13 0 Bates' West Hartley, l3 6 Buddle's West Hartleyl4 9 Tanft6ld Moor 13 0 Walker Primrose 12 0 Lambert's West Hart- Walls End. 0. ► l5 " 0. d Heugh Hall 0 Haswell .. . l7 A ► Whit wor th 14 0 South Kelloe l a 6 0 Braddyll'S Hetton "Cellos l6 South Hetton Acorn Close 16 " 0 17 n Hetton.... . l6 " Benson.. Belmont 1 • .. 16 0 Bell . ,„ 0 Hetton Lyons Main ..• 1 u 0 16 Keiper Grange-- .• • x 6 West Hetton.— ....... 10,, 6 Nixon's Duffryn . . .... 2 1 0 Powell'aDuffrynStsaul 2l :et, 66—Sold, 52. ley 14 6 Davison's West Hart- ley 15 0 Eden Main 15 6 Howard's West Hart- ley 15 0 Wylam l6 0 Walls End. Russell's Hetton 15 9 Thorpe West Kelloe l5 9 Ships at mark• LOCAL SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL—AUG. 12. r et There was a very dull business d o i ng i n this In a-k to-day, and prices closed weak. Bl ac kb urns , 111 12-- —North British, 571—Great Western of Canada, 1440 lc Sheffields, 3511—Caledonians, 81 2—Lancashire andr shire, 951—London and North-Westerns, 93/ 4— Du toil Rhenish, 6 1 dis.—East Lancashire, 941 95—BerwL ek* 91 1 4 —Midlands, 104 I—Chester and Holyheads, 49 ogr" Birkenheads 751 oa—Leeds Northern, 44 41—Ea 8 t e , r31 Counties, 11' 9-16 I—Grand Trunk of Canada, 8 11-13 9 "" Great Western, 581 91—Dovers, 22 1. MANCHESTER—AUG. 12. The prices were steady this morning, and continued so Al l day, but very little business. Leeds, 95 1—Sheffields, 35r Birkenhead stock, 761 — Dowers, 22 5-16—Trunks if* deb., 103—London and North-Westerns, ,931-4astera Counties, 11 7-16—Midland stock, 1044. BIRMINGHAM—AUG. 12. There was a fair business doing, and prices closed at the following rates. South Staffordshires, NI to iot—: Great Western Birmingham Guaranteed stock, 74i 7 r s, Ditto, pref., 10 I—Midl an d s, 103 4—Birmingham Cano. Shropshire Bank, 3I i, 93 1 1 --Birmingham To wn an d District Bank, 1 1f fi l ers. —Wolverhampt on G a s, 20k, The Bank of France return for the past month shows a large and sudden recovery in the stock of bull i ?t. n owing to th e t ermination of the war, the increase be ing ,700,000, which raises the' total held to £25,100,00 0 . note circulation has not experienced any material augm__ ett tation, but the re t urn o f s p ecu l a ti ve con fid ence is mane fasted by a great decrease in the advances on railway re cu t lilies. The di scoun t s h ave also fallen off £2,750,00 0 , ~, this is to b e attributed to the Bank rate h av i ng been In tabled u n til w ithi n th e l as t f ew d ays at 4 per cent., whil e the rate in the open market was only 3 per cent. [ADvErafsEmENT.]---The following are some of many thousand extraordinary cures with ou t me di c i ne e ff e cted a ', Du Barry's delicious Health Re s t or i ng R eva l en t a Food of Indigestion (dyspepsia), flatulency, constipau °nf 1 7; nervous, bilious and liver compl a i n t s , coug h, asthma, r sumption, and debility :—C ure N o . 41,617_ wincheal e k l, December 3, 1847.—Gentl emen ,—I am happy to be abl e :. inform you, that the person for whom your Revalenta.; procured has derived v er y grea t b ene fit from its use; , tressing symptoms of d ro p s y, dy s p e p s i a , and constipates, of long standing have been removed, and a feeling of ne r s stored health induced. Having wit nesse d th e boon effects in the above mentioned case, I can with c onfideu'L, recommend it, and shall have much pleasure in doing 7 whenever an opportunity offers, &c., &c.—James Shorlan'l late surgeon 96th Regiment.—Cure No. 52,422. BriclgA house, Frimley, April 3, 1854.—Thirty-three y e a r s diseasc lungs, spitting of blood, liver derangement, deafness, sinS ing in the ears, constipation, debility, shortness of bre, and cough, have been removed by your Revalenta him. My lungs, liver, stomach, head, and ears ara,7o - my hearing perfect, and my recovery is a marve l „t. all my acquaintances. James Roberts timber merchan t En tins, at ls. 6d. ; llb., 3s. ; 21b., ss. Roberts, Sib., 12e. ; 12 i" .1 265. The 101 b. and 121 b. tins carriage free, on rceipt of P° 9- office order. Du Barry and Co., 77, Regent-street, Londolit. Fortnum, Mason, and Co., 182, Piccadilly ; Abbis, Gmcechurch-street ; 4, Cheapside ; 63, and 150, °afo re street; 330 an d 461, Strand • 49_ and 60, Bishopsga te• street ; 85, T o tt en ham-court-road. Also a t publio! Bewley and Draper ; at Edinburgh, Raimes and 00 1 at Liverpool, Nixon and Thew; at Manchester, Sharp 91. Scott; at York, Raimes, Blanchard, an d C o. a t Souw ampton, Randall and Son. BIRTHS. COHSE.—On the 11th inst., at Littleton, near Guildfor d, the wife of Richard Combe, Esq., of a son. NORRETS.—On the 11th inst., Lady Norreys, of a daugb ter. SHERIDAN.—On the 12th inst., at Laburnum 1 1011°81 Brompton, the wife of John Sheridan, Esq., of a son. IVARBURTON.--On the 11th inst., at Rochester, the wi f° of William Warburton, Esq., R.N., H.M.S . iV e llesleft of a daughter. MARRIAGES. BULLOCKI—GATES.—On the llth inst., at Trinity Chi na ., Paddington Edward Bullock, Esq., eldest son of the ~ E. Bullock, ' Esq., Common Sergeant of the city of Lc i ti, den, to Adelaide Ellen, youngest daughter of the late „, Henry Gates, Esq., o f P reston -on-the-hill, in the coillw of Chester. FITZHERBERT — WHITE.—On th e 9 t h inst., at .., r. ooloetc Church, John Kni g ht, youngest son of the late Sir IT Fitz Herbert, Bart., of Tissington Hall, D. rbyshiot te , Arabella Penelope, third daughter of the late W. Wh Esq., of Shrubs, co. Dublin. DEATHS. B ROUGHTON.—On the 10th inst, at at Buxton after it few days' ill ness, t h e Rev. Thomas. Delves Broughton, r e° t ' - of Bletchley, Bucks. DOUGLAS.—On the 10th inst., at Holmhill, Dumfriessh ire/ Miss Clerk Douglas, aged 99. HALSTED.—On the Ist inst., at Slindon, in Sussex, a e°. Halsted, Esq., aged 73. HEATHFIELD.—On the 11th i ns t., at 44 , Charlwoo d-stre et , Pimlico, Richard Heathfield, Esq., aged 85. HUTCHINSON.—On the Bth inst., at Dover, Elizabeth gi lt ' chinson, widow of the late Willi am H utc hi nso n, C° l32- mander R.N., aged 90. MARSHALL.--On the 7th inst., at Camden-town, Stephen Marshall, aged 66. WIGNEY.—On the 7th inst., at Eastbourne, Sussex, the widow of William Wigney, Esq., formerly of Brig' ton, aged 100. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YO UN , I. ; of No. 112, St ran d, P r i n t er , a t The Sure Office, No. 11 7 Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, : n the county ° Atiddlesex, Saturday, August 13, 1859. ' 'N