The Sun. — London, England, 1846-10-31 00:00:00

.....° ©VEi LAN w D 31 T -Al INDIA. Dispatches have been received by express from rarseilles in anticipation of the overland mail, which l eft Bombay on the Ist instant. The intelligence thus brought is n o t o f much po litical im portance. I s A re t I 4 heathy' hloreyeverything r ema i ne d qu i e t, th e t roo p s and were expecting an early visit reins h pecti on f rom the Governor-General. Lail pa laii r : tre g u hbetray e d great anxiety as the time for the de of the British forces approached. t r um Caub u l there were, as usual, rumours of in- Niles and insurrections. A report that an English 14113 , 5' would inv a d e P es h awur upon the arrival of the cold season had pr o d uce d muc h a l arm, and i t was tilad laid that proposal s f or a t rea t y o f a lli ance would be e to Lord H ardinge. 111 413 insurrecti on h ad broken out in Cashmere, fo fontedi it is reported, by the Lahore Durbar ; and a re e sent aga i nst the insurgents by Ghoolab Singh os ad been defeated with some loss. Several English who were -visiting the country had been f ea Le 'i and would be detained as hostages, though no Ch olera %ere entertained for their safety. w er I°l era was still raging in Sinde, and provisions h al ! se enormously scarce and dear that an absolute 41friebwas apprehended. dui] .4 " ° eThay there was no news. Trade was rather and all transactions on a very limited scale. Red volt had appeared on Saddle Island in the Th e iza ., ship A.to 1 ' was carried from Bombay by the ste am aaa rest v : n ta, Which s a il e d a t 6 Pau. on the Ist inst., Th e eci Suez on the 19th, at 10 A.M. a half a f t Pka s thro ug h E gyp t l e ft S uez an h our an d ha1f. 1 ,, - ,: er the st eamer ' s arr i va l , reac h e d C a i ro at at g4 — ' ll ' r e o'clo c k i n th e even i ng, and Alexandria s hip on the f o ll ow i ng d ay . H er M a j esty ' s dispatches sailed fo r T r i este w ith a port i on o f t h e th a at half -past twelve o'clock at night, and reel ' , e44 llp a : uel onging to the Peninsular and Oriental Ren e ; -- . 7 1 to which we are indebted for this intern- Arie Ca rted a quarter of an hour afterwards. The ice of t ach ed Mars e ill es at n i ne o ' c l ock i n the even- W ould '"a .ge. 2 6th. O n t hi s occasion, therefore, ,it r~tse 26th. that t h e route by Marseilles has the ad -44r. inte lligence f rom E gypt i s no t remar k a bl e. l eft a le rr aY, the new l y - arr i ved Consul- General, had Aresej lln dria for Cairo, where he was tobe formally to ' c so B ed to the P ac h a. English shipping continued " nran. ea ree that f re i g h ts h a d reached a most ex eutapt",a" height, an d the merchants were loudly pric e, . 111 11 i ng- Co rn and beans had risen rapidly in co nsequence of the late news from England, p as all other articles of consumtion. meetei. tEroin the „Ar t make the kapielalleceeding mail ma e k s us, as it mus e. a thoroughly pea t c ei. omLay Times, Oct. 1.) Vila reader, aware, that under litee.7lllulstration there is, in the regions thia', beneath the lowest deep relation, discussion. Those o l e n are theti lakonth altogether devoid of a subjects for o qi i i e f i li not without abundance for a st e i i ll. nen W . narrative, and which that diversity of opinion must occur are excluded from h that Portion of our paper devoted to o e bY bee a blank, each individual ittil, and the es nearly ds to ten The Pro, general peace ex recent acquisition. pre- Pr o India at large is tran- coc,l re ason whether of old or and the climate at E . tent Z a sen ha s s et i n in Scinde, agreeable. The natives f coetiZelta not only healthy, pret,i;!'e to suffer from extreme of troops on tliejaaleuse No reduction of the amount rumours regarding but dearth and scarcity It b. 'lts has yet occurred, and the military .er e b fresh Kurra koee„, een transformed into whispers of as to the great th e "'elite. These are understood to originate at Some rob:, Politl 44 4 to be disseminated to mislead be • .444 elle rapidly i, k nges now k and inroads of small Suk ur, titaOt`tve bee at border. o s con- Our troops p h_ eu7 tide been made on the approaching. the i n the PunPueighly 404 pretty healt hY at Lahore and to make the aversion I ) ,: e ere,tior-General taking te we.,t4l tittttire af his es of the I t ir, be understood. assurances main all Seteewhat singular, policy! and his determined that whileGovernor-Generalrtecace us fai n ale determination of the (7 dominion feieilce throughout the British I belief, re eli ,3e"e best informed men at et the genera rachee of POrlst'ng appearancs bear e o_ d around r Ku hawulpore, reu,„„,en; s edulously escatter a march on Ba head-quarters, and while --- somewhere, just ' or f-,ents to the north—of d and t () 4-t;ai over th e frontier 7 a indispensable in S . in e, field i tyv i '''„ w , that a vast little war _ i indispensable. the titr,,,t te be infer a r r e m d y th l a s t r w s hen troops are in the It is 'ell ce of the Governo suspension of the con the s Uederstood that an order haa , n k . en issued from The Sinde Government for the suspe ", public works on the Indus. independent co l . e and Beiooch battalions, both a sort of ilturti:ietittortie T s , e Bombay army. I t IN, have been incorporated with s e is start a single Ni,, 4 _,!Ast be recollected that there desi ti y ors would lead' , Rae in either corps, though their g a d i na to ofthe inference that they .were compos e o the fires the country. An additional battalion of . 't• partner o f t h e t wo is at present being rai se d in the I)ecca4n4:ll t Swindling to a most alarming ext is said to have ueee discovered in those pplyieg thentroops with meat, fal se weights and improper steel troops having been made Use of fur the purposes of fraud. The bakers who sup • Plied the bread, again, appear to have been partly paid in Krain from the GoVernment stores higher prices having been charged tor this than -those ' current in the market; on both Points severe general orders have been issued by Sit' C. Napier. It is said, that singular coun tervailin divoveries have been made, so that the parties presently inculpated may prove innocent, and the blame es further forwarded to other shoulders. teLieut,,,nant Balfour, of the Indian navy, had lately 4„ell engged in examinhig the channel betwixt Gisree ai,"_utler and the Indus. His report is favourable ; and, .4Qvuld the anticipations expressed in it be realised, the beese,,,,4,a of having this line of c ommunication, which ~.(1(1 aintained throughout the year, opened up, w I N be vet - I ra _ .. y great indeed. in th e 1 ,'. 1 ' Pli ghte of locusts had made thei *r appearance not Vie "gh.bnuring province of Lus, but happily had fed st.s.,e A e "" • th e rg neral order had been published on the subject of_ the 'tittive precedence of the different denominations of hiehuth'Pany's and the Queen's troops, the agitation of ki saud ad occesioned many heartburnings and mu a k e lei ieratanding. At the funeral of the late Captain . ger ]i, / .aPler, the Hon. Colonel al commanding t 'l C:s 4,i!StY'S 6 0th, had given this corps the precedence ir re Ptate It %viand's tr of Horse Artillery, and, the arei!,4l4,,ritY arcing pointed p '' . out, hay tnat the royal Lt . hs'c' all armsgstiould on all ons take the poe hod; , tt Singularly enough, a thing so perfectly ,t !tblished by a long series of general orders, em b. posed 14 every military code for half a century, w . "'. °Il he Ythe Commander-in . let bt , ii tn hand to hand to Forces in Naeliirwe 4 ledia---the Commander of the being v itli d the Coninaanderin•Chief of Bombay, ce e) 4 ,eullepetent to di pose of it, by simple reference she "La tiv a 4 ' Horse Artillery,. b r ther Cu Ls ' According to these, precedence of 11 4Rnons, 'Pally's or Queen's take had -re --, ati l p so that C eu eas .. ~ Foot Artillery of Infantry, ' t her Majesty's thLt4 weall";(1 loot Artiller been presen , bore the place h 3' 144'4_115.4 been Placed three steps a relation to the 1 -, ir se A lltitled to have occupied In . ,14.1zi4'Ltdlery. and to_good deal of truckling . . Gov t rig g !ias imha *ig appearance, and an in Qi,i qiii.bi PP; y made its , d. The Honourable Rtief ood has been generate and into, boodu ignorance of rule eri4 41 Ss through whose all this has ut en, ha!'eratetiess of disposition is understood, ese, r aolil y ' in consequence, it Public influence, lueePed w ith connexions and , o Govern the apt,, cat censure. The ButiA a f Y nermitting Of t,!atroo„ -"ed With the monstrousness 0 e s.v._:_hs %ea .1 whichto exist amont all al isto_ I,,hie service, t Ought . ordered the that ,ie(irres 0 be thus interrupted, has . be hoped tt ri uotere rtaidence to be sent home. It is . to . e b more t'IY de a s it ) gross a breach of discipline will th e ole ietlii..with than it has been in India. of I:qui4eb.,ief of contained in our last of the arrivalto be un tie liar m : lie Lieoltan at Lahore turns out t to come With o Is i t ii , h as not as yet been prevailed on to be so 't lie tit 44 417,-,13, he will readily permit himself . safety. e44lie re Pert 4,,4"datit guarantee from us for his ,e.. , 1 1t f„ tVi'se from the circumstance of another_avlng '',C thellltc meee„, ,ma name, but lesser note b .t . uNth '''Port f ` m's Peace with the Dunbar. The origin had '''t Its; scrtnerie • and contradicted, of the i , - . W .lEt Litti ~,..1 given, Debate butt W ecr ri - l '` ) vei ' l °o, is easily explained. ...re, hs t rio ^ ter-I,,itt council that Ileera Singh and the a c !" - -e i ° Ns, have slain each other u Ppli es tv, tirkrkr and would t fortnight ruops Co u .'• °tie syeillee of others. The past Pre htlntie ere 4 hle in the shape of news. The . Of Pared to Oelet a t cl lcl he lthy near,the Seikh capital, ilai:ele,tueteukPatin e i , r e e : he ril,:iroelit the prescribed term thr.ll; this title 11-13'r". Lord Hardinge will possibly t - R the R ate have started on his tour of insction tlißhtithd teloo: ° II 911 r new frontier. Though notably pett:trkinh,,,..,%vish totturocative, he has never manifested the l 44.:Nil d'' l4 corn.. e9n eeal or mystify, and is peculiar y '. to p urB l4,aaletiVe as to the policy he has deter tttid 4 1 , 44 ' $c hew minutely to maintain the i s "ce to en havin m intained ;to give no coun !t4iiv, rtnooUrs ef imagined — ' allxid us, app,,, or impending H e wars. . ti ; t . u tly, to tr. 11. , and calm the public ()es lto r anqui tie tto • of 0. e ,__ P ess it on the en hie that the func oitil that i''enevuetruor---tlae duties of a p3ople—are peace ;nie,!vast eui„i er t,ains no apprehension of the weakness Nit that h e r'r9 Re rules, or the strength of its ene -4,..t0 .i .ill be the last to the sword—the 141';ti4,,'Ins have L Et It after it has been draw ur til its stern det,a;aee a s f been fulfiled. Tee Jullundur Doab con- Thellellllit , healthy, and promising a station as t he the r mic was complained of as something fiver :eea d in te nts, olnet,er ranging in the shade above 100 those Ihe only serious sufferers from this to 411othiog Ile thareh in the cantonments it occa tile Ip c'r four °re tha u a little discomfort from noon th at attb will , ° c c!clt. It is said that the troops in e th e „..,_ ue relieved early in the cold weather,and I.,.eNtu7-T_ratind between the Sutlej and the fleas will cttlintunte,4ll(l to Sir J. Littler. It could, we believe, e eetter hnds. 4433Z0nt BOMBAY, OcTosEn 1, 1846. 1 litre & riaol4 raysterioualy sprung up, and been THE SUN,_ LONDON, SATURDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 31, 1846. spread very industriously, that more men are required on the Indus, above 15,000 being already there; and that a march to the northward, for what purpose no one can comprehend, is in. contemplation. It is supposed that tales such as these are meant to mystify and be wilder the public, it being generally understood that, however secret the matters may be kept, the purposes of the supreme Government are fixed, and that by a day far from distant Sinde will be incorporated with the Bombay Presidency, relieved of an independent Govern ment, and at least of half its army. The arrangements of Sir C. Napier for his return to Europe are said to be in a state of forwardness, his family being shortly expected at Bombay to proceed by the Red Sea route. The cli mate of Sinde is at present pleasant and healthy, the temperature cool and agreeable.. There is, notwith standing, a large amount of sickness amongst the men of her Majesty's 60th and 86th, naturally consequent on the terrible visitation cholera lately, made them; the constitutions of those who happen to recover from the malady always suffering to such an ex tent as to lay them in the last degree open to other attacks. Frauds of a most extensive and mischievous nature have been detected in the commis sariat. False steelyards and weights had been employed in serving out provisions, by means of which the men bad been most enormously defrauded in the quantity they ought to have received. A court-martial has eccurred, the results of which are not yet known, but it is under stood that the parties originally supposed implicated have cleared themselves of the charges brought against them. On this, as well as on another matter connected with the supplies of the men, Sir C. Napier has issued caustic and characteristic general orders of well-deserved severity. " BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR OF SINDE, "Head-quarters, Kurrachee, Sept. 17, 1846. " The court of inquiry on the complaint made against the bakers shows that the men have not been supported. I set them to work with the object of getting good bread for the soldiers, and to give these bakers the full support of the Government, which they had not re ceived, but the very reverse. This is the opinion of the court of inquiry, and I entirely concur in that opinion. Major Blenkins made a contract with these men, which they could not fulfil with justice to themselves. They are to be paid immediately the money due to them, and this payment is to be made in cash. lam quite at a loss to conceive how Major Blenkins could think that I would sanction his forcing the bakers to give a higher price fur Government wheat than the price paid in the market. This would have at once defeated my exertion, and the measure is unjust in itself. I therefore order— " 1. That the bakers are to be paid in ready cash weekly. " 2. That they may take Government wheat, or not take it, as they please. "3. That the assistant-commissary-general be re sponsible that the Government wheat sold to the bakers be perfactly clean, and at such prices below the lowest market price as shall be arranged by me with the advice of the collector at Kurrachee. " 4. That if any baker goes to the. Commissariat-office for wheat, and is put off by any of the people of the commissariat, instead of being immediately served, as the bakers complain that they have been, such baker is to come immediately to me, having marked well the man who put him off, and who shall learn the danger of op posing my exertions to protect the British soldiers from being robbed and ill-treated by contractors and bakers. " 5. If the bakers so assisted by the public make bad bread, the commander of the station will be pleased to report the same to me immediately, and I will try them, as camp followers, by court-martial, and execute the sentence, whatever it may be. " 6. The present contract with the bakers is to be torn up, and a new one made out, under the direction of the court of inquiry and the assistant-commissary general,-which contract is then to be submitted to me for final sanction. (Signed) C. J. NAPIER, Governor, " Major-General Commanding." The quality of the bread supplied by the public bakers having been complained of, the utmost efforts were made for its improvement. It still continued bad, and the bakers excused themselves that so long as they were compelled to receive payment, not in cash, but in grain issued from the Government stores, of worse qua lity and higher price than that to be had in the bazaar, they could not make it better. On this coining to the knowledge of the Major-General, the head of the Com missariat was severely blamed in orders, and directed to pay in money, not in grain; to take care of the grain kept in store by him, and to leave the bakers alone to prac tise where they thought fit. Most men are somewhat unreasonable and tenacious in matters of etiquette—none more so than civilians and soldiers. It has been a standing rule in the army for nearly half a century amongst all varieties of troops holding her Majesty 's commission, whether regular or irregular, home or colonial—that horse artillery should take precedence of dragoons, foot artillery and infantry; and this was a matter with which no one ever dreamt of meddling. At the funeral of Captain J. Napier, the Hon. Colonel Dundas, who formerly got himself into trouble while belonging to the household at home, for some allusion made in public to her Majesty, having the command of the day, ordered her Majesty's 60th, of which he is senior officer, to take precedence of Row land's Horse Artillery. A great sensation was occa sioned on the spot by this very unusual proceeding and most uncalled-for interruption to the harmony until then existing amongst the troops. Somehow or other the local commanders in-chief seemed averse to meddle with the matter, though the regulations' were so explicit that it could be settled at once without any reference at all. It was, however, sent on from hand to hand, till the Commander-in-Chief of all India set the matter at rest by the publication of the standing general orders on the subject, Colonel Dundas escaping with the simple repu diation of his acts. The irritation and ill-blood this has occasioned in a community entirely military, will not soon be got over or corrected. In Sinde the people con tinue to suffer severely from scarcity of food. The addi tion of 25,000 made by us to the number of consumers, while agriculture was checked by war, has transformed the country from an exporting to an importing one, and given it starvation instead of excess. It is rumoured that the 60th Rifles will be sent to Bengal, and I believe it is certain that her Majesty's 17th return home without delay; they have been sud denly cut up and wrecked by disease. Some inroads on our frontier have of late been made by the Hillmen, and numerous robberies have occurred in the upper country. These are incidents which have been common in Sinde from the time it was first peopled, and are likely so to continue as long as it is inhabited by semi-barbarians. They exercise no very material influ ence on the prospects of the State. From Lahore we have tidings to the 12th September. Matters in the capital continue exactly as they for months have been. No preparations have as yet been made for the withdrawal of the army, but it is scarcely yet time, and not the slightest hint has yet been given that they are to remain an hour beyond the time origi nally agreed on. The rumour formerly noticed as to the murder of Lall Singh appears to have arisen from the occasion of a peculiarly warm debate at court, where the disputants waxed so hot in argument as to draw their swords up,,n each other. Our troops continue healthy, and not a murmur is ever heard from them of hardship or discomfort. Never did an army of occupation steer so dear of collision and misunderstanding, or stand so free of censure as that of Sir John Littler. The army just referred to will, it is said, on its retire ment, relieve the troops in the Jullundur Doab, and its gjsllant chief command the troops betwixt the Beas and the Sutlej. I have of late seen numerous letters from Simla, and the writers in all cases mention that the Go vernor-General loses no opportunity of proclaiming the highly pacific nature of his policy, and his determina tion neither to go to war himself, nor to suffer others to fight where peace can with safety be maintained. De clarations of this nature, confirmed as they are by cor responding, practice, gives the greatest confidence to those anxious for the advancements, and willing to de vote their resources and energies thereunto, if at all assured of the permanence of tranquillity permitting their effects to become effective, The newswriters are the only parties who have reason to complain of the con tinuance of the present order of things ; these piping times of peace are ruinous to the annalist. (From the Bombay Teley; ah.) " The insurrection in Cashmere is hea p ded by Shaikh Etnam-ood-Deen, the son of the former governor of the province; and it is asserted, notwithstanding the strong denial of Raja Lall Singh, that the Lahore Durbar has had something to do in the way of fomenting the dis turbances. It was at first stated that the Shaikh, on the 3d of September, attacked Raja Ghoolab Singh's troops with 12,000 men, took them by surprise, and defeated them, killing several personages of note. All the British officers, save two, left Lahore on the commencement of hostilities, and Lieutenant Edwardes proceeded from Lahore to Jamoo—Ghoolab Singh's hill residence—for the purpose, it is said by some, of taking measures to bring Ern arn-ood-Deen to reason.' The place at which the battle took place,' observes the Delhi Gazette, `is not mentioned, but we presume that it must have been in the neighbourhood of or beyond Poonch, as the tribes of the valley of the Jhelum are especiallynamed as having joined Emam-ood-Deen, and they would hardly have gone so far from their homes to encounter the Maharaja's troops in the defiles leading to the Peer Pin jail pass. It is said that in this engagement Ghoolab Singh lost four hundred men, and all his guns. The whole of the Hill chiefs are rumoured to have risen against him, and to have acknowledged Emam-ood:Deen as their leader, professing at the same time the utmost anxiety to see us their rulers, but protesting against their being made over to Ghoolab Singh. The Raja has taken active measures to retrieve this reverse—his son having been sent off with a reinforcement of five thousand men. The latest accounts respecting Cashmere affairs are to be found in the Delhi Gazette of the 19th instant, from which paper we take the following ex tract:-- " An urzee was received from Dewan Hakeem Rae, stating that when he hurt iedly wrote his first letter re garding the battle between the troops of Ghoolab Singh with Shaikh Emarn-oud-Deen, he had stated the loss at 2,000 killed and wounded on both sides, he had not obtained the full particulars; but that new he was able to say, on pretty good information, that Shaikh Ernain ood-deen having made me naarth from Cashmere, was attacked during the night by the troops of Rija Ghoolab Singh. The Seilth being on his guard, defended him self stoutly, and about 200 people were killed on both sides. Two officers of rank on the side of Ghoolab Singh, and two officers of Shaikh Ewam-ood-Deen, fell in the conflict. " 'From Hazareh letters we learn that the Mulkcea people are continuing to make head against the authori ties of Ghoolab Singh, under the leadership of Moulvee Zamun Alec. Dewan Huree Chund is unable to lease Hurkishunghur. Col. Outtum Singh had gone into the camp of the insurgents to try end bring them to reason, but they threatened to shoot him, and he was glad to re turn to the fort with his life. The Mulkeeas.are en camped about five kola from the fort, Raja Ghoolab Singh has, it is confidently reported, ordered more troops towards Hazareh. From Jummoo we learn that Maha raja Ghoolab Singh, having heard of the defeat of his troops by Shaikh Etnam-ood-been, had ordered a body of troops towards Cashmere. It is stated that his private orders to these were on no account to fight tie Seikh, but merely to prevent his proceeding towards Lahore. An urzee had come in from De wan Hakeem Rae, re porting his arrival at Rajoree, and his conviction that he would soon be able to tiling down the Seikh. He was told, in reply, at once to report any opposition that might be offered to his return through Sehun Lall to the British authorities.' " What course will be pursued by the British Govern ment in respect to the Cashmerian insurrection does not yet appear. It would seem, however, that Raja Ghoolab Singh, under the treaty, will have the right to call upon the British Government to assist him in reducing his tur bulent subjects to order ; so that in all probability our troops will ere long he again engaged in hostilities, with the;vieiv of forcing an unpopular sovereign on a miserable and oppressed people. The equivocal procedure of re seating Shah Soojah on the throne of Caubul, in utter defiance of the wishes of those under his sway, is about to be re-enacted in the little kingdom in the north eastern corner of the Funjaub. It is lamentable that circumstances should necessitate this course of policy, for our Government sheuld never be permitted to appear as the countenancer or conniver at deeds of oppression and injusti,e, or as the ally and supporter of a native tyrant. It may be said, that it is our duty to afford our aii in putting down rebellion ; but the question arises whether the insurrection in Cashmere can be correctly characterised by that term ? We confess that we do not think Lord Hardinge would be justified in establishing Ghaselab Singh as the ruler of Cashmere, without the consent of the Cashmerians themselves to his assumption of regal power. The Raja way deserve all the com mendation that has been bestowed on him as a chief of superior vigour and ability ; but com mon report represents him as being ferocious as a wolf and cruel as a tiger ; and it may be doubted whether these little defects in his character do not more than counterbalance the favourable and recommendatory attributes. For the British Government to say to the trembling Cashmerians, " This man we admit to be bloodthirsty, grasping, and despotic; be will rule you, we know, with a rod of iron; you will be subjected, while he lives, to the most grinding and hopeless op pression; -but yet we are bound by treaty to place him securely on his throne, and lend him our aid to keep him there—and you must accept him whether you will or no, or we shall march an army into your country, and spread desolation far and wide!" —for such an address to be delivered, we say, to these unfortunate people, by our benevolent and upright Government, would betoken a strange disregard of moral principle, and departure from those laws which should govern civilised nations in their intercouse with their semi• barbaric neighbours. Yet the support of:Ghoolab Singh would;place the British authorities precisely in the position we have denoted. A 'general insurrection' affords no mean or untrustworthy indication of the state of p u blic feeling, and the refusal on the part of our Government to view it in its proper light will be tantamount to establishing the doctrine that the strong may be permitted to tyrannise to any extent over the weak, if only political circumstances or the re- quirements of treaties render such a course for the time expedient. The results of our interference it would not be difficult to foresee. A triumphant march of a British force into Cashmere—a royal installation, amidst the semblance of rejoicing, and a striking display of rude grandeur—a withdrawal after awhile of our troops—a brief period of unrestrained oppression on the part of the monarch, and unparalleled suffering on that of the people, and then a sudden outbreak and a bold deed of assassination, de structive of the earthly prospects of the tyrant. These, doubtless, would be the leading events of the drama— thus would the curtain fall on the mortal career of Raja Ghoolab Singh. We trust that taking all these little matters into account, Government will allow the Raja to settle the existing 'differences in his own way with his refractory subjects; or, at any rate, decline to render him the least assistance until satisfied that the Cashmerians are a little more anxious for his presence amongst them than would appear from the facts now known to be the case." CALCUTTA, SEPT. 21, 2 20 row. Captain W. T. Salmon, of the ship Forth, lately ar. rived from Muscat, brings news of the death of the Rev. T. Brockman, an agent of the Royal Geographical Society. The following has just been issued:— "THE RELIEF.—We yesterday received the Relief, which will have much interest for our military readers. We hear the Artillery movements are very numerous, but we have them not. 2d N. Infantry to Umballab. sth ditto, Dinapore. Bth ditto, Phulloor. 10th ditto, Goruckpoor. 11th ditto, Loodianah. 14th ditto, Mirzapore. 15th ditto, Allyghur and Mo , radabad. 59th Infantry, Bareilly. 61st ditto, Barrackpore. 62d ditto, Dacca. 63d ditto, Neemuch. 70th ditto, Jullundur. 72d ditto, Kangra. 73d ditto, Hooshearpore. 3d 1.C., to Seharunpore. 4th ditto, Sultanpore, Benares. 7th ditto, Jullundur. Bth ditto, Meerut. 10th ditto, Ferozepore. 12th ditto, Hooshearpore. 13th ditto, Nakodra. 14th ditto, Loodianah. 15th ditto, Mukerain. 16th ditto, Hansi. 17th ditto, Segowlee. Ist Lt. Cavalry, to Umballa. 3d ditto, Jullundur. 4tl - , ditto, Kutiapore. 50th ditto, Meerut. Bth ditto, Loodianah. 11th ditto, Nakodra. The Loodianah Seikh Regi ment to Meerut. fast for the present. Lord to be ready on the 15th of Ils.—Calcutta Star, Sept. 21. 17th ditto, Ferozepore. 18th ditto, Jullundur. 19th ditto, Nakodsa. 24th ditto, Lucknow. 25th ditto, Agra. 30th ditto, Delhi. 31st ditto, Jullundur. 32d ditto, Loodianah. 33d ditto, Neemuch. 34th ditto, Arga. 361 h ditto, Almorab. 40th ditto, Kbyok Phyoo. 41st ditto, Nusserabad. 44th ditto, Cawnpore. 46th ditto, Jullundur. 50th ditto, ditto. 52d ditto, ditto. 56th ditto, Noorpoor. The Lahore troops stand f Batdinge's cemp is ordered October at the.foot of the hil, - GOMMERCIAtA INTELLIGENCE. From the Chamber of Commerce Overland Price Current.) BOMBAY, OCT. 1. The market for imports has since our last exhibited but little animation, and the transactions generally have been on a limited scale. There has, of course, under these circumstances, been but slight improvement in prices. Those of cotton piece goods continue unaltered and most unsatisfactory. The stocks in the hands of the local dealers are, we believe, heavy, and until the com plete re-opening of the communication with the interior and the coast, which the late rains have tended to delay, it is hardly to be expected that any active demand will arise. Favourable accounts continue to be received from the generality of the agricultural districts. Metals—The sales of metals have been few, but the market is in a healthy state, and the limited nature of the business done arises mainly from the indisposition of holders to accept the current rates offered by dealers. In copper, sheathing, raised bottoms, and tiles, may be quoted somewhat higher than before-60 rupees per cwt. baying been refused for the first, and 62 rupees for the second, of the above-named varieties. We have heard of no transactions; but stocks are light, and better prices will probably ere long be obtainable. In Swedish bar iron, a sale has, we hear, been made of 300 can di es at 501 rupees per candy; but the particulars have not been communicated to us for publication. In British bar, nail, rod, and sheet, we are apprised of no operations, but the two latter are a shade higher than the date of our last. The same may be said of hoop, of which, we understand, a sale has taken place at 7r. 2a. per cwt. Steel in tubs appears to have a downward tendency; in faggots it is without change; neither variety is at pre sent in demand. Lead, both pig and sheet, is in some request, and we believe a transaction has taken place in the former at 11r. 2a. per cat. Of the latter, which we quote half a rupee per cwt. higher than before, there is now little or none in the market. Spelter has of rate been in some demand. Quicksilver, owing to the firm ness of holders, has advanced 18 rupees per maund. The price of Tin Plates remains stationary at 16 rupees, our former quotation, no sales of the article having taken place. Cotton Manufactures—The market for these goods has been dull, and but little inquiry has been manifested for any description of fabrics, save 45-inch gray cloths of a coarse and heavy kind, and 40-inch heavy do mestics. For these former prices have been obtained; but the few sales in other fabrics have been somewhat under previous rates. There have been few transactions in prints or died goods, the prices offered for such con tinuing unremunerative. Cotton Yarns—There have been but few sales either in mule or water twist, nor do prices exhibit any marked change. We quote No. 20 mule a little in advance of previous rates. Woollens—The market for woollen cloths continues without animation, and neither in prices nor in demand have we any change to intimate. Marine Stores—White paint has somewhat improved in value, while black remains without alteration. Pitch has declined about half a rupee per cwt. Other articles uuder this head are unchanged in price. Beer—The demand for beer is languid. The sales of Allsopp's since the Ist inst. amount to 200 hhds. at 60 rupees per hhd. We quote Tennant's at 4.5 to 48 rupees per hhd., at both which rates transactions have had effect. Spirits—These are but in moderate request, and owing to the very low prices offering, little or nothing has been done. The stocks in importers' hands are large. Red Lead —We are informed of a sale of 150 casks of red lead at 13 rupees per cwt., and now quote the article at that rate. White is without change, at 15 rupees per cwt. Saffron—There is a good inquiry for the higher qua lities of this article, and the price has still further im proved, 18i rupees per lb. being now obtainable for the first quality. Of this, however, there appears to be but little in the market, and what there is importers are holding fur higher prices. Low qualities are difficult of sale. Cochineal —This may now he quoted at 3r. sa. per lb., a slight further improvement on last month's rate. EASTERN paoDucE. Cotton—There has latterly been rather more done in this staple for shipment to the English markets. Prices have somewhat given way, but this is rather owing to the depreciated quality of the stock at market than to any actual decline in value. The following are the cur rent rates : Broach and Jumbooser ... 751 t o 7 6rs. per candy. Surat •.. ..• 77 d o. do. DoHera ••• ••• 72 do. d o . Oomrawuttee ••• 75 do. d o . Cornptah (old) ... •.. 71 do. do. We hear of a purchase of 1,000 bales of broach for the Liverpool market, at 76rs. per candy. Coffee—Mocha has slightly declined ; the present price being Brs. per maund. In Malabar there is no change to notice. Ginger has improvied in price about 'Ors. per candy of 51 cwt. Opium—This drug may now be quoted from I,loOrs. to 1,215r5. per chest for Mal wa. Pepper—Both Bhutcule and Malabar have improved in price—the former being now 58rs. to 59r5., and the latter 50rs. per candy. In other articles of eastern produce we hear of no al. teration worth notice. FREIGHTS. There has been little change in the rates of freight to Great Britain, which may now be quoted at 3L 103. to 3/. 15s. per ton to London and Liverpool. The rate offered to China is at 4 per candy. MONEY MARKET. The prices of Government paper remain almost un changed, and we, therefore, repeat our former quota tions : 5 pAr Cent. Loan of 1825 26 Rs. 110 4 do. do 1832-33 " 99 4do do 1835.36 " 95; sdo do 1841.42 „ 106 4 do do . 1842 43 96 ~ Oriental Bank (Old Sh ares)... 33 Do. do /9 (New Shar es ) ... 31 ft Agra Bank Commercial PRICE OF BULLION. Sovereigns, each Rs. 11 3 0 Bank of England Notes, per Exchange—The bulk of the transactions for the mail have had effect at Is. I Id. to Is. 114. per rupee, for bills at six months' sight, and the rate may now be quoted at Is. 11d. At 30 days' sight Exchange is at Is. 10d. to ls. 100. per rupee. On Calcutta, at 60 days, the rate is 98irs. Baxxs.—We subjoin the quotations of Bank Shares, which, it will be seen, have improved in vaiue:— Bank of Bombay-4lirs. per cent. premium. (From the Englishman's Weekly Price Current.) CALCUTTA, SEPr.I4, 1 846.—We have but little change to report since our last. Imports continue to move off slowly, nor do we now see much probability of an im proved demand being experienced previous to thePoojah. In produce a Moderate amount of business is doing, the decline in exchange having brought several purchasers into the market, notwithstanding the high prices still demanded by holders. Exchange continues steady about ls. 102 d. to ls. 11d. per rupee for good 10 months' date paper, at which rates some extent of business has already been done for the mail. In Government Securities and Bank Stock we have not heard of any extensive opera tions, nor have they been in much inquiry lately ; the quotations are, however, much the same as last week, say for the 2d or 3d five per cents. from 0.8 annas to 3r. premium, and for the Sicca and Company's Four per Cents. from 5-8 to 8.8 discount. The extensive ship ments of grain to the Mauritius have taken off a portion of the superfluous tonnage, but there are still many more vessels available for Great Britain than the busi ness doing at present appears capable of employing, and rates have again given way slightly, but little dead weight being procurable above 31. 155. to 41. per ton, with every probability of a more material decline within the next week. BIRMINGHAM AND OXFORD JUNCTION RAILWAY. (BY EXPRESS.) FROM OUR OWN REPORTER. The first ordinary general meeting of the shareholders in this company was held at two o'clock yesterday after noon, in the large room at Dee's hotel, Temple-row, Birmingham, pursuant to the provisions of the Act in corporating the company. The importance of the meet ing was materially increased by an announcement to the effect that the expediency of amalgamating With the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley, would be discussed, and in the event of the meeting deciding in the affirmative, to authorise an application to Parliament in the ensuing session to carry such amalgamation into effect. A considerable number of the directors and share holders were present ; amongst them we observed— Lord Hatherton, Charles Russell, Esq., M.P.; E. Bul ler, Esq., M.P.; Richard Spooner, Esq., M.P.; W. Mat thews, Esq., chairman of the Birmingham, Wolverhamp ton, and Dudley Railway Company; I. K. Brunel. Esq.; C. Saunders, Esq.; and a number of other gentlemen. Philip Henry Muntz, the chairman of the company, presided. The advertisement convening the meeting having been read, and the common seal of the company having been affixed to the register of proprietors, Tiros. HOLROYD, Esq., the secretary, proceeded to read the report:— " The success of the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley Railway Company ia an event of the highest importance to this company, and bringing it into immediate connexion with the mining and manufac turing districts north of Birmingham, cannot fail to be a most important adjunct to this line. The directors, therefore, propose an amalgamation, whereby its per manent connexion will be secured. To carry out this Most desirable object, the directors propose to take the authority of the proprietary to enable them to proceed to Parliament. "The importance of securing to this company the principal traffic of the very populous district of South Staffordshire, and obviating any inconvenience from a break of gauge, points out the urgency of applying to Parliament, in the next session, for power to lay down the broad gauge rails in addition to those of the narrow gauge, and the directors propose to take the necessary mea sures fur that purpose; and from all that has transpired, there is very little doubt that, looking to the public ad vantage, it will readily be granted. " The question of an extension from their present line is one which has undergone the anxious and at tentive consideration of the directors, and pressed upon them as it has been by the landowners and inhabitants of the district, they have determined to proceed to Par liament for permission to make a line from Warwick to Stratford, with the view of opening a railway communi cation between Warwick and Cheltenham . From Strat ford to Chippen Camden the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway Company obtained an Act to make a lice last session, and that company will this year proceed to Parliament for permission to continue that line to Cheltenham. " The directors have given the necessary orders for proceeding with the works with the utmost possible dis patch; the greater portion of the line is already marked out, and the purchases proceeding with. " The directors have determined, in pursuance of the power contained in the Act, to allow 4 per cent. on de posits, after the sum of 5L has been paid; and the share holders wishing to anticipate their calls will be allow e the same rate of interest upon all sums paid in advance." The CHAIRMAN said, in moving the adoption of the report, he hoped they would allow him to congratulate them on the position the Company now occupied in com parison to its position when the directors last had the pleasure of meeting the shareholders. There was only one thing in their past proceedings which he looked upon with regret. It was, that the Nobleman who had so worthily filled the office of chairman (Lord Hatherton), and for whose great services:they were so much indebted, had found that it would be incompatible with his time and public duties tocontinue to hold that office, and that he (the Chairman) feared he should but inadequately discharge the duties of the office he had so ably filled. He begged on his own part to offer his hearty thanks to the Noble Lord, and he was sure every shareholder would agree with him, for the great services which he bad rendered to the com pany.—(Cheers.) The meeting was called for various purposes, and was called in accordance with the Act of Parliament. The first business which they had to transact was the appointment of the directors for the ensuing year, two auditors, and to fix the salary of the secretary. But these were matters ofsecondary importance in com parison to the proposition which the directors had called them together to consider with respect to the finances of the company. He have to state that they had not been' able to obtain all the outstanding accounts but out of the 100,0001. whi c h h a d been placed in their hands for the purpose of carrying the undertaking through the Parliamentary ordeal, 7770601. remained in their hands.--(Cheers.) He might safely say, taking into consideration the outstanding liabilities, that from 255. to 30s. remained out of the deposits of 2/.—(Hear) —showing that they had practised the utmost economy in the conduct of their affairs. He now came to one of the most important matters relative to the company. It was the question of amalgamation with the Birming ham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley Railway. There were so many, and such important reasons for this amalgamation, that he considered he should not find the slightest difficulty in convincing those present, because it must be obvious that their interests would be promoted by the adoption of such a course. It was necessary that no time should be lost in arriving at a decision on the matter, as the notices for the Act to amalgamate the companies must be given in the course of a few days. One of the reasons which influenced the directors in coming to this decision was, that, by the union of the two companies, there would be a uniformity of gauge from London to Wolverhampton through Birmingham, for no doubt the Legislature next session would sanction the laying down the broad gauge the whole way from Oxford to Wolverhampton. The directors were unani mous on the subject of amalgamation. He hadseen several notices relative to this in the local and London newspapers, and stating that they were apparently anxious to bring about an amalgamation with undue haste. Now this was a very erroneous doctrine. The directors had no alter native. They must either have brought the matter before the shareholders and obtained their consent, or, in the event of not having brought the matter before them, spent money without obtaining their consent in Parlia mentary notices ; but they thought the most straight forward course to adopt was to call the shareholders together, to take their opinion upon it, and to proceed with their approval.—(Hear.)--He wished also to take notice of another paragraph, which had appeared in all the London, and rripny of the provincial papers, stating that negotiations had been entered into by this company for the transfer or lease of the line. He begged to state that there had been no negotiations of any nature what soever; he wished most distinctly to state that there had been no offer from the Great Western Company, offering either to purchase or to take a lease of the line, but as the paragraph had been copied into the Birmingham papers, and as the share holders might possibly think that the directors were withholding some information from them, he had thought it right to state how the matter really stood. However desirable hereafter it might be to form an amalgamation with the Great Western, it was a matter for future consideration, but, as a large shareholder, he deprecated the idea of taking terms at the present mo ment, which might in a short time be considerably in creased, as the advantages of their line began to be de veloped. He had little more to add. They had ob tained their Act. They - had had to contend with all those weapons which wealth and interest could array against them, but, acting upon the sound principles of right and competition, they had happily succeeded.— (Hear.) They had had the good fortune to act in unity whilst their opponents were divided by party interests, and he hoped the unanimity and good feeling which had characterised their proceedings up to that time would continue in the future, for, in his estimation, the rail way would become one of the most lucrative in Great Britain.—(Hear, hear.) He concluded by moving the adoption of the report, and that it be printed and circu lated amongst the shareholders. Mr. MOSELEY' inquired, if they agreed to the adoption of the report, whether the meeting would stand pledged to the recommendations it contained. He, for one, dissented from its sentiments, more particu larly that portion which related to the amalgamation of the company with the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley. The CHAIRMAN said if the meeting adopted the report they would adopt, as a matter of course, the sentiments it contained. Mr. MOSELEY inquired if a separate proposition for the amalgamation would be submitted 'for the approval of the meeting. The CHAIRMAN said each matter would be put se parately. Mr. MOSELEY apprehended that in that case he should not be precluded from expressing his sentiments in detail. The CHAIRMAN said he would not. After a short discussion the Chairman consented to leave out the word " adopted," and the report was simply received, and ordered to be printed and circulated amongst the shareholders. dirMecrt.oßrsuiEß'the m d re-electioneiegse he e f the aid it gave him great pleasure as a proprietor, that it was quite impossible for any of them, in his opinion, to meet the directors under more favourable circumstances. lie mentionedALin proposed the report. spoke thus because he knew the difficulties with which they had had to contend in obtaining the sanction of Parliament to the Bill. They had happily overcome these difficulties, and nothing could be more satisfactory than the statement which had just been read of their labours in the service of the company. They had heard that 77,000/. remained out of the 100,0001. which had been placed in their hands. Considering the difficulties they had to contend with, against rival and powerful companies, so small an expenditure was almost unexampled. He con sidered they deserved the utmost praise. Mr. F. MOWATT seconded the motion, which was at once carried; as also were motions awarding an allow ance of 1,200/. to the directors, and 201. to each of the auditors (Messrs. Crosthwaite and Alston). The CHAIRMAN said they had now come to the ques tion of amalgamation. He would men merely request those who oppose that amalgamation to consider how much it was to their advantage to enter into it. It was proposed on equal terms, and if their was any advantage in the negotiation it was on the side of the Birmingham and Oxford Company. He therefore proposed, " That as this meeting deem it expedient that an amalgamation of this company with the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley Railway Company should be formed, the directors be authorised and requested, in conjunction with the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley lt,ilway Company, to apply to Parliament in the next ensuing session for an Act or Acts to carry such amalgamation into effect ; providing in the seid Act for power to lease or sell the two lines when amalgamated, or any part thereof, to the Great Western Railway Com pany ; the directcrs being requested and authorised at ()nee to negotiate with that company for some arrange ment for that purpose." Mr. BULLER seconded the motion. Mr. MOSELEY rose to oppose the motion. For his part, at the outset of his remarks, he must acknowledge that he was ignorant of the advantages which the chair man stated the amalgamation would confer on that com pany, because it had not pleased the directors to en lighten the shareholders as th the precise nature of them. He did not wish to cast censure on the Chair man, because he was boand, by the instructions which he received from the directors ; but he must confess he never listened to more meagre reasons for the adoption of so important a step as the amalgamation of the com pany with another. The only reason of the slightest importance, and that was not a great one, was the laying down of the narrow gauge. He wished for more infor mation, because it might possibly make him a convert. The figures were most unsatisfactory. He wished to know the length of the Birmingham and Oxford line ? The CHAIRMAN said the line was 42 miles in lergth. Mr. MOSELEY also wished to know the length of the Birmingham and Dudley ? The CHAIRMAN—About 14 miles. Mr. MOSELEY wished to know the comparative cost of the two lines ? The CHAIRMAN said the cost of the Oxford and Bir mingham was 1,000,0001, and the Birmingham, Wolver hampton and Du•lley, 700,0001. Mr. MOSELEY said, then the matter stood thus:—that one line cost 1,000,000 L, and the other 700,000/., and that an amalgamation was proposed on equal terms. They should be satisfied that the advantages which they proposed to give were equal to that they should receive. He did not think they were, and therefore he was strongly opposed to any alliance of the kind. The Chairman told them, and he re gretted to hear it, that there had been no negotiations with other companies. He wished to know why no ne gotiation had taken place. He was surprised at such a statement, because it was understood that the line was to be taken up by the Great Western. That was held out to the proprietors, and clauses were inserted in the Bill for the purpose of giving legal effect to an amalga mation with the Great Western Company; but at the eleventh hour these clauses were struck out, rendering amalgamation optional on the part of either company, and the Oxford and Birmingham Company were thus thrown prostrate at the feet of the Great Western. He admitted he was deeply interested in the North-Western and Oxford and - Birmingham Companies. He had heard, and he believed the information was true, that ' there were sufficient proxies in the room to carry the amalgamation, but the knowledge of this would not prevent him from expressing his sentiments. Still he should not object to any offer which seemed likely to be advantageous to the company, but he would not be a party to casting away advantages without a commensu rate return ; besides, as an independent scheme it would pay, and could therefore afford to stand by itself. He contended also that amalgamation at that period was most uncalled for, because its resources had not been de veloped, whereas the other company was opposed by three companies, and could only yield them an " Omni bus" traffic, which would have to be worked at their expense. He must enter his decided negative to the motion, and should do the utmost of his power to op pose a marriage where the entire dowry was on one side, and no commensurate advantage on the other. Lord HATHERTON was very happy at length to make Mr. Moseley's acquaintance. During the last session, and when he was Chairman of the Birmingham, Wol verhampton, and Dudley, he received several letters from Mr. Moseley, with respect to the affairs of the company, but they were so tinged with an inclination to adverse interests, that he did not take that interest in them which Mr. Moseley wished. Mr. Moseley was a proprietor in the North-Western, but he (Lord Rather ton) was only interested in the two lines propesed to be amalgamated. He instituted a comparison between the cost of the two lines. Supposing the Wolverhampton line had not passed, and the Birmingham and Oxford had, did they not think that a line running through such a dense population would have been cheaply pur chased at 700,000/.?—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) Mr. Moseley was a respectable gentleman, residing at Birm ingham ; whereas he (Lord Hatherton) had passed his line in that district, but not in the traffic of shares. He had tendered his services to this company because he was sensible of its importance to the public at large, who ought not to be subject to one gigantic monopoly, and be shut out from those advantages which were derived from competition—those advantages not only consisting in the reduction of fares, but in civility and attention to the passengers. He had been chair man of both companies, and was satisfied that at that moment great necessity existed for an union of them. In fact the line ought to be carried on to Wolverhampton, instead of terminating at Birmingham. The Grand Junction was laid out in an inconvenient manner, and did not come near those towns which the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley traversed. The lines of the two companies ought to have been made general. The reason was a natural one, and must inevitably take place. He did not set his opinior s up against those who had directed much time to the consideration of railway matters, but he repeated that their interests would be best promoted by the proposed amalgamation. Mr.STEVENS proposed the following amendment, " That the directors of this company be authorised to proceed to obtain an Act of Parliament for the amalgamation of the Birmingham and Oxford Junction Railway with the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley Railway, on such terms as shall be approved of by the proprietors of this company; that an agreement be previously entered into by the directors of this company, to be confirmed by the shareholders of the Great Western Company, for leasing or selling to them this undertaking." He stated in support of his proposition that as the line was origin ally intended to be leased or amalgamated with the Great Western, he was anxious to drive the Great Western to adopt their own child, and not to send it abroad to seek paternal attention elsewhere. Mr. TELFORD seconded the amendment. He consi dered, as men ( f honour, that they could not go to Par liament to seek powers to amalgamate with another company whilst the clause with respect to the Great Western remained in their Bill. With respect to amal gamating with the North Western Company, which seemed a part of the Hon. Gentleman's proposition. Mr. MOSELEY—I did not make any such proposition. Mr. TELFORD apologised for the mistake ; but the tinge—the colouring—of his speech went to induce the shareholders to believe that he, a proprietor of the North Western, wns opposed to an amalgamation with the Great Western Company. Mr. MosELEY—Certainly not. You are mistaken. Mr. TELFORD—Then you do not object to an amal gamation with tne Great Western? Mr. MosELEY—Certainly not. Mr. 'TELFORD—That gives me greater confidence in seconding the amendment. Mr. BuLLER opposed the motion, and considered that the directors ought not to be bound to make the atnal gatnation of this company with the Birmingham and Dudley subservient to the consent of the Great Western. It was true there was a clause in the Act giving the powers to amalgamate with them if they thought proper, but if they did not offer fair terms why this company was at liberty to seek elsewhere tbr better. The pro position was absurd, and he said so with all respect for the gentlemen from whom it had emanated, It was said the directors had not furnished the share holders with sufficient information. Now he would recommend the shareholders not to press the directors to afford them too much information, because if they did so they might depend ul,on it they would thereby lay themselves open to their opponents, and do them selves serious damage. The amalgamation would be most advantageous, and with cheap trains he doubted not but it would yield a fair profit to the shareholders. Mr. PARSONS opposed the amalgamation, and con sidered the proposal absurd. That was not the House of Lords, but a meeting of persons connected with a rail way, who had met to consider how they might best pro mote their private interests. If the Great Western wished to amalgamate with them, let them do so at once —let them come forward and make a proposition, either to buy or lease the line ; for he would rather take a lease, or rent from them, if they met them fairly, though the other company might offer higher terms.—(Cheers.) Mr. SPOONER, M.P., considered that there was some misapprehension on the part of the gentlemen who op posed the amalgamation, and seemed to think that they must look to their own interests, to the exclusion of any consideration of the interests of the public. The Noble Lord used no such argument, but he advised them, in considering their own interests, not to overlook those of the public.—(Hear.) That was the view the Noble Lord took. After all, they came to this conclusion:— The whole trade of the district was spread over the four teen miles of the Birmingham and Dudley line, and if they did not unite with that line, the extensive trade of the district would go up another line—the North Western. They should nit so much reckon upon the length of their line, as upon the population and the tons of goods which the alliance would bring to their 'line. He did not wonder at the objections of the Hon. Proprietor (Mr. Moseley), because he was a North- Western proprietor, and was only doing all he could to prevent the traffic going by Oxford. Now, their object was to get the traffic on the Oxford line, and they would have no hindrance, because it was manifest they must amalgamate. Without the Birmingham and Dudley line, he had no hesitation in saying that their line we uld not beof that service to the public, or to them, as it would if an amalgamation took place. Besides, they would have a greater power to amalgamate with other companies when their scheme was complete. He suggested the withdrawal of the amendment. Mr. MATTIIEVS(tII; Chair man of the Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Dudley), also rose to explain away misconception on the part of Mr. Moseley, and other gentlemen opposed to the amalgamation. That gentle man did not appear to see the relative merits of the two lines. He said, as the cost of one was 1,000,0004 and the other only 700,000!.—one-fourth less, that the contrast was greatly against the smaller pro ' ject. The original estimate was 450,0001., but the station at Birmingham inereased the amount to 4 . 00,000/. That station of course belonged to the Birmingham and Dudley Company, but in the event of the amalgama tion they would have joint use of it. Then the one line went through almost an entirely agricultural district, almost bare ;of population, whilst the other ran through one of the most densely populated districts, in any part of England so that no disadvan tageous comparison could be drawn between the two companies. After explaining the position of the lines, and that the hiatus between Fennycompton and Wol verhampton would be filled up by the amalgamation, and that sooner than rest his connexion with the lines on the mere possession of shares, with ou t an i nte r est in the district, he went on to say, the grand object of himself and Lord Hatherton was the amalgamation of the line Mr. PARSONS said hi s i n t erest i n the l i ne was fourfold theinterest he held in the London and Birmingham. Mr. RUSSELL, M.P. (the Chairman of the Great Western), then rose, and said, Mr. Chairman— I have _. ~ waited to this period of the proceedings, because I was extremely desirous to hear the opinions and views enter tained by the proprietors of the Birmingham and Ox ford: I feel that I can no longer remain silent, and that I am bound ta express my opinion, as director of that company ; and, after the taunts which have been thrown out respecting the silence of the Great Western, I feel also bound to say a few words on behalf of that company.—(Hear.) On the ques tion of amalgamation, independent of any arrangement with the Great Western Railway Company, I should be reluctant to give a strong or decided opinion, although the opinions I have entertained are in favour of that amalgamation. This is a question very much influenced by private considerations, and it is rather surprising that in the course of the discussion which has just taken place, all the arguments which have teen adduced against the amalgamation have proceeded from an Hon. Proprie tor residing at Liverpool, and from a second Hon. Pro prietor residing in London. I think, therefore, we are justified in assuming that the local opinions are decid edly in favour of the amalgamation.— (Cheers.) Sir, all prima fade arguments are in favour of it. It needs no great power of argument to sho v that two lines connected with each other, and forming one continuous line, are almost naturally associated. They come together to the same station at Birmingham. and are possessed in some measure by the same proprietors, and they can be worked as joint lines much more economically than they possi bly can do as two separate fines. And I thick it must be obvious to every one that each is calculated to enrich the other.—(Hear, hear.) On the question of amalgamation I can entertain no doubt whatever. I confess, however, that I am rather disposed to concur in the opinion of the Hon. Proprietor who made the last proposition, at the other end of the table (Mr. Stevens), that it was desirable that the two questions—the amal gamation of the two companies with the Great Western should proceed together.—(Cheers.) Gentlemen, there are many considerations affecting one line which bear strongly upon the other. It is true that by the Bill of the Oxford as it now stands we have a right to lease it. We must be careful, as guardians of the interest of the Great Western Railway, that we do not permit the right which we possess by that Bill, but which we do not possess by the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley line, to fall into abeyance.—(Cheers.) It is pos. sible the Great Western have made no overtures to the proprietors of the Birmingham and Oxford. By law they possess a right of working over that line. The Hon. Proprietor had said that by that law they have been laid prostrate at the feet of the Great Western Railway Company. Sir, I contend that that law was granted expressly for the purpose, not of laying the Birmingham and Oxford Company prostrate at the feet of the Great Western Railway Company, but to enable themselves to stand against the London and Birmingham Company. Sir, it is not my intention upon the present occasion to make any overture on the part of the Great Western to you. The shareholders and the interests of the Birmingham and Oxford Railway are well guarded by the directors whom you have entrusted with the ma nagement of your affairs. They are the best judges of the interests of your company ; but this I will say, that i they think it right, after taking a view of their interests to make any proposition to the Great Western, the Great Western is quite prepared to make and consider with them such proposition.—(Cheers.) The principle, however, upon which any negotiations must proceed with the Great Western Company, must be that of a complete adherence to the principles upon which this Bill was granted. The first object that was contemplated by the Bill was to open a line of communica tion between Birmingham, Southampton, and the southern coast of England. Now it must be clear, I think, that the Great Western Company hold a very considerable portion of that line, and that object will be rather advanced by a connexion with the Great Western Company than retarded. But perhaps the most important object contemplated by that Bill was to open a second, and not only a second, but an in dependent line of communication with the metropolis.— (Cheers.) That a second line was wanted was admitted even by the opponents of the Bill—that it was to be an independent line was the very essence of the purpose of those who first devised it—of the inhabitants of Birmingham who aided in carrying it oat, and lastly of the Legislature that passed the Bill. I must, therefore, contend that no arrangement can be contemplated by the proprietors of this company—l frankly and confidently believe that no arragement will be sanctioned by the Legisla ture which does not hold in view that object for which it was granted—of its being an independent' line.— :Cheers.) Some allusion has been made to the purchase of this line by the North-Western Railway Company, and an intimation intelligible enough has been made that these two companies should be brought into competition with each other, to which the Great Western will never consent to be a party.—(Cheers.) If the Oxford and Birmingham Company can make a more advantageous bargain with the North-Western Company—if they think it is consistent with the principles upon which the line was granted—if they think they should make such a bargain—if they think that the Legislature will sanction such a bargain —(Hear, hear)—let them at once open their negotia tions with the London and Birmingham Company; the Great Western will stand aloof and leave these negotia tions to proceed. If, on the other hand, they think it more consistent with the principles on which they ob tained their Bill that such negotiations should proceed with the Great Western Company—though I must be distinctly understood as not being empowered to make any proposition of that kind on the part of the Great Western Company—thus much I will take upon myself to say, that we shall be quite prepared to treat for such a purpose.—(Loud cheers.) Mr. Moss:Lev was ready to support the line as an in dependent line. Mr. CROSSTHIVAITE advised an adjournment. Mr. SAUNDERS (the secretary of the Great Western) having listened to both sides, trusted he might be able to bring the matter to an issue. He considered the amalgamation of the two companies desirable ; and the Lion. Gentleman who moved the amendment did not seem anxious to throw any difficulty in the way of effect ing this. Mr. CROSSTHWAITE—" No, no." Mr. SAUNDERS—He was sure the Great Western had no wish to do so. It, therefore, came to this issue, that amalgamation was desirable and ougbt to be carried out.—(Hear.) But it was stated that the Great Western had no power to lease the other line, and that unless there was some stipulation to confer the same power of lease or purchase on the Great Western with respect to the Birmingham and Dudley, that the Birmingham and Oxford would be placed in a disadvan tageous position; as, for instance, if it passed into the hands of another company. Now the introduction of a few words into the amendment by the solicitor would no doubt have the effect of destroying any ambiguity— that when the amalgamation of the two companies should take place that their position with regard to amalgama tion should be assimilated. Lord HATHERTON objected to fixing down the direc tors to the Great Western, and warned that company that they were not without a powerful rival, and that as shares changed hands, those who were willing to deal with them then, might be succeeded by others, who, two years hence, would exact high terms when the Great Western were less able to accept them. Mr. CROSSTHWAITE then proposed, " That as this meet ing deem it expedient that an amalgamation of this com pany with the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dud ley Junction Railway should be formed, and that the directors be authorised and requested, in conjunction with the directors of the Birmingham and Dudley line, to apply to Parliament in the ensuing session for an Act or Acts to carry such amalgamation into effect, providing in the said Act power to lease or sell the two lines when amalgamated, or any part thereof to the Great Western Company, the directors being requested and authorised at once to negotiate with that company for some arrangement for that pur pose." This motion having been seconded, was, with the ori ginal motion of the Chairman, submitted to the meeting, and both were carried, but two hands, those of Mr. Moreley and Mr. Parsons, being held up against either. The motion of Mr. Stevens was superseded by the amendment of Mr. Crosathwaite. Lord Hatherton, having taken the chair, a vote of thanks was awarded to Mr. Muntz, who briefly returned thanks, and the meeting gave way to that of the BIRMINGHAM, WOLVERHAMPTON AND DUDLEY COMPANY, which was held in the same room. Mr. MATTHEWS, the Chairman of the Company, pre sided, who briefly addressed the meeting, and concluded by reading the report, which stated—. " The Act of Incorporation received the royal assent on the 3d of August last. " There was a balance of 59,4211. 17s. 10d., of which 50,0001. is placed to a deposit account, bearing interest. " The directors, in pursuance of the powers of the Act, had determined to allow 4 per cent. interest on calls after 5/. per share has been paid ; and shareholders wish ing to anticipate their calls, will be allowed the same rate of interest upon all sums paid in advance. the line Since the Act was passed, a careful re-survey of the line has been made, and the engineer, M d r. McClean, beond the had reported authorised by Parliament . that n o deviation limits uire had been purchase d ; the first contrac t is ad vertised,parroe 6, The property plans of g reat portion of the line and preparations are bein g made f or proceed pienrtyhehands of the valuer s ; some p ortions of the ing with the execution of the works with the necessary vigour. " The importance of obtaining over this railway all the traffic which can be influenced by making it a con tinuous line, in connexion with the Birmingham and Oxford, and the Great Western Railways, on the one hand; and the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton on the other, without the interruption of any break of gauge between I'Volverhampton and London, pointed out the urgency of applying to Parliament, in the next session, for power to lay down broadenlgvtaoufrogereesartealriiln,se,aninedf addition to those of the narrow gauge; and the directors measurestphlyt ilteo ico,axfrofloirar Oxford, h , a t purpose. p h a e nr i , a es from owe n \Le a s t x h r e o t m h proposed to take proper proposed connexion to with raL T ay he i y n W St r c u u :v rb vr r i ire P , t th i rou C g o h m t c o h n dis trict." triet." The report concluded by recommending the amalga mation of the company with the Oxford and Birmingham. The report was received and adopted ; Mr. Aston and Mr. . Scott were elected auditors ; and the al am gamation was carried without the slightest opposition. A vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman, and the meeting separated shortly after five o'clock. DERBYSHIRE, STAFFORDSHIRE, AND WORCESTERSHIRE JUNCTION, AND DIRECT EAST AND WEST JUNCTION RAIL WAYS. A public meeting of the scripholders of theso two companies was held yesterday, at the Railway Protector Co URT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, FRIDAY.-1 he Queen held a Privy Counc. this afternoon at the Castle. It was attended by his Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Lord President, the Lord Chancellor, the Secretaries of State for the Home, Foreign, and Colonial Departments, the President of the Board of Control for the affairs of India, the Chan cellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Chief Commissioner of the Woods and Forests, the Postmaster General, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, and the Master of the Horse. ' Sir Thomas Wilde, Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, was, by command of the Queen, sworn of her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council; and took his place at the Board. Mr. Edward Strutt was also sworn of her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, and took his place at the Board. Parliament was ordered to be further prorogued from Wednesday next, the 4th of November, until the 12th of January. The Hon. William Bathurst was the Clerk of the Council in Waiting. _ The Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas had the honour to kiss hands on his appointment. Lord John Russell, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Earl Grey, Sir George Grey, Lord Campbell, Lord Mor peth. Sir John Hobhouse, Mr. Labouchere, Sir Thomas Wilde, Hon. W. Bathurst, and Mr. Strutt, arrived at the Castle soon after two o'clock, having travelled from town by a special train on the Great Western Railway. After attending the Council and having taken a dejeune, the same gentlemen, with Viscount Palmer ston, left the Castle for the Slough station, and returned to town by a special train. The Queen walked this morning on the Eastern Ter race. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice, took their accustomed p.m)? exercise. Her Royal Highness the Princess Helena was also taken an airing. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, attended by the Earl of Morton, Colonel Seymour, and Colonel Bowles, enjoyed the sport of shooting this morning. Her Royal lithness the Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Anna Maria Dawson, visited her Majesty and Prince Albert this morning. His Excellency Prince Calimaki, Viscount Palmer ston, Lord and Lady Howard de Walden, and the Hon. Ra'ph and Lady Kary Abercromby, left the Castle to day. The royal dinner party at thkastle this evening will include her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester, the Lady in Waiting of the Duchess of Kent, the Lady in Waiting of the Duchess of Gloucester, the Baroness de Sped), the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis and Marchioness of Wor cester, the Hon. and Rnv. C. Leslie Courtenay, and Colonel Colville (Scots Fusilier Guards). The band of the Scots Fusilier Guards attend during dinner. Her Majesty's private band afterwards attend in the Castle. Earl Delawarr had an iLterview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-street. Dispaches were received yesterday at the Colonial office from the Governor of Canada, and also from the Governors of the other North American Provinces. DRURY-LANE THEATRE. Le Dieu et la Br, yadere, that exquisite composition of Auber, in which plot, vocal music, and ballet have been combined with marvellous felicity, presented us onThurs day night with several debeitants. Mr. Ratter, who enacted the Unknown, is young and good-looking, and although his voice is neither very powerful nor very extensive, and his notes occasionally veiled, he is unquestionably an acquisition to the establishment. The other accession to the vocal troupe is Miss Messent, a pupil of the Academy. This young lady has a highly intelligent countenance, and although her dramatic action as yet displays inexperience, it is far from displeasing. Her voice is clear, her notes liquid and resonnant, and she sings with aptness, taste, and feeling. She displayed considerable facility as well as power, without. resorting to that species of shouting to which our best English singers are so much addicted. The Bayadere was impersonnated by Mdlle. Adele Dubignon, who appeared to produce a highly agreeable impression on the audience. In figure, she is petite, with a winning look, and a highly graceful manner; her person is well formed, excepting perhaps too great an amplitude of the l ower limbs—and withal she has the quality in a d ancer —for present impression and for future promise —y ou th. Her pantomine, without b e i ng vivid, is highly intelligent, and in her dancing there is variety and effect, without effort. PROMENADE CONCERTS. COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE. M. Jullien opened the campaign here last evening. We are sorry to perceive, from his programme, that it will be a very short one, extending to one month only, but it will be a very glorious one. M. Jullien has com pressed into a month attractions sufficient to draw crowded houses every night for a year. The theatre is beautifully fitted up with statues, evergreens, &c. The orchestra is fitted up on the same plan as during former years, and at the back rises another orchestra, fitted up like the orchestra of a concert-room. This additional orchestra is intended for the use of the four bands —viz., those of the Second Life Guards, Royal Horse Guards Blue, Grenadier Guards, and Cold stream Guards, who are, in addition to M. Ju'lien's band, to take part in the performance of the " Grand new Military Quadrille," which is to be produced on Mond a y next. Prospe..e, Keenig, Ri c h ardson, an d a ll the old favourites are re-engaged ; and, encouraged by the success which attended his experiment of last season of introducing vocal in addition to instrumental music, M. Jullien has engaged Miss Birch, who, last night, sang a beautiful duet, "The Return," by Roch Albert, for the voice and the cornet-I piston (M. licenig accompanying her on the cornet), and in a grand scena from Verdi's opera of Ernani. The theatre was crowded to suffoca tion, and we have no doubt but that it will be so every night during the season. mainin THE PAVILION AT BRIG HTON.— We stated last wee k that 57 hampers of wine had been removed f rom t h e Palace, and conveyed by railway to London. Si nce i t n h g at t t h im e e la fu st rth fo e r r tn re ig m h o t r t l h s e ha fe v w e t d a o k m en es p ti l e a s ee re g at; and, dur the Palace have been busily employed in packing up the china and glass. The kitchen has been nearly stripped of its contents ; and although the furniture is not yet removed, it will evidently soon follow. The organ at present remains untouched. Most of the servants on the establishment are to be draughted to other places , and they have already received notice to that effect.. Our readers may gather from these facts that her Ma jesty does not intend to visit the Palace after her return from Arundel, as was lately stated in the London papers. —Brighton Gaze tte. HURRICANE IN THE NORTH CHANNEL, AND LOSS OF VESSELS.—On Wednesday night last, at ten o'clock, it commenced to blow fresh from the north-west, and before an hour after increased to a perfect hurricane, with incessant rain, which swept the Western Ocean as far as the eye could re ach, and along the North Channel with fearful viole nce, mak ing the. water rise in the air in vast clouds. At daylight on Thursday morning a large steamer and brig were observed scudding before it under bare poles, the sea appearing from the shore to make a clean passage over their decks. Shortly after this a large brig was observed to go on shore in Church Bay, in the island of Rathlin, opposite Ballycastle , supposed to he timber and of the coast, a variety of lad a rti e c n l e ; s h a a n v d e a c s o m planks, o l r o e g s a t o d f ff t i e m r e b n e tr parts, gale, which continued until Friday morning, when it abated. The interior of the country was so deluged with rain, that the largest floods ever before known were in the rivers, and several bridges, in consequence, gave way, besides two on the new coast road leading to Glen rra,—,Belfast Chronicle. / e / .e, S (1°