The Sun. — London, England, 1846-08-28 00:00:00

,` ine of the line would save one day's post between Derry l il d Dublin, a nd ot h erw i se pro d uce c h anges o f gre at ai i lord mportance, with every prospect of a fair return to the s hareholders, on which point the directors had not difficult o ccasion to change th e ir opinion. Anticipating the Clines y which was n ow gene r a lly fe;t in procuring en they have ordered sufficient to open the line ; carriages and trucks also would be ready to meet the Public wants, 33 soon as the funds at their dis posal were adequate to meet the current liabilities. The .Act of P ar li ament for the alterat i on o f t h e li ne h a d S n obtained. Ei g ht m il es of the permanent way of the trabane line had been laid : and the remainder of that Portion of the line was in such a forward state as only to require the co-operation of the shareholders to ensure its o rng opened fo r traffic at an early day. The members _the deputation who visited the works wee much gra,- X_ed at being enabled to satisfy themselves r , -by personal Lo'ervation, of the increasing commercial importance of l adonderry, and the general character of its imports and "Ports. According to the Central Railway Act, four of Y o ur dir ectors and one of your auditors go out of office by rotatio n . T he four gentlemen who leave the direction %ea Philip Hanbury, John Leathern, George Tyrrell, I k' Daniel Warren, Esqs., and the auditor, John 'Heft E s - . a They are all eligible, and offer them ;elves for re-election. It is gratifying, continued the e e Pert, to be able to refer to a palpable benefit already vonferred upon the locality by the construction of these O rk s ; and the more so as it gives reasonable T a t of increasing prosperity and happiness th e „ nd • At the recent spring assizes at Londonderry, to th e r res iaing judge, referring to the light character of calendar, stated his conviction that the same was eq ,'"elY attributable to the labour provided by the rail strls ha progress, notwithstanding so large a number of theenigers had been attracted to, and were employed in, t ormation of the works; and with this and similar estun on railY to the benefit which Ireland derives from her „Ys, it is surely not unreasonable to . expect that , o r majesty's Government will see the policy of doing ps tae si t _ h bag to redeem those enterprises . from the de nio u r t under which, from various causes, they all, re or less, are labouring. The accounts were made i i l P to th e 31st July, 1846, but since that period they h ad received calls amounting to 8,1101. A report from the engineers, Messrs. Stephenson and l ia () ,,'t Was read, which stated that the works, as far as they li - ,„'en executed, were highly creditable to the com s:-.J and the contractor ; and that it was a matter of g - c rit 'as regret to them that inability to meet the certi ofStti!s for works executed had delayed the completion contract, which, but for such impediments, could Liv e cotu a rell now completed. They expected that _the bee r "len of the works to Strabane would take place of ere the the e n d o f t h e year, if not sooner . That portionke • , line, not only promised much traffic, but, from fro g in of the Dublin mails, as now arranged, th di g in Derry, the opening of this Eno would hasten te n k ails sufficiently to enable the merchants of Derry b e Zn a wer their l e tters the same day ; in fact, bring pa - Y °tie day nearer to Dublin and London, for all tees of commerce. ,1 balance sheet set forth the receipts at 73,3831. ~.."‘4 ; the expenditure, 67,211/. 12s. 5d.; balance at , re,, 11 " 1. a , 6 1714 15s. Id. Receipts since last half-yearly NZeon, 29,3811.45. sd. • expenditure, ditto, 30,209/. 3s. 2d. " CaanimAN sai he had very little to remaik upon Ivi lA re sPe,lt to the affairs of the company, as the report ex they had heard read entered so fully into detail, t ° express his regret and the regret of those with Wer °4l be acted at the tone of complaint which they ra e ,; t e °,,tnpelled to manifest with regard to the non-pay to th °` c all& It was a source of great disappointment e directors that the line had not yet been opened as ealia3 Strabane, which, but for the non-payment of those ,would have been opened at the end of this month. pe i jnad now, i n hi s op i n i on , o bt a i ne d a ver y valuable pro• Op, r 3 i r ' and it w ou ld b e th e i r ow n fault if it was not tier f rom end to end early in the ensuing year. th e r ' Sittalama inquired if a list had been made out of 7,shharetiolders who had not paid their calls ? It w ,CllA.inmAN said such a list had been made out ; 4' 4 : 44 be ne cessary to as k th e s h are h o lders how the Nolli g s or e - ti t l e rs should act w i t h res p ec t to those defaulters, er nit would b e a d v i sa bl e to resort to legal proceed- ot Si x . • hea r d • 11 . CAMPBELL said he was applied to by the ex anon to superintend the making out of the list and to 4 1011 .. 1 , 11 e into its ac curac y. It would not be well, he dig h aut, to p ro d uce the list publ i cly, b ut t h e s h are h o ld ers lK inspec t it at the secretary ' s o ffi ce . kly t ;: r a r loßtas (deputy-chairman of the Chester and t ° CCimpany) thought it would not be advisable th'/-noe theist, as their condition as a company might liebY deteriorated.' 4 bse eh IRE eroa said that, probably, if the defaulting a h._ e old ers knew that the calls were limited to 151. per pr, and the traffic on the line would yield them 5/. It r e4t . , they would be induced to pay up at once. SAINNER wished to know if his impression was St rab e t that the line was not to be carried further than T h a ne without the consent of the shareholders ? ces t , e e , Cue zataart said the impression was perfectly ehoul t c• When the line w as completed to Strabane they is call the s h are h o ld ers toget h er an d sa y, " There 4 ,et ? () P e rty created f o r y ou , w ill you go further or the a , The amend e d A c t o f t hi s sess i on did n ot alter eaust of capit a l, it was mere l y an A ct t o a lt er the kr. -V the line. 'en mil 4 NDEPLIT recommended the carrying of the line tip I ` 3 beyond Strabane, to N ew t on S tewar t. 'i r aTsces inquired if th e li ne was fifteen Irish or 1511 sh miles in length ? Th e SECRETARY said English miles. All Irish rail 'TS were measured in English miles. Mr. WATSON said h e h ad recently been in Derry, and having made several inquiries respecting the line, he f ound that the traflice between that town and Strabane Iv ; as so considerable as to entitle it to the appell a ti on o f ts " spiciest" portion. They would, he believed, have a ° much traffic on the fifteen miles that they would be encouraged to extend it. Ylie CHAIRMAN stated, in reply to a question, that W t amount of unpaid calls, in addition to the 121. paid, as upwards of 30,000/. ekr. WATSON said it might be some satisfaction to the p u n 4 relsolders to k now th a t th e agr i cu lt ura l tr a ffi c was a s °' 3 .11 :1 1 , if not better, in w i n t er th an i n summer . b Suit REHOLDER inquired if more than the 15/. would th e :_,eq . aired for completing the line, and, if not, whether theirclrtors intended to call upon those who had paid eaiThe 5 / t o pay an additional amount ? _,.Cuantaiast said a meeting would have to be 4, i4 7 to determine the matter ; and if there was a de- Sir'tatthey must help the directors to get rid of it. th e , J• CAMPBELL said a circular had been seat to kid ! shareh o ld ers who had not paid up all the i r ca ll s, k t hat the rep li es wh i ch they had sent were couc h e d atat ft et f i endly spirit, some say i ng th a t th e y w ould pay at 'ti e, a Periods, others that it was their intention to do 1% 11 114 Promising to fulfil the wishes of the directors as it i2 . B a s Possibl e. The pro b a bi l i ty was, if l egal proceed gale we r e adopted, that they would rather lose than of Va l a t . would be well to leave the matter in the hands thsereCil r ectors, in order that they might exercise their Th e Tl l as to the best mode of obtaining the money. et lint s s'ltAlltataN said, since the making tip of the ac -1 1 1(18 7/'I' CIC/1. of the first calls, 1,7251. of the seco nd, alak• ' OB . of the third, and 3,9851. had been received, 11113 g altogether 8,110/. re port was t h en rea d an d adopted. tectorosolution was next passed empowering the di es ni n e : t 0 adopt such course for recovering the arrears clue Y night think fit, and as might be most condu ease:e the int erests o f the Company in each particular aeezi: r etiring directors were then re. elected, a vote of rai e :.Peased to te chairman and directors for their and the meeting separated. U TK YORK S HIRE COAL, AND 4 I,`-TuOLE AND DONCASTER RAILWAY. 11 ncle -e L e ting of the shareholders in this amalgamated ."; rho" i g was held yesterday at the London Tavern, ort„l,sgate street, for the purpose of receiving the re ill the directors as to their success in obtaining their ero b , 4 ,, l ing the present session. The meeting was nu bs ec'Y attended, and the chair taken at one o'clock Ta -l trles Thompson, Esq. •th, 'e solicitor having read the advertisement, by which 11 1 1 11 ,,, e , e ling had been convened, t o „'",v-ilainalax said—Gentlemen, owing to the absence t 1 .4 Wh • rife and Lord Fitzwilliarn, the h du r y o d i e e k ci v e , DC 1 gitS h II POn me of presiding to-day. Lord W a n ff Prev"ful ,„ e en taken ill with a severe attack of the gout, which nts his attendance. We have not been so success atbt the e expected in the last session of Parliament, u Pr ose Same time we have cleared the road for future aite, - , e ; miugs. We have been placed in a very painful llife - p"" , owing to the delays that have arisen in the our-nent Committees in which we have bad to defend Whi e i l ' a e from no less than nine competing lines, of With I think, seven have been completely defeated, and t he o ne we have made arrangements to take half ° I nv i . ll e from the Sheffield Grange to Barnsley, .6. a capital of about 450,0001., which will 1)04 diet among the shareholders of the Goole and Pasi e o 4 ter and South Yorkshire Amalgamated Com ken 8 ,1, One share for every five, provided those gentle %hare wlsh to take them, and if they decline to take the th e . w s , We have companies and persons ready to take up tap e uole of the shares that may be so refused. The l'eetiikrisea attending the Parliamentary proceedings have much greater than we anticipated at our last meet " .5 4• said then that'we supposed that they would 7 s. on every share. Th e - ', A RE I IOLDER-23. 6d., or ss. tha t ii,,, N JAIRMAN—Very well, 2 s. Gd., or s s. Since e XPen,,,"'e we have been put to various heavy b k'obs e s the House of Commons and the t o a l, of Lords, which have run up the expenses tle p os,out , per share. The remainder of the al „ &lif t : a n : 4 ' ll i be returned to those parties that shall 'l,..eatei si ,""etr assent to take some of the Goole and Don th—E'ree at 31s. ; the South Yorkshire shares at 30s. Pally ° se persons that wish to withdraw from the Com teru an d Send their scrip naav have the whole of the a lnder o f Lest ttr) their deposit ' s pa - id at the bank.—(Hear, th " i t as our position is now perhaps - one of_ the W ere • e Kingdom I may safely say that where there Ac eou la n t t ne lines and nine capitals deposited with the v dsli ant-General for this very ground that we avVC i ;'e occupy Id be suicide on the part of , 1 WOU tia,rilolders in these lines to take their money back. °Ur e ne w almost a prospect of certainty of obtaining p evea 3 , - I : B ,in the next year. We have the assistance of rthe 2 ll 2;_ e wner on the line, and I believe, were it not 41 :4) o f "!'n of the tolls which Parliament levies on any raalw a e report Y, those landed proprietors would make the *lli their 1 , r ead th _ on. e repo, propty.( sat Mr. Baxter which . I hope will be isfactory to kr. g rnt aecordingly read the directors' report, history of their labours during the pre „elders u r e , and concluded by recommending the share- Zest and the scheme, as they entertained the R aliOn nguille hopes of obtai n i ng t h e li ne i n th e ensu i ng 4•1115 rec ommendation was received with loud °; l 4 Q tie uau 3 Dagui then said--Gentlemen, it ap- `THE SUN, LONDON,_FRIDAY MORNING, AUGUST 28, 1846. , to finish the portion of line between Ely and LitfiTort— a distance of 4 miles—by the 30th of November next, and there will then remain a length of about 6 miles, which would be finished at the same period as the rest of the line, but for the works connected with the rivers Ouse and Wissey. " In pursuance of the provisions of the Act of In corporation, and of the resolutions of the special general meeting of proprietors, held on the 17th day of June last, the directors have proceeded to borrow money upon debentures, in lieu of making, for the present, any further calls upon the proprietors. " The proprietors will recollect that the directors were authorised, by a special meeting, to apply in the present session for three Bills, viz.:— " Ist. A Bill for amalgamating this company with the Ely and Huntingdon and Lynn and Dereham Railway Companies. " 2d. A Bill for extending the Wisbech Branch to March. 3.1. A Bill fur extending the Wisbech Branch to Spalding. • "With regard to the first-men! ioned Bill, the direc tors would refer the proprietors to the following para graph in their report to the half-yearly general meeting, held on the 26,h day of February last : " ' The Bill for amalgamating this Company with the Lynn and Dereham and Ely and Huntingdon Rail way Companies, has also been introduced into the House of Commons. As, however, the amalga mation was not agreed upon until the 31st of December last, the Parliamentary notices for the Bill could not be given until after the time prescribed by the standing orders had expired. The Standing Orders' Committee have therefore necessarily reported to the House this non-compliance with their regulations, but there is every reason to hope that, as the Bill affects no interests but those of the proprietors in the respective companies, the Select Committee, to whom this Bill has been referred, will recommend that the standing orders be in this case dispensed with.' "The Select Committee, contrary to the sanguine ex pectations of the directors, declined to recommend that the standing orders should be dispensed with, and the Bill was therefore lost for the present session. The directors will, however, take care that proper steps are adopted in the next session for bringing in a Bill for an amalgamation—a measure essential to the interests of the three companies. " The Bills for the extension lines to March and Spalding passed through the Standing Orders' Com mittee of both Houses of Parliament, and through all their stages in the House of Lords. " The Bill for the extension to March was withdrawn, in pursuance of an agreement entered into by the direc tors with the promoters of the Wisbech, St. Ives, and Cambridge Railway, and the Eastern Counties Company, as the purchasers of that line, by which agreement the use of that line is secured to this company upon advan tageous terms. " The Bill for the extension line to Spalding was most unexpectedly rejected by the Committee of the House of Commons, although strenuously supported by the Eastern Counties Company, with whom the directors had entered into most satisfactory arrangements with regard to the line. " The lines from Manchester by way of Buxton, Mat lock, Ambergate, Nottingham, and Grantham to Spal• ding, having received Parliamentary sanction in the present session, the necessity that exists for filling up the gap between Spalding and Wisbech, and thus com pleting a direct communication between Norwich and Manchester becomes more than ever apparent, and this subject will receive the serious and careful consideration of the directors. " The cash accounts to the 31st of July last have been submitted to, and approved by the auditors." The following is a statement of the cash account: — RECEIPTS. Shareholders for calls Ditto for interest on calls Ditto for calls paid in advance On debentures mission to proceed, the whole of the line betweon Lyn n and Dereham may be opened throughout early in the autumn of next year. " J. S. VALENTINE." The report was moved, seconded, and carried unani mously. A vote of thanks was then passed to the Secretary, and the meeting separated. ELY AND HUNTINGDON RAIL- WAY. The half-yearly meeting of this Company took place yesterday at the London Tavern; Henry C. Lacey, Esq., in the chair. Similar reports to the preceding were adopted unani mously by the meeting. In consequence of the passing of the London and York Railway Bill, the Company have obtained an Act authorising the raising, by the creation of new shares, an additional capital of 120,0001. These shares will not be issued without the sanction of the Company. The meeting then separated. WELSH ?MIDLAND RAILWAY. (FRON A CORRESPONDENT.) We understand that in consequence of some aspersions on the character of the Welsh Midland direction, pub lished in one of the railway papers, a deputation, con sisting of Mr. Maubert, Chairman of the Committee of the Railway Department of the Stock Exchange, and Mr. Mathey, attended by appointment on Tuesday last at the offices 17, Park•street, Westminster, officially to investigate the state of the accounts, and to inquire fully into the circumstances of the Company. These gentlemen were received by Mr. Pritchard and Mr. Baxter, the secretary and solicitor of the Company, and an elaborate statement of the receipts, expenditure, and liabilities, were unreservedly laid before them, and fully explained in every particular. The result of this interview was so entirely satisfac tory to the deputation, that they declared their continued confidence in the honour and integrity of the board, and assured the solicitor and secretary of the Company that they should advise the Stock Exchange to fall in with the views of directors, and continue to confide in their management. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. EXETER, AUGUST 26. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Bristol and Exeter, Thirds, WA—Exeter and Crediton, dis.—Devon and Central Cornwall, [lA—South Wales, 4. MANCHESTER, AUGUST 26. _ STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston, % c. dis.-Blackburn, Clitheroe, &c., 1 dis.-Boston, Newark, and Sheffield, 13-16 dis.-Boston, Stamford, and Bir mingham, 12s. c. dis. -Eastern Counties, York Extension, 1 11-16 p.-East Lancashire. S 9-16 p.-East Lincolnshire, % dis.--Fleetwood, Preston, and West Riding, % dis.-Glasgow and Dumfries, % dis.- Goole, Doncaster, Sheffield, Sec., c. dis.- Grand Union, 14s. dis. -Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal, 1% p. -Ditto Extension, l p.-Lancashire and North Yorkshire, dis.-Leeds and Thirsk, dis.-Liverpool, Ormsklrk, and Preston, 3% p.- London and York, 4 dis.-Manchester and Leeds Fifths, 8 p.-Man chester and Southampton, 18s. 9d. dis.-Midland Railway Consols, 401. Shares, 13 p.-North Eastern, 14 dis.-North Western, 3-16 p. -Nottingham and Mansfield, ? , fi p.-Oldham, Birkenhead, &c., 20s. c. dis.-Preston and Wyre, Halves (B), 3a p.-Sheffield and Man chester, Quarters, No. 1, 4 p.-Shrewsbury and Herefordshire, % dis.- Shropshire Union Railway and Canal, dis.-South Mid lands Junction, 16s. dis.-South Staffordshire Junction, par-Trent Valley, Midland, &c., par-West Lancashire Coast, 15s. 6d. dis.- Whitehaven and Farness, 24, dis. LEEDS, ArGraT 26. STOCK EKCHANGE.-The sales are-Eastern Counties, York Ex tension, 335. p.-East Lancashire, B'y' s p.-Great Grimsby and Shef field Docks, IN dis.-Huddersfield arid Manchekter, 1/. 18s. 9.1.- p.-Huddersfield and Sheffield, 6% p.-Leeds and Bradford, 42 p. -Leeds and Dewsbury, 3% p.-Ditto, Branches, 1% p.-Leeds and Think, 3/. 14s. dis.-Ditto, New, 3 dis.-North British, Carlisle Branch, 575. p.-Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole, 11% p.-Ditto, New, 5% p.-Boston, Stamford, and Birmingham, I4s. dis.-Cli theroe Junction, 16s. dis.-Direct Northern, 17s. dis. -Grand Union, 13s. dis.-Lancashire, Yorkshire, and North Eastern, 1% dis.- Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland, 16s. dis.-Leicester and Birming ham, 17s. 6d. dis.-Leicester and Bedford, 9s. 6d. dis. -Liverpool, Onnskirk, and Preston, 3% p.-London and Manchester (Rem.), dis..-North Western, 4s. 6d. p. -Shropshire Union, 9s. dis.- Welsh Midlands, 345. db.-West Riding Union, 41. 19e.-York and Carlisle, 365. 66. dis. TAFF VALE RAILWAY. BRISTOL, WEDNESDAY.—The half-yearly meeting of the proprietors in this company has been held at the White Lionln this city. There was a numerous attend • ante of proprietors. Slr J. J. Guest, chairman of the board of dirt c.org, presided. The Secretary, Mr. KVWAY, read the retort, which stated that the directors were pleased at having it in in their power to recommend a dividend of 61. 3s. per share (less Id. on each original share), and that the sum of 4591. be carried to the fund for the depreciation of stock. Though the accounts showed a slight decrease in the gross receipts in the half-year, as compared with the last, yet it should be observed that the receipts of these six months exceeded the corresponding six months of 1845 by the sum of 4,7711. I Is. 6d. The l i bridges and remaining part of the double line are in a great state of forwardness, and should the traffic re quire it, may be completed before the end of the year. The extension of the Rhondda branch to the colleries of Messrs. James and Messrs. Insole and Son is now finished. The Bill for the extension of the branches up the two Rhonddas and for enabling the company to complete their arrangement with the Marquis of Bute has passed both Houses of Parliament, and only awaits the royal assent. The directors congratulate the com pany on a final and satisfactory settlement of all questions with the Marquis of Bute, by which extensive accommodation for the speedy shipment of coal, at fair rates, will be afforded, and such as no other port in the Bristol channel can offer to the public. The retiring directors are Messrs. W. Coffin, H. Rudhall, and R. Jones, who are eligible for re-election. The CHAIRMAN had little to add to the report, but he must take the opportunity of congratulating them upon the great amount of traffic which would be brought upon the Taff Vale Railway by the formation of the Aberdare line. Some were sanguine enough to expect as much as 2,000 tons a day, but the directors calcu lated on as much as 600 tons a day. Mr. HUTCHINGS, M.P., asked what expense had been gone to in opposing the Vale of Neath line, and whether the committee, who had proceeded to London respecting it, were authorised by the directors ? The CHAIRMAN replied that the expense occasioned by the opposition was about 1,5001., and The SECRETARY read the minutes of the directors' meeting, from which it appeared that the chairman, de puty-chairman, and three other directors, had been ap pointed as a Parliamentary Committee, to attend to all the Parliamentary business connected with the company. Mr. J. PRICE said that dissatisfaction was felt by many proprietors about the opposition, and he should be glad to have some explanation of the circumstances. Mr. POOLE (one of the directors) said, that if the directors had not opposed the Vale of Neath line they would not have been any longer entitled to the confi dence of the proprietors.—(Hear, hear.) The Vale of Neath line was put forward as a competing line with the Taff Vale Railway, and Mr. Fisher, who prepared the traffic tables, relied on much of the traffic now car ried by the Taff Vale line being taken by the Vale of Neath line.—(Hear, hear.) Further, their station at Merthy, was to have been crossed by the Vale of Neath line at a height of thirty-five feet, and the only approach to it would have been by one arch. Mr. HUTCHINGS condemned the expense as useless. He did not think that the Taff Vale Railway would suffer a loss of traffic. One or two of the proprietors vindicated the conduct of the directors in opposing the Bill. • In answer to a question put by Mr. J. PRICE, The CHAIRMAN said that the negotiation fur leasing the Aberdare line had only just been commenced, and, therefore, nothing definite could be stated. The sub ject, before any step should be binding was taken, would be submitted to the consideration of the proprietors at large. He would mention, however, that there was an amicable feeling existing between the directors of both companies. Resolutions adopting the report, and declaring a divi dend of 31. 3s. per original share, were then passed. Messrs. W. Coffin, H. Rudhall, and R. Jones were i re-elected directors. pears to me that the observations that have fallen from our worthy Chairman, as well as the report which has been real by the secretary, are as satisfactory as could by possibility, under the circumstances, be anti• cipated.—(Cries of "hear, hear.") It appears that the directors have had a very hard battle to tight, and that they have been very successful in thathattle. Gentle men, there is a certain animal that is said to have nine lives—(Laughter)—aial, so in this case, there were nine competing lines with which our directors had to con tend, and of theSe eight are actually and finally disposed of, if I understand the report correctly.—(Applause.) Mr. BAXTER—That is perfectly correct. Sir J. DonsoN—And with respect to the remaining one, though it survives, if I understand the report cor rectly, in one half, or moiety of it, we are interested. The arrangement that has b.en made gives us an it.- terest in one side of our line, or border ; and upon the other we have an absolute interest, and the only matter that remains is to get these two lines, and there seems to be very little doubt that we shall Lie able in the ensuing session of Parliament to obtain a Bill to carry that into effect. I think, therefore, that lam entitled to say that the report is highly satisfactory, and for that reason I shall take leave to move that it be adopted, and the terms in which I shall move its adoption are these— " That the report be adopted, and that the provisional directors be authorised to take steps for the immediate prosecution, in the next session, of such further applica tions to Parliament as they may think advisable, and generally to treat with any other companies or parties upon any matter which in their judgment they may con sider beneficial to the interest of the shareholders." Gentlemen, I shall place perfect reliance in the directors, and I think that the majority at least of us who are here assembled will take the same view of the question. Captain LANIER seconded the resolution, which was put and unanimously carried. In reply to a SHAREHOLDER, The CHAIRMAN said—No further deposits will be required for the next session of Parliament.—(Bear.) Mr. KITCHINOR—I beg to move a vote of thanks to the directors for their honest, zealous, discreet, and proper conduct to the present time—(Cheers)—which I am sure convinces the meeting that their subsequent conduct will be worthy of the confidence of the share holders generally.—(Cheers ) Mr. CARDEN having seconded the resolution, it was put, and unanimously carried amid loud cheers. In re sponding thereto, The CHAIRMAN said—Gentlemen, on the part of my colleagues and myself, I return you our most grateful acknowledgments for your kindness in looking upon our exertions in the way that you have done. You may rely upon it that our future exertions will be stimulated by your kindness on this occasion. I have given indivi dually twenty months hard work to this line—(Cheers) —almost without being absent a day, and I have been assisted by other gentlemen who have been equally in terested with myself in the success of this undertaking; and we now beg to return you our most grateful thanks for the great kindness which you have manifested to wards us on this, as well as every other, occasion. The meeting then separated. SLIGO AND SHANNON RAILWAY. The first general meeting of the proprietors of the above undertaking was held yesterday afternoon, at Win chester House, Old Broad-street, when the usual routine business of a first general meeting, namely, the appoint ment of directors and a secretary, was gone through. The receipts were stated to be 4,8541. 45., and the ax pcnditure was 2,3761. 2s. I ld. The liabilities of. the Company did not exceed 3001. The remuneration of the directors was fixed at 300/. per annum, and the secretary's salary at 250/. WHITEHAVEN AND FURNESS JUNCTION RAILWAY. The ordinary half-yearly meeting of this Company was yesterday held at the offices of the Company, No. I, Guildhall Chambers, Basinghall•street, London. The chair was taken at one o'clock precisely, by James Clay, Esq. The SECRETARY having read the advertisement con vening the meeting, proceeded to read the report, of which the following is an abstract : " The progress which the directors have to report during the past six months is less than they were led to expect, and is owing to the unprecedented difficulties with which they have had to contend in obtaining pos session of the land. "They have, however, within a short period,completed the purchase of the land for upwards of thirteen miles of the line, and upon this portion the works are in progress. " Within the next few weeks nearly the whole of the remainder of the land will be obtained, as the difficulties in making the arrangements have been mainly overcome in the effect of the purchases just completed. " Arrangements have also been made for the imme diate commencement of the heaviest portions of the earthwork and masonry at various points on the line. " The timber for the Duddon viaduct having been contracted for, and the plans decided upon, this important part of the works will be at once commenced. " An agreement has been concluded with the Fur ness Railway Company for the use of their line, which has access to extensive spoil banks, which the directors have power to remove, and which will materially facili tate the speedy completion of the eat thwork of this por tion of the line. " A contract has been made, on advantageous terms, for the purchase of the rails, and the delivery thereof will be made as required. " The directors have to announce, that, during the present session of Parliament, the royal assent has been given to an Act authorizing a deviation of the line near Kirksanton, by which a considerable saving of expense will be effected, and the line be improved; and the Act also enables the Company to make an extension from the Whitehaven terminus to a junction with the White haven and Maryport Railway, thus opening an impor tant and direct communication with Scotland and the north of Ireland, as well as with Newcastle and the north-eastern districts, to complete which this was the only link remaining to be sanctioned by Parliament. " The traffic is greatly increasing in connexion with the port of Whitehaven; and looking to the increased facilities which it will derive from the construction of this line, the directors are unchanged in their opinion that the Whitehaven and Furness Line will give ample remuneration to the shareholders for the comparatively small expenditure required to complete the line. " The rejection by the Standing Order Committee of the Bill for the proposed Lancashire Extension, has been already announced to the shareholders, as also the dissolution of the rival 'company, by whom the opposition was originated and supported. "By the company's Act of this session the directors are empowered to pay interest on the calls until the opening of the line. This the directors propose to do at the rate of four per cent. on the deposit and calls already paid; and the first half-yearly payment of interest will be made on the sth day of January next. No share holder will, however, be entitled to interest upon deposit and calls so long as a call on any share regis tered in his name remains in arrear." The following statement of receipts and expenditure up to 30th June last was also laid before the meeting:— Dr. X. s. d. To Amount expended to 31st Dec., 1845 8,799 0 7 To Amount expended to 30th June, 1846 : Engineering and surveying £325 16 8 Parliamentary expenses, on account Directors 3OO 0 0 Rent of Offices Advertising Stationery and Printing 6O 3 2 Secretary and Clerk's Sala ries, and Office Expenses 214 3 8 1,491 4 7 10,290 5 2 Balance 56,655 2 1 Cr. £66,945 7 3 By amount received to 31st Dec., 1845 £50,757 9 0 By amounts received to 30th June, 1846 : On account of first call on 2,321 shares £6,963 0 0 On account of second call on 4,543 shares 9,086 0 0 Interest Transfer fees 16,187 18 3 £66,945 7 3 Deposited with London Joint Stock Bank at. Interest Cash at Bankers 11,655 2 1 £56,655 2 The report was then received and adopted, after a short discussion, which arose on the subject of the slow progress of the works on the line. Some discussion then arose upon the non-payment of the calls, of which there were 4,149 defaulters on the first, and 12,507 on the second call, which ended in Mr. LEVY moving a resolution to the effect, " That a circular be sent to all those persons who had not paid their calls, informing them that if all arrears were not paid up by the 15th of October, legal measures should be taken to enforce the same." Mr. WAY LEY seconded the resolution, which was car , ried unanimously. It was then proposed that the Earl of Lonsdale, Peter Fisher, Esq., James Clay, Esq., Stephen Philips, E,q., and Matthias Atwood, Esq., be elected as directors of the Company. Mr. BURT moved, as an amendment, that three gen tlemen, Mr. Hones, Mr. Ballantine, and Mr. Harling, shareholders of the Company, be nominated, in conjunc tion with the Earl of Lonsdale and James Clay, Esq., as directors of the Company. Mr. LEVY thought it not very business-like to propose parties to the meeting of whom they knew nothing. After a somewhat stormy discussion, Mr. Burt refus ing to withdraw his amendment, a scrutiny of votes was taken, when there appeared— For the amendment 240 Fur the original resolution Majority —26o _ Two auditors were appointed, a vote of thanks was given to the directors and the chairman, and the meeting broke up. LYNN AND ELY RAILWAY COINIPANY. The half-yearly meeting of this company took place yesterday at the London Tavern ; Sir W. Folkes in the chair. The following report was read:— " The directors have every reason to believe that they will be able to open for traffic the portion of the line be tween Lynn and Downham—a distance of 11 miles—in the course of next months The contractor has engaged .~ ~' PAYMENTS. Expenses of Act of Parliament 15,465 18 3 Advertising, printing, and stationary Engineering and surveying, including costs of extension surveys ... Law costs 2,200 0 5 Parliamentary expenses 1,515 7 0 Bankers' charges, travelling expenses, and petty disbursements Office salaries and rent Debenture stamps Directors, as per vote of last general meeting Auditors Office furniture Land and compensation 59,681 3 6 Sleepers, rails, and chairs Store yard and stores 699 12 0 Carthage builders, on account Contractors for permanent way and stations, on account Cash at bankers Ditto in the bands of storekeeper Ditto in the hands of 'secretary 28,375 2 4 21,648 5 5 248 9 10 40 7 9 £246,800 16 11 The following is an abstract of the engineer's report : " In my last report on the 23d of February, I stated that the first contract, extending from Lynn to Denver, was just let, and that this portion of the line would be completed by the 31st of August. " The embankments stand remarkably well, and there is not the slightest appearance of slip or settlement in any of them. The viaducts over the river Nar on the main line and branch to the harbour, together with all the other bridges and culverts, are built. The earthwork is finished, with the exception of a short length of low embankment at the extremity of the harbour branch, which could not be proceeded with until the bridge across the river Nar was finished, over which a portion of the earth had to be carried. It is, however, rapidly progressing, and will soon be completed. The bridge for carrying the turnpike Toad over the railway, near Lynn, which, with the approaches on each side, has been the heaviest work upon this portion of the line, is finished, and the traffic may be turned over it in the course of a week. " The temporary station at Lynn, the station house at Downham Market, and the minor station. houses and gate lodges at the several public road level. crossings are in a forward state, and I have therefore every confidence in assuring you, that this portion of the line will be ready for opening as soon as the engines arrive, which have been promised by the manufacturers early in September. " The second contract, being the remaining portion of the main line, and in length 12 miles, bas been let to Messrs. Gregson, contractors, for a sum trader my esti• mate. Operations have been commenced in several places, and the works are rapidly progressing. The portion of the line between Littleport and. the junction with the Eastern Counties Railway, a letlgth of four miles, is to be ready for opening by the 30'tk. of Novem ber. The remaining Si miles will be fininhed by the 30th of June in next year. " By opening the line, however, from Lynn to Down ham Market, and from Littleport to Ely, so great a saving of time will be effected in the journey between Lynn and Ely, as, in my opinion, to ensure the whole of the London traffic passing along the railwt sy. " The branch to Wisbech is now the only part of the line which is not commenced. This has b-een set out a considerable time, and the contract may . be proceeded with whenever you give me the necessary instructions to that effect. "J. S. VALENTINE." A resolution adopting the report was then agreed to unanimously. A desultory conversation ensued as to whether the amalgamation which had been entered in.tia between the three lines—the Lynn and Ely, the Lynn. -and Dereham, and the Ely and Huntingdon Railway, ;still prevailed. It appears that a deed has been drawn up, but the share holders, when the Bill is obtained, will have the power of disapproving of it, thereby rendering the amalgama tion deed nugatory. A vote of thanks having been passed to - the chairman, the meeting separated. LYNN AND DEREHAM RAILWAY COMPANY. The half-yearly meeting of this Company took place yesterday at the London Tavern ; Henry C. Lacey, Esq., in the chair. The following report was read : " The proprietors will recollect that the directors were authorised, by a special meeting, to apply in the present session for a Bill for amalgamating this 'Company with the Lynn and Ely and Ely and Huntingdon Railway Companies. " The Bill for amalgamating this Company with the Lynn and Ely and Ely and Huntingdon. Railway Com panies has also been introduced into the House of Com mons. As, however, the amalgamation was not agreed upon until the 31st of December last, the Parliamentary notices for the Bill could not be given. until after the time prescribed by the standing orders had expired. The Standing Orders' Committee have therefore neces sarily reported to the House this non- compliance with their regulations. " The Select Committee, contrary to the sanguine expectation of the directors, declined to recommend that the standing orders should be dispensed with, and the Bill was therefore lost for the present session. " The following is an abstract of the crash accounts: — Receipts X127,936 3 9 PAYMENTS. Expenses of Act of Parliament 12,726 8 0 Engineering and surveying 1,975 17 2 1 ,000 0 0 Laiv costs Directors, as per vote of last general. meeting • Land and compensation Sleepers, rails, and chairs Contractors for permanent way an4L stations, on account -- Cash at bankers 5,236 11 6 49,343 0 1 Total of all payments . £127,936 3 9 " The following is an abstract of the et igineor's report : " In my report of the 23d of Fehr nary last, I stated that the first contract, extending fr oln Lynn to Nar borough, a length of nine miles, had Er leen let, and would be ready for opening on the 31st of At !gust. " The works have been rapidly pr , )gressing, and are so far advanced as to enable me to a same you that the line may be opened to the public as s oc qt as the engines, which the manufacturers have promitst xl early in Sep tember, can be obtained to work it. " The second contract, being a dist athle of five and a half miles, and extending from the termination of con tract No. 1 to the town of Swaffha sn,. has been let to Messrs. Fly and Frost, contractors, for a sum under my estimate, and they have commenced operations in several places. The time fixed for the comp leticm of this portion of the line is the 30th of June in ne at your. " The remainder of the line, a dist ~ ance of about eleven miles, is set out, and should I shot 'ply obtain your per. J , HULL, AUGUST 2G, STOCK EXCNANGE.—The sales are—Eastern Counties, York Ex tens!on, 214—North British, Half Shares, 1614—York and North Midland (East and West Riding), 13—Fleetwood, Preston, and West Riding, 7s. 6d.—Leicester and Tarnworth, 345. 6d.—North Western, 4s. p.—Shrewsbury and Birmingham, 2/. 18s. Gd.— Shropshire Union, 10s. dis.—West Riding Union, s—Grand Union, 15s.—Leicester and Bedford, 12s. 6d.—:South Midland, 14s. p. SHEFFIELD, AUGUST 2G. STOCK EXCMA?GE.—The sales are—Grimsby and Sheffield Exten sion, 17s. dis.—Ditto, Quarter Shares, 9s. dis.—Ditto, Railway and Dock, 1 3 / t dis.—Derby and Gainsborough, % dis.—East Lincolnshire, % dis.—Manchester and Lincoln Union and Canal, I7s. dis.—Shef field and Lincolnshire, Ss. dis.—Ditto, Extension, h dis. YORK, AUGUST 26. STocfc Exczwinx.-The sales are-Grand Union (Nottingham and Lynn), 13s. 6d.-Leicester, Tamworth, &c., 11. 125.-Loudon and York, 2-Newcastle and Berwick, 271. 16s. 3d.-Newcastle and Darlington, New, 11 1 A -North British, 33% -Ditto, Carlisle Exten sion, 41. Is. scrip-North Western, U. 75.-West Riding Union, 5%. EDINBURGH, AUGUST 2b. STocs EXCHANGE.-- I The sales are-Aberdeen, Si. 155.-Aberdeen, Banff, and Elgin, 11.-Airdrie and Bathgate, 3/. 155.-Arbroath and Forfar, 281.-Ditto, Half Shares, 151. 10s.-Armagh and Port rush, 14s. 6d.-Ayr and Galloway, li. 7s. 6d.-Banffshire, 18s.-Bel fast and County Down, 12s. 6d.-British and Irish Union, 21. 2s. W.-Caledonian, 151. 7s. 63.-Ditto, New, 11. 9s. &1.-Caledonian Extension, 1/. 135.--Caledonian and Dunibarton, 1/. 25.--Caledonian and Northern Direct, 21. N.-Clydesdale Junction, 231. 105.- Corn wall and Devon Central, 1/. 11 s.-Deeside Railway, 21. 7s. 6d.- Direct Northern, 11. 145.-Dublin and Enniskillen, 31. IN.-Dundee and Arbroath, 371.-Ditto, New, 211. N.-Dundee and Perth, 241. 7s. 6d.-East Indian Railway, 165.-East of Fife, 17s. 6d.-Edin burgh and Bathgate, 2/. 153.-Edinburgh aril Glasgow, 701.-Ditto, MB Shares, 171. 15s.- Ditto, Quarters, 171. 10s.-Ditto, ditto, New, 181.-Edinburgh, Leith, and Uranton, 181.-Ditto, Preference, 211. 155.-Edinburgh and Northern, Si. 195.--Ditty, Newport, 19s. 6d.- Edinburgh and Perth, 31. IN.-Forth and Clyde Junction, 1/. 16s. -Glasgow and Ayrshire, 751.-Ditto, New Stock, 371. 10s.-Ditto, Quarter Shares, 181. 10s.-Glasgow and Belfast Union, 21. Bs.-Glas gow, Dumfries, and Carlisle, 11. 155.-Glasgow and Dundee Junc tion, 11. 135.-Glasgow and Garnkirk, 401.-Glasgow General Ter minus, Si. 10s-Glasgow and Greenock, 161. 10s.-Ditto, New Stock, 81. 155.-Ditto, Preference, 11. 155.-Glasgolv, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan, 11. 10s.-Glasgow, Strathaven, and Lesmahagow, '2l. 1 fJs.-Granton Junction, 10s.-Great North of Scotland, lAs.-Inver ness and Elgin, 17s. 6d.-Lanark and Lothians, 21. 55.-Lame, Bel fast, and Ballymena, 95.-London, Bristol, and South Wales, 11. 3s. Gd. -London and York, 21. 3s. 6d.-Ditto„ Half Shares, IL 15s. -Midland and Eastern Counties, 155.-Newcastle and Berwick, 291. -North British, 381. 10s.-Ditto, Halves, 151.-Ditto, Extension to Carlisle, 41. Is. 6d.-Ditto, Fifths, 71. 15s.- North Staffordshire, 51. 9s. Gd.-North Wales Mineral, 161. 155.-Ditto, New, 101.-Perth and Inverness, 1/. Ils. 6d.-Scottish Central, 191. 10s.-Ditto, New, 9/. 10s.-Scottish Central and Caledonian Junction, 1/. 108.-Scot tish Grand Junction, 12s.- Scottish Midland, 71. 10s.-Scottish Southern, 1/. 175.-Shrewsbury and Hereford, 65.-Shrewsbury, Oswestry, and Chester, 51. 108.-South Midland, 21. 15s. 6d.-Stir ling and Dunfermline, 11. Bs.-Stirling and Midland, 21. 165.- Strathern Junction, 21.-Wishaw and Coltness, 471. 10s. Mr. George Robins sold at Lincoln, a few years since, the valuable estates of Lord Monson, which realised good prices ; he has now announced the only -one that he did not sell, the Ingleby Wood, a very valuable property, only seven miles from the famed city of Lin coln. It comprises, as we see by the announcement, sixty-fiva acres of splendid oak timber, besides a large quantity of oak poles of twenty years growth, and what materially adds to its value and its importance is, the easy shipment of the timber, the estate being less than a mile from the navigable river Foss, which connects the Trent and Witham streams, and opens a market for the timber in the dockyards of the lumber and the Thames. It is expected at Lincoln that this sale will cause a lively competition. About the period of Lord Monson's sales Mr. Robins sold the famed Riseholme estate, within a mile of the ancient city of Lincoln, for sixty thousand guineas, to the late Lord Bishop of the diocese. The neighbourhood is accounted a favourable situation for investing securely. VAUXHALL GARDENS.—The celebration of the birth day of his Royal Highness Prince Albert took pl_ace in the appropriate grounds of the " royal property" on Wednesday, The fete was brilliantly got up; the illuminations were very splendid, the music was appropriate to the occasion, the fire works were more than usually good, and the great host of visitors (upwards of 8,000 all tended to make the appear ance of the gardens gay and animated. Mr. Lewis acted as master of the ceremonies, and president of the commissariat as well as thecompany. In the rotunda the equestrian group of M. Tourniaire exhibited their evolutions, and certainly performed some very extraordinary as weil as very elegant feats of horsemanship. The dancing was commenced after the conclusion of the fireworks, and kept up with spirit for several hours, whilst in the boxes and at the tables in the salon hundreds of persons were partaking of roast chickens, rack punch, champagne, and other fluids furnished by the pro prietors. The whole went off well, and was satisfactory to all present. MORTALITY or THE METEOPOLIS.---The total number of deaths registered in the Metropolitan district, in the week ending Saturday, August 22, 1846, was 902. Of these, 874 were deaths from other causes than violence, showing a decrease in the number of deaths from disease, as compared with the week preceding, of 51. During the past week, the deaths from cholera were 15 ; from dysentery, 9 ' • from diar rhoea, 145. There were 1,278 births registered during the week. LIFE AssunarrcE.—A question of much importance to life assurance companies has lately been decided by the Judges in the Exchequer Chamber on a bill of exceptions in an action brought by the representatives of Schwabe against the Argus Life Assurance Company. The Judges have de termined that a party assured holding his policy in his own hands who may commit suicide, forfeits his policy, and that the office is not bound to pay the amount. This decision settles the law on a point upon which doubts had heretofore existed. The Argus Company, who, before trial, had of fered to return all premiums paid with interest, on the opi nion of the Judges in their favour being declared, immedi ately renewed their offer, and have now repaid to Schwabe's representatives the whole a the premiums received, with in terest at 4 per cent., amounting to 969/. Bs. 7d. The com pany have at the same time resolved in future to return to the representatives of any party assured in their office who may commit suicide the gross amount of premiums paid on the assurance. AN OLD HAT.—John Smith, of Heywood New-road, Heap, near Bnry, is wearing a hat which he purchased for half-crown, in Rochdale, in 1799, and has had it in regu lar wear ever since a period of 47 years.—Cambridge Acker- titer. THE ALLEGED POISONINGS IN ESSEX—ADJOURNED Tiot-QuET.—CLAVERING, NN7EDNTEspaa- Maim. —This fore noon, at ten o'clock, Mr. C. C. Lewis, and the jury impan a4:irortaansnl.'darndoroner Defied to inquire into the cause of death of Joseph and James Cheesham, re-assembled at the Fox and Hounds Tavern, Clavering• Mr. Henry Brooke examined—l am a surgeon, and on Monday, the 17th of August, I opened the bodies of deceased. They were in an advanced stage of decomposition. I extracted the stomachs with the assistance of Mr. Brown, another surgeon. A.; of the intestines elledto were taken by me to to the stomach o i o , f u Joseph , es da),,th e i t tl : w et was : s nlq n u e di a er r ly l i y vienr e ue n sd t t i trbhee,e goose thatagain aodi of University College for the purpose of of James was not so, being soft and pulpy. The stomach —I think in the Asence of the parties I have received, it appears that festerL a a n n o d a n i d is o p a t evidence, and we must have his Dr. Graham being visit Scotland, transferred the stomach to Dr. Taylor, of Guy's Hospital, who has transmitted to me a report of the analisation. That, how -1 analysise t ter per sonal attendance. I hold in my hand Dr. Taylor's report, j w .eov l u i e o r r:ecdacannot performednio;,trobme t ir h ai e a dceomevp and I may inform you, without prejudging the case, that a considerable quantity of poison has been found in them. From the report, it appears, th a t w ith respec t t o th e s t om ach of James Cheeshatn, the professor states that he found a large quantity of yellow arsenic, amounting in the whole to between twenty and thirty grains, which was suffi cient to destroy six adult person s . Th e po i son, j u d g i ng from the coats ° of the stomach, being g strongly impregnated NI ith it, and particles adhering to it, must have been taken during life. With respect ell to the stomach of Joseph, a quan tity of opiinent, or y arsenic, was found, amounting to between eight and ten grains, more than suflicie4it to (lest! ov the life of an adult. This had been taken during life, and either as yellow or white arsenic. Mr. Brooke here produced some of the arsenic which had been extracted from the stomach, and sent to bins by Dr. Taylor for the inspection of the coroner and jury. The inquiry was adjourned for the at tendance of Drs. Taylor arid Graham. in the midst of our hopes it came like a sudden blight, and we have nothing to look forward to but the mare extirpation of the root from this kingdom. 'The poor hbalrer will suffer, as potatoes are the principal food of his family; but if corn he cheap it will not make such a material difference. There is also almost an entire failure of the apple, scarcely a tree laden with fruit to be seen anywhere, which will cause old cider to advance in price. EXTENSION OF THE POTATO DISEASE TO TURNIPS. We beg to call the particular attention of our readers to the following letter, and also to the statement made in a letter from Birmingham, under the head " Potato Crps," that an immediate inquiry may be made by them into the condition of their turnip crops. We join with our correspondent in expressing a hope that our readers will communicate to us the result of their inquiries, as the subject is one of immense importance. TO THE EDIVOR. Sir,—As the potato disease is occupying the atten tion of the great bulk of the community, and its se rious results upon the poorer class, allow me to men- tion that the same disease is now showing itself in the turnip in this neighbourhood. I have a caop of swede turnips, which has excited great notice from its luxuriant and forward appearance, being drilled on the 22d July, upon ridges, with a composition of sul phuric acid and bones, nightsoil, ashes, and gypsum mixed up together. From their first appearance the plants looked healthy ; they grew very strong and rapid, escaping that general scourge, the turnip fly. I had them regularly horse-hood between the drills, and struck out by hand to about twelve inches apart in the drills. Although no rain fell for at least five weeks, they never once flagged in their growth. As the rains came on, the impulse given to the turnips was very perceptible ; the land soon became covered with the plant, and bulb ing began, which has now attained a very large size, many of the bulbs weighing upwards of 101 b. It always gave me great pleasure when I visited them, par ticularly when the accounts of others were so dis couraging. On Saturday week I was induced to go amongst the Swedes, from what I observed in some white stone top turnips (about half an acre), which I had bad drilled in the same piece, but which I now found to be all rotten, and emitting an effluvium of the most offen sive kind. I thought as the white turnips bad attained a very large size, they might have overgrown them selves, and decayed prematurely; but upon examining the sound ones I found them perfectly sound, not hollow. Now the swedes are certainly affected as above stated, but not so extensively as the white turnips. I found many putting on this appearance—the leaf a little mildewed, in the centre of the eye a dark appearance ; in a word, in every respect like the diseased potato. On putting the end of my stick down the eye, I could force it into some of them as much as a couple of inches; the smell from them was most offensive, a kind of mattery appearance, the same as the potato had last winter. I visited the same field last Saturday, and am sorry to say nearly the whole of the white turnips are affected, and the swedes to a much greater extent. Not feeling satisfied, I have visited some of my neighbours' crops, and can easily see the same disease amongst them, in the inci pient state ; being later in their gr ow th, th e di sease has not yet developed itself so fully. One field I examined particularly, which had been transplanted in June, but they were affected. Not wishing to become an alarmist, I merely write this in the spirit of inquiry. Having carefully perused the different agricultural reports from your numerous correspondents, I cannot see in them any allusion to the disease ; all concur that since the late rains, the turnips are looking much more promising. I wish when they write again they would pay especial at tention to the crops in their several localities, and report thereon ; for if the disease should prove to be an epide mic, the consequence to the grazier the ensuing winter will be very serious. Its being detected early in the season may be the means of enabling us to provide a substitute before winter sets in.—l am, Mr. Editor, your obliged servant, H. MORRIS. Gasberton, near Spalding, Lincolnshire. THE POTATO DISEASE. TO THE EDITOR. _ Sir,-0n the arrival of your paper at my cottage, I was surprised to read, in Mr. Balkwill's communication to the Royal Agricultural Society, that the great de stroyer of the potato was an insect ; and that that insect was in such numbers in the neighbourhood of Kings bridge, Devon, as to destroy whole fields of the potato crop. The potato crop in the district of North r incoln shire, with which I am acquainted, looked as well to all appearance as any crop of the kind could lo o k a fort night ago. In a very short time many crops wither e d. A respectable carpenter of my acquaintance looked over his crop on Saturday evening, the 8th —they were well and thriving then ; on Sunday morning, the 9th, they were withered. Can this be the work of a tiny insect ? On Saturday last I saw two crops of potatoes divided only by a wooden fence—one, about half an acre, en tirely withered ; the other, belonging to myself, about one acre, freshly green and in full flower, no insect per ceptible to the eye on either of the crops. This year I have grown several kinds of the potato; they are all affected with the disease, some more so than others; the tops withered in a very short space of time. The potato which we commonly call the " toad back" —a good sound potato for the spring of the year—is more affected than most others, and this potato has the seed apple upon it. I, for one, have not been able to solve this question, although I have paid a little attention to the subject, and most certainly have never discovered a bug, or any other insect, on mine or my neighbours' plants; and I am led to think it is not an insect (with us at least) from this circumstance.—l have dug up the Cambridge white kidneys this year, the foliage being green; and the disease I have found in the tuber, although I was most particular as to seed, and placed every potato of the kind in the ground with my own hand.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant, Caistor. Aug. 20. E. W. G. —Bell's Weekly Messenger. JUDGMENT CREDITORS. A BILL. INTITULED AN ACT TO MAKE CREDITORS WHO HAVE PROVED UNDER PROCESS OF BANKRURPTCY OR INSOLVENCY JUDG MENT CREDITORS OF THE BANKRUPT OR INSOLVENT. Whereas it is expedient to give additional remedies to creditors against debtors who, having been declared bankrupt or insolvent, do not account in a satisfactory way for such property as has been traced into their possession, or who have not kept such books as they ought to have done, or who have not continued to make the usual entries in their books up to the time of their bankruptcy or insolvency, or who may appear to have been guilty of great extravagance in their expenditure, or who may have put their creditors to unnecessary ex pense by vexatiously resisting proceedings taken against them in courts of justice for the recovery of debts, and who for these or for any other reasons shall appear to the Commissioner to be undeserving of protection ; Be it therefore enacted, by the Queen's most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that the Commissioners of the Court of Bank ruptcy acting in the matter of any bankruptcy or insol vency may at any time suspend or withdraw the protec tion granted to the bankrupt or insolvent as to his per sc n and property, as to either of them, as to him may seem just and expedient, and may again renew and again suspend the same from time to time. And be it enacted, That the assignee or assignees of any bankrupt or insolvent shall from the time of the bankrupt's or insolvent's accounts becoming records of the Court be deemed judgment creditors of such bank rupt or insolvent for the total amount for which such bankrupt or insolvent shall thereby admit ,himself to be indebted to all his creditors; and that if the Commis sioner acting in the matter of such bankruptcy or insol vency shall think fit to withdraw or suspend the pro ' tectign granted to the bankrupt or insolvent as to his person, he shall, on the application of such assignee or assignees, grant to him or them a certificate according to the form specified in the schedule to this Act annexed, marked (A), which shall have the same force and effect as a judgment of her Majesty's Court of Queen's Bench for the sum therein specified. And be it enacted, that every creditor of a bankrupt or insolvent who shall have proved his debt, shall from the time of his proving such debt, and in the order in which the same shall be or have been proved, be deemed a jndgment creditor of such bankrupt or insolvent for the sum so proved ; -and that if the Commissioner acting in the matter of such bankruptcy or insolvency shall think fit to withdraw or suspend the protection granted to the bankrupt or insolvent, as to his person or property, or both, he shall, on the application of any creditor so ad mitted, grant to him a certificate thereof according to the form specified in the schedule to this Act annexed, marked (B), which shall have the same force and effect as a judgment of her Majesty's Court of Queen's Bench for the sum therein specified. And be it enacted, that the assignees or assignee or any creditor holding such certificate may procure the same to be sealed with the seal of the Court of Bank ruptcy, and upon producing such certificate so sealed to the proper officer of her Majesty's Court of Queen's Bench. may procure the proper writ of Capias ad satis faciendum or Fieri facias against such bankrupt or in- solvent, or his property, as the case may be, to be scaled, in the same way in which he might have done if he had recovered a judgment against such bankrupt or insolvent in her Majesty's Court of Queen's Bench, and had pro duced to the proper officer the judgment paper. And be it enacted, that if any bankrupt or insolvent shall be in prison under a capias ad satisfaciendum so issued as aforesaid, the Court having jurisdiction in the matter of his bankruptcy and insolvency may order his release after he shall have undergone such imprisonment, not exceeding one year, as to such Court shall seem sufficient punishment for the offences of which he may have been guilty : Provided always, that no bankrupt or insolvent against whom or by whom in respect of his bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings shall have been had shall be imprisoned for any debts, proved by whatever creditors under such bankruptcy or insolvency for a longer period than one year, taking into the ac count all the imprisonments which he shall suffer under such irocess. And be it enacted, That whenever a bankrupt whose certificate the Court shall have refused or suspended. or an insolvent to whom the Court shall have refused his final order, shall appear to any creditor who shall have proved his debt to be in possession of property which might have been seized for the benefit of the creditors, but which has not been so seized, he may apply to the Commissioner acting in the matter for an order upon the assignees to 6 how cause why he should not be permitted to seize the same at his - own risk for his own benefit, upon which application the Commissioner may order, unless cause be shown to the contrary, that such creditor may cause such property to be seized under the usual writ of fieri facias at his own risk, and may apply the proceeds in discharge of his own debt and costs., rendering the overplus (if MO to the official assignee entitled to receive the same.. And be it enacted, that if any bankrupt or. not being protected from process by thgeOiart de:lank ruptcy, shall with the consent of the true ocirifirlatereof, be in possession of any goods or chattels whereof" he is reputed owner, such goods and chattels shall be liable to be seized under a writ of fieri facies for the benefit of any person who may have issued the same. And be it enacted, that this Act may be altered or repealed during the present session of Parliament. PUBLIC HOUSES (SCOTLAND). Report from the Select Committee appointed to take into consideration the system of granting certificates for public houses in Scotland, laid upon the table of the House of Commons:— _ _ 1. That the number of houses in which spirits are sold for consumption on the premises is excessive, and ought to be restricted ; and in particular that the number of such houses of inferior class is excessive, and productive of evil, and that it would be expedient to repress the evil arising therefrom. 2. That the facility with which licenses for the sale of spirits is to be consumed on the premises are obtained, is one main cause of the excessive number of such houses, and of their indiscriminate character. 3. That the combination of the trade of grocers and venders of other commodities with the trade of venders of spirits to Le consumed on the premises, is, especially in towns, productive of evil consequences to the working classes. 4. That great inconvenience arises from the circum stance that the Excise licenses are in force from October to October annually, while the occupation of houses and shops in Scotland is almost universally from Whit Sun day to Whit Sunday, and certificates are commonly granted in May. 5. That with a view of diminishing the number and improving the character of houses for the sale of spirits to be consumed on the premises, and with the view of securing a better appointment of the number of such houses to the wants of each particular district, it is ex pedient that the system of granting certificates be altered and amended. 6. That at their meeting on the 30th of April, the justices of the peace of each county should appoint a committee of their own number for the purpose of as certaining and fixing the number of public houses ne cessary for the wants of each locality or district. That this committee, after full inquiry, should fix the number for each district for a certain number of years prospec tively, and that such decision of the committee should be final. 7. That at the same meeting the justices of the peace should appoint local committees to act in the several localities or districts, in granting or renewing certificates, and that the decision of every such local committee should be final. 8. That no certificate to any new party should be granted until the number of public-houses in the district or locality shall have been reduced to the number fixed by the general committee first mentioned, without a spe cial reference to and approval by the said committee, and in no case should more than one such new certificate be granted in any cne district in any one year. 9. That each local committee should fix the minimum rent of houses to the occupants of which new licenses may be granted, and the minimum rent having been so fixed, the same should not be altered without the consent of the general committee. 10. That there should be one certificate for keeping a common inn, alehouse, or victualling house, in which beer, cider, or perry s h ou ld b e sold- to be drank or consumed on the premises, and a separate certificate for keeping a common inn, alehouse, or victualling house, in which spirits, &c. shall be sold to be drank or con sumed on the premises ; and that there should be se parate licenses to correspond with the separate certi ficates. 11. That no certificate for keeping a common inn, alehouse, or victualling house, where beer or spirits are sold to be consumed on the premises, and no license for such sale of beer or spirits should be granted to any person who sells groceries or such like commodities, unless special permission to that effect shall be annexed to the certificate, and subscribed in like manner as the certificate. 12. That in no case should a certificate for license be granted to any person whose character is not satisfac torily attested on the personal knowledge of the attesta tors, each of whom should add to his signature a state ment that the attestation is made on his personal know ledge. fb. That there should be a license for the sale of spirits to be consumed on the premises, distinct and separate from the+ retail license. 14. That no certificate should be necessary to entitle any person to a license to retail spirits not to be con sumed on the premises. _ _. 15. That it is very expedient that the period of the currency of Excise licenses should be made to corre spond, as nearly as possible, with the period of the oc cupation of the premises, viz., Whitsunday to Whit sunday. 16. That no certificate should be granted for a license to the occupant of a toll-house in any case in which there is a licensed public-house within two or three miles of such toll-house on the same road ; nor unless the aforesaid general committee shall have resolved that a license for such toll-house is necessary for the con venience of the district in which it is situate. 17. That the remuneration to the clerks in respect of the matter of certificates shall be by a fixed annual sum, and not by fees on each certificate. ARISTOCRACY OF THE SKIN. On Tuesday last two American sailors, named Alonzo Lewis and George Brookes, were placed before Mr. Rushton under the following circumstances:— It appears that a poor Hindoo, who sells tracts, went into the house where the sailors were for the purpose of selling his books. He succeeded in selling one, for which ho got paid. One of the accused seized the re mainder of his stock and destroyed them. On the Bin doo remonstrating, he was immediately, with much abuse, ordered out, and, not instantly complying with the order, both the sailors assailed him. He was beaten and kicked, and fled for safety into the street. The poor fellow was followed by his assailants, who, as Mr. Moss, one of the witnesses, stated, beat and kicked him about the head and breast in the most dastardly man ner. The seamen made no defence. As soon as this case had been heard, an elderly man, a negro, stepped forward to prefer another charge. The negro stated, that as he passed the same sailors, one of them squirted his spittle into complainant's face, and, on being remon strated-with, the negro was immediately knocked down by one of the sailors, whilst the other threw at him a large stone. The negro had not given him the slightest provocation. Their cowardly conduct did not stop here; for a poor woman, an English woman, who was carrying a mulatto child in her arms, was strueked in the face, and the child knocked down. In both these cases no defence was made. These republican sailors were et.. cited by the dark skin of their victims to abuse and in jure them. Mr. Rushton, on inquiry, found that the negro had shipped on a voyage to Calcutta, and that to detain him till the sessions would inflict further injury; he, therefore, did not send them for trial. He, however, spoke with indignation of the brutal conduct of the pri soners, and told them that such conduct in England could not be endured ; that the laws admitted no dif ference between white and black ; and that the utmost punishment the justices could award for the offence was much too light. After consulting with Mr. Christopher Rawdon, who sat on the bench, Mr. Rushton ordered each of the sailors to pay the sum of 5/. for each assault, and in default of payment to be imprisoned two months; he also ordered them to find bail to keep the peace, or, in default, to be imprisoned four months. We trust this prompt and salutary punishment may serve to convince such of our American visitors as venture to beat and kick a man because he has a black skin, that the law is too strong for them. We are glad to say th at in general the American sailors are as well-behaved and as respec table as our own Now and then, however, the curse which slavery this k bringsind.a y p of i v e e a r r p s o , oi a n fil d e w rc e ury h . 7 e the resulta in acts Sir George Baker, Bart., and suite, the Baron Mun chausen, and Colonel Fulton, arrived in London on Wednes day afternoon by the General Steam Navigation Company's steam-ship Soho, after a delightful run from Ostend. GROUSE SHOOTING IN " THE HOUSE."—In conse quence of the extreme length of the Parliamentary session, several Members of Parliament are detained from their favourite sport of grouse-shooting. As it is very hard upon these individuals, who are thus deprived of their recreation by the business of their country, it has been proposed to in troduce into each House a large cage of living grouse, at which Members may pop from their places, and thus combine the pursuit of pleasure with the performance of an important duty. They may, by this arrangement, discharge the order of the day and their fowling-pieces at the same time, or bring up the report on a Bill simultaneously with the reports of a different character.—. Punch. COPPER ROCE.—The Detroit Advertiser contains, in a letter addressed to that journal, the following account of a most remarkable natural production :—Yon undoubtedly have heard of the enormous copper rock at Eagle harbour location, pronounced by Dr. Petit the great-grandfather of all the rocks of this kind—estimating its weight at from 75 to 100 tons. A brief description by an eye-witness may be interesting to your readers. At Eagle Harbour, commencing at the shore of the lake, is au open cut 12 feet wide, 85 feat long, 7 to 8 feet deep, in which is found this enormous mass of copper. The shoe, which is 90 per cent., pure copper, is in the centre, running the entire length of the cut, varying in thickness from 6 inches to 2 feet, having branches of from 1 to 2 inches in thickness shooting front it east and west, and varying in length from Ito 2 feet. The interstices are filled with sand and trap rock, charged with native copper—say 50 to 75 per cent.; also small masses of beautifully crys talised marcasite or spar, filled with what has the appear ance of copper filings—being quite rich. This is what is called the copper rock, as unlike a roek as possible; it looks snore like a large tree that has fallen, and turned to metal, with this exception, that its depth is not in proportion. Large detached masses of native copper, weighing from 50 to 3001b5., are taken from alongside of this sheet, and the vein stone up to the wall rock is richly charged with copper in its native state. ELECTORS (IRELAND). —A return has just been issued by order of the House of Commons, showing the number of Parliamentary electors registered for each county, city, town, and borough in Ireland, on the Ist of February, 1835, 1837, 1845, and 1846 ; of the number of electors for counties en titled to vote on the 2d February, 1845, and 1846 ; and of the number of electors registered for counties, cities, and boroughs, from Ist February, 1844, to Ist February, 1815, ice. These returns war.: moved for by Mr. Pigot, on the 15th of May last, and the following are a kw of the results shown thereby :—There was a decrease in the number of registered electors in the county of Antrim, on the Ist of February, 1840, compared with the Ist of Fe bruary, 1835, of 1,436 ; Carrickfergus, county town, a decrease of 362 ; Cashel borough 67 ; Cavan county, 696 ; Galway county, 6,099 ; Limerick city, - st f the crease of 1,184 ; Wexford county, 1,034 ; and In ,. m compared above, the decrease on the let of Februarycuter.ll ln other with the Ist of February, 952 ; Mayo countoy, o a d following cases there instances, there has been of registered electors. s Thus, Ist of February, 1846, eons • laBd34nidwe-tateinsctirease in the number the increase stated on the bun county, 981 ; Waterford city, S2O. p w a a r s ed ' with the let of February, 1834 ; Dublin city, 6,327 ; Dionag ROMANTIC ADVENTURE. Paris is the place for romantic adventures. One night, some months ago, a young officer of a cavalry regiment was returning to his barracks late at night, when he saw on one of the bridges a young woman of considerable beauty, but clad in the mean gar ments of a workwoman, preparing to pinnge into the river. He seized her, and threatened to take her to the station-house. She supplicated, however, so earnestly to be left alone, that the officer consented to release her; first, however, exacting a solemn pro mise that she would not repeat her attempt. She hurried away; but the young soldier deemed it right to follow her. Luckily it was that he did so; for no sooner did she believe herself free from observation than the unhappy girl plunged into the river. The officer was close upon her, and, with some difficulty, and not without danger, succeeded in dragging her to land. This time he insisted upon accompanying her home. With extreme reluctance, the would-be suicide led him to a miserable lodging in the most wretched part of the town. Knocking at the door, art old woman ap peared, to whom the officer related what had happened. " Ah, madam," she cried, "it was for that, then, you borrowed my clothes!" and she went on to relate to the young officer that the pretended unknown was no other than the daughter of a nobleman of the highest rank, and that she had that night come to bor row the dress in which she appeared, in order, as she said, to avoid discovery in a love adventure. In proof of the truth of the story, the old woman pointed to the young lady's dress which she had left on assuming her coarse attire. This naturally excited the young man's curiosity to the highest pitch. He insisted on accompanying the young lady to her father, to whom he related all that had taken place. Warm thanks were, of course, heaped upon him, and he was invited to the house, at which he subsequently became a constant visitor. An intimacy sprang up between him and the young lady, which ripened into affection, and the affection resulted in a marriage, celebrated a few days ago. This tale is true, strange as it may appear. It has, of course, created an immense sensation in the higher circles of Parisian society; and at present it is said that all young unmarried ladies are bent on attempting to commit suicide at midnight, in the hope of being saved by a handsome officer of hussars. It is so romantic ; and whatever is romantic has immense popularity in Paris. AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. (From Bell's Weekly Messenger.) NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE, AUG. 13.—Harvest is rapidly proceeding, four-fifths of the wheat having been carried in good condition; the crops are very variable—some very good, others indifferent. Upon the whole, we consider it a full average as to quantity; the quality bold and heavy, though not so white and rather rougher in the skin than in 1844. Barley is light in the straw, but off the wold land will be of fair malting quality; on the strong land it is late and bad; some fields green, others part green, part nearly ripe. Oats an average crop. Beans wretched (ono to three sacks per acre); some fields scarcely worth reaping. Turnips are uni formly a full splendid crop, up to the knees in top, and turning fast. Potatoes rapidly decaying. Wheat, the chief dependence of the farmer, is very seriously re duced in price: old red of 611 b. per bushel has been sold for 355. per qr.; how can language be found sufficiently strong fully to describe the treachery of those men who have brought the country into this state? It also appears that the operatives are beginning to find in the attempts their masters are making to reduce their wages, that they have merely been used, as the monkey used the cat's paw, to pull the chestnuts out of the fire. As the loaf increases, wages fall. EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE, AUG. 20.—We are now in the midst of our harvest operations ; in the southern parts of the riding, the principal part of the wheat is secured in superb condition ; in the northern districts it is yet for the most part in the field, although should the weather be favourable, ere this comes from tke press much will have been secured. As it is, the weather for the last few days has been unsettled and threatening, and has caused considerable anxiety to the farmers who have their corn yet abroad ; it has not, however, sustained any injury from sprout as yet. We scarcely recollect a year since the summer of 1826, when the fields were cleared with such rapidity as in the pre sent year. The wheat upon almost all descriptions of soil has cut up a very light crop, and has gone into very little space. Oats, although much improved are short in the straw, and a light crop ; barley is still worse, and beans are nearly a failure altogether. The yield of the wheat crop, upon which such great anticipations have been formed, seems to disappoint general expectation, and it is our firm conviction that if the East Riding yield "stook and bushel," to use the East Riding phrase, we are below an average. Yet from the expe -1 rience of those who have thrashed, we feel satisfied that we are to have no such yield, and our firm conviction is, that we are four or six bushels under an average. The quality is superb, equal to 1844, and the accounts of the weight are good. The potato crop is again a failure, to all appearance worse than the last year. Doubtless, this circumstance, taken in connexion with the deficient yield of the wheat crop, has the tendency to cause the present advance in the price of wheat, but the price must be much higher to enable the farmer to pay his way with the present crop. Turnips grow beautifully, and the prospect for winter keep is good. BRECONSITIRE, AUG. 18.—I travel frequently through the greater part of South Wales, more especially through Breconshire, and as I perceive you are favoured by correspondents with agricultural reports from most of the English counties, I do not see why you should not hear a little concerning the proceedings in this county, as I think we can boast of farms and farmers equal to any in England, in the Vale of Usk. More than two.thirds of the wheat has been housed in very good condition, and will, I think, yield very well, although there is a general complaint of a deficiency in the head. The crop is much lighter than last year, with regard to the straw, but the head heavier and finer sample. The weather at present is very unfavourable, scarcely a day passing by without heavy showers. It will oc casion serious loss to the small farmers situated near the foot of the mountains, many of whom have as yet scarcely any of their hay in. Several fields have been down for the last three weeks, the weather being so fickle. I counted very many that had not been mown, which . h it would be scarcely wot t while to do so late in the season. The barley and oat crops are rapidly falling under the stroke of the sickle, in expectation of fine weather after this continuance of wet. They are on the average light, in particular the oats, scarcely repaying the husbandman for his trouble. Peas, also, are similar to the oats, the pods few, and not well filled. Of turnips, both swedes and common, we could scarcely have a finer show, the leaves looking healthy and of such a luxuriant green hue, quite different from the last year's. I have seen several of the size of a large basin. Last year's destructive disease has again attacked the potatoes, but in a more virulent form. We were in expectation that we should have escaped it, but 233 6 11 6,965 0 0 76,600 0 0 £246,600 16 11 _, ` , 7- -- _ -- ,