The Sun. — London, England, 1852-12-20 00:00:00

trb Mbitton SUN OFFICE, Seven o'clock, MEETING AT LORD DERBY'S. We understand that a very numerous and influ ential meeting of the Conservative Party, consist ing of members of both Houses of Parliament was held this morning, in Downing-street, at the official residence of Lord Derby. His Lordship addressed the meeting at length, stating his determination, at all.sacrifiees of personal convenience, not to aban don the powerful party of which he is at present the leader ; but to continue to guide their councils. The most gratifying Unanimity prevailed ; and we believe that we are fully justified in stating that an unqualified resolution was expressed by the meeting to continue their undiminished confidence in their Leaders in both Houses of Parliament. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS-(THIS ETENING The Loan Oxalic/n.1411 took his seat on the Woolsack at 5 o'clock. The attendanee of Peers was slight. The members of the GoTernment haying seats in the house were present. On the Opposition benches were Lord Clanri carde and Lord Clarendon. All the galleries of the house and the spaces at the foot of the throne and below the bar were crowded. MINISTERIAL EXPLANATION. The Earl of DERBY rose and said,—My lords, it is consistent with the usual practice and advantageous for the public service that a. Minister of the Crown, in announcing to your lordships the dissolution of his Gevernment, should enter into some explanation. The responsibility of re signing office is no less an offence than that of accept ing it without due consideration ; and it is due to your lordships, to the other house, and to the country, that those who are charged with the Government should not throw up that government on light or on trifling grounds, upon any minor differences of opinion, or upon any ground of private misunderstanding or personal intrigue. Upon the present occasion I am not called to trespass on your lordships time at any length, because the causes of the 'dissolution are patent to all, and upon the surface. The noble earl then proceeded to say that, after the general election of last summer, her Majesty's Government hav ing gone through the returns, found that there were about 310 gentlemen who were disposed to repose confidence in her Majesty's Government, irrespective of the ques tion of free trade or protection. There were three other parties, or rather there were more, one of whom included within itself the various gradation between high aristocratic and exclusive Whig and the wildest theorist and extreme Radical, comprising about 260 members. There was a third party from the sister king dom—the representatives of the Catholic clergy, and pledged to oppose every Government who were not prepared to act on their extreme views. There was another party, numerically small, but of great personal worth, possessed of very great official experience, still professing Conservative principles. With these three parties in the house, it was evident that at any time by uniting together they could destroy the Government which was then in existence ; and it was not long that they were left in doubt as to the intention of these parties. Before the Government had time to bring forward any specific financial measures, a gentle man of extreme opinions made a motion, so framed that all the three parties could act in concert in supporting it. Upon this point he was not speaking upon doubtful grounds , they had had some curious revelations by an hon. baronet in the other house, who had lifted the curtain, and showed the actors discussing their plot for the ejectment of the present Go vernment. On that occasion the object was thwarted by the intervention of a noble lord. Shortly afterwards, when the financial policy of the Government was sub mitted to Parliament, the House of Commons, after a lengthened debate, rejected those propositions by a ma jority of 19, in a house unprecedentedly full. (Hear, hear.) Had the defeat of the noble lord been upon some minor and incidental question, upon some matters of detail, greatly as I should have felt that the position of the Government was thereby weakened, I should not have considered myself satisfied upon such a defeat in abandoning the duty confided. But the motion was made ostensibly as a vote of want of confidence in the Government, and, under those circumstances, it was the opinion of my col leagues that it was our duty at once to resign. Having bad a distinct declaration of want of confi dence on the part of the House of Commons, I and my colleagues were unanimously of opinion as to the only course we ought to pursue ; and I proceeded to wait on iler Majesty to tender, in my own name and that of my colleagues, the humble resignation of our ser vices. Her Majesty was pleased to accept that resigna tion, and to signify her pleasure, which was acted on in the course of the same evening, to send for, and to take the advice of two members of your lbrdship's house, of great experience and ability, and one of whom, I say it without di sres p ec t t o th e o th er, was peculiarlydistin guished for the well-known moderation and temper which he has shown in discharging his duty in this house. That noble marquis (Lansdowne) was prevented by ill ness from attending, and on the following day the Earl of Aberdeen waited on her Majesty, and signified his readiness to undertake the formation of a new Adminis tration. On what principle that Administration is , to be formed, of whom it is to be composed, what are ' to be its principle I know nothing. We shall, I presume, have a full declaration before long from the noble earl himself. I remember that on more than one occasion that noble earl has declared that the question of free trade excepted, he knew of no point upon which he differed with myself and my present colleagues. I presume it is the intention of the noble earl to carry on the Govern ment if he shall be able to form it on strictly Conserva tive principles. If those principles are to be carried out, I at present entertain some little doubt with such associa tions as those of which the - noble earl must avail himself. But on this he would abstain from saying anything which could now excite discussion, but he was confident he would meet with more forbearance from the great Con servative party than that party had met with from others. (Hear.) If his Government were conducted on Conserva tive principles, and so as to restrain the democratic power of the Constitution, he would have the sincere support of the great Conservative party in this country ; and he would find that no personal feelings would exer cise any influence on his (the Earl of Derby's) conduct. For his own part, he need not say that the surrender of office was personally indifferent. It would indeed have been a matter of deep mortification to him if, on resign ing office, he had left the country in a less advantageous position that when he had taken office ; but he ventured to think that, short as had been the period during which he and his colleagues had held office, that period had not been without some advantage to the country—it had not elapsed without some beneficial measures having been carried. The noble earl, after paying a high compli ment to the abilities of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which he said had elicited the applause of his opponents, proceaded to review the measures passed by the Govern ment, claiming the credit for having done more for the cause of Reform, than had been done for many years. They could not take any credit for the state of the finances, -but they could take credit for, that the had broken through that dangerous apathy with regard to the internal defences of the coun try. After the time which had elapsed since the com mencement of the session, and after the numerous in terviews which had taken place between their opponents, he was somewhat surprised at receiving a communica tion from the noble earl (Aberdeen), requesting him to move the adjournment of the house until this day week. lle certainly had considered that the measures of their opponents had been better concerted. Un der all the circumstances, and considering that C hristmas-day intervened, he thought it better to move the adjournment of the house until Thursday —of curse giving the noble earl to understand that, if it !fere necessary, and if the noble earl had not by that "'Qe completed his arrangements, he should be perfectly r une completed 112:_°n Thursday to move the further adjournment of h ° l,l B, until Monday. The noble lord then concluded by m ouse that the house adjourn until Monday. -'he Duke of NEWCASTLE rose to protest against an observation made by the noble earl, insinuating that measures h part i es efthe ( Id been concocted between the different the Gover rthaeet Pposition for the purpose of expelling place was for no The conference which had taken object of devi s i o " ch purpose, but avowedly with the free trade, which sho uld li:esolution for the affirmation of en t t l i q obtain the assent of all parties. If the high honor reputation of his noble friend did not command from the had noble rn earl an abstinence from the insinuations which he ads against him, surely he might have deferred makin any accusations in respect to what he was now doing in coin . noblepl c: with the com mands of her Majesty, until the earl was was himself present in the house. He (the Duke of Newcastle) rose for no other purpose than to declare that _ combinat i ons had the statement of the noble lord th at ce . nah . been formed to prevent him explaining the measures f the Government to the country, W as baseles o unfounded, and he felt bound unde r these acnird cumstances to give it his positive contradiction. The noble load would forgive him if he said that the course he had taken on the present occasion was a most un usual proceeding. (Hear.) The noble duke observed, in concl us i on , t h at hi s a ff ec ti on f or the Earl of Ab erdeen as well as regard for the several members of the House of Commons, whose character had been drawn into this discussion, prevented him sitting still on the present oc casion, and not offering some explanation to the house. (Hear, hear.) The Earl of DERBY said—l trust the noble lord will permit me to state that I did not say that there had been a motion made for the purpose of preventing us bringing our measures hefore the country. What I did say was that from the first commencement of the session it was obvious there was some concert between the Liberal party, for the purpose of preventing the Government explaining their measures to the house and the country; that a motion was made and concert entered into on the subject before we had an opportunity of submitting our measures to the country. (Hear, hear.) I did not say that the specific object of making the motion at that time was to prevent us bringing fbrward these measures. . I have only to add, that if the I TUB SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING-, DECEMBER 20, 1852. The motion for the adjournment was then agreed to. Some bills were then passed a stage, and their lord ships adjourned. Mr. COBDEN presented a petition from the West Riding, praying for the repeal of the taxes on knowledge. Sir DE LACY EVANS presented two petitions from Westminster, praying the house to take steps for the release of Edward Murray. Mr. C. BRUCE presented a petition from a place in Scotland, against the grant to Maynooth. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE presented a petition from the farmers of Cumberland, complaining of the conduct of the magistracy of that county, in reference to their offi cial proceeding, and praying the house to pass measures to prevent magistrates adjudicating in cases where they are personally interested. Several petitions were presented from literary and scientific institutions, praying the house to make them grants of Parliamentary papers. Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition from Manchester, praying for the repeal of the Excise duty upon paper and soap, when there shall be a sufficient surplus in the Ex chequer to admit of such a measure. Several petitions were presented from various parts of the country, against any alteration in the house tax. RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE IN SPAIN. Sir R. H. INGLIS wished to ask the Under-Secre tary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he had seen a notice published by the Spanish Government, in which it was stated that foreigners residing in, and passing through, Spain, would be prohibited from prac tising or professing any other than that of the Roman Catholic religion ? (A laugh.) Lord STANLEY said, that the attention of the Foreign-office had been directed to such a notice, but the terms of the notice were of so ambiguous a cha racter, that Lord Howden, our Minister at Madrid,lhad been requested to apply to the Spanish Government for an explanation of them. NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr. MOORE gave notice that, immediately after the recess, he should bring before the house a motion in re lation to the Irish Consolidated Annuities, and the re commendation contained in the report of the Lords' Committee on that subject. Mr. W. WILLIAMS gave notice that early after the recess, he should move that probate and legacy duties should be extended to real property. MINISTERIAL CRISIS. By a quarter past four there was a scanty gathering of ex-Ministers on the Treasury Benches—among those present, we observed Sir John Pakington and Mrt_Wal pole. About twenty minutes past four, Mr. Gladstone hav ing entered a few minutes previously, hurried from his usual post below the gangway, to the seat occupied by Lord John Russell on the front bench of the Opposi tion, when the two eminent statesmen were very speedily absorbed in conversation. Sir James Graham was in his place by the side of the noble lord the member for the city of London. After the conversation already alluded to having taken place between Mr. Gladstone and Lord John Russell, the latter crossed over for a few moments, and, taking his seat on the Treasury bench near Mr. Walpole, spoke for an interval to the ex-Home Secretary. The noble lord then talked for a minute or so to the Speaker. The Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer en tered the house at about half-past four o'clock, looking better, we were glad to see, than he has appeared for some time past, with a blooming red rose in his button hole. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose and said : Mr. Speaker—After the vote to which the House arrived on Thursday night, the Earl of Derby and his colleagues thought it to be their duty to tender the resignation of their offices to her Majesty, and her Majesty has been most graciously pleased to accept the same. It has reached me that the Earl of Aberdeen has undertaken the office of forming a new Administra tion, and it therefore remains for me to say that we hold our present offices only until our successors are ap pointed. I hope the house will not consider it presump tuous on my part if, under these circumstances, I venture to offer them my grateful thanks for the indulgent, and, I may even say, generous manner, in which, on both sides, I have been supported, in attempting to conduct the busi ness of this house—(cheers)—and if, sir, in the course of that 'unequal struggle in which we have been engaged, one word has escaped my lips which has been calculated to hurt the feelings of any gentleman in this house, I deeply regret it—(cheers from the Opposition)—and I hope that the impression on their part will be as transitory as the sense of provocation was on my own. (Renewed cheers.) The kind opinion of the members of this house, whatever may be their political opinions, and wherever I may sit, will always be to me a most precious posses sion, and one which I shall always most covet and most appreciate. (Cheers.) I beg leave now to move, sir, that this house, at its rising, do adjourn until Thursday next. (Cheers.) Lord J. RUSSELL—Sir, I rise for the purpose, in the first place, of concurring in the motion which has just been made ; and, in the next place, to say that I feel quite certain that if, in the course of debate, any words fell from the right hon. gentleman which were calculated to hurt the feelings of any one, they are to be attributed entirely to the circumstances in which the hon, gentle man was placed, and not to any wish or desire to offend. (Cheers.) For my part, I have always admired the ability and talent with which he has carried on the business of this house, and I have still more admired the manner in which, singly as it were, he had to battle for the interests of his Govern ment. (Cheers.) It is impossible, sir, to hope that those halcyon days will ever overtake us, when the course of debate in this house shall be such as not to give rise to some degree of angry feeling—(hear, hear) — and if it should ever occur that any feeling of that kind must arise, the sting, I hope, will be done away with by hon. gentlemen imitating the course which the right hon. gentleman has judiciously taken to-night. (Cheers.) Sir J. GRAHAM—Sir, with respect to the future I am altogether uninformed ; but with respect to the past, after what has fallen from the right hon. gentle man opposite, I cannot refrain saying one word upon this occasion. (Hear, hear.) It would be impossible for me, Sir, not to feel with some degree of pain the expressions which fell from the right hon. gentleman the other night ; but, if I had thought that those ex pressions were intended purposely to wound my feelings, it would have been of a far different kind, for I am not conscious, Sir, of having said anything in the course of debate which was in any way calculated to wound or hurt the feelings of the right honourable gen tleman. (Cheers.) I cannot, therefore, believe that the expressions which the right honourable gentleman used were intentional ; but I am confident that he made use of them in the heat of debate, and without any pre meditation. (Cheers.) No member of this house can be more attached to the freedom of debate than myself ; but, at the same time, I cordially concur in what has fallen from my noble friend the member for the city of London, as to the wisdom and policy of conducting our discussions with temperance and decorum. (Hear, hear.) I have only to add, sir, in conclusion, th a t I h ave never failed to admir e th e talents of the right hon. gentleman opposite, and also, I must say, the manner in which he has conducted the business of this house. I hope the house will pardon me for what I have said, but I felt that expressions had been used which rendered it necessary for me to say thus much, though I hope my conduct in this house, at all times, will ensure me some portion of its respect, which is all that I desire. (Cheers.) Sir C. WOOD admitted that some expressions had fallen from him in the heat of debate, which might have justified the remarks of the right hon. gentleman opposite, but after the unqualified acknowledgment of that right hon. gentleman, he had no hesitation whatever in with drawing the terms he used, though at the same time he could not help still feeling that the nature of the budget justified the opposition which he gave to it. (Hear.) Col. SIBTHORP had listened attentively to what had fallen from the three right hon. gentlemen opposite in reply to the observations of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and certainly the scene of this evening reminded him very much of a well known saying he had heard, that we might knock a man down in the street, and afterwards help him to a plaster. (A laugh.) He did not subscribe to the knocking down, nor had he much sympathy with th e sincerity of the individual who stopped after having done that to give the plaster, and in that view he looked upon the conduct of the right hon. gentleman opposite. (Laughter.) He had heard that the noble earl at the head of the Government had tendered his resignation, ann he regretted it very much, because he could not help feeling that the noble lord had succumbed to a daring phalanx of conspirators, but those conspirators were something like the dog and the cat, and he had this belief to console himself with that they could not long hold together. (Laughter.) Mr. HUMS spoke in the highest and handsomest manne r of the facilities which, to his knowledge, had al ways been afforded for conveying information, upon all subjects, by the late Government. He expressed a hope that the new Cabinet would be constructedupon a broad basis —saying that he should expect from them, that the country would expect from them, the continuation of law reforms, the extension of the free-trade principles, and above all the purification and reorganisation of the whole system of representation. The hon.gentleman I said, in fine, that he was g as brief as possible. s anguine the re cess s h ou ld b e Mr. CAYLEY, agreeing with much that was said by themeber for Montros?, .pronounced an earnest pane- Chancellor uon the Derby Ministry, but especially upon the of the Exchequer. but said that the right hon. gentleman entered it with a very brilliant repu tation, and that he left it with that reputation not only noble Earl is not prepared on Thursday next, I shall move the further adjournment of the house until Monday next, and that no measures of any importance will be brought forward in the interval. HOUSE OF COMMONS—(THIS EVENING.) The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock, when there was a very full attendance of members. PETITIONS. untarnished, but very considerably increased. (Loud cheers.) The motion was then agreed to. ORDNANCE STORES. Sir G. PECHELL moved for a continuation of the returns of 1848 of the Ordnance Stores in hand. Col. DIJNNE hoped that the gallant member would defer his motion till the appointment of his successor. After some conversation, the gallery was cleared for a division, but their being only thirty members, the motion fell through, and the house immediately adjourned. RE- APPEARANCE OF LORD PALMERSTON. - Lord Palmerston entered the house just before the discussion on the Ministerial Crisis terminated, and took his seat in his usual position on the first row beyond the gangway on the Opposition side. There was a considerable change for the worse in his appearance since he was last seen in the house ; his face looked pale and haggard, and he seemed to walk with difficulty. TATTERSALL'S.—THIS EVENING. MkattOPOLITAN HANDICAP. 30 to 1 agst Muscovite. CHESTER CUP. 1,000 to 12 Cardinal Wiseman (taken). 1,000 to 12 Confessor (taken). DERBY. 13 to 1 agst West Australian. 100 to 6 —. Cineas (taken). 17 to 1 Umbriel (taken). 1,000 to 30 Ninnyhammer (taken). 1,000 to 30 Brocket (taken). 1,000 to 20 Rataplan (taken). 1,006 to 20 Lord Fauconberg (taken). 1,000 to 20 Orinoco (taken). WEIGHTS FO.:R THE GREAT METROPOLITAN. The following Are the weights as settled for this great race : Eighth year of the Great Metropolitan Stakes (handicap) of 25 says. each, 15 ft, and only 5 if declared, with a Bonus of 350 sovs. added by the contributions of the Lovers of the' National Sport of Racing, resident in the City of 'London and Metropolitan districts, to gether with g ratuities from, and subscriptions received by, the Lice], sed Victuallers of the Metropolis; the owner of the second horse to receive 50 sovs. out of the stakes. The winner of any handicap of 200 sovs. value, subsequent to the publication of the weights, to ca: rry 51b, or of two such races or more, 101 b extra. The winner to pay 30 sovs. towards the expenses, 10/. 10s. to the Licensed Victuallers' School, and 10/.los. to the License d Victuallers' Asylum. Great Metropoli tan Stakes Co I u-se, two miles and a quarter, to start at the Winning -t: hair. Yrs st lb Kingston - 0 Weathergage 4 9 0 Newminster Cariboo Chief Baron Nicla ol son Joe Miller Little Harry Goldflnder 5 8 1 Knight of the Sit ire 4 8 1 Prime Minister Leopold 4 8 0 Grey Tommy 4 8 0 Hungerford ............ 5 8 0 King of Trumps...—. 4 7 13 Lucio Le Juif 5 7 12 Adine 4 711 Frantic., 4 711 Bellewstown 5 7 10 Sally Warfoot c........ 4 7 10 Homebrewed 4 7 10 Poodle Sis. to Batteraw: i y 5 7 10 Timid Fawn Merry Bird ....... 4 7 9 Attack 4 7 8 Lindrick 4 7 7 Bardolph ..... 4 7 7 Candlewick 6 7 6 Lady Amy0tt.......... 4 7 6 Muscovite 4 7 6 Colsterdale 5 7 5 Miss May 4 7 5 Alp a 7 3 Butterfly Trifle 4 7 2 Little Davie 4 7 2 Bishop 4 7 2 Ammonia . 4 7 0 Kate 4 7 0 Redmond O'Hani: ton 4 7 0 Terpsichore ...... Allegro 4 612 ' Pelion 3 611 Exact 3 6 11 Lambton 3 6 10 Burndale 4 6 7 St. George 6 6 7 King of Tr0y.......... 4 6 6 e by Theon—Reb a leak 4 6 6 Benita 4 6 6 Abciallah 5 6 5 Now or Never........ a 6 5 Ninnyhammer 3 6 4 Brocket Sextus Galvanism Hirsuta 4 6 3 Lady Harriet...., 4 6 3 Maria f by Venison—l C 'ed ding-day 4 6 2 Yrs st lb Follow-me-Lads 5 6 2 Madeline 4 6 0 Isabella 4 6 0 Cleveland 4 5 13 Carrier 4 513 Valour 3 512 Michaelmas Maid 3 5 12 Charley 3 5 12 Defiance 3 5 12 Lord Fauconberg 3 5 12 Pug Orrock 3 5 11 gl9 Paragon—Pau- _ _ line Cotton Lady . Tickton Corybantes Ethelbert Happy Joe Richmond Grapeshot Batty Darling f by Melbourne— Gaiety 3 5 7 Beverlac 3 5 7 Tavistock 3 5 7 Prevention 3 5 6 Fin Mac-coul 3 5 6 Hatchet 3 5 6 Snowdon Dunhill 3 5 6 Auchinleck 3 5 5 Termagant 4 5 5 William Rufus... 3 5 4 The Dandy 3 5 4 Madame Landeau 3 5 4 cby Alarm—Alkali 3 5 4 c by Hercules—Dex terous 3 5 4 . 3 5 11 . 4 5 10 3 510 • 3 5 10 3 5 10 4 5 10 4 5 9 3 5 9 •3 5 7 Hobby Horse 3 5 3 Mr. Moon 4 5 3 Charming Woman 3 5 2 Locket 3 5 2 Cat's-paw 3 5 0 Peggy 3 5 0 Brother to Grey Tommy 3 5 0 Shropshire Lass 3 5 0 , . Irelaild't! Eye 3 5 0 Llanforda 3 5 0 Lady Vernon 3 412 Psaltery 3 4 12 Bell Tinker 3 412 Pantomime 3 410 Wedlock filly 3 410 Helen 3 410 Feramorz 3 4 10 Nerva 3 4 8 Florist 3 4 7 Molasses 3 4 7 Contentment 3 4 7 Rosalba 3 4 7 Deerhound 3 4 7 Tobolski 3 4 4 Lampedo 3 4 0 AS;itIZE INTELLIGENCE. NORTIII3 RN CIRCUIT—YORK, Dec. 17. CROWN COURT. Sarah. Westobl and John Kendrew (out on bail), were charged, the fax mer with h av i ng , on th e 9 t h. of June, 1851, married John Kendrew, her former husband, Thomas Westob: y, being then alive ; and the latter with aiding and abetting her. Mr. Price pit , osecuted, and Mr. Otter defended the prisoners. This was a - very curious case. The female prisoner and her first huu - Lband were married at Stokesley in Oc tober, 1843, thie latter pretending to be deaf and dumb. The parish cl erk described the ceremony as being solemnised by writing, the clergyman reading the ser vice as usual. Me was now able to speak and hear, but the witness did :not know whether he had been mesme rised to regain: his faculties. It was stated that the female prisoner was 16 years old when married, and that she was fi weed to become the man's wife by her parents. She •Lw as united to the male prisoner at Sun derland, on the 9th of June, 1851, in the name of Sarah Sherwood, her u Laiden name. To prove the case against the male prisoner, who is a cattle jobber, it was shown that he frequent ly went to l o d ge with Westoby and his wife when they lodged at Stockton, and that therefore Kendrew, it wari inferred, knew that they were man and wife. Mr. Otter co a tended that the first marriage was ille gal, but his ion %ship overruled the objection. He then contended that the male prisoner did not know the woman was lega;,lly married, it being her belief that it was invalid. The jury found both prisoners guilty, and they were each sentenced to , be imprisoned for two months. At the recent We of the Golden Fleece the Emperor of Austria wore l'he decoration of that order which for merly belonged to Charles of Burgundy, and which has in the centre the magnificent diamond considered to hold the third place amongst those existing, and which is worth a million of florins. The decoration, which was made part of the coronati on a tti re b y the Archduke Maximilian, is preserved in the same room that contains the coronation robes of Charles the Great and of the Emperor Napojeon as King of Italy. [ADVERTISEM ENT.]—Holloway's Ointment and Pills the most effectual remedies ever known for gout and rheumatism.—Extract of a letter from Mr. Thomas Wyborn, druggist, Eton, dated April 26, 1852 :- 7 ‘'lC; Professor Hollo• way. Sir —A case has lately come un der my notice which I think should be publicly known. It is that of a. poor man, who suffered so dreadfully from chronic rheumatism, that he lost the use of one side and endured inc essant pain. He was under different medical treatmel it, and at Westminster Hospital the faculty pronounced him incurable. However, this was not the case, for hy the use of your ointment and pills, he has been restored to health and strength."—Sold by all druggists, and at Professor Holloway's Establish ment, 244, Strand, London. ANOTHER SEIZ CFRE OF COLLEGE PLATE FOR POOR RATES AT OXFORD..—Some short time since we announced that a seizure of plate had been made at the lodgings of Dr. Wellesley, Principal of New Inn Hall, for poor rates due to the united parishes of the city of Oxford ; the ground of non-payment being the extra-parochiality of the Hall. On Wednesday a similar seizure was being made at Pembroke College, for the sum of 271., being the amount of two rates owing by the masters and fellows of that society. Almost immediately after the plate had been seized, the amount of the rates was paid, with the expense attending the seizure, &c. This will probably be the last seizure of col lege plate for poor rates at Oxford, as it is understood that a more kindly feeling prevails amongst the Univer sity authorities, an .d that they are willing to concede the point as to the -site of the colleges being extra-paro chial, and are desirous of contributing their fair share for the maintenance) of the poor. A correspondence for carrying out this most desirable object has com menced between the University authorities and the board of guardians,. and there is every reason to hope that this long-agitated question will be adjusted in a manner that will b e satisfactory both to the University and city ; but before this can be done, it will be neces sary that the present local act for the government of the eleven united parishes of Oxford must be very materially altered. The University will, of course, be represented by members of their own body at the board of guardians, which will be a desirable alteration in the construction of that body. THE TRIALS OF' ANCHORS OF ALL NATIONS.—The report of the committee appointed to test the anchors of all nations at Sheerness, will be p u bli s h e d i n a f ew days, when it will be found the opinions of the committee will place the anchors in order of excellence thus :-1. Trot man (improved Porter's). 2. Mitcheson and Sons. 3. Rodger's (Exhibition prize). 4. Lenox's. 5. Aylen's. 6. Admiralty. 7. American (Isaacs's). Honiball's will be thrown out. The report will be a very interesting one. One fact is very significant of ,the manner in which the Admiralty affairs have been too long conducted, viz. —the Admiralty anchor stands last b'it one on the list in the opinion of the judges, whereas we think that the lives of the nation's brave naval defenders should be pro tected by the first and best " hold-fast" science can offer. Portsmouth, Tinto and Naval Gazette. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN, On Saturday, an extraordinary general meeting of the proprietors of this company was held at the Euston station, for the purpose of considering and approving, or otherwise,t he recommendation of Messrs. James Robt. Hope and Robert Stephenson, upon the future relations of this company with the North Staffordshire Railway Company. Major-General Anson, M.P., the chairman of the board of directors, presided. The Secretary, Mr. C. E. STEWART, having read the advertisement convening the meeting, The CHAIRMAN proceeded to read the following printed statement addressed by the Secretary of the London and North-Western Company to the shareholders of the company : " The proprietors were informed by the last half-yearly . eport ' that the questions in difference between this com pany and the North Staffordshire have been referred under the common seals of both companies, to Mr. Robert Ste phenson, M.P., and Mr. James Robert Hope, Q.C., so as to effect a complete union of the interests of the under takings.' On the 6th October, Mr. Hope and Mr. Stephen son communicated the result of their investigation of the question referred to them, and recommended the following conclusions for adoption by both boards :—` 1. The London and North-Western Company to acquire absolutely the railways, canals, and whole fixed and moveable property of the North Stafordshire Company. 2. The London and North-Western Company, in consideration thereof, to pay to the North Staffordshire Company, upon their present paid-up share capital, an annual dividend of 3 per cent. during the first year, of 3 per cent. during the second year, and of 32 per cent. during th e thi r d an d a ll subse quent years : provided, that it shall be in the option of the London and North-Western Company at any time upon six uonths' notice, to convert the share capital of the North 'Staffordshire Company into ordinary stock of the London and North-Western Company at par. 3. The paid-up share capital of the North Staffordshire Company to be taken, as stated by themselves, at 2,826,0001. and the nominal amount of the shares to be redu ce d Lem 201. to 171. 10s. 4. The London and North-Western Company to under take the canal rent or dividend, the bond debt, and all other liabilities of the North Staffordshire Company : pro vided that if the bond debt, as estimated by the North Staffordshire Company, with a view to cover all existing liabilities, shall be found to exceed 1,050,0001., the London and North-Western Company shall be entitled to deduct from the dividend payable upon the North Staffordshire share capital a yearly sum equal to interest at 31 per cent. on the excess. 5. The obligation of the London and North- Western Company to pay the dividends ,under Article 2, and to discharge the liabilities under Article 4, to com mence from the time at which the transfer of the North Staffordshire property shall be legally completed. 6. The two companies to apply to Parliament at joint expense in the next session for immediate powers to the above effect, and in case of failure to renew the application in suc ceeding sessions. Should Parliament three times re ject the application upon merits, and not merely on formal points, the engagement between the companies to cease. Believing that both boards are deeply impressed with the expediencyof speedily determining the principles of an arrangement, we have contented ourselves with a state ment of our opinion on the principal points submitted to us ; but should the companies accept our advice upon these points, we shall be happy to afford them further assistance, and to mediate between them upon every question which may arise before the passing of the act of Parliament.' In conformity with the advice of the referees, the Parlia mentary notices have been given for a bill to amalgamate the companies on the terms above specified. Subsequently Mr. Hope and Mr. Stephenson were requested to consider as to the steps proper to be taken immediately, and until the sanction of Parliament be obtained to the amalgama tion applied for. Further conferences took place, at which the referees stated that they had arrived at the conclu sion expressed in their former letter under the conviction that a good understanding between the companies was alone necessary to realise the expected results, and that by cordial co-operation in the working and interchange of traffic, the net profit accruing to the North Staffordshire Company would suffice to secure to the proprietors, over and above all charges, the dividend named by them. They recommended, therefore, the appointment, immediately, and until the passing of the act of amalgamation, of com mittees specially deputed by their respective boards, to manage, in conjunction, the traffic affected by the reference —the two boards pledging themselves to give the fullest effect to the acts and recommendations of the directors so deputed, and engaging cordially to co-operate in carrying out the declared objects of the reference. Mr. Hope and Mr. Stephenson having been further requested to continue their 'good offices' until a complete union of the companies be effected, they have expressed their willingness so to act, on the understanding that both boards engage to abide by their decision in all matters of question, if any, arising out of the arrangement. The foregoing recommendations have been adopted by both boards, and the directors will submit them for confirmation and adoption by the proprietors at the special general meeting summoned in terms of the notice, a copy of which is attached." The CHAIRMAN said it was now his duty to ask the proprietors to sanction the resolution just read ; but before he proceeded to do so, he trusted he might have their permission to say a few words on a subject personal to himself—namely, the position which he had the honour to occupy that day. He was aware there was not a gentleman in that room, nor did he believe there was a proprietor of the company out of doors, who did not most sincerely regret the absence from the chair of his honourable friend Mr. Glyn. (Hear, hear.) Now, from his long connection with the company, it must have appeared strange to them to receive a notice of this meeting without his name being affixed to it. His long experience with railway matters generally, and his tho rough knowledge of the peculiar interests of this company, had stamped his services with a value which could not be too highly estimated ; and he (the chairman) believed he was correct in saying there was no instance—at least, he could not name one—in which the confidence, and he might say the attachment, of a large body of proprietors had been so unreservedly, so universally, and so justly bestowed as upon his honourable friend who had pre sided over the affairs of this company for so many years. (Cheers.) He was sure 'he was speaking the sentiments of the directors, and he believed he was justified in assum ing that those were the feelings of the proprietors of this company, in joining with him in expressing his humble testimony to the combined qualifications which he pos sessed for that arduous post. (Cheers.) He (the chair man) was perfectly aware he might be accused of rash ness in having undertaken the chairmanship of the com pany. He felt, in succeeding his honourable friend, he could not expect . to attain his great knowledge of their affairs, nor even by any studious attention he might devote to their interests, could he hope to mitigate the regret which they felt at Mr. Glyn's retirement ; but he had the satisfaction he (the chairman) had the confidence of his brother directors, and he trusted he should even tually receive theirs. The manner in which they had expressed their unanimous wish that he should occupy that position, left him hardly the option of declining it; and he could assure them that, sensible of that .kind ness, and duly acknowledging the too high estimate in which they had held the small services which he had rendered this company during his brief connection with it, he would endeavour, so long as he occupied that post, to promote the prosperity of the company, and he hoped, from the influence he might have in his present position, he might have the opportunity of contributing to the settlement of some of those questions in which the interests of every railway in this kingdom were in volved. (Cheers.) Re was glod that in this first op portunity of meeting the shareholders of this company it would be his duty to propose to them a measure which he thought - was sound in principle, and that, b e i ng so, the details of it might be considered almost of secondary importance. He hoped that they would concur with him when he said he considered the 'duty of the directors of a large company like this was not only to consider the interests of this com pany, but also the interests of the public. Anxious as the directors might be to carry out profitable arrange ments for the proprietors, they must also feel it was their duty to take care that the interests of the public were not only satisfied, but that every opportunity should be taken for giving them additional advantages. At the same time there was a wide difference between the two parties—the public and the railway companies. Con cessions were required and demanded from railway com panies sometimes in an extraordinary degree. Those might extend even to a demand of a diminution of their profits and for increased requirements and an increased expenditure ; but he knew no way in which the public called on to make concessions or sacrifices to the railway interest. (Hear, hear.) I n po i n t o f f ac t, the one p ar t y had to consider the interests of the public as well as their own, and the other had only to consider their own interests as representatives of the general public. He did not complain a fact, and just to remindof thatproi e h t e ors onl w y h m o e na nt ig io h nd t e so i n t i a e s . times think the direct ors were no t sufficiently mindful of the interests of this company, to what extent their powers might be limited. Now, the question before them that day was one of great importance—it was a ques tion whether amalgamation was a sound principle or not. The question of amalgamation had been so lately brought under their notice, when they were asked to concur in the proposal made to them in the month of November, for a bill which was to be brought before Parliament this year for an amalgamation of the Midland Company with the London and North Western. The principle of that proposal was then so ably expounded to them by Mr. Smith, who then occupied the chair, that it would be an unnecessary waste of time to travel over the ground again at any great length. Mr. Smith reminded them on that occasion, that this company itself was the result of a series of amalgamations, carried out at different times, and propo se d under different circumstances, some times upon a small, sometimes on a more extended scale ; but the result had been that those amalgama tions had raised it to its present magnitude, and that it had become one of the most important incorporations in the world. (Hear, hear.) He also pointed out to them that it would be a benefit to the public, and that, under all circumstances and at all times, whether of depression or of prosperity, experience had proved that the course which had been recommended to them had been of ad- vantage. He also mentioned that a committee of the House of Commons had been appointed in 1844, over which Mr. Gladstone presided, and which had reported on the subject of amalgamations, and that Lord Dal housie—than whom no man better understood the rail way interest in all its bearings—acquiesced in the reso lutions of that committee. He also pointed out to them that all the leading railway . parties—Mr. Russell, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Denison, and Mr. Glyn—entertained the same opinions on the question of amalgamations. (Hear.) They all concurred in the propriety of them ; and he (the (chairman) might, therefore, assume that the principle of amalgamation was to a certain degree affirmed. (Hear.) The question that remained to be settled appeared to him to be to what extent that amalgamation should be car ried out. They were all aware that a committee had just been appointed by the House of Commons to in quire into this subject, in connection with the whole question of railway legislation ; and he confessed he was one of those who rejoiced that the Government had taken that course, for he felt they were much more likey to settle the principle upon which railway companies could act than those companies themselves by any course which they might „individually pursue. Accordingly; under those circumstances, and having alluded to the observations made to them by his hon. friend, Mr. Smith, at the last meeting, he thought, as the committee of the House of Coons was to undertake this q ues ti on , it might perhaps b e iii 11611 not to discuss it further. He (the chairman) felt strongly in favour of the principle, and he had no doubt that it would be maintained, and Ilbat a number of sensible men in the House of Commons would come to the same conclusion ; but at the same time, as a question of this great importance was about to be submitted to one of the most influential and im portant tribunals made use of in this country for the purpose of investigation, and with a view to legislation, he thought it better perhaps to leave the question open till the result of that inquiry was before them. (Hear, hear.) In the meantime they must pro ceed with their measures—they must pursue their course and they were about to apply to Parliament for their sanction to this bill of amalgamation. If Parliament should decide against the principle of amalgamation, there would be then an end of the matter ; but if they should decide in favour of the principle, he could not for one moment doubt that a committee of the House of Commons would sanction a request, or rather the una nimous wish he might say, of the directors and proprie tors of a large company like this. He hoped, therefore, on the present occasion the proprietors would give their sanction to this proposal for an amalgamation with the North Staffordshire Company. This was a preliminary measure. They all knew that the directors of this company had been long anxiously endeavouring, he would not say to make up the differences between these two companies, but to unite the interests of both. Many attempts had been made, but had failed, from what cause he would not pretend to say—but per haps it arose from one party over-estimating the value of their property, and from the other under valuing it. Agreements had been made axtd were in operation, but they had not answered the purpose of amalgamation, -nor had they been of the benefit they were expected to be. Although there was an appear ance of unity of interest, there was always some mode of action, which could be hardly accounted for, but which prevented the public receiving the benefit they had a right to expect from such a union of management. He would only mention one fact. During the time those agreements were in operation, the North Stafford shire Company—he would no t sa y wilfully; or knowingly, for it might be far otherwise—proposed bills to Parlia ment which were of a character decidedly hostile to the interests of this company. He thought that was quite sufficient to prove that such an agreement was insuf ficient, and to prove the necessity for some compact more binding and secure. Let them look at the position of the North Staffordshire Company, and how their interests and those of the public had been affected by the system which had been in operation since the opening of the North Staffordshire line, and the amalgamation of the London and Birmingham Company with the Grand Junction Company, upon the basis of a large union of railway management, which had supplied the most commercial and populous district of this country with railway accommodation—the dis trict of Lancashire, Manchester, and Liverpool. At that time the North Staffordshire was not in existence ; and if they had not formed their line just at the very heyday of railway speculation, or on the verge of the decline of that period of railway prosperity, he believed the London and North-Western Company would have supplied the district of the Staffordshire Potteries and the whole of the adjacent country with railway accom modation. But at that time there was an opinion pre vailing that competition was not only practicable, but that it was for the interest of the public. Public opinion was very much changed on that question. Experience had proved, in the short existence of the railway system, how delusive all the arguments were that were used in favour of it every day, and there was now a strong con viction that a union of management upon a continuous line of railways in any one district was much more con ducive to the public convenience and security. He was satisfied of this, and he believed that opi n i on was ga i n i ng ground every day throughout the country. In the case of the North Staffordshire Railway Company it was evi dent from its position in the company, and from the pecu liar extension of its branches, that its efficiency might not be materially diminished, but almost destroyed, for the purposes of the country which it was meant to sup ply, unless it was worked in union with those large com panies which embraced it in every direction. They had only to look at the map of the North Staffordshire Rail way Company ; there were 121 miles of railway included within that company's limits, and it was difficult to say which was the main line ; it was like a lobster over the country, extending its claws all around. ; its points touched five different places on the London and North- Western line, and two upon the Midland line ; and, not withstanding any traffic arrangements that might be made, it was impossible, unless they were actually worked together, that proper economy could be practised in the working of that line so as to be conducive to the pros perity of the shareholders. He was only astonished that this arrangement had not been made before. That might be made the ground of an attack against the directors of the London and North-Western for mismange ment ; it might be said that they had neglected the duties due to their own company in not having done this previously ; but, although there might be some ground for those assumptions, he still would beg that their verdict on that side might be withheld until all the cir cumstances and all the difficulties attending the carrying out of this negotiation were made known. No doubt, difficulties had existed to a great extent in carrying out, not only this amalgamation, but they had found them in whatever way they had turned in negotiating with other companies ; and he trusted the proprietors of this great company would make allowances for the difficulties which the directors had always to contend with. (Hear.) But he thought new light was dawning upon them now. They found there was a necessity for that union in rail way management which formerly was considered only as very desirable. The directors of these two companies thought it to be their duty, therefore, to endeavour to carry out this object effectually, and they agreed to refer to arbitration the conditions on which a perpetual amal gamation should be formed ; and he thought they adopted the only course likely to carry out that object, for they selected two gentlemen, than whom he be lieved no two others could b e found in this country more qualified for undertaking the duty—namely, Mr. Robert Stephenson and Mr. James Robert Hope. (Hear, hear.) Those gentlemen had devoted their time and their labour to that duty ; they had had be fore them the whole of the information that could be required, and which could be afforded by the North Staf fordshire Company; and the result was that they had agreed to propose to these two companies the terms which had been read to the meeting that day. Those terms were very simple and easy of comprehension. He did not now wish to go into the figures in making this statement, because there they were before them in print. They were very simple, and he relied with confidence on the ability of those two gentlemen to estimate the value of the North Staffordshire property. Some might think the London and North-Western was called on to make a sacrifice by the terms which were proposed. He for one thought—and he believed the directors agreed with him—that they might be called on at any time to make sacrifices for the public good ; and if they willingly submitted to those sacrifices, and were willing to submit to the concessions which they might be called on to make, he believed it would not ultimately be injurious to their property. In considering the inte rests of the public, they were advancing their own inte rests ; and if any of the proprietors thought the terms of the present amalgamation were disadvantageous to this company, he would only ask them to put in the balance the greater convenience and the greater accom modation afforded to the public by carrying out this ar rangement. But, looking at this matter simply as one of loss or gain, the directors were satisfied that, notwith standing the apparently larger dividends proposed to be given to this company than the returns in the public lists showed that the North Staffordshire Company par ticipated in, the ultimate result would be no loss to this company, while it would be a great advantage to the public and all concerned in these two companies. His opinion had always been that a union of railway man agement was desirable, for it conduced to economy and advantage to the public; and that union of management would, he was persuaded, finally put railway companies in a state much more wholesome than they had hitherto occupied. After his hon. friend Mr. Glyn had occupied the chair, he knew it was great presumption for him (the chair man) to enter into these details, but at the same time he had been anxious just to explain to them shortly what was now submitted to them for their approbation, and if any further information was required on the subject he should be happy to give it as far as lay in his power. (Hear, hear.) The details, however, were simple and plain ; and he was confident the proprietors of this company, who had already on all occasions shown their confidence in the directors, would on this occasion con tinue it to them, and would hereafter acknowledge that they had found the benefit of the recommendations which the directors had ventured to make to them. He would therefore move— "That the circular issued to the proprietors, under the date of the 4th December, 1852, having been considered, the recommendations of Messrs. Hope and Stephensen, as reported, be approved and adopted, and that the board of directors be authorised and instructed to take such steps as may be necessary and best calculated to give effect to the same." (Hear, hew.) Mi:BENSON seconded the motion. Mr. PARSONS thought a strong indication had been afforded by the conversation which took place in the House of Lords as to the probable action of Par liament on the subject of amalgamations. He wished to ascertain whether any large body of the pro prietors concurred on that subject. The late Postmaster-General brought the mail service of this company under the notice of the House of Lords, the obvious inference from which was his wish for a very large reduction in that service ; and some other peer alluded on that occasion to the transfer of troops as now carried on by railway companies. He (Mr. Parsons) wished to allude to the amalgamation with the Grand Junction Railway Company. That was purchased by a very large reduction on the part of the proprietary. At that time the railway fare by ordinary train to Birming ham was half as much again as it is now, and the stock of the London and North-Western Company stood at nearly cent. per cent. above what it did now. If the reductions were at that time so very serious, amalgama tion was a matter of grave importance, when they con sidered the enormous s ums now paid for labour in this country, and the prices in the labour market consequent on the large emigrations which were likely to take place. If a large reduction was to be submitted to in order to obtain the amalgamation in question, he thought the result would be disastrous to the shareholders. Mr. GLYN, M.P. begged t o return h i s very best thanks to his hon. friend in the chair for the terms in which had thought fit to introduce his (Mr. Glyn's) name to the meeting—terms which he felt could only , have been called forth from a consideration of friendship which he was happy to pay had fruboisted between them, and not of any deserts or merits of his own. In retir ing from the position of chairman to this company, he must return to them his best thanks for the considerate and kind co-operation which he had uniformly received from all, under circumstances sometimes of very consi derable difficulty; but which kind co-operation had been unvarying, and never for one moment diminished, and which had even often induced them to receive from his lips statements which, although it was his duty to lay before them, he was not always prepared with evidence to support, but which they were willing to take on the credit of the board. The causes which led him to re tire from the position now occupied by the chairman were of no light moment. Nothing would have induced him to give up that position, which he had held for more than 15 years, but the circumstances which were pressed upon him by those whose advice he was obliged to consider and listen to ; and although he no longer stood to them in the relation of their chairman, to his latest day, whatever services it might be in his power to render them would be at their command. (Loud cheers.) He might say, if it had not been for the kind forbearance and the zealous co-operation on the part of his colleagues in the direction, it would have been impossible for him to have borne the labours of his office. But he was de sirous not only of promoting their interests, but of up holding the character and the standing of the railway interest before the world—(cheers)—and he had chosen that moment for his retirement, from a conviction that there was in the board one individual on whom his eye had been long fixed, who he believed was fully calculated to undertake the laborious duties of that position which he (Mr. Glyn) had relinquished, and into whose hands he gladly and willingly resigned the trust which he had so long held. (Cheers.) He alluded to his honourable friend the chairman, and after watching his conduct in public and Parliamentary life for a considerable time, he (Mr. Glyn) was sure that, so long as his ho nourable friend had the opportunity of turning his talents and his time to their service, they could not be in safer hands. (Cheers.) He need only refer to the masterly exposition which his honourable friend had given them that day ; but he (Mr. Glyn) formed his opinion from his knowledge of him as a public man, and he would tell them that his honourable friend, if he chose, was cap able of rendering them most valuable and efficient ser vice. (Cheers.) He (Mr. Glyn) should not have risen on the present occasion, but for the observations which had just fallen from his hon. friend (Mr. Parsons). There was a day when be (Mr. Glyn) was used and glad to call on him to co-operate with the directors in every thing concerned in advancing the interests of this com pany, and he deeply regretted to hear that circumstances had occurred to induce his honourable friend to reduce materially his stake in this company. He still further regretted to think—although he (Mr. Glyn) did not pre tend to say that such was the actual fact—that probably at that moment the interests of his hon. friend lay pro bably in another direction than this company. He did not think Mr. Parsons had quite fairly stated the effect of the amalgamation of the Grand Junction on the affairs of this company. This company submitted to a reduction of their tolls on that occasion, but it re duced its traffic at that time merely to the state in which it had been actually serving the public. The reductions had been considerable since, and they had been attended with large returns both in passenger and goods traffic. The motive for those reductions had been the competition with the Shrewsbury and Birmingham and the Shrewsbury and Chester ; and although those re ductions were forced upon this company, he never re gretted them, and he was one of those who believed that they were not only beneficial to the public interest, but that after a time they would be materially beneficial to the company itself. (Hear, hear.) He heard the dis cussion in the House of Lords to which Mr. Parsons had alluded on the Post-office service ; and but for its having arisen suddenly, he believed many noble peers would not have taken the course they did on that occasion. But although much was said on the point to which Mr. Par sons had alluded, he (Mr. Glyn) must call his attention to the antidote delivered at that time in a remarkable speech by Lord Harrowby, who, with his knowledge of the facts, acquired by living in that part of the country, and his former connection with railways, dispelled at the moment the impression that was made. Mr. Parsons was perfectly right in saying the Postmaster-General then talked about the immense sums paid for the public service ; and so they were immense ; taking them alto gether, they amounted to a very considerable sum. There was, however, no particular allusion made to the London and North-Western Company, the name of which was not even introduced on that occasion. But if it was ever introduced into a similar discussion, he ventured to think that no Postmaster -General would forget, if, indeed, he was aware, that this company was now carrying an excessnf weight beyond all calculation ; and he was convinced that whenever a proper account was laid before Parliament as to what was really done by this company as regarded the Post-office duty, there would not •be h reasonable man in the country who would think of reducing the amount that was now paid to this company for what it did. (Hear, hear.) Besides that, the Post-office itself had renewed its contract with this company for a large service and a great number of years. (Cheers.) He would also remind Mr. Parsons that the whole question of the Post-office service was founded on an act of Parliament, obtained after a great discussion with the then Government of the day, and a strong Government it was. He believed also that when the question was fully gone into—when what was done was compared with what was paid—when the accommo dation afforded to the public was considered, and the fact that the penny-postage system itself depended in point of fact upon the establishment of railways— (the justice of Parliament would never allow the interest of the railway companies to be sacrificed in any arrangements that might be made for the Post-office service. (Hear, hear.) Under these cir cumstances, he could not help saying he thought there was no foundation for the remarks which had fallen from his friend Mr. Parsons. Mr. PARSONS said, whether in amity or in opposition, he never equivocated, and was always straightforward. With regard to the interest he had in any other com pany, he held that interest before the contest with this company took place. A PROPRIETOR thought they should know what was the general system intended to be adopted by this com pany in regard to amalgamation. It was exceeding im portant that a union should be effected for the purpose of cheapening traffic. The CHAIRMAN, in reply, reminded the honorable pro prietor that they were only met that day to consider a particular subject. (Hear, hear.) The great object of amalgamation was to cheapen, to economise, and to af ford accommodation and convenience to the public, at the same time to regard their own interests, and to en deavour, if possible, to improve the position of railway matters generally. Mr. HADFIELD, M.P., thought it exceedingly desira ble that the present system, under which it was necessary to take out more than one probate on the decease of a proprietor, should be put an end to. A PROPRIETOR thought the thanks of the meeting were due to the chairman and directors for giving them the opportunity of coming to an unanimous vote on this occasion. The CHAIRMAN then put the motion, which was car• ried unanimously. Sir GEORGE GOODMAN, M.P., could not but observe on the extreme value of the services rendered to this company by Mr. Glyn. (Hear, hear.) From his (Sir G. Goodman's) early connection with railways —not having been a speculator but a proprietor in them—he had came much into contact with Mr. Glyn, and he con sidered him a man who had rendered the most impor tant services to the nation at large. (Hear, hear.) He begged, therefore, to move a vote of thanks to Mr. Glyn. Lieut.-General MACINNES seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr. GLYN briefly acknowledged the compliment. Mr. CROSSFIELD moved and Mr. SAMUEL DREWELL seconded a vote of thanks to the chairman, which being carried and responded to the proceedings terminated. NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE. A special meeting of• this company was held at the station, Stoke-upon-Trent, on Saturday, to approve or disapprove of the terms of the proposed amalgamation with the London and North-Western Company—Mr. Broderick, deputy-chairman, presided. The CHAIRMAN, in his introductory address, expressed his regret that serious illness prevented the attendance of the chairman, Mr. Ricardo, M.P. He read the award of Messrs. Stephenson and Rope, to whom the question of amalgamation of the two companies had been referred. By the terms of the award, it is proposed that the London and North-Western shall g i ve 3 per cent. the first year, 3 per cent, the second, and 31 per cent. for the third and all succeeding years, to the North Staffordshire proprietors, upon their paid up capital ; the North-Western to have the option of converting, at six months' notice, the North Staf fordshire shares into North-Western stock. The arrange ment to take effect after an Act of Parliament had been obtained, three applications—in the event of their neces sity, through one or two failing —to Parliament being provided for. Since the terms of the award have been made public, the directors of this company have en deavoured to procure some modification of them, espe cially respecting the proposition for converting North Stafford shares into North-Western stock, and the time at which the proposed arrangement should take effect. The result of the negotiations was, that the clause respecting th e conversion of the stock would be aban doned, and the traffic arrangements between the two com panies would commence from the Ist of January next, after which time the proprietors would be entitled to a dividend at the rate of 3 per cent., the first half-year to become due on the 30th of June. The traffic arrangement would not depend upon Parliamentary . sanction. The chairman alluded to the number of junc tions (five) which their railway had with the North- Western, as a strong reason for the amalgamation of the two lines ; and said that by the union of the two companies the shareholders in each would be benefited; while, what was equally important, the public would be better accommodated. A resolution, approving of the proposed amalgama tion, was carried unanimously. Mr. HAYWOOD moved a vote of thanks to the chair man and directors, and in doing so took the opportunity of alluding to the manner in which the line had been worked. He mentioned that of the several millions of passengers carried on the railway not one person had lost his life in consequence of mismanagement. The CHAIRMAN having replied to the vote of thanks, the meeting separated. The number of notaries in France in 1850, says the Nwas 9,824, and th e num b er of deeds and acts of o v eriat' rykind to which they affixed thei r s i gnatures was e ta 3,222,911, being an average of 328 for each. In 1849 it was only 315, and in 1848 only 284. In 1847 it was 865. COUNTRY MA.RKETS- „„r DALKEITH, DEC. 16.—The re l a tiv e weight t f at bushel of the three p r i ces o f w h ea t were 18st 51b, lit 121 b. and 16st 51b. Oats, 13st 41b, 12st 31b, and ;endl°b beam ßarley, 16st 91b, 15 s t 61b, and 13st 101 b. Pe as 19st 31b, 18st 121 b, and 17st 111 b. Qrs. Best. Current. 1 473 Wheat........... £2 15 6 £2 10 0 111 4 1,551 Oats 15 4 12 0. 11 „' 982 Barley...” 1 12 0 1 7 0 33 Peas and beans 2 0 0 117 0 price s o following are the stla OATS 42s 26s 4 'l 6d 374 04 23s , 343 21s 6 a ••• 1,1 500 qrs., 5. 44 24 ol ' 528 (1 11 • Y 5 05 st 4 ' l 535 qrs., 46 pl. 57 qrs., HADDINGTON, DEC. 17.-1 of grain at our market to-day WHEAT. BARLEY. iiirst 6os Od 32s Od Second s3s 6d 29s 8d Third 4Bs Od 20s Oct Total quantity of wheat in market, PP PP barley „ oats 21 f, 2 2 ~ ~ beans 6 to 1 7 $ 9J ' ABERDEEN, DEC. 17.—Grain—Old oats, d 401 0 P el 401bs per bushel ; new oats, 17s Od to 17s Gd, - bo le! , bushel ; bear, 27s Od to OOs Od, 531bs per bushel ; s 0( 10 26s Od to OOs Od, 531bs per bushel • wheat, red , 4 0 os o ` l ' 45s Od, 621bs per bushel ; wheat, white, 49s Od t o bo ll; 621bs per bushel • oatmeal, 13s Od to 14s Od P, er , er lb , flour, 36s Od to 37's Od per sack. Provisions-130,.; per 5d to 6d ; mutton , ditto, 5d to 6d ; veal, ditto , to 0( 1 ; pork, per stone, 3s to 3s 6d ; lamb, per lb, 4 s 3" ; rabbits, each, Od to 8d ; tallow, per stone, 4s Oct os Oa; potatoes, pe r peck, Oct t o 8d ; b utter, per lb, Os 9d t ° 3o i ° l eggs, per doz, is Oct t o i s 4d ; h ens, per peb,!, + ,, 2s ~ 3s 6d ; chickens, ditto, 2s Od to 2s Gd ; ducks , cu'L'rkei to 2s 8d ; ducklings, ditto, 2s Oct to 2s 6d, ,; each, 3s 6d to 4 s 6d ; geese, ditt o, 4 s 6d t o 5s O d ; 66s 0 1 ; for exportation (present cure), per cwt, 008 t° „l Pr i c e ' ditto (summer cured), OO s t o OO s Od ; eggs , whole} per'' per dozen, Od to 8d ; 41b l oa f , 6d ; 21b loaf, 3 ,3 a, fine small, Os Od to 5s 6d ; pork, large, 3s 6d to 4s CORK—DEc. 17. Brls. -- -- - c a rrellei: #o o White wheat 008 Od to OOs Od Os Od-- -2° " 74 Redwheat 24s Od to 268 9d co 20 d° ' Ditto 00s Od to 005 Od 25s .----- Ditto 00 8 Od t o OO s Od 193 Barley l4s 2d to 14s 5d ,oc l • Ditto OOs Od to Oos ocl}l4s 4d--4" Ditto Oo s Od t o OO s Od Bere OOs Od to OOs Od Os 0l 344 Oats 9s Od to lOs 6d do , 402 Ditto lOs 6d t o lOs 94. lOs 6,1 251 P Dit los 9d to lls Oci O ct. 99 Pis 32s 6d to 368 6,1 355 6c l p er it,' Quantity sold at the highest prices :----„ be '' 00 barrels white wh ea t ; 19 re d ; 17 b ar l e y ; v oats ; 4 pigs. elc 161 Quantity of grain a n d num b er of pigs sold last We 6, ' Wheat, 1,505. Barley, 2,166. Bere, O. Oats, Pigs, 771. PRICES OF BUTTER. CANT. CURRENCY'. 5. 134 First quality Second quality Third quality 77 s Third quality ..........•' 6 4 .! Fourth quality Fifth quality 6ss Fifth q ua lity ............. " 40' Sixth quality s4s Sixth quality .......... Return of cattle sold for week ending Dec. 11 Pigs, 748. Sheep, 186. Cows, 171. rs pi CORK. -Flour—First, 158 Od to 16s Od ; extra , ' 1 . 1 011; 1.5 ! seconds, 14s Od to 15s Od ; households, lls Od to 135 's s 9 3 ,: 8s Od to lOs p er cwt. Meal—lndian meal, Ss 6d ,,rer oatmeal, lOs 6d to lls; wheat meal, lls to 11$ u"' 5 / to . , Indian corn, 81 2s 6d to Si 7s 6d per ton. Bra n ' verw' 2s 6d per ton. H ay —F armers, 2 2s Od to 3 3 s Od; t to if , 28s ; dealers, 34s Od to 38s Od ; average, O s pe r t0n. 2 6 9 00„ Farmers, 16s Od to 22s Od ; average, 20s ; dealers, OOs Od ; average, Os. per ton. Bread—Wheaten 1 03 " 9 d t i ° Od ; household ditt o , 6d t o Od per 41b.—Fresh b u tter , lid per lb. Eggs, O s 8d t o 6 s 10d per hundre d . Mead 4(11', 4ad to 7d ; mutt on , 5d t o sad ; veal, 4d to 6 d ; Od ; bacon, 6d to 7d ; sausages, 5d per lb.—Fish, N e i to land, 91. lOs to 101 Os per ton ; Scotch herrings, 24 , 5 rio!i; Red, do., OO s p er b r l . —P otatoes, white, 8.1. to 9 ` - `, i ' a jo, lid to 12d.—C oa l s , N ewport, 20s ; Lydney, 200. i ; u ej jlov, / i/ Od per ton.—Whi s k ey, 25 0.p., 6s Od per impero'.% c Hides, market, 22s to 28s; Salted 24s to 30s per c to ri• skins, 34d pe r lb.—B angor slates 2/. 17s. 6d to M. X 401• F! Fleece wool, 15s t o 16 s per s t one.—Hemp, 371. 11.03"' ton—Timber, Memel, 31. lO s ; re d p i ne, 31. lO s ; 31. Os. per ton; deals, 101. to 18/. per hundred. RAILWAT SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, DEC. 18. AeP l4l' ti e The share market h as rallied to-day from the law„, 0 0 ,,, sion, and cl oses very s t rong, at an improvement of "- go"' to two per cent. on yesterday's prices. The daY '5 , 4 10 4 tions are reported as follows :—Aberdeen, 16 ; 13 ,2 t • 6 fi (late B.C. and W.Y.) Preference Six per Cent., 2 1: donian, 343 ; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 84 1,0' 1 ',4K„ Fifth Shares, 3 a dis. ; Lancaster and Carlisle .11 •1,)"` 12 c. prem. ; Leeds Northern (late Leeds and Til Pr_ London and North-Western, 125, f, ; dittoosW„ Shares, 4:1 prem. ; Manchester, Sheffield, and Line 7 31 4 Midland, 761 80, ; North British, lus„' ri ve' South-Eastern and Dover, 244,1, 4, g, ; Royal Ina 1, 1-16, a c. prem. MANCHESTER, DEC. 18. STOOK EXCHANGE.—Chester and Birkenhea d ' Blackburn, N o . 1, n; Lancashi re an d Yorkow - j TV' Manchester, Sheffield; and Lincolnshire 31i ; New 13 7-16; South-E as t ern an d Dover, 24i, 5-16. BIRMINGHAM, DEC. 18. , beS I e STOCK EXCHANGE.—There has been velittle done in Railway Stocks during the presen week, 3 : 0 P I i f few sales which h ave occurre d h ave been of shares.lio ways in the imm e di a t e ne i g hb ourhood. The ( I ,e ci r s y 0, 4 the Lords Justi ces , d ec l ar i ng that the Shrewst rigt Birmingham Comp an y h ave not l ost any part o f the reserved to them by the 12th section of the Biro a ":viit: Wolverhampto n , and Stour Valley Act, legally or ti e e l bly, has not yet produced any very material 013 ''' ‘ , / ,eci the Shrewsbury stock, although it might have beett, e ibr „ 4 that it would go up. Shares have, however, elig"lo°`;',, vanced, and further improvement is anticipated. . / vlO the closing quotations this afternoon were—B . ir ral i" and Oxford (call s d u l y pa id) , b uyers, 304 ; 13 4 g , ,; Wolverhampt on , an d D udley, buyers, 364 ; se ll % 11e,, 1 Birmingham, Wolverh amp t on , an d Stour Valley, 10 ; Midland (Birmingham and Derby), buyer' ~e , North Staffordshire, b u y ers , 4h- dis. ; Oxford, "" ) ( 1 and Wolverhampt on , b uyers, 54 ; Shrewsbury 3',jsi°"; mingham, buyers, 67 ; sellers, 68i • Shropshire„ r s, sellers, 2/. 18s. 9d. di s . ; South Staffordshire, 1:01.7;re0 sellers, dis. Th e h eav i er descriptions of stock It" quoted, and there were few sellers in the market. BRISTOL, DEC. 18. to- 1 7 1 STOCK EXCHANGE.-At the Stock Exchange f o r there were no transactions, which may be accounte d the uncertainty as to the Administration. FATAL ACCIDENT AT BLACKWALL. —On S3 l .,h ill :v i evening, Mr. W. B a k er , th e coroner , held a lerit c ll, e , t inquest at the Lond on H osp it a l , on view of the George Settles, aged 49 years, a forge foreman, late the service of Messrs. Mare and Co. the extensi l AP l ' steam-boat builde rs , o f Bl ac k wall. ' The deces4e:t 06, other workmen w ere engage d in the smiths' sh O P 'boo' New Orchard-house, on Thursday afternoon las t ' four o'clock, whil e th e steam hammer was at work , f ,, g eo a man named Henry Stone, was directed by the delve, to "gag up " the hammer, to prevent its moving. aii were seven men at work in this part of the factorPe the deceased w as s t an di ng on an i ron plate when °lie? or iron pin, 2 fe e t 6 i nc h es i n l ength suddenly °:i'irt° out, and stru c k one en d o f th e iron plate, 0 e tilted over, and bef ore th e d eceased could get out way, his left leg be came j amme d and crushed 11 9,701 1 , e ' ponderous mass of iron, whi c h we i g h e d near l y The deceased had no con t ro l over the machinery ~,"t th e worked the stea m h ammer , an d was only foreman 0 8 , forge where the accide n t t oo k p l ace. The b ro ther ° deceased, a practical m an , i n f orme d the court that I , l° d examined the steam ha mmer , an d found that it wa'sore of repair. The geg was worn and incomplete, as ° oer also parts of the h ammer. H e thoug , r ht that his I) h de had died from the want of timely medical aid, for ', f e 0 l ceased had bled to death. It was wrong to o° lF ti fic a poor fellow in such a con diti on so far from them 31:, stir tory to the London Hospital, without calling in, as,C geon to stop the flow o f blood from the woun d, p ro' might have saved th e d ecease d' s life , or, at lea st, tli e longed it consid e r a bly. M r. Alfred James Da le ' house surgeon, sa id th e d ecease d was admitte d Olt T hree' day evening, shortly b e f ore s i x o ' c l ock, an d di e d in v i , t ee; quarters of an hour a ft erwar d s f rom severe h w morr":p° The right thigh had sustained a compound f ra cture , 1 01 the bone was extensively shattered. If the decea seu o d i lived the limb mu s t h ave been amputated. The rie c c e i certainly died from the excess i ve l oss o f bl o od, a L ia s ic a had no chan ce ren d ere d hi m o f surv i v i ng th e exL i e wli'° injuries he had s us t a i ne d. Th e haemorrhage a ce' been stopped with all possible haste after such an eS' dent, as otherwise he would consequently die fi . ° ll re' haustion. The jury, aft e r considerable discussi°T o et turned the following verdict :—" That the d e eeaso‘i er to his death accidentally, and we request the co roo se o write to Mess r s. M are and Co., of Blackwall, ing to them the necessity of their work being PTit i 5 supervised by some competent person to see tha t in order. Also, as to the necessity of a med ica l being called in in cases of accident to their worknc/ BIRTHS. OF A SON. ifi° On the 10th inst., at Hadzor, Worcestershire, tha of Capt. H. Galton, 50th Regiment. OF A DAUGHTER. tO gl On the 11th inst., at Braybrooke Rectory, No - -11111 shire, the wife of Lieutenant J. B. Field, R.N. MA. Eci f ' - On the 16th inst., a t All R Sain ßlED ts', St, John's-NO 9, OA., 0 A. , 0001 Of " Barnes, youngest son o f t h e late Major-General i, PP' to Lucinda M a tild a, only daughter of W. Perc ivw George's-street, Hanover-square. F e jloo:„ . ~ R. H . On the 16th inst R H Wilkinson, Esq., &Pl' King's College, Cambridge, to C. A. Caroli ne , only rt• ter of the l a t e Li eutenant-General Vicomte Obe DIED. On the 18th i ns t ., on Ri c h mon d-hill , J. Ewing' t oot of 18, Park -crescent, aged 69. On the 18th inst., at No. 11, Walton-villas, 13r r il _ if after a long illness, Peter Borthwick, Esq., ag ec j i l fi e fd-in c '' On the 17th inst., J. R. Griggs, Esq., of • e aged 54. Goocirld de On 17th inst., at 60, Torrington-square, Ann relict of E. Bridger, Esq., of Finsbury-circus. John of On the 11th inst., at Barley, Herts, the BAWL. o f tb Cartaret, of King's College, London, and curaw —.left place. E Wi n°v ' m- On the 16th inst., Edith, the wife of Mr. B. late of the Poultry, aged 78. ;4-sray ,n LONDON : Printed and Published by 31 1711 ' - '" Ne• of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office. 04 of Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the °() Middlesex, Monday, December 20, 052. r ERE e( kkt ll°)T A 2 24 becednaili ?¢T 4 nothe r tthere o ta ' de, 011a? we i t he avou LorS of 1 (..Vit;9l)olltC lanit ' 'tam ( of II Ilti TICE , `,l 404! eSi , a )esty, , 4. Je sty to 'l l ol e -arter f, ss k graPh I been. `:i11or Trz 't(l this 9 , °,l the c, Itt'lither the 4~8 i debts t it in tl ktts h , of D( %, 1113 11}:1 Th e ( cost ki l4l° ln li t ' t , a loh n vi ti e •arie-str kreleatit Fr. Ii 4 atth e ,; l 7, 'u'y W. , H an .01, Pr 40C "e'Srs tIitOBEI 14DA1icatiot ttit i t a t arY, at 'di or To th tte e ntlem er r 1 14. •, tt4 s each k tfi TIT/11)er t 4t, ort, TAR hi thleri‘Rl,l 04 !To Allc Paytnet John l , ark su , Irey 11 0 'Dlity..( 4 4 k , ''Ia nd C Si liar tr e° Ne 1 110,,, ace, B Iren e o l ci11,11c1111v( i„ward E dwar ',Ptah' CI k ail Ste 4,b 4 Atust n Shar l ' r aY an( and STAN] tNGI BANK] Blum 4t ter, ki .Ing prep az 1101104