The Sun. — London, England, 1846-01-21 00:00:00

ra'diatelv rte . , I d k, ,-r numerous instances where th e) - 1 ... - e ee s . tie e • . _. 1 'tad taken leases, discarding the corn-laws te al from their calculations ; for what formed the ett lll ' of their expectations and the element of their cal not ' 4llc ts was their own capital, and their own skill, a_n . c e l redition b at. this as system of legislation.—(Cheers.) 11 ' lle ved that the agricultural intei ear, and the farmer's would have been very much better if the corn -4,15 had never passed ; and he believed that they them • tel ' i ve ware cnnvinced of this, for he had spekeu to many th infarraers, who had expressed themselves as though The had had a convieti ei a* variance with their w ~ i v r e d r . , ..., . toitted th e y ? went to their prot ctioii nice:in:es, but what ad IN but h 131.4 a 1 e meetings, into which no me was ' with the whose opinions exactly talli d w . -e(G ila ; and, all alone, the reporter for the liforrong Po et ofeoreat laughter.) The farmer attended as a matter be th tirse • Re was told Lord this and Duke the would t ood e le, that there would be a very fine meeting and a e l d tiQinner, or a good bottle of port at the collation, Ilsve:•went, although the object of tl - :e meeting did not th e ;, Is support, and although he might to 1 them that hel r i n :lws had not done him one farthing of good. T he '"ig Post had said that the question they were__ qihs o l ; ll s was not of money, but of supremacy. He e feudal (Alr oppresulid the same ; it was a struggle . against upper ere, he ' e 'l n, struggle between the middle and the sep tow end the repeal of the corn-laws would be but a . teeel.ards the destruction of whatever existed of tloenatw ahus e. — (linruense cheering.) They had pe z. ved r !o inquire anxiously what any man might pro % it s ''e Anti -Corn -law League had always leaned lel % ha ° d wn friends, had al ways truste d to i ts own coun 111Yed th 111w aYs offered its own terms. It had not &- I Parte•lesea can " to see what this party-leader or . that t/11 - l et Meant to propose. It had gone straight m ight "do the aim which it had itself set up. Theer late i h° specu eo' how ever e we yer, at a moment like the present, . e l a tte w e. p eel N ., e v e a r s e stilidela s th ti e ll intentions of the Government. Sir preserving dead silence—the Mi ts be e ti dinners were at -15;1(14 off altogeth ' f not, . they would be ill . their f , e nr „ ter--1 ed—perhaps they were all put off , 1 ' usual supporters were nearly . Pteallioeet--k•Leughterandcheers. ) Considering the ex °sll II tha t h d been . . throughout the na y h a given to opinion Ne ' Q (Mr • think it probable Ile air Rober . Gibson) could not (I t ule h e t would propose anything short of repeal. and he l ea d r Gibs on 'ye to satisfy the north of England, ) bell dthat the of the north of Eng a Were eve total ail tole determined to carry the question by a !as(Nest' 14 u • They had not taken it up as ti , lu ri of it -t that Party ; they cared not for this tendllo Mall being in power ; they made t , e partyn watchword. No ; they had en- N et e struggle with object before them, and they et t i,_ 4 0t t o ....._ . an eetii: aleitio7-Telrona their efforts till they carried the la e ti '' r ead th e h rin .) .of these laws.—(Great c f g If he e l - eyed that the hire of te en luture by the past, he be i be t o a a ea r l uster were determined to carry that mea- Id West ststter would 'Mlle ; and that the glories of o . _ Nei he reviv ed by their conduct in the r oes lea . • ) What t hr pr ope \ r e rty and long-continued cheering. _ . n eh itlogd o t han that one of the largest boroughs 1_ L „ 5s the 111 should be forward in the fight ? And '''d e - wealth of h to the working e lle nergetie .t e north was united . might itt edee tise u atability of the metropolis, they dew e xPect S ir e tt - to triumh. The Hon. Gentleman ' L I• 0 1 great a ki . E /,, _ cheering th e ae on, w eeE e , second the ANS, on coming forward to . _ mon ee t ,eheertee was warmly greeted by the meeting. W 1 he need te,"'lllp e a had ceased, he said, he trusted lo 'Jena of !111 0 a an lot the sincere pleasure he felt on that ktit t ,, ti e of th e g so many well known faces met together e NW til t .e gted ti : Most important que , tions that ha e tr eh sleted t1;36) constituency. of Westminster. He con- Is e Z l sE, o f e `in on having t' e presence and the aid, that_ a ile,"`erteete-titoost shaving and able representative of n la ' l ittle t_e constituency. After his statem .i e h n , t, d ro a an th e Iki b ut aa,the te,-eting by their wnrth C cIIF 0 ,. qjb, 4l atio n ~,T"' things more to add in illustration t 11 110 a lied "" l ell had been put into his hand. Mr. l'e:tlee i tn stated, that scarcely a session had . passed ke • Naied niti ni s tY was conceded to the agriculturist. It- an tli. • ed him e time ago est e egeeei to „ 0 a fact in point. Some .n a l e ef est , ret labourers were unemployed, and 1 _ dybleheee itutiore In Parliament they had been urged 14 g the e , " t em, that teey might be prevented from tie sti Act w g.. faMine. Only last session, accordingly, il,„!1 find Passed for erecting asylums for the kttt ;ti that the i passing poor. But it was well 1 lItt o „ 41. a et ` ll the metropolis they had abund . - sit e - es, ah'e"lltas supported by voluntary contre• le e P a' t o '''`a therefore those to be erected were a h q t e th e ate.. .40 doubt agric It I • of the community. u ura portion effects OVI Iti th that the corn-laws produced the toe e re s tie the oun addition had increased the price tsdfoilhad b made to the oth,t doge no een tep e e. Way. ~,,trY• Their effect was felt in an tet'les oi , ni•nere were, he said, 100,000 absentee tilli t ijged at 'e ontinent, whose income might e a ,, e, , 3 004 usee On a ct a-year, making thirty millions eona an netherSe y w ere unt of high prices, thiety m millt 1 ,0 sPent out of the country, tTO . which ern ,lsfe'Luesivea- "untrYrnen nor the revenue of the Go n. 44 - Mid been 4IY advantage. For thirty years the c t or ey l ab° s ilee, e n o Peration but it was seen that h tl) t U rer. A `",e te nant - fainter neer and agricultural the _ on et ',iastan,7B for c ommerce, and the effect they bad s . Ittk 4 both eB Zere brought forward in both House , - -uo the - sof the monopo 4, Gall dr uses supporters 1 tes, ll ' e l j u llett O i r i a reason by their numerica. vo aillt l th en - "'cer then spoke of the calamity that had . ` d ° -- "trYthrough the failure of the potatoes. I , , wh at . the I llt e d•et h nilght be the state of the portion of %e;'ns to one would not be known for four a if s ttie e ftle • but, during that time, what was the e e t '' heee k ant to do for the poor ? In other countries the ~,'Ri4- ' b een felt—in France and Belgium, and by their •,,„ e r . . eyed .--but there measures had been immediately ; 5 l e 4 ncl their ports had been thrown open to foreign e' i lll. ' he inhabitants.The -t er L t very best effect to the .. . k 'rtb y 'tad been no doubt exerting himself, and had IZSet." ll , l e into collision with his colleagues in the e'h'. 1 , -5 4 had lost power, and had again come into i 1 ft,: l attr e t ;clin Peel they had more reason to expect the Vie t° eY wished than from the Whigs, had they t Valis e °fn . e ce, for many of them were but young in lt,lt or; 'cor fifteen years past he had been wont to l il ... Va r i 41 qt, the °us questions in that room ; on every one Y had won triumphs in the cause of freedom; t4 ll a thi ti t -; withthe aidof Theil ~- l e s letor y et e taw h. • • nth, th 4 . .11 43 , e was then read by the Chairman and 441 oe e aaile,qing, when it was carried unanimously, . 1 44 Ra t! exception. lki4 h ' k ti% l 'lllo then came forward to move the second kit '5 f elt hi d was received with great cheering. He fe o t t s e ti to himselfi honoured in having a resolution corn- 4 1511 4 : hands, Ho had often met them in that c 4 ' 11- °ft bad their exertions influenced the ei k sed en th ee 411)eeillt°d,ified their . 11.1 VS. They had met that night li er , blea - , 1 t oat had en weed all their minds. What the,: w ar y in s reference to the corn-laws, N••• e were kthey would demand when 1 y r e st Ives , no l ess , 44t5 teNd l ' °u tg. They woulddemand i kr •lat o_ demand no more. The total, tie trends pe'•ue absolu' abolition of these laws. As 1 1 1 ee c "ir ne'Lltie Minister, Pe he said he recollected lil; 'of -uert Peel his future course, he ~ I N it ere,tha_os was shaping The speaker believed he eai e , te e , T . fame.mong the angels, 4 - eiie, Ns •.' 'knew, that even a te ' ter ric ov teth " nner that repen 1011 4 ) fie er one sinner 'til k Pio,. hoped the Hon. Baronet would not , s 's ge 1 IPles which he inwardly held, and fame 5,,• 5 ize vk ued, t power and to place. e t .eee es eeel tee 0 present dilate with great 'St s•e e • then proceeded to t/htte; hOil OR the growth Anti-corn-Law move of the 9 t l-1 . ~•'3 4 tii present condition of the opposingor. tc, o tti t , T he e ID "said he. " were inclined to t tie e l) 'si : r give t il e eo • le' forgive the wrongs and the , 1 7 L a th t - -e past, to committed upon 14 ' t ' a- t he monopolists had . their g e snt the latter had better take them in be th e 'lee , Ite m. But the books were to opened, lleeteShe,,°uce e n . these were . th,Solve par y ...., all. If against that all stood stel t ee n i_ t e,,: ee nuld find favour of the people. And _':oeseeest that in _ . them a release, tee' ll :sdis e C te t ,.. ease, inst de m andin addition to re eqtlet l ab 'e,er would i sh e of whets always their right—the immense 6 4 °, h,,eleb they had been despoiled. '4 ' V irl "t e'entl ' d amid great cheer ttl„ et1,,,,g fire etnan then retire R e _ ` Pr' 1 1 ulaved the following resolution :-" . 14, te e , et th o k "tlf k i`e th e e on poration of the corn-laws is to raise h e of ta t' -41.55 814 110 TS; preventing the exc ang . itl)' then v s a A lkl ld oth Al ) , ,..-kt 1 4 -er poductions for corn ; throwing • diminish ii,.4ll. tui_Nes orrers out of employment , . in the tk i tioe s -t `'et, eue the eenneofete by overstock g te l t 'lko n 's thus r • -, the source of bitter ili k ; Ity, and gel becom.'ne of penury, fever, kn' ‘ r co :-'" c rime 4s --the caiese d threaten- R ll.le t o ntbtinued, t : Qtnon g the P - °°l)le—an classes of the %Vali! Ger a most ,Ifed ace the labociri.os at ""'Q t h ' ll 4 B N"Ject state of miseeTi to tbeekteerine. tiPtett rose amidst the most enthu tte 44044 ale s aid that he felt quite astonished s tie eh' ' Which that • had thought proper co • 1111 th at meeting . 0 c ast i tt eve • TT believe i t he \‘ , ro w oe on s ning. —e d•t was the .r at 4 a nd w hich he had the honour to app !is . Ile aflt tvA habitame e tp stip pe iest,t tl ehoe, at a meeting of the in came 4,„ . 1ii,,, 1 :t hi q . T he first occasion was when he Vet etunieaterlend Sir De Lacy Evans, when he stood o ktt t he PPeal F ' I'4l° had been the first to fire th r)4'4 thekSir / yin the Tory camp. He was sorry to a . yt , t l / 5 1 •te II e L acy Evans) did not then occupy hie ,si e -mtlit Otlse ot an ee, „ Y w ool Commons, and he hoped that , _ i 1 4 ' di r , W e d l soon occur of returning him. (A 1 4' did eatLlo teusn't mean to have Leader any more.") :4 , f h t had himself worthy of addressing that iNtat' and b.l oad only very lately become a total re ;5,„1.1141, 74 °riginally thought that a fixed duty was Oe i a il lied , 041 abolition. The letter of Lord John le ds, eneewever, thrown his notion of fixed duty to " 5 1' seir un believed k,, 15 4 t e t,. that nothing but total repeal `d w' "is country. They were all of one li t ah w ith r e l , 41 Q . 4 , Y S I, c. j e,gard to the Anti-Corn-law League, t N i tr e e tl ? ,Leiti they not have the principlesi es et sargl4•'eY should thank the protectionists otle.ttheliaser,iits they (the protectionists) fur i h i t kood r e re p T` as ; for if they would read the speeches k d e , orted in the public papers, they would find 11, Bt , AI 'it ' ti de of bsurdity. Let them refer to the meet tli ihse le heste e - pi e r, where it was said that it was singular 11; PA 'ould Ot Ittl eg complain and be discontented, as if el l e e tt ' were h lo ; a nd . ad, a greater number had been sown 4 i n s of if the people wanted corn, there were two teleleite quarters ready- to come into the country. 4441,414014 Itutland had said that he relished a potato toi h , A 4e. -, (laughter) —and so did he (Sir C. Napier) 'de "lelg e t i cot the Duke of Rutland would be enabled i tl : l s t e his relish when the poor people would not be kllttter het :t . Potato. After the Duke of Rutland came ,11,:ill the ken' who recommended to the poor people N'tie" Itt t e 4 kente ging to bed to take a pinch of curry ii rt.Lvp their bellies warm. He had been a lung '1 1 ,,t t,i7,-. hat it had never struck him, on stormy Vk - li, e euwry-p owder to keep his sailors from cold. & ' lenea e i ; '4,, I' . t, e Lien. Member for Manchester had spoken Vri e .,•' at "„titard Rnatchbull, who had said, that in the; ee'ne etbolition of the corn-laws, what was to be eell'el their widows' portions? He (Sir C. Napier) le t 'i e V entur e to say, that if the corn-laws te4lseled, the friends of the League would 311 to subeciibe to portion their widows a Albert ce, were to eq.., were is r quis of tstle this and, the Sir IL and, the e Bishop' rirshar ° ' .chionesi Earl of Jersey' ralked in erflo it his re; `Windsor ball-Psi` lace. ~ hitetAT itle. Sit gonour" era' t ° en era' _ Natto w 1 the v )oweing. !oh], t h ! 3ornerseh , ting Yes. l . ab fro rge Clergy 110 from Yves t of : avern , f d total 0. Worm the 00 son, , 4 1; Lay w aecil ( . 'eildren.—(llear.) Another gentleman said that it was folly to speak of the .abolition of the corn-laws, as the country gentlemen would be unable to maintain their stations in the country. What was their station, end what were their conditions? They kept castles—they kept hunters—they went to N. wrnarket, and they lost thousands of pounds—all of which they would be obliged to give up it' the corn-laws were abolished. He was in the country the other day at a gentleman's seat, and it took him nearly a whole day to ride over the grounds. It was the gentleman's property, and a man might du as he liked with his ()wt.:, but he should not let the people of this country go short of food in order to keep up high !wits: The lower cla,ses w. re only lately beginning to find their strength. The country labourers had begun to hold meetings, and they had found that a duty on bread did not assist to make them comfortable, and she late meeting at Goatacre was an example which would be followed throughout the land. If Sir Robert Peel did not abolish the duties on corn, he would be in the situation of his late friend the protectionist. He (Sir C. Napier) was a farmer himself. lie had taken acertain piece of land in the country—about 40 acres. That was forest land, and had before been given over by many gentlemen, as it was always inundated with water, and possessed no comfort or accommodation for either men or animals. It was divided into about six fields. As he took it with the view of knowing something about agriculture, he tried to get a ploughman to plough the land, but found it quite impossible to do so, as not a man would go out of his usually beaten track ; in fact, the only difference between the man who followed the plough and the horse who drew it, was that the horses cent before the plough and the man followed, as he possessed sufficient inge nuity to guide it. At the end of his first year's posses sion he found himself 200/. out of pocket, by way of an encouragement to his farming. He at length got an old working man, whose name ha would give to the meeting —his name was Sparks—who, having a few acres of land, tilled them himself. He had no capital, no talent—hut one pony and his wife.—(Laughter.) That man dis covered what was the fault of his own land—it was full of water. He first began with a small portion of it— about an acre—and drained it ; and, by perseverance, he at last got about half of his land to rights. He spoke to him, and remarked how well he got the water off his land, and what crops he had made grow there, and was informed that by this means he had produced a crop of oats of eight quarters to the acre. lie took the advice of this man, and with his assistance he got his 40 acres in a pretty good state. The second year of his possession he only lost 451. ; the third year the account on both sides was sqqare, and now, at the end of the fourth year, he was 1001. in pocket. He went to Scotland last year, and he there saw lands cultivated, with an unfavourable climate, which put them three weeks later than the lands in this country. And yet they grew as fine crops as could be seen in England ; so much se, that the farmers did not care a straw about the corn-laws. Why should not the landlords of this country, instead of making long speeches to their tenants, give them long leases, and give them or sell them draining tiles—they might easily manage so as to have the price of the tiles repaid to them. If such things were done, this country could be made an exporting, instead of an importing one. In 1831, Lord John Russell saw the impossibility of carrying on the corn-laws, and he therefore proposed to give a fixed duty of Bs. per quarter. Tne protectionists refused to have it, and turned him out of office, and since that time they bad been struggling to maintain the protection system ; but the last year of that system was come. The protectionists had better have taken that offer when they got it, for he hoped to see a total repeal of the corn-laws this ses sion, without any further taxation put on the people to compensate themselves for what they had been rubbing the people of these last forty-five years, and the state of the country would then be an example to the world, instead of a disgrace to it.—(Hear, hear.) The second resolution was then put, and carried with only one dissentient voice. The Hon. Mr. BOUVERIE said that any further ex pression of opinion on the subject. after what they bad heard that night, would be uncalled for. They would readily agree to the resolution which he held in his hand, and which was, " That against legislative enactments a hich tax and impede the supply of food, we most so lemnly protest; and as the corn-laws have produced the tearful calamities before enumerated, this meeting re spectfully, but firmly, calls upon Parliament for their total, unconditional, and immediate abolition." He had a few words to say with regard to the opposition that had been maintained against the progress of the Anti- Corn-law League. The people who opposed it were not strong in numbers or in intelligence, but they were strong in wealth and station; they were " Proudly secure, Yet liable to fall by weakest subtlety;" they had strength, but were unable to use it ; and, like an unwieldy animal, fell a prey to others less strong but more active. In a question like the present they could not expect to be unanimous, and, of course, some weak headed people opposed it—old women, as he called them, who were headed by the Morning Herald. That journal put him in mind of what he had seen in Somersetshire. When a cart had to go down a hill a donkey was tied behind, and the animal, of course, not feeling inclined to descend resisted violently, and hindered the cart from going too quick, and so the opposition of the Herald only retarded for a time the cause whose safety it thus secured more effectually. They read in history that the Doctors of the Sorbonne, in Paris, had decided that the teaching of the Greek and Latin languages tended to subvert Christianity, but the event did not prove it so. So the protectionists thought that the corn-laws' abolition would p r u n o j ems u ew r retu.hutlehli would e m, AusLooEl but uyti it oinn longer h wo a evh u e l ar d in a shortyd occupy re a d. their time, time do but them would good. pro- able to lespe a ec s i h i, ow sec o o r n hdaedndtsh,earned solution, which w as then put carried unanimously. Mr. DEESING proposed " That the following petition be presented to the House of Commons, and that Mr. El phinstone be requested to present the same." Mr. WALKER seconded the resolution. The petition was then read, and the motion carried nem. con. Company were fully explained in a pamphlet which had been extensively circulated among ti e sharehold r , and it would only be necessary for him to make a very few observations upon that subject. The Directors' report, w iich had just been read, mentioned the various projects which they had in contemplation to propose to Parlia ment. Their policy had been fully explained on former occasions, as well as their desire to enter into terms of friendly relations with their neighbours on the left and right of them, for the purpose principally of avoiding that fluctuation in the value of their shares which they had sometimes experienced. He was happy to say that in this they had partly sueceeded. They had en tered some time before into friendly terms with their neighbours on the east—he meant the Brighton Com pany, and they had had no cause to regret it ; and the late negotiation entered into between the Croydon Atmospheric and the Brighton Company proved - that the interests of the South-Western Company were not forgotten, and it was, therefore but right that good faith should be exercised towards them in return. They rejoiced that such an agreement had been entered into, for while it left the coast between Southampton and Brighton fully supplied, it enabled the South-Western Company at any future time to accom modate these districts without any intervention from other parties. He thought the meeting would agree with him that, at least, there was no ne cessity for the interference of the Atmospheric Company, which never had, and never could have, any justifiable cause for supplying this country, and even if they did get powers from Parliament to make their line, fie would venture to say that it could never be made remunerative to the parties themselves. It was in par.uance of this policy that the South-Western had. in the latter end of 1844, tried to carry out an agreement with the Great Western, but that Company de clined to entertain any proposition until the Board of Trade should have made their report. The Board did make its report, and they (the South-Western) met the Great Western Directors a second time, and endeavoured to make some arrangement. They suc ceeded, but on entirely different principles from those they had proposed in October. The meeting would un derstand that the arrangement had been sanctioned by the Board of Trade, which had, in fact, constituted them selves arbiters in the matter. The Board was at that time supposed to be most influential, and quite capable of controlling the conduct of any parties disposed to do wrong. The agreement had been most religiously adhered to by them, despite of sundry strong expressions, more especially from some of their northern share holders. This state of things went on until October, 1845, when the Great Western Company proposed a line from Newbury to Hungerford, and so on towards Exeter, in direct contradiction to the agreement with them. In the first place, they had broken faith by proposing to make the line at all without giving notice to them or to the Board of Trade. He thought, also, that they had broken faith with the conditions entered into with the House of Lords, on the getting of their Wilts and Somerset Act. They (the South-Western) in giving up the lines west of Salisbury, did so only for the time ; they but remained passive until a probable requirement should be shown, of which the Board of Trade were to be the judges. When that requirement could be shown then they (the South- Western) were to have been the parties to have supplied it. The line they (the Great Western) were making was calculated in a very great degree to interfere with the traffic on the South-Western; and this he (the Chairman) considered another breach of faith. The Chairman then entered at considerable length into a comparison of the advantages to Bridport and other towns on the west coast, from the plans proposed by the South-Western and Great Western Companies. The Great Western charged them, in return, with break;ng faith. Why ? Be cause they proposed to construct a line in their own district; and they also charged him (the Chairman) with proceedings of rather a covert character. To that charge he would not reply. He, if not a Member of Parliament, like the Chairman of the Great Western, was the representative of eleven millions of property, and he could, therefore, as little afford to trifle or misrepresent, as Mr. Russell could.— (Cheers.) It was perfectly ridiculous to say that they had relinquished the country west of Salisbury, because they had for the time ceased to prosecute the Southampton and Dorchester Railway. He regretted that he had been induced to yield such confi dence to the decision of the Board of Trade as it led him into error. Now, he would not say one word with respect to the extension to Waterloo and London-bridges. The meeting could not conceal from itself the great advantages which would at tend a terminus at the latter bridge. Sir Lionel Goldsmid, he wished to inform them, had proposed to bring his line an to theirs, in fact, to fall into their Company. The Chairman, after some further observations, con cluded by saying, that he should be glad to answer any inquiry that might be made by any of the shareholders present. Mr. Gust/ bad listened with great attention to the Chairman's address, and it contained much which was gratifying to himself, and must be equally so to the meeting generally. He, however, wished to know from the Chairman if he was aware of the fact, that the Cornwall and Devon central line passed through a barren part of the county, and was not likely to prove a remunerative line, if Parliament allowed it to be made. It avoided the populous and mineral districts of Cornwall, and he knew, of his own knowledge, that the plans were so defective that it would have little or no chance of getting through the Standing Orders' Committee. Was it advisable then, for them to adopt the line in this state of things ? He thought not, and he hoped the meeting would pause before they adopted the recommendation of the report and the Chairman, of taking ft up. Mr. AsHem assured the Hon. Proprietor that he was in error in supposing that the plans of the Corn wall and Devon central line were detective, for i.e h ad learned from the secretary that the plans had been pro perly drawn up and deposited ; the shares had all been taken up, and the proprietors were in every way prepared to go to Parliament with every prospect of success. It was true that the line would pass over a barren district, but it must be remem bered that this part of the works could be constructed at, comparatively speaking, a trifling expense ; and it must also be remembered that after it passed this barrenness it would merge into districts that were thickly-studded with population. He moved the adoption of the report. Mr. GUST said he had examined the plans himself and he could assure the meeting that they contained de fects and omissions which it would be no easy matter to get over. Mr. Sergeant GAZEIJIE said he was connected with the line in question, and cer: ainly the information Mr. Gust had given them was contrary to everything he had heard respecting it. He understood that the plans were all correct, and as a whole he was convinced the line would pay, and he trusted it would ultimately prove successful. He regretted that the Board had so long neglected Portsmouth, but he hoped their future concession to that town would show that they were desirous of making some atonement for their past neglect. They ought to have some of the men of Portsmouth on the Board, and now that there were vacancies in the direction, he would suggest that the proprietors should fill them up themselves, and not leave them to be filled up by the Directors. He was glad to hear the Chairman admit that he had placed too much confi dence in the opinion of the Board of Trade, and he hoped that henceforth their policy would teach the Great Western Company that they would be dic tated to no longer. There was one point to which he wished to direct the attention of the Chairman. It would appear that they were again going to bring forward their Epsom project. Now, did the Directors think it worth while going on with this scheme, the competing line having obtained its Bill ? The CHAIRMAN said the proposed line would involve ti would on be the able ptuoblic. compete but a trifli ng out l ay, w hil e i t would prove a great ac • mm ,Owing advantageously to the expense ith e that ° they d of working the atm os ph er i c system, he had little doubt the Croydon line, and therefore it was that they recom mended the proprietors to proceed with the scheme. After some further discussion, the resolution was put and carried unanimously. Resolutions in accordance with the recommendations contained in the report were then proposed from the chair, and after lengthened discussions upon minor details, they were unanimously adopted by the meeting. In answer to a question, Mr. Uximexplained that the number of new shares were 46,500 of 501., and 6,000 of 40/, upon which the Directors had the power of calling 251. on the first, and 201. on the second, and one of the resolutions gave them the power to call up. The CHAIRMAN said this closed the business of the meeting, but before they separated, he wished to bring under their notice a matter of considerable impor tance. At their last meeting a sub-committee was appointed to consider the best means of improving the steam navigation between Portsmouth and France and Southampton and France. The chairman of that committee was then present, and he trusted the Hon Gentleman was in a position to give them hopes of their ultimately succeeding in the object they had in view. Mr. TITE said the committee had found the navigation most defective, mid they thought the best plan which could be adopted was to break up the two existing steam companies, and thus put an end to the local rivalry which at present existed. This could only be done by the formation of a new company, who could purchase the boats of the old company for about 150,000/. ; but no new company could be formed unless they guaranteed them a dividend. He should therefore propose, as the formation of such a company would tend greatly to increase their traffic, that the Directors be empowered to take steps to promote a new company. Some opposition was offered to this proposal, bnt it was ultimately adopted by the majority of the Share holders, and thanks having been voted to the Chairman, the Meeting separated, after a very protracted sitting. A call was then made for Mr. George Thompson, who came forward and addressed the meeting in a speech of very great length, inculcating the necessity of holding out, without compromise, for the total and unconditional abo lition of the corn-laws, and commenting on their demo ralising effect on the people. At the conclusion of his speech, Thanks were voted to the Chairman, and the meeting separated at half-past ten o'clock. SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY. A special general meeting of the Shareholders in this Company was held yesterday at the station, Nine Elms, for the purpose of receiving the report of the Directors, and considering the measures to be taken with respect to several projected extensions during the forthcoming session of Parliament. Mr. Chaplin presided. The notice calling the meeting having been read, The SECRETARY then proceeded to read the report, of which the following is an abstract:— The Directors, after stating that the importance of the measures for consideration must excuse them for calling the proprietors together at that time, said— with reference then to the formation of the projected lines to Epsom, to Chertsey, and Egham ; to Farnham and Alton ; to Salisbury from Basingstoke, by Whit church and And over , an d f rom R omsey to Red bridge, your Directors will only remind you that they have already been fully authorised and requested by your pro prietors to proceed, and everything has accordingly been done which your Directors have deemed ati e sable in the promotion of these several p ro j ects. Directors h then add, that they had fu r th er investigated e xtension to London-bridge, and they unhesitat ingly recommended the measure ; they recom mended also, that application should be made to Par liament for an extension branch to Hampton -court. The Directors had on former occasions entered so fully into explanations with respect to the Guildford and Chichester and Portsmouth and Fareham lines, that they did not feel called upon to state more than that, in addi tion to the prosecution of the Bill now pending in the House of Lords for the portions of railway between Guildford and Godalming, and between Fareham and Portsmouth, the Guildford, Chichester, and Portsmouth Company would apply in the coming session for powers to make the remainder of the line to Chichester, as originally proposed, and, with a view to the improvement of their scheme, they have added to it branches to Petersfield, Chichester Harbour, and the dockyards at Portsmouth, with further stations and accommodation for general purposes at Portsmouth. An agreement had been come to whereby the London and South-Western Company would become half-owners, with the London and Brighton Company, of the Portsmouth and Fare ham Extension of the Brighton and Chichester Railway, sanctioned by Parliament in the last session ; and the Directors trusted that a more complete scheme, even than that of last session, would be presented t o Parliament without any material increase of expeose. It remained for the Directors to ex plain the provisional arrangements made with refe rence to the lines west of Salisbury. The scheme to be presented to Parliament would embrace an entire system of railway communication from Basingstoke to the Land's-end. 'The projected line of this Company from Basingstoke to Whitchureh, and Andover to Salisbury, would be continued by the line proposed by the London, Salisbury, and Yeovil Company, to Yeovil by the lines and branches of the Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester Company, to Exeter, and by the Cornwall and Devon Central Line to Fal• mouth and Penzance. The entire capital of all these lines would be :5,900,0001., and of this amount one fourth was to be transferred to the London and South-Western Railway Company, who would thereupon immediately obtain a corresponding share in the management of each of the undertakings. Each of the several companies would separately apply to Parliament for powers to construct its °an line, and should the applications for all be successful, it was pro posed that the London and South-Western, Lon don, Salisbury, and Yeovil, and Cornwall and Devon Central Railway Companies should be amalgamated, and that the present debenture debt of the London and South-Western Company, amounting to 630,0001., should become a charge upon the entire undertaking. As re garded the capital for the works proposed b) the Directors. exclusive of the lines west of Salisbury, they proposed to provide for it by calls on all the shares of the Com pany whereon calls remained unpaid; and by exercising the powers of borrowing, obtained by the Company in the last session. The Directors having exhausted all the points to which it was necessary to allude, concluded their report with a repetition of their unabated confi • dence in the soundness of the principles and continued prosperity of the undertaking. The CHAIRMAN then rose, and stated that the objects which they had that day met to consider would be re ferred to by him - as briefly as possible. They would find that the circumstances in which the South-Western Company was placed with regard to the Great Western AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL the cultivation, bad continued in operation. The crops had been good, but a large quantity, with the barn in which it was k e pt, was burnligbtninF. The whole loss amounted to 1,350/. lie.sides this lois, between seventy and eighty sheep were killed by the bail stones in a storm. The report then went into a bang and minute detail of the number, ate, &c., of the various descriptions of live stock, which appeared to give great satisfaction to the meeting. The clip of the sheep stock amounted to 613 bales of wool, weighing 182,1511135., which realised good price, there being an advance of 3d. per lb. The whole receipts of the year enabhd the Directors to declare a dividend of 1/ being at the rate of 3/. Gs. Bd. per share. The part of' the report, how ever, to which the greatest importance was attached, was the letter of the Under-Secretary of the Colonies, communicating to the Governor the deter mination of the Colonial Secretary to allow the Company to sell 500,000 acres of their land. The report was unanimously agreed to without any discussion. The Governor and other officers wire re-elected, and thanks having been voted to the Chairman, the meeting separated. PROVIDENT CLERKS' MUTUAL BENEFIT ASSOCIATION AND BENEVOLENT COMPANY. FUND. Last night, at six o'clock, the fifth annual general meeting of the members of the benefit department of this Association was held at the London Tavern, Bishops gate-street, for the transaction of business. There was a very full attendance of members, and the business throughout was characterised by the greatest harmony and good feeling. George Thomas, Esq., presided on the occasion. The business was opened by the Secretary, 1)r. Thomas 31uHinder, reading the advertisement calling the meeting. The CriilaMAN then proceeded to read the report of the Directors, which was in substance to the following effect : It commenced with congratulating the members on the increased prosperity of the Association, and showed that during the year 1845 the number of policies issued was 211, amounting to a sum equal to three-fifths of all the business done in the past years; that since the formation of the Asso ciation all the moneys received as premiums had been .in vested in the funds is the names of trustees, with the excep tion of 1001. paid to the representatives of an assurer, which was the only death the managers -had been called upon to pay, and about some 5001. for office expenses; that during the year an election of widows of clerks (one of whose hus bands had been an assurer) to permanent pensions had taken place, and had been commemorated by a public dinner, at which a very large sam had been contributed (1,0001. we believe) in aid of the Benevolent Fund; that some eminent firms had during the past year given in their adhesion to the Society, and subscribed to its funds. That recently John Abel Smith, Esq., M.P., together with his partners, Messrs. Magnac, Jardine, and Co., mani festing that gentleman's well-known liberality and desire to promote the welfare of the Association, and of those gentle men employed by his firm, had assured the lives of each of their clerks for sums varying in amount from 1,000/. down to 2501., according to the length of time each had been in their service, not merely paying the first premium, but making each gentleman a present of the policy, and promising to pay all future premiums. The report went on to notice the hand some liberality of the Court of Directors of the East and West India Dock Company, who not only had contributed to the aid of the benevolent fund, but had encouraged the clerks in their service to become members of the Association. The report also noticed the growing estimation with which the Society was favoured, not on ly in London, but the provincial towns, and instanced that during the past year the number of agents had been more than ' doubled, and that a most favourable and flattering opinion of the stability and usefulness of the society by W. Farr, Esq., F.S.S., the gentleman entrusted with the scientific de partment of the Itegistrar-General's-office, Somerset-house, who, in a letter to the secretary said, " I think very highly of the objects of your society, &c.; your rate s o f prem i um appear to me safo and fair for a society of mut ua l assurance. I state this after having compaired the tables of premiums for single lives with the calculations made at this office. Wishing your Directors every success in this excellent under taking, I am, Ike." The balance-sheet showed a very large increase in favour of the Society, not only In the amount of money invested during the year, but also in the greatly ex tended receipts of premiums over all preceding years. The CHAIRMAN—The report now read contains a full statement of the past proceedings and present position of the Association, and nothing now remains for me but to say that - , should any explanation be wanted, I shall be very happy to afford it. Mr. KINSMAN of Manchester, one of the local com mittee, then moved— " That the report for the year, 1845, as now read, be adopted and printed for circulation at the discretion of the Board.," He had arrived in town on a journey to the west of England, and having called at the office, he had been persuaded to come to the meeting and move the resolu tion he had now done. He felt most happy in doing so, as he considered the report just read to be a most satis factory document in every particular.—(Cheers.) Mr. E. J. GOSBELL seconded the resolution. He felt much gratified at the report just submitted, and in that gratification he was sure the meeting fully participated.—(Hear, hear.) He was satisfied that the Directors had done their best to advance the interests of the Association, and to their energy and perseverance they (the members) were much indebted for their pre sent improved position. He would suggest to the mem bers present that Chambers's plan be adopted, which was for each member, during the next year, to bring a member.—(ll ,, ar, hear.) That step would at once place the Association in a most commanding position.—The resolution was then put and unanimously agreed to. Mr. J. W. WELCH rose to move the next resolution, which was as follows : "That Mr. Richard Henry Jones and Mr. Samuel Notley be re elected managers of the Association, and Messrs. John James Iselin, Samuel Jepps, Henry Pearson Maples, and Richard Price be elected managers." He knew Mr. Jones well, as one of the oldest and best friends of the Association, and one who, in his capacity of Deputy Chairman, had done much to advance their interests. Mr. Nutley had also been one of his col leagues, and a gentleman that had used great exertion to advance the welfare of the body. The same might be said of the other gentlemen named in tr.e resolution, to whom he believed they were also much indebted for the present flourishing state of the Institution. Mr. LLOYD had much pleasure in seconding the reso lution proposed by Mr. Welch. The Chairman was about to put the resolution, when a member in the body of the room suggested that the names should be put separately, as he believed the Act of Parliament required that it should be so. The CHAIRMAN said he did not think that such was the case, yet, in order to make sure, he had no objection to put the names in that way. He then submitted the names contained in the resolution to the meeting sepa rately, and they were unanimously agreed to as managers of the Institution for the ensuing year. Mr. JONES returned thanks for the honour done him in his re-election. He had hitherto done his best to serve the interests of the Institution, and would continue to do so. He was much satisfied at the general tenour of the report, particularly regarding that portion which suggested that each member should endeavour to bring another member into the Association during the coming year. He was satisfied if they made an effort they would succeed in carrying that recommendation into effect.— (Hear.) He had a resolution to propose bearing cn another point in the report. It was intimated in the report that during the last year a most beneficent and noble act had been performed by the house of Magniac, Jardine, and Co., towards their clerks. I would also allude to the most liberal gift of Mr. Samuel Jones Loyd to his clerks, showing that there is springing up on the part of principals a greater regard for those who serve them. I trust so good an exatople will be followed by other houses ; indeed, I have some reason to believe that another eminent firm contemplates a similar proceeding to that of Magniac, Jai dine, and Co.—(Loud applause.) The resolution he had to propose was as follows: " That the warmest thanks of the meeting are due to Thomas Baring, Esq., M.P. ; Thomson Hankey, jun., Esq. ; W. G. Prescott Esq. ; and Baron L. de Rothschild, for their countenance and support as trustees of the Association; and also to John Abel Smith, Esq., M.P., for his continued inte rest in the prosperity of the Association, and to himself and partners for their late distinguished mark of approbation of the Society." Mr. F. CREASY then moved— The annual general meeting of the Proprietors of the Australian Agricultural Company was held yesterday at their offices, King's Arms-yard, Mooigate-street, John Studholine Browning; Esq., the Governor of the Com pany, being in the chair. After the usual preliminaries, The CHAIRMAN read the report of the Directors, which stated that the improved prospects of the colony fully justified the anticipations which they expressed at the last general board of Proprietors. The expenditure of the Company ha I been revised, in effecting which they had received the cordial co-operation of Captain King and the other officers; and, although no improve ment had taken place in the sale of hive stock, and there had been a still further diminution in the sale of coals, yet, by the reduction of the expenditure, the result of the Company's operations for the year 1844 showed a considerable improvement in the balance of receipts over disbursements, as compared with the three preceding years. The same causes which were last year mentioned as having restrained Mr. SAWTELL seconded the resolution, which was put and unanimously carried. 11Tirn.h That h a tii i ice T h L c ho s rebid wasa dial t ohsvauenrdke thanks t h ho e fe y n t h e w x i so t um r l e de s e o at l u nl t ga i ogbnree, agree. e h ls i , e te n hw t e a d ws —a t to one the medical officers both in town and countiy, to the local agents and committees, to the consulting actuary, and the honorary solicitors for their valuable services during the past year." He was persuaded they would all agree that they had been much indebted to the gentlemen named in the reso lution for the assistance they had given the Association. particularly were they under obligation to their medical officers. They had granted 211 policies during the past year—(Cheers)—and nearly 600 from their first esta blishment, and yet, out of that 600, up to the Slat of December last, there had been only one loss, and that was for 1001. From this it would appear that their me dical officers had exercised no ordinary care in the se lection of lives to be insured—(Hear, hear)—and for this care they were entitled to their warmest thanks. Mr. REYNOLDS seconded the motion, and said he need not add one word to what had just been offered by the previous gentleman. The secretary, the managers, the solicitors, and medical officers, had all, lie was satisfied, done everythirg in their power to advance the Association. For himself, the sole reason why he retired from taking an active part in the management was having other avocations to attend to that would have interfered with his attending to their interests in an official manner. He greatly regretted having to leave, after struggling with them up bill to their present satis factory position ; but he did not like to hold office unless he could attend to its obligations. Unless he could do so it was his bounden duty to retire. He, however, in doing so, congratulated them on having, in their officers, a body of gentlemen who would leave nothing undone that energy, attention, and business habits could achieve for them. Under such direction they could not fail to bring their affairs to a most satisfactory and triumphant issue. The CHAIRMAN, on putting the resolution to the meeting, observed that Mr. Reynolds had explained to the meeting thecause of his retiring from the management. He had a letter from Mr. Hudson, explainin g g also the cause of his retirement, ~ nd it was gratifying to know that neither of those gentlemen had retired from any ill feel ing towards the Society, but solely on account of their other avocations rendering it impossible for them effi ciently to perform their duties as managers.-7(Cheers.) The worthy Chairman read the letter from Mr. H u d son, in which he complimented the Society highly, and . wished it the success it de=served. The resolution was then declared to be carried unani mously. Mr. JOHN JAMES ISELIN, as one of the newly-elected managers, begged to return thanks for the honour that ' had been conferred upon him. He could assure the THE* S UN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY ,11,19RNING, JANUARY 21, 1846. gentlemen present that his earnest endeavours should never be found wanting in order to promote the best interests of th e S oc i ety — ( C he ers)—and he hoped to re ceive and d eserve at the conclusion of those exertions tne same feeling of satisfaction that had been displayed towards those whose office he bad been so undeserved!) , selected to fill.—(Cheers.) He could assure those pre sent that it would be his greatest happiness in after years to meet them with a statement that the success of the Society had increased in the ratio of a hundred fold.—(Cheers.) ALFRED SmEE, Esq., Fellow of the Royal Society, rose to return thanks. He could assure the meeting that their medical officers had striven all in their power to promote the interests of the Institution, and he was happy to say that, according to the the report, their exertions had been crowned V 6 ith success.—(Cheers.) The duty that devolved upon their medical men was one of difficulty and responsibility.—(Cheers.) Every gen tleman who was in that room had had to come before them, and though they had not been more than ten minutes in their company, they had had to look through their bodies, and render that which was opaque tran sparent— (Laughter)—in order to discove r not only whether they were then labouring under any disease, but what disease they had suffered from, and what they might probably be subjected to.—(Cheers.) The examination might by some be considered as a farc e , but as a medical man he could assure them it was no such thing.—(A laugh ) Mr. HONEY then rose to move the next resolution. Two years since he had felt it to be his duty to move that some remuneration should be made to the board of management; at that time it was stated that the funds of the Society were not in a condition to meet such a sug gestion, but now the e ise was different. From the report that had been read it was apparent the Society services, as some slight remuneration for their arduous 3 w o a oi s p m r o i g g h r e t , s s i v , n , d f e a t v ri o m ur e a n b t l , y b — e s ( e C t h eaeprasr)t— duties.—(Cheers.) Such being the case he would g ith m ou o t st move— faonrdththelrt "That the best thanks of the meeting are due to the bolrd of managers for their unremitting attention to the affairs of the Association, and that the sum of three hundred pounds be awarded to them for their efficient services in forming the Association, and for their exertions to promote its interests, and conducting its details during the past five years." Mr, WILLIAM READ seconded the resolution. A GENTLEMAN in the meeting hoped that it was in tended that the remuneration shculd be retrospective ? Mr. R. H. JONES—Oh, certainly. The resolution was carried unanimously. The CHAIRMAN, on behalf of himself and the other managers of the Institution, begged to return their thanks for the very cordial and hearty manner in which the meeting had acceded to the proposition of devoting 3001. as a remuneration to the managers for their ser vices to the Institution for the last five years.—(Cheers.) He was sure it was the with of all the managers to serve the Society gratuitously as long as the funds were not sufficient to give them any remuneration—(Loud cheers)—but he thought that the time had now arrived when the funds of the Association could bear it, and he felt gratified that the members present had taken the same view of it as the managers had done. He could assure the meeting that they might rely upon the best exertions and endeavours of the mana gers in future to promote the interests of the Associa tion, the value of which he had no doubt would be felt more and more every year.—(Cheers.) He was sure it would make vast progress by its own merits, aided, as it would be, by the exertions of its members. A GENTLEMAN in the meeting was desirous of know ing whether any remuneration had been given to the medical officers of the Company? . _ The CHAIRMAN said that a small remuneration had been given to the medical officers for the year 1844 and 1845, but that remuneration was totally inadequate to their great services. —(Cheers.) Indeed, it was given more as a compliment than as a remuneration.— (Cheers.) It was the wish of the managers of the Institution to reward all its officers, and he was sorry that the small compliment that had been given to the medical men was not much more.—(Cheers). The same GENTLEMAN hoped the time was not far distant when they would be properly rewarded for watching over the interests of the Institution. The CHAIRMAN observed that, if any gentleman had any further question to ask, he should be happy to answer it. He could assure the meeting that the managers courted inquiry on all occasions. —(Cheers.) Dr. MtJLLINDER then rose to propose— " That the thanks of this meeting are cordially offered to the gentlemen of the press for the kindly spirit invariably manifested by them in advocating the cause and objects of the Association." He appeared before the meeting in a two- fold capacity, but he trusted that he should not be charged with dupli city.—(Cheers and laughter.) A great deal had been said about the Militia mania, but he did not refer to them, but to the volunteers.—(Cheers.) The press had always advocated the objects of the Provident Clerks' In stitution—(Cheers)—or he might call it the Provident Clerks' Volunteers.—(Cheers.) The Sun shone upon them.—(Cheers and laughter.) The Times supported them.—(Cheers.) The Herald proclaimed them.—(lncreased cheering.) The Chronicle re gistered th( m.—(Cheers.) The Post delivered them.—(Cheers and laughter.) The Advertiser posted them. —(Cheers.) The News il;ustrated them.—(Cheem) The Examiner passed them.—(Cheers.) The Spectator looked favourably on them.—(Laughter.) The English a ndleman had taken them by the hand.—(Great laugh ter.) And although they had been in the Gazette, it was the Court one—(lncreased laughter)—and they had a trusty Sentinel, and two good magazines in the Bankers' and the Post magazines.—(Great laughter.) In con clusion, he trusted that the meeting would with accla mation carry the resolution he had proposed to so use ful and necessary a body as the press.—(Cheers.) Mr. JEPPS seconded the resolution, which was carried unanitncusly. "That the members present, fully appreciating the great importance and utility of the Association, pledge themselves to increased individual exertion to introduce new members, and to use every means to make the principles and objects of the Association known." Mr. CLARKE seconded the resolution, which was car ried unanimously. The CHAIRMAN said that the business of the meeting was now concluded. He hoped that every member pre sent would strive all in his power to carry out the spirit of the resolution, because he felt convinced, if it was acted upon, there could be no doubt the favourable results of 1845 would be far exceeded by those of 1846. Mr. HOWDEN thought the meeting ought not to sepa rate without expressing its gratitude to Dr. Mullinder, the Secretary, fur his exertions on behalf of the Society. It should be borne in mind that the business of the Society had increased considerably during the last year, and that that increase had required greater exertions on the behalf of their Secretary.—(Cheers.) He would, therefore move— " That the best thanks of the meeting be given to Dr. Mullinder, the Secretary, for his zealous and efficient services." Mr. FRIDD seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Dr. MIILLINDER returned thanks. It was not many days since a member, of the Society had called him a goose.—(Great laughter.) Now, although that observa tion was made in jest, he was determined to be a goose (Increased laughter)—for he should never forget that the cackling of a goose had saved Rome—(Laughter)— and he was determined not to cease cackling until he had convinced every clerk of the value of this Institu tion.—(Great cheering.) He felt most acutely the marked honour that had been done him, and he trusted that the Society would never find him undeserving of it. The CHAIRMAN was desirous of mentioning one circumstance which was calculated to show the increased estimation in which the Society was held by the public. In 1544 they had granted 110 policies ; in 1845, 211; while in the present year they had granted 21, being more than one a day.—(Great cheering.) He felt con vinced that the end of 1846 would show an increase of prosperity in the Institution unexampled in the history of societies of a similar description.—(Cheers.) A vote of thanks to the Chairman was then moved by Mr. NOBLE, seconded by Mr. J. Norerox, and carried unanimously. The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks, assured the meeting that as long as he held the office of one of their managers, he should do his duty fearlessly, without re ference to any personal consideration, trouble, or exer tion.—(Cheers.) The meeting then separated. ROYAL NAVAL BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.--On Mon day the quarterly meeting of this society, which is esta blished to afford relief to officers of the royal navy, their widows and families, under circumstances of misfortune and distress, was held at the Thatched House Tavern, St. James's street, Admiral Sir Charles Malcolm in the chair. Amongst the gallant officers present were Admiral Sir Edward Cod rington, G.C,8.•, Captains Bague, Edwards, and Drew • Com mander Marshall ; Lieutenants Gardiner, Bedford, and ; Sir Richard Dobson, inspector of hospitals, &c. Commander Dickson, the secretary, read the report. The receipts for the last quarter were 1,203/. 7s. 4d., and the expenditure amounted to 7371. 10s. 9d. During the past year the sub scriptions, donations, and a balance of 5951. 45., figured 3,1701. ss. 6d., and the outlay, including 2,118 /. distri buted in relief, was 2,704/. Bs. lid., leaving a balance 2 of 465/. 10s. 7d. Amongst the dona tions received Commanderthe Duke Sharman, 20/. ; James Alexander, Esq., 101. 10s. ; Earl since the Ist instant, were t he followin g :—His o ß f oy c a a l mbr H id ig g h e, ne 2 s l s l. ; Prince Albert; H A ad lb d e i rnt,gton, 1 5 1 0 ;1 . ; Cadogan, 21/. ; Charles Dic 1. was allocated f or kson E ~ 10/. The report i n conclusion, stated that the s um of 552 distribution amongst 82 a pp licants for relief. The report was adopted. The secretary then announced that , during the past year, 107 officers had joined the society, and that 78 deaths and withdrawals had taken place amongst the old members. It was moved and carried, amidst applause, that the chairman be requested to acknowledge by letter the munificent donations of Prince Albert, the Duke of Cam bridge, Earl Haddington. the Earl of Cadogan, and Com mander Sharman. Captain Bague recommended to the at tention of the meeting the case of Miss H—, the daughter e tor humanely raised subscription applicants, her of a deceased office r, who was reduced to the lowest depths of p o verty, but whose peculiar circumstanc es p rec l u d e d h er ap plying for relief. In consequence of the galla n t ca pt a i n ' s repre sentation, behalf. The petitions having b een di spose d o f , an d sums varying to the Galla n t Ch a i rman , an d th e mee ti ng p MILITIA EXEM PTIONS .—At severa l l arge firms in sthea anrkas t were d. h e voted officers . s u. di distributed d from t b o amongst a the the City and West-end, where a great number of hands are employed, as in some of the principal linen-drapery establish ments, mutual combinations have been formed to provide substitutes should any of them be drawn. It is fully expected that the East India Company's Regiment of Volunteers will be formed, and brought into training, which will exempt all their clerks, servants, and labourers from service in the militia. This regiment, which was the last of the volunteer corps that was disbanded, continued in regular training until 1824. PORTUGUESE RAILWAYS. —As the Portuguese Government has not thought proper to reduce its ridiculously stringent terms as to concessions, but thought it could dic tate when it ought to beg, the representatives of the English Companies have declined to do any thing with it for the present.—Railway Herald. L [TERATURE. MARGARET CA PEL. A Novel. 3 Vols. In this utilitarian and philosophical age our very novels are redolent of th e s pi r it o f th e tim es . His tory and politics are now common themes for works hitherto intended only for amusement. The school master is abroad w ith a vengeance, i n d ee d , if his lessons must be found even in the page of fiction. Far be it from us to disapprove of such things, yet, with all deference to the importance of instruction, we cannot but remember that novels are chiefly de sired by way of recreation. A few may wish to find wisdom mingled with entertainment, but the gene rality, tired of history and wearied with politics, are glad to seek amusement in the delightful realms of fancy ; others love to contrast their own high favoured lot with the imagined distresses of some all-perfect heroine ; in both cases, perhaps, little good is done, but the end is achieved—the reader is gratified. Such u novel is " Margaret Capel ;" it is well calculated to suit both extremes, full of liveliness and vivacity; on the one hand gay, spirited, and sparkling, it is cer tain to please those who only read pour passer le.temps, while the lovers of tenderness and pathos will be deeply interested by the beautiful and touching history of Aveline Fitzpatrick, the only child of a widowed mother, sl ow l y f a di ng away b eneat h the power of that resistless foe to youth and beauty—incurable consump tion.. Thii mournful tale is perhaps the most beauti ful portion of the whole work : here death has indeed no terrors, all i s peace and love. This is but an episode, the real heroine being Margaret Capel, who is of course endowed with all the virtue and beauty necessary for such an important place. We will not attempt to "sket c h t h e plot," and destroy all the interest of the story ; suffice it t o say i t i s su ffi c i ently involved and intricate to excite attention, yet not too complicated to amuse. Just the sort of book for ladies who have nothing to do but to read for their own gratification, or again just the sort of book for others who seek recreation from their arduous daily duties. POEMS and PICTURES. A Collection of Ballads' Songs, and other Poems, with One Hundred Illustra- lion; on Wood, by Britis!, Artists. This is one of the most luxurious books ever pub lished. Printed in beautiful type, upon thick satin paper, every page has an illuminated border, and every poem has an illustration, many of them more than one. These illustrations are the most beautiful specimens of wood engraving we have ever seen ; they have the softness of the most exqui site pencilling. Among the artists who have illustrated these " Ballads " are Cope, Dyce, Horsley, Redgrave, Selous, Tenniel, Archer, Corbould, Duncan, and Pickersgill. Some of Pickers gill's illustrations are remarkably imaginative, and remind us forcibly of the marvellous creations of the pencil of Blake. The binding of the hook is in the highly-ornamented antique style, and altogether it is a monument worthy of British arts and artists. Ere long, this collection of poems and pictures will be found on the drawing-room table of every person in the British dominions who has the least pretensions to taste. THE POETICAL WORKS OF JOHN KEATS. A New Edition. Thanks to the irrevocable advance of true fame, it is unnecessary to do more than chronicle this re-pub lication of the too f ew , b u t i ncompara b le poems written by John Keats. To enter upon a dissection of pro ductions now so familiar to every lover of genuine and unforced poetry would savour more of eccen tricity than judgment, seeing that they have acquired for themselves the most catholic appreciation. But we may undoubtedly be permitted to observe that the first and most elaborated production in the collection claims the most feeble and questionable applause, namely, "the stretched metre of an antique song "—" Endymion." Infinitely noble as is its introduction, proclaiming the presence of beauty in everything terrestrial, from " the shady Won" of trees, to the very daffodils " with the green world they live in "—glorious as is the opening pic ture of a forest glade in Latmos, where the rivulets, disappear under the umbrage " to warm their chilliest bubbles in the grass "—larded with symbols of glory as is that marvellous invocation to Pan —pure and statuesque as is the description of Endymion himself, with his senses obscured with drowsiness, and mo tionless iu the rapture of a trance, " Even as dead still as a marble man Frozen in that old tale Arabian"— . _ _ _ and sprinkled as the narrative is with the sweetest and most gossamer-like episodes, dreams within dreams (such as the chase after the butterfly)—there are intermeshed and intermingled with the whole such puerilities and affectations and weaknesses, both of thought and language, as tend materially to modify our approbation. Nevertheless, a sweeping condem nation of a work so eminently delicate becomes an im possibility after reading that masterpiece—the preface prefixed to this "poetic romance"—in which Keats remarks that a dissatisfied reviewer will assuredly leave him alone " with a conviction that there is not a fiercer hell than the failure in a great object." NVith "Laurie," however, that strange phantasm of a subtle imagination—with "Isabella, or the Pot of Basil," the metre of which beats time, as it were, to the blood gush of the heart—and with " The Eve of St. Agnes," that matchless piece of mosaic -work, carrying us alternately to the banquet cham ber with its music " yearning like a god in pain," and to the gallery with the cavalier, "brushing the cobwebs with his lofty plume," and to the bedside in the moon's " dim twilight"—with these three crea' ions our admiration is unstinted and most earnest ; while with " Hyperion"—that marvel of modern literature—that most wonderful of all poetical fragments—that Phidian torso—our appro bation has no limits. Its words are like the blowings of a golden bugle; with its utterance the earth seems again shaken by the colossal footfall of the Titans ; its imagery is awe ; its populace are gods. No con ception could possibly be formed of the extreme grandeur which our language is capable of evolving without reading this extraordinary production. As the poet himself expresses it : " There is a noise Among immortals when a god gives sign, With hushing finger, how he means to load Ilis tongue with the full weight of utterless thought, With thunder, and with music, and with pomp." And such is the sound, such is the resonance of every syllable in " Hyperion." The minor poems which are appended to the volume, are things to be learnt by heart, and mused over line by line, and gar nered up as jewels in the chambers of the memory; they are as " things of beauty," destined for immortality, if we may credit the assertion contained in the first line John Keats ever Lcknowledgedly published—" A thing of beauty is a joy for ever." Among these must be especially noted his stanzas upon "Autumn," his renowned " Ode to a Nightingale," his verses be ginning " I stood tiptoe upon a little hill," and that pathetic and haunting conceit about December— all of which are filled with burning thoughts and clothed with burning words. His twenty sonnets, too, form of themselves a diadem. Altogether Keats's poetry, though it was ger minated in the regions of Cockaigne, speedily assumed for itself a character of no class, of no party, of no particular or individual school. As long as the green turf is powdered with daisies, and the cow/slip blossoms on the hedge-bank, and the rivulets glitter in the sunbeams—as long, in fact, as nature i t nature, so long will the poetry of John Keats last, for it is but a reflex of the original in all its puri t y , andall its majesty, and all its loveliness. The present edition is the best that has as yet been published : it is the best, because it is the most appropriate—a little volume to be dropped into one's pocket before a stroll in theimeadows or the woodlands : while, for ourselves and all other Londoners, it will serve as a talisman wherewith to conjure us from the murky streets of the metropolis and the leaden atmosph , e7 of winter, into the midst of a summer landscape. There is, h ow in - ever, one remarkable deficiency this reprint which we should like exceedingly to see am en d e d ; there is neither a biographical sketch . nor a s li g h t portrait of the young bard, both of which hi s f r i end Severn, the Anglo-Roman artist, would have accomplished so successfully. We conceive, in fact, that Mr. Severn owes this much to the memory of his dead associate. as well as to posterity ; an d assuredly it would be a noble exertion of his abilities. We shall ultimately expect to see a life of Keats and a likeness of Keats from the pen and pencil of his companion Severn. With this exception the volume is complete. WAV ER LEY NOVELS, Abbotsford Edition. Vol. 9. The present volume contains " Redgauntlet," the " Betrothed," and the " Talisman," printed in the same magnificent style of typography as the preceding volumes of this superb edition have been. Each novel is illustrated by four steel engravings, in addition to a host of exquisite wood-cuts. The four illustrations to " Redgauntlet" are from paintings by Clarkson Stan field ; those of the " Betrothed" are from paintings by R. K. Penson, and of those to the " Talisman," thrce are from David Roberts, and one (the Con vent of the Holy Nativity, Bethlehem), from a paint ing by Sir David Wilkie, CLEMENTS CUSTOMS' GUIDE FOR 1845 and 1846. This is the tea th annual edition ofMr. Clement's work, and it most ably sustains its original character. To mercantile men of every description it will and mast prove of the very greatest utility, and afford the very greatest assistance upon all question able commercial points. It is, in fact, a kind of encyclopaedia to commerce, and details every particular alteration in the e nactments in relation to trade passed during the last session of Parliament. Among other portions of this compila tion, the tables of duties upon exports and imports are most elaborate, and will afford every possible I facility for reference. ' In all of its other branches it is, however, equally copious and equally accurate. From the abundant information it gives upon all mercantile matters, it will be a valuable companion to every commercial office. t AN EPITOME of the NETT' LINES of RAIL . WAY in ENGLAND, which Parliarneht will pro hably suns iron, with their Reasons for doing SO. By C. t Collins. Mr. Collins, the author of this brochure, is the edi tor of the Railway Times, and is, therefore, from his position, as qualified to act the part of Railw:lv Prophet as Vales, Bunbury, et hoc genus omae, are to prophecy concerning the turf. Among th e reasons which he adduces for Parliament verifying his prophecies, the decisions of the committees during the last session hold a prominent place. As a re sum' of the decisions of the railway commit tees of last session, and of the projects which will come before Parliament during the pre.. sent session, this is a valuable compilation, and if it were possible for the decision of one Parliamentary Committee to calculate what the decision of another Parliamentary Committee would be under similar circumstances, then might we be in• clined to pl ace some t ru st i n Mr. Collins's vaticina tions ;—but the days of prophesy, like those of chivalry, are over, and to attempt to foretel the de cision of a Parliamentary Committee, on any given case, by a reference to the ordinary rules of law or equity, or precedent, is as hopeless a task as it would be to attempt to foretel from what quarter the wind would blow at the moment that the chairman should announce the decision. If it were possible, in regard to these matters, to foretel the future from accurate observations of the past, then, indeed, in the majority of instances, would Mr. Collins be a true prophet. After stating the grand lines of railway, the con struction of which he thinks it probable Parliament will sanction in the ensuing session, and which will require ap: id-up capital of 45,930,0001., he thus con cludes : "If we allow about twenty millions for branches of existing lines, and fur small ext ens i ons , th e t o t a l sum which Parliament will in all probability permit this year to be applied to the construction of new English railways, will be under seventy millions, or less than a million and a half for each county. The sum is great, but we believe that the county will provide it, and feel no ill effects from the outlay. The money so expended will be disbursed by degrees—and to whom ?—why to those who will immediately circulate it again—the labourers of the country. The calls will be made periodically, so as to meet the convenience of those who have to pay them, and we may therefore fairly assume that before the last call is made, the first that was paid will have nearly returned into the pockets of the sub scribers." STEAM NAVIGATION IN THE BLACK SEA. TREBISONDE, DEC. 8, 1845.—Steam navigation in the Black Sea has received a most extraordinary impulse. It is scarcely eight years since the inhabitants of Trebi sonde were astonished by the sight of the first Austrian steamer of the Danubian Society, which appeared upon the coast of Anatolia for the purpose of trying to esta blish a rapid and direct relation between the dense popu lation on the shores of the Black Sea and the Ottoman capital. The first attempt was not very encouraging, and the great mass of travellers and pilgrims who came from Persia, and from the centre of Mussulman Asia en route to Constantinople or to Mecca, continued for some time after that attempt to trust themselves to the frail Turkish sailing ves sels which plied between Trebisonde and the capital, and which were frequently lost in that dangerous sea. But happily the Austrians persisted in their enterprise, the boat reappeared, the Greek and Armenian population of Anatolia at length ventured to embark upon the " fire ships," as they were termed, and, finally, the whole mus sulman population followed the example. At present there are three societies which contend for that much frequented line, and six steamers which vie with each other for the travellers and merchandise. After the Austrians, an Armenian society was formed at Con stantinople to work the line, in which most of the prin cipal Pashas of the empire hold shares, and which is greatly favoured by the Turkish Government. The Society of the Navigation of the Danube has this year disposed of the whole of its steamers to the Austrian Lloyd's Company at Trieste, which at present serves the greater part of the lines of the Levant. For the last eight mouths an English company has been established, and now contends with the Austrian and Armenian com panies for the navigation between this port and Constan tinople, and sends us weekly a magnificent boat, which goes from this place direct to Malta, touching at Con stantinople, Smyrna, and Syria. The voyage from Malta to Trebisonde is performed in fourteen days. The number of passengers between Trebisonde and Con stantinople is rarely less than four hundred. Four steamers of the Austrian Lloyd's Company now regularly ply between Constantinople, Kustandge, and the mouth of the Danube, in order to take up the travel lers which the Danube boats bring there. This naviga tion is only interrupted during the four winter months, that is to say, from the commencement of December to the end of March. The Russians have augmented their line of steamers from Odessa to Constantincple by lay ing on two additional boats, which are commanded by English captains. This line has likewise four boats. The service as well as the internal arrangement of the steamers is yet far from being complete. The three Russian steamers which navigate between Odessa and Kertsch also offer but slight comfort, and travellers are continually making complaints. From Kertsch as far as Kedut Certsch travellers are taken gratuitously on board the Russian steam-frigates, which perform that voyage twice a month, touching at all the small ports arid other fortified points which the Russians have established upon the Circassian shore. There is not the slightest difficulty in obtaining per mission to embark upon those state steamers. The voyage is exceedingly interesting, on account of the picturesque beauty of the Circassian coast ; but it some times happens that Circassian bullets reach the deck of the vessels when they approach too near the shore. The former Commander-in-Chief of the Russian army was nearly killed by one of those balls, which whizzed above his head when he was on his way to the fortress of Ardler. There are at present seven Russian steam frigates in the Black Sea, four of which generally remain in the port of Sebastpol, and three in that of Kertsch, at the disposition of General Budberg, who commands the garrisons in the forts situated on the Circassian shore. lam assured that Prince Woronzow is actively employed establishing a line of steamers between Bedut Kerstch and Trebisonde. This will prove an immense advantage to this port, for the communication between it and Georgia is very difficult by the small Turkish vessels, and yet the commercial intercourse is very considerable. Should tee enterprise which Prince Woronzow has recommended to his Government succeed, the voyage around the whole of the Black Sea may be made in steamers. The number of steamers which at present ply regularly in that sea is twenty-four, to which may likewise be added two others, which ply between Kertsch and Taganrog, on the Sea of Aaof, and two others which are destined to ply between Bedut-Kertsch and Trebisonde, touching at Poti, Batum, and Risch. When these vessels are laid on, travellers will be enabled to make the tour of the Black Sea in six weeks, in cluding the two weeks' quarantine at Odessa. 1 RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. SHEFFIELD, JAN. 19. STOCK EXCHAYGE.—The sales are—Eastern Counties, 22—Grimsby and Sheffield, 21. 19s. 6d.—East Lincolnshire, , 2 1 ,4—G001e and Doncaster, 44—Isle of Axlielme and Goole, 21. 16s.—Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland, 2/. 19s. 6d.— Manchester, Midland, and Groat Grimsby, 21. 4s. 6d.—Shef. field and Lincolnshire, 3%_South Yorkshire Coal Railway, 2% p. BRISTOL, JAN - . 19. STOCK EXCITANGE.—The sales are — Midland, New, 30%-- Newcastle and Berw ick, 22—Northam p ton, Banbury, and Cheltenham, 21A—Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth, 3 EXETER, JAN. 19. STOCK ExcHANGE.—The sales are E 22:Y 4 —Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester, are—. Eastern 10s. dis.—Northrn Counties, Devon, 7s. 6d. dis. MANCHESTER, JAN. 19. STOCK EXCHANGL—The sales are—Boston, Newark, and Sheffield, 4 p.—Chester and Birkenhead, 201. Shares, 3 p.— Chester and Manchester Direct, 1 4 dis.—Clitheroe Junction, % p.—East Lancashire, No. 2, 44 p.—East Lincolnshire, 1 p.—Fleetwood, Preston, and West Riding, I ,‘ p.—Grand Union, 5-16 p.—Great Grimsby and Sheffield, - New Shares, 1 p. — Lancashire and North Yorkshire, N p.—Leicester and Bedford, 34 p.—London and Manchester (Rem. ), dia.— London and Windsor, 1 4 2 dis.—Manchester, Buxton, and Mat lock, 21 ,4 p.—Manchester and Birmingham, 77; Ditto, Quar ters, 7% p.—Manchester and Leeds Extension, 4% p.—Man chester and Southampton, 1 , 4 p.—Manchester, Wigan, and Southport, 4 p.—Northumberland and Lancashire, 3 / 4 dis.— North Western, 38,5. p.—Nottiagham, Erewash, Ambergate, and Manchester, p.—Preston and Wyre, Halves, 4 1 4 p.— Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction, 545. LEEDS, JAN. 19. STOCK EXCHANGE. —The sales are—London and Croydon , 224 cash—Midland, New, 30—Newcastle and Darlington Junction, 59S—Sheffield and Manchester, Quarter Shares, No. 3, 6—York and North Midland Extension, 41—Great Grimsby and Sheffield, 1014—Ditto, Extensions, 19 p.- - Huddersfield and Sheffield, 21 1 ,4—Leeds and Bradford, 52—Leeds and Thirsk, 11 4 / —Ditto, New, 3s. 6d. p.—Liver pool and Bury, New, 34 p.—North British, New, N —Ditto, New Carlisle Branch, 3—Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton, 154—London and Yolk, 414—Sheffield and Lincoln, 14—Direct Northern, 21. ls. 6d. cash—Liverpool, Ormskirk, and Preston, 4 1 4—West Riding Union, 6a/4—Am bergate, Nottingham, and Boston, 6s. Bd. p.—Clitheroe Junc tion, 34—Lancashire and North Yorkshire, 18s. p. —Lan cashire Yorkshire, and North Eastern, ss. dis.—Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland, 245. p.—Leicester and Birmingham, ss. p.—North Western, 21. 19s.—Shropshire Union, 3s. 6d. p. —South Midlands, 3 p.— South Staffordshire, 3N. YORK, J. 19. W i e d s l t a lliding) , ST STOCK E Extension, xciiA a Ex tension, 39 3 A with new—Ditto, New r.. 1 e y sales ork andare—Newcastle North Midland lington Carlisle Branch, 3113—Wakefield, Pontefract,.xcime, 3%—Grandl2—Newcastle and Berwick, 21 h IW / 4—London and York, 4/. Bs.—A Matlock, and Midland, Union, 1 3 / 4 —Manchester, Buxton, 11 nd Welsh it a , 44—North Western, % (East 21—Forth r a t hn and British, Goole, New,N ew C H inv estiture of the Marqui s of after t he ais of Hertford yesterday, as Knights honoured of the Moat Nob le District from the a n audience, at which his Grace p resen t e d addresses Agricultural Protection Societies of Richmon d with county of Sussex, praying for a contin uance o f t h e he cl.cfhctL gprotection to agriculture; an d a l so f rom the unde corated l eit la a j i e n s i t t y Orderfr of the Garter, the Duke e- I'eninsular officers, praying for permission to wear some commemorative mark of their services. BRITISH ORPHAN Amusi.—The annual general neeting and election for the above charity took place on Mow day at the London Tavern, at which the Right Hon. Lord Mayor presided, and contributed ten guineas towards the funds of the institution. From the financial statement, it appeared that the funded stock now amounted to 3,8001. that the subscription amounted to '2,2841.; and that, after defraying the necess ar y ex p enses , a balance remained of 620/. ls. 6d. Seven children out of a list of thirty candidates were elected, and rewards delivered to several children who had been educated in the institution.