The Sun. — London, England, 1866-03-30 00:00:00

The Reform Bill. NOISY MEETING AT SALFORD. On Wednesday a meeting was held in the Salford Town Hall, convened by the Mayor, in compliance with a public requisition, " to consider the propriety of supporting the measure of Parliamentary Reform brought forward by her Majesty's Government." The Mayor (Wright Turner, Esq.) presided. The CHAIRMAN said that as Mayor he had no politics, and he should confine himself to conduct ing the business of the meeting. Arr. J. B. FODEN read letters apologising for the absence of several gentlemen whom the promoters of the meeting expected to be present, among the number being one from Mr. T. B. Potter, M.P. Mr. 0. Heywood had verbally expressed his regret that his health would not permit him to be present, but he sympathised with the policy of the Govern- ment. Mr. Alderman POCHIN proposed, " That after the repeated delays and disappointments to which the country has been subjected, this meeting desires to express its satisfaction that the Government is now resolved to deal seriously with the question of Par liamentary reform." Re said that all parties were pledged to a measure of reform, and the country and the circumstances of the times demanded a large extension of political power• Though the bill pro posed by Government did not go so far as he per sonally would have liked, he considered it an honest measure, and worthy of their support. He was not desirous of giving the franchise to those who had it not at the cost of swamping those who possessed it. (Hear, hear.) Ile strongly advocated the re-dis tribution of seats, to which he considered the Go vernment were now fully committed. Mr. HENRY RAWSON seconded the proposition. He said that the question had been too much tam- pered with ; it had been a question of party politi cians for 15 years. Previous reform measures had been tampered with, and they in Salford were to some extent responsible, and there were even yet a number of members in Parliament who had made professions such as those made by the gentleman who once sat as their borough member. (Applause.) He spoke of Mr. Lowe and his lot, who, forgetting that they once expressed opinions identical with those gentlemen who promoted the present mea sure, but who, now that they had left the Treasury benches, discovered that their opinions were wrong, and they therefore stood forth as opponents of the bill. He denied that there was any force in the arguments deduced against working men from their conduct of trade's unions, for he believed that the interests of capital and labour were the same, and that anything but peace and unity would be detri mental to the benefit of the working classes. Mr. J. WAINWRIGHT supported the motion. He expressed his surprise that Mr. Pochin should have said anything about " swamping" the m iddle classes, any fear of which he considered to be most absurd. (Laughter and applause.) He con- sidered the bill a middle-class bill, but if it was carried Government would gain great power, and should the working classes succeed in getting their head and shoulders into the house they would soon be in altogether. (Applause.) M. S. HEELIS rose to address the meeting. He was received with much interruption, but he an nounced that he had but recently dined, and he was quite prepared to remain in the room till 3 o'clock next morning. The CHAIRMAN appealed for a hearing for Mr. Heelis, and, the noise having lulled to a compara tive calm, Mr. HEELIS said that if he had desired to have a speech upon his view of the question, he could not have wished for one in stronger terms than those of the last speaker. The position to which his prin ciples led was unmistakeable, for he said, " Give us this measure, and we will have a great deal more." (Applause.) The meeting endorsed his views- (hear, hear)—but he considered that even going so far as the last speaker was going too far. (Interrup tion. A Voice—addressing some of the interrupters —" Will you roughs shut up ?") In 1859 Lord Derby's Government introduced a far better bill, which, epitomised, was this—(" A sham," " Sing it." Laughter and interruption, which brought Mr. lleelis to a stand-still.) The MAYOR again appealed on behalf of the speaker, and obtained a hearing. Mr. HEELIS proceeded, saying that the objects of the bill of 1859 were to create a £lO franchise in both boroughs and counties ; it proposed to admit lodgers paying Bs. a week, members of the universi ties, certificated schoolmasters, Dissenting ministers, persons with £6O in the savings banks 12 months, and Mr. Disraeli promised that if the bill was allowed to go into committee it might be amended in its de- tails. That bill also dealt with the question of re distribution of seats, and the scheme named 15 boroughs which returned members, and which it proposed to disfranchise in whole or in part. Among the number were Thetford and Totnes, of unfortunately too unenviable notoriety. (Laughter and applause.) It proposed to give additional members to the West Riding of Yorkshire and to South Lancashire. (" Gladstone for ever." " Let him pay for a room, and we'll hear him some Sun day," an observation which elicited much laughter.) Mr. Heelis asked what was done with Lord Derby's measure ? (" Kicked out.") A town's meeting was called at Salford. (" Give him his supper," and interruption, which completely drowned the speaker's voice.) Mr. H. RAWSON appealed to the meeting to allow Mr. Heelis to speak, and expressed his admiration of Mr. Heelis's " pluck." Mr. HEELIS continued, saying that a town's meet ing was called in Salford at which the present mayor took part, and a resolution was passed against the bill, because it failed to recognise the rights of the industrial classes. He (Mr. Heelis) wanted to know, in the name of common sense, whether the present bill professed to go to anything like the extent of what was proposed by the bill of 1859 ? Like the bill of 1832, Lord Derby's bill proposed to deal with the whole question. (" Take an instalment.") No ; he would not take an instalment. (Cries of " Time," " Sing," " Question," and interruption.) His objection to the bill was that it was only part of a scheme, and he therefore thought Mr. Disraeli's the better measure. (~ Nonsense." " It was a sham," and confusion.) Some of the best men of the Liberal party regretted that the bill was de feated. (No, no.) They admitted that it was a grand mistake. (Interruption.) Since that time a pamphlet had been published by a gentleman who had his respect. (Name.) He would tell them who was the author. (Cries of " Time," " No," " Sit down, " Cheetham," and " Go home, owd lad.") The CHAIRMAN again asked that Mr. Heelis might be heard. Mr. HEELis continued, amid more interruption than ever, to read his extract, but all that could be heard, even by those immediately around him, were the words " indirect taxation," legislative powe r , people generally," and other such frag mentary eivressions ; everything else was a dumb pantomime. Mr. Alderin a , ll u a mt t o grant Mr. HeevEY appealed to the meeting a hearing and tried to get the audience into a eg , ° /% 3411 " 10 11r by repeating an anec dote°nu% of Daniel 0 ',,,,1 11 11 0 , , a when similarly , tr everybody itair rHeu b rpae e tra f iv o ot een r yd e , in terrupted, said that he necdote potato in Ifie him bad a hot expressed a similar wish.much laughter, but did not stay the interruption, and the Chairman suggested to Mr. Ileelia that h e should make his remarks as brief as Pae. Mr. HEELis (indignantly) — man am a tow nsman of Salford, and I mean to stand upon my 'rights. (Applause, and more uproar.) Mr. Heelis Co u _ tinned reading his extract, but the only words that a portion of the audience could bear " when the fowls of the air rot in its branches,' a n expression which led to continued laughter. Some o ne on the platform vainly appealed to the Chairman on a question of order. Mr. WARBURTON tried to throw oil on the troubled waters by asking whether the speaker had a right to read so long an extract ? The CHAIRMAN replied that he had. Mr. llEws—You don't like the extract. (Ap plause, and ironical cheers.)—Another gentleman on the platform sagely shook his head, and said it was " very wrong," whereupon Mr. Heelis pro mised him that he had but to read a few lines more. Mr. WAINWRIGHT rose to speak, but on the sug gestion of his friends he retired to his chair again, the audience all the time greeting Mr. Heelis with groans, hisses, and interruptions. One person sug gested that Mr. Heelis should be turned out. Mr. HEELIS-Ah, would you ? But you know better than that. (Laughter and applause.) Mr. Heelis then resumed the reading of the pamphlet, which nobody could hear or understand ; and on quietly folding it, and as quietly placing it in his pocket, the audience very loudly cheered him. lie said he did not know why the meeting was cheer ing, whether at the sentiments or because he had finished ; it should be because of the sentiments, because the extract he had just read had been writ ten by Mr. Alderman Pochin. (Applause.) The motion was then passed. Mr. Alderman HA ItVEY proposed, "That, although this meeting is of opinion that the Government bill for the amendment of the representation of the people does not fully meet the just claims of the un enfranchised, yet, believing that it is an honestly intended measure of reform, this meeting pledges itself to use every exertion to secure its adoption by Parliament." The proposition was seconded by Mr. B. AR3II TAGE. lie said that, though a large employer of labour, and though he had much property at stake, he did not fear an extension of power to the work ing classes. • Mr. J. CHEETIIAM, M.P., supported the proposi- tion. He said that the proposed bill would add 196,000 electors to the county franchise and 204,000 to the borough franchise. The number of working class voters was at present about 126,000, and the proposed bill would increase them to 330,000. There would still be a minority of them in the towns and cities, and ti greater minority in the counties. The spirit of compromise which had guided the framers of the bill had not been entirely satisfactory, and the scheme was threatened with an opposition, headed by a very able man, Mr. Robert Lowe. The Conservatives expected by that mutiny in the Liberal ranks to overthrow the bill, but he had no such fears. (Applause.) Take away those mutinous Liberals, and their party was never more thoroughly united, especially since the Government had candidly stated their existence on the measure. (Applause.) lie believed that the question of a re distribution must follow the present scheme, the passing of which would only intensify the existing anomalies and absurdities. Mr. Heelis had said that Lord Derby's bill proposed to take away fifteen members from some of the smaller boroughs and add them to other constituencies. He (Mr. Cheet ham) should be ashamed and disappointed if the promised scheme did not deal with more than twice that [number. (Applause.) The present number of electors in Salford was 5,397, of whom 1,808 were working men, and the proposed bill would in crease the number of electors to 10,372. The per centage of its extension in boroughs was about 26, and that of 1832 was 31 ; and some members con sidered that the estimate of 26 per cent. was too high. The scheme was supported by the largest employers of labour, and if they did not fear an extension of power to their workpeople, he did not see the reason of others. As to. the idea that it would create a class interest, he thought that suffi cient illustration upon that subject had been given by the class interest which had moved in the legis lation on the cattle plague, the parliamentary pro ceedings upon which had shown that when the landed gentry were willing to unite they could go vern the country. At the close of Mr. Cheetham's remarks, Mr HEELIS again rose to address the meeting, but was received with even greater interruption than before. Mr. J. D. MORTON objected to the proceedings being interfered with by Mr. iieelis. Amidst cries of " Sit down," addressed to Mr. Morton and Mr. Heelis, the CHAIRMAN attempted to pacify Mr. Morton, who ultimately took his seat. While this was going on Mr. lieelis gesticulated, and appeared to be speaking, but no one could hear him. At last he was heard to remark that there ought to be three members for Salford, and that the present bill would admit so many working men in that borough that all other interests would be swamped. The interruption again increased, Mr Ifeelis appeared like a solitaryfigure in a dumb farce, and not a word could be heard from him. The audience diverted themselves with cheers for Mr. Cheetham, a few groans for Mr. lieelis, and some of them even in dulged in an occasional snatch at a song. At last Mr. Heelis was told by the chairman that he could not ask Mr. Cheetham any questions which he was apparently doing, and he thereupon sat down. The motion was then adopted. On the proposition of Mr. Warburton, seconded by Mr. Williams, and supported by Mr. Roberts, a petition to Parliament was adopted in favour of the Government bill. The proceedings terminated after eleven o'clock. Railway and Other Companies. ATLANTIC AND GREAT WESTERN. The following is a more extended report than appeared in The Sun of yesterday : The annual meeting of bond and share holders in this company was held yesterday at the London Tavern ; Sir S. M. Peto, M.P., in the chair. _ _ The report, an abstract of, which has already ap peared, was taken as read. The CHAIRMAN, in moving its adoption, said the Board had deemed it desirable, notwithstanding that a member of the eminent firm of Messrs. Cole man, Turquand, and Youngs, the accountants, had spent four months of last year in the examination of the various accounts of the company, and had thoroughly authenticated them, that that firm should send one of its members to America again, and that the whole capital and revenue accounts should be carefully tested and examined, so that the accounts when presented to the bond and share holders should bear the signature of that firm as vouching their accuracy. So far as he and his col leagues on the Board of Control were concerned they did not deem it necessary for their own satis faction that such authentication should take place, because when in America last year he satisfied him self most thoroughly that a more perfect system of accounts could not be devised than that which was now in force on the whole of their line. It was their intention to have a duplicate set of books in England as well as in America, so that they might be able from time to time to give full information, within a fortnight on any point in the accounts. (Hear.) He thought it his duty when he had the honour of being chosen chairman of the Board of Control that they should have the means of knowing that they were dealing with realities, because, inasmuch as the capital was largely held in England and Germany, he felt it per fectly right they should always have the means of knowing how matters stood. One of the first things theyinitiated was that of sending money every week from America, so that every month they might know that their bonded interest was actually covered by the amount sent over from the other side. With regard to the traffic receipts, he thought they were satisfactory in the highest possible degree. In the latter six months of last year, with 490 miles only open, the receipts in the September quarter amounted to £471,509, at the rate of $6 in the pound, whereas the bonded inte rest on the entire line, assuming all the bonds to be issued, could not exceed £420,000. In the Decem ber quarter they had earned £531,364, showing an excess of at least £111,364 above the interest on the entire bonded debt. In addition to that s urplus the shareholders had the opening of 7 miles yet before them to look forward to, and connexions with Buffalo and with the Grand Truuk Railway o fan k ada, the Great Western of Canada, the New .o Central, and the Ne w Y or k an d Erie Canal. So the shareholders might n at ura lly feel that, alth oug h theb the b ondholders might naturally feel that, though was u in reserve were secure, a more brilliant futu re reserve for them t h a n even the bondholders could anticipate When in America, examining e • eve on thei r line, the first thing that struck him was the enor mous amount of traffic, and the comparatively smal means of carrying it. He found in the Alaho • g Valley from Cleveland to Pittsburg something like 23 blast furnaces, of which one-half were workin g only three days a week, and one-third were blown THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 80, 1866. out, because they could not supply the rolling stock for carrying the material. He found they had not commenced either the corn or cattle traffic, and up to this time it had not been commenced. He at once took - upon himself the responsibility of ordering such an amount of rolling stock as would place the railway in a - position to earn its dividends. The rolling stock and sidings he thus ordered exceeded £750,000 ; and when he told them that in five months they had paid draughts on England for rolling stock and sidings exceeding £761,000, they would feel that he had pressed heavily on the resources of their con tractor, Mr. M‘Henry, and on the general resources of the company; yet he was exercising, as their chairman, a wise determination—(hear, hear)—bc catra the amount of receipts for the first six months of. last year compared with those of the last six months showed that when they had an adequate amount of rolling stock a very different result was achieved. Since the Ist of January last 14 new locomotives bad been delivered on the line, and be tween 300 and 400 additional trucks and carriages, or more than 10 per cent. on the amount existingup to the 31st of December. When he told them that of the £531,000 per annum earned more than six sevenths was earned from their own line, and that the ability of the company to earn was simply a question of their means of carrying the traffic, he thought they would feel he had exercised a very sound discretion. Pittsburg was the Birmingham of America. There were the great Government foundries, and there was located an amount of busi ness, in regard to the metal trade, not exceeded in any city or town in the world, with the exception of their own Birmingham. This additional link be tween their own line and Pittsburg had been under taken by another company. They had agreed to construct it entirely, giving them running powers over it to Pittsburg ; so they would have it without cost or responsibility. (Hear, hear.) The enor mous importance of getting a communication with Buffalo completed was evident. They had reserved the amount necessary for the completion of that line to Buffalo. Irrespective of that reserve, the con struction of the International-bridge, which, after all, was the measure of the time which must elapse before they could complete connexion with the Canadian lines and their systems, was altogether undertaken by a distinct corporation. That undertaking was sanctioned both by the Le gislature of Canada and by that of America, inasmuch as the bridge would be one-half in the territory of the United States and one-half in that of the province of Canada. The Grand. Trunk Railway of Canada guaranteed that it should re ceive, in the shape of tolls from traffic over the seven miles of connecting lines, an equivalent to £lO,OOO per annum, and the company guaranteed a like amount. That structure was now proceeding as rapidly as possible. Mr. Kennaird's designs for the superstructure were now in England, and the Grand Trunk Company had placed them in the hands of Mr. Fowler to give an opinion on their part. That bridge, when completed by 'the end of the autumn, would place them in connexion with all those systems which were so important to their future interests. (Hear.) He had received a great many letters from proprietors about the certificates of debentures. He bad been asked if an amount of reserve had been made sufficient to insure their punctual repayment. The reserves in the Bank of England, placed there under the original agreement, were more than sufficient, if those securities were placed at the present market price, to pay the entire amount of those certificates of debentures. The issue of those certificates of debentures was simply intended as a relief at the time, until the undertak ing was sufficiently developed to insure the bonds and shares being duly appreciated. By the time those certificates were due, they would find their receipts and position would be such that the present market price of their securities, which was enough to pay off the debentures, would be largely in creased, so that holders need have no alarm about punctual repayment if they then Ilesirecl it. Another question was, whether they had enough to complete the road to Buffalo and all the other engagements. They had reserved all that APllenry could claim for finishing the road to Buffalo. The road could be completed out of the amount reserved, leaving a fair profit for the contractor, and irrespective of the road to Buffalo and of the reserve for certificates of debentures and of the amount yet to issue, they would have something between £BOO,OOO, and £1,000,000 applicable to future rolling stock, sid ings, and extensions. (Cheers.) Mr. ROBINSON seconded the motion for the adop tion of the report. RIDGDALE wished to know how it was that the Oil Creek line had suddenly disappeared from their accounts. He believed it was 21 miles in length, and had cost $BOO,OOO. He wished to know some thing about the certificates of debentures. He saw they had a lease of the Morris Essex Railway. He was a large holder of bonds, and wished to know how it was they could now be purchased to pay 30 per cent. interest. Mr. APHENnv, .the contractor, said the Oil Creek line was 35 miles in length, and when the consoli dation of the lines was completed, they reduced the mileage and capital of the Atlantic and Great Wes tern by deducting those of the Oil Creek line. Mr. VILLEBOISNET remarked that the traffic re ceipts for February were one-fifth less than those for January, and said it did not look like carrying out the progressive increase of the traffic ; but perhaps next month the returns would be different. He did not know how the £2,800,000 was to be ap plied. It was represented as being collateral secu rity for the sum lodged, and supposed it was in cluded in the $43,441,050 of capital expenditure. Looking at the receipts for traffic in the revenue account it appeared to him perfectly marvellous that so much should have been received in so short a time. Each quarter exceeded the other in receipts, and the net profits were most satisfactory. Major GORDON said he wished, if posgible, to know the cause of the recent depreciation in the price of the bonds. He had been told they were held largely by the London Joint Stock Discount Company, that they had been issued at a discount to finance com panies, and were now being brought on the market. Mr. MOENRY said the London Joint Stock Dis count Company had £41,000 of them, that he had relieved them of £30,000 of these bonds, and they had now on their hands only £ll,OOO. The bonds Were not issued at a discount to any finance com pany. The CHAIRMAN, in reply, said that the traffic of only 24 working days was included in the receipts for February, and therefore did not represent the whole traffic. The amount of securities deposited in the Bank of England was more than sufficient to pay off the whole of the £2,800,000 debentures, and irrespective of that there had been provided £700,000 to pay for additional rolling stock and sidings. In reply to a question he stated that one-half the oil creek stock was held in America and the rest in Ger many. When he went out to America he found that one gentleman held £85,000 of their debentures and bonds. The Secretary of the Treasuryheld $420,000 of them. The Americans had a very good opinion of the undertaking and held a large amount. He could not account for the depreciation in the price of the bonds ; there was none of them held by the bankers. With regard to the Oil Creek line it was entirely out of their hands, but the company had re cently completed two railways in the oil district which would be ample for their purpose. There were 39 oil refiners in Pittsburg, and their only difficulty was to carry the traffic. They could not carry half that was offered to them. In reply to a question, he stated that Mr. Pllenry had carried out his con tracts with the company in a most liberal and satis factory manner. The traffic was being developed to a great extent, and for the last quarter on 490 miles it was so considerable that it would not only pay the whole of the bondholders their full dividends, but soon leave 15 per cent. for the ordinary share holders. The report was unanimously adopted, and the best thanks of the meeting were voted to the chairman and directors, and to Mr. M'Henry, the contractor, for their valuable services to the company. which included a reserve of £923 from last account. The directors recommended a dividend of 6 per cent., leaving a balance of £769. In moving the approval of the report, the CIIAIR MAN stated that the bill for the amalgamation of the leasing company, the Scottish North-Eastern, with the Caledonian would not affect the rights and pre ferences of the Arbroath and Forfar shareholders. The report was unanimously adopted. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALLS'—Last Evening. CITY AND SUBURBAN. Bto 1 agst Out-and-Outer (taken) 10 to 1 agst Mephistopheles (taken) TWO THOUSAND. Evon Lord Lyon (taken) 10 to 1 agst Janitor (taken and offered) THE DERBY. 6to 1 agst Lord Lyon (taken and wanted) Bto 1 agst Rustic (taken) 22 to 1 agst Blue Riband (taken) Very little betting. MANCHESTER BETTING—YESTERDAY. CITY AND SUBURBAN, 10 to lon the field (offered) 11 to 1 agst Delight (taken) 20 to 1 agst Czar (taken) CHESTER CUP. 100 to 7 agst Harry Brailsford (taken) 15 to 1 agst Dalby (taken) 20 to 1 agst Baragah (taken) 20 to 1 agst Saladin (taken) 20 to 1 agst Sandal (taken) 20 to 1 agst Redcap (taken) 200 to 9 agst Surney (taken) 200 to 9 agst Helen (taken) 25 to 1 agst Treasure Trove (taken) 25 to 1 agst Mephistopheles (taken) 30 to 1 agst Rococo (taken) TWO THOUSAND. sto 4 agst Lord Lyon (taken) 10 to 1 agst Janitor (taken) 11 to 1 agst Auguste (taken) DERBY. Bto 1 agst Rustic (taken) SPRING MEETING. f Wales's Stakes of 200 sovs, sovs each, for three-year-olds Age st lb Mount Palatine ... 3 6 9 Selim .. 3 6 9 Treachery g 4 6 7 Messmate 3 6 0 Lincoln Green ... 3 6 0 Actres. ... 3 6 0 Haphazard ... 3 6 0 Cocrops 3 6 3 Gladiator ... 3 5 13 Clavorhouse ... 3 5 12 Loughrea 3 5 12 Custaloga, ...3 5 12 Jollity 3 510 Nineveh... ... 3 .5 17 Mrs. Allen .. 3 5 7 Vulture ...3 5 7 Effervescence ... 3 5 7 Roland ... ... 3 5 7 Heart-breeaker ... 3 5 7 Brahma .. ... paid Crown Prince paid , F THEIR ENGAGEMENTS. ARBROATH AND FORFAR. The half-yearly meeting was held at Arbroath on Monday ; Mr. Roberts in the chair. The report stated that the balance of revenue at the credit of the company amounted. to £14,179, BERIVICKSHIIIE. The half-yearly meeting was held at Greenlaw on Wednesday—Sir H. H. Campbell in the chair. The report stated that the total receipts on capi tal account had been £149,693, and the expenditure nearly balanced that sum. Since October last the line had been opened throughout, in consequence of which there had been a rise in the traffic receipts for the half-year of £645 to £l,OOl. The increase would have been greater but for the depression in the agricultural districts. The directors regretted that two of the piers of the Tweed viaduct had been found defective, causing considerable expense to repair. On the revenue account there was a balance for division of £493, which, with the balance for the last half-year of £899, amounted to £1,392. A dividend of 1 per cent., which was proposed, would absorb £1,093, leaving £296 to be carried to next account. The report was, on the motion of the chairman, unanimously adopted. KNIGHTON. The half-yearly meeting was held yesterday at the office, Westminster-chambers, Victoria-street ; Sir C. Boughton in the chair. The report stated that the result of the half year's working was less than that for the corre sponding half of 1864, owing to a slight decrease in the traffic receipts and to an increase in the capital to the extent of £6,000. The completion of the Central Wales system to Llandovery would take place this year. From the receipts, after paying interest on the debentures and preference shares, the directors recommended a dividend of 2 per cent. for the half-year. Ths CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said the slight decrease in the receipts had arisen from the entire stoppage of the cattle traffic, and the line, running as it did through a purely agricultural district, was necessarily affected by the stoppage of that traffic. The report was adopted, and Messrs. Rock, Robertson, and Green, the retiring directors, were re-elected, and also Mr. Edwards, the retiring auditor. MIDLAND GREAT WESTERN. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on Thursday, in Dublin, Mr. R. S. Cusack in the chair. The report stated that the receipts for the half year from the railway and canal were £123,864, and the disbursements £91,319, leaving a balance of £32,545, to which was added £2,806, the surplus from last half-year, making a disposable sum of £35,351, out of which the directors ,recommend a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum on the preferential stock, and at the rate of 21 per cent. per annum on the consolidated stock of the com pany, payable on the 10th of April, leaving a ba lance of £6,628 for next account. The traffic on the extension line from Athlone to Galway showed a deficiency of £4,566 on the working of the half year, which was payable by the baronies. The high value of money had interfered with the renewal of debentures at former rates of interest, and had also retarded the issue of the preference stock. The management of the company involved 344 miles of railway and 92 miles of canal, and a capital of £3,719,000, and therefore the directors recommended that the number of directors be 12. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said that, although the dividend was a small one, still the satisfactory increase in every branch of their traffic and the sound state of their line led them to hope for better things in future. The in crease in the number of passengers was 44,709, and the increase in the receipts, including the increase on the extension to Galway, was £7,020. By the excursion trains 21,000 passengers had been car ried—(hear, hear)—and from the experience of the directors excursion trains on their line had been a great success. They adopted the principle of allow ing the excursion ticket to be available within the . period for return by any of the ordinary trains ac cording to class, thereby offering a great boon to the excursionists, and being a saving of mileage to the company. In the goods traffic there had been an increase in money of £4,435 ; in cattle, sheep, and pigs a large increase. The expen liture had been increased, especially in maintenance and renewals of way, on which they had expended during the half year £22,924. They proposed to spread over the next eight half years the sum a: £14,962, which would be at the rate of £1,492. They would thus have a suspense account of £10 ; 866 for this half year, and £B,OBl for the preceding half year, mak ing £18,548. They had expended in January and February £6,000, making the sum of £24,000, and the entire sum expended would be £30,000. This extra expenditure was in consequence of the defec tive construction of the works on the Cavan and Sligo line. The Earl of CLANCARTY seconded the motion, which, after some discussion, was adopted. It was agreed that the number of directors should in future be nine ; a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum was declared on the preference shares, and at the rate of 21- per cent. per annum on the ordinary stock ; the retiring auditor (Mr. R. C. Collis) was re-elected ; and a vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings. CAPE TOWN. The traffic returns on this company's line, 63 miles in length, amounted forthemonth of January to £3,697 for passengers, and to .1,012 for goods— total, £3,709. RIO JANEIRO GAS. Yesterday the ordinary general meeting of this company was held at the London Tavern—Mr. J. Atherton in the chair. The Secretary read the report, which congratu lated the shareholders on the success of the under taking, and stated that the directors recommended a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said it was highly satisfactory, and afterpay ing all debts in Brazil and elsewhere there remained a balance of £37,983. The number of buildings lighted by gas in Rio was not more than one-third of the whole. The mains already carried over the country extended some 128 miles in length, and he thought the property of the company would annually im prove. Ile moved that the report be received and adopted, which was carried nenz. con. A SHAREHOLDER wished to know why the chair man wanted to put by £4,000 for a reserve fund. The CHAIRMAN said that Rio was liable to expand very considerably, and as new streets were about to be opened they would require new mains, to which they could apply that money. _ _ _ A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings. The half-yearly meetings of the Wensum Valley, the South Essex, the Peterborough, and Wisbeach, the Shrewsbury and the Potteries, and the Mold and Wrexham Railways, announced to be held yester day, were held pro forma only and adjourned. The horsenail makers of Bristol, after memorialis ing their employers for an advance of wages without suc cess, have given seven days' notice that they will strike if their demands are not acceded to. MURDER ON THE HIGH SEAS.—At the Liverpool police court yesterday Edward Morton, an able seaman on board of the brigantine Example, was charged with killing Francis O'Brien, also a seaman on board of the same vessel. On the evening of the 20th instant, while the Example was on the voyage from Galveston to Liverpool, Morton went into the forecastle, when he and the deceased began to quarrel about some matches. The prisoner, who was ob served to have his sheath knife in his hand, and afterwards to throw it overboard, stabbed O'Brien in the side. Ho afterwards went on his knees and begged his forgiveness. The wound was stanched by the mate, but the poor fellow died next morning. The prisoner was then put in irons, and given into custody on the arrival of the Example at Liverpool. After these facts had been investigated yester day, the prisoner was committed for trial at the present Liverpool assizes, on a charge of manslaughter. NEWMARKET FIRS' Acceptances for the Prince of added to a handicap of 25 and upwards. R.M. Ago st, lb Argonaut ... a 8 12 Cambuscan ... 5 8 11 Breadalbane 4 8 10 Archimedes ... 4 8 9 Raglan ... 6 8 6 Zephyr ... 4 8 1 Muezzin... ... 6 8 1 Broomielaw ... 4 8 0 Zambesi... ... 4 8 0 Mr. Pitt ... 3 8 0 Don Basilio 4 7 11 The Buck 4 7 7 Vespasian ... 3 7 7 Wedding Peal ... 4 7 7 Xi .3 7 4 Van derveldo... ... 5 7 0 Sealskin ... 3 613 Pintail ... 5 6 12r Endsleigh 4 6 12 Plutus ... 3 6 11 Tourmalin 3 6 10 Tho Raven .. 3 6 10 lIORSES STRUCK OUT March 23, at 3.50 p.m.—All Sir Joseph Hawley's horses out of their engagements in the Craven Meeting. March 27, at 9 a.m.—Renfrew, out of all handi caps published to date. March 29, at 9 a.m.—Merry Hart and Sidewind out of all handicaps to date. March 29, at 9 a.m.—Crown Prince, out of the 2,000 Guineas, Derby, and all handicaps. March 29, at 9 a.m.—Brahma, out of Prince of - Wales's Stakes, Newmarket. March 29, at 9 a.m.—lon, out of Newmarket handicap. CoLouns OF RIDERS.-Mr. E. Studd, cerise body, white belt and cap. Wolfdog, by Windbound has been sent to the Mauritius. KINETON RACES.—The annual races and steeple chases at Kineton are to take place on Friday, April 6. The stewards are the Hon. W. H. North and G. Wise, Esq. RES FOR 1866. IL. 'l' hirsk lO Epsom Spring Newmarket Ist Spring l6 Liverpool Hunt Cup 2O Chester Curragh 24 Epsom Summer l5 Uxbridge ➢Lanchester Ascot Summer Liverpool Beverley 2O Ipswich Hungorford Newcastle-on-Tyne 26 Curragh 2B Worcestor ,Y. Stamford l9 Radcliffe 23 Winchester 24 Southampton 25 Huntingdon Goodwood 3l UST. RACING FIXT. API Newmarket Craven 2 Durham Blackheath & 'Woolwich 2 Catterick Bridge Abergavenny 5 Lichfield Spring Chelmsford Spring 115 Ascot Spring Salisbury Bath 8 Harpenden lO York Spring JU. Windsor Summer 5 Newton Hampton 7 Odiham Bibury l3 Stockbridge Chelmsford l9 JU: Carlisle Newmarket July Pontefract Abingdon Reading Nottingham Down Royal Corp lB AUGI Brighton Brighton Club Lewes lO Egham l4 NVolverhampton l4 Stockton l5 Oxford l6 Hastings 2l SEPTE Warwick September 4 Curragh Leicester 6 Doncaster Brecon l7 Canterbury lB OCTC Northampton Newmarket 2d October 8 Omagh l6 NOVE. Lincoln Liverpool York August 2l Plymouth Lichfield Devon and Exeter . ..... Tunbridge 2B Derby Summer 29 Weymouth 3O :MBER. Richmond Hendon Monmouth Manchester Autumn 2l Newmarket Ist October 25 Walsall BER. Newmarket Houghton 22 Worcester viBER. Shrewsbury Leamington Hunt l9 IRISH RACING FIXTURES FOR 1866. APRIL. Traleo __ . MAY. Curragh Baldoyle Spring ...... 8 , 9 JUNE. Curragh 26, 27, 28, 29 JULY. Carlow .................•••• 4, 5 I Downßoyal Corporation 18 SEPTEMBER. Curragh ......................................................... 4,5, 6 OCTOBER. Curragh l6, 17 18 CONTINENTAL RAC. 181 AP: Vincennes Pau 2, 4 Paris (Spring) 2,8, 15, 29 22, 26, Bruxelles 3, 6 Chantilly (Derby) 6, 10, 13 La Marche 2l JU: Vincennes 3 Mon Küban J Toulouse St. Omer Rouen Metz B, 9 Amiens AUG Deauville....., 4, 5, 6 Rochefort 5 Bourge5... Valenciennes Moulins Cherbourg l9 Le Mans Laon l9, 20 Tarbes l9, 22 Blois 26, 28 Baden-Baden 3l THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE RACKET MATCHES. We append a resume of the matches since 1858 to the present year : - RESULT OF THE MATCHES BETWEEN CAMBRIDGE AND OXFORD FROM 1858 TO 1866. OXFFORD WON. 1858—Messrs. Dyke and Gundry beat Messrs. Moorsom and Benthall. Single-banded, Mr. Dyke beat Mr. Moorsom. 1859—Messrs. Dyke and Gundry beat Messrs. Moorsom and Marshall. Single-handed, Mr. Dyke beat Mr. Moorsom. 1860—Messrs. Dyke and Gundry boat Messrs. Moorsom and Ainslie. Single-handed, Mr. Dyke beat Mr. Aloorsom. 1861— Single-handed, Mr. R. D. Walker beat Mr. Ainslie. 1863—Messrs. R. D. Walker and Kennard beat Messrs. Ainslie and 11. Plowden. 1864 —Messrs. Walker and Mitchell beat Messrs. Daniel and Warner. CAMBRIDGE WON. 1861—Messrs. Ainslie and Sainsbury beat Messrs. R. D. Walker and Kennard. 1862—Messrs. Ainslie and Sainsbury beat Messrs. It D. Walker and Kennard. Single-handed, Mr Ainslie beat Mr. Walker. 1863—Single-handed, Mr. Ainslie beat Mr. R. D. Walker. 1864—Single-handed, Mr. Daniel beat Mr. R. D. Walker. 1865—Messrs. Rudd and Parker beat Messrs. Reid and Worsley. Single-handed, Mr. Rudd beat Mr. Reid. 1866—Messrs. Bruce and Warner beat Messrs. Phipps and Maitland. Single-handed, Mr. Knight-Bruce beat Mr. Maitland. G FIXTURES FOR Bordeaux l9, 22, 26, 28 Bruxelles Vissembourg 2l Paris (Summer) 26, 27 lE. Toulouse 24, 28 ,Y. Abbeville Le Pin 22 Chalon-sur-Saone ... 22, 23 Saintes 2B, 29 Caen 29, 30, 31 UST. The Laws and Practice of Horse Rac ing. BY THE HON. ADMIRAL ROUS. This little book is most characteristic of the Charley Napier of tho Turf. In the very first sensation of the pre face he hoists the British flag; and then, steering his trim corvette (which has been overhauled from stem to stern) out of port, he fires a broadside into every suspicious look ing craft, very often without stooping even tc hail them and examine their papers. Brevity is the soul of wit, and half a dozen short chap ters comprise "the whole duty of man" on the Turf, be he breeder, owner, trainer, jockey, or official. Racing philo sophy in the abstract comes within the scope of the pre face. Gladiateur is declared judicially to be " the best horse since the days of Bay Middleton," a position which the fond admirers of Blair Athol and West Australian may be disposed to query ; and the sporting press hear the well known music of the cannon in the very 4th page. The first chapter, "On the State of the English Turf in 1865,'' just glances at the great turf sore of the day—viz., "the docility of horse-owners" who stand in with dishonest les sees, and treats at some length of the black mail which is levied by the managers of meetings small and large. The former is unfortunately one of those charges which it is impossible to bring home. A starter pleading for his (offi cial) life to the A dmiral may divulge his accomplices in the desperate hope of pardon, but both parties to those un hallowed contracts which flourish most especially with the budding and the fall of the loaf keep their mouths closed, and it is only when a straightforward owner demands the whole stake and nothing but the stake, and is met with a whining request for " only fifty out of it, that's not much." that light comes through a chink. It amounts to certainty, unless the whole racing world is in a perfect hallucination on the point, that there aro meetings where the stakes are hardly ever drawn, or, if they are, the money is returned by arrangement, and that handsome bonuses, given with an eye to the future, are flying about at others. Still, like that celebrated Prude who in fests a certain large Charity on election days, and holds mysterious vote selling meetings with red hot partisans in corners shortly before the poll closes, the actors stand on their honour when such a thing is breathed, and press their hands on the region of their heart like the horsey Peck sniffs that they are. On the general question of "black mail," the Admiral quotes " a gentleman of great experience connected with the press," who undertakes to tell his Father confessor (whose satisfaction on hearing it must have been at once grim and edifying) that the press dare not mention the subject, or they would not have the advertising of the pro grammes. It would be most " ill-dispoged" of us to say that there is "no sich person as Mrs. Harris" on the sport ing press. We quite believe there is, and she is, moreover, capable of taking and acting as she has done. If she will bo the special organ of the Admiral's occasional manifesta tions, she must not wonder if some of her tender but gos sipping confessions aro blurted out to the world. She must, however, speak strictly for herself. We disclaim all sym pathy with brothers or sisters of the Press who dare not tackle an abuse for fear of a diminution of the Saturday till. We have had nothing to do with bolstering up Barrys and M'Callums, but have preferred giving them the small end of our rifle first, and the butt end afterwards, before a judge and jury, at Guildhall, which is more than Mrs. Harris dare do for her life. If we do not take Admiral Rous's view of drawbacks at country meetings, where lessees run on the square, it is simply because we believe it to bo a most exaggerated one and not in unison with that of the racing world, which is quite competent to take care of itself, and quite ready to give "a first warning," and often no warning at all, if a lessee is too mindful of " num ber one." The extortions practised at race towns have been exposed over and over again to no purpose, and as Admiral Rous's presence and precepts at his model New market have not made the Suffolk cormorants one whit better, we can hardly hope for much amendment elsewhere. Lord Cardigan can measure both horse and man pretty well at an ynurnber of paces, and his lordship believes that a certain ' Newmarket surgeon can give most lodging letters a stone. If this is done in the green leaf, what shall be done in the dry? The fallacy which runs through all the Admiral's argu ments,or rather invectives, against lessees is that they alone make a business of racing, and that owners of horses are doing them such a favour by coming that they should have their sport for nothing. If racers were kept purely for pleasure there might be something in it. Owners may be so minded, if they ever meet departed Whalebones and Gohannas in the Elysian Fields, but not while they linger on this side the Styx. There is no getting over the fact that racing has gradually become as much a hard British business as calico manufacturing, and that in Manchester bets are as regularly passed as sales through the ledger. Owners no more expect to have race meetings kept up week after week, at which they may make their bets and land their "pots," without being subject to some taxation, than to enjoy their pool or pyramids and not pay for the table, or to do business with Messrs. Weatherby and not be charged for what sporting foreigners call "de bureau." They know too well the enormous outlay and risk which a lessee runs to grudge him some aid if they win, in the shape of drawbacks, as well as selling plates and entrances. He has often to make himself liable for some hundreds in the shape of added money, besides every other expense of the course, police, &c., and another meeting set for the same days or very bad weather may leave him wholly in the lurch. Racing men are as just-minded upon these points as they aro generous when a case of distress is brought to their notice; but if a lessee was found pressing them too hard he is pretty certain to hear something not to his advantage when he goes up to them with his red book in an enclosure or when entry day comes round. If the owners were asked where the greatest entrance exactions are practised they would say, nem. con., "Newmarket !" and point to the three sovereign entrances to £5O over night plates, and the transcendent liberality of the Jockey Club in giving 200 sovs out of their funds to the Cesare witch, and at the same time " sacking" the 2 sovs entrance on the whole of the nominations, of which there were 181 last year. What is this but receiving nearly double what is given to be run for ? The same remarks would apply to the Newmarket Two Year Old Plate. As to weighing fees, 10s. is charged for every horse that runs at New market, and even if a horse receives forfeit and has not necessarily to appear, the fee for the scales is still de manded. If Ascot is to be the mode], why does not New market take pattern by the Royal Meeting in these matters? Again, a Corporation is said to be like a cherubim in one respect, that it has nothing tangible to kick, but the Ad miral always contrives to give the Doncaster ono (which is now good for 3,000 guineas per annum in public money) a flying shot when he can. We doubt the justice of his remarks. The Corporation have always placed themselves in the hands of the Jockey Club, and, with the exception of a coronation knight and one or two other mild members who used to " whobble a bit" over the annual vote, they are all fond of the sport, and anxious in every way to meet the racing world's wishes. Still, as trustees for the town, it is with them a matter of business, and having invested from £30,000 to £lO,OOO of corporation funds, they are bound, if possible, to show a percentage for the money, more especially as nearly a third of the burgesses reap no thing from the races but discomfort and heightened prices. The expenses of the meeting are very great, and they have, moreover, never made within a " monkey" of the highest sum which the Admiral states. All their draw backs, &c., were freely handed over to the Race Fund a few years since at the Jockey Club's suggestion, and last year they gave £2,250 in addition to the Queen's Plate. The Admiral is the only turfito who taunts them with acting illiberally, and the taunt comes with no good grace, as their list is regularly overhauled at Old Burlington street before it appears in the Calendar. His virtuous in dignation against them is also considerably discounted by the complete silence which ho maintains about Goodwood. He can hold up the Doncaster Corporation to odium for nevercontributing sixpence to the Park Hill, but he has not a word to say about the Gratwicke, the Ham, the Findon, or the Nassau. He can sneer "at still the old song, £2OO to the Great Yorkshire Stakes, the winner to pay back 50 sovs," but ho is dumb about the Goodwood Stakes, with not one penny added, end £l5 subtracted. "Glorious Goodwood," and its support of the turf, is a theme which he can hardly have missed by mistake. Those who see the enormous throng on the Grand Stand, or have to attend on the booth letting-day, can pretty well guess that there is not a better farm than the racecourse on the Goodwood estate, and yet last year, exclusive of the Queen's Plate, and the Railways' hundred, only £1,050 was added to thirty-four races. Doncaster gives back £1,050 of its deductions assd selling gains to be run for, and Goodwood deducts nothing from the stakes but a "pony" for the starter, and takes the Richmond Plato entrances. Where the entrances for two other plates go to is not stated. As a regular attendant, and member of the house party, the Admiral knows perfectly well that the advance in the re ceipts at Doncaster, on which he dwells so sneeringly, ap plies to Goodwood with equal force, and hence there is a great lack of fairness in running down one meeting, and running dumb upon the other. Apart from such lopsided views, the little book is capital reading. We can adduce no finer specimen of its style than the passage on the woes of racing men, who are " im posed upon by racing committees, pillaged by lessees, cheated by the publicans, liable to be poisoned by the sin ners, and anathematised by the saints." St. Simeon Sty lites on his polehad a comfortable time of it in comparison. Their category of woes is wound up by a horse coughing or lamed by running over "an atrocious course," or a lad ruined by getting into a public house. Horses will catch coughs at home as well as abroad, trainers must look after their own lads, and if there ever was an "atrocious course," it was the latter part of the Cambridgeshire course in 1865, when, owing to the neglect of the authorities, it was a 71b pull for any horse that could get the shepherds' track amid the wilderness of long grass. In the chapter "On the State of the Law of Racing," Mr. Naylor's proposition (which was, after all, only a bad imitation of a plan pro posed seventeen years since, to supersede penalties in a weight-for-age cup race) is inferentially written down as nonsense . ; and we also learn that, as the law stands, a two year old can run for a three year old, &c., plate, if the owner is an innocent-minded man with a clinker, and chooses to sink the year. The rules of racing make up a capital chapter, and no portion of it is more valuable than that which settles the time within which certain complaints must be lodged The young jockeys have also their word of caution. Tur fites of the old school, who remember Robinson and Chif ney, are thought censorious, but still they, and many of their juniors, will be found to agree with the Admiral, when he observes that he " never saw worse riding than amongst the young crack jockeys last autumn." We are glad to find that the power of jockeys to withdraw their services at the end of the season is recognised, as their seemed a disposition some time since to consider that once your servant always your servant was the rule, and that practically a jockey could not send in his jacket. Betting rules are very ably treated, and the sale and purchase of horses and the legal points which may arise within the scope of a steward's duty are from the pen of a well known barrister. In the article on a stud, there is a well merited compliment to Mr. Blenkiron, who has given such a princely national prize out of his breeding profits, and three things are espcially dwelt upon—the mode by which roarers might be improved, not butting more than thirty mares to a sire, and Count Lagrange's system with young stock. The Claxton decision, which is stated very briefly and without giving the year, is the last cited, and there is a sort of defence of it in the comment on Rule 5, in page 33, but beyond that there is no special reference made to it, and it would seem to have been purposely ignored. Now it appears to us that, by the very wording of the fifth rule, the owner of Claxton had no right to the bets, and that according to the evidence which came out there was "especial fraud," or something own brother to it, in the way the horse was reinstated on the card at Huntingdon. Admiral Rous may not have been impressed with Lo.td Campbell's directions to the jury at Cardiff, but we must hold with "Plain Jock" against the Jockey Club, and believe that the farther the latter wander from great legal principles the more certain they are to multiply such strange decisions as that in the Claxton case. There are no nice distinctions in Westminster Hall between fraud and " especial fraud," and it is well that an amendment in the rules of betting has been made to stop such work in future. Turf moralists cannot now say to Mr. Edwin Parr, " Thank you for nothing." It is plain, however, that, as the amendment to Rule 2 of betting appears in the Admiral's new book, it must have been framed some time previous to its publication; but this now law—which is to meet cases analogous to the Claxton affair, and prevent a repetition of the absurd decision then announced with respect to the bets—was not given to the world till March 17, the same day as that on which Admiral bous's new volume appeared. But the Admiral, doubtless for reasons of his own, reserves the new rule for his own book, and we consider that a gentleman who works with so much disinterested zeal for the public benefit might have availed himself sooner of the immediate publicity of the newspaper press to enlighten readers on such an im portant amendment in the Turf statutes. Admiral Rous must have been some time over his six chapters cf 64 pages, as we find him (in page 3) recommending the Jockey Club to pass the new law on selling races. This had been done before the publication of the book. The appendix contains the rules of betting and racing, as well as scales of weights, and very useful they are. Abundance of stewards is the current fashion, and Mr. Topham puts down eleven for his Liverpool Summer; but with this book in his pocket any one of them, if a knotty point arises, may feel quite a host in himself, though the other ten be far away.—Sporting L. COUNTRY MARKETS. MANCIIESTER-THURSDAY. There was only a moderate attendance at our market this morning, and a very dull feeling prevailed. The de mand for wheat, both English and foreign, was limited, and a reduction of is per qr. must be noted. Flour de clined 6d. per sack, with a very limited business. In beans, oats, or oatmeal no change was observable. Indian corn was the turn dearer. BRISTOL-THURSDAY. There is very little of interest to report in the corn trade this week. English wheat has given way in value about is per qr. The trade in foreign has been almost nominal. The wheat trade was without animation, and we note a decline of is per qr. on both English and foreign. In malting barley less doing than of late, but last week's prices were fully maintained. Grinding commanded the extreme value of last week. The demand for oats was unusually restricted. Beans improved in value is per qr. Indian corn the turn dearer. BURY ST. EDMUND'S-WEDNESDAY. There was a good show of wheat here to-day, for which there was a fair trade, at last week's quotations. Very little barley on offer, and no alteration in value. Oats, beans, and peas inquired for, and fully as dear. White wheat, 53s to 55s ; old red, 46s to 48s ; new red, 40s to 44s , malting barley, 35s to 38s ; Page's prolific bar ley, 39s to 44s per qr. Averages :—Wheat, 876 qrs, at 41s 8d ; barley, 1,279 qrs., 37s 2d ; oats, qrs, Od. BIRMINGHAM—MunsnAY. During the present week the little wheat which has changed hands has been at previous rates. Barley unal tered. Oats in fair retail demand. Beans scarce. At this day's market there was a short supply of wheat, yet the trade ruled dull, but no description was lower. Barley less in request. Oats only taken in limited quantities. Beans firm, but not so scarce. Peas more inquired. EDINBURGH-WEDNESDAY. At our market to-day there was a small supply of coun try wheat, consisting of 773 sacks, which sold at last week's rates. Average, is 5d down. Wheat on the top, Os Od down average, is 5d down. Barley on the top, Os 6d up average, Os 6d down. Oats on the top, is Od down ..average, Os ld up. Beans on the top, Os Od down average, Os 10d up. Average prices. Wheat, 44s Od I Oats, 27s 4d Barley, 37s Od 1 Beans 45s 7d Total supply and sales. Wheat 773 qrs ~.sold 459 Barley BO5 qrs sold 604 .Oats . 2581 qrs sold 1425 Beans 294 qrs sold 274 Town-made flour sells as follows :—White, 40s Od ; extra superfine, 38s Od ; superfine, 36s 6d ; fine, 35s Od. GLASGOW—WEDNESDAY. The imports into the Clyde were 618 tons wheat, and 2,126 sacks flour ; into Grangemouth, 764 tons barley. The market was extremely dull. To make sales of wheat a further concession of 6d to is per qr. had to be made. French flour was 6d cheaper. Barley was 6d to is lower, with a good deal offered. Beans were rather dearer. Pease and oats were unchanged. Foreign Mail Packet List MAILS DUE. Australia and New Zealand, via Southampton., April 19. Ditto, via Marseilles April 13. Brazil and Cape Verde, by British packet April 6 Ditto, by French packet . April 2 1. Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena.... April '.3 China, Penang, and Sing 'pore. via Southampton—April 5. Ditto, via Marseilles April 13. Falkland Islands Gibraltar, via Southatapton llsr. 31. India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton April 5 Ditto, via Marseilles . • —....April 13 India (Bombay), via Southampton. Mar. 31. Ditto, via Marseilles .. April 7. Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton Mar. 31. Ditto, via Marseilles April 7. Mauritius, via Southampton April 13. Ditto, via Marseille3. April 7. Newfoundland ... , April 11. Portugal -April 6. _ _ _ Ditto, by private ship to Lisbon.. United States and British North America, byßri- _ • - tish packet April 5. Ditto, by United States packet, via Southamp ton Ditto, via Cork Ditto, by Canadian packet, via Londonderry.. Mar. 30. West Indies and Pacific (except Bahamas and Honduras) Mar. 31. Cuba and Mexico Mar. 31. Bahamas, via New York April 5. _ _ Bermuda, ditto West Coast of Africa. Madeira, and Teueriffe April 12 TIIE SADDLING PADDOCKS AT EPSO3l.—The pad" docks, which form such an essential adjunct to the Epsom Downs, and which, by permission of Mr. Arthur Reath cote, of " The Durdans," were used exclusively for the saddling and preliminary preparation of the race-horses engaged in the contests, are now to be converted into rac ing stables and horse training grounds by the owner of this demesne, who intends to erect a racing establishme nt of modern construction and improved principle, with exer cise ground attached. Births. BRODIE—On tho 28th inst., at 39, Park-road, Haverstock- hill, Mrs. Walter Brodie, of a son. COOLEY—On the 28th inst., at 5, The Grove, Leo, the wife of Henry S. B. Cooley, Esq., Of a son. HOLCOMBE -On the 28th inst., at 92, Belgrave-road, th e wife of Col. Holcombe, Royal Regiment, of a daughter. Marriages. LAWSON— NICHOLLS—On the 28th inst., at St. Margaret :6 Church, Westminster, John Lawson, Esq., C.B. to Mar garet Jane, second daughter of Mr. John Nicholls, Lord Chancellor's-court, Westminster. PARSONS—CnocHEn—On the 28th inst., at Neufchatel, Switzerland, George Parsons, of London and Melbourne, Victoria, to Nora, third daughter of the late G. Crocker, of Manchester. Deaths. ATHERTON—On the 26th inst. at Bournemouth, Ag neg Mary, relict of Sir Wm. Atherton, late her Majesty's Attorney-General. GLEMENTS—On the 28th inst., at Rochester, R. Clement s, aged 85. DOUGLAS—On the 28th inst., at 16, Ainslie-place, Edin burgh, Robert Douglas, Esq., of Orbiston, aged 43. AwKnaa---On the 29th inst., at his residence, Wharton street, Lloyd-square, Richard Hawking, Esq., aged 72. MILES—On the 28th inst., at Trinity Parsonage, Padding" ton, the Rev. John Miles, 8.D., incumbent of Trim*? ChUrch. RICKETTS—On the 26th inst , at his residence, G erman Cottage, Cheltenham, Col. St. Vincent W. Ricketts, late of the Royal Scots Greys, aged 58. STRETCH—On the 27th inst., Mr. Wm. Stretch, of 1, Fore street, Cripplegate, aged 70. VAVASOUR— OR the 27th inst., at Henley-on-Thames, Capt. Vavasour, R.E. WEBsTER—On the 27th inst., at Brighton, Lady Vas,sall Webster, widow of the late Sir H. V. Webster, Knight, K.T.S., aged 69. London : Printed and Published by WIL LIAM ANDREWS. of No. 112, Strand, Punter, at THE SUN 011iCO, No. 112,," Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy . in the County Middlessa.—Friday, March 30, mg, U at E` Th eat K T h Dubli some, So] by t] whol "Kit M At) Freel fee, three disco made 15 ye ei.ve I E. CI Cl C' N brin flay( the No. ci.i Pac be I nie: Chi