The Sun. — London, England, 1866-11-30 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVE NING, NOVEMBER 30, 1866. Railway and Other Companies. LONDON, CHATHAM, AND DOVER. A special meeting of shareholders in this company was held yesterday at the Victoria station, Pimlico, for the purpose of considering the proposition of the directors for raising £1,500,000 for the purposes of the company , Lord-Harris, the chairman, pre sided. The CHAIRMAN said the shareholders bad been invited to consult with the directors as to a measure they intended to lay before Parliament in the en suing session. The new Board, in the first instance, directed its attention to preserving the traffic of the line, and to the support and maintenance of the company. The directors had held a meeting of the debenture-holders, on the same subject, last Mon day. He need not trespass further on their time, as the chairman of the late committe of investigation, Mr. Hodgkinson, would address them on the subject for which they had been called together. (Hear.) Mr. lIODGKINSON, M.P., said he had no doubt they were all aware of what took place at the meet ins, of debenture holders on Monday last, and there fore the scheme of the directors came before the pre sent meeting with the disadvantage of having a hos tile vote already reported against it. He was not at all disappointed by the expression of opinion on Monday last, neither was he discouraged by it. First impressions were not always durable, and often gave way after due reflection, as he had no doubt would be the case in that instance. The question proposed was quite as much in the interests of the holders of debentures as of the holders of shares in the com pany. The debenture holders who had advocated a course opposed to that proposed by the directors were by no means a majority of the whole. There were 3,750 debenture holders. Abort 400 holders of debentures attended the meeting on Monday, which was not convened for coming to a vote on the direc tors' scheme ; it was called with a view to a confe rence with the debenture holders, and for the pur pose of seeing what objections could be made against it. The debenture holders who did not think itne cessary to attend that meeting were favourable to the proposal of the directors. So far as the directors could ascertain the opinions on that occasion, there were 416 assents, representing £434,268 stock, and 550 I debenture holders, representing £482,978, against the proposal of the directors. He had no doubt they had read an account of the proceedings at that meeting, from which they would perceive that the decision was not founded upon the merits of the scheme. They had bills of indictment pre ferred against them and the officers of the com pany, as if the present Board had had to do with previous mismanagement. Some gentlemen at tacked the scheme and raised objections to it, but the meeting would not allow any of the directors to give an explanation or to answer the objec tions. His connection with the company was of recent date, through the death of a relation. He knew less of its affairs up to the appoint ment of the committee of investigation than any other member of it. In consenting to be a member of the committee he did so at the request of friends who were largely interested in the undertaking as debenture holders ; but, after investigation, he felt the interest of shareholders and debenture holders were identical. The debenture holders had a first and paramount claim, and there was no intention on the part of the directors to place any stock be fore them, unless for their benefit and with their consent. If they bad allowed his friend Mr. Hilliard to be heard against the adverse resolution at the meeting on Monday, he would have explained the whole matter to them, but unfortunately the meet ing was not disposed to hear him, or any explanation from the directors. That was the reason why the directors first called a meeting of the debenture holders to consult with them, and explain the neces sity and advantages of some such measure to be submitted to Parliament, and to get their assent. The first thing the new Board had to consider was the claims of creditors, and as to how they could best develope the resources of the railway. They found on coming into office that its revenue was being administered by the Court of Chancery. As to capital there was not a farthing available for the completion of the works that were of paramount im portance in developing the traffic. They bad to deal with claims of creditors and a great variety of interests. They had in the first place debenture holders and a very large debt due for land.. There were lawsuits against the company to establish a lien on the land and works, and if carried out the consequences would have been as disastrous to the debenture holders asto any other class. There were creditors with open accounts, common fund owners, the Western Extension rent charge, and claim of leased lines on the general undertaking. Then there was the Victotia Improvement undertaking and the Eastern Section. H e ment i oned these various classes, not in the order of priority, because that would have tobe determined by competent authority, but to show the number of interests they had to con sider. The object was to get the concern out of its difficulties. Those who had the first claims were not disposed to help the company as those having in ferior claims. The directors wer e anx i ous to deal fairly with the various classes, and to treat them all fairly alike. Their scheme was to improve the po sition of all parties, to meet the claims on the com pany, and to raise the funds for that purpose. The gradual increase of traffic was estimated to give them £1,063,000 in the year 1872. 0 They the headeywould have an increase in the latter year, under of continental traffic, of £120,000. Those esti mates were not exaggerated in any way, and were founded on past experience of traffic. They would lee thus able to clear off the whole of their liabilities. He then gave the items included in the £1,500,000 they proposed to ask for Parliamentary powers to raise. The interest on debentures to June 30 last would absorb £114,435, the debenture interest to June, 1868, would be about £232,100, the comple tion of works £338,526, to provide additional roll ing stock by 1873, £156,356 ; further plant, £28,275, to pay creditors holdingsecurities, £94,411, and creditors having open accounts £220,900 — total, £1,288,104. There were expenses with re gard to land, and sums to pay in order to realise assets from surplus lands. The mortgages on land were put down at £200,000, so that with the fore going items the £1,500,000 would be disposed of. It would also enable them to put the line into tho rough working working order, and to develope its resources. This was the rock upon which the de benture holders seemed to split, but he hoped they would think better of it. The credit of the com pany was so bad they could not get the requisite money to place them in a safe position unless they could give good security. He contemplated that after mature consideration by the debenture holders those objections would not be persisted in. He could readily understand the angry manifestations of debenture holders against a proposal for placing a preference to come in before them, in order to clear off debts and place the undertaking in a good con dition ; but the directors never sought to do that without the consent of every one concerned. If they did not agree to some such measure, all would be ehaes of and confusion. The board would meet the corn mitteebondholders on the morrow, when they would be ready to consider any modification, or a better plan if it could be suggested. (Applause.) When the Court of Chancery were prepared to di vide any of the money in hand, there would pro bably be five or six different classes of creditors claiming it, litigation would ensue, and the serious question of priority would have to be decided. Any sc heme by which all could lee paid would be pre ferable to interminable litigation. Some talked of sfling the line, but that would cause a delay of two years at least, and then it would be surrounded with difficulties. The liabilities to pay 20s. in the pound would be £9,000,000. In addition to that they ' have to allow out of toils, or to provide for interest, at 3} per cent., on £300,000, subscribed by the Great Northern Company, and a similar amount on £300,000 subscribed by the London and South- Western. The directors' proposition would give five years for realisation if it should become inevit able, but with the natural increase of traffic it was not probable that it would. After some observations by Mr. V. Knight, Mr. Parsons, and Mr. Rees, Mr. lIAIZTRIDGE said there could be no doubt they must get money to pay their debts and place the concern in good working order ; but he thought the claims of each section should be defined, and the proportion of money (.£1,500,000) to be raised allotted to each distinct undertaking, so that the position of the several sections might be seen at a glance. This was the more necessary, as it was proposed in the bill to take permissive powers to enable the company to amalgamate the whole of the section as one undertaking. He hoped the deben ture-holders would keep in view the first three lines of the directors' proposal. He wished to know if there was any scheme of amalgamation in the hands of the directors that they intended to carry out. Unless the debenture-holders accepted those three lines, there would be nothing but a sea of confu sion. (Hear, hear.) Mr. BRISCOE said the directors stated in their estimate that £338,000 would be sufficient to corn plete the works, while he found that Mr. Forbes, the general manager, had estimated the amount at £700,000. The net revenue was barely £200,000 a year, while the claims on the company amounted ! to £250,000, to which must be added £75,000 a year, as a first charge, if they were authorised to raise the £1,500,000. Mr. HODGKINSON explained that certain works were excluded from the present estimate, which ; might very well stand over to a future time, with I the exception of a junction line atKnight's-hill, that ! would probably cost £64,137. The receivers of the i Court of Chancery had now about £30,000 in hand. Mr. HILLIARD, a director, said there had been various misstatements with regard to the accounts. There were certain sums due to the company. With regard to the Messrs. Peto's account, the board and committee had ascertained that therewas no balance due from the company to that firm, but, on the con trary, a considerable balance due to the company. There was also a considerable amount of Victoria Improvement stock to be accounted for by Messrs. 1 Peto. The board were every day attacked by credi tors having open accounts. It was not to be won dered at that persons should wish to stand still, but it was requisite to give proper notices for the mea sures proposed to save loss of time. There was a great deal of assets to be realised. They had to meet judgment creditors on every side, and if those claims were not met promptly they would have to pay for every pound they owed £2, including law expenses. With regard to the proposed issue of £1,500,000 at 80 per cent., it would save the company 14s. per cent. on the full amount. That money would give them ample funds for all purposes and to develope the traffic. He assured Mr. Hartridge that the board had no scheme for the amalgamation of all the sections. In case au amalgamation was contemplated the terms would require the assent of three-fourths of each section, as, for instance, B shares would re quire the assent of three-fourths of B shareholders ; and with regard to C shares, the assent of three fourths of the C shareholders, before anything could be done affecting them. While there were so many different interests to deal with there would be great difficulty in dealing with them. Each sec tion, common fund, debenture holders, and others, took their own views of their position ; but it re quired a general view of the whole to comprehend what was due to each section, and to promote the general interest. Until all the interests were amal gamated they could not act together as a united company, which was requisite to insure success. One great object was to keep faith with every cre ditor. The traffic returns of last week showed an increase of £1,720 over the corresponding week last year, notwithstanding every impediment. Next year they would have an , addition of 3 per cent. to their proportion of the Continental traffic, which would increase the amount by £12,000. They would have a net income of £130,000 from that source. They had only two sets of rails laid down, and when the facilities were afforded for working the traffic on their Metropolitan Extensions the increase would be at least 11,000 per week ; so that there was an increase of £50,000 to £60,000 more traffic in the year awaiting them on that section. He had no doubt they would have a considerable increase in the traffic when proper facilities for conducting it were afforded. Mr. HlipococK suggested that the time in the bill should be extended from 5 years to 10 years, as in the case of the Grand Trunk of Canada Arrange ments Act. Mr. 11.kurtisoN read some statistics of traffic on the line, with a view to show that there would be a deficiency of £120,000 in 1867 to meet the prefer ence charges, and if they raised the proposed capital they would have to add £75,000 to that sum, making £195,000. At this time three, four, or five shareholders to gether addressed the chair at the same time. Mr. R. PRICE repeated his statement at the meet ing on Monday to the effect that the House of Lords having last Session rejected a similar proposition to that of raising the £1,500,000 proposed by the di rectors, it was not likely they would sanction that portion of the bill next Session. Mr. BAXTER remarked that the proposition alluded to by Mr. Price was brought by the Chatham Com pany the last few weeks of the Session of Parliament. He asked Lord Redesdale to give the company power to raise £1,000,000 for the general purposes of the company, subject to the assent of four-fifths of the debenture-holders, four-fifths of the preference shareholders, and four-fifths of the common fund, but not a shilling of the money was to be raised without their assent. Lord Redesdale did not then see his way clear to granting that request, but from his lordship's recent letter to the 7 imes , t appeared that he now took a different view. The debenture holders would not hear any explanation from the directors with regard to their proposed measure. Their appeals were then of too excited a nature, but he hoped when the committee of debenture-holders came th esutt the jee tas directorsmen of f to-morrow hnsiness they . A would app debenture-holder approach had said that the Court of Chancery was the pro per place to deal with their affairs but he should remember that aft er deducting working expenses the balance would b e d ealt with. The result would be if the affairs were left in Chancery that the deben ture-holders would receive only a part of their in terest, ng per cent. per annum off the principal and perhaps a sh theilhcourse of 30 y ears. They i n should know that a Court of Chancery was not qualified to manage and work the railway. It was not reasonable to suppose that a railway which had cost £12,000,00 0 would have much difficulty in raising 1,500,00 0 to complete its works and dove lope its resources. He had always found London shareholders men of business, and whatever they in tended to do they must come to that at last. They must pay their debts, get the railway in going order and do everything to develope the traffic. Their affairs would then gradually improve, and by and by note interest a o s f t a h n e y C s a e l c ed ti o o n n ia t n o t w h a e s y n w o o w u . d Ibte was m e n o a as t p h r keep the company in Chancery , although but it it w might d answer the purpose of legal gentlemen, that was wanted was the goodwill of t be detrimental alike to all parties concernheedd.ebAenll ture-holders to raise the £1,500,000, to assist the new Board, who was deserving of their confidence. He could tell them as an old railway man, that if they could only enable the railway to go on steadily improving for six years they would meet at the end of that time perfectly satisfied with the result. They would have a large metropolitan traffic and Conti nental traffic. There was no difficulty in their way that they could not easily surmount by united action among themselves. (Cheers.) After some observations froin Mr. HANKEY, a director, as to the expediency of raising the new capital to place the company in a good position, a resolution, proposed by Mr. Hartridge, seconded by Mr. Lyon, was passed, to the effect that the meet ing be adjourned until after the results of the con ference with the debenture committee had been cir culated among the shareholders. The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman and directors. MADRAS IRRIGATION AND CANAL. The half -yearly general meeting of this company was held yesterday at the offices,, Queen-street place ; Mr. J. Thomson in the chair. The report (an abstract of which has appeared in The Sun) was taken as read. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the re port, stated that from the circumstances in which they had for some time past been placed, the directors were unable to report much progress. In many divisions nothing had been done except keeping the works in good condition to prevent their deterioration. The re-surveys were being carried on, and he hoped early in next year to be able to say they were completed. Some natives had during the present season agreed to construct and keep in proper order at their own cost the necessary channels for irrigation, while they had wells of their own which were full, and all appliances at hand, showing how much they were in favour of the system of canal irrigation. A measurement had been made of all the land available for irrigation, which showed that there were in the first section 2,000 acres, in the second 900 acres, in the third 3,688 acres, in the fourth 2,500 acres, in the fifth 3,000 acres, and in the sixth 16,640 acres. The great im portance of reservoirs had been brought to notice during the past year very prominently. The £600,000 which had been advanced by the Indian Govern ment was not lent for the purpose of constructing reservoirs, but for the completion of the works be tween Soonkasala and Cuddapah. They had no doubt that that sum would be quite sufficient to complete that portion of their undertaking, and the directors believed that five years, which was the specified time within which it was to be completed, would be long enough. The charge of the company was six rupees per acre. It would be necessary to call up the remainder of the capital, which amounted to between £25,000 and £30,000. Major MUNSTON proposed that a gentleman should be sent to India to look after the affairs of the com pany, as the whole time of their engineer seemed to be taken up in preparing reports for Government. The motion for the adoption of the report was carried unanimously. The CHAIRMAN said the papers had taken up the question of irrigation, and he hoped it would lead to some satisfactory result. Mr. J. Thompson and the Hon. A. Kinnaird, M.P., were re-elected directors, Mr. Hall and Mr. Harding were elected auditors, and a vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. Lord Amberley on Parliamentary Reform. On Wednesday evening a reform meeting was held at the Subscription-rooms, Stroud, under the piesi dency of Viscount Amberley, M.P. for Notting ham. There was a very large attendance, the spacious hall being crowded long before the hour fixed for the meeting. Considerable excitement prevailed both within and without the rooms, and it was intensified by the presence of a brass band, which was stationed outside the hall, and played inspiriting airs at intervals. Among those upon the platform were Mr. Edmond Beales, of the Na tional Reform League ; Mr. Handel Cossham, and several of the more prominent local reformers. Lady Amberley was present, and occupied a seat in the immediate vicinity of the platform. On Lord Am berley entering the room he was vociferously cheered. The CHAIRMAN said that before proceeding to the business of the meeting it was his duty to read three letters. The first was from Colonel Nigel Kings cote, M.P., who expressed his regret that he could not be present, but recorded his deep sympathy with the reform movement. The next letter was from Mr. Scrope, one of the borough members, who re gretted that it was out of his power to attend the meeting, his health and spirits being just now un equal to the exertion required. The hon. member concluded by stating that he should support, in his place in Parliament, any measure that might be proposed from any quarter for the extension of the franchise to many of those who were as yet without it. (Loud cheers, with three special cheers for Mr. Scrope. A Voice—" No letter from Mr. Horsman," with hisses and groans.) Nis lordship said he was sorry to say he bad no letter from Mr. Horsman. (More hisses.) His lordship, in reference to the meeting itself, said he accepted with pleasure the honour they had conferred upon him in calling upon him to take the chair on that occasion. (Applause.) Six months ago they had a Liberal Government in power, and a Liberal Reform Bill before the House of Commons. Had that Reform Bill been passed into law, it would have been unnecessary for them to hold any such assembly as that which was then bAre him. (Applause.) That bill, moderate as it was, although it could not have satisfied the wishes of advancal Reformers, would at least have shown that Parliament was not determined to turn a deaf ear to the just expectations of the people. (Hear, and applause.) It would have shown that they were willing to make some concession, however small, in the direction of an extension of the suf frage. (Hear.) But moderate as that bill was it did not meet with the acceptance of the House of Com mons. He needed not to detail to them, because they doubtless remembered it perfectly well, the manner in which it was opposed. It was opposed acrimoni ously, strenuously, and constantly, as much so as if it had proposed to create a complete revolution in the institutions of the country. (Hear.) Now, what was the ground for that constant opposition ? Under whatever Parliamentary forms it might have been veiled, whatever shapes it might have assumed, it was impossible to doubt that the real reason of the opposition was that the bill proposed to extend the franchise to some portion of the working classes. (Hear, hear.) That was the reason of the hostility it created, and that was why the House of Commons was not prepared to accept it, either with or with out the re-distribution of seats. The result of that opposition was that the Government were defeated, and were succeeded by a Conservative Administra tion. Now, the ground upon which the present Go vernment carneinto office was that of denying any ex tension of the franchise. That might not have been the technical reason upon which the late Govern ment were defeated, but that was in fact the express ground upon which the present Government stood —it was that of denying anyreform and any change in their representative system. It was sometimes said, indeed, that the cause of the defeat of the late Government bill, as well as the other reform bills, was not the bill itself, but in the mistakes which were made in the manner in which it was con ducted. He was not going then to enter into and inquire as to the manner in which that bill was or might have been conducted by the late Government but he believed the real ground of opposition was not any mistakes which they made, but their ear -1 neatness in the cause of reform. It was plain to the House of Commons that they were anxious to pass their bill, that they were not playing with the ques tion, but that they meant what they said. (Hear, hear.) The late Government was too sincere for the House of Commons. (Hear, hear.) He was per suaded, however, that it was not too sincere for the e by people of E ng l an d. (L ou d c h eers. ) H e was con vinced that they wou ld apprec i a t e th e course that Iwas taken late Government, thicka d and b y those statesmen w y hn th supported,thin, the claims of the people to a larger measure of en franchisement. (Cheers.) Well, such a measure as that of last session having been denied, it became necessary for them to wish for some reform, and to speak, and to agitate,and reform was carried. (Loud h c eers.) It was a great honour to them on that o • ccasion that they had with them a man who had come forward in the spirit of self-sacrifice and self-devotion to lead that great popular movement. It was almost unnecessary for him to mention the name of Mr. Beales. (Loud cheers.) He was much too well known, he was much too closely identified with the cause of reform to need any introduction from him. lie had amply shown his earnestness —he had come forward in a manner which they could not but admire, whether or not they entirely agreed with all the opinions he had expressed. (Hear, hear.) For his own part he did not fully agree with everything that had been said by the Reform League, but he could not help acknowledging that they were doing a good and use ful work—(hear, hear, and applause) and he agreed with them that the next reform bill, if it was to meet the expectations of the people, was by no means likely to be so moderate as the last. (Hear, hear.) He was sure they all sympathised with the course taken by Mr. Beales in endeavouring to pro cure a fair hearing for the working men of London, who wished to bold a great meeting in Hyde-park. (Applause.) That meeting was prevented by the Government, in pursuance of a policy which ap peared to him as ungenerous as it was unwise. (Hear.) Men who only desire to expt . ess in a per fectly legal and constitutional way thei r opinions on the great question of Reform were pr evented from entering the park, and we are told thl it it was not intended for such purposes as that. (S. hame.) He, therefore, could not help feeling the st rongest ad miration for the manner in which Jr. _t 3 ealcfs came forward to maintain that claim at the people. (Applause.) It would not be right in him to detain them longer, and he would only say on e word as to the objects and purposes of their met sting there that night. They were not called up , a there to discuss the details of a Reform Bill, ear to propose any particular plan. They met in orttla r that they might have an opportunity—that they? .the working classes of Stroud might be able t% show their earnestness in the matter of Reform. (Applause.) They knew the manner in which the. oppor.erts of reform endeavouresl to make out that, the, movement was got up by political agitators, that it was hollow, and that it did not carry with it 'OW feeling of the country at large. It was for them, 'in such assem blies as that, to contradict that assert ion; it was for them to show that they really wants :d a measure of reform ; it was for them to tell 11. e Government, and to tell the House of Commons, that the question of reform must be trifled with no nore. He had only one word to say in conclusion, a: nd that was that it was in their power to deny the charges of their enemies—that the movement of :reform was not supported by the feeling of the people at large. (Applause.) It was for them to tell, -the Government and the House of Commons that - the subject must be trifled with no more. (Hear, kear.) It was for them to declare their opinion —and their opinion could not be neglected—that the time was come when it was no longer right nor just to refuse their honourable desire to bear their part and to exert their influence in the legislation of the country. (Cheers.) Mr. R. WII;ITERBOTRAM proposed the first resolu tion :—" That it is the opinion of this meeting that the working classes of this country are, by the pre sent system of representation, deprived of their due and proper influence upon the councils of the na tion." (Applause.) Mr. J. SIBREE, M.A., seconded, the resolution, which was supported by the Rev. Mr. HIBBS, and carried by a large majority. _ _ Mr. P. WooD moved " That it is the deliberate conviction of this meeting that no permanent and satisfactory settlement of the reform question can be arrived at until the principle of residential man hood suffrage, protected by the ballot, be adopted." (Loud cheers.) Mr. WAY, of Bristol, seconded the motion, which was supported by Mr. BEALES, and carried. Mr. H. COSSIIAM, who was cordially cheered on rising, moved " That the grateful thanks of this meeting be given to Earl Russell, the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, John Bright, John Stuart Mill, Professor Fawcett, and the other true friends of the people, who so nobly struggled in the last session of parliament for the extension of the franchise to the working classes. And that this meeting hereby re cords its strongestdisapproval of the conduct of those members of parliament who, having been elected on the faith of their• professions of liberal opinions, have by their speeches and votes betrayed the cause of re form, and been the main agents in causing the de feat of a ministry which possessed iu an eminent de gree the confidence of the people of this country." The speaker supported the motion in a powerful speech, which was warmly received throughout by the meeting. This resolution was seconded by Mr. J. BARNARD, and carried nein con. A vote of thanks was afterwards passed to the Council of the Reform League for its services to the people's cause; to Mr. Beales, its representative, for his able address ; and to the noble chairman for the kindness and courtesy with which he had presided over the meeting. nised so many old faces in the corps ; that was as it ought to be ; it showed that they had not at the outset taken to volunteering as an evanescent thing ; but that they had stuck steadily to their drill. Still he would press upon them to advise their younger brethren who were preparing for the bar to remem ber that, however effective and well organised a body of volunteers might be, unless it embraced all the young and respectable portion of the fraternity, it would in time lose the spirit of the corps which alone would keep it intact. The corps then marched down to the railway station, and temporarily re freshed themselves, and subsequently dined together at the Freemasons' Tavern. A rifle competition among the efficient members of the Finsbury Rifles was held at the Old Harrow Range on Wednesday, for a valuable challenge cup, presented by Mr. Alderman Lusk, M.P. The ranges were 200, 500, and 600 yards, five shots at each, and the cup was won by Capt. Hislop, who made 44. The next were Sergeant lloefling and Corporal Crough ton, each with 43. This was the fifth competition for the cup, which is to be awarded to the winner of it most times in quarterly competitions extending over two years for his absolute property, when anothGr will be presented by the donor of the present cup. The class prizes, to the value of £2O, portion of a sum an nually given by Mr. Henry Gardner, were this day decided, as this was the last day on which the long range shooting can be carried on, the Volunteer year closing on the 30th. The first prize, a sum of £6, for the highest in all the classes, has been won by Colour. Sergeant While ; the second, the sum of £5, has been won by Private Strugnell, for the highest in the first and second classes combined; the third, for the highest in the first class, has been won by Private Page ; the fourth, for the highest in the second class, has been won by Private Amott; and the fifth, for the highest in the third class, has been won by Corporal Grearson. On Wednesday night the presentation of the prizes of the 4th Tower Hamlets took place. Sir Henry de Hoghton, the hon. colonel, was to have presided on the occasion, but was prevented, it was understood through domestic affliction. The Commandant, Col, Thompson, took his place, and the cer emony, w hi c h was witnessed by a very large assemblage, took place at the Grecian Theatre. The colonel said that the Volunteer year, which ends this week, had found the corps strengthened, both as regards numbers on the rolls and efficiency, and the shooting was very satisfac tory indeed, inasmuch as there were this year more than double the numbers who had last year shot through the three classes successfully, and more than double the number of members had obtained the hon ourable distinction of the marksman's badge. The corps' increase was very great indeed, 323 recruits hav ing been enrolled during the year, a fact which attested to the loyalty and patriotism of the industrial dis tricts represented by the regiment. He then pre sented the prizes, which were very numerous, and had been contributed by Sir Henry and Lady de Hoghton, Col. Thompson, Mr. Butler, M.P., Major de la Rue, Major Moller, M.P., Capt. Hutchinson, Miss Burdett Coutts, Mrs. Miller, Mr. Jas. Blyth, Sergeant Vaughan, and other ladies and gentlemen, and by officers of the regiment. The chief winners were Sergeant Hurst, Lance-Corporal Baines, Ser geant Hughes, Colour-Sergeant Arle,Private Taylor, Private Gales, and Lieut. Young. The prizes won by Ensign Walker in the clble . fixe and cible a volante at Brus,els, consisting of a handsome set of silver plate and a purse of small gold pieces, were pre sented, and the winner was most warmly cheered on coming forward to receive these winnings. Mrs. Howe, on behalf of the ladies of the district, pre sented the corps with a very handsome silver bugle, and not the least pleasant part of the proceedings was the presentation of a very valuable sword, by the non-commissioned officers and privates, to Col. Thompson in acknowledgment of the warm interest he has shown in the welfare of the regiment. The presentation was made by one of the senior sergeants. The proceedings were followed by a ball, which did not conclude until an early hour. On Wednesday last the monthly competition of the 13th Company Queen's (Westminster) Volun teers for the Smith Ist class, the Smith 2d class, and the Leete Cups took place at Wormwood Scrubby. The Smith Ist class, five shots at 200, 500, and 600 yards, was won by Private Chees wright, with a score of 45 marks, Private Lowe being second with 44 ; the 2d Smith was also won by Private Cheeswright with 42 marks, and the Leete Cup, 15 shots at 400 yards, was won by Pri vate Lowe with 33 marks, Private Cheeswright being second with 32. The final competition of the North Middlesex Rifles for the Grahame Challenge Cup, value 20 guineas, presented by Mr. Peter Grahame, of Oxford-street, and which entitles the winner to its absolute possession, was shot for on Wednesday at the range at Child's-hill, by the eight competitors who have previously won it, and have their names inscribed on the cup. The ranges were 200, 500, and 700 yards, seven shots at each, and the cup was won by Private Giles, No. 1 Company, with a score of 55. THE HON. ARTILLERY COMPANY.—Some days since we announced that Lord Colville had resigned the command of the above regiment. The following is the farewell letter of the noble lord addressed to the officers, non-commissioned officers, and members of the Hon. Company : " 42, Eaton-place, Nov. 8, 1866. " Gentlemen,-1 need not say that it is with much regret that, after having been lieutenant-colonel of the Hon. Artillery Company for nearly seven years, I am compelled to resign the command of the regi ment. For several years past I have suffered from a bronchial affection, which of late has increased to such an extent that I have been most positively pro hibited by my medical advisers from any longer taking command on parade. Under these circum stances, and in justice to the regiment, I have con sidered it my duty to tender the resignation of my commission to Colonel and Captain-General the Prince of Wales, and his Royal Highness has been pleased to accept it. " On the recommendation of his Royal [Ugliness, her Majesty has been pleased to approve that Lieut.- Colonel Loyd Lindsay, V.C., should be my suc cessor, and I heartily congratulate the corps upon being placed under the command of so distinguished an officer. " In now taking farewell of the regiment I beg to tender to you, individually and collectively, my warmest thanks for the support and good feeling that I have invariably met with from all ranks, and to assureyou that .I shall ever take the liveliest inte rest in all that pertains to the welfare of that ancient and distinguished body, the Honourable Artillery Company.--I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your most obedient servant, CoLvILLE." FATAL 0 UTRAGE.--An inquest was held yesterday terday at the London Hospital on the body of William Henry Ebsworth, aged 21 years. Mrs. Sarah Gasken, sister of deceased, said he worked in the tea department of the West India Docks. Ho told her at the hospital that a number of young men, who worked with him, were con stantly wanting him to treat them with drink, and that he once was obliged to do so because he was afraid of them. He was a teetotaller and used not to keep bad company. Mary Middleton said that on the evening of the 9th inst. she was in the Whitechapel-road, when she saw deceased and four others coming towards her. One of the men was evidently asking deceased to do something which he did not want to do. She heard the deceased say, "I cannot do it." The man then struck him under the left ear, and knocked him down. He fell with great force on the pave ment, and remained motionless, as if dead. The men ran away. William Gibbons corroborated this evidence, and police constable Wooley, 391 K, deposed to removing the deceased to the hospital. Witness had spent two days at the docks, making inquiries, but could get no clue to the guilty parties. Mr. Lane, house surgeon, said the deceased was brought in with his skull fractured on the night of the 9th November, and he died on the 21st. He had been struck on the left side of the head and hadfallen on his right side. He was nearly unconscious the whole time he was in the hospital. The jury returned a verdict of " Manslaughter against some person or persons unknown," and they recom mended that the Home Secretary should offer a reward for the discovery of the guilty parties. [ADVERTISEMENT.I-11olloway's Pills.—Sick Headaches. —Thousands suffer from this worrying annoyance when the body and brain are depressed in warm, damp weather. Holloway's purifying pills present a ready means of cure for indigestion, biliousness, and flatulency. In debilitated constitutions and nervous habits these pills are the best restoratives—they correct all the unpleasant consequences of torpidity of the liver, they remove distension, and never fail to obviate all obstructions of the bowels, and to induce their regular action. For all abdominal ailments Hollo way's pills are the safest possible medicine, they at once give ease and comfort, and naturally strengthen the whole series of organs concerned in the process of digestion, and will be found useful in every household. THE VOLUNTEERS. On "Wednesday evening a sumptuous banquet was given by the Third London, at the Albion Ta vern, Aldersgate-street, in honour of Col. Richards, who has announced his resignation of the command. Captain PALMER, who presided, made a very earnest speech, offering a heartfelt tribute to Colonel Richards, not only as originator of the Third London Rifles, but of the volunteer movement itself. Colonel Richards had the respect and regard of all the officers and men. Captain A. BRETT hoped that Colonel Richards would be induced to accept the honorary colonelcy of the corps. The Vice-Chairman (Mr. NICIJOLAY) heartily approved of the suggestion that the honorary colonelcy should be offered to Lieut.-Col. Richards, and hoped he would not leave the corps altogether. Colonel Ric umtps, in returning thanks, said that he did not leave them lightly, and that meeting was an evidence that it was from no internal dissension he had taken that step. He remembered Colonel Sir W. De Bathe saying at a regimental dinner that as he (Colonel Richards) was the first man in the regiment, he thought he would be the last to quit it. So he had thought ; but for some little time he had found it simply impossible to attend to his duties, according to his notion of what the perfor mance of them should be, and to bestow that time and attention on the corps which it merited. With regard to the honorary colonelcy, their desire that he should accept it was most flattering and very grateful to him. The corps had hitherto flourished without any honorary colonel. He should like very well to see some one accept that position ; but he felt with regard to himself that it was out of the question. They ought to have a man of rank and wealth, or a distinguished military man, to give them the prestige of his name. As a working colonel he had done his best. He was sorry he could not continue to devote his time and attention to the corps. W hen he commenced its organisation he had no idea of becoming the commanding officer. He had somehow very rapidly grown into that po sition. Colonel Richards then exhorted the officers to continue their exertions to keep up the corps. The future prosperity of the 3d London was the best testimonial they could offer him. He should leave the corps in a flourishing state, and he did not believe that half-a-dozen rifles would be missing when the return ordered by Government should be sent in, and the regiment was solvent, without having appealed to the City or the public to increase its funds. He had been thought, perhaps, too easy in his conduct and demeanour in a military point of view, but he knew the difficulties of such a command, and he appealed to the result. He proposed " Prosperity to the 3d London Rifles," coupled with " The Health of Cap tain Palmer, their Chairman of the evening," who, he said, was a good officer, and possessed the con fidence of his company. This was drunk with applause. Other toasts then followed, and the officers and their guest separated, better pleased with the manner than the occasion of the entertainment. THE INNS OF COURT RIFLES.—The annual in spection of this crack corps of riflemen took place yesterday in Richmond Park under the most favour able auspices. The inspection was made by Lieut.- Colonel Ewart, with whom were Lieut.-Colonel M'Murdo, Colonel Sargent, and Captain and Adju tant Wood commanding; Major Seysey acted on the staff. The corps arrived on the scene of action about half-past two p.m., and were immediately put through their evolutions—first advancing, and then retiring; then "retiring by fours" from the right of companies, forming squares, and firing as if re pelling cavalry. The whole battalion repeated this movement frequently, and it had a very striking effect. After file firing, they frequently formed deep squares on d ou bl e com p an ies, and a general skirmishing ensued, the rest of the soldiers coming up in suppo r t. Th e pr i nc i pa l movemen ts w e re th e evolutions, and the forming of squares and the drill were excellent. At the conclusion Colonel Ewart congratulated the " Devil's Own" upon its splendid appearance, and said the whole inspection had been most satisfactory to him, and he should take care that bead-quarters should know that the Inns of Court Rifle Corps were first for smartness, intelligence, and perfection of drill, especially in theplatoon, skir ‘ =shin, and square mo veme nts. It was with grati tude and some surprise that in passingdown he recog- SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. TDlEs.—The story of Overend, Gurney, and Co., as told by one of themselves, is a narrative of deep and painful interest. In many an impoverished household in this kingdom it will be read with feel ings into which indignation and resentment will largely enter, nor are we indeed prepared, notwith standing much that calls for commiseration, to say that such feelings are without warrant in the facts before us. The foundation of the great establish ment the fall of which has shaken the financial world, was laid in the last century, and for 50 years at least its business was conducted with extraordinary success, reputation, and profit. The transactions of the house were stupendous. At one time it used to be said that a couple of millions passed through its cof fers every week, and the gains of the partners were on a scale commensurate with the extent of the trade. The Gurneys became one of the richest mercantile families in England, and the renown of their wealth was combined with signal respectability of character and position. So, too, things continued with them until the year 1857, after which period a new management under a new system introduced the decline recently consummated in a most appal ling ruin. To this part of the narrative we must invite especial attention. One of the partners un der whose superintendence the affairs of the house bad so marvellously prospered died in 1856; another retired in the year following. Their successors ap pear almost at once to have entered upon a descrip tion of business known later days as "financing." They made enormous advances to adventurous cus tomers on exceptional securities, until at length an immense amount of capital was placed in jeopardy. We must now state—and it is one of the most no table features of the case—that though the business of the great house in Lombard-street was committed to new and ; as events proved, incautious managers, there were still partners in existence whose experi ence and wisdom might have insured better things. But " the Norfolk people," as they were called, pre ferred conducting local banks in their own county, and only occasionally, or, as it appears, under alarm, took cognisance of the London business, which they were still competent to control. Thus it was not until the beginning of the year 1861 that Mr. John Henry Gurney became fully ac quainted with the dangerous accounts to which the Lombard-street house .had committed itself. Then, however, he seems to have insisted that until these accounts were liquidated no further division of profits should be made, and that arrangement was accepted, though it does not appear that any interdict was placed for the future on the class of transactions which had led to this necessity. However, the partners divided no more money, although the divisible amount had actually averaged, for the five years ending with 1860, no less than £190,000 per annum. We find, therefore, that the great firm of Overend, Gurney, and C o . were re duced, so long ago as 1861, to a suspensi on o f divi dends' among themselves in order that a f un d m i g h t be provided in compensation for losses incurred. But this proceeding was insufficient for the purpose, and we are now brought to the second chapter of the story. The house in Lombard-street was seriously shaken. A large amount of its assets was locked up ; heavy losses had been experienced and more might be apprehended. At this conjuncture, therefore,- it was considered, says Mr. J. H. Gurney; " desirable that the business should be strengthened by fresh capital," and it was determined "that the mode of accomplishing that object should be by the forma tion of a joint-stock company (limited), which might take over the whole assets and liabilities of the firm." This project was accordingly carried out, and in it the first step was of course to ascer tain by what figures these assets and liabilities were respectively represented. To do the old partners justice, we can discern no suppression of the truth in the revelations which they made to the incoming directors of the new concern. It was found and confessed that, on certain balances of the aggregate amount of £4,199,000 due to the old firm, au aggre gate loss of not less than £3,117,000 was to be an ticipated. Besides this, the firm had become surety for other parties in certain transactions, though these risks, at the time of calculation, were belie red to be covered by securities in hand. The question was what the old firm was to do for the new limited company with respect to these ugly accounts, and it was agreed that all the private estates and sale able property of the old partners should be held liable for the sum. On this footing the new com pany of Overend, Gurney, and Co. (Limited) was established in August, 1865, the articles of the nego tiation being contained and expressed in two sepa rate deeds. One of these duly conveyed the busi ness of the old firm to the new company in conside ration of £500,000 purchase money ; the other provided for the liquidation of the exceptional ac counts at the private expense of the old partners, as before described. But when the public were in vited to find capital for the new concern, the first half only of these negotiations was revealed to them. The subscribers to.; the fresh capita of £5,000,000 knew nothing of the proceedings by which the old capital had been squanderel, of the arrangements by which the losses were to be made good. We think the public was hardly used. In the sale and transfer of the business the old firm appears to have acted with honesty, and though its estimate of securities may not have been realized, that kind of disappointment cannot be thought surprising. Indeed, in the whole crash there are no greater victims than the Gurneys. They have been sold up to the last stick and stone, and one of the chief houses of our mercantile aristocracy has been utterly ruined. How it could ever have hap pened that experienced and wary partners should commit to less competent or cautious hands the ma nagement of a business in which their all was in volved we cannot understand, but th i at s not a ques tion of public interest. It must rather be asked whe ther there was good justification for the invitation given to the public by those managers of the new company who knew the history of the old firm. When people all over the country—ladies, clerks, servants, and workmen—were asked to embark their savings irtithe new establishment, they could not have suspected the real truth of the affair. They never supposed themselves to be strengthening a shattered concern by fresh capital drawn from their little hoards. They believed themselves to be entering into participation in the large and well-established profits of an approved and stable house, a n d we cannot see how it is tobe denied that their subscrip tions were given under a misapprehension of the truth. Of course it will be said that to have pub lished the second deed, and divulged the history of the firm for five years previous, would have been fatal to the new undertaking. Granted ; but this very argument assumes that if the public had known what they were doing they would never have done it. The new directors, no doubt, concluded that they had balanced the liabilities of the old firm by the private property of the old partners which had been assigned to them, and then assumed that the ordi nary profits of the busine ss wou ld y i e ld a h an d some revenue available for dividend. The whole question of profits appears to us obscure, nor can we well understand what were the net gains of the firm for the five years preceding the transfer. Apart, how ever, from this point, on which the new directors may be supposed to have informed themselves, it is certainly unfortunate, as events have happened, that so very much should have been disguised of a bargain which the unsuspecting public was invited to share, and this fact alone is enough to explain the distrust and aversion with which all such invest ments are now regarded. Who, after this precedent, can assure himself that behind an attractive pro spectus there may not lie a few secret articles affect ing the complexion of the whole affair? Who can tell that the directors of a concern submitted with apparent confidence to his approbation may not be cognisant of circumstances which, if openly known, would deter him from the bargain ? The assumed excuse of commercial necessity, good as far as it goes, will carry very little consolation to a ruined investor. In this case the public were asked to con tribute a capital of no less than £5,000,000, in 100,000 £5O shares, and, as on each of these shares £35 was left unpaid, the liability of the subscribers was virtually unlimired, and it is now, indeed, but too painfully felt to be. Into this terrible risk the subscribers practically went blindfold ; and it is said, as said it may be, that except with this re ticence the new Limited Company would never have been established, our answer is that under such con ditions its establishment should never have been attempted. POST.—Of all the points submitted to the Re cruiting Commission for their consideration, un doubtedly the most important was that which re lated to the formation of a reserve force; but the commissioners not unnaturally felt that this very importance made it impossible for a body consti tuted as they were to come to any practical useful decision upon so " very large" a question. The consequence is that, as regards the means to be adopted in order to create an efficient army of re serve, we are no further advanced than we were before the commission was appointed. The report, however, although it indicates no plan of proceed ing, points out the necessity for something being done, and if it only has the effect of calling atten tion to the subject we shall have cause to be grate ful for the short paragraphs which have been de voted to the reserve force. " The military history of this country shows," we are told, " that it has been our practice during periods of peace to reduce all our military establishments to the lowest pos sible point. . . . No preparations for a state of war were thought of, and the consequence has been that when war occurred everything had to be done in a hurry at the most lavish expense." Such a state of things, it must be admitted, can hardly at any time have discovered great wisdom or fore sight on the part of our military administrators. In former times we have managed to get through somehow or other, and, thanks to our staying powers, have generally come out of our Wars stronger than we went in. But to organise and bring up our st reng th we h ave a l ways req uired time, and, as the report reminds us,. time P precisely what we shall not get in any future war in which .we m a y be engaged. The shoe , ' of nations henceforth will be short, sharp' and decisive, and the ten -days' campaign i ll Bohemia shows how short and sharp thel, an be even wher e th e na ti ons are so po werful and warlike as those th en enuiiged. It is n eb pleasant to think of the probable duration of the resistance which our own forty or fifty thousand regulars, and one hund r ed thousand- militia, could oppose to a similar invasion. It appears. the e ' that if ever we should unhappily find ourselves again at war, it would b e o f th e l as t importance to be able to lay our hands immediately and at once, In addition to our regular forces, upon a sufficient nuns her of fully-trained soldiers capable of maintaittivg , whether by defence of our own or invasion of other shores, the honour and positi on o f t h e coun t r y. ' 1.11 , 8 only force to which s uc h a d escr i pt i on i s i n an y AM applicable is the enrolled pensioners, who numbe r some 14,000 men, hut these are mo s tly men pasties' prime of life, and could not be relied upon for any but garrison and other light service, and therefore we may positively be considered to be at the presen t moment utterly destitute of anything like a reserv e force coming up to the standa r d we h ave described Among the Continental nations, who are now 50 earnestly engaged in the reorganisation of their armies, this point has received a share of attent loll proportioned to its impo r t ance ; b ut w i t h us s carcely any attention at all has hitherto been bestowed upon it. Now, it is worthy of remark that the systems which have been found best to answer their purpose are those in which the soldier is subjected originally to a very short term of actual service, but is at the , end of it relegated int o a reserve li a bl e t o b e calle a , out whenever needed. Th e p r i nc ipl e o f thi s is that the army should be considered as a school and no t as an occupation, and th a t as many men as possible should be passed through it ; a system which give ! , the State the command of a lar g e f orce o f efficient soldiers ready-made to hand in the hour of nee'', Ile first necessity of an army of reser v e i s p r ecisely this, that the men compo s i ng it mus t be fully trained, and that can only be att a i ne d b y a constan t flow into it of men who have been subjected to the training of the regular army. This result is a ttained most fully by the Prussian sy s t em , i n w hi c h the sol dier has but three years of actual service with the re i i gular army, and is at the end of that time draft e into the reserve for six years. The French a mora l now contemplating to move in the same directioni and it is expected that one of th e ma i n features of the scheme which will be proposed by the commis sion now sitting in Paris w ill b e th e reduction °f the term of actual service from seven to six Yea r A s i i with an additional four years in a reserve f or ce. this should be instructive to us, who are less of a military nation than either of th ose ment i on ed, and , may serve to indicate the di rec ti on w hi c h tuv attempt to form our army of reserve should take' The present term of service i n our regu l ar array 1 ", from ten to twelve years, with a second period O optional re-engagement of f rom n i ne t o twelv i ' years, according to th e b ranc h o f t h e service and the Recruiting C omm i ss i on recommen d t h a t these, two periods sh o uld b e ma d e to cons i st in f utu re ' 3 ' twelve and nine years respectively for all branche s i Now, experience has sh own th at i f, a t the end of twelve years, a soldie r h as not become a non - coin naissioned officer, he must be absolutely - wo rthles s ; and in fact a private w ith t we l ve years ' ser vice 1 ,„ considered to be, as a rule, no t fit t o s tand ill ; sentry-box. It would then b e no l oss b u t a gain t t , the service if the power of re - engageme nt we r , taken away from all but the non•commissiot leu officers. This is already a step beyond the cor a ; • mission in the Prussian and French direction, b u the creation of an army of re serve , w hi c h i s the mat tertPo now in question, would ne cess it a t e go ing step further, and breaking up eve n th e t we l ve years in two periods, one of actual serv i ce i n th e regult army and one of service in the reserve. ProbablY convenient division would be i n t o t erms o f eight an c` four years, the former to ke spent in the regl i % army and the latter in the reserve. The soldier vioni o thus fall into the latter f orce a t a ti me when . was at his highest effici enc y, an d wou ld no t remai n in it long enough to los e th e t ra i n i ng h e bad ~5 1 ; "; quired ; and the War Minister would have a power of assembling at any momen t a t ra ined 3 . n r efficient body of men sufficient in numbers any emergency, and equal in soldier-like quali ties to any oil i e r p or ti on o f our regu l ar f orc es. u 3 requirements of the colonial service, which is peculiar feature of o ur m ilit ary system, wou ld ucce'; sitate probably so m e modification of the plan ; b u this might be met by a provision for granting ad 1- tional bounty such as the commissioners have recom mended, and by breaking up the twelve years soule; what difLrently into th ree y ears o f h ome a nd nn" of foreign service. Of course such a scheme as 0 -' l _ s ' since it rests upon the condition of a shorter tern: of service, would involve the necessity of securing larger number of men, and woulu consequently in volve the carrying out of the recommendations f the commission, or the a d o pti on , a t an y rate, ° 3 some plan by which to make the army popular nt e profession. A s we canno t en d ure conscription, the recruiting sergeant should b e a bl e t o en t er the lut e ket and offer equal pay an d a d van t ages with tu d other callings open to the young men he seeks, au the lessening of the term of service would add lai r ; mensely to the attractions of a s o ldi er ' s life. Sb?, ; , service, at any rate, is the basis o f a ll th e best inlf d tary systems with which we are acquainted, a% there is every re ason t o b e li eve th a t it i s a priucill .l o both sound in it se lf an d specially applicable W the requirements of our army. COUNTRY MARKETS. DIRMINGITAiI—THURSDAY. af Nv At this day' s mar k e t th ere was a f a i r supp l y o f - e „ , and the sales ma d e were a t a d ec li ne o f i s t o 2s peri s Barley of all kinds sca rce , an d t en di ng d ownw ards. v quite as dear. Beans were only taken in retail. BRISTOL—THURSDAY. On our to-day's market there was a moderate shosvia - Lo-citt's English ur y wheat, which sold marne. at barely last week's value, at,o in some instances at a reduction of is per qr. For fore i g no inquiry, and values were nominally unaltered. 1.1 3 9,,, barley fully as dear, with a fair inquiry. Grinding ste t, t i l l and quite as much money. Supplies of oats scanty, tI IGI sorts sold readily at 6d to is per qr. advance. Maize per qr. dearer. BURY ST. EDMUNDS—WEDNESDAY. ke t We were abundantly supplied with wheat at our ro ar :to to-day, millers not being anxious buyers, a decline of 1 0 ~f 2s per qr. had to be submitted to by sellers. The sholcs barley of every description was good, prime samples mak' a former rates, all other descriptions of quality fully is P cheaper. Oats, beans, and peas bought at less mor•eY• MANCHE S TER--THURSDAY. The excitement apparent in the trade for a few Nc°, s s past has now subsided, and since our last report busl uv in all articles has been inactive, without, however, O at noticeable change in prices. From abroad the a rrivals. Liverpool have been liberal of all articles except 1u,,T0 corn, of which none has come to hand. Th e imports , r" o f Ireland have consisted merely of mo d era t e q uantitie s ly oats and oatmeal. Our market this morning was slend t i. attended by buyers, and but little disposition was 1,33 to felted to purchase any article. Without any pressur e of sell prices may be stated to be generally in favoU r A t. buyers, but we repeat the quotations of this day se'unio EDINBURGH—WEDNESDAY. Wheat on the top, 2s Od up A siro' average, Os pa -0 co o. Barley on the top, 4s 9d down average, is 5d rio (I° ` . Oats on the top, is Od up 'average, is 2d , s o. Beans on the top, is Od down average, is 8d u° Total supply and sales. Wheat 726 qrs sold 55 1 Barley 1886 qrs sold 1295 Oats 2349 qrs sold 126 1 41 Beans 5l qrs sold Average prices. Wheat, 61s 5d I Oats, 2Bs Ild Barley, 4os 2d Beans 51s Od , t o Town-made flour sells as follows :—White, 53s Gd; superfine, 52s Od ; superfine, 50s 6d ; fine, 49s Od. GLASGOW-WEDNESDAY. flour This day's market was well attended. Wheat 8 11 ‘. A • were quiet, and to make progress an abatement recl u b -e sffe osl Barley about 6d cheaper per 3201 b. Oats, oatmeal, peas, and Indian corn the turn lower. Births. DUNKIN— On the 28th inst., at 4, Cleveland-square, park, the wife of John Dunkin, Esq., of a &tuella. of FULLER—On the 22d inst., at Florence, Mrs. C. Ful ler, a son. Marriages. a e'sl KENNERSLY—ALLIES —On the 26th inst., at St. n l Hanover-square, Edward Kinnersly, Esq., of - 10 ` u- t e lia Manor, Burks, to Jane, solo surviving daughter of late Edwin Allies, Esq., of Canford, Gloucestershi re. KNOWLES—PAXTON —On the 29th inst., at St. . 13113e ;o Church, Wm. Knowles, Esq., of 42, Moorgate-str e t4., Emma Lcotitia, youngest daughter of W. Paxton, of Ashridge, Merts. Deaths. CARNE —On the 28th inst., at Dimland Castle, Glam orf i arl oi shire, Elizabeth Came, widow of the late R. Ca re " Dimland Castle, aged 94. aSet CAR:CEGY—On the 25th inst., at Laverockban" ° Edinburgh, Miss Helen Hay Carnegy. JEANS—On the 27th inst., at Bath, Thomas Jeans, 54' aed 91. KENNEDY—On the 27th inst., Mrs. Shaw SennedY? at Kirkmichael House, Ayrshire. London : Printed and Published by:7ll, LIA.II ANJA'', I - 0 , of No. 112, Strand, Pifoter at TIM ,BUR 313'00, ..,1 Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the Count/ Atigtileiex.— Friday, November 30, ism ~~ , REca: I L N P mo s all rne a eha: Lu( I, I ; 1 - --,- k..j _: C it hi] ( hii -,-