The Sun. — London, England, 1852-02-16 00:00:00

Zbitt Vbition+ SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. TAT TER S, t.LL'S.—THIS EVENING. Six o'cLocK. LIN TRPOOL STEEPLECHASE. 11 tO 1 agst Vistress 11 to 1 agst Chieftain 15 to '1 agst Hardwick 1$ to 1 agst Agis 20 to 1 agst Miss Mowbray METROPOLITAN HANDICAP. 16 to 1 agst Hesse Homburg 20 to 1 agst Haresfoot CHISSTZIt CUP. 18 to 1 agst Confessor 30 to 1 agst Ariosto 33 to 1 agst Grand Duke 33 to 1 agst Ringleader 33 to 1 agst Black Doctor 33 to 1 agst Cock-crow 40 to 1 agst Neasham 50 to 1 agst Pitsford 1,000 to 10 agst Kiog of Trumps 1,000 to 10 agst Tom HoNoy DERBY. 6 to 1 agst Bobbie Noble 16 to 1 agst Augur 20 to 1 agst Lapidist 20 to 1 azst Kingston rA DVERTISEMENT.]-WHO'S TO WIN THE DERBY? —This question will be satisfactorily answered on the Ist of March, by THE WIZARD OF THE NORTH, in a pamphlet which, besides the opinions of all the Newspaper Prophets and Advertising TIM will also contain the List of Prooable Starters, and the Jockies engaged to ride. It will also reveal the mysteries of the Sporting Press in connexion with the Turf, and prove to demonstration that the Public are soandalously robbed by the Blatherumskate Tips. Price ls., post Is. 4d.—Tickers, Holywell-street, Strand; and all News Agents. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS: The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool sack at Five o'clock. MAYNOOTH GRANT. The Earl of RODEN presented a petition from the Protestants of the ci'y of Dublin against the continu ance of the grant to Maynooth. EAST INDIA COMPANY'S CHARTER. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said that since he had given notice of his intention of putting a q uestion to the Noble Marquis opposite on this s ub j ect notice had been given in the other Hense of Parliainent , for the appointment of a Committee on the eub j rnt ; and there fore the only question which ho could put now would be on what day it was intended to m o ve for a Committee in this House. He should also wish to know whether, on moving t or these Committees , her Majesty's Govern ment were prepared to lay be fore them ample informa tion on the present condition of the country; and he would venture to hope that that information would com prise all the papers necessary to throw light upon his (the Noble Earl's) recal from India. Whatever might have been the motives which induced Sir Robert Peel to refuse the prcduet!on of these papers, eight years ago, they could now exist no longer, and ne thought that when the time came to fix the nature of the future government, these papers would be of the greatest use in considering the relations be tween her Majesty's Government end the governeneet of the 'curt of' Directors. With regard to the latter part of his question, reiatirg to the armament sent to Rat goon, he c ould wi:h t be informed whether the Indian Government had taken care to ascertain by trusteortby agents the truth of the representations which had in duced the Government to dispatch the armament. He could assure their Lordships that Rangoon was a place where there were dozens of Don Pacificos. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that it was, of course, the wish of her Majesty'a Government to afford all the information relative to the important subject of the future government of our Indian empire, in order to enable Pateiement to form that deliberate judg ment which the subject merited, and when that information was produced it would be for the Noble Earl, if he did not think it sufficient, to move for any -tfdition. With regard to the latter part of the Noble Earl's question, the arrival of the Indian mail had happily brought intelligence that the dispute with the Government of Rangoon bad been settled in an ami cable manner. He, of course. was not aware whetntr the King of Ave was sincere in the arrangement, but he could say that no steps bad been taken by the Indian Government to dispatch an armament to that quarter, without having been fully satisfied that several British subtects had been treeted by the authorities at Rangoon in the most unjust and vexatious manner. The insinua tion of the Noble Earl, that they were so many Don Pacificos, wet moat unfounded; iney were persons of great !Tepee:ability, and had behaved throughout in the most fair and open manner. [LEFT SITTING lIOUSE OF COMMONS. Tile' SPEA.KIat tuuh. Ulu Chair a.t a few minutes before Four o'clock. NEW MEdIBER. Captain DUNCOMBE took the oaths and his; seat for Eaat Re tford. PRIVATE BILLS. The following Bills were read a second time, and ordered to be committed: — Aberdeen Boys' and Girls' Hospitals. Athlone Markets and Customs. Barnstaple Markets and Fairs. Belfast Gas. Birkenhead Docks. Birkenhead Dock Trustees and Birkenhead Dock Company. British Empire Mutual Life Assurance Company. Deeside Railway. East Anglian Railways. Exeter Roads. Forth and Clyde Navigation. Frome, Yeovil, and Weymouth Railway (No. 1). Frome, Yeovil, and Weymouth Railway (No. 2). Great Western, Shrewsbury and Birmingham, Shrewsbury and Cheater, Shrewsbury and Hereford , Birkenhead, Lan cashire, and 'Cheshire Junction, and Hereford, Ross, and Gloucester Railway Companies, Ipswich Dock. Kingston-upon-Hull Dies and Docks. Leeds, Bradford, and Halifax Junction Railway. London (City) Improvements. London (City) Small Debts Extension. Londonderry and Coleraine Railway. Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway. Patent Solid Sewage Manure Company. Itetiord and Littleborongh Road. Skipton and Craco Read. South Staffordshire Railway. South Wales Railway. Sunderla n d Waterworks. Ulverstone Waterworks. York and North Midland and last and West Yorkshire Junction Railways. kIISGATE ROYAL HARBOUR BILL. On the motion for the second reading of this Bill, Sir F. BARING requested that it might be postponed, as the Admiralty were in negotiation with the parties upon the subieet. Mr. HUMS said the ought to he taken up by the Government, in order that the obnoxious toils which were levied upon the British shipping going from the north to the south might be abolished. Sir F. BARING said that was the object of the post ponement. Mr. `PAWN said it was the bounden duty of the Government to repeal these tolls, since they had abo lished the navigation-laws. The Bill was then ordered to be read a second time on Monday next. PETITIONS. si b x re p w e e t r i s ti , on i nume- Giasgow an a d n lo d rds, h ouse factors, and s p irit merchants of Mr. MACGREGORthepdreissetinliteerds: To usly signed, f rom its ae i g hb o urhood again st the Public House s (Scotland) Bill. The petitioners set forth that the amount o f spirituous liquors made use of in Scotland was by no means disproportio ned to the population, a, the framers of the present measure e rroneously assumed; nor did it amount to the quantity of spirituous and fermented liquor consumed in England, France, and other E uro _ Aran statss; and therefor e that it was " a gross and de. liberate insult" to the people of Seotland, to assume and assert that a different system of legislation is necessary for them to restrain their intemperate habits than is re quired for the rest of her Majesty's m subje f cts. Leicester Mr. J. ELLIS pr esen ted a petition ro against church rates. Mr. M. WILLIAMS presented a petition from Mac clesfield, praying for the abolition of the post-horse duty. Fir R. H. INGLIS presented a petition from Liver pool, praying for the abolition of the May nooth grant. Mr. B. HUGHES presented a petition from Wales, praying for the abo tiolinesented of the post horse duty. Sir G. CLERK pr effect from Dover. a petition to t h e same Mr. REYNOLDS presented a petition from Dublin, praying for an amendment of the Irish Poor-law. Mr. CROWDER, presented a petition from a place in the West of England, complaining of the continuance of the Kafir war. Mr. EWART p r esented a petition fro m t h e Soc i ety of British Artists for the grant of part of the National Gallery for the purpose of exhibition, in the event of the removal of the national pictures therefrom. Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition from Dreg he de, in f avour o f the Tenant Right Bill; and, also a P e tition from Rpchda/e, in favour of national edu cat i on .r Supported . by local rates. Al • SCULLY presented two petit i o ns from places in Enniskillen, praying for an amendment of the Irish poor-law. Mr. ilijk lE colonies, presented a petition from t he Australian p r aying coio _,_ for a r e d uc ti on of the postage levied on Una ' lett ers, Mr. liOEl3l-eic ab lor . esented a petition from Sheffield, praying for the oi Mr. GEORGE T i i ti o on of taxes on knowledge. from the Tower Hamlets presented a petition MR. 7 3 70/lust the Militia Bill. Mr. Feargus O'Counzarn CONNOR. e tered the House shortly , after four o'cl,ck. His ;ration in Coldhath-fields prison fats not improved hi appearance. He seemed pale and care wor n, bu t bey on d that there was nothing to indicate that he had endu red gentiems a z punishment so degrad • He walked ruin., the ing to the feelings of a House and shook hands with th; to see that this Members, but it was impossible not ProutioeL:: if the rather coldly. at tempt at friendly recognition was returnedt He sat down on tl}® Government benches for a short SUN, while, and obtruded his observations upon several of its occupants. Lord J. Russell listened to him for a few minutes, nodding his head by way of assent; but at length finding the interruption unpleasant, sought a refuge in a dispatch box which laid o❑ the table. Among t , ,e other Members with whom he shook hands were Mr. Spooner, Mr. Ruebuck, Mr. Milner Gibson, and Mr. Baines. Mr. M. GIBSON presented a petition from a public meeting at Salford in favour of secular education sup- ported by local rates. DISTURBANCES IN IRELAND. Sir GEORGE GREY gave notice of an amendment to the motion of an Hon. Member opposite in regard to the disturbed districts in Ireland. The amendment was to the effect that a Committee be appointed to inquire into the immediate causes of crime and outrages in Armagh, Monaghan, and Louth, an d into the efficiency of the law for their suppression. EMIGRANTS. Mr. HUME moved for a return showing the number of vessels which have sailed from ports in the United Kingdom with emigrants on board, during the last five years; distinguishing whether such ports are under the superintendence of an emigration officer or not; with a statement, so far as the same can be made out, of the number of such ships which have been wrecked or destroyed at sea, and the number of lives so lost.— Agreed to. COLLECTION OF PUBLIC INCOME. Lord JOHN MANNERS moved for returns of the annual charge upon the public income for the collection of the excise duty since 1842, and the number of men e mployed in the department on the sth day of January in each year, together with the names of any articles on which the duties have been repealed, and the amount of such duties; and of the annual charge durinc , "the same period of the expenses connected with the collection of the Customs revenue, together with the names of any articles on which the duties have been repealed, and the amount of such duties.—Agreed to. WAR ON THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA. Mr. HUME inquired whether the Government were prepared to lay on the table any information with re gard to the causes of the war on the west coast of Africa, in which 70 men and officers had been killed or wounded. _ Lord J. RUSSELL said he would have no objection ;o lay on the table the correspondence which had passed on the subject. EAST INDIA CO XIPANY'S CHARTER. Mr. FOX MA ULE gave notice that on Friday next, the 27th, he would move for the appointment of a Select Committee to take into consideration the present state of the affairs/of the East India Company, and to inquire into the operation of the Act of William IV., and to report thereon tothe IRISH CENSUS. In reply to Mr. HAMILTON, Sir W. SONIERVILLE said the general census of Ireland for 1851 would not be completed till August in the present year. He would, however, be able to lay some statements before the House in regard to the po pulation when the Irish Franchise Bill came under :AANCIIESTER AND SALFORD EDUCATION BILL. In reply to Mr. W. PATTEN, Mr. BROITIERTON stated that he had agreed to postpone the second reading of his Bill until Wednesday week. The order was then read and fixed for that day. EDUCATION IN SCOTLAND. In reply to Mr. MACKENZIE, Lord J. RUSSELL stated test a measure was in pre paration on the subject of education in Scotland, which ne hoped to bring in in thc' course of the present session. LONDON, When made up ix From what When PLACLS. ;General Post-office port din- due. I London: patched. America (by Brit. pkt.)NFeb. 20 .. Liverpool Arrived America (by U.S. pkt.) N Feb. 24 .. .. Liverpool .. Feb. 19 America (by U.S. pkt.) 11 Feb. 18 Southampt. Arrived Africa (West coast).. N 14th of the month Plyneoath March 3 Alexandria* • • ...... N 19th & 30th of mo. Dover .. Feb. 18 Belgium • • .. •. NI Daily • • .. .. Dover .. Daily Brazil M 9th of the month Southampt. Arrived Buenos Ayres • • .. M 9th of the month Southampt . Arrived California(viaCharree) M I 2d& 17th of monthlSouthampt. Feb. 20 Cape of Good Hope Nll4th of month Plymouth.. March 3 Constantinople* .... N l 7th 17th27thefmo,Dover .. Feb. 20 Central America .. M2d & 17th of men. ( Southampt. Feb. 20 Channel Isles N Mon., Wed., &Fri.Southampt. Tn. Th. Sat Chili .. . 31 17th of the month Southampt. Feb, 20 France N ; Twice daily .. .. Dover .. Twicedaily Greece* •• N 7thl7th27th of mo Dover .. Feb. 20 Hamburgh N.Tuesday & Friday London .. Tees. Sat. Holland • • .. 2d Wednea. & Satur. Londen Mon. Thur Honduras N 17th of the month Southampt. Feb. 20 Ireland .. M& N Twice daily .. .. Holyhead.. Twicedaily India(via Sonthamp.) hi,2oth of the month Southampt. Feb, 23 India (YiaMarsoilles) NlSth&24thefmonthDover .. Arrived Mediterranean (via Southan"ton) •• 1120th of the month Southampt. Feb. 23 Mediten anean (via Marseilles) •• N lith& 24th of month Dover .. Feb. 20 Mexico •• •• M2d of the month.. Southampt. March 5 Madeira •• •• 9th of the month Southampt. Arrived Malta * •• •• r 1 71 11 • 1 7th,19t 11 . 27 th 1 Dover Feb. 18 & 30th of month Naples * • • • • • • N sth 15th 25th of me DOVer Feb. 22 papal States* .. N sth 15th25th ef mo Dover .. Feb. 22 Peninsular.. • • .. M 7th 17th 27th of mo Southampt. Arrived Peru •• • • •• •• M 17th of the month Southampt. Feb. 20 Tuscany * • • • . N sth 15th 25th of mo Dover .. Feb. 22 West Indies .. M 17th of the month Southampt. ,Feb. 20 Naples * • • Papal States* reninsular.. • • .. M Tuscany * • • • • N West Indies .. M West Indies (except Ravenna & Nassau) 3112 d of the month .. The mails to those c ountrias thus mar] French packet vt* Marseilles. The direct Havre mail from London via month will be made up three times a week CALIFORNIA. —Mails to and from Cali/ern' are now despatched and due by every Amer) Sonthanipt. March b Led (•) are conveyed by outhampton during this may, instead of daily. I, via the United LitateB ;:an packet TuE a verdict of " Accidental death." They added an ex pression at the other gate in consequence of the hinges being morn ing had some of cast iron, and they recommended that the present hinges FATAL !ACCIDENT AT THE BRIGHTON PA. viuoN.—The inquest on the body of Miss Michelson, of 11, Grand Parade, Brighton, who was killed by the falling of one of the gates of the Brighton Pavilion in a storm on Tuesday last, was resumed at the Town Hall ' on Wednesday night, and, by adjournment, again on Thursday night, be fore Mr. F. H. Gell, one of the coroners for the eastern divi sion of Sussex. The unfortunate lady, who was unmarried, was 38 years of age. After a long consultation, the jury re turnedpression of opinion that a similar accident was to be appre hendedbee rteplaced by hinges of wrought iron, or that such measures b h ak z e T n E bit v he E local eommissioners as they may deem ne cessarydentltyhito pro:e a c t t ec t i h . e public from any recurrence of such ac cidents.se • Miss Langridge, who, although bruised, was not covery were landed in the has been is recovering ; and Mr. Sheriff, whose re ezrreeegbainrdgeedleaesp,vearnydphriescarreicooul%rshaiss n th o i w s m co o n r fi n : Charles Sanders, r e anticipated. tierces, IN LIVERPOOL. --On Fri day the Customs , entered as containing pork and ham, Albert Dock, Liverpool, from the ship opened, and out , f filled with leaf tobacco. 'l' l l7 ; I ce c iatly arrived from America. On Satur fLethipn examined. Five tierces were were then seized. The Charles e r r i emaining tierces and the vessel tour went found to be almost j pool firm, who deny that a Sanders belongs to a Liver i transaction. they had any knowledge of the THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. The following " Report" has been published in the shape of a Blue Book : Admiralty, Arctic Committee, Nov. 20, 1851, Sir,-1. The committee appointed by their Lordships' letter of the 22d of October to inquire into and report on the conduct of the officers intrusted with the com mand of the late expeditions in search of Sir John Franklin, and whether everything was done by them to carry into effect their instructions, and to prosecute the search for the missing ships, commenced their proceed ings on the 24th ult.; and, conceiving that the only distinct inculpations are those contained in Mr. Penny's lettere to their Lordships of the 15th of September and the 10th of October, we considered it our duty to direct our attention in the first instance to this part of the sub ject, and we accordingly examined Mr. Penny himself, and all the principal officers of the Lady Franklin and Sophia, with the view of ascertaining satisfactorily every circumstance connected with the exploration of Welling ton Strait and the channels discovered above it, and how far Mr. Penny's subsequent statements are in con formity with those he so distinctly expressed in hie let ters of the 4th and 11th of August, addressed to Cap tain Austin; and having obtained all the information in our power, and most carefully considered the whole question, we are of opinion that Captain Austin could only put one construction on Mr. Penny's two litters referred to, and that, having been thus assured by him that the open water found above Wellington Straits was (to use his own expression), from " the fearful rate at which the tide runs (not less than six knots) through the sounds that divide the Channel, dangerous even for a boat, much more to a ship, unless clear of ice, which f r om its present appearance would not be so that sea son," impracticable for navigation at that time, and that the shores and islands on both sides had been thoroughly examined by the exploring parties, without any traces of the missing ships being discoverable, we do not think Captain Austin would have been justified in commencing a fresh search in a direction concerning which he na turally considered himself to have received such authen tic information. 2. It will be observed that in Mr. Penny's letter, of the 4th of August, 1851 (from which we extract the pre cedingparagraph), he distinctly acquaints Capta in Austin of his fix e d determination to return immediately to England, and that nothing is to be found in it in any wa y expressive of hie wish for a further search in Wel lington Strait, and the channels connected with it. In his journal, also, several remarks occur, all equally dis couraging and fully indicative of his opinions at that period; and we can only account for his subsequent c cons idering (as h e hi mse lf s tates in his evidence) that page on his arrival in England b y his tn h s e n ge f o u f n l ci a said " more might have been done;" and "that he everybody disappointed;" tha t i t had been therefore wished to have the means of going out again ;" but we are bound to state that the evidence brought be fore us has not, in our opinion, corroborated the state ment that he expressed to Captain Austin at the time any such sentiments; and it will be seen that Captain Austin distinctly denies having received any communi cation to that effect. 3. Some desultory conversation, however, certainly appears to have taken place on this subject when Cap taM Austin and Mr. Penny met on the 11th of August, 1851, and it was for this reason that the former (very prudently and properly, in our opinion), pressed Mr. Penny so strongly for his opinion in writing. 4. We thi n k, t h ere f ore , that Captain Austin could only form hi s j u d gment on Mr. Penny s written commu nications, w hi c h , a l t h oug h very laconic, were sufficiently explicit, and that, under all the circumstances of the ease, much weight is due to the feeling expressed by Captain Austin in his evidence, that as Mr. Penny's ex peditiou was, equaily with his own, equipped at the pub lic expense, ann receiving its orders from the Admiralty, although independent of his authority, he considered himself bound to abide by the strongly-expressed opi nisen of the officer who bad by mutual agreement under taken that particular portion of the search, that " all had been done which it was in the power of man to accomplish." 5 . We beg to remark on this part of the subject, that although Mr. Penny endeavours to draw a distinction between Wellington Strait and the channels to the sorth west, which h e h as since named Queen Victoria's Chan nel, no s uc h d ist i nc ti on appears in the track chart deli vered by him to Captain Austin at the time, and which we annex to this report; and we, therefore, think th at Captain Austin could not fairly be expected to recognise any distinction between the upper and lower part of this channel. 6. It appears to have been under this impression, liv•tin fully justified in enter taining,ellington Strait clos e d, th e which we mink Captain Austin that after finding ice still presenting the same impenetrable barrier it had dune in 1850, he decided on occupying the remainder of the navigable season in the examination of Jones's Sound, to which inlet his own instructions, as we ll as Mr. Penny's, directed attention, but which the latter had been unable to explore in the preceding season. 7. Wo think that considerable benefit might have arisen, especially with reference to future operations in Wellington Strait, it one of the expeditions had re mained near the entrance about a fortnight longer, in order to obtain the latest information of the state of the ice in that direction, and therefore the probable practi• cability of the navigation of this strait, and we think this might have been accomplished by • Mr. • Penny without involving any serious risk of being detained during the winter; but we are clearly of opinion tbat as no certain traces of Sir John Franklin's ships had been met with in any direction beyond their wintering place at Beechey Island in 1845-6, and no record of the route intended to be pursued by them could be discovered, after the most diligent and repeated search (thus leav ing this question a mere matter of conjecture), both Captain Austin and Mr. Penny were fully justified by the tenour of their Lordships' instructions in not risking their detention in the ice during another winter; and we beg to add that all the most experienced Arctic officers in both expeditions appear to have unanimously con curred in opinion as to the expediency of returning to England. 8. With respect to the conduct of the officers intrusted with the command of the expeditions and several explor ing parties, we most gladly express our highest and most unqualified admiration of the zeal, energy, intre pidity, and perseverance with which every individual amongst them performed their respective duties. They appear to have been animated by a common feeling of determination to endure every hardship, and brave every danger, in their endeavours to obtain some traces of their missing countrymen. The journeys accomplished under the most difficult and trying circumstances tar ex ceed both in distance and duration any to be found in the previous records of Arctic exploration iu those ; and the arrangements made by Captain Aufstl latitude; and Penny were so well considered and so complete that all their parties returned (with only one exception) in perfect health, and without having sufferings beyond those which were in separablefatigue in such inclement regions. experienced 9 . With frroe a ms n p y es ectvetroe th e results of the late expedition, a; regards the search for the missing ships, on which their Lordships desire our opinion, we may remark mat, in the first place, it is a matter of no small interest and importance to have ascertained with certainty the exact position in which they passed the winter of 1845-6, while the careful and minute exploration of the coast to the southward and westward by Captain Ommaney and Lieutenant Weinstock, without discovering any traces whatever of Sir John Franklin, would seem to ufferd a very strong presumption that he did not pass tha t wa y; and conjecture, there f ore, naturally turns toward s Wel lington Strait, to which it is well known ho had often looked as affording one chance of a passage to the north west, and which we see by Mr. Penny's account of his examination of the upper part of the channel appears to form at least a possible outlet in that direction. 10. It is not without considerable hesitation and anxiety that we proceed to reply to the last point on which their Lordships request our opinion; namely, " what benefits can be expected from any further re search, with the means and directions in which the com mittee are of opinion that such search should be prose cuted." 11. We should deeply grieve at being considered capable of treating with coldness or indifference the natural and praiseworthy feelings of those who are still without certain information of the fate of their nearest and dearest relatives, who in this state naturally cling to hope " even against hope," and whose thoughts (as might be expected) turn eagerly towards further explo rations, in any and every direction; but we have felt, at the same time, while considering calmly and carefully this difficult question, that we have an equally important duty to perform towards those brave and meritorious men whos e lives must be risked in this arduous and perilous search, and to reflect in what manner it may be best conducted with a due regard to their s afet y . 12. Taking, theref ore , all these circumstances into consi deration, we have, after a most careful and anxious de liberation, decided on recommending to their Lordships that an expedition should be dispatched next year to Barrow's Strait, consisting of the same ships which composed Captain Austin's division, namely, two sailing ships and two steamers, with orders to proceed direct to Beechey Island, and to consider that harbour—beyond which we thi n k one sa ili ng s hip and one steamer should on no accou n t b e taken—as t h e base of future operations. 13. We cons id er any furt h er e xploration in the direc tion of Melvill e I s l ond or to the south-west of Cape Walker wh o ll y unnecessar y ; and we would, therefore, propose that a ll the strengthand energy of the expedi tion should b e di rected towar ds the examinati on o f t h e upper at part of W e lli ng ton Strait; and we are of opinion by the adoption of the same careful and well-consi dered arrangements which were attended by such satis factory results on the late occasion this examination may be effected without any serious risk of loss or danger. 14. If, on • • arriving at the proposed rendezvous early August,in the barrier of ice at the entrance of the Strait renders any it attempt to penetrate it unsafe or imprudent, may,perhaps, still be possible to convey boats on rangers or sledges, or by any small lanes" whichmay offer, and launch them into the open water above, and by this means depots of provisions may be advanced to the most. convenient points, and such further information d during the remainder of the • navigable season as might very much facilitate the of the operations en suing spring. 15. These operations must, in that case, be commenced as early as Poss ib le in the season of 1853, an d pushed forward with as much " • consistent with ppt ridit as is donee ,it being clearlunderstood b all the exploring y y parties that they must return to the depot at Beechey'ddle Island in good time for their embarkation by the middle of August at latest. The object in view would be to part far beyond the upper of Wellingt on Strait, as ar Mr. beyond Penny's north-western advance red as in possible; and if Sir John . n anklin did really proce that di rection, it a ppears highly improbeele that some traces his exp , dition ,in" In' discovered by the ex) ploring parties in their search. 16 . If, on the other hand, Wellington Strait is found open and navigable on the arrival of the expedition in the ennamer of 1852, we think one of the sailiDg ships, FIRE IN THE HOUE. Mr. SPOONER wished to know whether Lord Sey mour could give the House any information with regard to the fire, or alarm of fire, in a Committee-room of the House on Saturday? Lord SEYNIOUR said he hari not vet received a re port upon the suoject, but he had heard it aroee from an ecapo of gas. POPULATION RETURNS. Sir B. HALL said a return of the number of elector& [n the dlfforent towns had been made out and delivered this morning, which was inaccurate as to the numbers returned for Finsbury and Marylebone; and he should he glad to know it it was intended to correct these inac curacies? Sir G. GREY was not aware that there was any, but he would make inquiry into the matter. Sir DE LACY EVANS said Westminster was re turned as containing a population of 120,000, whereas it was 220,000. Mr. GEORGE THOMPSON said a similar mistake had Leen made in reference to the Tower Hamlets. HARWICH ELECTION. Sir DE LACY EVANS gave notice that he should to-morrow move that a new writ be isssued for the borough of Harwich without previous notice. THE MILITIA. Lord J. RUSSELL then movel that the part of her Majesty's Speech which related to the raising of the militia be read. This having been done, the Noble Lord moved that the House do resolve itself into a Com mittee for the purpose of taking into consideration the laws relating to the militia. Mr. HUME hoped the Noble Lord world state what was to be done before going into Committee. He saw no necessity for calling out the militia on the contrary, he thought such a proceeding would produce great evil and much confusion, as it would call p:aceable parties from their homes, and thus be the means of breaking up their businesses. Lord J. RUSSELL thought it better to state what he intended to be done when they got into Committee, as the House would then have the opportunity of asking questions upon the details. Mr. REYNOLDS wished to know if the proposed measure was to apply to Ireland. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he world state in Committee. The House then went into Committee, when Lord JOHN RUSSELL again rose and said, in 1848 he made a statement to the House with respect to the defences of the country, and in the course of that statement he said he thought it would be desirable to form a foundation for a permanent reserve force in the country, to meet the wants of the active suvice in case of attack. Unfortunately the proposition for a militia force aid not meet with any very gene ral approbation, and it was ultimately withdrawn.— (Hear.) He merely recalled the recollection of the House to the circumstance to prove that in the opiniun of the Government it was then, as indeed it was now, wise to make some additional provision for the defence of the country.—(Hear, hear.) At that time King Louis Phlilipe was on the throne of France, and there was no sign whatever of any approaching danger; nor, indeei, was there any now, but it was never theless still necessary to make some addi tional provision for the peace of the country, without in any way intending to throw any doubt upon the assurance of her Majesty that we were at peace, and hoped to remain so, with all the world. — (Hear, hear.) But at the same time it never could be assumed that a country in a position like that of this country could be secure from the danger of war for ever. We might for instance have to repel some ag gression on the part of some powerful enemy, or we might have some dispute with respect to the right of some of her Majesty's subj , cts abroad. In the third place, we were bound by treaty with respect to many countries in Europe to defend them in cases of attack. An Hox. SlEnsinu asked what countries ? Lord JOHN RUSSELL raid we were bound by treaties; for instance, to protect the Queen of Portugal end other similar states en the continent. In the fourth place for more than a century we had been closely connected and deeply interested :a the maintenance of the Continental system of Europe, and under that system we might be called upon to resist any aggrandinment or increase of power on the part of any state that was a party to that system, or to maintain our moral strength while with foreign nations upon the subject of c a o n r y re s s u P ;p n o dig s n edor actual increase of territory in that way.—‘ -H I (ear, hear.) It was necessary to be prepared for such emergencies as those, but unfortunately there was another question which bad arisen of late years to show the necessity for a reserved militia force, and which had been so much made a topic for discussion in books, in pamphlets, in reviews, and in newspapers on both this and the other side of the Channel that it Was quite unnecessary for bins to more than briefly allude to it.—(Cheers.) Ile referred to the fact that since the invention of the steam - navigation this country could no longer be considered 2° safe from aggression as it was formerly, when an invasi on was rendered almost i mposs ibl e b y the ob stacles which nature had thrown in the way.—(Hear.) hose obstacles , or at least many of them, had however, been in a great measure re moved by the development of steam navigation and there wa ll effecting a land !'" no longer the same difficulty of thought necessary —( Hear , hear ing N upon our coast as existed formerly. Now under these 'circumstances it was more so, as it Y w t a ° reorganise the militia, the ect which country did not nese a notorious fact that this (Rear, hear.) for its protection, as d u i p d 8° large a military force hence this was a subj of continental affairs called foriethh its neighbours, and in the piculiar state ) iramediate attention of the Legislature.— pgeleet to e bservation at present, few words, and only a few words, with navawlouflodrcessayhae wi l tll e regard to our Friend the First Lord should nett forces.fim Honourable n o W u i r t s h b e eb believing hat knits would be much better for his Right ct on a futureje o„mion._ (Hear, respect to our minter of the Admir alt y to disclose what ssas to be d one with th a t branch of th e sub. hear.) Now , withforce, he of stating that it was proposed number of our regular proposed to increase by 1,000 men. troops and the artillery would take the opportunity by 4,oo o ,make h These two , an had al- numbers together wou for the purpose of carrying 0 ready been drafted off . ld not more t the the war.—(Hear , b C a o d m t m e a rb nd ed er- t i h n e - i C r hear.) With regar n d n he stated that the r of the Ordnance to the second question, improved arms and were well known muskets which had been introduced, and te have than those used formerly a much longer range with these and steps would be taken to furnish the army haietfteanntidonthteo Master te improved arms when they were found to be successful. The Noble Lord then proceeded to state the nature lu of a _ his Bill for amending the laws relating to the 9 1 inilitis. H' detailed the objects and provisions of the previous Acts on the subj ect , an d sa id the militia wh ich he now proposed would be of a very different de scription. He Proposed in the first piece to mvke ceauge with reaard to Lue offiers. fig, propnat:d two-thirds should be appointed by the Lord Lieutenant, and one field officer and one-third of the captains by the Crown. The Lord Lieutenant would not be re stricted as to the qualification of the officers--- he would not be required to appoint only those who possessed property in the county. There would also be an alteration with regard to the men—formerly all were liable tee be balloted between the ages of 18 and 30. Now he thought if a shorter number of years was fixed as the lfmit, there would be a great diminution in the cost of the militia, as well as a great relief to the population. He, therefore, proposed that for the first year the ages between which persons should be subject to ballot should between twenty and twenty three. In future years the limit would be from twenty to twenty-one years of age. The first limit would give about 80,000 men, and in the second, 30,000. The balloting would be conducted upon the following principles:—one-fifth of those ballotted would be taken, and ten per cent. of those remain ing would be left as a reserve to meet all cases in which excuses were made or disqua lifications proved. There would be the same examinei ion and the same right of appeal as formerly. Provisions had been introduced to enable persons between 20 and 30 to volunteer for the local militia ; they would have to serve one year less than the local militia. The service of the local militia would be four years, and by an order in council they might be required to serve six months longer. The Crown, on an address from both Houses, might require an additional six months, making altogether twelve months additional service when the country was menaced with danger. Next came the question as to how the men were to be trained. The militia would be formed into battalions and they would have to ataemble for fourteen and twenty-eight days (not necessarily consecutive) for the first year, and fourteen days for all subsequent years. They would have to undergo three hours training and drilling, which would be counted half a day. They would have the pay and allowance of regular soldiers, and be subject to the Mutiny Act. In the present year not more than 30,000 men would be secured, and the expenses altogether would be under 200,000/., but a larger sum would be taken in order to meet contingencies. Places would be exempted where there wai a large police force drilled and armed, and where volunteer corps had been formed.—(Hear, hear.) In answer to a question from Sir T. PAKINGTON, Lore JOHN RUSSELL said that the militia of each country would not be moved from its own country ex cept by its own consent, or in case of a foreign invasion. Mr. HUME had heard the statement of the Noble Lord with great regret. He saw no reason for any augmentation of the military force, and if there was to be any increase, he thought it would be more advantageous to increase the regular army.—(Hear.) He thought it would be morally and physically injurious to the people, dragging them from their home and em ployment and endgenderiag in them military habits and ideal. The idea was that we were to have a militia in order that the regular troops might be ready to be sent out of the country. But where were they to be sent to? Did any one fancy that a British soldier would ever again be seen on the Continent as an aggressor. Certainly not, and he thought that this was the first step of a return to that system which had plunged the country into an enormous deb:. He should certainly oppose the proposition to every extent in his power, and he would give them notice that at a future stage he should move that every man called eut for the militia should ever af:er be entitled to the suffrage. Colonel THOMPSON could not held thinking that the country woula be too glad to see the Government doing anything to be ready, not for what sensible and intelligent men should do, but for the attempts of hot headed and rash men. (LEFT SPEAKING.) FR AN CE. A portion of the property belonging to the heirs of the late King Louis Philippe was put up to sale on Saturday in the Civil Tribunal of First Instance of the department of the Seine, wi4la all the formalities required by the law. The property was composed of three lots, namely, what is known as the Pavillon de Wurtem berg and its dependencies ; a house, situate at Neuilly, end an orchard appertaining to the great park of Neuilly. The first was sold for 95,000 F., exclusive of charges ; the second, 9,0001. ; and the third, 7,050 f., The sale attracted a considerable number of persons, no doubt in consequence of the decree of confiscation of the 231 of January. It may be right, however, to observe, that the sale was without reference, and may be said, not withstanding that decree ; and the fact of its not having been arrested by the law officers of the Govern ment in consequence of that decree has appeared strange, and in fact inexplicable to the friends of the Princes of the Orleans family. The sale was decided on before the decrees in question, indeed, in virtue of an order of the T. ihunal of First Instance of this department, hearing date the 12th of April, 1851, the 23i of July of the same year, and the 10th of January, 1852, and at the request of the heirs of Louis Philippe ; and it would appear as if the execution of that order took place in order to try whether the decree of confiscation would be attempted to be carried out by the Government. No opposition, how ever appered, though the sale had been previously made known, and the Procureur of the Republic was present. It is not, however, believed by the friends of the Orleans family that the absence of interference on the part of the Government is any indication that the wrong committed by that decree is intended to be remedied by its repeal; but they declare they believe themselves unable to explain the fact of nothing having been done or said to put a stop to the proceeding. The orders for carrying the decree into execution have not yet been transmitted by the proper officer to the party charged with the management of the property. THE BELGIUM. In the sitting of the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium on the 10th, one of the Members, M. St- NAVE, made some very offensive remarks on Eng land. In the sitting of the following day the subject was again alluded to, and the discussion terminated as follows: . "M. d'lloffsmitt, Minister of Foreign Affairs, pro tested against the language used by M. Sinave with re spect to the Britannic Government. The Minister affirmed that the Belgian Government had only to speak in terms of encomium of the good faith, sympathy, straightforward dealing, and kindness of Queen Victoria's Government towards Belgium. In presence of such friendly ct.nduct on the part of the Cabinet of St. James's, the Government protested energetically against the language of M. Sinave. " M. Sinave said—The words which I pronounced yesterday I maintain today. The English Government is a Government of pirates. " The President—M. Sinave, withdraw your expres sion or I shall call you to order. " M. Sinave withdrew the expression." The Emancipation of Brussels states that M. EMILE DE GLEARDIN has written to the Prince PRESIDENT to solicit permission to return to France The Precurseur of Antwerp says—" M. GaErPo, who has completely given up all connexion with poli tical affairs, has, it is said, just been engaged as fore man in one of the principal silk manufactories in Switzerland. Before entering on political life, he was considered as one of the most skilful and intelli gent workmen in that branch of business." SE AB Oit N E MAILS. signifies that the mails are sent front the General Post-office by the night—and 31 by the morning--011spatch.] MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 16, 1852 with a steamer, might proceed at once to take a dvantage of this opportunity, if the officer commandin g should judge such a measure safe and prudent, and be thus placed in winter quarters in a more favourable position for commencing the land search in the spring of 1853, but with the most distinct injunctions not to advance to such a distance as to endanger their retur a to the depot, or their communication with it in that y ear; and it should be enjoined with equal strictness, tha t,, in the event of any irreparable disaster to the ships 30 pro ceeding, or if they should be too firmly fixed in the ice to be extricated during the summer of 18 5:3, they are to be abandoned, and the crows brought clown to the depot. 17. If is, however, proper to provide for one possible contingency—namely, that of the difficulty of travelling at a late season, rendering the retreat of the crew to Beechey Island more . hazardous to their lives these their rem aining by the ships (if they are only froren up) another winter; and in that case the division at &3echey Island, which will be still amply provided with provisions, Zee., must remain also until the following year; bait this is, we hope, an improbable supposition, and our confi dent belief is, that with the improved equip men t s an d appliances of all kinds which past experienc e w ill dic tate, such an exploration may be made in the early part of 1853 as to enable the whole expedition to r e t urn to England before the close of the navigable season. 18. It is obviously impossible to provide in a report of this kind for more remote and less probable contin gencies; but their Lordships' instructions to Captain Austin (paragraphs 4 and 7), contain all the discretionary power with which an officer under such circumstances can be intrusted; and we conclude they will be embodied in any future orders on the same subject. 19. We have thought it right to request from the several gentleman named in the margin* their opinions on this interesting but most difficult question; and we annex their replies, to which we beg to call their Lord ships' attention. 20. We have also requested from Captain Austin and the officers specially employed in his travelling parties such suggestions as to practicable improvements in equipments, clothing, and provisions, as their recent ex perience so well qualifies them to offer. They are an nexed to this report, and will be found of considerable importance. 21. Although our instructions do not advert to the report of the loss of the missing ships received from an Esquimaux named Adam Beck, and to which Sir John Ross in his evidence still attaches much weight, we beg to state that a paper written by Adam Beck, in the pre sence of Sir John Ross and Captain Ommanney, and purporting to be the substance of information commu nicated to him by another Esquimaux, now in England, named Erasmus York, on the subject of the loss of the ships and the murder of the crews, has, on being trans lated before us by a Moravian missionary, well ac quainted with the Esquimaux language, proved not to contain a single word relating to this occurrence. 22. Adam Beck's substquent deposition, which was sent to Copenhagen for translation, has not yet been re turned; but if their Lordships should consider any fur ther inquiry necessary, we would only express an earnest hope that it may be conducted separately, and not al lowed to interfere with the early arrival of the proposed expedition in Barrow's Strait. 23. With respect to the efforts now making to afford relief to the missing ships in the direction of Behring's Strait - , we do not venture to offer any suggestions, beyond a hope that, until further accounts are received from Captain Cullinson and Commander M'Clure, the Plover may be kept fully provisioned. We have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient ser vents, Wm. BowLss, Rear-Admiral. ARTHUR FANSLIANVE, Rear-Admiral. W. E. PARRY, Captain. F. W. BEECHEY, Captain. GEORGE BACK, Captain. To Mr. J. Parker, 'A.P., &c., Admiralty. Rear-Admiral Sir J. Ross, Rev. Dr. Scoresby, Captain, Austin, Captain Kellet, Captain Ommanney, Sir John Ri chardson, Mr. W. Penny, and Mr. A. Stewart. THE HOLMFIRTH CALAMITY, Nothing :natter transpired at Holmfirth up to Friday evening. The coroner's jury viewed the bodies re covered since they last met, but nothing will be done in the way of taking evidence until Wednesday next. A new-born child has been found in the river opposite Hinchcliffe mill dam; but it is supposed to have been purposely placed there since the accident at the reser voir by some unnatural mother to conceal her shame. A large and influential meeting was held at Bradford on Friday for the purpose of originating a subscription for the relief of the sufferers by the late calamity at Holmfirth. Resolutions were passed appointing a com mittee to make an active canvass of the town, and col lect subeoriptiona on their behalf. A subscription list was opened in the room, and upwards of 1,0001. was contributed before the meeting broke up. KEIGHLEY.--THE RESEAVOlR.—Considerable alarm and rumour have prevailed in this town during the past week respecting the strength and stability of the em• bankment of the Keighley reservoir, situated about five miles above Keighley, on the edge of the moor sepa rating Yorkshire from Lancashire. This reservoir, we understand, is about as large again as the one at Holm firth which burst. The ♦alley down to Keighley is much more contracted, and the buildings are in greater danger, supposing an accident occurred. Scores of people living on the edge of the beck, which runs down from the reservoir, left their dwellings and slept in other parts of the town. We believe, however, that their alarm was premature. Good watch has been kept and several workmen employed about the embankment, so that it is thought no danger need be teared.—Leeds Mercury. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Who kill'd cock-robin? I, says Lord John, with my bow and arrow, I kill'd cock-robin. s o ,—But does not Lord John claim here a greater feat than belongs to him ? He may have been the instrument that bent the bow and let fly the shaft, but who put the bow and arrow i n hi s grasp , an d b a de him take aim at his companion in the Ministry ? Now, the said arrow having b een su b m i tte d to in spection, is evidently of German stick, feathered from the Prussian eagle, and pointed with some of the base metal, once attempted to be cir cu l a ted as coin in Cobourg , for which a certain petty potentate was pretty smartly . fined by the Diet, and for which delinquency a certain purse was pretty heavily drawn upon. The arrow thus prepared, it appears, was handed from the Osborne quiver on the 13th, and levelled from Lord John's b ow on Sund ay , t h e 14th of De cember. The victim, fully sensible of the armoury whence the shaft was issued, an d smart i ng at the many affronts rece i ved fro m th e same quarter, and the offensive injunctions and threats of dismissal con veyed to him in 1850, w as ev id ently too proud to a tt em pt to shield himself from the blow now . so deli berately aimed for his destruction. Having also been at Osborne for an audience —though not as a guest— on the 12th, the Minister must have felt that any explanation required ought to have been asked direct of himself, and not insidiously by a letter on the fol lo wing day through another. When contempt was thus bred, who can wonder it was shown by silence ? Twang went Lord John's bow accordingly on Sa turday, the 201), and down with glee a dispatch is dispatched by train to Windsor to boast of what the great little man has ventured, of his own free will, and on his own responsibility, as he affects to believe and declare. With still greater glee certain German eyes, on opening the dispatch-box with his own key, feasted on its contents, and the agent for the conti nental alliance, in the fulness of satisfaction, must needs convey the intelligence, by that very night's post, to the emissary Radowitz, so graciously received as a guest at Windsor when the Foreign Secretary was excluded. Such news easily sped to Vienna by the 23d, on which day the letter was written, certi fying the intelligence as published by the Breslau Gazette on the 24th. So much for foreign eyes with foreign interests at heart, and foreign principles for conscience, having access to all official documents sub mitted to the Sovereign of these realms ! Now, who kill'd cock-robin ? A WARNING VOICE. REFORM OF EPITAPHS. A correspondent of the Builder says—ln your late numbers you have published some instances of curious and inappropriate epitaphs on tombstones. I have a collection of such in my possession, and now send you a few from it. From Dorchester, Oxfordshire:— " Here lies the body of --, an honest man, And when he died hs owed nobody nothing." From Bideford, Devonshire:— " The wedding- day appointed was, And wedding-clothes provided ; But when the day arrive did, , She sickened and she died did.'' From lllveratone: " Here lies my wife, Here lies she: Hallelujah, llallelujee." From Doncaster:— the a y f e o 1 f l o a w v o i u n r g e , d but u s " Here lie two brothers, by misfortune surrounded, One dy'd of his wounds, and other was drownded." I cannot_re o c th ol e l r ec c t o w a h e e s r p e on l d i w its answer for its being genuine:— " Sacred to the memory Of bliss Martha Gwynne, wh. WAS BO very pure within, She burst the outward shell of sin, And hatched herself a cherubim." [Several s imilarly distressing with le llu mar sense, good taste, propriety, and right feeling;ages of good do not think it desirable to print h but we was to aid in awakening attentio n to era. Our object 011 tO have been committed in thi s r the errors that inducing the adoption of a better espect, with the view of f u lly proved, and needs no str course. The case is en then• ----___ g ing.--ED. Builder.] REMARKABL E FULFILMENT OF A DREAM.—During the night of Tuesday, William Jackson, a railway labourer, residing at Green Ilammerton, near linareshorough, dreamed that he should be killed on the railway. He awoke and told his wife of tl,e circumstance, whereupon alio implored him not to go that morning to his usual labour on the line; not withstanding which he did so, when, strange enough to state, he accidently fell from a ballast train in the neighbourhood 1 of Fiaxby, and wt.: , run ov,:r, both his leg 3 and riOt a rm ea- m brought manner. H e was Otrrs Wheat Sheaf Inn, in this town, wh ere h e exp i re d three hours after his arrival. The poor man h as l e ft a w id o w and severs children to bewail hie loft—Bradford Observer. being crush e ,. in a dr RAILWAY INTELLIGENC.E. LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on Thursday, at the Nine Elms station, Vauxhall, for the purpose of receiving the report, declaring a dividend, electing three directors, and on general business ; the attendance of proprietors was very large. Lord Morley, the vice-chairman, presided, in the absence of Mr. Chap lin, M.P., who was prevented from attending by indis position. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the secretary read the report, of which the following is an abstract:— " The net revenue for the half-year ending December 31, 1851, amounts, after deducting interest on loans and all other preferential charges, includ ing an extraordinary charge of 10,0001. referred to below, to . £181,976 14 1 The surplus from June 30, 1851 2,320 16 1 The balance applicable to dividends, therefore, is From which the directors recommend that a dividend for the half-year at the rate of 54 per cent, per annum be declared, amounting on 6,695,218/. to 175,7491. 9s. 5d., leaving to be carried over to the next halt-y ear 8,548/. Os. 9d. The revenue of the half-year ending December 31, 1851, having received the increase due, directly and indirectly, to the Exhibition of the Industry of all Nations, presents an exceptional result, which prevents it from serving as a criterion from which to judge of the progress of the ordinary traffic. Its prin cipal features are, briefly, an increase of receipts as com pared with the corresponding period of 1850, of 69,113/. Is. 5d.; an increase of expense of 10,8021. 93. id. The number of passengers, in comparison with the number in 1850, has been as 1,827,870 to 1,370,788. The num ber of train miles run as 1,126,498 to 951,029. The greater, portion of this additional business occurred in the three months of July, August, and September. The continental traffic formed an important item in the in crease arising from the Exhibition, the numbers of con tinental travellers reaching nearly 1,000 per week during such period. The increase of numbers during the same period on the main line was about 216,011, and on the Windsor line about 241,072. The increase in the goods and live stock traffic during the last half-year, as compared with 1850, has been, it will be seen, at the rate of about 831. per week, or a total of 4,286/. lle. sd. The receipts from season tickets have improved as 2,9551. to 4,1441, and the number extant has largely increased and is increas ing. It is satisfactory to find that the reaction in the regular traffic, which was anticipated as a probable re sult of the cessation of the exeitemeet produced by the Exhibition, has not yet been appreciably felt by this company; the receipts, counting from one month after the closing of the Exhibition to the present time, having been better by 4,7361. than for the corresponding period of 1850—the same number of miles being opened during each period. The passenger tax on the excursion pas sengers carried during the Exhibition, at and under Id. per mile, in first and second class carriages, has been re. tained by this company on the ground of such receipts being legally exempt from the tax. The claim of the Inland Revenue Commissioners for payment of duty on this item is, nevertheless, being prosecuted at law, which the directors cannot but regard as an inequitable and unfair proceeding, when it is considered that it was by means of these excursion trains alone that the mass ot the people were enabled to visit the Exhibition, and that such trains afforded the very accommodation which the Act providing tor the drawback of the tax on fares at and under Id. per mile, was framed to encourage—viz, the securing to the poorer class of travellers th means of traveling at moderate fares and in carriages protected from the weather. In connexion with the subject of plant or carrying stock, the amount under this head has reached the total set down in the estimate of February, 1850, as the limit to be charged to capital— viz., 570,160/. The capital account for plant, in accord ance with the pledge given, having been closed at the sum above stated, the additional plant required for addi tional traffic, will have to be defrayed out of revenue by successive instalments spread over five years, and a re serve account has been opened to liquidate the cost of such plant. To this reserve ace' unt 10,0001 has been carried from the revenue of the last half-year. Psrsuaded of the importance of making the nearest practicable ap proach to the object ad much wished for in railway management, and as yet found so difficult to attain—the closing of the capital account, the directors propose that the principle of the reserve fund, commenced for the first time this half-year, to provide for additional work ing stock, be extended to such future additions to sta tions and sidings as are found to be necessary for the de velopment of traffic; and that the expense of such addi tions, instead of being charged to capital, according to the practice sanctioned by commercial usage, be also by this company from this time forth put to a reserve ac count, and paid off by revenue, by means of instalments, spread over a given number of years. The directors know no other way of practically closing the capital account, as regards lines opened for traffic, the business on which is increasing; and it is in this conviction that they adopt the course in question. The line from Farnham to Alton is satisfactorily proceed ing to completion, and will be finished in the course of the present half-year. The North and South Junction Railway, 3i miles long, connecting this lino with the London and North-Western line, and the railway system ot the north and east of England, and the port of South ampton with the docks and warehouses of London, is expected to be ready for opening in the autumn of the present year. In consequence of two proposals made to your board during the last summer by the landowners and other influential persons locally interested in the extension of this railway westward, the directors found it necessary to call the proprietors together on the 16th December last, in order to submit these proposals to them, and after a careful consideration of the subject they recommended that the company should sanction an arrangement with the promoters of the central line pro ject from Salisbury to Exeter, which was almost iden tioal in design with that line for which this company, in 1848, obtained powers to construct, and for which object the proprietors of this company then entered into most onerous engagements. This arrangement did not in volve any subscription from this company to the capital for constructing the new line, nor did it involve any absolute guarantee. The recommendations of this report were not, however, accepted at that meeting, but a committee of shareholders was then ap pointed to examine into the proposals of the central and coast schemes of extension. The report of that com mittee, of the 22d of December, was adopted at ad journed meetings on the , 23d and 31st of December. This report contained the recommendation that the pro posal of the central scheme should not receive the sanc tion of this company, and went on to say that the pro posed extension of the coast line from Dorchester to Exeter, would add materially to the value of this pro perty, and that it deserves every encouragement and aid which the proprietors individually may bo disposed to give it.' The promoters of the coast line have subse quently to this period submitted proposals to your board, but from the nature of these proposals, and the wording of the shareholders' report, the board did not consider themselves authorised to treat upon them; they will ac cordingly be submitted to the meeting of this day by the promoters. Your directors have made arrange ments with Mr. Brassey for completing the works from Basingstoke to Andover as a single line, and at a re• duced cost—viz., 74,0001. The works are therefore re commenced. In regard to the remaining portion of the line between Andover and Salisbury, the directors are pursuing the inquiry recommended in the committee's report as to obtaining the lowest estimate at which the works between these places can be completed." The CHAIRMAN, in moving that the report be received and adopted said—Gentlemen, I think you will a ll agree with me in congratulating ourselves upon the success of the traffic during the last six months; and although we may certainly, in a great measure, attribute the vast in crease which has taken place to the Great Exhibition, yet still iI think we may fairly congratulate ourselves upon our permanent traffic having made satisfactory progress—(Cheers)—because we must look to the fact that not only has there been no reaction in the traffic the whole consequenf on the great bustle of the Exhibition since _ the Exhibition closed, but, on the contrary, the!ee::: w i se b eic tne et the been a satisfactory increase as compared period last year.—(Cheers.) number of houses building our line, I think we must be alongs,tis When We in go on the ordinary nature of things, this incrtehe le course of ding to and continue; and, when we look at t central, an thatt our d there station at Waterloo-bridge fore the most convenient, - ofany cmtance must operate e is thealteerminus in London, we cannot but feel that that cir at some little distance upon those who prefer _livingLoud cheers.) In alluding to from the metropolis. -- for the Great Exhibi the traffic arrangementsohighly to praise the zeal and lion, it is impossible activity of your servants on that occasion (ilear, a n, from the porter upwards, exerted They and it was owing to their ju hear.) which they arrangement' and the ability with themselves to the u tm ost, it w h e have been dicious arrao arrangements, h carried out those arrang t led under the guidance of enabProvidence, to carry the thou san ds an persons who flocked e thou d thousands of to our line, not only without any fatal accident, but without materially interfering with our ordinary local traffic (Cheers.) The directors have given a gratuity to each . of the servants who were engaged in thist ffi during the Exhibition, accompanying that traffic with letter expressing their thanks for gratuity g assi duity with which their duties the zeal and performed at a war© time of very great pressure.(Applause.) Thewish of direc torshave borne in mind the frequently expressed wish of the proprietors that the capital accounts of this com pany should be closed, and they have accordingly di rected that for the future all the plant, all the increase in the stations, and any a ddi t i ona l sidings, which may be required shall be transferred from the capital to the revenue account.—(Cheers.) This will of course 'n view of closing the mate rially facilit a t e t h e o bj ec t we have have capital account altogether. The audit ors l that the v m eapproved of the suggestion, and I flatterm shows that a an ner in which you received announcementthatt cheers.) An allusion it meets your approbation.—(Loud is made in the report to the fact that we were obliged to build new offices for our clerks and officers. It is abso lutely essential t h a t that should be the case, for th e offices are perfe ctl y unfit for the purposes s. . p for which • tended, an d gr. imon, the medical officer of they are in lib assures us that the Board of nesnew offices are essen tial So far as regards the health of our officers.— The offices will ( H ear , hear.) at em be constructed in such a manner as to bring into cortunction with the per t building the Waterlooj•station, whenever it in anen shall be determined to proceed with that building. A PROPRIETOR—Is that to be put to the revenue account? The CHAIRMAN—No. There is a sum set a p ar t f or e h,. L ., ruplt.t3on of thP V.7l).fit;•ko station fov! 9. p.)rtion taut sum will be applicable fur the erection of the new offices.—(Hear, hear.) Some proposals will be sub mitted to you by the proprietors of the coast line. Is will be for you to decide Ppm Shoe proposal. The directors did not think they were justified by the wording of the report of the committee which you sanctioned, to take those resolutions into their con sideration, because the encouragement to the scheme which is given in that report is merely given in this way, that the shareholders should encourage it indi vidually.—(Hear, hear.) It does not go beyond that, and it te as presumed by your directors that the coast scheme was preferred to the central scheme, because in the one case there were /4 o guarantees or stipulations de manded; and to the other case such guarantees were required.—(Hear, hear.) The matter is left entirely in your hands to deal with as you please.—(llear, hear.) The directors have taken the same view as the report of the committee, with reference to the completion of the line between Basingstoke and Andover, and they have entered into a contract with Mr. Brassey to com plete a single line at as small an expense as possible, and the contract supersedes one of a much heavier nature, which was -eviously in existence.—(Hear.) The di receers do not think the vast interests embarked by the South-Western shareholders would be secured if thee line were to be in the hands of an independent party so as to be sold, to the highest bidder.—(Hear.) With regard to this line, when we were discussing the me rits of the central scheme and the coast line, the expenditure required for the completion of the line was one of the great objections to the central scheme. The directors were fully aware at the time that it was essential for the interests of the company that this line should be made, and they only wished that the traffic to the cen tral line should come over it in order that it should Pay better than it is likely to do.—(Hear.) From what has occurred since we discussed the merits of these two linee—the fact that we are compelled to c °°/- piece this line now—and the fact that stipulations are demanded by the coast company more onerous than those demanded by the central, may open your eyes to the reason why the directors preferred the one line over the other.—(Hear.) I have great pleasure in informing you that your chairman is gradually recovering Wrath& severe illness under which he has been labouring (Cheers)—and I trust that in the course of a short time we shall again have the benefit of his advice and assistance at the meetings of the board.—(Cheer s) One word with respect to the candidates offering themselves for re-election. Of course it rests entirely with the shareholders whom they will elect, and it will only be for the directors to support those candidiktese whom they think most competent to fill the situation. So far as lam myself concerned—and I believe I speak the feelings of each individual member when I say to!"t we shall regret most exceedingly the loss of any of the three directors with whom we have been acting, who ha ve most zealously, conscientiously, and ably discharged th e , important duties and trusts confided to them— ( Cheers ) —I trust that the contest, whatever may be its resul t ' will be conducted without any personal vitupeill time, and without that contusion, and disorder which I regret to say has been so frequently the characteristic of our meetings.—(Cheers.) Our first business will be the adoption of the report; our next the declaration of the dividend. The different candidates will then be moved and seconded, and if the minority should deman d e a poll, it will commence immediately after the dhow °I hands and continue till eight o'clock. It will then be transferred to the York-road, and continued on IFlldir and Saturday from ten o'clock till five. On NiouditY.. and Tuesday the poll will be in the hands of the sera to neers, and on Wednesday at two o'clock we propose. re make the final declaration.—(Hear, hear.) The: 14°Dbe Chairman concluded by proposing that the rt for t received and adopted. _ _ Mr. UPCROFT seconded the motion. Mr. KAY wished to ask a question with respect t° ties l Bodmio and Wadebridge line. From the accounts+ it w e . impossible to ascertain the cost of that line and .•hen desirous of knowing the actual expense which 13114 been incurred. He wished also to rec e iv e some explateam' with respect to three items connected with the f• packet Company. There was a charge against ti se g venue account of 2,000/ ; a charge for ateaLOP fc the working account of 4,752/. 9s. lld and a charge . ems capital account of 2,1031 11 s . sd. Th ese three' nce 011 , amounted to nearly 8.000 per annum, and the he drew from the accou n t s was t h at thi s was am eet e- * annual loss to the company.—(Hear, hear.) ket The CHAIRMAN said with r es p ec t to the steam - Pe e r . company, the two last amounts referred to the It ono,te able proprietor were actually on the credit 51,., „; e-- (Laughter)—and the 2,000/. was interest upon a i 50Hear.) and Mr. UZIELLI said the expense of the Bonen - a I wa s Wadebridge line had been 35,9261. 16s. 3d. Ther e s the still a small payment to be made in liquidation I D' advances made by the commissioners several year 65-4 about 1,000/. A ir. KAY—What is the profit? Mr. Ijzsel ism don't see any.—(Laughter.) es of A PROPRIETOR complained of the law expert 9 „ted c the cornpsny, which during the last half - year aw e f th e to nearly 8,000/. Ile thought a great portion 0 d legal expenses would be saved by the appointw en " - law clerk, with a fixed salary.—(Hear, hear.) A was The CHAIRMAN said the subject now broach' ;" ve ry considered some time ago by the directors, al fairly and honestly met by the solicitors to nom fairly pany, but us the Parliamentrry expenses ws ! re „ e el about closing, it was not thought desirable to in tike alte T ration. he SOLICITOR to the Company explained the t a a° _, ;o ll ; siderable amount of tbe conveyancing bills paid dtl i `b ue ', last year were applicable to a period some time P4 1" large and he believed the sum referred to includes amount of vendors' costs for conveying the land. d lia Mr. LOCKE, M.P., said that in 1850 the esti mate an bilities of the company amounted 10 640,0001, s tate at that time he was most anxious that some wing ment should be laid before the preprietors, ec° bow those liabilities were to be provided for. : rder In struction were given to the auditors to repoirnt six months upon the expenditure of capital , 3 e% - that it might be seen whether t h e estimates vier co ceeded or not. At the first meeting which took „P a v f afterwards it appeared that out of the 640,000/. t he re early 280,000/ had been expended, and at anot her balf-Y a b e d m.e(ing the expenditure was reported to ha ve r— wort' 399,300/. In the present report there wa s not one hat from the au di tors on the subject, and be suggest:p i ; a lso the report should b e amend e d in that respect - .! wit h complained of the omission of the usual st atements respect to the mileage and the locomotive carriag4tt on partment, and suggested an addition to the rep° that point also.—(Hear.) old Mr. ALE XANDER H OYES , one of the accountatt% 500 0 the compl a i nt of the honourable proprietor watT i t say respect well founded.—(H e ar, bear.) conks , ,ague the matter h a d been forgotten; but he an d his cei" b t e et e bad not thought it necessary to report o n the t , sit, t ag on the pres en t occas i on . Of the 640,0004 that still remained a sum of 180,0001. before D o amount would be exceeded. In some c a bat le, o doubt thers t r h e st,yi amounts ng had estimated been e ffen t e h d a . d e o n b e x eeestee_ sa nd s full detail of these matters, which it well0b:1001 pos port. sible to state without ma ' king a voluminee_e_sti ified Perhaps the Honourable Proprietor would he e P ar if a complete report should be made next hall'Y e s b le t ' The SECRETARY said it had been found i f,ale p rc , b ; complete the table referred to by the bone-„ ne ( SE prietor, in consequence of the suspensio n ei v ese act t' clerks tor mi s co n duct. The informatio n with r )it b a the locomotiv e eng ines was now ready, and 1 . ID added if the report was to be sent round again. al La theArfetp"erstowmaes furthern per annu a• 0 A dividend at the rate of 51 p er _ c e e i a . x, - to be p unanimouslydise u j o o n pt th e e suject t droppe. sr il then declared, subject to the income on sad after the 28th of The meetingproceeded to the election of ; o° ,l retiringr nominated 11 „, d t‘hv ir e. ec ßil t e o ne r nd s . . candidates were Mr. Sergeant . (3 4169. Mr. H. C. Lacy, m.p s c.d P ar ' Mr. C. Helps, and S.Mortimer. lee, M r. • * having severally addressed the P r°. The candidates 0 , a show of bands was taken, which the ( ,11 A risient dretiarteTbdehreno teth b whe a r: v ec e fis fallen on the retiring direcce ) 1 el poll was then de manded on beh alf of th e other la - dates. Mr. Alexander Hoyes was unanimously elected tor of the company. Captain MOORSOM, a s a p h r ic o h pr h i e a t d o r m , a a d n e d sentative of a committee w to the board interests )1. proposed etahfnondl following np ga p n r ry o e p sa r os i l e u t wt o i eroslni as calculatedtheir o t: n_ e d r i e . ri ot, dation of the committee of That this meeting in cturwing out the recom 0 le; aasprthope, ,tboiPtiroe, r 16th December last, so as t o ro s p e r c ie ur ' O r the coustructiut e._!;oast line in connexion with the lines of the Suit Western ail R---way Company, request the directors t • lof )111 to make such arrangements with the provisions 00, • t s appointed oh, _v mitten of the coast line as would effect the object sistently with the best interests of this company. [ Mr. BUCKINGHAM seconded the motion. After considerable discussion, in the course of wb tone several amendments and alterations were suggested' , Mr. Locale moved that the proposal of the props?! qie of the coast line be remitted to the consideration ot directors, and that they be requested to consider ' 1 7 0 same without delay, and also any new proposals pt too promoters of the central line, and re p ort to a Log mee ting, or take such other means of COLGEGUnietI. their opinion as they shall think it. Mr. KAY seconded the motion. • 't After several amendments had been moved and ( 11 / 1 , led upon, the motion of Mr. Locke was agreed to. _ to The proceedings terminated with a vote of thaws the chairman and directors, which was briefly knowledged. BIRTHS. OF A SON. On the 12th inst., in Wilton-crescent, the Viscount "51 ewport. win' of On the 13th inst., at Cricklewood, Middlesex, the Adam Rivers Steele, Esq. On the 9th inst ,at Cheshunt-villa, St. John's-wood. tha wife of J. B. Alawer, Esq. OF • DAUGHTER.. On the 12th inst., at Brighton, the wife of the Rev. li r ' J. Stracey. On the 12th inst, at Southwick-crescent, the wife of Is llsc Braithwaite, jun., DIED. On the 15 th inst. , at his residence, 7, St. Michael's-ell% C o rnbill, Mr. Thomas Sawyer, newspaper agent, in the s ' l ' year of his age. late Be rt " On the 7th inst., at Cork, Sir Edmond Thomas, Major in the 69th Regiment, aged 42. O' .nd, On the 6th inst. , at Ashcroft, Cirencester, RO youngest son of the late J. Cripps, Esq., M.P., aged 41. .oer On the 6th inst. , at Ro;,s-house, Cheltenham, the Dew"... Lady Stuart Menteath, aged 80. - Y. On the Bth in st., at Denton-lodge, Norfolk, the B e George Snndby, aged 84. At Paris, on the 10th inst., aged 18, Lieutenant a JOhn Pt. 111axwe!! Blacker, 21st Fnsileem _,. , , ~, .., --- , -----ti*_-_ _-2,1fn...------ ---........ Londn: Prism:xi Anti Published by VOvlin'is, No. 112, Strand, Printer at The Sun o ffiee 2 _,,,,,'"'°*ey 0 s No. in the Precinct Of the Savoy, in the 1 """" I rdiddlosest blondAY, F - obriary 16, 1862.