The Sun. — London, England, 1867-08-29 00:00:00

RAilway and other Companies. BRISTOL AND E. - 7c ETER. The half -yearly meeting of this company was held yesterday at Bristol ; the Earl of Devon in the n ch The air. An abstract of the report has appeared i Sun. The CIIAIRUAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said it was a fair and candid statement of the present position of the company, and he hoped the meeting would deem it as satisfactory as the directors did. He trusted they would give the direc tors credit for having, in conjunction with their officers, done their best to carry the affairs of the company through a somewhat difficult period. There was an increase in the receipts under the bead of gods and cattle of £1,301, under the head of parcels, horses, &c., of £1,608, and under the head of passengers of £512. The traffic return of the past eight weeks showed an increase of upwards of £4,000. (Hear, hear.) The increase in the working expenses of the past half year had only been :AB5O. The Cornwall and West Cornwall Railways, which, under an old agreement, they had, in conjunction with the other broad gauge com panies, to make good certain preference charges, of which the Bristol and Exeter proportion amounted to £4,482, brought them a large traffic. He referred to negotiations which had take► place between the company and the South Western and Great Western, the result of which he had every reason to hope would be an arrangement,on a satisfactory basis for such a division of tratfie.as would be beneficial to all parties concerned. There was every probability that interest would in future be paid upon the de bentures which that company held in the Great Western docks at _Plymouth. - The Board had deter mined not to proceed with the Devon and Somerset Transfer Bill—(cheers) —neither did the Board con template any bill for the next session involving any new works or outlay of capital. (Applause.) Further than that it was not the intention of the Board to take any step for the outlay of capital, except in cases of emergency, without first consulting the shareholders. (Applause.) He adverted to the proposal of the Board to raise additional capital, amounting to £290,000, at 5 per cent. preferential dividend, and which would be first offered to the existing shareholders. Mr. M. CASTLE, deputy chairman, seconded the motion for the adoption of the report. Mr. 11. S. Ews, hon. secretary of The Western Railways Shareholders' Association, expressed his approval of the report, and of the course intended to be pursued in the future with regard to the out lay of capital. Mr. KINGDON drew attention to the large amount of outstanding debts for the carriage of goods. - After some further discussion the report was adopted. A dividend at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum was declared, and the new capital was authorised to be raised on the terms proposed by the directors. Mr. NAISII recommended the retirement of some of the elder members of the Board, and the election of younger men. Captain BuRNE complained of the undue propor tion of Bristol men on the Board. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the the shareholders to reduce the number of directors to five be omitted. This was agreed to, and the report with that • omission was adopted. On the motion of the CHAIRMAN, seconded by Mr. IL W. KENNARD, M.P., a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum on the preference shares, and at the rate of £2 15s. per cent. per annum on the ordinary shares, was declared. The CnAtumAx,said they could not state the day ofipayment, as they had not yet received the rent due on the 30th of June last from the London and South-Weztern Company, but were promised a check on Thursday next, and he had no doubt the money would be paid. Some discussion ensued as to electing a director in the room of the late Mr. S. Garrard. The direc tors had recommended that the vacancy should not be filled up, as there was very little to do, and therefore that the number of directors be reduced to five. It appeared there were three candidates to fill the vacancy—viz., Mr. Oxenden, Mr. Govett, and Mr. Arbuthnot--and that it would be requisite to call a special general meeting to decide theques tion, or to let it stand over to the ordinary meeting in February next, when there would be three va- cancies. The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman and directors. GREAT WESTERN AND BRENTFORD. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yesterday, at the offices, in Victoria-street ; Mr. P.. Davey in. the chair. Mr. ELEY, the secretary, read the report, which stated that the traffic in general goods exhibited a slight diminution compared with the corresponding period of last year ; but there had been such an in crease in the coal traffic 'as would admit of an improved dividend. The distrust in the public mind with regard to, railway debentures had not abated, and, notwithstanding the solid basis on which the debenture debt of the company rested, the average rate of interest now paid was 48 per cent. On this subject the directors remarked—first, that the undertaking being leased to the Great Western for 99 years at a minimum annual rental of £6,333, the present rental was over £9,000 per annum ; second, that the largest amount of deben tures issued was £54,978, the interest on which amounted to £2,680, leaving a margin of £6,720 after paying the debenture interest ; and, third, that the rent payable by the lessees was secured by being a first charge on the property and revenues of the Great Western Company, and might be recovered in the same manner as a landlord recovered his rent from a tenant. After paying the interest on pre ference shares, the report recommended a dividend at the rate of 2i per cent. per annum on the ordi nary shares. ' _ _ The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, and he hoped the increase in the coal traffic would prove permanent. There had been, and still was, great competition for this traffic from South Wales, which the directors had endeavoured to meet by personal influence, and by providing every pos sible facility for carrying on this important trade to advantage. (Hear, hear.) So much had been said about railway debentures of late that the directors thought it right to lay -before the shareholders a statement of the satisfactory security on which the debentures of this company were issued. The amount was very limited, and there was no reason for any increase. He thought it right to add that the directors bad never experienced any difficulty in placing their debentures. In fact, their little com pany was one of the few which had experienced no positive inconvenience from the late money panic, and he hoped that it might be regarded as one of those legitimate undertakings which would continue steadily to progress. (Hear, hear.) Mr. W. BROWSE seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously. The dividends recommended in the report were declared; Mr. Moates, jun., was elected an auditor, in sucassion to his father; and the proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the_chairman and directors. proceedings. LONDON, TILBURY, AND SOUTHEND. The half-yearly general meeting of this company was held on Tuesday at the office, Fenchurch-street —Mr.C. J'. - Eley in the chair. ' The.report, an abstract of which has appeared in The Stn, was taken as read. The CIIAIRMAN, it moving the adoption of the report, said he was sorry to meet them with a dimi nution in the passenger traffil, which might have been expected from the depression of trade and other matters, but there had been an increase in the goods and cattle traffic. He thought the decrease in the receipts had chiefly arisen from the inert system of management, which was induced probably by the extraordinary tolls the lessees had to pay to the Great Eastern Company, which left a very small profit on increased traffic. It was something like running a race in fetters. The lessees had to contend with many difficulties in consequence of the cxtraordi- I WATERLOO AND WHITEHALL. nary bargain made by them years ago with re- 1 The half-yearly meeting of this company was {hard to tolls, which accounted in some measure held yesterday at the offices, Westminster Chambers, for their indifference. He mentioned the tolls with . Victorm-street ; Mr. J. Parson in the chair. a view to impress the shareholders with the fact that The report stated that the undertaking had re they must not judge of the capabilities of the line mained in abeyance since December last. The act by the present receipts, or as to what might be done passed in the late Session authorised the company to with it when the lease was at an end, and when the raise a further capital of £75,000 for the purpose of line came into their own hands. When the com completing the line by au 8 per. cent.. preference pang could work it without let or hindrance the re stock if necessary. That act also conferred an ex suit would be very different. The Thames Haven tension of time for completing the'works. Those Company since they commenced operations had powers, they trusted, would enable the directors to acted in a liberal spirit ; they had laid out a larger raise the capital required to finish the line. The sum than they bad agreed to lay out, and it ap directors did not think that the time for utilising peared they were prepared to incur a greater outlay those powers had arrived, and they recommend the to fully develope the traffic. He regretted that it shareholders to wait till the distrust on the part of was intimated on the part of the Government to the public had passed away. The directors re prohibit the conveyance of cattle from Thames tamed their confidence in the eventual value of the Haven over their line to the Metropolitan Cattle undertaking. It appeared to the directors that Market. They would have great reason to complain , those shareholders who had paid in f ull on their if privileges were withdrawn from them and trans -1 shares, or £2 more than the £8 called, were clititled ferred to others who had competing landing-places, . to interest on the £2 s 3 p yid in advance, and they such, for instance, as the Victoria Docks. They would pay the interest to the 30th of June. did not want any unfair exception in their favour, The CliktrimAN, in moving the adoption of the but wished to be treated as all others who had land- I report, said if they were to abandon the undertaking ins places in the port of London. The bill autho- the whole of the original capital would be lost, but rising a junction between their line at Bromley and i 1 by completing the undertaking, whatever might be the North Loudon Railway had received the Royal ' i it ultimate result, there was a chance of getting some a.sent, and the directors had entered into an agree- I i return. They could not get the Act of Parliament went by which the North Lond on and the London 1 i without the consent of the contractors, and if they and North-Western Companies wouldhave running ; I were to pay the contractors for the work that was done, powers over the Tilbury line on the principle of 1 and compensation for the work that was not done, it paying a fair mileage rate. It would be of great would absorb more than the whole of the capital. lie importance to them in extending their traffic, and thought it a'lvisable that they should wait before would, he thought, practically settle the toll qucs , exercising the powers which the Act gave them. tion. (Hear, hear.) He was glad to see, by the He hoped as soon as confidence was restored they papers, that the chairman of the North London would be able to raise the money on favourable Railway, at a recent meeting of that company, said terms for completing the undertaking. The salaries, be looked upon the Tilbury line as passing throu r ,h 1 • secretary, oflice, and other expenses amounted only an undeveloped district, and that he believed the i to £2 iS. Ile had every confidence in the ultimate junction of the two lines would be mutually advan success of the line, and they might depend upon it tageous to both companies. I that the best efforts of the directors, whose interest Mr. MOXON, a director, seconded the motion for I was that of the shareholders, would be directed to the adoption of the report. that object. Mr. Gossett, Mr. llohnes, and Colonel Palmer The motion for the adoption of the report was thought the traffic on the line was capable of consi seconded by Mr. BURKE. and carried unanimously. derable improvement, by making the places on it 1 • the CHAIRMAN stated that before the powers for better known, and affording greater fac:lities to i raising additional capital were exercised the share those residing in the districts through which the . holders would be called together, and the matter railway passed. submitted to them for their assent. The CHAIRMAN explained that the tolls were out 1 A vote of thanks to the chairman and directors of all proportion to the distance travelled over the terminated the proceedings. line. The first-class fare to Southend was 201, but the toll absorbed the greater part of it, leaving the lessees something like 41d., and to other places, such as Barking, only id. or lid., which was no inducement for the lessees to expend money in the development of the traffic ; and until the lease ex pired those tolls would remain as they were. He did not impute any blame to the Great Eastern direc tors as to tolls—they were trustees, and could not alter them unless they got an equivalent. He had no doubt whatever that when the lease expired, and the line was in their own hands, it would be a 6 per cent. line. He was quite sure that during the summer and autumn the receipts might easily be increased 30 per cent. K INGSBRID GE. The works on this line were progressing rapidly. The foundation stone of a bridge by which the line would cross the Avon at Topsham was laid on Monday by Mrs. W. B. Fortescue, wife of the chairman. The line would connect Kingsbridge with the South Devon Railway at Brent station, and would cross the Avon 10 times in its course. WHITEHAVEN, CLEATOR, AND EGREMONT. The half-yearly meeting was held at Whitehaven on Monday; Mr. A. B. Steward in the chair. The report stated that the traffic for the half-year showed an increase of £6lB as compared with the corresponding half of 1866. The working expenses had been 40.61 per cAlt. The sum of £10,049 re mained for division, and the directors recommended a dividend at the rate of 9 per cent. per annum upon the consolidated stock and upon the amount paid on the £lO (C) shares. The Bigrigg branch would shortly be opened for traffic. The permanent way and rolling stock were in good order. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said that some doubts had been expressed at the last meeting as to how the books were kept, and the directors thought it right to employ Messrs. Quilter, Ball, and Co., the accountants, to exa mine the accounts, and see whether they were right or wrong. Their report was now before the share holders. He was happy to congratulate the company upon the proverous state of their affairs. This was the best half-year they had had. They had earned more money, and were still increasing, while other railways were retrograding. Ile urged the importance and desirability of this undertaking re maining under local direction, instead oZ being Itransferred to one of the great companies. The railway bad not been made for the hole purpose s of The report was unanimously adopted, and a vote of thanks to the chairman for his devotion to the interests of the company, and also to the directors, concluded the Proceedings. STAINES, WOKINGIIA3I, AND \YOKING. • Th half-yearly general mcetinig of this company was hrl.l yesterday at the Broad Sanctuary, West minster--Mr. J. Garrard in the chair. The report was taken as read. The CHA I I:MAN, in moving the adoption of the report and statement or accounts, said there had been a falling off in the passenger traffic, which ap peared to have been caused by the diminished receipts from the Ascot races. He believed that had been caused by the accidents on a former occasion, and penile preferred going by the road. It was satisfac tory that the falling off in the receipts was confined to the casual traffic, and that it was not so large as to pr. vent them declaring the same dividend as they did at the corresp mding period of 1856. Mr. ARBUTHNOT seconded tire motion for the adop tion of the report, proposing that the portion of the last paragraph in the report which recommended THE SUN, LONuON, THURSDAY. .EVENING, AUGUST 29, 1867. putting money into the pockets of the shareholders, but for benefiting the district it served. Mr. H. JEFFERSON seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A dividend was declared, in accordance with the recomm endation of the report. The retiring directors were re-elected ; Mr. J. Lainton was appointed auditor, and a vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. CAMBRIAN. A meeting of debenture-holders and others interested in this company was held last week at the Station Hotel, Crewe; Mr. J. Bancroft in the chair. The report of Messrs. Price, nolyland, and Waterhouse, accountants, showA .that the total capital raised on account of the Cambrian Railways amounted to £3,434,837, of which £824,205 was in ordinary stock, £1,760,170 in preference stock, and £850,462 in mortgages. For the Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway the total capital raised amounted to £1,394,332, of which £265,420 vas in ordinary shares, £300,460 in preference shares, and £106,088 in mortgage bonds. The works on the several lines had been executed by Mr. Savin, but it did not appear that a proper contract had been entered into until a few days previous to Mr. Savin's suspension, and that he was then in debted to the companies to the extent of £203,513. The accountants stated that the Amalgamation Acts under which the Cambrian Company had been constituted were perfectly unintelligible, and the interests of the various classes of stockholders ap peared in several instances to be in direct conflict, and consequently it was of the utmost importance that an endeavour should be made to re-arrange the interests of the proprietors under a scheme which should be acceptable to all. Tlie CHAIRMAN sail the object of the meeting was a friendly conference between the parties in terested in the Cambrian property. He suggested that the present Amalgamation Acts should be re pealed, and that powers should be obtained to merge all the sections into one company. The capital, which now amounted to £3,600,000, should be re duced to £2,250,000. The object of the reduction was two-fold ; first, with a capital so large they could not expect to declare any considerable dividend and maintain a good credit before the public; secondly, if the London and North- Western, or any other large company desired to purchase the Cam brian, they would be more likely to look at it with a capital account in an intelligible state. He pro posed that the bonded debt should be kept intact ; that an equitable reduction according to priorities should be made in every class of preferences ; and that the ordinary stock should be considerably re duced. As soon as the ordinary stock received 2 per cent., then all the additional profits were to flaw back again to the preferences. Capt. JOHNS, a director, considered the report a damaging one, and disagreed from the suggestions of the chairman. Mr. MANN advised a conciliatory course on all sides. After a long discussion, the meeting appointed seven gentlemen to confer with the directors as to the proposed plan for reconstituting the company. Naval and Military Intelligence. The Ordnance Select Committee of Woolwich Arsenal were yesterday engaged in the final inspec tion, preparatory to shipment, of the mountain equip ment and the various stores in course of 'preparation or the Abyssinian expedition. A couple of the pack saddles, on the self-adjusting principle introd aced by Lieut. M'Mahon, were examined by Lieut.-Col. E. Wray, C. 8., one of the members of the committee, who expressed his regret that the saddles were not already in store in sufficient numbers for issue ; bu as the present was a case of great emergency, and i was necessary to commance packing for transpor without delay, they had no alternative but to content themselves with the old service saddles, with a slight Major Hunter and 72d Highlanders; Col. Harrison and 80th Regiment ; Colonel Lacy and 56th Regi ment ; pioneers, bands, drums, and bugles of the 3d brigade ; Staff and Col. Greer (68th Regiment), Acting Brigadier; Col. Synge and . 43d Light Infantry ; Col. Cooper and 70th (Surrey) Regi ment ; Colonel Shuttleworth and 68th Light In fantry ; pioneers, bands, and drums of 2d brigade ; Staff and Major-Gen. G. Campbell, C.B. ; Major Geddes and 44th Regiment ; Col. Wyatt, C. 8., and 65th Regiment. The Royal Horse Artillery, the Royal Artillery, and the cavalry then trotted past from the original flank, and in the same order as before. As they passed the saluting base the troops moved to their respective quarters, which were reached about 2 o'clock. The weather was very favourable for the manoeuvres, and the ground selected being well covered with heath, none of the discomforts of the valley were experienced. The 70th and 76th Regiments having been re cently presented with new colours, with the sanction of the Field Marshal Commanding-in-chief, the old colours were on Tuesday deposited with considerable ceremony in the military church of All Saints at Aldershot, already graced with similar trophies and memorials. The'ceremony took place at 11 o'clock, in the presence of Lieut.-Gen. the Hon. Sir James Yorke Scarlett, K.C.8., commanding the division, and a large number of officers, ladies, and soldiers, the latter representing every corps in the camp, in full dress, and wearing their side arms and decora- Lons, At the hour appointed the armed escorts, consisting of two officers and eight sergeants of the 70th Regiment, and the like number of the 44th, acting on behalf of the 76th Regiment, marched into the church with the old colours, and" proceeded to the seats allotted them, while the remainder of the troops stood up. A religious service was then cele brated, and at the conclusion of the Morning Prayer the colours of the 70th Regiment were borne up the centre aisle, while the bands of the regiment played " The March of the Israelites." On reaching the altar rail the colours were received by the chaplains and placed over the altar, the band playing " God save the Queen," and the escort presenting arms. The escort of the 70th Regiment then retired, and the colours of the 76th Regiment were borne up the aisle and received in similar manner. The Rev. E. J. Rogers, principal chaplain to the forces at Alder shot, then preached an appropriate sermon, which closed the proceedings. _ TIL 'RS. On Tuesday the London Rifle Brigade brought its annual prize meeting, held on Plaistow Marshes, to a close, with some competitions of a strictly military character in contests for prizes given for rapid firing and for shooting in skirmishing order. The previous contests had been for prizes mostly of great value, for good match shooting, and chiefly with the Government Enfield. In a con test at what are known as the " Queen's ranges" —namely, the same ranges as for the first stage of the Queen's prize, Private Wyatt, who has bad the honour of winning the Queen's prize, won the brigade first prize, of the value of 20 guineas, pre sented by the Merchant Taylors' Company, and the II company silver medal. Ms points were 118 in going twice over the ranges with seven shots at each. Private Gardner, with 110, won a prize of 15 guineas, presented by the Goldsmiths' Company, and the N company medal ; Private Saw, with 106, won a prize of 10 guineas, presented by the Drapers' _ . . Company, and the E company medal ; Private Butler, with 106, won a second prize, given by the Goldsmiths' Company, value nine guineas, and the Q company medal ; Sergeant Wanosbrocht, with 103, won eight guineas, given by the Ward of Cheap, and the K company medal ; Sergeant Drane, with 102, won a prize of six guineas ; and Colour- Sergeant Churchill, with a like score, won an equal amount of prizes given by the ward of. Cheap, the winners also winning their company medals. Ser- arrangement to enable the guns to be carried (as recommended) crosswise on the mules' backs. This, Lieut. M‘Mahon contends, from his experience ob tained in the Transport Service, in which he was engaged in China and the Crimea, is not in con formity with the attested regulations approved by the service ; as, when the animals are tethered together in pickets on the march, and the men are preparing their meals, it is difficult to keep them from crowding and rubbing against each other. Even biscuit-bags and other light stores conveyed in that manner, he stated, have been destroyed. The guns thus protruding on either side of the animal's back, he added, must be attended with equal if not more serious inconvenience, whatever advantages the sys tem may otherwise possess. One of the M'Mahon saddles, fitted to the back of a horse 17 hands high, was then inspected, and a heavy load was attached. With a couple of minutes' delay the saddle was ad justed to the back of a pony 13 hands high, and the saddle appeared to be equally applicable and adapted to both. This was highly satisfactory. The saddle was then taken to pieces, and it was shown that, if required to be packed in cases for transport itwould lie perfectly flat, and consequently a large amount of space would be gained. Lieutenant M'Mahon suggested that as the saddlery dspartment in the Royal Arsenal was unusually engaged, a suffi- cient number of his saddles should be made by contract, by which much time would be saved. Five thousand of the old service saddles and an equa. amount of harness were ordered to -be packed and s h y p p e s e t d e r w d ou t delay. the troops at Aldershot had a field-day and sham fight of more than ordinary interest. The division, divided fo into r t t w h e o ; purposesfirst o u f n t d h e e r d t h a y, was e com mand of Major-Gen. Campbell, C. 8., representing an c a o t n te s r ist s ed o o f f 45th R th o e yal hi a o n rs d e 6 A s r th ta ß ie e r g y i . me T nt h s e , with enemy, two batteries ie b defending force was under Lieut.-Gen. the Hon. Sir James Aldershot!Yo Yorke an d Scarlett, consisted oft he commanding lst the and3 d d iv i i n si f o a n ntr a y t brigades, the cavalry brigade, and several batteries of horse and field artillery. The enemy was sup posed to be marching from Southampton upon the camp, and to have arrived at Caesar's Camp, where he had strongly intreuched himself. With the ob ject of driving him from this formidable position, General Scarlett formed up his force in rear of the Queen's Pavilion, under cover of the hills ; the cavalry and two batteries of artillery moved alonr , the Farnborough-road, also under cover and out of sight of the enemy, and the 3d brigade soon after wards debouched upon the Farnham-road, and silently awaited the development of. the General's plans. About half-past 11 the enemy opened fire, which, after a brief interval, was actively responded to, and the Ist brigade, advancing from its concealment, scaled the steep face of Caesar's Camp, while the ar tillery maintained a terrific cannonade. On reaching the top of the bill the regiments (54th, 56th, 72d, and 80th) reformed, while the enemy retired towards Lawday-house, on Crondall-road. As he retreated the 3d brigade moved off the Farnborough-road, ascended Hungry-hill, and, passing into the valley beyond, the enemy was taken both in front and in flank, and forced to retire further towards Crondall. Now was the time for a General to follow up his success, and General Scarlett marshalled his force for a decisive blow. Down upon the apparently devoted enemy came the whole of the artillery and cavalry. But the forces of the enemy were by no means disposed to yield. Rapidly they formed squares, and resisted the cavalry so effectually that at last Gen. Scarlett's division was obliged to retire, and the result was a drawn battle. The whole di vh,iou then formed up on Bricksbury Plain, and marched past, the artillery and cavalry in open column of batteries at a walk, and infantry in open column of grand divisions in quick time, and in the following order : —Staff of Cavalry—Major-Gen E. C. Hodge, C.B. ; Colonel Hammond, Roy Horse A,rtillery ; Major Bishop and B battery, brigade, Capt. Watson and C battery; Capt, Timbrell and D battery.; Capt. Chichester and E battery ; Colonel Pattie, C. 8., and Ist (King's) Dragoon Guards; Major Chapman and 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards ; Col. Fitzwygram and 15th (the King's) Hussars ; Col. Elgee and field bat teries of the 9th, Brigade Royal Artillery; Capt. Elton and C battery ; Major Fitzhugh and II bat tery ; pione•ers, bands, drums, and pipes of Ist infantry brigade ; S,taff and Major-Gen. H. Renny ; Major Peaoo4 And 54th ( \Yea Norfolk) Regiment; One officer and 29 non- commissioned officers and men of the Bth depot battalion have proceeded from the camp at Colchester to Landguard Fort, Har wich ; f4nd one officer, four non-commissioned offi cers, and 60 privates of the 4th depot battalion have been withdrawn from the Fort. Lieut. Alexander, of the 32d Regiment, is under orders to join the depot at Colchester. The next Ensign gazetted to the 83d Regiment is also to join the depot. An order from the War-office has been issued limiting the number of soldiers who are to receive permission to marry to 7 per cent. of the whole estab lishment of a corps, and further requiring that no man shall obtain such permission who is not in pos session of a goodconduct badge. At the same time, the privileges of married soldiers are greatly in creased. The Lords of the Admiralty, who have been en gaged upon their annual inspection of Portsmouth dockyard and its dependencies, left that port yes terday morning soon after daybreak for Portland roads and Devonport. In accordance with orders received at Portsmouth from the Lords of the Admiralty the hydraulic-pro pelled gun vessel Waterwitch, 777 tons, 160-horse power, Commander Philip R. Sharpe, made a speed trial over the measured mile in Stokes Bay, near Portsmouth, yesterday, as a supplementary and cor rective trial to the series which had been already conducted there, for comparative results solely, with the double-screw vessels, the Vixen and the Viper, and the hydraulic mermaid, the Waterwitch. Capt. W. C. Chamberlain, commanding her Majesty's ship Asia and the Portsmouth steam reserve, was in com mand of the Waterwitch, according to the usual custom, as laid down by the Admiralty orders, dur ing the trial. Mr.. James Steil, the Admiralty in specting officer of machinery, and Mr. Barnes, Assistant Chief Constructor, from the Con troller's Department of the Admiralty, were pre sent in their official capacities. Mr. John Ward, chief inspector of machinery afloat, represented the Steam Factory Department of Portsmouth dockyard, and Mr. J. Murdoch was the represen tative engineer officer of the steam reserve. Mr. W. Brain, Assistant Master Shipwright of Portsmouth dockyard, was also present, as representing the Shipwright Department of the navy. The draught of water of the ship was—forward, 10ft. Bin.; aft, lift. 2in. Her mean draught was 10ft. llin. The wind was at a force of from 2 to 3 from west to west-south-west; the sea was, therefore, undisturbed at the path of the vessel's progress through the water, and the best possible results were got out of the ship under her conditions of trial. Six runs were made with full-boiler power, and four with half-boiler power, the figures obtained being as follows :—At full-boiler power the ship made in first run 9113 knots, and 1116 revolutions of engines a minute ; in second run, 9137 knots, and 41.72 revolutions; in third run, 9.521 knots, and 11.90 revolutions ; in fourth run, 8.738 knots, and 41.36 revolutions; in fifth run, 9.915 knots, and 42.76 revolutions; in sixth run, 8108 knots, and 41.62 revolutions. The mean speed of ship was 9.219 knots, the mean of the revolutions of engines 41.75 ; the mean steam pressure, 291 b ; and the mean vacuum, 25 . 7 inches. At half-boiler power she made in first run 7 . 516 knots ; in second run, 4.755 knots ; in third run, 7.214 knots; in fourth run, 4.950 knots, with a mean of 29 revolutions iu a minute. The Edwin Fox, sailing Indiaman, arrived from Bombay at Spithead yesterday, after a somewhat long passage. She brought home the following officers and troops, who were landed from her dur ing yesterday afternoon :—Capt. G. L. Carmichael, 95th ; Capt. A. W. Lucas, 109th ; Lieut. B. W. Regiment ; Dr. Cullen, Bombay Medical Staff ; 59 invalid sold i e rs, 75 Vidal, first battalion 4 th time-expired soldiers, two lunatics, 12 convicts, 11 women, and 3a children. The iron screw storeship Hesper (2), Staff-Com mander Thain, from China, last from Ascension, arrived in Plymouth Sound on Tuesday evening. The hired transport Mary Shepherd, with the right wing of the 12th Regiment, from New Zealand, arrived on Wednesday morning. The screw steam passenger ship Somersetshire left the Sound on Tues day night. The Damascus was appointed to sail on Wednesday ; both for Melbourne. Her Majesty's double-screw gun-vessel Plover was again undocked yesterday at Woolwich, having been fitted with a three-bladed, propeller for a con tinuation of experiments, and went down the river for that purpose on a two days' trial. Comman der Dillon was, as formerly, in charge, and Mr. Trickett, chief engineer of Woolwich dockyard, superintended the working out the rate of speed. Mr. Steil and Mr. Crossland also attended from the Admiralty and the Controller's office. Mr. Partridge and Mr. Tucker, officials of Wool wich dockyard, yesterday took their departure for Rotterdam, by Admiralty order, to inspect a steam ing vessel there about to be despatched for service to the Suez Canal. The firm succeeding to the late Capt. Rodger's patent for the supply of his small-palmed indented anchors and kedges have announced at Woolwich that they will in future be made by Messrs. Brown, Lennox, and Co., the Admiralty manufacturers. The following appointments were made yesterday at the Admiralty :—Sub.-Lieut. Arthur W. Moore to the Wivern ; George W. Hill, mids hi p man, to the Wivern ; Reginald de la Poer Beres ford Pier se , Montague R. Hayes, Edward D. Ryder, and Wil liam B. T. Pruen, naval cadets, nomina t e d. C [A.DVERTISEMENT.]-11ulloway's Ointment and Pills need only a single trial to make known their capabilities. No outward sore or inward inflammation can long withstand the cooling, purifying, and healing influences exerted by these twin medicaments. Be the mischief recent or chronic, grave or slight, painful or simply annoying, it will suc cumb before the curative virtues of these noble remedies, which can be rightly applied by any person who will at tentively read their accompanying directions, which are propounded in the plainest language, void of technical terms, and printed in the most legible characters. To the man of business confined to his counting-house and ha rassed by engagements these pills are invaluable; fur the man of pleasure, addicted to /rev liylvg, they are peerleo. geant Churchill, with 99, won the Salters' Company prize of five guineas and bis company medal, and Private Frere, with 98, won an equal amount given by the same company. Private Fisk, with 97, Colour-Sergeant Abbiston, with 95, and Colour- Sergeant Stuckey, with 94, won three prizes amount ing to ten guineas, given by the Fishmongers' Com pany—the latter two also winning company medals. In a long-range contest with any rifle (which means, of course, the small-bore) for prizes given by Major Sir W. A. Rose, Colour- Sergeant Churchill, in seven rounds at 800 and 1,000 yards, won a prize of seven guineas with 44 points; Private Wyatt, with 41, came in for a five guinea prize ; and Private Hammerton, with 40, won a three guinea prize. The challenge trophy, value 100 guineas, presented by the Cripplegate Ward (prize a silver model of Old Cripplegate), was shot for at the Queen's ranges, five rounds each. Corporal Fletcher with 42 won the prize, and with ,it a money prize presented by the Ward ; Sergeant Wortham and Corporal Hayes, with 39 each, won the second and third places. In a competition of seven rounds at 500 yards, for a cup, value 15 gs., presented by Colonel Warde, the commandant, Colour-Sergt. Heath made 23 points; for a second prize, presented by Gen. Sir G. Bowles, K.C.8., value s'gs., Sergt. Wanosbrocht made 21; for the third place Ensign Wadd made 20. To each of these scores will be added a point for every commanding officer's parade attended during the year. In a similar competition for prizes presented by the Butchers' Company and by the officers, Corporal Fletcher and Privates Westrupp and Carmichael won with 23 points each. In a competition of seven rounds at 600 yards Private Gray, Private Clarke, and Corporal Atto won a challenge cup, value 21 guineas, presented by the Grocers' Company, with five guineas added, and prizes presented by the offi cers. The brigade gold medal, shot for by the winners of the company silver medals, was won by Private J. M. Gardner, with 44 points, at 650, 700, 750, and 800 yards, his previous score made for the first prizes, 110, being added. Prizes presented by Mr. Joseph Fenn, and by Lieutenant and Hon. quartermaster Walker, were shot for, some of them being limited to members who had never won a prize, and others being limited to those who had never won a prize until that meeting. Sergeant Green and Private Blaithwayt won the first in these competitions. Sergeant Drane, in a contest at 200 yards, won the Ironmongers' first prize of seven guineas, and Private Winsor won the second ; and Lieutenant Dean won the first prize presented by the Clothworkers' Company. In a competition for prizes given by the members of the Brigade to the non-commissioned officers of the Staff Sergeant-Instructor Grainge won the first, Sergeant Smith the second, and Sergeant-Major Southgate the third. In the skirmishing contest the rules were that the competitors must have attended double the number of drills required for the Govern ment test of efficiency; each competitor to be allowed 5 minutes, and to " fall in " loaded opposite the target at 500 yards. On the " advance " being given the competitors advanced as quickly as they could to 400 yards, where they fired for a minute, when the " advance" was again given, and so on at 350, 300, 250, and 200 yards. Every rifle had to be fairly loaded from the pouch, and at the conclusion of the contest it was decided that Corporal Hayes, with 24 points, had won a cup, value £2l, presented by the Broad-street Ward ; Private Goddard, with 18, had won a cup value £5, given by Mr. Bannister, in memory of his son, the late Ensign Bannister ; and Lieut. Dean was third. In the " rapid firing," which was for prizes given by the Messrs. Silver and Co., each competitor fell in at 200 yards, and was allowed five minutes, the loading being fairly from the pouch, and in military order. Sergeant Walker, ,with 50, won a prize cup value 12 guineas ; Private Marsh, with 48, won a Rob Roy case ; and Private Buller, with a like scare, won a third prize. The firing was conducted under Captain and Adju tants Evens and O'Callaghan. AGRICUL2URAL PROSPECTS. The week opened with a fine morning ; a little drizzling rain about noon, but nothing worthy of notice, and the remainder of the day was dry. Monday was a hot forcing day. Wind S.S.E., thermometer in the morning 65 degrees, 73 at mid day, and 80 later; barometer 30.10 inches, but fall ing. At 10 p.m. a heavy thunderstorm commenced, with a continuance off and on until 5 o'clock the following morning, and at times it rained in torrents. This proved one of the heaviest and most disas trous storms of the season, and was more general than any previous one, in some situations prostrat ing the crops. Tuesday was dull and showery dur ing the early part of the day, but became fine in the afternoon. No harvest work could, how ever, be proceeded with. Our advices nn that day were as under. From the West Riding of York shire it was stated : " Since Friday harvest opera tions have commenced in many places on the south of Yorkshire district. Yesterday I had au oppor tunity of seeing many thousand acres, in a tho roughly agricultural part, and the wheat crops mostly looked bright and healthy, and horse-reapers, scythe, and hook going in all directions. Some of the barley and oat crops were laid a good deal, but a portion of each, and especially the former, was fine and nearly - ready to cut. I heard no com plaints of want of reapers. Heavy rain during last night- will no doubt have stopped work in many places. Turnips and potatoes look well, but there are still complaints of the unsoundness of the latter." From the East Riding of Yorkshire:— " Weather, with the exception of a few hours' rain in the early part of the week, has been hot and forcing, harvest has already commenced, and in a few more days, with a continuance of such weather, will be general." From Suffolk, north-east part of the country :—" We have fine weather for our harvest, which is just commencing, and farmers do not speak favourably of their wheat crop as they cut it up. A few samples appeared to-day, which exhibited great variety of quality." Wednesday was a fine breezy day, and harvest work proceeded vigorously. From the west coast of Scot land it was stated, " Since last week we have had several thunder-storms, with pelting rain and sharp' atmospheric changes." From the east coast, " The weather has been changeable during the past week. Yesterday we were visited with a severe thunder-storm, which has laid our crops seriously. Fine sunny weather is much to be desired now, for we are to be late." From Great Yarmouth, " The weather has been fine during the past week, and harvest opera tions are now general. We hear some disappoint ment expressed at the yield, but it is too early to venture an opinion -thereon." Thursday proved a most favourable day—hot and sunny, and much harvest work was 40cOmpligled in line order, Our advices were as under, " Weather during the past of flesh instead of breeding properties. The prize week has been changeable; on Thursday and Satur- boars and sows are too heavy for the purposes for day nights we had more rain; on Monday night which the prizes were originally intended. Indeed, came the fearful storm of thunder and lightning, with the ideas which now seem to prevail, in order with a deluge of rain. This storm appears to have to get prizes nature's functions are totally disre been pretty general throughout the country, and garded, and in nine cases out of ten, after the por we hear of several corn stacks having been set on cine monster has gone the round of the shows, he fire by the lightning. Housing of the corn will be is destroyed by the treatment resorted to in order again delayed for several days, and the uncertain to reduce him, or he is at once consigned to the weather will cause a good quantity to be cut butcher. The consequence is that the money spent and hurriedly stacked, where it must remain upon him, so far as breeding purposes are concerned, for some months to become in a fit condition is thrown away. for the miller." From Buckinghamshire :—" I The poultry are numerous. The pigeons include have told you before the yield on the whole will be a large contribution by Mr. R. Fulton, of Dcpt a deficient one, and the quality very variable. ford. Dogs are many and noisy, of all sized and Carting is going on under favourable circumstances degrees of noVeness, from the St. Bernards, which as far as regards weather." From the east coast, the Rev. Mr. Macdona, of Sefton, regards with Scotland :—" Weather dull and rather wet. Wheat especial favour, to the dainty poodle for the lap looks bad colour, and will not thrash out well, who lounges upon a satin cushion when not upon Barley in the Lothians pretty good, but much his lady's knee. The bulldogs, eminent for their lodged, and therefore likely to be variable in sample. ugliness and breadth of breast, with lithe and nar- Oats, also good in the low lands, and on easy soils, row hind-quarters ; the massive Newfoundland, of but poor on stiff land, and in high country." From which Mr. Lindsay's black and white Jacko is a Suffolk, near the coast :—" We have had another fine sample ; the useful sheep dog, the best week of grand weather, and this district thus far of whom singularly enough come from this season has been unusually favoured. Harvest London ; hounds, spaniel; pointers, har- . is progressing rapidly around us, but we hear even riers, retrievers, terriers, and mastiffs, —all less satisfactory reports of the yield of wheat this are well represented, and having tired themselves week than we did last. Some of the, red will be with unavailing protests against the strangeness of of nice quality, but the white will be variable." their quarters, lie asleep most of the day, while the From the interior of Suffolk : " The weather in this fear of them keeps visitors from stirring them to neighbourhood during the past week has been mode- uprightness. rately fine, and there has been little interruption to The exhibitors of cheese cannot be complimented harvest work. Good progress has been made with The show is most unsatisfactory ; but if, as we sup.: wheat cutting, which is now general ; not much is pose, this is owing to the cattle plague, we presume at present carried. Of the samples already that it will be the only time that this remark will thrashed out, consisting of Talavera wheat and have to be made about a show of cheese from South early sorts, the quality is by no means good, the Lancashire and North Cheshire. Some few samples condition only moderate. Our advices on of butter are inferor, the remainder are very good. that day were as under. From Lincolnshire it was Two samples are of such good flavour that one of stated : "The weather is now all that can be desired, the judges said he had never tasted English buttei and harvest is progressing satisfactorily. Cutting to equal it ; and the first prize fell to Mr. Neild, of is going on briskly, and good-conditioned samples Worsley (for the second time), because his is some of wheat will soon be brought to market." From what tougher. Four or five extra prizes were dis the West Riding of Yorkshire : " The weather con- tributed in this class. The grain and roots shown tinues fine, and harvest work is progressing well." include samples from as far as Oxfordshire, which From Devonshire : " Saturday was an extremely shows the growing importance of this Society ; and fine day, and harvest work went on favourably in every respect this class is most creditably repre and extensively. Where the machines are employed sented. l'or the time of year the roots are wonder-, the progress is remarkably fast. In Essex the sol- ful, and as a test of tenant farmers' excellence, this diers have been allowed to offer themselves as department of the show must be very satisfactory reapers, but the agricultural labourers refuse to to landlords. work where they are employed, and a stop may be the result to the harvesting of grain. The de liveries of the new crop are not yet extensive, and millers will not secure as much as they want for a few weeks ; but the finer the weather the more will come out. —Mark-lane Express. COUNTRY MARKETS. LYNNTUESDAY. • At to- day's market the supply of new wheat increased , which sold readily at a reduction of 2s to 3s per quarter oil last week's quotations. The trade in samples of old wheat was limited, and but a slender supply. Barley and eats firm. New wheat, 60s to 64s ; new red, 62s to 66s ; old white, 70s to 74s ; old red, —s to —s per 36 stone. Barley malting, 47s to 51s ; secondary, 38s to 425. Oats, neW , 24s to 27s per 24 stone. Beans, small, 43s to 48s. Peas , 40s to'42s per 28 stone. MANCHESTER AND LIVERPOOL AGRI CULTURAL SOCIETY. A three days' show of live stock and foreign pro- duce, under the auspices of this society, was opened on Tuesday on the site of the Art Treasures Exhibi- HIILL.—TUESDAY. At our market to-day there was a small show of EDge, lish wheat, and millers declined to make purchases ex ce l ) " at a decline of 2s to 3s on last week's prices. in foroigo the demand was nil. Barley was scarce, and 6d lower' Egyptian beans fully is decline. Oats as before. English white wheat, 635.t0 68s; red, 58s to 655 •, "Wt .. sic and Konigsberg, 64s Co 70s ; Baltic red, 60s to 6 46 ; Danish and Hamburg, 60s to 62s ; Russian, 59s to 60s. Barley, English, 40s to 42s ; grinding, Mediternine 3l3, ' 34s to 35s 6d. Oats, new English, 26s to 28s • Russian , 26s to 275. Beans, old English, 58s to 60s; foreign, 4 " to 445. Peas, English blue, 429 to 44s Od; foreign whit e ' 44s to 455; grinding, 43s to 44s Od per qr. tion, Old Trafford. Originally a one-day show, it was in Manchester that the experiment was first made, nine years ago, of keeping it open for two days. Since that time the society has made greater progress than during its previous 90 years, judging by the main test—the show yard receipt. This year another extension of time has been made, and if yesterday's attendance constitutes a fair basis of calculation, we believe this, the longest show, will prove the most profitable. It is well that the cen tury should end thus, and a good stimulus will also be furnished to the years yet to come. One chief MONMOTJTHSIIIRE—T UESDAY. There has only been a moderate supply of old an d new wheat on offer, but buyers have felt no inclination to purchase more than necessary for immediate requiremen ts? and the little that has changed hands has been sold tlt; decline f from 2s to 3s per qr. Barley, with very offering, realised 35s for grinding descriptions. Oats 1° large supply, and some fine samples of new. d, The following are the, average quotations :— Wheat, 7s 3d to 7s 6d per bushel ; white, 7s 3d to 8s Od ; infe r l.! 6s Od to 6s 6d ; malting barley, 40s to 4 4 s per qr ; gril?,lo ing ditto, 34s to 36s Od; beans 43s to 45s ; white oats , 6LI to 29s 6d ; black ditto, 26s OA to 2781 od. litt. condition of success was present yesterday, namely, beautiful weather ; and should it continue as fine, when the price 0f... admission is reduced, many thousands will probably visit the show ground The plan upon which the ground is laid out is admirable, and a sketch of it in the catalogue en ables a visitor to comprehend it at a glance. But the details were not carried out with that punctuality which should characterise such an undertaking. SALISBURY.—TUESDAY. At market this morning the attendance of farmers, 05 0 , 1- lers, and dealers was better. An increased supply of ue r wheat was offered, but little business doing, at 2 s to 351 ! qr lower than last week.' Old sorts scarce, and is doicf; Urinding barley easier to buy. In oats and beans to trade generally was moderate, and prices were unchang e ". The following are the quotations :—Wheat realised f ro ' al 58s to 74s ; barley, 31s to 37s ; oats, 26s to 32s ; beans, 4u „: to 525; and peas,'4os to 48s per qr. Tares, from 5s 6 ari 7 6d per bushel ; Best bread, 16d ; household ditto, l e per 81b loaf. Flour, 48S to 53s per sack. CORK—AuG. 27. pd White wheat, 13s Od to 14s 3d ; red, 12s Od to — 0 black oats, 86 7d to 8s 9d; white, Os Od to lOs Od. Foreign Mail Packet List, MAILS DUE. + 1,9 Australia and New Zealand, via Soutilampton SeP Ditto, via Alarseillea Sept* 13 Ditto, via Panama .... • • • Brazil, Buenos Ayres, and Monte Video SePt• 3. t . 23. Ditto, by French packet Cape Verde. by Brazil packet ........ . .. ..... scp. Sept. 3. Cape of Good Hope. Ascension. and St. Helena.... Sept _2l: China, Penang. and Singapore , via Southampton—Sei;t• 7 2 • j Ditto, via Marseilles SeP t • Falkland Islands SePt~ 3 Aug 2l ' Gibraltar, via Southampton .. ~ India, via Southampton Ditto, via Mansell es Malta, Egypt, &c. Sept. -' Ditto, Marseilles S e pt. 6 ' Mauritius, Cape of Good Hope, and Natal, via Sept' 19° Southampton Ditt ~ via Maud les - SePt' l i, 1 3 Newfoundland Sep t ' - Portugal Sept* 3 ' Ditto, by private ship to Oporto .. Ditto ditto to Lisbon United States, Canada, California, &c., by British • packet Ditto, by United States packet Ditto ditto (New York) Ditto ditto (New York) . DUO ditto (Baltimore) Ditto, by Canadian packet West Coast of Africa. Madeira, and Teneriif . SePt• - West Indies and Pacific (except Mexico and Baha- , e. o g, Inas) Cub I and Mexico ... Au ii , SeP t " " Bahamas, via New York 6. Bermuda, via Ilallibx (fral a ; ta [A D VERTISEMENT.] — Avoid Medicines: they always aP" - torf l chronic complaints: but Dn Barry's delicious h e alth-re s u cisr Rovelents. Arabica Food, which yields three times the ment of the best meat, saves 50 times its cost in other re' - ,08Y; and invariably restores perfect digestion, strong nerve s, c ool, lungs, healthy liver, pure blood, refreshing sleep, regularity, and energy to the most disordered or enfeeble 0) 1 '4 extract a few out of 68,000 cures;—" The Pope's health e i, ISt , by Du Barry's Food. Cure No. 68,413.—" "Rome, JulY! o il —The health of the Holy Father is excellent, especi al ' tltlf e o abandoning all other remedies, he has confined himself e so e, to Dn Barry's Revalenta, Arabice. Food, of which he a plateful at every meal. It has produced a surprislokis flcial QS effect on his health, and his Holiness cannot praise tf s. C' e t lent food too highly." From the " Gazette de Midi, July ' O , lil o g No. 58,216, of the Marchioness de •Brehan, of seven Y e %erv v od complaint, wasting away, debility, nervousness, with 0, 0,.,1 palpitation all over, bad digestion, constant sleeplessrr°. P O 4 the most intolerable nervous agitation.." Cure No. 1. 7 e att.l";yelniy Stuart de Decies, 49, Lord of Waterford, of dyspepsia. No. 832: Lieutenant " Fifty years' indescribable ag,: t Zief , 0, dyspepsia, nervousness, asthma, cough, constipation, 0 6 0 0 , r 3 spasms, sickness, and vomiting. — Maria Joly." yey 46,270: Mr. James Roberts, of Frimley, Surrey, a diseased lungs, spitting of blood, liver derangeol e e - afe co l partial deafness. Important Caution.—Beware of tu unsavoury and more than sloppy imitations to which , t ocb,l authority, Baron Liebig's name is most audaciously as., .11 11, In tins at ls. 10.; 1 lb., 2s 9d. 2 lbs., 4s. 6d.; 5 ) /•1 0 ; i ly, 12 lbs., 225.; 24 lbs., 4 0 s. — BARRY Do BARRY an d " i legent-street, London; also Fortnam and Mason , 182, 1"1:.,,c1 and at 61, Gracechurch-street; 4, Cheapside ; 63, 150, Oxford-street ; 330 Strand ; and all grocers and chenlie Births. 1 3 A ARMSTRONG—On the 26th inst., at Chertsey, S :o wifo of Capt. G. C. Armstrong, of a daughter. rto Morn —On the 26th inst., at Kerosley, the wile of 50 Albert Muntz,.Esq., of a son. c 0 0 RAY—On the 27th inst., at 2, Southsea Villas, w°hter° the wife of Captain E. H. L. Ray, R.N., of a dallg— Marriages. i CLARKE—HILL—On the 27th inst., at St. Genrge' , > Co e l. , to berwell, Walter, eldest son of Enoch Clarice , 0z1 L,., i , ' Ormond House, and 2, Neate - street, Old KO: l , f t lii, P" Mary Ascough Clink, third daughter of John J- - "" v 0 J.P. of Sydney, N.S.W. „ f „acia le d , HENRY PELLY—On the 2 7th inst., at St. Mary x- - Ilei l ot Church, St. Leonard's, James, eldest son of J"s'oogot Esq., of Blackdown House, Sussex, to Evelyn4ooP daughter of the late Sir J. H. Melly, Bart., of ' Court, Horsham. Deaths. 1 0es BALLS —On the 25th inst., at Streatham , Sarre'' _,4k Balls, Esq., aged V. l"' COLES—On the 27th inst., at Woodcote, Gene Lieut- 0 Cowper Cole; aged 77. KING— On the 26th inst., at Fulham, Mr. Wi lli° ° t. corn merchant, aged 59. ~, roft, 4 'go? RICHARDS—On the 27th inst., at 31, Beigr 3 ' -- of - John's-wood, Sidney Richards, Escr fortnerlf if '7 I t''' land-terrace, Kensington, aged 20. • BENNY —At Lucknow, Col. B. Ronny, C.-"• `.-e Dr,- , in Ben ga l Corps), Assistant-Adjutant-General. Dr ,- i;. SAMPSON-On the 26th inst., at 11, Carlton Vill. , 13a 9 George K. Sampson, of the London and Con il .6:0 1 WILL : Prd and Publishd by lA3L ;V* of of London No. 112, inte Strand, Printer, e at THE SON Offiho ce,cootf Strand, •in the Precinct of tho Sa voY, t Kiddleoga.—Pwroclay, August 29, 1807. The yard.was not fully prepared even on Tuesday morning, for the valuable animals that had been entered, and many complaints were made on this score. Although Mr. Parrington, of Yorkshire celebrity, was engaged as director of the horse de partment, his presence was not requested until Sa- ,urday, and hence he was helpless in the matter. At a recent committee meeting some irregularities were disclosed in connection with the engagement of, or rather the neglect to engage this gentleman ; and we fear that the feeling then made public has con tinued to operate, even to the risk of injuring the show. Under these circumstances it is a wonder that the horse show is so particularly good. The entries, very large in some classes, iu others are singularly small; the quality for the most part is excellent. There are several remarkable specimens of heavy horses ; but the closest competition is among the light ones, of which so many are so nearly equally first class that the judges had no little difficulty. In short, all the best horses from the shows at Bury St. Edmunds Royal Agricultural Society), Islington, and Thirsk (Yorkshire Society) are here. In the class of hunters carrying not less than 14st. there were 24 entries, and 18 came into the trial ring. They were severally trotted and cantered round and round the paddock. Then a selection of eight or nine was made, which were unsaddled, walked and run before ,the judges. Next the number was reduced to four or five, and were tested again and again, by the exhibitor's represen tative and by the judges. In this way a long time was occupied, and only after a more thorough exa- mination than we have ever seen in a show yard was the first prize awarded to Capt. Ileygate, of Leominster, for a dark brown five year old, which he bred himself, and values at £5OO. It is truly a beautiful creature, and was much admired from the first ; but an unprofessional eye might have bracketed it with one or two others that met with great favour among the spectators. All this judging, in this and other classes, was watched by some 2,000 occupants of the stand, and certainly not a smaller number was crowded round the hurdles. The leaping of the hunters, it was said on the ground, would take place some time between 12 and 3 o'clock, and it was this that had attracted so large an assemblage, who bore the heat of the sun until 5 o'clock, wearied by the judges' conscientiousness, but at last rewarded by the sight they came especially to see. The leap ing was somewhat exciting, and roused the enthu siasm of the patient crowd. It is announced for repetition each day of the show, and we would sug gest a notification in the show ground, by bell or placard, of the time when it will take place, and a punctual observance of this engagement by the authorities. The entries of horses number 282, and they are from all parts of the kingdom, from Dar lington to Kent. Under the operation of the cattle plague orders of the Privy Council no horned cattle could be ex hibited. As no show was held last 3 ear, in 1868 three years will have elapsed since cows have com peted for this society's prizes. We hope it will be found that the interval has been employed in im proving the breed of cattle which best suits this locality. In other classes the entries are as follow : —Sheep, 172 ; wool, 3 ; pigs, 82 ; poultry, 220 ; pigeons, 114 ; dogs, 216 ; cheese, 25 ; grain and roots, 91 ; vegetables, 33 ; saddlery, 5 ; implements, machinery, and miscellaneous articles, 1,549, arranged on 114 stands. The prevalence of the rinderpest in this district has driven many a farmer to what is always the safest course, namely, the distribution of his capital among several sources of profit instead of confining it to one which, if it fails, ruins him. For instance, the Cheshire agriculturist whose unquestioned maxim it was that farming in our sister country meant cheese making, now raises flocks of sheep, and adds shear ing to the festivals of the year, besides laying down a larger acreage than he was wont in cereals. It is, therefore, no matter of surprise that sheep are in greater force than ever in the history of this society, and some of them are as fine as were ever seen. The Shropshire Downs surpassed those shown at the Thirsk exhibition of the Yorkshire Society. The Li ncolns, a somewhat new class, did not attract such a competition as was expected. A gentleman of considerable experience remarked that he believed the show of pigs, especially of the large breeds, was without parallel. But it may well be questioned whether the judges consult the beet interests of agriculture in considering quantity