The Sun. — London, England, 1849-02-15 00:00:00

E'ttrb 72 itio SUN OFFICE, So en o'clock. TATTERSALL'S—THIS EVEN IN G, Six o'cLocx. LIVERPOOL STEEPLE CHASE. 7 to 1 agst Prince George 9 to 1 agst The Curate 10 to 1 agst Napoli on 20 to 1 agst Arab Robber METROPOLITAN HANDICAP. 7 to 1 agst Lugar 15 to 1 agst Clarissa CHESTER CUP. 20 to 1 agst The Tartar 20 to 1 agst Joe o' Sot 40 to 1 agst Lady Wildair 40 to 1 agst Peep o' Day Boy 40 to 1 agst Halo 50 to 1 agst Clermont DERBY. No betting. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. (THIS DAY.) The twenty-seventh half-yearly general meeting of the propri e t ors o f th e Great Western Railway Company was holden to-day, at the B-.-ard-room of the Company, at the Paddington station. The meeting was convened for the election of three di rectors in the place of the same number who retired in rotation, and for other purposes of business. The retiring directors were eligible for reelection under the company's Act. Mr. Charles Russell, the chairman of the company, took the chair at one o'clock. The three retiring directors were Lord Barrington, the deputy-cbairman ; Mr. James Gibbs, and Mr. George Jones, of Bristol ; and they had severally de clared themselves to be candidates for re-election at this meeting. The SECRETARY having read the notice convening the meeting, The CHAIRMAN addressedtheassembly as follows : Gentleman—lt will not be necessary to detain you with any lengthened remarks upon the de tails of our accounts for the last six months. These accounts have already been in your hands for several days, and I have no doubt that you will have compared those accounts with those of the preceding half-year, and that comparison, together with the report which has been to-day circulated among us, will have directed your attention to the most important particulars of them. You will observe that our receipts from our traffic during the last half year have not increased in any material degree over the receipts in the corresponding half-year of 1847, al though in this latter period a considerable length of new line has been opened ; but yon must bear in mind that that new line has not been opened sufficiently long to develope the traffic of the district through which it passes, and that a considerable portion of it — I believe more than one-half—has only been opened during a few weeks of the winter months. I believe that if it had not been for these new branches and for our discontinuance of the system of return tickets, that our traffic, even upon our main line, would have fallen short during the past half-year. In point of fact, up to the month of October, our general receipts on the line were less than they were during the corresponding months of the last year. This can be ascribed to no other cause than to the depressed state of the country, and when we consider what is the character of the principal towns with which our line is connected, I do not think we can entertain any surprise. Those towns are Cheltenham, Bath, Bristol, and Exeter, and when we remember the heavy reverses that have fallen upon the East and West India interests, the total failure of rents in Ireland, the general stagnation of commerce throughout the country, and that in point of fact there is scarce a house at the door of which is not to be found difficulty and distress, the wonder is, not that our traffic should not have largely increased, but that it should not have materially declined. Lastly, we must recollect that in the interval to which lam adverting, the South-Western line to Datchet has been opened; and though we may, perhaps, be permitted to entertain a doubt whether the traffic which the South-Western Company wtll derive from the line will reimburse them for the capital which they have expanded in making it, there can be no doubt that it has withdrawn a considerable portion of our Windsor traffic, particularly until the period shall arrive when our own branch into Windsor shall have been completed. We have endeavoured to meet those difficulties by every retrenchment which was compatible with the efficiency and safety of our line. We have reduced the trains to the extent of 800 miles a day, and we contemplate still further modifi cations in the arrangements of our trains.—(Hear.) Mr. Gooch has been able to effect very considerable reductions in the locomotive department, and although during this last half-year our engines have run over a considerably longer distance than they ran over in the corresponding half-year, the expense has been reduced from about 62,500/. to 53,0001., a very considerable red action. The maintenance of way is one of the heaviest charges in our accounts. In the last half year it amounted to no less a sum than 40,000/. I believe it is the practice of most railway companies to add the maintenance of way for the first year to the cost of construction, and to carry that charge against the capital. Such has never been the practice of the Great 'Western Company. We have always charged the maintenance of way to our revenue account from the day that aey line has been opened. The auditors have been so good as to look very mi nutely into this account, and I am sure they will bear me out in my statement, that every charge which can be properly included under the head of maintenance of way is so included, and is carried to the debit of our revenue account. We heve lately been able to enter into a new contract for the maintenance of way, and by this contract we hope to effect a saving of 5,0001. or 5,5001. a year. Gentlemen, the cost of coke is an item in which we suffer by any com parison with the working expenses of the northern lines. They are enabled to procure this coke at about 124. a ton, while you will see, from an accurate statement which is appended to our ac counts, that we have been obliged to pay from 21s. to 245. 4d. a ton for ours. We have lately entered into a new contract for the supply of coals, which will be supplied at a lower rate than they were formerly obtained at, by about 2s. a ton. The effect will be to enable us to obtain that coke at about 203 a ton, and the saving accruing to the company by this new contract will be about 6,000/. a year. I have adverted to these two or three particular charges, for they are the heaviest charges in our accounts; but our attention has not been limited to them. We have had a committee of re trenchment sitting for several months, who have instituted a most careful examination of your estab lishment, and proposed every reduction which was practicable. With the assistance of that committee we hope to effect a saving throughout the general departments of your establishment to the extent of about 25,000/. a year.—(Cheers) Gentlemen, you are aware !that the lease of the Bristol and Exeter wilt term i nate on the Istof May next. Communications have passed between the directors of th e t wo companies, but_ have led to no practical result. W e , o f course, know with perfect accuracy, what is the value of that line, and we have made the fullest and f a i res t communication tothe directors of the Company; Bristol an d Exeter but we have been unable to reconcil e our experience of the past with their expectations of the future; and s e have not thought it would be right at the present time to enter into any speculative bargain whatever, and though we have not been able to continue the lease of the Bristol and Exeter, we have entered into an arrangement for the common use between the two companies of the Bristol station. The expense of a large station like that of Bristol is very consi derable, and the saving to the two companies must be: great, by their using it in common. Of the equity of that arrangement there can be no doubt, at d very accurate accounts are to he kept, which will be open to the inspection of both par ties, end each is to bear the expense of that station in tee precise ratio of the work which may be done upon it. lam happy to state that the Bris tol and Exeter and ourselves still continue, and I hops mill always continue, on the most friendly terms —(Hear, hear)—and I am satisfied the cordial co operation of the two companies on all occasions must be conducive to their common interests. Gen tlemen, the parochial rates which we are obliged to pay still constitute a heavy item in our charges, and you are of course aware that active steps are about to be taken in order to obtain a modification of that charge. This question was first in vestigated at any length before a Committee of the House of Commons in 1844, and in that same year a Bill was passed by which large concessions were mad e f rom th e railway companies to the publi c . It was a di st i nct understanding at that time that it was equivalent for such concession that there should be a re' s ion of the p oor - ra t es w i t h a view to our relief l feel confident to whin the Government shallhteave stances they will be quite the pr prepared to render us their assistance. I h o p e ," too, Legislature m ill be dis posed to extend some consideration to us when they look n,ti only to that fact, but at the very heavy burdens mleigh hav e been cast t upon the railway companies in those days when the public was under the delusion that they were to o f wealth to us. We have bee n corn „ rive mines N I TSVALkIted to pay by the decisions of the Legislature the l'enoet exorbitant prices for the property which was if-- !Tee': ary to us to enable us to carry out those works •at national importance. I think the railway • ies would do well if they were to collect " 5 " " stances of those exorbitant prices, if it were only or the purpose of preserving some statistical THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY , EVENING, FEBRUARY l 5l 1849.7 ought to bo borne by revenue is thrown upon capital, it was proper here to state, that the accounts of this com pany had undergone a rigid atal lengthened inv. stiga don in this as in other respects, by the auditors w: o r.e:e appointed by the proprietors at the last gee end meeting ; and the directors we re indebted to those gen tlemen for several suggestions, which should be care fully considered. On the subject of lines for which Parliamentary powers had been obtained, and which were either not commenced, or only partially constructed, the directors had merely to repeat that in reference to such lines, the best policy was to keep the powers intact. Every exertion would be made for the early opening of those lines (about 20 miles in length) which were now in progress. The Hampton Court Branch was opened on the Ist of February. The directors were happy to announce, that the Windsor, Staines, and South-Western Railway Company had made a highly satisfactory ar rangement with the Crown for extending the line into Windsor ; and a Bill introduced into Par liament for this purpose would be submitted to the mee ti n g. It was proposed, in pursuance of the powers obtained by the Act of last session, that a lease for four teen years be now executed to this company, of the packets and property of the South Western Steam Navigation Company, on such terms as would legally secure the proprietors therein the dividend of 5 per cent., as well as the maintenance of their property, b nth of which were already guaranteed by votes of this proprietary. I'he directors had appointed Mr. Wyndham Harding to the office of secretary of this company, in place of Mr. P. L. Campbell, who died in September last. In connexion with this event, and from the sen-e they entertain of the abiliiy and untiring zeal and energy with which Mr. Campbell's arduous duties were performed, so long as strength lasted, the directors would submit a resolution to the proprietors before' the clesisg of the meeting. The directors were glad to state, that the construction of a second railway into Portsmouth, and the other needless expenditure likely to have arisen from competition, had been avoided by an amicable arrangement with the Lon don, Brighton, and South Coast Railway Company, en tered into shortly after the opening of the branch to Cosham. Under this arrangement, which was within the scope of the Acts of the company, this company pay 60,0001. for their half-share of the line from Cosham to Portsmouth, which was to be held jointly bet Ween the two companies. proprietors would be asked to an Theappl sanctionatapplication t of the Parliament . for extended powers of taking land upon the Basi ngs tok e and S a li s bury, and Farnham and Altou Lines. Advantage would be taken of this application- to include in these Bills some formal powers which would be of use in administering the of sirs of th e propr i etors . To these may be added an alterati on of the scale of voting to that sp e cified in the Companies Clauses Con s o lidation Act. The pari s h rates amounte d i n the last half-year to no less than 10,8331., available f or a di v id en d. This tax (principally consisting or upwards of 11 per cent. on the b a lance of poor-rate) amounts annually, on every adult employed in earning the company's revenue, to 121. 10s.—the ave rage rates on the whole adult male population of the country being about 30s. a head; and yet the establish ment of the railway company consists of persons em ployed at steady wages throughout the year, and there fore does not add in any way to the parochial burdens. An effort would be made in Parliament to show the un• fair operation of this tax on public conveyance, and to obtain relief. In accordance with the suggestions of several shareholders, a resolution would be submitted to the consideration of the shareholders, for the immediate conversion into stock of the New 50/. and 401. Shares :of 1845, and the Third Shares. The directors going out by rotation were Sir John East hope, Bart., Colonel Henderson, and H. her Sey• mer, M.P.; the two latter gentlemen offered themselves for re election, and Mr. Sergeant Gaselee, and Colonel Reid, M.P., offered themselves as candidates fur a seat in the direction. An akstract of the account has already been published in the Sun. The CHAIRMAN in moving the adoption of the report, was interrupted by Mr. M. D. HILL the Queen's Counsel, who, after eulogizing the exertions of Sir J. Resthope in behalf of the Company, for a long series of years, moved a vote of thanks to the Hon. B .ronet, which was seconded by Mr. 'Fite, and carried unanimously. The CHAIRMAN then proposed the adoption of the re any address from him might be dispensed with , but port, and agreeing as ha did with ever y w o rd i t co n tained , as there was a numerous array of gentlemen of the press before him, he thought it as well to congratulate the pro prietors absent and present, upon the increase which had taken place in their traffic, and upon the prospect which was now before them of being able to ecsnomise their expenditure.—(Hear, hear.) He could promise the shareholders, now that their parliamentary struggles were at an end, that no exertions should be ' wanting on the part of the directors to secure economy consistent with the due and proper working of the line. As an earnest of this they had already reduced the salaries of the heads of department, while they had made an arrangement with Mr. Bircham, the solicitor of the company, which would in future greatly reduce their law expenses; but he must add, in justice to the proprietors and Mr. Bircham, that the Parliamentary expenses would be excluded from this arrangement. Next in rotation came the engineering department. Of course they would always have at com mand the valuable services of Mr. Locke, their able engineer-in.chiet, but only for a moderate remuneration; while in every other department the strictest economy would be praetised.—(Hear, hear.) He then congratu lated the proprietors upon the. success which had at tended their negoc.ations with the Brighton Company. Had the arrangement alluded to in the report not been come to, an independent line might have been made to Portsmouth at an enormous expense which would have est.blished a severe competition to their own existing line, and served as a lasting monument of the extrava• gant stupidity of themselves and the proprietors of the Brighton line.--(Hear.) With regard to the Windsorline he was sure it would be a source of satisfaction to the proprietors to be told that the Great Western Company had at length, after a lengthened struggle, been induced to withdraw their opposition to it, and the extension would be carried out with as little delay and expense a- possible.—(Cheers.) The report had told them of the retirement of Sir John Easthope ' Bart. The dire c:ors regretted the step much, but Mr. M. D. Hill had taken the subject out of his hands, and he would say no more upon it except that he heartily concurred in the compliment which had been paid the Hon. Baronet. —(Hear, hear.) The other two gentlemen who retired offered themselves for re-election, and he hoped they would be re- elected.—(Hear, hear.) With regard to the other two gentlemen who offered themselves as can didates for the vacancy created by Sir J. Easthorpe he would say no more than this— " How happy could I be with either." —(Hear, hear, and laugter.) He now came to the real bone of contention amongst themselves, and he hoped while he occupied their time upon it he should be listened- too with patience and good temper.—(Rear, hear.) But let him remind them that their line commenced in the very heart of the British metropolis and terminated at Constantinople, the East Indies, and America.— (Hear, hear.) Moreover the Istnias of Panama was about to be belted with a railway, and who could say but that the South-Western line might not eventually become the leading highway folly it w as to oppose t h e cont i nuan c e London to India, and China.—(Hear, hear.) Well, i ot t hfetnhe would prove the salvation — ef ( tlal own what t m boat Company.—(No, no.) I p n ro h p i e s r o ty p , in a i n on d be trusted the shareholders would not reject the propo sal of the directors upon this subject.—(Yes, yes.) At all events, if they did, he could tell them that it would be good deal of their traffic. largely in the Steam-boat heldso a because he felt desirous to Company, In t h p e a n mye, admittedan b s u of l thatdestroyingh ehed id unite their line in this way with the Rouen and Havre line. He would not detain them longer, but would simply conclude with moving the adoption of theeuceosruteinoptnos . report, a u d ai e r x , hptr hear.)si his readiness to answer any put ng to him on the subject of the The motion having been seconded, accounts. (a that might u i e be s fir. BAKER announced his intention to move an amendment, but before he mentioned its terms he went into a lengthened history of what he called ~ the rise and fall of the concern." The pith of his address, however, may be compressed in few words. The original line from London to South ampton extended to 106 miles, cost 3,316,5941., and yielded .a return of -307,0 . 004 per annum. Their new lines extended to 100 miles, cost 3,731,9101, and yielded only 1,430/. per annum. L i ke the fall of Rome , then , their decline had been produced by a " Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself." And a desire to extend their territory to districts devoid of traffic, and yet costly i n their maintenance. He de nounced the mixed system of carrying which existed en their line, and ridiculed the generosity of the direc tors, which bad made the qualification to a seat at the board of twenty shares, and the qualification of a com mitteeman to investigate the accounts fifty shares. He attributed the ability of the directors to pay 6 per cent. per annum now to the op enin g of the Waterloo-bridlestation; but he had reaso n to believe, from inform a tion which had reached him, that next summer th e y wou ld not be able to pay . eve n at the rate of 3i. per cent. He did not agree with th e steam-boat g uarantee, and wound up by appealing to a g entleman who held 16,0001 . worth of stock in the cowl:4l3Y, and who under s t oo d th e question, to state whether he thought the steam-boats would ever pay. Mr. B. J. BAKER, the gentleman appealed to, scouted the very idea of their ever pa) itig. A twelvemonth ego one of the capt a i n s told him t hat the Ste am - boat Com pany WaS " loosing money like butter before the sun." Mr. BAK ER th e n moved an a mendment to the effect that the p aragra ph relating to the guarantee t o th e Steam Boat Company be expunged fromthe report, and a committee app o inted to inves ti g ate the question. Mr. W. CR OCKE R suggeste d that the y could not ex punge any e erannum. in e u y m. did i n i not t o get bjeet out cd, of this steam boat aff a i r thing from the r e p ort ; and, therefore, they bad better tak e the vote on t he se cond part of the amendment, which he was q uite read y to su pp o rt. At all events,any nt pe if their next di v id en d w ould not b t e he a r t e t f h or e e r , rate arf; 3 per party e 0 interested in the Steam -boat Company's voting upon this amendment. . Mr. LOCKE impugned the accuracy of Mr. Baker's figures. He denied that so much as 3,731,9101. had been expended on the blanches; but, at all events, no matter what the expenditure had been in the extension, the di rectors were driven into them by the proprietors, and all he asked of these proprietors was to wait till these Western Extensions had been tested. The South Western lines never cos t more than 25,000 per mile, but if th ey a dd e d, w hich they ought not to do, the cost of th e W a te r l oo -bridge Extention and such like works, th e cost wou ld m ount up to 35,0001. per mile, while he cou ld prom i s e that within a twelvemonth there would b e a reduction of from 12 , 00 01. to 15,0001; i n the charge for maintains= of the per account of the sudden rise which took place in cer tain property about the middle of the last century. — (Hear, and a laugh.) The law obliges us to give notice of our intention to Wee any land that may be required for the purposes of our railway ; and if circumstances, over which we have no control, should oblige us to abandon or suspend our work, we have, nevertheless, in numerous instances, been obliged not only to remunerate the owner of the land for the injury he has sustained by the notice that has been served upon him, but we have been obliged to pay most exorbitant prices for the cost of the land which will never be wanted, or for the severance of that which would in all probability never be severed. — (Hear, hear.) We have been obliged to make new lines and new branches as the only protection to our traffic against the encroachments which have been threatened against it. It was broadly announced in the House of Commons that, though the Legislature shall have granted a line of railway, there were no reasons of public faith which should pre vent their granting another line of rail way running close along side of it if they should think fit ; and in pursuance of this doctrine, in the session of 1845, Bills for 160,000,000 miles of railway Here passed; in 1846 Bills for 32 000,000 miles of railway were passed; and in 1847 Bills for 40,000,000 of miles were passed, being no less than Bills for 232,000,000 of miles of railway in the course of three successive sessions. On each succeeding occasion that we have been obliged to go to the Legislature for a new Bill, which was indispensably necessary for our works, we have been compelled to pay as the cost of that Bill a considerable reduction in our maximum charges. We have been obliged to carry third-class passengers at scarcely a remunerative rate, and we offered them such accommodation that not only the poor but the affluent—(Hear, hear)—avail themselves of those third-class carriages; and they travel almost free of charge on our line. And besides that, we have been obliged to carry officers, soldiers, and po licemen, at half the rate which would have been scarcely remunerative. In addition to this, we have been subject to the provisions of a Bill lately passed, practically to insure the lives of those passen gers who travel with us ; and under the operation of that Bill we have been amerced in penalties on consi derations unknown to the principles of the English law, not in proportion to the poverty, but in propor tion to the wealth of the claimants.—(Hear, hear.) And lastly, we have been assessed to the poor-rates on principles not contemplated at the time when this Bill was passed, and totally at variance with the principles applied to every other commercial enter prise of the country ; and we add not one shilling to the charge, though we are obliged to bear nine tenths of the burdens of every parish through which we pass.—(Hear.) This is but a brief and imper fect statement of the burdens that have been cast upon us, and is it wonderful that the value of your property shmild have declined ? In other countries every possible encouragement and assistance have been offered to railway enterprise.—(Hear, hear.) In America, France, Belgium, and even in Italy they have had grants of land, the remission of taxation, and loans of public money ; but here, in commercial England alone, and in these days of free trade, we have not been able to get one acre of land for which we have not had to pay double and treble its value. But, during the late pressure, it was pretty plainly intimated to us that we must look to no assistance ; and the public policy rather seemed to be directed to correct the vicious legislation to which I have alluded, and which was no fault of ours, by increasing rather than modifying the difficul ties of the railway companies.—(Cheers.) The re sults are now seen, and I hope we may look for a more considerate policy towards the railway companies. I feel satisfied, if we take care that the prayer of our petition for relief in the matter of the parish rates be moderate and just, if it be firmly but temperately enforced, that we must succeed in obtaining relief. I am not aware that I have any thing more to say on the subject of those rates. The question has been taken up in confor mity with your wishes expressed at previous meetings, and I have no doubt you will give your consent to the attaching the seal of the company to the petition which we propose to present to Parliament. I cannot quit the subject of our accounts without adverting to a question which I know has occasioned considerable dissatisfaction in the public mind—l mean the discon tinuance of our system of return tickets. We have resorted to that expedient with the greatest possible reluctance, but it was inevitable. I do not believe the proprietors or the public are aware of the extent of the remission of charge involved in our system of return tickets. We have had an account carefully made of the half year terminating on the 30th June, 1848; and we find that during that period the number of pas sengers who have travelled by our express and our ordinary trains were about 230,000. Of this number as nearly as possible one-half availed themselves of the use of return tickets. The number of our second-class passengers, which constitutes of course the great bulk of our traffic Has about one million and fifty thousand, and of this number about two. thirds availed themselves of the use of re turn tickets. The system of return tickets practically therefore amounted to this, that we remitted one third of our charge with half the first-class traffi and upon two-third of our second-class traffic. Nor was this all. You can have no notion of the extent to which frauds were practised upon us by the transfer and sale of return tickets—(Hear) — and which we found it impossible to prevent. I believe a more striking instance cannot be foetid than is found in the practice adopted respecting return tickets of that laxity of principle—(Hear)—by which men justify themselves in doing that in their dealings towards the public which they would shrink from doing in private life.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") I am aware that great complaints have been made of the discontinuance of the reutrn tickets. It has been charged on us as a breach of faith, but I know of no principle of justice or law which entitled any man to travel at the expense of another. Great sympathy is expressed for the retired tradesman, who has not taken his dinner by the road side, and unex pectedly finds himself called upon to pay 2s. or 3s. for it in the metropolis—(Laughter) —but no sym pathy is found for the retired tradesman, who is perhaps his neighbour, who has invested his hard earned savings in railway property, at Si. per cent., but finds the rate of interest, year by year, declining, and not only that, but even his captital, diminished more than half in value.—(Cheers.) This class of proprietors is very much increasing among us. The number of our proprietors was nearly doubled On the course of last year. Now these proprietors were entitled to the same justice and consideration from the public, and from the Legislature, that any other proprietors are entitled to; at all events, from us, who are their trustees, they are entitled to the most vigi lant watchfulness of their interests.—(Loud cheers.) We have discontinued the system of return tickets until we know the result, so that by keeping accu rate accounts we shall be guided by those results in the course we shall pursue.—(Hear, hear.) It is our duty to afford every reasonable accommoda tian to the public, but it is our right to receive a reasonable remuneration.—(Hear, hear.) For such accommodation I am sure the public hare no right to complain if railway affairs are con ducted on those principles of reciprocal justice which governs all other commercial enterprizes in our country. I am not aware there are any other topics connected with our accounts to which it is necessary that I should advert. The Chair man then went on to congratulate the meeting on the improvement in the aspect of their affairs which had recently taken :place, and adverted to the principles which he thought it necessary for the company to be governed by in the present state of circu ms t ances , an d b y w hi ch he b e li eve d i t wou ld be restored to its former sound, healthy, and pros perous condition.-- (Cheers.) Mr. LAWRENCE FIETWORTH thanked the chairman for the business-like speech he had just delivered. He had n ever heard a speech more to the purpose, and it was to th an k the chairman that he presented himself sEc tot ß hzeTAltr meeting:en read at that the memelat. The report, which wEs r nn linege ow l n a en s r ee t x half-year a nc l c fwe- successively re the two y otpr ea detached ninesd otof the as follows : G p p o ra r eb t a i rt o i e n s of public, workedbranlicha Wes tern Railway—the one on the sth September, being 13i miles of the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railway, - through blelksham and Trowbridge to Westbury ; th other, on the Ist November, between Reading and Basingstoke, constituting the 15 miles which remained incocOplete of the Barks and Hauls Railway. " The company, aided by their additional branches, have maintained, and in some degree increased their re ceipts during the last six months, although the general business of railways in the country has fallen off, and this company has besides had to contend against some disadvantages — thes a p il ec e ia v l entsfor the present , Datchet Line some of the Londo n and Windsor traffic, South-Western withdrawn to p t a o n the a tir while the Southampton and Dorchester Railway has been the means of diverting a portion of the Somerset shire and Dorsetshire trade, which used previously to pass through Taunton, Bridgewater, or Bath, over this railway. " Although the two Great Western Branches referred to have riot yet been opened long enough to develope their proper traffic, either in respect of passengers or goods, so as to become remunerative in themselves, there is sufficient indication that they will, in due time, upon the revival of trade, contrilette to the general resources of the company, by attracting a considerable increase of trade to the main line—besides defraying out of the receipts from the kcal traffic, when progressively im proved, at least a moderate rate of interest on the cost, %ir.ti all their working charges. o The rk t d h i :. e l c i t n o e r : i r n e o p l o u r d t i e n d g t h t h a t o s t o h e b y r h an a c v h e e b s ee a n t a en re a d bl u e e d . t wt i o ot n ra kl to ‘ w ‘ o in f inge l r e e ,o a o se oe o u v upon t h t h e e c p o preceding d i h n a g l f - p y e e r a i o r ' d ; while B t 4 h 7 e , 53 additional miles, and supporting establish - • - ments at twelve new stations, amounts only to 4,6501, a sum but slightly exceeding the cost or the maintenance cf way of these branches, an item which has been charged to revenue, even during the first year of their being opened for traffic. The directors have devoted their attention during many months to a careful revision of the general ex penditure, feeling, under the less prosperous condition of raissay property in these times, the increasing import ance, and even necessity of making every practicable retrenchment, calculated to improve the financial condi tion of the company, without impairing the safety and efficiency of the line, or the management of the under taking. " The directors entertain a belief that the alterations and reductions which have been determined upon will effect an annual saving of about 25,0001. in working charges, exclusive of the sum of 6,000/. per annum, which from the reduced price of coals under the present con tract, will be saved in the cost of coke. Some of these reductions, it is proper to mention, have been partially in operation during the latter months of 1848, but the board is of opinion that by a further modification in the trains, and other arrange merits, there may still be an annual saving of 30,0001. as contrasted with the expenditure even of the past six months. In addition to this, there are some minor sources of income to be obtained, irrespective of ordinary traffic receipts over the line, which will probably amount to 3,500/. per annum. " The directors will not relax in their endeavours to conduct the whole system under the most strict and vigilant economy, in order to increase the prosperity of the company, and afford a proper remuneration to the shareholders; tied they trust the public will at length perceive how essential it is, even to their own conveni ence, that railways efficiently managed should make an adequate return for their capital, without which there can be no means of enlarging or extending those ad vantages. "The result of the audited accounts during the last six months, places the net sum of 223,9871. 19s. I Id. at the disposal of the general meeting; and the directors recommend that a dividend at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum, should be declared by the proprietors, payable on the let March in the usual way. This will leave 6,214/. 19s. I Id. to be carried forward to the account of the current half-year. "Under the authority of a resolution of the general meeting in August last, the directors have resolved to create, for construction of the Windsor Railway, 6,500 new shares of 201. each, to be issued, in conformity with the agreement, to the shareholders of the original Windsor Railway Company, and to others ; the said shares entitling the holders to a rateable dividend only, from the time when the railway itself shall be finished. "In the Berks and Hants Extension Act, 1848,' there is an enactment to give effect to the subsist ing agreement with the shareholders of the London, Newbury, and Bath Direct Railway Company' (a subjt et also mentioned in the last report), in virtue of which agreement they are to be ad mitted as shareholders of Berks and Hants Preference shares, of 5 per cent. per annum, to the amount of their subscription, which is about 460,0001. The clauses in question are now brought to the attention of the pro prietors, in order that the formal steps may be taken to authorize the creation of those preference shares to the amount specified in the Act; for which purpose a reso lution has been prepared and will be submitted to this meeting. " Experience in some companies having shown that the proprietors of shares, upon which the capital has been called and paid up, have derived an advantage from the conversion of several denominations of shares into one consolidated stock, and the authority of Parliament having been obtained by this company to do so, the directors recommend that such measure should be adopted with respect to the 1001, 50/., and 201. Great Western shares, as soon as the prescribed conditions of the Act can be complied with. A reso lution to that effect in legal form can only be submitted to a special meeting, and if the proprietors concur in its expediency, notice shall be given to convene a general meeting of the company specially in order to confer the requisite powers for that conversion. " In the month of October, 1838, an order was made by the company requiring separate lists of proprietors to be made for each half-yearly meeting, which has been acted upon ever since; but it is practically proved that the preparation of such lists (since become very volu• minous) is an unnecessary expense, inasmuch as the sealed registers of shareholders, which arc required by the Act, furnish the same information; and the directors recommend, under existing circumstances, that the order for the separate lists should be rescinded. " Reverting to the all-important subject of expen diture, the directors must again renew their complaint, so frequently expressed, against the system upon which railways continue to be assessed for parochial rates. Relief was promised as an eqnivalent, when, w hen Mr. Gladstone's Bill was introduced for compelling compa• vies to convey troops and the police at very reduced charges; and to afford separate trains, with a superior accommodation for third class passengers, at a low price, whether remunerative or not to the company—but no relief whatever has yet been affarded. " A resolution will be proposed for affixing the com mon seal of the company to a petition to the House of Commons, praying for some Legislative redress for that grievance; and th matter is of sufficient importance to urge upon all the proprietors, both collectively and in dividually, every active and proper exertion to obtain this measure of justice. " Subsequently to the last meetingeof the company, the directors were anxiously engaged for some time in endeavouring to arrange amicable relations with those companies whose railways approximate to er connect with the Great Western lines, to enable them all to dispense ctith the outlay of capital not abs'Autely required fur new lines, as well as to economise, by united estabishments, for carrying on the traffic of the country. Although circumstances over which your directors could exercise no control, prevented the completion of any general or final agree ment for the identification of those 'companies, they have the the gratification of stating, that there is no contest now pending in Parliament or other conflict of interest, as far as they can perceive, which ought to preclude the hope of friendly and satisfactory arrangements being made between the companies separately for their com mon benefit, consistently with the accommodation and just interests of the public. " The general financial statement of the property, affairs, and liabilities of this company, so very recently published and circulated among the shareholders, renders it unnecessary to dwell upon that subject in this report. " There is no Bill before Parliament during this session for any new railway in which this company is interested, and the only measure in which they are at all concerned, is a Bill for vesting the Stratford-upon- Avon Canal in the Birmingham and Oxford Railway Company, to whom it really belongs, under an agree ment with the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Company. " The resignation of Mr. Peter Maze, of Bristol, one of the original directors of the company, who, to the great regret of his cones:saes, had become unable by infirmity of health to attend the board, rendered it ne cessary to appoint another director, being a proprietor resident within a limited distance of Bristol, (the Act requiring four directors so resident,) upon which occa sion Nit.. James Gibbs, formerly chairman of the Bristol and Exeter Railway Company, was unanimously selected by the board to fill that vacancy. "At the present meeting, three directors, viz. :—Lord Barrington, the deputy chairman, Mr. James Gibbs, and Mr. George Jones, of Bristol, are to retire by rotation. They have severally declared themselves to be candidates for re-election at this meeting. "The half-yearly accounts, already circulated, are ap pended to this report, together with a letter from the engineer in relation to the works of the company, which is printed for the information of the company. "C. RUSSELL, Chairman." The adoption of the report having been moved and seconded, Mr. STAMFORD moved as an amendment that a committee of eleven of the shareholders should be appointed to consider the affairs of the company, with a view to ascertain what further reductions could be made in its expenditure. This gave rise to a good deal of desultory discus sion, which had not terminated when our reporter was obliged to leave ; but, from:the feeling prevalent in the meeting, the adoption of the report would in all probability be the result. LONDON AND sOUTH. WESTERN RAILWAY.—(THIS DAY.) The spring half-yearly general meeting of the pro prietors of the above railway was held this afternoon, at the Nine Elms Station! Mr.ffilliam Chaplin, chairman of the board of directors, in the chair. There was a very full attendance of shareh olders. Mr. WYNDHAM HARDING, the new secretary, read the report, from which it appeared that the directors were of opinion the traffic during the last half-year on all the railways in the kingdom had been much and injuriously affected by several causes, which were nut likely to be lasting in their operation. Among these were the political convulsions which bad disturbed the continent of Europe. This had especially affected the French trade of the port of Southampton. The proof was to be found in the very great falling off, since the revolution, in the traffic of the railway from Paris to Havre, the port on the opposite side of the Channel. A charge of 2,4001. had in consequence been thrown, for the first time, upon the revenue of the half year, in order to cover the interest on the capital of the Steam Packet Company, which has been guaranteed to them by this company. The general depression of commerce, and the unusual wet ness of the autumn season, had also been peculiarly in jurious to that suburban traffic, which the opening of the Datchet line, and the extension to waterloo-bridge were c Aculated to develop. In connexion with there circumstances, the low scale of fares, adopted as an ex periment in a time of prosfority, was found to be pre judicial. As soon, therefore, as circumstances permitted, the directors raised the fares to the present scale. The expense of running trains, during the last half-year, has Lean 2s. 10d. a mile— a resu l t which, it was believed, would bear satisfactory comparison with other railways; and to this the directors would refer as a test of eco nomy. By the terms under which the Third Shares of 1847 were created, the amount of capital entitled to dividend this half-year exceeded by 1 ,172,275/., or 46 per cent., the amount on which divid en d was paid last halr-year.Under the same terms, the whole amount which may be paid up on the capital of the company would be entitled to dividend out of revenue during the current half-year. A greatly increased capitalhad, therefore, in future to be provided for; and every effort, in developing the resourc•A of this railway, as well as a rigid economy in conducting its afldrs, would be necessary, in order to realise a fair remuneration to the shareholders. These efforts the directors are prep ared to make,Forand the this eco-nomy they are aetermined to pursue satisfac tion of those who may be influenced by the apprehen s i on RCM so commonly entertaine d, that expenditure which manent way. Reductions would also be made in the locomotiye and carriigo departments ; and he would suggest that in future the accounts of the goods be kept separate from thozo of the pa,..senger traffic. He insisted that the company was morally bound t) carry out the steamboat guarantee, but he had no objection to the appointment of the committee if it were agreed that the guarantee should be carried out, upon the committee binding that it had been le gally carried out. Mr. PUNCHAND jvrs Opposed to the steam-boats. Mr. Sergeant GazALiicalled un the chairman to state what was the meaning of the paragraph in the report relating to the late secretary. Did the directors mean simply to pay him a compliment, or were they going to make a grant of money to his representatives? The CIIAIEMAN explained that the directors paid Mr. Campbell before his death three months' salary in ad vance. Anything to be done for his widow would be left to the benevolence of the proprietors. Mr. Sergeant G UZELEE then addressed the meeting at great length against the steam-boat guarantee. They were neither boun in law or morality to accept the pro position. Mr. TaTE supported the guarantee, and controverted the opinion of the Learned Sergeant. He maintaieed that 82,0001. worth of Stock was held by the general Public in the Steam-boat Company, and only 18,000/. by parties connected with the Great Western Company. Mr. HOWE opposed the amendment. After some further discussion, the amendment was put to the vote and carried. A poll was demanded and deferred. The dividend was then declared, and the two retiring directors re-elected. Upon the question of the election of a director, in the room of Sir John Easthope, Bart., a poll was demanded and deferred. The shareholders then resoived themselves into a special meeting, and agreed to the proposals recom mended in the report, after a long and stormy discussion. Thanks were then voted to the chairman, and the meeting broke up at a late hour. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool sack at Five o'clock. PETITIONS. The Duke of RICHMOND presented a petition from the Bath Church of England Association, praying that no measures endowing Roman Catholics in Ireland or in any other part of her Majesty's dominions might be passed by their Lordships. The NOBLE LORD also presented a petition from a Board of Guardians at some place in Sussex complain ing that the unlimited establishment of beer-shops,had a demoralising effect upon the labouring classes, and pray ing that in future no beer-shop be established in any parish unless the majority of the inhabitants were of opiniont hat it was necessary. THE SEDUCTION OF WOMEN. The Bishop of OXFORD presented several pe titions from places in Hereford and Sussex, praying their Lordships to pass a measure to prevent fraudulent seduction of women. The Right Rev. Prelate laid on the table a Bill to effect this pur pose, which was read a first time ; and gave notice that he should propose that it be read a second time after the Easter recess. THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE. The RIGHT REV. PRELATE gave notice that on Thurs day next he should move the appointment of a Select Committee to consider the best means which Great Bri tain could devise for the final extinction of the African Slave Trade. THE CRIHINAL LAW CONSOLIDATION BILL, AND THE BANKRUPT LAWS COSOLIDA TION BILL. Lord BROU:GHAM moved the second reading of these Bills. The Bills proposed to alter to a certain ex tent the law of arrest, and in order to effect that object it would be necessary to repeal six sections of the Act. Ile desired that the refusal to pay the amount of a bond in judgment should constitute an act of bank ruptcy. if there was any compulsion in the matter, it was already an act of bankruptcy. out if there was no compulsion, the refusal was no act of bankruptcy, and this anomaly he proposed to do away with. I❑ the next place the power of assignees was extended under the new Act. lie further proposed that power should be given to executors or other persons— say creditors—to administer the estates of deceased par tite under the bankrupt-law. He felt the greater confidence iu making this alteration, inasmuch as during the years in which the "law had been administered by the present Commissioners; at least between the years 1842 and 1848 there had been as many as 1.800 decisions; there had not been more than five appeals that had been sustained. These Bills were then mid a second time and ordered to be c.,mmived. LARCENY ACTS AMENDMENT BILL. Lord CAMPBELL moved the second reading of this Bill. After a few words from the Marquis of SALISBURY and the Duke of RICHMOND, Lord BROUGHAM agreed with the principle of the Bill, which he considered was a most important one. Lord STANLEY thought that a measure like the present ought to have had more attention givtu to it than appeared to have been awarded to it by the Noble and Learned Lord who bad introduced it. He thought the Government ought, before the intro duction of this Bill, to have enunciated the principles on which they intended to act with respect to transpor tation generally. He did not forget the argument which was used a few jeers ago by the Noble Earl that they were about to try a new series of punishments. He did not forget either that that was an experiment, and ought not to be judged of until it had been fairly tried ; but after eighteen months' experience he did think that some decision should be made as to its success. He therefore asked the Noble Earl whether be intended to lay upon the table of the House any mrasue for the settlement of the matter. He had been strongly impressed with evil of the excessive number of male convicts in the colonias, and the evil which that disproportion with the number of the female convicts. (LEFT SPEAKING.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER took the chair at Four o'clock. After the lapse of about ten minutes, during which no business was done, with the exception of some private petitions being presented, an Hon. Member moved that the House be counted, and there being only twenty-four Members present, the House immediately adjourned. QUEEN'S BENCH.—(THIS DAY.) (Sittings at Nisi Prius, before Lord DENMAN and a Special Jury.) THE QUEEN V. KENDALL AND OTHERS. _ This was an indictment against persons named Mr. K.-ndail, Mrs. Binks, Mrs. Linley, Mr. Bickley, and a Mr. Morre, for having conspired together for the procu ration and sale of a cadetship in the East India Com pany's service. The Attornev-General, with whom were Sir Frederick Thesiger, Mr. L. Wigram, Mr. Clarkson, Mr. Peacock, and Mr. Forsyth, appeared for the prosecution; and Mr. Cockburn, Mr. Sergeant Shee, Mr. Sergeant Wilkins, Mr. Daudeswell, appeared for the defendants, who, with the exception of Moore, pleaded Not Guilty, he having pleaded Guilty of the offence. It appeared from the statement of the ATTORNEY GENERAL that Mr. Morre, a shipowner of Plymouth, being desirous in the year 1645 to get his son, Mr. Henry Morre one of his sons, a cadetship in the East India Company's service he applied to a Mr. Lavers, of China-walk, Lambeth, to assist him in Lthat purpose. That peron introduced him to a Mrs. Linley, who introduced him to Mrs. Binks and a Mr. Kindel], the former represent ing that she could obtain the required appointment in consequence of her connexion with Lady Ripon— Lord Ripon being at the head of the Board of Control at the time. Several negotiations took place on the subject which ended in the young man being appointed to a cadetship, the gift of Lady:Ripon to Mrs. Binks, Lord Ripon having several appointments of the kind in his gift. 1,0001. was paid altogether, 800/. to Mr. Binekley for Mr. Kendall, 50/. to Mrs. Linley, and 1501. to Mr. Bickley for the part he had taken in the affair. The young man went to India, but shortly afterwards died. The transaction having be come known to the East India Company, the present prosecution was instituted. 'the Earl of Ripon was examined, and deposed to the effect that not the slightest consideration was received by him or Lady Ripon for the gift of the office. Lady Ripon conferred the appointment upon the nominee of Mrs. Binks as a favour, he (Lord Ripon) having permit ted her Ladyship to do so. Several other witnesses were examincd, and the notes, of which a portion of the purchase money con sisted, were produced. The case was adjourned until to-morrow. THE IRON TRADE. The first month of the quarter has passed away very satisfactorily, and no improvident attempt to force an alteration of prices has been ventured. In the Welsh and Scotch market it is stated that a considerable im• provement has taken place, and higher latices are readily obtained. Here many of our mills and forges have hi• therto been F mplop d upon the desponding engage ments entered into before the close of the last year; but these are now being rapidly worked off, and the generality of produce is being sent out at the better figures of the late quarterly meetings, while orders are plentiful, and in many instances necessarily deferred, since makers are not inclined to accept for future de livery unless at some inducement beyond the nominal rates, and this it is hardly considered prudent to offer at present. The dealers and merchants are, however, busy, not only for everyday consumption, but they are endeavouring stealthily to replenish their empty ware houses in anticipation of a considerable impulse from the spring trade, particularly from the United States, under which it is not improbable that a general advance in the prices of iron would be declared. At present it would be premature to offer any opinion upon the course likely to be taken next quarter. The position of mercantile and political affairs among our Continental customers is too unsettled to allow of a si!t's• factory calculation as regards our probable transactions with them for the next six or twelve months; but the alvices from America are of a stirring description, and, in spite of the vast share of attention absorbed by the Californian mania, there is little doubt that considerably enlarged quantities, both of manu factured and pig iron, as also ef hardware goo is, will be shipped for that country. Large orders, we are told, have arrived in Liverpool by the last packet, and have been disposed of principally among the Welsh houses, while iu London extensive transact ions are daily. concluded. The railroad interest •is also recoveriegr eraduaily from the late dedresien,and the improvement hitherto effected is well maintain, d, with an upward tendenCy. The abundance and eheap- . ness of money will cauic a more early resumption of operations in these 'undert7Aings than might other wi.io have been looked fir ; but it is scarcely to be ex pected Viet they will afford much assistance in the consumption of iron during the present yt ar, while the enormous increase in the make of that article both in Wales and Scotland has called forth an ex• pression of some apprehension on the pact of many conversant with the -trade. The stock of Li* iron in the latter country at the beginning of the pre sent year was supposed to be about 110,000 tons, and the probable make is calculated at 650,000 more, while the whole quantity disposed of during the year 1848 was only 550,000 tens, and that much exceeded the con sumption of 1847 ; so th a t a l arge i ncrease o f stoc k is feared during the present year. The same prospects offer in Wales, and, it is thought, may prove a check u p on any a d vantage t h at m i g h t otherwise have been t a k en in obt , tining inure remunera tive prices. Pig iron in Staffordshire is in considerable equk st, and the brst•qualitit s command rather higher figures. Coals are bcoiniag more plentiful, the open ness of the weather having slackened the dt [nand for household purposes. Iren•stone still maintains its im• proved quotations; stocks are very;mall, and holders show no disposition to mak e sales --Aria's Birmingham Gazette. SHIP SYMMETRY.—BAPTISM EXTRAORDINARY.— Extract from the log of the third officer—" Saturday, 21st of October, at six Rae, Mrs. Shaw, a❑ emigrant, gave birth to a son. 29th October. midnight, strong breezes and clear; passed the ceremony of baptism o: the child, and named it Symmetry Thompson, after the ship and her captain—he and the third officer, Mr. Stan way Grocott (who officiated as chaplain), standing god father. 12.80, A.M.. Symmetry departed this life; 10 A.M., committed the holy of Symmetry to the eh ep."— Lieezpool Courier. - A THIRSTY " INFANT."—Ina case heard at the Stamford County Court, last week, the plaintiff, a tailor and publican, sued the defendant for 93. 11 id. for beer and spirits supplied. The Judge having learned that the defendant was only 18 years of age, said he might have appeared and pleaded " infancy," but as he had not done so he would hear the case. His Honour then told the plaintiff to read the items, which he did, giving the follow ing as the amount of one day's chalking up:—" Five half pints of ale, three glasses of gin and water, and three glasses of brandy." Jcdge: "And you supplied this in one day to this infant?" Plaintiff (astounded)—" Infant! why they say he is 18 yeats old. Infant !"—Judge: "Go on."—Plaintiff: " September 20, ale 31, ditto 3d., gin 3d., a loaf of bread for his man wher. he went out shooting," &c.—Judge: " What ?"—Plain tiff: "He has a dog and a gun, a game certificate, and he keeps a horse to go out a-hunting; and he sometimes treats his friends."—Judge: " What is he then ?"—Plaintiff: " The son of a pawnbroker."— Judge : " Well, he is but an infant' in the eye of the law. I shall disallow from the account the charge for. spirits, and I shall make an order that the balance be paid when the infant' comes of age—in three years' time. plaintiff seemed puzzled with the size anti capacity for drink of the law's "infants."—Lincoln paper. SCOTCH LAW OF ENTAIL.-011 Saturday last the Court of Session approved of the first disentail under the recent statute. This is a great fact in the history of Scotland. The evils of a system introduced in the worst days of Scottish history by the worst of our Lord Ad roc Acts are now checked, and the soil of the c.,untry is no longer to be tied by the artificial fetters of a bar barous system. Regard for existing vested interests will no doubt prevent the full operation of this great improve ment until many of the present generation are gone; but at the same time, there is no man who has any love of 2ountry who will rot rejoice at ,he beginning of so im poortant a change.—Scotsman. EXTRAORDINARY INCIDENT.—A very extraordinary adventure occurred on the Barton road, i:i the neigh bourhood of this town, on Thursday last. On the right hand side of the road, going to Barton, there is a ditch, which is generally, at this season of the year, filled with water. A man named Smith, residing at Barnwell, was walking by this ditch, when he saw a rat swimming along the side of it Happening to have a stick in his hand, armed with a spike at the point, he launched it at the rat, and succeeded, by a fortunate aim, in transfixing the animal to the bank. This was rare sport; but the best of it is to come. On withdrawing the stick, the body of the rat was turned over, and Smith was sur prised to see something glittering among its entrails, which, on taking it out, proved to be a Queen Anne's sixpence.— Cambridge Advertiser. TREATY BETWEEN ENGLAND AND BORNEO.—A copy of the treaty of " friendship and commerc3" concluded be tween Her Majesty the Queen of England and the Sultan of Borneo (signed in the English and Malay languages, on the 27th May, 1847), has just been laid before both Houses of Parliament. It consists of 12 articles. They provide 1. That peace, friendship, and good understanding shall for ever subsist between the two Powers of Britain and Borneo. 2. That the subjects of her Majesty shall have full liberty to enti , r into, reside in, and trade with all parts of the dominions of the Sultan Omar Ali Sailadeen, and enjoy the privileges and advantages of the most favoured nation ; the sub jects of the Sultan to enjoy the same privileges in this country. 3. That British subjects may purchase and ac quire all kiwis of property within the dominions of the bultan, his Highness engaging that such British subjects shall, as far as lies in his power, enjoy full and complete protection and security. 4. That the trade between the two countries shall be perfectly free, subject only to the Customs' duties which may be hereafter en forced. 5. That no duty exceeding one dollar per ton shall be levied on British vessels entering the ports of Borneo, British goods and British trade to be exempt from all internal duties, &c. 6. That no export duty shall be levied by the Sultan on any article the growth or produce of his own dominions. 7. That the ships of war of England and the India Com pany shall be permitted to enter the ports, rivers, and creeks of his dominions, and to provide themselves with such supplies, stores, and provisions as they may re quire. 8. That assistauco shall be rendered to vessels wrecked on the coast of Borneo. 9 That ever) means shall be taken by both the high contracting parties for the suppression of piracy within the seas, straits, and rivers subject to their respective control or influence, &c. Article 10 confirms the cession of the island of Labuan, situate on the north west coast of Borneo, together with the adjacent islets 01 Kuraman, Little Rusakan, Great Rusakan, Dasat, and Malankasan, and all the straits, islets, and seas situate halfway between the afore-mentioned islets and the main land of Borneo ; likewise, the distance of 10 geographical miles from the island of Labuan,• to the westward and northward, and from the nearest point half way between the islet of Malankasan and the mainland of Borneo, in a line running north till it intersects a line extended from west to east, from a point 10 miles north ward at the northern extremity of the island of Labuan to be possessed in perpetuity and full sovereignty by her Majesty and her successors; and, to avoid disputes, the Sultan engages not to make any similar cession of terri tory to any other nation without the consent of her Britannic Majesty. Every measure is to be taken by both parties for the suppression of the abominable traffic in slaves. The treaty, which was to be ratified on or before the the 27th of May, 1848, is signed by James Brooke, on the one part, and attested by the great seal of the Sultan of Borneo, on the other. TIMOTHY SEED.—An importation having recently taken place at one of the ports in the West of England, from one of the Prussian ports, of a parcel of Timothy seed, a question arose as to the rate of duty az which it should bo entered, the revenue offi cers considering the article to be liable to duty as grass seed, not enumerated, or to the rate of ss. per cwt., and the importers considering that as the seed was only occasionally used for agricultural purposes for the purpose of improving new meadows and was also used for feeding birds, that the proper rate of duty thereon would be as seed not enumerated at ss. per cwt., ad valorem. It appeared, on inquiry, that the article was well known as Timothy grass send, and appropri ated to agriculture] purposes, and that the proper rate of duty due thereon was as grass seed, of ss. per cwt. BURGLARY AND MURDEROUS ATTACK ON AN OLD MAN AGED EIGHTY.—On Wednesday night, or early on Thursday morning, a lone cottage at Bethersden, occupied, with a little laud, by an old man named Laws, who 80 years of age, and lives by himself, was broken into, and ransacked. The poor old man was struck, in a most brutal manner, by an iron instrument, two or three times, on the head, while in bed. Weltering in his blood, he crawled, after the thieves left the house, across to a neighbour's, living at a little distance, who rendered him every assistance. Two young men, named Millen and Sheepwash, belonging to Bethersden, were apprehended on Thursday evening, and taken to Messrs. Purley: and Mercers' office, at Ashford, yesterday, on suspicion of having committed the offence, and were re manded by the Rev. N. Toke. The blows were inflicted with a piece of iron, which, with the old man's breeches, have been found in a neighbouring pond. The thieves were evidently annoyed at not find ing his watch, which he had sold a short time before while in distress. The poor man was alive last night, but it is feared he cannot recover.—Canterbury Journal. THE DUKE OF ARGYLL AND BISHOF TROWER A strange paragraph is going the round of the press, which reports that Dr. Trower, Bishop of the Epis copal Communion in the districts of Glasgow and Galloway, has actually excommunicated the Duke of Argyll on account of that nobleman attending the ministration of a clergyman ordained in England, but officiating in Scotland, without being under subjection to the local Bishop. We do not perceive what Dr. Trower had to do with the Duke of Argyll. His grace is a Member of the Established Church of Scotland, and altogether beyond the juris diction of that Rev. Gentleman. Lord Blantyre, the Duke's brother-in-law, is also mentioned as hav ing been visited with the same sentence. If we are not mistaken his Lordship is also a member of the Scottish establishment. It belongs, we think, to Dr. Trower, through the medium of the press, to put the public right as to the true state of the C.I4P, for the ru mour, however ridiculous, will be believed by thousands. Wero the Duke of Argyll really an Episcopalian, and attending the chapel of an English clergyman, we cannot see in what way he would be affected by the sentence of excommunication fulminated by the rastor of a body to which neither the clergyman or the lay Christian be longed.--Edinburgh Post._ ‘V To WHAT BASE USES," &c —Our readers' at ten tion may have been drawn to a large granite kerb stone at the east corner of Mr. Pyc's house, Gandy street, which appears to have b; en part of an ancient cross, and subsequently used as the key-stone of Exeter bridge, erected by Welter Jervis, in the middle of the thirteenth century. When the bridge was tali, n down, in 1770, this key-stone was purchased by the late Mr. Nation for a guinea, and he placed it in the situation it now occupies,—Ereter Chronicle. UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE. CAMBRIDGE. WEDNESDAY MORNING.--At a Lumen;us mee , ing of the, Members of the Senate held on Monday, it was proposed by Professor Corrie, and r:'solved, to riresent a memorial to the V , ce.Chancellor, to tho following effect:—"That tho undersig!nd members of the Senate, being not fully sa tisfied with the constittrion of the proposed Syndicate fir the revision of the statutes of the University, re spectfully request the Vica-Chanpllor to withdraw tha grco for the present." The memorial was to be pre. sented this morning. Just as we are going to press we have received tho following announcement by electric telegraph:— " Cambridge, W.duesday, Feb. 14, Twenty-two Minutes past One. "The grace for the appointment of the Syndicate bet been withdrawn." We have also been informed that the order of the Chapter of Bristol, concerning reading the service in the c.th,dral, was rescinded at a meeting yesterday; but the Dar, as Oudinary of the Cathedral, has Riede A frts , h cyder regani,g certain portions of the sA - vice to be read in future.—London Guardian or yesterday. THE C. , UNTRY MARKETS. BASINGSTOKE, FEE. 14.—But a moderate supply of wheat ; if not tor some foreign samples offered there would not have been a sufficient quantity to supply the demand, yet millers refuses! to give the quot. d prices of last Wednesday for any but the best qualities. White wheat, old, weight 621 b to 641 b per bushel, realised 131 lOs to 141 per load of 5 qrs ; ditto new, 131 to 131 lOs ; ditto red wheat , i, of the same quality and weight, made from 121 10s to 13/ ss; ditto second rate, from 101 to 111; ditto poor, 91 to 91 105; ditto bread and flour, as last week. Barley—A fee samples cf b ,th English and fo reign, bright and fit for malting, sold at 32s to 34s per quarter; good heavy grinding, 27s to 30s ; ditto poor ditto, 24s to 263 per quarter. Malt of dull sale, at from 7s 6d to 7s 9d per bushel. Oats—Poland and Scotch at 22s per quarter; good black feed, 195 to 2,'s ; ditto, common ditto, 16; to 18; per quarter. Beans—Heavy obi ticks, weighing 6talb per bushel, made 40s per quarter; good second rate ditto, 375, ditto com mon beans, 34s to 36, per bushel ; trade good. Rye 14 ; per sack ; tares, winter, 7s to '8; 61 per bushel ; eld, 6s to 6s 6d per bushel ; spring ditto, gs to 103 per bushel. Peas—Beat white, for seed, 403 to 42s per quarter ; greys and maple ditto, 36s to 38s per quarter. Seeds—White turnip, 11s to 12s per bushel ; red and green ditto, 105 to 123 per bushel ; rye grass, 24s to 25; per quarter ; cinque foin, 28s to 32s per quarter. Clover, red, 34s to 37s per cwt; white ditto, 349 to 36; per quarter; fort ign ditto, 8; to 10; per cwt, more money ; tretoil, 14s to 17s per cwt. DORCHESTER SHEEP FAIR, Fan. 14.—The first Dorset sheep fair war held this day. Those held here are yeuly growing in importance, and increasing much .; ma n y b u yers attending since the opening of th e railway who used to wait for different fairs held in Hants and Wilts this day. The shot was good for tise early season of the year ; some fine ewes and large healthy lambs being offered for sale, as well as wethers and tegs. Prices were lower than in October and November last by from 33 to 5s each ; trade was rather brisk at those reductions, and all were soon disposed of—beat Dorset couples making from 455 to .50s:; second-rate, 42; to 44s ditto ; ewes , near lambing, f. om 38; to 40s ditto; Downs, ditto, from 3 5 . to 36s ditto • second-rate ditto, ;30s to 325 ditto ; b arren ditto, 26s to 28s ditto; some good horned tegs made from 343 to 36s each ; smaller ditto, 30s to 32; ditto ; Downs, from 30s to 33s ditto ; wethers at from 363 to 38s for best four and six tooth ; smaller ditto, 325 to 34s ditto; fat sheep were sold _et' from 61 to 6/1 per ; for best full mou th e d s h eep, f rom to Sid ditto, second-rate ditto ; and from 4d to 41d ditto for fat ewes. GLOUCIESTER.—On Saturday the supply of English whea t ! " was small, but no reduction f rom th e rates o f t hi s day We was submitted. to. There were many inquiries for foreign wheat, and some sales were made to buyers of limited quanti ties. In barley, b-ans, and oats, we note no alteration. I 0 ports into Gloucester from the 2d to the 7th last.:—Coastwise : Oats, 300 qrs; foreign wheat, 4,740 qrs; beans, 2,055 qrs. f DUBLIN, FIB. 13.—There w as a very mo d erate sup ply farmers' grain, which met an ex cee di ng l y d u ll sa l e. Wh ea t vial 6d, and oats and barley 3d lower. Foreign wheat and India' corn held at full prices, but no offers could be had. Flour is again heavy, and holders anxious to sell. BELFAST, FEE. 12.—Since Fnclay the supplies have beet' small, and prices unchanged. The weather is particular l y favourable for the country, and the farmers are cowing a WV breadth of spring wheat. Wheat, 9s 6d to 103 8d ; 5s 6d to 6s Ifd ; oats, 5s 6d to 6s 3d ; oatmeal, 9s 9d to 103 per cat. Indian Corn, yellow, 7/ 12s 6d to 81; whits 5s less fork is also a small supply, and prices vary from 40s to 471 6 per 1201 b. CORK, FEB. 12.—Flour—Firsts 14s 6d to 15s 6d; extra seconds 13s lid to 14s 6d ; households lls to 13s; thirds 8s :0 ' t ter cwt. Meal—Oatmeal Ils to 11s 6d; Indian meal 84 ; wet meal lls per cwt. Indian corn 7 10, to 8 ne: . ton. 13,,,,ra". 5_ per ton. Hay Farmer s 30 s Od t o 36 s Od ;* average uv, dealers 43s to 00s; average OOs Od per ton. Str 16s Od to 26s Od; average 225; dealers OOs Od to 00s average OOs Od per ton. Bread—Wheaten loaf 7d to 7k, household loaf 6d to bid per 41b. Coals—Newport WU' Lydney 18s ; Landore 17s; b es t N ea th C u l m I6 s pe r Tallow 46s 6d per cwt. Whi s k e y, 25 o . p. , 6 s Od per iroP e i n rial gallon. Meat—Beef 4d t o 7d ; M u t ton 5d to 6id ; v e ' r hid to 7d; pork 4d to sid ; bacon 7d to 8d ; sausages 6d P e r lb. Hops 61 lOs per cwt. Bangor slates 3/ 2s 6d to 31 53 11 i ton. Bark—Barbary 61 to 71; V a l on i a 11/ t o 131 ; Fren 6/; English 61 per ton. Fleece Wo o l lO s t o 12 s per ston e, Hemp 35/ per ton. Fish— Scotch herrings 18s to 003; r ditto 251 to 27s per barrel ; Newfoundland 11/ to 12/ 10 . s P" 3 / ton. Timber—New Memel 4110 x; old scarce; red pin e „j 15s ;yellow pine 3/ per ton ; d ea l s , fi rst qua li ty, 20' ; secs quality 171 per 120. Hides—M ar k e t lls to 16s; salted l' 9 , b. 18s per cwt ; calf skins 2d to 2id ; mar k e t 2d t o 2-id pert..., Guano—Peruvian 10/ lOs ; lchaboe 91 per ton. POW ° e l White 10d to 12d; Minions 18d t o 00d. Tar—Archi n g 18s per brl. COAL MARRET.—YasTEaDAT. 6c l 14s Buddle's W. Hartley.. 14 s 9d; Ed en M a i n 14s 6c l Care e Hartley Chester Main :3s 6d ilehnont 1 53 d East Adair, Main..... 123 Go Lyons 1 45 6 ,1 Hasting's Hartley l4s 6 9d Retton .... 1 53 1 New Tantield l2s 6.1 Haswell •1 65 (31 6. 1 Ravensworth's Pelaw. Pis !.d Lambton South Ponto j P .. ..... lls 0 , : R . 154 5 ussell's Hetton .... • '-' 3J South Peareth Stewart's Hartley...... 14s Od Whitwell s 9 . 1 anfield Moor ... Townley l2s 6(l' Kelloe ... ... 145 ticl Wylam .. Wall's End, &c. l'hornley Bewicke and Co. 14 5 3 Brown's Gas Framwell Gate ...... fledworth .... Hotspur 1 '8 6d Nixon's Merthyr . .... ',. Riddell's l's 9., Ships at market, 21u RAILWAY z.”lAtit. mARKETS• LIVERPOOL, FEB. 14. tO' STock EXCHANGE. —The market for shares has been very IL ic efl day, and a large business has been done, and rather better P oti have bean obtained. The sales are—Birkenhead, Lancashire , 109. Cheshire, 311. Shares, 10% dis.—Ditt o (l ate C. and B . ), ~ Shares, 6 per cent., 1849, 143 ex int.—Great Northern, 9 c' 6 per Ditto (A Shares) Deferred, 4/. 18s. 9d.—Ditto (B Shares). o a cent., % dis:—Lancashire and Yorkshire (late 3lancheB ll / 1 161. Birmingham), 11 dis. Ditto, Quart ers , 3 di s. — D i tto, F i ft hs, p . , 3d. d.s.—Ditto, 101. Prefer ence, 6 per cent., 11. 18s. 9d. C'ittO, Ditto, Halves (late Huddersfield and Sheffield), 8% dis. Halves (late Lancaster and Bury), 8% dis.—London and b 56 Western, 1393¢ —Ditto, Fifths, c. p.—Ditto, New Quar ter sod 18s. 9d.,p.—Ditto, Qu ar t ers (C) , 4 p.—Manchester, Sheffield , 6l( Lincolnshire, 43—Ditto, 101. Preference, 11% —Ditto, Quarte r S'on• c. dis.—Ditto (Docks), 13IA c. dis.—Ditto (late Sheffield an,„ coln), 13 dis. —Midland Mock, 93—Ditto, New Half Shares, 4, ;( o rd• —North British, c.—Ditto, New Thirds, 4% c.—North StsP on a shire, 2% dis.—North Union (B), 151—Shrewsbury, OswestrY B ' per Chester, 3 1 A dis.—Ditto, New 10/. Preference, guarantee v z dig. cent., 15—South-Eastern and Dover, 25% c.—Ditto, No. 1, „ Ditto, No. 4, Thirds, 77, Whitehaven and Furness, 14 v itt() Tork, Newcastle, and Berwick (Extension, No. 1), 1% P• 0, 6 (N. and B. Extension), No. 2,1% p . —Di tto per cent. guaranteed, 1U c. p. (G. N. E. Purcllo MANCDESTR, FEB. 14. lO Ol6 STOCK XCHANGE.—The sales are—South-Eastern an d Dodi,• diP Ito. 3, 22% Ditto, No. 4, 7 13-16—West Riding Union, 3 5-n- teri Leeds, Preference, 1% Manchester and Birmingham, CP 6r l O4 (C), p. - Leeds, 321. Shares, 5% dis.—Grimsby, 201. Sbareth dis.—North Staffordshire, 2 11-16 dis.—Clitheroe, Preference, 17 Dly Old Dover, 25%—Grimsby, Quarters, 6% dia.—Sheffield and coin, 13 3-16. BIRMINGHAM, Fmn. 14. STocx EXCHANGE.—There were a considerable number of Lions to .day, and prices remained firm at yesterday's quotAt i v i ot 'I he sales are—North Staffordshire, b6s. 3d. dis.—Shrewstail d ie, Birmingham (A), 31 11s. 31. dis. ex int.—Ditto (15), cx int. Shropshire Union, dis.—South Staffordshire, 3',e YORK, FEB. 13. STOCK EXCHANCE.—TIIO IKlSilie•9 transactcd to-day Wa s lows : —t-.neat Northern, 9 7 A —York, Newcastle, and Berwick, ;I, (late New Berwicks), 21 3 A —Ditto (G. N. E. Purchase), 91 * 3°. GLASGOW, FEB. 13. STOCK EXCHANGE.—TIH following ~re to-day's transactiollogie Aberdeen, Preference, 50s. —Edinburgh and Bathgatc, gow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr, 5 2—Ditto, Halves, No. I, 6% pre' Halvis, No. 2, 7—Glasgow and Greenock, Halves, 7%—D itte , ference, 71. 1 ls.—Great North ern, 10% —Monkland, 6 Per guaranteed, 5-11'ishaw and Coltne s s , 45 . , cop o st [ADVERTI-EME NT I—An A I), cess in the Ju r p - o ro Cured by Holloway's Ointment and Pills. - About three l ts of since Mrs. OPlaherty of Mill. street, Cork, aecid en „,jea bruised her breast, for months afterwards the pain i'; r i - t ioo and the part became fearfully swollen ; various aPP` le .„" sb' were tried without giving the least relief. Ultimately 7 4 0 scess formed, discharging a groat quantity of humour , woo debilitated her constitution to an alarming extent ; stage a lady strongly recommended her to try Ointment and Pill 3, having witnessed their good eff ec 00° former occasions, which advice she followed, and thes e so ost medicines answered most satisfactorily, for the woundll,ll4 healed, and her health is now completely renovated. --- 1 ) 0 41 all Druggists and at Professor Holloway's Establishtne" ' 0 Strand, London. be At the Indigo sale yesterday 1,469 chEs'' s „.ol l o passed. of which 110 were bought in, 369 Wit b A ",,'oo 64 and 990 sold ; prices have been firmer, and the II " of 3 , 1. to p,•r lb. fully maintai- Hollo a BIRTHS. 1 1 ' On the 10th inst., at Dane-end, Herts, the lady of Surtees, Esq., of a daughter. On the 11th inst., at Cambridge-terrace, Hyde-P 3ricothe t wife of Richard H. Leach, Esq., o f a son. VA.' 01 On the 12th inst., the wif e o f R o b ert Hesketht Wimp°le-street, of a daughter. the of On the 12th inst., at Stoke-hill, near Exeter, II Qf J. G. King, Esq., of a son. ,bter' On the 12th inst , the Hon. Mrs. H. Powys, of a. de u tille e On the 12th inst., at Margate, Kent, the wife 0 , ''' rta C. Mertens, Esq., of a daughter. - golf' On the 12th i , st., at Royston, Herts, the wife of Beldam, Esq o daughter. all ° On the 13th inst., at Champion-hill, the wife °', The 11. 13othamley, Esq., of a daughter. hl . 0 MARRIED. On the 20th ult., at Edinburgh, the Count Viorel l i ,; - ;t 011 ' Litta, to Miss Clara Hamilton, of Trevor-square, l3ll)- i , ;(1 eldest daughter of the late J. Hanilton, M.D. „., rrori,! ; ', f . 0n the 10th inst., at Edinburgh, the Rev. Frank,nroos t ' e ) ; diocesan missionary, youngest son of the Rev. IN• d ogh' of Lelant vicarage, Cornwall, to Beatrix, younges t ~.c. of the late C aptain D o '.hi e. R.N., of Saling-hall, r'SB-. a DIED. egiO On the 10th inst., at S ou th- street, Firhbury-scl u l e elo F 6, Michael Josephs, Esq. His eminence as en o f placed him foremost i n th e rat ,k s o f J ew i s h literaler e ; wife On the 9th inst., at Islin g t on , Emma D'OyleYt t ' , f p o to Hugh Tweedy, Esq., of the Excise. On the 9th MA., aged 28, Susan, the wife Of c. 0 5, I , ECIP A il 1 Esq., of Sr. Manites-lane. On the 10th inst., at Old Brompton, Mrs. Sart•i g ed v o : widow of the late Mr. T. Edkins, of Coventry-stre e 've of the " of On the 10th inst., at Cheltenham, Sarah, 'N Bagnal .D. On themlth inst., at Turnham-green, 3Ia:Y, the 11......,-1 Mr. J. T. Jackson, aged 72. „.....- o f ........----1* --.. i 4 _-__,...... yOu' 11#' London: Printed and Published by MliR1) 0 1 0 % ., o f No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office , ,aO7 in the " Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, Middlesex, Thursday, February 1 5 , 1849!