The Sun. — London, England, 1849-09-01 00:00:00

EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY. The first half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of the Eastern Counties Railway under the existing direction, and the twenty-sixth of the company, was held yes terday, at the Londoa Tavern ; Mr. Edward Ladd Betts, Chairman of the New Board of Directors, in the chair. The meeting was very numerously attended, the large room of the tavern being quite full, the gallery included. _ _ _ The business of the day was commenced by the se cretary (C. P. Roney, Esq.) reading the advertisement convening the meeting, after which the seal of the com pany was attached to the register of proprietors. The CHAIRMAN then said—Gentlemen, the directors have embodied in their report before you as fully as they can their views at the present time consistently with the period they have been in oflce.—(Hear.) And that circumstance, gentlemen, renders it unnecessary for me to address you further than to say that I shall be most happy, after Mr. Roney has read the report, which he will now proceed to do, to answer any questions any Honourable Proprietor may wish to put.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. RONEY then read the following report:— " The directors have to report to the proprietors, that immediately after their special general meeting on the 13tla July last, at which eight new directors were nomi nated, the then existing board of directors took the requisite steps prescribed by the Act of Parliament for the admission of the new members, so that on Monday, the 16th of July, the latter were enabled to take their seats, and to enter upon the duties of office, in conjunc• tion with the remaining members of the old board. The number of directors will, in compliance with the wishes of the proprietors, be reduced to twelve, and the proper steps for this purpose are being taken in accordance with the Act of Parliament, and will be brought to a close prior to the meeting on the 31st inst. " The new directors would but ill deserve the confi dence reposed in them, if, at so early a period after their election, they assumed to be sufficiently informed upon all the extensive affairs of the company, to enable them to recommend a specific course of action upon all sub jects of interest to the proprietors, but they are prepared to state the principles upon which any future recom mendations from them will be founded. " These may be stated as follows: " 1. To close the capital account, and thus terminate the principal cause of the undefined condition of the com pany's affairs; not that it is pretended the capital ac count will remain unaltered, for surplus land will have to be sold, and works may from time to time be neces sary. All debits and credits in these respects, will, how ever, appear distinctly and separately in each half-yearly statement, and be easily comprehended; and when the eapifal account is thus closed, its amount shall not be materiailly augmented without the consent of the pro prietors. " 2. To ascertain the value of the fixed and rolling stock, and every description of property which may be realisable. This valuation will be essential to enable the proprietors to form an opinion as to the amount of future net profits to be divided. " 3. To bring the working expenses into such a system of account that an increase in any department may be effectually and instantly checked. Such a system must be introduced before any great change can be effected for the improvement of the concern. " 4. To arrange the accounts so that the net profits, the assets, and liabilities may each half-year be clearly shown, and easily understood. " 5. Not to divide anything but clear net profits, after keeping up effectually the rolling stock, and setting aside sufficient to provide for deterioration of permanent way, works, and stations. " It is believed these principles will be found appli cable to all questions which may arise in respect to the property. " It would have been more satisfactory to the direc tors could they have had time to rerocelel the accounts now submitted for the past half-year; but they feel it is due to the shareholders to lay them as early as pos sible, in the best form they are able, before the proprie tary. These accounts, prepared by Messrs. Quilter, Bell, and Co., and audited by Mr. Reeves, the only auditor at present are submitted to the meeting, and may be regarded as fairly and correctly representing the revenue and current expenses of the past half-year; and the directors feel justified in recommending a dividend of 2s. per each share of 20/. of the capital stock of the Eastern Counties and Norfolk Companies. It will be observed in the accounts, that an ample sum has been set apart for the half-year, and charged against revenue, as recommended by the late committee of investigation, for the renewal of permanent way and works. " The capital account is still in the hands of Messrs. Quilter, Ball, and Co., who have promised to give to it their continued and close attention. Before the next half-yearly meeting a full statement of the affairs of the company shall be submitted to the proprietors. With an income so great as that now derived from the under taking there will always be a dividend payable, but its amount must depend upon the expenditure attendant upon earning it. The correction and diminution of this ex penditure is, the directors feel, the vital matter of management; and when they next meet the proprietors, the latter will have cause to be satisfied, as the directors hope, that the supervision and reduction of such expen diture have not been neglected. " After the agreement for amalgamation with the Norfolk Railway Company had been adopted by a majority of votes, representing so large a portion of the capital of this company, the directors could have wished that it had been in their power to report the-confirma tion of the agreement by Parliament. The Bill for such confirmation was lost in Committee in the House of Lords, and any renewed application must now stand over to a future session of Parliament. There is every probability of the agreement then receiving Parlia mentary sanction; for the particular opposition, which succeeded in defeating the Bill, was not to the principle nor to the terms of the amalgamation, but was in respect of matters wholly foreign to the subject. " During the temporary want of the Parliamentary authority to make the amalgamation complete, the directors have not hesitated, under the advice of eminent counsel at the Chancery bar, to carry out practically the wishes of • the shareholders so plainly expressed in favour of the confirmation of the agreement, and to remove all illegality from the proceedings of both companies, while the terms of their bargain should remain unchanged ; and the directors feel assured that Parliament will eventually sanction the union, and will approve the proceedings of the company in the mean time, which secure to the public the benefit of the amalgamation. " The steps advised by counsel have formed a subject of a supplemental agreement, of which the following is an abstract : "The terms of complete amalgamation as to be sanc tioned by Parliament, shall remain the same as already agreed to. " But to prevent litigation, and in order that the trans actions of both companies, pending the sanction by Par liament of the amalgamating may be regular and legale it is agreed between both companies as follows: " That the Norfolk Company shall repay the Eastern Counties Company's advances. " That the Eastern Counties Company shall purchase the Norfolk Company's rolling stock now in their pos session, and pay for the same by instalments as may be agreed between the companies." The reading of the engineer's report was dispensed with; but upon its being suggested that the same course should be pursued with regard to Messrs. Quitter's account, Mr. NATHAN insisted that it oaght to be read, observing that it was a scandalous shame that while they were paying 60,0001. a year for the Nor folk line, it only yielded them an annual re turn of 20,0001. He attributed the desire of the di rectors to carry out the Norfolk amalgamation to the fact that some of the Chairman's relatives held a large inte rest in the Norfolk concern.—(Hisses, and " No, no.") The CHAIRMAN indignantly denied the imputation. The report of Messrs. Quilter was then read. It was as folows:— " To the Chairman and Directors of the Eastern Coun ties Railway Company. " Gentlemen,—ln pursuance of your instructions, we have prepared statements of the revenue of the Eastern Counties Railway Company, to the 4th of July, 1849, nnd now beg to lay them before you. They are as fol lows, namely : . 1. Stateu3ent of the revenue account for the half y,qtr ending 4th July, 1849. 2. Itevenuo balance•sheet to 4th July, 1849. "The accounts arc made out in the form usually adopted by the company in its printed statements, there not having been sufficient time to adopt any other. 66 fine current revenue account is framed on the prin ciple of comprising within it only those earnings and expenses which are proper to the half-year, including— as to the earnings—all those sums which, although not actually received, are represented by good realisable assets; and—as to the expenses—all those sums which, although not actually paid, are represented at the close of the period by debts due by the company on revenue account. " The operation of this principle necessarily excludes from the account all payments made during the half year in respect of expenses incurred in periods anterior thereto, and is intended to bring out the result of the particular half-year's working, as that of a distinct and independent period, uninfluenced either by extraneous charges or extraneous credits ; and this result we con sider to be exhibited ha the account now presented, sub ject only to any question which may possibly be sug gested as to the propriety of the sum charged as a re serve (beyond the amount paid for maintenance and ru p_airs) to cover renewa l s o f p ermanen t way and works. The amount so reserved is 16,0001., and it is adopted in accordance with the recommendation given in that be half by the committee of investigation. No charg e b y way of reserve is considered necessary to provide for renewal of rolling stock, the actual pay ments debited to revenue for repairs and new stock being deemed ade qua t e to cover the deterioration result ing from the traffic of this half-year. The present account show s the net earnings of the half-year, previously to charging interest, to have been £173,980 3 0 The interest chargeable to revenue amounts to 148,498 3 10 Leaving a net result of. There is also standing at the credit of the revenue account the surplus re maining after payment of the divi dend for the half-year ending 4th July, 1848, namely And, likewise, the balance remaining at the credit of revenue account for the half-year ending 4th Jan., 18 49 , alter charging it with the sum of 97,3641., in pursuance of the recom mendation of the committee of inves tigation 3,589 9 5 6,323 13 0 £35,395 1 7 " 2, The revenue balance-sheet is intended to exhibit the gc.neral position of the revenue affairs of the com pany o.'t the 4th July, 1849. THE SUN, " With respect to the liabilities to creditors on revenue account, we believe every pains has been taken, both by advertisement and otherwise, to ascertain their full amount. " With respect to the assets we believe that—the item of debtors represents good debts ; the item of stores represents the actual stock on hand ; and the item of cash, the actual balance at the credit of the company in the bankers' hands on revenue account, on 4th July, 1849. " We beg to draw your special attention to the sum of 134,0271., standing at the debit of the profit and loss account, and forming a constituent item of the revenue balance-sheet; it consists of various amounts having relation to revenue accounts of different periods antece- I dent to the 4th January, 1849, partly ascertained under the committee of investigation, and alluded to in their report, and partly the result of our subsequent examina tion of the accounts. " This item is subject to be affected by the pending investigation of the capital account, and remains at present undisposed of in the revenue books. " The amount expended on capital account during the half year amounts to 186,0921. 17s. 9d." The CHAIRMAN said there was a minute of the com mittee of investigation which he wished now to have read. Mr. RONEY then read the following extract:— " A meeting of the committee of investigation was summoned for the 24th instant, but only four members, viz., Mr. Cash, Mr. East, Mr. Glyn, and Mr. Sher wood were present (five being a quorum). It was agreed— " In considering the various recommendations referred by the committee of investigation to the meeting held on the 10th of May, 1849, and by that meeting adopted, it will be found that several of them have been carried into effect, and the remainder are receiving the best at tention of the new board. _ _ "Such being the case, the members of the committee now present conceive the time is arrived when they should be relieved from any further service, particularly as the investigation of the capital account is in progress under the new board. " Messrs. Quilter and Ball, the accountants, produced their demand for the investigation of the revenue account, as reported by them, and made up to the 16th of April, 1849, amounting to 360 L 16s. 9d., which the directors are requested to pay." The CHAIRMAN then moved that the report now read be received and adopted. Mr. CHRISTIE, of the committee of investigation, here rose, but Mr. NATHAN, with at least a dozen others, rose to move an amendment. Mr. CHRISTIE said, before any n otesamendm as moved, he previitst om he mit w te is e hed of to stewardship. They had now closed their labours as a insvaeystiagafteiown we ;i d v s ing up com mittee of investigation, and they had, they hoped, made a report, and although in many respects it was very severe against not only the late chairman but the deputy chairman, still this report was such as they felt it to be their duty to make. If they had inflicted pain upon many of the gentlemen who had undertaken the manage ment of the company's affairs, he hoped and trusted they would consider that it was only in the discharge of their duty that they made the report in such severe terms. — (Hear.) Having ended their labours, they did hope they would receive some compliment at the hands of the meeting.—(Hear, hear.) At all events they had done their very best, and they were now only too happy to withdraw from the Eastern Counties Company, the affairs having been placed in the hands of an able and honourable body of gentlemen.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. NATHAN then moved that the paragraph in the report relating to the Norforlk Amalgamation be ex punged, and that the directors be recommended to take no further steps, and waste no more money in the matter. Mr. HowEs had intended to propose a similar amend ment, but having been anticipated, he had great plea sure in seconding this one.— (Hear, hear.) Having got rid of this Norfolk difficulty in a legal way, it would be rash and unwise to enter into a fresh preliminary agreement.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") No one couldi be taken by surprise by that course, and as Parliament had determined that such au amalgama tion was not for the public good, it was quite ridiculous, with a divided constituency and an opposition out of doors from the East Anglian and Newmarket Compa nies, to attempt to fight the battle over again. —(Hear.) Mr. CHRISTIE—The East Anglian and the Newmarket want us to buy them. Mr. HOWES said that did not alter the case; and, in his opinion, it would be madness to go on with this amalgamation.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. EAST said they ought to have had a statement of the receipts and expenditure in the Norfolk line. The CHAIRMAN said a full statement of the receipts and expenditure of both lines would bo laid before them previously to the next half-yearly meeting. Mr. EAST asked if the statement would be separate? The CHAIRMAN replied, yes, as far as it could: Mr. WILSON believed the meeting was only anxious to arrive at truth in this matter.—(Hear, hear.) He agreed with the line in Shakspere, " Sweet are the uses of adversity." It ought by this time to have taught them caution, and he hoped this ill-judged measure recommended in the report would not be hastily entered into. Chesterfield said the character of a public man should be like the virtue of a woman, above suspicion; and such ought to be the character of a railway director.—(Cheers, and laughter.) Now, Mr. Peto was a large contractor, holding no less an interest than 100,0001. in the Norfolk line; and without being offensive to the Chairman, he could not help stating that it was said out of doors that the gentleman in the chair was the nominee, and might be made the cat's-paw of Mr. Peto.—(No, no.) Let them then throw over the amalgamation at once, and there would be an end to these personal discussions.—(Hear.) Mr. R. WAND inquired if a committee of the direc tors of the Eastern Counties and the Norfolk had been appointed, and if so how many were there from each board, and their names. He asked the question, because " Miles's Boy" did say that parties had been appointed who ought not to hare been?—(Laughter.) The CHAIRMAN replied that three had been appointed on the part of the directors of the Norfolk, and four on the part of the Eastern Counties. There names were—Mr. Glyn, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Kinnaird, and himself. Mr. WARD said, then it appeared that Mr. Betts (the chairmaayrepresented Mr. Peto's interest. He ven tured to say that that election was not an unanimous I one. To use a harsh expression made by one of their own body, he might say that such a body ought not to have been appointed to guard the interests of the Eastern Counties. He did not wish to use a harsh ex pression, but it seemed to him that the appointment was a scandalous one. Mr. TOZER said, he must unhesitatingly say that if this question of the Norfolk Amalgamation had been considered under other and better circumstances, that such a suggestion would be at once rejected. He might fairly assume, if the proprietors had been in the condi tion he mentioned—in the possession of the whole of the facts, in order to guide their judgments to a correct de cision—he should have said, it there was a strong differ ence of opinion, that it was much better to endure loss rather than keep the company in hot water. But he complained that the proprietors had not had a fair opportunity of considering the matter.—(Hear, hear.) By the report of the committee it appeared that the pro posed amalgamation originated with Mr. Robert Ste phenson, who, since that period, had acquired a large interest in the line, whieh he said he obtained from his father, who was a large proprietor. He did not impute improper motives to Mr. Stephenson, but he contended that his • advice must partake, as a natural consequence, of pre judice, if not tainted by self-interest. His was not in such a case a fair person to give unbiassed and unpre• ;udiced advice. He hoped the new board wo uld make d out a distinct line of demarcation between the policy of the old directors and that which should dictate theirs. They must chalk out a new line and take the bull boldly by the horns. The proposition for the amalgamation had emanated from Mr. Hudson, and he, knowing something of the company, took the liberty at that time to dissent to the proposition altoge ther. The country was a very difficult one to deal with—it was not long enough in proportion to its breadth, and therefore it required other railway accom modation, and great competition must be the inevitable result, which must cripple, to a great extent, the profits of the other. It appeared that the gross re• turn for every 1,000/., or say for every 1,000,000/. sunk in that line, did not yield as good a gross return as ' this live, and therefore he said it was not fair to amal gamate on equal terms. Mr. Hudson—who pooh poohed him down when he objeoted to the amalgama tion, saying they must not go into mere details—had ex pected a revenue of 3,5001. a week from the line.— (Oh, oh!) Now he wished to know if there was any one at that board prepared to make such a statement 2—(Hear, hear.) It was altogether incorrect. The amalgamation was passed in a hurry, without due consideration. Not one word was said at that time about the guaranteed stock of the Norfolk. What had the Legislature done f They had left the question an open one, and the directors being, as he hoped, unshackled, he trusted they would advise the proprietors as to the course which they should pursue.—(Hear, hear.) The committee of investigation had not had sufficient time to go into this amongst other matters, but the figures which they produced showed that it would be a most unwise thing to amal gamate upon equal terms. Amalgamated management might be, in some cases, good, but in this case one line would be sacrificed to the other. Indeed, the policy which led to the formation of the Norfolk line had proved altogether abortive. The promoters of a line part of the country had to cope with the keeping out opposition and competition from difficulty through of f that district. Now, the Northern and Eastern amalga mated with the Eastern Counties, in order to effect this, yet at that time the Eastern Counties was about to be opened to Norwich. We, then, had a prospect of having two lint's, where it was obvious that but one would pay. They had a portion of railway at Brandon which would never pay, fur it was not adapted to carry traffic; and the Norfolk had the other portion, and they must make the best of it.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") Well, with respect to the question of guaranteed stock. The best portion of the Eastern Counties line, between Stratford respecta very u t o n u t s h u e a t thing. and Cambridge, was made with guaranteed stock, ir ßut ht how eo pa ydi report i cl h oe t Norfolk? tL said 60,0001. was re guara ntees fhetyhe s tand committee witha n and debentures of the Norfolk—[A Voice—" 63,000/." ]— and the committee were j u d g i ng from the best half-year's receipts. Why, even so, it took half the receipts without providing for expenses, to pay the osstreceitpts Their guarantee was materially less than that of the Norfolk.—(Hear.) That was the state of things at present; but let them bear in mind that a new line to Norwich, thirteen and a half miles shorter than the present route, would soon be opened, which the com mittee stated might abstract some portion of the passenger traffic. Now, it was well known that the passenger traffic paid the best, and that if they lost any portion of that which they enjoyed, which they could , ill afford to lose, the best portion of their business would leave them.—(Hear.) He wished to know on what data the committee came to the resolution that they had a monopoly of the goods traffic if they i lost a portion of their passenger traffic. Besides the lines would cross each other about a mile from Norwich . Then he imagined that Yarmouth and not Norwich supplied the bulk of the traffic, and it was more likely to go only to Ipswich than to Norwich, be cause the line would be fourteen miles shorter, which might make all the difference whether fish,. for in stance, arrived fresh in London or not.—(Laughter.) It was said in the report that any loss they might experience would be compensated for by the line from Wymondham to Dereham, which was a mass of barren sands. Ho doubted much whether the committee had not been deluded at Lowestoft by Mr. Stephen son as to the greatness of the works, and had not visited this part of the line at Wymondham at all. Why, the Wymondham and Der, - ham line did not pay its expenses.—[A Voice—" And never will."' The report of the directors read that day intimated that the directors would not take upon themselves the responsibility of directly advising the amalgamation, which he looked upon as jesuitical, and as not marking out a distinct line of policy. He blamed them for not expressing their decided opinion upon the matter. Then if they amal gated with the Norfolk, they must amalgamate with the Eastern Union, on equal terms, which paid its proprie tors nothing, and never hear.) He would conclude with this advice—make no amalgamation, and take no lease unless the whole of the facts were before them.—(Loud cheers.) A MEMBER of the COMMITTEE said his colleagues had not altered their opinion upon the policy of the amalga mation; the matter upon which doubt prevailed was the terms which should be paid. Mr. KINNAIRD said, when he came into the room he did not intend to make any observations, but since the Northern and Eastern had been alluded to, of which lie had had the honour of being deputrchairman, he in tended to offer a few sentences to the meeting. lie did not bring any documents with him, because he did not believe that the matter would be discussed.—(Hisses.) He did not particularly object to it, and was not to be deterred by clamour, nor by any person making faces unlike the face of a man. But the Hon. Proprietor had stated much that was erroneous. g N a o m w s t h i ° c a be w l iaesv one d n ethwaitt with the h q i c u h e s t t h i e o n i n o t e f r t e h s e t N o f o r th fo e l kEaasmt Eastern Counties were bound up. Whether it took place or not, their prosperity depended upon it. It was perfectly true that 63,0001. was guaranteed, and would amount to the whole of that sum when all called up ; but it was unfair and unjust to compare the amount of money they had to pay years to come for lines to be made, and of the traffic of which they knew nothing. Now, some allusion had been made to Mr. Robert Stephenson, and an attempt had been made to show that Mr. Stephenson formed his opinion upon this amalgama tion from interested motives; but he was sure Mr. Ste phenson was too well known to render any contradiction of such a statement necessary.—(Hear, hear.) After a close examination of the matter, the opinion he had ar rived at was that this amalgamation would be for the interest of the Eastern Counties Company. In the first place, the returns of the Norfolk Railway, as proved by the committee of investigation, were 120,0001. a year, while the amount of produce which the Norfolk line brought upon their own railway was no less than 56,0001. for the year. The speaker was here interrupted by a terrible uproar, which called up The CHAIRMAN, who said he would adjourn the meeting unless order and silence were kept. Some degree of order having been obtained, Mr. KINNAIRD proceeded to argue at some length in favour of the amalgamation. Mr. CASH was afraid they were spending a good deal of time unnecessarily, as another op portunity would be given to the proprie tors for di:cussing this amalgamation question. Before another step could be taken in the matter the sanction of the proprietors must be given to it.—(Hear, hear.) He asked then fair play for this board. Tne paragraph in their report proposed to be left could in no way commit the proprietors to the amalgamation, and he did hope the noisy disputes would be terminated, and the business of the meeting quietly and calmly disposed of.—(Hear). Mr. WILsoN said a report had gone abroad that the returns of the Norfolk line were not sufficient to pay its guaranteed stock. It might be a malicious report; but he could not help feeling that since there was so much smoke there must be some flame; and he therefore call( d upon the meeting to pause before they committed them selves to the report. Mr. GLYN argued that the amalgamation would be of great benefit to this company in many points. It would enable them to develope and receive traffic which must otherwise fall into the hands of their rivals, and when the time arrived for considering the question, he was sure the majority of the proprietors would agree with the directors upon its expediency.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. PRICE thought the accounts were illegal. The Amalgamation Bill had been thrown out, and therefore the two concerns were separate, and one account ought to have been made out for each line. If they would take his advice they would have nothing to do with the Nor folk, and ho hoped the meeting would not allow the directors to forestall the question in the manner they had proposed.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. ELLis said the shareholders who dissented from this amalgamation represented 25,0002 of consolidated stock, while those who approved of it represented upwards of 2,ooo,oool.—(Hear, hear.) He had the honour of being on the committee of investigation who deliberated on this matter. He confessed he went into it prejudiced, but he came out of it satisfied with its sound ness. Nothing bad further confirmed that opinion than the opposition of their competitors. They looked upon this amalgamation as their ruin, and their opposi tion was got up with the view of being bought off.— (Hear, hear.) Those who spoke so disparagingly of the receipts of the Norfolk line, observing that they were less per mile than those of the Eastern Counties, should remember that while the Eastern Counties line cost 77,0801. per mile, the Norfolk line cost only 24,0004 per mile.—(Hear, hear.) . • The CHAIRMAN said, after the illiberal manner in which his name had been mentioned at the commence ment of this discussion, and the aspersions that had been thrown out against him and his personal character, he felt it his duty to state at once that he was the nominee of no party, and it ill became Mr. Nathan to make such a charge in a public com pany like this.—(Loud cheers.) Four or five weeks ago he was placed in the chair by the same majority that voted on the Norfolk amalgamation.— (Hear, hear.) He was placed there in the full know ledge that he had a large interest in the Norfolk Com pany, of which his friend and brother-in-law was the chairman. At the same time he must also mention that be had had a largo interest in this company. no less indeed than 15,0001. of stock, which cost him 2LI. each.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) It was after having been an auditor of the company, and after refusing to audit one, because he was dissatisfied with it, that he was elected to the office he now filled.—(Hear, hear.) It was at no solicitation of his own that he obtained it; onerous though the position was, he did not seek it; in deed, he did not admire the situation or its duties. But he was sought out by many of the very largest pro prietors, and almost forced into the office.—(Hear, hear.) Three times had he refused to take a seat at their board ; but aft er h e h a d b een e l ec t e d t o t h e chair manship him he I n e t h d i e n i d company, t the h i think it o u eand by an almost unani mous was maanmneorstanumnefaihronthnig ner o a resolution,n at ii t l a able proprietors had done.—(Cheera.) But it was a source of great satisfaction to him, after what had oc curred to-day, to know that the large majority of the proprietors who had placed him in the chair still ap proved of his conduct.—(llear, hear.) Having said this much with regard to himself, he now felt bound to state his conviction that the Norfolk amalgamation would prove highly advantageous to the company.—(llear, hear.) It was right that he should tell them that before he came there he was a director on the Norfolk board, but immediately upon his being elected to the chair he now filled, he resigned his seat on the Norfolk direction ; and he hoped his character and position in the city of London would be a sufficient guarantee that he could not be guilty of the acts imputed to him.—(llear, hear.) It was his duty to repudiate the insinuations SLS publicly as they had been made, and this must be his excuse for dwelling so long upon these personalities. — (Hear, hear.) Now,, the meeting must remembtr that a property like this, representing thirteen ' millions, was nut to be grasped in a wet k, a month, or even six mouths; and he could tell them that their affairs were in such a condition that unless some very strong hand were brought to bear upon them, the eompany would become a ruined concern. The gentlemen, however, who now sat on the direction had been working for the shareholders during the past few weeks eight and ten hours a day, and yet they were told, by a small section it was true, that they were unfit to fill the seats they occupied.—(No, no.) With regard to the amalgamation question, after the Bill . had been thrown out, and in order to save the com pany the expense of heavy Chancery suits, they had taken the advice of counsel, and, acting upon that advice, they had male a supplemental agreement to carry out the former arrangement for the term of seven years. Before, however, any application would be made to Parliament to sanction the amalgamation, an opportunity would be afforded to the shareholders at a special meeting of expressing an opinion either for or against it.—(Loud cheers.) He had hoped that this meeting would have gone off quietly; had he supposed they were always to remain in hot water in this way, he never would haveconsented totake the chair, but he hoped now that he had put the proprietors in possession of what the directors were doing, that in future they would meet with a little more indulgence at their hands.—(Cheers.) A PROPRIETOR asked if the original agreement cii,i not bind them to go to Parliament again next session? The CHAIRMAN replied—Certainly not. The CHAIRMAN, in reply to a question, distinctly stated that the directors could not go to Parliament, and, indeed, would not, with respect to the Norfolk amalgamation, without again consulting the proprietors. A PROPRIETOR inquired if it was true that, during the present half-year, the income of the Norfolk Company had been sufficient to satisfy the interest and expenses of working. The CHAIRMAN—Not a doubt of it. I know it is fact.—(Loud cheers.) A PROPRIETOR said it had been stated that the New market line would not pay. If so, it was in consequence of the high, charges 'of the Eastern Counties. They charged Is. sd. per mile for locomotive power, whilst the Dover and Brighton charged 84d. and 9d., and 6001. for management. A PROPRIETOR said the real cause of all the tumult that had taken place this day had arisen from the want of information on the part of the proprietors at to how LONDON, SATURDAY EVENINGI SEPTEMBER 1, 1849, the matter stood, and the resources of the Norfolk line. Why were not facts and accounts produced ? The CHAIRMAN said the directors had not et had time ; they should be f )rthcoming as so 'n as pos sible.—(liere there were loud cries of " Vote, vote.") He did not see the necessity of voting upon the amend ment, since the directors pledged themselves not to pro ceed upon the subject until the proprietors were again called together.—(Cries of " Vote, vote.") The amendment was then put, when it was lost by a large majority, and amidst much cheering. Mr. HOWES demanded a poll, amidst much dissatis faction and ridicule. The report was then put and carried. The CHAIRMAN announced that the poll would be taken on Monday. Several gentlemen here personally explained to the Chairman that they did not intend to treat him with as he might have imagined from their heated disrespect, expressions A vote of thanks was then passed to the Chairman utmost confusion, no less h and directors, who briefly expressed his acknowledg tmeanntsi saying—amidst the three persons were gesticulating away at once— that if he had shown himself more sensitive at the aspersions that had been cast upon him than he should have done, he expressed his regret On behalf of the directors he might state that nothing should be left un done to render the line beneficial to the public and to the shareholders.—(Cheers.) The meeting then separated. NORFOLK RAILWAY. The half-yearly general meeting of this company took place yesterday at the Company's offices, Guildhall buildings. Adam Duff, Esq., the chairman of the company, took the chair shortly after one o'clock. The usual routine business having been gone through, The SECRETARY read the following report:— When the proprietors last met for the purpose of sanctioning the Bill for the amalgamation with the Eastern Counties Company, it was not anticipated that they would have again been called together as an inde pendent body; unexpected circumstances, however, have since occurred to delay the period of complete union between the companies. " In the last stage of the Bill in the House of Lords, an opposition was got up by parties connected with the Newmarket and East Anglian Companies, which it was impossible to resist successfully in the then advanced stage of the session; it is, however, satisfactory to know that the reason assigned for the rejection of the Bill by. the Lords' Committee was independent of the principle of amalgamation, and arose from circumstances wholly out of the control of this company. " Acting upon the resolutions which have from time to time been passed by the proprietors, and fortified by the opinion expressed by several of the largest share holders, with whom they have had the opportunity of conferring, your directors have proceeded in concert with those of the Eastern Counties Company, to take such measures as were advised by counsel, for rendering the union between the companies as complete as possible until an Act of Parliament shall be obtained. " Your directors have accordingly entered into a sup plemental agreement with the Eastern Counties Com pany to the following effect:—The terms of complete amalgamation, as to be sanctioned by Parliament, shall remain the same as already agreed to. But to prevent litigation, and in order that the transactions of both companies pending the sanction by Parliament of the amal gamation may be regular and legal, it is agreed between both companies as follows s—That the Norfolk Company shall repay the Eastern Counties Company's advances. That the Eastern Counties Company shall purchase the Norfolk Company's rolling stock now in their pos session, and pay for the same by instalments, as may be agreed between the companies. That instead of a lease of the tolls to terminate in May, 1855, the Eastern Counties Company shall, under the 208th sec tion of their Act of Incorporation, work and use the Norfolk lines 'until the same date, and pay to the Norfolk Company such rates and tolls as shall be sufficient to enable them to pay the expenses of maintaining their lines, and the interest on their guaranteed stocks and borrowed moneys, and a like dividend half-yearly to their proprietors, as shall be paid to the Eastern Counties proprietors. That the Norfolk Company shall complete the works at Lowe • stoft Harbour. That the Eastern Counties Company shall keep up the Norfolk rolling stock to the same state of efficiency as when received, and that the Norfolk Company, in May, 1855, if the amalgamation be not then sanctioned by Parliament, shall re-purchase the said rolling stock at the same price as shall be now paid by the Eastern Counties Company for the same. That if the amalgamation be sanctioned by Parliament, the purchase of the rolling stock shall be annulled, and the payments on account of such purchase by the Eastern Counties, to become ad vances to the Norfolk Company, and charged against them as part of their expenditure, to be comprised within the agreed limit of 2,300,000/. That the Eastern Coun ties and Norfolk Companies shall unte in further appli cation to Parliament for sanction to the amalgamation, and for the establishment of a fair and just tariff to re gulate the lines of both companies, and shall appeal to the justice of Parliament, not to impose or to continue upon any portions of the lines, rates or terms for carry ing, which experience shall have proved are not ads • quately remunerative. " At the Eastern Counties meeting, to be held this day, it is proposed to declare a dividend of two shillings per share, upon the stock of the Eastern Counties and Norfolk Companies, equal to ten shillings upon the 1001. stock of this company, for the half-year. "Disappointment will no doubt be felt by the Nor folk shareholders at the smallness of this dividend, but it must be recollected, that the Eastern Counties Com pany have had to contend with difficulties of no ordinary kind during the last half-year. Independently of the general depression which has pervaded all commercial enterprise, the divisions and agitation which have existed among the proprietary, have necessarily had a paralyzing influence on the exertions of their management The manner in which their revenue account is stated affords the best guarantee for the future honest adminis tration of the affairs of the united companies. It will be satisfactory to the Norfolk proprietors to know, that their lines have contributed tbeisfull proportion of net earnings. When the undivided attention of the management shall be given to the developement of the resources, and the efficient and economical working of the consolidated un dertaking, your directors confidently anticipate a gradual and permanent improvement in the value of the property. " The attention of your directors has been applied to the reduction of the expenditure of this company, to the smallest possible amount, and Mr. Till having expressed a wish to meet the views of the directors in this matter, has resigned the office of secretary, offering his services in any other way in which he could be useful, and the directors being desirous to ensure a continuance of his assistance in another capacity where be might be equally serviceable to the interests of the company, have elected him a director, in the room of Mr. Betts, who has re signed; and they have also appointed him a member of the joint committee of management. " Since the last meeting two of the directors have retired, namely, Mr. Betts and Mr. New bery, and your directors recommend the proprie tors to exercise the powers vested in them of per manently reducing their number to eight. They also recommend that their allowance should be re duced from 1,000/. to 6001, and that 400/. of this sum should be appropriated to the members of the joint com mittee, upon whom the burden of the future manage ment of the undertaking must necessarily devolve, and which will require their constant attention. " The directors have appointed Mr. James Hutt, who bas hitherto acted as registrar, to be the new secretary of the company, at a salary of 3001. per annum. " The capital account for the present half-year has not been audited, in consequence of the late audi tors having disqualified, and therefore declined to act. The Eastern Counties Company, however, have required that the whole accounts should be submitted to a public accountant, whose report will be laid before a future meeting. It will be the duty of the proprietors to ap point new auditors at this meeting. On the motion for the adoption and circulation of the report, Major COURT moved as an amendment that the meet ing should be adjourned, in order to give the share holders an opportunity of considering the report. The amendment having been seconded some consider able discussion took place, but ultimately the amend ment was, withdrawn, cnd the report agreed to. Thanks were then voted to the Chairman and direc tors, and the meeting Si parated. NO RTH WALES RAILWAY. The half yearly meeting of this company was adver tised to take place yesterday, at the company's offices, Mocrgate-street, at three o'clock; but there not being a sufficient number of shareholders present to constitute a meeting, it was adjourned sine die. THAMES HAVEN DOCK AND - - RAILWAY. The usual half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of this company was advertised to take place yesterday, at the company's off ices , Gresham Rooms, Basing hall-stree t; but there not b e i ng a sufficient number of shareholders present at two o'clock to constitute a meeting, it was adjourned sine die. LONDONDERRY AND COLERAINE RAILWAY. The half•yearly general meeting of the shareholders of this company took place yesterday, at the Company's offices, Coleman-street-buildings; Captain Warren in the chair. The advertisement convening the meeting having been read, The SECRETARY read the following report " Your directors regret deeply that the majority of the shareholder s have, from non-payment of calls, left them in such a position, that they have been unable to con template the further prosecution of the works from this source, and their efforts have necessarily been limited to the reduction of the liabilities of the company, and, so far as their means admiqed, to the maintenance of the works already executed; and they cannot bat express their great disappointment, that an undertaking of such fair expectation has been left in a state of apparent aban donment. _ . Notwithstanding the discouragement caused by the want of co-operation on the part of the shareholders, your directors have not ceased to use their beat exertions to procure means of perfecting this undertaking, which they still have reason to believe will amply repay the e expen diture which has been, and yet may be, judiciously in curred. R e p eate d applications have been made for Loan Commissioners, and although Go vernment aid to the Chancellor of the Exchequer , the ' Lords of th e T reasury, the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and the Ex c h e quer ut various points of the negotiations the prospects were favourable, the result has not been attended with success. " The peculiar character of the works, and the security, beyond that of any other company, which the under taking itself offers for the repayment of the cost of its completion, have attracted the attention of several con tractors, and (roes different quarters your direetors have ceived apilleotion, having for their ~ b jPet ,zither the partial rteovtay of the Slob, and the tii,tiLtenance of the existing works, or the entire completion of them ; but keeping in view the full accomplishment of the design, they have given encouragement to those which promised some reasonable arrangement fur this entire purpose. Negotiations are now pending, and your directors yet hope such a proposition may be shortly submitted to you as, with a combined effort on the part of the share holders, will secure the desired object. In further claim ing the active support of the shareholders, your directors cannot do more than urge upon your attention the fact of so very large a sum of money having been expended on the works, which must remain unproductive until cone portion, at least, of them is perfected. "An application has been made to your directors by some influential shareholders, to know if this board would object to meet a committee of proprietors, in order that, upon an exposition of the affairs and pros pects of the company, a joint report thereon should be made by your directors and such committee, with a view to the future proceedings of the company. Your directors, anxious to afford every information, and bein g satisfied of the value of the undertaking if the work s were completed, have much pleasure in concurring in such application, and trust that the meeting will accord ingly appoint a committee. "Your directors have given their constant attention to the reduction of the liabilities of the company, and they are happy to report that in this they have made some progress. Further payments have been made in liqui dation of the engagement for the purchase of the interest of the late Mr. Robertson, in the reclamation; and your directors have much satisfaction in stating that au arrangement has been concluded for the settlement of Mr. Dimsdale's claim—a compromise having been effected, by which he has agreed to relinquish whatever right or title he might have in the reclamation for the sum of 3,0001., partly payable at extended periods. Without, however, having any reason to change their views on this matter, your directors believe they have exercised a wise discretion in freeing the company from all possible claim hereafter on this disputed point, and putting an end to an expensive and vexatious litigation. " Since last half-yearly meeting two of your directors have visited the works, and the result of their personal inspection has been to satisfy them of the intrinsic merit of the undertaking, and to increase their regret that circumstances have hitherto prevented its being carried to a successful issue. " Your directors having forfeited 820 shares for non payment of calls, the confirmation of such forfeiture will, at the special meeting, be submitted for your approval. " Three of your directors, viz , George Tyrrell, Philip Hanbury, and G. H. Vandeput, Esqs., and one of your auditors, S. J. Waley, Esq., go out of office by rotation; they are all eligible, and offer themselves for re-election. " For the financial position of the company, your di rectors beg reference to the half-yearly statement of ac counts, which you have had in your hands some days." After some discussion the report was adopted, as were also resolutions to the effect of calling upon the directors to take immediately into consideration the pre sent position and future prospects of the company, with a view to further proceedings, and that they should re port the same to a special meeting of shareholders; also that the directors should not make any further calls with out the consent of the shareholders being ob , aioed. The directors who retired by rotation were re-elected, as was also the auditors. The meeting was then made special, and the forfeiture of certain shares were confirmed. Thanks were then voted to the Chairman and directors, and the meeting separated. ENFIELD PETTY SESSIONS, Aug. 31. (Before Mr. D. HARRISON, Chairman, and Mr. IL C. BOWLES Sarah Jackson, a widow, about 40 years of age, was brought up in the custody of Stevens, a police constable of the N division, charged with attempting to murder Eliza Jackson, aged nine years, and Mary Jackson, aged five, her daughters, by feloniously and unlawfully wound ing them in their bodie,, and endeavouring to cut their throats with a table knife. The prisoner had, since the death of her husband, which occurred about three years ago, carried on the business of a general dealer, in Turkey-street, Enfield. Mary Ellis, a married woman, residing next door to the prisoner, said that on Tuesday morning last, about half-past four o'clock, she heard the prisoner's daughter Eliza, who was in the street, screaming violently. Wit ness went to her, and asked her what was the matter. She exclaimed, " Oh, Mrs. Ellis, mother has cut my throat and my arm, and she is now cutting Polly's throat." Witness instantly ran into the prisoner's house, seeing that her daughter was bleeding at the throat. She went into the bed-room on the first floor, and saw the prisoner standing by the bed side. She said to the prisoner, " Oh, Mrs. Jackson, what have you been doing?" She made no reply. Witness picked up a table-knife at about six feet from the prisoner. Her daughter Mary was on the bed crying. She had a cut on the left side of her neck and on her right thumb. Eliza Jackson, an intelligent little child, stated that, on Tuesday morning last, she was suddenly awoke by her mother, who had a knife across her throat. Witness struggled and wrested the knife from her mother, which she flung into the middle of the room. Her mother ob served that she would soon get another, and ran down stairs. She returned with another knife. Witness was out of bed. Upon seeing her, her mother said, "Come up stairs into the garret; I have such a beautiful wax doll there." Her mother went up stairs. Witness followed her out of the room and ran down stairs to give an alarm. She saw her mother go into the room where her sister Mary was. The witness further stated, that be fore her mother asked her to go into the garret she stabbed her in her left arm. Mr. Asbury, jun., surgeon, Enfield, stated that the stab in the left arm was about two inches long, and in the centre about half an inch deep. The muscle of the thumb protruded. The wounds in the throat of both children were healing. He was informed that the younger child had the knife in her right hand, and that her thumb was cut while her mother was drawing it away. _ ..._ lir. Thomas Brown, a retired licensed victualler, stated that he followed Mrs. Ellis. He remarked to the prisoner " What have you been doing, Mrs. Jackson?" She replied, " I don't know." He observed, " You have been attempting to murder your children." She again said, " I don't know." Witness sent for a policeman. Stevens said that he took the prisoner to the station house. He told her for what offence she was charged. She observed it was all through telling lies. (He pro duced two table-knives; one of them had blood on the blade.) _ _ _ The CHAIRMAN asked the prisoner, who was fre quently in tears during the inquiry, what she had to say to the charge?—The prisoner said what had been stated was correct. She added, " I do not know anything about it any further than that I am at times not of sound mind." The CHAIRMAN observed that the melancholy state of her mind was very apparent, but there was quite suffi cient evidence to induce the Bench to send her to the Central Criminal Court for attempting to murder her children. The prisoner was then committed on the capita charge, and the witnesses were bound over to prosecute, POLICE INTELLIGENCE. BOW-STREET. A young man, who gave the name of William Fuller, and described himself as a carpenter ; was plaeed at the bar before Mr. Henry, on a charge of being in possession of a writing- desk, containing a sum of money which had been stolen. On Wednesday last the following advertisement ap peared in one of the morning newspapers:—" Tho gen tleman who left a paper parcel at the George public house, George-court, Strand, on the morning of the 17th inst., is requested to call for the same, or send his address, where it may be forwarded to." Sergeant Ashman, F division, stated that having re ceived certain information upon the subject, he went to the George public-house on Wednesday last, and after waiting some time, the prisoner made his appearance at six o'clock in the evening, and said to the young woman attending behind the bar, "I want the brown paper parcel, containing a writing-desk, which I left here about a fortnight back." Witness, who was in plain clothes, in order to appear to be a member of the family, immediately came forward, and having invited him ,1 into the parlour, requested he would be seated until ho returned, for which he thanked him and took a chair. Witness then hastened to the station•house to procure assistance, and on his return informed the prisoner that the desk was at the station-house, where it had been conveyed for security, and if he would be so kind as to. step up there with him it should be immediately restored to him, without being put to any further trouble. The pri:.oner seemed confused at the announcement, and said, "I had rather not, thank you, as I want to proceed to Essex by the seven o'clock train, but I shall call again to-morrow, which will answer my purpose much better." Witness then found it necessary to adopt a persuasive tone, and, having arrived with him at the station-house, the prisoner said he was not aware what the desk con tained, having merely brought it to town at the request of his father, who resided at Chigwell, in Essex, for the purpose of delivering it to a Mr. Bred, a carpenter, at No. 16 or 6, Clare-street, he did not which. He also said that he had opened the desk, but could not tell what it contained, and that he had left the key with his father at Chigwell, until he should return from Bristol ; in which therewas a material difference from the account which he gave when witness first accosted him. There was no name or address on the paper on the desk when the property was delivered to the barmaid. Sergeant Thompson, F division, proved that from in quiries he had made, there was cause to suspect that the prisoner's real name was Raison, and that he was not only a deserter, but that he had been liberated from the Ccmpter only OR Wednesday last, where he was confined on a charge of a robbery, of which the contents of the desk were the proceeds, consisting of 601. 10s. in gold, and 31. 18s. 6d. in silver money. A money bag produced was also found in his possession, on which was written, " Mr. Finer," with marking ink. Mr. HENRY—YOU have heard what has been stated against you, tell me what is your name? Prisoner—My name is Wm. Raison, and I am a carpenter. Mr. HENRY—Having heretofore given a false name. perhaps you also gave a fictitious address? Prisoner-1 reside with my father, who is a gardener, at Horn-li.ne, Chigwell, at Essex. Mr. HENRY—You need not at present, unless you please, say anything in answer to this charge. Prisoner—What I wish to say is, that I committed the robbery in question, and it was my intention to have sent back the desk to the person from whom I stole it when I was discharged yesterday morning from the Mansion-house for want of evidence, after being re manded three different times on the charge.. The pro perty belongs to Mr. Ashby, of Aldgate street, for whom I wq...c IA work wh,il I co:lna-lilt:A r. 11:7N ft Y directions that tho bar Maid who re. ceived dei: should blrl at.tewLnce at the next exa mination, auct ordered the prisoner to be remituded. GUILDHALL. Mrs. Elizabeth Bennett, alias Helmsley, alias Griffiths, was again brought up for further examination, charged with obtaining above 601. worth of furniture from Messrs. W. and C. Wilkinson, cabinet-makers, carrying on business at 14, Ludgate-hill, under false. pretences. At the former examinations, of which a full report has appeared, it was shown that the prisoner, in con nexion with others not in custody, had been carrying on a regular system of swindling for some time, under ♦arious names, and the better to deceive tradesmen, a cook and butler (no doubt a part of the gang) generally answered the door. Evidence was given on the part of Mr. Reuben Brook, of 227, Regent street, picture-dealer; Mr. I)obby, 95, Strand ; Mr. Baker, King's-road, Chelsea ; and Mr. Hodgeley, 44, Burlington-arcade, that they had been swindled out of parcels of goods, which they had been persuaded, under various pretexts, to leave at the house, 39, Brompton-crescent, from whence the gang decamped in the night. Sir PE S TER LAURIE asked if there were any other eases t Sergeant Dubois—There are plenty, but the parties don't nppear to be present today. One of the witnesses here said that he succeeded in discovering the carman who removed the goods from Brompton-crescent, and that individual refused to say where he removed them to, or to give the slightest in formation on the subject, and therefore he could not help thinking he was in some way mixed up in the affair. Sergeant Dubois said there was no hope of getting the man alluded to (named Cherry) to appear without a sum mons. He was constantly moving these swindlers in all directions. A Mr, Hartland said that when ho prosecuted the prisoner and a man named Gerrard on behalf' of the Na tional Linen Company, two years ago, this very man (Cherry) would not come forward until an immediate summons was granted by tho late Alderman Johnson; and he (Mr. Hartland) was obliged to go and bring him to the court. On that occasion Mrs. Bennett received nine months' imprisonment and Gerrard twelve months. Sir PETER LAURIE—WeII, we will have him here. Mr. Kirke, one of the persons taken in. here said that he verily believed the prisoner was the very woman who represented herself as Mrs. Onslow, the wife of a retired publican living at No. 4, Union-place, Wands worth-road, one of the referees which were given when he let the house in Brompton, crescent. Sir PETER LAURIE said it was rot at all unlikely. He should further remand her till Tuesday next. The prisoner was then removed to the Compter. MARLBOROUGH-SIRE ET. Alfred ,Smith, a Scotch journeyman baker, who has gone under the name of George Fitzroy Campbell, half pay officer, and Campbell Martindale, railway surveyor, was brought before Mr. Hardwick for final examination, charged with having robbed Maria Foster of a gold watch and chain, value 211. The prosecutrix, a plain woman, at least ten years the senior of the prisoner, said she was waitress at the West- End Dining-rooms, Oxford-street. The prisoner, whom she knew as George Fitzroy Campbell, a military gentle man, was in the habit of coming to the rooms to take his dinner. In the month of June, 1848, he made proposals of marriage to her, stating that he had been iu the army, and was a single man. The proposals were accepted, and the prisoner bought a wedding ring, which proved to be too big. The prisoner borrowed from her a diamond ring, worth El., for the purpose, as he said, of getting a wedding ring made of the same size. A day or two after wards the prisoner called at the dining-rooms and borrowed her gold watch and chain, saying that he was going to dine with some gentlemen that day, and after the dinner was over he would bring back the property. The prisoner called to see her the same evening, and she asked him for the watch. Having occasion to leave the room for a minute, the prisoner slipped away, and prosecutrix did not meet with him matt eleven o'clock the same night, when he made the excuse that he had given the watch to a friend in ordr that it might be taken care of. Pro secutrix never saw the prisoner again until Monday last, when she met him in Oxford•street, and on dem.tuding her watch, he said he had pawned it for 101, at Vaughah's, in the Strand. Prosecutrix eventually gave the prisoner into custody. . _ A shopman in the service of Messrs. Vaughan and Co., 39, Strand, proved that the watch was pledged on the 13th July, 1848, for 101., in the name of Andrew Simmons. Mary Cooper, 17, Wilton -terrace, said on Monday week the prisoner took a lodging in her house in the name of Campbell Martindale. He said he was a single man and a railroad surveyor. Police-constable Tottman, A 393, said be searched the room occupied by the prisoner in Wilton-terrace, and foundin it the dress of a journeyman baker. The prisoner, by the advice of his solicitor, reserved his defence, and was fully committed. The prisoner, it appears, obtained about 801. from the credulous woman, in addition to the diamond ring and gold watch, HUNGARY AND ROME.—MEET ING AT GLASGOW. GLASGOW, TUESDAT.—Last evening a public meet ing of the inhabitants, convened by the Lord Provost on requisition, was held in the City-hall. The large hall was completely crowded, there being not less than three thousand persons present. The object of the meeting, as set forth in the adver tisement calling it together, was for the purpose of sympathising with the Hungarian people, and me morialising the Government on their behalf; also to take into consideration the conduct of the Governor of Malta in regard to the recent treatment of the Italian refugees. On the motion of Mr. TURNER, of Thrush grove, Mr. Ross was called to the chair. The CHAIRMAN, on opening the proceedings, ex plained in general terms, the immediate objects of the meeting, and dilated on the topics in relation thereto. The Rev. Mr. CLARKE moved the first resolution, which was as follows :—" That this meeting regards with deep emotion the heroic struggles of the people of Hungary in defence of the rights of self-govern ment, and deems their resistance to the Austrian nation as just, and worthy of the sympathy of Great Britain. Whilst viewing with horror the atrocities to which the Hungarians are subjected, this meeting pledges itself to use every available means to prevent the various excesses against that people by the bar barous Governments of Austria and Russia." He considered if such a resolution was called for and jus tifiable when success was attending the skill and heroism of the Hungarian army in the mighty- strug gle, it was much more so now, when the news had come to hand of their having sustained reverses. It must be borne in mind that the Hungarians, in the terms of the resolution, in fighting for the right of self-government, were not contending for a mere abstraction, or some new privilege, to be con ceded to them, but for a con s tituti on al law, under which they and their ancestors had lived for many centuries.—(Hear, hear.) The Hungarians said that their constitution was handed down to them by their ancestors. They did not believe it to be perfect, or free from many errors, but they were averse to its abolition to please the Austrian Government, and considered themselves the best judges wherein it needed amendment. The Rev. Gentleman main tained that the British Government should be called upon at once to interfere at all hazards, and concluded by making an appeal to the meeting to express their sympathies with the Hungarians. Mr. W. WALKER seconded the resolution, which was carried by acclamation. Mr. CULLEN moved the next resolution. It was to the effect--" That a memorial be presented to her Majesty, calling on her to remonstrate with the Aus trian Government against such atrocities as had been perpetrated on the Hungarians in their struggles for self-government, and that as the Hungarian nation had been compelled to submit to Austria, that they might be treated in such a manner as humanity, added to the justice of their cause, entitle them to; also, that the meeting expresses its atonishment at the in human treatment Italian refugees have met with from the Government at Malta, and urge a searching in quiry into the matter." Mr. THOMAS BROWN seconded the resolution, con tending that they should protest against such con duct as had been charged upon the Maltese Governor. The resolution was carried unanimously. Mr. JAMES WILKINSON moved that a memorial to her Majesty, founded on the resolutions of the meet ing, be agreed to, and forwarded to the Home Secre tary for presentation. MT. WILLIAM JOHNSTON seconded the', motion, which was also agreed to. Dr. ERDOHAZY, a Hungarian refugee, was then in troduced to the meeting, and was received with vehement cheers. As far as his imperfect English could admit of interpretation, he spoke to the fol lowing purport. He trusted that they would excuse him if his expression was not such as they could clearly understand, or as he should wish. It cheered him in his exile to see the enthusiasm which had been manifested for the freedom of his beloved country. The French cock crowed one morning not lung ago, and the surrounding nations began to think that the sun of liberty was about to rise. It was, however, a false alarm, as the recent conduct of the French Government amply testified. His country men bad rights which it was attempted to take from them, and their only crime was for standing up for them. The Emperor of Austria had broken all his promises, and that was the reason why they could no longer hope for justice from that quarter. They had several times been almost victorious, in fact, had it not been for the Russians, Hungary would be free at this very hour. Thanks having been voted to the chairman, the meeting separated. PIRACY IN THE LEVANT.—Letters from Smyrna announce the arrival thereat of the Tartarus, British steam-sloop of war, commanded by Sir Godfrey Web ster, Bart., having in tow two piratical boats, taken be tween that port and Constantinople. The Sharpshooter steamer, Lieut. Bailey, has visited Previsa, and obtained satisfaction from the Ottoman authorities thereat for an act of piracy committed by-a Turkish boat on an lonian small craft. THE COUNTRY MARKETS. WAIOVIELD, AuG. :31,—The ,ortlit-s art , trodP.rete :iHt• itu t ,O u iii_ reduced is to 2spsi quarter. Tue littie tie W here is readily taken at good prices. Oats and shelling Ira rather cheaper. Beans sell slowly at the rates of thio day week. New. Cold• WHEAT, per qr . 601bs per bushel:— e. s. s. Suflolk, Essex, and Kent, red ..• —to 45 to 47 Ditto, white ... 48 — 5l Norfolk and Hunts., red ... 44 Ditto, white ... 47 50 Lincolnshire and Cambridge, red ... 42 Ditto, white 46 - Yorkshire, red 42 —45 Ditto, white ... 46 4 f, Dautzic and Konigsburg, white .. 44 -- 4° , Lower Baltic and Hamburgh, red... —— 43 Mediterranean, red ... 34 -- 01 BARLEY, per quarter of 8 bushels:— Norfolk and Suffolk... „. - Lincolnshire and Yorkshire .. Scotch - Grinding per 30 stone ... ... 22 24 Foreign _ _ ... 24 —2B ——• BEANS, per quarter of 8 bushels 631 b : Small, fine ... Foreign ... 32 - 3 ! 29 - 26 - 31 OATS, per stone : ?dealing • ••• 10d to Ild 9d to 10 Feeding ... .. .--d to —d 8d to 91 Foreign ... ~. ... —d to —d 8d to 9 t l SHELLING, per load of 2611 b -. 23 —24 —*--:. MALT, per load of 6 imperial bushels 36 38 -- PEAS, per Imperial Quarter:— Blue ...., and white boilers ... ... 29 31 -- _..... (irey and Feed ... ... ... 26 28 --- - ARRIVALS. Qrs. I Qr S Wheat 7,386 / Rapeseed ... • I Barley ••• 671 I Shelling 1,03" Oats ... 1,330 I Linseed Beans... ... 986 Malt . Peas ... 374 Flour Tares ... I EXETER, AUGUST 31.—Cattle Market.—A good suP: ply of every description of stock has been dri ve n in. Fs' beef was plentiful, and sold at from 83 to 8s 9d per score' Cows and calves 81 to 121 each. Barreners, about 5s peri score. Some good store heifers were offered at 71 1 " each. Butchers' calves, 4d to 51d per lb. Fat wether sheep 5d to 5d per lb. Ewes, 4id to sd; lambs, 5( 11 ° 5d per lb; store hogs, 25s to 32 s eac h. P or k C arca se' —A large supply, which sold at a considerable redlir tion—prices ranging from: 7s 6d to 8s 6d per s core. Pannier—Turkeys, 5s to 6s each; geese, 5s to 6s eseb ; ducks, 4s to 5s 6d per couple; fowls, 2s 6d to 4s ditto; leverets, 2s 6d to 3s 6d ditto; pigeons, is 8d per couplet eggs, 16 to 18 for ls; butter, 10d to 100 per lb. Pots" toes, 7d to 10d per score; turnips, 5d to 6d ditto; onion s ' 81b for 6d. Corn Exchange—The attendance was 1 1 numerous, but prices have declined tor E ng lish wbe fi 1 the best samples of which have sold at 5s to 5s 6 d p er bushel. The merchants hold foreign wheat with Ilat )r te firmness; red wheat being 42s per quarter, and v 6ll ' . l_ 475; and as the foreign wheat is sold at 601bs per bush el ' whilst our tanners " warrant" their wheat, that is, fiT, it 651bs per bushel, the difference is considerable. ' 1 ,111 ',, ing barley, 3s 6d to 3s 10d per bushel; new oats, 23 '" 2s 3d; old ditto, 2s 6d to 2s 9d, per bushel. Fine flo ur ' 30s to 33s per sack. DENBIGH, AUG. 29.—A dull market, with slack ,a t, tendance, and little business doing, th e average bei l t wheat from 15s 3d to 16s ; barley, 8 s t o 9 s; oats, 6 1 : la 7s per hobbet. Fresh butter, 10d t o 10d. Salt 8d per lb. LLANRWST, AUG. 28.—Owing to the folks being bus et engaged in the harvest field, we had but a small Marl, today. Prices were much th e same as thi s d a y w ee ," Wheat, 15s to 17s; barley, 9s to 10s; oats, 6s to 1 " fresh butter, from 9d to. lld per lb. EUTHIN, AUG. 27.—The harvest operations having now become general in this neighbourhood, the Eaten a ance of farmers at mark e t t o -d ay was very li m it e d a l3 he not mach business done. The v a ri a ti on i n pr i ce at t " 0 same time was so tri v i a l as not to ca ll f or an a lt e rativ in the quotations of last week. 0 11 " EMU., AUG. 28.—Thi s d a y' s mar k e t was p re tty vr - , attended by our mill ers an d d ea l ers, an d b y man y fr e- t; distant markets. New wheat, 15s to 15s 6d per bobbete old wheat, 16s to 16s 6d. Barley trade very dull. O s , very scarce slid at higher rates. No inquiry for bes. l3 g INVERNESS, Aua. 28.—New whe a t, p er quar t er weigb,_ l l 621 b per bushel, 45s to 50s ; b ar l e y, 541 b p e r bus , " 23s to 00s; oats, 421 b per bushel, 2ls to '22s Od ; seed oats, P 6 e j , qr, 421 b per bu s h, O s t o O s . Oatmeal, per imperial boll, 1 6 s se ; second, 15s; barley mea l, ll s 8d ; peasemea l, 14 s to 15s; br 4, per stone, Od to 8d; first flour, per 2801 b, 36s to 375; sell; 28s; oatmeal, best, p er s t one o f 141 b i mper i a l, l s 8d to Os second, is 6d; barleyme a l, I s 4d ; peasemeal, ls 6d; first flew, 2s 9d cash, 3s credit; second, 2s 3cl cash, 2s 6d credit. I : et :a toes, per stone, 4d to Od; beef, per pound, 4d to 7d; vea l d to to 6d ; mutton, sel to Ed; pork, 4d to 6d; fowls, each, I ‘ ,l to 14d; chickens, per pair, 12d to t)1; ducks, each, 1 to 14d ; eggs, par dozen, 6d to 7d ; b u tt er , f res h, p er lb, 10 ` 1 0 11 Od; salt, 12d to COd ; croudie (curds) 21,e1 to Od ; four-Plai loaf, cash, 6d to 7d, credit, 60 to 7id ; coals, per cwt, hay, per stone, 7d. COAL MARKS' Bate's West Hartley 155 6dl Carr's Hartley Chester Main l4s 3d East Adairs Main l3s 6d Hasting's Hartley lss 6d Hedley's Hartley New 1 anfield l3s 9d North Percy Hartley lss 6d Ravensworth'sW.Hart 14s 9‘.. rantield Moor Butes l3s 6di Wylarn Wall's End, &c. Brown's l4s 6d Benshana ..... 14s 3d Brown's Gas . l3s 60 Hedley Hilda lss Od Hebburn 145 Odi :T.—YESTERDAY. 0 I Morrison 1 59 s( t South Killingworth Walker i A s 0 , Eden Main ''' 3 3 Belmont l6s n A Braddyll Haswell l7s 11 Jonassohns I .arabton i!Russell's Hetton Stewart's Kelloe ',. 1 5 5 West Belmont 15S 9J Seymour Tees South Durham 1 55 5 ,5 , ICowpen Hartley 15S 7- ' Hartley ... 159 C''' k Ships at market, 161. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. BRISTOL, Atna. 31. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market was very depressed tg," day, the only transactions being in Great Westerns, Quarters which were done at 8% die. LIVERPOOL, AUG. 31. STOCK EXCHANGE. —There was very little business tral acted: in our share market to-day, and prices were frio r lower. The sal e s a re —L ancas hi re and Yorkshire, Cons D Fifths, 4/. 6s. 3d—L ondon an d North• Western, 122—Di t; New Quarters, 2 p.—Midland, Halves, 15% dis. Eastern and I over (No. 4), 6% York, Newcastle , • 7 3 , Berwick (G. N. E. Purcha se ), 4% di s . Y or k an d Nor Midland, 24 1 4. MANCHESTER, AUG. 31. STOCK EXCHANGE. The transactions to-day were 0 follow : Manchester and Leeds, Fifths, 4 1 ii dis.—Shrewsbu ~ and Birmingham, Preference, 10 3-16 c.—Manchester and Bi mingbam (C), Quarters, 2 5, 4 c. p.—North Staffordshi r ei 3 3-16 dis. -• West Riding Union, 5% dis.—Manchester 5 0 Y Sheffield, Preference, 10N. BIRMINGHAM, AUG. 31. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The transactions to-day were follow :—Shrewsbury and Birmingham (A), 6% (B), 5 dis.—Ditto, Preference (Scrip), al. 3s. 9d. p.—Lond.P" and North-Western, 2 p. YORK, AUG. 30. STOCK EXCITANOE.—The transactions to-day were O S follow :—Great Northern, 8/. 6s. 3 d.—North British, Halt' 51,4—Ditto, Quarters, 2%—Ditto, Preference, 3', yorl‘' Newcastle, and Berwick, VOA—Ditto, (Newcastle Exte , sion), 12/. lls. 9d. THE CUNLIFFE-STREET SHOOTING CASE.—RO-- Eager, who, it will b e remem b ered, was remanded ° 0 the 9th inst., o n a charge . of having shot his broth e' t John Eager, in a warehouse in Cunlitle-street, was itg. 04 brought up on Wednesday last, when Mr. Superintend( 1 2 4 Clough st.+tei that the c omp l a i nant was progressing 'A 1 .," 0 favourably, but h a d not yet so far recovered as to ,o ,v able to app e a r . Th e magistrate further remanded 0: prisoner, when E ager at ked if he might be allowed b & I ' 4 ; This request wa s re f used, on the ground that the el ss was of too seri ous a nature. The prisoner, whose f 5 ,,,, ce, presented a very p a l e an d ghastly appearance, was O put below.—Liverpool Mercury. EADVERTISEMENT.]--Th e most effectual Cure fo Gout and Rheumatism is Holloway's Ointment and Pills. e l frequent cause of th ese comp l a i nts is the inflammatory sta t e the blood, as they a re genera ll y attended with bad digesti. lassitude, and great debility, s h ow i ng t h e want of a prope r y c i culation of the fluids, an d th a t i mpur i ty of the blood gre,' aggravates th ese p a i n f u l di sor d ers. H ol l oway ' s P ill s are of purifying a na t ure th a t a f ew d oses ta k en i n time i s an effect:': preventive against gout and rheumatism, but any one that 13 ,!' anattack from either should use H o llo wa y's Oint men t a l so , t b powerful properties of which, combined with the effect of tb Pills, ensures a certain cure.—Sold by all Druggists, a nd a Professor Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, London. BIRTHS. On the 25th ult., at Southampton, the wife of W. H. Ne ss man, Esq., of a son. On the 29th ult., at Eaton-place, the Hon. Mrs. Robe' Daly, of a son. On the 29th ult., at Camd en -t errace , K ent i s h-t ow n, Air• Edward Hacker, of a daughter. On the . 9th ult., at Manchester-square, the wife of Robe O Williams, Esq., of Brideh ea d, D orse t, an d of Bi rc hi n •lar ef of a son. MARRIED. O ciD O u the 23d ult., at Bryansford, D owns hi re, Al exan der, - Of the late Juhn Cheyne, Esq., Physician-General '4 her Majesty's Forces in Ireland, to Dora Lynn, daughter 0 the late Francisco de Jove de Bernardo, of Bilbao. On the 28th ult., at St. Mary's, Elland, Yorkshire, the Rl' s ': Charles Heath, B.A„ son of the lat e R o b ert Heath, Al."1";1 incumbent of Clither oe , t o J u li ana, youngest daughte r ° the late J. Rushforth, Esq., of North-house. On the 30th inst., the Rev. Charles Champagne Georb., 4 Moller, eldest so n o f C . C . Moller, Esq., late of the 181 , 1 Hussars, to Louisa Anne, only daughter of Lieut.-Colo n f: Straton, and granddaughter f th e l a t e G enera l a nd Lat Louisa Orde. On the 29th ult., at Jubil D ee l fc b oitage Chelsea, H. Jay, Esq., M us . D oc. , age d 7 0. On the 29th u lt., a t S ussex - gar d ens, H yde-par k, Capta in Charles Paget, f or m er ly o f th e 520 Li g h t I n f antry , and 13 of the 2d Dragoon Gu ar d s , aged u1t.,58. at Morning:on-road , Regents-par On the 30th k Booth, Esq., aged 77. John Georg) H. On the 30th ult., Domet Finlaison, Esq., of the Nationia Debt-office, second son of J. Finlaison, actuary of the Nll - Debt. On the 30th inst. at the Cedars, South Lambeth, Jot Hodgson, Esq., of Lincoln's Inn, Q . C., aged 64. On the 30th ult., in London, aged 25, George, young es i ' son of the late Rev. T. Wise, D.D., rector of Hagworthing ° ham, Lincolnshire, and of Blandford, Dorsetshire. Suddenly, Mary, the wife of J. Edward Boggis, Esq., Cap' taro and Paymaster of the 55th Regiment, daughter of t ?! late Lewis Kerr, Esq., her Majesty's Attorney-General of t" Bahama Islands. On the 30th ult., at Hope-cottage, Upper Ch ur ch-stre e Chelsea, John Anderson, Esq., formerly of Dunferrnlin° Fifeshire, N. 8., aged 59. London : Printed and Published by MURDO yoUSG: ig 112, Strand, Printer, at The S un Office, NO' Strand, in the Precinct of the Sk.voli. in the county ) Middlesex, Saturday, September 1, 1849. _~ r~~