The Sun. — London, England, 1855-11-30 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE —(Day.) COURT 01? EXCHEQUER. (Before Lord Chief Baron Pollock and a Special Jury.) ALLEGED BREACH CT PROMISE AND SEDU MELSOME V. WILLIAMS, This was an action for an alleged breach of promise of marriage and seduction, and the declaration stated that the plaintiff and defendant agreed to marry one another, and that the defendant refused to marry the plaintiff, who was always ready and willing to marry him. The defendant pleaded that he never agreed to marry the plaintiff as alleged. Mr. Serjeant Wilkins and Mr. Prideaux appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Chambers, Q.C., and Mr. Rose for the defendant. Mr. Serjeant Wilkins, in stating the case to the jury, said the plaintiff was a dressmaker and milliner, se siding at Bristol, and the defendant, Mr. William Evans Williams, was a gentleman residing in Wales. There WAS a disparity in the ages of the parties, and in other respects, the defendant being her senior, and far above her in his position of life, which was rather, he thought, an aggravation of the case. The plaintiff was the daughter of respectable parents, and during her residence with her mother the defendant ob traded himself very much on her attention, following her home to find out her address. She at first repulsed him, but having discovered her address, he called at her re sidence, and obtained an interview with her, which led to her ruin and destruction after the death of her mother. The defendant, after that, allowed her a small sum to live on for a short time, but becoming, as was usually the case with selfish men, tired and nauseated with the society of one whom he had at first so ardently sought alter, had cast her on the world with the loss of reputation and a blasted character. Under these circumstances he called on the jury to mark their sense of such conduct by the damages they would award the plaintiff. The first witness called was Mrs. S. Mizsan, wife of a millwright, who deposed that she lived in the house with the plaintiff and her mother in November, 1853. The defendant visited the plaintiff at that time ; witness opened the door to him. On one occasion she listened at the door of plaintiff's room, and heard the plaintiff tell the defendant she had a young man named Vowles paying his addresses to her. The defendant told her it she would give him up that he would give her a silk gown, and marry her in three months. Plaintiff replied that she alight do so if he acted honourably. The plaintiff's mother shortly after died, and the plaintiff left and went to reside in Jamaica street. In cross examination witness said it was after the mother's death the defendant visited her. The young man Vowles used to frequently visit the plaintiff. lie went in and out when he liked. _ _ Mrs. Sarah Whitworth deposed that she resided at 3, Jamaica-strett. The plaintiff lodged with her in December, and was visited by the defendant six or seven times. On one occasion she listened at the door and heard the defendant press her to consent to be married to him. The defendant used to take her to the theatre, returning home with her between 11 and 12 o'clock, remain some time, and then go to his hotel. She heard a great deal said about the parties she did not like, which she informed the defendant. She had her suspi cions from the first. She gave plaintiff notice to leave her house, believing the plaintiff had yielded to the de fendant's solicitations. A. letter from the solicitor to the plaintiff, named Hare, addressed to the defendant, was put in, but only Partly read, and withdrawn. This was the plaintiff's case. Mr. Serjeant Wilkins having again addressed the jury, Mr. Chambers summed up the evidence on the part of the defendant, characterising the case as an absurd one. They were in total ignorance of the condition of the defendant and many circumstances connected with the plaintiffs which ought to have been given in evi dence. _ _ _ _ The Lord Chief Baron interrupted the learned coun sel, saying there bad not been a particle of evidence given of the condition in life or the age of the defendant. In fact, he had never, in the whole course of his life, known a case brought before a court of justice in so barren a state as this. Whether the defendant was rich or poor, older or younger than the defendant, they knew not. All they did know of them was that they had arrived at the age of puberty, and their sexes. The marriage, if it had taken place, might have been, for anything they knew to the contrary, the most improvident and impru dent thing imaginable, and evidence on this head ought to have been given by the plaintiff. It did not appear, as he had already stated, who the defendant was, and it might be that ho was a married man incapable of making or fulfilling the promise, and the only evidence they had of the promise was what two persons had overheard. He could not help thinking, when looking at the letter that had been putt n, that this was an attorney's action. Mr. Prideaux said thel etter was not in evidence. it ha 3 been withdrawn. The Lord Chief Barou said he had heard sufficient of the letter read to induce him to say that he suspected this action had been brought by the attorney. Mr. Prideaux protested against anything being said of a letter that had been withdrawn. The Chief Baron said he had a right t 3 draw that opinion from the letter. Mr. Prideaux—Yes ; but not to state it to the jury. Mr. Chambers then continued his address to the jury, treating this as an action the most disgraceful that had ever been presented to a jury. The Chief Baron, in summing up, said this certainly was a must marvellous action. After referring to the evidence of the witnesses relative to the promise and the present of the silk dress, and the fact of that mysterious Vowles, who had the run of the house, said he certainly should have liked to have heard more about the parties than had been given in evidence. The jury retired to consider their verdict, and after an absence of 20 minutes rAurned into court, when The Foreman said the jury were unanimously of opinion there had been a breach of promise, but that there was no evidence that the plaintiff had sustained any pecuniary loss. Was it competent for them to give damages nuclei' such circumstances ? The Chief Baron—To give nominal damages. The Foreman —What is meant by nominal damages ? The Chief Baron—A shilling or 40s. If it were the intention of the jury to give the plaintiff costs, he must tell them that from the judgment and experienco he had had in these matters this action had not been brought for the benefit of the plaintiff, but for the attorney to uut costs into his pocket. The Foreman—Then your lordship thinks this an attorney's action Thelel Baron—l do. The Foreman said the jury wished to prevent the plaintiff from being annoyed for the future by the at torney._ The Chief Baron —There will be no annoyance after this. 1 belie ve it i s an action, " no cure no pan, (Laughter ) The jury again retired, and in a few minutes returned with a verdict for the plaintiff—damages one farthing. Mr. Rose asked his lordship to certify under the act to deprive the plaintiff of costs. Ms lordship consented. (Before Mr. Baron Pollock and a Cutnrnon Jury.) WEAVER V. SENNETT.-SEDUCTION. This was an action brought by the plaintiff, a ginger beer dealer, residing near the Borough-market, to re cover damages for the loss of his daughter-in-law's ser vices through the misconduct of the defendant, a son of a furrier, by whom his daughter-in-law was employed. Mr. Pearce and Mr. Brook appeared for the plaintiff ; Mr. Sergeant Wilkins and Mr. Locke for the defendant. Mr. Pearce, having addresse d the jury detailing the facts of the case, called Rebecca Penner, who deposed she was 18 years of age last birthday, and lived with the plain tiff. In February last I was employed at Messrs. Sennett's, who carry on business as furriers. On the evening; of the 20th Fe bruary, the defendant ordered me to be at the factory at a quarter to 8 o'clock the following morning (Wednes dee ), as he wanted me particularly. The defendant was 'the superintent of the room in which I worked. I went to the factory at the appointed time, and to the machine room, where I worked. I there saw the defendant alone. after I had taken off my bonnet and shawl, he locked the door, come to me and put his hand under my clothes. I resisted him. Ile ultimately succeeded in throwing me down and lifting my clothes over my head, and took advantage of me. I screamed, but no assistance came to me. The dwelling-house was some distance from the machine-room, and two brick walls intervened. This occurred on Wednesday. unwell, Oa the Tuesday following, feeling I told my father and mother of what had occurred, a n d th e , Rai under morning surgeon, and %V I applied to Mr. Wood, patiee e t rhim a fortnight. At his advice I became an out- On the 30th M a y I became Guy's Hospital for 11 weeks. an in-door patient, and was under Dr. Poland for 15 weeks. an out-door patient, and am so I then again became connection with any other man than I have never had connection. defendant. My sufferings were the result of that in ". attending to I assisted my father as a ginger-beer-maker, ali e d et the household duties. Cross-examined --I have worked for Messrs. Sennett about four years. The usual hour fer commencing work was about 8 or a quarte r p ast 8 o clock. Ab out 4 re n 100 women worked at th e factor y . I don't kn ow amen named Grogan. I have seen him, he is in court, but I don't know what he is here for. When the women W h o work in the room came to work that morning I did not tell them what had happened. I continued my work as if nothing had occurred the whole of that day and till the Thursday following ; that was the first time I felt anything, and then I told my parents. I live with my r ev re e n r ts at the back of the Borough Market. I ae , ai , applied to the magietrates for a su mmons ° •••• 4 Gr the m„ey gang nor pawned my shawl to procure at tothe•defen!jay for the summons. I have not worked when toe defendant factory since the 27th Februrary. _I struckan t would do it."caught hold of me he said "he Re-ex ' ammed I tried him. prevented me. to leave the room, but the de fendant The mother of the last her daughter was at the witness deposed that, after mother called.on witness hospital,and asked the defendant and his was ? Mrs. Sennett said ~ it -wedaher how her daughter .would have given all the world athbead job, and she the factory had not known it ;" the defendantthought said "he got rid of it." They both went to the hospital he had that, where Mrs. Sennett askeal her daughter ifs ie after would which marry the defendant. She declined, on Mrs. Sennett left, saying, " You may do your best or do your worst." Other evidence was given in support of the p!aintiff's case. No evidence was offered for the defence. Mr. Locke then addressed the jury in mitigation of damages, after which His lordship summed up, and the jury returned a ver dict for the plaintiff, damages 501. - THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 80, 1855. MUSIC HALL, STORE-STREET. Miss E. L. Williams, the pupil of Signor Lanza, male her appearance here last evening, in a vocal entertain ment entitled, "The Welsh Girl's Stratagem ; " or " Songs of many Nations," in which this young lady personated several characters, deriving some probability from the dialogue being carried on between her and her master. The programme consisted of Scotch, Irish, and Welsh ballads, as well as compositions of a higher order from the Italian and German. The more simple style of music suited the fair debutante the best, although " Casta Diva" and "Una voce poco fa," if not given with the expression and brilliancy of execution with which we have been accustomed to hear them, were still very praiseworthy displays of more than ordinary talents. Miss Williams has personal advantages, as well as a rich, full-toned voice—fresh in quality, and capable of producing any effect without over-exertion. Her enun ciation is unusually distinct, and she sings with archness and expression. These excellent qualities, together with an indication of dramatic powers, render her a desirable acquisition to either the theatre or the concert room. The mode in which she has been taught is highly creditable . to the skill and industry of Signor Lanza, and the applause and encores, which were fre quent throughout the evening, must have been very gratifying to both master and pupil. The room was very well attended. STATE OF TRADE. MANCHESTER, Nov. 29.—The market is quiet, but in some quarters a litttle more business is reported as doing. There is also a better feeling in the market, but sellers are unable to command better prices. The home trade houses are doing rather more business, and buyers for Germany are making more inquiries after goods in anti cipation of the close of the season. For India very little business has been effected. Two more millowners have given notice of reduction of wages to their workpeople, and the gradual extension of the short-time movement is, no doubt, one cause of the rather firmer tone of the market. NOTTINGHAM, Nov. 29.—The Americans are operating to a slight extent in the lace trade, and there) are good prospects of coming activity. There is not much doing in the genral lace trade, and the fancy branches are also dull. The state of the hosiery trade is, en the whole, satisfactory. Orders to a considerable extent have been received for the United States. Stocks are very low, and there are anticipations of a good trade setting in. There is a reduction in the price of wools. MARKET NEWS.—(This Day). CORN EXCHANGE. Several of Monday's unsold samples of English wheat were on offer in to-day's market, but the fresh arrivals were very moderate. For all kinds we experienced a slow sale at Monday's decline in the quotations. The imports of foreign wheat are under 2,000 quarters. That article was very dull, yet wo have no change to no tice in the currencies. Floating cargoes of grain were mostly held on former terms. We had a slow inquiry for barley and malt, at barely stationary prices. Good sound oats were scarce, and quite as dear as on Monday. Inferior qualities were a dull sale. Beans, peas, and flour moved off slowly at Monday's prices. Wheat. 3,290 ARRIVALS THIS WBEK. Barley. Malt. 3,710 1,890 L'ngllsh .. Irish .... Oats. Font 4 i 0 2,980 150 —sks 17 ' 590 2190br1s Foreign } I 1,770 METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET. The show of beasts here, to-day, was moderate, and chiefly in poor condition. The primest beasts ruled steady, at Monday's prices. Otherwise the trade was heavy, at a decline in the quotations of 2d. per 81bs. The supply of sheep was on the increase, and the inquiry for all kinds was heavy, at barely stationary prices. Although there were very few calves in the market the veal trade 1.110,1 heavy, at last week's decline in value. Pigs were dull in sale, but not cheaper. ilch cows were heavy, at from 141. to 19/. each, in cluding their small calf. Per 81los to slnk the offals. s. d. s. d.l s. d. s d. Inferior Beasts.... 3 6to 3 B,PrimeSonthdown 410 5 2 Second quality.... 3 10 4 2 I..argo crse. calves 3 G 4 0 Prime large oxen 4 4 4 10 ( Prime small d 0... 4 2 4 8 Prime Scots, dia. 5 0 5 21Large hogs ...... 310 4 4 Inferior Sheep ...3 6 3 8 l i Small porkers 4 6 5 0 Second quality ...3 10 4 4 ( Suckling calves.. 43 0 30 0 Prime orse.-w110d.4 6 4 B,Quarter old pige.22 0 28 0 TOTAL SUPPLY. NOSEIGN SUPPLY. 1,052 Beasts— •• •• •• •• •• . . 300 Sheep •• • •• • . ..... 4,230 Sheep ..-- •• •• ..•• •• •••••• GeO Calves . • ..•• •• •• 210 I Calves-- 19) Pigs •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •••• 350 Pigs...• ...•• •• .. NEWOATE AND The demaJd for each kind quotations. LEADENHALL. of meat ruled steady, at our Per Blbs by the carcase. s. d. s. d. Beef, inferior 3 2 3 6 Do., middling 3 8 3 10 Do. prime largo 4 0 4 2 De , do. small 4 4 4 6 Fork, large 3 10 4 4 s. d. s. d. Mutton., Inferior 3 2 3 6 Do., middling 3 8 4 0 Do., prime 4 2 4 6 Veal 3 6 4 4 Pork, small 4 6 5 4 BOROUGH HOP. Fine new hops are in fair request, at full quotations. In all other kinds very little is doing, and prices are barely supported. Mid and East Kent pockets, 4/ Os to 6/ Os per cwt ; Weald of Kent, Si 10s to 4/ 15s ; Sussex, 315 s to 4/ 10s. Naval and Military Intelligence. The 6team transport Europa, No. 55, Capt. J. Leitch, arrived at Portsmouth yesterday afternoon from the East. She left Malta on the 18th inst., and brought Col. Coul bourne, of the Staff ; Capt. Mundell, of the Land Tran sport Corps ; Capt. Leslie, of the Royal Artillery, wife, and servant ; Capt. Heath, C. 8., R.N., late principal agent for transports at Balaklava ; the Misses Bellamy; Sergeant-Major Browne, of the 7th Fusiliers ; Sergeant Cook, of the 30th Regiment ; and four seamen. The Orinoco steam-transport left Portsmouth yester day afternoon with the Land Transport Corps and other levies for the East. The hired screw steam transport Jura, No. 14, Capt. Wickham, which left Balaklava on the 15th inst., arrived in Plymouth Sound yesterday morning. She left Malta on the 9th. Excluding 60 hours of coaling the passage was made in 13 days and 6 hours. The Jura embarked at Kazatch Bay and Balaklava, under command of Col. Hal lo way, 1048 Royal Marines from Kinbourn and Balaklava, many of whom have been employed in the trenches be fore Sebastopol. At Scutari she discharged 122 men iato her Majesty's ship Queen, and at Malta 258 men into the London and Rodney. At Plymouth she lands 260 men and six officers—viz., Lieut.-Colonel Camp bell, Lieut.-Colonel Michell, Lieutenant and Adjutant Elliott, and Lieutenants Turpin, Spratt, and Thorns.... The remaining 410 will be landed at Portsmouth,whither she also conveys Colonel Hurdle, C. 8., who joined at Malta. The Jura was only 23 hours and 20 minutes from the anchorage at Balaklava to the anchorage at Constantinople—the fastest passage known. In going from Constantinople to Balaklava some ten days previous she is said to have beaten the screw steam-ship Hima laya, which sailed one hour and a half before and arrived half an hour after the Jura. The Jura belongs to the Cunard line of steamers. As soon as they can be obtained 200 additional ship wrights and about 150 other artisans and labourers are to be entered in Chatham Dockyard. The floating bat tery that is ordered to be built at that port is to be 14 feet longer than the one that was unfortunately de stroyed by fire at Bidwell ; all the material of that ves sel which remains in good condition is to be appropriated in the building of the new battery ; it consists princi pally of the thick iron plates, iron knees, and some of the cabin fittings. The following are to be her principal dimensions : Feet. Inches. Length between perpendiculars lB6 0 Breadth extreme Depth of hold Burden The principal dimensions of the new class of despatch and gun-boats are ordered as follows :- - - - Feet. Inches. Length between perpendiculars l5O 0 Breadth extreme Breadth per tonnage Burden The principal dimensions of the new class mortar. boats are to be the following : Feet. Inches. Length between perpendiculars... - 70 0 Breadth extreme Breadth for tonnage 23 0 Depth in hold Burden 156 tons. The Royal George, 121, screw three-decker, Captain Codrington, C. 8., is ordered to be stationed at Gilling ham, in the Medway, and the Cressy, 80, Capt. NVar ren, at Black Stakes. The officers and crews of these ships are to have charge of the gun-boats and mortar vessels as they are being rigged. Some of them are shortly expected at Chatham. _ . The Caesar, 91, Capt. Robb, was taken into the steam basin at Portsmouth yesterday, to refit for the next Baltic campaign. The Arrogant, 46, Capt. F. Yelverton, C. 8., returned to Spitheai yesterday afternoon, to augment the force at that anchorage, to salute the King of Sardinia on his visit to Portsmouth. The Castle Eden convict ship sailed from Spithead yesterday afternoon, for Plymouth. The Sampson, 6, paddle-frigate, Capt. Hand, returned into Portsmouth harbour on Wednesday evening, after trial of her engines at Spithead, &c. The Volcano steam floating smithery, Second-Master- Commanding J. H. Ryan, R.N., arrived at Spithead from the Baltic on Wednesday. The American merchant-ship Spitfire, of 1,549 tons' register, put into Plymouth Sound on Wednesday, in consequence of strong easterly winds. She left Foo- Chow-Foo for London on the 24th of July, with a cargo consisting of 1,900 tons of tea, contained in 18,000 packages, and valued at about 250,0001. On the 23d of August she anchored in the Straits of Alias, and in consequence of the strength of the current the chain was brought under the fore foot and keel, which tore off the copper and strained the ship so that in four hours there were 22 inches of water in her. Undaunted by this leak, and notwithstanding he was short handed, Capt. Arey proceeded on his voyage down the coast towards Anjer. 'The pumps were kept going, the ship was trimmed by the stern one foot more than the ordinary draught by bringing the cargo aft, and sail was shortened when by the wind so as to keep her upright, and prevent damage to the tea. In this condition she passer' the Mauritius, encountered a heavy gale off the Cape of Good Hope, and put into St. Helena with the crew sick on the 7th of October. Here the United States' Consul and others considered that the cargo should be discharged and the ship repaired, but the agent for Voyds, who went on board and examined her, the pumps, and log-book, and questioned the officers, gave the captain written authority to continue the voyage. Additional hands being engaged to make the complement 40—officers and men all told—the Spitfire left the island on 9th October and is now in the Sound, the leak not having increased or decreased since she left the Straits of Alias. The steamer Baron von Humboldt, now registered under the new name of the Buffalo, which arrived on Monday evening at Woolwich, from Deptford, to embark stores, has been found defective, and has in consequence been docked for examination. A telegraphic message was yesterday morning despatched to Woolwich, order ing her defects to be made good with all possible baste. The repairs and alterations of the Devestation are pro gressing rapidly. Yesterday morning her masts were laid under the shears ready to be fixed on board. A con siderable number of hands are busily engaged on board the steamers Princess Alice and the Taurus. They are likewise in a very advanced state. Both these vessels have undergone thorough repairs. A court-martial assembled yesterday morning on board her Maje-ty's ship Victory in Portsmouth harbour, for the trial of John Maggs, locomotive engine driver, serving as acting assistant engineer of the third class on board her Majesty's steam-sloop Basilisk, on the charge of being drunk and unable to perform his duty on board the said sloop on the evening of the 221 of September last, while the vessel was at sea under steam. The prisoner put in certificates of good character from the houses he had served in ashore. The Court adjudged the charge proved, and sentenced the prisoner only, in consideration of his previous good character, to be dis missed from his ship, to be severely reprimanded, and not to receive any increase of rank iu her Majesty's ser vice for the space of one year. The same Court then proceeded to try Mr. Robert Cumming, acting-assistant engineer of the second class, serving on board the Basi lisk, for having left the said ship on the 28th of August, and not returning until the afternoon of the 29th, he having been previously refused leave by the commanding officer. The charge was declared proved, and the Court adjudged the prisoner to be severely reprimanded, to be reduced to the third class of acting-assisting engineers in her Majesty's fleet, and not to be promoted therefrom for the space of one year. Captain John Bruce, Ensigns Augustus Frederick Perkins, and Elliot Armstrong, of tho 91st Regiment, are under orders to proceed to Deptford to embark for Malta to-morrow. Second Class George Smith King, M.D., being relieved from the charge of the Ordnance Corps in Chatham, will do duty with the Provisional Battalion in the Garrison Hospital. We are requested to state that boxes and packages in tended for transit to the army or navy in the East must not exceed the following dimensions :—Length, 2 feet 9 inches ; breadth, 1 foot 6 inches ; height, 1 foot. COLONIAL. TEA.—The market has been exceedingly dull. At the public sale only 1,700 pkgs out of 8,000 were sold, without change in price. Common congon 94d to 90 per lb. SUGAL—There has been quite u pinic in the market, and business entirely suspended, no transactions whatever having taken place iu West India. Other qualities, which were offered at public sale, have been all withdrawn or bought in, no offers having been made. No sales reprte.l in:the refined market. Yesterday 100 casks West Indi were sold, but prices did not transpire. COFFEE.—The market has been flat ; and a slight decline in prices has taken place. Native Ceylon sold at 52s to 52s 6d for goof ord plantation, is lower for fine ord, small to good mid bold colory 578 6,1 to 63s 6d, triage 45s to 51A, and peaberry 61s to 66s per cwt. Penang sold at 44s 6d for ord mixed blacks. Long berry Mocha was bought in at SOs per cwt. Itici—This article has ken' very inactive, and prices have given way. Bengal low mid to good mid sold at 16s 3d. Arracan brought 13s to 13s 6d for fair Necrantia. A cargo of Madras guaranteed fair pinky sold for 15s to arrive. SPlOES.—Pimento has again receded is Bd, middling mixed sold at 46d to 4ad per lb. Mace has remained steady, middling and good realised 2s to 2s Bd, and good and line 2s lid to 3s ld per lb. Cloves—Penang good and fine realised 111 d to is per lb. Nutmegs have rather receded in value, small and ordinary to good middling is 93 to 2s 9d, good and fine bold 33 4d to 4s ld and 4s sd, limed 2s to 2s 73. Dutch limed is 83 to is 9d per lb, being fully ld per lb lower than late rates. Pepper—Singapore black sifted sold at 5,1c1 to 51d, first class damaged OA to 53, Batavia first class 4d per lb; white realised 6d to Sild for middling to very good bold Penang. SALTPETRE.—The market has receded, Bengal 101 to 6i lbs sold at 36s to 40s, and good 5 lbs brought 425, mid ' dling 51 lba to Ei lbs realised 393 to 39s 6d per cwt. CociiisEer...—Th e prices have remained steady at about previous rates. Honduras silvers 3s 7d to 3s 11d, black 4s to 4s 23 ; Mexican silver 3s 43 to as 53, black Se 83 ; Teneriffe silver as 7d to 3s 83, black as 10d to 3s lld per lb. Rum.—The market has been firm at previous rates. TALLOW.—The market has been firmer, and prices were fully sustained. P.Y.C. on the spot 68s to 68s 93, and spring 68s 6d to 69s per cwt. Yesterday the prices were 70e 63 on the spot, spring 71s, buyers ; April to Juno, 6.'s per cwt GREEN FRUIT. —A good demand exists, which no doubt will continue until Christmas. Two cargoes chesnuts, from Bilboa, have arrived, one of which, sold by Keeling and Hunt, at public sale, brought a high price. Oranges from the Azores are wanted, contrary winds preventing arrivals ; a cargo from St. Michael brought 2s to 3s per box advance upon the prices of last week. More inquiry for Spanish nuts. LLOYD'S SHIPPING. --(This Day.) LOUDON, Nov. 30.—Wind this day at noon, N.W. ; light breeze and fine. DOVER, NOV. 29.—Wind N. to N.w.___Off th Victor, from Newcastle, for Rio JaneirodapAeriinigt.Bpoornti—n ger, Rotterdam for New York ; Jacob, Hamburg. len ' for PORTSMOUTH, Nov. 29.—Wind N.E.NB— Arrived—Eu rope (s. tpt.), from Kamiesh, &c. Sailed—Castle Eden: for Bermuda ; Orinoco (s. tpt.), Malta. FALMOUTH, Nov. 29.—Wind E.N.E., frtsh breezes-- Arrived—Providence, from Shields, for Constantinople, to stop a leak. Off the port—Marco Polo, from Hamburg, for the Cape de Verde ; Gipsey Queen, from -- f or London. HARTLEPOOL, NOV. 29.—Wind N.—Sailed —Marian, for St. Jago de Cuba. (PER ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) Morning. Arrived—Jessie, Ann, and Atalanta, from Bristol; John SO UT HAMPTON, Friday Wesley, Sunderland ; George, Shields ; Stratton, New castle ; Maria, Middlesbro' ; South-Western (s.), Jersey. Sailed—Acorn, for Ipswich ; Vesper and Ve nus, New port ; Hopewell, Swanage ; City of Limerick (s.) , Dubl i n. The Psyche, from Loudon, bound for Moulmein, is dis charging cargo, having been ashore. LIVERPOOL, Friday Morning. Wind N.N.W. Arrived --M arco Polo, from Melbourne; tpt.), f rom Dublin, with Dublin Militia. Niagara (s. VESSELS SPOKEN WITTE. Grecian (whaler), Aug 28, off Port Davey, with no oil, and one man o ver b oard. . Sapphire (whaler), on the same day, with 26 tons of sperm oil. Auguste and Bertha (Hamburg bark), bound for Singa pore, Nov. 1, 49 N., 7 W. J u no (bark), from Plymouth, for New Zealand, N0v.17, 45 N., 11 W. Great Britain (steam-transport), Nev. 21, 45 N., 9 W. William Wallace (whaling -brig), with barr e l s of oil, off the Pill 3. Vernon (whaling-brig), off the east-end of New Cale donia, Aug. 8. Woodlark (whaler), July 24, off Indian-hand, with 200 barrels of oil. (whaling-brig), on the Middle Ground, wi l th nd a e ar ie re n l e s e of oil. Harvest Home (bark), f ro m Sydney, for the Eastward, Aug. 5, 34 S., 159 E. THE MILITIA. The Prince of Wales' Donegal Militia, under the com mand of Lieut.-Col. Lord C. Hamilton, moved on Satur day from Londonderry to Omagh. Strength, 31 officers, 340 men-500 wanting to complete. The Donegal Artillery, under the command of Lieut.- Col. Fiiher (14 officers and 100 men), moved in two di visions from Omagh to Charlemout on Saturday. They require 300 men to complete. The Tyrone Artillery, under the command of Capt. J. Greer, moved from Charlemont to Downpatrick on Sa turday. Strength, 8 officers, 60 men--wanted to com plete, 150 men. The Fermanagh Militia, who were directed to pro ceed to Dublin on Thursday morning, received on Wed nesday a countermand ; they will remain in Newry un til further orders. THE ARCHBISHOP OF KHERSON AND THE RUSSIAN MILITIA. Archbishop Innocent, of Odessa, whose fanatical address to the Czar we lately published, has just harangued the militia of Moscow, on their arrival at Odessa. The following are the principal pas sages : Behold yourselves upon the shore of the Black Sea in face of the enemy. After invoking the protection of God it remains to prove by deeds that which up till now has been in your heart and upon your lips. Your valour will be worthy of your words, and you will do ten times more than you promised to do to those who sent you hither. To wish to excite your valour against the enemy, y d o u main bad have would be to forget that since your before your eyes Borodino, Torontiflo n , c a y lavetx. Oh ! such men will never flinch before i"sa an . steo you u u ttehethaibnnkegnaotimoneroef otfhethweahrerliyorashweosuledf enemy, whoever he may be. which your fathers with their own hands sacri country. Oh ! such men will prefer die the Kremlin that the heart of the country yield the victory to the enemy. r b fib'l e icet a lel:ht t dtloo s eirt : rsowtet i t htel't il haap t enl ol have you remembered that in approaching us, and at the same time the frontiers of Russia, you draw near to the cradle of orthodox faith ? For it is amongst us, my dear children, in our sacred Cbersonese, that the Grand Duke Wladimir embraced the Christian faith, and received the water of baptism; and in his person all Ru,sia also behold what you fight for ! There is be tween us the indissoluble alliance of fraternity in the cross and in arms for the defence of the country. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. REPORT OF THE CO;IMITTEE OF INVESTIGA TION OF THE EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY COMPANY. Eastern Counties Railway, Nov. 27, 1855. At the half-yearlygeneralmeetingof the proprietors, held at the London Tavern, 31st August, 1855, it was resolved— " That so much of the report as relates to the dividend be agreed to, and that the consideration of other matters mentioned therein be adjourned until tie last Friday in October, and that a committee of seven shareholders be appointed to investigate the affairs of the company, with power to examine the officers of the company, and to call for books and papers." " That the following gentlemen be upon the committee : —Edward Ball, Esq., M.P., Thomas Christy, Esq., Henry Soper, Esq., Jeremiah Filcher, Esq., Horatio Love, Esq., Thomas Goodson, Esq., John T. Norris, Esq., and that no resolution was to pass except five be present, but three to form a quorum, to conduct ordinary inquiries. When the above resolutions were passed, Mr. Ball had made arrangements to proceed to Paris the 4 next morning ; Mr. Norris, also, was under engagement for several fol lowing days. dr. Ball and Mr. Norris agreed, therefore, that the committee should not meet for a few days, and separated with this understanding. Other gentlemen of the committee considered it desirable that the committee should commence their inquiry without delay, and on the 3d of September Messrs. Love, Christy, and Soper held a preliminary meeting, and adjourned to the sth of Septem ber, when a majority of the committee was present, and Mr. Lo-ie was chosen chairman of the committee. Mr. Ball expedited his return to England, and attended the committee on the 10th of September, as also did Mr. Norris. Mr. Goodson wrote to the committee, declining to form one of the committee. Your committee entered on the inquiry desiring to be just, moderate, fearless; not ungenerously to use the authority which you entrusted to them, or timidly to shrink from exposing error. They have protracted the report to a period much beyond that which you granted them— they have been obliged to do 30 from the numerous subjects ne cessarily embraced in the inquiry, and from the vast im portance of come of the branches of that inquiry. The first subjects to which the committee directed their attention were thou) in which issue had been joined at the last half-yearly meeting between Mr. Waddington, the chairman, on the one part, and the auditors and certain directors on the other ; and the objections made likewise to the accounts, as well as to the conduct of the chairman, by Mr. Bruce and Mr. Broadbent, two of the directors. In order that the committee, as well as yourselves, might arrive at sound conclusions regarding the position of this great property, they have summoned many of the company's servants and other parties, whose evidence will be added to this report. They are thereby relieved from the necessity of entering so much into detail as would otherwise be requi site, because the evidence will speak for itself, and to that they beg to refer you. They cannot conceal from you the conviction which has forced itself on the minds of your com mittee, that all the charges made by the auditors, Messrs. Reeves and Mayhew, have been fully substantiated—that those charges fall short of a true state of the affairs of the company —that most important books, those relating to the stores, and also to the locomotive department, have never been laid before the auditors—that no correct ascertained balance has ever been struck in the stores department since the period when Mr. Waddington was chosen chairman. That at the end of each half-year since that period, the sum set down as the value or amount of stores on hand, has never properly agreed with the amount purchased less the amount issued. And that for the last 2or 3 years no attempt has been made to agree them. Large additions • also have been made to the capital account of the Eastern Counties Company, and for which they are not, and can not be made, responsible. They belong to the Norfolk Company, for which that company is bound to provide, as set foitei in the Act of Parliament confirming the agree ment made with that company, Feb. 6, 1854. The sum thus most improperly and illegally added to the capital account of the Eastern Railway Company is 60,606/. 10e. There are other improper transactions, to which wo shall have specifically to refer in their proper places. Your committee name them now, as instances of the reckless manner in which the affairs of this company have been administered. Your committee have further to observe that contracts have been made with individuals on terms not remunera tive, and that by so doing a large portion of the carriage of coal and goods has been done at a positive loss to the com pany, while in some instances they have been ruinous to the merchants engaged in those branches of business, and in others annoying and degrading ; that a monopolyhas been established which, in its operation, has been hurtful to the company and offensive and vexatious to the numerous mercantile establishments situate on your line of railway. The name of the firm with which one of these contracts has been made is Messrs. E. and A. Prior, trading under the firm of the Norfolk and Eastern Counties Coal Com pany, the use of which name was most improper. Prefer enceit also have been given to another company to carry cattle over the line, greatly to the injury of the merchants and farmers who live within your district, and to the damage of your own revenue. In a word, a total disre gard has been evinced of all the right principles on which a large commereial undertaking like yours should be con ducted. A large increase has been made to the bonded debt by loans granted illegally and without your authority. A most reckless expenditure has been kept up, not for your advantage, but for that of other individuals and companies which we shall specify in detail. Additions have been made each half-year to your capital account of a most injurious description. Improper repre sentations have been made at several of the half-yearly meetings of the state of your affair; and the conduct of some of your directors has amounted to a systematic sacri fice of your interests, and the conduct of others to a total ' disregard of those interests, which, if permitted to con tinuo, would inevitably result in consequences of a most serious nature to yourselves. Your committee consider that one cause of the losses you have sustained is to bo found in the constitution of the board of directors itself. It consists of 15 members—of that 15 only 8 represent the interests of the Eastern Coun ties Railway Company itself; five other of the directors sit at the board, by authority of an act of Parliament given to the Northern and Eastern Counties Railway Company, which company has a fixed dividend secured to it before any dividend whatever can be paid to the Eastern Coun ties proprietary ; and those directors have no interest at stake, and are little concerned in the results of any in juriour; agreements which the Eastern Counties Railway C om pany may enter into. Two other of the directors re present the East Anglian Company ; and although they are interested in keeping the expenses down, and the charge against revenue as low as possibly, yet they are nut affected by the bargain which the Eastern Counties Company has made with the Norfolk Company, as well as with the East ern Union Company, in agreeing to pay those companies all their proportion of receipts, less 46 per cent. only, how ever much the loss may be ; or any other bargain they may make of a similar nature. If they had been, your commit tee feel assured they would have satisfied themselves as to a fact of a most important nature, before the agree ment would have been completed with the Norfolk and Eastern Union Railway Companies. The fact to be thus ascertained was, what were really the working expenses of this company at the time the agreement was proposed. The present chairman (Mr. Wad dington) sot them down as 411. Be. sd. per cent. The half yearly accounts, ending the 31st December, 1853, show that sum as the percentage; but that was not a true per contae.o—it was near 45 per cent., and this company is bound' by their contract to charge only 46 per cent., includ ing, i n such working expenses, repairs, and re-erection of bridges, and maintenance of the permanent way. On the Norfolk Company's line alone a sum of 32,0001. is now required to repair dilapidations that already exist, to which subject no consideration appears to have been paid, and no adequate allowance required in the contract with them. There is another reason why you should be more particular as regards the consti uction of your own board, and it is thi s :—The affairs of the three associated companies, the Eastern Counties, the Norfolk, and the Eastern Union Companies, are managed by a joint committee, consisting of four members of the Eastern Counties, two of the Nor folk, and two of the Eastern Union board. It requires great watchfulness to weigh the effect of resolutions ema neting from that joint committee. Your interests are not always their interests, otherwise they never would have violated an act of Parliament binding each company to provide for the works on its own l ine , which it had begun, and to saddle the payment on the Eastern Counties Com pany alone ; and be it observed the payment to fall on the company which had no right or title to the property, and which, a f e w years hence, may be severed from it. It is very necessary you should bear in mind the present consti tution of the board, and it is of the last importance you should provide a remedy. So long as you have .a majo rity sitting at your board influencing your affairs, with out any strong motive to protect your interest, and who give themselvas little or no trouble to understand the motives that influence other of your directors, so long will your affairs remain at the mercy of those who hold out to you, half year by half year, delusive statements ; who make representations and fill the re ports presented to iou with promises which are never rea lised, and will n o t bear a moments examination. Your committee is anxious to occupy as little of your time with the report as possible ; but they would not per form their duty if they did not point out, in as plain and simple a manner as they can, each head of inquiry to which they have directed their attention, and their object in call ing your attention to it. In directing the attention of the shareholders to the manner of disposing of the 1,099 shares of the Tilbury line, your committee desire to avoid saying anything which may hurt the feelings of those gentlemen who received the shares. The case is thus :—Eight gentlemen wore ap pointed to manage the Tilbury Railway—four selected from the direction of the Eastern Counties board, and four from the direction of the Black-vall board. There were 40,000 shares to dispose, to raise capital for constructing the line, 6,954 of these remained unappropriated. The market for them was heavy . ; but when the line was let for a term of years, the shares improved in value, and rose to 40s. to 50s. premium each. Th e j oint committee decided to distribute 4,863 shares amongst the shareholders of the Tilbury company. These shares were sd accepte o d. leaving 1,091 shares unallotted. And your committee are f opinion that these 1,091 shares, being the property of the share holders of the Tilbury line, ought, by a fresh allotation to have been disposed of, as were the 4,863 shares. But the joint committee at the Tilbury line, at their ~f irst meeting, on the Gth July, 1852, pa sod a resolution, that the re sidue of the 5,954 shares, after making the further allot ment of one for every seven, s hould be, and they were thereby, placed at the disposal of the four members of that committee named by the Eastern Counties Railway Com pany," thus conveying these shares to that portion of the committee of the Tilbury line who r Counties Company. Now such a epresented the Eastern resolution in itself could legally only empower such members of the committee to hold these shares for the benefit of the shareholders, it being incompatible with the trust or office of a dir n e e ctor a o n rr commit tee man to accept property for his own be fit propriation of these 1,091 shares by four gentlemen of the directors of the Eastern Counties. Company was wrong. TILBURY AND SOUTHEND LINK. Your attention should be called to the injurious effects likely to be produced to this company by the leasing of the Tilbury and Southend Line to Messrs. Peto, Bette, and Brassey. The intention of the directors of this company, when that line was projected, was, in conjunction with the Blackwell Railway, to protect the territory of the Eastern Counties Company, and to prevent traffic being abstracted from it, and else to avoid competition, which would have an injurious effect on the parent line. One of the first acts of the joint committee, after their appointment, was to allow Messrs. Pete, Bette, and Brassey to make the line, and to pay them the entire amount of the capital raised by the shares ; and soon after the sai d j oint committee com mitted the Eastern Counties Railway to an agreement to find capital for rolling stock to work the traffic of the Til .bury Extension line at rates which your committee find are extremely prejudicial to the interest of the Eastern Counties Company. The agreement for the lease contains a considerable number of the most remarkable clauses— , one of which is, that the lessees, Messrs. Peto, Bette, and Brassey, shall hays the power of fixing rates for passen. gers, good, and cattle over the Eastern Counties line as between Forest Gate station and the London station. IVlrea this agreement was considered at the board, the Otis August, 185, Mr. Mar-grave was the only member of the board who objected, and he denounced it as being in jurious to the interests of the Eastern Counties Company. Another remarkable circumstance which should be noticed is that the several clauses of this important agreement do not appear to have been then read at the board, as some of the members then present (from their evidence, which we have taken) do not appear to have been aware of them. And the committee would not feel satisfied without expressing their opinion that the largo additions made to capital account, for which the Eastern Counties Company have paid upwards of 56,0001. for Hackney and other branches, has been done, not so much to benefit the Eastern Counties Company, but to increase the traffic and profits of Messrs. Peto, Betts, and Brassey, the lessees of the Tilbury line. The Eastern Counties have made an agreement to work the line, and find rolling stock and locomotive power, for a period determinable in seven years. To carry this out, 46,0001. has been expended. The profits of receipts for the year have been about 4001. Thus, the Eastern Counties receives about 1 per cent, for this outlay, besides suffering the wear and tear of rolling stock. This bargain, like many others, is utterly astonishing, and of which the shareholders must form their own conclusions. WOOLWIOH LINE The profit arising from this line is very questionable, from the fact of a very large number of trains running at extremely low fares, a division of the receipts being made with the proprietor of the Woolwich Gardens on all per sons carried there during the summer season. Your com mittee were extremely surprised to find that a considerable outlay had been made by and at the expense of this com pany in building a dancing saloon within the gardens, at an expense of 1,5001., on property not belonging to this company, and for which they can have no legal claim, and fora purpose most objectionable to many of your share holders. FIALESWORTH AND WOODBRIDGE RAILWAY. Wo cossidor it our duty to direct your attention to the contemplated rail way to be made from Hales worth to Wood bridge. The formation of this railway can only result in great injury to your property. It may take the cattle and fish traffic now passing over your lines; and should the promoters seek alliance with your company, it can only form another element of loss. We deeply regret that its projec tors have so far forgotten their former advocacy of the ex isting lines of your company, as now to propose to make a line which is in direct opposition to it. Your committee re commend that the most strenuous opposition be given to this proposed line, believing that Parliament in its wisdom having sanctioned oneline will not permit the folmation by the side of it of another in direct opposition to it. LOWESTOFT HARBOUR. - We briefly direct your attention to Lowestoft Harbour. We cannot understand why this harbour has been taken by the Eastern Counties Company. It can result only in taking the trade from Yarmouth, and is involving this company in vast expenses and loss ; no favouritism, no proference shown to it, can ever make it of any value to you ; its cost exceeds its earnings. Much injustice towards the agricul turists of England has been practised, as is instanced in taking foreign beasts from Lowestoft to London for 55., a distance of 145 miles, bringing those beasts through Nor wich 20 miles nearer London, while the English farmers' beasts are charged 12s. for the carriage of 115 miles; it is and must remain a ruinous adjunct to the Eastern Coun ties Railway Company ; unless indeed the sea should wash up the sand to the destruction of the harbour—which your committee were informed on their visit of inspection to that place was most probable—thus relieving this company from any further loss. STEAM-BOATS OF THE EASTERN UNION RAILWAY. By an agreement with the Eastern Union Company, 6th Feb., 1851, their rolling stock was agreed to be taken by the Eastern Counties Company, and to be employed in working the traffic of the associated companies. It was taken and paid form 1- 54 ; the sum Bet down for the same was 149,751/. 11s. 60. No resolution or minute of the board was made stating of what the said rolling stock cous:sted. The steam-boats amounted, according to a minute of the secretary of this company in the schedule of valuation, to upwards of 24,0001. The boats have plied from Ipswich to Harwich, and from Ipswich to London, entirely at the ex pense of the Eastern Counties. Dazing the autumn of last year some of these boats were put on the run from Tilbury to Margate and back, chiefly with a view to profit the Tilbury Company. The chairman (nr. Waddington) appears to be the person chiefly cognisant with these matters, and to have conducted them without call ing the attention of the board to them, and without any minute or authority for these purposes. Your committee is of opinion that the Eastern Counties Com pany is not liable to take these boats as part of the rolling stock, and that they should require the Eastern Union Company to retake them, and return the money advanced, and pay for repairs. HARWICH AND ANTWERP STEAM-BOAT TRAFFIC. Your committee is of opinion this traffic should not have been undertaken at all. The North of Europe Steam packet Company named Harwich as one of the ports whence they intended to run steamers to Belgium and else where. Mr. Waddington and Lord A. Puget were directors of that company. They put a steamer on in the autumn of 1851, and it appears that it was not remunerative. They declined to put on any this year on that ground. And yet, the Eastern Counties Company, of which those gentlemen are directors, and likewise on the Antwerp Steam-boat Committee, have put on steamers without the authority of your shareholders, and have incurred considerable loss. It was 2,4001. 13s. 80. to the 30th June, and has since been considerably increased. There is no hope or prospect of this traffic paying its expense; the railway fare is ruinously low. Your committee regret that your directors should have persisted in this undertaking, after the loss sustained by the traffic had been pointed out to them, as may be seen Loin the evidence. NORFOLK AND EASTERN COUNTIES COAL COMPANY. Your committee, when their attention was first directed to this subject, considered it was an undertaking promoted by some one or more of the three associated railways, either for their joint or separate benefit, from the circumstance of advertisements having appeared continuously in the news papers, headed "Eastern Counties Railway," stating prices for various descriptions of coal, and signed "By order, J. B. Owen, Secretary." It will be seen in the evidence that Mr. Owen was authorised to lend his name, as your committee consider most improperly, as it conveyed an incorrect repre sentation of the names of the parties who were the vendors of the coal. Your committee, in the inquiry into this sub ject, were informed that Sir S. M. Peto, in the first instance, brought the parties (Messrs. E. and A. Prior) whorepresent this firm to Lowestoft as coal merchants, and that in the year 1853 there was an arrangement or agreement with this company to have coals conveyed over the Eastern Counties and the Norfolk Railways, at a rate averaging not more than 7-16ths of a penny per ton. This sum was alleged to bo charged in consideration of their bringing a large quantity of coal over the line, and that no other firm was to be charged so low a rate. Coupled with this low rate were other advantages. One was, that this company should always provide 200 waggonc, to be in constant use by the coal company, and that a considerable amount of accommo dation should be provided for coal depots, sidings, &c., at a very large outlay ; that this company should find the money necessary for the payment of the coal dues ; and while this company paid ready money for the coal purchased of them it gave them a credit of from two to three months on the freight duo from them. This railway company has spent out of its capital a very large sums for these purposes. The railwaystation-masters and other servants at several places on the line have had a considerable portion of their time occupied by that busi ness; and it has led to many well-founded and stron,g com plaints. Your committee was much surprised to find that your locomotive superinteadent(llr.Gooch), with Messrs. E. and A.Prior, were the principal partners of the Norfolk and Eastern Counties Coal Company. This fact, it has been proved, was known soon afterwards to the chairman (Mr. Waddington), and your committee consider it extremely improper to have allowed any servant of the company to trade with that company—more particularly to certify as to the quality of the coal purchased of his own firm, as was the case with the locomotive superintendent. To make such an agreement was extremeiy prejudicial to this company's interests, and destructive to the business of many respect able merchants on the line. The rates charged were much loss than ought to have been obtained, and, in our opinion, a considerable loss has been sustained by this company thereby. When the agreement was first proposed and acted upon, this company was not associated with the Eastern Union Company : in 1854 they were. The Norfolk and Easter❑ Counties Coal Company, in that year, pro posed to send, and did send, a considerable quantity of coal to various stations on that line. The goods manager of this company gave directions for what he considered fair rates to bo charged. They were charged, and debited to the ac count of the Norfolk and Eastern Counties Coal Company. Some time thereafter, it appears, Mr. Gooch interfered as regards the rates so charged. The matter was referred by Mr. Moseley to the chairman (Xtr. Waddington), who or dered Mr. Moseley to reduce those rates. Mr. Moseley thereupon wrote to Mr. Collis, the station master of this company, at Peterborough ; on the 14th November, 1854, desiring him to alter the rates, as from the 13th November, 185 i—(See Collis's letter, in Appendix.) The rates were accordingly altered; but a few days afterwards Mr. Moseley wrote again, to say these rates so altered were to take effect retrospectively, as from the July previously ; and a rebate of 1,9001. was made in the accounts sent in up to the 30th September, 1854—(See Collis, Q. 2,342) ; and there was likewise a rebate of 1,0591. 3s. 9d. from 30th September to 13th November. From the evidence of Mr. Prior and Mr. Gooch, it ap pears that Mr. Gooch continued to be one of the partners of this coal company until towards the close of the last half-year, when a dissolution took place. The large purchases of coal made of this company cannot be viewed otherwise than as preferences given to them of a most improper description (see Mr. •Waddy's account), and to confer advantages to them detrimental to the interests of this company. It was agreed that they should have 200 waggons. At present they have 500, which represent a ca pital of not less than 40,0001. They have the use of the coal depots as very many stations, to the exclusion of other par ties, at a very small charge per ton (vide evidence). Their own waggons are repaired at this company's workshops, and although an account has been rendered, nothing has yet been paid (see evidence). Your committee is of opinion that steps should immediately be taken strictly to limit the operation of the draft agreement to the terms therein spe cified, and that the trade should be thrown open to mer chants on the line, and that no exclusive advantages should be given to any. LOCOMOTIVE SUPERINTENDENT. The agreement entered Into with Mr. Gooch in May, 1850, might have resulted favoura.b 7, l ,provided it had been carried out in its integrity; and if it had not so resulted, the agreement contained a clause by which it might have been terminated. Rut this agreement has been allowed to run on, and has been made the pretext for paying Mr. Gooch, during the last five years, sums as per centages amounting to little less than 20,0001., when hia salary was fixed at 6001. par annum. Added to which he was permitted to be a partner in a coal company trading to the port of Lowestoft, supplying the Eastern Counties Company with coals ; and was also engaged in other business on his own account : he is the owner of waggons let to this coal com pany, which wagons are repaired at the workshops of the Eastern Counties Railway. Your committee recommend that the claim of Mr. Gooch for the last half-year ending the 30th June, 1855, of 3,1931. 55., be not paid until the justi ce o f thi s an d all Mr. Gooch's former claims have been ascertained by a reference to arbitration. Your committee further recommend that Mr. Geoch's engagement be referred to the law officers of the company, with a view to its being immediately terminated, thereby removing the reproach which such an unwarrantable de parture from :ill sound principles of management has brought upon the comp any. The committee desire to refer you particularly to the evidence at pages 2,3, 4,7, 8,9, 11, 18, 19, 25, 26, 27, 2S, 29, 32, and 72. HARWICH AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS. Your committee are unfavourably impressed with the obscurity of the. ac ousts furnished to the sharehchlers, and the obligations under which this company is brought. We find 8,0001. lent to tho corporation of Harwich, not named in the report, and wo find, on inquiry on the spot, that the company is committed to purchases involving an outlay of above 30,0001. The committee is utterly at a loss to concave the motive for such proposed outlay, it being entirely irrelevant to the business of a railway com pany to ba so involved. They find 30,0001. advanced to Mr. Wy tiles, the contractor, long due and owing -20,0001. is owing for the Southend Pier not paid—the published accounts, therefore, convey no just idea of the obligations of the company. PASSENGER TRAFFIC. Your committee regret that the time bestowed on other affairs prevented them obtaining so much information on this branch of your traffic as its importance rendered requi site. They think that the regulation of the fares has been left too much to official routine, and appears seldom or never to have come under the consideration of the directors. This is a branch of inquiry which your committee think might receive some portion of attention with grelt advan tage to the company as well as to the public, and if greater attention had been paid to the second class passengers, in offering cleaner and better carriages, it would havo, no doubt, been attended with corresponding advantage to the company. CADS. Your committee are of opinion that it is needless to em ploy many words on this subject. It is, the last business a railway company should attempt. There is no reason why it should be undertaken. Cabs can be obtained in sufficient number from respectable job-masters; private enterprise can always work them at a much less cost than a:company. And it has been proved by the accounts exhibited for the last three half-years that a loss in this department has been sustained. Your committee strongly recommend that this business be abandoned, the stock sold ; and they refer to the evidence of Inspector Hays who has proved to the satisfaction of the committee that a revenue of 60D/. per annum might be obtained, without risk, whereas you now lose much more thin that sum. CAPITAL ACCOUNT. Your committee is painfully impressed with the convic tion that the additions made to the capital account are most injurious to the future prosperity of this company. Whatever money is raised and charged to capital, becomes a permanent burden on the company, and if the increase were to continue, after the rate it has done since Mr. Wad dington became chairman, in 1851, it would soon destroy the dividend available for unguaranteed shareholders. Since 30th June, 1851, that increase has been 1,213,9521. 14s. 4d., including the sum which should have been charged to the Norfolk Company. Of this, 462,9711. 12s. 61. has been for small lines, &c., however questionable the policy which dictated such outlay. There is a further addition to rolling stock of 399,3321. 108. 4d. ; of this a considerable amount should not have gone to capital at all. STORES DEPARTAIRNT. This department has subjected you to more fraud and loss than most of the other drains on your prosperity. It is in evidence that goods have been purchased from 10, 20, to 30, and to 40 per cent. over the highest price given in the market. It has been proved that goods untouched have been sold for " old stores ;" so that, whilst you have been giving the highest price for materials, you have the same materials sold to the marine store dealers for rub bish ; and in forming an estimate of the probable loss from this source, it is impossible to determine if it be 10,0001. or 40,0001. We hope a better system is now introduced ; and we strongly recommend that, for the future, no " old stores" should be sold except by public auction. Since 1851 no stook account has been taken, so as to enable your committee to arrive at a conclusion as to the value of the stock in each half-year. BANKING ACCOUNT, Your committee, in alluding to the removal of the bank ing account from Messrs. Denison, Heywood, Kennard and Co., to the Union Bank, are painfully impressed with the conflicting evidence ; the terms are altogether different to those which the directors in their evidence state were named to them, and on which alone such removal of the account could.be justified. The statement of the chair man, at the public meeting of the shareholders, of the ad vantages of such removal (it is not needful to state) have not been realised. PERMANENT WAY. This includes repair of stations, reconstruction of bridges, as well as of the permanent way itself. Your committee would omit an important subject if they did not call your attention to that of the permanent way. The last committee proposed that the sum of 32,0001. per annum should be set apart for its maintenance. During the time Mr. Betts was chairman, he induced the share holders, at a public meeting, to reduce that fund 11,000/. per annum. It afterwards stood at 22,000/. Mr. Wad dington since, in the year 1852, recommended the share holders to abandon that provision, as, in his opinion and as was stated also by Mr. Ashcroft, such provision for the future was not necessary. That proposal was carried. A new proposal was made and carried that 9 •/. per mile should be set apart in lieu. In 1855 even that was aban doned, and the payment out of revenue for that purpose was about 3,2001. for 548 miles of railway. Your committee view with alarm the facility with which the labours of a committee, which had bestowed much thought and attention on the subject, have been set aside. The half-yearly accounts since 18)1 have never truly re presented the charges to revenue, inasmuch as works ne cessary to be done have not been done ; and, at this mo ment, the superintendent of the permanent way has sent a statement, prepared with much care, showing the neces sity of an outlay of upwards of 150,000/. To provide for these repairs, it will be necessary to make an adequate yearly provision; and it is to be hoped that nothing may tempt future shareholders to destroy the fund thus proposed to be again raised. HALF-YEARLY ACCOUNTS. Your committee have devoted a considerable portion of their time to the examination of the several half-yearly accounts, and particularly of the last. To that one it is their wish to call your attention first. They took the re port of the auditors, dated the 29th of August, 1855, as presented to the last half-yearly meeting, and examined Mr. Reeves and Mr. Crosbia, at some considerable length, on all the subjects ou which the auditors commented. To that evidence they beg to refer you; and they think it is proved beyond doubt that the charges to which your at tention had been called are but too true. The result of their examination of the accounts for the last half-year is this - that the balance brought forward in the company's accounts, of 57,5811. 4s. lid., as divisible for dividend, should be reduced by the sum of 36,3181.185. 6d., of which sum about 10,0191. arises from a series of credits, not rea lisable, brought forward for several half-years, and the re maining sum'of 26,2981. consists of sums erroneouslystated to be due to this company on the 30th of June last—for liabilities not provided for, and sums to which this half year's traffic is fairly chargeable. In the appendix your committee furnish a statement of revenue account as we believe it should have been stated fur the half•year ending December, 1553, as also that above alluded to. The intervening ones are for the most part of the same delusive character. They appear to be framed by parties afraid of stating a just and fair return of the working for the various periods, and it appears to your committee that a very considerable sum has been distri buted as the dividend—never fairly earned, and also no adequate sum has been set aside for repairs and renewals of permanent way, nor for that of rolling stock. OFFICERS' COMMITTEE. A considerable amount has been added to capital account in consequence of the recommendation of the officers' com mittee, formed of the heads of several of the departments and of the chairman. Although their resolutions have been in the shape of recommendations, they really have in most cases been adopted, and have partaken more of the charac ter of resolutions of the directors; and in the opinion of this committee such meeting:] have not been attended with advantage to the company. AUDITORS. Your committee regret that the audit by the professional auditors, Messrs. Quilter, Ball, and Co., has not been at tended with the desired result. The audit has not been perfect •, many of the hooks have not been seen ; the au ditors have relied on the accountant of the company ; the capital and revenue accounts have been improperly kept ; capital has been charged with what belongs to revenue, and by the names of these gentlemen being appended to the report, an amount of authority has been given to the half-yearly accounts which your committee have shown in their detailed evidence they do not deserve. Your com mittee is of opinion that an audit such as that performed by Messrs. Quitter, Ball, and Co., is perfectly useless, the time occupied in such an inquiry being limited to ono or two visits in the half-year, an d t h ose of only a few hours each. THE TREASURER. Your committee consider the present system of keeping the cash account of the company very objectionable, and that no part of th e cas h b a l ance should b e perm itt e d t o re main in hand, but all receipts be paid into the banker's, and all payments be made by cheque therefrom. That a cashier bo appointed, whose duties it shall be to balance the cash account daily, and agree the same with the banker's book; and that the practice of sending cash from all stations to London be avoided in all cases whore practicable, and where responsible bankers may be found to remit the same —great risk and loss of time will be thereby avoided. THE CHAIRMAN. After much consideration, and the collection of a large mass of evidence, we come to the deliberate and unanimous opinion that the election of a ehairman at a salary of 2,0001. a year has acted most prejudicially to the interests of the company. Ist. It has decreased the influence of the indivi dual members of the board, and weakened the responsibility which should attach to all men accepting the office of di rector. 2d. It has, bysplitting theboard npinto committees, of all of which the chairman is ex officio a member, sepa rated the board as a collective and deliberative body, and has in great and small matters of policy thrown into the bands of the chairman almost the entire management of the company. This is too manifest; for, on our inviting many individual members of the board to give us evidence, most of them were uninformed on many important steps taken (some of which were obviously prejudicial to the interests of the company) ; they evinced an amount of ignorance on these matters which could not have been the case had the board been differently c mstituted • and we feel certain many of the ruinous bargains entered into could never have been permitted had the chairman been under the control of a properly constituted and deliberative body. This opinion will be fully borne out by the evidence. It is only just to state to the shareholders that there are some gentlemen on the direction who have withheld their consent from several of the measures that have passed the board, and who would have prevented much of the mis chief done, if they had had the power to do so. In concluding this report, the committee of investiga tion believe that they have furnished to the shareholders an amount of evidence, which, if carefully perused, will convey to them a complete knowledge of the affairs of this company; that it contains a detailed representation of the workings of this railway, and of those matters on the good or bad management of which depends its prosperity. Your committee have given near three months of their time, and much anxious deliberation, to the points reported upon ; and they believe that your lino of railway, passing through populous districts, rich in all agricultural productions, and having a trade even now greater than they can easily carry out, ought to be, and if properly managed would be, re munerative. (Signed) Holum) Love, Chairman. EDWARD BALL. THOMAS CHRISTY. JEREMIAH PILCHER. HENRY SOPER. P.S.—Shareholders wishing to attend the adjourned meeting meeting on the 7th day of December next are req uested apply for free passes over the lines of this company to Owen, the secretary, at the Bishopsgate Station. N.B.—Mr. Norris, from continued indisposition, was -absent from the later meetings of the committee, and was at the conclusion of the report confined to his house, and unable to sign his name to the report. ( From the Times City Article.) The long-anticipated report of the committee of investi gation on the Eastern Counties Railway% has been issued this evening, and not only sustains ell the charges brought by the awlitors against the management at the last meet ing, but states that those charges were far below what would have been warranted. It is asserted that no cor rect balance has ever been struck in the stores department since Mr. Waddington was chosen chairman, that goods untouched have been sold for old stores, and that on eon siot.s when these transactions were taking place the com pa-ly were buying fresh goods at from 10 to 4(1 per cent above the highest market prices. Illegal additions are re presented to have been made to the capital accounts of 69,6061. which belong to the Norfolk Company. Prefer ential contracts have been entered into with individual firms to carry coals, cattle, &c., at a positive loss to the shareholders, and also to the damage of regular traders, who were thus shut out from fair competition. In one of the concerns thus favoured—the Norfolk and Eastern Counties Oeal Company—the locomotive superintendent was a part ner, and his certifioates were actually taken as to the qua lity of the coal he himself supplied. The Tilbury and Southend lino has been leased, in the opinion of the com mittee, on imorovident terms, and the arrangements with respect to the Woolwich line, Lowestoft Harbour, the steamboats of the Eastern Union Railway, and the steam traffic between Harwich and Antwerp are strongly cora demned. With regard to the looomotive superintendent, it is recommended that a claim on his part of 3,193/. should not be paid until the justice of payments to the amount of nearly 20,0001. made to him for percentages since 1851 shall have been settled by arbitration, and that his existing engagement be referred to the law °Moors of the company with a view to its termination. An ad vance of 8,0001. to the corporation of Harwich and sew mitments to an outlay at that place of 30,0001. are involved in obscurities which the committee have been unable to fathom. Since Mr. Waddington became chairman, in 1151, the additions to capital have been to the extent of 1,213,9521., or at a rate which the committee consider would, if it were continued, seen destroy the dividend available for unguaranterd shareholders. A considerable portion of this amount should not have gone to capital at all. In relation to the maintenance of the permanent way, whet the last committee of investigation recommended should be met by an annual apportionment of 32,0001., it appears that the amount appropriated for the purpose in 1855 has been only 3,2001., and that an outlay is now ne cessary of 150,0001. The examination of the accounts for the last half-year has resulted in showing that instead of 57,5811. bong, as represented, divisible for dividend, the amount was only 21,2631. Previous rotund are believed to have been of the same delusive character, and the audit by the professional auditors has been imperfect and, in the opinion of the committee, entirely useless, Finally, it is unanimously submitted that the election of a chair man at a salary of 2,0001. a-year has acted most preju dicially to the interests of the company by decreasing the influence of the individual members of the board, and it is likewise pointed out that another great evil consists is the fact that out of the 15 directors of the company only 8 represent its regular interests, 5 representing the North ern and Eastern Company, and the remaining 2 the East Anglian. Accompanying the report if a mass of evidence, containing extraordinary revelations of the system pur sued during the past five years ; and when it is remem bered that the Eastern Counties line was one of the first to obtain dearly-bought experience of the necessity of looking, above all things, for integrity of management, the entire document will be regarded as one of tits most singular that has ever bean presented is emuseideit with a public enterprise. LEEDS, BRADFORD, AND HALIFAX JUNCTION. The following is the report of the directors to he sib. mated to the general meeting of shareholders to he halal at Bradford this day : " The directors have pleasure in reporting that the tragic, on the line is on the increase, and that tkey are masking arrangements by which the goods traits will be largely developed. . " The works on the Gildersonse brans are progressing satisfactorily. "The receipts for traffic during the gustier imam the 30th September will enable the compavy to sleolare a siivi demi at the rate of 61. per coat. par annum, seal t 4 carry 128/. 11s. 4d. to the reserve fund." Mr. Seymour Clarke, the traffic manager, reports ail follows : " I have the pleasure to state that the working of the traffic of the railway has been very satisfaetorily performed by the Lancashire and Yorkshire and Great Norther* Companies. The trains are regular and punctual, an I hope that the public are well satisfied. "The increase in goods traffic is very satisfactory ; and I feel sure that when the trade of the country becomes more buoyant you will find your expectations in this branch of our business fully realised. " The Leeds Station, now building by the Groat North• ern and Lancashire and Yorkshire Companies, will be of great importance to our line. "It wll be gratifying to the shareholders to learn that arrangements hare now been made for the erection of a goods warehouse at the Halifax Station, for our use, by tho Lancashire and Yorkshire Company." Country Markets. DERBY SMITHFIELD.—Noy. 27. There was a better supply of fat beasts to day, but the demand was not quite so good; the quality of many was of the middling sort, and some few left unsold. The show of sheep was large, and of good quality, but no alteration of price. We had a good average supply of fat pigs. The fallowing were the quotations :—Beef, 6d to 64d mutton, bid to 7d ; lamb, 04 to Od ; veal, 7d tc 74 1 per lb. ; pigs, 10s 64 to Os Od per score ; rough fat, 7s 3 to per 141 b. ; hides, 44 to 4Ad per lb ; calf-skins, 3:ld to 51 per lb. EDINBURGH GRAIN.-N•v. 28 A large market to-day, and sales dull for all sorts. A great quantity of inferior wheat, which brought down the average considerably. Other grains also declined a little. Wheat, top, 2s up, and en the average 2s 2d down. Barley, top, is Od up—average, 8d down. Oats on the top 23 8d down—averame, ad down. •Beans on the top IS up—the average, 2s down. AVERAGES PER IMPERIAL QUARTER. Wheat £4 1 0 5-12ths. Do. new -12ths. Barley -12ths. Oats 1 12 3 9-12th. Beans BOSTON—Noy. 28. Prices :—Wheat, red, 67s Od to 83s Od; white, 113 s Od 85s Od : extra, 88s Od. Barley, 35s Od to 44s Od. Oats, 20s to 325. Beans, 50s Od to 58s Od. Peas, 48s Od to 60‘ per qr. [ADVERTISSIONT. 1— SMUT AND HEARING. —DISAMSS AND Dsrecrivs VISION RELIEVED.— Messrs. S. and B. Solomons, opticians, 39, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly. Observe—oppo site the York Hotel. Deafness—New Discovery.—The Organic Vibrator, an extraordinary powerful, small, newly invented instrument for deafness, entirely different from all others, to surpass anything of the kind that has been, or probably ever can be, produced. Being of the same colour as the skin, is not perceptible ; it enables deaf persons to hear distinctly at church and at public assemblies ; the un pleasant sensation of singing noises in the ears is entirely re moved; and it affords all the assistance that possibly could be desired.—Newly-constructed Spectacle Lenses et the great est transparent power. The valuable advantage derive': from this invention is, that vision becoming impaired lig preserved and strengthened, and very aged persons aro enabled to employ their sight at the most minute occu pation—can see with these lenses of a much less magnify ing power—and they do not require the frequent changes to the dangerous effects of further powerful assistance. By her Majesty's Rol al Letters Patent for valuable and extraordinary improvements in the most powerful and brilliant Telescopes, Camp, Racecourse, Opera, and Per. spective Glasses, to know the distances of objects viewed through them—of great importance to the army, nay)", and others. These telescopes possess such extraordinary powers that some three and a-half inches, with an extra eye' piece, %ill show distinctly Jupiter's moons. Saturn's rinp and the double stars ; with the same telescope can of seen a person's countenance three miles and a half distant, and an object from 16 020 miles. They aro of larger and all sizes, with increasing powers accordingly ; while their vary hie from 4 to 6 inches enable us to discover more than the above, and the Georgian, with his 6 FE.tellites, Ste.—The Royal Exhibition, 1851.—Valuable, newly-invented, very small, powerful waistcoat-pocket glass,the size of a walnut, by which a person can be seen and known 1 miles distant ; they answer every purpose on the race-course, and at the opera house., country scenery, and ships aro clearly seen at 8 to 10 miles. They are invaluable for shooting, deer-stalking, yachting, to sportsmen, gentlemen, gamekeepers, and tourists. Opera, race-course, camp, and perspective glasses, with wonderful power.-39. Albemarle-street, Piccadilly. Observe—opposite the York Hotel. [ADVERTISEMENT.] — One of the most valuable discoveries for the benefit of mankind is shown by the numerous extraor dinary cures without medicine of indigestion (dyspepsia), fla" tuleney, constipation, nervous, bilious, and liver complaints, cough, asthma, consumption, and debility, effected by Pu Barry's delicious health restoring Revalenta Arabi' Food. Tho following aro not the least remark able :—Cure 48,615.—" Plymouth, May 9th, 1851. For the last ten years I have been suffering front dyspepsia, headaches, nervousness, low spirits, sleeplessness , and delusions, and swallowed an incredible amount of medi cine without relief. I am happy to say that Sour food has cured me, and I am now enjoying better health than I hays had for many years past.—J. S. NEWTON." Cut e No. 180. "Twenty-five years' nervousness, constipation, indigestion, and debility, from which I have suffered great misery, and which no medicine could remove or relieve, have been effec tually cured by Pu Barry's Ft od in a very short time.—W REEVES, Pool Anthony, Tiverton." No. 4,208. Eight, years' dyspepsia, nervousness, debility, with cramps, spasfil 9, and nausea, have been effectually removed by Du Barry ' 0 health-restoring food. I shall be happy to answer any inquiries • —REY. JOll , l W. FLAVELL, Riddlington, Rectory, Norfolk. In canisters, 11b. 2s. 9d.; 21b. 4s. 6d.; 51b. lls. ; 121 b. 224 The 121 b., carriage free, on receipt of Post-office order. Barr? Du Barry & Co., 77, Regent-street, London ; also at 182, Piccadilly; 60, Gracechurch-street ; 330, and 451, Strand; 4, Cheapside ; 60 and 68, Cornhill ; 49, Bishopsgate-street; 55, Charing-cross; 54, Upper Baker-street; 63 and 150, Oxford-street ; 89, High-street, Camden-town ; 18, Pall• mall; 7, Pall-mall-East ; 132, New Bond-street ; 24, Mot comb-street ; 13, King William-street, City ; 30, Conduit. street ; 21, Cockspur-street ; 95, Farringdon-street ; 67, St. Paul's Churchyard; 5, Edward-street, Portman-square. BIRTII S. O/ ♦ SON. On the 28th inst., at Braintree, Essex, the wife of Wm• Rankin, Esq. On the 12th inst., at Warwick-terrace, Beigrave-road , Mrs. David Bryce. OP A DAUGHTER. On the 28th inst., at 110, London wall, Mrs. Jardine. On the 27th inst., at Romford, the wife of Charles J. Rawlings, Esq., solicitor. MARRIED. On the 27th inst., at Paris, by the Rev. I. Isidor, Grand Rabbin, Edward L. Montefiore, Esq., of Brussels, son of Mr. Isaac L ev i , 1 1, Canterbury 'Villas, Maida-vale, to Emma, only daughter of Monsieur Meyer Cohen D'Anvers , of Place de la Concorde, Paris. On the 29th inst., at Totteridge, Herts, John Lee, Egg. , LL.D , F.R.S., &c., of Doctors'-commons, and Hartwell park, Buck , to Louisa Catharine Heath, eldest daughter of Robert Wilkinson, Esq., of Tottmidge-park. DIED. On the 28th inst., David Thos. Alston, Esq., of Savage' gardens and Chayney Rock, Isla of Sheppy, aged 57. On ilia 27th inst., Lady Broughton, of Poston Court , Herefordshire ' anal f Brunswick square, Brighton. On the 24th inst., at Clifton, Elizabeth, Dowager Lady Radcliffe, aged 80. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG , of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the sountY of Middlexa, Friday, November 30, 1866. • • ▪ Y - - __ nri • Fri AI ti; = w Ri iY 1141 tb ear TIM • VI I