The Sun. — London, England, 1856-03-08 00:00:00

THE ACADIAN IRON COMPANY.-- Registered provisionally, and to be brought within the Limited Liability Act now before Parliament. Capital 200,0001., in 40,000 Shares of 51. each. Deposit, 3/. per Share. With power to increase by the issue of new shares. TRUSTEES. John Scott, Esq., 4, Hyde Park•etreet. Jonathan Mepkinson, Esq., Grosvenor-Place. PROVISIONAL COMMITTEE. CHAIRMAN —J. A. ROEBUCK, Esq., M.P. for Sheffield. Colonel Bazalgette, late Administrator of the Government of Nova Scotia. - Philip P. Blyth, Esq., Wimpole-street. Sir James R. Carmichael, Bart., Oakdene, Kent. James Crowdy, Esq., late Colonial Secretary, Newfoundland. Mark Hunter, Esq., Stonebridge House, Tottenham. Thos. Jackson, Esq., Commercial-road, Pimlico. Thos. Jessop, Esq. (Messrs. Jessop aid Sons), Sheffield. W. A. Matthews, Esq. (Messrs. Thomas Tarton and Sons), Sheffield. Wm. Owen, Esq. (Messrs. Sandford and Owen), Rotherham. Henry Paull, Esq., Temple. Wm. Scott, Esq. (Messrs. Scott, Bell, and Co.), 2, Alderman's- walk. Nassau Wm. Senior, Esq., 9, Hyde Park-gate. J. D. Morriss Stirling, Esq., Black Grange, Clacksannan shire. E. M. Sweetland, Esq., 5, Alderman's-walk. (With power to add to their number.) AUDITORS. George H. Jay, Esq., Adelaide-placc, London Bridge. Alexander Beattie, Esq., late H.E.1.C.5., Porchester-terrace. BANKERS.—The Commercial Bank of London, Lothbury. SoLicrross.—Messrs. Hill and Reeves, 23, Throgstorton-street. BRORERS.—Messrs. Price and Brown, 4, Change-alley. SECRETARY (pro. tem.)--John V. N. Bazal g stte, Esq. Temporary Offices, 5, Alderma.n's-walk, New Broad-street. The Provisional Committee, referring to the prospectus already published, have now the satisfaction to announce that the authorities of the War Department, after a long series of trials and experiments, have declared the Nova Scotia iron to be the very best they have been able to discover for their pur poses, and her Majesty's Government have, consequently, con tracted for a large supply for the use of the Royal arsenals. This fact, in addition to the greatly-increased demand on the part of the steel trade and the general public, renders it imperative upon the Company to adopt the speediest mea sures to enlarge their means of production ; and the Com mittee, therefore, give notice, the share lists will be closed at an early day. Alderman's-walk, London, March 1, 1856. FORM OF APPLICATION FOR SHARES. To the Provisional Committee of the Acadian Iron Com pany. I request that you will allot me shares in the above Company ; and I agree to accept the same, or any smaller number, and pay the deposit and ealls thereon, and execute th• Deed when required. Name in full Occupation Address Reference ~.... ACADIA.N IRON COMPANY. The PROVISIONAL COMMITTEE GIVE NOTICE, that NO FURTHER APPLICATIONS for SHARES will be received after MONDAY NEXT, the 10th instant. JOHN V. BIZALGETTE, Secretary, 5, Alderman's-wall:, New Broad-street, March 3, 1855. MESSRS. BAYLEY and RIDLEY will offer for Sale, by Public Auction (unless previously disposed of by Private Contract), at Lloyd's Captain Rooms, on THURSDAY next, the 13tk inst., at hat--past Two precisely, those unrivalle Paddle-wheal Steam-Packets the VENI7 4 , MARS, JUPITER, and COMET, now the property of the Gravesend Star Steam-Packet Company. The Vessels are fitted complete far any station, and, with their Engines, are in first-rate condition. They are lying in the East India Dock, Blackwal, and may be inspected by ♦pplica tion to Captain SMITH, on board of one of the Packets; or telfessrs. BAYLEY and RIDLEY, the Auctioneers, No. 2, Cowper's-court, Corn bill, London. SIXTH DIVISION OF PROFITS. CLERICAL, MEDICAL, and GENERAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY, 99, Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury, London. SPECIAL NOTIC g. All Persons who assure on the Participating Scale before June 30th, 1856, will be entitled to a share of the SLXT/1 BONUS, which will be declared in the January following. Proposals should be forwarded to the office before June Ist next. The Thirty-lint Annual Report (just issued) can be obtained of the t3ociety's Agents, or of GEO. 11. PINCKARD, Resident Secretary. THEATRE ROYAL. DRURY-LAN& :Lessee. Mr. E. T. Smith. TRIS FvENING. NOT A 'IAD RIDGE. 10 conclude with REY DIDDLE DIDDLE Ar, ilarleguln Ring Nonsense and the Seven Ares of Man. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. ' Grater the Management of Mr. Buckstons. THIS EVENING, THE EVIL GENIUS. Followed by THE LITTLE TREAURE. After which the New Comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled THE RUPTERFLYN BALL AND THE GRASSHOPPER'S FE tST ; or, Harlequin and the Genius of the Spring. ROTAT, PRIYCR3B•4 Car:ATTIE, OrtrOßD-STREHT. Under the Management of Mr. Cnaatate Kam TIIIC EVENING, THE FIRST PRINTER. After which, HARLEQUIN Min TTTR awo ANI) THr. MAGpIE or, th. Fatry Paradtsa awl Hanky Panky, tits Enchanter. nsrlegnin. Mr. CormafA ; Clo”rn. Kr. Hittlae ; Pantaloon, Mr Paulo; and Colum'Ano, Kiss Caroline Adams. To coneinele with A GAME OF ROMPS. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRFL FLEX %WRVS BENEFIT. In consequence of the destruction of Covent Garden Theatre, yr. FLEX 40RE he;s to inform his pe ron —this Public—that Ala Benefit will take piaee at the above Theatre on WEDNEi- D Y. March 12, and that cards of admission, price la.. 2a., 35., 43., and 5a., may be hal at (1, Hercules-Buildings, Lambeth. TILEATRIC ROYAL ADKLPII7. rroprietor, Mr. B. Wehster.—Dtrectress, Madame Oelest*. Tim EVENING. BETSY BAKER.. To be followed by TII&T BLESSED B.kBY. To conclado with JACK Agl) Ta DE UNT STALK: or, Harlequin and Mother CI•ooie at Home Aga!a. In which Messri. .1. P,lAnd, P. Redford, Madam Celeste, Miss Wyndham, and Miss E. Arden will ap3ear. ROYAL Str.tßitlY THEATRE. Lessees, Mess % gllepherct mid Crespriek. For the BENEFIT of Mr. J. NEVILLE. THIS EVE:NINO TOWN AND COUNTRY. To be followed by THE SAILOR. OF FRANCE. To conclude w;th WAITER. AT CREMORNF7. ROT kL ATRAqI) TtIEATIM. Muter the d;rection of Mr. Perm.. T'T F:V NIN(4, TIE MERCHANT O' VENICZ. After whinh, A Balet Divertlstsment. FrOlowel Ay wrir r SITE N1111.11.Y A Mar which. A Petite Divertissement. To conclude with I",LUE JACKETS. AATLEY'i ROYAL, A‘fPfIITHEATRTC. Leuee and Manl;:er, Vr. Wm. Cooke. Last Week of the Pantomime TUIR FIVENTVG, THE ARAB OF THE DESERT AND HIS FAITHFUL STEED ; in which the ratt , nallty of the hor4e, ta•izht and trained by Mr 'William Cooke, fills the audience w th delight and wonder. After which, the EQUESTRIAN EVOLUTIONS in the ARENA. The miraculous ascent of the huge Elephants front the ring to the stage. Tn conclude with (the last weel;) TTARLYIQUIN AND ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON; or, the Seven Champlong of christendom. Boa-ofitee alma from Tr.leveo tin Foar. Stage Manager, Mr. W, West. Kgeoetrtan Director. M.. W. Cooke, jun. EXILA wrkNrLtri SEVEN AGES OF WOMIN, Pronoun-e 4 b the unanimous voice of the !wells, and by increasing patronage, to be the greatest artistical triumph of the day. Evenings at g, and on Saturdays at three precisely. Stalls Chairs, 35.-; Centre ?teats, 2s. ; Back Seats, Is. SAINT MAFtTIN'S ITALT„ Long-acre. HIGFT WATER. AT LONDON' BRIDGE. TNIR DAY—Morn. min. aft. 2—Evening 15 min. aft. 3 rn-Nfoßßow—Morn. 36 min. aft. 3 —Evening 55 min. aft. 3 THE WEATHER—SUN OFFICE, Maßea 8. THERNOSIETEH, IN THE SHADE. 45—h!gheat since noon yesterday. 38—lowest this morning and during the night. 44 —this d 37 At noon. BAROMIVER-30'43. WIND, S. W.—Light, with fine autishiny weather. N../ V ) P'Y - , *--.5,....,•;....q,15,,,-., "' . ' - i.• LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 1856. The Members for Birmingham and Warwick shire displayed much virtuous indignation last night at the Government manufacture of iron cannon and small arras. Their constituents naturally desired that a trade so profitable should be allowed to remain in their own hands, and that they should he enabled to obtain the highest picas for very inferior article. 9. We are not, generally speaking, advocates for Government manufacture:;. The artielea thus • . 4 0 1 supplied are too often not only far more costly, but much inferior to what could be obtained from private firms of high credit and reputation. But, unfortunately, it has been discovered, in many recent cases, that the heads of such establishments do not send in tenders in accordance with the stipulated terms, or that, if they do so, they have merely their labour for their pains, inas much as they are invariably under-bid by persons who endeavour to compensate for cheapness of price by worthlessness of material—who have no characters to lose, and are willing to act in the most fraudulent manner if they can only realise gain thereby. The startling announce ment by Mr. Morrsur. that one house with which Government had dealings " was found to have made attempts at deception in the manu facture of five mortars, by inserting pieces of iron, in order that the flaws in the material they had used might escape observation," is alone sufficient to justify any departure from the ordinary system, although with additional ex pense. We cannot conceive a more atrocious crime than these parties had attempted. The safety, honour, and welfare of the nation might depend on the efficiency of these guns, which were prac tically useless. The lives of those by whom they were served—nay of the entire army—might be jeopardised by the infamous fraud, and yet the names of the delinquents were kept back. Although, to use a vulgar but expressive phrase, " hanging would be too good for such criminals," they were not even exposed for the outrage, their names were sheltered from the national detesta tion, whioh their conduct so eminently merited. We trust that this undue reserve may no longer be maintained, but that suitable measures may be adopted to bring the criminals to justice. As Lord PALMERSTON justly remarked, " no thing could be more absurd than that Govern ment should make clothes, shoes, belts, and things of the kind, the common produce of the industry of the country." A stringent examination will detect any fraud, and even the inferiority of the article, if suffered to pass, although inconvenient, will not occasion any irreparable damage. But with fire-arms of any description, large or small, the matter is altogether different. There the inferiority can only be discovered at the moment of trial, and irreparable damage may be sustained from the failure. Had it not been for the de fective material of the mortars used at Sweaborg a much better account would have been ren dered of the Russian fortress. The honour of our " wooden walls" was imperilled, and the Russian prestige maintained by the dishonesty of contractors, whose wealth, multiplied a hundred fold, could not compensate for the'.injury in flicted on their country. Whatever, then, may be the proper rule in other cases, implements of war must form an exception thereto, particularly those that cannot be adequately tested at home before the time when everything may depend their efficiency and soundness. The Government articles cannot fail in this way. The temptation to use imprdper materials is wanting. Cheapness and economy are very good things in their way, but they may be car ried too far, and there is nothing that should be so cautiously avoided as " a penny-wise -and pound-foolish policy."l The result of a single battle, or even a comparatively trifling conflict, would be far more important than all the savings that could be effected by the contract system, more especially as it is now carried on by the Government. We therefore commend Ministers for seeking to avoid this formidable danger. It is even important as a matter -of . X a. d., and putting higher considerations altogether out of the ques tion, it is of the greatest possible consequence that there should bo factories entirely under the control of Government, to act as a check on those who might otherwise make extravagant demands when they thought their services indispensable. However costly, in the first, instance, the cannon and small arms may be much cheaper in the long run, and there is almost a certainty, s' far as hu man precautions can insure it, that there will be no failure in the hourof danger and trial. It wasjustly remarked, that " it will not do to take your sol diers into action with muskets that won't carry, with guns that burst, and with mortars that split." Let there be economy in. other matters ! Let the jobs that so frequently disgrace the nation be carefully eschewed, but in tho materiel of war let there be no shortcomings, more espe cially at a time when the nation is engaged in a cDntest that may affect the welfare and prosperity of our children and their descendants for ages yet to come. In such matters there can be no judicious saving, and what may appear profuse and lavi:h extravagance in the fist instance will prove to be true economy when the accounts are ulti mately settled, and tha national balance-sheet fairly calculated. We are not disposed to receive any Government proposition without full and mature consideration ; but, in this instance, they have acted is the best manner for the nation, and are, therefor©, deserving of the thanks and gratitude of the community. The frequenters of Kensington Gardens of a Sunday afternoon may enjoy their music to-mor row without any misgivings on the score of pay ment. The threatened hat will not make its rounds—the treat is, after all, to be purely gra tuitous. They can afford to lend Sir BENJAMIN again their countenance, and, entranced by the mellifluous strains of the band, forget the direful suspicions that whilome disturbed their honest breasts, and found their most naive exposition in the memorable nursery lines, commencing "Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was St. James's-park is not to be bisected like an over-grown cabbage—its tranquil privacy is not to be invaded by the special licence of the liconsed Jarvies with their facetious curiosity into matters with which they can have no possible business. The blush of young love is not to be desecrated by the dust of a highly-triturated highway. No sensitive plant of foreign extraction is doomed to wither on its stem, the victim of alien exclusive ness. Our " little ones" will not have to regret the dissipation through fright of the waterfowl they have been accustomed to feed with instinctive care and delight. The jaded and Weary citizen will not have to mourn over the destruction of that fairy retreat, which, of all others, he was accustomed to hold forth to the special admiration of his country visitors, and was associated with his earliest and most pleasing recollections ; nor to seek elsewhere, in vain, a scene of recreation where, to the pleasures of quiet and a salubrious and invigorating atmo sphere, was added that sense of harmonious com pleteness which pervaded the Park, as with a spell. The Goths and Vandals of office have been sent to the rightabout by a Committee of the House of Commons, who, like practical En g li s h Gentlemen, have arrived at the conclusion that "a short cut" is not necessarily the best cut, and and innocent enj o y men t are not considerations i t a h a e , ra t ti s o t l e m , to be trampled under-foot by any thing short of an imperious necessity. The most charming feature of the metropolis— ,he beautiful ornamental gardens of the Park are TEIE CRIMEAN EXPEDITION. Under this general appellation' Messrs. Paul and Dominic Colnaghi and Co., publishers to her Ma jesty, have opened with their accustomed enter prise an exceedingly interesting Gallery of Art, devoted to the exhibition of authentic sketches, drawings, and pictures of the various scenes and incidents of hostilities in the Crimea, exe cuted on the spot. The collections include all the well-known sketches of Mr. William Simpson, Carlo Bossolis' drawings, and Mr. Armitage's grand pictures of the Battles of Balaklava and Inkermau; the whole affording a treat to the con noisseur and. the general public of no ordinary description. Every important event and circum stance of the war will be found vividly repro duced, with au accuracy nothing but actual inspection and execution on the spot could have insured. The eager landing, the wild confusion, so to speak, of the ordered battle, the picturesque groupings of the camp, the toil of the zigzag trench, the terrible of the rugged battery, the frowning aspects of the entrenchments of friend and foe, the smoke and the lurid glare of the dread artillery, are all presented with a skill that " leads the reason prisoner," and wafts the spectator away in imagination to the ever-memorable arena of con flict. In short, the attractions are so nume rous, and of such an order, that not only may the proprietors expect the exhibition to be visited by all who take an interest in art and in the events of the war, but that it will be revisited day by day until its multitudinous contents are duly stored in the recollections of the ♦isitor. THE REPORTED VISIT OF THE POPE TO FRANCE.— We believe we may state with confidence, that his Holi ness Pius IX. will not visit France as reported, but a Roman cardinal may come to Paris about the month of June, for important religious ceremonies. ILLNESS Or THE LORD , MAYOR.—The Lord Mayor has been so touch indisposed during the last few days as to be unable to preside in the justice-room at the Mansion. house. His lordship is, however, so far recovered that he will be able to attend to his magisterial duties on Monday. THE Loss OF THE STEAMER GLEN ALBYN. March 4.—As we expected yesterday, the Glen Albyn steamer will be a total loss ; and fears are eatertained that but few materials or cargo will be saved. The crew went off last night to sea whether any good might he done, but their efforts met with very little success. The steamer is breaking up. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.—Cape of Good Hope papers to the 4th of January have been received. They contain little of interest, but state that commercial affairs are gradually recovering from their late depression. The operations in mining have been brought within reason. able bounds, and it i s b e li eve d that the wealth of Nama qualand will henceforth be steadily developed. LORD LUCAN AND THE CRIMEA. —We understand that Lord Lucan has a work of some balk in the press, which will be fortwith published, and in which he goes into various important matters with respect to affairs in the Crimea, when he and Lord Cardigan were there, which have never before been touched upon in any of the disclosures whioh have already been macle.--/Iforst ing Advertiser. MINING INTELLIGENCE.-- The improved tone of the market which we noticed as having occurred in the lat ter part of last week, was not of long continuance, and hiesiness iu mining shares this week has been particu larly dull, with a downward tendeecy in the price of shares, both in dividend and other stocks.—Front the Mining Journal of tide day. SALARIES OF THE OFFICERS OF THE NEW LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SYDNEY.-0a the Bth Novemher the Colonial Secretary brought this snbject under the notice of the house. The salaries agreed to, and recommended to the consideration of the Governor. General, were—For the president, 1,5001. per annum ; for the chairman of com mittees, 5001.; for the clerk, 600/. ; assistant olerk, 4001 ; two under clerks, 300/. and 2501. respec;ively ; usher of the black rod, 3001. The sum of 500/. was laid down for messages and other contingencies. Total, 4,3501. Civil Service Gazette. THE INLAND REVENUE 130 ARD.—There are but six commissioners of Inland Revenue at present, the third commissionership not having been filled up. The sala ries of the commissioners are as fellow :—The chairman, 2,5001.; the deputy chairman, 1,8001.; four junior com missioners, 1,2001. each. The secretary has 1,6001.; the two assistant secretaries, 8001. each ; the assistant under secretary, 6001. ; the private secretary to the chairman, 10 01.--Civil Service Gazette. THE MONET-ORDER Orrice, LONDON.—The present establishment of the money-order office attached to the General Post-office, St. Martin'sle-Grand, consists of the following officers :—A. controller, on a salary of 7151. ; a chief clerk, salary 400/. ; six first-class clerks, at average salaries of 3051. ; 47 second-class clerks, at average salaries of 200/.; 94 third-class clerke, at average salaries of 111/. An additional allowance of 201. a year each is granted to three clerks for bringing money from the receiver and accountant-general's office ; and an al lowance is given to clerks for issuing and paying money orders, at the rate of 1/. for every 2,000 orders issued, and of 1/. for every 2,500 orders paid. —Civil Service Gazette. LORD GRANVILLE AND LORD JOHN RUSSELL —There is an impression in certain well•informed quarters that Lord Palmerston has actually agreed to appoint Lord John Russell to the post of President of the Council, in the room of Lord Granville. The latter noble lord is in a very unsatisfactory state of health ; but even should he sufficiently recover, it is believed, in the quarters to which we allude, that arrangements will be easily made, in terms of which both the noble lords may have seats in the Cabinet. We are unwilling to believe that the im pression to which we have referred rests on a good foun• dation ; but if it does, Lord Palmerston is evidently bent on destroying his o vn Ministry with his own hands. Let L or d John only get onc e aga i n i n t o th e P a l mers t on A.dininieration, a nd h e w ill never rest until he has tripp e d up the heels of the present Premier,—Mo:•ning Advcreiw. ...w:c,~~_ v.:a_5•.~.;.&~ THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY Pv E!'4 It-CAMARCH 8 1856. rescued from pollution. Round and round them vehicles may ply for hire their labouring wheels ; but within the sacred precincts of the Gardens they may not enter. Through Storey's-gate and through Buckingham -gate there will be free ad mission, alike to the cab, the brougham, and the chariot of the costermonger—not even the dray will be excluded. Before these exigent locomo tives, and their imperious freights, the column of that immortal Prince, on whom, after his yet more illustrious brother, the hardly.less immortal FITZGERALD, was made to implore a celestial benison, with the united gusto of effervescent loyalty and bottled pop after this fashion— " GOD bless the Regent, and the Dake of YORK " is to bow its head, and be carted away, we trust, along with the rubbish at its base, to some chance spot where they may do " the State some service," if not meet with some worshippers. By Marlborough House—that splendid tribute of ' a nation's gratitude —a second entrance is also to be made, and a third, making in all five, is some what obscurely adumbrated in the Report. "As regards an opening from the Park to Charing. cross," that gratifying document informs us— " Your committee are not prepared to recom mend that such an opening should be made at present, but they are of opinion that an opening for carriages should be made from Trafalgar square to the Park." Is it meant that an open ing should be made in the vicinity of Pall Mall, and only for the elite in their carriages ? We are quite at a loss. Why not, as has been suggested, enlarge the entrance at Spring-gardens? But let us not look too closely "a gift horsein the mouth." The recommendations of the Committee, such at least as are intelligible, will, we are persuaded, meet with general approval, notwithstanding the ex pense, which is somewhat heavy. The taking down of the Duke of YoiU's Column involves a serious expenditure, but will at once remove an eyesore, contribute largely to public convenience, and throw open a pleasing vista to the eye of taste. Twenty-five thousand pounds, or five thousand less, is a large sum to secure an entrance alongside of Marlborough-house, but hardly too much when the advantages such an entrance would confer are taken into rceonviAt z And to crown all, to add the beautiful to the use - fu - 1, and the useful to the beautiful, a bridge of com munication for- foot-passengers is to be thrown across the Serpentine a light, ornamental structure —we trust in perfect keeping with the beauties of the gardens. The Committee have done " their spiriting gently " and featly, and are entitled to the grati tude of the population. Would recommendations, equally potent, were thrown as a mantle of pro tection over the wilder beauties of another place of recreation, which has long and perseveringly been besieged by the Vandalism of the capitalist —we mean Hampstead Heath ! Let not the lesson here inculcated fail of its effect in relation to the Heath. The people have but to bestir themselves in this country, when right is on their side, to beat back encroachments from whatever quarter they may be threatened. LATEST NE WS. DESTIZ ETCTL)S Ole COVENT-G JR DEN RU PARIS, MARCH 7. This morning a numbir of men, under - the direction of the Messrs. Holland, the builders, commenced erect ing scaffolding in Hart-street, fur the purpose of pulling down the walls of the theatre, in obedience to the orders of the Commissioners of Police. The manner in which the workmen have conirnenced operations will appear to the unitiated somewhat extraordinary. Immense poles have been laid from the tops of the houses in Hart-street to the outer walla of the unfortunate building, and boards have been placed thereon, which has formed a kind of platform, and on this structure the work of de ' molition has commenced. The engines still continue to discharge large quantities of water on the smoking de bris, and even at this time an immense body of fire exists under the heaps of ashes, molten glass, and other refuse. The sulphurous vapour still emitted from the ruins is in some parts stilt overpowering. • Amongst the ruins early this morning we noticed Mr. Horton, the musical librarian of the theatre, anxiously seeking for some of his cherished treasures, but not a vestige could be found. In preparing the accounts we have daily published since the terrible calamity, we feel it our duty- to acknowledge the assistance rendered to us by Mr. F. Perria, the chief engineer in charge, in the difficult duty. Every facility was readily rendered, and where explanation was necessary most readily and clearly given. Two Aides-de-Camp of the Emperor of Russia, who left St. Petersburg on Saturday, have just arrived here with despatches for Count Orloff. KONIGSBERG, MARCH 6. General Luders has telegraphed to St. Peters burg, from the Crimea, that a meeting of pleni potentiaries from the belligerents took place at the Bridge of Traktir on the 29th. Hostilities were suspended in obedience to the decision of the Paris Conferences. HAMBURG, MARCH 6. Admiral Watson sailed from Kiel. He has ordered the fleet to assemble off Moer Island, and announced the renewal of the blockade of the Russian ports. BERLIN, MARCH 'T. Count Schouvaloff and Count Levascheff passed through this city en route for Paris. They are the bearers of fresh instructions for the Russian Plenipotentiaries. The police arrangements of Superintendent Durkin and Inspector Dodd, from the first breaking out of the fire to the present moment, have been admirable. The day for the inquiry into the origin of the fire is not yet fixed, but it is generally understood that it will take place on Tuesday next. FRANCE. The following is the letter of the Times' Paris correspondent, dated yesterday, 6 p.m. : The prospect of a settlement of the various points under the consideration of the Plenipotentiaries was gloomy enough last week, and I suspect that more than one Plenipotentiary began to be seriously ap prehensive of the result. Had the members of the Congress been at liberty to speak their thoughts some six or seven days ago, I believe it would be found that war rather than peace was by them regarded as more likely to follow the expiration of the armis tice. Matters have now changed, ind changed much for the better. The three sittings of the Congress last week Were far from justifying the hopes of a pacific arrangement. The two sittings of the present week are far more cheering so far as they have gone. I have already told you that Tues day's Conferences ended mere satisfactorily than the previous ones ; and I think I can now inform you that those of yesterday are still more so. Indeed, s©: sanguine is the hope in certain quarters (as I am informed) that the chances in favour of peace are greatly augmented, that peace is looked upon as all but certain. There were two modes of arriving at peace ; one by large concessions on the part of the Allies ; the other, by large concessions on that of Russia. So far as can be ascertained in matters where everything is against obtaining ac curate information, no concessions of any moment have been made by us. The logical conclusion is that it is Russia that is gradually yielding, while England and France are still united and firm as ever. The Duke of Cambridge visited the ruins of the theatre yesterday morning. His Royal Highness Prince Alfred also came, accompanied by Lord Alfred Paget and Col. Biddulph. The firemen (Perrier and Swanton) two officers of the brigade, and Mr. Connorton, of the West of England Office, conducted his Royal High ness over the ruins. Shortly after Prince Alfred had departed his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales ar rived, in company of Mr. Gibbs, his tutor, and was received by Sir Richard Mayne, Mr. Superintendent Durkin, and Mr. Superintendent Braidwood, who con ducted him over every part of the building considered to be safe. Mayers, the conductor of the Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, was about the first to arrive with his machine from the Leioester-Beware sta tion, and, with the assistance of Messrs. Baddeley and Spencer, the inspectors, and other conductors, rescued a great deal of property belonging to Mr. Anderson. A man named Lloyd, commonly called "Comedy," assisted the conductors, and saved a great many other articles, and Mr. Charlton, a dresser in the wardrobe , lepartment, fetched Mr. Lawrence, the master, and brought him out on his shoulders. A man named 11. Forster brought down Jane Smith, the forewoman of the wardrobe, and the account belonging to Mr. An derson were rescued by Burgess, the bill-sticker of the I.heatre. " Comedy," as he is called, likewise saved three women at the stage entrance. The fire was not entirely extinguished at nine o'clock last night. Russia calculates on the gradual loosening of the bonds which unite England and France, if she cannot cut the knot herself. She believes that two countries with a form of Government so opposed, and with institutions so different, however they may unite for common safety in days of difficulty and peril, must be dissevered when the danger is gone by, and that there are a hundred chances, any one of which may be advantageously made use of to that end. Were the small extremity of the wedge to be inserted, Russia would answer for the speedy introduction of the whole. The Moniteur contains an imperial decree call ing out for active service the 140,000 young sol diers of the class of 1855. BOURSE, March 7.—The following were the last quotations : Cash. fr. e. End of Month. li per Cents 94 75 —f. —o. 3 per Cents 72 80 72 80 New Loan 73 30 Bank Shares — Roman Credit Mobilier 1,585 Austrian Belgian Fives ...... .. Spanish Threes Piedoziontese(s) i).o 25 Home Debt RAILWALYB-708 CAUL Pr. C. _ fr. o. Orleans ' 1,272 50 Western BBO Northern Lyons - 11editerranean - Grand Central 653 75 Lyons Geneva 770 Toste Cette THE NAPOLEON DYNASTY. The following nrogramme of the ceremony to be observed on the birth of Princes or Princesses, chil dren of the Emp eror , h as b een published officially in Paris : As soon as the Empress shall feel the first pains of labour, the Grand Mistress of her Household will wait upon her Majesty. As soon as the Grand Mistress shall have arrived, she will take the Emperor's orders, and she will send to inform the Princes and the Princesses of the Imperial family, the members of the family of the Emperor holding rank at Court, the mother of the Empress, the grand officers of the Crown, the Ministers and President of the Council of State, the Marshals, Admirals, Grand Chancell or o f th e Imperial Order o f th e L eg i on of Honour, the Governor of the Invalides, the Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard of the Seine, the General in command of the Impe rial Guard, the Adjutant-General of the Palace, the offi cers and ladies of the households of their Majesties. All these persons must appear at the Tuileries in dress, as in going to high mass, the ladies in morning costume. The Princes, Princesses, and mother of the Empress will be duly informed by the officers of the Emperor's house hold designated by his Majesty. The Senate, the Legislative Corps, and the municipal authorities of Paris will also be informed by an offieer of the Emperor's household, so that they may be assembled at the moment his Majesty sends to announce the birth of the In the Empress's chamber there will only be present the mother of the Empress, the Grand Mistress, of her Ma jesty's Household, the Governess, and the Lady is Wait ing;on her Majesty In the Green Saloon, contiguous to the Empress's cham ber, the Princes and Princesses of the Imperial and the ,members of the Emperor's family holding rank at Court will be assembled. In the saloon of the Empress will be assembled the high officers of the Crown, the Ministers, Marshals, Admirals, the Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honour, tho Go ' vernor of the Invali , les, the Commander-in-Chief of the National Guards of the Seine, the General in Command o. the Imperial Guard, the Adjutant-General of the Palace, the Ladies-in- Waiting of the Empress, the Uoder-Gover• ceases and Ladies-in-Waiting on the Princesses. The Grand Master of the fleusehold and the First Chain berlain of the Ponpress will (lo the honours of the apart ment in the absence of the Grand Mistress and Lady of Honour of her Majesty. The °Meers of their Majesties' household, the officers of the Prince and P r i ncesses , w ill assem bl e in the third saloon, which is the first after the guards'-hall, and in thoguards% hall. • When the last pains of labour shall be felt, their Excel lencies the Minister of State and the Keeper of the Seals shall be sent for and brought into the chamber. Such of the Princes and Princesses 'shall also bo admitted as his Majesty may deem advisable. The tinder-nurses will be sent for when their services are required. When the child shall have been presented to the Em peror and the Etupress by the head nurse, it wilt be pre sented to his Excellency the minister of State, and to his Excellency the Keeper of the Seals, who will at once pro ofed to the saloon occupied by his Excellency the Pre sident of the Couneil of State, fulfilling the functions attributed to him by the 13th article of the Imperial statute of the 21,t of June, 1853. A formal statement of the birth of the child will be drawn up. The Imperial child will then be carried to its apart ment by the head nurse, accompanied by her sub nurses, the General Com m andieg the Imperial Gu ar d, an d t h e Equerry or duty. This cortege will leave he bed chamber, cross the saloons, and enter tho apartment pre pared for the child In this aparmeut will be assembled the perons ap pointed by the Emperor to wait upon the Imperia, child. The Emperor havihg returned to his State apartments, will receive the congratulations of the persons assembled in ilte Empress's apartments. On the day or ‘'n the morrow of the confinement the Imperial child will be privately b tptised in the Palace Chapel by the Emperor's First Almoner. in presence of the Princes and Princesses of the Imperial family, the ' Princes and Princesses of the family of the Emperor hold ing rank at Court, the mother of the Empress, the grand officers of the crown, the Cardinals, Ministers, Alarshals, A imirals. President of the S nate, &c. After the ceremony of baptism a Te Deuin will be chanted, and before the Te Ddam, the Royal child will have been taken to his own apartment. The Grand Chancellor of the Legion of honour will take to the Imperial Prince the Grand Cordon of that order and the Military Medal.* The Princes and Princesses, relations of the Emperor and Empress, will be informed of the birth of the Imperial Prince by letters watten by the Emperor himself, and conveyed by officers of his household. The Senate and Legislative Body will receive the infor mation from an officer of the Emperor's household ; the birth will be announced in the same manner to the.muni cipal authorities of Paris. The Grand Master of the Ceremonies will send a Master of the Ceremonies to the Ambassadors, and an Assistant of the Ceremonies to the foreign Ministers, to announce the birth of the child. .. Each Minister, in his department, will take the suitable measures to inform his agents of the birth, abroad as well as at home. As soon a, the Imperial Prince is born a salvo of 101 guns will be fired ; the same salvo will be fired in countries occupied by French troops. t Iu the evening the public buildings will be illuminated. (,CEREMONIES TO TAKE PLACE ON THE DAYS FOLLOWING THE BIRTH. On the morrow, or on the day after the morrow, of the Empress's_ confinement the Emperor, having received the congratulations of the diplomatic body, will ascend the throne. His Majesty will be surrounded by the Princes of the Imperial family, and by the other members of the Em peror's family holding rank at Court ; as also the grand officers of the Crown; the officers of the household, Cardi nals, Marshals, Admirals, and all the other functionaries, &c. The PresidOnts of the Senate and of the Legislative Body will alone harangue the Emperor. All these different bodies will be presented as is usual en solemn presentations. On leaving the audience of the Emperor they will be ad mitted to the new-born Prince. They will meet in the Salon dc la Pal; and will, suc cessively, be admitted to the apartment of the Imperial Prince. They will leave it by the door opposite to the one by which they entered. As soon as the health of the Empress will allow it, her Majesty will appoint the (lays upon which she will receive the congratulations of the Princes and Princesses, ladies of the Palace, wives of the Ministers, &e., and the congratula tions of the high officers of the Crown, Cardinals, Marshals, Admirals, &c. Her Majesty will also receive the congratulations of the members of the diplomatic body and of their ladies. The Empress will receive all these congratulations in her easy chair. When her health is completely restored the Empress will be lifted up by the. Grand Almoner, according to the spe cial ceremony drawn up. The ceremony of the public baptism of the Imperial Prince will take place at Notre Dame after the churching of her Majesty. Immediately after that ceremony a solemn Te Deula will be performed. A Te Deum will be chanted in the Church of Notre Dame of Paris and in all the churches of Francs on the Sunday following the day of the birth. CAMBACERES, Grand Master of the Ceremonies. Palais Royal, March 3. * The official programme assumes that it is a Prince that will be born, but u the margin certain alterations are made, in case it should be .a Princess. 1 In case of it Whit; a Frinccuz only 21 guns will be fired. _&,'awatatl;* PORTUGAL. LIVERPOOL, SAkRDAY MORNING. The following has been received by the Tagus : "LISBON, MARCH 2. " The House of Peors approved the reply to the King's speech yesterday without a division, after having wasted 2:3 days in the premature dis cussion of the now measures which have not yet been laid before it." RUSSIA WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE EXPENSES OF THE WAS. Upon the principle of doing to Russia as she has done to others when she has had the power, it may not be amiss at this moment to state what wore the provisions for indemnification she made when the Sultan Mahmoud submitted to receive peace at her hands in 1829. Her successes were certainly not then greater than those of the Allies have been in the present war, nor indeed so great, for, with the exception of her triumph at Kars, where the work was done for her, Russia has failed in every encounter, whether opposed by English, French, Sardinians, or Turks. Her position, therefore, is not less helpless now than was that of the Porte in 1829. Judged, then, by her own measure of clemency, she ought clearly to be compelled to " pay the bill." The indemnities demanded by her from Turkey were, in the first place, 1,500,000 ducats of Holland, for the commer cial losses sustained by Russian subjects, in conse quence of certain measures adopted by the Porte re specting the navigation of the Bosphorus. This sum, it was stipulated, was to be paid by four different instalments, in the course of eighteen months ; and, to make assurance doubly sure, it was agreed that Russia should hold a material guarantee, with which she was to part piece by piece, according as the instalments were paid. Upon the payment of the first, and the fulfilment of certain other stipulations, she was to evacuate Adrianople, Kirk-Kili ssa , Burgos, tte. On the payment of the second, the Russian army was to retreat over the Balkan ; and on the payment of the third, Bulgaria, and all the towns between the Danube and the Euxine, were to be evacuated. But this was not enough. The military bill was to be settled. The indemnity for the expense to which Russia had been put in carrying on the war was fixed at ten millions of ducats, to be paid in such a manner as the Emperor of Russia should determine on an appeal of the Porte to his gene rosity and magnanimity. In proof of these virtues, the Emperor consented to take in part payment such an equivalent in goods as might be agreed upon. But until this penalty was paid, it was stipulated that the Russians should hold the for tress of Silistria and the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia. When we consider the condition of Turkey at the time—her fleet so recently destroyed at the battle of Navarino, and her treasury exhausted by her long struggle ' not only against Russia, 19ut previou s ly, to maintain her authorityin Greece - = the indemnity demanded by the late Czar did not redound much to the credit of his generosity and magnanimity. But besides this, Russia, by the treaty of Adria nople, gained important commercial advantages, which in themselves amounted to a sufficient com pensation for the cost to which she had been put, especially when it is remembered within how com paratively brief a space she had deprived Turkey of the Ukraine, the Crimea, and Bessarabia.— Morning Advertiser. BLEACHING WORKS BILL.—A bill prepared by Mr. Isaac Butt, Lord J. Manners, Lord Goderich, and Mr. Crook enacts that after the Ist of February next no child shall be employed in any bleaching work in preparinv, cleaning, scouring, bleaching, dyeing, calendering, finish ing, mangling, dressing, embossing, or tambouring any woven fabric, or twist, or yarn, or in packing, carrying, or conveying, or in aiding in any other labour or process connected with bleaching, dyeing, or finishing. Children under 11 years ot age, however, may be so employed in their parents' houses. Women and young persons must not be employed in any bleaching operation before six a.m. or after six p.m., and there must be an interval of one half-hour for breakfast and one hour for dinner. There must be no work carried on after two o'clock p.m. on Saturdays. A. penalty of 101. is denounced against the violators of the act. Full power is given to the factory inspectors to enforce the act. After-work will be lawful in cases of necessity, upon proof of that neces sity being given. With this exception, the hours of labour are limited to 10i hours per day, or 60 hours per week. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY, March 7.—At a congrega tion holden this day the degree of M.A. was conferred on W. S. P. Wolferatan, King's College ; Ed mun d Thompson, St. Pete r ' s College ; A. R. D. Ash, Jesus College ; that of• LL.B. on Daniel Thomas Grimston, Trinity Hall ; and that ot B.A. on Robert Draper John son,' St. John's College ; James Clarke Roberts, A.M., of Magdalen Hall, Oxford, was admitted ad candela graduni. SPORTING NOTES. WISHES ABOUT WARWICK. So unimportant was the Nottingham Meeting in its result that space would be' unnecessarily occupied by an elaborate reference to the sport. The fielders had a hard time of it, for the winners were " spotted" in nearly every instance with surprising accuracy. The "andel= nations" which were published in The Sun of Monday last were verified almost to the letter. Attention is now directed to the Warwick gathering, which will com mence on Monday and terminate on Wednesday. Con siderable curiosity is evinced respecting the appointed sport, but speculation on the events has not yet been actively pursued. Fulbeck, Little Davie, Veteran, and The Flatterer have been "talked about" for the Warwick Handicap, and the first-men tioned has been elevated to the premiership. He seems to be much improved since last year, and his run ning at Northampton fairly entitles him to the position which he occupies in the betting. My "guesses at truth," however, shall be merely confined to the races appointed for decision on Monday, reserving the discus. sion of the list of sport for Tuesday and Wednesday for a future eemm unicati on. I shall expect Stork to defeat the Fisherman for the Trial Stakes. The Willoughby Handicap may be car ried off by Rodo-ineli, and the Handicap Plate I shall assign to. Romeo. Mr. Field, late inspector of the detective police, bas received some important information relative to the poisoning of Aurifer. No doubts exist that the scoun drels concerned in this villanous affair will be speedily detected and punished. A FRESH MAN, March 8. ENGINEERS, MASONIC, (6 UNITERSAL MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY. Tke annual general meeting of this society was held on Tuesday at the Head-office, No. 345, Strand, when the following report of business transaoted during the year was read : " The directors of the Engineers, Masonic, and Univer sal Mutual Life Assurance Society have the pleasure to present to,their members the report of proceedings for the past year. "The number of proposals for assurance received has been 245; of these 185, prod uc i ng an a dditi ona l annual income 0f1,8971. 3s. 10d., and assuring the sum of 48,5501., have been completed ; 25, for the sum of 7,5501., have been declined ; and 35, for the sum of 12,0501., stand over for further consideration or completion. "The claims from death have been 6,1001., upon ten as• sured members; of this sum, however, the directors had re-assured 2,5001. "The directors have uniformly rejected the principle of taking large amounts proposed to be assured with the sole view of re-assurances. In one case, which will shortly be brought before the public, an assurance of 10,0001. was offered to the directors, who, however, declined to take more than 1,5001., the amount which they retain upon a single life. They might, by accepting the proposal for the whole sum, have swelled their amount of premiums, but they considered that, by such means, a fictitious statement of business would be presented to their members. "The directors take credit to themselves for having re jected proposals which were offered to them upon the lives of Ann Palmer for 1.0001. in January, 1854, and of Walter Palmer for 1,5001. in February, 1855. In the first case, they considered that sufficient interest was not disclosed ; and, in the second, that the fact stated, of Walter Pain ter having been attacked by delirium tremens, was sufficient to make the life too letzeriloue for acceptance at any amount of increased premium. "The bonus calculations, made by Mr. Scratchley, the consulting actuary, have fully realised the directors' antici pations as to the status of the society. The directors were gratified in being enabled to add to the policy of each member a reversionary sum, averaging about 401. per cent. of the whole amount of premiums paid. " By personal exertion among their friends, the mem• leers have it in their power to assist th e directors in ex tending; thebusines , of the society; they will thus confer material benefit on themselves or their families by increas ing the amount of future bonuses, whether present or reversionary. " The directors have given their earnest attention to the best means of meeting the great competition among insur ance societies. They hove come to the conclusion that a limited share capital would enable thent'to extend loan operations, to purchase reversions, and to transact other legitimate business, based upon the law of averages, whereby the interests of all concerned with the society may be promoted, and its position and prospects materially improved. " The issue of shares would be limited, in the first instance, to the existing members of the society, who would be permitted to convert the bonus, already declared, into paid up shares . , and also, after a certain term, to con vert shares into a provision for old age, or into deferred annuities on the lives of themselves or their nominees, in creasing periodically out of profits. "This plan will have the effect of retaining to the pre sent members their interest in the income now derived from assurances; and, withent interfering with their power of rendering that interest available as a reversion whenever they deem fit, it will increase the profits from income by the extension of the society's operations, and will enable all the members to participate in the advan tages derived from the alteration. " By order of the directors. " GERARD HAY ROAERTHON, Secretary. "London, 315, Strand, March 4, 1836." The CHAIRMAN (W. F. Dobson, Esq.) in moving the a.dop tion of the report of the directors and auditors, after re ferring to the ordinary business of the day, stated the reasons which bad induced the directors, aftera.reat con sideration and consultationwith their. actuary( NIT. Scratch ley), to recommend the application of a limited share capital to the society. The great competition among lif e assurance societies rendered extraordinary exertion ne cessary to obtain new proposals, and to procure frequent fresh introductions. The limitation of the society's busi ness had been a great impediment to progress. Its agent had at times been driven t o o th er offices from the more extended character of ther operations, and being attracted thither for purposes of business which this society net transact, hail been in some in stan les retained for the es which it did. The want of capital had compelled the directors to reject some very availaYte loan transactions, and effete; for the ourehase of reversionary property ; and though the directors, from their own resources, and those of their, friends, bad created a sort of loan capital, which bat greatly benefitted the society, yet such ad vances were but temporary, and might at any time be recalled, while the advances by the society were neces• sarily spread over a fixed time. It could not be doubted that the facility of granting loan, in connection with policies ' was ,a great means of introduction to the best aids of 'a Life Assurance Society, the solici tors, and was thereby productive, not only of immediate, but of prospective benefit. The Purchase of reversionary interests of every descrip tion carefully bondticted was most lucrative ; and though an isolated transaction of this character must he speculative, such a business carried to an extent so as to be based upon the law of averages could not be other wise than productive of great benefit to the society. The want of share capital had also compelled the direc tors to refuse ; . a large accession of business which had been offered by way of amalgamation. They might have pnrchased the life business ; but the parties would have been willing to take in exchange for their share the scrip or shares of this. society, and time the connection of shareholders as well as the policy holders would have been secured without any money payment. The existing members of the society could not 'be damnifiA by the issue of tbe. , e shares ; for it would he, of course, expressly provided that all profits derivable from policies now in force would remain exclusively to the present members, who would also participate in the profits to be derived from the ex tension of the society's business. The shares ton would. in the first instance, be offered solely to the Members of the society ; and various advantages held out to them, such as the conversion of the already declared bonuses into share capital, and the permission to leave a portion of it unpaid, as a lien upon their policies—and as to other parties, the adientages offered would be, that whereas in the formation and establishment ofcompanies generally is .wing shares great preliminary expenses bad to be incurred, in tine case the company was firmly and permanently established, all the preliminary expenses had been dis charged, not a debt was out , tanding, and an income of above 10,000/. a year was derived from premiums alone. The motion for the adoption of the report having been seconded by M. J. TATHAM, Esq., of Doctors'-conarnons, one of the auditors of the society, was carried unani mously. The retiring directors (the Rev. J. Watson, M.A.., Dr. George Johnson, J. R. Christie, Esq , F. R.S., and T.' L. Wilson, Esq.) and the retiring auditor (John Sur rage, Esq.) were then unanimously re-elected ; Mr. PIT MAN, ono of the Birmingham local board, observing that he was requested to strongly recommend the re-election of the directors, as the board which he represented felt highly sati-ified with the careful mode in which the af fairs of the society were administered by the directors. The draft proposition for the creation of share capital and extension of the scope of the society's opera tions was then read by the solicitor, and a resolution approving the plan, and authorising the directors to carry it into-effect, was unanimously adopted upon the motion of F. BIOG., Esq., seconded by G. M. ARNOLD, E-q.,..wh0 observed that he was very pleased to find the directors disposed to progress with the times. That standing still in life assurance matters was, in fact, re trograding ; and that, when the directors considered a share capital advantageous to the society, it would have been as ridiculous for them obstinately to refuse to avail themselves of the means of extending their operations, because the mutual principle was their original basis, as it would have been for any man who had entered into a particular branch of busi ness, and who had all the appliances ready for carrying on a still more lucrative branch to decline the oppartu nity and rigidly to c inine himself within the original limits of his undertaking. Votes of thanks were cordially offered to the chair man and directors, the various ofEoers, and the actuary, A. SCRATCHLEY, Esq., who, in a speech of great ability, recommended the adoption of the share capital proposi tien, and stated that every book and paper in the office were laid freely before him. for the purpose of examina tion as to his report upon the bonus. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BY A PATIENT IN ST. THOMAS'S HOSPlTAL.—Yesteiday morning, shortlyafter six o'clock, considerable sensation was created in St. Thomas's Hos pital, in clesequence of a determined attempt at suicide by Emma Matthews, in Magdalene ward. She at tempted to strangle herself with her garters. Mr. Ord, the house surgeon, was in instant attendance, and after half an hour Succeeded in restoring animation. __:.~~ _ . RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. EAST ANGLIAN. The report of the directors of this company states that they were able to pay interest for the half-year on the B stock after the full rate of 6 per cent., and on the C stock after the rate of 2/. 181. 4d. per cent, per an• num. GLASGOW AND SOUTH-WESTERN. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held 10 Glasgow on Wednesday; Mr. Andrew Orr (the Lord Provost of Glasgow), the chairman, in the chair. After some discussion, it was resolved that the com pany should declare a dividend of 5 per cent. upon the guaranteed and preference stock, and of 4 per cent. upon the consolidated stock, to be paid on the 24th inst. After the election of directors, the meeting separated. NORTH BRITISH. The report of the directors of this company state; that the receipts for the half-year ending the 31st of January last amounted to 136.5101., and for the cor responding period last year to 127,9121., showing an increase of 8,5981. The free revenue for the WI: year, after payment of interest, is 25,1021. This will liquidate the sum of 4,6301., f oresta ll e d on accoun t o f the deficiency to meet preference dividend at the 310 of July l as t, an d, after paying the preference divi dend now due (19,5951) in full, will leave a balance of 9671. With regard to the extra outlay on working stack, the directors state that, with the exception Of one engine and tender sent out for repair at the end of 1854, the whole cost of the renovation of rolling stock is wound up in the balance sheet now presented. They state that the contrast between the past and the present state of the railway is the best justification of theremedies adopted. Eighteen months ago, of 71 engines, 33 were, wholly disabled, and 16 only in fair working condition; now, out of 72 engines, 53 are in good working order, and 10 only undergoing heavy repairs. At the former period punctuality of trains was the exception, now it is the rule ; then the goods engines were incapable of keeping time or drawing the traffic, now the goods trains are nearly as regular as the passenger trains; then collisions were freouent, now accidents are of rare occurrence ; fin ly, i 1 the year ending 31st Jelin ary, 1855, the revenue was 243.0001., and for the year ending 31st January last it was 253,0001. The whole ek pense of restoring efficiency to the railway has been borne by revenue, inctudins the loss of 1,7751. by depre ciation of three old ngines sold. Capital has only been charged with the cost of additional stock on value imparted to old stock, rebuilt and improved, and of new works re quired for the traffic, the safety of the public, or economy in working. The directors recommend the shareholders to support them in their application to Parliament forraisivg further capital to pay off the liabilities of the company and to provide accommodation for the increasingtraffic. The/ state that if capital were in a condition to repay the ad vance made to it from revenue, a dividend at the rate of 1 per cent, per annum might be paid to the ordinary shareholders now on the register. A provisional agree ment has been entered into for working the Selkirk and Galashiels Railway. 6f miles in length, on terms mute ally advantageous to both companies. The capital ac count showed that 4,470,998/, had been received, and 4,509,885/, exnended, leaving a balance against the com• nany of 38,8861. The revenue account showed that 136,510/ had been received during the half-year. and 86,0621. expended in working expenses, and 25,3464 interest on loans, leaving a balance of 25,1021. CORK AND YOUGHAL. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held at Cork on Friday ; Mr. I. Butt, M.P., in the chair. The report stated that, with the exception of the por• tion immediately adjoining the city of Cork, the entire line would be completed at an expense of about 5,000 1 . per mile. Considering that the line will pass through a rich agricultural district, and commanded the traffic between Queenstown and Cork, it is fully expected that it will yield an ample return for the capital invested. - Under existing circumstances the directors have thought it more prudent to defer the construction of tho branch to Queenstown, and to devote all their energies to the cow pletion of the first plition of the main line, terminating at Middltt-m, which they expect will be opened for traffic befor_t the next half-yearly meeting. The direc• tors have rec.ntly made a call of 30s. per share, which they hope w ill be speedily paid. The accounts showed that 26,6371. bad been received to Ist January last, and 24,570/. expended, leaving * balance of 2,067/. The report of Mr. Brand, the en' gineer, stated that of 73 miles upon which the contractor is at work five miles are ready for ballasting. Th e work already executed has shown that the line can be finished within the cost contemplated, and there would seem to be no reason for any change of views as to the advan• tages to be derived from an early opening tions as can b e s uccess f u ll y completed. of such per' After some discussion as to the expediency of removing the board from London to Cork, the report was unani mougly adopted, and the retiring directors were re-elected. The meeting was then made special, and the directors were authorised to accept thesurrender of certain shares, and to issue new shares in lieu thereof. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the pro• ceedings. RAILWAY TRAFFIC RET URNS. TRAFFIC RETURNS FOR THE WEEK. Miles I I Receipts. )pened, 1 NAME OF RAILWAY. . 1856. i 1856. 1855. .---, --___.----.... BRITI9B. .E £ 115 , Aberdeen .................... ...., 3 011 2,416 37% ; Belfast and Ballymena .............. 865 698 17 i Belfast and County D0wn..........., - I ..... 33 Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire - ...... 26% I Bolton, litackburn, and West York .... - -- 117 1 Bristol and Exeter •• ..............., 4,949 3,7 97 191 % , Caledonian. - ......... ........ „, 10,42.5 9,944 911 4 I Chester and Holyhead. •......... 4,228 4,039 6% Cork, Blackreck, and Passage ...... 171 118 20 Cork and Bandon .. •• .. ••• • • • ...... 263 211 , 5 6 Dublin and Belfast Junction ........ 917 804 63 Dublin and Drogheda.... - ......... 1,311 1, 194 • 7% , Dublin and Kingstown ............., 1,142 800 16% I Dundee and Arbroath ...... •• • • .... 513 451 - 31 I Dundee, Perth, and Aberdeen Junction 939 894 36 , Dundalk amt Enn15ki11en............ - - 67% East Anglian.- -- •• ............. 799 68 6 93 East Lan3a5hire.................... 6,100 4, 594 4 17 Eastern Counties and N or f o lk.. • ... 3 19,946 18,333 Eastern Union .................... 3 142 Edinburgh and Glascors .. • ...... 4,428 4,00 78 Edinburgh, l'erth, and Dundee-- - 5,503 4,963 , 6 Exeter and Credi ton.. • • .... • • • • •• - - - 22 Furness Railway ... ............ 1.278 626 183% I Glasgow, and . south-Western........ 5.584 4,922 283 Great Northern..... 2 0 3% Great Southern and wester n (I re l an , ll 6 , 1 84 5,638 365 Great Western ... ...... ....... -.. 22,933 21,73 0 25% Irish South East e r n ................ - - 90 Lancaster and Carlisle •• - ..... . 4,599 4 643 286% Lancashire and Y0rk5hire........... 20,729 17,928 - Leeds Northern ............ - - - 161 Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport... -•- 553% London and North Western ... .... 50,9 1 7 48,76 7 5% London and 81ackwa11........ _ •,. 1,214 1 , 104 183% I London, Brighton, and South Coast.. 10,231 8 2C9 267 ' London and South Western......- .. 12,506 114,942 60 Londonderry and Enniskillen ....... 522 492 - Manchester, Buxton, and slatlock, Scc - - 173% Manchester, Sherdeld,and Lincolnshirt 8,173 7,152 9% Manchester and South Junction.... .. 479 6PB - 28 Maryport and Carlisle .............., 966 807 498% Midland -•••••••••• • • • - •• •• ... 27,204 24,165 126% Midland Great Western (Irish) ....., 2,816 2,769 37 Monklands •• • • • • • • - • • - • . • • • • .... - - 78% Newcastle and Carlisle.. • • ......... - - 149 North British ••..•• • • •• •........... 4,357 4, , r5 • 233 North Staffordshire ...... ••..... 6,588 2,2 84 47 North-Western .............. _- _ 767 859 87% Scottish Central -•• • • .............. - - 32 Scottish Midland • • ............. ~ - - 29% Shrewsbury and Birmingham -•• .. 1.361 1,144 48 Shrewsbury and Chester -••.•..- .• 2,355 1,88,8 30 Shropshire Union .................. 688 692 57% Routh Devon• ••••••••••••••• •• • • •• . 1,858 1,207 269 South Eastern .• •• •• •• .• •• •••••• •• .. 11.246 12,011 162% South Wales ............ .. ...... 5,548 4,562 97 South York., Doncaster, and Goole .. - - 39 Tuff Vale •• • . - • ' '' '''" •• •• •• 3,904 3,488 36 Ulster . •. • ... .. _.• ,„ ~,....., - 77 Waterford And Limeri c k •• .. 27% West Cornwall ...... ..... ,„, .. :.• 596 402 12 Whitehaven Junction ....... 350 281 682 York and Newca s tl e , and Berwick & York and North Midland & Leeds.. - - FOREIGN. 8 9 Dutch Rhenish .... •• ..... ••. 1,336 841 - Lyons and Mediterranean •• •••• •• - - - - Vontereau and Troyes •••• ...• •• •• •• - - - Namur and Liege .• •• •• •• •• • • •• •• - - - - Northern of France •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• - - - Orleans and Central .. - - --- Paris and Lyons •• •••••••••• •• •• II •... '.•• - Paris and Bonen. .. ............. - - --- Paris and Strasburgh .• •• • • ..•• ~ •• - - --Rouen and Havre •• •• .. -- -- -- Western of France •••••••••,, ••••• ••••• 574( 259 162% 27% 12 682 LITE RATURE. The Creation. A Sermon. By the Rev. Richard Chaffer, M.A. Greenwich :R. S. Richardson. One of the most successful attempts we have seen (and not the least calculated to be popular) to show that there is no real disagreement be tween the conclusions arrived at by geological science and the record of Scripture, rightly under stood. The discourse was preached, it seems, by the author at the Church of St. Alphege, Green wich, of which he is curate, and is published by request. It is characterised by laudable candour, reverence, and research. Objections are fairly marshalled and considered, the author bringing to his task a clear and manly understanding, and due reverence for the truth of Revelation. We trust the discourse will meet with the extensive sale it deserves. VAN DIEMEN'S LAND COMPANY.—The Van Diemen's Land Company have issued their report preparatory to their yearly meeting on Thursday next. The chief agent of the company, having been absent from the colony during the last 12 months, sales of land have been sus pended in order that he might, on resuming his duties, carry out some fresh regulations. He returned to the colony by the Royal Charter, from Liverpool, in January last, and took with him new instructions. Meanwhile the evidence afforded of the rapid rise in the value of the Government lands adjoining those of the company, by the pritres obtained when sales have taken place, gives strong encouragement with regard to the prospects of the entire district. In a recent instance the company had to relet 300 acres of cleared land which had been previously occupied for four years at 1/. per acre, and it was immediately taken for one year at an as crags of more than 3/. per acre. The facilities of steam commu nication along the coast continue to bs maintained, and a prospect ex sts of its being established between Circu lar-head and Melbourne. With regard to the finances of the company, there are not at present sufficient funds to pay a dividend of 10s. per share, but it is hoped such a distribution will be made before the end of the year. he amount now in hand is 3,3491. .- 3 MC very qy kinds b bales, c Was a s' The Week et dame ti crease, private produce 2ary for of 10 p liquidat fell du aecuritil Owing Exchan the pre( Stook of the next atilt kre by the has bees Active 13uIlioi Red.. Public Other Seven- Gover: Other Notes Accou ket as b arrivals. to the bands at In other brisk, In The ( 'fluctuate ,Of the C Vienna have Pa of the are. firm 2 florins the Aus+ becorninf sous me duction to 10.4, Per Ceni Lave flue last three quotatior The p Lave give Will be vc kentione that this Pernmen 'f 36,000 Iron of N toPerior The El day, but *light im able advi the negoi last. Opel 91 n,wl li - ter Seri are shut, 92i. E : Premium Foreig Der Cent Russian 1 02 ; an t been at 9 Zilian The fo kooks:- 3 per Ce: 49 Rui cents., P h eftirred 4-itssive, There Mid in sc ( lone. E etlabire, Yorkshil Iliad line Bank ruled he to 51. aIt.ETIS Per Con aw 3 pei India Bon C )rturtl P Ditto Excheg £lOO Small Dittc Ditto Ditto, PRICE grvsilian Ditto S. atnssian I Ditto 4 eudinian aoKnish , Ditto E Ditto 4 THE Weeks p gnged ii Irlarnenta the pars hall, Ala are now all risco construe iturnen* th e C on the earr out of t it was t fro m th Witluta depth o dered n baR);; ing . of freedor Fated reft,rm tired f by hia For rr The C3n: Litt