The Sun. — London, England, 1851-02-13 00:00:00

6 4113 AFibtettO 4 I g a m {4 O ki SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. (THIS DAY.) The usual half-yearly general meeting of the proprie tors of the Great Western Railway was held this after noon, at the Paddington Station; Mr. Charles Russell, chairman of the board of directors, in the chair. The meeting was made special for the purpose of considering the propriety of converting the 171. shares, on which all oalls have been made into consolidated stock, and also for the purpose of authorising the directors to take leases of the works belonging to the Gloucester and Dean Forest Railway on certain terms which had already been condi tionally entered into. The meeting was further made special for determining upon the propriety or other wise of building an hotel, with refreshment rooms dormitories, stables and other conveniences, near to the Paddington station. The chair was taken, and the pro ceedings of the day commenced at half-past one o'clock, just half-an-hour later than on previous occasions; but long before that time the shed or workshop in which the meeting was held was partially filled with proprietors. The attendance, however, was by no means so numerous as on former occasions. The advertisement convening the meeting having been rend by Mr. Sanders, the secretary, the. common seal of the company was affixed to the register of proprietors. The CHAIRMAN then proceeded to review the opera tions of the company during the past half-year. He said, in the last few months the directors had been occupied in materially considering the relations which subsisted between the Great Western Company and its neighbours, and though they had not accomplished all that they originally anticipated, they yet obtained enough to promote the future prosperity of all parties.—(Hear, hear.) The proprietors would remember that at the last meeting a resolution was passed, authorising the directors to negofiate with the South Wales Company, with a view to a lease or amal gamation. He was sorry to say that the offers of the directors had been rejected by a small majority of the South Wales proprietors, and the arrangement had, therefore, fallen through. The directors, however, were not prepared to make any advance in the pecuniary terms they had offered to the South Wales Company, for the terms were agreed upon only after due and proper deliberation, and they were the only terms that, could be safely adopted so as to secure the interest of both sides.—(Cheers.) Some time ago the directors entered into a conditional arrangement for leasing the Gloucester and Dean Forest Railway. They guaran teed a certain return upon a capital of 425,0001; but a portion of the line had passed into the hands of the South Wales Railway Company, and by that step the capital of the tributary had been reduced to 292,0001. Tice first arrangement, the meeting would remember, was for a specifi-d amount of interest with half the surplus pro fits over the gross amount of that interest. Now it bad been recently discovered that the system of guarantee lug half the surplus profits was highly objectionable, and therefore, at the request of the Gloucester and Forest of Dean Company, the directors had consented to mo dify these terms.—(Hear, hear.) They had made a substitute of adding half per cent. to the original gua rantee in lieu of half the surplus profits, making an ab solute guarantee of 4f per cent. for the f'.•st five years of the lease, while at the expiration of that period the surplus profits were to be taken as equal to one per cent., and the absolute guarantee would thence forth be 5 per cent. on a limited extent of Gloucester and Dean Forest share capital, namely, 254,000/.—(Hear, hear.) In addition to this guarantee, there would still be required 10,000/. to complete the works of the line, but there would be no difficulty in the way of raising that further capital.—(Hear, hear.) The Gloucester and Dean Forest had consented to assist an undertaking known as the Ross and Hereford Railway, which would be a great feeder to the former line, and the directors of the Great Western had consented, on the completion of the Ross and Hereford Railway, to extend the guarantee on the 254,000/. to five and a half per cent.—(l.le-q., hear.) The directors bad made arrange ments with the Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton Com pany for conveying traffic through to the north. He need not remark that this arrangement was not come to till all attempts at amicable negotiation had failed with the London and North-Western Railway. These nego tiations were not broken off unt'l every hope of a satis factory result being at length obtained had entirely va nished, for the terms which were demanded by the Lon don and North-Western were to extravagant that they could only have been acceded to at a loss to this com pany.—(llear; hear.) In confirmation of this it was only necessary for him to mention, that the cost of independent stations at Birmingham, and inde pendent lines beyond" that town, would not exceed, if indeed it did not fall short, of the expenditure which the terms proposed by the London and North- Western Company would have necessitated.—(Hear, hear.) The interest of the company had therefore not been damaged to any serious extent by the suspension of the negotiations, inasmuch as, though the agreements made with the Shrewsbury and Birmingham and Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton Companies in no way increased the liabilities of the company, it would never theless considerably improve its traffic.—(Hear, hear.) The directors were most anxious to be at peace with their neighbour, but they could not receive that peace at a sacrifice of their own interests.—(Hear, hear.) They had done nothing that could at all assume the aspect of an aggressive policy, since the same lines they were about to co-operate with were just as much open to the London and North-Western traffic, and the Great-Western Company could, therefore, only get that amount of increased traffic which legitimately belonged to thew.—(Hear, hear.) Passing from the subject of these negotiations to the immediate operations of the Great-Western Railway itself, be thought the results of the past half-year were highly satisfactory. The re turns from th-:goods traffic had been within 2001. of that of the last half of the year 1849, and prima facie it would almost seem that this description of their traffic was stationary; but when he took into consideration the severe competition they had this year had to contend with by the ()peeing of new railways, there was reason to conclude that the goods traffic was still on the in crease.—(Hear, hear.) The passenger traffic exhibited an increase of 23,0001., of which 10,0001. was produced by pleasure traffic; a circumstance which clearly indi cated that the development of railway traffic had as yet far from reached its limits—(Hear)—and which should fill them with hope for the future.—(Hear, hear.) In this state of things he thought no one could find fault either with the results of their traffic operations or with the favourable appearance of the accounts, and he would therefore detain them no longer on this branch of his subject, but with the permisiion of the shareholders would take a glance at the prospects of the aiming year. —(Hear, hear.) Before it closed the directors expected to be in a position to open both the South Wales Lire and the Northern Line, which of course would ma erially augment the traffic in 1852, while for the present year he thought the meeting would agree with him that the Grt at Exhibi tion would bring them more traffic than they could con veniently manage, at least it might he supposed so at first sight, but the engineer and superintendents of the line were making such extensive preparations at all the stations that it would be almost impossible for them to be taken by surprise. —(Hear, hear.) The future, there fere, was full of hops and promise, so much so, indeed, that it would be perceived from the language of the report, that additional sheds were already required, while the due accommodation of the public would imposed upon them the duty of building an hotel near to the Paddington station.—(Cheers.) But these were mat ters which would have to be fully referred to when they came to the special business of the day ; and thanking the meeting for the attention they had given him, he would resume his seat by requesting Mr. Sanders to read the report of the directors,—( Hear, hear.) Mr. SANDERS then read the report which stated— " The directors have to report, for the information of the proprietors, that during the last half-year openings have taken place of the Oxford and Rugby line to Banbury, a distance cf twenty-four miles beyond Oxford; and of the Wilts and Somerset line to Frome, six miles beyond Westbury. The traffic is carried over both those railways at present by means of a single line of rails, but the works have been constructed for a doable railway. The accounts of revenue comprise the receipts and expenditure in respect of those lines since their openings successively, on the 2d September and 7th October, as well as those of the other railways worked during the six months on account of this company. They do not include the South %Vales revenue, the proceeds of which are sepa rately accounted for, as belonging to that company. The -. general result of the accounts can scarcely fail to prove sa tisfactory to the proprietors, for they show increased receipts and dimished expenditure, with a larger disposable balance, after every charge has been defrayed out of revenue, and after providisg for the interest due to the 31st December last, on the fixed 4i per cent. stock, which has a preferential claim on the disposable receipts of the company, the directors have no hesitation in recommending that a dividend should be declared on the consolidated stock and shares, at the rate of four per cent per annum, to be p aya b le to the proprietors on the Ist of March , which will l eave a balance of 49,6601. 123. 9d. to be carried forward. With respect to the prospective revenue of the company, the directors have to announce the completion of an important agreement for the interchange of traffic with the Shrew s b ury and Birmingham, and Shrewsbury anci Chester Railway Companies, who must be regarded as the natural allie s and feeders of your Birmingham and Wolverhampton lines, from which they will derive equ al benefit in return, by obtainin g the tra c whichthe Great Western lines can command in the south of England to be conveyed to all places in the north or north-west, to which those companies have access. The agreement was sealed by the three companies on the 10th January, after a careful purposes only of its provisions, limit e d to traffic only fur which the Le g islatur e had conferr e d full p owers on the respective boards of management. It may bs proper to mention on this occasion, that be fhre your directors consented to communicate with the directors of the Shrewsbury Companies respecting any agreement, all hopes had been abandoned of obtaining an , equitable arrangement with t he London and Nor th - Wester n Railway Company for a common station in. Birmingh am , or thr the use of railways to be constructed jointly between Bir mingham and Wolverhstnpton, or for that in the town of Leamington, and that the negotiations between the two hoards had terminated. The directors think it essential to e s roceed expeditiously in completing and op enin g the line to .Biriningh am , and they have already given orders accordingly. The approachingcompletion of the Gloucester and Dean Forest Railway at the Lime when the South Wales line will probably be opened throughout, from the junction at Grange Court to Chepstow, renders it advisable to take this oppor tunity of submitting for confirmation the original agreement for a lease of it, together with a supplemental and more de fined agreement, introducing some modification in the terms and conditiuns, to which your directors recommend that the assent of the special general meeting should be also given- In the original deed it was provided that 4 per cent. with half of the profits should be secured to the share holders of thestiloucester and Dean Forest Railway, upon the capital they , wer,e_authorised t o ra i se, which amounted alto gether to 4 - 25;0=i as explained in, the financial statement published in Ig4B. The modification introduced into the supplernemt,al agreement, fixes the rent to be paid at 4i per cent. on 254,0001. of share capital for five years, anti at 5 per cent. per annum after that period, leaving it in the hands of this company to control any expenditure which may be needful beyond that amount, which is estimated not to ex ceed 12,0001., for making a quay-wall and finishing the dock branch at Gloucester. This company are only to defray the interest which may be payable en such additional capital, and the money will be raised for it under the powers of the Gloucester and Dean Forest Act, by mortgage of their under taking. It is however provided in the agreement that the Gloucester and Dean Forest Company shall be entitled to re ceive 5 per cent. upon . the said share capital, as soon as a line shall be finished from the terminus at Grange Court to Hereford, for which they have engaged to subscribe 25,0001. if authorised by Parliament to do so. By these covenants your directors have effectually protected the interests of this company, as they believe, against threatened litigation, and they have secured not only the possession of the short link between the South Wales Railway and Gloucester, but have obtained the best guarantee for the completion of a continuous railway to Ross and Here ford, without being called upon to furnish additional capital for it. The necessity-of providing station accommodation in London, without further delay, for the additional trade from Birmingham and the north, as well as from Wales (to which reference has been made in former reports), has, in consequence of these agreements, been pressed very much upon the attention of the board, who consider that the time has arrived when a commencement must be made in the construction of more permanent buildings, fitted for the great increase of business which must flow over your railway after the completion of the lines in active progress. It has been maturely considered whether any temporary additions to the present buildings at Paddington could have been usefully made, so as to postpone the construction of a permanent station ; but every inquiry has proved that such expenditure would neither secure the main objects in view, nor be con sistent with economy. It is proposed that a new merchandize building should be forthwith commenced, in order to be avail able for additional traffic, while the present goods' shed is kept up for the existing and more urgent purposes of the trade ; and it is recommended that a passenger departure shed, with offices, platforms, &c., and proper approaches:to it, be made on the ground beyond the present goods station, act as to in terfere in the least possible degree with the conveniences es sential to the traffic of the line. These partial commence ments of the permanent station are estimated to cost 50,000/., and may be considered as quite indispensable to enable the company to proceed with the business for which they have undertaken to provide. More carriages and waggons will also be required, and the directors recommend that a further vote should be taken at this meeting, to authorise an outlay of 25,000/. for that purpose." The CHAIRMAN then moved the adoption of the re , port, and confirmation of the accounts. i Mr. UPCROTT wished to know before that resolution , was put, if any negotiations were pending with the Lon ' don and North-Western Railway for a traffic arrange ment with regard to the Buckinghamshire lines? The CHAIRMAN replied in the negative. All that was ' now pending between the two companies related to the ' dispute with the Shrewsbury and Wolverhamptom Com pany. The directors had offered their mediation for the settlement of the dispute.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. DE WINTON gave it as his opinion that the sys tem of guaranteeing dividends was highly objectionable; it had proved the curse of this as well as other large companies, and be should be glad to see it speedily abandoned.—(Hear, hear.) Major GODFREY thought the South Wales proprietors ' were highly to blame for not having adopted the terms that were offered to them.—(Hear, hear.) The directors, who belonged to both boards, , bad displayed more mo desty than prudence in abstaining from voting on the occasion when the agreement was negatived, since no one could dispute that the arrangement which was pro posed would have been for the mutual advantage of both companies.—(Hear, hear.) The CHAIRMAN said it was perfectly true that the directors had abstained from voting, and it was e qually true that they had a legal right to do so ; but they had fe:: that the agreement was a question which rested solely with the proprietors, and therefore it was that the directors had abstained from voting.—(Hear, hear.) Mr.NoniU felt that some apology was due to the meeting for the delay which bad taken place in the completion of the Birmingham and Oxford line. It was of vital importance that the Northern line should be brought into active operation -as soon as possible; and he, therefore, recommended the directors to push on the works as fast as possible.—(Hear, hear.) That line would open up a direct commnication between Liverpool and Manchester, Southampton and Dover, as well as place the north in easy access to the west.—(Hear.) He highly approved of the state of the accounts, which he really believed were strictly correct, and went amply into detail; but he should be glad if in future the able accountant who assisted in their preparation would affix his certificate to them, staking his reputation for their accuracy.—(Hear, bear.) Ile wished that course to be pursued to silence cavillers out of doors, and he hoped this suggestion would not be lost sight of. —(Hear, hear.) He was glad to see that the directors did not think it beneath their notice to refer to the project of establishing a steam communication between Plymouth and the east, for that scheme would be of great service, and he trusted it would be supported by the company.—(Hear.) The Rev. Mr. NICHOLSON blamed the directors for having abstained from voting on the South Wales ques tion. No doubt if the original agreement for a lease of a line,to Fieguard could be enforced, the South Wales pro prietors were right in rejecting the proposal, but he did not believe tbat it could be legally maintained, and it was therefore foolish in them to negative the propssal of this companp—(Hear, hear.) Now with regard to the lines in the north, he should be glad to know if any arrangement had b•.en made, or if not, was one contem plated, for working the traffic between Chester and Bir kenhead ? He was rejoiced to hear that an arrangement of that sort had been concluded with the Srewsbury and Birmingham and Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton, but he was still sadly afraid that the London and North- Western Company would overreach them in the same manner that they had attempted to do in the case of the Birmingham and Oxford line.—(Hear, hear.) Now, to avert such an evil as that. had the directors taken steps to secure a lease of these lines, so as to prevent the LOU don and North-Western Coopany coming into the market and purchasing up shares to give them a prepon derating influence in the meetings of the two companies? The CHAIRMAN said neither they nor any other com pany could lease either line, as there was no legislative power for doing so. The Rev. Mr. NICHOLSON—Yes, but it may be sought for. The CHAIRMAN did not believe that it would, nor did he expect that the London and North Western Com pany would profit by the Rev. Gentleman's suggestion about purchasing sharee.—(Hear.) The Rev. Mr. NICHOLSON—I protest against that pro ceeding, it is not fair; I made no suggestion. The CHAIRMAN said the course which the London and North-Western Company pursued with refer ence to the Birmingham and Oxford lino did not meet with so much success as to induce them to try the experiment again. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) The directors felt, huwever, that they were dealing with honourable men, who would be above any such rni nceuvre, and the proprietors need, therefore, be under no apprehensio❑ that these lines would slip through the hands of this company.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. DH WINTON would be glad to know if the direc tors bad any objection to appoint a committee, selected from their own and the proprietors' body, to re-open the negotiation with the South Wales Company, with a view to a modified agreement.—(Hear, hear.) The present state of things was highly injurious to both com panies, for an impression was abroad that the company was bound to pay the South Wales 200,000/. per annum under the original agreement, and the consequence was, the shares of the Great Western were kept below par. The CHAIRMAN said the directors would be most happy to meet the South Wales Company for the pur pose of earrying into effect any amicable arrangements; but they thought, under all the circumstances of the case, the first overtures ought to come from the South Wales Company.—(Hear, hear.) If any modification could be proposed in the way of managing the South Wales line, the directors were quite ready to carry out any details of that sort, but the directors must nevertheless be allowed to adhere to the determination he had men- tioned in his opening address, namely, that they would make no advance in the pecuniary terms that had been proposed to the South Wales Company.—(Hear.) Mr. DELOITTS, the accountant, adverting to what had fallen from Mr. Norris, said he was quite ready to ap pend his certificate to the accounts if the shareholders wished it, but he thought he had already pledged his reputation for the accuracy of the account3.—(llear.) After some further discussion the resolution for the adoption of the report was put and carried unanimou3ly. A dividend after the rate of 4i per cent. was then declared on the paid-up capital of the company, payable on the Ist of March next, and a resolution agreed to forfeiting a number of shares whosa holders were de faulters in the calls. The retiring directors were then re-elected, and the ordinary business of the half-ysarly meeting closed with a vete of thanks to the auditors. Mr. , HUNT presented a memorial from Bath, praying the directors to suspend all unnecessary traffic on Sundays, and moved a resolution requesting the directors to comply with the prayer of the memorialists. Mr. Moan's hopad the meeting would pause before it adopted such a resolution. Nothing had produced so much good, ao much sobriety, so much morality amongst the working classes of the metropolis as the facilities which railways afforded them for enjoying the fresh air of the country, and so far from curtailing the Sunday excursion accommodation the directors ought to be called upon to increase it.—(Hear, hear.) The motion met with considerable opposition, and it was ultimately negatived by a large majority, only eight hands being held up m its favour. A SHAREHOLDER would be glad to know, before they went into the business of the special meeting, if the di rectors had considered the expediency of granting season tickets. The CHAIRMAN said they bad, and the conclusion they had arrived at was that it was not expedient. SPECIAL MEETING. spe T ei h a e l m sb e a e r t eh ing ol , d w er h s then enthe following resolved t h p e a m r a s e g l r v a e it.to a paragraph in t he directors' report was read and considered:— the A special notice h as L ee n given to consider h pro priety of authorising the directors to appropriate a por tion of the company's property at Pacling'on for an hotel, an d other pi...mites adj o i n in g t o the station, and to arrange for procuring such hotel to bo built and lea ,, ed under proper covenants, upon the guarantee or security of the company. This accomamd..ticn is much needed by the public, in proof of which it may be stated that an offer has been already made by an experienced ma nager of such business, to take the lease, paying a very remunerative return for any money which may be ex pended, with adequate security for the performance of his engagements. The directors are satisfied that, not only will the company derive an accession of traffic from passengers who may be induced to travel on their railway, in consequence of the conve nience of a good hotel at the London terminus, the want of which might influence them to select some other line, but that the rent of the premise., besides de. fraying all interest on the capital, will enable thus gradually to repay the principal without loss to the company. If the proprietors concur in the expediency of such a measure, under a resolution which will be submitted to the meeting, it is intended to apply for leave to introduce clauses into a Bill now before Parliament for the purpose of carrying it into effect. The directors recommena that the 171. shares should be converted into consolidated stock on the Ist July next, by which time it is probable that the calls will have been paid up in full; and they think it will be for the interest of the company to pass a resolution authorising in like manner the conversion of the Great Western Windsor shares of 201. each into the same consolidated stock, not exceeding 130,0001, as and when the amount of each share may be paid up in full." Resolutions were passed in conformity with these re commendations, and the new agreement, referred to by the chairman in his opening address, was read and confirmed. This closed the business of the special meeting. , A vote of thanks was then passed to the Chairman, who briefly acknowledged the compliment, and the pro ceedings of the meeting, which were protracted to a late hour, terminated. EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY (THIS DAY.) A special general meeting of the shareholders of this company was held this afternoon, at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, " to consider, and if approved, to au thorize the directors to carry into full Effect two several agreements with the Norfolk, and Eastern Union Rail way Companies respectively, for the permanent working by this company of their railways in conjunction with those of the Norfolk and the Eastern Union Railway Companies, upon terms and conditions, subject to stipu lations and agreements, which will be laid before the meeting." Long before the hour of meeting, one o'clock, the large room of the tavern was densely crowded with pro prietors, and the greatest excitement appeared to prevail. Joseph Glynn, Esq., the deputy chairman of the com pany, presided. fitJ. P. RONEY, Esq., the secretary, having read the ad vertisement convening the meeting, then read the heads of the proposed agreements, which appeared in The Sun on the Ist instant. In reply to a SHAREHOLDER, The Solicitor of the Company, Mr. MAYNARD, stated that the agreement for carrying out the above heads was not yet in a form to receive the seal of the company, but it could be prepared immediately after the reso lutions which were to be submitted to the meeting to day were passed. The 01Am:we, after expressing his regret at the cause which led to the resignation of Mr. Betts, the late chairman, and claiming the indulgence of the meeting while he explained the object for which it had been called, this being the first occasion on which he had presided over a meeting of the company, proceeded to observe that it had been thought best by the three companies the; a special general meeting of the Eastern Counties Company should be called, in order that they might not be trammelled by the dif ferent questions weich came before them at the half yearly meetings. The question to be discussed today was of a very grave and important character, and he hoped it would be considered calmly and dispassionately.— (Hear, hear.) He would allude, iu the first instance, to the origin of the agreement between the three com panies. They were all aware that an agreement was made to work the Eastern Union Railway in concert for a given length of time. That agreement had certainly not been satisfactory, and they received a notice for its termination from the Eastern Union Company; but though that agreement was unsatisfactory in itself, there had be'n a great and good result from it, showing what could be done, if the working of the lines could be permanently united, for the public good.—(Hear, hear.) The agree ment with the Norfolk line expired in 1845. Besides the unsatisfactory state of things with the Eastern Union, which now existed, the directors apprehended a Parlia mentary contest in the ensuing session, because notices had been published by that company of their intention to ask for powers to run over the Eastern Counties line; and they would have to contest such application, and, if possible, prevent it.—(Hear.) Now, the policy of uniting the three lines had been strongly impressed on his mind ever since he became connected with the company, not only with those, but also all the other lines in the East Anglian district. They had all one mutual interest, and if the traffic east ward of Norwich were better developed, all parties would be benefited. That was his fixed and deliberate opi nion. The Eastern Union were about forming a junction, which was nearly completed, with the Norwich Railway at a hamlet named Trowice, in the neighbourhood of Nur wich . When the railways were thus united the junction would form one system of communication from London to the pricipal station of the Norwich Company, and a communication from London to the east and west, by Colchester, Yarmouth, Dereham, and the midland dis tricts of England. Taking, therefore, into considera tion that they had a kind of "hollow truce" with the East ern Union, and that the agents of the Eastern Counties and the Eastern Union were trying to get as much traffic on their respective lines, and bring as much into their ' respective coffers as they could, they must lament these circumstances, and all be desirous of preventing such injurious competition. (Cries of " Hear, hear.") Being then on the eve of a Parliamentary contest, he thought it right - to open a communication with Mr. Cobbold, the chairman of the Eastern Union, and Mr. Bignold. They all agreed it was a sad thing going on spending unprofitably the monay of their share holders, and they thought it would be advisable to come to an understanding, whereby might be set aside the Par liamentary contest, all hostile proceedings done away with, and a harmonious working of the lines entered upon for the good of all. The result of these communications was that a number of deputies from the three companies was ap pointed to confer upon and discuss the matter. Four gentlemen from this company were appointed to meet three from the other two companies. The basis on which they came to an understanding was as follows. They ascertained that the gross earnings of the three companies for the last twelve months, taking those of the Eastern Union from the opening to Norwich, amounted to 935,0001. Now they felt that it any union was effects 1, they had only one locomotive establishment instead of three ; the working expenses might be reduced to forty-five per cent. on the gross earn ings. They assumed the gross earnings in thtir calculations to be only 900,0001., though they did not anticipto that they would ever be so small. The guarantees of the Eastern Counties amounted at present to 246,0001. a year; the guarantees of the Nor folk Company would not exceed 60,0001.; the Eastern Union had been ascertained at 70,000/. It was agreed that these two latter sums, 60,0001. and 70,0001, should be the maximum of the guarantees; but with respect to the Eastern Counties Com pany, it was arranged that it should purchase the rolling stock of the Eastern Union, and other things which he could not now detail, and that there should be allowedafurtber margin of 20,0001. a year, making the sum which the Eastern Counties guarantees amount to 266,0001. Supposing, therefore, the gross earning in 1845 to be 495,0001., and the total guarantees of the three companies to be 376,0001., there would be a surplus of 119,000/. a year. Now, after considerable discussion, it was arranged that the Eastern Counties should take 6-8, the Eastern Union and the Norfolk k. This would make a total of 120,0001., being 90,0001. to the Eastern Counties, and 30,0001. to the other two companies. The number of miles belonging to the Eastern Counties proper was 228, the Eastern Union 95, the Norfolk 94. The total amount of consolidated stock was 8,193,0001., of which the Eastern Counties bad 5,886,0001., Eastern Union 1,310,0001, and the Norfolk 997,0001. Therefore it would be seen that the division of one-eighth to the Eastern Counties was a fair and equitable arrange ment under the circumstances. If this plan was car ried out the earnings would be better, the expenses less, and peace would exist between the rival companies. At present he had proxies placed in his hands in &your of the proposition amounting to 11,670 votes and 496 votes had been sent in too late, making a total 01 12,166 votes.—(Oh, oh, and cheers.) Further votes had been lodged in the name of independent shareholders, making an aggregate of 1,445 votes. After alluding to other circumstances, the chairman concluded by moving the resolution for the confirma- Lion of the agreement entered into by the three corn panies. Mr. GEICII proposed an amendment to the effect that the meeting should be adjourned to the 25th o' March, to enable proprietors , to consider th terms of the amalgamation. Ho felt no hostility towards the directors, believing they were entitled t o his thanks for the policy they had pursued, but they ought to be careful ere they sanctioned an arrangememt which might possibly result in injury to the company. It was not right that so important an agreement should be discussed at one meeting with such imperfect information before them.—(Cheers.) This agreement would probably last till every man in the room wa, removed from the world, and therefore the necessity of caution became apparent.—(Cheers.) There was beside fifteen millions of money involved in thin amalgamation. He hoped the motion for an tyljournment would be carried.—(Hear.) He was quits aware of the necessity of making concessions on all sides, but supposing they had Bd. to divide, they shouLi see that they got their proper share of the money. — (Laughter.) The Eastern Counties Company had lately had an unfortunate notoriety, and they should do every thing in their power to satisfy the public that the management would now be freed from those evils which had hitherto attached to it. He did not think that and blame was to Le attributed to the directors, the officers, or, indeed, to anybody else.—(Groans and laughter.) The Hon. .Gentleman concluded by putting his amend• ment to the meeting. Mr. Box agreed with Mr. Geach, that sufficient data had not been placed before the meeting to enable it to farm an opinion on the subject under consideration. He therefore cordially supported the amendment, and suggested the propriety of appointing a committee of shareholder.; to &islet the directors in completing the terms of the agreement.—(Cheers.) Mr. CHRISTIE entirely concurred in the sentiment ex pressed by Mr. Box. A bargain cut many ways, a.di it might happen that the Eastern Counties Company were the sufferers in the present instance.—(Cheers.) lie thought the appointment of a committ ee wou ld b e satis factory viewsbteh.en2.—th(ear. hear.) I s n should be ought H to all parties.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. BROWN, of Glasgow, said it required no i ngenu i ty to see that by a union of th e lines they would be more prosperou than under possi b le the p opresentthe proposed arrangeme n t ca rried out, it being both fair and equitable; and no beneficial result could arise, but rather an injury, from adjourning the meeting before it was determined.—(Cheers, and cr i es of " No, no," and uproar.) Mr. HoWBE supported the amendment. Although their property had been much wasted by strife and diB. sension, still they should not be frightened to defer de termining the question before the meeting until they were supplied with the necessary information. Mr. E. MILES also supported the amendment. Mr. ADAMS said every one agreed as to the desirabi lity of an amalgamation, for if the present opposition was to be carried on between London and Norwich, the affairs of the whole three companies would be involved in one common ruin; but the proprietors should not rush into an arrangement until they had the terms of it before them.—(Hear, hear.) There could not be a more false test by which to judge of the equity of the arrangement than that adopted by the chairman. Mr. Sergeant GAZELEE observed, that if he had ever thought proxies ought to be abolished, as being injurious to the independence of railway companies, the declaration of the chairman had satisfied his mind completely.—(Loud cheers.) He s tated that 12 000 proxies had been received by the company, and they were from persons, it should be recollected, who could have no possible means of judging of the terms t f the amalgamation.—(Cheers.) For himself, he would not consent to the agreement without ample time for consideration, and he hoped that the proprietors would be unanimous in assenting to the proposition for an adjournment —(Cheere.) The CHAIRMAN said he might settle the Honourable and Learned Gentleman's doubts by answering, that it was not the intention of the directors to use the proxies on the question of adjournment.—(Loud cheers ) After some further discussion, carried on amidst much uproar, an amendment was passed by a large majority, adjourning the meeting until the 18th of March, arid appointing a committee to confer with the directors ore the subject of the agreement. Wbea our reporter loft the proprietors were nomi nating the members of the committee, and discussing other topics. NORFOLK RAILWAY COMPANY. (THIS DAY.) A meeting of the shareholders of this company was held to-day, at the Gnildhall-chambers, Basinghall street, for the purpose of considering an agreement for consolidation to be made with the Eastern Counties and Eastern Union Railway Companies; Major Tyndal in the chair. The agreement having been read to the following effect:— " Ist. The Eastern Counties Railway Company to under take the working of all the lines of railway belonging to the three companies. " 2d. The Eastern Counties Railway Company to take at a valuation all the rolling stock belonging to the Eastern Union Railway Company; and also to take the rolling stock belonging to the Norfolk Railway Company, at the va'uation already made thereof by Mr. R. Stephenson. "3d. After repayment to the Eastern Counties Railway Company of all the expenses of working and maintaining the several lines, the surplus to be first applied i n p a y men t o f th e interest on the debentures and dividends on preference stock issued by the several companies; it being, however, stipu lated that under this head the Eastern Counties Railway Company shall not receive more than 266,0004 the Norfolk Company more than 60,0004 and the Eastern Union Com pany more than 70,0001. " 4th. The divisible surplus to have the benefit of any re duction in the rate of interest payable upon the debentures of the several companies. " sth. The residue of the surplus retraining after payment of the interest and dividends on the debentures and prefe rence stocks, to be divided as follows: The Eastern Counties Railway Company to receive -Bths The Norfolk Company ••• -Bth. The Eastern Union Company ...... -Bth. "6th, The Norfolk and Eastern Union Railway Companies each to select one of their directors, who shall qualify to be a director of the Eastern Counties Railway Company's Board, and for whom vacancies will be made.. - "7th. Each of those companies to have an office at the Bishopsgate station of the Eastern Counties Railway Com pany, and to be allowed each 500/. per annum for the ex penses of their directions and their office staffs, the same to form part of the working expenses. " Bth. The agreement now existing between the Eastern Counties Railway Company and the Norfolk Railway Com pany to be cancelled. " 9th. The branch line from Manningtree to Harwich to be made as soon as possible on the joint responsibility of the three companies. " 10th. The agreement to be made for fifty years, from the sth of January, 1851. "11th. Application to be madeto Parliament for an Act of Amalgamation of the three companies upon the preceding basis at some convenient period. " 12th. The above arrangements to be subject to confirma tion by the shareholders of each of the three companies, for which purpose a special general meeting is to be called for the 13th February. The CHAIRMAN then submitted the following resolu tion to the reeeting:—" That the terms of the agree ment now read be adopted, provided a similar resolution be this day passed by the Eastern Counties Railway Company and the Eastern Union Railway Company re spectively. That in the event of such resolution being passed by the other companies, the directors of this be, and they are hereby authorised and empowered to carry the terms of the agreement into el feet, and to enter into and execute, under the company's seal, such deeds or instruments as counsel may advise to be necessary for the purpose." Mr. PETO, M.P., seconded the motion. Major COURT said there were three points on which he wished for information; one was why the rolling stock which bad been handed over to the East ern Counties Railway Company had not been valued, why the sums to be paid as interest on the debenture and preference stock were fixed in the respective proportions set forth in the agreement, and also why the residue surplus was to be divided into eighths. He thought sufficient information had not been issued to the directors on that point, and he should therefore move an amendment that the confirmation of the agreement be postponed until some further informa tion be furnished to the shareholders. Mr. PETO, M.P., said that there could be no difficulty iu replying to the Gallant Major. With regard to the rolling stock, the Gallant Major would find, if he looked to the last report, that a valuation of the rolling stock had been matte by Mr. Robert Stephenson at the time when it was handed over, and that since the award of that gentleman had been made, Mr. Marbury, on the part of the Eastern Counties, and himself (Mr. Peto) bad been engaged in considering that award, and it was only in the course of last week that they had come to a conclusion. The next matter of which the Gallant Major complained was, why the amount to be divided, the debentures and preference stacks, had been put at such high sums as they were? to this he could only say that they meant these sums to be such as should cover all the interest of the debentures and preference stock, and in calculating this it was absolutely necessary to take a margin 'large enough in Cale of all being covered. With regard to the surplus being divided into eighths, the proprietors would see that by this plan it did not matter to them what might be the capital of other companies. The principle on which it had been ar ranged was the amount of capital whieh each brought to bear: the Eastern Counties brought nearly 6,000.000 L, the Eastern Union 1,300,000/., and the Norfolk Railway nearly 1,000,0004 A ques tion had been asked as to whether the Harwich branch was covered by this agreement, and he must tell them that it was not. They all felt that when these three companies were consolidated this branch would be of the greatest importance. The Eastern Union had not executed that branch, and he thought wisely, for at best it would only have carried the traffic over about four or five miles of their line and then delivered it to the Eastern Counties. The mode in which this branch could be executed would not require any expenditure of capital, as the contractor who had undertaken it was willing to take the tolls in payment for his work. He had always said that no dividend at all approaching that which the proprietors had a right to expect, until the whole Eastern district should be consolidated. They never would bring down the working expenses of the line to such a sum as would leave them a fair dividend until they were united. Last year the three com panies had received in traffic 930,0001., and the Great Northern could not by any chance take away from them more than 30,000/. If then their line was worked! at the expense which it ought to be, they would be reduced to at least 45 per cent. of the gross receipts; and they could at once see that this would bring them a much larger dividend than had been paid for some years. This was not a question of how much each company should got more than another, but it was whether they should take advantage of au opportunity bywhich,with judicious management at head quarters, they might effect a reduction of at least 100,0001. per annum.—(Hear, hear.) He could not be lieve that a large concern like the Eastern Counties, capable of earning a million a year, would long con tinue in its present state. The truth was they had a divided board there, and where that was the case, however great might be the talents and energy of the gentlemen composing it, there was no security left against mismanagement. Again, they must take care to have proper men in the directorship—men of high standing, who could not afford to have a spot cast upon their characters —who would act in the affairs of a rail way as they would in their own private concerns. If they had men like these, and paid them well for their services, so as to enable them to devote their whole time, energy, and knowledge to the railway, th en t h ey wou ld h ave it well manag e d. —(Hear.) Th e Bri"hton Railway Company was an example of this, an d t h e i r h av i ng a ma n like Mr. L a i ng at the head of th e i r managemen t, was the reason why Brighton Railway stock approached nearer to the price of Consols than any other in the market.—(Hear, hear.) Ho believed that this arrangement was one calculated to benefit all the three companies, if they went into it without mutual jealousy, and a determination to carry it out for the joint benefit of all. It was not one which could be called "sharp practice" and a " hard bargain," for he had observed that such agreements as these never benefited either party, and he would infinitely rather let the Norfolk Railway remain as it was, and throw the agreement into the fire, than go inio it without a principle of mu reeky and joint interest.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) But even supposing this agreement were not carried out with these two companies, the Norfolk Railway Com pany would net be in a condition of despair; the Northern Railway Company would be very glad to offer them equally as good conoitions, and therefore, as a large proprietor in the company, and one who had never ;old a share, be did 'not care one farthing whether thi3 agreement were carried out or not. Still, as he believed it to be a just and equitable One, which would be for the mutual benefit of the three corn- parries, and which would ultimately bring the greatest amount into the pockets of the shareholders, he might say that he hovel it would. It was fur the interest of this company to be in alliance with the Eastern Counties and with the Eastern Union. Ile hoped, then, that they would all go into it heartily atd jointly, with confidence in their directors. They had no secrets to keep from them, and he was sure that nothing would at any time occur which could sully the fair fitme of any of the directors.--(Great cheering.) Major 'CouRT said that after the able explanation which bsd been given by Mr. Pao, he should not persist in put!ii l g his amendment. lifter a short discussion the anuendmunt was with drawn. In re ply to a question from a SHAREHOLDER, Mr. :PET° explained that tho two directors of the Norloill; and Eastern Union Railway Company would sit at the Eastern Counties Railway Board, to watch the interests of their several companies. The proportion wet quite fair, end was settled on the ratio of the un guaranteed stock belonging to each coospany. The original rsvolution vies then put, and carried o aanimously, amid loud cheering. The meeting then separated after a vote of thanks to ';he Chairman. EASTERN UNION RAILWAY. (THIS DAY.) A general meeting of the Eastern Union Railway I Company was held to-day at Radley's Hotel; Johu Shriveller Cobham, E: q., in the chair. The CHAIRMAN said that the shareholders had been 'called together to consider the terms of agreement at - ,present in operation between the Eastern Union Railway Company and the Eastern Counties Company, and w he- Aker an amalgamation should be formed with that com pany or not. Having reed the heads of the new agree ment, he said that the shareholders were aware that the object of the directors in entering into this agreement was to reduce their expenses, and con sequently improve the income of the company. It was very evident that nothing was to be locked for out of the E astern Company, and it was therefore plain that if any loos were sustained at all it must be suffered by the Eastern Union Company. The arrangement had been made iu the expectation that the working expenses would b e reduced. That expectation bad been disap pointed, but he did hope that by an alteration of their • present arrangements they would save 1,0001. a week, or 50,0001. a year. Indeed, if all the advantag es were obtained which the directors expected not less ;ban 100,0001. a year would accrue for the pay ment of the dividends; and while they were obtaining these advantages for themselves, the public would be better served. With these observations, he would call upon the secretary to read the pith of the agreement. The SECRETARY then read a❑ abstract of the agree ment, by which it appeared that the Eastern Coun ties Company were to insure to the Easiern Union Company 70,0001., end purchase all the rolling stock of the company ; the Eastern Counties were to receive, six-eighths of the gross receipts, the Norfolk Company one-eighth, and the Eastern Union Compa ay one-eighth—that 5001 a year was to be ap propriated for the payment of the direction of the Nor folk Company, and a similar sum for the payment of the direction of the Eastern Unio❑ Company; the latter company agreeing to sell the whole of their sur plus lands. To a question from a SHAREHOLDER, The CHAIRMAN replied, that the amount of guarantee given for preference shares was, in fact, 256,000/, but the Eastern Company took a margin of 10,0001., so tbot virtually it amounted to 266,0001. To Mr. Jocelyn, Mr. Taylor, and other shareholders, The CHAIRMAN replied that the depreciation of the rolling stock was amply provided for by the terms of the agreement, which was to last for 50 years from Jan. 5, 1851, each company taking its own proportion of profit and loss. The Eastern Counties Company, in their amalgamation with the Northern and Eastern, had agreed to allow that one-third of the members of the board of direction should represent the Northern and Eastern shareholders. The number of the directors had been reduced from 18 to 12, and four of the members of that board were shareholders of the Northern and Eastern Counties Company, Mr. lIUSKETT conceived that as he understood there was, in the event of an amalgamation with the Eastern Counties Company, to be only one director from the Eastern Union Company, he certainly could not fairly advocate the claims of this company. The CHAIRMAN replied, that the amount of gua ranteed receipts for the payment of interest of debentures or other liabilities was 266,0001. ; the amount guaranteed for the Norfolk Company was 60,0001., and that for the Eastern Union Com pany, 70,0001., being in strict accordance with the amounts of capital of the different companies. The un guaranteed amount of the stock of the Eastern Counties Company was 6,000,000/. ; of the Norfolk Company, 1,000,0001. ; and of the Eastern Union Company, 1,000,000/. The gross receipts on the Eastern Union line for the last year were 111,0001., the gross receipts being about fifty per cent. of that amount. To a member, the CHAIRMAN replied, that in the event of there being any deficiency in the receipts to meet the several claims upon the respective companies, each was to bear its own proportion of the loss. Mr. STURGE said that he had carefully considered the accounts which had been issued, and he believed them to be very correct. From these accounts it appeared that the whole of the amount necessary for paying the interest of debentur es , an d th e dividends of the preference shares, would be 60,0001. a-year, so that there would be a balance of 10,0001. a-year for the general purposes of the company. As for the working stock there was no doubt but that the Eastern Counties Company would for their own sake keep that in working order. The only point that re mained in any doubt was the payment of the out debts of this company. The Eastern Counties Company were to purchase the whole of the present stock, which would give a fund for the payment of the outstanding liabilities the company, amounting, as ho understood, to 300,000/. After several other remarks by Mr. CAYLEY, M.P., and other gentlemen, all bearing on the points previously mooted, a resolution was put, the effect of which was, that in the event of the Eastern Counties Company and the Norfolk Company coming to a similar decision, the directors of this company should be empowered, under proper legal advice, to enter into an amalgamation with those companies. It was curled unanimously, and thanks having been given to the chairman and directors, the meeting was dissolied. TATTERSALL'S-THIS EVENING Six O'CLOCK. LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE. 7 t) 1 agst Vain H..pe 10 to 1 agst Abd-el-Fader 10 to 1 agst Sir John 13 to 1 agst Pt ter Simple 20 to 1 agat Rescue LIVERPOOL SPRING CUP. 5 to 1 agst Doubt 5 to 1 agst Panope 7 to 1 sgst Idle Boy 9 to 1 agst Caurire CHRSTER CUP. 17 to 1 agsl Rhesus 20 to 1 agat The Flying Gout 20 to 1 agst The Italian 30 to 1 agst Wallflower 40 to 1 agst Strap 50 to 1 agst Backbiter 66 to 1 apt Caurire 66 to 1 agst Sir Richard 66 to 1 agst Prior of Lanercost PUBLIC WOOL SALES. (THIS EVENING.) The series of wool sales at the Hall of Commerce com menced this evening, and there was a fair attendance of buyers, several foreigners being present. The quantity of colonial to be offered is about 16,000 bales, including 8,000 of Sydney, 2,000 of Port Philip, 2,000 of Van Diemen's Land, 3,000 of Cape, and 1,000 of Adelaide. The sale this evening comprised 1,302 bales. Aus tralian, 759 bales, sold for clears sheeps at Is. 3d. to Is. 9d. for samples from Sydney, 100. to Is. 3id. fir locks and pieces, Is. Oid. to Is. lid. for lambs, Is. 90. for prime clothing, ls. Bid. for first clothing, Is. sd. for hand-washed, Is. 4d. fur skin, and Is. 6d. to 26.1 d. for two lots of very superior scoured. Port Philip, 171 bales, went at ls. sid. to Is. 7d. for scoured, Is. 3id. to Is. 7d. for lambs, Is. sd. to ls. 9d. for clean sheeps, and Is. 2d. to Is. 4d. for broken. Cape of Good Hope, 287 bales, went at 7id. for greasy, Is. lid. to Is. 6d. for scoured. Van Diemen's Land, 85 bales, realised Is. sid. to Is, Bd. for clean sheeps, and Is. 7d. to ls. l Od. for lambs, and Is. 4id. to IN. 9id. for scoured. These prices are considered to be much the same as at the last series. We give the sales to the close this evening. COMMON PLEAS.—(THIS DAY.) Sittings at Guildhall, before the LORD CHILFJUSTICE and a Common Jury.) SEDUCTION,—BLACKWELL V. TAYLOR. This was an action brought by the plaintiff, a carpenter and builder at Rochester, against the defendant, a captain in the Royal Marines, for seduction of the plaintiff's daughter. The defendant pleaded not guilty, and leave and licence. Mr. Sergeant Wilkins appeared for the plaintiff; and Mr. Hurnfrey for the defendant. Mary Anne Blackwell, the plaintiff; a very pretty looking girl, deposed that she first saw the defendant at Rochester Cathedral in the month of September, 1849, when he entered into conversation with her. She saw him afterwards on several occasions, when he urged her to make appointments to meet him ; which, to get rid of the annoyance, she did, but did not ke e p. I n th e month of October s he went with a former acquaintance, a girl named Jane Colville, to Chatham Church, where they met the defenpant and a Lieutenant Hunt ; and after some conversation, the defendant urged her to accompany him to the barracks, as he had something of importance to tell her. He had before said he would ask her father for permission to marry her; they all four went together, and came away from the barracks together when he urged her and Jane Colville to come and dine with him and Lieutenant Hunt on the fol lowing Wedne,day. Cn that day she Ras persuaded by Jane Colville to go. Whilst there Lieutenant Hunt asked Colville to go with him to his room to see some pictures, and witness wanted to accompany them, but the defendant pulled her back and locked the door and behaved very rude. She threatened to scream out, when the defendant said it was of no use if she did, as no one would come to her help. He then pushed her into his bed room, and forcibly obtained possession of her person, and afterwards told her not to mention if, as he would marry her. After this, the intimacy was frequently repeated, and ultimately she gave birth fo a child ; when she told the defendant she was in the family-way, the defendant said he was delighted to hear it, and frequently made pre sents to her of rings and brooches, and also a lock of his hair, and wrote frequent letters in which he addressed her as ,g my dear Polly." Shortly before her confinement she asked him to fulfil his p rom i se of marriage, when he replied, " Nonsense, you was not such a fool as to believe I meant ft; never mind, you will be Mrs. Taylor as much as ever," and he had provided everything for her confinement; but that turned out not to be the fact, and all he sent her was 4/. The witness was severely cross-examined as to her inti macy with other ()facers, which she positively denied. Several witnesses were examined as to the vit tuous and excellent conduct of the plaintiff's daughter pre'7i ous to this transact ion. Mr. lIILMFIZET addressed the jury, and in s , lp port of the plea of leave and licence called several officers fr , .na Brompton barracks, one a Lieutenant. in the Royal Artillery, who de posed that he had frequently met the:plaintiirs. daugb ter, and made appointments, and that she had visited more than twenty times at his room in the barracks, on which occasion criminal intimacy bole place between them. Jane Colville also proved that Mary Ann Blackwell had talked to her frequently of her being in the habit of meeting officers at their rooms. Mr. Sergeant Wuxi :vs, in a most powerful speech in which he charged the last witness as a common harlot, who hail been foisted upon the plaintiff's daughter to lure her to her destruction, said he hoped to live to see the day when the law would be so altered, instead of an action for seduction, the seducer would be treated as a criminal. The learned Jove having slimmed up, the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff— 1501. damages. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. The LORD CHANCELLOR touts BEat on the Woolsack at Five &cluck. CASE OF THE BIRDS. Lord CAMPBELL brought in a Bill to simplify the mode of procedure in criminal cases. This Bill was ren dered necessary in consequence of the dicision of the Judges in the case of the Birds; 59 uncertain was the construction of the law, that in that case on appeal, end after he argument, it had been found that eight of the Judges had been found to be of one opinion end six of another. I❑ order to make the state of the law c:7-rtaiti he had introduced this Bill. AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS. Lot d STANLEY presented seva'al petitions com plaining of agricultural distress, and gave notice that on Tuesday nest his Noble Friend Lord Malmesbury would bring forward a motion, drawing the attention of their Lordships to the state of the country. EXTENSION OF COUNTY COURTS BILL. Lord BROUGHAM withdrew the Bill which he had introduced on this subject, and brought in a second, which met certain objections that had been made to the original Bill. - _ Several petitions were presented by various Noble Lords against the Papal aggression. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE laid on the table cer tain orders in council, by command of her Majesty. • ENFRANCHISEMENT OF WOMEN. The Earl of CARLISLE presented a petition from the female inhabitants of Snetrielcl, in public meeting as sembled, signed by the chairwoman on behalf of the meeting, praying fur the enfranehisement of women. PETITIONS. Earl NELSON presenter; a petition from Chard, in Somersetshire, against Papal aggression. Their Lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SPEAKER cock :he Chair at Four o'clock. SECOND READINGS. • Tho Birmingham Improvement Bill was read a second time. On the motion for reading the South Staffordshire Railway (Extension to Burton-en-Trent) Bill, LABOUCHERE objected to the second reading of the Bill, as coutaiLing powers which he thought ought cot to be given to any company. He would not, however, divide the House at preent, but content him s‘lf with watching ite progress that its provisions might be modified. Mr. HUME had not read the Bill, but after the remarks of the Right Hon. Gentleman, he thought the second reading ought to be postponed, that Members might make themselves acquainted with it. After.some discussion the Bill was ordered to be read a second time this day week. The Vict)ria (Bedew.) Harbour and Docks Bill was read a second time. PETITIONS. Mr. Alderman COPELAND presented a petition from Staffordshire praying for the repeal of the window•duty. Sir J. Y. BULLER presented a petition from Devon shire to a similar effect. Similar petitions wore presented from St. James's, Westminster, by Mr. V. Smith; from Birmingham, by Mr. Mainz; from a place in Cornwall, by Sir James Duke; from Finsbury, by Mr. T. Williams. Mr. DUNCAN presented a petition from Aberdeen against the slave-trade. Mr. MUNDY presented a petition from South Derby shire against Papal aggression. A great number of petitions were presented from va rious places. Mr. W AWN presented a petition from South Shields, against the Mercantile Marine Bill. Mr. BENETT presented a petition from a place in Norfolk, complaining cf agricultural distress. Mr. B. SMITH presented a petition from the Town Council of Birmingham preying for an alteration of the income-tax. Mr.'CO WAN presented a position to the same effect from Musselbtirgh. Mr. SCHOLEFIELD presented a petition from Bir mingham praying for a repeal of the paper duty. Mr. FELLOWES presented a petition from Hun tingdon complaining of agricultural distress. Mr. PORTAL presented a petition praying for the establishment of county financial boards. Colonel CIIArIERTON presented a petition from a place in Ireland complaining of agricultural distress. PAPAL AGGRESSION. Petitions were presented by Sir G. GREY and several other Members, against the , Papal aggression. SIR JAMES BROOKE AM) BORNEO. Mr. HUME gave tonn) that on this day fortnight he should put ts question to her Majesty's Ministers, as to whether any measures had been taken for ascertaining the causes which had led to the con flicts on the coast of Berneo. lie found by the returns made by Si: James, that upwards of five hundred men had been killed in those coefl.cis, and he could not per ceive that there was any cause whatever for. this sacri fice of life. He should therefore move an address to the Queen, praying for an inquiry into Sir James's conduct. E) ENCUMBERED ES'T'ATES (IRELAND) BILL. Mr. M'CULLAGII gave notice that he should on an early day call the attention of the House to the opera tion of the Encumbered Estates Bill. BARROW POOR-LAW UNION. Mr. G. BANKES wished to ask the Hon. and Learned Member who presided over tho Poor-law Commissioners whether he had received any communi cation whatever respecting a riot which bad occurred at the Barrow Union Workhouse in Dorsetshire. Mr. BAINES said that he certainly had received some information respecting a riot which had occured in the Barrow Union Workhouse on Sunday night last, when the number of the inmates was unusually great. The rioters were in possession of the union -house for nearly five hours. It was also true that the military had been called out, but what loss of life or what injury had re sulted from their interference he did not know. Mr. G. BANKES wished to know whether there were not means for the suppression of these disorders, and for securing those by whom they were principally excited. Mr. BAINES said that the district, of which the union house was the centre, extended to a radius of five miles round it, and he had ascertained that the parties who were the ringleaders in this outbreak were the same as had occasioned it during last year. In reply to another question, Mr. BAINES gave the number of the paupers at different times, and stated that 78 had been admitted to the house on the afternoon of Saturday previous the outbreak on the Sunday. WORKING OF THE POOR-LAW. • Lord JOHN MANNERS wished to ask the Hon. and Learned Member whether he had instituted any in quiries into the state of destitution which prevailed at Carlisle. Mr. BAINES said that he had, and had taken means to rectify the evil. Mr. WAKLEY wished to ask the Hon. and Learned Member whether he had any objection to lay upon the table the; dietary bill for the paupers in Barrow Union Workhouse? Mr. BAINES—None at all. COURT OF CHANCERY. Mr. J. STUART wished to ask Lord John Russell whether her Majesty's Governinent intended to bring in, without delay, a Bill to authorise the appointment of a Vice-Cbaucellor in the room of Sir James Wigram. who had resigned ; 'and whether the Noble Lord was aware of the enormous expense and distress to suitors for justice in the Court of Chancery, whose comilaints were now standing for hearing from the want of a com petent judge to discharge the judicial duties heretofore discharged by Sir James Wigram? Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he stated last year that it was not the intention of Government to nominate a second Vice-Chancellor in the event of one of the two offices becoming vacant. He also stated towards the close of last session that it was the intention of the Government to propose a measure for regulating the businesS of the Court of Chancery, and he had now to add that it was his intention shortly to introduce that measure.—(Hear, hear.) A good deal of additional business bad recently been thrown upon the Court of Ch ancer y by maiden Acts of Parliament, and therefore, when he introduced this measure he would state to the House the reasons why he thought it was necessary to appoint a second Vice-Chancellor.—(Bear.) RATE IN AID. Colonel DUNNE wished to ask the Secretary for Ireland whether the returns (required by the Act 12 and 13 Vic., chap. 24) detailing the receipts and expenditure of the rate in aid in Ireland, had been laid on the table of the House, this being the tenth day from the meeting of Parliament. Sir W. SOMERVILLE said the return had not ar rived yet, but he 'expected it by every post. Directly it reached his hands he would lay it on the table. COURTS OF LAW IN IRELAND. Mr. M'CULLAG II said considerable excitement had been crewed in Ireland by a statement which had got abroad, that it wee the intention of Government to sup press some of the courts of law in Dublin. Now, such a proceeding would be unjustifiable; but if it were •to take place, it was desirable that it should be made kno wn when this system of centralization and abolition was to c ommence. —(Hear, hear.) Lord J. RUSSELL rose to order. The Hon. and Learned Member had given notice of hie intention to Put a qu est i on , b u t now ho was going into a lon g state meet, with the view of casting imputations on the Go vernment. Now, he submitted that such a mode of pro ceeding ware wholly out of order.—(H ear, h oar.) Mr. M'CULLAGII had made no imputations against the Government. Ile had simply made a statement of facts.—(Cries of " Order, order.") Well, then, what he wished to ask the Attorney-General for Ireland was, whether it was the intention of Government to intro- duce any measure during the present session for the purpose of abolishing the office of master in any and which of the ouperior courts of law in Ireland. Mr. HATCiIELL had to etste that it was not the intenti:in of Government to introduce any measure dur log tl'.e present fsior.., for abolishing the office of waster :a any of the court.: of la w.—(HeAr. hear.) OODS AND FORESTS. Viscount DUNCAN wished to ask Lord John Russel l , whether it war, the intention of the Government ?„ bring in a Bill this sesion to make b e tt e r, provision for_ the managem ent o f the woods, forests, and land reven .ll:a of the Crown, an d f or the direction o f pu bli c works ` 1 ": buildings? Lord J. RUSSELL was understood to reply in t affirmative. His N o bl e F r i en d at t h e h ea d of tho Goode and F o rest s h a d t h e su bj ect under discuss i on , and' , l doubt, he would b e ear l y prepared w i t h suc h a measure as as that suggested by th e N o bl e L or d.—(ffear, coma OF CHANCERY. Mr. STUART gave notice of his ir.tentiou to int! duce a measure for a reform in the Covet of Chance* ADJOURNED DEBATE ON THE PAPAL Ia reply t o Mr. ROAGGRESSION, CHE, Lord J. RUSSELL said he intended to move thot the adjourned d e b ate on the E celesiatical Tit l es Bill, show be made en order of the day for to-morrow. THE BUDGET. In reply to a question from an HON. IVIENBLBI he The CHANCELLOR of the EXCI I E QUEII sate • th in should mak e hi s finaticial statement on Monday, _, event of the debat e on th e E cc l es i ast i ca l T i tles Din cop eluding to-morrow.-(Laughter.) MR. DISRAELI'S MOTION. oft' Sir E. BUXTON int i mated that he was rea dy to P. m ! pone his moti on on t h e African Slave Trade, Prevloy other Members would do the same, in order to g i L e ,. fof to the deb a t e on t h e motion of the Hon. Member Buckingham s hi re . Ise P ERROGATIVE COURT (IRELAND) - ,,e -L „ os bor A r' que s t h av i ng b een made to the Hon. e• - s es (Mr. Keogh) to withdraw his motion with regard to introduction of this Bill, hi 6 Major BERESFORD was understood to expre ss opposition to the Bill. be boa Mr. KEOGH wished it to be understood that s b not agreed to withdraw Peet motion. The lionourbs Member (Major Beresford) had not thought,i,t rig t bid openly oppose the introduction of the Bill, but bter walked up-he wou ld not sly sneaked up.-(11.1:strillr and cries of '"Order." He would w",'",, thlt the observation, b ut the Hon. ) Member walked u p Speaker's chair and intimated in silence his oPP ei t oe . the motion.-(Laughter.) The observation y 'Li fps vertly made-he walked up and intimated his - ° P II.- ' Be, by gesture, and not by remarks.- (Hear, hear:leao thought it would have bean a more open, os i tatiot manly course to have stated the reason of his oPP"; el Major BERESFORD said be had been aoc eg f ilein% sneaking up-(Cries of " No, no.")-he ° abet° up-and whispering to the Speaker his disaPP% o d• at the introduction of the measure. Now, he ,d, sod actly in the same position in which he now 011 ,,,, bit spoke to the Speaker not certainly in a loud Y° l `'` d ' oils sufficiently loud to be heard. The statement 111/6 unfounded. tDir Mr. DISRAELI said be thought there was some ,,, elm" apprehension between two Hon. Members. -'•' ; , ;430 to Aleieber le. Essex wished to make some oPP °s „"i e selA the Bill, but had refrained from doing so on th e ri o lb* occasion, because there was an understand il lb e fore, House that no business was to be proceeded ivitL ir eea the adjourned debate. He hoped the Hon-an d , Member for Athlone would follow the example rest of the House. The motion was then withdrawn. Ti osD AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.-AD"'- DEBATE. • ro' The Marquis of GRANBY opened the OP. lb. debate. He thought the Right Hoe. Gentlen3ett t he Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his answer, A eeeti Honourable Member for Buckinghamshire; "' w eld; led into a variety of extraneous „ na tter b o a had nothing to do with the question. 1 1,1 stid, now had five y ears ' experience in free' t";./oltr' the consequence was that the interest of 17, th i l e ture had beau most seriously damaged' „ to rs country there were grown 9 4,000,000 (111%,„reete wheat per annum, and there' had been 8 '' i rter. tion from 565. to 385., almost 11. per - 1 cool What did his Hon. Friend want? He did e e ' re pee• forward to dictate any terms to the Ministry Po the the measure f or fr ee trade, or in any way to a sst siniPL/ Se legislation u p on t h e subject.-(Hear, bear.) , - o rthe . , A w came before them t o o b ta i n a relief from the (jO7A which pressed upon the agricultural classes' f air" cries of " Hear, hear.") He was, therefore , . 1113 ;',, 010 1 at the opposition with which the motion h aa ireoft bs by his Right Hon . Friend opposite (the Chancel / setr burdens on agriculture. He had taken the °/' 'V er t sible article, the payment for which has not he e l the dolled-the article of labour, and he f°lin e e'd this bad been depreciated:in an unusual degree. wo ofs a degree which was not warranted by the ciren°3loollP Exchequer. H e mere l y wished to relieve the ti e lir tural clases form imposts which had he e k t da - tolerable.-(l.lear, hear.) Looking at rooti t l3B. lv ai l deration in which the terms of this couched, he did not think that the mininistry (4 Oh; would have the boldness, the temerity, or t he helsV ness to meet it w ith a negat i v e.-(0°6 1.1 ,011 P i tt The only object whi c h hi s f r i e d d h ad to serve 4, relief of Briti s h i n d ustry. And, O r :: bt o there were to be free trade in anything, there o i r: t that be free trade i n corn . H e songht for no rel i e f by pilaf which was to b e o bt a i ne d f rom a relief from the r-with It was impossible far the British farmer to Bible com P e t: the foreigner, fo r t h e B a i i i s h la b ourer had to P,e),,lPores' upon his tea his coffee, his malt, and, indeee, everything that he consumed, and therefore itec °7 d for him to live wiihout higher waees than ware P - o ftbe the Continent.-(Hear, hear.) The Chaneel ler a t t he Exchcqver, in these circumstances, must ei,tlo e ;eign er ' t agriculturi s ts i n a pos i t i on to compete with SPeloal.) they would relieve th em f rom t h e i r distress.-(f iegir i tbot t-ert would not d o t o tel l t h e agr i cultural iaterea- for were the cause of their own misfor t t e ' e et o eg3 h ‘ was not they eho established our Present st morcial system. It was founded by it ;:is occupied the Treasury benches, and r 'bons their bounden duty to restore protection ° 00 Jito' taxes and local burdens that pressed heavily u r p e eectiel and the occupiers of land.-(Hear, hear.) T i lle , a erso ° i t in the amount of pauperi s m et Michaelmas itt,l l-1 to be 10 per cent., while the reduction price of provisions amounted to 3 0 P er Ce^. eff e ' ru d . was a curious fact, and to his mind - 1 1 1; a conclusive answer to those who said Pa,"P e tion minished always in an equal ratio with r eds s fora 3 the price o f prov i sions. (Hear, hear.) 9 rl etese at occasion he had accuse d the Right Hon. Li en " the held of t h e P oor - law Board w i t h wilfully t aalr ~.. ru es ing with or doctoring the returns •of P f the which ca me throw ht that departn 3 en t „ e el t h at Government, b at ho begged n ow , in the pretut ero ant:,,„ Right Hon. Gentleman, to retract that As' 000 (Cheers.) Ho did not believe the Bigh t il t ° o l3. lo° ll rof man was capabl e o f making false returns ( p o or but it really was a p i ty that the returns o f the of l bw ; Board were so much mistified and confused. Ale, ll 4,re tbaf were to him qu i te i ncomprehens ibl e; butu.` out ione nis could admit these r e t urns , ex hibi t i ng t he dit el ea seftj the national p au p er i sm , t h ey ought to be in of returns showing how many . h a d been t old" on the road, an d h ow many had been e 0; , 4 by private parties.-(Hear, hear.) He d had such returns before them it would be Free-trade had increased rather than T i t defit, r ij g (Hear, hear.) They had heard to-night er,t" - ese seel,„ f don of workhouses in Suffolk, and of the do tr u d,be f or in some of the manufacturing districts, vet y Coe . one thought that such facts as these proved P OW elusively that the labourer was better off no de !' " tion than under Free -trade.-.(Hear, her.) (LEFT SPEAKING.) COAL MARKET.—YrzrzaDAY• . 1 46 fd , Bate's West Hartl e y... 13s Od Belmont.:. .-. ... ... ..... Os s j Buddle's W. Hartley.. 13s 6d Braddyll . .... ?.? .. "". 1 9 64 Chester Main /2s 9d Hetton .. . ..... ... .. .• ... JO 04 . Pelton Main l2s 6d Haswell ......... ... .. 00 . ip na Holy well . l4s 6d Lambton ............. , Os To North Percy Hartley 13s Od Russell's Hatton ... -! 1 46 5.:1 New Tan field Ord's Maili . ..... South Peareth Us 6dlDenison ... .. .......... ". pig 0 Tanfield Moor rantield Moor Butes 1 23 6dlKelloe ......... ••••" 1 4 ° 0 Wylam . Nall'® End, &c. Whitw orth Whitworth.......... ' / 7 Is Bewicke and Co. Brown ... l2s 6d l ß7own's Deaneri ''' 1 51 pi Gibson Hedley Lawson Wharnclitre ... 12s 9d Cowpen ............. ... j el . 1 4 ' 03 Walker . ......... 13s Od Derwentwateril ar/ 1 41 Bell ....................... 14s 3d Sidney's Hartle,' .... Jj ark At. 177. Shins at ni At st° ;00 1411 ' NEWCASTLE CATTLE MARKET, FIE. 1 10 " --- 1 SO de market we had an increase in the number of fat Cettief. tr o, pared with last week, of 250 head. Quality irr,, ' 00° ° ; 10 sluggish at drooping, rates; a large quantity renist, ° ' ; 5,. ° A ; Number of sheep about the same as last Tues day ' steady at former prices, and all cleaved et 'nit° 'sheep, 3,400. Beef, 4s to 6s 6a b p e e .tooe I &Je tt° per lb. r the str [ADVERTISEMENT.]--HOIIOI,VIO •0_ mofhi.v_eri‘Ciro.mßpliacihnatrsd, H ln a d y i n g e e s stionand Disorders ° f nsrd ac ' her Majesty's D° °l e / o t of Plymouth, for sev era l years I: of had not had the enjo 0 day's good h ea l t h , constantly suffering from ind l g el - 1 -- ° 0 liver complaint s . H e had the best medical advice 7 'l o tilt army and navy surgeons, but the disease yielded ee.tth treatment, and various oth?r remedies were tried lai d ibis • e , result. At last he began to use Holloway's Pills. an oitte., - .4 - Inedicine has so strengthened the tone of his stetee e . re d. vigorated his constitution that he is now perfectly e i ra , enjoys the best of healt h.—Sold by all Druggist ° : to . •• lessor Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, Lon BIRTH'S. e'"' OA OF A' SOW. ..,41,14 On the Bth inst., at James's-terrace, Coal Peckham, Mrs. W. A. Wiakley. WA ter' OF A DAUGETKR. Bar On the Bth inst., at Westbourne park-villa s, Mrs. J %V. Blackett Brug.. On the Bth inst., at St. Pancr o ,as Alfred' Eir r e 'abBn ol4 Seymour-house, Lee road, Blackheath, to Emi l y - only daughter of the Pev. J. A. Wood, 51. A DIED ear •••- On the 20th ult., at the Chateau de Bellevue, 11„f seilles, aged 80, the Right lion.,Laciy Lucy F01e); , ,,," jail SP; medals- park, Carmarthenshire widow of thelate palo Thomas Foley, G.C.8., ando f J mee, " Is ~, daughter a of Leinste St r, h On the h inst., at Writtle Vicarage, a ged 814 t-, e writtir Penrose, D.C. L.,of Shaw-house,,Berks,,and vicar cum-Roswell, Eseex London: Printed .and Published by 114 No. 112, Strand, Print er , i at The Sun . oe un P"'. ll el Strand, in the Precin c t o f the Savoy, n ''" hiiddlesex,..Thursda,y, February 13, 1851. AlAt joiiiMdtgt e 1 411 ab ßes 3' • It 1... ill p, ', " 44 1, 51 101 q k Li Tr ot " %iC' re aen ae~~t i .. /I Nority 2 .11 Pan Y I 1 aAll t Itai r d2 k~ e arc "" eng age in 8 .14 Ine4ts i l Z 3 - i °Di g i t it af i g w e: i kr th e ) Pre itqt • 1...0Z1es ge, fit : Pto ent. .. u~a, • ~~P Y tiok 4 tiorl wiil L 4 Ac IW it 10 Ye bei Ite st 7 'Lk kr. ea ch 14 41 4 t or -447) t 4 re: I NZ if t l, 4 4 1141 4 114 rii. V4o 4 Lilit ai ""or) .110,4 1 4 4 7 2 1 40 11 %4 : 1 I 1 44 41 ' ' 14'4 7 °4 4 1 : 5' %M I 8 11,tioci 1y Yll *is - ky I N) 4, Cl 111 0 4th k 1*412 41 011 44° 1 %IA THE S U N, O,N D 0 N, THURSDAY, EVENING, FEBRUARY 13, 1851.