The Sun. — London, England, 1845-11-26 00:00:00

U ills y r iight B ril l es` of itersst is P AY') Tom) eJ the rer9 tLc !art, •jvcil °y r 'AO: .itch • 4,, , of 7L A t r th e au— deferidlintdoe 3 1ntitl; 31 1.0 10 t br . efencleat hoe, ! feudan t, that he 11 , 1 ti of ') —the am)u. 3• theo. :rev anal k ditie but act; Ile I' ll 'r ha O id 3 " • broti' ° er 101, pi :Dsent aBl.tor4, 1 for 221 ', bra etion 11— eh?" ttled g 3 r ea dmit. 3311TH . called to „1 bip; ve 00' % i n & At able (0 t bei n g(4 o °' f vis s ' 0 61 11 , 0 ' i t ware roh o, e diffe " ( d the e ro. rge~at 51? frP' ' 0604 0 01! rig ive dsl r rice H is 0 • o p io lo coo 'e bits 1111 ter pies o colin ro o ;erik ugly P; n refl° o jtio 18 ll' to if , na s r t.!' 4 7;1o: 1 ' no s, to c , a I ste o. b TeP le ; o ; Ited ." .) 0 ,. Jong , an i , Thoo' 7 • r.ted el ,) 3po— o r. cc‘ !octet• dreor, hair , 0 1 ' re le Jl'a t Cl' to be est t he e. sj6lll al 00- a 0 10 11 c ol of s 10 0 , 3i T v' t 3, 0 .,_ to ofl °o 0 01; $ :for t " bo" ,TES" E' ,25 totiglial' 4,500/ ,9 11114 D 4 n POj p , ret i ' I• for ve",l ' * ll ll :fe, foo t pr • 0 a wo '' wo co biti i , ‘,OOO he s disr v°' , esg 0 10 5 b' rage's , it, P t ij l e lea tO v j$ , e be Vti°l 41 3 W ttion Lott* _4,) ____,e.___. NORTHERN AND EASTERN RAIL- The DAY.) The enceting of the Proprietors of this Company, ad jourued from the l'lth, was held to-day, at the Station, Shoreditch, et 12 o'clock, to consider the proposition for !tauniting, the interests cf the +a o companies submitted .. to d thYsqt.i:e Eesfern Ccainties Coiepany. R. W. ke.?l'' the chairman of the previous meeting, again presided. The advertisement calling the meeting read, The CRAlnbt.or the Proprietors. Ile Board of D. proceeded to address ha v i ng been regretted that Mr Paterson, the Chairman of the h indipositionl,reebeti°n;'g's' 'we; again un ' able to attend throug lis the Present versed on the last still confined a prisoner to his house. 1, _c was an adjourned meeting it would not 'es n eessary for him to go over the ground he had tra isunderstanding oincctoasiwlichliseomler`o'ottil.d the Proprietors .rop ri correct etor as Thy then fallen absut dealing with the divisible fund. Tifl- Proposed dealing with' that fund did not in the torn Co degree' affect the guarantees made . by the Eas .o Counties Company.lt ''" do ~,., had nothing 4% with those guarantees, but they!' hatoeuvehrl Since the 'no .precisely, as th ey wer e before. tooktook preivious meeting a full account of what; then . Nee had been sent to every Proprietor 111 t t l i l i so the Directors had given the fullest attention to / 4 (Lie the which were urged on that occasion. how ng so they had found great difficulty arise as t tri e ti l,, theY should deal with those who had invested had C'' )/ leY in the concern, and the time intervening eitett,"eeill employed in devising a remedy. Happily, c on , -- b u're had been Obtaine from the Eastern Coni , i i ti n e d s heea'!n3',whieh would be founds n the resolution that . ti pt r eirculated amour , the Proprietors as they came into , laySa. ( o, and which would be submitted to them s t a a r a . L . prep, There solution gave them all that was neees It at an increase of six per cent. from five per , Ik e ' at present guaranteed, as an equivalent for the the divisible fund. Whether, however, they faddioge fire per cent., and their chance of the divisible t _ e righ t t t il i bt per cent. without, they would still possess h or ererysi° have new shares allotted them in proporti . ce ht t to shies t t ire now held. They would also possess the f rig r the Fer ee n ' i t te ztbY of all profits that might accrue, tie Co g 0 guaranteed the Northern and EastearnttloCotuhrait %jell thePanY, with a similar rate of dividend a _— Ives, .0, Eastern Counties Company had been p id that he i ' lle r the Eastern Counties Company had received_ Es te P " cent, • • resolution, rn their on their capital, and the Northern and as per th e tt n guaranteed per centage Thour,°.'ts would be equally divided pro rata. re seet Though the advantages on these terms at p - jetted owere considerable, in the event com be b' Mgr-°111 y r aching-y- 1 the benefits would . lieea, e or i, of the *tet the At present the rivalry of bpPosing North prices of all their shares, and was kepthnthees still a erne nd of Counties at 19i, though that tep,junsiderable advance upon their original . co . But, sill a'n'g they were successful in their application to , the hil'ent, and obtained their Bill, then would and ;el:alins at present paid on the rn Orlr ~ for lin es C ambridge . and Lincoln, stock. and So London other far 4 would e e n merge into their_ 44, Tesuow lhpta the benefit of taking up the new e vf ni ,ams4 e t o ie btpa ; e osi e t s io o n l e. f o - eurg contained another agreeable alteration frhoem_. tion that would be submitted to e re ateed m e e or Out, tlhtepraogyriedeemdetnhtarteswpeheettihnegrttheAgeStniaoilf. th e te Interest should stand good. Whether an to b e „gi'lature was got or otherwise, the agreement w was woul d e e rtos was refer 'ent- There was another p ,e l 4 in An' reganling the capital stoocikn.t to f b s ie s h teo h k e kliiibpl;4tesspe,ets. ~,) be consideredpartnershwiopulsdtocbke t b,, . ()Named Another alteration ... tret e _ (I,r'' the. c.th section of the resolution, that sets% their etaster Counties Company Pantsttletere.llLute,!rsad)plicriation to 17 being u i n n s ua the i e . d -th , ' t y t:u,inct he returned, ail responsibility on arl , i r a l m w en E t, as a t l e l r m n o c ne o ItitLltcaok;u4,,UPon themselves a- L i lies '"ii t o '• 1:11e seer t would ni,w The f lbt Meet' "rY ' 1 44 ''lloie• Pg. then sub read the reso ed : i ing is the resolution which was to 4 rti l h ,,TlLtt th th e 4-0; 4 ii-oe, amalgamation agreement betwee h n o t g h e e d, tw to o ell ahl e st th'at,,,,as from the lat July net, be c a pi k e ,ecapit,,,,us net profits shall be divided_ o r w a e t v ea e b r ; o o t v h e e r • 411143,,4'80f:b0th Companies, subject, h Ile sewrantees after mentioned. 111,41,14,. capital of 4,500,000/. to receive ile w 4 lines per tr a i . %tub! traction usual manner, while the have op ened for tf7e, sileh'ict!on; and when the same . it prottea Patil shall commence taking its rateable share a tcl e,. 44 4t r 4, r e i et,9rs of Northern and Eastern shares agreeing eikacN)iteiot!uloiMent of two new shares of h .9ol. sa e i a d ch Ea in st t e h m e 1ierti1ie31;444,500,000/. to be raised by /13 41 111 iii(1 1.-7 oinpany, for each shar t e e of 50/. ore c-asteen capital, shall have the same al e l f ot t t h ed e tom%t Th at tit 3',he t l 4 d e , th and Eastern are capital of the Northern Per re ! to receive 0 3' the Proprietors last mentioned, ska_l_l, bes " fat, jo p e rpetuity, their present guarantee" 'link' T hat p Cta e y gto ta, rometors of Northern and Easter h n r s e h s ar o e f s 2 (1 0 7 amp 'tith e the said allotment 'of two new s a ri4ay ef4"esw,, Extension capital of the Eastern Counties tel t ere etavu,ooo/., about to be created, for e h h ec lst July tit 1 1 ; trkaive Ostero capital, shall, re, tiv ,4 11 , 1 s Per c ent• per annum as 7a Pis % ~MS mall, after all the remaining capita l in the sur d k 4.etp,,`,"‘alle,lit., be entitled to share rateably g f u ro a ni rTi t tee s e d ha i l n i t i e i r a e l s e t lll y , . 1 11 4 t ai M . ail additional dividend. aleq per eQnt-)orthern and Eastern Shareholders, receiving 4 P4 4: (lt h tilt:TN' annum as a guaranteed in h ter e e n s t t i , u s e h d a t l o l, li fitp CO di,,,'astern Counties Shareholders, , lio ' n 'll i ll a e t t - I; e lc) tt ° o o f t . all new extension shares to e be created s.lis'ot he l ' the event of Acts of Parliament for the teexotseionn h': 0f.44 obtained, the deposits on the New x ~.11,helitliteres(ty. shall be returned without deduction, E but 'Nich i(l'lletakts. Nei,„ ells,' f z, sai d he had another remarkto ef er s kik perOrgOttell. The quarter-shares werest m dl a f k o to e r , t hk el gred o , c eat- ; and when the term provided aid on ° or e ; ,ttill, to h e 6 4 per cent. would be still sto c kinged to '6 holders of the quarter-shares t p he wo n u e l w d 4 b lt th e 8 raake their election respecting .Q tets-iteop,iliatinltieedtin;saixs the other Proprietot °ll4l b e ''''"F‘• Wished to know, if the shares . referred sheeit rakatz......... if they i k n e p t e h r e p ir et e u l i e t e y ti 1 11 pe r e 4.., ..es if ma b t „ e re 801 „ 1 , 1 E, in lieu of the new shares.. ~ ? on to ii r eee, at Idoil was then formally moved by Mr.takdo tty 4 4 F : ( , ) Ilded by Mr, IJeLEtt. liottbreeerete oln the third section of the resolution ' 4l le - " e ll ar e i t e ,"ly to the allotment of the shares to the ',il l th ese e Easter the Company ; lie wished to k tt : e , e C$ new shares would be allotted. I lt tot h tAtISTO intim • as the ch., L e oth er ated at the same time ...ee te e the r Companies interested. that, c , , Itiß , a read the first section, and said ares a viol havel.() that shares mst ..,, condition, the new , h er4 cto be allotted to the Northern and de t Zese th ;4:Tallies at the rate of 14/. s f u )s p .., dailies t c h f t s l l 3 lt a:r: : ::orth at present 181. or 191. ,/,,. all 1. ,* W.ere to go back discount, would they deposits ? that ."110ea/E'''''l""-Yes, but without interest. fir, old t , r ° ll wished to know the amount of deposit eel. ee r e • At • Ivoi, quired to be paid on the new shares. toia,e Ge tibb s _a9 he believed 21.105. I,ll,:et:ie, ri;:snwqetirireedd,oinf t he third section of the re ...4r ex..- Y appli do„,• we lt , Qd to the Present proposed extension.. • Lxv x, ,_ic'as hereafter. e, elou p r ey to that. It had nothing to l e wit ei L ee t 04 th e considered the terms an im to fall at e 11 th aill. .0 ous ones, was not prepared :;41:itilll h de had some tim e ago bought 100 shares se t /I l t jilt s ienrtitoblQ rurn. On these shars, taking that account, he was not receiving five per f l Ot th, _, was desirous of remaining as he wa5...11 . e tittlu, Itodoutires as an investment for the benefit of Ills d ev i lY D e te il e nt as a speculation. He had consulted his tlt iro ite or ",.,,..v Ares question, and they did not seem I tite, Pn Yie g - ' 0 n cl ing a with the London and York, n kallit rig eici e l )°s ito. They were not disposed to ru r Ili o n. rivalry with that Company to please M . tirectCttsatie/A _ ste.,_ l )ae t i .. ,N -I . t is not to please Mr. Hudson. The t,„_' le , ne alth the to Counties Company. e ltti l he soul said Le .did not wish to be personal, The al t . , Hov er , not avoid it on that occasion. till3' NI 44430 ueard a this [extension project NI i t Psey, /! came into the Eastern Counties Art otr ero , °vv . WAS it that that Company had not hi borerbo, NI r‘ Ilis only wish was to protect their pro t° therhvillen Norfolk and Suffolk were fully opened . ?e s - i t i on h! , had no doubt thy would be in a far k i , te e e , .inate running to York to suit Mr. Hu . d tht h .41cl invested in the Company that his family -. e ElV e 4 I .ne , he_ reversionary interest in it, and therefore, i„Ntiee 11 40 `'..°_ . 1 11d not consent to the resolution. ti lt , Ply t:42,3esaid that he wished to say a few words ti c „?l e t 12 'n last speaker. He had purchased 450 Veilsea s . o f th ee _ Prernium, and he still retained a large por sk:Mlet ,: .. u_ and in his opinion the arrangement sug teyrj°,o2llt.would not entirely meet his views. In i)rt" 4 feist eth °'* , s It was not to extend the Northern toe ll° -- 44 t . - I ‘-;"nti es Railway to Newport, and it was Vset ee "' the shareholds to take shares at a e , tee d . ret o r g -LIN ,e nu t , five pencet. The calls were to th e tali 140 dine atelY, as the Directors were supposed to ee ka rk rteY. Afterwards, in consequence of a rise ite'sllo4!t, the Directors said that they would make 411N,„"iose shares, and as they had been bought at bt7,,v4II4II;;:::::TDY of the shareholders suffered severely, .11_lis c'tl44ose in the country. ere said, that in that case the Directors did 1 4 1 ;: 8 ill or°41:11°11eY, and they did not make a call on the ts 44, . r , e ord er H ey, it might be an inducement for taking b., 4 call could Only be made when the bonds be -4tolteilli44lld he would say that the Directors had con ile k, ratielves in that matter so as to cause a benefit 14, •.),earehoider ke . titoot • ('' bapsordi, s said that as they did not want the money, d'd o " e g to . the Chairmans statement, what would they t h e 6' ,.. e _ls \th it if the calls had been made ? ea rho4lrt.Nl.o7 said, that they would have had to con h,k, le D" to eminloy it, zeol..des i•lllll.llaidihat it appeared to him that the Share ,Let ~,, la railway who took two new letters of allot ore i 4 4.. rt lattve five per cent. guaranteed to them, and a eeio the tr v net, - e Pronts in c.ase they returned more than that th e 'tgee e ''!it 'they had no protection against any ex -141 Litorki! 11l tbs. working of the line. The amount of ;tit ileeeXpeilSell was to be thirty-six per cent. They It:411:601 tpr s in a body of eighteen Directors in the 4 tw e i uttles line, being jun one third. Six to cope t i c/ Mei- 4 v t ',,:,i l ..nd in case of any separation of the lit !Paritee ,rda‘tesn from the Eastern Counties, what 4..1 greet Ilan they that the line would not be worked qtlestaT` eltpense by the Eastern Counties, who had Tile ten to work it I' ft pt . °ll l. 4l Cg ark said that the working of' the line tk e _ 4 llt. e e rt More than the sum mentioned, viz., 36 uroigibie7 question cjid not apply, and it would be r 101 i10.... 11 they sea. re 0 severe gradients, to get it 104 3 e Lev THE SUN. LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING-. NOVEMBER 28, 1845. Mr. PELL asked if the expense did not on the Eastern Counties amount to more than 36 per cent. on the traffic ? The CHAIRMAN said, that at the first starting of any line the expenses would be great, in consequence of the difficulty of organising a large staff of servants, but when theyi were properly organised the expense would not be more than 36 per cent. A SHAREHOLDER, whose name; we did not hear, rose and said, that the proposition was one that the Shareholders ought not to agree to. The Eastern Counties shares were now at a premium, and it was not to be supposed but that if four and a halt millions of money were to be raised on new shares, that quantity of shares would send .those now at premium down to a discJunt. Besides, in his opinion, the amount of money that: they would require to raise on new shares would be nearly 9,000,0001. instead of 4,500,000/. Mr. WILLIAMS said that their receipts were at present nearly 7,0001. per week, which would give a dividend of -five per cent. on the capital. They might assume that if the working expenses of the line did nut exceed 36 per cent., which would give about one-fifth of the receipts for working, that . ; if they! received 1,2501., the profit would amount to 1,000/. They had every reason to expect an increase in their traffic, and he looked forward confi dently to the time when they should receive 10 per cent. There was every reason to believe that, in a short time, the dividend would be six and two•thirds, and why should they give that up for a guarantee of 6 per cent., having a prospect of 10 per cent., independently of their York traffic? The least offer that could have been made was a guarantee of 71 per cent. The CHAIRMAN said, that if such an offer were made, they could not have any chance of participation in their future profits. The question was, however, one of mere speculation, and those who chose to be content with what they had already could do so, while those who chose to take the chance of more had an opportunity of doing so. Mr. GURDEN said, that he did not see, how they had any right to bind absent Proprietors by their • proceedings of to-day. TL•ey were an adjourned meeting in order to consider the resolution that was laid before them . at their last meeting ; but; as the resolutionl brought forward to-day was to- I tally different, he could not see how they ought to be I binding on persons who were absent. He should like to know the effect of the proposition on the quarter share holders if it were carried. If they declined taking any part in it, they would receive nothing fur four years, as 6 per cent. was already guaranteed for that time. Ile had great respect fur .Alr. Hudson, but if he were with him sitting at that table, he had no doubt he should be able to point out to him some better way of protecting their railway right and increasing their profits. Under all the circumstances, he for one gave it as his opinion that the plan was one that it would not be wise to adopt. Mr. WARD said that the point'inootedby Mr. Gurden, whether the absent proprietors shall be - bound by what ever is finally determined on in this meeting is decided by the words of the Act of Pariament, •ahich bind all absent proprietors by whatever is done by the majority in any duly arint.mnced meeting. At the _ _ saute time he must add 'he was sure there was nothing in the meeting adverse to the interests of the Eastern Counties proprietors; they had met them (the Eastern Counties shareholders) a fortnight ago; propositions were laid before them, and their objections had been met in all fairness. But it was said the Eastern Counties must have an alternative ; the Directors went accordingly to the North Eastern Company's Board, had got an alternative, and now brought it before them, yet it is said to-day the Directors have given no notice of the meeting. They certainly wish no advantage over the Eastern Counties. Gentlemen knowing the meeting had been adjourned ought assuredly to have been present. He would not go into the details about the working expenses as they have been introduced to the meeting. He did not see what advantage the two Companies could derive from going into a scrutiny here of each others expenses, and cutting them down to the lowest sum. Mr. Hudson's name has been mentioned, and with that good feeling and respect which it deserves. That gentleman, it oughtoo be remembered, h a d ga i ne d his name for his economy ; he has in every case reduced expenditure, and been thereby able to return a very large dividend to the Shareholders. One word as to the amount of receipts. The Eastern Counties shareholders will have 6 per cent. up to 1847, during the construction of the Norfolk line ; that line when made will throw the whole traffic along the main line, and they will come in for their share of the profits on the whole traffic. Mr. Gurden had prophesied often, but falsely, in that room. Mr. Gurdon had said the shares of this Uompany would fall ; the market gives the answer. He said he would oppose the amalgamation ; if he had done so successfully, it would have been the ruin of the two companies, fur in making the arrange ments they had been liberal to others, but also to them- selves—they saw that the amalgamation would be for the mutual good of both. He thought a very valuable pro position had been laid before them. Those who choose the 6 per cent., who are unwilling to speculate, will re ceive the 6 per cent., and afterwards share in the profits. On the other hand, those who are willing to :speculate may have two shares, and in case of failure have their de posirpaid back to them. Unless amalgamation of the two lines be accomplished they will be a great bar to each other's interests. Competing lines will certainly start. The calculations of a gentleman who had already spoken, giving an issue of 7,8, 9, and even 10 per cent., can only be realised by shutting out competing lines; and the means to that is amalgamation, and nothing else. Mr. 1-luxLEv had supported the proposition made at the last meeting with great pleasure, much more than at the present, when the relation of the North-Eastern to the Eastern Counties is as one-third to two-thirds, one third more instead of one-fourth proposed last meeting. Mr. IlnonEs (of Leeds) was certain that the Eastern Counties Shareholders would agree, that if the Bill in Parliament be obtained they have obtained a great good. Messrs. Levy and Luck will sustain no loss, they run no risk this: is all borne by another Company. Mr. IIAsTrE, M.P., spoke' shortly, in commendation of the proposition. The CHAIRMAN now put the resolution to the meeting, when 35 voted in favour, and 4 against it. Thanks were moved to the Chairman and the Directors. As the meeting was about to dissolve, The CHAIRMAN reminded them that Mr. Hudson at Cambridge had again suggested an amalgamation be tween them and the London and York. Mr. Pyne had . _ kindly otFered to carry the suggestion before his toad jutors, but nothing had reached him from that Corn- pany. He thought that the position of the London and York Company was now different from what it was, •I and such as to lead the Proprietors to see their interest lay in amalgamation. All railways start with these objects, return for capital, to meet the in terest of the landowners, or that of the merchants; they started with. the first object before them, the last had assuredly left them. The cut made by the North Eastern Counties up to Hitchin saves much; there is but one mile of differenCe between this line and the London and York, but the London and York line up to that point is carried through one-fifth of the way by tunnels. He had no doubt that the London and York would ulti mately unite with them, and they would certainly re ceive them with all liberality. SAMBRE AND MEUSE RAILWAY COMPANY.-(THIS DAY.) The half-yearly meeting of this Company was held at ,he London Tavern, at ong o'clock. The CHAIRMAN (Y. P. Richards, Esq.) said, that seeing so many present he thought they had better pro ceed to business. The SECRETARY then read the notice convening the meeting, after which he read the report, from which it appeared that since the meeting of the 11th of March, the Directors bad been engaged in carrying out the views of the Proprietors, and that a deputation from the Board of Directors had proceeded to Bel gium, and made the necessary arrangements for constituting the Company a societe anonyme, and that with respect to clauses conferring on them all the advantages and privileges of a public company, their interests had become carefully attended to. They had also been permitted to deviate from the line laid down in the convention, and fresh surveys had been made in con formity with the same. It also stated that there would be no increase of capital required for the present, and that the French and Belgian Governments had declared themselves most friendly to their undertaking. The CHAIRMAN said he did not consider it necessary to trouble the meeting with the cash account, as it had been printed and distributed among the Proprietors ; besides, it had been prepared merely for the satisfaction of the Board of Directors. There was one thing, however, with which they should be made ac quainted, and which was far from being unim portant. Be alluded to the report of their engineer.—(Hear.) He had, however, to state, with respect to that report. that it had been made some time since ; and that as Mr. Henderson had only arrived last night, it was impossible for him to pre pare a perfect report of their position at the present moment. But there was one circumstance which he wOuld put the meeting in possession of — namely, that that report contained many facts to show that they were in a prosperous condition. He attached much importance to the opinion of their engineer, Mr. Henderson, with respect to the mineral features of the country through which their line was to pass, from that gentleman's long experience of the mines in South Wales. He would not detain them any longer from bearing that report. The SECRETARY here read the engineer's report which stated that he (Mr. Henderson) had made a careful survey of the line from Charleroi to WalcOurt over the first section of which he had passed, and was confirmed in the opinion he had previously expressed as to its ex cellence, and in fact, that it was the best line that could possibly be adopted. He also felt bound to bear testi mony to the richness of the mineral districts of, Laniffe and Moriolme, and that no engineering difficulties were to be encountered in that portion of the line which extended from llarembourg to Vireux. The coal districts of Charleroi would be also worked to a considerable extent, were only a quicker mode of transit afforded, and this the proposed railway would yield. The report then went on to speak of the other portions of the line, in their mneral and engineer ing attributes, and awarded a very high degree of ex cellence to them in these as well as other points. The CHAIRMAN said that, reverting to the report they had just heard, it would be evident to them that the greatest difficulties, with which they had to contend, had been surmounted ; and they also had a sufficient sum to carry on the work, without any further demand. He had to acknowledge, on the part of the Directors, the willingness and alacrity with which the Proprietors had responded to the calls that had been made on them. The instances to the con trary w ee very few, and :these were cases which were owing to the absence of the parties from this country. They were now in a flattering condiion. Their liabili ties were limited to the sum which they La I subscribed, and the statutes by which this most desirable point had been guaranteed were drawn up with a just con §icler4i9u fl( the interests 0 oil the partive cerned.—(Bear, hear.) There was one point a•f these statutes to which he wished to direct their attention, namely, with respect to the qualification necessary for those attending them. The Bel gian Government was very firm in restricting the right to interfere in the proceedings to those who were registered Proprietors. But they were not inclined to adhere to this regulation. The delay that had oc curred was amply compensated for by the opportunities it bad afforded them of improving their line of railway. At first their line had reference almost entirely to the mineral traffic, and consequently there would be necessarily induced a Mower rate of speed than chat which would be achieved by the passenger trains. He had no doubt that there would be before long a company established for the purpose of making a railway from Charleroi to Paris, and the French and Belgian Governments were both anxious that this should take place. And should such be established it must be obvious that the greatest benefits would accrue to them. He had also to allude to a circumstance that was extremely cheering—that was that an increase had taken place in the district through which their line was to pass ; and this, from inquiry, was found to be no less than 80,000 tons of iron. Their railway would effect a diminu tion in the cost of this most essential commodity, and therefore generate an increase in the quantity which would be conveyed along the line. They would com plete their line from Morioline and Walcourt in a short time ; and from what he had just stated with respect to the traffic, they were determined to make a double railway for the first sixteen miles of their line. He had himself been frequently in Belgium, fur the purpose of inspecting the roads, and they were certainly very good. However, that which led from Belgium to Charleroi was not by any means suf ficiently convenient, notwithstanding that:a considerable traffic in iron was carried on, which, as in the other cases to which he alluded, would no doubt be greatly increased by the proposed railway. Having gone through the principal features, he would conclude by proposing that the report now read be received, adopted, printed, and circulated under the direction of the committee, pi.ernising that he was ready to answer any questions that might be put to him, and that a meeting would have to be held at the seat of the Company in Brussels, which should be duly announced in the Belgian papers. A PROPRIETOR here inquired as to what had occurred in the interval between the drawing up of the report and the present period.. The CILAIRMAN said the only thing that had taken place was the sanctioning of their line as far as Walcourt. The resolution having been seconded, was carried unanimously. The thanks of the meeting were given to the Chair man and the Board of Directors, and acknowledged by the Chairman. The meeting then separated. VICE-CHANCERY.-(THIS DAY.) His Honour the VICE-CHANCELLOR of ENGLAND sat in his Court in Lincoln's Inn to-day, at two o'clock, for the pur pose, as stated yesterday, of hearing the case of DAVIS V. COMBERMERY, The question in the case is of no public importanee. His Hoorn made the order as prayed. The COURT sits to-morrow at ten o'clock. EXCHEQUER.-(THIS DAY.) (Sittings after Term.) ( Hefore the Lolly CHIEF BARON and a Common Jury.) OVERSTON V. WILSON. This wag an action of trover brought to recover a quantity of furniture to which the defendant had pleaded that he was not guilty. Mr. Granger appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. V. Lee for the defendant. The plaintiff was an upholsterer carrying on business in Oxford-street, and the defendant a gentleman of property residing in the country. Some few months ago the de fendant let one of his houses, or a part of it, to a person named Mrs. Martin, but she subsequently failed to pay the rent, and her goods were seized under a distress. The plaintiff then made his appearance, and put in a claim for part of the goods seized, alleging that he had let them to a Miss Standish Gill, the niece of Mrs. Martin, but the defendant, having some doubt of this, refused to restore them, and hence the present action. Evidence having been adduced in support of the plaintiff's case, in the course of which it was elicited that the goods in question were not sold, and that the plaintiff had given notice to Richardson, the auctioneer,:and who acted as the agent of the defendant in the distress, not to deliver up the litigated goods to any one without his authority. Mr. LEE addressed the jury for the defendant, remarking that the case involved a question of law and a question of fact. The former, of course, his Lordship would have to de cide, but the latter rested entirely with the jury. Well, then. the question of fact for them to decide was, whether these goods were the property of the plaintiff or not. He should call a witness to prove that the plaintiff had declared that they were not his property. and he was sure the jury would decide on this point in his favour.: The next point was a question of law. It had been proved by the plaintiff's own witness that he had given Richardson notice not to part with the goods, and it would be for his Lordship to decide whether the plaintiff could main tain this action, having by his own act debarred the defendant from having power to restore the goods. The Learned Counsel concluded by calling Mrs. Storey, and in reply to a question as to where she resided, she asked, Who's to pay me? Mr. V. LEE-01i, you'll be paid your expenses man. Wit ness—l don't know that. The Loiw CHIEF BARON—What are you, witness ? Witness—l am dmilliner and dressmaker, and support my family with my labour. The Loup CHIEF BARON—You ought certainly to be re munerated for your loss of time. Mr. V. LEE-fwill — TOU take - the word of the defendant's attorney to see you paid? Witness—Who is the defendant's attorney ?—( Law.. hter.) Mr. V. LEE—He is a respectable practitioner. Witness—l don't know that; but, at all events, I won't take his word. The LORD CHIEF BARON—WiII you take the officer of the Courts'. word to see you pail? Witness—Certainly, my Lord. The LORD CnIEF BARON suggested then that the defend ant's attorney had better deposit 2./., and this having been done, the witness allowed herself to be examined. She proved that the plaintiff had declared to her that the goods in question were the property of Mrs. Martin. Mr. GRANGER having replied, The LORD Cfnur BARON summed up with great minute ness, observing that the case involved no question of law. It was simply a question of fact, and all the jury had to decide was, whether the goods were the property of the plaintiff, and had tha defendant been guilty of a conversion of them. The jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict, that the goods were the plaintiff's, but they did not think the defendant had any intention of converting them to his own use. The LonD CIIIEF BARON—That, in fact, is a verdict for the defendant. Foreman of the Jury—No, my Lord, we do not find a ver dict for the defendant or the plaintiff. The Lord CHIEF BARoN—What do you find then ? Do you find that the plaintiff let the goods to Mr. ➢lartin ? Foreman—\o; we find that the goods were his, but that he did not let them. The LORD CHIEF BARON—I think, Gentlemen, you had better retire, and consider your verdict. Foreman—My Lord, we have considered it, and we find that the goods were the plaintiff's; but the defendant, we think, did not intend to use them. We do not wish to say who shall have the verdict—the plaintiff or the defendant. The LORD CHIEF BARON suggested that the parties had better consent to withdraw a juror. This suggestion was ultimately adopted, and the jury discharged. COMMON PLEAS.-(THIS DAY.) ,Sittings at Nisi Prius, after Term, before Mr. Justice ERLE and a Middlesex Common Jury.) WOODNUT V. HOAD AND OTHERS. The defendants in this case were members of e certain benefit society, in connexion with which a baking society had been established, to which latter a sum of 501. had been lent by the plaintiff. It appears that the bakery was established by the managing committee of the Benefit Society, as a safe investment for their superfluous funds, the original Society having been, up to the time of their engaging in this unhappy speculation, a very flourishing concern. Being obliged to borrow a sum from Mr. Woodnut, in order to enable them to carry on the bakery, the members of the managing committee signed a contract, agreeing to give to Mr. Woodnat all the proceeds of the business until his debt should be paid. The names of these persons were all put down, either by themselves or by their consent, being pre sent with one exception. One Kent, who was not a member, of the managing committee, but was a member of the society—the secretary of a branch society, and one of the persons engaged in the baking concern, was thought so important a person, that it was considered necessary to have his name too, though he was absent, and had not authorised the putting down of his name. A person named Lighthouse took upon himself to settle this matter by putting down Kent's name himself, and afterwards obtain ing his consent. It was for a portion of the 501. lent on this occasion, that the present action was brought; but, unfortunately, the action was against all the per sons whose names were attached to the contract, including Kent. It was attempted to prove that Kent had afterwards ratified the contract and accepted the debt, but the witness who was to show this only said, "he did not know that Kent made any objection " when he heard of it. It was also repre sented that as Kent was engaged in the baking, paid certain sums of money towards it, and was entitled to a certain share of tne profits (if any) ; he was a partner in the con cern, and liable for the debts of the society. The defence was that Kent was not liable for the debt, not having signed the paper, not having given his sanction to the use of his name, and not being a partner in the bakery ; and that Kent not being liable, the plaintiff would not recover against the defendants of whom he was one. Mr. Justice ERLE, in summing up, observed that there were two points for the jury to consider—first, whether Kent sanctioned the putting of his name to the paper, and so accepted the debt ; secondly, whether he was a partner in the concern, and liable for the debts of the committee. He (Mr. Justice Erie) thought there was no evidence at all to show that he acknowledged the debt, and if the object with which persons :join such societies be considered, it ;could hardly be held that a person being a member of it was liable for the committee's debts. This was a society in which persons give certain, sums towards a fund to assist them in distress, and not one joining which thoy intend to accept any liability. It was, therefore, his, (Mr. Justice Erie's) opinion, that the jury must find a verdict for the defendants. The Jury having consulted for some time. The foreman said, " We find for the plaintiff, with the exception of Kent."—(A laugh.) Mr. Justice ERLE explained that if the plaintiff bad not brought his action against Kent, the verdict would be for the plaintiff; but if the jury thought Kent liable, they must, as he had been included, find fcr the defendants, as otherwise, the plaintiff could recover the whele devt from him. The jury accordingly found for the defendant. HIGHWAY ROBBERY.--A robbery was committed about half-past eight o'clock, this (Friday) evening, near the seventh mile-stone on the Mansfield road. It appears that Mr. Colton, accountant, of Nottingham, had been at tending the Mansfield Court of Requests, and, on returning, when neatytb.e mile-stone above mentioned, his horse fell over a rope, which had been stretched across the road for the purpose of entrapping some unwary traveller. Mr. Col ton was thrown a considerable distance from his horse, and, when on the gi•ound, was seized at the back of the neck by a man, who jumped out of the hedge bottom : another man, at the same time, proceeded to rifle his pockets of two sove reigns and a half in gold and a quantity of silver.--Notting ham Jilercurp GREAT SKIFF RACE ON THE TYNE-VICTORY OF CLASPER. BY EXPRESS. The great skiff race between Harry Clasper, of Derwent haugh, and Pocock of London, for 100/. a-side, co%cerning which an unusual degree of interest has been excited for come time, among the lovers of acquatic sports, came off yester day (Tuesday) on the Tyne, and resulted in favour of Clasper, who won by a distance of several hundred yards. The occasion, as might be expected, caused an in - intense turn-out of spectators, both on land and water. The Tyne bridge, long before the expected time of starting, was densely crowded, while multitudes lined both sides of the river for several miles upwards. The steamers, too, of which there was about a dozen, were filled, even to inconvenience. Spe cial trains, carrying hundreds of passengers, also stated from both the Gateshead and the Forth stations of the New castle and Carlisle Railways. The time fixed for starting was half-an-hour before high water, and the distance agreed on was for and three-quarter miles—from the Tyne Bridge to Lemington Glas works. The weather was favourable, if we except the wind, which blew rather strongly from the north-west, and caused a heavy swell in the river. Shortly after twelve o'clock, Clasper entered his skiff from the south side of the river, at tae east end of Pipewellgate, and rowed about for fifteen or twenty minutes, till Pocock, whose skiffwas launched in front of the Mansion-house, followed. At this time, the river and the bridge presented a most exciting and interesting scene. Clasper's boat, which was little more than twenty-nine feet in length, and extremely light seemed to dance on the water in such a manner as to excite fears for its safety. Such fears, however, proved groundless, for the brave rower and ingenious builder had so covered it, both fore and, aft, and even where he was seated, that scarcely any water entered. The London boat was nearly two feet longer than Claspar's, and of exceedingly beautiful mould and construction ; but, owing to its not being sufficiently well covered to prevent the ingress of water, it was at once seen to occupy a disadvantageous position when com pared with its rival. Both men, on rowing in front of the bridge, seemed in excellent condition, and equally well prepared for the contest. On the previous evening, they had " tossed" for the side of the riv e r they we re t o occupy, when Clasper fortunately gained the north or lee side. This circumstance, coupled with the state of the wind and weather, effected a material change in the betting, and gave the odds in favour of Clasper. Parties who on Monday night bad backed Pocock freely gave five to four on Clasper on the following morning; and the latter may be said to have been the general rate of betting previous to the start. The referees were—John Rayne, Esq., for Pocock, and David Caddy, Esq., for Clasper, and the umpire, John Currie, Esq. Th e se gen tl emen w ere o n b oar d th e Twilight steamer, which followed the boats the entire distance. About half-past twelve o'clock, botlidiasper and Pocock rowed alongside each other, a few yards ab o ve th e b r id ge , and without any signal, made a fair start amid the most deafening shouting and cheering of their respective friends. Pocock at once shot a-head about a boat-length, and main tained his position till near the Mansion-house,- when Clasper advanced, and, after keeping side by side with his opponent for a few minutes, distanced him at the Shot-tower, by severel yards. The race, at - this time, was the finest possible. Both men pulled man fully- and skilfully ; and contrary to expectation, Pocock again gained on Clasper, and kept up with him for a little, till, unhappily, the boats, which were running close to the river side, " fouled." On re-starting, Pocock took the lead and maintained it till the Herd's-house, where Clasper overtook him, and another "fouling" took place among some wooden piles. Pocock was the leader once more, followed hard by Clasper, who here displayed his extraordinary powers in a manner that elicited one universal shout of applause from the thousands witnessing the scene. Here, indeed, the abilities of both men seemed to be better tested than at any other part of the race. Pocock, as we have already stated, took the lead after the second " fouling ;" but Claeper, having put his mettle fairly to the test, 'gradually lessened the dis tance between himself and his opponent, and, when near Elswick-house. darted before him in the most masterly and beautiful style imaginable. This sudden change in the position of the boats may be said to have virtually decided the contest. Pocock's boat was evidently fillingwith water, and moved less swiftly, although he pulled with all the power and skill for which the Thames boatmen are justly celebrated. Clasper was now fully fifty or sixty yards in advance, and slowly, but surely, increasing the distance between him and his opponent. Pocock. seeing this, and fearing he might be swamped, pulled on shore op posite Elswick-house, and, after emptying his boat, now almost filled with water, again resumed the oars, and, with indomitable perseverance and ability, struggled onwards. The effort, however, was a hopeless one. Clasper maintained his advanced pasition, and, for a long part of the way, was about a quarter of a mile beyond his unfortunate opponent. Both pulled energetically; but, owing to the distance between them, the interest in the race seemed now to have materially lessened, and nothing was heard but loud and enthusiastic congratulations on Clasper's success. The keelmen in their boats floating down with the tide, cheered and shouted lustily ; while, from either side of the river, loud prolonged applause rose from the assembled multitudes, who appeared in ecstasies at the victory of the worthy son of old father Tyne. Clasper reached Leamington at five minutes past one o'clock, running the entire distance in thirty-five minutes. Here he turned and rowed back to meet Pocock, and on coming alongside the two rivals shook hands. Pocock then went on board one of the steamers which had sailed after the race, and returned to Newcastle. Clasper rowed home to Derwen thaugh, whither he was followed by his enthusiastic friends and admirers. The result of this contest, it is almost unnecessary to say, excited the most lively feelings of joyous satisfaction in the town and neighbourhood. Young and old seemed delighted with the victory achieved by this now unriv a ll e d champion of aquatic sports. The fact of the Tyne having a second time vanquished the hitherto unconquerable Thames ap peared to afford an unusual degree of pleasure to the sport ing circles of our "canny" town. The amount that has changed hands in betting is said to be very considerable. We heard of one stake, probably the highest, of 6001. to 4001. in favour of Clasper. We are certainly within the msrk when we say that from 3,0001. to 4,000/. changed hands on the occasion. THE VISCOUNTESS VILLIERS.—We are happy to hear that Dr. Seymour arrived late last night in London from Upton House, the seat of Viscount Villiers, having left the Viscountess so much better as to give the fairest hopes of recovery. VV Lord Primate Beresford has declared his intention of bestowing 1,0001. on each of the three provincial colleges, towards the foundation of divinity schools for students of the Established Church.—lrish paper. The Gazttte of last night contains two Orders in Council, one admitting pot and pearl ashes, and specimens illustrative of natural history, into British possessions abroad free of the duties imposed by the Act for the Regulation of the Trade of British possessions; and the other permitting the French to import into St. Helena, from the dominions of France, such goods being the produce of those dominions, and to export from the said island to any foreign country such goods as they are permitted to im port or to export, respectively, into or from her Majesty's possessions in the West Indies and America. NEW EMPLOYMENT FOR PAUPERS.—A communi cation from the Poor-law Commissioners was laid before the Hertford Board of Guardians at their last sitting, authorising them to employ the poor in the workhouse in extracting the flour or starch from diseased potatoes, free of expense to any poor person who should send them to the house for that pur pose.— Chelmsford Chronicle. BRUNEL AND MS BIRTH-PLACE.—The village of Hacqueville, in Normandy, is deserving of mention as the birth-place of Mark Isambert Brunel, the engineer of the Thames Tunnel. He was educated at the College of Gisors, and when the vacations called him home, his favourite re sort was the shop of the village carpenter, whose tools and instruments had greater attractions for the youthful en gineer than Latin and Greek, and his allotted holiday task. He has frequently described the wonder and delight with which he, for the first time, beheld (1784), on the quay of Rouen, the component parts of a h uge s t eam - eng ine jus t landed from England. " When lam a man (he said to him self) I will repair to the country where such machinery is made." SERIOUS AFFRAY WITH A RAILWAY SURVEYOR AND HIS AssisrfaisTs.—On Friday afternoon last, a serious affray took place near the village of Appleton, about eight miles from York, between Mr. William Iligginbottom, a railway surveyor, and his assistants, in the employ of the Cambridge and Lincoln Extension, and Lincoln, York, and Leeds Junction Railway Company. It appears that Ilig ginbottom and about nine others, his assistants, attempted to enter a field in the township of Appleton Roebuck, which field forms a portion of the estate of Sir W. M. Milner, Bart. Their progress was opposed, however, by the watchers and workmen in the employ of Sir William, which gave rise to a very serious conflict, the surveying party having made a most determined attack upon the men who ob structed them. The latter at one time were likely to have been overpowered, but having obtained a reinforcement, the surveyor and his men were obliged to make a retreat ; but he and six others were taken into custody and conveyed to York. On the following day (Saturday) the defendants appeared at York Castle, under the charge of having riotously assembled together, and assaulted Thomas Cart wright and others. During the investigation it was shown that one man, named James .Foster, one of Sir William's party had been dangerously wounded in the head, and Cart wright had received a severe cut in the head, as had also Davies, one of the defendants. It was urged by Mr. Ander son, that Sir 'William Milner having refused permission to the above railway company to survey his estate, the de fendant (Iligginbottom) had caused to be brought from a colliery in the neighbourhood of Leeds, a number of per sons, of whom the defendant formed a part, to enable him to make the survey in spite of Sir William. The magistrates were of opinion that the assault had been proved, and they therefore bound Iligginbottom over to keep the peace for six months, himself in the sum of 30/., and a surety in the same amount. The other defendants were required to enter into their own recognizances of 201. each to keep the peace for six months. KF,NT•ROAD .BRITISH SCHOOLS.—A numerous and respectable meeting of the inhabitants of the Kent-road and its vicinity, was held at these school-rooms, in the Old Kent-road, yesterday evening, on the occasion of their being opened ; Benjamin Hawes, Esq., M.P., in the chair. On the platform, besides the chairman, were W. D. Christie, Esq., M.P. ; H. Elphinstone, Esq., M.P. ; W. Ewart. Esq., M.Y. ; W. Wyse, Esq., M.P. ; Rev. Messrs. G. Rose, H. Richards, and T. Smith. &c. The Chairman, after a few preliminary observations, • said that the necessity for such institutions as that which they had met to uphold, was shown clearly by the circumstance, that two millions seven Itundr,d thousand children were receiving education under the national system ; while, according to the popula tion, the number should at least have baen three millions. There was one important point in connexion with this sub ject, to which he deemed it his duty to direct their atten tion, and was not in the least inferior in importance to the circumstance of the numbers to be educated, and that was the amount that would be required, to afford anything like an adequate education to the people of this country, which he had no hesitation in asserting would, at least, be one million per annum. Nor could it be said that this deficiency in the number of those educated under the national system, was in any degree compensated by the character of the in struction conveyed under the system. Several other ad dresses were delivered. The meeting then separated. BIRTHDAY OF THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH.—A numerous party of the Duke of Buccleuch's tradesmen dined together yesterday at the Freemasons' Tavern, in honour of his Grace's birthday. Mr. Butler presided, and was sup ported by Mr. Stultz, Mr. Cuff, Mr. Cobbett, Mr. Staunton, Mr. Tucker, Mr. Pugh (who officiated as vice-chairman), &c. The " Health of the Duke and his Family," was drunk with enthusiasm. The musical department was, as usual, under the management of Mr. Goter. The evening passed off most pleasantly, and the dinner and wines were excelleut. TO THE ELECTORS OF THE CITY OF LONDON. Ceutlemen,—The present state of the country, in regard to its supply of food, cannot be viewed without apprehension. Forethought and bold precaution may avert any serious evils—indecision and procrastination may produce a state•of suffering which it is frightful to contemplate. Three weeks ago it, was generally expected that Par liament would be immediately called together. The an nouncement that Ministers were prepared at that time to advise the Crown to summon Parliament, and to pro pose on their first meeting a suspension of the import duties on corn, would have caused orders at once to be sent to various ports of Europe and America for the purchase and transmission of grain for the consumption of the United Kingdom. An Order in Council dis persing with the law was neither necessary nor desir able. No party in Parliament would have made itself responsible for the obstruction of a measure so urgent and so bimeficial. The Queen's Ministers have met, and separated, with out affording us any promise of such seasonable relief. It becomes us, therefore, the Queen's subjects, to con sider how we can best avert, or at all events mitigate, calamities of no ordinary magnitude. Two evils require your consideration. One of these is the disease in the potatoes, affecting very seriously parts of England and Scotland, and committing fearful ravages in Ireland. The extent of this evil has not yet been ascertained, and every week, indeed, tends either to reveal unexpected disease, or to abitp in some districts the alarm previously entertained. But there is one misfortune peculiar to the failure in this particular crop. The effect of a bad corn harvest islin the first place, to diminish the supply in the market, and to raise the price. Hence diminished consumption, and the privation of incipient scarcity, by which the whole stock is more equally distributed over the year, and the ultimate pressure is greatly mitigated. But the fear of the breaking out of this unknown disease in the potatoes induces the holders to hurry into the market, and thus we have at one and the same time rapid consumption and impending deficiency —scarcity of the article and cheapness of price. The ul timate suffering must thereby be rendered far more severe ;hail it otherwise would be. The evil to whick I have adverted may be owing to an adverse season, to a mys terious disease in the potato, to want of science or of care in prop ogating the plant. In any of these cases Government is no more subject to blame for the failure of the potato crop, than it was entitled to credit for the plentiful corn harvests which we have lately enjoyed. Another evil, however, under which we are suffering, is the fruit of Ministerial counsel and Parliamen- tary law. It is the direct consequence of au Act of Parliament, passed three years ago, on the recommendation of the present advisers of the Crown. By this law grain of all kinds has been made subject to vet) , high duties on importation. These du ties are so contrived that the worse the quality of the corn the higher is the duty ; so that when good wheat rises to 703. a quarter the average price of all wheat is 575. or .585., and the duty 15s. or 14s. a quarter. Thus the corn barometer points to fair, while the ship is bending under a storm. This defect was pointed out many years ago by writers on the corn-laws, and was urged upon the atten tion of the House of Commons when the present Act was under consideration. But I confess that on the general subject my views have, in the course of twenty years, undergone a great alteration. I used to be of opinion that corn was an exception to the general rules of political economy ; but observation and experience have convinced me that we ought to abstain from all interference with the sup ply of food. Neither a Government nor a Legislature can ever regulate the corn market with the beneficial effects which the entire freedom of sale and purchase are sure of themselves to produce. I have for several years endeavoured to obtain a com promise on this subject. In 1839 I voted for a Com mittee of the whole House, with the view of supporting the substitution of a moderate fixed duty for the sliding scale. In 1841 I announced the intention of the then Government of proposing a fixed duty of Bs. a quarter. In the past session I proposed the imposition of some lower duty. These propositions were successively re jected. The present First Lord of the Treasury met them in 1839, 1840, and 1841 by eloquent panegyrics of the existing system—the plenty it had caused, the rural happiness it had diffused. He met the propositions for diminished protection in the same way in which ho had met the offer of securities for Protestant interests in 1817 and 1825--in the same way in which he met the proposal to allow Manchester, Leeds, and Birmingham to send Members to Parliament in 1830. The result of resistance to qualified concessions must be the same in the present instance as in those I have mentioned. It is no longer worth while to contend for a fixed duty. In 1841 the free-trade party would have, agreed to a duty of Bs. a quarter on wheat, and after a lapse of years this duty might have been further re duced, and ultimately abolished. But the imposition of any duty at present, without a :provision for its extinc tion within a short period, would but prolong a contest already sufficiently fruitful of animosity and discontent. The struggle to make bread scarce and dear, when it is clear that part, at least, of the additional price goes to increase rent, is a struggle:deeply injurious to an aristo cracy which (this quarrel once removed) is strong in property, strong in the construction of our Legislature, strong in opinion, strong in ancient associations, and the memory of immortal services. Let us, then, unite to put an end to a system which has been proved to be the blight of commerce, the bane of agriculture, the source of bitter divisions among classes, the cause of penury, fever, mortality, and crime among the people. But if this end is to be achieved, it must be gained by the unequivocal expression of the public voice. It is not to be denied that many elections for cities and towns in 1841, and some in 1845, appear to favour the assertion that free trade is not popular with the great mass of the community. The Government appear to be waiting for some excuse to give up the present corn law. Let the people, by petition, by address, by remon- strance, afford them the excuse they seek. Let the Ministry propose such a revision of the taxes as in their opinion may render the public burdens more just and more equal; led them add any other provisions which caution and even scrupulous forbearance may suggest; but let the removal of restrictions on the admission of the main articles of food and clothing used by the mass of the people be required, in plain terms, as useful to all great interests, and indispensable to the progress of the nation.—l have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your obedient servant, J. RUSSELL. Edinburgh, Nov. 22, 1845. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, TUESDAY.—The Queen and Prince Albert left the Castle at half-past nine o'clock this morning for Osborne-house, Isle of Wight. Her Majesty and her Royal Consort, accompanied by the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal, occupied the first carriage. The Princess Alice, and Lady Portman, Lady in Waiting, wore in the next carriage and four. Lord Charles Wel lesley, Colonel Bowles, and Lieutenant-Colonel Wylde, in the third carriage and four. Her Majesty was escorted by a party of the 2d Regi ment of Life Guards, under the command of Lieutenant the Honourable Cornwallis Maude. The royal party were attended to their carriages by the Dowager Lady Lyttelton, Lady Caroline Cocks, Hon. Miss Devereux, Viscount Hawarden, Captain the Hon. A. Duncombe, Sir Henry Wheatley, and the Hon. and Rev. C. Leslie Courtenay. The royal party proceeded from the Castle to the Farn borough station of the South-Western Railway, en route to Osborne House. His Royal Highness Prince Alfred, with the Dowager Lady Lyttelton, remain at the Castle. The Hon. Capt. Duncombe, Groom in Waiting, also remains. Lady Caroline Cocks, the Hon. Miss Devereux, Sir Henry Wheatley, Mr. G. E. Anson (for town), and Viscount Hawarden, took their departure from the Castle to-day. A Cabinet Council was held at half-past two o'clock yesterday afternoon at the Foreign-office. The Minis ters present were Sir Robert Peel, the Duke of Welling ton, Lord Wharnoliffe, the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord Stanley, Sir James Graham, the Chancellor of the Ex chequer, the Earl of Haddington, the Earl of Ripon, Lord Granville Somerset, the Earl of Lincoln, and the Right lion. Sidney. Herbert. The Council sat four h3urs. The Earl of Haddington has arrived in town. In our remarks yesterday on the Northern Luna tic Asylum, we inadvertently did injustice to some counties in Scotland where great exertions have already been made to provide suitable places for the reception and treatment of lunatics. In this respect the county of Perth stands conspi cuous. Some twenty years ago a lunatic asylum was erected near the town of Perth, which, whether. for accommodation , or judicious arrangements, may be regarded as a perfect model, and does great credit t o th e h uman i ty an d liberality of the inhabitants. ARRIVAL OF THE EAST INDIA MAILS.--SOUTH AMPTON, Nov. 25.—The Oriental Company's steam-ship Oriental, Capt. Soy, arrived at Bh. 30m. this morning at the Motherbank fmm Alexandria, and landed the East India and other mails, which were sent up by the eleven o'clock . train. She left Alexandria Nov. 9, Malta the 13 th, and Gibraltar the 19th. The Oriental has a full cargo and the following passengers—namely, Major Wyslop, Captains Seymour, Kelley, Bethune, and Arthur; Lieutenants Morley, Andrews, Huey, and Dare; Mr. Wessop, Mr. Dent, Mr. and Mrs. Dallas, Mr. Stamford, Mr. Tayton, Mr. Wilkie, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, and five disabled seamen. The passengers are expected to be released from quarantine on Thursday. The following ships were at Malta:—H.M. ship Hibernia, Siren, Bloodhound, Spitfire, Sydenhain, Volcano, and Oriental Com pany's steamer Iberi a. GREAT FREE-TRADE MEETING. REGISTRATION N YORKSHIRE. A numerous and highly influential meeting assembled on Monday evening, at seven o'clock, in the great room of the Cutlers' Hall, Sheffield, for the purpose of consi dering the urgent importance of making renewed and more strenuous exertions' for placing as many voters as possible, favourable to the cause of free trade, upon the register of the West Riding of Yorkshire. At an early hour the door leading to the hall was be sieged by crowds waiting for admittance ; and although admission could only be procured by ticket, for which Is. had to be paid, the large hall was filled almost to suffo cation for some time before the commencement of pro ceedings. At seven o'clock Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright took their seats upon the platform, and were received with the most enthusiastic cheers. Mr. Edward Smith, of Sheffield, was unanimously called to the chair ; and beside him we observed Richard Cobden, lieg e M.P. ; John Bright, Esq., M.P. ; Dr. Thompson; Henry Wilkinson, Esq. ; W. kisher, Esq. ; Richard Salley, Esq.; Thomas Jessop, Esq.; Aldermen Turton and N. bole ; Charles Wilson, Esq.; P. Nailor, Esq.; T. Roebuck, Esq.; and Edward Vickers, Esq. No inconsiderable portion of the audience consisted of ladies. The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings of the evening, observed, that he hoped that it would not be long ere the people of this ei untry would look with sur prise at the fact, that such .: law as the corn-law ever existed on our statute-book. What was there ever to recommend it to their goud opinions ? It had acted injuriously upon the agriculturists of the country, ruin ously to the manufacturers, and answered no other purpose than to serve as an excuse for enhancing the profits of the privileged classes, at the expense of the other orders of society. In order to secure these profits to the privileged classes, the rest of the community had to submit to a loss one hundred fold greater than the profits which were secured by it. Why was such a law allowed to con tinue ? Why was such an imposition still laid upon the people of this country ? Why, on the first whisperings of a famine, were the corn-laws not swept from the statute-book ?—(Hear.) Were they to be for ever ad mitting principles iu the abstract, and not be guided by them in their practical conduct ?—(Hear, hear.) Had they yet to learn that the laws which they impugned were hurtful to all classes of the community ? Even Low " coming events" were castin g " their shadows before," and the dread that th ere might be a scarcity of food had already deranged all their monetary operations. —(Hear, hear.) Lot them look at the panic which was now existingin the Share-market, and see how this dread was also operating in raising the rate of interest ; and they well knew, from past experience, what must result from all this. When the rate of interest rose the banks in due time would become careful in respect to the ac commodation extended to their customers, and trade must necessarily suffer in all its departments. Had the people of this country yet to learn that dear food meant low wages, scarcity of employment, interruption to commerce generally, and depreciation of every species of property? These lessons they had already learnt to their cost, and they need not endure seven years more of suffering to fix them deeply in their minds. In respect to the question of the corn-laws, fallacy had been accumulated upon fallacy by the monopolists, and, for some time, with considerable effect. Now all these fallacies had been detected and exposed. What, for instance, had lately become of the cry of " Don't be dependent upon foreigners ?" They should and would be glad to be so dependent, if they could only find those on whom they could depend for a supply of food. Where, also, was now the cry about the peculiar bur dens upon land—those burdens which were invisible when they were moved for in Parliament ?—(Hear, hear.) Then was the outcry that, as the corn-laws were doomed and must be relinquished, time should be given to prepare the farmers for the change which was to be effected. But how much time should be given them ? How much time had already been given them ? The corn-laws were passed when he was quite young, and now that he was becoming grey he did not find that the list of farmers who appeared in the Gazette had in any degree lessened. There had been, in fact, no attempt at the preparation which was sought to be made if time were only given. The cry for time for preparation was another fallacy which like all the rest, had now entirely disappeared. All parties seemed now agreed upon principles, and all par ties were ready to admit that the right of the cause lay with the League. But they had relied too much upon people knowing what was right, under the presumption that when they knew what was right they would do what was right.—(Hear, hear.) They now ceased to rely upon the mere diffusion of information; they had given over talking, and were beginning to act.—(Hear, hear.) In entering upon the sphere of action they were willing to throw themselves upon the highest authority, and sone was more so than that of Sir Robert Peel, who said, " Register, register, register," and they would take up and act upon his words, and " register. register," too. The great battle had now to be fought in the registra tion courts ; for it was by perfectly constitutional means that they must break the fetters which surrounded them. —(Hear, hear.) It was by means strictly, within the letter of the law that they sought to meet their adver saries with the weapons which these adversaries had for merly wielded against them with success. With these weapons they were now coming into the field. Indeed they had already used them with some success. What had been done last year through their instrumen tality ? It was a good beginning that ; but they intend to do much better during the present year.— (Cheers.) They were daily becoming more dexterous in the use of that great weapon, the registry. Last year they had been disappointed at not adding more than 2,000 to the registry in Yorkshire, but the result of the cam paign upon which they were just entering would be of a very different stump, inasmuch as they were now better aware of what they were about, and could use their weapons more adroitly, and, consequently, more to the purpose than before.—(Hear, hear.) Their friends (Mr. Bright and Mr. Cobden) had come there to lay the sub ject of the registry before them. They would give the meeting most encouraging reports of what had been done in other places, and they would point out to the people of Sheffield how easy and practicable was the road to success. Let the people but carry out the sug gestions which would be thrown out during the course of proceedings that eeening, and the day of reckoning with their spoilers and oppressors would not be far distant. Let them but work to; ether, and with those who th oug ht with them throughout the country, and ho was certain that, at the dissolution of Parliament, many of those who were now occupying seats in the House of Commons would receive notice to quit, which they would be forced to observe—(Hear, hear.) It was to stimu • late their zeal in this matter, by showing them what had been done elsewhere, in reference to the registry, and by furnishing them with hints and obsorvationa on which they should act, that their friends on his right and left had arrived amongst them ; and he trusted that the men of Sheffield would now show some of that cou rage, spirit, and energy, which enabled their ancestors to oppose such resistance to the Norman invader ; and that ihey would manifest some of that independence of principle and action which enabled Sheffield to stand honourably at the head of the polling list of West Yorkshire at the last election.—(Hear, hear.) Had they lost anything of their former spirit? Were principles once espoused now less valuable in their sight? He believed not ; and he augured much good from the spirit which seemed to pervade the num erous respect able assemblage now before him. He would trouble them no more at present, but at once make way for Mr. Cobden, whom he now called upon to address them.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. COBDEN, on coming forward, was received with loud and prolonged cheering. Silence being restored, he observed that there must be something peculiar in the present aspect of affairs to induce so large an assem blage as was then before him to meet together on that occasion. He did not know exactry whether the people of Sheffield were circumstanced as were those in Lanca shire at the present moment, who had just experienced A great reverse in their trade. It would not be uncle- sizable that.they should know how their neighbours were going pn, especially as it generally happened that, within six months of the time when the cotton trade suffered depression, the iron districts there and else where wore sure to follow. Within the last si x weeks they had suffered in Lancashire a more sudden and severe dept ession than had been sustained since the time of the peace. It was not, a difficult matter to account for the sud denness of this depression. They had had a wheat harvest deficient in quality and in quantity in this country, and they had also the failure of the potato crop ; and these evils together caused a rise of at last 50 per cent. in the cost of their provisions. Every one before him, both the wholesale and retail dealer, understood what were the legitimate effects of a bad harvest. Everybody, there fore, was acting upon that knowledge, which, to no small extent, was owing to the preachings and teachings of the League. Everybody understood that the high price of food, which was the result of a bad harvest, caused a bad state of trade, and the wholesale and retail dealers, immediately that they saw the prospect of a bad harvest before them, ceased to buy large stocks of manufactured goods, lest by-and-by these stocks should be left unsale able on their hands.—(Hear, hear.) Eight or ten years ago, the principles on which they were now all agreed were known only to a few. There was then a bad state of trade, and many people were overthrown by the tempest of adversity which swept over the land, who after staggering on for two or three years, found themselves once more on their feet when the ordeal was over; but none of them ever thought at that time of inquiring what it was that had injured them. But everybody now un derstood the whole matter, and he had the strongest hopes and the deepest conviction that within a twelve month's time the people of this country would apply that remedy to their present depressed circumstances, which their knowledge of the causes of the depression would enable them to apply.—(Hear, hear.) They were on the eve of a bad state of trade in Sheffield. Let them not believe that his object in coming there was to make trade bad. Let them hear what had happened in Lan cashire. If people paid 50 per cent. more for provisions than they paid before—that was to say, if a family earn ing but a guinea a week had to expend ss. or 6s. more than six weeks or two months ago,—they must neces sarily have less left to lay out in other commodities ; less to expend with the draper, the shoemaker, the tailor, aye, and even with the ironmonger —(Hear) and if they had thus less to expend for them, there must then consequently be a diminished trade in the commo dities which these dealers had on hand. People's in comes did not rise to meet the advance in the price of food. That was an old delusion, which went down with people no longer.—(Hear, hear.) Working men now understood that a high price for provisions did not cause high wages, but, on the contrary, that high wages and a low price of food invariably accompanied each other. Indeed, they might take it for granted that the very reverse of what the monopolists told them was the truth. If Lancashire and Yorkshire were depressed —even if they in Sheffield found in the meantime no visible or material falling off in their trade, they might depend upon it that their wholesale dealers,vrhen they sent their travellers and commercial agents into York shire and Lancashire, would have very different accounts from them than those to which, for the last two or three years, they had been accustomed. The depression would, therefore, infallibly reach them in the end. In six months' time it would be sure to overtake them.,They would then be in as bad a plight in Sheffield as their neighbours in Lancashire were in already. The time had come when the people of this country would no longer stand the continuance of the pre sent state of things. The other day a gentleman in Old ham, where a meeting similar to the present one was held, asked his friend (Mr. Bright) what resolutions they should propose, when Mr. Bright proposed that they should resolve " that they won't stand it any longer."—(Cheers and laughter.) If such were their resolution at every similar meeting, it would require no great power of divination to foresee the result. A bad harvest had, at last, comeupon them, and in this country such an occurrence must necessarily be a great calamity. —(Hear, hear.) Were corn with us a regular article of commerce the evil would be much mitigated, and, he would venture to say, entirely counteracted. But the monopolists would not allow that corn should assume such a place in our commercial transactions. They kept no store of corn against the evil day, when a defi ciency came suddenly upon them, and when it did come it visited every interest with depression, caused pro perty, which was worth 50,0001., to drop down at once to 25,0001., and forced the working people to resort to the union workhouses for that sustenance with which they could not supply themselves from having no employment.—(Hear, bear.) Such were the evils .and convulsions superinduced by their re strictive laws, which prohibited them from stor ing up corn against the day of want, and being prepared for the contingencies of a deficient har vest.—(Hear, hear.) Was it not a disgrace to them that, with all the resources which they possessed for commerce with the whole world, by restrictive laws, they should set at nought and nullify all the improve ments and all the discoveries of recent times, and having nullified all these, that the people of this country should be reduced, by being limited in the supply of their food to what couid be raised upon their own soil, to the con dition of the Hottentot and the Red Indian?--(Hear, hear.) Such a state of things was a scandal to the country—a country which should, and might, be the store-house and granary of the world.—(Hear, hear.) It might, in fact, be the modern Egypt fur meeting the deficiencies of other countries, instead of being unable, as it was at present, to make good its own.—(Hear, hear.) He was now speaking of the quantity of grain which might be accumulated in this country, and kept here at a profit to the merchant when it was ultimately sold, provided there was no law in existence to prevent the storing up of corn. Wheat was a thing which could be kept for any length of time. Wheat, which had been produced three or four thousand years ago, was now growing in this country—wheat, which was perhaps part of the identical stock which Joseph stored up for the famine in Egypt.—(Cheers and a laugh.) Although it might not be profitable to keep it so long as three or four thousand years, it was still a satisfaction to know that an article which formed the chief subsistence of the people should be thus indestructible.—(Hear, hear.) It was possible for wheat to be kept for three or four years, and with a good profit too to the merchant, if the trade were free. Suppose it were kept for three years instead of one year, it would not be any grea t c h arge aga i nst a casual deficiency which might occur in the fourth year. —(Hear, hear.) But how stood the case in the present year ? It appeared that we were sow in Dautzic offering 50s. to 60s. per quarter for wheat, which could have been obtained by us eight or nine months ago for from 28s. to 30s. What was the cause of that state of things ? It was that we kept in this country no stock on band for the purpose of meeting the wants of our people in a year of casual deficiency. Iu fact, the avowed object of the corn-law was to prevent a free trade in corn, with a view to keep the corn shop in this country safe from any competition from the shop over the water.—(Loud cheers.) It was that cause alone which prevented us from having a sufficient stock of corn on hand sufficient for the purpose of enabling us to meet a casual deficiency. Why; it was a scandal to the country that such a state of things should be allowed to continue—(Cheers)—and he would not go down to the grave with a feeling that he had acted the part of' a man if, with his present convictions, he did not constantly exert himself to oppose its continuauce.— (Loud cheers.) Talk of the spirit of their ancestors who resisted William the Conqueror ! This was a worse state of things than any which he endeavoured to esta blish in the country. Yea, he (Mr. Cobden) was satisfied that William the Conqueror never declared that he would keep the people of England on short allowance.— (Hear, hear.) Nay, on the contrary, he was sure that one of the first professions with which he came forward after the conquest was, that he would give to the people better food than that to which they had previously been accustomed.—(Hear, hear.) The men of the present day in England submitted to a more odious dynasty than that of William the Conqueror—they submitted to the " little loaf dynasty," by whom the collar was put around their necks, and tightening it so that they could not have enough of food.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) There never was a state of things in any country which was worse than this—a system by which hucksters were enabled to sell bread—aye, and bad bread too—(Hear, hear, and a laugh)—and to say to the people, we will oblige you to buy this bread alone, and we will not allow you to go to any other shop to purchase a supply of better bread.—(Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) It was the most cruel oppression that men ever submitted to ; hut the most cruel part of it was, that in a time of casual scarcity, such as this year, we were deprived by it of the advantage of having the means of obtaining a sufficient stock of food. Who were liable for this state of things ? Distinctly they were liable who passed a law to prevent a free trade in foreign corn in this coun try.—(Hear, hear.) That law alone was the cause of this want of means to supply the existing scarcity.— (Hear, hear.) If they took, for example, any other article which we imported from foreign countries. Let them look to cotton, which we principally import from North America. For the purposes of manufacture, no less than 3,000 bales of cotton were required every day— Mr. BRIGHT—Five thousand. Mr. COBDEN—His friend Mr. Bright, who was better acquainted with the trade in raw cotton than he, said that it required 5,000 bales every day. Well, great as that demand was, the supply never failed.—(Hear, hear)—there never was a deficiency of cotton expe rienced since the peace—there never was, since that period, a mill stopped or a machine in danger of being starved for want of cotton to feed it.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) We had at present eight months' provisions of cotton in Liverpool, whilst the new harvest of cotton was gathering, and almost gathered, in America, so that in all we might calculate on having at present twenty-one months' or two years' supply of cotton. That was the case with respect to an important article of our consumption which was of foreign growth, but the trade lin which was free. Then there was the article of tea, which we were allowed to lay in a stock of. Tea came from a foreign land—from a country whose inhabitants or extent we scarcely had any acquaintance with—yet the supply of that article never fails, and we had at present a sufficient quantity in England for two years' consumption. Take indigo, which was another article of foreign production, but the trade in which was free ; and it would be seen that we were always enabled to have a sufficient stock of it in the country. In the same way all other articles of foreign growth, the trade in which was free ; and it will be found that our supplies of them did not fail ; whilst the case was different in the case of the articles which the foul finger of mono poly had touched, such as sugar and coffee, which were articles of great importance to our people. We could not get these in the same manner, but in all the articles of foreign produce the trade in which was free, such as indigo, spices, cotton, and tea, we had always from one to two years' supply in store. Well, what a predica ment the country had been brought into from the ope ration of that law.—(Hear, hear.) What excellent housekeepers they were who never looked to the state of their larder until it was almost empty, and allowed it to become in that condition before they inquired if there was a market open at which they could get any further supply.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) It was said that the potato crop had failed—so it had—but the failure of the potato crop ought not to have been such a calamity to a great country like England.—(Hear.) Why, the potato crop had failed for three years succesively in America, and it was thought so little of that in this coun try it had hardly been heard of, and when heard of it was only through the means of scientific publications. Why had they heard so little about the failure of the potato crops in America for three successive years? Because no man, woman, or child, in America, was constrained to live on potatoes k, was i taatsoesalonet: that in and four If that E w n e g r l ethec u ss r oetr five millions of why, he of people rejoiced on potatoes, asDr. Marsh am sa id , and he deserved nothing better to rejoice upon for such a speech?—(Hear, bear, and cheers.) Tho Americans had an abundance of corn, and if we let them know that we wanted wheat or rl ves l o.lru n bta.yp d tc japihtaileanynawyrncamcorn, they were able to s u pply us with, it, and would willingly suppl y us w i th i t, if they were informed that th ey could have in unrnoofratmHnhc easilytoouAsil ya r em e vEienrg oriybeicottons.return, we that than obtained mo o r could hodr corn od e ': n ur n b e pdtbaaenfi corn otww — br eede ( returnecl I srsoh e ouo a nl u r dt u old h apf r e tas a yto r h c o . a ) u feno t in a time of scarcity, and when a time of scarcity arrived, his brothers went into Egypt to obtain from him a supply of corn. Why should we not, in a similar way, apply to our brother Jonathan, in America, for a supply, as we had no brother Joseph in Egypt / 4 (Laughter and cheers.) It was, he was quite sure, a great deal better to go to our:brother Jonathan for food, than to go to fight with him.—(Cheers.) He (Mr. Cob den) did not like to hear of people's minds being fami liarised with the idea of fighting, for he conceived that it would be a great deal better to trade with him than to encourage the idea of going to war with him.—(Cheers.) Those states which produced cotton and tobacco, the ar ticles which we consumed, had no desire to go to war with us—(Hear)—and it was only within a few days that he read an account of a dinner at Charleston, in South Ca rolina, at which the health of the Queen was proposed, and received in the most enthusiastic manner, for that was one of the portions of the United States which produced those articles which we took from America.— (Hear, hear.) What were the portions of the states in which there was no desire to go to war with England ? The Atlantic cities, the State of Pennsylvania and New England, those which were connected with England by trade and commerce ; but in the states of the west, where wheat and Indian corn, and pork and beef, were produced, those articles in which we refused to trade with them, the warlike spirit towards this country was evinced.—(Hear, hear.) If we, however, took a different course from that which we at present adopted—if we took from states of the west their barrels of flour, and pork, and beef, and butter, they would like us as well as the southern etatess inasmuch as people do not usually