The Sun. — London, England, 1851-08-15 00:00:00

, t t„ra SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Clock. LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—(THIS DAY.) The usual half-yearly general meeting of the proprie tors of the London and North-Western Railway was held this day at the Euston-square Station; Ala G. C. Glyn, M.P., Chairman of the Board ofi Directors, presiding. The advertisement convening the meeting having been read, the minutes of the previous meeting were con firmed; after which The CHAIRMAN addressed the proprietors as follows: —Gentlemen, before we proceed to read the report perhaps you will allow me rather more than the usual amount of your indulgence on the present occasion, because I feel that the circumstances under which your executive body meet you to-day are fraught with a con siderable degree of difficulty, and I might almost say we have arrived at a sort of crisis in the history of railway affairs. And I feel, gentlemen, that though it is only our duty at all times to fairly communicate, and openly declare to you everything in connexion with the management of the undertaking, yet under the ex isting circumstances in which railway property is placed, it is more than ever incumbent on us to detail to you, and make you acquainted with the policy which has dictated our line of proceeding, and either to receivefrom you that confirmation which we expect to receive at your hands, or that we should learn from you in what respect you differ from us therein.—(flear.) These are not the times, gentlemen, in which there ought to be the slightest reserve between the executive body and the proprietors in the management of this large undertaking. —(Hear, hear.) But before I enter on the important subjects which force themselves on our consideration to day, I am anxious to say a word or two in reference to the accounts which have been transmitted to you, and I do so more particularly, because I certainly have been very con siderably surprised to find that these accounts when they were sent among the proprietors, and placed before the public, have not produced that effect in the minds of the people which I thought they were calculated to do. So far from thinking the accounts are discreditable accounts, I am inclined to think they are the beet ever presented to you yet. You must bear in mind that at these half yearly meetings we have always had recourse to the re serve fond for preserving the equality of your dividends. The very principle on which you advocated a reserve fund was that we might equalise the dividends as far as we could by keeping in hand a certain amount of re serve to make up the diff rence between the two half years. Therefore, it is no: a matter of surprise to us that we have been obliged to do that which we have hitherto done, more especially this half-year, paying as we do a l arger amount of dividend than in the corresponding half year ; it is not I say a matter of surprise to us that we have bad re course to the reserve fund to meet the dividend on the present occasion. I must confess, however, that it ap peared to me that, perhaps, the accounts might cause some disappointment, because the receipts were not quite so large as some persons might have anticipated. The receipts are, nevertheless, very large, and have largely increased; and let the proprietors reflect for one moment that the receipts arising from the Great Exhi bition traffic, and which we have now received so largely, do not operate in the accounts from the com mencement of the half-year. In point of fact, the on ly advantage derived in this respect in the half-year ex tends simply over one month. I beg again to call your attention to another feet, because it proceeds as much from you as from us, that this half-year, according to a vote—and in my opinion a most righteous vote—the capital account has been closed as far as pos sible. We have charged against revenue every item that can at any time come against revenue, although we have entertained a doubt whether, in the administration of the affairs of this great concern, what is technically called in the City balancing the ca pital account, and never laying out more capital, could be practically carried out ; yet there are such instances, and in regard to certain points we have closed the capital account. Every thing has gone against revenue—the lawyer's bill has gone against revenue —every variety of item which hitherto it has been the practice of every railway com pany to charge directly against revenue and capital has been charged to revenue. I might detail a variety of items, but I will not occupy your time by doing so, as they are patent to von all. I may mention in connexion with this point that in preparing for the Exhibition traffic we were necessarily obliged to undergo a larger outlay this half-year than in the corresponding half-year, in regard to locomotives, carriages, &c. Therefore, I think, if you truly and fairly consider the accounts, you may take heart, and be satisfied not only that the directors have paid the greatest attention to every item and particular contain e d in them, but that they present a most favourable result on the working of the last half-year.—(Hear, hear.) We have followed your instructions implicitly with regard to a very considerable amount of outlay necessary for the great traffic that was anticipated from the Exhibition. We have not charged these items of expense against capital, but we have charged them according to the principle laid down by you, against revenue spread over a certain number of years. We have also rigidly followed your instructions with regard to another head of expenditure. According to the vote passed in February in the preceding year, ere have limited ourselves to a sum under the vote which you them gave us. The effect of all this variety of items charged against revenue is begin ning to be felt on the working expenses of tho line. I can assure you, and I do so without much fear, that we are ready to submit our accounts to any inspection, and to allow them to bear comparison with the working charges of any other company similarly placed.— (Cheers.) I use the words similarly placed, because I find that, with some rare exceptions, there are no com panies similarly placed.--(Hear, hear.) We have now arrived at that stage of existence when I am morally convinced that if we are to have fair play with regard to our own business traffic and receipts, it is ne cessary that other companies should close their capital accounts.—(Cheers.) As long as that source is open to enable others to carry on expensive and harassing Par liamentary attack,— (Hear, hear)—so long as that source is open for a variety of other kinds of expenditure which has hitherto been very much charged to it, it is impossible for any old esta blished company to be at equal odds with them. Our law expenses may appear somewhat large. I don't deny they are large, and I won't hold out any expecta tion that they will be smaller while these Parliamentary contests are going on.—(Hear, hear.) Therefore, with regard to these points, I do hope you will not evince that kind of feeling which I confess I was very much surprised to find prevail in other quarters re specting the accounts. The re is a point in connexion with the closing of the capital account, to which I have had the honour of several times drawing your attention—l allude to the necessary accommoda tion for our goods traffic; but lam happy to say—in deed, I almost made a promise to you on the last occa sion—that I am now able to announce to you a plan which, when carried out, will allow us also to close that head in the capital aecount—(Hear, bear)—and having done that, then I believe you may look at the capital account in connexion with the main line, and there will not remain a single item of expenditure which is not brought under your cognisance. The pro prietors will also bear me oat in this remark, that no railway company carrying on an enormous business can entirely close its capital account; but this we are prepared to do—if any great accession of expenditure is required we will consider it the bounden duty of the executive to be ready to state the nature of the expenditure and the advantages likely to accrue from it, and which it will be for you, not for us, to vote the necessary money. (Cheere.) You are doubtless aware of the enormous in crease in the goods business, and probably have antici pated that it has put us to great inconvenience in consequence of the want of accommodation at the Camden station. We, therefore, thought that for the more economical end speedy dispatch of business we should see whether it were possible to carry on a considerable portion of the goods business in the city of London.—(Hear.) That plan has had m y eye now for a considerable time, and I have great pleasure in stating that we are now enabled to carry it into effect. We have acquired, as you will see from the report, a large space, whicn will allow us to carry on that description of business in the very heart of the city of London. lam also enabled to state that there will be a centinuoas railway communication. lam not going to speculate on the, saving which we will make by this ac commodation, but there can be no doubt it will be very considerable, worked as the traffic will be under the agency of the present experienced agents. But I am quite willing to make this ba r ga in —if you do not like the project I will undertake it, an d I ant quite certain there never was a surer fortune for a man in prospect, than undertaking that which is now i n our power for the accommodation of the goods busi ness of this company. We have had, as I said before, an allusion to the lawyer's bill; there has been a good deal to do in Parliament this year. We had no Bill of our own, but there was one Bill in which we were very much inte rested —a Bill for four-and-a-half miles of new railway, con necting. the North-Western with the South - We s t ern rad 'aY, and the other railways south of the Thames, which h as been successful.—(Hear.) This I t hi n k w ill bp a most important adjunct to our system.—(Hear,) In fact it Wilt bring our line in connexion with the railways south of the Thames, and the ports connected with those railways, sine you will all, as mercantile men, appreciate this advantage.—(Cheers.) But if we did not promote o a , time was occupied Bills, a considerable deal of :, opposing Bills. The two Bills whi c h weifare the called upon on principle to oppose were the Bill-, Great Western Company a nd the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Company, for acquiring powers fur using our s stationt in Birmingham, and using our lines from that station. I don't think, in the whole course of my Parliamentaryexatnradorrdaiilnclaryy experience, I ever met with such an attempt as that waa—(Hear, hear.) It was ad mirable for its boldness ; for they, I sought to avail thems elves of o ur own capital and a considerable. a m o unt we have p a id for the stationat Birmieghem and th e lines runnin g th ere —(Hear)— they sought to avail them selves of our ca p i tal , land, amc l station, for the purpose of beginning a competi t i on w the p ro j ect in against ours& ves.—(flear.) That us introduced volved in the two Eels which were to Par liament. The object Was not discovered,ommittee quite as rapidly by the members of Co mmitte e as as it might have been, but it was eventually seen, and the result was that both Pr`jPets Thesewere rejected by Parliament.—(Loud cheer s ) are the only Parliamentary proceedings of any conse quence that we have had, but they were very tedious and very long, though very successful.—(Hear, hear.) I wish it was in my power to report to you that our re lations with all our neighbours are on the footing I should wish them to be. In connexion with SUN, the Midland Company, we are carrying on a very serious contest with the Great Northern Company. We have submitted to the arbitration of a very eminent in dividual, Mr. Gladstone, certain points in connexion with our differences with that co - epany, and I wish that that reference was allowed to be made more general. The concessions, however, which had been de manded of us and the Midland Company are so great, involving the infraction of agreements with other companies, and so far exceeding the Parliamentary or legitimate traffic connected with that company, that hitherto they have refused to admit them as the basis of an agreement. lam sure our friends of the Midland Company, with whom our con nexion is of the closest and most intimate kind, would be the very first to come to an arrangement with the Great Northern Company, on e. mutual, fair, and bene ficial basis.—(Cries cf " Hear, hear.") We are also at issue with the Great Western Company. I confess that the failure of our negotiations with the Great Western Company does not surprise me. I have watched their policy for a great many years, and I am fully convinced that, disappointed in their own traffic, they would not be quite happy until they had made at tempts somewhere else.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) Our negotiations with them have, therefore, failed. With respect to the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Com pany, I do not think that there is need for me to trouble you with many observations. We are under an agree ment with that company for working in communication with that line, which we are advised by an authority of the higher rank is perfectly legal and binding, and I see no reason why we should cease to adhere to it. I do not know why we should be induced to conceive that at the present moment the policy of Parliament in railway matters can lead them to allow of a second competing line in communication from London to the Mersey. The Shrewsbury and Birming - ham line was never granted with that intention; the object of it was originally to work in connexion with the London and Birmingham line in one district, but not to form a competing line to the Mersey. It is perfectly true that there was a line in connexion with it which communicated with a large and opulent district, the exigencies of which required a communi cation with the Mersey; .but that line never was granted with the idea of entering into competition with the London and North-Western Railway. Parliament, I am convinced, could never feel disposed to grant a se cond competing line against that fair traffic which was established by the London and North-Western Railway, and the longer we go on the surer we shall arrive at the conviction that the just principles laid down years ago by Lord Dalhousie are those which must ultimately govern railway arrangements and policy. The experience of years shows, and more especially in cases where t he capital account is to be closed, that is not by competition, but by an intimate connexion between companies in the same district, supported by Parliament allowing them to do their best for the developement of the traffic, and allowed, too, to put something in the pockets of their proprietors, that we can expect to obtain the slightest chance of the railway system being supported properly in this country.—(Hear, hear.) To think of competi tion is absurd. Look at the fact, that people are now being carried from Leeds and back for ss. to 4s. 6d., why, what good can that do either company? It must lead in the end to combination and a division of the whole territory between the two COM' paeies. That is what will be the case before long; but, as I said at the commencement of my sp. ech, I have nu wi.h for any reserve, Ido not hesitate to say that before that arrives we have to go through a long and very serious competition. The effect will be a great deal of ruinous injury to railway property, and ineonveeience to the public; we shall have a repetition of horrible acci dents until the public must at last become awake to the real position of affairs, and we shall have Parliament interieriug and puiting the system upon a different and wiser lowing. These are my own remarks, and I have no wish to commit my cull> agucs to them—(Hear) — but I know teat there are many before me who are large holders of railway property, and I wish to im press them with these same opinions ; I wish them to go to their meetings and press these ideas upon them.—(Hear, hear.) If - you do not you will ruin your property, and your only chance to preserve it in its integrity and fu►l value is to do so. It will take time to bring about a proper feel ing on this subject, but I must bt-g in the meantime to impress upon y ou the necessity of being content to keep up a I.rge reserve fund.—(Hear, hear.) If we have to go into this extensive competition it is a most material thing that we should be able to do so without touch ing on your dividend. Therefore I do hope that you will not from any temporary increase in the traffic which might come into the current half-year be induced to run away with the idea that you can increase your dividend. If you are content to remain in your present position, and to carry yourselves through this competi tition by the aid of your reserve fund, you will have beaten down all those fancied theories of persons unacquainted with railway matters, and you will do more to neutralize the effect of bad legislation than I had ever anticipated would have been done in so short a time. We have at this moment several agreements of that sort with the Lancashire and York shire, and others, and we are most anxious to carry them out to the full. We are anxious, as far as possible, to promote the most cordial alliance between ourselves and those lines; they form part of the same system, and that is part of our territory, and with their help we intend to endeavour to work it and to meet all competition there. I am happy to say that there is a better feeling growing up on these points, there is a gre,ter disposition among our neighbours to work harmoniously together. Do not think that I wish to alarm you abuut the state of your property. If you will only carry on the policy which has hitherto di. rected your proceedings, if you are content to keep your dividend at its present amount, there is nothing in the aspect of our concern which is in any way calculated to discourage you. In our local traffic, and in our 188 stations we have the elements and basis of strength which nothing can take from us. With that conviction I hope that none of you will be frightened by statements which you may occasionally see in the newspapers. We shall be forced into a com petition, but the and will be as I have stated to you. I shall always be ready to enter into arrangements for the promotion of a lair and equitable understanding; but we shall not be disposed to anrink from entering into that competition to which we have been compelled, if we have from you the support and encouragement which we look for.—(Cheers.) Mr. ILLY said, before the report was read he should be glad to hear what course the directors in tended to take next session with regard to the Audit Bill? The CHAIRMAN said ho might say, on the spur of the moment, that the directors were not prepared to take any steps whatever. He must in justice, however, to himself and others, refer the pro.driwtor to what had al ready taken place in Parliament.—(Hear, hear.) After the reception which the Audit Bill had niet with there, he contes.ed that he, for one, was not disposed to under take the future management of any similar Bill.—(Hear.) The report was then read as tollowta:— " A full statement of the accounts for the half-year ending 30th of June last, has be , :h pl,ced in the hands of the proprietors, from which may be derived the follow ing I esultg, as compared with the corresponding six months of 1S30:-- Passenger:, parcels, and 185'. 1851. Increase. ••• £674,221 £723,862 £49,641 435,959 453,718 17,759 ••• mails Merchandise, &c. £1,110,180 £1,177,580 £67,400 Working expenses ... £377,422 £415,420 £38,002 " The actual per tentage of dtiburn.--weiiis to receipts is, exclu-ive of rates and taxes, 34 99 against 33 99 in 1850, and inclusive of those items 33.99 against 38.31 in 1850. " Besides the expenses attendant upon the working and maintenance of 52 additional miksge, viz. :—..- Rugy and Stamford 27i opened 29th April, and June 1,1850. Coventry &Nuneaton 10 opened 2d September, 1850. Rugby & Leamington 15 opened Ist March, 1851. tee ordinary expenditure in the locomotive department, during the halt-year, has been increased to a consider able extent by the measures adopted in anticipation of the Exhibition traffic, of which the company are now de riving the benefit, to an extent which tally Justifies that expenditure; the receips for the first six weeks of the cur rent half-year exceeding the receipts of 1850 by 88,000/. The closing of the capital account, except for certain speci fied items formerly stated to the proprietors, has thrown upon revenue a variety of expenses necessarily incurred for additions and improvements, and which amount in the aggregate to a considerable sum. These circum stances will explain the apparent disproportion between the increase of receipts and working expenses. " The East and West India Dock Junction Railway is now in operation for passenger traffic, from the Junc tion at Camden station to Yenchurch-street. The result, so far, has proved highly satisfactory. The line will be used for the transit of goods so soon as the arrangements now in progress at the termini are completed. "Parliament has sanctioned the construction of a short line to connect the Blackwell Railway with the ex tensive warehouses at Ilaydon- square, formerly the pro perty o f the East India Company, and this branch will be immediately proceeded with. Looking at the position upon and extent of six of these wareho uses, situate in the most central part o f the city of Lon don, and containing upwards as i h it is s earing impossible to over-estimate their res im o p f or the furthe r d evelopmen t of your merchandise traffic ; acres and the directors have great satisfactio n in submittin g to the proprietors th e terms o f t h e a rrangement, by which ti trn r c t e n , g' they have obtained the option of purchasing these ware houses; as also the agreement with the Blackwell Rail way Company, by which the transmission of the traffic over that line is secured, on terms equitable and mutually advantageous, " The estimated cost of the Ilaydon-square warehouses, together with the necessary alterations, approaches, &c., is:— For the Buildings „. ... ... 525,000 „ Alterations, Machinery, s c , ... 15 000 „ Approaches •.• ••• ... 5,000 £45,000 "Parliament has also sactioned the North and South= Western Jcuction Railway, which will connect the line of this company near Willesden, with that of the London and South-Western Company near Breniford, and so afford uninterrupted communications between the manu facturing districts, and all points south of the Thames, and the port of Southampton. " The Rugby and Leamington line was opened on the Ist of Much, and the remaining portion of the Rugby and Stamford line on the 2d of June last. " Your directors have to report that the Bucking hamshire lines of railway having been completed, the lease of that undertaking to this Company has been prepared, in conformity with the Act of Parliament, ' and duly executed by both companies. " The questions in difference between this company and the North Staffordshire have been referred to the arbitration of the Right honourable James Stuart THE LONDON, Wortley, M.P., tha Recorder of London, and his judgment on most of them has been obtained. That the North Staffordshire board should publicly express dissatisfaction with a decision to sought and obtained, is a matter of regret to your directors, who, however, are still reedy and desirous to meet every just expectation of the North Staffordshire beard, and to co-operate with them, by every means calculated to encourage the traffic of the district occupied by that undertaking. " Adverting to the proceedings of the Great Western Company, as particularly alluded to in February last, your directors have now to report that that company in troducA into Parliament a Bill seeking compulsory powers of access to the new station of this company in Birmingham. The professed object of the measure was to satisfy the requirement of an Act passed in a previous session of Parliament, and on this representation the Bill was sanctioned by a Committee of the House of Commons. Subsequently, however, on a Bill promoted by the Shrewsbury and Birmingham directors coming before the same Committee, the true bearing of the scheme, and the object of the parties, were made evi dent, and in the Committee of the House of Lords the measure was defeated by an unanimous decision. " Simultaneously with the Bill promoted by the Groat Western Company, the directors of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham prosecuted a Bill for the avowed object of connecting their line with that of the Birmingham and Oxford by means of the proposed Great Western branch, and also of having their powers over the Stour Valley line extended for hostile purposes, in violation of the clearest engagement to the contrary. Your directors have the satisfaction to state that their opposition to this unjustifiable proceeding was also successful, Parliament refusing to sanction measures manifestly unjust, and at tended with danger to the public. " The board abstain from entering at large into the circumstances under which the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton directors have failed to carry out the arrangement sought by themselves, and unanimously approved and adopted by the general meeting of their proprietors, held on the 28th February last. Your directors are still of opinion that an alliance, such as that ' proposed with this compauy and the Midland, would prove more advantageous to the public, and more conducive to the interests of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhamptom proprietors, than the arrangement sub sequently offered by the Great Western Company—and a committee of proprietors having been appointed to consider the question, your directors have little doubt that they will arrive at this obvious conclusion; and that the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Company will adhere to their intention of connecting themselves with this company and the Midland. "In consequence of the continued refusal on the part of the Great Western Company to enter into friendly arrangements on fair terms, your directors have enter tained propositions made to them by several existing interests connected with the mineral district of South Wales. The subject is receiving the mature delibe ration of the board, who have, pending the decision of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Company, ordered the necessary surveys to be made with a view to a continuation of the Buckinghamshire lines to Worcester and Cheltenham. A line from Wor cester to Hereford is being actively promoted by the landowners and other influential parties connected with that district. From Hereford to Abergavenny there is a line on the narrow gauge already sanctioned by Par liament, so that by this chain, when completed, the whole system of the London and North-Western and Mi Ilunci Railways will be brought into direct communi cation with the important mineral district of South Wales, and with the city of Bristol. "With the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Company an agreement has been made, advantageous to both par ties ; but the Shrewsbury and Birmingham directors have not yet signified their intention to give ctroct, to it; they having subsequently entered into an arrangement with the Great Western Company. Your directors trust that, on more mature consideration, the Shrews. bury and Birmingham directors will see fit to concur in the views of the majority of their bard fide sharehold, who are anxious to abide by the prior agreement 'nixie with this company. "The Stour Valley line and the Birmingham exten sion are nearly completed, end will be ready for opening in October. Contracts have been entered into for the erection of the permanent Central Station in Birming ham; in the man time a temporary station will be im mediately constructed. " The directors have entered into an arrangement with the lessee of the South Staffordshire Railway, which will effect a more economical working of the traffic of that district. " The directors regret that the altered policy of the Great Northern board, in refusing to adhere to the prin ciple of equal charges between all points with which the several companies communicate, has led, as an inevitable consequence, to an injurious reduction of rates. Your directors have spared no effort to avoid this unfortunate result, and have offered, in conjunction with the Midi and directors, to leave the whole questions in difference, as also the basis of a more general settlement, to a referee of high standing and authority. " Your directors have the satisfaction of reporting the continuance of friendly relations with the Lancashire and Yorkshire. the Midland, the Manchester, Sheffield, :mid Lincolnshire, and other companies whose lines commu nicate with yours. " The result of the experience which the directors have had in the operation of these traffic arrangeoients satisfies them of their value to the public and the com panies interested, and they will endeavour to extend and consolidate them so as still further to identify the com mon interests involved. From the statement of the last half year's accounts, it will be seen that the net proceeds are To which must be added the balance carried forward from last account 4671,384 IE. 5 Less—Further allowance for renewal of rails, and addition to the works, stock, and estate.. 18,992 5 6 Showing a disposable balance 0f... £652,392 10 11 " The directors recommend a dividend of 21. 15s. per cent. fcr the six months, amounting to 528,3151. 3s. 6d., leaving a balance of 124,0771. 7s. sd. to be carried to' the next half-yearly account." The CHAIRMAN moved the adoption of the report.. A SHAREHOLDER urged upon the board the necei laity for bating some steps to reduce the interest account and the arrears of calls. The CHAIRMAN said he was happy to inform the sh are holders that large reductions were constantly be Rig made in the mortgage debt. None of the debentures Were renewed except at reduced interest; while, Nv ith regard to the arrears of calls, it would perhaps be se.tis factory to the Hon. Proprietor to know that the arr,ars carried 5 per cent. interest.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. UPCROFT asked if it was not possible to send -out the report some days before the meeting? The CHAIRMAN replied in the negative. It ws,s of importance that the report should be kept open until the last moment, so as to make all new matter available.. Mr. BALDWIN would be glad to know when they acre likely to receive anything from the East and West India Ducks line? The CHAIRMAN said the directors of that line wer e in the highest spirits at the result of the working of tia eir and they were in hopes that a dividend would be forthcoming this half year. Mr. WILLIAMS again took the opportunity wia ich the meeting afforded him of complaining of the item of 2,0001. which appeared in the accounts as the losses on light gold. He suggested that all the light sovere'cns should be clipped before they were sent to the boax.d, and then they would not get Into circulation again. The CHAIRMAN said this proceeding would be illiag al, The light sovereigns were not re issued by the ban:kers of the company, because the gold was made up in bangs which were sealed up, and after being weighed, deliv eyed in that state to the Batik of England. There ought to be some movement in the country to abate the e vil, which he was sorry to say was very much on the increase. The remedy would be found in recommending the Cio vernment to recoin light gold annually. Mr. HAGLEY was rather surprised that a reneival of debentures, to the extent of 1,400,0001. had recently taken place at the high rate of 41. per cent. The CHAIRMAN said the renewal took place at a tine when the money market was not so easy as it was at present. - A PROPRIETOR remarked that the Chester and Holy head Company were borrowing money at a large rate of interest. Now, as this company were largely interested in the success of that line, could not something be do.oe for it in the shape of a loan from the funds of th is company. The C)HAIRMAN said they had not the power, if they were disposed to do it. In reply to another question, The CHAIRMAN said the the interest of this company was represented on the East and West India board by six directors. The Dock Company, who held 100,0004 in the concern, were represented by four dire - tors, and the public by six; this company held the largest interest in the concern of the three. About a third of the capital was held by the public. The great feeder of the line was the passenger and not the goods traffic. No lens than 105,000 persons were carried over the line last week, and there could be no doubt that the concern was doing exceedingly well. Mr. BA -SETT addressed a few words to the meetin g upon the importance of keeping up a large reserve fund. The stability of the company, in his opinion, depended upon their always having a large reserve. For a company like this, with a capital of 30,000,0001., a reserve fund of half a million was not too large. Mr. LocxE, M.P ., wished to know in what condition the Birmingham, Dudley, and Wolverhampton line was now. The CHAIRMAN had been informed:that the powers of the company had expired. Mr. Lode said he found that the gross receipts from goods amounted to 417,000/., and the ex penses of collections 87,0001. Now he thought so mething ought to be done i n f uture to reduce item, and he trusted th e di rectors would not lose sight of this part of th e account. Be the latter explained that one great reason for the loss of the audit bill was the opposition of the lawyers an d the resistance it met with from some railway dire c t ors i n Parliament, who ought to have supported it. He en . nounced his intention to renew the Bill next se ss i on, and therefore he impressed upon the meeting the import ante of agitating in its favour. Captain lima, the manager of the railway, in reply to an observation from !he last speaker, stated that the goods' agents derived only a moderate profit from their agency ; but a negotiation was now on foot for reducing the expenditure in this respect, and it was hoped the new system by which the reduction would be eff-c -dcome into ope ra ti o n. The whole sub jteent would how shortly m o ver, wa was now undergoing the consideration of a committee. Mr. CrEAcs, M.P., admitted that the Hon. Member for Honiton and the worthy Chairman did all they FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 15, 1851. could to secure the passing of the audit bill, but be, for one, thought there was no necessity for legislation, and he was not sorry that the Bill was thiown our. The motion for the adoption of the report was then put and carried unanimously. The CHAIRMAN then moved the declaration of the dividend after the rate mentioned in the report. Mr. PUNCHARD moved tie an amendment that the divi dend be five-and-a-quarter per cent., free of income-tax. No one seconded the amendment, and it consequently fell to the ground. The original motion was then agreed to. A resolution was then passed, declaring the forfeiture of certain shares which were in arrears, after which the Audit Committee for the ensuing year was appointed. Some other financial business was next disposed of, and thanks having been ♦oted to the chairman, the meet ing, which was numerously attended, and occupied up wards of two hours, broke up. THE GREAT EXHIBITION (THIS DAY.) The number of visitors to-day at the Crystal Palace appears to be quite up to, if not beyond, cue usual ave rage of the half-crown day. The police returns up to four o'clock ar© as follow:- 11 o'clock ... 12 „ ::: 10 5 : 4 16 1 2 2 ... 13,386 ... 15,533 ... 17,455 4 „ ... ... ... ... 19,242 The thermometer was in the course of the day from 72 to 74. Her Majesty has been pleased to relax her usual rule of not receiving presents from her subjects in the case of Mr. Joseph Harrison, of Blackburn, machinist, who has presented her- with two calico pieces woven on the looms exhibited by him, which are upon the first principle, and are propelled at the astonishing speed of 250 picks, or throws of the shuttle, per minute. The pieces, after being woven, were printed by Messrs. Hargreave, Bro thers, and Co., Accrington. The alteration in Keith's silk trophy has a most pleas ing effect, and excites great admiration. The British Plate Glass Company have introduced a long slip louking-glass at the end of each of the four projecting arms or wings on which the silks are dis played. The extreme brilliancy gives a lightness of appearance to the trophy, by which it is greatly im proved; and owing to these glasses being fixed at the corners of the trophy, they reflect diagonally objects in the nave or transept, and the visitor is not a little per plexed to discover where the articles so reflected are to be found. Among the articles in the Fine Arts department (class 30, no. 296) is a painting illustrating the triangular and equidistant arrangement of the features, the work of an at tist named Llopley. This singular production pro fesses to present a scale of proportion borne out by the finest examples of art. Nine equal triangles, at equal distances from each other, and having one general base, are shown to be an unnerriug guide to pure facial pro portions; under them, every important outline of the features arranges itself, and the departure from this order produces the existing variations. Childhood, or the Pre.symmetrioai Period, exhibits nine obtuse isoceles triangles; the Post-symmetrical Period, or Maturity, develips nine acute isoceles triangle; it is only at ihe interm , dia.°, the most 13* autiful, or Symme trical Period, that these nine triangles are equilateral— demonstratieg that when tht-re is the greatest besuty there is the greatest symmetry. The artist or sculptor, observing through these fixed angles where features ac cord with or depart from this scale, will, it is said, be assisted to the speedy realization of a correct outline; thus saving valuable time, and securing a better oppor tunity to study the mental characteristics of his sitter. The work has excited much curiosity amongst the artists who have visited the Exhibition, and, it is thought, will lead to results of a practically useful character. The entire sum received by the Commissioners from every source up to yesterday amounts to 389,5821. 3s. 10d. THE LONDON GAZETTE. (THIS EVENING.) CROWN OFIICE, AuG. 13. MEMBER RETURNED TO SERVE IN THIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT. Borough of Downpatriels.— fhe Hon. Charles Stewart Hardinge, in the room of Richard Ker, Esq., who hay accepted the office of Steward of her Majesty'. Chiltern Hundreds. WHITEHALL, AuG. 11. The Lord Chancellor has appointed John Hutchinson, of Sunderland, in the county palatine of Durham, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. BANKRUPTCY SUPERSEDED. Richard Moore, commission agent, bun Tavern-fields, St. George's in the BANKRUPTS. Mantis Feeny and Juhn Gard, woollen drapers, St. Martin's-lane, to surrender Aug. 29 and Sept. 27, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Cannan, official assignee, Birchin-lane; Reed, Langford, and Marsden, Fria ay •street, Cheapside. George Nock and John Williams, goldsmiths, Frith street, Soho, Aug. 22, at ten, and Oct. 3, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee, Basinghall-street; Teague, Crown-court, Cheapside. Thomas Davey, jun., builder, Halsted, Essex. Aug. 22, at two, and Sept. 27, at one, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Cannan, official assignee, Birchin-lane, Corn , hill; Parker, Gray's Inn-square, and Chelmsford, Rises. Henry Beal, bookseller and publisher, Shoe-lane, Fleet-street, Aug. 22, at twelve, and Sept. 27, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, official as signee, Basinghall-street; Forster, Crosby-square. John Paul, milliner, Oxford-street, Aug. 22, at half past twelve, and Sept. 27, at two. at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee, Basiughall-street; Seaman, Pancras-lane, Cheapside. William Frederick Donovan, poulterer, Oxford-street, Aug. 21, at half-past one, and Oat. 3, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore, official assignee, Ba singhall-street; Smith and Page, Duke-street, Manches ter-square. George Small, tailor. Folkestone, Bent, Aug. 23, at eleven, and Sept. 20, at half -past one, at the Ci•urt of Bankruptcy. Graham, official assignee; Willoughby and Cox, Clifford's-inn. William Baird, paper hanger, Liverpool, Aug. 27 and at eleven, at the Liverpool Di strict C ourt . Sept. 16, Caz, , nove, official assignee, Liverpool; Grocott, Liver pool. Christopher Oley, insurance-broker, Newcastle-upon hoarlif3ylatetwl;ilsvterict Court. Ws kley, , and Oct. 7. at one, a T t y t n h e e , N A e u e . 4 2 8 6 t, at e. e t p official assignee, Newcastle-upon-Tyn e; i'hilipson, New caatk-upon-Tyne. PRICE OF SUGAR. The average price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, com puted from returns made in the week ending August 12, 1851, exclusive of Customs Duties paid or payable thereon on the importation thereof into Great. Britain:— From the British possessions in America 255. 64d. per cwt From the Mauritius 255. 1144. „ From the East Indies ..• 255. 54d. „ Average price of the three foregoing de scriptions of sugar, jointly, computed as above, and exclusive of duty 25g. od. By authority of Parliament, HENRY BICKN ELL, Clerk of the Grocers' Company. Grocers'-hall, Aug. 15. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London IVeT Price Current, Aug. 15.) SUGAR.—To -day only limited purchases were made West India Sugar, and rather lower rates were taken ur inferior sorts, making a fall for the week of 6d to Is, but on the better qualities of yellow the decline is not more than 6d. The purchases are 550 hhds, &e., includ ing at auction 225 pkgs Nevis, which sold at 30s 6d to 32s 6d for low to tine brown, and at 33s to 37s for com mon to good yellow ; 46 hhds Dem erara cr y sta l ize d, good yellow 42s to 435, and mid 38a. REFINED.—To-day there was no variation in the value of Refined Sugar, but home deal w r s ma d e purchases with reluctance, and the supply is getting more plentiful. Crushed Sugar met with a dull demand for exportation, and at the rates of yesterday there are free sellers. MAURITIUS.—This afternoon Mauritius Sugar met with little notice; the better kinds of yellow sustained the former value, but inferior and brown went rather cheaper. At auction 4,010 bags sold—low to mid brown went at 283 to 301, better sorts 31s to 335; low to good yellow 37s Od to 37s fid per cwt. EAST INDIA.—This afternoon the market for Bengal Sugar presented a dull aspect, the best white and grainy realiz?d full rates, but a slight reduction has taken place for inferior kinds. At public sale 3,800 bags nearly all sold, good to fine white Benares went at 403 to 41s 6d, low to good mid 37s 6d to 39s 6 , 1, damp and washed 37s to 40s, low to good soft yellow 30s, to 36a 6d, good brown 29s to 29s 6d, fine gi aitay white 455, superior like Mauritius 37s 6d to 40-, mid to fine 349 to 399, low 33s to 33s 6(1. Madras is rather cheaper, and 731 bags went at 26s 6d to 28s 6d for low to fine soft brown and 321 bags Penang at 34s 6d to 36s for mid to good yellow. FOREIGN.—To-day holders of Foreign generally re fused to submit to a ny fu r , h e r r e duction; the private operations were of little moment, and confined chiefly to to a cargo of brown Bahia at 173 6d for fair quality. At auction 110 pkgs 227 bags Brazil were only in part sold, low to fine brown Bahia at 28s 6d to 323 6d, low yellow 32s 6d to 335, and brown Pernambuco at at 29a to 32s per cwt: of Egyptian 50 pkgs went at 353 for fair yellow, and at 33s for low. These are rather lower rates. Two cargoes yellow llavannah sold at 20$ 6d to 20s 9d equal to No. 11i. MOLASSES.—To-day at public sale 40 puns St. Nevis Molasses sold at 12s 6d per cwt, being barely the former value. COFFEE.—This afternoon Plantation Ceylon C, met with ready purchasers. and in some cases stitrwr rates are paid; at auction 252 casks all sold, mid 54 s to 575, low mid 52a to 535. fine to fine fine ord 4as to 51s, pea berry 58i to 625, and triage 35s to 43s 6d. Native met a good demand, and the parcels sold privately were at 41s to 41s 63; at auction 303 bags realized 41s tor good ord, and 34s to 39s tor damaged. Or Bahia 610 bags were taken in at 36s 61 to 37s for good ord, cioufly at 36s 6d, being above the value, but damaged sold at 29s 6d to 34s per cwt. COCOA.—Fine red Trinidad is sill wanted and supply being small former rates of 508 to 55s par c.‘ I have been paid other kinds are held for full terms, bnt met with less attention. At auction 422 bags Trinidad were partly sold; good red at 44s to 48s, ord and mid 41s to 44; grey from 38s to 41s; 37 bags mid Grenada 375, and 9 brie 30 bags St. Vincent's mid and fine 37s to 43s 6d. Foreign confirm , s to meet with little attention, and holders are not disposed to sell at any further de cline, and require 26s to 27s for Bahia and Para, and for Guayaquil 28s to 30a per cwt. TEA.—lbe dulness in the market for Green further increased this week, and larger parcels have been brought forward; a reduction has taken plane of id to Id per lb for Ilyson, and prices are rether lower for most other sorts. but Youeg Hyson continue to he, wanted, and many parcels have been sold at full terms. Congou is in larger supply and offered, rather under the rates prevail ing, yet dealers have manifested a reluctance to operate, aed best sorts are least required. The prices accepted for low to good common have been 9 d to 104 d, medium to rather strong blackish leaf 101 d to I lid, and good to fiae is to is 6d. Souchong met with a dull demand, and a slight reduction is apparent, better qualities meeting with the least attention. Oolong is yet held for Is to is 7d, at the same time little has been done. The supply of Scented and Pekoe Teas far exceed dealers wants: a fall has taken place of Id per lb for Orange Pekoe, and rates are rather lower for most other sorts. RlCE.—There is a reluctance on the part of holders of East India to sell under the rates prevailing previously, and the market is sparingly supplied. The private opera tions are upon a small scale by exporters and home dealers. The present value is for good and fine white Bengal 9s 64 to 103 6d, mid 9s to Vs 3d, low and broken 8s 3d to 8s 9d, cargo 7. 6d, Arraca❑ Bs, pinkey Madras 7s to 7s 9d, and Bengal grain 8s to 8s 64 per cwt. An impression exists that rather lower prices will prevail. None has been offered at auction this week, and Rice is cheaper than in the preceding season. SPlRlTS.—Demerara Rum remains in good demand, and previous terms have been well supported, the parcels sold realising 2s to 2s 3d per gallon for 30 to 40 per cent over proof. In East India a fair business has been con cluded at is 3id to is 4d proof strength; indeed, thereat some parties will not sell. Several transactions have taken place in Leeward Island; pieces are firm at Is 5d to is 6d proof, and there is only a limited amount on offer. Fine Jamaica has met with a free sale both for shipping and home trade purposes, and the terms paid have been from 3s 2d to 4s 4d for 34 to 38 per cent. over proof. Previous rates are also well supported for other sorts, and a fair demand prevails, good mid to good 32 to 34 over proof realized 2s 9d to 3s, low and mid 30 to 33 over 2s 6d to 2s Bd. Brandy continues to be operated in with re luctance, and In consequence of a large stock, lower rates are expected to prevail; there is, however, a fair consumption, and dealers are moderately supplied. The va lue of Cognac best brands of the vintage of 1850 is 4s 4d to 4s 6d, 1849 ditto 4s 5d to 4s 7d, 1848 ditto 4s 10d to ss, older sorts 5s 4d to 7s, low to mid 2s 6d to 3s 6d, and Bordeaux 2s 2d to 2s 3d. There is yet only a moderate business doing in British made Spirit, still quotations re main firm at 9s 54 to 9s 64, and Gin for exportation at 2s 6d. The small parcels of Geneva sold were at is 7d to is 8d for ord, and fine is 9d to 2s. SPICES.—With Nutmegs the market continues to be sparingly supplied, there are several buyers, and prices have an upward tendency—low to mid sound brown realizing 2s 3d to 2s 10d, better sorts 3s to 3s 8d ; and low to flue limed is 6d to 2s Bd. Ginger is still pur chased with caution ; and prices are yet on the decline tor Jamaica, the public sales of 250 pckgs went at 47s to 778 for ord to good ; and one lot tine at 1235. African is to be obtained at 24s 64 to 25s 6d; and shipping East India at 15s to 17s; but operations have been trifling. The Cinnamon market has a dull aspect, especially for the lower sorts; there are sellers of Ceylon at, from is 8d to 3s 4d for first sort; is 3d to 2s 4d fur second; and at 9d to 2s p.r lb for third and fourth. To-day the public sales of Ginger went at lower rates, 200 es Cochin eel ling 43s to 464 6d tor na,d home trade sort, and 393 to 423 for common; 71 brls Jamaica, ord to mid 46s to 47s p r cwt. COCULNEAL —The demand has been brisker this week for all sort., and full rates are obtained. At auction 210 bags Honduras nearly all sold; low to mid silvers went at 2s lld to 3s 3d, good to fine 3s 4d to 3s 8d; good to fine black 3s 93 to 455 d, interior and mid 3s Id to 3s 8d; 80 bsgs Mexican Silvers 3s to 3s 31, black 3s 4d to 3s 63, 6 bags Ten. rife 3s 9d to 3s 11d; small parcels of Gratiilla realised 2s 3d to 2s 53, and Gorbliugs is 3d to Is 61. Stock is 2 000 bags more than last year. INDloo.—Ttie market for East India is in a firm posi tion, there is a fair home trade and export demand, whilst the rates obtained are 23 to 3d per lb, above the last quarterly sale. - .; Madras, Kurpah, and good Bengal are yet most in demand. Of Spanish the supply has tallen off, and there is a fair business doing, at prices rather above those of this day week; Sobres selling at 4s to ss; Cortes is 6d to 4a Od per lb. SALTPETRE.—To day Saltpetre met with a good de mand, and realised stiffer rates. At public sale 1.845 bags were nearly sold; Calcutta, refraction 44 to 41 per cent. went at 28, for good quality—fin© 14 ditto 295, damaged 223 to 263. Eadras, sound 131 per cent 25s 6d, and 7id ditto 26s 6d per cwt. OLLs.—The demand for Seal Oil has further di minished, and prices have declined, limited purchases having been made in pale at 341 to 341 10s: and other descriptions at 311 to 321. There are few buyers of Cod, and 36/ is the current value, with a down ward tendency. Southern is in good demand, and supply being small buyers have been compelled to pay 321 10s to 331 lOs fir good to fine, and 311 10, to 321 for interior sorts. Prices are sustained for Sperm; but transactions have been limited at 841 to 66/ for colonial, and the market will be more freely supplied shortly. Headmatter has been selling at 901 to 92/ per tun. There are few home or export buyers of Cocoa Nut and rates have a downward tendency; Ceylon selling at 293 63 to 31s 6d; and Cochin 31s to 32s 6d; still con sumption, is yet on the increase. Rape Seed Oil has been operated in with caution, and a reduction is apparent ; the supply is also more plentiful ; sales of brown have bean made at 323 6d to 33 ; Refined 345; Foreign 34s 63 to 35s ; and brown East India 34, 63 to 335. Teel Seed is dull of sale at 30s 6d to 31s. Lin seed Oil has been operated in with reluctance both for shipping and home use, rates have receeded, and rule at 32s 6d to 335; still production does ❑ot much exceed the consumption. For forward delivery there is, however, a good demand at 325, and with not free sellers. TALLOW.— This afternoon the public sales of Tallow went off at full rates; 350 casks South American at 36a to 37s 9d, and 260 Australian—good Mutton 37s to 37s 6d; Beef, rather soft 36s 6d to 36s 9d per cwt. BANK OF ENGLAND. (From this night's Gazette.) An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth of Victoria,cap. 32 for the Week ending on Saturday, the 9th day of August, 1851. macs DEPAILTBEENT. Notes issued .. .. .. .. 27,a 11,065 £27,341,045 Dated the 14th day of August, Government debt 11,015,100 Other securities •• • • 2,984,900 Gold coin and bullion 13,307,710 silver bullion • • • • • • 33,375 £27,341,085 M. MARSHALL, Chief Cashier. 1 , 351. EI'AILTDIEN T. BANKING D Proprietors 'capital .. 14,553,000 Rest .•.. • ... 3,319,013 Public deposits (in cluding Exchequer, Commissioners of National Debt, Sav ings -bank s, and Di- Government semi- ties (including Dead Weight Annuity).. 13,464.021 Other securities • • 12,028,246 Notes • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 7,1- 9,700 Gold and silver coin.. 612,436 vidend aecoania).. 5,513,244 Other deposits ...... 8,7 0,460 seven day and other 13111 a........ .... 1,238,650 £23.341,402 Dated the 14th day of August, COURSE OF EXCH arn3leni&a, ......•••• 11 17 1 £33,344,402 U. MARSHALL. Chief Cashier. 851. N GE.-(itllS DAY.) Gibraltar.. • • •• •• •• •• •• Leghorn ........ •• •• 80 80 leaoa •• •• •• •..... 25 4234 Milan ~............ Venice.. • • • • • • .. Naples •• 41% r•alermo,peros........ )233i MOiSilla .............. 121% iportu•. •. ••..••• • .• •• 53% rtio Janeiro • • ...... •• Buenos Ayres Lntw, three months.. 11 18 iotterdarn •• 11 18% Antwerp•• •• .. 25 27% Brussels • • • • .. 25 27% Hamburg!) ••M.B. 13 8% Park 3 days'sight •• 25 10 Ditto, 3 months .... 25 27% Marseilles ••.••• • • .... 25 27 3 ,, . Frankfort on Maine.... 1193 Etarlin•• • .......... Vienna, effee. flo •••• •• 11 56 Tneste, •• 11 56 Petersburgh,Sil• Rble.• 37 Madrid •• •• •• •• •• •• so Cadiz • • •.. bO% Barcelona •• •• Seville— •• •• •• •• •• •• ••• New Yori,6odays'sight Vl:Wadelonia PRICES 01 BULLION, PEI 01 Foreign Gold in bars.. 48 17 9 eortagal Gold Coin .. 0 0 0 spanish Doubloons .. 0 0 0 New Dollars •• 0 4 113( Silver in bars ........ 9 6 9% RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. BRISTOL, AUG. 14. STOOK EXCHANGL—The market was inanimate to-day, and but little business done. We have no alteration in prices to quote. LIVERPOOL, Aua. 14. STocx EXCELANGE.—The business to-day was very limited in amount, and prices rather lower. The transactions were as follow : —Lancashire and Yorkshire, 48 —Dittto, 6 per cent. Preferenee, 13 - Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, 1; 1 /,, London and North-Western, 122 c.— Ditto, New Quarters, 3 c. p.---Midland, 40%—Ditto, Haves, 21 dis.—South- Eastern and Dover, 21d/ 4 —Waterford and Limerick, 15%. MANCHES'IsEIt, AUG. 14. STocx EXCHANGH.—The market continues dull, without alteration in prices, and business limited. The transactions were as follow :—Lancashire and Yorkshire, 201. F. Shares, 2 1-16 dis.—London and North-Western, Manchester and Birmingham, Quarters (C), 2 1-16 n. p.—Manchester. Shef field, and Lincolnshire, 10/. Preference, 113—South -Eastern and Dover, 22. BIRMINGHAM, Aus. 14. STOCK EXCIIANGE.—The settlement passed off without any occurrence worthy of note. All matters, whether of im mediate settlement or carrying, were apparently for thq most pare arranged to the satisfaction of all parties. Want of business is, however, a general complaint, and the present favourable state of railway property does not appear to give asy impetus to the Share Mari et. The prices at the close of 'Change were, in all important particulars, about the same as in London. Midland (Six per Cents.), were done at 129. [A DVERTISEMENT].---TIIE GREAT EXIIIRITION,--. A valuable, newly-invented, very small powerful waistcoat pocket glass, only the size of a walnut, to discern minute ob jects at a distance of from four to five miles, which is found to be invaluable at the Exhibition, and to Sportsmen, Gentlemen, and Gamekeepers. To be had at 39, Albemarle- s t reet, Piccadilly, opposite the York-hotel. Opera and Race -course glasses with wonderful powers—a small object can be clearly seen from ten to twelve miles distant. Telescopes —a new and most important invention in Telescopes, possessing such extra ordinary powers, that some, 34 inches, with an extra eye piece, will show distinctly, Jupiter's Moons, Saturn's Ring, and the Double Stars. They supersede every other kind, and are of all sizes, for the waistcoat pocket, shooting, military, and sea purposes. Messrs. S. and B. SOLOMONS, Opticians, have invented invaluable preserving Spectacle Lenses Immediately they are placed before imperfect vision, every object appears clear and distinct, the most aged defective sight becomes bright and brilliant, is brought to its youthful, natural and original state. The Invisible Organic Vibrator, and all kinds of acoustic instruments for relief of extreme deafness. 39, Albemarle street, Piccadilly, opposite the York Hotel. POOR-LAW RELlEF. — According to a return to the House of Commons printed yesterday, the number of paupers in the receipt of r e li e f on the Ist or - July, 'B4O, was 831,780, and on the Ist of July last 813,089, sh 'wing a decrease of 19,691- Of able- bodied paupers the decrease in the same period was 7,903. TROOPS Fun. THE CAPE.—It may be satisfactory to the friends of the troops on board her Majesty's ship Cyclops, bound to the Cape, to know that they were safe at Madeira on the 14th of July, all well on board. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. OXFORD ClRCUlT.—Gloceester, Aug 13. CROWN COUR F.—(Before Mr. Baron MARTIN.) Janus Adams, 32, a tall, gentlemanly-looking man, and Elizabeth Williams, 23, a tolerably good-looking young woman, were charged with forging and uttering an order for the delivery of gouda in the name of Lord Villiers, with intent to defraud one John Lane, at Ciren cester. Mr. Cripps conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Hud dlestone the defence. Oa the 21st of May Mr. Lane, who is a grocer and elector at Cirencester, of which town Lord Villiers is representative, received a letter, signed " re questing him to send to him, at his London address, 41, North -street, Manchester-square, a side of Gloucester shire bacon as good as he had, and, if he had not a good one, requesting him to procure one, and adding:— " My cionstituenta complain of my nut dealing with them; but if 1 could procure things as good at Cirencester as I do in London, I should get everything from my consti tuents." Mr. Lane, on receiving this letter, pi ()cured im mediately and sent off a first-rate side of bacon by the Great Western Railway. Oa the 22:1 of May the prisoner called on a Mr. Fisher, a tailor, who lived at No. 40, North-street, Manchester-,quare, and who knew him formerly as a tailor, and asked him to take in parcels and letters for him. He said they would be addressed in the name of Villiers. He called again on the same evening, and upon the day following. On the Saturday (the 25th) a letter came, but was not taken. He said the parcels would contain a side of bacon and a gold watch. Mr. Fisher asked him why he got the letters and parcels addressed to him in the name of Villiers? and he said it was because he did not like the old man (his father) to know where he was. On the 23d Williams called and asked whether any letters or parcels had come for Lord Villiers? Adams never mentioned Lord Villiers. On the Saturday the Great Western Railway Company's waggon came, and the driver raised a side a bacon out and took it to No. 41, North•street, the house of a Mr. Dando, who said he knew nothing of Lord Villiers, and would have nothing to do with it, and made the driver take it back. Mr. Fisher met Adams the same day, end told him that he had seen a Great Western Railway Company's waggon bring up a side of bacon to No. 41, and take it away again; whereupon Adams said, "I must look after it." Mr. Fisher said the prisoner Williams never called at his house together with Adams, but heard that she was livine with him as his wife. In the course of that day Adams called at the house of a person named Parker, living in William-street, St. Luke's, and wanted to borrow a few shillings to pay for the carriage of a side of bacon, which had come to him from a person named Lane, but having been carried to a wrong number, was taken back to the station. When the prisoners were arrested Williams said to Adams, in the presence of the constable, " You know that you wrote those letters and sent me for the things," to which Adams replied, "Hold your tongue;" and she then added, "You know you told me the things were to come from your father." Williams cried much, and was heard by a❑other constable saying to Adams, "I told you all along not to write these letters; but you told me your father would set all right." The next morning Adams asked Bowles, a policeman of Cirenc, s ter, if he thought his father and Mr, Lane would make it up, and requested him to go to his father and persuade him to go to Mr. Lane and make it up. Bowles said he could not intertere. The prisoner then asked if he would be allowed to write a letter, and being told that he could do so, he wrote two letters, one to Mr. Lane and the other to his father. In the letter to Mr. Lane he begged of him to go and see his father, and in the letter to his father he begged of him to see Mr. Lane. One witness, who saw Adams write once, about three years ago, swore that the letter was in his handwriting. At the close of the case for the pro , ecuttoo, his Lord ship said there was no case against Williams, and di rected her to be Acquitted; Adams was found Guilty. There were two other indictments for similar trans actions against the prisoners, but on these no evidence was offered, and Williams was declared Not Guilty. It was not thought necessary to proceed upon them against Adams, His LORDSHIP, in passing sentence, said —James Adams, you have been convicted on the clearest possible evidence of the crime of forgery. No one who has heard the evidence can nave any doubt that you wrote, or pro cured some one else to write, that letter for the purpose of defrauding Lord Villiers or Mr. Lane. You probably thought that Lord Villiers would make good his loss to Mr. Lana, and that no steps would be taken against you. You are a man of good education, you write well, and express yourself very well; and you must know that the law of England attaches great importance to the genuine ness of documents respecting property. When it is considered what an enormous amount of property is re presented in this country by written documents, it is obvious that the law must take care to preserve them from forgery; and for a very long time it punished with death forgeries much less serious than yours, and per sons were over and over again executed in dozens and dozens. The law was lately mitigated, but still the judge was left no discretion, but to transport fur life. However, very recently some more discretion was al lowed, and that discretion I am now about to exercise. I will not transport you for life, but you must leave this country for a long period. You beat know how you have been conducting yourself in other countries. You and others must know that if they choose to violate the law it will be sure to overtake them. The sentence is, that you be transported for ten years. It was said that the officers of the prison had re ceived some documents frum the French police to show that the prisoner had been convicted of picking pockets in France. Edmund Curtis, 29, a labourer, was indicted for the manslaughter of his wife, Hester Curtis, on the sth of April last. Mr. Macnamara was counsel for the prosecution, and Mr. Cooke for the defence. Jane • Anne Wilkes said--[ am the wife of Henry Wilkes, who keeps the White Lion public-house at St. Mary's, near Gloucester. I knew Hester Curtis, and employed her as a charwoman. She was at my house on the sth of April. Her husband (the prisoner) called in the evening, She spoke to him, desiring him to come home. He refused. She said " His place was at home;" and he said, "So is yours." They then both left the room. It was then twenty minutes before seven. He was not particularly angry. He was sober. After they had left the house—about three minu es after—l heard a violent shriek. I went out and saw her lying across a low iron railing in my garden. He had hold of her over the left shoulder with his right hand, and was striking her on the head with his clinched fist. When I got out the shriek had ceased. I heard no noise after. I told him he would kill her if he had not done so, and desired him to loose her. He did not do so. I called out William Kirkland, who pulled him from her, and she fell on her left side on the ground, apparently leeless. I told him he had killed her. I called assistance. She was lifted up and put on a chair. She fetched three sighs and died. She never spoke atter I saw her. The doctor was sent for. Cross-examined—Wh en she was carried into the par lour he knelt down by her. He bad been working in my garden that day. I told him he owed me 6s. Bd. He said ha had a charge of 4s. for two days' work against me. I refused to pay more than ls. 81. a day. She came up, and was there while we vrrategh , d ab-ut the wages. This talk was going on about three minute , . They both left immediately. I did not see her hold him by the collar. I heard her say nothing about his drinking. Mr. Alfred Clarke, a surgeon, practising in Glouces ter, proved that he was called in to attend the deceased at the White Lion. She died in ten minutes. He made a post mortem examination, and found bruises on the head, which caused as extensive effusion of blood on the brain and spinal marrow, which was the cause of death. Cross-examined—When she was brought in he knelt down and cried. The skin on her head was not broken. The prisoner offered to make an explanation respecting 'he transaction, but I would not listen to him, as j thought he ought to be cautioned before he made any statement. Mr. COOKE said be could not struggle against a con viction, and would give the jury no trouole. They at once returned a verdict of Guilty. Mr. Cooxic then said that the statement which the prisoner wished to make to the surgeon was, that as they left the White Lion she upbraided him and spat in his face, and that he thereupon used his fist and struck her, and she got over the rails. It did not appear that she received any severe blow, and it was because the skin was not cut that the effusion of blood proved fatal, as the vessels could obtain no relief from the effusion consequent on the excitement of a quarrel. In answer to his LORDSHIP, the prisoner said he had One child. His LORDSHIP, in passing sentence, said—The facts show that you indulged in a very violent degree of page sion. Some sharp words took place between you and your wife, and I can very well believe that you did not mean to kill her. Nothing, however, can justify a man in striking a woman. No doubt when this result oc curred you were sincerely sorry for it. I think, in con sidering all the circumstances, I can satisfy the justice of the case by sentencing you to be imprisoned for six calendar months, and kept to hard labour. John Aston, aged 28, was indicted for the man slaughter of James Chamberlain on the 7th of May last. Mr. Powell prosecuted, and Mr. Cooke defended the prisoner. On the evening of May 7 the deceased, the prison er, and a man n ame d J ones , the prisoners uncle, were drinking in a public-house near Gloucester, when a quarrel arose between Jones and the deceased, both of whom were drunk. The prisoner, who was sober, promoted a fight between them, and they went out and fought, or rather pulled each other about fur some time, when they became exh,usted. The p r i soner, however, caught hold of his uncle, Jones, and dragged him towards the deceased, arid he also went up towards the deceased and squared his fists at him, upon which a person named J.-ffs, who had been attracted from his house by the noise, went to him, and, after telling him it was a shame in him to induce two el• derly men who were drunk to fight, added that if he struck the deceased he would himself pre fer a charge of assault against hi m . Th e prize ncr then te , ed abusive language t 'wards Mr. J-ITs, and said of the deceased, after a violent impreca tion, " I had ono© to psy twenty tanners (sixpences) for giving a man a bit of a kick, and if I have to pay again, it shall be for something more." He thee went up to the deceased, who was leaning against a wall, raised his hand upwards and downwards once or twice, and struck the deceased a violent blow on the left temple, which felled him to the ground, and cut his face open. Th e deceased was assisted up and placed against the wall, and, turni ng to the prisoner, be said, "1 will make y ou pay f'or thi s ." Mr. Jeffs also said be would get a war rant against him; upon which t h e prisoner said, a I'll pay fur something, then," and again struck the deceased in the same place, and again knocked him down. The deceased was then conveyed to a house, bleeding and nearly senseless, and was afterwerda convoyed home and died in the courtle of the night. Mr. Fucks, a surgeon, Li:Ade a past modem examination, and proved clearly that the ded.th waa occa4i.uned by the blows on the temple. thr. CCOIKE said he could not upon these facts struggle against a verdict, and the jury thereupon immediately convicted the prisoner, and he was sentenced by his Lordship to 12 months' imprisonment, with hard labour. Henry Parker, 19, and James Davis and John Reed, of about the sutne t ge, were tried yesterday for a robbery with violence, at Bristol, on the Bth of August last. Mr. Cleave prosecuted; Mr. Powell defended Parker, and Davis; Reed defended himself. THE BISHOPS AND THEIR REVENUES' Tne tollowine; letter has b en addressed to the editor of the Harrowgate Herald : r of Str,—l read a leading article in your pap Wednesday, Juity 30, containing some observatinus r e : fleeting upon myself . ; and as I eviuently perceive thTi, they are written, in no hostile spirit, I am su r e you will be glad to inserc the following remarks, which will dies'' pate the F rroneous impressions you have conceived frail the imperfect statement of the Morning Herald. " That paper, it seems, has published ' a scheme of the, English bishoprics, a s se t t l en i n t h e year 1837 ' (i t s hould be by the Act. of August, 1836) with the resp,ctive comes then assigned to them,' and adds a list of evenues received by the Archbishops and Bishops in 1850, leaving parties to infer that they may ascertain from the sums thus set down for that year what is the real annual come of each see. But herein lies the fallacy of thi e f statement; it does not include the words of the Act August, 1836, which assigns certain average annua l incomes' to the Bishops; it does not state that tile ° averages are to be drawn up at the end of every seven years, the income of each year being fluctuating an uncertain; it does not gi ve th e l east i nt i mat i on t h a t all conclusions as to the average annual income of an Arch' bishop or Bishop drawn from the sum he may chance V" have received in 1850 must needs be erroneous; lo t does it take any notice of the fact that the sums it ha s set down for 1850 are the gross, and not the net revenue s of the respective sees for that year. " The following facts relative to the revenues of the see of Ripon will illustrate what I mean. On the first creation of that see, in the y ear 1836 , t h e E cc l es iastic al Commissioners arranged that one-halt of the income of the Bishop should arise from a fixed annual pay Melt? the other half dependin g u p on t h e fl uctuat i ng pro duce o estates, not yielding re gu l ar annua l i ncome, b u t sure returns only as might accr ue f rom ti me to t i me f r om the ' renewal of leases for y ears , an d l eases f or lives. 111°.5e estates being chargeable w i t h ex p ens i ve annua l reps,"..: of staiths and floodgates on the river Humber; with th e payment of certain f ees to officers connected with see of Durham (from which those estates were severed), who held their offices by patent; as well as with the cost of all surveys and valuations incident to each re newel, were calculated to produce such an average sum' after the payment of these charges, as would make up by the end of every seven years the amount assigned to this see by Act of Parliament. No surplus was a ndel' peted, as there was in the cases of the sees of Ely en d St. Ateph; and therefore no surplus was required to be paid to the Commissioners, as in the instance of those sees. The earlier years of the septennial cycle, accord • ing to this fluctuating arrangement, having been corellr ratively unproducti ve , i t was to b e expected that the latter years, including 1850, would exceed the average, and thus make up the deficiency in the former Yea rii i • When, however, the balance vies struck at the enti ° the year 1850, th e average net i ncome of the see for,_, preceding seven years not only yielded no surplus, b ° showed a deficiency o f severa l h un d re d poun d s, a s the writer of the article in the Morning Herald might bie r. self have kno wn , if he would ha ve ta k en t h e trou ble t ° look through the whole balance-sheet from which b e mad«. that partial extract. " You will now therefore see th at t h ere was no ground for the refl,ctions upon my se lf i n w hi c h you indulged' and wilt be glad, in justice to him whom ou have l e i ; wr , consciously misrepresent e d, to publide this letter, wh ich will dissipate the errone ous an d un f avourable impress produced by your leading article of July 30.. " I am, Sir, your faithful and obedient rJervant, " C. T. Racal. "Palace, Ripon. Ana. 7." SEAIi()ItNE MAILS. EN signifies that the mails ere sent toil the General Poatper gil by the night—and M by the morning; —dispatch.] When made up in From what When PLACES, General Post-office port din. London. pat c h e d . due. America (by Brit. pkt,)N Aug. 15 Liverpool.. Aug. 17 America (by U.S. pkt.) N Aug. 19 .. • • Liverpool . Aug, 13 America (by U.S. pkt.) M. Aug 27 .. Southampt. Aug. 2 1 Africa (West coast).. N 14th o f th e month Plymouth Sept. 6 Alexandria* ........ N 19th & 30th V too. Dover .. Aug 11 / Bel g iu m N •• .. Dover Daily Brazil .. • .. M 9th of the month Southampt. Sep'. 16 Buenos Ayres .. M 9th of the month Southampt. 'Sept. 1 Callfornia(viaChagres)M td & 17th of month Southampt. Aug. 20 Cape of Good Hope N 14th o f month Plymouth.. se, t. 6 Constantinople. .. •• N 7th 17th 27th of mo Dover .. Aug. 2 2 Central America .. M2d & 1 7th of mon. Southampt. Aug. Channel Isles .• .• 14 Mon., Wed., & Fri. Southampt. Ta. Tl 4 .'"" Chill •• . 17th of the month Southampt. A u g. 20 France M& N Twice daily .. .. Dover .. Twico dall Greece* .. • • • • N 7th 17th27th of mo Dover .. Aug. 20 Harahurgh • N Tuesday & Friday London .. Tees. Sa t ' Holland M Wednes, & Satur. Louden .. Morl.T lll ' Honduras . N 17th of the m on th S ou th ampt. Aug. 20 Ireland .outhamp.). ••M & M 20th of the month So N Twice daily .. Holyhead T u g . woodsw India (via S uthanapt. 23 India (via Marseilles) N 7thrt 24th efmonth Dover .. Aui. 17 Mediterranean (via Soutiaunpton) •• M 20th of the month Southampt. Aug. 2 3 Mediterranean (via Marseilles) .. N 7th& 24th olmonth Dover .. Aug. 1 7 Mexico •• •• M2d of the month.. i Southampt.,Sept 5 Madeira •. •• M 9th of the month Southampt. 'Sept. 16 ~19th, Malta* 7th & 3 Flth oth of month Dover Aug. 12 Napl es * INT5th 15th 25th of trio Dover .. Aug, 22 Papal States* N sth 15th 25th of mo Dover .. Aug. 22 Peninsular., 31 7th 17th 27thof rno Southampt. Aug, 26 31 17th of the month Southamut. 'Aug. 2 0 Tuscany' , N sth 15th 25th of mo Dover .. Aug. 2 West Indies .. 3117th of the month Southampt. Aug. 2 0 West Indies fevrent 17th, I th,l9th,27th & 30th of month Naples* „ N,sth 15th 25th of mo Papal States* N sth 15th 250 am° Peninsular.. M 7th 17th 27th of mo Peru .. 17th of the month Tuscany* „ N sth 15th 25 th of mo West Indies .. )51,17th of the month West Indies (except Havanna & Nassau) 3.1,2c1 of the month .. Southampt. Sept./ 5 * The mails to those countries thus marked ( 5 ) are conveyed DI French packet via Marseilles CALIFORNIA.—MaiIs to and from California, via the United *lea are now despatched and due by every American packet. The neat West India and Peninsular mails will be made 1if.2, 0 the morning of the 18th inst an t , i n consequence of the 11th tu"". en a Sunday. BELFAST, Arc. 12.—Arrd. Kingrie Elizabeth, Qa' bec. 13. Harmony, Nielson St. John's, New Brantwick• BIRTHS. OF A SON. On the 12th i nst., at One Ash, Rochdale, the wife of Jolla Bright, ALP. On the 11th inst., the wife of Lieutenant-Colonel Birch Reynardson, Grenadier Guards. On the loth inst., at Northwick-terrace, St. John 8- , wood , the wife of Robert C Leslie, Esq. OF A DAUGHTER. On the 11th inst., at Montreal, near Sevenoaks, the Vi s " countess Holmesdale. On the 14th inst., at South Audley-street, the Viscount° Cranley. On the llth inst., at Battersea, Mrs. H. B. Condy. On the 9th inst., at Bath, the wife of F. Faulkner, Esq. On the 12th inst. at Horsham-park, Mrs. H. F.Broadwoou' MARRIED. On the 12th inst., at West Peckham, Kent, Charles son Tovrnley, Esq., eldest son of IL Greavcrs Townley, E g li; M.P., of Fulbourne, Cambridgeshire, to Georgians, fourt h daughter of M. D . D . Dalison, Esq., of Hamptons, Kent. 0,) the 12th inst., at Hendon, Alexander Edged, of B 3 li mond-buildin gs , G ra\ ' s Inn, soon of Harry Edgell, ESir 0 Cadogan.place, to ROse, daught er o f Ed war d F . Ellis, r•scil of the Grove, nendon. DIED. On the 11th inst., at Sulham-house, near Reading. MT! Frances, y oung st daughter of the late Archdeacon Heatheo"; On the Bth inst., at Bury St. Edmunds, Frances, relict of the lace R. Rushbro“lie, of Rushbrooke-hall, Suffoll4 and M P for the Western D.vision of that countv, On the 12th ins.., Samuel, the fourth son of Robert )}Major Holborn, of Mincing-lane. On the 12th inst., at Canoabury-park, Islington, An ne Grainger, the wife of Mr. Henry Croysdill. On the 13th inst , Mr. John Evans, of Budge-row, aged On the 13th inst., at Devonshire•street, Mary, wife of George Baird, aged 28. OA the t3th I net., at Belitha-terrace. Islington, age d 775 Sarah, widow of the l ate R ev. J oseph Witton. London: Printed and Published by MURDO ci No. 1.12, St. and, P r i nter , at The Sun Office, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, i n t h e countf ° illiddleaez, Friday, August 16,1351. The prosecutor, a captain in the merchant service, was going along the Broad weed, in the city of Bristol, about nine o'clock in the evening, when a person came up to him, looked earnestly into his face, and said, " it." upon which the prosecutor was struck down, and his pockets rifled of his watch and some silver coins in an instant. A bystander named Stevens saw the transac tion, and went and pulled one of the men from the pro secutor, but, thinking it a street row, did not clQtaia th , m, aud they ran away. The prosecutor gave informs tion to :he police, and in about half an hour afterwards went with them to the spot. While looking at it th e prisoner Parker went by, and a policeman told the pro secutor to go and look at him. Tho prosecutor did ser and said to Parker, " I believe you are the man that robbed me just now." Parker said he was not; but the prosecutor took him to a lamp, and then gave him into custody as one of the persons who had robbed him. The other prisoners were not apprehended fur some time afterwards, and in the interval the witness Stevens, wh ° said he knew Das is and Reed before, but not their names, met Reed and conversed with him for some time, but did not at tempt to apprehend him. Rc-ed cross-exam inel this witness at some length, sod attempted to ahoy' , that there had been a quarrel be tween them. The defence was that the prosecutor was mistaken in the identity of Parker; that Stevens was also mistaken as to the other two, and that the conduct of the latter s: as so extraordinary that the evidence could not be re' lied on. The jury deliberated for some time, and then said they could not agree; they were locked up for half an hour, at the end of which time they returned a verdict of Guilty. Previous convictions against Parker for burglary an d Reed for robbery were then proved. His LORDSHIP said he would consider what sentence, to pass, and this mor n i ng h e sentence d P arker a nd Reed to be tran sported for twenty years, and Davis to be imprisoned for twelve months and kept to hard labour. I Thomas Davis,, 18, pleaded guilty to two indictments , one charging him with burglariously breaking and ery tering the house of J u m o s B arnes , at Ch urc h am , and d stealing therein three pairs of shots, his property; sod the other charging him with h urg l ar i ous ly b rea king and entering the house of Jo se ph K itc h en , at Ch urc h a m, an stealing therein a. pair of boots, his property, and wa s sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard he hour on each chi age, the second term of imprisonment to commence at the conclusion of the first. '