The Sun. — London, England, 1845-12-10 00:00:00

11 0 ' ,i ...,), (tvri :ard• resi de° ere DO )1 4 . a e " we e I , bi t te It °to r lo ti ) 11-, t bo oa large . t lA. o f lil 3l ‘` bold THE SUN, LONDON WEDNESDAY MORNJNG DECEMBER 10, 1645. '''"AboN AND BRLGHTON RAIL sn. • WAY COMPANY. laed es s2 mai general meeting of the Directors and tarShare lof the a b ove C ompany was held yesterday at the e eoliti u__ s Lond on -b r id ge station, " for the purpose o f be stes 7 l g and determinieg upon certain matters con ef th is the resolutions passed at the special meeting hat , • Company, holden ;on the 6th day of November eoni.sain relation to the amalgamation of the Croydon if ho j e °3' with this Company; and also for the purpose, tio no ss arY, of altering or rescinding the before men reeetinresolutions, and patsing such resolutions as the A g may deem proper." It '; co ma y number of shareholders attended, as it Lorid_Xpected that the charges brought against the th e s r and Bri g ht on C ompany at t h e l ast me , tints of 'iwit;' reYd° n Company would be denied or explained *ee l ; Among the gentlemen in the body of the room lati v, ' er ved Mr. Wilkinson, chairman of the latter Com !lid several of its Directors. 13 • w iand Nin on r , Hill, Esq., chairman of the London and i t h a `doma, presided. had adveruyseme ny nt calling the meeting having ben n t he b said—Gentlemen, I shall commence 3 ' 0 111. 1 ' 14 "s of this meeting by, in the first place, asking Mal • that for gence for myself. The truth is, h etlfh , rab le time back I have been in a bad state of Le . i o and. yesterday it was doubtful whether I could tklitte Position to attend this meeting to-day. Enter giphilZ at doubt, and feeling that it was my duty to 4 10 00 1 m far as I cou ld t h e c i rcums t ances i n w hi c h th e de nt of were placed, I drew up a written state thet the facts of the case. What I ask is, 1 4 ,1146 41 V be permitted to read this statement, ki n i%t e e • li gh. quite well enough to take my place here, s Pt th be a great relief to me to be allowed to lertis eth a t eour , „„ se•—(llear, hear.) Gentlemen, the ad- Yon have just heard read, and the circular tly eas been forwarded to each Proprietor, will suffi a4ttlin time, the reason for your being called together bketti e but since those documents have been issued, g had b een R 6 .7 4043 assembled by the Croydon Board. th e 6tv ert in the circular, your directors did not k l , li h tY te wa t t a meeting, they acknowledged no responsi q. TI: an assembly so constituted and so con g, is r `LY were responsible only to yourselves, and gent fr o es Ponsibility. I can assure you that is never ank e ta e their minds—(Hear, hear)—and which they e:„l lr eseetl i edge. I am, therefore, anxious that, under nined o numstances, the whole facts shall be fully t,'" tr tl : ll d that the reality of the .meet shall appear a tt trnut h " ,eolours to the present ng. The 4.7keet. then proceeded to read the following fi t a g for e ;-che me e ti ng for Tuesday last, as we all eel it, 4w, arriv e d a t no p rac ti ca l r es u lt. It was, as J e etB were concerned, an utter failure, its only Clin t e t to still further increase the difficulties of t the amalgamation between the two Com- Whi oe hear.) It casts upon us, however, the eh we of rebutting the unjustifiable insinuations to 41,N1 l e ma tein mere wantonness been exposed—(Hear) the pint e l i tn not but think that a little more charity on sq - al ight °l 'r neighbours; a little more forbearance ; 4ht to est exercise of that conscientiousness which all ire tt e, i e h lit tee who make pretensions to judge others in trl6.°N: which their own feelings and interests are ig ss W mad probably prevent their misunder h..ethent-' Misrepresenting the conduct and notions U N ; Would lead them to pay that just lio n ; th e hi It o Med . high position of those gentlemen who are a 214 Way with all present angry feelings, and the 1 40 !4ss e i ° r Prosecuting the disagreeable task which has 1 ,2 1 1 )( m me. —(Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, this 4 4 effi e iiarly pn; esnful to me because the nature of thre w ' )Paay r 8 the duties and responsibilities of the V' tb. I the he Ma inly upon myself, and as for many am the h • log ehappiness of considering the Chairman It o esteem s '°3lon Company my most attached 4tte e s fliend, not because of circumstances in any k r4 &Led to thi s Company, but because i n anot h er fi e ld .0 k tb ti oh of Yanta ge of his assistance—l mean in the re -0144, ge eti t he Post-office, I was then placed under obligations 'teed " l ima, which no provocation whatever in any case Soy Pe to disregard • but I never for one moment can Sksgoo4reculty dr'awing a line of demarcation at e saat th . and. private duty on the present occasion. I hott er i, will be better done by giving the narrative of e.pt orn,!flitch led to e the last meeting, than by any at tlitett:".°e to follow Mr. Wilkinson throughout his whole fee, T his will put you in possession of the facts of and correct some misrepresentations, quite (14 1 eh am sure, in the statement of the day °4l „Trolan. It will, at the same time, do 4 04 tilt. ."'Y controversy which might arise from that ei e of Gentlemen, the statement may occupy some por- Pts?ritivrol ti nie, but, considering the magnitude of the ' NW b o ;ed, the attack upon tee character of your Di hy us whom you have placed a great trust and tha ' 4 04/ o .` am sure th a t y ou w ill not consider as waste Ist 4 ,tgas. "„ s of time necessary to the full statement of g a ` t o et 7,,e intend in this narrative, however, to ktel'ti we Principal reasons which, I believe, ta t e h ap e Croydon Board.—(llear, hear.) It unfortu ,t %J e e r's that th ere are t wo di s tinct interests to re aok%tereatsiroydon Board. They have not only the Croy %theta to attend t o , b u t atten ti on was a l so d eman d e d %t e. you a 4 the dir ec t ors o f th e Di rec t P or t smou th line. k uirknio • s till find that the Chairman of the Croydon i Nt e ns of ;tie Chairma n of the Portsmouth Company, the e t ."!ote ss ,`"e one C ompany are the Directors of the other; \( tike, the solicitor, and the engineer of the one Com tgt, , h e manner, hold corresponding offices in the other. eet os "ireet s ar ) This extraordinary position of the Croy notsltees " r „a and officers is the cause of all our ; mar's) , their Directors had in this treaty with our t `gt -( t rt te t i 4 ct d t ouble . object in view. They had to keep s i te ° , os rro objects—the first the roper and legitimate th, pue Croydon Company ands econdly, the promo ortsmouth Company. The first object was per amlate on the part of the Proprietors of the Croydon goSeati l L ti ought to form the basis of their amalgamation. Ns % °S the m en are then in a fallaciousposition. They come R @e and r °3'alon Directors, but with the feelings and mos tf gis Nees s ILd av este 41 of the Portsmouth Directors.. Their hands 10 se!? hands of Esau, but the voice was the voice cei i glie s - ",s is .'-ueers and " He; . hear," intermingled with Ns °, ") That which is the real source of all l o tl) tt ' l essnr (I °es not admit of doubt, and these objects are Is t e?tplained in Mr. Wilkinson's address, and t its ' lt ott,a bio_efore, because, in the conference witia the e trit teeth U.t r o e r e s, we were asked to . admit tors to an amalgamation, and it I)4:Ro:titled that if we did not, the Portsmouth Corn liSi,tsthistePi'lY for an independent access to London. In 4 1 „_tit pement I have somewhat forestalled the nar hs thg, es SO, lest in t'le after part of it it might not • ° tss r those present. What I have stated ttN7rative will call for the production of Oh° Boni dance which has taken place between 1 1 : 4 1 4it in Panics. Those gentlemen amongst you who 'hat e Present at the previous meeting will doubtless )'th as t° .,Many repetitions of them, but it is absolutely l't's ' l 'sit,• - "" the correspondence be read, to put into its ' t t t o4 4 a l , t i t, the facts of the case. O t t ta e 8 t t hought that as the correspondence had been k• ilea Previous meetines, and published in many of the l a tti . i l rs, the rep e titi o n of it might be spared to the t e ,',ree e ,Pere was any portion of it new, he, and he was t ot `nil "ng, would h ave no objection to give their pa iatAllM to i t. t !.m tlitsislg--I would ask the meeting to allow me to ,"tooher e w ay best calculated to bring the facts before rs, e ar e letters which have not appeared in the Iktli o t which throw a great light on the corre oigteertie letters as they have appeared are not also ii e t t correspondence, and are very different 4 t klet w which they were read -namely th former occasion. lot4o4ha s 'ltt e e ss have adopted is this, that in which - `ed at and departed from our own office. Such "gs e kti o ° e r t der on which you can found a fair conclusion as s' l lgo 11 your own Directors.—(Hear, hear.) And t gis e 'ce w ti.ier an explanation on some parts of cor- N l et gel et occ ep. 1 ..°,! 1 has been read, but I think this course tors , s4 ue shortest time. t ", Leh had passed between T. J. Buckton, Esq., O,: t oo tle London and Brighton Railway Company, rh,t, fan en s' Esq., Secretary of the London and Croy- Y,geWith respect to the amalgamation of the Com ill,`4;• 111 oee e n ie t il have already appeared before the public gis t Pea, were then read. Ito, 1 , t r- . -On last sitting down I was informed . by poti o • t at in reading my statement I made a . serious S 4 l of t !! ~ e lls me that in speaking of certain nitsrepr laith:tiel;:ed the words " it was quite intentional, Koaii gos i Z e ntional," ar,d I th , refore take the first oppor +cot gte t t e - l t ,hig the error. Gentlemen, it is necessary that 45,,t 0 totti tha t your Board, with reference to the pro (Z),Ygto Ifaroation, was perfectly unanimous. The letter Vit a lieh t t adopted by the Board with perfect una yet2 er th , e 'l nioaifications proposed by the Croydon tit ,Irs t ;of th l !lder consideration, then unquestionably a aetr'!?toti arose among the members of our Board. 110 ,b,,,,:inanimously of opinion that time proposition t iL iSs ti are '` L e,d. The proposal was adopted by a majority k ot ltsi o 'sk two gentlemen (I was one) dissenting from ti ts t\ s 'llt? 1 , ° , 1 % - , you will naturally ask why I make such, go, 1 ' L eta s 'Lae rea son is, that Mr. Wilkinson, in his state ti4l/4.gie,rioecessarily, I think—made known the fact gtleorssented from this proposal.—(Hear, hear.) kN e bes es e e tl, I may ask you to draw the clis goskee're so e n the unanimity of the Board in its ti e P a city and its unanimity when it has acquired tess gret•enaracter. When the Board has assembled in N'oeoti, e c haracter, is it to be wondered at that out Vue l ea there should not be some difference of h„ L o s° far fro m that fact bei n g d i screditable to PZe e g pr ard, I think, ought to take credit for 1114 d • by this independence of opinion tlyso al (1144 following a leader—that we are not acting t'et si the tt i x t-, but that when we once decided that the „ 4 , 1 oe made to the Croydon Board, the Board of Wrie s s euti s " G riahton alters its character; we then be +l4'Nf to aet °, and it is the duty of those wha are in the a to gs eh to tho With the majority.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") t this With gentlemen who have in remembrance how tto 4 4 pk r - o matter before them, whether it was not done ers t 't cordiality on my part.—(Hear, hear.) I Vs, t. r oaes get iler any gentleman suspected that the pro te`go €.4:t114"t forward was not approved of by myself, and 1 4k 4;11 014 °4 d' that, in consequence of the proposal made t • t4,l' Wa ld mupany, an agreement was drawn up IT ' 'mon and myself, which the Secretary will te ri tst ot i:ek ro„ tee s te ls ree es ;jead an agreement to the effect that the titeleCPatti e - "ended to the respective Proprietors of the I% t tl . l l ie i ttle : that the 50/. shares of the Brighton Corn :4l4'rbek art n ia lc a ' 501 and that the Croydon shares of 201. 1 1 , 1, 4 44 e the ir k tilOs., and the other shares which might be ks 4 seL oethree members from each side. , s cor eol `,lor also read certain minutes emanating from kosse.heetyt'tee, which were ultimately not confirmed. kti11144,2 the 9aent said these minutes were not read by the er oYdon Company, and for this reason, that te lt , so sseseonfirmation had been made of them, but pet?Nl he t e a sufficient reason why they shculd be j"st the g' , They showed what were the in q the n Milmittee with respect to those arrange titti'rge for rs t Place, i'. would be observed that they had ttt e „ thi s . 4"(111 1 'tete • Ponst, that in all questions . of as4ktt o Par t i es , into between the two Cempanies 1a1,, t1 t er e on ; It would be necessary to notify the same to ka it ;gif:wh et i i t'litY. At our second meeting the question i t io 4l 'ete e , 4 . th e e r s the minutes were correctly recorded, and a I, e Jt t h z t et . (m the tohreniat ion of the minutes was opposed by the questio Croydon Board. . There was no t n might be justly raised as to whether to e, y s e correct in every word, but to their als t `alt corers I th at may safely pledge myself ; S ts 4s it was not ri g ht to insist on this ar kik tit th e !.tbsola e and il ual. wigs our la t e 4 , 1 ,.e views of the Croydon Company, and in We arr angement or modification of the Viewed • it as embodying a regula. tion to put the question of the two Companies at rest. At the same time these minutes were not confirmed, and might not be con-idered binding on the Croydon Board. Finding, however, that we did not proceed satisfactorily, the second meeting of the committee was wholly occupied in the discussion of the question of the confirmation of the minutes. Many things that had been stated by me to the Chairman of the Croydon Board have afterwards formed the subject of a public statement by him. All state ments made at the Board by one gentleman to another have always been considered confidential. I have, however, no reason to regret those statements being made, as I dare say it was not done with any bad feeling. I said to Mr. Wilkin son that my state of health would not permit me to continue working to further the amalgamation, and that it would be necessary that some other gentleman should take my place, and I would therefore propose to my Board to remove me from the duty, and appoint another in my stead. Mr. Wil. kinson has stated the tact, and I certainly think that there was nothing to be ashamed of in it.—(Hear, hear.) It might have appeared to them that I did not wish to bring this amalgamation to a close, but such was not the case. I accordingly made an application to my Board, who were of opinion that a member of their body could be ill spared in such .an important crisis, and that therefore they would continue me in office. I think that it is very much to be regretted that so large a portion of the statements made by the Croydon Company should consist in reports of conversation. I could not undertake to report a conversation that had taken place five or six weeks since with any accuracy. I can only say that when I have to re port a conversation I will give the facts as accurately as possible, and unless it is necessary, I will not refer to any conversation whatever. By some minutes of Saturday, the Ist of Nov., it was agreed that the amalgamation should take place, and that the consideration of the Wandsworth branch should be referred to separate committees, who would report separately on it • that each Board should exercise its func tions as usual, and that all matters concerning both the Com panies should be referred to the two Boards jointly. Mr. Wilkinson proposed there should be an amalgamation of the two lines from January, 1846, and the consideration of that proposition was also to be referred to a committee consisting of six members of each Board. We have been accused of wishing to have a greater number to represent our Board on the joint committee than the Croydon Board. You will see, by our requisition, that the Directors of both Companies were to consist of equal numbers, and that they should decide on the Wandsworth branch , which , in my opinion, is the only difficulty between the Companies. It is easily seen that the agreement between the Brighton and South-Western Companies would not permit of any amalgamation between the Brighton and the Croydon, who proposed to carry out the Portsmouth branch. The committees were each to report to their separate Boards. The amalgamation proposed by Mr. Wilkinson was voted against by Messrs. Hill and Watson. If you refer to the copy of the minutes which were referred to by Mr. Wilkinson, you will find that this circumstance was omitted. Y I do not say that the omission is made intentionally by the Croydon Company, as it might have arisen from many circumstances. The gentlemen who voted for Mr. Wilkinson's amendment were front the Croydon Board, as the three gentlemen from the Brighton Board voted against it. It appears a little hard to me, considering the readiness with which the Croydon members obtained the first proposition, that the Brighton Board should be held bound by an arrangement in the making of which their delegates were not considered. It is con sidered that as the • majority of the gentlemen present were in favour of the arrangement that it is to be binding, but I will show why we should entertain a con trary opinion. A good deal rests on the fact. of our secretary having written a letter inclosing a copy of the minutes, and it is necessary that that letter should be read. You will ob serve that it is written on the same day as the meeting of the committee, viz., the Ist of November. That letter inclosed a copy of the minutes of the committee of amalgamation, and requested an early appoint ment of the six members of the Croydon Board to act with the members of our hoard until the Act of Amalgamation should be obtained. An advantage is here taken of a very simple error which our secretary had committed in the hurry of business, and in consequence of that error they make a demand that we shall consider our selves bound by that letter. Before the committee broke up it was agreed that the two Boards should meet on the sth of Nov. following, as it was necessary that a com munication between the two Boards should take place. The meeting on the sth did take place, and the deci sion to which our Board came will appear by the letter which the secretary would read, and which would inform them that the Brighton Board had come to the conclusion that the proceedings of, the Croydon Board were illegal, and that the Brighton Board would submit some other proposi tions to them, and that if they found anything to object to in them, the Brighton Board would re-consider them. The propositions as then made would not be read, as they were printed for the use of the Shareholders. Before reading the letter which required the attendance of the six gentlemen of the Croydon Board, he would remark that the letter was not the act of the Brighton Board, it was written under the direction of the joint committee. It was signed by the secre tary in his usual manner. Mr. Wilkinson relies very much on the fact that the Croydon committee had broken up at the time the letter was written, and as this is what they would have done if they had not found the members of the Croydon com mittee, I conclude, from that circumstance, that there was some misunderstanding between the two Boards, as it was understood that each Board should sit until it received some communication from the other Board, and, notwithstanding that agreement, the Croydon Board broke up without re ceiving any communication from the Brighton. The next letter is one from the Croydon Board, telling the names of the gentlemen appointed to sit on the joint committee, and requesting that an early appointment of the Brighton dele gates should take place. That letter was received on the same day that our letter was written. Mr. Wilkinson said that it was written before the meeting of the Croydon committee, and there does not appear to be any reason to doubt that assertion. We cannot, however, attempt to judge, as we do not possess the faculty of clairvoyance. That letter also declined the proposition offered by the Brighton Company, and offered to receive any other terms that could be proposed. After that letter nothing was done until the two Boards met on the 17th, and I will not notice much of the proceedings that took place, as I am sorry to say that many angry expressions were used on both sides. The gentlemen of the Croydon Company began by taking the South-Western agreement, which agreement I will not enter into now, as Mr. Parsons, who follows me, will speak on it in a more able manner. The Croydon gentlemen threatened to go to our constituents to annul that agreement, and afterwards asked for a copy of it. I told them that it was not in my power to give them a copy, but I would submit their request to the Board. I then proposed that the agreement should be re ferred to the joint committee for consideration, but this they also declined. I then said that I did not think that any arrangement they could make would necessarily clash with their interests. I said that I hoped that the Brighton Company, the Croydon Company, the South- Western Company, and the Portsmouth Company, would all be parties to an agreement that would be advan tageous to them all.—(Hear, hear.) I believe that such an arrangement can be effected—(Cries of " Hear, hear") — and that arrangement, I may say, has made con siderable progress during the consideration of the question of amalgamation. The Croydon people are not, as yet, parties to our agreement with the South-Western Company, but they insisted on an amalgamation between the Croydon, Brighton, and Ports mouth Companies, as the only terms they would accept.— (A Voice, "No such thing.") I will ask Mr. Wilkin son not to interrupt me. I do not make the as sertion unadvisedly, and I will appeal to the gen tlemen present whether my statement is not correct. A counter resolution was made on the part of the Croydon Company, which it was unnecessary to read, as it would be found in the right column of the paper. [The document referred to was a printed paper, which was distributed through the room, containing the terms of both Companies for effect ing the amalgamation ; and the paragraph alluded to the management of the affairs of the two Companies pending the amalgamation, which has already been laid before the public.] The case really rested upon a comparison of these two pro positions, and if you will compare these you will find that on our part they are quite reasonable ; and if any objection could he offered it should be on our side. We have to urge that the propositions on the other side are impracticable, and, con sequently, could not be carried into effect. There was no diffe rence as to the appointment of the number of directors to constitute a joint committee, which we proposed to be ten, and the Croydon Company twelve, of which we suggested that five should be nominated by each Board, while the Croydon Company contended that there . should be six. —(Hear, hear.) This was an immaterial point. But in the third paragraph of the paper (the document al ready mentioned) there was a substantial difference. Now, it must be evident to you that we have claimed no advantage over the Croydon Company in consequence of our larger capital. But the Croydon Company bad made an addition to that position, namely, that no greater number of votes should be tendered on either side than the members present on the other side. Now, how was it to be determined which of the gentlemen should retire from his post ? We must take, first, the vote as to which should be excluded, should there be an excess of the representatives of one of the Com panies. It does not provide that no greater number of one should be present, but merely that no greater number of votes should be present. Now this is impracticable. To the fourth paragraph there was no objection, it being the same on both sides ; but to the fifth—namely, as to the jurisdiction of that committee, there was a most important difference on our side. [The proposition referred to by the Chairman was to this effect, that all matters relating to new projects or engagements, or the raising of new capital, be left to the said committee for consideration; and the alteration proposed was, that all other matters except those should be left to the committee, with out reference to the Board for confirmation.] Now, we wish to have the decision of this committee submitted to the Board, which would be composed of equal numbers of both Companies. We do also require that in any resolutions that may be adopted by the proposed committee, we shall have some little voice. —(Hear, hear.) Without this how could could your Directors carry on the business of the Company, or delegate the transacting the whole of the affairs of the Company? There would be no difficulty in delegating power to Directors on the part of the Croydon Board, but such is not the case with us. The vacancies that might occur on their Board could be filled up by them without delay, while it would be necessary for us to call a general meeting, by the votes of which alone this appoint ment of our representatives could be effected, for we have no legal power to act otherwise. The sixth proposition (to the effect that the Boards be limited on the passing of the Act for amalgamating the two Companies, and that the united Board be gradually reduced, by resignation or other wise, to ten in number) had been objected to by the Croydon Company. He would not dwell on this. The last objection that had been made was respecting the branches—namely, to Bognor, Littlehamp ton, Steyning, Newhaven, Eastbourne, Hailsham, East Grinstead, and Dorking, to Reigate. They would find that Wandsworth was not included in this. The Croydon Com pany had no interest in any of these lines, except that from Dorking to Reigate ; therefore we had no wish to give them a voice in these matters. Upon these your Company felt themselves bound to differ. [The Chair man here din cted the Secretary to read the correspondence that had taken place on these as well as the other matters mentioned in his speech, which have already been given in extenso in our report of the meeting of the Croydon Company on Tuesday last.] With respect to the Great Kent Atmospheric Railway, there was one thing which was entitled to notice, that was the condition that was made, to the effect that, if the undertaking did not succeed, that no snore than ten shillings a share should be demanded front the Shareholders. We have no hesitation in laying before you the agreement between the Croydon Company and the Portsmouth Company. It does not appear to be perfect, for it does not appear to have the consent of the Portsmouth Company, for if it had been otherwise, how could that Company seek for an independent access to London ? Now, the fact is, as it would seem, that the Ports mouth Company merely wanted to use the Croydon line until they could better themselves. The SECRETARY here read, according to the direct ion of the Chairman, the various letters that passed between the secre taries of the two Companies with 'C to this point, end also as regarded the suggestion of Mr. Burchill to open the weement between the London and Brighton and South- Western Companies,. The CHAIRMAN resumed—At the very time when Mu BIL - chill was waiting for an interview with their Board, who had actually prepared a letter to effect the amalgamation. In the statement that bad been made by the Chairman of the Croydon Company, that letter had been put earlier in the series, but they had assigned it its proper place. Mr. WILKINSON wished to know whether that was the last letter? _ _ The CHAIRMAN said that it was. Mr. WILKINsoN—Then we have never seen The CHAIRMAN—No, you have not ; it is the previous one. The SECRETARY then read a letter of the 24th November, stating that the Brighton Board could not concur in calling the proposed meeting, deprecating the system of threatening and dictation adopted by the Croydon Board, and regretting that the spirit displayed by the two Boards was not reci procal. The answer of the Croydon Board to that letter was also read, denying, on their part, the use of throws or dictation, but stating the determination of the Croydon Board to call the Proprietors of both Companies together, at the same time expressing their desire to keep up that friendly feeling that had hitherto existed between the two Companies. Several other letters were also read, after which, The CHAIRMAN stated that he believed that that com pleted the series of the correspondence that had taken place. The Proprietors would perceive that in what they had now concluded the Directors and himself had passed over many matters of irritation—(Hear, hear)—and he trusted that if ever the Proprietors entertained any doubt whatever as to the good faith of their Directors, those doubts had been removed.—(Hear.) He thought also that the Proprietors would see that their Directors had pursued a most concilia tory spirit, and that in their anxiety to give effect to their wishes expressed at the last meeting, they had carried con cession as far as they could consistently with a due regard to the interests of those parties whom they represented.—(Hear, hear.) He (the Chairman) thought that he had shown that there was no foundaton whatever for the allegations that had been made, that the Board of Di rectors of the Brighton Company had refused to meet the Directors of the Croydon Company in equal numbers—(Hear, hear)—to disouss such questions as might arise before the Act of Amalgamation had passed.—(Hear, - hear.) Nay, they had the authority of Mr. Wilkinson for saying that it was so. The Directors of the Brighton Company did not object to the Croydon Directors seeing their agreement with the South-Western Company. All that they required was that they should not make use of it to the detriment of the Brighton Company or without their consent.—(Hear, hear.) As regarded the policy to be pursued with respect to the Portsmouth line, there could be no doubt that that formed grave matter for consideration by the Brighton Pro prietors, but that constituted no part of the amalgamation—it only comprehended questions beset with difficulties.—(Hear.) It was for the Proprietors to say whether the course that had been pursued by their Directors met with their approbation, and received the sanction of their mature judgment, and in order that the Proprietors present might come to an un biassed judgment, and act only upon what they heard that day, the Directors had neither solicited or sought for a single proxy.—(Hear, hear.) It was therefore open to the Proprie tors present to come to any decision that they thought right. They might, if they pleased, declare that the fair and equitable proposal on the part of the Brighton Directors having been rejected by the Croydon Board, the amalgamation was at- an end ; of that there could be no doubt. —(Hear, hear.) It was clear that the resolution to amal gamate was subject to certain details, and if they could not be acceded to, it was open to the Proprietors of the Brighton line to declare all at; an end.— (I-tear, hear.) The Directors, however, were unwilling that their Proprietors should adopt that extreme course, because, looking to the fair and reasonable views manifested by the body of Croydon Proprietors at the meeting of Tuesday last, they were of opinion that one more effort might be made to settle the details of amalgamation ; and they advised the Proprietors to adopt their proposal of the sth of November last as their ultimatum. Anything short of that would leave it doubtful whether the Proprietors approved of the course adopted by their Directors or not. He could assure the Proprietors that the labours and responsibility placed upon the Board of Directors far exceeded anything which they had anticipated when they took office ; they had, however, the satisfaction of knowing that their exertions bad been of advan tage to the Company, because they had been repeatedly and cordially acknowledged by the Proprietors. The full and explicit confidence of the Proprietors was all the Directors looked to as their recompense and reward—(Hear, hear)—and when they lost that, when the confidence of the Proprietors in them was in the slightest degree impaired, it was the bounden duty of the Directors to remove all obsta cles to the Proprietors having such a board as they may think best calculated to secure their interests.—(Hear, - hear.) In conclusion, the Directors and himself asked the Proprietors to sink all matters of difference, and as they gave a hearty vote in favour of amalgamation, so they would give an equal hearty vote in favour of the motion he (the Chairman) had now the honour to submit for the adoption of the meeting " That this meeting adopt as their ultimatum the proposal made by their Board to the Croydon Railway Company on the sth day of November last, and that in the event of its not being accepted, it will become expedient to call another meeting of the Company, with a view to rescind the proposal of amalgamation, passed on the 6th of November last."—(Hear.) General MOODY seconded the motion. Mr. •WisirAw considered that it would be better, before the discussion on the motion was proceeded with, that the meeting should be put in possession of what the agreement with the South-Western Company was. The Chairman had stated that Mr. Parsons, one of the Directors, had some state ment to make on that subject. Mr. PARSONS then proceeded at some length to detail the motives that had induced the Directors of the Brighton Company to enter into the agreement with the South-Western Company, observing that that agreement would be beneficial to the Brighton Proprietors, but whether it was good or bad, having been entered into, it ought to be adhered to. The real question for the consideration of the meeting was, not whether there should be an amalgamation between the Brighton and Croydon lines, but whether there should be an amalgamation between that and the Portsmouth. lie, for one, wished to see the amalgamation between the Brighton and Croydon lines effected, but he could not consent to it if it was to be carried out upon principles that would materially injure the former.— (Hear, hear.) He was convinced that in all the Brighton Board had done they had the public good and the interests of theii Proprietors at heart.—(Hear, 'hear.) The Brighton Directors might be alleged to have intended to have made a monopoly of the traffic in this direction. The whole matter of the agreement turns upon the Ports mouth Atmospheric Company. Mr. Parsons, as a Brighton Director, was opposed to amalgamation with that Company. It has been said that that Company is intended for the ser vice of the public, and the Brighton Company have op posed it. But the report of the Board of Trade is just a running commentary on the agreement between the Brighton and Great Western. The character of the Portsmouth line is stated by the Board of Trade when they say the cost is far beyond any proportion with the ex • petted returns. Through fourteen miles of the line the gra dient is one in eighty, and for the next sixteen miles it is one in 100. If amalgamation with it is to be entered into, there will be an opposition line to the Brighton Company, proposed between Guildford and Chichester, the two princi pal towns in that district. The consequence would be reta liation and disadvantage. Mr. WILKINSON, Chairman of the Croydon Company, said that he and the Croydon Company asked to see the agree ment spoken of and could not. He further begged to say that they had never made an amalgamation with the Ports mouth Company a condition of amalgamation with the Brighton Company. (Mr. Parsons—" He has said it would be a consequence.") The fact is, and there is nothing more, that the Croydon Directors are many of them Direc tors of the Portsmouth Company, and what passed between them and the Brighton Company at the Board was merely that they intended, if the Bill for the Portsmouth Company were carried, to amalgamate the Croydon line with it, and the Brighton Company might join them if they wished. There had been taunts thrown out because they were Portsmouth Directors, but there was no necessity for their having anything to do with the Portsmouth line un less they chose. Indeed he thought that the Portsmouth line was the grand attraction to the Brighton Directors to think of amalgamation with the Croydon line, that thereby they might secure the traffic of the district. He said that the meeting was abort to be pressed to an ulti matum on the amalgamation with the Croydon Company, but he begged to remind them that that was not the method of obtaining that amalgamation, which he could not but think they deserved. Mr. HARDBY said be was pushed, by all that had hap pened, to the conclusion that a little more good spirit and patience would do much for a happy result. He would be very reluctantly pressed to decide at the pre sent meeting to an ultimatum. A resolution of amalgams= tion had already been passed. He wished much to consider what were the means of continuing the negotiation which was to be so abruptly terminated.—( Hear.) The interests of the Brighton and the Croydon lines he believed to be identical. Much he feared might be attributed to the temper of the two Boards. An ultima tum at the present meeting would be treating the other Company much worse than had been complained of. He would suggest an adjournment of the present meeting for a short time, and the previous adoption of a resolution to the effect that the Company were friendly to the consideration of an amalgamation, should it be necessary. Should the Boards feel so, he would suggest that a small committee of the Proprietary should be called, to consist of three exclusive Proprietors of the Brighton Company and three of the Croydon Company. He even felt inclined, if the meeting were agreeable, to put his suggestions into the form of a resolution. Mr. GRANTHAM rose to say that the gauntlet of contention had been thrown down by the Chairman of the other Com pany. He had brought forward a budget of faults, which he laid to the account of the Brighton Directors. Mr. Grantham said he had always been opposed to amalgamation with the Portsmouth Company, and was now ten times more so. An amalgamation with that Company was a necessary consequence of amalgamation with the Croydon line. The atmospheric prin ciple is not yet sufficiently tested. The Brighton Company would, therefore, be saddled with the expenses of the experi ments. He sat down with expressing his opposition to lAN of the Croydon Company begg e d t o d eny amalgamation. thi at A io nt n ; that he had ever gone into the Brighton Board-room using threats and intimidation.—(Great confusion.) The CHAIRMAN of the Brighton Company would say, with the Directors by him, that the distinct recollection on their mind was, that Mr. Wilkinson had used threats. Mr. TAYLOR said that an amalgamation with the Croydon Company appeared at thelast meeting desirable. He had heard nothing at the present meeting to make it less desirable now, and it might yet appear to be for the advantage of the Com pany to amalgamate with the Direct Portsmouth Com pany. In setting about discussing the advantages of amalgamation with the Portsmouth Company, he was inter rupted by the Chairman, who begged him to keep to the question. It had been contended that the contract with the South-Western entered into must bind them, were it advan tageous or not; but he would say, however strange it might seem to oppose such a doctrine, that in a kind of property which is continually changing hands the Proprietors could not be bound by what was done by previous acts of the Proprietary.—(HiAses.) None but legal bonds could bind them.—(Hisses, which continued till he moved as an amendment—" That the two Boards continue to consider the proposal of the amalgamation.") Mr. KERCHE seconded it. lie thought it would be a reflection on the Croydon Company to pass the resolution' proposed to them. He hoped they would still insist on an amalgamation. He was amazed that the Croydon Directors had not been allowed to read the contract between the Brighton and the South-Western Companies without con dition. (The Chairman begged to say condition was neces sary to guard against mischief) He thought, then, there was nothing between them—nothing to overcome. Mr. LEVI begged the Directors would not press the resolu tion. Mr. Be nnow had entire confidence in the Directors ; and he believed the terms offered in the resolutions to the Croy don Directors were reasonable, but he hoped there was still a middle position and course. Neutral persons called in would not be able to effect much if the Directors failed. He tlic.tight the Croydon Directors were anxious for an amalga mation. There might be a misunderstanding on the part of bath of the Chairmen. He begged, therefore, to submit whether it would not meet the Directorp *TM 0 adjourn the meeting, and to continue the negotiation between the two Companies. _ _ _ Mr. fiENDEasoN said there were substantial points of difference between them, and therefore the Proprietors had beea called together to say what they should do. One of these points was amalgamation with the Portsmouth Com pany. This had not been made an express condition, but he knew the effect of statements—support would begin and amalgamation would ensue. Another point was that in re ference to the South-Western line; that point had not been started previous to the threat of calling the meeting. It had been a mere makeway. But the great point was what control the Croydon Board would have over the affairs of the Brighton line. Mr. 'Wilkinson first proposed that the Croydon Board should have the whole control of the two lines. He mentioned particularly Steyning. What, he asked, had Mr. Wilkinson to do with that as a Croydon proprietor? He (Mr. Henderson) thought the Wandsworth line should be a sifle qu,d non. They had lost that already in Parliament, but he expressed hopes of yet obtaining it. He said, before sitting down, it had to be decided who were reason able, and what they were to do. Mr. CASTLE &unit moved, as an amendment, " That the Brighton Company do invite the Croydon Company to re consider the proposals made to them on the sth of _Novem ber last, with a view to amalgamation." Mr. COT seconded it. The CHAIRMAN being called on for his opinion on the amend- ment, said, after the very extensive correspondence, he had no hope of gaining anything unless they went to the Croydon Company with something ultimate. But for the moderate terms of the Croydon Board at their last meeting, he had no hope but of meeting the Proprietors to ask them to rescind the resolution giving them instruction to consider amalga mation, as they had been unable on any terms to effect it. On account of that meeting, however, he hoped they had yet one opportunity, and but one, of offering terms. The last amendment moved was put by the Chairman to the meeting. It fell to the ground without a vote. That moved by Mr. Taylor was then put, when only 13 voted in favour of it. The original motion was then carried by a very large ma jority. The thanks of the meeting were then voted to the Chair man, and immediately after adjourned. OCCASIONAL SKETCHES-HERE AND THERE. No. 111. WEST POINT AND ITS MILITARY ACADEMY. Some few months since, I passed a few days at that charming part of the River Hudson, named West Point, and whilst there frequently visited the Military Aca demy. During soy stay, one of the regular examina tions occurred, and now that President Polk seems in eliped to "cry havoc, and let slip his dogs of war," I have considered that a sketch of the proceedings may not be altogether uninteresting, especially to military readers. West Point itself is one of the most picturesque places in the United States. It is situated on the west bank of the Hudson River, about fifty miles north of New York; but I must leave its beauties to be chronicled by other tourists, and beg the reader at once to accompany me to the Military Academy, which consists of two stone bar racks, one of three and the other of four stories in height, occupied by 250 cadets (the number authorised by law); an Academic Hall, a large three-story build ing, 275 feet ,in length by 75 feet in width, used for military exercises in winter, and as a depository of the chemical apparatus, models of fortification, artillery, and as recita' icn and drawing-room% A two-story stone building for a library and fir the depository of philoso phical apparatus, built in the Elizabethan style, 150 feet by 60 feet, and surmounted by three towers, the centre one crowned by a dome which revolves on its axis, adapt ing it to the u.e of a large equatorial telescope. There are also a chapel, a hospital, a mess hall, two cavalry stables, several workshops and store-rooms, and seven teen separate dwellings, occupied by officers of the insti tution. In addition to the above, there is located in the neighbourhood a magazine, a laboratory, soldiers' bar racks, a store, and about twenty-five dwelling-houses, occupied by families connected with the military school, the whole of the population of West Point being about 900 souls. It was here that Arnold turned traitor, and not far from West Point that poor Andre was captured. So much for the place generally. Accompanied by a gentleman who had letters of intro duction to Major-General Scott and Mr. Marcy, I pro ceeded one day in last June to the Academy, when every facility was extended, and every attention shown by the Professors and officers of the Institution. The whole system of instruction and discipline was unfolded, and nothing was left undone on the part of those gentlemen in communicating ample and particular information re specting the interior regime of the place. The Secre tary-of-War and Board of Examiners reached the post on the 4th of June, and were received and escorted from the steam-boat landing to the hotel by a body of cavalry and infaAiy, composed of cadets. The proces sion was enlivened by the presence of some of the pretty little girls of New York, who bad most of them brothers or lovers in the Academy, and who rode in a carriage with the Secretary, between the horse and foot, the band of the Point bringing up the rear. The Board consisted of officers of the army, specially detained for the duty, Congress having made no appropriation for a board of non-professional examiners, as desired by some parties. Some militia officers from New York, and a few civilians, were present, but they seemed to be merely pleasure -seelters, and took but little interest in the pro ceedings. When I entered the examination-room, the first section of the second class was before the Board. In front of the examiners were placed several black boards, at each of which stood a cadet, employed upon a solution of a question in the theory of natural philo sophy. The examination in this department was con ducted by Professor Bartlett, aided by Assistant-Pro fessors Lieutenants Roberts, Rosecrans, and Deshon. The text-books from which the questions were selected were Bucharlat's " Treatise on Mechanics," Davis's " Electricity and Magnetism," Bartlett's " Optics," and Gummere's " Astronomy." From these the most diffi cult and interesting points were taken, and were dis cussed, it seemed to me, satisfactorily. While the cadets at the black boards were employed upon their solutions, the rest of the section were called up, one by one, and examined orally, and this was continued until each member of the section had both been at the Board and written out a demonstration, and had been questioned, ana had replied orally. I observed, that if a cadet failed in his answer, he in variably received three or four questions in addition to the one first given him, so that, if his failure were acci dental, he had an opportunity to recover himself, and if it were the consequence of ignorance, he had the means of proving it. This seemed to be even justice. I should observe that no books were used at the exa mination, either by the Professors or the cadets. This, I was told, was the practice both on these examinations and on those of the ordinary recitations. These latter exercises, by the way, were all going on at the different recitation-rooms by all the sections, excepting that im mediately before the Examining Board, the customary exercises not being suspended on account of the exami nation. After each scholar in a section had been examined, the superintendent announced to the pre siding officer that the Professors had done with it. The latter officer then desired that, any gentleman present should propose such questions as he pleased to the sec tion. This was sometimes complied with, frequently enough to show the absence of all collusion between teachers and pupils. I recollect several instances of severe questioning on the part of gentlemen not mem bers of the Examining Board, which were met with the utmost promptitude and correctness. In the instance of the examination of the class in ethics, the syllabus of the course was placed in my friend's hands by Lieutenant Scummon, the Assistant-Professor in that department, with a request that he would indicate the course that should be pursued, and the questions that should be asked. He did so, and, with one exception, they were announced. That exception was as follows :—ln the course of the examination on moral philosophy, Dr. Wainwright's excellent " Treatise" was the text-book, and one of the questions Mr. wished to ask was the following :—" How does Dr. Wayland discuss the sub ject of war ; and to what conclusion does he come ? " The examining Professor excused himself pleasantly from giving out the question, by explaining that that portion of the Doctor's work which relates to the subject of war was always passed over, and that nothing was taken up in that connexion excepting what is found in Kent's " Commentaries." Dr. Wayland, I may say, is decidedly opposed to war, and perhaps it was considered that his anti-fighting principles was rather too mild a diet to be administered to these sucking sod'gers. The cadets, generally, displayed considerable know lege, and some of them exhibited great proficiency. The plan above mentioned was pursued throughout all those parts of the examination which I witnessed during my six days' stay at the Point. In the afternoon of each day there was a display of military tactics in the field, consisting of exercises with a harnessed battery of six field-pieces, with howitzers, barbet guns, and mortars ; and exercises of a battalion as infantry and light in fantry. To a military eye, doubtless, the display must have been more interesting than to mine ; but, so far as I could judge, the movements were all executed with precision, accuracy, and readiness, and displayed the skill of their instructors, as well as their own proficiency. The staff and company officers were selected from the first (the graduating) class, and the non-commissioned officers from the second class. This drill is one of the most interesting portions of the performances of the cadets, for it always draws out the company at the Point, amongst whom the " upper ten thousand," as the "nobs," of New York style themselves, figure conspicuously. Of course, in such fascinating company, the cadets take care to be especially particular, and look amazingly fierce and warlike ; and, no doubt if the British Commander in-Chief could have a glance at these doughty young gentlemen at trainin' time, he would abandon all idea of resisting President Polk's claim to Oregon ; but, as he cannot be spared just now to go to West Point, we must be content to let matters take their course. There were occasional exercises in the riding-school, but the style of American riding is so different to that of the English, that, I must say, I was rather amused. Riding and driving in America is just the reverse to what it is in England, that is, with us, in riding, a man bends slightly forward, and accommodates his movements to those of the horse, and in driving he sets rather at a backward angle than upright. In America, an equestrian sets as stiff as a poker, with his toes projected forward nearly under the horse's nose, and his head so far back ward that a plummet-lead dropped from the back of his head would fall on the horse's tail. Measured by this rule of riding, the horsemanship at West Point was ex cellent, and the leaping at fancied British forts, in the shape of bars, and the dashing and cutting at the heads of imaginary unfortunate and devoted English soldiers, was ,of a tremendous and fearfully exciting nature. All the exercises at West Point, intellectual and phy. sical, are carried out to the most thorough extent, and well adapted to the production of good military scholar ship, and robust bodily vigour—of the " mens sana in corpore sano." I saw no weakly students, and no very bad scholars. Indeed, from the system of instruction pursued at the Point, there cannot well be either. They must come up to a certain standard, or be rejected. The Government pays for the tuition of the cadet, and pays him, too. In a certain light he is a privileged office holder. The country does everything for him, and has a right to expect everything of him. It would be quite out of place here for me to enter at length into details of the course of study and exercise; and, further, it would be by no means generally interest ing. They are briefly comprehended under the following heads ; when I state that in each department all that can be done is most thoroughly done, those who know what ought to be done, will, I think, readily understand what is done:- 1. Infantry Tactics and Military Police. 2. Mathematics, comprising Algebra, Geometry, Trigono metry, Mensuration, Descriptive and Analytical Geometry, 1 Fluxions, &c. 3. The French Language. 4. 5. Natural and Experimental Philosophy, comprising Statics, Dynamics, Hydrostatics, Hydrodynamics, Magnetism, Electro-Magnetism, Light, and Astronomy. 6. Chemistry and Mineralogy. 7. Artillery 'Tactics, the Science of Gunnery, and duties of a Military Laboratory. 8. Engineering, and Field and Permanent Fortification, and Science of War. 9. History, Geography, Ethics, &c. Dr. Lardner, who was present at one of these exami nations, declared that he thought the pupils must have been "crammed" for the occasion. I mentioned this to one of the gentlemen present. " Ah," said he, " I do not doubt the correctness of the remark. They were and are crammed for that and for all occasions, and the cramming is just of that sort which I should be glad to see in all our educational institutions—a cramming car ried on by both the crammers and the crammees, at all times of the day and of the year devoted to work. There is no play nor shuffling about the studying at the Point. They must and do work ; and they may be examined at any and all times of the year, and exhibit a ' cramming' on each occasion. They are always ready, and are not put in harness and driven up to a particular object on a particular day, as is often done, ' but may be taken at random, and on any day." The examination is History, English Grammar, and Geography, was less satisfactory than that in some other branches of knowledge. From the inquiries made, I came to the conclusion that the defect was owing to the scanty portion of the time which is, from necessity, afforded to those studies. When the "Plebs," as the new comers are called, arrive at the Point, there is a great diversity in their amount of knowledge. Those from the New England States are the most forward, and the most easily managed. Those from the Middle States rank next ; whilst those from the Southern States are lower down in the scale. Of course those who enter well prepared possess manifest advantages, and therefore, amongst the best, there are always a large number of New Eng landers. Youths from all classes of society are eligible for admittance into the West Point Academy. I one day noticed a file of the new corners. The first young man was dressed in the plain and well-worn garments of a hard-working country lad, his entire garb, something too scanty, were " seedy," and he must have come from a very indigent family to have worn su, h garments in America, where almost everybody is well dressed. Judging from the fifty-six " Plebs" whom I saw, I should say there were not one-fourth of them who were from families of independent property, or of ordinary com petency. The " mass" were from the "mass" of those who laboured hard for bread. When once admit& tl, they are all clothed and fed alike, and no other distinc tion is made than that which arises out of the correct deportment and attainments of the individual. Pro fessor Bartlett, of the Academy, was a poor drummer boy at Fort Erie. He became a cadet at West Point, and is now one of its instructors. The subjoined table, taken from Colonel Totter's report for 1844, will show that the lower classes have even a more than equal par ticipation in the benefits of the Institution, and it is a fair sample of the usual classification in every year:— Of the 221 cadets at the Point in that year -59 were sons of Farmers. 14 " " Mechanics. 27 " " Lawyers. 18 " " Merchants. 5 " " Hotel Keepers. 12 " " Physicians. 14 " " Army or Navy Officers. 4 " " Clergymen. 5 " " Officers ofState and General Governments. 15 " " Professors, Editors, Bank Officers, or Masters of vessels, &c. 26 " without Father. 22 44 " " or Mother. Of the 212 in the Academy in 1843- 156 were the sons of parents in moderate circumstances. 26 " 44 reduced 6 44 " indigent IC 6 C 4 " wealthy 18 " unknown " The above statements will, if they serve no other pur pose, perhaps amuse, by the contrast it presents to our own system of military education. At the present junc ture, they may convey useful information. If I have been at all tedious, I will endeavour to make amends in my next paper, which will treat more of persons than of places. WHIZ. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, DEC. 8. Srocr EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Birkenhead, Lan cashire, and Cheshire, 4 1 4 p.—Caledonian, 3 p.—Ches ter and Birkenhead, Nw 201. Shares, 10s. p.—Derby and Crewe, 2% p.—Edinburgh and Glasgow, Half Shares, S p.—Edinburgh and Perth, 1 p.—Grand Junc tion, 234—Ditto, Quarter Shares, 32 1 / 2 p.—Ditto, New Quarter Shares, 31:% p.--40/. Shares (L.M.) 52 p.—Grand Union, ls. p.—Goole and Doncaster, par— Huddersfield Canal and Railway, 4 p.—Liverpool and Leeds Direct, :Y l , d. —Liverpool, Ormskirksand Preston, 2 p.—London and Bir mingham, 212—Leeds and Thirsk, 31/s p—Manchester and Birmingham, 70—Manchester, Midland, and Great Grimsby, 13s. 6d. p.—Manchester and Leeds, Fifth Shares, 10% p.— Manchester and Southampton, 1 1 ,g' p. , -.Northumberland and Lancashire, 16s. d.—Nottingham and Boston, 1 p.—Notting ham and Grantham, % p.—Sheffield and Manchester, 119— Ditto, Quarter Shares, No. 3 (scrip), 3% p.—Shrewsbury and Herefordshire, Is. 6d. d.—South-Eastern and Dover, Consolidated Thirds, 2 1 4 p.—Ditto, Half Shares, 19s. p.— Trent Valley, 104 p.—West Riding Union, 4 p.—Dublin and Drogheda, p.—Dutch Rhenish, 2% p.—Paris and Lyons (Latitte's), % p. MANCHESTER, DEC, 8, STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Birkenhead, Lanca shire, and Cheshire, 7%—Blackburn, Darwen, and Bolton, 8 —Boston, Newark, and Sheffield, 2 3 / 4 —Cambridge and Lin coln, —Derby and Crewe, s—Eastern Counties, 20 1 % Fleetwood, Preston, and West Riding Junction, 22s.—Goole, Doncaster, Sheffield, &c., 42s.—Lancashire and North York shire, 445. 6d.—Liverpool and Bury, 22% c.—Liverpool, Warrington, Manchester, and Stockport, 32s.—Manchester, Buxton, and Matlock, 925. Manchester and Birmingham, 70 1 4—Manchester and Leeds, 124—Ditto, Fifths, I2—North Statlbrdshire, 51. 2s.—Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole, 26 West Riding Union, 61. I4s. 6d. LEEDS, DEC. 8. STOCK EXCITANGE.—The sales are—London and Croydon, 18 1 —Manchester and Leeds, Fifth Shares, 10 p.—Great Grimsby and Sheffield, 10—Huddersfield and Sheffield, 16 1 ,2 —Leeds and Bradford Extensions, 43—Leeds and Dewsbury, 18 c. n.—Leeds and Thirsk, 9 1 / 4 —North British, New Car lisle Branch, 2—Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole, 26 c. n.— Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth, par—Cambridge and Lin coln, 4—Liverpool, Ormskirk, and Preston, 4 1 / B —West Riding Union, 61. 6s.—Chelmsford and Bury, 10s. dis.—Grand Union, 2s. 6d. p.—Lancashire and North Yorkshire, 2a 6d. p —Leeds and York, 7s. 6d. dis.—Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle Junction, 4—Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midland, 2 1 4 p.—Northumberland and Lancashire Junc tion, ss. dis.—North Staffordshire, s—North Western, 276 —Nottingham, Erewash, and Ambergate , 2— South Mid lands, 3 1 4 p.—Wakefield and Harrogate, 12s. 6d. p. YORK, DEC. 8. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—York and North Mid land Extension, 26 1 4—Newcastle and Berwick, 11—North British, Dalkeith, 5 1 / 2 —London and York, 37g—Leicester and Bedford, Ph. BRISTOL, DEC. 8. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Bristol and Exeter, 5-is—Bristol and South Wales Junction, 21. 16s. 3d.—Cale donian, 14 with new,—North Devon, 1 3 A. SHEFFIELD, DEC. 8. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Great North of Eng land, 101—Sheffield and Manchester, Quarter Shares No. 3, s%—London and Windsor, 16s.—Manchester, Sheffield, and Midland Junction, s—North Western, 2%. HULL, DEC. 8. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Hull and Selby, Half Shares, 18/. 1 la. 3d.—Cambridge and Lincoln, 3 1 / 2 —Hull and Barnsley Junction, 42a.—Nottingham and Erewash, &c., 24 —Nottingham, Belvoir, and Grantham, 24—South Mid land, 5/. 2s. HUDDERSFIELD, DEC. 8. STOCK EXCHANGE.—Tho sales are—liuddersfield and Sheffield Junction, 16—West Riding Union, 6Y . B —Clitheroe Junction, 3%—North and South Junction, VA—North Staf fordshire, PA—NorthWestern, 11. 198.—South Midlands, 3 1 A P. EXTRAORDINARY CASE. The Court of Assizes of the Bas Rhin was occupied on the 29th and 30th ult. with the following extraordinary case. In August last, two soldiers, in garrison at Stras burg, named Tschupp and Bigallet, crossed the frontier into Baden to pass the day. On their return, and when on a bridge, Tschupp said to Bigallet, who was nearly intoxicated, " Come and see how strong the water runs." Bigallet went to the side of the bridge, and having leant forward to look at the water, Tschupp suddenly laid hold of him and threw him in ; then, supposing, as a matter of course, that the man must be drowned, as the current was strong, and he was not in a state to help himself, hurried to Stra,burg, and entered his barracks before the gates were closed. Providence, however, had willed that this atrocious act should not remain con twisted. The bridge is built on boats, and the fall of B Ballet was broken by one of the cabels by which they are fastened together. After his fi rs t i mmers i on , w hi c h completely cured him of his intoxication, he caught by this rope, and, after struggling for a great time, his cries were heard by some boatmen, just as he was sinking from exhaustion, and they saved him. The' dismay of Tschupp was very great on the following morning, when he saw livi ng t h e man whom he supposed to be dead. Bigallet made his declaration, and Tschupp was arrested. At first he d ec l are d that he b a d not been in company with Bigallet ; b u t severa l w it n esses, w ho had seen them drinking together during the day, having come forward . to prove thi s f act , t h e prisoner wa s confound( d. Still, however, he refused to confess his crime, which was unaccountable, as the two soldiers were supposed to be friends. 'When Tschupp had been in prison for some time, he resolved to avow his guilt. and declared that he had been induced by the wife of the man who keeps the cantine, whose name is Caphiot, to commit the deed. .This woman, i n w h ose serv i ce he was, had, he said, told him that Bigallet, her former servant, and with whom she had entertain e d cr i m inal relations, wa s constantly extorting money from her, on a menace of apprising her husband of wh a t h a d ta k en place, and that she was therefore resol ve d to get r id o f him. She t o ld the prisoner that if he wou ld ta k e Bi ga ll e t out for the day, and in the evening th row hi m into the river, she would reward the act liberally, and she gave him la to spend, in order that he might so overpower Bigallet with drink as t o ren d er h i m i ncapa bl e o f resist ance. Tschupp said that h e o bj ecte d t o commit the crime, but the woman told him that if he refused she would stab him ; and that, therefore, partly from fear, and partly from the hope of reward, he at last consented. The woman was taken into custody, and both were tried for the attempt to commit murder. The evidence on the trial fully corroborated t h e statemen t of Tschupp as to the female, and they were b ot h f oun d gu ilty ju ry. Tschupp .the Tschupp was condemned to twenty years imprisonment with bard labour, and exposure on the pillory. The female prisoner was con d emne d t o t e n years imprison ment with hard labour, but without exposure on the pillory. SENDING AN INFANT IN A BASKET TO TUB FBMALE Onrxere ASYLUX.—Between the hours of six and seven o'clock on Friday evening last, two respectably attired women met a lad of the name of James Burrows, in Back Berry street, and, handing him a basket with a handle to it, told him to take it to the Female Orphan Asylum, Myrtle -street. They said that, emit contained glass, he was to be particularly careful not to break it or knock up against any person in the • streets through which he passed; and for the trouble he was to have in conveying it to its destination they gave him a piece of money, which he put in his pocket, and which they said was 6d. The lad proceeded on his errand, and o n being admitted to the institution, the basket was o p ened, an d , un derneath a pile of children's caps, pe tticoats, handker c h iefs , and socks, there was found a ve r y fine healthy - looking female infant, fast asleep. By its side was l y in g a bottl e filled with milk, and a paper, written in a g ood femal e hand , of which the following is a copy :—" Christian friend s , p ra y take care of this dear little orphan. I will send you a sum in a few days." The inmates of the institution were, of course, much surprised ; the lad, perhaps, much more so than any body else. He could only g ive the ex p l anation whichewe have already given, tha t he received it fro m t h e andlak velvet h women, and was told that it was g lass. He sta ted , and the statement proved correct, that he resided at N o . 3, Back Berry-street, the street in which the basket e B aidarm, handed to him ; and that one o f the women a ppeared to w be as ol d d re a s n se d d thein a obthlaecrkycoluonagk., light The elderly woman, b gown, bonnet; and the younger one, who most probably was the mother of the infant, in a black mantilla, and white s t raw bonnet. He did not omit to mention that they had given him a piece of money for his trouble; but, on putting his hand in his pocket and drawing it forth, it turned out, not to be a sixpence merely, as they informed him it was, but a half sovereign. All subsequent search to discover the women has proved unavailing; but the child, we need scarcely say, having been once received within the hospitable doors of the institution in question, is sure, even if they should never be discovered, to have all its wants supplied. The basket which contained the sleeping innocent was new, and had apparently been bought for the purpose. It was composed of a soft substance, something like matting, and was about 2 feet in length, and 9 inches in breadth. It has since been sent to the Commissioner's office, together with the milk-bottle, caps, petticoats, &c., in order to enable the police officers the better to trace the women.—Liverpool Albion. PERTH POTATO TRADE. — A fter a comparative lull of a fortnight, the shipment of p otatoes f or London has become it )re brisk within these fe w da y s, an d prices for the best samples now reach 10s. 3d., and in some cases a shade higher. There are at present eight vessels busily loading for the south, and one with diseased roots for Newburgh. The Belgium trade in that article app ears alr eady at an end, as we hear of no more cargoes for t hat q ua rter. From the r country we hear that the disease is still progressing, but at diminished speed, which gives a ho e that in a few wee ks t it will wholly disappear. —Perth A*atissr, //. RAILWAY REGISTER. The present number opens with the third of the se ries of articles on " Irish Railways," and goes at largeinto the consideration of " a very material point, which has not yet met with that deliberate attention which its im portance seems to call for. We allude to the supply of fuel by which the necessary steam power is to be kept up, and the mode in which that power should be ap plies." While all the fuel used in locomotives must be obtained from England at a heavy cost, Ireland possesses extensive fields of anthracite and beds of turf, which may be most effectively and economically used as fuel for ' stationary engines. From experiments made by the Dublin Steam Packet Company on board the steamer Lansdowne, which plies on the Shannon, it appears that the same duty was done by turf as had been previously done by coal, at a cost of 661. 12s. 31 per month less than the cost of coal. She had two engines, 38 inch•cylinders, at three feet six inches stroke; she ran daily, Sundays excepted, a distance of 46 miles. Under these circum stances, and considering also the scarcity of skilled labour in Ireland, and the cheapness of unskilled labour, we agree with the writer of this article considering that "of it is a question worthy grave consideration," whether the locomotive or the atmospheric principle of traction should be applied to this country. In addition to full descriptions, accompanied by maps, of the various rail way projects of the month, British and Indian, the Re gister contains the second of a series of papers on "Metro politan Improvements," which is well worthy the attentive perusal of every practical philanthropist, suggesting, as it does, many measures for securing the health and in creasing the comforts of the poor, who will be ejected from their dwelling places by the alterations in progress. The following valuable suggestions will, we hope, meet with proper attention from those in authority : " Costly experience attests that towns are easier made than unmade, more easily built up than pulled down and changed in general arrangement. Therefore, before a hoard is erected, or a paving-stone dug out, it is desirable that certain needful preliminaries should be obtained and defini tively settled. " First, we ought to have a correct and authorised map of the capital as it stands above and below ground ; not only of its squares, streets, lanes, and public edifices, but of its sur face levels, sewers, water-courses, gas pipes, and other leading subterraneous machinery. We should thus have a know ledge of the enemy's country, as it were, before the campaign opened, and might master some of its chief difficulties, as Na poleon won his battles, in the bureau. Next, a bird's-eye view is at least desirable, of the more likely and feasible pro jects of vehicular, thoroughfare, and architectural improve ment. Thirdly, we ought carefully to consider, in mass and detail, the probable results in case of their adoption of these various suggestions, first on the conveniences and enjoyments of those who permanently dwell or trade in London ; and next of outsiders—the stranger, occasional visitor, and every day sojourner." HOOD'S MAGAZINE. The " Tales of the Colonies," and " The Chronicles of the Fleet," are continued in the present number. " Symbolic Money, No. X 11.," treats of the currency in connexion with the railways. The writer proposes that every railway director should be authorised to issue what he calls " Railway Exchequer-bills," based upon the security of the railway property, such bills to be tak ti by the railway company in payment of calls, de posits, fares, and every other payment made to them : " And with respect to the mode of carrying out this plan, although it is not necessary to go into all the details of a system the working of which will be obvious to those ac customed to consider such matters, .it may briefly be sug gested that a railway sornpany has it in its power to divide the amount of its shares into as many receipts as it may con sider serviceable for its views :—that is to say, a share of one hundred pounds may be divided into a hundred receipts, or into a larger number, which would possibly be desirable. These receipts, by a system of mutual agreement between all the projected railway companies, to which those finished might, advantageously to themselves, be added, would be receivable, those of each company by all the rest, to an amount to be fixed by common consent, and exchangeable at a central bank in London or elsewhere, which would exer. cise functions analagous to those in operation at the bankers' clearing-house in Lombard-street." Such is the ingi.mious plan by which it is proposed to make the new railways pay for their own construction, without disturbing the currency of the country. The re maining articles of the Magazine are of avi rage quality. GEORGE CRUHCSBANK'S TABLE-BOOK No. XII. This number brings the Table-Book to a conclusion, and, when bound up, it will form the most mirthful of the comic annuals. We were rejoiced to read the an nouncement, at the conclusion of the work, that such had been the success of the Table-Book, that on the Ist of January - Air. G. Cruikshank would commence a new work, to be called Our Own Times. SPORTING REVIEW. The illustrations to the Sporting Review are an en graving by Hacker, from Bateman's beautiful picture, " Gone to Ground," which was exhibited in May last at the Royal Academy's exhibition, and " Freshwater Fare," a picture of some splendid perch, painted by Niemann, and engraved by J. Wesley. One of the most remarkable among the papers in this number, is that entitled " A few Observations on the Arguments of the Game-law Repealers;" which the author, while pro fessing to answer the arguments of the repealers, takes no notice whatever of the grand argument on which the others all rest, but taking it for granted that game is property, argues that it ought to be protected by law in the same manner as all other property. Now, this is a mere begging. the question. The contention on the part of the repealers is, that game is not, properly speaking, property ; and we should certainly be glad to learn why hares, pheasants, and partridges, should be considered as property, when thrushes, blackbirds, and sparrows are not. Lord Adolphus Vane, second son of the Marquis of Londonderry, will shortly join the Scots Fusilier Guards, his Lordship haying exchanged from the Rifle Brigade Mr. Peto is preparing plans for the improvement of Lowestoft harbour, to be submitted to Government. A correspondent states, that as Mr. Francis Boston, of Haggerston, London, was proceeding on his way home from Romford a few evenings since, about half-past five, he was stopped in his cart and pulled out of it by two men, who rifled his pockets of upwards of 401. in gold. The outrage was committed at a short distance from the Rising sun, near Stratford.—Essex Herald. FORBIDDING BANNS.—A singular incident oc curred in the parish church, Preston, on Sunday morning week. When the bsnns of marriage were published, a female rose, and in a loud voice forbade the marriage of a another couple whose names had just been read over by the curate. In the vestry, after the service, she alleged that the man resided ta in Manchester, although he was described as of Preston ;ba further objection was this—she pleaded, with tearsteinhresr, eyes, that he had paid his addresses to her for hre years, and The and had now deserted her to marry latter plea, of course, could not be entertained ; and person.ds the former one, on inquiry, was found to be incorrect, the objection was declared to be invalid. — Westmoreland Gazette. BODMIN.—The Town-Council came to a resolution on the 26th ult. That in consequence of the unprece dented failure of the potato crop, no toll will be taken on wheat, barley, or oats brought into the market at Bodmin for SR, le for the space of one y ear, from the Ist Decem ber." GUANO IN THE ISLANDS OF THE RED SEA.—The following is an e xtract from a letter written by C apta i n Withers of the Colchester, at Aden, 9th November:—" Dur ing our passage down the Red Sea we were more fortunate than in going up, as we discovered three islands with guano on . The quality is more like the South-American titan that from Icliaboe. The quantity, however, is small, say from twenty to thirty tons on each, and it is scattered on the sum mits of the islands, Nliich are from 400 to 500 feet high, and as the trouble of collecting it wou ld b e so great, we left it. A small schooner was examining these islands. We examined from 200 to 300 islands in all.—Liverpool A TRANSLATION A VIOLATION OF COPYRIGHT. — The Royal Gurt of Rouen has decided, on an appeal from the inferior tribunal, that the translation of a work into another language is still a violation of the law of copyright. In the case before the Court, some French lectures on chemistry had been translated into Spanish. The publisher of this transla tion was sentenced to pay I,ooof. fine, and all the copies were ordered to be destroyed: REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE. BRITISH. . 0 1 ,, Sensitive as all parties have become by the consteat -1- ":::.___---,13. rumours of intended alterations, the first shot on ='` :',, ~. ---' , O Thursday made a great impression. Tix way in 'hiett s ":: ' ' t the attack was follwaed up was certainly not, 'al tted . . , .• • to weaken the belief that, by some means or oth tl-If-.,:(- ^', '• -- , - Times had become possessed of information resp eit:' , \•:(<_-;:. • the doings at the late frequent meetings of the Ca ee,,,c6j ),;----- ( 0 Council ; the subsequent announcement in the StaJaa ".,!;?-/--, ..1.. , - rttl gave rise to hope, but did not allay fear ; and up tot A i ra.S.rol' present moment the utmost doubt and uncertainty arle felt. In this state of affairs, the regular course of trade has been interrupted ; and so averse are all parties to enter into fresh engagements whilst the important point re mains undecided, that business in corn has been com pletely paralysed. At the principal provincial markets the effect has been quite as serious as at Mark-lane ; and so shaken is public confidence in the present Ministry, that nothing can now be expected to put the trade on a sound footing, except an official denial of the statements referred to. Even before this new source of uneasiness came into play, the going over of Lord John Russell and Lord Morpeth to the League had made some impression on the minds of holders of wheat, and the somewhat firm tone which cha racterised the trade last week was not maintained, busi ness being decidedly dull at several of the leading mar kets held on Tuesday and Wednesday. The reports from Liverpool, of Tuesday, informed us that sellers had begun to manifest a greater desire to realise; whilst purchasers had displayed less inclination to add to their stock. Wheat, consequently, fell id. to to 2d. per 701b5., flour Is. per sack, meal Is. per loads whilst prices of spring corn and pulse had also a down ward tendency on that day. Later in the week the depression was materially increased by the news from London, and on Friday business was at a complete stand. From most of the other influential towns the advices are of a similar character; and the well-grounded calcu lations of an advance in the value of agricultural pro duce have been for the present wholly upset by the mere possibility of a legislative interference with the existing state of things. _ _ Under the. e circumstances it may not be altogether useless to enter into an examination of the probable con sequences of a repeal of the corn-laws; we do not mean the ultimate, but the immediate consequences. The first point for consideration is, whether the abolition of the duty would cause a larger present importation (the presumption of which has unquestionably been the main reason of the depression in prices). We think it will not require very subtle reasoning to prove that, so far from increasing the foreign supplies, the first effect must be to throw greater difficulties in the way of our ob taining wheat from abroad, should we really need it. When, some weeks ago, it was currently rumoured that the British Government were about to issue an order in Council to admit foreign corn free, prices imme diately advanced materially all over the Continent, and we have no hesitation in asserting that the same effect w ill be produced on the markets abroad by the late accounts from thence. The orders which may have been sent out will therefore remain unexecuted ; mean while the time is fast approaching when frost must put a stop to shipments from the Baltic, and until the spring we cannot reasonably calculate on receiving any quan tity from that quarter beyond that already bought. In the Mediterranean the only ports at which there are any available stocks of moment are Marseilles and Leghorn, at both of which places prices were previously too high, as compared with quotations here, to tempt our mer chants. The prospect of a free trade with England would be quite as sure to raise the value of the com modity there as elsewhere; and though shipments might be made from thence throughout the winter, we feel fully satisfied that in the first instance holders of wheat would demand such extravagant rates as greatly to en hance the difficulties of obtaining large supplies. From Canada nothing beyond what is now on passage can be expected till next summer ; and by the latest accounts from the United States we learn that flour bad risen, on the strength of the supposition that England would buy largely, to fully the value of the article here. Whatever therefore, might be the ultimate effect on prices of agri cultural produce, a present repeal of the corn-laws would certainly not lessen the evils of scarcity and high prices which the agitators for a repeal pretend to dread ; and we would caution farmers not to be led away by a sense less panic to sacrifice their property through needless alarm. Contrary to what is customary just before Christmas, when farmers generally require cash for a variety of purposes, and therefore send supplies to market freely, the arrivals of wheat coastwise into London have been very small this week, only 3,284 quarters having been reported up to this (Saturday) evening. The quantity exhibited at Mark-lane by land car riage samples from the home counties has also been trivial; notwithstanding which the trade has remained in a very quiet state. Of the few runs shown on Wed nesday on the Essex and Suffolk stands—(from Kent there was literally noshing offering)—only the best par cels could be placed at Monday's currency ; and as fac tors were not inclined to accept less money for the ordi nary kinds, the extent of business transacted was unim portant. On Friday it would have been impossible to have sold even by submitting to a material reduction; and as holders did not place sufficient credence in asser tions to deem themselves warranted in accepting less money, business was at a perfect stand. Holders of free foreign wheat have also, up to the present, remained firm, and being unwilling to take the reduced rates, at which alone progress could have been made in the dis posal of the article, scarcely a bargain was closed either on Wednesday or Friday. So far from speculation in bonded wheat having been increased by the rumours of an intended alteration in the laws, the reverse has been the case; importers have been induced thereby to insist on higher terms, which, however, they have found it impossible to realise, and even less has been done in the article this than the preceding week. Flour has become very difficult of disposal, and, though no variation has occurred in quotations of town- manu factured, country-made flour might have been bought on rather easier terms at the close than in the commence ment of the week. The arrivals of barley have been quite moderate, end the best malting qualities have been taken off at about the currency of Monday last ; secondary and inferior sorts have moved off somewhat tardily, still previous ' prices have been nearly supported. The transactions in malt have been on quite a retail scale, and the value of the article has remained nomi nally unaltered. The market has been rather sparingly supplied with oats, and of the 16,464 quarters reported, a considerable proportion came to hand previous to Monday's market. There has, nevertheless, been a plentiful show of samples at Mark-lane, a large quantity of the abundant supply re ceived from Ireland last month still remaining unsold. On Wednesday it was difficult to induce the dealers to con tinue theeir purchases at Monday's reduction, anal to have sold largely on Friday a further decline must have been submitted to. It is now pretty certain that the duty on this grain will not fall below the present rate 3s. per quarter—but whether the bonded stocks will be entered for home consumption whilst there is a chance of the corn-laws being altered is questionable. Beans and pas Darr come to hand ,paringly, and no variation requiring notice has occurred in prices of these articles since the beginning of the week. FOREIGN. By the most recent accounts from the principal Baltic ports we learn that, under the belief that no immediate alteration in the corn-laws was contemplated by our Government, much of the excitement by which the grain trade had been characterised in the early part of the month of November had subsided ; and though the smallness of the stocks had caused holders to remain pretty firm, the tendency of prices had been decidedly downwards. Letters from Dantzic of the 29th ult state that, though an abatement of 2s. to ss. per qr. had been sub witted to, comparatively little business had been done during the week ; the latest sales had been at from 545. to 575. for fine high mixed qualities, and fair mixed had sold at from 51s. to 535. per qr., free on beard. It was estimated that the stock in granary at that port con sisted of about 200,000 qrs., comprising all descriptions of quality ; but it was not expected that supplies of any importance would come forward from Poland, as the greatest scarcity was said to prevail both in the upper and lower districts. At Warsaw prices were actually higher than at Dantzic, wheat being worth 575., and rye 455. per qr. at that place. The accounts from Konigsberg are of much the same character as before, and there seems little chance of that port having any grain to spare for shipment. The entire stock of corn in granary there was, at the close of November, estimated at 30,000 qrs., of which about 12,000 qrs. were wheat, held at from 525. to 60s. per qr., according to quality. Rye was equally high there, say 425., and prices of barley and oats relatively much higher than in the British markets. At the Lower Baltic ports fair supplies were, we are informed, beginning to be brought forward by the farmers, which, with the somewhat dull reports from hence, had rendered sellers a little more reasonable in their pretensions. At Rostock, fine qualities of wheat might, on the Ist inst., have been bought free on board, at 50s. to 515.; the quality of the last crop is described as very fine. Letters from Stettin, of the 26th and 29th, state that renewed activity had been imparted to the grain trade, by orders from Silesia, and that prices of wheat had again rallied to 525. to 525. 6d. per qr. At Hamburgh, on the 2d, the demand for wheat was less active than the previous post day ; a few further purchases had, however, been made for shipment. For good 60q to 611bs. red Saale, 525. 3d. per qr. free on board had been paid, and corresponding rates for other descriptions. For spring shipments little or nothing had been done. The advices from the Mediterranean are not so lively this week, the news that no order in Council for the free importation of grain had been, or was likely to be, issued by the British Government, having greatly checked the disposition to speculate. At Marseilles, on the 29th of November, business was decidedly dull, and fine Polish Odessa, weighing 61i to 621b5., might have been bought at 433. 6d. to 445. per qr. free on board. Freight to England was, however, 7s. 6d. to 7s. 9d. per qr. At Odessa, on the sth ult., great excitement cortinued to prevail, and the price of wheat bad actually been driven up there 40s. per qr. free en beard.—Me ek- lane E.zprcss. MRS. KEELET.—This populqr actress has, we re gret to state, been seriously ill .zt B►ighton, for the last fort night. Accounts received in town on Aiopdayiu,tity the hope that her health wilt gradually improve", although it is feared that seine eonsider.Ve t7ir.e. must E.14p.,e before she will be enabled to appear on the stage. A gentleman, whose dramatic talents and elocu tionary powers are very highly spoken of by those who are well qualified to judge, will make his first appeara nce on any stage at the City of London Theatre, on Thursday, Dec. 11. Othgl9. '~~ ^,,,. his led her e P re eS oi erab er ' uo dr. - _A :Fl' NG.' ger , ;t „" 30' 1%. to ,l ' i deP t ..., t e ' ;duo., lon ai t o r 1 1 5 f!,,g - I