The Sun. — London, England, 1853-05-02 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN. A special meeting of this company was held on Satur day, at the Euston-square station, to consider the ex pediency of p rosecut i ng t h e bi lls now b e f ore Parliament for the construction of new works. There was a large attendance of shareholders, and Major-General the Hon. George Anson, chairman of the company, presided. Mr. C. Stewart, the secretary, having read the notice calling the meeting, The CHAIRMAN rose and said—When I last had the honour of addressing you from this chair, I announced to you that it was the intention of the directors to call a special general meeting of the company at an early period, for the purpose of submitting to the proprietors the expediency of prosecuting the bills which were named in the half-yearly report, and of asking for your approval of them, provided the directors, after duly considering them, should th in k it d es i ra bl e t o p rocee d with them in Parliament. The reason for adopting this unusual course was, that a committee of the House of Commons had been appointed for the purposeof in quiring into th e p ropr i ety o f a ll ow i ng an d sanction ing those large ama l gamat i ons w hi c h were proposed by some of the principal railway companies in the kingdom. On that occasion I ventured to offer my opinion, that it would not be possible to confine that inquiry to the simple question of amalgamation and agree ment. I felt that it could not be limited to the present proposals of the companies, and that it would be found necessary to extend it to the past, as well as to the future course o f legislation, with respect to rail wa y matters generally. Knowing, as I did, that the system now in operation, of which we have had ampl e exper i ence to enable us to form a full and accurate judgment upon it, had proved most injurious to railway interests generally, and that it was defective also with respect to the conve nience and accommodation of the public, I did not be lieve, remembering that the committee of the House of Commons was composed of able and sound headed men, that it would be content with pursuing its investigations simply into the measures which were then proposed by the great companies, and for which the sanction of Par. liament was asked, principally for the purpose of ena bling them to enter into amalgmations and agreements, which, in point of fact, could virtually and practically have been carried out, even though the House of Com mons, or a, committee of the house, had refused to give them its sanction. It was likewise quite evident to me that if the inquiry should be pushed into the question of railway legislation generally, and if the committee should be inclined to grapple with that question effectually, so much time would be required for the investigation that I was satisfied the greater part of the session would be ' consumed in hearing evidence and collecting informa tion, and I was in great hopes, therefore, that the whole of the bills now before Parliament would have been deferred. In this I have been much disappointed. The select committee have decided that all amalgama tion bills, all bills involving agreements and combination of interests between companies, should be postponed ; but that all bills projected by new companies, all bills brought forward by independent interests, may be allowed to proceed. Now, the effect of this upon us is, that it deprives us of the power of obtaining those acts which we really th oug ht an d b e li eve d wou ld be most beneficial on all accounts for our interests. The committee have given us no option as to our future policy, but has left us exactly in the position in which we were when Par liament first undertook to endeavour to amend the sys tem of which we all disapproved. It has left us no other alternative than to proceed with these bills, which, it is now useless to disguise, have been projected solely for the purpose of protecting our interests against the in roads and encroachments of hostile companies. What have been the grounds for this decision on the part of the select committee ? It is true that a great deal of the evidence they have received has been of a contradictory character ; but I would like to know what great ques tion has ever been mooted before a committee of the House of Commons, or before Parliament itself, in re gard to which you will not find able and zealous advocates on both sides ? It has always been so, and it always will be so. I know it would occupy too much of your time to sift this evidence as I could wish, but I cannot help alluding to some portions of the evidence given by the more important witnesses. In the first place, I will name to you Mr. Laing, Mr. Stephenson, Mr. Swift, and Captain Huish, all gentlemen intimately and, perhaps, better, acquainted than we are with the management of railway affairs, each of them pursuing different occupa tions and employments in connection with railways, and all of them capable of giving a sound and judicious opinion on the subject which the committee had been appointed to investigate. Well, what is the effect of their evidence ? All of them express a strong opinion in favour of amalgamation. They showed plainly before the committee that the objections to amalgamation on the ground of competition were untenable ; that com bination had always followed, and would always follow, any attempts at competition, and that if Parliament should now refuse to legalise and sanction the proposed union between companies, agreements could and would be entered into in spite of Parliament, to which the same objections would apply, if valid, as are now urged against amalgam a ti on b y Parliamentary enactment. On the other side of the question, we have Mr. Denison, Mr. Russell, and Mr. Sandars, all expressing a different and contrary opinion, and all disapproving of amalgamations. It is true that Mr. Denison qualified his disapproval much more than the others, because, while he mos t decid edly obj ec t e d t o an amalgamation between the London and North-Western and the Midland Companies, he did not seem to be of opinion that an amalgamation of the Great Northern and Midland would be open to the same objection. (Hear, hear, and a laugh.) Now, I would like to know, if an amalgamation of th e G reat Northern and Midland would b be an advantageous arrangement for the public and for the companies them selves, why an amalgamation of the London and North-Western and Midland would be objectionable. I think it would require all the ingenuity of the most able partisan to convince the public that there is any distinc tion between the two cases. (Hear, hear.) But Mr. Sandars objected to the principle of amalgamation in toto upon public grounds. His opinion was that wholesale competition was good for the public, and that, moreover, combination was not practicable. If so, I would like to be informed why the Great Western Company, of which he is himself so able an organ, should be quite ready to enter into any arrangement with those parties whose alleged monopoly they have held up as a bugbear to induce Parliament to sanction their competition scheme--a mo nopoly which it is their professed desire to destroy, but which it is their real object and intention to share. (Cheers.) I am satisfied that the committee of the House of Commons did not, or does not, entertain any strong opinion against amalgamations. What induced it to arrest the progress of the bills in Parliament was a vague and undefinable fear that if the demand for amal gamation should be encouraged by the Legislature with out inquiry and mature deliberation, it would speedily and largely increase, and that ultimately all the railway interests in the kingdom would be united in one body. That this result might be possible I will not deny ; but that it would be detrimental to the interests of the pub lic I am not prepared to admit. When Mr. Sandara was asked what protection he would give to the publie against the evils which might arise from this vast power being vested in the hands of one company —what remedy he would apply to prevent any serious consequences aris ing from this combination of interests —the reply he gave to the question did not evince that ability for which I should have given him credit. He said that he had no plan to propose, that be would leave things as they are, that he would allow the different companies to take care of themselves. In short, the result of his whole ar gument was, that he thought combinations and agree ments so objectionable he would endeavour to prevent them by act of Parliament. Prevent combination by act of Parliament Really this is too absurd to bear discussion, and I feel it would be a mere waste of time to answer it. (Hear.) Far different was the evidence of the gentlemen on the other side. When Mr. Ste phenson and Mr. Swift were asked what protection they would afford to the public, they expressed their opinions boldly and clearly—opinions in which, having been formed upon extensive experience of railway matters generally, and not in the interest of this or any other company, I do not hesitate to say I very much agree. And here I gladly take this opportunity of stating my own views upon this question, because, though I was was not called before the committee, I feel that, stand ing in the position in which I do with regard to this com pany, and having been for some time closely connected with the management of its important affairs, you the proprietors have a right to know my sentiments. I have always been a strong advocate for amalgamations, because I think that union of interests between railway companies in any system whatever, whether continuous or lateral, would be of the greatest advantage, not only to the railway companies themselves, but also to the convenience and accommodation of the public. That is my firm belief ; but the occupation of the country by one company, in consequence of amalgamation, instead of by two or three, would not remove the evils of which I com plain, would not prevent attempts at competition, would not prevent other companies from endeavouring to come into your district for the purpose of taking away your traffic, and forcing you to buy them off at a ruinous and extra vagant cost. some other remedy must be applied ; for amalgamation alone would not be sufficient to secure that which we are all convinced would be a desirable thing to arrive at—namely, the stability of our property. I do not hesitate to say I would be happy to see power vested in th e B oar d of Trade to examine all new pro jects,and to appoint proper persons to investigate the necessity of th e i r construction, to inquire into the grounds upon which they are requi re d, an d to ascertain precisely If the found the p ar ti es by "ultra they are ori g i na t e d . (Hear, hear.) y struction, the coris tm there was a necessity for their con the parties ocoupyie Ton of th em s h ould be offered to make the n ew li nes " ' e country, and if th e y re f used to iwriiwoui3ealuiddglvlseo t e h m e p m ow t e o r t t h h e e p ß ar o t a i r e d s who project e d th em. of Trade to m a k e such ectipfuoLf.oantilelpeoints of prevent any act of oppressionat'di regulations as would new companies on the p art ofpuo e t a e g er ceox rn er p c a is n e i d es, ov a e n r d th as e would be a protection to the attempts to create a monopoly. Another obj present system is, the inconvenience to the junction. I would give to the Board of of th Power to make arrangements for the convenience provided the companies themselves should the Public, obstacles in the way of that suitable acconn ro ol v i as a i 2 which the public has a right to demand. Witl, - ;;` spect to all complaints of want of accommodat on gene. rally, I think the Board of Trade, or a body o f per sons nominated by the B oar d of Trade, would be good judges in such cases; and I believe we would be ' * '/.1 - willing to submit to their interference if proper security were given to us that no inroads and invasions on the Part of hostile companies would be allowed upon our pro perty. By such means as I have hinted at, a stability and tz' value would be given to your property, wh ich I erz think it ought to possess. Another question which has been raised is with regard to the limitation _ that roe of 113 dividends. . has boon urged we Iliad y zomethiag • turn for the security we ask. Now, I would give no thing for amalgamation simply, but for security I am to l o s a p dm o s ed it t o that m we ak ar e a la r e c r a g l e l e c d o n u c p e o s n s i o t n o . s h a m m i t n t o o t pe any r par limi tation of our dividends, but believing that the measures o I have e r p a r h o l p e o s a e n d d , i p f e c n r e d n into p e ff r o e v c t em w e n o t u l i d n lead our t p o r o a . perty, I do not think you would object to the fixing of 7 theperp coetnntt.,aotrw2hpicehr somecent. above your of the tollsyioourpresent should dividend, as be made. Moreover, in order to prevent any improper expenditure of capital, supposing such a prosperous state of things should arise, and for the sake of keeping the dividends within the specified amount, I think we should be willing to submit to a public audit, the auditors mak ing a report to the Board of Trade annually upon the financial position of the different companies. Ido be lieve that under such a system as I have faintly outlined a different state of things would arise. I believe our expenditure would be diminished—l believe our receipts would be increased--I believe the resources of the coun try would be more effectually developed, and that ulti mately your property would be placed upon a basis which I despair of seeing so long as we are allowed to go on as we:are now. The chairman then enumerated the new lines proposed to be constructed, and for which bills are now before Parliament. The directors did not anticipate any objections to the first--a line connecting St. Albans and the district round Amersham and Chesham with the main line at Watford, at an esti mated cost of 152,000/. This branch was demanded by the people residing in the district, to whom they are bound, in fairness, to supply railway accommodation, and would, he was convinced, prove a remunerative concern. The second was a line from the Oxford, Wor cester, and Wolverhampton Railway at Oxford, through Thame to Tring, at an estimated cost of 400,0001., the distance being 31 miles. The meeting would bear in mind that there was at present a bill before Parliament for the construction of a new line, to be called the Mid- Western from Oxford to London. He believed there was no necessity for it, and that it would be opposed by the Great Western ; but as there was also a new line proposed from Cheltenham to Oxford, which he thought would be carried, the line from Tring through Thule to Oxford would place the towns and districts accommo dated by the Oxford and Cheltenham in connection, through the London and North-Western lines with the metropolis. It could be made for 400,000/., while the proposed Mid-Western would cost at least 1,000,000. The distance from Oxford to the Euston station would be 62 miles, against 59 miles to the terminus of the South-Western at Waterlow-road. The third was a short branch, line nch, forming a ju nc ti on b etween the Bucking hamshireand the line of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Company, near Oxford—length, 2 miles; estimated cost, 37,0001. Last year the bill was not sanctioned by Parliament, but the directors thought a fresh application should be made, as it was necessary the line should be constructed, The fourth, a line of 13 miles in length, from Northampton to Market Har borough, at an estimated cost of 250,0001., was sup ported by the town of Northampton and the landed pro prietors in the district. A large mineral field had lately been opened in the county, and there was every prospect of the line being a remunerative one. The fifth was a line from near the Oldbury station, on the Stour Valley Railway, to Stour-bridge, 8.1 miles ; estimated cost 300,000/. This line would pass through a rich mineral and very populous district, and must prove remunerative, worked in connection with a system of railway so exten sive as that of the London and North-Western. The same observation applies to the sixth project, a line from near Wellington to Colebrookdale, with branches, ten miles ' • estimated cos t, 1 50,000/. The proposed line from Shrewsbury to Newton, with a branch to Oswestry, was 44 miles in length, at an estimated cost of 500,000/. It certainly dived into a new district, but the landowners and others were in favour of it, besides which, parties in the interest of the Shrewsbury and Chester and Great Western companies had before Parlia ment a line to Newton, which would no doubt be passed, if the superior project of this company were not pro posed, and thus the entire district of central Wales would be transferred to the opposing companies. The eighth of the series, a line from Crewe to Shrewsbury passed through a district freefrom any engineering difficulties, and many of the landowners having agreed to dispose of their land at fair rates, and to dispense with needless or costly works, the whole length, 33 miles, could be constructed for 350,000/., about 10,600/. per mile ; while its forma tion would bring Liverpool, Manchester, and Yorkshire into direct communication, by the lines of the London and North-Western Company, with Wales. The whole amount of capital that would be required for the proposed lines would be 2,149,000/. —a very large sum of money ; but he hoped he had satisfied them that they would not do wrong in allowing the directors to proceed with these measures to the extent that might be necessary in the present session of Parliament. The question now arose, how were the means to be provided to meet this heavy expenditure ? In order to encourage and aid the exten sion of railways in connection with the several lines from the system of the London and North-Western Company, the proprietors had from time to time subscribed to other undertakings, the amount of capital so invested amount ing to 3,292,656/. The market value of the shares so held now amounted to 2,905,970/. It might be asked, why not avail yourselves of that capital for the purpose of providing means for constructing the proposed line ? The answcr was simple and twofold. In the first place, during the last four years the value of the property held in other undertakings had increased to the amount of 1,200,0001., and having regard to the reasonable prospect of further and considerable improvement, it appeared to the directors inexpedient to realise the property at pre sent. In the second place, even if the di rec t ors were so inclined, su c h a s t ep would not meet the immediate re quirements of Parliament in reference to new works to be sanctioned. What they recommended, therefore, was, that ordinary share capital should be raised to the amount of 3,054,600/. ; that the new shares should be offered to the proprietors entitled to participate, in the proportion of one share of 21. 10s. for every 1001, of stock, and that a deposit of 21. 10s. per share should immediately be made, it being understood that there would be no further calls for the present. It was im possible for the directors to say how much of that money would be required ; but the proprietors might rest as sured that no further demands would be made upon them without due and proper notice being given. With respect to the projects themselves, there was another process through which they must pass before they could be carried into execution. After receiving the sanction of Parliament they would have to be submitted to a ; Wharncliffe meeting of the shareholders, called by pub- lic advertisement, and forms of assent and dissent to each bill would be distributed among the proprietors several days before the meeting in question, such forms, if returned properly filled up, to have all the authority and legal force of proxies. He hoped that the share holders would be satisfied with these propositions. They had hitherto reposed the fullest confidence in the di rectors, for which his colleagues and himself returned their grateful thanks, and he should be extremely sorry if that confidence were now to be withdrawn. The chairman concluded by moving a series of resolutions in accordance with the recommendations of the directors. Admiral Mooasost seconded the resolutions. Mr. UPCROFT opposed the resolutions for several reasons. First, because the proposed lines would cost at least 5,000,000/. ; secondly, because he understood that the ca pital account had been closed ; and thirdly, because he thought it would be more respectful to the select committee to wait until it had completed its investigations and made its final report for the guidance of the House of Commons. He moved an amendment. Mr. DICKENSON seconded the amendment. He knew, from the communications he had had with his brother proprietors, that considerable difference of opinion existed among them with regard to the policy of amalgamation propounded from the chair. They were not called upon to discuss that question now, but he protested against its being passed over sub silentio. As for the propositions now before the meeting, he complained that more time had not been given for their consideration, involving as they did, the expenditure of a large amount of additional capital. He had no objection to the line connecting the Buckinghamshire and the Oxford, Worcester, and Wol verhampton railways, if they thought it worth struggling for ; but he most decidedly objected to all the others, as being exceedingly improper and disadvantageous to the company. He had recently been much about the lobby of the House of Commons, and the information he received on all hands was, that no railway bills of any description would be passed this session, He thought therefore that the consideration of the resolutions should be postponed. Mr. GEACH did not believe with the last speaker that no railway bills would be passed during the present session. On the contrary, he believed that a large number of bills would be passed, and therefore he thought it was absolutely necessary, for the protection of their interests, that they should ask Parliament to sanction the bills to which the chairman had re ferred. The mover of the amendment had said it would be more respectful to the select committee if they delayed the prosecution of these bills. So undoubtedly it would ; but if they consented to delay, what security had they that hostile companies would adopt the same course ? Mr. Dickenson had objected to the line from. Oxford to Tring ; but he asked them, supposing the pro posed line from Cheltenham to Oxford were to be agreed to, would it not be better to have a line for bringing on the passengers to London than to allow them to stop short at Oxford ? He maintained that the new lines were necessary for the protection of their interests, and, in his opinion, the present was a favourable time for rais ing the additional capital that would ;be required, money being both cheap and abundant. It was folly to talk of closing the capital account. He believed it would be impossible to do it under the present system, Mr. DEANS supported the amendment believing that the measures proposed . by the chai rman would be highly detrimental to the interests of the company. He admitted that it was the duty of railway companies to supply all the reasonable wants of the public ; but when the landowners and inhabitants of any district came forward and demanded a new line to be made, he thought they should be told to construct it themselves, and not endeavour to throw the burden upon others. (Hear, hear.) The chairman had frankly stated that the proposed lines were not necessary, except as protection against other companies. That was exactly what he complained of. He complained that their own and other companies had been so occupied in competing among themselves, in en deavouring to injure each other as much as possible, Ac to e ce m e ans ac p os put their t ri eg ldypresidevihne lines p roper r no o fp goode th r ei accommodation they had not been able, for want of the necessary n for the public, lines, that th e e or shareholders.kigconitio condition, (Hear,o hteoairn; injury upon other railways, found, on looking over the list of new pay the cost of a'wa3rs' all either intended to inflict an or else such as would never Wasanconstruction,ins The line from Crewe to Shrewsbury attierept to compete with the Great -Western Corripen7 toßpereovhe.nettit establishing squanderecline Parliamentary a connection with Lancashire. objected to the re venue of the company being Mita% PAW reinia____ded th e directors that !film they now proposed was directly in the teeth of their own report, which declared that it was inexpedient to encourage or authorise the expenditure of capital in the construction of duplicate lines with a view to competition. (Hear.) Mr. NICHOLSON spoke in favour of the resolutions, but regretted that the Hampstead line had not been pro ceeded with. Mr. BRIGHT recommended that the meeting should be adjourned for a fortnight, and that in the meantime a petition should be presented to the House of Commons, praying that no railway bills be passed this session. (A laugh.) A PROPRIETOR complained that the directors had not supplied the meeting with the means of forming a cor rect judgment upon the merits of the proposed lines. The CHAIRMAN then briefly replied to the various ob jections which bad been made to the resolutions. These objections, he said, would have had greater weight with him if they had not come from gentlemen who always opposed the plans of this company. (Hear.) Although he believed with Mr. Geach that the capital account of so extensive an undertakingcould never be closed entirely, yet it was so far closed that the directors could not touch any part of the capital without the sanction of the proprietary, and he for one was not disputed to disturb that arrangement. But they must not jump to the con clusion that the expenditure increased in proportion to the increase of capital. The experience of the last three years showed the reverse to be the fact, for while the capital had been increased to the extent of 6-93, the re ceipts had increased to the extent of 2-13. He was con vinced that all the proposed lines, besides being neces sary for the protection of their interests, would be remu nerative, while the cost of their construction would be much less than they had formerly any experience of. He did not agree with Mr. Dickenson that no railway bills would be passed this session. A considerable num ber of bills had already received the sanction of Par liament, and it was absurd to say that they should de lay until the select committee had made its final report to the house. If they did so, the opportunity of passing their bills would be lost for ever, and the projects of hostile companies would be carried into execution. The reason why he had nut mentioned the Hampstead line was, that they were not interested in it corporately, but he believed the measure was in progress. So far from thinking, with Mr. Deans, that they should not seek to prevent the communication of the Great 'Western with Liverpool, he should, as long as he occupied his present position, resist it to the uttermost, and he should have the support of the whole proprietary. (Hear, hear.) The question was then put, when there voted— For the resolutions 65 For the amendment 23 Majority —42 The resolutions were accordingly declared carried. A vote of thanks was awarded to the chairman, and the meeting whi c h h a d l aste d upwards of three hours, separated. PARIS TO STRASBURG RAILWA7. The general meeting of the shareholders of this com pany took place on April 28, at Paris, in Herz's Great Room, Count de Seg-ur in the chair. Near him were seated the following directors :—The Duke de Galliera, Baron d'Hervey, Baron Alph. de Rothschild, M. Jayr, M. Fol, M. C. Arnoux, 1,1. Baignieres, M. Blacque- Belair, M. Clary, M. E . C hevaudier, M. Hainguerlot, M. Marcuard, M. Roux, M. E. Perdonnet, and M. Dubochet. It being announced that there were present 240 shareholders, representing 36,000 shares, the meet ing was declared to be duly constituted. The CHAIRMAN then rose, and stated th a t th e pre sent meeting was convoked both as an ordinary and extraordinary one ; the former was for the usual busi ness of having a statement of the position of the com pany made, the accounts passed, and a dividend de clared ; whilst the latter was for the consideration of a project for creating a caisse de retraites for the men em ployed on the line 25 years, and some other matters of importance. The number of shareholders present and the number of shares represented not being sufficient to constitute an extraordinary meeting, these latter objects could not be brought forward at present. A SHAREHOLDER wished to inquire how it happened that after the public journals had, a fortnight back, spoken of an arrangement between the Strasburg and Northern companies relative to a tender for an impor tant line, after the Minister of Public Works had agreed to the proposal made, and when all that remained to terminate the matter was the approbation of the Emperor —when all this had taken place, how did it come to pass that the hon. chairman did not say one word about the matter when speaking just now of the extraordinary meeting ? The CHAIRMAN replied that it was quite correct that the two companies alluded to had more than a fortnight back agreed to tender conjointly for the Ardennes Rail way. They had sent in a proposal to the Minister of Public Works, who had at once entered on an examina tion of their tender, but no answer had as yet been re turned. It would be consequently premature to speak of a matter which had not been brought to a conclusion. It would be better for any shareholder who desired to ask for information to allow the proceedings to go on regularly, and speak wl.,an the report had been read. He should now call on the secretary-general to read the report of the Board of Directors. M. BOSSANGE then rose, and read the document in ques tion. It commences by stating that the promises made in the report of the preceding year had been more than realised. On June 15, trains had commenced running from Paris to Forbach, and on 12th August following from Paris to the Prussian frontier, without any break or interruption. It was only by great exertions that this could he effected. and when once the whole line was opened a difficulty presented itself, which, although tending to the ultimate advantage of the undertaking, was for the moment a source of annoyance. This was the sudden and unex pected augmentation of the passengers and goods' traffic to such no extent that the company was forced, notwith standing the amount of working -stock which it had pro vided in anticipation of that opening, to refuse a cer tain amount of the business which was offered. The consequence was that it was found necessary to make an additional command of 100 locomotives, 100 tenders, 36 passengers carriages, and 1818 goods' waggons, the expense of which was, in round numbers, 13 millions. There was no intention of providing for the expense at present, as the company could meet it during the cur rent year ; but next year the general meeting would have to decide whether it might hot be advisable to pro vide for it either by a loan, or by creating a reserve fund from a certain sum kept back from the dividend of each year. The various goods' yards, stations, and sheds on the principal line may be considered as terminated, with the exception of the terminal station at Nancy. The plans for that building were at present under the consi deration of the Ponts-et-Chaussees. The Strasburg terminus was now in course of construction, and was advancing rapidly. On the 17th of November last the Prussian and Bavarian lines were united wth that of Strasburg, and the latter was placed in direct communica tion with IVlanheirn and the coal districts of Prussia. The branch-line to Rheims, which the company was bound to have terminated in March next, would be opened to the public in November. As to the branch-line from Metz to Thionville, there was every reason to hope that it could be opened to the public at the end of 1853, that is, two years earlier than the conditions of the contract re quired. Hitherto the working of the coal basin of Saar bruck and the manufacture of coke had been kept in the hands of the Prussian administration of mines, but by an arrangement lately entered into with the Prussian authorities, the company had obtained permission to make coke !on its own account at the coal-pits. In order to facilitate that operation the company had pur chased ground to the extent of 5 hectares 19 ares (14 acres.) The company intended to establish 112 ovens, which would give about 120 tons a-day. Already 28 of these ovens have been built. The second line of rails was to be laid down on the whole of the principal line by the end of the present year. The report then enters into a very minute account of the results of the working, and shows how general has been the augmentation of traffic in every kind of receipts. The gross receipts for the year ending March 31, 1853, amount to from which must be deducted for the passengers' tax of one-tenth, sub ventions, &c., 962,365 fr. 46c. leaving a remainder of 1 6,833,149fr. 12c, From that sum there being deducted, first, the expenses of the working, amounting to 6,524,771 fr. 38c., and secondly the balance of the interest pail during the construc tion, namely, 1,685,553 fr. 75c., all 7,210,125 fr. 13c. there was a surplus of receipts of ... 8,623,023 fr. 99c, From that sum must be deducted, first, for the reserve-fund to meet unforeseen expenses, and which cannot be less th an 5 per cent. on the net receipts, or 433,884 fr. 990,, and next, interest paid to the shareholders for 1852, or 4,925,000 fr., making in a 11......... 5 , 35 8,884 fr. 99c. ---- Leaving a disposable sum of .............. 3,264,139 Oc. which would give a dividend of 13fr. per share. That sum being added to 20fr. already paid as interest, gave a total dividend of 33fr, per share, or 6 3-5 per cent. on the capital paid up. Had not the obligation existed to complete the reimbursement of the sum of 15,162,500 fr. paid in interest to the shareholders during the construc tion of the line, there would have been distributed 1,685,553 fr, additional, which would have given within a shade of 40fr. per share for the year 1852. It was to be remarked, in addition, that duri ng th e l ast three months of th e y ear which has just concluded, the re ceipts had amounted to an average of 54,981 fr. 4c. per day. Such an amount at the very commencement of the working of the main line, in conditions by no means of a favourable character, seemed to demonstrate that the returns of the line would be even greater during the present year. Should the dividend be approved, it would be paid at the office of the company on and after the 2d of May. M. RENNIN, in the Tname of the Committee of Ac counts, read a report stating that he and his colleagues had visited the line in every part, and that they could only express their approbation of all they had seen. A vote of thanks was passed to the Committee of Accounts, and the members composing it were requested to continue their functions (which are gratuitous) for another year. The accounts were then approved of, and the dividend of 13fr. per share agreed to. The proceedings then ter minated. A WELL -DISCIPLINED SOLDIER.—A laughable circum stance took place a short time since. As a soldier was carrying the dinner belonging to his mess from the baker's, one of his companions coming behind him, called out "Attention !" when this well-disciplined soldier dropped his hands, and at the same time the dinner of his unfor timtscomradose— Worceater Chronicle. THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 2, 18;3. - GENCE. TEE SHARE MARKETS. BRITISH RAILWAYS. Paid RAILWAYS. 100 Aberdeen ....... 82 Ambg. Nottug. Bost & Eastn. June....... all Birmng. Wolverh. & Stour Va11ey......... 28 Birkenbd. Lancsh. & Cheshire Junct...... all Do. Chesh. & Birk., £5O & .£25 Cons.... 18/ IN., .£2O. 100 Bristol & Exeter 100 Caledonian all Chester & Holyhead all Cork and Bandon all Cork, Black. & Pass 45 Dublin&BelfastJunc all Dundee Perth &Aber deen Junction all Do. New all East Anglian (.£25 L. & E. & L. & D.)..... all Do., (.£lB E. & IL).. all Eastern Counties..... all Eastern Union, Class A. late E. U. 5h.... 8 3 Do., d 0...... ......... all Do., B. & C 1 100 East Lancashire all East & West Ind. Dk & Binning. June 100 Edinburgh & Glasgow, 13 Edinb.' an d P ee bl es 1 1100 Edinb. Pith. &Dundec 100 Glasgow &S. Western 100 Great Northern Stk 100 Do., A. Stock 100 Do., B. Stock 1100 Gt. Sth.&West.(lre.) 100 Great Western 11 Irieb South-Easters. all Lancaster & Car.isle 11t Do., Third 5............ 100 Laneash. &Yorkshire 15 Do., Fifths 111. Do., Wst. Riding Un all Leeds Northern all Liv. Crsby. & Soutbpt all .Loudon & Blackwall 3 Loud. Tub. & Sthend. , 100 Loud. Bright. &S. Cst. 100 London &N. Western 12 Do. Fifths 1 D0.,16/.5h.,M&8...0 100 London & S. WP FatArn 423 Do., £50..... .. 34 Do., £10..............• all Lndndrry.drColeraine all Lndndrry. & Ennisk. 100 Manch.Shef.diLincln. 44:D0., Man. &Lin. Un. 1.00 Midland 100 Do. Binning. & Derby, 47i 1 ,1Midland G. West.(lr.) 17i Do. 3 Shares ..... all Newcastle &Carlisle.. 100 New market. ..... 33 Do. Bury Extensions 16 Ne wpt.Aberg.&lltfd. 72 Newry & Enniskillen all Newry Warrenpoini & Rostrevor 100 N0rf01k........ all Do., New.. ...... 3 31Northn. Counties Un 100 'North British 13 North Devon, No.l 63 Do., No. 2 all Dc., . A Deferred... 5 Do., 3 B Guaranteed 173 North Staffordshire. all North Western.. 10 N. &S. Westrn. June 100 Oxford Worcester Wolverhampton . 100 Scottish Central 100 Scottish Midland , . 100 Shrewsbury. & . 100 Do., L. &N. Westn. Guaranteed Stock 8 Shrewsby. & Herefd g all Shrcwsby. & Chester (Nor. W. Min.)....., all Do. Halves, do all Do. Oswestry 61 Shropshire Union._ all South Devon 100 South Eastern all South Wales 15 S. Yorksh. River Dun lqlStockton & Ifartlepl. l 19 Thames Haven Dock and Railway...., 17 Vale of Neath... all Waterfd. & Kilkenny all Waterford&Limerick 13 West C0rnwa11....... 21s. Wruble,lon &Croydoi, 1 'W00df0rd............. 1100 York Newctl. & Berw 20 Do. Extensions....... 1111 Do. G.N.E. Pur c h ase 100 (York & N. Midland.. Closing Prices Saturday. 28 - 29, 5i - N 10 - 103 Dulness done Saturday. -- 6} d 21 22 3i 2i (1 103 105 65, 1 67 23i 24 284 23 PREFERENI 100 Aberi t T all Do., No. 2, 7 ****** p 100 ,{Brie. & Ex. 4p.c. e . St,. 5 iDo. 4p. c . Shares ' 100 {Caledonian £lO all Chester & Holyhead' ; Guar. 5 per cent 34 Cork &Bandon 5A p.c all ;Dund ee P er th&Ab er : 1 den Junction all lEastA nglian (X 3 10s, 6 per cent. all Do. a',s) 7 per cent 2 Do. (£7l7s) 7p. ct all Eastern Counties Ex ) tension, sp. c. No.l all Do., No. 2... ...... all ;Do., New 6 p. c. St all Eastern Union, Scrip Guar. 6 per cent.... 1100 EastLancash. 6 p.cts. all Edinb.Prth.&Dunclee 5A per cent... ... 'lOO Ghisgow & S.Westerul guar. 5 per cent.... 100 Great Northn. sp. c. 100 I Do. 5 p. c., Redeem., at 10 p. c. prem .... all Gt. Southn. &Westn. (Ireland) Eighths... 6 Gt. Westn. (Borks & Hants Ex. 5 p. c.).. 103 G. West. fixed 41 pc. 6 , Lan. & York. F. £2O, ' 100 'Do., 6 p. c., Stock... 100 London and Brighton Guaranteed 5 p. c.. 100 Do. Pref., sp. c. St all Do. Convertible, sp, c., 1852 . .......... . 100 Do. New Guar. 6p.c. 5 London di S. Western, Con. Thirds 10 Londonderry& Coler 1 Shares all Londy. & Ennis. i SI all Manch. ,Shef., di Lin., ,I Shares, No. 1 all Do. Now, £10... 3 Do., £6 .. ..... all Harypt. &Carl. 4p. c all Do. 4A per cent-- 81 Do - 100 Mid. Consol. 41 p.c. St. 100 Do. Consol. Bristol & Birni. 6 per cent.... 5 Do. Pref. 41 per cent. all Norfolk Extension... all Do. Guar. 51 per ct.. all Do. Way. Val. 5 p c 1 1 1 1 0 09 n ON N xo o fi lt otii h B' .idsivta r fish .. Worcester eiiii.:... Staffordshire.. Wolverh. £15,6p. c. 9 Do.. all Shrews& Birm. N. G. all Shrewsby. & Chester (Nor. W. Min),B p. c 10 Do. 5 per cent........ all South Devon 14 Do. New all S. Eastern (Reading Ann.,) of £1 os.6d. all S. York sh.4p. c. Guar, 3 Waterfd. &Kilk.6p. c. 1100 York Newcastle and Berwick, 4 p.c.Prcf 5 Do 10 ' York& N. Midland H & S. Porch.... 4i 8 - 5 31) 9 5i -- si, 41 4 13i -13 k 106 -- 116 7 i - 7i 72 - 74 50 - rwr 72 - 74 32 -- 34 64 -- 66 89 -- 90 56 -- 58 130 - 132 110 -- 111 924 -- 924 8 -- 84 92 -- 94 132 -- 14 p 794 -- 804 44! -- 4 d 3--3 d 15i -- 164 --- 93 -- 2i p - IG6 -- 1204' 3 119 2. - 90i -- 5 -- 12 - 30 - 3i - 76 - 42 - 30) 31 76 44- 50 52 o s P • # 3 d 21 3i 9 i 52 54 3 -- 2i dl 35 —36 4 d 1 Si pi 100 63 66 MANCHESTER M ACCEPTANCES FOR THE MANI Age st lb Weathergage.. 4 8 7 Lady Evelyn a 8 4 Cariboo Chief Justice 6 7 10 King of Thimps (inc. slb extra) 4 7 91 TheindianWarrior 4 7 8 The Red Lion Bird-on-the-Wing 4 7 0 Redmd. O'Hanlon 4 7 0 The Alp a 6 12 Haricot Aaron Smith 5 6 11 St. Michael 4 6 10 Ethelwolf Fancy Girl 4 6 9 Terpsichore.. 4 6 6 ACCEPTANCES FOR THE SALFORD BOROUGH CUP. Age st. lb. Weathergage 4 8 9 Hobble Noble 4 8 9 Lady Evelyn a 8 6 Russborough 6 7 12 King of Trumps (inc. 51b extra) 4 7 11 Conmore 4 7 6 Lady Agnes 4 7 4 Evadne 4 7 4 Little Jack. The Little Fawn 5 7 2 Candlewick ....... 6 7 0 Sanita 4 6 12 St. Michael 4 6 12 Lerrywhent Needle Countess of Theba, 5 6 8 EXTENSIVE SEIZURE OF SMUGGLED MALT. —On the 31st ult., the excise officer stationed at Broadford, Skye, with his party of cuttersmen, started by boat for the Isle of Raas a y, w h ere it was suspecte d smuggling was carried on t o a very considerable extent for a length of time. After nightfall, they landed at Screpedale, a township in the island, occupied by some two or three brothers named Murchieson. They secreted themselves among the rocks during the night, and at daybreak they discovered a man and two women busily engaged carrying bags of malt from the side of a burn close by the house, evidently with the view of commencing ope rations. They seized twelve bags of malt and a cask of whisky, but the man having noticed them at some distance, effected his escape by taking to the rocks ; the women turned out to be sisters of the tenants.—lnver neqs Courie,.. SHREWSBURY AND CHESTBR RAILWAY.—The offer of Mr. M'Clean, lessee of the South Staffordshire, to lease this line, as well as the Shrewsbury and Birmingham, at four per cent., is understood to have led to the with drawal of the London and North-Western. The agree ments with the Great Western are now under investiga tion, with a view to have it decided whether or not they can legally prevent the acceptance of the offer. A WAGER WON. ---A man once offered to bet that he could prove that this side of the river was the other side. His challenge was accepted ; and, pointing to the oppo site shore of the river, he asked, "Is not that one side of the river ?" " Yes," was the answer, "of course." "Agreed," said the man ; "and is not this the other side "Certainly," said the other. "Then," said the man, "pay me the wager ; for by your own confession I have proved that this side of the river is the other side." The dumfoundered antagonist, overcome by this logic, ingnediatoly paid the money, 10 20 10 20 Age st. lb. 10 1 Braxey , 4 6 ' 25 St. Geor ge 6 6 4 10 The Car r i er 4 6 4 1.0.( Talfourd (i nc. 101 b extra) 3 6 3 20 Richard Primmer 4 6 2 5 Michaelmas Maid 3 512 St. April Fool 3 5 12 Valour Madeline 4 512 25 Monsoon 3 5 10 Peggy 3 5 10 The Judge 3 5 8 Anne Page 3 4 10 Dressmaker...., 3 410 10 Jacqueline 10 20 20 20 SPOBTL TA.TTE RSALL'S.—SATURDAY. CHESTER CUP. 5 to 1 agst Mr. T. Parr's Trifle (11 to 2 taken). 10 to 1 agst Mr. Wilkins's Peggy (taken). 12 to 1 agst Mr. Wilkinson's Lord Lieutenant (offered). 13 to 1 agst Lord Wilton's Lady Evelyn (taken). 15 to 1 agst Mr. A. Nichol's Newminster (taken). 15 to 1 agst Mr. Knowles's Talfourd (taken). 25 to 1 agst Mr. Saxon's The Black Doctor (taken). 40 to 1 agst Mr. J. INT. Stanley's Contentment (taken). 40 to 1 agst Mr. Cooper's lanthe. 40 to 1 agst Mr. Kimberley's Snowdon Dunhill (taken). Trifle, Peggy, Talfourd, and the Black Doctor were the only horses in demand. The other quotations were limited to small sums. DERBY. 3 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's West Australian (taken). 8 to 1 agst Baron Rothschild's Orestes (taken freely). 8 to 1 agst Duke of Bedford's Sittingbourne (offered). 11 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Pharos (taken). 15 to 1 agst Mr. Powney's Cineas. 100 to 6 agst Lord Derby's Umbriel (taken and offered). 4 to 1, 7 to 2, and 3 to 1 laid agst West Australian ; the investments in his support amounted to upwards of 350/. Bto 1 was taken to 2001. about Orestes, and 11 to 1 to 4001. about Pharos, 15 to 1 offered agst Cineas, and 16 to 1 taken about Umbriel. The Reiver is de clared not to start. OAKS. 6 to 1 agst Baron Rothschild's Mentmore Lass (taken). 7 to 1 agst Mr. Woffenden's The Queen (taken). 8 to 1 agst Mr. S. Hawke's Mistletoe (taken). Although at the club 4 to 1 had been taken to some money about Mentmore Lass, 6 to 1 was easily obtain able at " The Corner." LATEST BETTING AT THE WEST END. Trifle and Peggy again absorbed nearly the whole of the betting, notwithstanding a field of 40 is expected to be arrayed against them ; the latter, at 8 and 7 to 1, was backed for upwards of 5001. Boarding School Miss, filly, reported to have beaten Lady Evelyn in a recent trial, was frequently inquired after, and several small investments were made at prices ranging from 40 to 30 to 1. Lady Evelyn receded to 20 to 1 (taken and afterwards offered). THE DERBY.—The two leading favourites were firm. The mysterious Cineas was again under a cloud-20 to 1 was repeatedly offered. Subjoined are the closing prices : CHESTER CUP. 9 to 2 agst Mr T. Parr's Trifle. 13 to 2 agst Mr. Wilkins's Peggy (7 to 1 taken). 15 to 1 agst Mr. Knowles's Talfourd (taken and off.). 20 to 1 agst Mr. Wilkinson's Lord Lieutenant. 20 to 1 agst Mr. A Nichol's Newminster. 20 to 1 agst Lord Wilton's Lady Evelyn (t. and off.). 20 to 1 agst Mr. E. R. Clarke's Missive (offered). 30 to 1 agst Mr. Forrester ns Boarding School Miss filly (taken). 40 to 1 agst Mr. Balfe's Rosalba. DERBY. 3 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's West Australian. 6 to 1 agst Baron Rothschild's Orestes (take 7 to 1). 20 to 1 agst Mr. Powney's Cineas (offered). OAKS. 5 to 1 agst Mr. Wauchope's Catharine Hayes. 6 to 1 agst Baron Rothschild's Mentmore Lass (take 7 to 1). DOUBLE EVENTS.-20 to 1 agst West Australian winning the Derby, and Mentmore Lass the Oaks (taken) ; 30 to 1 agst Orestes and Mentmorc Lass for the same events. TREBLE EVENTS.-100, 0001. to 1501. against Peggy winning the Chester Cup, Derby, and Oaks (taken). CHESTER RACES. To-morrow the " May meetings" of the sporting com munity will be inaugurated on the Roodee of the an tiente citie of Chester. Abundant and interesting sport is promised, and a cheering indication is afforded of the continuance of fine weather for its celebration. Efficient preparations have been made for the ex pected visitors. The stand and inclosure have been ma terially enlarged and improved, and, notwithstanding recent falls of rain, the course is in excellent condition. So great is the demand for stabling, that it has been found necessary to appropriate the extensive cheese market to the reception and standing of horses. Lodg ings are also in increasing requisition, and at the dif ferent inns beds are at a premium. Cheap excursion trains in connection with the various manufacturing dis tricts and neighbouring towns will be run ; and in order to facilitate the imgress and egress of passengers at the Chester station, additional rails have been laid down for upwards of three miles, at an outlay of about 4,0001. ! Twenty-seven stakes are appointed to be contested in the four days, and a striking proof of their popularity and importance is afforded by the fact, that the number to 190. 1,6951 . of subscribe rs t o those which are already closed amounts "added money" is distribuled amongst them. Tuesday's list contains six events, the most important being the Palatine Stakes, the Mostyn Stakes, and the Chesterfield Stakes. The chief and all-powerful attrac tion at the meeting, however, centres in the Chester Cup, which will be run for on Wednesday. Last year, 43 competed for this great Cestrian prize, and the field s on the pres en t occas i on is likely to be numerically as strong. The leading favourites are Trifle and Peggy, but there are certain outsiders that receive quiet support and have numerous partisans. Speculation has recently under gone extraordinary changes, greatly to the perplexity of the betting brotherhood and to the utter amazement of the uninitiated turfite. Of the 131 acceptances it is impossible to indicate with accuracy the horses which are likely to muster at the starting -post. The Helter Skelter Handicap, two Triennial Stakes, 60 guineas, the gift of the members for the City, her Majesty's Plate, and a Scramble Handicap, will also be run for on Wednesday. Of the seven events appointed for decision on Thurs day, much interest invariably attaches to the Dee Stakes, 1( which on the present occasion numbers 46 nominations, 2 ( including the names of Sittingbourne, Sylphine, and Orinoco. Sittingbourne's starting is, however, regarded St by the cognoscenti as doubtful, and Orinoco is the " favourite in the Turf market. The other events in this day's lists are a l so ca l cu l ated to occasion exciting St, con tests ; the race f or th e Ch ester fi eld Handicap, in parti- , cular, being lik e ly t o p rove hi g hl y interesting. On ,t Friday the proceedings will be brought to a close, a well-filled programme promising ample sport. 6. HORSES ARRIVED AT CHESTER.—Talfourd, Lord- Lieutenant, Indian Warrior, Sylpliine, Mistletoe, Han- 50 nab, Venison filly, Margaret of Anjou, Pearl, Ithuriel filly, Whitti ng t on , Ki ng D av i d, Osbaldeston Scarecrow, 16 Sanita, Th e J u d ge, S weetness, gr g by Galaor,St. out of s t. Martha, Pope J oan , Locket, Napier colt, April Fool, Mountain Dee r , W oo l w i c h , Little Jack, Missive, He- St. lena, Bellewstown, Rosalba. St. TRAINS FROM LONDON. —No special; the 8.45 p.m. 50 train arrives at Chester at 4.30 a.m., and, the 6 a.m. train at 12 o'clock. EETING-31.4.1- 18. 'CHESTER TRADESMEN'S CUP. Age st lb Gadabout Cory ban tes St, George 6 6 0 The Carrier Royal George Talfourd (including 10lb extra) 3 6 0 Richard Primmer 4 5 12 The Sutler 4 5 10 B m out of Mina- ture 5 5 10 Madeline Valour 3 5 8 Monsoon The Event 4 5 6 Veteran Chaffwax 3 4 10 20 St. 15 St. 10 St. St. 20 14 50 20 50 40 25 25 50 25 1.00 St. 10 o 7h 60 -- E SHARES. - 107 167 - ió9i 20 21 . -bra I; - -3 , -4: 1 -- 1 Cpl 2 -- 2i p, IN -- 2 A 15 -- 1541 18f -• 18/ 3A - i• 0 --- I.i 112 - 114 8 - 9 6 - 106 _ 103; - A i) - 153 .• Id xd :54 -157 31 - 10 -- 13i -- S - 19i - P 148 -150x(1, 1 A - '1 p j 110 112 25i —26 d lot 111 17 -18 i 1111 1 14j 15ii par -- Ipi 26$ 263 idl9i 204 ll 103 . 105 5k 5a P Pi FOILEIGN. 3 A n'.,werp&llotterdam 3 IlelgianEastn. Junet. 4 &niers to Graissessac all Chaeeroi & Erquelin. 6 Dijon anclßesanon.. 8 Dutch Rhenish..... all East Indian 1 Do. Extension .... all Gt. Indian Peninsula 7 Gd. Junct. of France 15 j Gt. Western of Canada Shares 1 Lucca & Pistoja sp.c pref........... ..... 15 Luxembourg 10 Do. (Railway) 2 Do. 3 Do. (Canal) 2 Do. 6p. ct. pref 7 3 Lyonsdz Mediterrau 4 Madras all Namur & Liege (w:..1 interest) all Do. (ex i aterest) all Northern 4of France all Do. 201. 3 p. c. Bds (fmy. B. SLATms. Shs.) all NorwegianTrunkPref 10 Paris and Lyons all Paris and Orleans all Paris and Rouen all Paris and Strasbourg 4 ParisCaen& Cherbrg. 54 Quebec &Richmond all Rouen and Havre all Sambre and Meuse._ 4 Do. 5i p. et. pref.... 2 Sth-Eastrn..of France 4 Sor:lern of France.. 2s. Upper India Scrip... all West Flanders..,.,, 6 Do. 5. per c. Pref.... 10 Western of France... 2 West. of Switzerlaucl 3 1 -- lA 6d, -- 1 - p 13i -14 A 4 54-6 -- p 111 - 2ñ - 24? 24 - 43ar 1 p pdr 7/ 7 4 1: —1, is 2 —1) - - - p 24 - 2i p 7i - 8 361 -36 i 14. -14 i S. -- 9 18 -- 1817 42 -- 43 451 -- 40 35 -35 i 5 ; -- 5 i1 1 )1 21 :: VI 9 4 -- 91 ••• 4 6 1 - 1) idis pa, 11 ni p id d 1 id 8i - 14 - 53 i - 98 - 62 64 - 73 76 1p Odis 17 19 8i 13 15 3 i 3 id 20A -- 2141 761 76 37 -- 374 13} -- 4 -4( 19 21 I -15 A 33 par; 70 7 (t 20; 61 I 1301 1 ilO7l 1 213 354 i Closing Prices Bust . Saturday. Saturn r•• ..-• ... ... 107 -109 . 54 - 56 149 - 151 33 - 34 - . 112 - 114 I 113 56 - 57 2t7i - 28:} 14 -14 i 14 26 - 27 27 3 - 31 13, 106 - 1081107; 65 - 67 ..• - 149 - 151 149 - 151 1 -: i'd 32# - 105- Wilts diSomrst Gt.Westu, 33i - 106 MINES. 1 all Agua Fria ..... 2— 24 p 3 4 10s. all Anglo Californian i— 4 p 10 2 Australasian - 1 p 20 5 Australian 4 —44 p 44 I. all Australian Cordillera 4 4p 1i 1 all Australian Freehold. id ?ar $ 1 all Ave Ma r i a 1 all Baden (Gd. Du c hy o f ) par 7 p 1 1 all British A us t r i a . Gold 4 $ p 14j 20 13.5 British Ir on 8 10 35 244 Brazilianlmp. (issued at £5 pm 54 54 30 all Do. Cocaes & Cuiada 44 54 44 20 15 Do. St. John Del Rey 30 —3l 1 4 Carsons's Creek i-- 1 , 4 40 all Cobre Copp er 464 4 7 4 5 1 Colonial G o ld 2 24 34 4 14 Copiapo • 8 —lO 94 84 St. all Copper Min. of Eng 7O —BO 25 all Do. Pref. 74 p. cent 9 —lO p 5 all English and Austin Copper Smeltg. Co l4 1 d 20 all Ger eral l5 —l7 2 all Great Nugget Vein 34 —34 p 44 i 3 all Great Polgooth par-- g p 1 all Lake Bath urs t g - i d 4 1 all Liberty par— I p 14 4 1 all Lond.&Californ. Gold Quartz Crush. Co i 4 d 1 all Mariquita ... .. .... ..... 4d— par 10 9 Mexicau&S.America. 84 84 8 1 all New Granada . 1 all Nouveau M on d e ll Isp 24 5 1 Port Philip — ip 1 1 all Quart z Rock p 1 50 all Rhym ne y I ron 24 26 15 Do. New 7 8 30 104 Santiago de Cuba 6 7 1 all South Australian 4d— 1 p 1 4 10 7 Tin Croft lO --I`2' 284 all United Mexican 6 —6l 1 all Waller par— ho t 1 all West Granada par— 1 p 1 all West Mariposa 4 1 p 1 4 i 1 all Yuba I li p JOINT-STOCK BANKS, _ . . 40 all Australasia 864 874 861 7 6 50 all British N. American ... ... 20 2 Chrtd. Bnk. of India, Australia, & China 4 1 p 24 100 25 Colonial — ... 100 20 Commercial of Loud ... ... ... 10 English Scottish and Austral an l4 lb 20 12, Loud. Chart. Bk. of Australia 24 3 p 15i i 50 20 London and County ... ... 50 10 Loudon J o i n t Stock .. . ... 100 20 Loud. & Westminster ... ... 20 2 London Bank of Aus tralia and India ... Ad— par . 50 22:: National of Ireland.. ... ... 25 all Oriental Bank of Corporation. 504 —514 x 25 5 Do. New __ ." 100 25 Provincial of Ireland ... ... 10 all Do. N ew __ ... 5 1 Royal Australis. Bkg & Gold Imp Co 4d par. 25 all South Australia 4B 50 25 all Union of Australia 774 784 . , 24 Do. New E; 9 50 10 Union of Loudon..., 1 40 all Union of Madrid.. ••• ••• MISCELLANEOUS 100 35 Australian Agricult. 83 85 ' 85 4 20 8 Australsn.Pcific.Mail ... ... 10 6 Australn. Royal Mail ... ... 50 384 Brit. Americ an L an d 82 84 84 3 i • • • 100 323 Canada — 5 5 Crystal Palace 1- 1 6i 4 i 4 2 Crystal Pal. of France t 14 20 1 Eastern Steam — ... 1 1 Electric Teleg. of Ir ... ... 15 14 Gen. Stea m Navigat ... ... 100 12 General Scr ew Steam ... ... 20 23 Irish Beetroot Sugar ... ... 1 all Nat. Pat. St eam Fuel ... ... 10 2 Netherlands Land . ... 20 74 Nrth. of Europe Steam ... ... 50 all Peninsular& Oriental . . ... 50 25 Do. .00 60 Royal Mail Steam ._ ... ... 25 25 South Austral. Land 48 50 494 84 1 all Submar. Telegraph.. ... ... 5 2 Univeral Emigration and Colonization.... 00 284 Van Diemen's Land 20 21 SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. NOTICE TO MARINERS. Notice has been received at Lloyd's, from the Board of Trade, relative to certain alterations about to take place on the Sea Piers in the Island of Texel, which can be seen by those interested, on application to the Secretary at Lloyd's. _ Information has been received also at Lloyd's, from the Board of Trade, relative to certain changes about to take place in the lighthouse of Kijksquin (Holland), &c. CUSTOM-HOUSE, APRIL 30. ENTERED INWARDS.—The Twende Sodskende, from Aalborg ; John Henry, Cilingipatam ; Deo Gloria, Ros tock ; Anna Maria, Moss ; Sally, Antwerp ; Margaretha, Stettin • Drie Zuster, Grossinseil ; E n t erpr i se, Girgente and Malaga ; Singapore, Hamburgh ; Hotlning, Emden ; Catharine, Yookseil ; Amelia, Dantzic ; Caroline, Freda rickstadt ; Moderen, Stavanger ; Jupiter, Thisted • Jo hannes, Norderschleuse ; P e h r , G o th en b urg ; Onderne ming, Nykiobing. ENTERED OUTWARDS FOR LOADING.—The Anna Maria, for Christiana, &c. ; Dido, Anti gua ; E c h o, Gh ent ; John Henry, Mauritius ; Minerva, Stettin ; St. Joseph, Cher bourg; Stratford, Sydney. CLEARED OUTWARDS WITH CARGO.—The Produce, for Elsinore and St. Petersburg ; Treasure, Port Philip ; Land o'Cakes, Canton and Hong Kong ; Rokeby, Quebec ; Kremlin, Boston ; Sky Rocket, Melb ourne , & c. ; Alert, Sydney, N.S.W. ; Marchioness of Londonderry, do. and Melbourne ; Brilliant, Mogaclore ; Bridget, do. ; Caroline, Melbourne ; Agneta Juliano, Harburg ; St. Michael's, Hobart Town. LIVERPOOL, April 30.—The Koh-i-noor, barque, sup. posed from this port for San Francisco, was off Holyhead at 7 a.m., with loss of jibboom and fore and maintop gal. lant masts, and made the f o ll ow i ng s i gnal :—" Men mu tinied at anchor."—The Indus, from Cardiff to Quebec, has put into this port, leaky. VESSELS SPOKEN WITH. TheTakenhara, Callao to London, Jan. 25, lat. 54 S., long. 28 W. The Enterprise, Callao to Queenstown, 27th, lat. 57 S., long. 70 W. The Frances, Liverpool to the Cape of Good Hope, March 13, lat. 1 N., long. 22 W. The Symmetry, sa me day. The Joseph Anderson, Ceylon to Lond on , 24 th, lat. 12 N. long. 32 W. The Southampton, Calcutta to London, March 1, lat. 34 S., long. 29 E. The Bucephalus, Calcutta to London, March 10, lat. 27 S., long. 7 E. H.M.S. Rattlesnake, Portsmouth to Behring's Straits, 26th, lat. 2 N.,long. 21 W. The James cott, Bombay to Liverpool, April 9, lat. 28 N., long. 46 W. The Calliope, Southampton to Melbourne, March 7, I st. 1 S., long. 20 W. The William and Edward, Liverpool to Rio Janeiro, 10th, lat. 1 N., long. 20 W. H.M.S. Hastings, 30th, lat. 99 N. long. 36 W. The Cingalese Trinidad to th e Clyd e , A pr il 18, l a t. 43 N., long. 23 W. FRIGHTFUL OCCURRENCE AT BOOTLE.—An event of a most melancholy character took place at Bootle, on Tuesday last. Between 9 and 10 o'clock the son of Mr. Abraham Wren, tea merchant, Baliol-road, a y ou th about 10 or 11 years of age, was sent up stairs to fetch some garden seeds from a drawer, in which, unfortu nately, th ere was a loaded pistol. The servant girl, Sarah Jones, aged about 17, a native of Chester, entered the room at the time, and the boy taking up the pistol, and playfully remarking that he would shoot her, thoughtlessly pulled the trigger, and the contents of the pistol entered her body. After the occurrence not a moment was lost in procuring surgical assistance, but all efforts proved unavailing, and the young woman, after lingering in great agony until Thursday afternoon, died between 2 and 3 o'clock. AN ANCIENT BIBLE.—A valuable manuscript copy of the Bible, in Norman-French, written on vellum, richly illuminated; and once the property of King John of France, is about to be offered for sale for the benefit of the creditors of Mr, Broughton, formerly of the Foreign office. It is stated that 1,500/. was demanded for it on the occasion of an application to purchase it by the late Archbishop of Canterbury, 66f 23 23 894 9 56A 6 115 i 110 14 79A sot Pm 1051 119 20, 14i 2 wi 1 75 6, 51i 13i 2 51/ 3, 53 4 99} 3i 20i 754 6 9i 604 60 4 RAILWAYS. Bedford and Blotchley.... Birm. & Oxfd. guarantee ... Do. withoutgr Birm.Wolv. & Dudley guar. Do.wthtguar. Buckghamsh. ClydesdalaJc. E.Lincoln. gr. 6 p. cent..... Glstr.kaa.Fr. Hrtlpl. Dk. & Hull & Selby.'', Do. Shares. Do. Shares. Lon.dtGrcenw Do.Prefereace Lowestoft gr. 4 per cent Do. 6 per et Nlanell.Bxton and Llatlock Mi4dlesbro' & Red car Nlidld.Bradtd. Northern and Eastern sp. c. Do. 6 per et.. Do.Fixedsp.c Prest. & Wyre Do. Shares. Roystn.&Hit. Do.Shepth.St. Shef. Roth. & Goole g.5.p.c S. Staifordsh WearValleygr 6 per cent Do Leasing Compans. London & N. West. Gt.Westn Do L. &N.W, Caledon.., Gt. Notrhn' Gt.Westn- Yk. New. Berw Y.&N.Md Do S. Eastern, IDo Norfolk I D o Ln. &N. W. & IVlidld. Stcktou & Darlingt. Midland... Count Do L. Az Ir . &Ln& Yk Do Gt. Northn Do Leancash. di Yorksh MrMClean Stockt. dt Darling Do Do Do COUNTRY MARKETS. HADDINGTOT The following are the pric to-day : ON—APRIL 29. ces of grain at our 10 WHEAT. BARLEY. First sls Od. 35s 6d Second 46s id 33s Od Third 4os Od 30s Od Total quantity of wheat in market, barley „ oats ~ beans OATS. grok 22s 3d 3t 20s 8d 3 19s 6d 3 11 162 qrs., 1391 3 2 108 1 52 9 qq qrs rs 7i 221641: 2 f PP ABERDEEN —APRIL 29. 0 1 The prices of grain are—Old oats OOs Od to " fot 401bs per bushel new oats, 178 Od - Co 00s Od, 401ba bushel ; h ere , 28s Od to 29s Od, 531bs per bushel ; bss o d s 27s 6d. to 283 6(1, 531bs per b us h e l • wheat, red, * ie lgo Od 40s Od, 621b s p er b us h e l ; wheat, Aite, 46s Od to 621bs per bushel 2 • oatmeal, 14s Od to 15s Od Per r lb, flour, 378 Od to 38s Oct per sa c k. P rov i s i ons —Beef, P e vK 5d to 7d ; mutton, ditto, 5d to 7d ; veal, ditto, 5 d t ) : pork, per lb, Os 5d to Os 6d. salmon, per lb, is 6d to 6i; rabbits, each, 7cl to 8d ; tallow, per stone, 4s Od to potatoes, p er pec k , i s to is 4d ; butter, per lb, 10d to Oddto eggs, per doz, Os 5d to Os 6(1; hens, per pair, i 3,.! 2 0 61 3s 6d ; c hi c k ens, di tto, 2s 6(1 to 3s Od; ducks, di'7,' to 3s Od ; ducklings, ditto, Os Oct to Os Od " ba ttii each, 4s Oct to 4s 6(1 ; geese , ditt o, 3 s 6d to 4 8 Od nA. ; al; for exp or t a ti on ( present cure), per cwt, 86s to OOs ditto (sum mer cure d) , OOs to OOs Od ; eggs, wholesal e P 4,1 per dozen, 4id to 00d ; 41b loaf, 6d ; 21b loaf, 3d ; A ral; fine small, O s Oct t o O s Od ; pork, large, Os Oct %ill lamb, per quarter, 78 6d to lOs ; cheese, per liar- stone, 5s 6d to 7s. CORK -APRIL 29. Brls. Carr°lll 4 4 White wheat...oos 0 , 1 to 00s Od Os Od- -20 " - Redwheat ...... 00s Od to 00 s Od Ditto.,... . ...... 00s Od to 00 s Od 00s Od—So d* --- Ditto ............ 00s Od to 00 s Od ) 47 Barley ......... lls 9d to 13s 6d 16 0 ' Ditto ............ 00s Od to 00s Od oos od - Ditto ............ 00s Od to 00s Od Bere ............ 00s Od to 00s Od Os Od 192 Oats ........... 10s 2d tolls 83 Ditto ............ 00s Od to 00s od. .10s 10d Ditto ............ 00s Od to 00s Od Pigs ............ 00s Od to 00s Od 00s Od per 04 Quantity sold at the highest prices :- 00 barrels white wheat ; 00 red ; 7 barley ; 0 bore , oats ; 0 pigs. Quantity of grain and number of pigs sold last We ek rbl. 4 Wheat, 131. B ar l ey, 7 13. Bere, 00. Oats, Pigs, 00. _ Return of cattle sold for week ending Apiil 23 Pigs, 395. Sheep, 525. Cows, 69. PRICES OF BUTTER. CANT. CURRENCY . * 0 First quality lO6B First quality ............. " 0 0 1 Second quality lo2s Second quality ............ Third quality 9Bs Third quality ............. Fourth quality Fifth quality 7Bs Fifth quality ............... by l Sixth quality 6os Sixth quality ............... 01 CORK.—Flonr- First, 15s Od to 16s Od ; extra, 116 01 seconds, 13s Od t o 14 s 6d ; households, lOs to 13s Od ; , 7s Od to lOs per cwt. Meal—lndian meal, 7s 6d to , 4 1 1 oatmeal, lOs 6d t o ll s Od ; wheatmeal, lOs to Ils Od P er t ; Od Indian corn, 71 55 Od to 8/ Os Od per ton. Bran, 41 oil to 4110s0d. per ton. Hay—F armers, 3 7s Od to 428 Od; 355; dealers, 42s Od to 60s Od ; average, Os per ton. 70 Farmers, 208 Od to 25s Od ; average, 23s • dealers, 2 ° / 4 to 35s Od; average, Os. per t on . B rea d — W heaten loaf, ' a d p Od ; householeditto, 6d to Od per 41b.—Fresh butter, lld per lb. Eggs, 4s Od to 4s 2d per hundred. Meat ;It. 4Ad to 8d ; mutton, 54d to 7d ; veal, 5d to 8d ; pork'" ; bacon, 7d t o 8d ; sausages, 6d per lb.—Fi s h, New' opi land, 11/. O s t o 12/ O s per ton ; Scotch herrings 00s t O ,O Red, do., 30s per brl.—Potatoes, white, 10d to 2 12 d, 12d to 1 5d.—Coals, Newport, 21s; Lydney, 21s;' Od per ton.—Whiskey, 25 0.p., 6s 10d per imperial P" Hides, market, 30s to 365; Salted, 30s to 38s per n o skins, 3id per lb.—Bangor slates 2/. 17s. 6d to 3/. per,, t, pit Fleece wool, 00s to 00s per stone.—Hemp, 381. to 4 ; am ton—Timber, Memel, 3/. 15s; red pine, 3/. 15s ; yell ° , fell 3/. ss. per ton ; deals, 191. to 201. per hundred. —Ballo?' Si. to 101.10 x. per ton.—Tallow, 48s to 498 Od per cwt. 4 00, 71. 108 to 0/. per cwt.- Ta r , A rc h ange l , 19s. per brl.- " ' Peruvian, 121. Os to 001. per ton. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. - LIVERPOOL, APRIL 30. to . STOCK EXCHANG E .—Th e market was rather dull- 0 with a slight reduction in quotations : —Birkenheat,'• war cashire , and Cheshi re , 7 di s. ; ditto Chester and 104' head, ; East Lancashire, 18i1; Lancashi re and 7 ,10 shire, 79; L ee d s N orthern, 168 ; London and 'Vid' Western, 1194 ; Midland, mg ; York an d North NV land, 30. MANCHESTER, APRIL 30. 0 ,0 STOCK EXCHANGE.—Th ere were only two sales cm'o to-day, Blackburn, 7; Leeds, 79i. BIRMINGHAM, APRIL 30. STOCK EXCHANGE.--The railway share market b 3 rpr extremely dull and inactive throughout the week' ~,, indispositi on o f th e H ouse of Commons to pro/10014 opinion this ses s i on w ith regard to the great c0:321)60r lines, and the subject of amalgamation has placed etors in a dilemm a ; b u t w h atever may be the rueul t . t !„b*r° lines such as the Shrewsbury and Birmingham, win al . sure to be in some way or other taken up by one win great companies, fully maintain last quotations- e tto was nothing d one i n ra il way shares to-day. Ani°ll°ol4 closing quotations were :—Birrningham, Wolverhallor and Stour Vall e y, b uyers 104. sellers loh ; Cale buyers 65f ; L on d on and North Western, sellers ' bo o, Midland, sellers 75,i ; Shrewsbury and Bimini 3d, buyers 65, dicersll 66 ; Shrop s hi re U n i on, b uyers 31. gad sellers 3i ; South St a ff or d s hi re, buyers se 3d. di.. BRISTOL, APRIL 30- STOCK EXCHANGE. —Th e market to-day wits qu iet , the business confined to Great Western stock, which done at 924. - - SEABORNE MAILS. (N slgnifles that the mails aro sent from the General NS ° by the night—and Mby the morning --dispatch.] _.../ Day when made up F rom what •V7llen 01 COUNTRIES. in General Post- Port 11 1, 1 0 4, Office, London.* Dispatched. Eng —.••• America(byßrit.pack)N E very Friday .... Liverpool ... Eacco* America (by United Sts. 44 4 packet) .. •.. ..N April 19 ...... rpoo Livel .., Are America (by U. States packet) .... • •... N April 18 ........ Southampton 318., , 4 Australia (via South.. ampton) .....• ....AI 4th of May ...... S outhampton A p- ril 4 „ 1 Ditto (via Marseilles) N Bth of M ay ...... Dover ...... AV.* Ditto (via Cape of Good . ..,.,h 3 0 Hope) ...... • • • . ..N 2d of June ... ... Plymouth .. 31 .`2 Africa (West Coast) ..N 23rd of the month. Plymouth .. Mai, 29 Alexandria.......... NB, 9, 24, &30of m Dover ...... 1 0 P, Alexandria .. .. . • • ... 31 4th & 20th of mon. Southampton 31 sY, 0 0 Bahamas ..... • • .... 31 2nd of the month Southampton Ist 0 , Belgium ...... • • • ...N Daily.... .. • • .... Dover ...• • •1 04111 16 Brazil .. .. .. • • • .... 31 1 9th of the month.. Southampton 3151 , 6 Buenos Ayres .... • ...31 9th of the month.. Southampton 'MO ' 2 6 Cape of Good Hope —3l 14th of the month Plymouth .. Aln ll 0 , Cape of Good Hope .. N 2n4 of June ... •.. Plymouth •• 314 : 1 16 , Cape de Verds ......N 14th of th e month. Plymouth ..Ain , ' Ceylon (see Indi a ) Ceylon .. .... . • • ... .. N 14th of the month Pl 26 .. LAP ,41--- e,.. Channel 151e5........N Mon.,Wed ,&Frld. ymouth Southampton TU• 1 1 Chili. ... .. .. .. .. ~31 d & 17th of mon th Southampton MCI China (see India) Constantinople ....—N 1,8,17,24,&27 o f m. D over ...... April 6l3‘ 4 Constantinople ........ 4th & 20 th of M.Oll. Southampton MAY_ A2 jli Cont. of Europe M & N T wice daily ...... Dover ...... Twio Egypt (see India) 1 .00 1/1 France ........ M& N Twice dally.. Dove NW Gibraltar .... •..... 31 4,7, .... r ...... 17, 20, 27 of m. Southampton Mel " Greece (see India) Greytown .... • . —.NI 2nd & 17th of mon . 4 outhampton l 1 MAY 60 Hamhurgh ........N Tuesday & Friday London .....,Tdeg.l, o o. Havannah .......... ln 2nd of the month Southampton istotsio Holland Honduras India (viaSouthampt.)M 4th & 20th of mon. Southampton Mal i India (via Marseilles)3l Sill& 24 th of month D over ...... Mal lonian Isles (see India) iv 14 4 11 1 ' Ireland ........M & N Twice daily ...... Holyhead ..., - le b Li1b0n....... • • .....211 7,9, 17, &28 Southampton May , 6 Madeira ............ Ai 9th of the month Southampton May ; Madeira ...... • . •• N 23rd of the month Plymouth .. 'ltinf ' Malta (see India) Mauritius (see India) a ...... ••• • • ...N 7,17,19,28 , 30 ofm. Dover April 11 26 Mauritius .... •• • ...N 14th of the month Plymouth .. LiPr i ,040 fr Mexico .. .. .•• • • • ..3I /nil of the month. Southampton 'I st 6 '2 Naples..... .• • • • ...N i thtt , tll2sthormon. Dover ...• • • May 1 New Granada .. .. .. ln 2d & 17th of month Southampton 34 11 7_ 4 0 New Zealand .......... By private ship .. Various ports Unc' — ~,, v 2 Papal States .... • • ..3.: , thl s th2sthofmon. Dover ...... ,—*•• Peninsula ...... • ... NI thl7th2Bthotinon Southampton 310 1 Peru ...... ••• • • ... 31 M & i7th of mon , outhampton MS 26 Port Natal ..........N 14th of the month Plymoutk .. ( ,Al lu s ,"2 Sicily .. .. •• • ..... N .sthl th2 s thofmon, Dover .... HM Is ," 2 Ttvcany ...........N IthLstll2sthofmon. Dover ......:M!: i Venezuela .. .. .... —3l 2d & 17th of month .' , .oathamptonlitv Van 1 , 1 emen' s L and (see , i Australia) West Indies ....... 1.. I. Al 2d& 17th of month Southampton mn , ,/ * When any of these t dispatches on the followi: Southampton), and the 11 day preceding. D 0 lates fall on a Sunday, the mails wi li lo ug day, with the excep ti on of the India e lalta, both of which will be dispatche. A pillO P [ADVERTISE3fENTJ—HoIIoway's Oi n t ment and Certain Cure for Eruptions and all Diseases of the 7;i; —Extract of a letter from Mr. J. Hird, draper, dated Feb. 14, 1852, to Professor Holloway Agin My child, whe n three months old, was afflicted w" a pl severe eruption all over her b o d y. I sought every of and the a d v i ce o f surgeons and physicians, by 'Lid whom the case was cons id ere d hopeless. I then ""itio your Oi n t men t an d Pills, and without exaggera tion ,A effect was miraculou s , f or i n a s h ort t i me she was restos; to perfect health, an d so rema i ns. Mr. Bowden, b°lo seller, Gainsborough, and myself, would be haPPI t.' satisfy any inquiries as to the truth of this statenlsnor Sold by all druggists ; and at Professor Holloway's blishment, 244, Strand, London. BIRTHS. OF A SON. On the 28th u lt., a t 9 , Canterbury-villas, gaicla" va °,l wife of Christopher Procter, Esq. OF A DAUGHTER. So y' 011 On the 27th ult., a t 18, Wilt on - place, the Ralph Dutton. ___------- MARRIED. d e On the 14th ult., at Covent-chapel, Gibraltar, 4 ta.--.,,,, Frend, Captain in the 26th or Cameronian Regime n 00 1 - 1 ) to r son of B. Frond, Esq., of Rocklow, TipperEi , Gasc tine,' Hester, daughter of Lieut.-General Sir it. w • e roe- K.C.8., K.C.H., Governor and Commander of th at Gialtar. tftil l 3 L1, 1 1 • • On the 13th ult. C/ , at Taney-church, Dublin , oc • m- - G. Harrington Hawes, 9th Pwgituent, to the 1 1. ° 11 ' re . Priscilla Yelverto n , daughter of Viscount Avollu DIED. On - the evening o f th e 29 th ult., to the i ne xpressi a bl e e r g : l elp of her family, th e w if e of Mr. Mitchell, Old 13°11 aged 38. Ile n oral °' On the 10th ult., a t Rome, aged 76, Lieu t.- Daubeney, K. 11., Colonel of he 80th Foot. 06, LONDON : Printed and Published by MITRIV Irt.?"o, lit/ of No. 112, Str an d, P r i n t er, a t Th e Sum that ° n u nti - Strand, in the Precin c t o f th e S a voy, in the Monday s May 2, 1853. MI all 100 all 100 50 25 12.=, 12'1 20 20 112, 100 - 100