The Sun. — London, England, 1847-02-19 00:00:00

` GE. rips of stor of . Al • EAST ANGLIAN RAILWAYS I COMPANY (LYNN AND ELY RAILWAY). A special meeting of the shareholders of this company Is . 1 111 , :11d yesterday, t t the London Tavern; Sir W. Fowkes, • the president, in the chair. Th! SECRETARY text the advertisement convening the Meeting, for the purpose of confirming, or otherwise, a pro posed agreement, for leasing the Lynn and Ely, Ely and L i nntingdon, and Lynn and Dereham Railways, to the ritstern Counties Company, as well as to consider Bills, Which are specified in the resolutions. The CH M AIRAN said that when the directors hadthe honour " meeting the shareholders they were empowered to pro- Pose terms of 71,,! 2 per cent. to the Eastern Counties COM ljan.Y. They (the directors) had not been able to obtain toe terms, and they thought it but right to call the atten of the shareholders to that subject. A communication had been made to the Eastern Counties Company, proposing the terms of the shareholders, to which no answer was re turned, from which it was quite clear that they did not in tend to accede to their proposition. The terms of the agree bent would be submitted to the meeting. The SECRETARY then read the agreement, which was to the effect that the lease should be for a term of 99'J p ars, to c ommence on the day when the lines were completed and ready for being opened. That for the first year of the term the annul rent should be such as would pay a clear dividend of per cent. on 884,0001., the amount of the share capital 1 the three c om p an i e s, a n d that for the residue of a term the annual rent should be such as would Pay a clear dividend on such share capital less by 21. per _ant, th an th e di v id end f ur t h e t i me b e i ng , paya bl e o n the Eastern Counties share capital converted into 2 01 . shares , b at should i n no case ' be less than 6/. per cent. The agree ment further stip u l a t e d, that the Lynn and Ely, Ely and Hu ntingdon, and Ely and Dereham proprietors should, Until the lease commenced, receive interest at 51. per cent. on all sums paid by them for deposits and calla on their shares from the day when such !urns were respectively payable ; but that the Ely and Hunt 'ngdon proprietors should, on receiving such interest, give credit for the interest already received by them. That the Eastern Counties Company should pay the interest on all moneys borrowed by the Lynn and Ely, Ely and Huntingdon, and Lynn and Dereham Companies, or any of them to the extent of 294,800/ , and should indemnify those companies ag ainst the repayment of such moneys. That the Eastern Counties Company should provide all further money beyond the said capital and borrowed moneys necessary tor completing to their satisfaction the works of the three railways, and that the Eastern Counties Company should take at cost price the stores belonging to these companies on the day when the lease shoulecommence. The CHAlRmAN—Having heard an abstract of the terms of the agreement, he felt bound, as chairman, to say that these terms were such as they should accept. The Eastern Counties Company would be able to carry on their (the shareholders) line from them at a much less expense than they themselves could, and in a more satisfactory manner. He would submit the first resolution to the meeting. Mr. CußTis seconded the resolution, which was to the effect that the meeting approved of the terms of the agree ment, and confirmed the same, and authorised the directors to take the steps necessary to carry the same into effect. Mr. LACY, on being called for, said the opinion which he had expressed as to their throwing away their time by ac cepting the terms proposed remained unchanged. They were, however, placed in cicumstances which rendered it difficult to adopt a course different to that and he thou g h t t h e best thing that could be done was to ac • cept those terms. The CHAIRMAN, in reply to a question, stated that all the lines wou l d be completed at the end of the year. Mr. BUNTIN G said he had ascertained that the South- Eastern Company would not go beyond the terms that they had heard. It was a great disappointment, however, that no more advantageous terms could be obtained. When they looked to the prospectus they found that they had been promised ten per cent. The value of the hind was double what they expected, and the other expenses , also h a d exceeded their expectations. But not on l y h a d the 'and and the materials they had to use cost more, but their traffic, which was estimated at 2d. per mile, was found now to be a t an average of only id. Here, then, they had the misfortune of doubled cost and diminished rate of traffic. Notwithstanding what was alleged about the increase of r eceipts that would follow from the diminution of the rate of charge, he believed that he could not, on a single rail, carry Such an amount of traffic as would pay a remunerating rate of dividend. He would, therefore, move that the agreement Should be rejected. Mr. GANKROJER seconded the motion. After a few observations from an Honourable Proprietor, in support of the motion, Mr. Manutorr said that, as a merchant of Lynn, he thought that the advantages of their line had been somewhat e xaggerated with respect to the coal trade, and he would support the original resolution. rhe CHAIRMAN said, that he had communications with a l arge number of shareholders, who had all expressed them selves fully satisfied with the agreement. The amendment was negatived, and the original resolu tion carried by a large majority. The CHAIRMAN thought it right to state that the proxies represented were 5,911. The following Bills were then submitted to the meeting and agreed to without discusssion—namely, a Bill to con solidate the three companies into one company, to be called the East Anglian Railways Company ; a Bill to enable ,the Lynn and Ely Railway Company to extend their railway to Bury St. Edmunds; a Bill for making a deviation in the line of the Lynn and Ely Railway, and for forming docks within the borough of King's Lynn ; a Bill to enable the Lynn and Ely Railway to make a navigation from Lynn to Woronegay in the county of Norfolk. Thanks were then voted to the chairman and the other directors, and the meeting separated. ELY AND HUNTINGDON RAILWAY COMPANY A mewing of the shareholders of this company was then held; H. C. Lacey, Esq.,; president of the board of directors, in the chair. The agreement read at the foregoing meeting was road and confirmed, as well as the resolutions to the same effect as those adopted at that meeting. The Bills were then read. and the meeting separated. LYNN AND DEttEliA vt , AY COMPANY. This was also a supplemental meeting; 11. C. Lacey, Esq., in the chair. The CHAIRMAN said that the agreement which would be read to them had been agreed to at the meeting of the Lynn and Ely, and Ely and Huntingdon Compa nies, but he dissented on both occasions. The SECRETARY then read the agreement; and Mr. EVER.ARD proposed a resolution, to the effect that the agreement should be adopted. The resolution being seconded, was carried unani mously. The CHAIRMAN, in reply to a question, said, that he thought, if they had not been in such haste in running into the ar ms of the South-Eastern Company, they might have made a better bargain; however, it should be remembered that that was a solvent company, re ceiving 11,0001. or 12,000/. a week. Resolutions approving of the several Bills were then agreed to. Thanks were then voted to the chairman and the di rectors, after which the meetine , senerated. SOUTH-BASTERIN It AIL WAY COM. PANY. A special general meeting of the proprietors of the South- Eastern Railway Company was heal at 1 o'clock yesterday, in the Board-room, London-bridge station, for the purpose of having submitted to them for approval the drafts of the following Bills, viz. :- 1. A Bill to enable the South-Eastern Railway Company to make a railway to connect the London and Greenwich Railway and the North Kent line of the South-Eastern Railway with the Bricklayers' Arms Branch Railway. 2. A Bill to enable the South-Eastern Railway Company to make a Railway from the South-Eastern, Gravesend and Rochester Railway at Stroud, to join the South- Eastern, Canterbury, Ramsgate, and Margate Railway, at Chilham, in the county of Kent, with branches to Sheerness and Fa versham Creek. 3. A Bill to enable the South-Eastern Railway Company to make a railway from the North Kent Line of the South- Eastern Railway at Lewisham to Tunbridge, with branches to Dartford, Sevenoaks, Maidstone, and Paddock Wood. 4. A Bill to enable the South-Eastern Railway Company to make a railway from the South-Eastern Railway at Maid stone to the same railway at Great Chart, near Ashford, in the county of Kent. 5. A Bill to enable the South-Eastern Railway Company to make branch railways from the North Kent Line of the South-Eastern Railway, near Lewisham, to Croydon and Bromley. 6. A Bill to enable the South-Eastern Railway Company to make a railway from the South-Eastern Gravesend and Rochester Railway at Strood, to Maidstone. 7. A Bill to enable the South-Eastern Rail way Company to widen the London and Greenwich Railway, and to enlarge their London-bridge station. S. A Bill for providing increased station accommodation at the terminus of the South-Eastern, and London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway, at or near London-bridge, and for the arrangement thereof. And also for the purpose of making, extending, and alter ing bye-laws, orders, and rules for the management of the undertakings belonging to or in lease to the South-Eastern Railway Company. And also for the purpose of determining whether interest at any, and what rate, shall be paid on the shares of this com pany commonly called the No. 3 shares. And also whether interest at any, and what rate, shall be paid on the amounts paid and to be paid up in respect of the shares of this company commonly called the No. 4 shares. Mr. GREGORY, chairman of the company presided. Mr. FEAROte, solicitor, having read the titles, preambles, and marginal notes of th e several Bills, The CitnutmAx then said, that the projects which they were about to promote in this session of Parliament had all received the approbation of the shareholders, with one single ' exception—that of the Lewish am , Bromley, and Croydon Bill. There had been much publi c and private discussion with regard to the conflicting interests of the South- Western and Londonland Brig t'n and East Coast Junc tion Railway Companies. Statements had been made unwarranted by the circumstances, and it would be his duty to relate these circumstances as they actually occurred. They were aware from the cor respondence which had already been made public, that a conference had taken place, on the 4th November, between a deputation of the South- Eastern Company and the Brighton Company's Board, a.id misunderstandings having arisen as to what had passed at that conference, in order to pre vent a recurrence of the same error, it was suggested that a short-hand writer should be in attendance at the next meeting. The shareholders had had already a verbatim report of what took place circulated among them, and he should trot, there fore, occupy their time with comments upon these proceed n ts. The deputation had had two more interviews since that period with the chairman and Mr. Shuster, of the Brighton Company, and an endeavour was made to bring about an amicable settlement of the differences existing I,,en the r om panies. In order that the meetartt he aware of wh;r t had taken place at these liter Int.—ye-a s would read to them the draft submitted by the Brighton Company. The Chairmen then proceeded to read the terms of the draft which were bristly that the South-Ea'-tern Compmly thould pay, for the use of the ltrigletoi." , ::ornpan , 's the sum o f 20,0001. f or fi ve ye ars; that the Brighton Company should discontinue the promotion of their North Kent projects, the South Eastern at the same time withdrawing their Lewisham, Bromley, and Croydon Bill ; that both companies should enter into an agreement not to make or support any line hostile to the interests 44111?, other that with regard to the enlargement of the London-brides Station, the arrangement should be left with Messrs. Ste phenson and Cubitt, the engineers, to report thereon : that in the event of the Brighton Company accepting the accommodation of the Bricklayers' Arms Station from the South-Eastern Cr.mliany, any difficultirs which might arise as to the cost of erecting warehouses, or other expenses, should be refeired to other and disinterested partia. ; that in the event, of an amalgamation being decided on between the companies, a t erm o f years (to he agreed et"l Upon) §h9lthi olipse in order that the proportionate amount h he is >nyng - cen and .off. —takett —taken ted to re !old 4 yrs. ❑e, 26 .egarde L Wed• At this cast u. al pre THE SUN, _ LONDON, FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 19, 1847. of capital to be paid by either company should be determined by the amount of traffic on either line, such traffic at the present time not having been fully developed. These suggestions were placed in the hands of the chairman and Mr. Shuster, and they, after some considera tion, returned them with certain amendments, which could not be acceded to by those representing the Eastern Counties Company. This was on Thursday, and on Saturday they met again, and a desire for a settlement of these differences was evinced by all present. It was then suggested by the chairman of the Brighton Company, that the South-Eastern should lease that line. The proposition was well worthy their attention, but it was one on which they had no data on which to found a conclusion. If any arrangement should be come to which they could safely recommend for the adoption of the shareholders, they would lose no time in convening a special meeting, in order to lay the terms of the agreement before them ; but whether such an arrangement were come to or not, they had the fullest confidence in an impartial hear ing before Parliament, and they believed, also, that they tad the public opinion with them, that their wants would be better served by their lines. The Lewisham, Brom ley, and Croydon line was one which the directors would have asked the shareholders to sanction, even if they were already united to the Brighten Company. It was a surface line, with good gradients, and would bring the traffic of Wool wich, Greenwich, and Gravesend sonic seven miles nearer to Croydon. It was their duty to recommend the carrying out of this project. He would now move that the shareholders sanction the introduction of a Bill to enable the South- Eastern Railway Company to make a railway to connect the London and Greenwich Railway and the North Kent line of the South-Eastern Railway with the Bricklayers' Arms Branch Railway. The estimate for this project was 55,0001. The Bricklayers' Arms station had already cost a sum closely approaching . to 300,0001., and he believed that this line would, by giving increased traffic, assist in defraying that heavy expenditure. Mr. LEVY said that he had always considered, and had on every occasion stated his opinion, that the Bricklayers' Arms station would turn out, as it had done, a failure; and unless assured by the chairman that there was a legitimate ground for believing that the scheme now proposed would amend matters, he should oppose the introduction of the Bill. The CHAIRMAN admitted that the Bricklayers' Arms Sta tion had entailed a heavy expense upon the company; but matters were beginning now to assume a brighter aspect, and they should not so much look to the past as to the future. The station would be found really useful in times coming, as th.tt at Londoi ..)ridge was so circumscribed, and lie believed that the line now proposed would be a really healthy adjunct to it. Mr. CASH hoped the line would pass unanimously. The motion was then put and carried. The CHAIRMAN then put the other projects seriatim to the meeting, and, after some remarks from the shareholders in different parts of the room, they were carried unanimously. It was also moved and carried that 5 per cent. interest should be paid on the shares of the company, commonly called the Nos. 3 and 4 shares, respectively. Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, and the meet ing broke up. WATERFORD, WEXFORD, WICK- LOW, AND DUBLIN RAILWAY. The adjourned meeting of the shareholders was held yes terday, at the offices, 449, West Strand; Lord Courtown in eht chair. Mr. SLADE, one of the scrutineers, then announced the re sult of the poll, yesterday, to be in favour of the re-appoint ment of the former directors; majority 16,833 shares and 1,620 votes. The report further stated, that certain proxies tendered by Mr. Boyce subsequently to the last meeting had been rejected. Mr. DICKSON questioned the propriety of this rejection. The CHAIRMAN said such a discussion would be quite irre • levant, and declared the directors' list carried. Mr. PERRY protested against the report of the scrutineers being received, and intimated that the rejection of the proxies would form the basis of future proceedings at law. The CHAIRMAN moved that the directors should be em powered to apply to Parliament, during the present ses-ion, for a Bill amending last year's Act, in reference to the space between the 45th and 49th miles of the line, and such parts of the Act as restricted the compulsory purchase of land. till all the shares should be taken up, and to enable the company to pull down the Ferry Carrig -bridge, over the Slaney, and build a new one. Seconded by Mr. LEWIS. Mr. PERRY moved that the directors should be empowered to go to Parliament for a Bill dissolving the Watertord, Wex ford, Wicklow, and Dublin Railway Company. The Hon. Proprietor then read a printed draft of the proposed Bill. Dr. GRAY seconded it. Mr. HAYTEE, M.P., considered that such an amendment could not be put, no notice having been given in the adver tisement making the meeting special for the purpotie. Mr. PERKY handed in his motion, and begged it would be noted by the secretary. Mr. itEvNow moved an amendment negativing the motion. The CHAIRMAN put the amendment and the original mo tion, and declared the latter carried. A poll was demanded. and Messrs. Slade and D. W. Harvey were appointed scrutineers, the poll to remain open till six o'clock last evening, and the meeting to stand ad journed from that hour till eleven o'clock to-day. MAAgeDneßralAmSeetßingAolf L th l e V p A rop Y riet C or O s 3 of l t P he ANY. Madras Railway Company took place yesterday, at the offices or the company No. 2, Winchester-buildings. Colonel Duncan Sim in the chair. The SECRETARY read the following report, which was unanimously adopted. The following is the substance of the report:— " The directors of this company have still to regret their inability to inform the shareholders that any material progress has been made in forwarding the objects of the company since the last half-yearly meet ing. On the 3d of September last, a letter was ad dressed to the secretary of the Court of Directors of the East India Company, with a request that the same might be submitted for their consideration. " No reply having been received to this communica tion, another letter was addressed to the India House, on the 26th of November last. " Not having received any answer, the chairman and secretary waited on the Chairman of the East India Company, at the India House, on the 14th ult., with a view, if possible, to ascertain the sentiments of the Court: it was suggested, at this interview, that the attention of the authorities at the India House should again be called to the subject, and, in consequence, another letter was sent to the India House on the 29th ult. " No reply has been received to this letter up to this time ; but, from private inquiries made by the chairman, it is understood that the following is the present state of the case:— " From statements which have appeared in the public papers, it is generally known, that the authorities at the India House, and the Board of Control, have offered certain encouragement for the construction of a line of railway to connect Calcutta with the north-west frontier of the Bengal territories : from a state ment made in Parliament by the President of the Board of Control, it appears that it is not yet decided whether the company, or companies, to whom this offer has been made, will accept it, or not. As the directors consider that our line deserves a preference over any other, of the same extent, that can be made in India, they deem it advisable to await the result of the negotiation now pending between the Government and the Bengal lines, rather ihan to press for an immediate decision, which perhaps might not, under existing circum stances, offer to the shareholders a sufficient induce ment to go on with the line. " The directors are in daily expectation of hearing the issue of the negotiation with the Bengal lines. And as soon as they can ascertain the effect of that upon the prospects of the Madras Railway Company, they will lose no time in calling a special general meeting of the shareholders, for the purpose of laying the same before them ; and offering their opinion as to the Advisability of proceeding with the line or taking steps to wind up the company." The following is an abstract of the letter sent by the directors of the East India House : " The grounds upon which it is considered that the Madras tt:id Arcot line is entitled to the support of Go vernment are the following : " Ist. Great facility of construction. " 2d. A confident expectation of its proving a remu nerative undertaking. "3d. That the risk incurred by Government in guaranteeing a dividend upon it, will, in consequence, be little more than nominal. "4th. That the construction of a paying line of such moderate length, as may render its completion within a short period probable, will be of the utmost importance in its bearing upon the future extension of railways in India. " sth. That the a d vantages to b e d er i ve d b y G overn ment from this line, both in exceed insh shareholders, thosee financial ho l dcahasi willad c it: r c u a l point i o t s f e v o i n o s w t 9 ru w c i t l i l on fa t r o commer cial investment. " 6th. That the Presidency of Madras, which has no moans of water-carriage, for the transport of the produce of the interior to the ports of shipment, is so situated as to derive the utmost conceivable advantages from the in troduction of railways. "From the inquiries of the provisional committee at MaCras, it appears that the cost of this line, constructed in the most substantial manner, with a single line of rails, and a roadway capable of admitting a double line hereafter, would not exceed 4,6501. per tulle ; the opinion of Mr. Simms is, that, although he thinks this line might be made for 500,0001., or about 7,0001. a mile, yet he considers that, in prudence, the capital should be fixed at 600,0001. " The grounds upon which the expectation that this line will be remunerative rests have already been laid before you in my letter of the 23d of May last. It is there stated, that the immediate traffic which would come on the line would yield a net income of about 16,0001. per year, exclusive of mails ; and this would be sufficient to pay a dividend of 5 per cent. on the apital which we have estimated as sufficient to make the line at the rate of 5,000/. per mqe. All ex ratio to which no limit ha:: perience warrants the assumption that the traffic upon a railroad judiciously situatedyet t g b o e e e s n o n n ssi i g n i c e r d ea ; si i i t i7 is in im a . nbly situated ; possible for any line in e a t: propel t on of the it j ay s ht,hilee riT:'ddeutiuenwotfhrythhteoinbteermio(r)rme to the only considprahle ship u ta s t v t p n:r s - s i r t ever u cal , e i , , seere to "nbet any h 1 : - water,li g u r e e ' U r n ir' il i 7 d i p h; r e tovnetr.ty'el:::::t,pl7l the capital invested in the constructi,n ' o'f.-hisilt tic t mty be expected to vied a return of troutto country 10 l5 ~t shall j have been hiliy it. v tap e d, an d the pre,b when its effects upon th. (.4,mint.rce of the per cent. that. befort , the ex:nratif;,, of a year, rho profit dividend would amount to f u ll 5 per eeltn'tqsjit:e.toteee capital estimated to he necessary hv Mr. Shunts. If Lelia is to 11.,y, , railways, it appear s t o b e of the greatest importance that tee first undertaking of the e kind :,houl. l be one that may sm.n be in action, and that it may he a p:yieg line. The Madras and Arcot line is of a sufficient 1 , ngth to thmonstrate, in the fullest manner, the results ci den) system in India. It is twice as long as the Liverpool and Manchester line, the results of the construction of which led to the enormous development of the system acci,omplished, and now in progress in this country. It is not, so 1,11 , rs to require the eNpncliture , frf very large capital before it can be brought into actual epera• Lion. There is, probably, no propoaed line, of equal ex- tent in India, that could be constructed in so short a time, and at such a m,,derate cost; and as there can be little doubt of its yielding a remunerative return from the date of its being opened, its influence upon the future extension of the railway system in other parts of India would be of incalculable importance. " Of the advantages of railroads to Government, in a political point of view, it. is quite impossible to form a pecuniary estimate, but up on this ground ; the line from Madras to Arcot, leading, as it does, to all the principal military stations. within that Presidency, can be coasidered as second in importance to no line throughout India. "Of the three Presidencies in India, the territories under the Government of Madras are by far the worst off, for the means of internal transit of produce. There is a considerable grain trade coastwise; but so little available is this for equalising the effects of failure of the crops, that famine is constantly recurring in some part or other of the Madras provinces ; there is no means of water-carriage to any extent worth speaking of, for any of the produce from, or into the interior of the country ; and if ever means of transport are to be provided in that part of India, it can assuredly be done by railroads, in a more effi cient manner than by the construction of common roads." The following is an abstract of the account, which was received with great satisfaction. Dr. s. d. To balance from last half-year 7,938 0 3 Calls paid and interest. Half year's interest received from Lon don and Westminster Bank ll3 8 6 8,130 6 10 By postages, salaries, and stationery £l36 4 10 Office expenses, rent, advertising, and registry Balance carried to next half-year's account 7,841 4 7 £8,130 6 10 A vote of thanks was then passed unanimously to the Chairman, and the meeting separated. SOUTHAMPTON DOCK COMPANY The half•yearly meeting of the proprietors of this company was held yesterday, at the offices of the com pany, 19, Bishopsgate•street Within ; Mr. G. E. Pratt in the chair. The SECRETARY having read the advertisement calling the present meeting, and the minutes of the last meet ing, proceeded to read the report, from which we give the following extracts : " In submitting the accounts for the half-year ending 31st December last, the directors have much pleasure in calling the attention of the proprietors to the continued and steady increase of their business, exhibited by the cemparative statement of the half-yearly receipts for the last three years, and by the return of the aggregate amount of tonnage of the shipping which entered the docks during the past year ; the amount of tonnage which entered the docks in 1845 having been 158,680 tons; in 1846, 228,777. " The revenue account shows a surplus, which, in the opinion of the directors, warrants their submitting to the meeting the propriety of declaring a dividend, clear of income-tax, of one pound per cent. for the half year (ten shillings per share), being at the rate of two per cent. per annum. After payment of this dividend, the revenue account will still retain a credit of 1,5141. 15s. Bd. It will be for the meeting to determine whether it is not desirable to begin to make a return upon the capital of the proprietors by declaring an immediate dividend, though small, in preference to awaiting a postponed one of larger amount—and to deal with this question as it may think fit " The directors have to report that they have executed an agreement with the Commissioners of her Majesty's Customs, to build on the Dock Company's land, and lease to the Crown for twenty-one years,a Custom-house on an enlarged scale ; an arrangement affording greatly increased facilities and accommodation to the trade of the port of Southampton generally, as well as to that carried on through the company's docks. A contract has been entered into with Messrs. Baker and Son for the comple tion of the work by the 30th June next ; and the build ing is in rapid course of construction. " The dry dock has been in constant work, and has proved a most important addition to the accomodations of the company's docks ; but already since the opening, the Oriental Company have been obliged to send two of their large steamers to Cowes to be repaired, in conse quence of the dry dock having been at the time occu pied by other vessels ; and it is apparent that a second dry dock could be advantageously employed in afford ing accommodation to the smaller class of steamers and sailing vessels, and thus render the large dock (now at times urprofitably occupied by small vessels, to the exclusion of the large steamers,) more available for the first-class steam ships which frequent the Southamp ton Docks. The directors propose, therefore, to place by the side of the other a smaller dock of much cheaper construction, which, it is expected, may be completed by the month of November next ; and they have reason to believe that both docks will be fully occupied, and will afford a fair return on the capital expended on them. " The directors have not lost sight of the important advantages which will result to the Dock Company from the extension of the South-Western Railway to London bridge, for which extension an Act was obtained during the last session of Parliament, and which they have reason to believe will be carried out with all possible expedition. " The directors propose to secure suitable warehouse accommodation, with a water frontage contiguous to the London bridge terminus of the South-Western Railway, and thus realise the object they have long had in vies., of being able to offer to merchants the option of housing such portion as they may think fit of their cargoes in the company's warehouses at Southampton, and the remainder in London ; and of transferring their goods from one to the other by a railroad running from the doors of the warehouses at Southampton to those of the warehouses at London-bridge. The directors contemplate including in this arrangement the removal of the London office to the London-bridge terminus, and thus, by means of the railroad and electric telegraph, place the London establishment and warehouses of the company in direct and immediate communication with their docks and warehouses at Southampton. " The directors have the satisfaction to repor , that the boring for water in the docks has been attended with complete success, and that an abundant supply of pure fresh water has been obtained at a depth of 220 feet. Pipes round the whole of the quays have been laid down; and the company will very shortly be prepared to deliver, lay hose into the hold of every vessel at her berth, any quantity of pure fresh water that may be required?' The CHAIRMAN, before putting to the meeting a reso lution for the adoption of the report, asked if any gentle man was desirous to make any observations, or to ask any questions on the points referred to in it? A PROPRIETOR then asked what per tentage the dry dock paid? The CHAIRMAN observed, that it had been only open for a period of six months, and there had been two large ships that had entered and had not been charged, but the amount it paid for that time was 4 per cent. He should say that the most expected from it was 5 per cent., and, in conjunction with the small dock, it was expected that it would be a great deal more The great importance, however, of the dock was to afford facilities of accommodation, and to bring addi• tional trade .o Southampton. Another PROPRIETOR asked what had become of the agreement with Mr. Pilcher. The CHAIRMAN said that that agreement was still in abeyance. A PROPRIETOR wished to draw the attention of the Chairman to a paragraph in the report, which says that " The directors have further to report, that they have entered into an agreement to erect on the Dock Com pany's land, and lease to the Royal Steam Packet Company, workshops on a large scale for the repair of their ships and machinery." Now, he was desirous to know if any agreement had been made with the Royal Mail Steam-packet Company for a definite term, as it would be desirable to fix them, as had been done so advantageously with the Govern ment. The CHAIRMAN observed that there was a lease for twenty-one years. Several other questions having been put, and answered satisfactorily, The CHAIRMAN then put the motion that the report be adopted and circulated, which was unanimously agreed F The CHAIRMAN then put the next resolution—" That the dividend mentioned in the report, of 10s. per share for the half year, should be declared, and that the same be paid on the Ist March proximo." A PROPRIETOR asked, before the resolution was put, whether from the past proceedings and future prospect of the company, they might expect that such a dividend as that now proposed would be continued in future half years 2-Ailihervec t meetinged' y ddi feii dividend they et eyen; directors dhs otherwise auatdtAe Ipnpßrolpresent. sdAae gnnzietth: said ahi thought it was a matter for consi deration whether they should not decline making any ipedamti anticipated dewlvaoeupsl probability bonaobt futureibt ey of f r d u i tv d hi e ad n tet dividends, dm i ri s, theubnu a m o unt p e yh a : s es tea,dno resolutionit: h p et e hp r er h eaasdpewvsnaatans dividend.—(Hear.) t a ai hy r gie g edn e se r on atdnom. unanimously t o e , ua t s h r y would nothave pa p tr a o A na l conversation ensued sa a n s tdh to etnh t e h g e oivu w et orking of the anticipatedcom taogrtehedfrtoom. the railways to Southampton, in progress and p rojected. m ot v e n, o a f lid thanks directors, wa then separated. d r e e c a t u o sd were re-elected. outgoing day upon which that letter appeared in the Times, hut so anxious was he to construe it into an invitation to renew the negotiation, that he wrote a note to Mr. Glyn, proposing that Mr. Saunders and Mr. Swift should take up the matter where it began, with a view of establishing peace between the two companies. The result of that note was an agree ment between Mr. Glyn and himself, to the effect that Mr. Saunders! and Mr. Swift should have full power to conclude such arrangements between the two companies, as should be considered beneficial to the interests of the company they respectively represented. He was sorry to say, however, that the arrangement never reached to the extent of a meeting between Mr. Swift and Mr. :Saunders ; for Mr. Swift, in the first instance, insisted upon preliminary concessions which the directors of the Great Western Company could not consistently make. It, was not his intention to go fully into the correspondence which had taken place on the subject, but the real substantial and insuperable obstacle to the arrangement was the possession by the London and North-Western Company of the Birmingham and Oxford, and Birmingham and Wolverhampton lines. Notwithstanding the triumph of the Great Western Company last Session, the London and North Western company appeared determined to at tempt to exclude the Great Western and the broad gauge from Birmingham. They wished to hold the Oxford line jointly with its proprietors, or, failing in that, to purchase it altogether. It was im possible for the Great Western Company to accede to joint possession, because that would be in direct viola tion of their pledges to the public and their promises to Parliament. He then alluded to the singular offer the London and North Western had made for the Oxford line. At the meeting of the Oxford proprietary, which took place in Birmingham on the 30th of October, the directors of that line were au thorised to negotiate with the Great Western for the sale of their line ' • the consequence was, meet in g s between deputations of the two companies, and after the preliminaries had been agreed upon, the bargain was made and the line agreed to be conceded, as was well known to the Great Western Company. The terms were considered just, yet at a meeting of the Bir mingham and Oxford proprietors on the 4th of De • cember, Mr. Mozley, as the mouthpiece of the London and North Western Company, _and what he then said had been confirmed by the acts of the London and North Western Company, said he saw no reason why the London and North Western Company should, in the face of all the facts, make an offer for that which they had already pur chased.—(Cheers.) Under influences, about which he would not stop to inquire, a new set of proprietors were invited to combine to set aside that which had been done by a previous proprietary, who were fully com petent to do what they had done. A new set of directors were to be forced on the management, in order to repudiate/a solemn ;agreement, and, in the event of failing in that purpose, to embarrass and prevent its accomplishment.—(Cheers.) Those attempts would recoil on the authors.—(A cry of "So they ought !") The agreement required no further act of the proprietors, no further sanction of Parliament. — (Cheers.) The agreement with the Birmingham, Dud ley, and Wolverhampton, was also completed, with the single exception that it required the sanction of Parlia ment.—(Hear, hear, and applause.) He regretted that their efforts to effect an amicable arrangement with the London and North Western Railway Company had thus failed. What that company had to give them, except peaceable possession of their purchase, he was at a loss to understand. What they had to give the London and North Western Railway Company was an assurance that they would not extend the broad guage beyond certain limits to be defined between the two companies. It was for the London and North Western Company to determine the value of this concession. It was for them to consider the wisdom of seeking to recover the loss they had practically sustained in the last session of Parliament, or whether they would be content with speculating upon the future.—(Bear, hear.) They had chosen the former alternative as the more wise and ad vantageous for themselves ; but he was far from being sure that they had not chosen the alternative most advantageous to the G reat Western Company.—(Cheers.) The Great Western Company were prepared to make sacrifices for the sake of peace, but he knew an opinion was entertained by many of their proprietors, men possessing large stakes in the company, that it would be much better for them to remain as they were, and extend the broad guage into every available direction.— (Cheers.) He readily turned from that subject to take a glance at their internal position. It was highly gra tifying for him to perceive that their receipts were increasing, while their expenditure was diminishing,- (Cheers.) The number of miles run by their engines in 1845 was 240,000, while in 1846 the number was 346,000. (Hear, hear.) Yet with this increase of mileage there had been no increase of expenditure. —(Cheers.) He was glad to say too, that they had reduced the number of their assistant engines, and thus bad they not only attained economy, but they had attained additional security. It would be remem bered that at their last meeting two auditors were ap pointed to investigate the accounts. Those auditors were Mr. W. Croswaithe, of Liverpool, and Mr. M'Calmont, of London, two gentlemen of the highest respectability and experience, and he was glad to say those gentlemen had reported that the accounts were highly satisfactory, and therefore upon a very improved, clear, and simple principle—(Cheers)—that was a suffi cient answer to all the newspaper calumnies, not to men tion the imputations of fraud which had been wantonly threwn out. In conclusion, he thanked the proprietors, and awarded that meed of praise to the officers of the company for the diligence and care they had bestowed upon the affairs of the company. Mr. Sateenens then read the report. It stated that the financial accounts and tabular statement, which had been published and circulated, would have already made known to the proprietors, the result of the working of their line during the last half year, which would enable them to declare at this meeting the usual dividend of four per cent for that time. With respect to the traffic, gleBr4:'and tth_eetnnel it might be observed, that in the corresponding period of 1845, precisely the same length of line was opened end worked this he company numher o p a e s s s e i n nage of goods, was a perfectly fair criterion of h c ona par i soovne over n b in crease conveyed over identically the same railway; so that_ the this review of the business of the company indicated most satisfactorily the features of progr ess i v e trade, when it was remembered that the excitment o f 1845, with the numberless schemes and the tra vellin g conse quent thereon, was thus contrasted with the almost en tire cessation of such speculat i ve movements during the latter part of 1846. The i ncre ase in 18 46 had been at the rate of 503 passengers per diem, viz. 92,528 for th _ half-year, with an addition a l t ra de of 23,9 76 to ns of goodthes The balance now disposable being 218,8551. 19s. 741., th directors recommended th a t a dividend of four per cent. be declared for the half-year ending the 31st of Dece t m e ber, 1846, payable on or after the Ist of March, h proprietors registered on th e com pany's books when the y were closed on the Bth instant. which dividend would_ amount to 211,0021. 4s. 9d., and leave a balance next half- year's account. Since the special 7,853/ 14s. 10d. to be carried to the credit of the ; r i tl s and g of this company were held on the 6th Novemberof the 4th December last, the directors had, in pursuance sea. resolutions of the proprietors, affixed the common I separate of the company, and otherwise executed t te deeds, which had been prepared to carry ou of lease of the South Wales Railway, and the purchases that of the Birmingham and Oxford Railway, as well tt_ a ., way. the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley the Bir- The provisions of the Act for incorporating d.ewers general meetings i mingham and Oxford Railway, which confery_eet. on that company, with the sanction of a general ing, to sell their line to the Great Western_ Company, required that the rates not exceeding company should be revised, to a scale n Act, before that of the Birmingham and Oxford BailwaY The directors the purchase could finally take effece effect the pur consequently, and in order to carry into venant by such chase of that line, bad entered into con _ toway Coin deed, with the Birmingham and Oxford!harliament, for pany, to have such revision made before the Legis- Rail which purpose an Act was now maximum andtolls of this lature, and as the same low scale of the London rates which was submitted to by last year, and North-Western Railway Company the Grand in order to obtain the amalgamatio . ham Railway Junction with the London and livable to all traffic way Company, and was to be made app from existing or over the Great Western line, whether o doubt that the Act new railways, there could be n of the public benefits would pass into a law, on account reduction of rates, upon which Company was now offered by thetTaiNestern Rail to,be derived from that I have its entire and unqualified by this Company, wouh provisions of the existing Act. effect under the . elf e t docks of the e P ymout Plymouth, Weymoutha with the B • and conjunction The directors, in Southc Devon Railway Companies, had Exeter and the conditional the purchase of the Birmingham and Oxford Railway mesangement for affording entered into a considered 'would be very • service• measure which they co line. "Illh ovem The sum agreed to be able to the traffic of the was 7,5001. subscribed by this company as A Bill for the consolidation an before Parliament, in which Harbour Trust wa t ' i s o the Great power Somersetiven _ some aid to the edstabimlisi Western, and the wilts, s9 d. Weymouth Companies, to assist the Commissioners in raising funds by their guarantee, to an amount not exceeding 40,0001. Th e CHAIRMEN' in moving its adoption, announced the intention of the company for the future to discon tinue the depreciation fund. The honourable proprietor thought a statement of their for he believedliabilities ought to b e sen t f or th to the wo rld ; the public enter tained considerable misapprehension on the subject, and th e consequence was, that their stock was unnaturally depreciated. His proposal gave rise to a very lengthened discus sion ; but the matter was eventually se t at rest b y The CHAIRMAN s tating that the information demanded would be found i n his last halt-yearly s p eec h . Mr. SAUNDERS (the secretary) declared that if such a statement to tor be put to ward, it wou ld on l y l ea d a bile the cou l d misapprehensio n, state positively, and were freely prepared to disclose their liabilities, they must, in justice to themselves, place on the other shit 01 the accounts what they considered would be the probable returns of their engagements. The report was Then adopted. The dividend having been declared, the retiring directors were re-elected. A vote of confidence in the directors, and approving of their proceedings in the matter of the Birmingham and Oxtbrd line, was proposed and carried unanimously. The meeting terminated, after the customary thanks to the Chairman. The Hibernia, Boston steamer, brings a box ail dressed to her Majesty the Queen. It is entered in the bib of entry as "one box, contents unknown, for her Majes;y Cie Queen." We believe it contains a quantity of illustrated and other American publications, from one of the most en►i nent publishers in the New World, intended as a present tO her Mjoity.—Liverpool Courier. M. SOYER'S SOUP FOR THE POOR. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,—In returning my most sincere thanks for the benevolent intentions which prompt you to publish so speedily my letter of the 10th inst.. relating to my new kitchen and soup for the poor, in your valuable journal, I beg your insertion of the two following receipts, which, if closely followed, would confer an immediate benefit, not only on the poor, and various charitable in stitutions, but also to the labouring population of the United Kingdom. I much regret the delay that has taken place since the publication of my former letter, which has unavoidably occurred, the time being con sumed in experiments which I have made with various kinds of farinaceous ingredients, produced and imported into this country; and likewise with some of the im mense varieties of vegetables, cultivated with so much success in this favoured soil; but which, generally speak ing, are not sufficiently appreciated, or used to the greatest advantage by the industrious classes. My intention is, with your kind permission, not only to publish the receipt for one kind of soup, but for five or six ; the whole, however, being made upon the same principle as the first, to save any confusion in the mak ing, hoping they may prove advantageous, by giving a change in toed which acts as generously on the digestive organs as a change of air does on the convalescent, and likewise to prevent the rise in price of any particular articles; for, should the soup be approved of, and be come a chief article of consumption for a certain time, such a receipt would bo quite useless in some parts of the country, where the ingredients could mot be obtained. My sincere devotion to this important cause being, to take every possible advantage of every kind of nutritious substances, animal and vegetable, and fish, and to con vert them, by study and judgment, into a wholesome and cheap aliment for the million. Several hundreds of letters I have already received upon the subject have induced me to give immediate pub licity to the two following receipts, which I consider quite correct. Having thus stated my impressions upon this all-important subject, I now give you the result of my first economical study to produce a cheap and whole some soup : THE RECEIPT FOR SOUP No. I. I first put ono ounce of dripping into a saucepan (ca pable of holding two gallons of water), with a quarter of a pound of leg of beef without bones, cut into square pieces about half an inch, and two middling sized onions, peeled and sliced. I then set the saucepan over a coal fire, and stirred the contents round for a few minutes with a wooden (or iron) spoon until fried lightly brown. I had then ready washed the peeling of two turnips, fif teen green leaves or tops of celery, and the green part of two leeks (the whole of which, I must observe are always thrown away). Having cut the above vegetables into small pieces, I threw them into the saucepan with the other ingredients, stirring them occasionally over the fire for another ten minutes ; then added halt a pound of common flour (any farinaceous substance would do), and half a pound of pearl barley, mixing all well together. I then added two gallons of water, seasoned with three ounces of salt, and a quarter of an ounce of brown sugar, stirred occasionally until boiling, and allowed it to simmer very gently for three hours, at the end of which time I found the barley perfectly tender. The above soup has been tasted by numerous noblemen, Members of Parliament, and several ladies, who have lately visited my kitchen department, and who have considered it very good and nourishing. The cost, at full price, was as follows : Quarter of a pound of leg of beef, at 4d. per lb ld Two ounces of dripping fat, at 4d. per lb Oi Two onions and other vegetables 1 Half a pound of flour, seconds, at I id. per lb Ol Half a pound of pearl barley, at 3d. per lb li Three ounces of salt and half an ounce of brown sugar Oi Fuel Two gallons of water 6* This soup will keep several days, when made as above described. The above expenses make it come to three farthings per quart in London ; but as almost everything can be had at much less cost in the country, the price of this soup will be still more reduced. In that case a little ad ditional meat might be used, and by giving away a small portion of bread or biscuit, better support would be given to the poor at a trifling cost, and no one it is to be hoped, hereafter would hear of the dreadful calamity' of starvation. THE RECEIPT FOR TEfE SOUP No. 2. This can be made cheaper and in less time. Proceed as Receipt No. 1 explains (as regards the fat, meat, onions, and the other vegetables), but add one quart of water upon the whole, which you let boil twenty minutes, stirring now and then to prevent burning ; or else, if convenient, set it by the: side of the fire, and add one pound of maize, mix well together, and fill the stew-pan with six quarts of water ; season as above ; let it simmer one hour, skim lightly, and it is then ready for use. If a large quantity is to be made, say 100 gallons, any kind of vessel. now in use, such as copper or cast iron, will do, have ready a spatula, or a piece of board the shape of a cricket-bat, about six inches wide, tapering towards the top as a handle (which must be from one foot and a half to two feet above the surface of the ves sel), to stir with; the fire being well lighted, take twelve pounds of solid meat, or eighteen pounds with the bones (legs or clods of beef, with a portion of cow heels, is excellent for the purpose, but any kind of edible meat from beef to doe venison will do), cut it in pieces about one inch square, put three pounds and a half of fat; in case there should be difficulties to procure the fat, put in one gallon of water instead; then you have ready twelve pounds of onions, lightly peeled and cut in slices, and 241bs. of vegetables of any kind, mixed (such as carrots, parsnips, turnips, leeks, celery, cabbages, savoys, sorvl, spinach, mangold wurzel, swedes, and Jerusalem artichoke, all cut in a slanting direction, which facilitates greatly the cooking), with the meat into the copper left stewing about one hour, stirring the whole contents until the moisture is nearly gone, which will depend entirely on the fire; then add enough water to cover the whole, which you let boil ten minutes; then add 25Ibs. of flour, and mix it well together; then add thirty pounds of either barley or rice, season with nine pounds of salt and three pounds of brown sugar; after wards fill the copper with water, and boil the whole con tents for two hours or more, until the barley or rice is quite tender, the soup is then ready for use. In case either the barley or rice did not produce the thickness required (as those ingredients may differ in quality), then add, if too thin, a few pounds of flour or oatmeal, previously mixed with cold water, to make it in a liquid paste, and pour it in when boiling, about twenty minutes before serving it out. But the proper thickness is easily ascertained when the soup hangs lightly on the back of the spatula or ladle. One hundred gallons of this soup will cost under 11. Respecting my plan of kitchens for the poor, I am happy to inform you, Mr. Editor, that my subscription, which is only of a few days' date, has met with the greatest encouragement by benevolent contributors, the list of which will shortly be published. I have been able al ready to begin one of those kitchens on a small scale, where from forty to fifty gallons of soup can be easily made, and quickly distributed to 200 or 300 poor, in an ordinary sized London house. As soon as it is in practice, this simple plan will be made public through the press; therefore, any private application becomes unnecessary, as it would prevent my carrying the plan into effect. A correct drawing of my large plan for making and supplying 20,000 persons in four hours, is also in a very and 7lB 47 s . ervant, Reform your f ora• e a fv r oe d rrmy state.clu obliged : Feb.eb 1 humble With high consideratio n , I h ave th e h onour to b e, Sir, A. SOYER. REVIEW OF THE BRITISH CORN TRADE. (From the Mark-Jane Express.) In our comments on the position of the wheat trade last week we expressed a doubt whether the depression which then prevailed would be of long continuance; but, though we were prepared to expect a rally, we scarcely thought it would come so soon as it has. The animated tone which business has again assumed has, no doubt, been partly occasioned by the extreme severity of the weather experienced during the last eight days; this, however, cannot be regarded as the primary cause. The periodical intervals of dulness and animation which have succeeded to each other at different times during the past four or five months have almost in every in stance been the result of a temporary lull and a subse quent revival of the Irish demand; and to the latter the sudden rise which prices have again undergone must be traced. As has been the case on all former occasions this season, the first impetus to the upward movement had its origin at Liverpool. Several Irish buyers visited that port on Monday, and purchases of American flour were then made privately at 40s. per barrel. On the following day the market was numerously attended, and large sales of the last-named article were effected at 41s. 6d. to 425. per barrel, whilst inferior sorts of wheat were taken for the same destination at prices 4d. to 6d. per 701 b., or 2s. 4d. to 3s. 6d. per quarter above those current on that day se'nnight. Indian corn, which had previously been neglected, was likewise in much re quest, and from 68s. to 71*. per 4801 b. was paid for cargoes close at hand. Later in the week the excite ment increased, and on Friday a further advance was established on all articles ; wheat was then quoted 3d. to 4d. per 701 b., flour ls. 6d. per barrel, and Indian corn ls. per 4801 b. higher than on the preceding market day. The continued drain on oar stocks to supply the wants of the sister isle, and the unusually large con sumption of breadstuffs in all parts of the United King dom, have already caused wheat to become somewhat ' scarce, and though we differ from some authorities, oa whose judgment we generally place great_ reliance, we cannot come to any oth er conclusion than that the stocks . of wheat at presen t in the country are . smaller i t t h h an th r s ordinary years at the corresponding period . With to ship largely to Irelan d for ev conv i ctio n, and with th s ep r ro l spe months to come, whilst no effective supp lies from e abroad a can be looked for till April, we can discover nothing in the position of affairs to lead us to ant ici p ate low, or even moderately low, p r i c es ; on the contrary, a f u rther rise appears to us t a r more probable. In giving this . opinion, we wish our remarks to be understood as applying only to the next two months ; after t of ha w t perio new elements which nothing can at pre will come into play, s ent be known. The supplies of barley, which a few weeks ago were liberal at the markets in those counties where this grain is mosti ex tensively grown, have all at onc e fallen off rnateria i low, before the discovery will and we think it will not be will b e made that the crop of this" grain has tu rned out quite as deficient as repre sented at har vest time. The maltsters, as a body, ell-stocked ; and having during are certainly far from the week come o o v r e a w rd more freely as buyers, the p forward more freely as buyers, the supplies have proved inadequate to the demand, and supplies v - a i nced about 2s. per quarter all over the prices havheavade kingdom. Oats, on the other hand, have not as yet re covered any portion of the recent decline, which may be partly accounted for by the economy observed in t h e i r consumption. The comparatively low price of hay has caused that article to be used more extensively than usual ; other substitutes have also been largely em ployed. But notwithstanding all these shifts, oats are evidently becoming very scarce, and when the seed de mand commences their value will in all probability rise. By our advices from Scotland we learn that the wea ther had not been so severe there as with us. Wheat and barley advanced on Wednesday, both at Edinburgh and Glasgow, but oats were not dearer at either place. From Ireland the accounts are of precisely the same character as before. The want and misery prevailing are described as fearful ; and though a deficiency in the means for conveying supplies into the interior had caused an accumulation of stock at the sea-port towns, with there-opening of the inland navigation, which had been partially closed by ice, the stores at Dublin, Cork, and Limerick, would, it was expected, be speedily emptied. The extreme severity of the frost experienced on this side of the Channel has also closed many of our watercourses, and prevented supplies of grain from the interior being sent down to the ports on the coast. It is, therefore, probable that the arrivals will, for a time at least, be short. _ During the week now about to terminate, the receilts of wheat coastwise into London have amounted to only 872 quarters, and the quantity brought forward at Mark lane by land carriage samples from the home counties has been equally small. On Wednesday the show on the Essex and Kent stands was quite trifling ; there was scarcely anything fresh up, and the few parcels left over from previous supplies were easily plated at rates Is. to 2s. per quarter above those current in the com mencement of the week. On Friday the millers mani- fested an increased desire to add to their stocks ; and factors having very little to offer, demand, d, and suc ceeded in obtaining, a further advance of Is. per quarter. Foreign wheat, which has for some time been compara tively neglected, has again excited attention this week. On Wednesday several parcels changed hands, on terms at least ts. per quarter above those previously obtainab:e and since then holders have further raised their preten sions; good red Baltic, as well as the inferior sorts, such as Odessa, Danube, &c., being held about 2s. per quarter higher at the close than the commencement of the week. This rise has been mainly caused by a renewed demand for meal to ship to Ireland; and, had not the scarcity of vessels, and the high rate of freights, tended to throw difficulties in the way of business, the transactions would probably have been extensive. Town-manufactured flour has been taken rather slowly, the bakers still continuing to act on the reserve; the millers have, however, remained firm, and the bar gain; closed have been at full terms. Ship flour being worth more in the northern markets than here, the supply into London has been small, and prices have rather tended upwards. For American the demand has undergone a decided improvement, and rather large pur chases have been made at a rise of Is. to 2s. per barrel on the lowest rates of last week. Barley of home growth has come very sparingly to hand, nor have the receipts from foreign countries been of any importance. The maltsters, who have for some weeks held off, have been compelled by their pressing wants to purchase somewhat more freely of late; and, though business has not been brisk, sellers have expe rienced no difficulty in realizing an enhancement of ls. to 2s. per quarter on the best, and ls. on secondary qualities. The panic produced in the barley trade by the admission of sugar into breweries and distilleries seems to have passed over; and, unless much larger sup plies reach us shortly, there is some chance of this grain rising again to pretty nearly the same from which it receded a fortnight or three weeks ago. The operations in malt have been of a retail character; the stocks of the article being, however, very short, and the supplies having been small. higher rates have been insisted on and obtained. The total quantity of oats which has entered the port of London during the week ending Saturday evening has amounted to only 11,144 quarters; whereof 3,103 quar ters are from our own coast, 101 quarters from Scotland, 7,039 quarters from Ireland, and 904 quarters from abroad. The usual consumption of the metropolis and its suburbs at this period of the year, when Parliament is sitting, and London is consequently full, is estimated at from 20,000 to 25,000 quarters per week; whereas the receipts from the beginning of the year, being rather over seven weeks, have amounted to only 45,254 quarters. It follows, therefore, that all parties are at the present moment very bare of stocks ; and though there can be no doubt that the high value of the article has led to great economy in the consumption, still we believe that prices must undergo a further enhancement. On Wednesday business was very dull at Mark-lane, the factors generally asking somewhat enhanced terms, which buyers refused to pay ; since then the inquiry has not improved, and it has ben impossible to realise over Monday's currency even for fine corn. The recent fall in the value of beans has not led to any increase in the inquiry, and sales have proceeded slowly at the reduced terms current in the commence ment of the week. Maple and hog peas have likewise moved off rather tardily at previous prices, but a rise of is. to 2s. has taken place in quotations of white boilers since Monday. Floating cargoes of Indian corn, particularly those close at hand, have been eagerly bought on Irish account, and nearly as high prices have been realised as at the period when the greatest extent of excitement prevailed. By the packet-ship Queen of the West we have New York advises of the 23d of January, and accounts from other parts of the United States of corresponding dates. The weather had been, and was then still severe, and the inland navigation was still closed by ice. The exports of flour had not been so large in January as the preceding month, owing partly to the high rate of freight to Europe; still upwards of 86,000 barrels of flour, 103,000 bushels of wheat, 242,000 bushels of Indian corn, 24,000 bushels of rye, 39,000 bushels of barley, and 16.000 bushels of oats, had been shipped from New '1,7,41 between the Ist and 19th of • January. Freight to London was then 17d. to 18d. per bushel for wheat, and 4s. 6d. to ss. per barrel for flour. The price of fl •ur had rather tended ur ards during the pre,eding week, and good brands of Crennessee were then held at 5 clod.. 6.2ke to 5 dolls. 69c. per barrel. The arrival of the liiberroa was anxiously looked for, and in the absence of news from Europe neither sellers nor buyers had manifested much disposition to enter into extensive operations. The return of severe weather threatens again to in• terrupt the regular communication with the northern continental ports ; but the advices from Dantzig reach only to the 3d inst. A good deal of business has been done there during the week ; about 650 lasts had changed hands at high prices ; for tine high mixed 61s. to 655. had been paid, and other sorts had brought pro portionate prices : subsequently the trade had become somewhat dull, owing to the less encouraging tone of the English letters. The weather was then wet, and the damp state of the atmosphere had caused most of the wheat to come to hand in indifferent condition. A vessel had been chartered to load wheat to Liverpool at 4s. 6d. per quarter. At the Lower Baltic ports a little reaction appears to have taken place, in consequence of the fall which oc curred in the British markets towards the close of last month. From Rostock we learn, under date of February the 4th, that the demand for wheat had suddenly fallen off materially, but that holders had nevertheless remained firm, declining to sell below 655. per quarter free on board. The inquiry for barley had likewise become slow there, and 355. per quarter was then an extreme price. At Stettin stocks are stated to be very small, and little effect had consequently been produced by the somewhat dull tone of the English advices ; in the absence, how ever, of foreign orders the operations in both wheat and spring corn had been on a restricted scale. At Hamburg, on the 9th inst., wheat was decidedly dull of sale, and there were offers from outports at prices Is. to is. 6d. per quarter below the rates previously de manded ' - for parcels on the spot very nearly former terms had been insisted on. The accounts from the Mediterranean are interesting. A letter from Marseilles of the 6th inst. informs us that wheat, after having fallen some 6s. per quarter the pre ceding week, had again rallied, and that prices were then within about if. per hectolitre of the highest point. This reaction had been caused by a rumoured country demand. Marianopoli had brought equal to 695. per quarter, which was as high a price as that description of wheat had brought at any former period. From Genoa we learn, under date of February 2, that the Government had issued a decree levying four livres per cantor, or 3s. 6d. per cwt. duty, on the export of rice the growth of Piedmont. GREA WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY. held at e general meeting of th Ve e s a t r e l r Y n g ßailway ryas proprietors Yesterday o f t htehues Greatualha it,ltietbstt.actlii(aminiu A P t a te d r d t il l t , g e t u o s n u , a C l hfoarrmlesalßitinesssehl'ai,dEiecie.n gone t h rou gh, Th e CHAIRMAN ruse and said, that it was impossibl e lot Ihe directo rs to g ive the proprietors so much inton e madon at a Februa r y meetin g . as they could at one in August, for now they were entering upon their Parliamentary cam d p a i i agn, ewhile in Aagnst thq had ustia,ly arrivf,ts lto was in hopes that their P a rllani,ntary crairse t h ein present sssiori !night hsvo been rendered somewhat easy by au ainieable arrangement with the London and North Western Company. At their last meeting, i n the month of December, he stated fully the nature of the negotiation which had been going on with that company, but, subsequently, certain statements and observations impose , upon the directors the necessity of issuing a fob and detailed report upon the subject. To that report the only reply that was made was a short rate, from Mr. Creed addressed to the editor of the In that note, Mr. Creed declared that he Nras instructed to state, that the London and North Wr.‘stern CAnpany were 4111 as desirous as ever that soitis? arringement should Oa conic to with the Great Western Comp kny. Ile (Mr. Russell) was at Brighton on the.26th December, the DARING ROBBERY IN EDIN BURGH. It is with regret that we have to record another el those daring outrages which have of late been the dis grace of our city. On Thursday night, about twelve o'clock, a gentleman who resides in Broughton-place was knocked down on his way home, in the lane which branches off from the east side of Elder-street, and robbed of his watch and five pounds. He was felled to the ground at once by a violent blow with a bludgeon, or other instrument, and remained on the street for a considerable time in a state of insensibility, while the ruffians searched his person and carried off his watch and money. He received several severe blows after he had fallen, his assailants being determined to make sure of him. He is still confined to bed with drea iful contu sions on the head and face, and has no recollection of anything that took place after receiving the blow. Within these four or five weeks no less than five rob beries, attended with personal violence, more or less dangerous, have occurred, while not more than two of the guilty persons have been apprehended, and these only on suspicion. It is extremely doubtful if one conviction will follow. There cannot be a more lamentable proof of the insecurity of our streets, and of the inadequacy of the police, from whatever cause, for the protection of the inhabitants. It was only about a month since a gen tleman in Broughton-place was robbed while opening his own door, about half-past ten o'clock, and nearly choked by the violent gripe of the ruffians on his throat, from which, we understand, he is by no means recovered, having been for some days hardly able to speak. Another robbery of the same kind was com mitted in Elm-row. A young man was, nearly about the same time, knocked down and robbed in the Lo thian-road, between eleven and twelve o'clock, while the robbery in St. John-street occurred about ten o'clock, the Canongate being at the time crowded with people. It thus appears that it is not safe to venture into the streets at night. These robberies and outrages were perpetrated, not at any untimely hour, but mostly before twelve o'clock, when it never was before thought unsafe to walk the streets. But a great change h as ta k en prowling th e increase, about and watching the p - p p l e a a c r e to ; ruffianism hece nsta i n a tly on streets on the outlook for plunder. The lpo ice, it is clear, afford no security, while from the undetected robberies the guilty derive security and encouragement to commit fresh crimes. The frequency of these out rages calls for increased vigilance, and a m body of night watchmen • and they oughtto o h r e e efficient ohned at whatever expense ; for protection, like obtained else, must be paid f or . It is everything needless to grudge the price, for we cannot have the article without paying for Its —Edinburgh Courant. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 18. The Earl of SHAFTESBURY took his seat upon the Woolsack at Five o'rlcck. DISTILLING FROM SUGAR BILL. The Duke of RICHMOND presented a petition from the landed proprietors, farmers, and others of Dunferm line, against the use of sugar in distilleries; also a peti tion from the county of Forfar to the same effect. POOR REMOVAL ACT. The NOBLE DUKE also presented a petition from the board of guardians of the Cardigan Union against the Poor Removal Act of last session. Lord VIVIAN presented a petition from the board of guardians of Swaff ham Union to the same effect. DISTRESS IN IRELAND. Earl MOUNTCASHEL presented a petition from Kilkenny (as we understood), supplicating the attention of their Lordships to the famishing state of the poor of Ireland, and earnestly praying them to devise immediate remedies. ELECTORAL DISTRICTS. The NOBLE EARL also presented a petition from Kin sale, complaining of the unequal mode of rating electoral districts for the support of the poor, and praying that the poor -rates might be equalised throughout the whole country. _ POOR REMOVAL ACT. The Earl of STRADBROKE presented a petition against the Poor Removal Act from a number of per sons in Suffolk. BANKING. Lord EGLINTON said, that on Monday next he would move for copies of the correspondence which passed between the Government and the Scotch and Irish bankers. DESTITUTE PERSONS (IRELAND) BILL. The Earl of SHAF 1 E BU KY brought up the report upon this Bill. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGII said that he viewed the Bill with great tiistrust. It assumed that the people of Ireland would be capable of giving money fur the food to be supplied. He saw no measure yet passed by Parliament, or known to be in progress, which would effect the object to be attained by the Bill within the limited period fur which the measure was to r e mai n i n operation. It was to be substituted, as he understood, for what was improperly called the Labour-rare Act. lie confessed that he hail a feeling almost of despon dency with respect to the future in Ireland, from the reports contained in the large blue book upon the table. That feeling did not arise from the state of the potato crop, but from th.. picture contained iu that large blue book of the intimidation under which the relief committees acted, and the jobbing which pre vailed in the administration of the law.—(Hear.) Be confessed that he hid great doubts as to the suc cessful operation of the present meesure. It was his opinion that it would not work as well as the Labour-rate Act of last session. The landlords of Ireland, he appre hended, would not take advantage to any extent of the provisions of the measure, and the people, therefore, would not secure those benefits which the Government contem plated. Some great measure of public works would be of far greater use than any of the plans now proposed. He confessed he thought the principle of the Labour-rate Act of last year preferable to the one now proposed. No doubt the present was a good measure as an auxiliary to other measures, although standing by itself it only meant an Act to take from the hard earned money of the people of this country, to give food to the people of Ireland, without any prospect of a return. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE wished to direct the attention of the Noble Lord to the form of the Act. Although a sum of only 300,000/. was specified, yet the Noble Lord would find in the 17th clause that a power was given to Parliament to advance other sums as they might think fit. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH—The clause says " granted." The Marquis of LANSDOWNE—What relief the committees might think proper to recommend, that the Parliament had power to advance or grant as they might think fit. The Noble Lord had expressed much veneration for the former Act. The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH—" Oh, no." The Marquis of LANSDOWNE—He was not cer tain whether the Noble Earl was present when he (the Marquis of Lansdowne) had moved the second reading of this Bill : at that time he had stated to the House his own opinion, that it would be bet ter if they had considered these Bills concur rently with the others before the Legislature on the same subject. He considered that this measure would stimulate labour in Ireland ; and although the Noble Earl had expressed an opinion that landlords would not avail themselves of the Government offer, he (the Marquis of Lansdowne) entertained no doubt that they, and especially landlords of entailed estates, would do so. He did believe that the efforts of the Government had been of the greatest service in obtaining the advantages which were anticipated from this Act. The Noble Earl (Ellenborough) had allowed that there was a gri at moral principle in the Labour-rats Act ; but he was sorry to say that the Government had found that great abuses had been practised under this Act, and that, above all, grt at intirni.lath n had been used for the employ meat of perm= who ought never to have been engaged. No man could more sensibly feel the injury arising from these abuses than he (the Marquis of Lansdowne) bat he mu• t say I hat greet advantages had been enjoyed under the Act, acid the efforts of her Majesty's Government haft heen,very • tf,cival in putting down these abuses, and great pre e n ss had been made in different parts of the country in the prevvntion of this empleymetit altoeether, met he was happy to say, that the emp prent of labour w;.:s now bring carri, d on in the most tie:let-a!, manner; at.d he could assure the House that h. r Maj stfs Government had great hopes of putt r - = down Cots intimidation altogether. And lie did believe, if he might us.- sucir a phrase, that the system would he reodered wscertight. Under all ,he circumstances the 'mates- was too impertant not to secure the vigilant a: triniou Of tier Maj sty', Govern ment. lie proposed to move the third reading of the Bill on Monday. PORTUGUESE TRO , Lords BEAUMONT and BROUGHAM both rose at the same moment, and a slight altercation as to priority of right took place, but ultimately Lord Brougham gave way, and Lord BEAUMONT said, that he rose to put the question to the Noble Itlarquis, of which he had given notice the last time the House met. The question he wished to ask was respecting the treatment of the prisoners taken by the Queen's troops in Portugal atter the late battle of Torres Vedras. In putting this question he wishes to guard himself against any supposition that he desired to interfere with the do mestic affairs of any other country, except where British interests were at stake. Whether in a case of war or otherwise, he conceived that there was no right whatever to interfere with the internal affairs of any other country; but in the present case, for the Government to remain passive was only to increase the difficulties attendant upon the position of affairs in Portugal. The circum stances of the case were as follows: A division of the army opposed to the Queen's Government, under the command of Count Bomfim, advanced to Torres Vedras with the intention of moving on to Lisbon, and after a severe battle, which terminated in the success of the forces of the Queen, the remnant of the division, under Count Bomfim, retired into the castle of Torres Vedras. The Duke of Saldanha, commanding the Queen's forces, called upon them to surrender,—they refused to do so, but subse quently they surrendered on condition of receiving all the honours of war. To this proposition the Duke of Saldanha agreed, and the stipulations were drawn up in writing, and signed by the comatander of the Queen's forces. On the faith of these stipula tions the remnant of the division in the castle surrendered. But, notwithstanding the agreement and stipulations were drawn up in writing, the officers of that division were marched to Lisbon and taken on board a frigate lying in the Tagus, where they were confined, with scarcely any of the necessaries of life, with scanty clothing, and the poorest description of food. In cons. quettee of some rumour that the prisoners were about to escape, they were taken out ul the fiiguie, and placed on board a small brig-ot-a ar, and the Portuguese Govern ment came to the resolution to send the officers to Angola, on the coast of Africa, one of the most unhealthy places on the coast ot' Africa. In their passage to that place they endured the greatest hardships, being crammed into a less space than even that which was allotted for slaves in the slave, vessels. He believed, that though the fleet was there for the pro tection of British iuterests,the officers in command would, if the division under Count Bomfim hart been successful, have covered the embalkatien of the Queen's forces, and protected them from any injury that might have been offered to them. If, then, protection was to be given to that side, he thought that they were bound to see that the cor vettes to which he had adverted should be protested against, lest the feelings of the country should be_ e e r x e : cited against the Queen's Government. In order, h f m o e r e n , t to should preserve exerttlleir neutrality, hei r o t e h o eo e ß, ottvheornse officers perished, to induce ought riti bet h br G e j r , s t t u gl e e y se them, G ando vernment to revoke the decre t e he a , g t a P . had been the same surrendered, Pesit namely, totn plac e have betehnemaftemr they As ni L e o impatience flag rd Ho opposite (Lord House longer, but manifested f prisoners sd bbeyo would thewu a l d r• nos ti,et b .a s in Brougham) proceed to ask the Noble Marquis i whether any corre spun euce had passed between the 1 ortuguese Govern went and her Majesty's Government relative to these cireuesstances, and, it so whether any steps had been taken by this Government with respect, tat them? The Marquis of LANSDOWNE sai=l the question WAS one of considerable lateen Aare, and 01141 which he was most desirous, and he trusted able, to give him and the s l l w o e u r s , e a h o s u tti sat isfactory he could answer to. only Be expressf ore giving a that that regretan- w ible h o l u c i sn h e , h at e h sa l t ' t e a l tt t eh in o countrycgo u i v i e ino r n ti so e wi t t o h which ttrhaenh transactions ta b i do l e n us L ut o uo r d d wo dh a i n sch d ho uthltheshould Noble Lord had so pointedly, and not impro perly, adverted. He regretted that that country which was connected with this by so many ties—so much community of interest—so many historical relations and recollections—should be in the state which Portu gal was in at the present moment.—(Hear.) And it would be a matter of the deepest satisfaction if any effort on the part of this country, if even par partially applied, could promote an amendment of that state of things. As their Lordships well knew, in the course of last year an insurrection broke out in Portugal, which had assumed most decidedly the character of a civil war, in the course of which, from the opposition not only of particular factions, but of particular families, which was deeply to be deplored, and which were apt, on too many occasions, to exceed those limits, and those rela tions which generally subsisted between nations, considerable animosity was excited. A body of persona were taken with arms in their hands, and made pri. in ett unge DE ber taY O 3gll Che the a9e ore ;as )ly ite ro iiis