The Sun. — London, England, 1857-02-23 00:00:00

birb 92britton SUN OFFICE, Seven, o'Clock. TATTERSA.GL'S.—(This Evening.) LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE. 8 to 1 agst Minos 10 to 1 agst Emigrant 12 to 1 agst Omar Pacha 100 to 8 agst Escape 20 to 1 agst Freetrader 20 to 1 agst Teddesley 20 to 1 agst Jean da Quesne 25 to 1 agst Harry Lorrequer 30 to 1 agst Wanderer 50 to 1 agst First of May. TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS. sto 1 agst Loyala (offered) 7to 1 Vedette CHESTER CUP. 40 to 1 apt Yellow Jack 50 to 1 agst Zig-zag NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES, 7to 1 agst Skirmisher 7to 1 agst Adamas 10 'to 1 agst Sir Colin DERBY. 14 to 1 agst Blink Bonny 15 to 1 agst Tournament 16 to 1 agst Loyola 16 to 1 ag®t M.D. 18 to 1 agst Zuyder Zee 22 to 1 agst Bird in the Hand 30 to 1 agst Gleamasson 30 to 1 agst Bent 40 .to 1 aget Lamboura 40 to 1 agst Blue Devil's colt 66 tp 1 agst Henry VIII. 66 to 1 aget Adamas ADDITIONAL ARRIVALS AT NOTTINGHAM, Tom Thumb, Elfrida, 0111 Fashion, SL Clair, Storm sail, Archill, Sarnwell, Screw, Sluggard, Archibald, Coal Black Hose, Oakball, Torn Loker, InAlan Queen, Mas ter Bagot, Sir Humphrey, and f by Jericho out of Divi dend. CHELTENHAM, MONDAY. The Prince and Miss Nutty left this morning fur Derby. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. ROUSE OF LORDS—(This Evening.) T;le LORD CIIANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at f ve o'clock. _ ' The Earl of EGLINTON presented a petition from Ayrshire praying for the imposition of restriction upon dram shops. DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL CAUSES DILL. Lord LYNDHURST said this bill was fixed for the second reading on Thursday next. He, however hoped the', as it would be inconvenient for him to attend on that day, another night would be fixed when he could be in his place. A right rev. prelate who took a great inte rest in the bill would aho be unable to attend on Thursday. Lord CAMPBELL said he was desirous of taking part in the discussion on this bill. Although he was unwilling to oppose the second reading of the bill. yet it contained a certain clause to which he had a great objection, and if paised would furnish dangerous faci'ities for obtaining a divorce between mail and wife merely from the circumstance of their living apart for a certain limited period. The LORD CHANCELLOR said he should have no objection to alter the day for the second reading of the bill. He would name Friday next. Lord LYNDHURST said it would be desirable to postpone it till next week. The LORD CHANCELLOR then fixed Tuesday week as the day on which he would move the second reading. DISCOVERY OF GUANO. The Lord POLWARTII moved for any papers or correspondence relative to the cession of the islands of Ear ki Jibleea and Glsurzoad by the Imaum of Muscat to Ler Majesty, and their erection into a colony ; and also called the attention of the house to a license granted on the 20th of February, 1856, by the Commissioners of Emigration to John Ord and others, giving them the sole and exclusive right to raise and take away guano front these islands during five years. Tae Earl of CLARENDON said there would be no objection to the production of the papers moved for. Her Majesty's Government were anxious to lay the fullest information they possessed on the subject on the table, as they were of the same opinion as the agricul tural interest as to the importance of the subject. He - had had various communications with agricul tura I societies respecting an inquiry as to the different islands on which guano was deposited. Ile (Lord Clarendon) had communicated on this subject with the Lords of the Admiralty, and it was de termined that an inquiry should be instituted to discover to whom the islands referred to really belonged, with a view to obtain a cession of them, if the report of Mr. Ord was justified by facts. Capt. Freemantle went out on this mission by direction of the Government. He first sought the Imaum of Muscat, who, however, was absent from the place when Captain Freemantle landed, but he could not find guano there. The inhabitants of the place told him they were subjects of the Imaum of Muscat, and produced a document, signed by that potentate, ordering them to treat with kindness all persons who might land there. As Capt. Fremantle was about to return he met the Imaum, who never ex pressed the slightest doubt as to his rights over the island. Capt. Fremantle having discovered guano in a drift rent part of the place, returned home and reported it was inferior in quality, and that this island was not an much of importance in respect to guano as a coaling station. Some months after Mr. Ord stated that he had disc vered fresh deposits of guano, which, although not as good as that of Peru, still it was of considerable value and he intended to sendj . ships there himself if a lease were granted him for four or five years, the Imaum of Mercat having ceded the place to the British Govern rner t. As Mr. Ord was the discoverer, Government granted him a lease—hut they did not by grant ing him that lease intend to create a monopoly, Mr, Ord being perfectly ready to give a guarantee that immediately on the arrival of each cargo, they should be aubruitted to public auction in quantities to suit the con venience of every person. After a short conversation the returns were ordered. PROBATE BILL. - -The LORD. CHANCELLOR then rose to move the second reading of the Probate and Letters of Adminit -tration Bill, and was [LEFT SPEAKINQ.] SOIJ T; OF COMMONS—(ThIs Evening.) T.le SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock. NEW MEMBER. Mr. Maramvtook the oaths and his seat for Wes t Kest. NEW WRIT. Oa the motion of Mr. HA.YTER a new writ was or dered for Glasgow i n th e room of Mr. Jahn M‘Gregor, resigned. (Loud cries of "Hear, hear.") PRIVATE BUSINESS. The following private bills were read a second time and committed :—Banff, Macduff, and Turriff Ex tension. Railway ; Bessehleigh Road ; Bourn and Ea . rendine Railway ; Cannock Mineral Railw a y (N o , 2) ,• Chepstow Gas ; Coniston Railway ; Doncaster and Wakefield Rail vay ; Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee, and Scottish Central Railway Companies ; Forth and Clyde Junction Railway; Fownhope and Holme Lacy Bridge;. Guiliford Water ; Hamilton and Strathaven Railway ; Margate Water; Newtown and Machynlleth Railway ; Shropshire Union Reilwaya and Canal, London and North-Western Railway, and Shropshire Canal Companies ; Times, Athenaeum, and Beacon Assur ance Companies Amalgamation • Weaver Navigation ,; Wexford F ree B r id ge ; Wimbledon and Dorking Rail way ; and Mayor's Court of the City of London. A DMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN BENGAL. Sir B. PERRY pranted a petition from the indigo planters, landed propPretors, merchants, and traders in Calutta an dthe that pri,vin Bengal , on administration justice in j eas • B es and on the reforms proposed by her In di an Ma- Law Commissioners in England. On the Ca r INESE EMIGRANTS. motion of cent communicatioriMr. CARDWELL copies of any re• oaft,iror from the Foreign-office, Co. Board Governade, and any other department Co of her Majesty'e tality on board the Dernnient, ulteniOfn'P on the subject of mor oeland, or any other Bri tish ships, carrying emigrants fro ' were ordered. TESTAMENTARY COURm Ch(IinRa'ELAND). Mr. DEASY a';ked the AttorneyrB 0 Genera! for Ire for n roduce during land, whether it was his intention the present session any mea-mrethe reform of the Testementary Courts in Ireland ? Mr. FITZGERALD said that it was the intention the Attorney-General to introduce such a b i l l thin se 3F •011 of and if possible pass it. (Hear, hear ) THE ARMY REGULATION. Col. SOMERSET asked the Under S , cretary for W ar whether, by the Warrant of the 6th Oct., 1854, a lieu tena'et.eelhnel, in command of a regiment, being a b sent with leave from his command for a period less than one month, lost that time towards the three years of actua command necessary to entitle him to the rank of cat nel ? Mr. F. PEEL paid that the order of the 6th October, 1854 ' was to a certain extent relax al by the Horse Connie. Absence of one month each without loosin g time. If there year was allowed was a greater absence . the rificers had to serve the extra time after the three years had elapsed. - THE GUANO ISLANDS. Yr. SCOTT asked her Majesty's Government what was the date of the treaty whereby the Imainn of Mus cat ceded to her Majesty the group of Curia Maria Islands, valuable for their &pelt of guano ; and whether there was any objection to lay the treaty on the table of the house ? • Lord NAAS asked the tellowieg question before the ether was answered : under what authority the Emigra THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 23, 1857. tion Commissioners granted to Captain Ord and others the exclusive right of raising and exporting guano from the Islands of the Curia Muria Group ; and whether the opinion of the law officers of the Crown had been taken as to the power of the Commissioners to grant such a license I Mr. LABOUCHERE said that there was no treaty ceding these islands to this country, but there was what was termed a settlement of session dated July, 1854. The paper, if necessary, should be laid on the table. As regarded the latter question the colonial office was answerable for giving the license referred to, and not the Emigration Commissioners. The law officers of the Crown had not been consulted relative to this license because it was not necessary. The Go vernment had acted in this instance as Lord Naas did, when in office, on a similar occasion. In the lease granted to Messrs. Ord, provisions were made for guano being imported by them in large quan tities, and to be sold in the open market at Liverpool by brokers. Messrs. Ord had informed Lord Clarendon tbat they were willing to allow merchants to trade to that island for guano by paying them a charge of not more than 2/. per ton for what they took away. THE ORDNANCE BROKERS. Mr. BRADY asked the Under Secretary for War whether his attention had been directed to a trial that took place in the Court of Queen's Bench on the 13th inst.; and, if so, if he could inform tho house if the de fendants in the case were the same gentlemen who were employed as brokers by the Ordnance Department 7 Mr. F. PEEL said that since this question had been put on the paper he bad read the report alluded to. One of the parties was a broker employed by the War De partment, and had been engaged in purchasing timber for the Government for the past 15 months. He saw nothing in the report compromising the character of the parties. CUSTOMS' ENTRIES OF GOODS. Mr. NEWDEGATE asked what were the reasons for an order issued in August last by the Custom House authorities, enjoining ail shippers of goods for exporta tion to make more accurate entries of goods exported, both as to quantity and value, and warning them that the suppression of such information was illegal ; and what had been the result of such order. Mr. WILSON said that the order was issued at the request of the Hull Chamber of Commerce, believing that there was great laxity and carelessness in the sta tistics relative to the exports of cotton yarn. The ob ject was to obtain more correct statistics of the trade. NEUCHATEL. Mr. KINNAIRD asked the First Lord of the Trea• sury when the conference on theNeucbatel question was to meet; and whether there was any hope of the unhappy differences which bad arisen in consequence of the late aggression on Swiss independence being brought to a speedy and satisfactory termination ? Lord PALMERSTON said that no specific time had been fixed for the meeting of the Conference relative to Neuchatel. As all the Powers invited by the Emperor of the French to join in it had consented to meet, he (Lord Palmerston) had no doubt it would shortly take place. The Swiss Government having shown the greatest passible moderation and spirit of conciliation, he had no doubt the king of Prussia would be animated by a similar spirit, and that a satisfactory arrangement would be come to between the parties. (Hear, hear.) LOCAL SHARE MARKETB. LIVERPOOL, FEB. 21. STOOK ExcHANGE.--The market continues active, and the sales in most instances were improved on yesterday. The following were the transactions :--Caledonian, 33$ —Eastern Counties, 10/. Bs. 9d. —Midland, B.ti i—North Eastern, Berwick, 22A—South Eastern 23 8 3 A—Man chester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 36 68 6—Lancashire and Yorkshire, 99i 100—London and North Western, 109 8i 883 —North British, 11—Birkenhead, Lancashire, and. Cheshire, 69i—Great Western, 68i. ze.e..NOHESTER, FEB. 21. _ STOCK EXCHANGE. —There was a rather active demand, at improving prices, and London and North Western touched 109, but closed at 1083. East Lancashire, 24R — Blackburn, 8 11-16—London and North Western Eighths, 8 (I.—Midland, 83 i--Shefaeld, 361—Dover, 23—Leeds Capital Stock, 191—Cheshire Junction, 70. Messrs. Hatchette and Co., the Paris publishers, are new publishiog a complete and uniform translation of the works of Dickens ; it is the first that has been at tempted in France, the translations that have hitherto appeared being only of isolated works, and for the most part by incompetent hands. In a short address, in French and English, prefixed to the first volume (which, by the way, is "Nichol ts Nickleby"), Mr. Dickens de clares that "he is proud to be pr esente d to the great French people, wh om iho !loves and honours sincerely, and whose judgment and suffrage are an object of amei tion for all who cultivate letters." COLLAPSING LIFE-BOAT FOR THE GREAT EASTERN STEAU —SOUTHAMPTON, Saturday: —One of Ber thon's patent collapsing life-boats has just been brought from the establishment of the inventor, at Fareham, and placed in the inner dock, where it has been examined and criticised by various nautical men of this port. I t is in tended for the Great Eastern steam-ship, and is of the following dimensions :—Length, 50 feet ; breadth, 18 feet ; depth, 5 feet. It has six thwarts, with head and stern sheets, and can pull 12 oars double-banked. The advantages of the collapsing life boat are—that it can be stowed away in one-sixth of its width, arid when col lapsed-may be frapped-to against the ship's bulwarks, where it is avail eble for use at a moment's notice. One band is sufficient to open and lower the largest boat of this construction, and its extension is produced by the Viwarts, bottom boards, and gunwale stanchions — all of which are jlinted in the middle—falling down to straight lines as the boat flies open. It is extremely light, - and can readily be lowered into thu water, which it takes on an oven keel. The attention which huaosatl,nti cal at i e t iy m b il e i e ty n given to the construction of lifeboats asa mean s o f saving life in ease of shipwreck and accident, may be we ll directed in favourna of Berthon' s co ll a psi n g by and safely being gene ra lly ac k now l e dged men. [ADVELTIRMI.NT I—llollowny's Ointment and Pills emnrzasjiaanllloaottnieer'siroeinedies for the Cure of Bad Legs.— a Foret) weaver of Galashiels, suffered severely from everything that leg,medica. .and notwithstanding he tried l e c c o te u d l T d udnteivlisheeyet madeall was use to D o purpose ; eo care wasskei h e T hese invaluablef medi- ElollowaSf's 'ointment and pills. itl e he w e smwpneleiebkli:s. Publicity eines soon had the desired effect, i andg fort derive h en lien were empletthcalyt Nealeo i,ers d ;13 edit:lee vendors throughout the world • g fi ' t.—s t o o l t f h b e y f a a l c i t in , at Professor Holloway's Establishments, 244, Strand, Smyrna; and B. London, and SO, Maiden-lane, N ew y o ri by A. A. Guidicy, Ai St u all ir t , pi la e lt o a n . stautillopio ; RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. SOUTH-EASTERN. The report of the directors of the South-Eastern Rail way to the half-yearly general meeting and special gene ral meeting to be held on the 26tb, contains the fedow ing passages : of December last at 37,0321., and the payments at 36,0121., leaving a balance of 1,0201. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said he hoped that very shortly arrangements would be completed for commencing the undertaking. The amended plans were not in the hands of the contractors until January, and therefore they had not had sufficient time to look carefully over the estimates, and give in their decision. With regard to the purchase of land about 17 landowners bad been settled with, and the valuers were peoceeding with all possible despatch. He had reason to believe the contract would be signed in a very few days. A discussion, originated by Mr. Broughton, ensued on the land question, in the course of which it was stated that there remained about 20 miles of the line for which the land had not been purchased. After a very lengthened and animated discussion, chiefly relating to the land question and the delay in commencing the works, Mr. Minshall moved an amendment to the effect that the adoption of the report be postponed, and the meet ing be adjourned till the 28th of March next, instruct ing the directors, in the meantime, to put in force the powers of the agreement with the contractors, or to con tract for the works with some other persons. The amendment was seconded by Dr. Jones, and car ried nem. con. _ _ Mr. Thornton, one of the contractors, s t a t e d th a t they would be in a position to state whether they were prepared to go on with the contract or not by the fol lowing Tuesday. The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairmas. land Company states that there has been a large increase in the traffic of the line. The dividends proposed are 21 4 per cent. on the consolidated stock ; 28s. 9d. per cent. on the Birmingham and Derby ; 3 per cent. on the preferential stock and Erewash Valley stock ; 2 5 on the 41- per cent. stock ; 2 per cent. on the Leicester and Hitchin preference stock ; and 2 per cent, on the 51. shares, leaving a balance of 16,0001. The dividend of the Bristol and Exeter Company will, it is expected, be at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum. The South Wales dividend is at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum on the ordinary stock ; after payment of which there will be a balance of 4,0161. At the adjourned meeting. of the Wimbledon and Croydon Railway the proposed lease of the line to the London, Brighton, and South Coast Company was agreed to. The report of the Cork and Bandon Company has been carried, and the dividends have been declared on the preference shares. The dividends of the Hull and Selby Railway have been declared as follows :-21. 9s. 6d. on each 501. share ; 11. 4s. 9d. on each 251. share ; and 12s. 4d, on each 121. 10s. share. At the Northern and Eastern meeting the usual guaranteed dividends at the rate of 5 and 6 per cent. were declared. The dividends announced at the Royston and Hitchin meeting was at the rate of 6 per cent., less a charge for the expense of manage. ment. The question for arrangement with the Great Northern Company to pay the rent by which this charge could be reduced was discussed, and it will again be brought forward at a special meeting. At the Salisbury aid Yeovil meeting the report detailing progress was adopted, and the contractors are now prepared to pro ceed wherever the land can be furnished to them. The Bradford, Wakefield, and Leeds line is to be ready for opening in June, and arrangements have been made with the Great Northern and the Lancashire and Yorkshire Companies for working it, and with the Leeds, Brad ford, and Halifax Junction Company for using a certain portion of the line. The available balance of the South Yorkshire Company will, after the payment of the guaranteed charges, allow tt dividend at the rate of 4 per cent per annum. The directors of the Mary port and Carlisle Railway recommend a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent, upon shares, both original and preference. The traffic is regarded as satisfactory, and there has been a slight decrease in the expenditure. At the Edinburgh and Bathgate meeting the dividend for the half year was declared at the rate of 4s. 9d, per share. A portion of the debenture debt is now due, which the directors hope to renew on less onerous terms. The shareholders of the Ulster Railway have agreed to the dividend at the rate of 6 per cent., and have adopted the report. A resolution was passed authorising the direc tors to borrow 50,0001. for the extension line, and they were also empowered to deal with the preliminaries respecting the Belfast and West of Ireland project. The report of the Madras Railway is consider id en couraging, and, as the manager's staff is efficiently and economically organised, the board look with confidence to the development of traffic under im proved arrangements. At a meeting of the Madras Company a resolution has been adopted that any interference of the local Government with the traffic fares, such as would prevent the profits reaching 10 per cent., would violate the spirit of the contract entered into by the East India House with the Indian railways. The Newcastle Gaardiau says :—" We are informed on good authority that the result of the annual statement of the affairs ofj the Newctstle and Carlisle Railway Com pany is so favourable as to admit of a dividend at the rate of 8 per cent. for the past half year, making 51 per cent, for the year 1856." DRICADFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION NEAR BARNSLEY. LUNDHILL, SATIMDIT *EVENING. At four o'clock this morning Abraham Turner, of Wath-upon-Dearne, one of the 19 miners got out of the pit alive, died. It was erroneously reported that he was dead on Friday evening. It is expected that Mr. Badger, the county coroner, will open an i n quest on view of the body on Monday. Oa Friday evening it was decided by a number of scientific and practical gentlemen, who have assumed the responsibility of the steps to be taken for restoring the pit to a safe state, that it should be filled with in combustible gas. Arrangements were at once made to carry out this decision ; but owing to its being after wards determined to delay the experiment until the committee had consulted Mr. Nicholas Wood, an emi nent colliery-viewer from the neighbourhood of Dur ham, the apparatus has not yet been put into operation. In case this experiment should be tried and fail—and it is stated that it has not invariably succeeded—it is thought that the only alternative will be to fill the mine with water. As a brook runs near, this could be easily effected, but the immense labour of pumping it out again and the consequent de'ay would make the plan a very costly one. In accordance with the directions of the ma naging committee the upcast shaft was during Friday night nearly closed up, but not wholly eo, lest it should cause a further explosion. A considerable quantity of white vapour continues to issue from the aperture left in the upcast shaft, indicating that there is still an intense heat in the pit. Tests have, however, been applied, from which it would appear that the heat is considerably abating. At 4 p.m. on Friday a thermometer was sus pended 20 yards down the upcast shaft, and the test has been frequently repeated, showing that the heat has gradually fallen from 105 deg. on Friday afternoon to 85 deg. at the same hour on Saturday. At the latter period a piece of wood and a piece of iron were lowered to the bottom of the upcast shaft by means of a piece of tarred rope. On being drawn up at the end of a quarter of an hour it was found that neither the wood nor the rope bad been cha7red or burnt, the wood and iron being but slightly warmed. From this it would seem that the heat is greatly abating. It is only fair to state, how ever, that water is flowing somewhat largely from the sides of the shaft, and as the water had evidently fallen upon the wood and iron it had no doubt influenced the result of the experiment. The exact number of persons in the pit has not yet been ascertained, but in addition to those published on Saturday 450) the names of about 20 more sufferers have been ascertained. Mr. Nicholas Wood arrived at the place about 4 o'clock p.m. on Saturday, accompanied by Mr. Gillot, of Monk wearmouth, colliery viewer. On the subject of the exploration of the mine and closing of the downcast shafts the Manchester Guardian of Saturday says :-- " Between half-past 4 and 5 o'clock (on Thursday after noon) a consultation was held between Mr. Coe and some of the leading mineral viewers of the neighbourhood as to making an attempt to explore the main road as far as pos sible. The general opinion was that imminent danger awaited those who might make the effort, while some thought there was a possibility of the risk not being great. But each stood there ready for the attempt; each volun teered, calmly and after consideration, to face a danger greater than that of most battle-fields. When the prepa rations had been completed Mr. Poe got into the cage, ac companied by Mr. Webster, of the Wombwell Main C)1- liery, and Mr. Maddison, athe Hoyland and Elsecar pits. They got to the bottom,and made their way to the south for 300 yards, doing all that was possible to make good the doors and stoppings that had been blown out, and thus partially to restore the ventilation. They passed some dead bodies, and sawothers lying at short distances in the workings. but their number was not great ; and as they found no ono alive, they were not diverted from their ob ject—that of ascertaining what could be done to check the fire and clear the workings of gas, so that a search might be made. But when they got within sight of the furnace under the ventilating shaft they discovered that all around it the coal had ignited and was burning fiercely. Nothing could therefore be done in that direction ; so the three brave fellows returned to the eye of the upcast, and after breathing awhile there they groped their way along the north level. They went 400 yards, still occasionally pass ing corpses, but uncheered by a sight or sound that indi cated the vicinity of any to whom they could be the mes sengers of hope or life. One thing was satisfactory—no fire was visible upon that side. But when they retraced their steps, and got again to the south of the upcast, they found the fire spreading so rapidly along the coal, and the heat becoming so intense, that they decided to give up the search, feeling that they could aid no one, and that to re main longer would be wantonly to risk their own lives. And it was time, for, while all suffered very much, one of the three was nearly overpowered by the sulphur, and, falling, he narrowly escaped being enwrapped by the lames. " The three gentlemen named had thus spent more than an hour and a half continuously in the burning mine. Their prolonged absence caused the greatest anxiety as to their fate, an the fears were much heightened by what occurred not lon g before the watched-for signal from be low wa s h ear d. For about that time the flames shot up high above the cupola ;' bricks and shattered timbers were scattered far and near; the lurid glare spread over miles of country, and a broad, well-defined streak of soot and ashes was deposited across several of, the adjoining fields, while the bank was covered with coal and wood ashes. Those below knew nothing of what had occurred ; those above attributed it to a second explosion, which had probably done immense damage to the works. There is no doubt that what we have described was coincident with the rapid extension of the flames, which placed the search ers in so much danger. " Another long and anxious consultation was held ; and its result was a determination to cover with boards and puddling the months of the upcast and pumping shafts. At this time the level ground and steep slope between Womb well and the colliery were crowded; and when the deter mination became known it naturally staggered the hopeful and appalled to silence those who had scarcely dared to hope that yet any human beings might be got up alive. That the pieasure showed on the put of the proprietors, viewers, &c., a conviction that no hope could be enter tained that any one below was alive is true ; but, even, if such bad not been their conviction, they believed that such a step was the most prudential. For it was felt that no search could be attempted while the fire raged, and that no one could get through the fire to the shaft, so as to escape ; that nothing could be done until the fire was at least checked ; and that it could not be checked until the ingress of air was prevented. The effect of stopping the two shafts was soon seen in the disappearance of flames from the cupola • but the smoke showed that the coal was still smouldering most extensively, and that no one could reach the bottom alive." The proprietors of the pit felt that in permitting the downcast shafts to be closed they incurred a most grave responsibility, and, as stated in The Sun of Saturday, they during Friday morning took the opinion of a num ber of colliery viewers and other gentlemen whom they invited from the surrounding district, upoa the subject. That opinion was one of unanimous approtal. In order to set themselves right with the public the proprietors and the gentlemen by whom that course had been ad vised again called the colliery viewers and other gentle men together and invited the representatives of the press to be present at the meeting to hear the opinions on the subject. There were present Mr. J. Woodhouse Day, an eminent colliery viewer from Derby, in the chair; Mr. C. Bartholomew, South Yorkshire Com pany ; Mr. Henry Holt, of Wakefield ; Mr. Beecher, of Chapcltown ; Messrs. S. and T. Sutcliffe, of Barns ley ; Mr. Maidicon, of Barnsley ; Mr. Charles Morton, Government Inspector ; Mr. Webster, of Iloyland ; Mr. Cue, of Lundhill ; Mr. Peacock, of Barnsley ; Mr. Chambers (Newton, Chambers, and Co.) ; and the pro prietors of the mine. The CHAIRMAN, referring to the closing of the down cast shafts, justly observed that such a measure was cal culated to excite public feeling, considering that a great number of bodies were left in the pit ; but it was the only hope. The accident occurred at half-past 12 o'clock, so that a period of seven hours elapsed before the pit was closed. Another resolution was that Messrs. Web ster, Cos, and Maddison should be deputed to carry out the views of the committee. The proprietors of the col liery were called in, and were informed of what had been done, and were fully satisfied. The opinion of Mr. Woodhouse was that practical men should carry out the views of the committee rasher than that the responsi bility should rest upon the owners of the pit. The com mittee would consist of Messrs. Woodhouse, Hartack, Holt, Webster, the Messrs. Maddison, Mr. Cooper, Mr. &liars, Mr. Carr, and Mr. Child, all practical men con nected with the colliery. Mr. WEBSTER gave an account of the result of his visit to the mine. On getting to the bottom of the shaft they found that the lower portion of the elides and broadgates were entirely blown up and destroyed, and on proceeding further they found the coal around the furnace was in a complete state of ignition. The coal and woodwork in the upcast shaft had taken fire, and the flames were raging furiously. He could compare it to nothing but to a stream of molten metal being poured down the shaft. They proceeded about 200 or 250 yards along the south level, and found the whole of the furnace down and the coal on fire. They pro ceeded up the levels and broadgates as far as they dared to venture, until they came in contact with the foul air, and were obliged to retreat. They returned to the shaft, and then made an exa mination of the north levels, along which they pro ceeded for a distance of 400 yards, up to the fourth broadgate. During the investigation they found many dead bodies, and the men who accompanied them brought the remains to the shaft. One man was found dead close to the bottom of the shaft ; further on they found 10 bodies in a mass. Not far from the furnace it was supposed that a large number of bodies were lying, as the men generally congregated near the fire at dinner.. The furnace was blown down, and the stables (contain ing six horses) were on fire. When they got near the up cast shaft they saw immense masses of coal and rock falling down. The shaft was like a furnace. The differ ence in the state of the fire when he entered the pit and when he left it was very great. They were in the pit above two hours. The stoppages and brattices between the two shafts wero completely blown away, and theroef fore, except in the level, the pit was dead—i,e., full bad a'r. They would have succeeded in putting up stop pages, but the fire increased to such an extent t they were obliged to retreat. They were so placed that_ if direct had not retreated they would have be en excluded'f r , o they the air and i.uffocated, I , ecause the air was " backin from one shaft to the other. He, Mr. Coe, and Mr,. Maddison ascended the shaf t and held a consultation, but their companions ascende d in haste, saying that it was impossible for any o ne to remain down any lon g er. Of course they then cons idered it their duty to ac q uaint the owners with the position of the mine, and to state that it was imperative to close the shafts, as there was no r an tl y ,e more lives, and that it was the pit in a condition fit for work. probability only chance consulted with t o i n o c n u rr anded ing in again, He gone • down with them. They were called separately, an d o t f o sa re v n in d g e T r il e e s y olu e asked if they were of opinion that it . was impossible to 4et any more bod t ie h s oy ou a t ct o ed f t u h p e o m n in t e h . eir with ttem, and ~ their own by covering over the tops of the pits. In a few minutes after they left the mine the cupola shaft was filled with fire, which reached 50 yards above the summit, and the sparks from that body of flame ascended 100 yards higher. Mr. MORTON (Government Inspector)—This was very strong evidence that you had nearly remained too long. Mr. MADDISON confirmed the statements of Mr. Web ster. He particularly mentioned the immense difference they found in the state of the flames from the time they first saw them until they left the pit. The fire wag really awful when they came back. When they passed the stables at first they could go up to the fire and kick the embers with their feet, but when they came back they durst not approach the place ; the flames extended from one end to the other. They would have been killed if they had not retreated at the time they did. , Mr. C. BARTHOLOMEW exp resse d hi s convic ti on that all the men in the pit must be dead. Mr. WEBSTER added that he had reported his proceed ings to the committee, who concurred with him as to the propriety and prudence of the course he had adopted. Mr. MORTON declared his concurrence in the prudence of the measures which had been adopted, as exp:ained by Mr. Webster and Mr. Maddison. The responsibility which Messrs. Coe, Webster, and Maddison bad all' sumed of closing a pit which contained more than 15 0 persons was a very fearful responsibility, but they b°, re , it creditably, and the measu res th e y h a d a d o pt e d cetw 4 not have been improved under the circumstances. Mr. BARTHOLOMEW.—It would be satisfactory to the public to be assured that the pit was not closed unt il there remained no chance of saving any more lives. , Mr. MORTON expr esse d hi s a p prova l o f a r epose' which had been made to force carbonic acid gas into the pit with a view to extinguish the fire yet burning. :I f the pits had not been closed they would not have been able to get into them again for many months ; the probe" bility was that the shafts would have closed themselve c t and the loss of the whole colliery would have been ion' minent. There could not be two opinions that when th e shafts were closed there was not a man living in the pit. He supposed, of course, that the search was not llba lv doned untill all hopes of recovering any bodies were 01 ‘ . tinguished. Mr. WEBSTER.--Certainly not. I did not leave that mine until every hope was gone. The men who accco" panied us begged us to return, but we did not clon e back until we were positively frightened for our ova lives. If we had remained longer we should have bee n lost. The INSPECTOR said that he should spare no exertkon to have the cause of the accident fully investigated when the proper time arrived, He suggested to the own er° that they should do th e i r b es t to allay the grief of the persons who were berea ve d o f t h e i r friends. Manz, °f , them were not only suffering i n t ense menta l anguish, but it was to be feared were suffering a l so from want food and money. The CHAIRMAN said the proprietors of the colliery bee*. given 5001. as a beginning to the subscription, and had no doubt the example would be followed. On all hands it is stated that the Lundhill Colliery was regarded as almost the model mine of the district! that the air-ways were spacious, the ventilating myrtle! ample • and that the proprietors had f ro m the first sparedno expense in doing all that could be suggetn7, to make and keep the wor ki ngs i n th e . sa f es t s tate pol, sible. Although the seam is admitted to be " it is stated that accumulations of gas, even smaltl bulk, were very rarely discov ere d. Th e fi reme n: L 4 strict orders, which the proprieto r s d o no t suppose sve .7, disobeyed ; and the worki ng ru l es generally, hal'lPl been drawn up with care, have been strictly en force-1 Corbridge, the firema n w h o was b e l ow at t h e time P the explosion, and is now alive, has stated that ever' thing was most sati s f ac t or y d ur i ng Th ursday f or enc °f a and that up to th e f a t a l moment h e cons id ere d the 01 0 ' as safe as at any period since it was opened. If firedamp was discovered during the inspections early in the ulorl ing, or at any other time, a bo ar d, b ear i ng the I; " fire" in conspicuous letters ( w hit e , with a re d gong was hung at the entrance of the particular working, ° I the occupiers of it were bound not to enter until P er mitted by the firemen. The system of working Wye 0 that of " leading and following banks ;". the ventilati% round the face of the coal was considered excellent, 611 „ no pillars have yet been " robbed" or " get." Indeed , although the mine has been worked extensively dur_l i , the two years it has been in operation—the ave` 7 o „, s being about 600 tons a-day—only 13 acres have) been " got." But, having stated these facts, it reccr a to be added that the men worked with candles, Illg e ” lamps being very rarely used by them, an d n ever I' cept when the firedamp was known t o ex i s t. It is 0 1 : that there has only been one p rev i ous f ata l accident in the Lundhill colliery. That was from an explosio c firedamp—accumulated b e t ween S a t ur d ay and Morldigle during the sinking of th e s h a ft s; an d it cause d the des of two or three pe r so ns . Th e coroner f or th e district. Mr. Badger, but no thi ng h as t rans pi re d as t o whea inquest will be commenced ; a n d ev id en tly n o idea s" be formed of when it will be possibl e t o p u rsue the quiry into the cause of this deplorable a cc ident. a Since the above was written the result of a long the earnest consultation, held on Saturday evening at irk offices of the proprietors, by Messrs. Day (in the ral ,„ ( lh i f 6 oi i; N. Wood, C. Morton, Government Inspector, l , rhe and other colliery owners, has been made known. decision arrived at was not to try the experiment troducing incombustible gas into the mine, but on l Y introduce steam and allow a considerable (Pa This statent" 0 f water to accumulate in the wo r ki ngs . io things is to continue until W e d nes d ay nex t, when it f understood that Mr. Wood and th e o th er mem bers the managing committee -will again meet and con" what further steps may be necessary. From what W 5 stated it would appear th a t th e comm i ttee are o f o pinion that the heat in the pit is very greatly abated; but they have given directio ns f or th e s h a f ts to b e s till no re securely closed up, being of opinion that if any ; derable current of air were permitted to pass into " r •,, mine an explosion of a more v i o l en t c h arac ter would suit, and the pit be again set on fire. During Saturl the houses of the miners who hav e p er i s h e d were visit by members of the firm of Tayl or an d C o ., who ear"' relief to the necessitous. THE BUDGET.-ADJOURNED DEBATE. The debate was resumed by Mr. J. M`GREGOR, who said the question before the house was a general and not a party one, and he saw no reason why the house should not come to a vote on the resolution of Mr. Disraeli without hesitation or party feeling. Lord J. RUSSELL said that he was an ardent sup porter of the right hon. member for the Oxford Univer sity in 1852, but he (Lord J. Russell) disclaimed now in the most positive manner the charges brought by him against the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that he had departed from the principles then laid down, and that he bad falsified the promises then held out as to the abo lition of the income tax. He (Lord J. Russell) concurred in the general principles of the Chancellor of the Ex chequer's budget, and disproved, as far as possible, those charges that had been made against the budget by Mr. Gladstone. after remarking on the difficult position the Chancellor of the Exchequer was placci in, he said that he had done well with reference to the income tax. The noble lord then proceeded at some length to enter into the policy of the late Sir R. Peel in 1842, and that of Mr. Gladstone in 1853, contrasting them in their agreements and disagreements with that of the Chan cellor of the Exchequer, who had not abjured the prin ciples of free trade which he had advocated all his life. He (Lord J. Russell) did not agree with the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the duty on fire insurances and on paper, both of which he (Lord John Russell) wished to see reduced to a small amount. He thought it, however, advisable not to touch them now every one's attention was directed to the income tax, and he doubted not that when the time came, and the revenue could bear it, the Government would remit the taxes alluded to. He held it was a great point that they should adhere to the expectation held out in 1853, that the income tax should cease in 1860. The income tax was a very powerful weapon, and the reasons should be overpowering for its continuance after 1860, because it was a species of confiscation—(hear, hear)—taking a part of a man's income without knowing how or where he got, or how long he was likely to have it. (Hear, hear.) It was a tax which nothing but to provide national security should be had recourse to, and that being obtained it should be abandoned as early as possible, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer's proposition with reference to the tea and sugar duties, to carry the budget of 1853 into effect. He considered the re-consideration of the income-tax, as to its continuance, as beyond the ability of any Chancellor of the Exchequer, so as to give satisfaction, and induce the people to receive it favourably. (near, hear.) He (Lord J. Russell) was most desirous to see this tax come to an end in 1860, and he could not see that the Chan cellor of the Exchequer had interposed any obstacles to it. (Hear, hear.) There was an erroneous impression abroad as to the stocks of sugar and tea. There was now an unusually large amount of tea on hand, amounting to 87,000,000 lbs., about 10,000,0001 be. of which would pay duty on the day after the let April, so that we might expect a benefit would be derived from the extra consumption of tea on a reduction of duty. He thought they need not fear about the future supply of tea arising from the Canton difficulties, be. cause that was an affair in the hands of the Government. (Laughter.) He was of opinion that the reduction of 2d. on the pound iu tea would be no real benefit to the consumer, but to the tea dealer. When they got into supply, ho had no doubt the estimates might be greatly reduced lbelow his extravagant estimates of 1843. (LEFT SPEAKING.) REVENUE ACCOUNTS. Result of the Half-Year's Traffic—The usual statements of receipts and expenditure for the half-year ending the 31st Jan., 1857, are now presented to the proprietors. From the revenue account it will be observed that the gross re ceipts during that period have amounted to 583,5431. 4s. 10d. (including 30,0011. 45. Bd., receipts from the steam packet traffic), being a decrease of 2,0691. ss. 63. as com pared with the half-year ending the 31st Jan., 1856. Available Balance—The statement of expenditure on revenue account shows that the ordinary working expenses during the same period amounted to 214,8821. 14s. 103. ; the rates, taxes, tolls, and Government duty to 35,097/. Os. 5d.; and the working exrenditure of the steam packet service to 18,2031. 7s. led. After providing for all charges in respect of rents, interest, preference dividends, annui ties, &c., there remains a net balance of 186,4031. 10s. 2d. available for dividend on the ordinary consolidated stock of the company, or an increase of 16,3291. 10s. 3d. as com pared with the corresponding period of 1855-6. Dividend Recommended—A dividend of 15s. per 301. stock, or at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum, will absorb a sum of 185,8421. 10s., leaving a balance to be carried for ward of 1,5611. Os. 2d. ; and such rate of dividend the di rectors recommend to be paid on the 15th of March next. The receipts for the half-year, as compared with the cor responding period of 1835-6 show an increase of 10,4521. 2s. 3d. TRAFFIC. Number of passengers carried—The total number of passengers conveyed upon the South-Eastern lines during the half-year, as compared with the corresponding period of 1855-6, have been as follows : —1856, 4,528,242; 1857, 4,593,211; increase, 67,002. Receipts, 1856, 377,2 31. 6s. 2d. ; 1857, 372,370/. 17s. 11d. ; decrease, 4,8821 Bs. 3d. Passenger Traffic—The proprietors will observe with sa tisfaction that, notwithstanding the heavy decrease in the receipts for through Continental traffic, which has amounted to 13,5181. as compared with the Paris Exhibition season of 1855-6, the receipts from passenger traffic have on the whole been well maintained. This is attributable to the steady increase of the local traffic generally, as well as to the increased traffic brought upon the line from the Strood and Maidstone branch, which was opened in June last. Merchandise Traffic—The increase under this head dur ing the last half-year has been 4,2701. 14s. 2d., which is satisfactory when the unusually large hop traffic of the corresponding season of the previous year is taken into account. When the necessary goods accommodation on the Strood and Maidstone branch has been completed by the contractor, the directors look with confidence to an in crease of the goods traffic from that source. REVENUE EXPENSES. Working Expenses—The expenditure incurred in the working of the railway (including all ordinary charges upon traffic) during the past half-year exhibits a decrease of 12,5211. 7s. 9il. as compared with the corresponding period of 1855-6. CAPITAL ACCOUNT. Capital Expenditure.—The total outlay on capital ac count during the half-year has been 48,9161. 13s. lid. The principal items are 18,0461. 4s. 6d. for stations and works on the Strood and Maidstone branch ; 14,9391. 15s. 6d. for additional engines and tenders, carriages, and waggons ; and 7,6151. 6s. 7d. for new station buildings at Folkestone. The other items are on account of station enlargements, rendered necessary by the increasing demands of the traf fic ; the expenditure on these several accounts having al ready received the sanction of the proprietors. Additional Rolling Stock.—As intimated in the last half-yearly report, the directors have found it necessary to order six additional locomotives of the most powerful de scription for the efficient working of the company's in creased mileage; and other additions to the carrying stock are also being made, under the authority granted by the proprietors at their half-yearly meeting of the 7th Sept., 1854. Consolidation of Guaranteed Shares.—lt is the intention of the directors to submit for the approval of the proprie tors at the approaching meeting a resolution authorising the consolidation into stock of the fixed Four-aad-a-half per Cent. shares of the first and second issues. Retiring Directors.—Four directors retire by rotation at the approaching meeting of the company, viz.—Alex ander Beattie, Esq., Seymour Teulon, Esq., Jonathan Mellor, Esq., and Charles Gilpin, Esq. ; and these gentle men, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election. EASTERN UNION. The report states that the net income for the half year ending December 31 amounted to 51,0371., from which is deducted 37,847/. for interest on loans and pre ference shares leaving an available sum of 13 , 2391., ou t of which the directors recommend a dividend upon the A stock at the rate of 3 per cent, per annum, being 7s. 6d. per share for the half-year, and of 2 per cent. per annum on the B stock, being ss. per share, leaving 1,2501. for the next account. The capital account shows that 3,000,3481. had been expended. NORFOLK. The dividend to be declared at tlie;ensning half•yearly meeting is to be 21. on the 1001. st3clc, or at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum. LONDON, TILBURY, AND SOUTHEND. The report stated that the contract with the lessees was for a double line to Tilbury, and a single one thence to South-end for 425,0001. The line was opened to Tit bury in April, 1854. On July 3, 1855, 52,0001. was authorised to be raised on shares for the purchase of the Thames Haven line. In the session of 1856 the sum of 55,000/. on shares anal 40,0001. on loan was authorised to be raised for complAing a double line to Southend, and also 200,0001. on shares and loans for the Bow and Barking branch. Upon the whole of the share capital the lessees have contracted to pay interest at 6 per cent. per annum and half surplus profits. Tee line was com pleted to Southend in June, 1856. The expenditure to the 31st of December on the Tilbury and Southend line amounted to 592,8161., and on the Barking branch to 59,6071. The traffic receipts for the half-year ending the 31st of December amounted to 34,572/., and the ex penses to 19,5971., leaving a net balance of 14,9751. NORTH LONDON. The report of the directors states that there has been an increase in the receipts of 6,6481., and a diminution in the working expenses of 2461,, as compared with the corresponding period of 1855. After deducting all out goings and interest on the debenture debt, the net ba lance amounts to 23,3591., being sufficient to pay a divi dend at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum for the half year ending Dec. 31, and leave 7881. to be carried for ward. The net balance at the corresponding period of 1855 was 18,1551., the dividend at the rate of 4 per cent., and the balance amounted to 148/. The stock and share ledgers were found to be perfectly correct. The receipts fcr the half-year amounted to 64,3301., and the expenses to 33,7901., leaving a balance of 30,5401. The expendi ture on capital account amounted to 1,320,250/. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on Friday at the Euston station ; Sir H. Verney in the chair. The resort stated that the traffic of the line con tinued to increase, and that, after the payment of the 4 per cent. dividend guaranteed by the London and North- Western, there remained a balance of 6041. The report vsas adopted ; and the retiring directors were re-elected. BRISTOL AND EXETER. The report of the directors states that the gross traffic receipts from July 1 to Dec. 31, 1856 (including those of the Exeter and Crediton and Somerset Central Railway), amount to 179,5051, which is 6,0241. more than in the corresponding period of 1855. The working expenses amounted to 82,2771., or 48.16 per cent., leaving 711. 18s. 4d. per mile on 124 miles worked during the last half-year. The comparative statement of traffic receipts for the same time gives an increase in favour of 1856 of 1,6861. on passengers, 2,7381. on goods, and 1,3361. on parcels ; added to which are sums received from mails and ex presses, and increase on Exeter and Credition, making altogether a total increase of 6,0241. The balance of the revenue account, including 1,0801. brought from the for mer half year ' is 58,7451., which ena bl es th e propr i etors to declare a dividend of 5 per cent. per annum for the last half-year, and to carry forward a surplus of 8,7451. The suspense accounts having been now extinguished, the directors feel justified in recommending this improve ment of dividend, and hope, by the further development of traffic, that this increase m a y b e ma i n t a i ne d . The cost of locomotive power is at the rate of 10.31 d. per mile run. The directors, in conjunction with the Great Western and South Devon Board+, recommend further assistance to the Cornwall railway. The directors have provisionally agreed to take a lease of the West Somer set Railway when complete and ready for traffic. WELLS AND FAKENHAM. On Wednesday the half-yearly meeting of this com pany took place at 69, Lombard-street; Mr. Southgate in the obair. The balance-sheet, to the 31st of Dec., 1856, showed that the receipts amounted to 61,0951., and the expendi ture to 60,0251., leaving a balance of 1,0701. This statement having been adopted, A Proprietor requested some information as to the condition of the line. The Chairman stated that the line might be consi dered complete with the exception of a portion of the permanent rails. All the bridges were finished. They were now waiting for material to complete the perma nent way, but he had no doubt the line would be ready for traffic in the month of May next. He was quite sure it would be considered one of the best lines in the king dom, having cost only 9,000/. a mile. The meeting then separated. --- SHREWSBURY AND HEREFORD. The directors' report states that the receipts from pas senger traffic show an increase in the past.balf year on the corresponding period of 1855 of 5.80 per cent., and the goods traffic has improved 34 per cent. in the same period. The total receipts show an average of 291. ss. per utile per week, or 51. per mile per week in excess of the correvo.ndiug six months of 1855, which is satiste tory. The dividend guaranteed by Mr. Brassey, after the rate of 4 per cent. per annum, less income tax, is re ceived, and the directors recommend that it be paid on the 4th of March next. The accounts show that of the - 900,0001, authorised to be raised 550,392/. ha 3 been received, and 523,066/. ex- Ifended. OSWESTBY AND NEWTOWN. • On Saturday the halt-yearly meeting of this company was held at Welshpool ; Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart., M.P., presided. - The Secretary (Mr. Stephens) read the report, which stated that Mr. J. Cubitt had been appointed engineer in -chief, and Mr. Piercy resident engineer of the cora pany. The directors viewed favourably the efforts making to extend railway communication through the centre of the principality to the coast, as the property of this company would be thewby considerably improved. The accounts stated that the receipts up to the 31st SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE. The directors' report states that the condition of the line and works is satisfactory. The Cannock and Nor ton branches will be completed before the Ist of August next. The dividend, 4 per cent., will be payable on the 2d of March. . . The capital account shows that 1,244,3861. had been received, and 1,230,6951. expended, leaving a balance of 13,6911. The general revenue from Aug. 1, 1850, to Jan. 31, 1857, shows the receipts to have been 342,3551., and the payments 302,4701., leaving a balance of 39,8841. STOCKPORT, DISLEY, AND WHALEYBRIDGE. The report of the directors of this company states that the line is expected to be finished early in spring, and the directors are now making preparations for the working of the traffic by the London and North-Western Com pany. When the junction with the Cromford and High Peak Railway is completed a large traffic in lime, lime stone, and minerals is expected from that company's kilns and quarries for which they are now making ar rangements and providing additional plant. The capital account shows that 150,0361. had been re ceived, and 160,6821. expended, leaving a balance against the company of 10,596/. MARYPORT AND CARLISLE. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held at Maryport on Wednesday ; Mr. G. W. Hartley in the chair. An abstract of the report has appeared in The Sun. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, congratulated the shareholders on the improved position of their affairs. A long discussion ensued as to whether the interest or dividend on the 41 per cent. shares should be paid when due on the 30th of June or 31st of December in each year, or not until after it was declared at the next fol lowing half -yearly meeting. The question was referred to the directors, who are to report the result at a special meeting. Resolutions were passed adopting the report, and de daring a dividend on the ordinary shares at the rate o. 5 per cent. per annum, less income tax. DEADNESS VALLEY. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held at York on Friday ; Mr. G. Leeman in the chair. The Secretary read the report, which stated that the works were progressing satisfactorily. The timber via ducts over the river Dearness were now completed, and several cuttings were either finished or in course of exe cution. The expenditure had been 22,0601., and the re ceipts 12,0031., leaving a balance due to the bankers of 10,0521. The report was received, and the meeting separated. DUBLIN AND WICKLOW AND KINGSTOWN, The report states that the receipts (33,3871.) . On the Kingstown portion of the line have been most satisfac tory, and, as compared with the corresponding period of the previous year, show an increase of 4,2081., which in cludes a sum of 2,4241. received from the Kingstown Company on account of subscription tickets unexpired at the date of the lease. The balance to the credit of revenue on the last half-year amounts to the sum of 4,5931. The report further states that the entire of the Wicklow line proper was not open during the whole of the corresponding period of the previous year, but shows an increase of 7,293/. The receipts of the half-year amounted to 17,7541. and the working expenses to 8,6071., leaving 2,4551., and making with the balance from previous half-years a sum of 8,0381. on the revenue of the Wicklow line, to . which is added a balance of 4,5391. on the Kingstown accounts, making a total ba lance on revenue account of 12,9741., which will be car ried forward as available for dividend at a future period. The amount of the company's debt is 193,6091., against which is to be set credits amounting to 24,5911., leaving a net debt of 169,0171. LONDONDERRY AND ENNISKILLEN. The report states that after providing for the interest on loans and other liabilities there remains a disposable balance of 5,5271., which will pay the full dividend on the 6 per cent 101. shares, and 4 per cent. on the 5 per cent. 12i. 10s. preference shares, GREAT SOUTHERN AND WESTERN. The report of the directors states that the traffic re ceipts for the half-year ending the 31st of December last amounted to 184,4841., against 180,2951. at the corre sponding period of 1855, showing an increase of 4,1891. The total receipts for the year 1856 amounted to 355,384/ and for 1855 to 336,7781., showing an increase of 18,606/. The net surplus revenue for the half-year amounted to 93,1921., out of which the directors recom mend a dividend at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum on the original stock, leaving a balance of 18,1921.-8,000/. of which they recommend to be placed to the credit of the reserved fund, and 10,192/. to be carried forward to the next account. Having now declared a dividend at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum for two successive per cent. perferential stock will, on half-years, the 6 payment of this dividend, become merged in.the general stock of the company. MAD R.A.S. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on Thursday at the London Tavern ; Major-General D. Sun in the chair. An abstract of the report of the directors appeared in The Sun of Monday. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, sainhe total receipts for the half-year amounted to 127,862 rupees, and the working expenses to 66,583 a profit of 61,27 9 rupees towards the re payment of interest ad vance d b y the E ast I n di a rupees,Company. leaving The profit on the working was equivalent to 2} per cent. per annum on the capital expended in the construction of the line opened and in providing the rolling stock. Mr. Arbuthnot seconded the motion, which was una nimously adopted. A long discus6ion ensued, in which Dr. Beattie, Mr. J. Bates, and other shareholders took part, in the course of which the interference, by the Government of Ma dras in the management of the traffic and other arrange ments of the company was strongly objected to, and its legality questioned. On the motion of Mr. G. Norton, seconded by Mr. Lewin, the following resolution was almost unanimously passed, there being only one dissentient : • " That any controlling interference of the local Govern ment of India, through its officials for regulating the traffic affairs, with a view to the cheap accommodation of the . public, by mincing the profits of Indian railway com panies below 10 per cent. on the capital, is opposed to the spirit of the contract between the East India Company and the railway companies, and that the directors be re quested to continue their exertions in carrying out the ob pets of this resolution." Resolutions were passed re-electing Lient.-Col. D. Montgomerie, Major-General D. Sim, and Mr. A. Mac - . kenzie, the retiring directors, and Mr, G. Norton, the retiring auditor. - - The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman and directors, The railway meetings of last week were again numerous. The London and North-Western dividend will be at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum, leaving a balance of a b out 4 500/ ~ the proposal of the directors to distribute : a t the rate of 54 per cent. having b een de feated. Th e po i nts brought un d er consideration were the results of management, the necessity for economy, and the contemplated e xpenditure of 350,0001. for the . construction of th e thi r d li ne o f rails from Willesden to Bletobley an d other works, and 2 5 ,360 1 . on var i ous station.. and sidings for increased accommodation. Aceordiug to th e report of t h e S ou th-E as t ern Com pany, the net balance available .for dividend on the ordinary Consol i date d s t oc k i s 187,4031., which, aft er th e payment of 15a. per 301. stock, or at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum for the past half-year, will absorb a sum of 185,8421, leaving a b a l ance of 1,561/. The report of the Eastern Counties Comp any states that, including 3,4661. brought forward from l ast account, the available amount is 80,4381. A s th e directors propose to declare a dividend of ss, p e r share, which w ill t a k e 72,9201., the sum re maining is 7,5181. Great attention has been paid to eco nomy in the carious departments, and several unprofit able arrangements have been modified and others termi nated. At the Blackwell Railway meeting the dividend at the rate of 3s. 6d. per share was confirmed, and the report was agreed to. , It is stated that the Eastern Counties Company show a disposition to une the line forshort traffic. The agreements with t h e North London Railway an d th e lessees of the Tilb ury C ompany an d t h e Vi c t or i a Docks, respecting wa re h ouse accommodation, had been of view. The sanc tioned by a majority. The report of the Scinde Railway has been adopted, an d the whole of the speakers di rec t e d attention to the ad vantages of the undertaking i n a com mercial, political, and military point divid end declared atthe meeting of the Blyth and Tyne Com pany was at the r a t e of 8 per cent., and the prospects of traffic are conside re d satisfactory. The M orpe th b ranc h wilt shortly be op ened for the use of the pu bli c . At the adjourned meeting of the Great Western Company the result of the poll on the question of the amendment was declared to be a l arge majority in f avour o f the direc tors. Explanations were entered into with respect to greater number of sh are h o ld ers . Th e re port of the Mid- the coal traffic, whi c h appeared to b e sa ti s f a ctory to the TRAFFIC RETURNS FOR THE WEEK. Miles Receipts. opened, NAME OF RAILWAY. 1856. 1857. 1856 ---, - -.--- nammt. £ £ 115 Aberdeen .......• •• •• • ...... • • •• '' - - 373 4, Belfast and Ballymena ••• • • • ........ 1,1 2 1 809 1 7 Belfast and County Down. •••.••• • • .. 252 220 83 Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire 2,163 1,846 26 % Bolton,Blackburn, and West York •• • • - - 117 Bristol and Exeter •••••••••• • • • • • • • 4,836 5,307 191 X Ca1ed0nian.,........... ............ 1 1 , 890 10 ,5 5 6 941 A Chester and Holyhead •• • ........ 3,993 3,923 636 Cork, Blackrock, and Passage •••• • • 159 148 20 Cork and Bandon .. • • .. • • •• •• •• • • • • 231 190 56 Dublin and Belfast ,T unction ~....... 1,105 958 63 Dublin and Drogheda...... - ......... 1,369 1,223 40IA Dublin and Kingstown •• • • .......... 1,078 879 16% Dundee and Arbroath •• •••• .. • ... .. 513 397 3 1 Dundee, Perth, and Aberdeen Junction 951 877 36 Dundalk and Enniskillen - ...... 401 305 67% East Anglian.... .. .... .. ...... .. .... 911 790 93 East Lancashire ........ - .......... 5,925 5,293 417 Eastern Counties and N0rf01k...... Eastern Union - ...... .• - ..., .... 21,198 18,957 142 Edinburgh and Glasgow • • ...... 4 880 4,272 128 Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee...... 5,287 4,801 6 Exeter and Crediton.. • • • • • • • • • • - - 22 Furness Railway •• • ••.. - _ ...... 1,258 812 183 % Glasgow, and South-Western........ 5,969 5,553 283 Great Northern 203% Great Southern and Western (Ireland) 5,611 6,047 415 Great Western ••• • • • ........ .. 25X Irish South Eastern •• • • .... .. •••• .• 223 261 90 Lancaster and Carlisle.-- .. ..... . 5,374 5,086 286 X Lancashire and Yorkshire..• • - Leeds Northern .. • • .. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • - - 16} Liverpool, Crosby. and Southport.• - - 637 London and North Western 5% London and Blackwall.• •••• • • - 183% London, Brighton, and South Coast 9,899 9 , 1 83 267 London and South Western. • • 60 Londonderry and Enniskillen .. .. - Manchester, Buxton, and Matlock, &c - - 173% Manchester. Sheffteld,end Lincolrushlre 8,703 7,850 9 34 Manchester and South Junction ••• • .• 766 673 28 Maryport and Carlisle • • • • • • • • • . • • 498% Midland .....- .. .• •• •• • • 1265( Mldiand Great Western (Irish) 52 Monklands •......• •• •• - - 785 Newcastle and Carlisle 2,932 3,037 149 North British 233 North Staffordshire • 5,762 6,334 47 North-Western .........; BO6 899 87% Scottish Central .. •• •• • • ...... •• - - 32 Scottish Midland •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• - - 29)4 Shrewsbury and Birmingham 48 Shrewsbury and Chester 30 Shropshire Union ...... , ... 57% South Devon ....................... 1,893 2,027 289 South Eastern ...................... 13,429 12,882 111% South Wales .........• - .......... . 6,327 5,617 97 South York., Doncaster, and Goole .. 2,125 2,061 39 Taff Vale .......................... 4,412 3,540 36 Ulster. • • .......................... 1,363 1,135 77 Waterford and Limerick • ........... 1,127 913 27% West Cornwall ...... -..... ....... 463 532 12 Whitehaven Junction .•••••••••••••• 397 307 682 , York and Newcastle, and Berwick & York and North Midland & Leeds.. - - POREION: LyonsDntch R an h d en m is ed h it . L .. r . a . ,;a . n ........ 23,265 18,846 - - 3 10 28 9 63 Montereau and Troyes .............. _ - - Namur and Liege .................. _ - 415 Northern of France ................ 36,924 32,065 - Orleans and Central .. - 59 Paris and Lyors .... •• • :....... 38,748 27,197 - . Paris and Rouen. .................. _- _ - Paris and Strasburgh ••..•• .. .. •• 30,471 29,201 --Rouen and Havre.. ...........-.. .. _ - Western of France.... - SOUTHAMPTON DOCK COMPANY. SOUTHAMPTON, FED, 19. The directors' report, to be submitted to the half yearly meeting of shareholders on the 25th instant, states that the gross earnings for the.year 1856 ex ce,_.l those of 1855 by 1,7371. 183. 11d., but that heavy disburse m ents tor repairs andthe large amount of local rates and taxes have considerably augmented the expenditure ; and various circumstances have concurred during the last half-year:to occasion a temporary diminution of the progressive increase of receipts which the directors had reason to ex pect, and which expectation, they trust, will be more satisfactorily realised, and produce more sub stantial results dining the present year. The ac counts show a net revenue, after payment of the interest on debentures debt of the dividends on preferencs stocks, and of all the working expenses, repairs, &c., for the half-year ended on the 31st of December, 1856, amounting to 7,849/. 16s. 7d. ; add surplus carried over: from last half-year, 5271. 18s. ; making an available balance of 8,3771. 14s. 7d. ; from this sum the directors recommend that a dividend for the half-yeas at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum, payable on the 4th of March, .be declared, amounting on 360,8651. ordinary stock to 7,217/. 65., leaving a surplus to be carried to the credit of the next half-year of 1,160/. 83. 7d. This dividend, with the amount paid for the half-year ended the 30th of June last, makes the dividend on the com pany's ordinary stock for the year 1856, amount to 4 per cent. Appended to the report is the sub joined statement of the aggregate amount of ton nage of shipping which entered the docks during the year 1856 : West Indies ••• ... Brazils ... • East Indies, via Alexandria... Peninsula Black Sea United States ... Australia (Emigrants) • ~ (Steamers ..• A.ntwerp Madeira... ••• France ••• Channel Islands .•• Colliers ... •• Coasters .•• ••• Vesselt (laying IT) ••• „ (for repair) ... Tone. 72,52(1 29,512 44,133 35,555 80,810 25,800 18,106 6;791-24,897 • ... 5,780 ••• 673 ••• 60,571 64,939 ••• ... 69,68 a ... 70,791 ••• •.• 10,612 ,•• 18,834 ,•• 20,172 Total ... 638,331 PARLIAMENTARY RETuriss.—Returns relating to the metropolitan highways, polling places in counties an d number of electors , " c a p itation money" to schools, and statistics of the army in the East, were issued on Friday. [ADVERTISEMENT.] —WO have read with much pleasure Du Barry's roport ou the cure of Indigestion (Dyspepsia), Flatu lency, Constipation, Nervous, Bilious, and Liver Complaints, C oug h, Asthma, Consumption, and Debility, without medi cine, by Du Barry's Food. The following are a few extracts w hi c h appear to merit tho attention of many:—Cure No. 47,121.—" Miss Elizabeth Jacobs, of Nazing Vicarage, Wal thani-cross, Herts ; a cure of extreme nervousness, indiges tion, gatherings, low spirits, and nervous fancies." Cure No. 45,314.—" Miss Elizabeth Yeoman, Gateacre, near Liverpool; a cure of teu years' dyspepsia and all the horrors of nervous irritability." Cure 51 ,415.—Oystermouth, Swansea, 24th August, 1853.—Bilious headaches of frequent occurrence, which my wife had been subject to for many years, have been removed by Du Barry's salutary Revalenta Arabica Food.— E. J. BUTLER. Cure 51,416. Gower, near Swansea, August 21, 1853. Thirty years' dreadful suffering from rheumatism has been removed by Du Barry's delicious Revs lenta Arabica Food,• in five weeks' time.—WILLIAM Supported by testimonials from the celebrated Professors of Chemistry Dr. Andrew Ure ; Dr. Shorlaud ; Dr. Harvey ; Dr. Campbell ; Dr. Gattiker ; Dr. Wurzer; Dr. Ingram ; Lord Stuart de Decies; the Dowager Countess of Castle stuart ; Major-Go. Thomas King, and many other respectable persons, w h ose h ea L'h has been restored by It, after all other For further particulars respect means of cure h a d fallti -1* viers . are referred to Du Barry'. ing this inv a l ua bl e food our rt: advertisement in another part - of to: paper. Country Markets. HADDINGTON GRAIN MARKET-4EB. 20* WHEAT. I EARLEY I OAII. e gAIP I First 66 s Od 45s 6d 38s Od 5 03 9 1 Second 43s Od i 39s 4d / 293 Od 4 1 ' 0 4 Third 2 9s Od / 33s Od 1 21s Od 3 4 s old Total quantity of wheat in m ar k e t, 860 qrs., 710 ii i d NO fl, barley „ 258 qrs . , 213 Ina ,I 11 ~ , oats ,; 821 qrs ., 613 _A°°‘ beans tf 226 qrs. , '' 226 '" AVERAGES PER IMPERIAL QUARTER. ~,,,,,s Wheat, 2/. 3 0 11-12th s I B ar l ey, ... 1 1. 19 4 0-1' Oats, ... li. 9 0 10.12ths I Beans, .....21. 1 9 1-12tha DALKEITH GRAIN MARKET—FEB. 19. Qrs. B es t. Inferior Current. Od 780 Wheat 62s Od 225 36 s 1 5 0id d .... .. • ............ Ts gi 1298 Oats 34s Od 401 Barley 443 61.1 3ss 6CI ......... 2'2 3 ,i 31 Peas & beans 42s Od 3 Bs 101 d......... 31i v• ABERDEEN—FEB. 20. Potato oats 21s 01 to 22s Od 1401bs per Wi lla Common oats 20s Od to 21s Od Bore 34s Od to 36s Od 531 Barley 34s Od to 36s Od . 8 sir Wheat, red (spring)3ss Od to 38s Od 1621bs , white 3os Od to 45 s Od It Oatmeal 41978 s Od6 t t oo 50s s s 061 perpe r boll. e,e Flour PROVISION MARKET. Beef, per lb 6d to 9d I Butter, p lb. 18 01 t o 10 Mutton, per lb. 6d to 8d Eggs, p doz. Os 8d to 041 ,1 (. Lamb, do., Os Od to N 0 1 Hens, p p a i r 3 s Od to 3s in Veal, per lb ••• 9d to Os 10d Chick ens ,d o .2 B Od to 2e . 6 1 Pork, per 1b...0s 6LI to Os 8d Ducks, do. 2s Od to 25 oi Salmon, per lb Os to Os D uc klings,doOs Od to o.e o d Grouse, per brace Os to Os Turkeys, each 4s Od to _ 55 Tallow, p stone, Os t o 12 s 61 P otatoes, pr peck, 81 1" Rabbits, each 9d to 101. o 10 6. Butter for expo r t a ti on ( present cure) per cwt. 1048 - t Eggs, wholesale price, per dozen 6d t° RETAIL PRICES. Flour, 141b....0s Od to 2s 91 Barley flour,l4lb.oB to 2 0 , „ odd Os 01 to is 10d dust, •Or to 01 11 Beremeal ....Os Od to 2s Od „ per lb 2d to Peasem sal... Os , Od to 2s 81 Sids, Cheese, per imperial stone, 4s. Od. to 4s 6d 4-lb. 10af...7d. I 2-lb. 10af...3i d. DII4LIN; FEB. 20. White wheat, 31s 61 to 34s 6d.; rod ditto, 31e Od to .3d• 6d; ditto now, —s ; barley, malting, 16s to 25s 6d ; gnD ing, 15s to 203 6d ; oats, old, lie to 13s ; ditto, new, - - " Q : Oct to 15e Od ; oatmeal, 141 to 15s Od; bore, new, 16e to 1 ,7, Od; rapeseed, 303 Od to 32s Od per brl ; bakers' flour, 1 _ 1 ; 6d to 26s Oct per cwt; Indian corn, 3is Od to 378 Od r 480 lb.E. BIRTHS. or ♦ SOX. On the 20th inst., at Lower Norwood, the wife of if. r" Goodhall, Esq. On the 20th inst., at 14, Dorset-square, the wife of Wig John Walter Baynes, Esq. OF A DAUGHTER. On the 21st inst., at 20, Regent's Villas, Avenue•roado Regent's-park, the wife of Marcus Ber es f or d, E sq. On the 21st inst., at 31, Uppe r B e df or d -place, t h e wi- f 0 Francis Cramp, Esq. MARRIED. On the 21st inst., at Paris, Charles Kennerley Hall, s q'i of the Alliance Bank, to Mari e S op hi e Cl a i re "daughter ° Monsieur A. do Sdnae, of Vill e d' Avray, formerly Direct or in-Chief at the Ministere du Commerce. On the 21st inst , at St. Mary Newington, Geo. Hammond! . Esq., of 7, Sutherland -t errace, to Cather i ne M acrae FA" hope, eldest daughter of John Easthope, 17, Surrey-ten -o° ' Walworth. On the 21st inst . ., at the church of St. Paul, Starcron Devon, Mr. Richard Herring, of Watlin(r-street, to Su . ,, Drew, eldest ( laughter of John Dewducy, ° Esq., of Stapl e house, Into of Hole. DIED. On the 21 s t i ns t ., William Sanger, Esq,, of 4, Essex -c ourt, and 10, E us t on - square, aged 61. On the 2Uth inst., at Camberwell, Arthur Ryland, Es c l'„' bar rister-at -law, Ileneher of Gray's-inn, and Senior Coingo'" Pleader of th e C orpora ti on o f L on d on , On the 20th hist I at 38, Argyle-squaro, Hubert B urke ' Esq, Uu the 20th inst , at 3, Edwards-street, Portman - sq uaret Mr. Joh n C. C ross . Oa the 20th inst., at Canterbury, Kent, Wm. Lee, BSC1" late of York-place, Mile-end-road, London, aged 5 3 . On the 20th inst., at Sunbury, Middlesex, Joseph Turner Esq., aged 89. the On the 20th inst., at Hinton St, George, S om erset, s _, Hon. Amias Poulett, youngest son of the Earl and Coun te Poulett, aged 22. LONDON : Printed and Pablished by MURDO YOUNG' of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at 27ie Sun Office, N O. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the count/ w - IP of Middlesex, Monday, Fvbruary 23 185 iii 7 I