Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-08-31 00:00:00

burnt 250 of the enemy's dead, and large numbers were removed by therhselves into the city. Our loss was considerable, amounting to 212 killed and wounded. The enemy's practice with shot is generally very good, with shells less so—they are apparently short of regular fuzes, using in their place pieces of bamboo. They have still, and are likely to have as long as their day lasts, plenty of powder. The large magazine, con tained 10,000 barrels, most of which fell into their hands, though some of it was plundered. The magazine blown up so gallantly by Lieutenant Willoughby contained the small arm ammunition 2,500,000 rounds. The mutineers then in Delhi, were reckoned at from 11,000 to 12,000 men, and to have formed portions of 31. different regiments. " In the Punjaub the authorities have been busy disarming the few regiments that were still under arms, in the view of setting free more European troops to operate against Dolhi. At Jhelum the 14th Native Infantry offered a determined resistance to the wing of the 24th Regiment sent to take their arms, and were not broken and dispersed until they had killed and wounded some 50 of the Euro peans, The 58th Native infantry was disarmed at Rawul Pindee, after showing fight fin• a while. The 4th Native Infantry, at Noorpore, imme diately gave up their arms when called upon to do so by their commanding officer, unbacked though he was by the presence of a single English soldier. Similar good behaviour attended the dis arming of the 10th Light Cavalry at Ferozepore. But at Sealkote a terrible tragedy has been enacted. There, on the morning of the 9th, the wing of the 9th Light Cavalry and the 40th Native Infantry rose in mutiny. Brigadier Brind, commanding the station, vv.ia shot while riding out of his compound. Capt. Bishop, of the 16*was waylaid by a trooper, who brought him from the saddle by a shot from his carbine, and then reloading, fired again and killed him as h' lay wounded on the ground. Most of the other officers, though repeatedly fired at, gainei the fort in safety. Dr. Graham was driving his daughter thither, in his gig, when a trooper rode up to him and shot him dead His daughter seized the nine, and drive screaming into the nearest compound with her father's body in her lap. I think it fitting that you should know something in England of what your countrymen have been going through, or I should shrink from making 'public this poor young lady's sorrow. She escaped, however, as did the family with whom she took refuge, though exposed for hours to the most imminent danger of sudden and violent death. Their hiding place was good, and was discovered by one only of the mutineers who met a fitting fate from the barrel of a revolver. The rebels, having sacked the station, rushed off, and three days afterwards had crossed the river Ravee by a ford. There they were attacked by Brigadier Nicholson with the flying column (52nd Light Infantry, oth Punjaub Infantry, and other troops) and driven back across the river with con siderable loss of life and the capture of the camp and plunder. For want of cavalry they could not be followed up. "T 3 turn to Central India. The fugitives from Indore, and from two or three stations of the lake Gwalior Contingent, have for the most part arrived in safety at Hoshungabad, south of the Nerbudda, where the 28th Madras Native Infantry received and housed them. Their sufferings were terrible. Exposed, most of them delicate women and chil dren (one of the latter I know only three weeks' old) first to intense heat, then to thirty-six hours' incessant rain, wading rivers up to their shoulders, half starved, half clothed—that they survived at all is a marvel. In the Sanger and Nerbudda territories the mutinies have been less extensive than was believed. At Jubbulpore the 52nd Native Infantry are still behaving well. At Saugor, the 31st, with the exception of a very few, remained staunch, and under their native officers, the Euro peans having been forced to fly to this fort, drove the -I2d out of the station, capturing their colours. We may now hope that this part of the country will hold out till the column from Nagpore, now on its way thither, arrives. Holkar remains staunch. Mhow has probably this day been reached by the Bombay column from Poonah. Neemuch is occupied by a party of the 83d Queen's from Nuseeerabad. " The Deccan, though Nagpore is safe, is giving us a little anxiety here, Hyderabad being a very inflammatory place. However, the Madras force there is very strong, and the wing of the 12th Lancers is moving down there from Kirkee, while a Madras column will shortly advance from Ban galore to Kurnaul, to hold the southern part of the country in check.. "Nearer home the Government is looking out to get at the other end of a string of which one ex tremity is discovered. The mooloie or high priest of the Mussulmen at Poonah has been arrested for treasonable correspondence with somebody at Belgaum. That somebody remains to be caught. The authorities are silent, but wary and vigilant. In the north of the Presidency, at Ahmedabad, a few of the Guzerat Horse, some seven, broke out one day in open mutiny and wounded an officer, but were shot or taken. Otherwise we have been quiet. The approach of the Mohur rum is causing a little, but I think needless, anxiety. I should mention that the Bombay Fusiliers have reached Lahore, setting freo the 81st for ser vice before Delhi. Madras troops aro going up to Calcutta, whence two steamers have been sent for them. Large levies of Sikbs are being made in the Puejeub, and also in the Hansi and Hisser districts, now quite, tranquillized by General von Certlandt. Burmab is all safe, having no Bengal troops in it now but six companies of the 25th, if indeed they have nut ere this left for Calcutta. " 4 The rain is falling at last splendidly. I hope, for the sake of the country, that it is general. A meeting has been held here in aid of the sufferers in the north-west, and large amounts subscribed. The government have notified that payments into the open 5 per Cent. Loan will be received half in cash, half in 4. per Cent. paper ; hence the prices had fallen to 92. The prices rose to 85, but are now at 83. Exchange on London, 2s. 24. " 4 P.S. The mail is just closing. More news from Delhi via Lahore. A fierce fight on the 1-tth Loss of the mutineers greater than ever. Seven officers wounded. The 39th Nativo Infantry quietly disarmed at Debra Ismail Khan. The remnant of the Sealkote mutineers, of whose discomfiture by Nicholson on the 12th I wrote just now, were attacked and utterly and finally routed by him on the 15th. They had taken post on an island in the Ravee, and had placed their one gun in a breast-work on the mar gin. Nicholson took the 52nd across the island from a point below that on which the enemy's gun bore, and that piece was moreover kept in check by the fire of two nine-pounders and a howitzer from our bank of the river. We landed the 52nd, took the gun with little trouble, slew many of the mutineers, and drove the rest into the river, from which those that escaped to the further hank would fall into the hands of the Sikh zemindars, who would show them n'a mercy. We had but four men of the 52nd wounded. An excellent piece of service." CHINA. HONG KONG, RUT 10. Lord Elgin and suite arrived in her Majesty's steamer Shannon, Captain William Peel, on tha 2nd inst. His lordship landed officially on the 6th instant, and on the following day held a levee, when an address, signed by the community, was presented to him. As far as his lordship has ex pressed himself as to the policy that is to guide his nets in relation with this country, it is satis factory to know that his lordship concurs in the opinion expressed by the community here— " That no settlEment of our present difficulties will be satisfactory which shall fail to teach the Cantonese a wholesome respect for the obligation of their own govern ment in its relations with independent Powers, and for the laws of hospitality toward strangers who resort to their shores for imposes of trade. The Shannon, with his lordship, proceeds north immediately, but the object of his visit is not declared. Her Majesty's ship Calcutta, with Admiral Sir Michael Seymour, her Majesty's steamers Pearl and Hornet, and small steamer Coromandel, also form part of tha expedition. The accounts from India rendered it advisable to order the Simoom, with the sth Regiment on board, to proceed from Singapore to Calcutta. It ap parently is not contemplated to proceed with any operations against Canton before October. Late accounts from the Canton river, report nothing of importance. The boats of her Majesty's steamer Esk took a pirate junk in one of the creeks, but we regret to say not without some casualties to Our men. The gunboat Haughty has arrived from the river having on board eight wounded men of H.M.S. Esk, the boats of which vessel had had an engage ment with pirates in one of the creeks in the imme diate vicinity of Second Bar. Two of our poor fellows were killed, and three mortally and five severely wounded. One pirate junk only was taken. From Amoy we hear that fears of local disturbances hail died away, and that business was consequently on the increase. From Ningpo we learn that the quarrel betwixt the Cantorlese and Portuguese has at length reached a climax, and that a severe struggle has taken place, in which the latter were defeated. On the 25th June a large fleet of Canton east-coast junks from Fuhchau made their appearance in the river, and took pos session of all the Portuguese lorchas in port without much resistance, the crews escaping on shore. The Cantonese, led on by some foreigners closely followed, and after some fighting totally routed the Portuguese, but not until about twenty had been killed. LOSS OF THE TEANSIT, SINGAPORE, JULY 19. On the 13th instant, ihl.s Netheriaads Majesty's war steamer Montrade arrived here from Minto, having on board Lieutenant Downes, belonging to her Majesty's steam-transport Transit, and bringing accounts of the total loss of the latter vessel in the straits of Rance, by striking upon a rock or coral reef, distant four miles from the shore, at nine o'clock in the morning, and went down in less than two hours. The head of the vessel rests on the rock, just above the water, but at the stern there are 11 fathoms, and on' one side of the vessel so much as 17 fathoms. The troops on board and crew were saved, as also part of the military armament. On reaching the shore tents were placed for the accommodation of the people, who succeeded in reaching the Island of Bauca in the ship's boats. Lieutenant Downes was despatched to Minto for assistance, and the Dutch resident at once despatched that officer in a war steamer to Singapore. Oa arrival of the news here the senior naval officer (Captain Barnard, of her Ma• jesty's ship Racehorse) immediately despatched her Majesty's ship Aelman and the steam gun-boat Dove, and also chartered the American clipper ship Beaver, to bring up the troops and crew. Oa the 16th the Governor of Singapore sent the Hon. Company's steamer Hooghly to afford aid, and the S:r James Bsooke steamer, be longing to the Borneo Company, was chartered for the same destination. The Transit has been one of the most unfortunate ves sels in the service. On her recent voyage she sailed upon her anchor, and all but foundered before leaving England, then put into Corunna, and has finally wrecked h , rs elf when within 100 miles of Singapore. THE NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1857. AUSTRALIA. By the Overland Mail we have received Mel bourne dates to the 25th of Juno. From the summary of a Melbourne paper we extract the following interesting items : In the Assembly, on the 2nd of June, Mr. Michie, the Attorney-General, brought forward a series of resolutions, of which the principal was the following :—" That it is expedient to abolish state aid to religion after the 31st day of December, 1859." The resolution was carried by a majority of thirty-one to twenty-three. Mr. Michie intends to bring in a bill founded on the resolution, but this will, in all probability, be thrown out by the Legislative Council, even If it should succeed in passing through its several stages in the Assembly. The public mind is apathetic on the subject, and we believe the preponderance of feeling that does exist is in favour of a continuance of the grant for some years to come. On the 3rd instant, Mr. Ebden, the new treasurer, made his financial statement. when the grand totals exhibited were—revenue for the year, in cluding balance from last year, proceeds of taxes, and sums to be reimbursed to the Treasury by sale of debentures, £4,102,425 Is. 101 ; expenditure, £4,080,443 is. 7d. ; leaving an estimated balance available for the service of next year of £15,081 14s. 33. Collating the whole of the evidence, we can only wme to the conclusion that there is an aggregate of employment quite equal to the aggregate of available labour ; but a more perfect machinery is requisite for the regulation and dist , ibution of our industrial power, and a somewhat more reesonablo and practical view necessary to be entertained by the working classes themselves, of the value of their labour in the existing circumstances of the colony. such having proved to be the real state of the labour market in the colony, it is not desirable that large additions should be made to it just now, so the arrange ments for the forwarding of emigrants from Great Britain are not to be carried out on such an extensive scale as was at first intended. The reports which we are enabled to send by the present mail are very satisfactory as regards the production of the great export of the colony—gold. The returns of escorts and shipments have recently been ab3ve the average of the year, and have approached more nearly those of 1856 Up to this present 24th June, 1,052,668 ounces have been received at Melbourne by the escorts from the gold fields, and 1,230,428 ounces have been shipped. With a week to spare, the amounts of the years 1851 and 1855 have been far exceeded, and those of 1856 approached within reason able limits. We subjoin a statement of those quantities, for the purpose of admitting of a further comparison. _ First six months. Ditto less one week. oz. oz. oz oz. Receipts by 1854. 1855. 1856. 1857. Escort... 929,637 932,649 1,358,984 1,052,658 Shipments... 1,077,431 1,182,810 1,588,051 1,236,423 From the several fields the returns continue to be well maintained, notwithstanding the general unfavourableness of the season for that most necessary process of gold mining—washing. COMMERCIAL. Mzi.BountT2, June 21. Although the current year does not exhibit that extraor dinary plethora of riches which was the great fact of the year 1856, when our exports for the first six months of the year exceeded our imports in value by one million and three quarters sterling, yet we have been enabled to export goods fully equal to the salue of our imports. Our commercial position, in fact, is this. We have imported articles of con sumption to the value of six and a half millions sterling ; we have exported goods to the like value, and we hold fully one half of the imported goods fur future use. Our warehouses are crowded with goods which are only awaiting a market. They aro not forced to realisation, but they are held until such prices can be obtained as will admit of reasonable account sale.. The Money Market has been very quiet during the month that has elapsed since our last summary. There has been a tendency to speculation in local joint-stock undertakings, but this has been confined in the main to a small knot of capitalists, who have not been joined by thp public. The chief event of the month has been the opening of the tenders for the new issue of debentures by the Govern ment. Exchange on England remains at 2 per cent. premium. Drafts against gold are purchased at 1 per cent. premium. Freight against gold by direct steamers and sailing vessels, :lid. per ounce, deliverable in London. Insurance 11 per cut. BOYS' CLOTHING MADE WITH GREAT TASTE At LIGRIB k COMPANY'S. Itasoluck Vie: AME RICA. ARRIVAL OF THE PERSIA. The steamer Persia, Capt. Judkins, has arrived from New York, with dates to the 10th instant, bringing 133 passengers, and 1,742,407 doilais in specie. Great excitement had been caused in New. York by the sudden arrival of the steamer Tennesse, from Greytown, having on board 260 deserters from the army of General Walker. These poor fellows accepted the invitation of the Costa Rican government, and took refuge in its camp when Walker's case had become hopeless. Fulfilling their promise, the Costa Ricans provided for them, until the arrival of the Tennesse, which by the sti• pulation with the parties to whom the Transit Con tract was awarded, left New York on the Ist of August, for the purpose of bringing them home. The story of their adventures and suffering, from the slay of leaving Walker at Rivas until now, is published is the New York papers. The steamer Columbia, from Liverpool, had arrived out at New York. There now seems to be no doubt that the boun dary dispute between Costa Rica and Nicaragua has been settled. The boundary is to run from Castillo, on the San Juan River, to the bay of Sa linas, on the Pacific Coast, giving to Costa Rica all the south Bank of the San Juan from Castillo to San Juan del Norte, including Punta Arensas, where all the buildings of the Transit Company Fort San Carlos and Castillo Viejo have been res tored to Nicaragua. Costa Rica, it is said, is desirous of throwing open the transit through her territory to the whole world, provided the United S:atcs or any other great Po Nor guarantees the sovereignty of the territory through which the transit runs. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Nzw YORK, August 18, 1857. MONEY AND STOCKS.—Since our last advices of 10th inst., we have had a week of declining prices. The fall in all the speculative shares has been large, particularly so in Michigan Southern, which we quote at a decline of 251 per cent. State Stocks and Shares, that are bought mostly for investment, have varied but little in price. The decline may be attributed partly to the uneasiness felt in relation to affairs in British India, but the chief cause of the great decline in one or two of the fancy stocks, has been the large amounts of hypothecated shares sold in the market to pay off the loans made upo❑ them. The efEct of these hurried sales was to depress more or less the whole list. In State Stocks there has been but little done, prices generally remaining steady. Money in more demand, 7 per cent. call. Paper, 9 to 14, according to length and class. DE COPPETT 8c Co. Coriost.—ln our market bu3ine , .s has again been extremely limited, being confined to the sales of a few hundred bales daily. Prices have steadily improved, until an advance of fully is per lb. on last week's quotations has been established. —Holders continue offering very sparingly, and are in many instances waiting for still higher rates. The sales since the 10th inst. I estimate at 4,000 bales, ono half of which ha s been taken up on speculation, the balance being divided be tween exporters and our spinners. The export for the same time has been—to Liverpool, 835 bales; Biemen, 463; Antwerp, 53. Total, 1,350 bales. By telegraph the following has been received : New Orleans, August 14th.—Rcceipts of the week, 210 bales; same week last year, 2,846. Exports to Liverpool, 200 bales. Sales for the week, 5,000 bales ; to-day, 100 ; market firm at 151,c for Middling. i,tock in port, 21,000 hales. Decrease in rec:ipts at all Southern ports compared with last year, 579,000 bales. August 15 —Market dull ; no sales reported. Middling nominally 151,e. Receipts of the week, 340 bales. No freight. Five bales of the ❑ew crop were received to-day from Texas. August 17th.—Cot ton dull. Sales to-day, 300 bales, at 141- to 15c for Middling. Picking is in progress. August 18th.—Receipts of the three days, 30 bales. Sales to-day, 300 bales. Markets unchanged. Stock 20,000 bales. Mobile, August 15th.—Receipts for the week, 300 hales ; came week last year, 712. Middling is nominally worth 151 e. No freight for Liverpool. The following is a statement of the movement in Cotton since the let September last, as compared with the pre vious three years : Rec.:Apt*, at the P0rt5........ 2,904,000'3,485,00012,772,000 , 2,874.000 Exports toG Britain France . " other F. Porta • ........ , 411,000 , 520,0001 201,000, 339,000 Total Exports Stock on hand Of which during the past week, included in the above : Receipts at the Ports ........ , 9,000 3,000 10,000 11, , 100 Exports to G. Britain " France. .......... 10,000 " other For. Pts. 1 2,000 I,ooo' l 4,000 'Fatal Exports. .... .. ! 3,000' 6,000 14,00 01 26,0( 0 SUMMARY.—Receipts.--Decreaso of the ports compared with last year, 581,000 hales compared With 1 853; 311,000. Exports.—Decraso to Great Britain, 532,000 ; compared with 1853, 319,000 hales. Decrease to France, 66,000 ; compared with 1853, 10,000 ; decrease to other foreign ports, 110,000 ; increase compared with 1853, 51,000 bales. FREIGHTS are dull. To Liverpool a few hundred biles shipping at 33. per bale. For Havre there is little offering ; the last rate paid was c per lb. EXCHANGRS.—For sterling there is a fair demand, and banker's bills are selling at 1094 to 109 k per cent. ; on Paris, dull, at 5.161 to 5 171. W. P. WRIGHT. BREADSTUFFS.—FLOUR.—With the exception of Southern, of which the arrivals are more liberal and much of inferior quality, and of which prices have consequently declined 50 to 60c per bri., our quotations must remain as given in our Cir cular of the 11th inst. ; superfine shipping qualities being however scarce, are 5c per brl. higher. WHEAT arrives in larger quantities from the South, and in the absence of any export demand, prices have given way ; the sales to-day were at a decline of 10c per 60 lbs. from our last quotations, with a considerable portion of the samples left over. CORN.—Notwithstanding the increase of supplies, they bareley keep pace with the demand for the Easter❑ markets and the necessities of the local distillers, and prices are 2c per 5'3 lbs higher. WOTHEF,SPOON, KINGSFORD & CO. PROVISIONS—The pork market has been quite active since our last, and prices have advanced 50 to 100 cents ; the stock is light, and with small receipts, there is only a limited supply en sale, which ;lives holders the advantage ; the sales are 4700 brls., closing at 25 doh to 25 dols 50c for Mess, 21 dials 50c for Prime, 26 dials 50c for Clear, and 22 dols 50c for Plinio Mess included in the sales aro 1000 Mess. for Canada, at 24 deb 75c. The small supply of Bref has also put the prices of that article up a trifle, with a moderate demand ; sales 825 bib., closing at 16 dela 50c to 17 dole 75c for repacked Western Mess, and 18 dols to 19 dials for extra do. There is nothing doing iu Prime Mess, an 1 prices are ❑ominally 30 dols to 31 dols. Beef Hams are also inactive, and prices are without alteration. Tho market is bare of Cut Meats, and prices are quite nominal ; a sale of 100 hilds. Shoulders was made, to arrive at 111 c. Bacon is quiet ; sales 75 hhds. Western Smoked, in small parcels, at 141 c to 15 c. Lard is in small supply, and prices are decidedly better ; sales 1300 brls., closing at 16 eto 164 c. Butter continues in mo dulate request at steady pliers. Cheese is very dull at 6 c to 10 c. LIST OP PASSENGERS PER R.M.S. PERSIA-Mr. George Peabody, The Hon. Samuel Mills, wife, and three children ; The Hon. Mr. Aikin, Lady C. Copley and maid-servant, Sir Joseph Copley and man -servant, Mr. Isaac Taligman, Mr. and Mrs. Jy. Scamman, three children, and maid servant ; Mr. Charles Perkins, wife, child, and nurse ; Mrs. and Miss Bruen, Miss M. Grader, Miss H. Gruder, Miss H. Gray, Miss Crowther, Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Jenks, Mr. Roger, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Whitaker, Mr. W. G. Grey, Mr. Geo. A. Gadsden, Mr. Berj. C. Gray, Mr. H. S. Robinson, Mr. Theo. H. Hart, Mr. Charles Bouillot, Mr. A. Gilbert, Mr. P. A. Aveillie, Mr. and Mrs. Allen Hay, Mr. and Mrs. Alex. Barrett, son, daughter, and two maid servants ; Mr. and Mrs. Benj. Carver, Mr. Roby and friend, Mr. A. Heidalberger, Mr. J. H. Brawley, Mr. R. Bsnet, Mr. Mariner, Mr. C Maguire, Mr. and Mrs. M'Cowther, Mr. and Mrs. Howden, J. S. Watson, and maid-setvant ; Mr. and Mrs. Oloranshaw, Mr. La Barriers and two daughters ; Mr. P. Grenan, Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Drake, Mr. J. A. Richardson, Mr Charles S. Tay, Capt. and Mrs. Thos. Dicks, Mr. and Mrs. Panniston, Capt. Love, Mrs. Dolares Rangifo, and three children ; Mr. Pio Rangifo, and wife ; Mr. Leon Chun, Mr. S. P. Ullman, Mr. Geo. T. Knight, Mr. W. H. Osbourne, Mr. G. Scham man, Mr. R. W. Eddison, Mr. G. Behrend, Mr. M. Arnold Mr. G. W. Kinger, Mr. W. For, Mr. E. G. Gilroy, M. Schaffer, Mr. E. Febrequette, jun., Mr. Peter JoyneJon, Mrs. Charles Martin, Mr. and Mrs. Jp. Kemocha, , Mrs. W. Aitkin, and daughter ; Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan i)uright, Mr. and Mrs. Lee, Mr. M. Mirnaz, Mr. H. Buch, Mr. John Bohland, Mr. H. M Neile, Mr. T, A.rpleton, Mr. J. S. Westcott, Mr. Bisson, Mr. B. Aron', - Mr. John W. Southwell, Mr. A. Kuhner, Mr. W. 0 3-., - Baird, Mr. J. M. Donagana, Mr. and Mrs. Southwyal, jun,, Mrs. Eliza Mellor, Mr. and Mrs. John Ro) , :o, Mr. Due, Mr. Thcs. Lees, Mr. Thos. Hodgson, Mr. 3acob Hodgson, Mr. James Muir', Mr, Daltarn, Mr. .1911.'4 Bain. and Mr. F. H. Jenks. BIRKENHEAV, LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE JUNCTION RAILWAY COMPANY. HALF-YEARLY MEETING. The ordinary half-yearly general meeting of this com pany was held on Saturday, in the company's offices, Cathcart-street, Birkenhead. There was a large attendance of shareholders. The chair was taken by Mr. William Titherington, the chairman of the company. The report was read by Mr. Walter Johnston, Secretary. The Chairman said, in rising to move that the reports and accounts be received and passed, he shoul I, with the permission of the company, make a few introductory remarks. He flattered himself that he was addressing none but Birkenhead shareholders, who had the interests of Birkenhead and of that company at heart exclusively, and who would dismiss from their minds all prejudice as to the proceedings of the c - mpauy with reference to protecting its interests ; who would be vide I neither by Liverpool predilections nor Birkenhead prejudices, but would simply act there as proprietors of that company If that were so, he flattered himself he should have no difficulty, as chairman of the company, in satisfying the meeting, that the directors had their interests at heart in all they had done during the past half year. It had been a very eventful half year for the company, but one which, he trusted, would hereaf er prove that the interests of the company had not only not been overlooked, but lad made rapid progress towards that climax to which they had all been long looking forward. The report stated that there had been an addition made to the capital account of £11.718 is ld. That appeared a very large amount for a small concern like that company, but if the meeting would bear in mind that for the last few half years the directors had always told the shareh elders that with a considerable increase of traffic they should also have a considerable addition to capital, to provide the plant necessary for the working of the traffic. The line was worked and equipped only for the traffic which e t - ce upon it at the time. There was no provision made for future traffic, it being considered that as the prospects of the company improved, and trade increased, the directors should receive at the hands of the company permission to obtain the necessary facilities for conducting the traffic. Therefore, the shareholders would find that there was an expenditure upon the stations of the line of £5,081 His Bd, as stated in the report. That amount of expenditure was occa ioned by outlay for improved crossings at a great many of the stations, for facilitating and conducting the traffic with greater despatch. They had now so many trains running through, that they often required luggage trains to be put on the sidinga and other facilities to be given to avoid collisions and to avoid accidents, which would require them to expend a consider able sum of money in providing. They had also to expend a considerable sum of money in equipping the stations more suitably to the increaaal traffic they had upon the line. The amrnnt spent at the Chester station was an old balance against the construction account, which had been out standing for several years. It was not a new outlay. They would still have a further amount there, but they hoped that as the company had land of considerable value in ChEnaer, it would some day or other meet a con siderable portion of the outlay and much more. The land was estimated at £20,000, of which the company held a considerable share. The Birkenhea I goods station was the balance of an o'd account. Of the sum of £2O flOl for rolling stock, £l-1,000 the company would perceive, was for increased waggon stock, and was taken up for 183 waggons The remainder of it was for the equipping of the Chester Junction Line, being the balance, or nearly so. of the i em of £40,000 which was voted in February, 1856. The parliamentary expenses comprised chiefly the expen !itnee of the last half year, in opposition to the Liverpool Docks Bill. The directors were empowered by the proprietors to oppose the altera tion from Mr. Rendell's plans to other plans, or what was called the Construction Bill. The ;e were plans to which the company had always looked forward as being very conducive to the interests of the company and to the great increase of traffic. They maintained that Mr. Rendell's plans were adapted for railway purposes and railway docka and therefore they considered that any deviation of the plans was an infringement of the contract made with the company. The revenue account, as the meeting would perceive, showed a very considerable increase in the half year. He was happy to say that that increase was pro gressive ; and looking to whatever department of the com pany they might—whether their through traffic, their local traffic, the traffic interchanged with other companies, or the traffic which passed through the clearing houses— they would find a grarlu it but very satisfactory increase in every department. He could assure the meeting that the increase of traffic in every department was very satisfactory to the directors. The company as the meeting would perceive, was on friendly terms with all adjoining companies. He trusted it was in sincerity. They had perfect amity and good will with every company which bordered upon them. With the London and North Western they had an interchange of traffic, and he was happy to say that the balance was upon the right side. Their company had given more than they had received. The Great Western had increased their traffic very consi derably, and had now facilities for conducting not only goods' traffic by the exercise of the running powers which they had obtained, but also the passenger traffic. The Birkenhead Company granted them to run four trains either way per day, which was a great advantage to them in expe diting their traffic, and, he trusted, would eventually bring a considerable increase of traffic to them. With regard to the parliamentary work of tl:e year, the meeting would perceive that the directors proceeded with their bill up to the House of Lords, and there the clause was struck out which enabled the company to close up Canning-street, Birkenhead The directors looked upon that object as a most important portion of their bill, being in factone of their chief objects for which they went to Parliament, and they preferred to withdraw the bill rather than proceed any further with it under the circumstances. It had been an abortion, but it involved an amount of money which the company did not choose to forfeit, and they preferred therefore having the bill postponed until some future occasion, when they could see that it would be for the interests of the company to bring it forward. With regard to the proceeding; in parliament upon the Mersey Conservancy Bill, be believed that if the meeting was prepared to look upon them with the eyes of Birkenhead, Lancashire and Cheshire Junction proprietors alone, there would be no fault found with the proceedings of the Board. (Hear, hear.) The Board did not go to parlia ment intending to promote the Conservancy Bill. Their object was to oppose the Construction Bill, which was the bill for the alteration of the plans for the Birkenhead Docks, but when they got into the committee room of the House of Commons they f and that Sir J. Graham, the chairman of the committee, had the whole of the bills committed to him and the option of selecting any bill he liked; and Sir James Graham choose the Mersey Conservancy Bill as embracing the whole list he had before him. This, therefore, put the directors to the necessity either of being parties to that bill, or of being put out of court altogether. They considered it more for the interest of the c mpany that they should appear as joint promoters of the bill, than that they should be set aside and have no voice in the matter. He had no doubt many of those present had been alarmed by the reports of the overwhelming expense which had been incurred—something like £30,000 it was said to have cost the promoters of the bill. The , :irectors, how ever, took the precaution to limit themselves, in the first instance, to a certain sum. They agreed e.mongihemselves what it would be safe, prudent, and fair they should expend on behalf of the company. They bad no means, of course, of ascertaining the precise amount yet, but they had no reason to believe that they had expended much beyond the sum which they originally agreed upon. He was satisfied that there was nothing like one-fourth or one sixth of the money spent which people supposed, and he thought it more probable that it would not be more than one-eighth of the amount sp - ken of. The opponents of the bill were said to have spent large sums indeed. The on die, of the committee room wan, that they had endorsed their briefs with £BOO and £6OO. The directors of that Company were satisfied with £6O and ..E4O to their coun sel. If the meeting had been there, day by day, and heard the evidence upon the bills, and seen the pains taken to sift the matter to the bottom, and to place the matter fairly before the committee, they would agree that the directors bed only done what it was their duty to do for the interests of the company. Parliament had passed the Conservancy Bill almost in its integrity—so far as that company was concerned quite in its integrity. The directors had no feeling in regard to the town dues, or the compensation given for them. Their object was to obtain justice and fair play towards Birkenhead, and he trusted that all the bitter feeling which had been excited, all the passion which had been created, would, now that they had got a new trust, be allowed to pass away, and all would look to the interests of trade and com mere° generally. It had been the bane of Liverpool, thnt she had looked too much to her own interests, And considered the trade and commerce of that great district as more for the benefit of Liverpool herself than for the commt afty at large. He trusted that, now that the Conservancy Bill was about to come into opera tion on the Ist of January, they would have no more local, one-sided feeling predominating, but that all would agree to look on Birkenhead as part of Liverpool—to look upon her, at all events, as the port of Liverpool, the port of the Mersey, and that they would set about the com pletion of the cork, from which that company might expect to participate in the benefits to which, as a railway company, they were fairly entitled. A Proprietor inquired if there was not a provision in the Conservancy Bill declaring that the expense of obtaining the bill should be met from the funds of the dock trust. The Chairman said there was a clause in the bill to that effect, and he bad himself no doubt that that clause was sufficient to protect the company from being made to pay the expense which had been incurred. It was quite possible that there might be a quibble upon one word of the clause. At the same time, knowing as he did the feeling of Parliament, he was satisfied it would be a most injudicious thing on the part of the Liverpool authorities to attempt to question their right and title to pay the expense of the bill under that clause, and he hoped they would not attempt it. If they did, the Directors would be prepared to meet them again and in a very short time have the question settled. The intention of parliament was so evident and decided that the bill should pass, and pass in its integrity, that he believed parliament would not have been prorogued until that had been done. There was a strong feeling that it was a matter of right, equity, and fall. play. If any effort were made—although he trusted there would not, and he had better hopes of the Mersey Dock Trustees, who he trusted would take a wider, and more extensive view of the posi tion and not ma:e any attempt to shirk the payment of the expenses—if an effort were made he dared almost to pledge himself, and had not the slightest doubt, that a short en abling bill would settle the question in a very short time. Mr. Derbishire said he did not think there should be any quibble upon the clause. Several proprietors Expressed a similar opinion. Mr. Banc oft urged that the question should not be discussed at that moment. (Hear, hear.) The Chairman, continuing his address, expressed a hcpe that the shareholders were not disap pointed in the result of the half years working. There had been some dissatisfaction expressed about the large expenditure :,o capital account If the sharehol lora would recollect, they had been told for several years past that such would be the case. If the line eves to earn a dividend of five per cent, he was satisfied the capital ac count was not to be closed yet awhile. Although his saying it would not make the line earn four per cent., he was quite satisfied in his own mind that, when their maniges—who had been untiring in his endeavours to bring the affiairs of the company into a prosperous and healthy state—could stay a little more at home, and not be so much occupied in negotiations for traffic arrange ments with other lines, they would be able, so great was the elasticity in the line —even with their present plant and their present means—to do a much larger amount of bisiuces than had been done during the last half-year. The coil traffic of the district was yet in its infancy. If they had the facilities for shipping coal at the Birkenhead Docks, which he believed could be given at very slight expense, he was satisfied, and others t otter qualified to judge than himself were satisfied, that there would be a dividend for the coal tra le a'one of that district. They had other resources, and he trusted they were only commencing with the many branches bf trade which were likely to figure very largely in Birkenhead. The increase of traffic for the past eight weeks was t'1,541. There had been a partial cessation of the South Wales coal traffic. That line was the only line to Birkenhead, and he trusted there would be that spirit in the board of directors, and that co ope ration in the shareholders, which would enable them to provide accommodation for the traffic of the whole of the &strict. (Hear, hear.) On the other side of the water there was not a❑ intention, but a willingness, to give a ready ear to other parties to get another line for that district. He did not say that they had assumed any tangible shape, but if the directors did their duty to the company, and the proprietors supported them, they would provide all the railway accommodation for the dis trict which was necessary. It would be injudicious at present to go on with any extension, but he trusted the time was not far distant when they could see their way to an extension to New Brlgleon and along the other si:le of the pool, and an extension also from Hooten to Heleiy. After so:ne:further observations,]the:chairman concluded by moving that the report just read be received and adopted. Mr. R :gm seconded the motion. Mr. Mills complained of the large expenditure in the capital account, without any control on the part of the sh :reholders. If such a system was not put a stop to, their dividend would soon be diminished. He also com plained of their large legal expenses, and the time which the clirecters and officials of the company passed in Lon don during the late session. As to their working expenses during the past half year, he could not agree in the con gratulations of the directors. So far as he could under stand railway accounts, the working expenses had rather increased than diminished. They had further received more this half year than within any other equal period, and yet the directors proposed to pay them per cent. less. He could not help objecting to such a proceeding. (Hoar, hear.) The Chairman replied that they should attend in Lon don, unless they were prepared to see their property ruined by others. (Hear, hear.) While in London each director was allowed a guinea and a half a day, but it never covered his expenses. He was satisfied that et - .:400 would cover all their personal expenses in London during the last session ; and as to the time spent there, he might remind them that tho directors had £:100,000 in the com pany, and that they would not throw away their property• egar. Bain asked why they did not arrange with the Shrewsbury lines, where most of their mineral traffic was, for the use of their waggon plant in carrying that traffic? Mr. Hobson replied that they had endeavoured to make such an arrangement, but could not. Mr. Baia observed that in the north they did not think it profitable to provide waggons fur the mineral traffic, and he considered it would be much better if they could be got from those lines where that traffic arose. The Chairman sail that the amount expended upon their plant per mile was much less than that expended by almost any other comp my. They had only 33 miles of their own line, but they had to work 55 miles. Mr. Gillosv urged that whatover land they had which was unproductive should be at once sold, unless it could be shown that it was so enhanced oath year as to make it worth their while to retain it. If it were not, however, so enhanced they should sell it and pay off some of the debentures, thereby saving the interest of the company, and improving their revenue to that amount. The Chairman replied that some of it was productive, and that the revenue got the benefit of it. As for the rest itiwas being considerably enhanced, and the directors thought it better to leave it quiescent for the present. Mr. Gillow maintained that the true commercial principle was to sell the land which was unproductive. Mr. Bain asked what object the Board could have in holding the land? Mr. Bancroft replied that the company had chosen to forego the sum of £135,000 which was legally due to them, and to fall back upon this land—ac arrangement which was unintelligablo and of which they had now the consequences before them. The directors had to deal with a very intricate question, and they dealt with it the best way they could. As to the attendance of the directors in London during :the last session he wars ready to submit to all the imputations that could arise out of it. He had strenuously supported the board in their proceedings in reference to the Conservancy Bill, and he maintained against everybody that the directors had only considered the interests of the shareholders and had protected them in what they had done. They were on the banks of the Mersey ; they had secured that privilege at a million and a-half of money, one half of which they had expended in the town of Birkenhead; they had expended that enormous sum of money on the faith, of the docks, which were to be considered essentially railway docks ; and when parties, having other interests than those of Birken head, proposed to change those plans, so as to neutralise all the natural advantages of Birkenhead, and to deprive the company of all the profit which they ought to derive from the expenditure of half :a million of money within Birkenhead, and a million without it ; if they could sup pose that, under such circumstances, their directors would stand by and see those changes made, which amounted, in fact, to a confiscation of their property, and not attempt to prevent them, they would be men not entitled to sit on that or any other board. The trust of the Mersey was now in its proper position ; and they would bring a large portion of that immense trade carried on on the other side to the Cheshire side. Hitherto the greater portion of their trade had been drawn across the river, the princip it profit of it being spent on the river itself; but the object of the company now would be to make Birkenhead a port itself. As to the observation that they would not get the expenses of the bill, it was ridiculous, The words of the act were—" all the expenses of, and incidental to, the passing of this act ;" and how could they have got number " two" unless number " one" had been first introduced? (Hear, hear, and laughter.) The works on the Birkenhead side should be first com menced and first finished ; and in his opinion if ever there was a session of parliament satisfactory to the company, it was last session. (Hear, hear.) The report was then unanimously adopted. The Chairman moved that a dividend at the rate of 3 per cent per annum, for the half-year ending 30th Juno, and payable on the Bth September, be declared. Mr. Oliver moved as an amendment, that the .e 6,150 renewal fund be added to the balance applicable for divi dend, and that a dividend at the rate of 31 per cent be declare I. (Hear, hear.) He thought that each half-year should pay its own expenses, and he objected in principle to the renewal fund. Mr. Robinson seconded the amendment. Mr. Bancroft advised them not to attempt to foist up their property by such dangerous means, and reminded them,that in a renewal fund lay the safety of all lines. Mr. Bain recommended that at the end of each year they should get a neutral engineer to report on their stock. It was done, ho said, on some lines in the North with great advantage. After a brief discussion the amendment was withdraw n, and the original motion unanimously adopted. - - The Chairman announced that Mr. Atkinson would not present himself for re-election, and moved that Mr. Evans be re elected a director. Mr. Gillow thought that no appointments should take place this meeting, and that the board should be reduced to seven directors. (Hear, hear.) Mr. J. B. T d lo7d obeerTed that any motion, either for the reduction or increase of the board, would require X special notice. Mr. Evans and Mr. Darbishire were then re-elected directors. Mr. Gillow thought that a Birkenhead gentleman should be on the board, and in consequence moved that Mr. Jo" Aspinall be elected in place of Mr. To wnshend. Mr. Birley seconded the motion. The motion was lost, and Mr. ToNnshend re-elected. Mr. Mills moved that Mr. Atkinson's place be tliN filled up. _ _ Mr. Robinson seconded the motion. Mr. Taunton moved, as an amendment, that Mr. Sang' bury, M.P. for Chester, be elected in the room of Mr. Atkinson. Mr. J. Y. Lee seconded it. The amendment was carried, and Mr. Salisbury declared elected. Mr. H. C. Beloe was unanimously re elected one of the auditors. The Chairman then moved that power be given to the board to borrow £3I),(M, It was objected that no specific object for this loan svag stated to the company, and after some discussion the motion was withdrawn. Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, after which the meeting separated. FORGERY AND EMBEZZLE lENT BY AN INSURANCE COMPANY'S AGENT. At Lambeth Police-court, on Thursday, Mr. John Hodges, late an agent and collector to the " Birkbeck Life. Assurance Company," was brought before the Hon. G. C. Norton, for final examination, upon various charges of forgery and embezzlement. From the testimony t iven br Mr. John Mills, on the former examination, that the funds of the company, which is a joint-stock company, are vested in six trustees, of whom Sir Fitzroy Kelly and Mr. Mon tague Chambers, Q.C., are two, and a part of the object of its founders was to provide payments to the insurers during illness, and agents are appointed in different districts to attend to its duties. Thu prisoner had been appointed to the Lambeth I district some years ago, and it has been latterly found that by forging tne names of diffe' rent insurers to, and falsifying documents, and also by withholding sums: of money received by him from in surers, he has defrauded the company out of large sums of money. By the regulations of the company, it was necessary on the part of an insurer, on becoming ill, to apprise the agent of his district with the fact, and the latter gives him a printed form to fill un, and when that iS done to forward it to the office of the company, in Nen" Bridge-street, Blackfriars. It is then the custom of the directors to sign an order for the payment of the alloy , antes, `and the agent was authorised to make such pay , payments as long as was necessary, or during the illness Amongst the insurer's in the prisoner's district was a person named William Goodey and his wife, and in the beginning of the present year a claim was made on the company for the payment of 15s a-week as an allowance during illness, The claim was recognised by the directors, and the prisoner received directions to pay the insurer. From the eighteenth of May till the 19th of June, Goodey received the fifteen shillings a-week, but at the latter date he declared off the fund ; but the prisoner continued to charge the company with the allowance up to the end of July, and presented Mr Mills, the company's secretary, receipts purporting to have been signed by Goodey and his wife as vouchers, but these were discovered to be forgeries. In a second case, in which a person named Thomas Bolithe was the insurer, similar malpractices were discovered; and the evidence in both cases having been taken, Mr. Mills applied to Mr. Norton to commit the prisoner on them, assuring the magistrate at the same time that, - although it was his intention to indict the prisoner on some other chargei, he should take care and let him have the evidence in them, so that he might not be taken by surprise. Mr Neale, the prisoner's solicitor, hoped that the prisoner might be remanded, and the evidence taken in the ordinary way, so that he might know it. This course he considered to be:but justice to his client. air. Mills observed that his time was very much occupied wish the business of the company, and it would be a great inconvenience to him to attend a third time, but he would pledge his word that, in' all the other cases:the prisoner should have the evidence supplied to him- Mr Norton : What may be the amount of the prisoner's defalcations?—Mr. Mills; Oh, :several hundred :pounds. Mr. Neale: It is easy to say hundreds. Mr. Mills: I have discovered more than £2OO, and by this book, which was kept by the prisoner, his worship will see that there are several leaves of the accounts torn away. Mr. Norton recommended that some of the earliest cases against the prisoner should be preferred against him on his trial, and fully committed him at present on four clear charges of forgery. BREADING UP OF MORMONDOM. MORMONS RETURNING IN DISGUST. THEIR OPINIONS OF ZION. A train, consisting of about one hundred persons with twenty waggons, passed though this place on Friday last, on their return from - Utah to the States. They formed part of a company of two hundred persons and forty teams; but some distance back the remainder took the road for Leavenworth. They left Salt Lake about the 20th of April, and were on the road a little over two months. They bore the appeareace of persons who had seen much trouble and privation—being reduced in body and dej. eted in mind. A more pitiable set of persona we never beheld. They rejoiced that they had at last reached a land where they could once more live at ease. The accounts of their experience in Utah was touching in the extreme. In the narration of what they endured they seemed to approach the subject with relue`ance and feelings of horror in calling to mind their sufferings, but in the course of their remarks would invarialely become animated, and break out in expressions of indignation at the cruelty and oppression which they had endured. Tbey declared the whole system to be a grand scheme of robbery and sensuality, on the part of those in authority. It is not by direct compulsion, they stated, that the property of their followers is taken, but by means of religious enthusiasm. This is inspired by the promise of great spiritual rewards, and by setting before them the example of spiritual characters; that as Job received an increase above all his former possessions, so should they by their self-sacrificing, reap an increased reward, both of spiritual and temporal possessions. After all their property was exhausted, then the policy of their rulers would change, and their conduct would be such as to say, " Get away if you can." If any one should become dissatisfied and desire to leave, they were publicly denounced, and the whole church forbidden to purchase any property they might wish to dispose of. From that day they would be subjected to the insults of the entire community, if not to absolute danger of their lives. One person stated that in order to get away he had to sell his farm, clandestinely at that, for sixty dollars. They reported that one mall went out with 3,000 dollars and was returning in the train with his team only, and had not enough to eat. An other, who had a farm worth there seven thousands dollaret sold it for thirty-five dollars. A man by the name of George Brooks (if we recollect aright) who had consider. - ble grain and goods stored in his house, on incurring the displeasure of the elders, had the sides of his house literally stove in, and his property all carried off, he only escaping with his. life. When the train first approached we enquired whether they were from California or Utah.. An old man who was standing near, replied, cr W e are from Beautiful Zion." " What is your opinion of Zion ?" we inquired. His reply was ; I went once in search of Zion but will never go again till I know where it is found.lt is the worst Zion that I ever set my foot into. We inquired concerning the hand-cart trains, and the true reason of employing them. They said that it was the greatest piece of cruelty that was ever perpetrated ; that it was at times horrible to behold the condition of those who arrived in that way ; that frequently their hands and feet were frozen, and their limbs, from the effects of fatigue and exposure, swollen to more than twice their natural size; that sometimes when able no longer to pull their carts, the women and children were loaded with the baggage, and proceed thus until they fell down with sheer ' exhaustion ; and that after arriving in this condition the, would die off like " rotten sheep," as they expressed it. They stated that one reason for forming hand-trains was; that those who came in that way, on becoming dissatisfied would have no ready means of returning, and that those in authority curse the emigrant trains which pass through on their way to the Pacific, as they afford means for dill' satisfied persons to escape. In speaking with one q uite intelligent young man, he stated that he had been. there neviy four years, and that the reason he did not leave sooner was beeause' s he hoped it would be getting better. He remarked if he should meet a train going through 1 1 would do all he could to persuade them not to go ; but they persisted, he could only leave them to find out the reality by sad experience. The company report that foil or five hundred men were going to leave this Spring, ens are probably on the road by this time.—(Front the Fix' mouth (Neb.) Jeffersonian.) WHAT IS COMING TO LIVERPOO L? WHY, THE GREATZST WONDER IN THE WORLD I MISS JULIA PASTRANA, THE CELEBRATED NONDESCRIPT , Who will hold her Fiet Levee at the QUEEN'S HALL, BOLD-STREET, ON MONDAY, na SE A See Advertisements and Bills. At LEWIS & COMPANY'S, Renelagh street , BOYS ars CLOTIIED from the Ages of 6 to 201