The Express.
London, England, 1855-05-04 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS. FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 4, 1855.

Yesterday evening the usual annual meeting of the
memben of this weseimation was bold at their idistes, Sasses-
climbs.% thlie-e.lvrt, St Tre rixd• was die
ranted nttli went% witmorisls of Polish settonality, end
ritli a lards scarlet ban, in tha wire of Milt* writs est-
ivoidered the Satire of St. Georgo and the Pabst raps, each
imitated with a •orenth of learch. Above this device were
the English lino, the Turkish seseest. sad the French
eagle, and below this the seagnise motto .1i: BIS/muss
per wise se ferns rates "
The Margate of BAZADLLILX • hav:og beer. called to the
Asir.
Mr. BICISWS (bon. sesetary) read the report, which
soweses by en account of the measures for spreading in•
fonosties ow the Polish queetlns, parttcularly the lectures
by Mr. Z Asia the pnoetpai towns. It dwelt at loss length
oe the attempt to feria a Polish legion, and the corps of
Tartish Cusack, now is action. The desertion of Pules at
bad bees greatly checked by the ill-treatment
trailZby these who ease ever to the aide of the all es. A
tarp settees wee aseepied by the serviette rendered by the
'Friend. of Poland, paederasty by the late president, whose
irreparable loss 'scoot be estimated. The window ens-
duet of the refugees was mistimed, as with as the or de in
which they were employed. The nests in Zeeland was
at at 763, of whom only 184 received penasneat re.
fief. • /Bassist statement wee aided, Irmo which it ap-
peared that the moss for the past year was 1,8741.2.., sad
the 'apostates 1,6161. 145.; leaving in hand a balance of
+321.8..
Lord ILtwiratin, fa wits' the adoption of the report,
said that ootbiog ondd be more gratifying then the veer-
Hos We by we of the Pelee by lecturing, and by the
publication of ptimphlets to keep alive the recollection of the
kiegdom of Poland. Alt who were acquainted with the
earelleot 'solidus of the Polish nfogess in this country
mast be struck with admiration of it. Le regarded
the formatwo of a Polish legion, to take part
ii the war on the side of the eUisa, he eon
addend that it was a great omission on the part of ti
verosomat that they hart not displayed the Polish Sig is
treat of the walla of Sebastopol. Jest before Me sad their
lemested friend, Lord Dudley Stuart, left Itaglaail, lug
sad. In eorjesetion with his. Weekly pressed spun the
Mks at the peeresses the policy of their taking sash
4 mop; bet unturtunately, however favourably Wine of
these had entertained the reject, there were other. whu
wid that they dare sot do so on accoust of Austria. (Great
mineatiow) He only hoped that the sacrifices which gag•
toad bad sad* to propiti,iate that power might not he du
appoiated. It was not for him to musses whatnot that
policy was rigot at wring, as a few weeks more wont t clearly
oboe that. (Hear. hear) He /sad, bewever, that aPo
Lisp force was being formed to light under the
Sag of Tarkey; and that his friend, C lost
giotooh, is organising the foreign legion, was likely
to he keyway emoted by the 'ointment of the Pule,.
These were gratifying cirewastaneve, but be should have
preferred to we them form• d into an army ender their own
wadies' flag (W ar, )
To, gal of ft&samoyog move's the Bent resolution, to
the effect that the meeting was desirous of recording its
orofound else of the irreparable lose sustained by the
association t trnulih the demote of its deeply lamented pre
sides; L rd Dudley S ass.
• Mr 11011C1L1011 limas seconded the resolution. and
said that to. gitwor, 01 Lord Hadley Stuart ought t t live in
tlrtt gratitude of .11 Poles, end of all good men.
Plias LADISLAS CZAITOZYBEI, as represitutiag the
Pease resident io Fiance anti rile.llllll, attended t. give
'Brewton to their regrets for the death of the great (deed
of False, L rev Dudley Stuart. He added that lier.is
was eves DOI embarrassed, as she could not rely on the
114.141 of the Polish troops, who would desert in larger
aurnners to the camp of the allies, were it not that thole who
bad Sane so were tisated es if they were Ruins,,, not Poles.
There had howitshoet data shire oely 1,000 Poles is the
regimes of the Turkish Cesesks. but they now sus-
hued telly 2.000 men.
Y. Fousacr aim give expression to the regrets of his
imuutrynan at es melancholy ea event.
The so.titto wee this agreed to.
Mr. Jour Amen Stars, DUP., sett wed a resalw,
/ow to the eSset that the events of the leas'

Itabs:l:of the tots slaupspeed wort co bad u Ltd bcea de

set ibid.
The Chairman told Sir Thomas that all the evident*
given betas the committee in reference to the tools was
snaisimous as to the badness of the hill-kooks especially.
Ti kir. Drummond—It was so doubt the fact that the
great mass of the common soldiers io the Roglish army Welk
weavers, tailors, and cobblers. who were not accustomed to
do use of pickaxes, bill-hooks, and tools of that sort.
To Yr. Roebuck—No doubt also many of the troops had
ban ort3inally country labourers, acoustamed to the nas of
•
111 r. Grant, the Comptroller of the Victualling Dope*
men• of the Admiralty, was recalled, and interrogated by
the Chairman as to the mode et sealing wimples sent in by
eastractors to the Admiralty, atter such sampin had bees
approved by the board. He said the seal with which thne
samples, after they had been approved, were stamped was
kept lucked up and did not lie about loose in the office ;
and he gave it as his conviction thin it was not possible
that the samples could be tampered with, after hens
approved and staled, by mean of any of the subordinates
getting posetaion of the NW.
In answer to a question pot by Sir John Pakingtoti, he
dated that he bad not received a letter from any official
poses to the Crimea is which it was suggested that the
easeeng an I grinding the unmated coffee would be capital
staissemesit to the soldien; but he thought Commissary-
General Fader once made a remark •of that kind to him
to the course of a conversation he bad had with that

MR. ROEBUCK'S COMMITTER.
The examination of Sir Thomas Hastinp, Comp-
troller of Stereo is the Ordnance Depertment,was mistimed
yesterday. Requisitions were made to the Secretory for
War sad at War ea 21st lons for warm stalking. Some of
them were verbal, sad otbers is
The Chairman—Do you mean that the requisitions were
verbal 3—Ye ; from memben of the Board of Oedemas.
The Cbefrems—A very strange way of doing besieges! i
Sir T. flutings believed Alit these requisitions were re-
Slimed into writing some mooths after.
Mr. Ward— Was any record kept of them P—The ,say
ISIS of the emetics of the sequisition waste
record WOO.
was in the misstep when certain contracts were felfllled, hat
he told Sham at the Ordnance to send for him, sad they did
so whistles, found they were getting late a perplexity as
regarded the warm elothisp. There was a difficulty about
eafereing • contract with Kynastou and Co., for warm
gad Do told the Board of Ordnance that as it had
Irma into by • minute of me board, it ought not I.
be belied or reminded by Mr. Monsill, the clerk of the
Ordnemen He did not inquire into the cause of this, as it
would meets as unpleasant feeling, and he never could
nederstand how it was.
The Chairman—Did you ask why ?—No ; all he thought
of was to carry out the contract, and insure a speedy sad
proper supply of he goods. H. meld not chugs his ine-
Emery with anything more tins this. Mr. Storey told his
the eastreet had been stopped, bat not by wko.• order, Or
on what greand, but it must have been by Mr. Menial er
by Sr Hew Rase.
TM Cuirass—Then you are quite u Ms dark upon the
subject?
Sir T. Hastisga--The two might bays dose it jointly.
The minutes of the board were opea to him, but he did nee
lan it emessary to read them, bemuse the stoppage of the
seatmet wee as clear as pormible, and he meld not melortehe
Many there was a ciente on the matter. When verIMI
fressenniestions on these things osme irons the Minister
it War be ohjec ed to it, and expressed a re-
semassidadoe that the public business could get
he safely traessated in that way, and that they should
be reseeded and authenticated. Sines the elmage in the
Booed of Ordnance the business was semiedthe
Ma la
es both ver-
bally reed in writing, and • large pportionaa ef
ise was
carried me in this way—things in the mediae of the Ales
going es in the usual way, though be thought it was set •
proper way of doing Immerse. It was subsequently decided
that the contract should be continued, but he doubted who
thee say reseed was kept of it, the whole proceeding being
irregular. The contract consisted of 60,000 pair of socks,
24.000 Jersey jackets, 36,010 Jersey frocks, tied 60.000 palm
of drawers. They were oubmitten to Dr. Smith, and testi
not be had until he approved of them. But there was sow
siderable delay owing to • disapproval in the pattern sad
the prim of the socks. There was a large establishment in
the Tower consisting of between 300 and 600 inspeoton, sad
viewers versed in trek," and stores, who inspected all the
antra te and goods furnished. When the samples were ap-
proved of, they were sent from the (Mateo' to the Tome
soled with the seal of the Board of Ordnance, but the wad
laid about at the Ordinate sod anybody,could get it.
The Chairman—What precautions
duere taken to see that
the samples were not changed P—not see to whose that
it was to do such a thing.
The Okainean—But I do—la • ass*, for instance, where
the sample fee a good article bad a bad me substituted for
it. (A laugh.) How do you mount, for teatime*, foe what
I have heard happested at the hospitals at Scutari, where
socks the vise for children were sent out for the soldiers ?
(A laughLuags_
Si, T. Had we proceeded, min ordinary times,
it could est Isis been possible; but the.. was a resat deal
of Mrs, anal pressers. It was possible, but he did not think
it CAM
pen know if the shoes sent out were toe
OMR elii4Mlll.persible. (A laugh.) Witness made sue-
aleldee gralleas for tonnage to tie Admiralty, for warm
dittlag lamps to be shipped in the Prince, and as
Mel meelie
~t~elmppllied with, every successive applicant's
must be MeriMad a refresher. (Laughter.) They did not
lesualay reesim mowers from the Aosotralty as to when they
Meld place tonnage at the disposal of the Ordnance, bet the
Admiralty only wrote to the Ordnance to apprise
them how much teenage was evailable. The
packers reported to witness what they packed and
when they packed it. Witness then gave the coon-
sides the dates of the departure and arrival of
the various vessels with wane clothing for the troops, from
an aggregate of which it appeased that by the 30th of
NOVillalwr, there had arrived at Balskleva 11,000 great
sows, 9,000 blankets, 12,000 rugs, 24,000 woollen troche,
11.000 lambswool drawers, and AO,OOO pairs of boots. The
Commissary Orsini of the Ordnance acknowledged the re-
ceipt of theme, but the Ordnance had no control over him.
Witness would furnish the committee with the dates of the
supply of hospital Waiters and clothing for the sick, at the
k spiral at Scutari. The Ordnance bad several requisitions
MOM Dr. Smith, when the army was going to the East. to
S Ppl7 things requisite for the hoepital and the army. TI e
whole sys eat of camp equipage had been carefully revised in
1144, and ender that arrangement they had good teute
seliciest fur 10,000 men. Rs did not think they had any
old teats. The storekeeper looked over them every year,
and reported them that were unserviceable, and toey were
e •adsmted. T berg wastes regular store of tents at Malts, and
NMI of then went with the regiments from Malta. If any old
Mats were mat est ti • responsibility rested with the store-
keeper. When Dr. Smith wanted furniture for the board.
tel he tent is • rsquisititte, end he came to witness one day
is • state of great excitement, and witness told him he
should not suffer inconvenience as regarded his requisitions.
If the Ordnance bad stores in the Teeer they sent them,
sad it not they went into the market. Dr. Smith was
always informed when the goods were supplied and snipped.
The dr-unitises of the beds arriving at Scutari without
legs could easily be accounted tor. It frequently happened
that when teenage was ordered a quantity of things wen
Argil be ke;t cat,'bunion out prevai:•4
6%011114U% atent. 8 are poem of the 0•1700 of beds gres vay
tt seem giie en intended to blow up Brbesmpol, gad the
Moe ...a bodies wont out in &Nernst vessels ; but he be-
lie red Of ey (mid now be forted at Scutari, though being of
eiffseent patterns when they arrived they caused consider-
able perplexity, though an intelligent person could
have lined reel arranged them. The Commissary-Gene, al
Mt chores not only of the commissariat stores but of the
CaSerteralleeter-Geeefere stares ; but not of the ordnance
/WPM Awl the Commissary-General took charge of the
MeV sad shoes, though they were neither commssary nor
oedema stone. The colonels of rigionents supplied a 'in-
tik proportion of the bouts and shoes or the army, and
the ardesece the rest to • certain extents; and he believed
MA esmtleints that had been made of the boots and shoes
la the :rime& referred ,o 41'3 a es pplie.: by tart Ydoseeles
and sot to those famished ts, the vnimarst, wstiels mdse.
mat a raid itemisation hems, 'MI' went wet. As is the
Meaty kar asks of bcoes ad shoes der:Chad Is
▪ petreedine witness as t Wog bran k.jit on bend
• Nis in the Bleck Sea a somiderable time, from the cep-
Ishii not Mediae any of the authorities at Varna. Eupatoria,
it Balaklava -he would take them uff his bead, he was of
opioion that it was the duty of any public authority at the
seat of war to have scented the boots and shoes under the
circumstances, although not strictly within its jurisdiction.
For his part, he would allow mere routine to stand in
the way of a "Oahe duty.
To the Cbairmse—When the Ordnance wanted shires -
'from time to time they Melted all the world, so to speak, to
' make treaders to sup ly them, sod toe board afterwards se- GREAT FIRE AT MESSRS. SCOTT RUSSELL'S
SHIPYARD, MILLWALL.
cepted tee lowest tender, unless the party making it was
not likely, la their judgment, to carry it out eat's( ictorily. —o--
The articles were afterward. all supplied in bulk after pot. A gas, involvin the destruction of an impasse,
g
terns furnished by the Board of Ordnance themselves, and amount of property, erase out in the extensive and well.
sit after patter, s and samples sent in by the parties who known ship building yard situate at Millwall, Poplar, the,
indeed. The Ordaaece, ender the great prewar* upon property of sirs. John Scott Russell and Co. The fire
them at the tire. procured the as insane of the firm was first discovered about nine o'clock last night rising io
et Messrs. Howell' sad Hayter in packing the stores, the newly-built d totting battery to have been launched ea
and theta 'teatimes on undertaking that duty did Saturday nest, and to be named the Etna. This battery
ee the enderstding that they would not be hie to in. w a
as oj deed ea one oide by another easel to be termed the
ellteas descried isspeenon into the articles they peeked, Wave de
ed ea
also to have been leasehed es
whisk was customary will the Ordnance ; hut they made Saturday, and the battery was bounded on the other side
• general inspection, which was satisfactory on the "hole. by a screw collier. Toe three occupied an immense
as suggested by the Chairman, a manufacturer fa the sham of ground in the yard, and they were in such close
earth had bean required to furnish blankets for the army, pr.:fealty that it become apparent that unless the Ste
es very Ann e.otlee, by the 113'h of September, and %het he could be quickly subdued, not only would the battery
did 'apply these on that day, but at an extra oast, in Goose be destroyed, bat the ships on either side would be Mt+
1111186111, sidle binned time allowed for executing the .rider; oily injured. The moot strenuous eaertioas were made to
and that them goods afterwards remained at Portsmouth coilect the heads, but before any one could reader assiotamas
two menthe before they were shipped, the blame would he flames fuelled between the iron plates of the battery,
rest with the Admiralty in not maligning a coliveyanee firiog the tiethere, and eventually the heat became so greet
for them to the Hest ; but he did not thick it true that teat the iron plat/8,41110Am thick, started is sundry places,
such a ems could have occurred. With reference to the when the times rose to a great height, lighting up the
se lily of tools by the Ordnance to the army, whole of the Bast-end and the Surrey side of nil water. TIM
the principle the b dud had acted on for many t toting engine from her Majesty's Dockyard was brought,
years was to g-t rid of obe dots stores, end qunkly set to work, and was followed by the list teem
to have the stores in future on one unifom Rotherhithe, and the steam Heating eagles fr m the South.
pattern. The Ordnance tools end stores underwent reveler wark bridge. Teas upon tees of water were kept
isseection periodically. The story told to the committee by falling into the agent of war, vet the coasgraties cea-
flerg.aim Daestos that the heads of the pickaxes in the tic" d its revues, and about 11 o'clock a frightful seem
Crimea cams ~if at mil w struck with them. lets lan- took place, as the ponderous vowel, in a thorough stet, of
..Goode, loess.. the helve of every piskaxe supplied by the Ignition glided off the stock mist ree)sonibilly into the
O'dnsnce w •so constructed trust every blow only the more river Beni,iat the shrieks of oomesthoseand peewee who wets
firmly filed it into the head of the axe. It was possible that in boats at the mouth of the dock. Saversl pumas were es
cute f the tools, the bill-hooks for umbilici, had been , terrified that sight jumped Into the water, they (eeriest that
•poiled end ',advt..' unfit for use, by persons using them the biasing vessel would fall upon them and crush dem to
•h , did or t understand hoe to use them. It was possible I death. Puttunioely the whole were recovered by the
cos that there were some bud woe among thine ',spelled, • Thames police and waters. n. The engines of the Logien
hut that the great mass of those supplied were bad he could Brigade and West of England offfoe. seder the sonsmand
•,ot Mlle's, after the rigid tests to which they wen put by of Messrs. Braidwood, Cunnorton, sad Pogo, were worked
the Ordnance before they went eon He was inn with lull vig us, but up to use o'clock this mornieg the
*uses, that any report was made to the board of 11 ices were ter from being entirely eatingelsbed, 'debase'
omplaints of the tools used at Choi:Maud, Re had ail danger of any farther elteltekle of mischief was ever.
sot gees the report of a comnsiesios which est ea ,
•he state of the tools at Scowl ; hut he had the report
Were him of a brigade Direr writhe, frail Vases is Tess LAU Puts IN LEADIUMALL-1111111112.—Tbo
Augsad en the same subject, and who stated that all the relhethe (only a fewer es) of the POW appresties bey, wbove
ho
tools ware Milled, except the bill hooks. He had not go was correctly suppto have lost his life in the a
the revert of Captain Shakespeare, who was the bead of a disastrims lire, were deseenrred bete's' the hums of i.e sad
ettessiden that set is the Crimea M Squire aft the two on Wedeesday aftemoos.

gentleman.
i The committee roee at half-past 3, until to-day at 12.

NAVAL AND MILITARY.

THE BALTIC SHEERNESS, Mee 3.
The Pylades, 20, screw steam corvette, Captain
RR. C. T. D'ltynoourt, left, here yesterday at 10.46 with
an-boats Redwing, Thistle, and Starling in tow, direct for
the Baltic.
The Voices°, 3, paddle-wheel steam vessel, left here at
10.30 a.m. yesterday, with the gun-boats Dapper and
Badger in tow, for the Baltic direct.
The Porcupine, 8, paddle-wheel steam vessel, Lieutenant
Commander aM. Jackson, remains in harbour waiting
Admiralty orders to proceed to the Baltic with gun-boats
in tow.
The Rosamond, 0, paddle-wheel steam sloop, Commander
B. B. L. Crofton, late from Portsmouth with marina art-
l.ry for the sea service mortar vessels, (which are daily
ezpected here), remains waiting their arrival.
The rig of the Glatton Floating Battery, now in dry
limk Yrs, has undergone a third alteration, the latter being
seastherad most appropriate for Wittig her across the North
Bea. She is not to take her armament on board until site
arrives in the Baltic. Her iron plates, for covering her
deck, will not be put on board until she gets up the Baltic.
Much discussion has 'then here araooget professiooal men
as to the certainty of the ism plates, wino expanded from
haat, drawing or breaking their through fastenings, in
taking their curve by. eupsasion, the joints and birth being
,quite aloes. An especial survey has been held by Adoiral.y
I order. Mr. T. Green, shipbuilder, was present, with Mr.
Robinson, aseistant.builder ; Mr. Thornton, foreman of this
lyard ; and Mr. Banes, foremaa of new work, from Chat-
ham yard. The most serious defect is the leaky state of the
Tomei, as a considerable removal of siateeal must take
I plea, to ascestain the cause. Certain it fs, wherever a
ithrough bolt under the flat of the bottom amid be seas,
water was sees' oozing from the heads or clinches. The in-
ference drawn therefrom by 'mechanical men is, that the
bolts have been driven too slick. Time may obviate this,
`v the swelling of the timber plank, &c., through which
• paw

PORTSMOUTH, MAY 8.
The Malacca, 17, screw sloop, Captain F4rqubar,
swung her compasses for adjustment to-day, and ease will
joie the fleet at Spithead to-morrow, making sine line of
battle ships, two paddle frigates, and one screw sloop.
The ships for the Baltic, comprising are seven line of
battle ships, and the frigates sad sloops already referred to,
are expected to leave Spithead nest week.
The Magnet, sewly built mortar wood, was brought from
Southampton yesterday in tow of the P.giny, steamer, to
be Sited cut at this port. The Magnet was taken into dock
to-day.
The Grinder, strew steam gun boat, was taken oat of
the steam basin to-day, and went out of harbour to try the
measured mile. She answered very well, making St knots
per hour.
Toe Jasper, another of the sctsw yuntosts, was also
taken out tat thy steam belie to.da; rut • ..he harbiur.
Thu Oreat Tasmania, N0.2:0, as the Gasaaabira Sint*,
No. 144 sailing transports, were towed into harbour the
morning to alongside the yard. The first-named is expected
to embark a detachment of Rita to morrow for the Bast,
and the latter a draft of cavalry on Saturday.

DUBLIN, Ma 3.
Sixty-one men of the 11th Humors, under the
eommand of as officer, embarked yesterday morning, ue
beard the Sylph steamer, for Plymouth, es rode to the seat

dear. - -
' Two °Mears sad 142 men of the Royal Artillery arrived
bore yesterday from Woolwich, to replace a detach-
meat which left this garrison on Tuesday merniag.
They marched to Portobello Barracks, where they are to be
quartered.
The Seidanhe transport tailed from Queenstown yester-
i day with 600 men and twenty officers composed of drafts
from the 3rd, 9th, 14th, 39th, and 89threginsenta, their des-
titution being Malta.
CONSTANTINOPLE, April 19.—Captain Christie and
by secretary have been ordered bath from Constantinople
Ito Halals's, to answer questions concerning the transport
itorvlce.
It is seldom that any of the transports leave the I
river without some detention or other. On Thursday last,
when Captain Glege's 9 pounder field battery went to the
Royal Arsenal, with everytting complete, to embark es
beard the Gibraltar, for conveyance to the Crimea, it was
sequence
band teat the Gibraltar had not room for them. The ear
was that the men and horses were marched beak
to barrarke. It was ultimately decided, that as Captain
Ilestime company bad no horses, being for siege gun eer.
eteet. the 7 should embark on board the (Aeration., that the
vessel might not be detained I.ii ger, and accordingly they
embarked in her on the 30 h alt. for the Crimea. It was
then proposed that Captain Gleggh field battery should em-
bark in the Candle, when it was again found that before
that large vessel Gould accommodate the battery consider
Jo% :Japrovenaitnti. would e.. 27,. to lAt elected.
TIA. depot of the '.otit nussun, consitiing If 2
• marts and 48 rank and filo, with Major L.,:d Guo,ge
lieneelerk and Lients. Bird and Alexander, are under orders
to Ladd themselves in readiness to take their departure facts
the Cavalry Depot, Maidstone, to join their regiment in the
I Crimes, immediately on receipt of final instrectiont from
the Nurse-Guards. It is expected they will embark at
Portsmouth. The depot of the 12th Lancers, also stationed
at the above garrison, will in all probability soon follow,
hut as yet no orders have been received. Deaf aof the
First Royals and 6th Isuiskilling Dragoons are else at once
to leave Canterbury for the same destination.—Maidstone
Gazette.
la% 80th regiment is ordered to be held in resdi-1
nets to embark from Fert-Oeorge in three divisions for
Ildiebn gb, to proceed Meuse by railway to Portsmouth.l
llt is expected that the first division will leave on the 7th,
and that the whole regiment will have left by the 15th of
Iday.—Cokdostion Ravin.
Rear-Admiral A. Lowry Corry died in Paris on
Tuesday. Admiral Corry was last year second in command
to Sir Charles Napier in the betties
The Cheltenham Examiner reports the death of
Admiral Loyd, which took place suddenly at his residence.
P Cottage, Cheltenham, on Sunday afternoon. De.
was about 70 years of age, having entered tise navy
Mark the aloes or the last century.

EQUITY COURTS.—MAT 1.
anon rielaCIWWll3.l.Ol Eta W. C. WOOD,
CLalLin O. RONALD.
The arguments In this notion were this morning resumed.
la the early part of 1862 a company, under the title of the
"Anetralian Freehold Gold Mine Company," MY projected
WM the " met-book" principle, for the purpooc,aeserding
Ile the stetessents in the prospectus, of eommenciag mining
upon an eitensive tract of land adjointngLake
rtierslnt7in the auriferous district of New Beath Wales,
and directly on the quartz veins, presenting the greatest
facilities for mining operations. A prospectus was issued
todding out to thareholders • limitation of liability to the
amount of their shares, unquestionable taatietacy se to the
aboodaem of gold quarts upon the estate, which was
sufficient to admit of the most extensive mining opera-
tions tor half a century at least, while the advantages of
enterprise is such a sphere were such as to render it
superfluous toroth' them oat to the " thinking man" and
" prudent capitalist." Offices were opened in the City, and
rules and regulations were drawn up and entered in the
cost book. A committee of niensgement was appointed,
and shares issued. S I applications were made fur shares,
and allotments to the extent of 64,855 shares, upon which 11.
per share was paid, were made to the different applicants,
including the plaiatiff, who purchased 395 shares in the ad-
venture. The defendants, the committee of management,
had retained for their own benefit 5,000 *bares, upon which
no payment whatever was made, and distributed among the
stock brokefs, stlitetors, at: other effic.;th of the cowpony
1 50 items, else wAtiout ; 12,%OCfrteshares and
IL/40.., were &timid by ths committee of tai egimetit to
keens. Matthews and Knell at purchase-we ey for the
valuable auriferous tract upon which the operations of
the company were to be d on. The defendants, in
the early part of 1852, had also entered into the opera-
tion technically known as "rigging the market," by pur-
chasing a large quantity of shares with the funds of toe
company, for the purpose of raising them to a premium.
In the courts of the same year sinister rumours h d reached
this county as to the Lake Bathurst El Dorado, the sari-
leprous quality of wbieh had beet. treated in the prospectus
as left beyoad a doubt The Sydney Morning Herald of
May, 1852, spoke out plainly as to the fraud that had been
practised lame the adventurers by Messrs. Matthews and
Knell, who had also been concerned in the promotion of a
kindred speculation, called the "Lake Bathunt Gold Mining!
Company, on part of the same estate, also described se
" highly auriferous"—a company, however, which hes also
obtained an unhappy notoriety. The committee of manage-
ment bad despatched an agent to Australia to superintend
operations and make a geological a yof the r estate.
The gentleman had transmitted a report to Bighead, is
which he stated that it was an us qualified swindle, sup-
ported by forged document.; that the estate was perfectly
somniferous' not worth 2001. sterling, with not a building
;gout it, and 300 out of the 600 acres covered with water,
which would not evaporate for live years to come; but that,
as soon as the men got round from Melbourne, he was
going to take them to the Turon diggiags, so that a remite
tenni of gold could be guaranteed by April. The oomesit-
tee of management, notwithstanding this discouraging
intelligence, had in Jimmy, 1853, issued an advertise
meet, stating the arrival of their staff in Austra-
lis, and that operations would shortly be com-
menced with every prospect of success. In December,
1853, a bill was filed by the committee of management!
against Moors. Matthews and Knell, for the purpose of
having the purchase deed rescinded and the 12,5001. re-
funded. No effectual proceedings, however, were taken is
tnis suit until the present year, when at a meeting of the
company, held on the 7th of February, a resolution was re-
posed by the defendant, Mr. Frederic Jones, one of the pea-
sant committee of inanademeut, that the bill should be
taken
off the file. This resolution was seconded by Mr. Terreli,s,
shareholder in the company, and the solicitor of Matthews
and Knell The shareholder-, not having been able to I
obtain any account of the affairs of the cooapany, had thi
December, 1854, appointed a committee of investigation, in
which the plaintiff was included. Mr. Herding, an
accountant, was appointed by this committee to examine the
books and report thereon. It appeared from this examina-
tion
that the committee of management bad received several
mass by way of commission upon shares and payments to I
themselves, which were alleged by the bill to have been no-
autnorised by the rules of the company, and improperly
made. It also appeared that the committee had been in
the habit of lending the moneys of the company to each
other. At a meeting held on the Bth of January, 1855,
Mr. Harding produced his report, and a new committee of
management was elected, which included the plaietiff.
Advertisements were leaned by the new committee, an-
nouncing a return of 6s. per share to the shareholders,
which bad been subsequently made, leaving certain ba
lances in the hands of the bankers. At the bi•month,y
meeting, bold in March last, a resolution was proposed
that a new committee of management shoals be electeil,
with a view to excluding the new members and re-electing'
the former ones. This was opposed by the plaintiff anti
other shareholders, and, after a very stormy discussion, the
meeting was adjourned by the chairman, Mr. Ronald, who
cad subeequenuy held a " special general meeting," at
which the proeosed committee el management was sleeted,
to the exclusion of the plaintiff. The plaintiff had shortly
afterwards flied his bill on behalf of himself and CI other
the shareholders in the company other than the detendants,l
who were the original and present committee of manage-
ment, and now moved for an injunction and receiver.
The defendant, Mr. Ronald, Dad been cioaceasmined by
the plaintiff, and materially confirmed the statements in
the Mll.
Mr. Balt sad Mr. Roxburgh appeared in support of the
emotion; Mr. Chandless, Mr. Daniel, Mr. Bates, and Mr.
Redden appeared for the defendants.
The Vice-Chancellor, after observing upon the painful
features presented by the ease, said that be had been much
surprised at the proposition attempted to be maintained is
argument, that that court was to measure transactions of
this kind by any other principles than those of the higbest
morality and rectitude. Persons injured by such transac-
tions might, if they thought fit, condom them; but how
could the mug pass them over with.ut the severest repro.
hension The cam was altogether of a most singular de-
scription, and it was not a little extraordinary that persons
filling the position in society of the defendants should be
found to have acted as they had done. The eimipauy had
been started under most unfortunate circumstance• at toe
outset. The defendant, who was principally concerned in
prom nine the company, did nut seem to think that he had
committed any impropriety in taking upon himself to enter
into a private uodersiauning with Messrs. Matthews and
Knell, that if ho could procure setheeribers to the adven
lure he was to receive a bonus ow 6001. in free shares. Look.
ing at such a transaction with Teepee; to the manager and
promoter, the result which matter. had taken could not he
W3aCte red at. Meet truly had it been arid "d gilt doth
Med the eyes of the wise." Au) vs 'y snit; tequirt
et to the value of the proparty is he unhand could
net wel: have ben expected. It wss not, however,
alleged egsinst the defendants that they had the
least notion or suspicion that they were being ',Waled
• prospectus was mimed, holding out, as such documents
generally uid,moet sauguine expectations as to the success of
the adventure. The public were told that the company
MY to be formed upon the coat-bask principle, with a eapi•
tal of 100,0001., divided into shares of 11. each; that the
ternthey of the company was freehold, certified to abound
in gold quarts, under the protection of toe coloaial laws.
A list of directors was appended, many of them of high
position in society, and the prospectus weut on to detail ti.e
advantages to be derived from au ievettsni nt in this society.
It woo not uniregirtaut to comment particularly on the ex-
prelaillith dilating upon the auriferous quality of tin land,
for these expressions had oot been withdrawn when informs
tion reached tie defendants of their being totally fictitious.
A letter was quoted, which subsequently proven to be forge d,
that the investigation made lest no hang to doubt as to the
auro.mineraliseu quality of the soil. Some general obser-
vations followed, extolling the quality tat the quarts, cope-
wally of that description in which au trace of gold could be
discovered with the microscope. The public were invited to
apply for shares on the laith of this prospectus. Nothing
however was said as to any appropriation of shares by the
directors for their services, part and tutors ; anu although
the operation of the cost-book principle might not be vet)
clear, yet, at all events, it was suffitieu ly undentood
have held out no intimation to the subscribers that such a
course wooed be adopted. The phuniid nad obtained shares
in the company; and although it wee admitted that h.
did not sign the cost-book till May, 1854, yet be received
his letter of allotment on the 27tii tai January, 1852—a date
important to be noticed, as at that period the terms of
bin
application could only have been io accordance with the
prospectus. Certainly, he sever contemplated any wet-
drama of shares by the directors for their own benefit,
es to which the preepeetua was ithoolutely silent. A stet-
tog had been held almost simuinneoutoy with the issue of
the prospectus, and he certainty nad lino much anoldaneo
to hear it gravely argued that thew directors were autho-
rised to allot to themselves &of. each for their pan and
future services, and then frame an estimate of the expendi
tare, inctuding those luuds which bad been thus w ithdrawn.
Could it be contended that, the issue of shares being Upon
the terms of the prospectus, these gentlemen were autho-
rised in afterwards meeting together and withdrawing for
their own purposes 8,000 ? It wee impossible for a court of
equity to eerie' at a euaa.usvn so repugnant to good faith
and right dealing. It might be aloe observed that the court
was left weeny in the dark as to what these services were to
obi* the reward of 5004. sew efliaed. The directors next
proneeded to a step uulortunate-1) net aneuu.mon in these
associations, though o be surotunaeo in this court
without reprobation—he alluded to what war called in the
affidavits "rigging the market." N.thing which was not
is itself honest could prove in the long run success-
ful. The directors bad purchased a large quantity of
shares to raise their price in the market, whereas, in-
stead of there being any buns lids demand, no one cocci
be lOU, dto purchase them. beyond this, tour of the direc,
tors ball become purchasers ol 7.000 .bers., its J ansars,lss2,
for which they had mane no piquant fur upwards of a
year, while they in their position uu4..t at have seen that
the rules were most strictly uheeraed. This act was not in
itself of serious consequence, perhal a, b et these little petty
appropriations of money Were almost mire painful than
thalami larger magnitude. it appeared, too, that these four
directors had actually withdrasn 4701., as commission for
brokerage for these shares, which they had themselves pur-
ceased, without the slightest right to appropriate the
money. The directors bad an intimation in 8 ptenther,
1862, of the swindle prudes.' upon them with respect to
the wieldy of the lana purchased by them thiamin an
Australian newspaper, asserting that the letter mentioned
in
ProthperrPeraltepePtcwieur.e.atankdenalgtrlicqtlire6Diagtkobtliewasmaattleorr,gery.
and
Messrs. Matthews and Knell and their solicitor were sum-