The Express.
London, England, 1852-09-21 00:00:00

THE BRITISH EXODUS."

A public meeting was held last evening at the
Mechanics' Institution, Southampton-buildings, in support
of a society called "The British Exodus, or National Emi-
gration Fund of the Hunter River Gold Mining Company."
Lord EMIILINII presided, and stated that the principle of
the society had been thoroughly canvassed and proved to be
good. Some, while admitting the excellence of the society's
objects, doubted its practicability, and asked, "Do you
really intend to *end 4,000 people out for nothing ?" His
I answer was—Yes: fur a guinea was nothing, com to
the cost of a passage. If the man was balloted, Ere!ent
out ; if not, he lost nothing, but being a member of the com-
pany was entitled to its benefits, or to go out for nothing
when his turn came. (Hear, hear.) They meant to start
once, and their first ballot would take place on Thursday
next. (Hear.)
Mr. W. CARPENTIIit, one of the directors of the society,
said that the proposed capital of the society was 120,0001.,
in 120,000 shams of a guinea each. A portion of this ca-
pital would be applied to increasing the supply of labour
in the Australian colonies, while the other portion was to
be invested in a richly auriferous mining property and the
necessary machinery end labour to work it. To carry out
the former object a wickly public ballot would take place,
and there were sufficient shares taken to enable them to offer
75 free passages at the first ballot. (Hear.) The land which
had been secured by the trustees of the fund was situate
150 miles north of Sydney, and comprised 2,000 acres of
the richest mineral land in Australia. The ballot would be
a public one, the shares would be publicly announced as
soon as drawn, arid the free passages would at once be given
to the holders. (Cheers.) 'Dues ships would sail from
Bristol nest month.

Mr. Livrxoatona moved a resolution declaring that the
statement of the society's object wu most satisfactory, and
that the company wu worthy of public conlidenco and
support.
Mr. MORRISON seconded the resolution.

Mr. KINTAILL said he thought the scheme, if at all a
bon, file one, was one for the investment of capital in
mining property, and not the best method of assisting the
hard-working classes. To get the benefit of this society
they must purchase a guinea share, and a guinea was a
great deal for a working man to mime. (Hear, hear.) And
when he did so, be had only a 120,000 th chance of the
ballot. (Cheers, and " No, no.")
A I/macron—Much more; one in 30.
Mr KINTRIA must protest that it was a mere lottery—
just like a goom.club in a public-house. It was not the
best plan for the aeedy artisan, whom object was Mime.
diets emigration. (Cheers.)
Mr. CARP/INTIM replied; and Mr. Krantz*, amidst
great interruption and uproar, moved an amendment to the
effect that the directors had nut sufficiently explained
their scheme to entitle it to the support of the meeting.
(Cheers.)
Mr. KNIGHT seconded the amendment, and said that no
one knew whether the company had got possession of the
mines they talked of. It might be lise Col. Fremont's, or
the Anglo-Californian scheme. Probably there were some
previous squatters on the ground, Who would fight for their
rights. (Cheers.)
Other speeches followed, for and against the amendment.
Abort 50 hands were held up in favour of the amend-
went. The original resolution was then put, and a still
amalhr number were raised in its favour.

-- ---......— ... ...--.
The CUAIIIKAN. declared the amendment enthral, End
the meeting broke up in some contusion.: