The Express.
London, England, 1863-02-12 00:00:00

SERVICE OP GLASS FOR THE PRINCE OP

waras.

A service of engraved glass, manufactured ex-
pressly for his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, is now
on view at the rooms of Messrs. Pollan and Co., 58 and 59,
Faker-street, Portman-square. It consists of about 410
piece*, intended for 36 persona, and alike for beauty of
design sod of execution is • remarkable specimen of this
species of art manufacture. The water jug may be regarded
as the model of the whole, the decanters and other articles
of similar shape being worked from that pattern. The
satire service, which in form is pure Etruscan, is engraved
in longitudinal bands and stripes, with pure Geeek orna-
ment. On each side of the larger pieces are two shields, on
one of which is engraved the coronet with plumes and motto,
and on the other the monogram "A. 8.." surmounted by
the Prince of Wales's rzown. The dessert sugar bowls, with
covers, are particularly elegant, while the decanters present
the chute simplicity of the germinal design in the most effec-
tive manner. A peculiar feature of the wise-ginner is
that they all have a twisted stem, in one piece, producing,
when turned in the hand, the appearance of a winding
column of water. Excellent taste is shown ha the ice-plate.
A Greek circlet in the centre encloses the coronet and motto,
and, with the bands radiating from the circlet, the result is
very pleasant to the eye. Even in the liqueur glasses the
letters of the Prince's motto are perfectly distinct, and the
plume well developed. It may be added that the bands of
the service follow throughout, as far as possible, the pare
outline of the piece, instead of breaking it in their eons%
as is too frequently the cue in manufactures of this cdees.

LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY
MEETING.-(THIS DAY.)

The half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of thin
company was held this day at the Waterloo Station, for the
purpose of receiving the report of the directors, declaring a
dividend, and disposing of the general business of the cool-
pear ; Captain Massacre, the chairman, prodded.
The report, an abstract of which has already appeared,
was taken as read. _ _ . .

The Ctraninax said that during the whole time he had
had the honour of presiding over them, he never felt that
there was leas to MIST to them. He was happy to my they
were not at war—(hear, hear)—and therefore there was no
necessity for him to justify their hostile proosedings when
at war. No doubt shareholders were entitled to all the
dividend that could be earned, but unfortunately director;
were in a position that when they had a surplus
revenue they were tempted to wipe off exceptiousl ex-
penses. That was not so popular a course as
the increaseof the dividend. He, however, had to ask them
to be satisfied with a partial increase in their dividend, and
to allow the directors to pay off thou exceptional expense*.
They had, therefore, proposed to pay the whole of the ex-
penses of the Wimbledon accident, and to carry 10,000/. to
the re-laying account. They had now no claims upon them
for accidents, and he hoped they would have no more of
them, but would now proceed on a safe and sound basis. It
bed been said by the tint journal of Europe that railway
companies were privileged bodies. He did not know how
they could claim any privileges over other trading com-
panies when they were mulcted to the extent they were in
the cue of an accident. When passengers had complained
that the trains on their line were slow, they had always
admitted that if they were not so fast as others, they were
much safer. He now rases to the accounts, and would
take the capital account first. There had been an Meyer*
in the capital of the company to the extent of 371,7411..
which had been unavoidable in building works, extending
lines, making sidings, and laying down the narrow-gage
lines on certain puts of their system. They bad, there-
fore, mach increased their proyerty, and that could not be
dme without the outlay of capital. With regard to the
locomotive department, they had en increased charge,
but that was caused by the increased traffic.
sod the increased charge was only 20 per cent.
on the augmentetion to the revenue. He was
happy to say that they were at peace with everyb and
without saying anything disparaging of the Great Western'
Company, he would say that his (the Chairman's) company
vas the last to go to war. With regard to the Bishop's
Waltham and Sidmouth Railways, they had only taken
them on working arrangements. He would say with
regard to the last paragraph but one in the report
that they were prepared to go to parliament for
a bill to enable the company to complete the
amalgamation of the undertakiegs of the North Devon, the
Bideford, the Peterefield, and the Chard Railway Companies
with this company, upoo terms already submitted to and
approved by the proprietors. During the standing orders
some of their opponents had already expired, and he
tro7ssir to be able to state that the abets had followed their
example. He then moved theadoption of the report.
The Hon. R. H. DueroN, seconded the worm.
Mr. Bates called the attention of the chairman to the
fact that the sum of 2,0301. mentioned in the report u costs
in opposing other schemes referred to in the report did not
appear in the accounts.
The CHAIIIIILS pointed out that it was charged in the
capital account.
Mr. HELPS deprecated its being pieced there.
Mr. Mircesix was sorry to nod that by one paragraph in
the report, which was vary unsatisfactory, it was under-
stood at theism* meeting that no more lines should be pur-
rimed, and they were now asked to agree to the purchase
of certain linos. He might refer to the Nader
Linn, which would never pay. He hoped the directors would
abandon the plan of absorbing these new schemes, for they
were only made to sell, and the profit thus made by them
west to make other smaller lines.
Lord BURY thought they ought ant to be engaged in
oppoeieg all those whams, sad asked how they would
affect them if they were allowed to stand.
After some discuasiee fv raped vu adopted.

CORE AND LENIRICI RLILWAY.—The half-yearly
meeting of the Oar! and Limeade! Railway was held ou
Tuesday, is the sorapaay's IMO" South Mall, Cork. The
re port was The review amount from August to
December. 11674:0we a set credit baker* of 9R21. SC :a.
which sum was carried forward to the credit of the current
haltyear.—Dmblim Breaing Mad.

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PRESENTATION OF THE FREEDOM
OF THE CITY OF LONDON TO
THE PRINCE OF WALES.
(THIS DAY.)

This morning and afternoon the vicinity of Lon-
ion•bridge, the great focus of metropolitan traffic, presented
most animated appearance. It hail been previously
sanouoced that the Fishmongers' Company were to receive
a visit from the Prince of Wales, the occasion being one
which marks the Prince's entrance on a great public career.
Thu governing body of the ancient company of Fishmongers
tel determined to offer to his royal highness the hono-
ray freedom of that company ; and suitable preparations
t... 1 been made for so important an event. The steps lead-
en; o the bell were this morning covered with crimson
cloth, while overhead was the canopy, always significant
of mime City festivity. Eighteen watermen, ell winners
cf the celebrated Doggett's kedge on the Thames, at
rtrious periods, from 18'24 down to the let of August last,
,rropriately kept guard on the outer staircase, ,and in the
tritibule the band of the Royal Artillery played at inter-
The great hall where the presentation was appointed
take plane—one of the most beautiful rooms to be
lo..:13 in our civic palaces—was crowded with spectators,
smog whom were a very large number of elegantly-
dressed ladies. The fags of the wardens, past end present,
waving on each side of this chamber, added to the brilliancy
of the scene. In the centre of the ball was a raised dais and
crimson chair, placed for the Prince of Wales.
It was about 1 o'clock when his royal highness arrived et
the Hall, in a private carriage, accompanied by Major Tees-
dale and Major Knollys. His approach was the signal for
s most hearty reception from the crowd, the cheering being
load and reiterated. The Prince at once ascended the stair-
case, in the midst of • procession, consisting principally of
members of the Fishmongers Company ; the band of the
Royal Artillery meanwhile playing " God save the
40d0." When he had entered the ante-room to the
principal chamber, several of the leading members of tha cor-
poration were presented to him by the clerk of the company,
Ir. William Beckwith Towse. Amongst those that pre-
rested were the past wardens, Mr. Banbury, M.P., and Mr.
Western Wood, M.P., Lord Clyde, sod Sir Rowland MIL
lie then entered the great chamber of the compeer, sad
to.,k his seat in the chair epos &bridals, the spectators stand-
lag until they received a signal to be seated.
Towse, the clerk of the corporation, commenced the
ceemoey of the presentation, by reeding the minutes of the
proceedings of the court of governors relating to the pre-
sentation of the freedom to his royal highness.
The following document was also read by Mr. Towne,
wording the feet of his royal highness's admission to the
privileges of a freeman of the City :
" At the general court of assistants, holden at Fish-
mongers Hall on Thursday, the 12th day of February, in
the 26th year of the reign of her Majesty Victoria, Queen
of Great Britain and Ireland, and in the year of our Lord
the mart noble, most mighty', and most illustrious
Albert Edward Prince of Wales, Duke of Saxony, Duke of
Cornwall, Duke of Rothsay, ko., ka, wee admitted sad took
NM declaration of a freeman of this mystery. Signed
Joseph Underwood, Prime Warden, Wm. Cabin, M.P.,
J. Spieler, W. Charles Vanning, F. B. Renshaw, and G.
Moore, Revs., Wardens."
The Prince afterwards signed in due form the usual de-
claration on the admission of a freeman to the Company of
Fishmongers.

The freedom—which wee thee handed to his royal high-
s= by Mr. Tows—is beautifully illuminated sad im-
posed op vellum, and was enclosed is a roassive gold
ca.ket bearing the folowing inacripiion :
" Presented, oa occasion of his taking up his freedom, to
tie Royal Highness Albert E Iward Prime of Wales, &c.,
by the Wenhipfal Outplay of Pialunoogers of the City of
Ludo., in commemoration of the honour conferred upon
the exusay, of which his late royal father sod several
members of his illustrious family wen also memters.
12, 1863."

This diode and elegant casket is in the Rennaissance style
▪ amoiont, and was designed and manufac:ured by
Smith and NicheLoa, of Duke-et:set. Lincoloi.ino•fields.
It is aramoted by a female figure, representing Commerce
Natal a a Dolphin, and by his royal highness's coronet
sad fatioro. It bears the Prince's arms and monogram,
and likewise the onmpany's arms.
The Prime Warden being ill, and therefore actable to
attend, Mr. Ooorrr, LP., the next Warden in succession,
then delivered the fo:lowing address :
"May it please your ft 'ye.' Highness,—Oct behalf of the
Prime Warden (the state of whose health has led him to ask
my sisisinnoe), the Wardens, the Court of Assistante, and
the ansoonolty of this ancient company, I have the honour
to offer to your Royal Highness an emphatic expressioa of
their gratification in the enrolment of your Royal High-
nor's am) in their mash&

" Their predecessors from time to time, in bygone yaw;
had the honour of admitting illoidrioes personages to the
freedom of the company, and in comparatively modern
times we and recorded the admission of his Royal Highgate
Frederick Prime of W elos. Your Royal Highness's royal
psedietber, the Dee of Beat, wf"ss portrait graces the
madmosaded thus to honour the ampule. Yoe:
Royal Highness's royal father, on tiiis very spot, did the
rompeay the ems honour which your Royal Ricketss
be. jut oonferre 1, end by his kind inflames
tie eoseptay became gemmed of a portrait of our coun-
try's beloved sovereign, which they joyfully placed in their
ball here to remain for getteratuins to oome, that the Fish-
mongers' Oompeny, their friends, end visitors may at all
lases have opportunities of contemplating the likeness of
the beet of British Queers.

"The Pishmongers'Company is one of those ancient guilds
which in remote periods were incorporated by royal char-
ier, and invested with functions by which their respective
crafts were fostered sod protected, sad the interests at the
public promoted.

"In lookingtock through the long vista amok eateries we
lad the moms of many distiagnished men. and among
others that of Walworth, wham brave and maims loyalty
well entitled his memory to the statue which worthily fills
el niche in the hall of this company, where loyalty
cad patriotism ever found an abiding place.
"In common with all her Majesty's subjects., the Fish-
mongers' Company oontemplate with satisfaction and
joy the approaching happy event which is to unite
year Royal Highness in holy wedlock with the illus-
trious, beautiful, and accomplished royal lady,
It. Primer Alexandra of Denmark. They hope
that Provides°, may bless your Royal Highness and
your royal bride, and that the career which awaits your
Royal Highness in the most malted position which man can
invierit may be lightly affected by those moo and sozieties
which amompsay great responsibilities ; that snoesesful re-
gelle may attend all your Royal Highness's nodartakinp ;
ad that your Royal Highness may ham a long, a healthy,
a happy, sad a prosperous life."

After Mein eh►kw heads with Mr. Cubitt, Mee Primes
mob, so follows :—" Mr. Cubitt and geatlemen,—lt is
with the greatest plasmic that I led myself celled upon
to return my sincere thanks to you, sir, es prime warden.
end to you, gentlemen of the court of amistants, of this
honourablo and ancieot Cowpony of Fishmongers, for
the complimentary and kind terms in which you have
expressed yourselves towards me on the occasion of
wy taking up my freedom, sad on your enrolling
roy Immo es a citizen with those illustrious
peremages ead relatives who stood recorded is your mink
It moot be otherwise thane puree of pride, and of a still
deeper fedi mg. that of affection, when I look oo these wells
and sae the portrait. of them whose eon and grandsoo hopes
to lone me of your distinguished body ; and to be thought
worthy of oseapying tee plain of that lamented parent
oboes lam the whole coaster has united in deploring,
would be in itself as object of my highest ►mbition.
Ccutlemses,—Let me also Mader to ymi my warmest
adolowledgetnenta for the rearmer in which you handfeed
Your cceratulatious tome es ay appromehing marriage, sad
to the young prioress who homes soon to adopt the proud
title of an Englishwom►a, and to prow. herself a comfort to
the Queen in her afilictiou."
Chem followed the oonclusion of this address.

The prime then retired, sod the interesting ceremony
terminated.

The question sa to the beet route for the mail
service between &eland and Australia la at the meant
moment ea.:atlas very great lutenist is all the salmis&
The papers is Melbourne, Sydaey, mad Nov, &eked are
dhearatai t►e sehjast ; and several ahem, are beim the
pablia,

..il'l.:= i i