The Express.
London, England, 1852-09-03 00:00:00

iESTER, BUXTON, MATLOCK, AND
MIDLAND JUNCTION RAILWAY.

The half-yearly meeting of this company was held
at Derby yesterday ; the Hon. O. H. Cavendish, M.P., in
the chair.
The report stated that 6381. had been received for calls
during the half-year ending the 30th of Jens, and 68,0601.
on debentures at 4 per cent. interest for the the purchase of
the Cromford Canal. On the revenue account the receipts
for the half-yew have been 3,3831., and the expanses, in-
cluding rates and government duty, 2,6911., leering a ba-
lance of 7921., which, added to the sum of 771., brought
forward front the former half-year, makes 8691. to be carried
forward to the credit of the no account. The purchase
of the Cromford Canal was completed on the 30th Aug. last,
on which day this company entered into possession of the
property. In the report of the directors to the half-yearly
meeting, held on the 6th of September, 18.51, it was an-
nounced that the directors had concluded the term•of an

arrangement with the London and North Western and Mid-
land companies, jointly, for working this company's under-
taking (including the canal) for 19 years, from the Ist of
January 1852, by which this company would be guannteed
an annual amount meal to 21. 10s. per cent. upon their
share capital, for the period before named. The image.
sent with the two companies was reduced to writing in
a memorandum of agreement dated the 3rd of Septem-
ber 1851, and was to the effect that the arrangements
should commence and take effect from the let of Janu-
ary 1852, for the term of 19 years; that the two compa-
nies should pay this company an annual sum equal to 21. 10s.
per cent. upon their called up capital, amounting to
421,3001., and 'should also pay the interest on the capital of
of the canal, not exceeding 110,0001. The act, which re-
ceived the royal assent on the 17th of June last, authorises
this company, and the London and North Western and
Midland Companies, to enter into agreements for leasing,
and to laser, this company's line of railway and canal to the
two companies for any term not exceeding 99 years. The
Lendou and North Western and Midland Compsnies have
passed resolutions accepting jointly a lease of the railway
and canal upon the terms of the memorandum of agreement
of the 3rd of September, 1851."
The capital amount showed that 622,0211. had been re-
ceived, and 42'J,4071. expended, leaving a balance of
92,8131.
On the motion of the Cnataware, the report was adopted.
The meeting was then made special to consider the pro-
position of lease referred to in the report. Mr. Parsons (of
London) and Mr. Preston dissented from the agreement;
the former, because the period was not 99 instead of 19
years ; the latter, because he dissented from the 21 per cent.,
and considered etter terms ought to have been made.
The CHAILILYAN, on the contrary, speaking as an inde-
pendent shareholder, contended that the period of 19 years
was more advantageous to them, inasmuch as the act gave
them powers to renew a lease at the expiration of that
time, when they might be in a position to make hotter
. terms.

Mr. Famous complained that the great companies would
abut up the avenue to Manchester by this route, and, being
himself a considerable shareholder, *he was of opinion that
the agreement ter 99 years would be far better.
Mr. CHAPPELL (one of the directors of this as well as the
London and North-Western Company) would have been
glad to have accepted the 99 years, speaking for the large
company, and he agreed with the chairman that the present
agreement was by far more beneficial for the Matlock
proprietors._
Mr. PARSONS still argued in support of his own view.
Mr. FILIS2O2II moved as an amendment, that the meeting
do adjourn, in order that the directors might have an op-
portunity of making better terms.
The CHAIRMAN said that the proposition must either be
affirmed or negatived.
Mr. PARSONS then complained of the arrangement made
with the ether companies with reference to the dividend
not being receivable for the last half-year.
Explanations were given by the directors, which led Mr.
Parsons to say that the statements made, especially ono by
Mr. Tootsi, the deputy-chairman, threw a new light upon
the matter. lie, however, begged to reiterate his objection
to the 19 years' lease in preference to the 99, and would vote
against the confirmation of the agreement.
The resolution was then put, and only two hands were
held up against it.

AND CARLISLE RAILWAY.

The following aro the report and statement of ac-
counts to be submitted to the shareholders of this com-
mast the
.1:71-yearly meeting to be held at Lancaster on
Sept.:—
" Tte annexed statement of the half-year's revenue cc-
count will, it is hoped, be considered satisfactory by the
proprietors. In the goods traffic there has been a consi-
derable increase as compared with its amount in the cones-
ponding period of last year, u the new arrangement with
the London sad North Western Company for the supply of
locomotive power °plower terms did not come into opera-
tion till the commencement of the current half-year, the
working expenses have been considerably greater than your
directors trust they will be in future years, although these
charges =unnecessarily be higher on ham where the gra-
' clients are steep than on thou which are more favourably
circumstanced in this ragout. All the loans effected or
renewed within the past half year have been at reduced
rates of interest, and under this head a further saving may
be expected, as existing debentures become terminable.
On the eat of maintaining the way and works which your
directors have now for some little time undertaken, with-
out the intervention of a contractor, with a view to econo-
mise in that item, if practicable, consistently with the main
object to be kept in view, the stability and good working
order of the line, your directors are not prepared to offer
any decisive opinion until after • more extended trial,
which however they already see the importance of
having commenced. It will be perceived that the
capital account has been reduced by a further payment
on account of the arnount due from the Caledonian Company
in respect of the Carlisle joint station. The laying down of
the electric telegraph along the whole line from Preston to
Carlisle has now been completed, which the directors expect
will be a further means of promoting the safe and conve-
nient working of the railway. Your directors recommend
yea le dukes • dividend after the rata of 61 per cent per
mem. bombs • balance to be transferred to the account
of mut balf-year •f 4,4151. 17s. bd. The directors whose
tom dein expires at this meeting are Colonel Lowther
and Mr. Marshall, and Mr. Salkeld, one of the auditors, has
also to retire ; all however being re-eligible."
A summary of the the accounts has been given in our
columns.

SOMNAMBULISM IN THE COTJIITS.—It hes been
stated that the authorities had raised the question whether
the practice of somnambulism be legal, by citing several '
somnambulists before the Tribunal of Simple Police, on the
charge of swindling. The trial took place yesterday, and it
ensued peat curiosity. The accused were nine in number.
At their head was the well-known Alexis Didier, and the
eisbe ethers were females, named °Mimi* Jousain, Valerie
lies in, Henrietta Vaaseur, Heurquin, Chateau alias Tel-
bee,=Heger Pirso4, and de Fontaine. A commissary of
Wilk Trig,. 'amid as public prosecutor. He proved
assesel bad put advertisements in the papas, offer-
lay mem of their art to discover crime, robberies,
.sate, to treat maladies, dc., and he quoted
Pend Cade to show that such things were
under pain of fine and imprisonment.
EitelkaAlexia, the assandwary drew attention to
a dale eat whisk be led sensed to be published in
the mowompers, that ha Md. *sea ate examination of the
tilglof a lady of Task Ws el ea le discover that she
een robbed of • vaisehle twoodet, and that It had
hitiritad at the Mont de Ptiliaad be said that It
no somnambulist to make maelation, as the
Mal balm that ease artistes of vain, were gene-
ra, Woo& IL JtitsPeen pink& fisr the accused.
He nil Ilea the deems of the Peed Orb which had been
zlisdlie not le semielldbee, t
quieted teeneelheewiee /Mere of beim He =detaibunedto t fhor-
at
sesenamilidlerei teageatisse. as in common
with the edema ails. Ala? giving • rapid
Meta" et Se by Mesmer, in
1772, et its nee= byar, and of the
erstrommille le MY* it gave rise, he stated angit
several embed edentille seen had then admitted its
mistime* and ite powerand that in 1831 a commission of
the Yam* of and
reported that • person in a
stale eltesoaaabetim could see and read with his eyes
sheik tad os Iprediet several months in advance the day
and bear steps,* attack.. From this the learned gen-
doom wont en to maintain that there decidedly was some
peat weeny la sesenstians which the present state of
sebum Maul net explain; though there was, he mid,
MINIS to hope that by perseverance and patient investiga-
tion it wail be revealed. lie then contended that it
weld he =dust to apply the ordinary rule* of judgment
le the lenhisma of magnetism, and still more so to
punish these as
_vulgar frauds. lle afterwards pro-
desisions of the Court of Caseation,
by blab b of inferior tribunals condemn-
had been quashed. He after-
wards Mob • /SW observations in defence of each of his
°lista. With gasped to what had been said of Alexis, he
doled the esnatienry of police to do what that person had
der —dinner • rebberobbery by the simple examination of a
pokey penes. He next produced a certificate front the
earisadssin of police of Montaro, declaring that in his
WNW and la that of M. de Ranch, Inspector.general of
pale, a somnabuliat had, in the month of May last, done
see extraordinary things that " it was for the inkiest of
misty that the police should always hare 'no st th. If dis.
I. dhow', guilty person.." in ecardwirm, M.
am said that what ass was that anm.le•i•Di
should be regulated to prevent an abusive use being made
of It, but that it would be wrong to condemn its professors
as swindlers merely because it was • new science, not yet
fully explained. The president of the tribunal then au-
nouneed that he would give judgment on the 7th of October
•• •

DoNewiEs RACES.—The Electric Telegraph Com-
pany are making an extension of the telegraph wires from
the railway station at Doncaster to the race-course, a dis-
tance of about a mile-end-a-half, in order to accelerate the
transmission to London and other places of the !mules of
the different races at the forthcoming meeting. The posts
and wires will be put up only temporarily, so that they may
be removed after the race week. Communications will be
made direct from the round stand on the course, which
has been granted by the corporation for the use of the com-
pany, to the telegraph-offices in London and York—conse-
quently it may be expected that the result of the approach-
ing St. Leger will be telegraphed to both those places he fore
it can be known in Doncuter,notwithstanding its proximity
to the scene of action. It may be mentioned that apart-
ments have been engaged for the Earl of Derby and a
distinguished party or visiton during the race week.