The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-26 00:00:00

DUNDALK AND ENNISKILLEN RAILIVAY.

The stated half-yearly meeting of this company
will be held on the 30th inst., when the following report
will be submitted by the directors :
" The directors, In submitting the results of the put
half-year's working of the line, have to report that the gross
receipts, u compared with the same period of the previous
year, have been fully maintained, notwithstanding the low
of a portion of the north-cut traffic, caused by the opening
of the Belfaat Junction line to rortadown, the comparative
results being, viz.:—

Su Months to 30th June, To 30th Jane,
1852. 1863.
Poseur? Traffic
Meteltaadiee and Parcels 1,671 711 .. 1,G38 13 3

The sued care has been taken to equalise the expendi-
ture of this with the pest haltyears, as shown by the an-
nexed account. The balance now available. with a slight
addition from the reserve fund, will ensble a dividend
of six shillings per share to be paid as heretofore. And
your directors, in recommending its payment, may here
refer to the satisfactory increase of the weekly re-
ceipts of the current half-year is a guarantee that the
surplus to be anticipated will more than counterba-
lance any deductions now made from the reserved fund.
The board have much satisfaction at being enabled to
state, that the contract for making the extension of your
line from Cutleblayney to Enniskillen, a distance of 43
miles, was finally closed in the early part of last month
with Mum. Moore and Killen, for a sum of 235,0001.,
which includes all materials necessary for completion of the
line. These parties have agreed to accept payment on
terms which are deemed highly satisfactory and advan-
tageous to the company; and they undertake to have the
entire line open throughout at the expiration of the year
1854, in the following sections :—Ballibay, first ; Clones,
second; Enniskillen, third. Judging from the vigorous
manner in which the works are now being proceeded with,
the director' have every reason for relying on having the
first section to Ballybay open at Christmas. It is but due
to the landowner' in the several districts, to here bear
testimony to the friendly spirit and desire to facilitate which
they evinced, resulting greatly to the advantage of the com-
pany, both in point of time and means. The remaining
portion of the lands, in the county of Monahan, is also in
the contractor's possession ; and the lands throughout the
county of Fermanagh will be in their hands by Christmas,
so as they may commence that portion of the works early
in the ensuing year. The report from the engineer-in-
chief, hitherto annexed, will more fully set out these
arrangements, which, it is hoped, will meet the approval of
the shareholders. The negotiations with the Exchequer
Loan Commissioners have been brought to a satis-
,oool..

factory termination for a knin of at 4 per cent.
The suit pending with .he Ulster ltiilway Company (al-
luded to in previous re port), for cost of alteration of guage
on that company's lints, has met with an adverse decision to
that contemplated by the directors; the sum lodged in court,
and appearing in previous half-year's accounts, has been
paid over to the U'Aster Company, and is now finally trans-
ferred to the cost of construction. The attention
of the altar /holders must have been already at-
tracted by OA attempts of an embryo company (the Bel-
fast and West of Ireland Company, and its Cavan and Mo-
naghan branches) to project schemes, which if allowed to
ripen, would vitally affect the interests of this company.
Your directors have, conaeouently, closely watched, and
counteracted throughout these movements, by a timely
opposition ; and, they rejoice to state, an effective one. The
directors understand that it is the intention to revive this
scheme, and it may arise that the shkreholders at a future
meeting will have to consider the course which should be
I taken by the board in this matte'—whether by an active
opposition against the scher.,e, or by the promotion of
branch linen to Monaghan and Cavan, in connexion with
other companies whose Interests are similarly
this involved with
company.

DUBLIN AND BELFAST JUNCTION RAIL IVA

The half-yearly general meeting of this company
was held in Lublin, on Wednesday; Joax BAHLUW, Esq ,
chairman of the company presiding.
The report of the directors contains the following pas-
sages Your directors in submitting to their proprietors
the accounts of receipt and expenditure of capital, together
with &statement of revenue for the halt-year indiog 30th
June last, beg to refer to the latter, in which it will be
found that the receipts for passengers and merchandise have
exceeded those for the corresponding 1.41832 by
6,1921., and have only fallen short of the returns of the
summer half-year by 5381. The following is a comparative
statement of the returns of these two sources of income :

-- ------ •
June, 18.11. Dec. 1952. JUilf, I 853„
No. Amt. No. Amt. No. Amt.
Pareenger, 66,334 £10,799. 90,487, £16,110. 66,173, £14,990.
tdereMuuit,4 1,997. 3.30. 3,497,,

Totals X 12,795 X 19,575 X:5,9x7
whence it will be seen that the go.sds traffic is steadily in-
creasing, and it is expected that the great accommodation
afforded to this branch of the company's business by the
opening of the Boyne viaduct will necessarily increase the
receipts of the line. The viaduct, though not yet completed
is in a very advanced state ; early in the year tears were
entertained that it would not be opened by the time eon-
traeted for, vie., in May, a period looked forward to with
mirth anxiety, as the passage over the Boyne would then be
more than usually desirable, on account of the opening of
the Exhibition. Under these circumstances the directors
caused to be constructed, under the superintendence of tho
company's engineers, a temporary roadway, which, though
severely tested by the officer appointed by the Railway
Commissioners, bore satisfactorily the great weights placed
upon it for that purpose ; and the traffic has since June last
been conveyed over it. The nett balance to the credit of
revenue fur the past year is 16,7631. 15s. 5d., to which
is to be added the balance from the previous halt-
year 4,1901. 8.. 3d. ; making together a sum of 20,934/.
3s. Bd. available for the dividend. Your directors, there-
fore, recommend that • dividend of It 2s. 6d. per share
be declared and paid to the proprietors entitled thereto
(that being at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum on the
@bares upon which all calls shall have been paid), after
which there will remain to be carried to the credit of the
current half-year about 2,0001. The bill which your direc-
tors promoted, and which received the assent of the proprie-
tors In August last, has in this present Bandon received the
royal assent. tinder this act the company are empowered
to pay off their ISlOVgages or bonds as they become due, from
the funds received from the Dublin and Drogheda Railway
Company, in repayment of the expenditure on the Navan
branch add to that company. It also coota:ns powers to
apply the amount received from that company for interest
which accrued on the amount expended on the Navan branch
during the period of its construction to the liquidation of
interest on the mortgage or bond debts of the company.
This will account for the circumstance of the sum of
14,6311. Bs. 84., which last half year appeared as an item
in the capital account, being now placed to profit and loss.
' An act of parliament has passed for tile formation of n line
of railway from Portadown to Dungannon, and your direc-
tors have every reason to believe that the works will he
commenced forthwith. Proposals have been made to this
company to aid in the construction of a line from Dungannon
to Omagh, a continuation of the abovementioned, which,
when completed, will connect your railway with London-
' derry and the north direct. Your directors are disposed to
give this project their most favourable consideration, when
the proper time arrives. From the report of your engineer-
in-chief, Sir John Macneill, you will learn that the whole
it of the line is in good working order. In a former report
your directors announced their intention of laying down a
►econd roadway on a portion of the line, which is now in
progress!, the rails having been purchased previous to the
late advance in the price of iron."
• The report, which appeared to give general satisfaction,
' was unanimously adopted; as was also a resolution de-
claring a dividend at Use rate of 6 per cent. on the paid-up
; capital.

INVITATION TO LORD PALMERSTON TO A DINNER
AT DERBY—It having been etated that Lord and Lady
Palmerston were about to •ieit Melbourne at the latter end

of this week, a meeting was called in Derby, on bloodAy
last, by circular, signed by the mayor, to elicit expression
of opinion as to the desirability of inviting the noble vis-
count to a public banquet. There were present at the
meeting, which was held in the dining-room of the Rapt
Hotel, several professional gentlemen and tradesmen of
the borough ; and the chair was taken by the mayor, who
explained the object of the meeting. After some conver-
sation a resolution to the effect that the mayor he requested
to communicate to Lord Palmerston tke wish of the meet-

ing, end to arrange for an interview with the noble lord
to appoint • time for the banquet to be held, wax pro-
posed by 11. Motley, Esq., seconded by 11. F. Oishorne,
Esq., and carried unanimously. The meeting then broke
up.—Derby Mercury.
TESTIMONIAL TO JOHN SADLEIR, ESQ., M.P.—
Nearly four hundred shareholders in the London end
County Bank have presented their respected chairman, Mr.
John Sadleir, M.l'., one of her Majesty's Lords of the
Treasury, with three very elegant solid silver candelabra,
valued at 630!., as a mark of their admiration of Mr. Sad-
lier's munificence in contributing the sum of 4,5001. towards
founding a provident fund for the officers of the establish-
ment. The ceremony of the presentation took place at
Mr. Sadleir's residence, 11, Oloucsater•square, Hyde-park.
It is stated that the National Provincial Bank of England,
following the example of the hon. member fur Sligo, has
voted the sum of 5001. for the creation of a similar fool;
and other large batikiag establishments in the City intend
adopting the same wise and generous policy.
FRENCH MERCHANTS AND OCEAN PENNY POST-
AI:Ht.—There is no correspondence in the civilised world so
disproportionately and exorbitantly taxed as that between
Great Britain and France. The postage one letter, weigh-
ing a quarter of an ounce, between London and Paris, is
104.; but if it weigh half an ounce, it is charged ls. 3d.
Still in no direction is travelling cheaper than between these
two capitals. The railway companies offer to convey a man
though as large as Daniel Lambert, from London to Paris
for 11. allowing him a week for stopping at different towns
on the way in France ; helping him up and down at • dozen
stations, and doing for him services which no letter demands
at the bands of • Postmaster. But the present charge on
twenty letters, weighing in all ten ounces, between London
and Paris, 11. ss. This most disproportionate and anoma-
lous restriction on their correspondence is coining to be felt
very sensibly, especially by the commercial communities on
both sides of the Channel. As • token of the interest with
which the merchants in France regard the efforts to abolish
this restriction and establish a universal ocean penny postage,
some of the most wealthy and influential houses in Avignon,
Marseilles, and ether towns in their vicinity, have subscribed
and just sent to London about 400 francs, to aid the move.
mein in behalf of the great postal reform. As a proof of
their sympathy with a measure which would unite England
and Franc more closely in the bonds of goodwill and good
neighbourhood, ' and diffuse social happiness throughout
the world, this contribution is a generous and welcome gift.
SERIALS, &C., BT POST FOR PRUSSIA.—The Post-
muter-General has issued the following notice : " On and
from the lst of September next, printed periodical works,
prices current, and commercial lists, sent in the mails be-
tween the United Kingdom and Prussia, vffi Belgium, will
be liable t• the undermentioned reduced rates of postage;
the Prussian Post-office having undertaken to collect the
Belgian transit postage, which has been heretofore charged
in this country. Periodical works, if not exceeding 2 on.
in weight, ld. ; if above 2 on. and not exceeding 3 On, 6d. ;
if above 3 on. and not exceeding 4 011., Bd. ' • and 2‘.1. for
every additional ounce, up to the weight of 16 ounces, be-
yond which weight no such publications can be forwarded.
Three rata will be chargeable, as well on the despatch of
periodical works from, as upon their delivery in, the United
Kingdom. With respect to prices current and commercial
lists, posted in the United Kingdom and addressed to
Prussia, they will be forwarded free of postage : they must,
however, be stamped as newspapers, and not exceed 2 ots.
in weight. Those received in the United Kingdom from
Prussia will be liable to • postage of ld. each on delivery."
THE LATE DISASTROUS FLOODS IN WALES.—
Several inquirin by the authorities of the various counties
in South Wales have been held and are pending, relative
to the damage sustained and the bridges destroyed in con-
sequence of the recent severe floods. They appear to have
been extraordinary deluges, and as a necessary result, the
injury sustained has been very heavy. In the county of
Brecon alone 16 bridges have been entirely destroyed,
whilst 14 have been materially damaged, UMW, in tact,
almost requiring re-building. To put then in repair will
cost 3,500!., wtilst in one locality in Radnorshire, near
Builth, 1,0001. will be requisite. An immense portion of
the road between Merthyr and Brecon had been carried
away, and had it not been that the old road, after heavy re-
pairs, had been available, all traffic must have been stopped.
The foundations and abutments of the bridges have been
totally destroyed, and in some cases the materials carried so
far away as not to be available for a new structure. The
suddenness of the flood has been a matter of surprise to all,
and the volumes of water were immense. The damage to
the crops, hay, gardens, embankments, Cie., has been most
disastrous, and no fewer than 30 lives have bees reported
to be lost, whilst cattle, sheep, etc., have been swept away
in numbers.
DEMAND FOR HIGHER WAGES BY LETT/It-PRESS
PIUNTERB.—On Wednesday evening a meeting of the as-
sociated letter-press printers of Manchester was held at the
Red Lien Inn, Salford, for the purpose of taking into con-
sideration whether an advance of wages should not be de-
manded for men who earn then living as supernumeraries
in various printing-offices in that city, more especially news-
paper offices. A resolution was moved, to the effect that
supernumerary labour, after the 12th Sept. next, should be
paid for at the rate of id. per hour, being on advance of 1.1.
on the present rates ; and that in case the supernumera-
ries are required to work more than ten hours per day, then
they should receive Bd. per hour. The resolution was
earned by a majority of 6.3 to 23. The object of this move-
ment is understoood to be to put an end to the system of
labour, which is largely resorted to in some
lorrnra iunTlrail nrhester, and has long been regarded with great
jealousy by the compositors who are in regularemployment.
HINTS FOR TUE FRIENDS OF EMIGRANTS.—AR
those who have friends in America, with whom they cor-
the
posresrffingd cet a
t.connectedhe
,Atlantic, w i t
ig-
norance of which baulks many a ktoel intention, and re-
quently estranges the most attached relatives and friends.
Firstly, a penny stamp requires to be affixed to each journal
aothfeewr
posted to the United States; secondly, if the paper to he
,ofoupgahpterstofo
theow
transmitted be older tl•an seven days, it is not allowed to be
forwarded at the penny rate. All papers posted without
the penny stamp, and all posted with the stamp, but older
than seven days, are burned.
EASTERN UNION RAILWAY. The half-yearly
meeting of this company, which was to bo held to-day at
Ipswich, is postponed nntil the 9th proximo.

IRELAND.

Deems. Avo. 2'i.
The lord mayor has issued • proclamation, in
which he sacs:

On the oeca.sion of her most gracious Majesty the Queen
visiting her city of Dublin far the second time, which happy
event is expected to take plies on Monday nest, the 29th
inst., the lord mayor, assured of the feelings of affectionate
loyalty and devotion entertained by all dames of his fellow
eitteens temente her Majesty, would suggest to the proprie-
tors of large establishments and managers of public build
fogs, to eeereise their taste and judgment, aided by the
skill of our artisans, in making such a display of
tams on the evening of the 29th as will demoestrate the
universal feeling of loyalty which prevails throughout our
city. At the 'tame time be would recommend to his fel.
low tautens g Ily not to illuminate their private
houses, such a proceeding being attended with both danger
and annoyance. The lord mayor would also suggest that
there should not be any display of fireworks within the
City on this occasion, lest any accident might befall onr
Orest Ealsiliwon Budding, one spark falling on which
'nigh'. be attended with lb, most serious results..
The Lord-Lieutenant yesterday visited the Exhi-
bition of the Royal Hibernian Academy, which this
year is a eery attractive one.
'rho depot of the Hat Regiment is to arrive in
Dublin this day to reinforce the troops already in
garrison during her Majesty's visit, and are to be
quartered in the Linen-hall barrack. The troops
(both horse and foot) are to assemble in the Fifteen-
acres to-morrow (Friday), under the command of
Sir Edward Blackeney, for the purpose of going
through a field-alai'. A guard of honour, consisting
of one field officer, one captain, two subalterns, four
sergeants and sixty rank and file, are to mount
guard at the Viceregal Lodge on Monday next, and
to be continued daily during her Majesty's stay
in Dublin. Tent. are to be pitched in the vici-
nity of the Lodge for the accommodation of the
guard.
'rho Count de Paris and suite are at Thomas-
town, on a visit with Lieut.-General Vicomte Cha-
bot, K.C.H.

English and Scotch missionaries are to hold
• meeting at the Itotundo this evening, to describe
Le result of their mission.

The Limerick, Chruttiele says:
The weather continues most tavourable for harvest opera-
tions. There was slight frost yesterday morniog, attended
with fog, which portended a hot afternoon ; but it was not
go iateasv, and a gentle fall of rain cooled the atmosphere.
The cereal crops are falling rapidly under the reaping hooks
and sickles. The potatoes in the neighbourhood at Tubers
are magnificent, and although the I are partially dis-
coloured, there is not one of the tubers affected. So far as
the County Clare is concerned, the potato disease, as
affeeling the crop, is as nothing. The samples sent tor/swim
are uncommonly good.
Sir W. Hamilton, the astronomer royal for Ireland,
has addressed the following letter to a morning paper
relative to the new comet

Observatory of Trinity College, Dublin,
August 24, 1853.
Sir,—The splendid comet which has within these few days
attracted attention, and which was seen in Dublin and
Carlow (as letters have informed me) between nine and ten
o'clock on Sunday evening last, was observed here twice
last night (August 23). By the mean of those two observa-
tions the right ascension of this great comet, which is, per-
hmoi, the one of long period that was expected by Mr. Hind
(if my memory do not deceive me, for 1 cannot at this mo-
ment refer to his writings), to appear within • year or too
of the present time, was Sound tci he 11 hours 32 nineties
ba seconds, and its north polar distance 64 degrees 8 mi-
nutes and 2U seconds, at 9 hours 3 minutes 254 seconds mean
time Domino, or very warty at 9 hours 28 minutes and 47
seconds of Greenwich time. The nucleus and tail were
beautiful.-1 am, sir, your obedient servant,
WILLIAM ROWAN HAMILTON.