The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-24 00:00:00

AUSTRALIAN ROYAL MAIL STEAM
NAVIGATION COMPANY.

Yesterday an adjourned extraordinary general
meeting was held at the London Tavern, to receive the
report of the director.. J. 0. FRITH, Esq., took the chair.
The following report was laid before the shareholders:—
" The proprietors will recollect that the meeting of the
2nd inst., which was adjourned to this day, was convened
immediately on the receipt of notice from the Admiralty,
that the mail contract had been terminated, in consequence of
the return of the Australian, and the inability of the com-
pany to peovile a vessel to take her plate, because it ap-
peared to the directors to be a matter of which the abase-
holden ought to receive the earliest and tallest information."
The report, after stating the particulars of the breakdown
of the Australian, proceeded—" On the 17th March, the
Sydney. the second ship which the company despatched,
completed her first voyage after an absence of
225 days. The Melbourne and Adelaide are pro-1
scenting their voyages, and the former is re-
ported to have arrived at Melbourne on the 4th of
February ; and the latter at the Cape of Good Hope on
the 21st of March. The Victoria, the last new ship, will
sail from London in the coarse of neat month. She has
already performed one trial trip in a highly satisfactory
manner, end is now on a second trial cruise in the Bay of
Biscay, prior to proceeding on her voyage. The proprietors
are aware that the delivery to the company, both of the
Adelaide and the Victoria. was delayed much beyond the
dates fixed in the contract with the builder. The two
matters, however, upon which the directors have more espe-
cially to report to the proprietors are, the withdrawal of the
mail contract, and the proposed arrangements for a union
with the General Screw Steam Shipping Company. With
regard to the first of these, the circumstances under which
the contract way withdrawn were explained to the pre-
prietors on the 2nd instant, when the letter to the Ad-
miralty we, read, in which the secretary, by order
of the directors, stated the proceedings adopted by the
company from its commencement, and concluded as follows :
Having then done so much, and in so short a time, having
expended 300,000/. in the equipment of five large and power-
ful steamers, having been the pioneers in a steam route of
the utmost importance to the mother country and the
colony, and having been exposed to great and unexpected
difileulties by the alterations made in their arrangements
with the government, by order of your honourable board, I
am desired, by the directors of this company, respectfully,
but firmly, to state that they feel an act of great injustice
lhas been done to them by the unusual and peremptory mau-
-1 nee in which the contract has been determined; and
further, that they feel assured they have furnished such
reasons as will induce my lords to forego the penalties re-
ferred to in their letter of the 13th inst., should they still
revolve to confirm the determination of the contract."
The following reply was received :—" Admiralty, 12th May,
1853.—Gentleuien,—Having laid before my Lords Commis-
sioners of the Admiralty your letter of the 22nd ult., I am
commanded by their lordships to acquaint you that upon •
full consideration of all the circumstances of the case, my
lords see no reason to depart from their former decision,
and must adhere to their resolution to determine
the contract (or the conveyance of the mails
between this country and Australia. 2ndly. As re-
gards your not being allowed an opportunity of stating
your case, that every means of doing so, in writing, has
been open to you ; and that this board considers commu-
nisation in writing greatly preferable to personal inter-
views. But 3rdly, As the arrangements that subsequently
occurred in the order of the Packet Departures, may in
some measure be traced to the decision of the Admiralty,
regarding the time of the second vessel's sailing, my Lor,
under all the circumstances of the case, and which are
Peculiar, are not disposed to enforce the penalty for the
breach of contract.—l am, gentlemen, your very obedient
humble servant, B. Ossoaree.—The Australian Royal
Mail Steam Navigation Company, 69, Lombard-street."
The propriston are aware, from the explanations which
have less given in parliament, that the poli,:y of the go-
vernment with respect to mail contracts has undergone •
essedderable change, to which, as well as to the return of
the Australian, with other circumstances, the
tonoisation of the mmlettet mast be attributed. Without
whepett itthossi , ailmelete emitsieretar lad,the sitt
actual from
immediate pree-en.
the commercial beseels of entire freedom from
reelektion° will more than compensate for the lees of the
subeidy of 26,0001. a year. It was understood on
the Bid instant that the pending negotiation for a
mils with the General Screw Steam Skipping Company
shook be brought under the consideration of the proprie-
ties at the adjourned meeting. They sea, therefore, now
only propose to take the moss of lOW prepissen on the
Ruettion whether they deem a mien desirable.
principles on which it her been * effect the
oaken will be explained lothemeatingrrille the pleasure
of this meeting to led& that the directors shall te
the negotiation, the proprietors may rest awtN that no
plea vii ha submitted to them in whisk the amenate and
miwatiens 'IWO monomial are not eatiehmieffy iMinsteal."
Mr. Wm. Illawne_(a dinner) gave an nesenat Wilke rev▪ whisk *dam' line be reeks the eiieu M &enema.
He Malted that be quite disapproved of the
whist hart been going en. ee they were toodlogagirrobst:
utmost paselbls injury M this company. To make any ar-
rangement with the Saw Oisay would sot only be dis-
advaategeous, but it would be for that company had
no power in their charter to amalgainate, and to do so the
must have recourse again to parliament (Hear, howl
First of all, they were to take all ships beyon
1,000 tons at the cost price. This would act
moat unfairly towards this company, which had
bought their shim for ready money, whilst the
Screw Company had obtained theirs on lion credit. The
consequence of this was, that whilst that cocapany's 1,800
ton ships would cost 68,0001., the 1,800 ton ships of the
Australian Company would only cest 35,0001. (Hear, bear.)
The sum, therefore, for this company to give for a union
with the Screw Company would be somewhere about
81,0001. Ile considered this company was not in such a
deplerable state as to be °hilted to amalgamate under these
disadvantageous circumstances. The hon. director then re- I
ferred to the various loans the Screw Company was liable
to beyond its paid-up capital, as a further drawback. He
showed that the Australian had performed the voyage in
95 days, the Sydney in 64, and the Melbourne in 79 days—
that " old Tub," as it was called. " only fit for a coal
depot." (" , and laughter.) It was certainly
to be regretted that they had lost the government contract,
but then it coat them 30,0001., whilst their payment from
the government was but 26,0001., added to which was the
evil of their being limited to certain ports, supervision of
admirals, and other restrictions. After comparing both
the speed of the vessels, the profits realised, and the future
prospects of both companies, Mr. Hawes decided on recom-
mending the shareholders to reject the proposition for amal-
gamation with the Screw Company, but to aeree to the re-
commendation of the report to appoint a committee of
inquiry to go into the whole subject, so as to judge for
themselves. (Applause.)
Mr. Matti (a director) saw the propriety of an amalga-
mation, by which he considered both companies would be
benefited. -

Mr. A. Moons thought they should not decide at once on
amalgamation or against it, but wait till such further in-
formation was given as would justify a decision one way or
the other, which would be best done by a committee.
(Hear, bear.)
The CHAIRMAN put the question as to adopting the re-
port, which led to a discussion in which it was resolved to
receive the report only, and to leave the question of amal-
gamation to a committee of investigation.
The committee having been formed, a vote of thanks was
passed to the chairman for hie impartiality, and the meeting
&dimmed.

Kahn Intelligence.

EQUITY COURTS.-YESrERDAY.
ELIOIA Vice-CuAseku.oa kortaanzy.

IN al Tai DOYLE AND DEAL RAILWAY COMPANY.
ix PARTE LORD LONDEABOU01:011:LIABILITY OP DIEU.
TOILY:GCARANTZE.

This was a motion on behalf of Lord Londesborough,
who was one of the directors in the above company, that II
the order made by Muter Brougham directing a call upon
them might be reverted. The facts of the case have been
reported on several occasions. When the question
was first before this court, the Vice-Chancellor de-
cided that the allottees, who had received a guaranies
against liabilities from three of the directors, Lord Landes-
borough, Mr. Gorte, and Mr. Beauclerk, were to be exo-
nerated. This dec'sion wasappealed from, and the Lord
Chancellor and Lords Justices reversed what his Honour
had decided. The matter was then referred back to the
Master, in order that the liabilities might be elusified.
This had been done, and the three directors above men-
tioned were declared liable, but there was no evidence to
show that the directors had joined in the guarantee.
Mr. Bacon and Mr. Hislop Clarke appeared in support of
the motion, and Mr. Follett, Mr. Glasse, Mr. Bailey, Mr.
Selwyn, Mr. Roxburgh, and Mr. Madmen for the official
manager and some of the shareholders.
The Vice-Chancellor said it was evident that the question
as to liability as between the directors and allottees had
been decided by the Court of Appeal. The three directors,
Lord Londesborough, Mr. Gorie, and Mr. Beauclerk, were
present at the meeting when the guarantee was given to
return the deposits without deduction if the bill was not
obtained. This guarantee was expressed to he on behalf of
all the other directors, and they would certainly be liable if
it could be proved that they had sanctioned what the three
directors had done ; but there was nothing to show that the
other directors had sanctioned the giving of this guarantee,
and therefore be could net bold that any of the other
directors were liable, and the motion must consequently be
refused.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.-YESTERDAT.
Implos rtautco.—Tigroas CHIRP' RTC' !IRVIN Ka. PPM=

MACLI, Ma. JVSTICI Clll6llll/LL, AND Ya. JURTIW TALIOURD.
Their lordships tills morning, with the judges of the other
courts, breakfasted with the Lord Chancellor, and so did
not reach Westminster until about two o'clock. On their
arrival, they walked through the hall, according to custom,
end shortly afterwards took their seats upon the bench; but
the matters brought forward were of no public interest.
It will be seen that Mr. Justice Mauls was one of the
judges present, it being the first time of his sitting upon
the bench since his recent illness. His lordship wonted to
be quite recovered, end well able still to render those ser-
•ices to the profession and the public which long since
placed him in the first rank of judicial eminence.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.-YESTERDAY.

The May adjourned general session of the peace for the
county of Middlesex, commenced this morning at the
Sessions-house, Clerkenwell, before Mr. Witham, deputy-
au 'natant judge. There were 65 prisoners for trial-60
charged with felony. and 5 with misdemeanor.
Mr. Witham briefly charged the grand jury.

THE Dilly DAL

The Assistant-Judge took his mat at a little after 12
o'clock, and, before proceeding to try eases, said he wished
to take that early opportunity of stating something with
regard to the business for Wednesday. That day, he be-
i hayed, would be the Derby-day, but he bad no interest in
it himself, baying been at the Derby but once in hie whole
I life ; but he believed that a great portion of the public hail
a great desire to go to the Derby, and the Howe of Com-
move est the very laudable example of suspending its sit-
tings, so that the members could go to Epsom. Wednesday
being for bail cases no injustice would be done to defend
ants if the court did not sit on that day, as they would not
be kept in custody ; and he thought, therefore, if it was not
absolutely required that the court should sit on that day,
they should nut bring witnesses, jurors, and others there,
but give them an opportunity of availing themselves of the
great London holiday. He wished to know, therefore, if
there was any objection to the court not sitting on that day.
The members of the bar said this would be a great con-
venience, and the suggestion would meet with unanimous
assent.

—.---
It was then arranged that the business for Wednesday
should stand over.

LADINS AND THEIR POCKETS.
In the second court, before Mr. Witham, two boys were
tried for picking ladies' pockets. One of them had been
before coovieted, and was sentenced to seven years' trans-
portation, and the other not being known, was sentenced to
a term of imprisonment.
Mr. Witham said he should not allow the expenses of
the prosecutrix in either case, because they bad carried
their purses in pockets in the front part of their dress,
where every facility was afforded for the thief to steal
them. The Recorder of Liverpool had determined that in
such cases, no prosecutrix should receive her expenses, if
she had her pockets in her dress, and a similar determina-
tion had been come to by that court. The expenses of the
indictment, &c., would be allowed, but woods would be
allowed to the prosecutrix.
The Assistant Judge, in the NUM of the afternoon, re-
peatedly complained set the noise in the ball and outside
the building, and in answer to a question, the beadle stated
that the police officers sent to attend the court, to preserve
order and, keep the doors, were changed almost every ses-
sion. The assistant judge thereupon said, this was not as it
should be ; the same officers should attend every session,
and then they would be well acquainted with their duty—
would know who to let into the court, and who to keep out,
and great incovenience would be prevented. Re then
directed the inspector on duty to communicate to the proper
quarter the wish of the court that the officers sent should
be those who had performed the duty before.

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 24, 1853.