The Express.
London, England, 1862-06-03 00:00:00

ROUS STAKES. One mile..

%meatier, C;Merino,Manat•Arms,--- Cantina, Palmate',
Vancouver, Waterwitch, Coronet, Pancake,
Lan, Gleam, Birdbill, Olive Branch, Bloodhound, Min
Vivian, Admen, Real Jam, Pellucid, and Cutler are here.

HEATHCOTE PLATE. Half a mile.
Nisi Julia, Shillelagh, Hoerr, Hope f, The BOSOM.
Ring of Italy,Voltella, Alchymist, Merton, Venerator, and
Wm It
are hens.
AR/P7ZD.—Express, Vine it, Valenti& f, Rockley,
Copernican Catoperdown, Miss Livingstone, My Partner,
Gibraltar, Sybil, Duokeld, Doefoot, Amy Annetta, Haw-
thorne Blossom, and Recaps.

LATEST BETTING.
THE DERBY.
5 to 2 apt Marquis (t)
sto 1 Buokaton• (t)
13 to 2 Noptanne (t)
12 to 1 Zot. (t)
50 to 1 Harlequin (t)
100 to 1 Star all the West
100 to 1 Tolurno

PENINSULAR AND ORIENTAL STEAM
NAVIGATION COMPANY.-(THIS DAY.)

The half•yearly meeting of the praprietors was
held at one o'clock et the offices is Leadinhall-atreet ; Mr.
BROOM WORM WILLCOX in the chair.

The Snoarrtar (Mr. C. W. Howell) reed the following
report for the half year ending on the 3rd of June :
'ln submitting their report for the last half-year, the
directors beg to remind you that accounts and financial
statements are only brought under your consideration
at the annual meetings in December. Particulars
of the number, registered tonnage, horse-power,
and present stations of the vessels forming the fleet
will be found, se usual, in • tabular statement prefixed to
the report. On reference to this list it will be observed that
the Ripon is again in active service on the Southampton
and Alexandra line, after alterations and repairs in hull
and machinery that render her equal in efficiency to a new
ship. The charters of the small vessels Formosa and
Shanghai to the French government in China having re
tautly expired, and ships of this class not being suitable
for the present operations of the company, advantage was
taken of • local demand for small vessels, and the
Shanghai has been sold at • fair price. The French
government dill retains, the Granada in its service. It
wee announced in the last annual report that the
directors bad contracted with the Thames Iron Ship-building
Company for • new ship of about 2,600 tons and 500 horse-
power nd with Mews. Samnda, Brothers, for two ships
of shout 1,900 tons each nod 400 horse-power. The first of
thews ha* been named the Poonah, and the two latter the
Mysore and Rangoon. The construction of the engines for
the three skips has been confided to Mama Humphrey and
Tennant, the manufacturers of the machinery of the Marken.
The directors have received from the Fostinsater-General

the requisite notice of the intention of the government to
tinniest* the company's contract for the Peninsular
mail servioe. This contract has been carried on for some
time subject to six months' notice from either party ; and,
mane the extension of communication with Gibraltar by
means of the Mediterranean packets, the line has been
made to terminate at Lisbon, while the subsidy was so
much reduced that the total abandonment of the
service will be no disadvantage to the company.
The postal service, in other respects, remains in the
same state me at the date of the last report. Since
the last annual meeting no other event of importance
connected with the operations of the company hie °conned
to call for observation on the part of the directors ; and, as
the general business daring that period has been satisfac-
tory, they ate enabled to recommend that the usual divi-
dend of 3. per cent. be now declared for the half-year end-
ing 31st March last, and that payment of the same be made,
clear of income tax, on and after the 24th June."
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
said the reason why it was so short was Chat they had in fact
only met to dean* a dividend. Since the last meeting
there had been no diminution of traffic while there had
been some reduction of expenditure. There had
been one or two screws loose, but they bad
been all rectified in the usual way. Adverting to the
abandonment of the Peninsular mail contract, amounting
to 5,000 f. a year, he observed that they 7 had clung to it be-
cause it war the foundation of that undertaking. The letters
were often so few that they might be enclosed is • pocket
handkerchief ; and the board had intimated to the Post-
master-General that instead of insisting on six mouths'
notice they would be contented with one month's notice.
The motion having been seconded,
Dr. Itaarrix considered that the Anglo-Indian contract
was by no means as liberal as it ought to be, considering
the service rendered. The Emperor of the French had
granted a most liberal subsidy to a French company, and
that had • most important bearing on this question. He
was astonished that the government should exhibit such in-
difference as to whether the service of that company was
' continued or not. It would be a disgrace to the legisla-
ture if they allowed it to be abandoned far want of due
support. Both in its political and in its commercial bearings
the subject was well worthy the attention of parliament.
Mr. ANDIRSON (director), did not anticipate any evil
consequences from competition with the French company.
The French board had assured them that they did not in-
tend to lower the fares.

A dividend of 3i per coot. for the half-year was then
declared, and the meetusg separated in the usual manner.

Mr. Spon, of Bucklersbury, has published, for the
use of French visitors, • useful and handsomely-printed
little brochure, containing • review in the French language
of the principal articles in the Exhibition, and • guide to
the priori " data" of the metropolis.
THE &NT VOLUNTEERS. —We are informed that
the Secretary of State for War bas approved of • review of
the Kent Volunteer Forces being held by the lord•lieutensat
of the oounty, under the command of a general officer, on
Thurelay, the 171.12 July, at Canterbury.—South Eastern
Gazette.

VISIT OT FOKEIONIIRS To BaDFOaD.-0a Satur-
day last a visit was paid to the Britannia Iron Works by
some of the foreign commissioners and jurors of the Inter-
national Exhibition—the party being composed of
Swedes, Danes, Prussians, Austrians, Italians, Spaniards,
Portuguese, and Frenchmen. After minutely in-
specting the machinery and watching the variotu
operations carried on at these interesting works, they
were taken to see the new steam plough and steam
cultivator at work on the farm of Mr. Badger, of Carding-
ton, and thence to see the shorthorn herd and Oxford Down
Bock of Mr. Chas. Howard, at Biddenham. We learn that
from the intelligence of their inquiries it was evident they
were men of great acquirementa, both in agriculture and ma-
nufactures. After dining with Mr. James Howard they left
for LOll,lOll by the last train, a:pressing themselves highly
gratified with their day's trip, the natural beauties of this
neighbourhood, and the interesting objects they had seen.—
Bedford Times.

MYSTERIOVA DISAPPEARANCE OF A GENTLEMAN.
—Oreat and *aid excitement has been caused at Wimble-
don ever since Friday of last week, in oonsequeoce of the
sudden and inexplicalde disappearance of Mr. Dodd,
• well.knowb solicitor, of the firm of Tate end Dodd,
32, Backlerebury, London. This gentleman bee for many
years occupied a cottage belonging to Mr. William Bradfield,
on the Common, near the National Schools. There he re-
' sided in unusual privacy and retirement alone. scarcely any
person ever being permitted to cross his threshold, although
out of doors he was familiar with many, and poisoned a genial
flow of spirits, and was fond of instructive conversation and
the arts and scienoes. For sometime previous to the above
named day Mr. Dodd had been unwell, and his medical ad-
viser, strongly in opposition to his own wishes, enjoined • sea-
son of restaod medical regimen as being absolutely necessary.
This was reloctentlyacted upon, and returning health evinced
itself, so much that for some days preceding Friday he
was enabled to take, with his attached dog, short walks
upon the common, which afforded him great pleasure. On
that day he went out at about one o'clock, and as pane.
tnalitv was one characteristic in which he at all times
prided himself, hie return was expected at three o'clock.
That hour, however, arrived, and also four, still,
however, be did not return •, when Mr. Bndflold's
faro ilybecame alarmed, sad immediate search was instituted.
The only tidings gleaned, however, were that he had been
seen conversing with some gipsies, encamped on a portion
of the common, during the afternoon. These were inter-
rogated, and at once admitted having seen him and that he
conversed with one of the tribe, after which they saw him no
more. Within • few mieniss of this the ;tipsiere in greet haste
"truck their tents, and precipitately decamped in various
directions. The search, thus commenced, has bees con-
tinued up to the preset moment without, we are sorry
to add, success. Beery portion of the common his been
explored and the woods adjoining searched. Detectives
have been down to Scioilaod-yard and rewards of 501. have
been offered for the recovery of the body, if dead, sod the
same for information of Mr. Dodd's whereabouts, if living,
but all are unavailing. The whole matter is wrapped up at
premed in mystery. That the gentleman could have strolled
off the common unperceived appears out of the question, as
be is wall known, and so many pergola were working there,
erecting the boarding for the ferthoeming rifle competition.
That foul play has mamma wean reluctantly compelled to
admit. This is our fear, se Mr. Dodd had on his person a
gold watch and chain, Worth 110 goings', and upwards of 21W.
in gold and silver, besides other valuables.—Suraex /spree&