The Express.
London, England, 1853-02-26 00:00:00

fie Court.

The Queen held a court yesterday afternooon at
Buckingham Palace.
Viscount Stratford de Role G.C.8., her Majesty's
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the
Sultan of Turkey, had en audience of the Queen to take
leave, on his return to his embassy at Constantinople.
The Right Hon. Sir Henry Lytton Balwer, G C. 8., had
en audience of her Majesty, on his arrival, on temporary
leave of absence, from his legation at the court of Fiurcnce.
Tire noble viscount and Sir Henry weep respectively pre-
sented to the Queen by the Earl of Clakendon, K.G., her
Majesty's principal Secretary of St etc foi Foreign A Gift
The Queen was attended by Lril Ricers, Lord in Wait-
ing, and Sir Edward Bowater, Groom in Waiting.
The Duchess of Kent visited her Mlijesty yesterday, at
Buckingham l'alace.
Prince Albert presided yesOrday afternoon at a meeting
of the Commission for Promoting and Encouraging the
Fine Arts in the re-building the Palace of Westminster.
I His Royal Highness, attended by Lieut.-Colonel the Hon.
A. Gordon, arrived at the Palace of Westminster at three
o'clock. The commissione-s present were the Earl of Car-
lisle, Lord Colborne, Sir Robert H. !ugh+, Bart., M.P., and
Mr. Hallam. Sir Charles L. Eastlake, the secretary,
attended. After the breaking uts of the meeting the Prince
inspected some part of the building. His Royal Ili/Locos
left at 2.lminutes past 3 o'clock, attended by Lteut.-Volonel
the Hon. A. Gordon.

Her Majesty and Prince Albert, attended by the Countess
of Dewitt, the Hon. Caroline Cavenili.h, the Ilea. Flora
Macdonald, Lord Riven, Lord Alfred Paget, and Lieut.-
Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon, honoured the performance of
the French Play last evening with their presence.

The Duchess of Kent, accompanied by the Princess
Adelaide of liohenlohe, and attended by Lady Fanny
Howard and Lieut.-Colonel Seymour, honoured the Prin-
cess's Theatre with her presence last evening.
The Duchess of Kent visited the Duchess of Gloucester
yesterday, at Gloucester-house.
A deputation from Salisbury, with respect to the carry-
ing out of the Public Health Act in that borough, had an
interview, yesterday, with the General Board of Health,
at their offices, Whitehall. The deputation consisted of
Mr. George Sutton, Mr. Alderman Smith, and Messrs.
James George Coombs, Vandenhoff, and Farmnt.
Captain Beauclerc had an interview with the Earl of
Aberdeen, yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-
street.

Despatches were salt to the Governor-General of Canada,
yesterday, from the Colonial-office. Despatches were also
sent to the Governor of Victoria.
-PA deputation from Brighton, consisting of Admiral Sir
G. B. Pechell, Bart., M.P., Lord Alfred Mewl, M.P.,
' Mr. William Beedharn (high constable), Mr. Jobn Year-
slay, and Mr. Richard Edwards, had an interview with Sir
William Molesworth yesterday, at the Office of Works and
Public Buildings.
A deputation from the Town Council of Wakefield, con.
silting of the Mayor and Mr. Councillor Thomas Mickle-
thwaite, accompanied by Mr. George Sandals., M.P., on the
subject of the Public Health Act being introduced into
Wakefield, had an interview yesterday with Sir W. Mules-
worth.

A deputation from Wakefield Waterworks Company, the
Gas Company, tho Public Charities, and Borough Market
Company, cousiqing of Dr. Wood and Mr. W. Stewart,
accompanied by Mr. George Sanders, on the subject of the
special clauses fur fixing amount of rating of their bodies
at one-fourth of the annual vales, had yesterday an inter-
view with Sir W. Idolesworth.

(FROM LAST NIGHT'S °STITT')
Dowrasn-faulit.-r, FEB. 25.—The Queen has been
pleaseii to appoint Benjamin Boothby, Esq., to be second
julge of the Supreme Court of the colony of South Aus-
tralia. Her Majesty has also been pleased to make the
following appointments for the colony of Victoria' via.:—
Claude Fairie Esq., to be Sheriff; laugh Culling Eerdley
Childers, Esq., to be Auditor-General; Edward Grimes,
Esq., to be immigration agent ; George William Rusden,
Esq., to be clerk of the Executive Council. Her Majesty
bas further been pleased to appoint Henry M'Crea Watson,
Esq., to be president of sorters in the Pat-office at the Cape
of Good Hope.

WAR-OFFICE, Fan. 25.
Ist Regiment of Dragoons.—Lieutenant Michael Stocks to
be captain, by purchase, vice Bartellot Bartellot, who
retires ; Comet Walter John Coney to be lieutenant, by
purchase, vice Stocks.
40th Foot----Ensign Arthur Marquhard Moller, from the
96th Foot, to be ensign, vice Ellis, appointed to the 22nd
Foot.
46th Foot.—Ensign John William De Lisle Evans has been
permitted to retire from the service by the sale of him
companion.
71st Foot—Ensign Charles George Wingfield, from the
65th Foot, to be Ensign, vies Cabin, appointed to the
60th Foot.
77th Foot.—Lieutenant Thomas Harold Meade, from ha*
pay 13th Foot, to be lieutenant, vice Ronald., whose
supenenion was announced in the Casette of 18th Feb.,
1803, Ensign Henry Edward Chawner to be lieutenant,
by muchan, vice Meade, who retires.
lit West India Regiment.—Lieutenant Frederick Jane
Hills, from paymaster 3rd West India Regiment, to be
lieutenant, vice Coen, appointed to the Royal Newfound-
land Companies; Ensign William Henry l'enoyre Fitz-
Morris Btrachan to be lieutenant, by purchase, vice Hills,
who retires. _

P1.0Y18I01fAI: BATTALION AT CITATNAII.—Ensign Junta
Menzies, from the 98th Foot to be quartermaster.
HOSPITAL STAPlP.—lnspector-Oen. Andrew Smith, M.D.,
Superintendent of the Army Medical Department, to be
director-general of the army and ordnance medical de-
partments; Charles Benjamin Masse, gent, to be assist-
ant surgeon to the forces, vice Alexander Robertson,
M.D., who resigns.
flissrrscasis.—Lieutenant Charlee John Boatelsler, from
the Bth Hassan, to be eispitin, by purchase.
HENONANDUII.--Captain Edward James Mi
to:W, unat-
tached, has been permitted retire from the army by
the sale of his commission, he being about to become •
settler in Canada.

COMMISSARIAT. Dept% Assistant Commissary-General
leen Ramsay McColl Dos been permitted to resign Cis
commiesion from 21st January, 1863.
OFFICE OF ORDNANCE, Fem. 24.
Royal Regiment of Artillery.—Second Lieutenant Leonard
Sumner Joyce to be first lieutenant, vice Ramsay, de-
ceased.

NEW DEPUTY LIEUTENANTS.

John Eastwood, Esq.,-and I.LOTInd Waterton, Esq.

_
WICASTiIt.
Thomas Edwards Moss, Esq.
;NEW SPECIAL DEPUTY WARDENS.

The Hon. George ii;tiew FOrtascue; John Michael
Williams, Esq.; Thomas Simon Bolitho, Esq.; Edwia
L. 7, E.q•

THE MILITIA.
(From Friday's Gairetb.)
The following commissions have been signed :
Frederick Martin Williams, gent., to be tint lieutenant
in the Royal Cornwall and Devon Miners Regiment of
Militia.

---
Render St. Aubyn, gent., to bo first lieutenant in ditto.
Second Lieutenant Philip Sandy Torn to be first lieute-
nant in ditto.

Franco Freeman, Esq., to be captain in Ist Regiment of
West York Militia.

Charles Edward Hill, gent., to bo lieutenant in ditto.
Edward Orlando Vern Haldane, Esq., to be lieutenant,
vice Fyne, resigned, in the 2nd Regunent of West York
Militia.

George John Thornton, gent., to be ensign in ditto.
Valentine Hicks Labron, gent., to be ensign in ditto.
William Garfortb, Esq., to be captain in the 3rd Regi-
ment of West York Militia.
John Cranky Sutcliffe, Esq., to be captain in ditto.

CONTROVERTED ELECTION COM MI r FEES.

CHA.
Yesterday the committeT
eHA re assembled, Mr. flram-
ston in the chair.
Mr. Edwin Jamer,Q C., in an eloquent and energe•ic
address of three hours' duration, summed t.o. ease fir
the petitioners, commenting on the facts elicited in evi-
dence, and on the conduct of Sir Frederick Smith his
culpability in carrying out and encouraging in his n*ii per-
son a systematic course of bribery. Sir Frederie::. under
the act of parliament, had been guilty, nut only ..f corria:it
practices, but of mi,d, meanoura. The cue, in Pp, corrupt-
ness of its features nod flagrant character of its disclosures,
could no: be exaggerated. As involving a question of pub-
lic importance it was one of the mast imporiant kind,
seeing that public attention was now very mentally ad-
dressed to these questions as affecting the stab..ti.-y privi.
leges of the House of Commons itself. It was important,
moreover, as affecting the welfare of the electura' onstitu-
eneies of the country. It might be that Sir Frtil, reek had
erred with greater men in an unguarded moment, and in
tho heat of contest ; but, however that might
be, tho facts would be dealt with by the strictly
impartial and stern sense of justice of the com-
mittee. He (Mr. [James) reign...N(l that this task was
imposed upon him, and hoped it would riot bi thought
he wished to wound Sir Frederick's feelings. Indeed, hu
(Mr. James) could not think that the feelings of Sir F.
Smith could tic more wounded than they had been already
during the inquiry, at the whole of which he had been pre-
sent. The learned counsel proceeded to comment on the
conduct of Sir F. Smith, who, during the entire canvass,
took the initiative in bribing the voters, telling thew ho
came before them possessed of government influoi:cc and
patronage to purchase their votes, and, tapping his hand ea
his breast putter, saying he had a letter front his frit nil the
Duke of Northumberland. The learned counsel also put
in a letter from the mother of Beck on, one of the svitnesses,
asking Sir Fre.lerick fur an appointment fir her son, oho
had just returned from sea. He was second mast, r, r.n.l
she applied for a master's sitttati in for him. Ile further
put in the reply of Sir F. Smith to M. Hutson, in which
he apologised for uot sooner noticing her communication,
hut appointed a meeting with her husband and son at the
Sun Inn, Chatham, where Sir Frederick said he should be
happy to FCC them. Mn. Ilee:sna finished the letter of
application for her son to Sir Frederick by saying, " we will
do all we can for you here."
Mr. Merewether, Q C., then opened fur the sitting mem-
ber, characterising the case, as made out by the politiuners„
as one of the greatest conspiracies against a gallant Oilier
and gentleman that had ever been brought before a com-
mittee of the house. The facts set forth were ire oporated
lies, and th incorporated lies formed the conspiracy—the
witnesses were people false and perjured. It was a personal
attack upon the gallant officer, who had filled important
commands in the service of his country for the last 47
years. The government of the day had selected hint to
occupy tic important pest of inspector of railways, and
bad placed him in the command of the south eastern dis-
trict. Wu it for a moment to be inferred that an officer
who had been entrusted with such high offices, requiring
the exercise of the highest integrity, fitness, and honour,
could be capable of such transactions ?
The horned counsel occupied the attention of the com-
mittee up to five o'clock with a commentary on the ease as
opened by the petitioners, and will proceed this day to in-
dicate the course of evidence proposed to be adduced on be-
half of the sitting member.

BRIDGNORTII.
When the committee re assembled yesterday morning,
at H o'clock,
Mr. Bette was examined by Mr. Clark—ls articled clerk
to Mr. Vickers, professional agent to Sir It. Pigot. Witness
married a cousin of Mr. Head's (the last witness.) Has
received assistance from Mr. Head, and knows tl.e Milnere
have also. This witness spoke to the meeting at his house
related by the last witness, of Mr. Vickers, Mr. Hominy,
Mr. Head, and W. Milner, and the conversation that took
place there. Is quite certain he (witness) never
said to Milner that if ho voted for Whitmore
and Pigot it would be 51. in his way. Received
a letter from Mr. Head, telling him to pay the
Milners 51. each. Had M. of Head's in his hands
at that time, which he had received from two of his
(Head's) tenants as rent. When the two Miiners brought
the letter, he tried to scud them away, as it was so closo
upon the election, and it might be thought it was a bribe.
Ito could not get rid of them without giving them a sove-
reign each, and he rave the remaining 81. to Mr. Jones, of
the bank, to give the Mllucre, as he (witness) did not like
to give it himself so near the election. Knows Tipton. le
I sure he made Tinton no promise that " his bill would be
made all right if he would stick to them." Witness sent
for W. Milner to his house on the day he met Itir. Vickers
and Mr. Homfrey. He never told Milner he wanted him
nod his brother fhomas to be of the same story, or they
would be iu a inns.

Cross-examined by Mr. Power—At the last election was
in constant communication with Mr. Homfrey. About
three weeks before the election Mr. Homfrry gave hint
501. Homfrey didn't say who it was from. lie desired
Iwitneis to go and pay some bills. Believes they were
balances of some old innkeepers' bills. Homfrey said so at
the time, and witness made a list of them from his dicta-
tion. (The list was hanied in.) There was 101. Bs. Gd.
to Edward Pinner, son of an innkeeper. lie a voter,
and keeps an inn now. Pinner's father is dead two or
three years. Witness had no particulars from Pinner.
That was before Sir It. Pigot came down. Homfrey told
witness the bill was due by Mr. Whitmore. Took no re-
ceipt for the money: Pinner voted for Whitmore and
Pigot. George Edwards u another innkeeper. Paid him
a bill. Took no receipt from any of them. Paid William
Brown also a bill, 4/. Gs. Gd. Ile's a voter. Paid also So-
loman Rutter 51.5.., and Joseph Mason. Paid Masoa's
wife IW. though the bill was only 91. 10s. Never asked
her for the 10s. Sees her every day. Those bills were
all paid at least a week before Sir It. Pigot issued his
address. The account now produced was made out yester-
day by witness and Mr. Homfrey from memory. Thera is
a balance of 71. 11s. Gd. in the account for the last munici-
pal election at Bridgnorth. Got the .‘ I Is. 6d." from me-
mory. In the account he has put down 91. 10s. as paid to
Mason. Considers the 103. as due to himself. Only charged
Mr. Homfrey 91. 10s. Witness paid George Brown 11. 10s.
for assisting at the chairing at the election of 1817. Paid
him a few days before the last election. When he gave him
the 11. 10s. it was in the hope that he would vote for Pigot
and Cadogan, as he wanted him to split his vote. Did not
ask him to vote. Sir E. Pigot's name was net mentioned
at the time. Paid him the 11. 10s. out of his own pocket.
Has not been repaid; nor has he asked it. Made one other
payment out of his own pocket to a man named Juckes.
Ile is a voter.
In reply to Mr. Locke King, witness said be expected
that the money ho had paid out of his own pocket to
Juckes and Brown would be repaid to him by Mr.
Vickers.

Mr. Frederick Homfrey was next examined by Mr.
Clark—Resides near Bridgnorth ; used to lived in the town.
Knows a man named Tipton. Tipton told witness he had
a bill unpaid dne by Pigot and Whitmore. Witness never
told Tipton if he voted for Sir R. Pigot he would be paid.
Never told Tipton his bill would be made " all right, ' or
anything like it. Don't remember seeing Tipton at Mr.
Vickers' the Monday before the election. Made no appoint-
ment with him to pay him a bill. Never gave Tipton a
shilling. Gave Tom Brown three sovereigns, and after-
, wards, on the nomination day, gavo him six pounds. That
was for his (Brown's) owa use, on account of what he was
to have. That money was not given to Brown to bribe
anybody. Never gave any authority to Brown to settle
Tipton's bill. Never gave Hickman, or Jukes, or Head,
any money. Gave Mr. Batte 601. a few weeks before the
election, to pay portions of bills due since 1847. Sir R.
Pigot's share of those bills was paid in 1848. Mr. Whit-
mare always refused to pay any such bills. Four hundred
pounds had been given him by Sir R. Pigot, and be paid
Mr. Vickers 3101. oat of it—that left a balance of 601. in his
(witness's) hands. He has paid 391. 16s. since out of that
balance, part for registration at the municipal elections, and
has the balance still in his hands for Sir R. Pigot.
In cross-examination by Mr. Power, the witness said he

had never yet rendered any account of that money to Sir R.
Pigot. The payments of the old publicans' bills witness
paid out of his own pocket. Means to swear that. Paid
1701. or 1801. for refreshments at the election of 1847. Re-
ceived about 4001. from Sir R. Pigot for the expenses of the
election of 1847. Mr. Whitmore would not pay this money,
and witness promised to get it for them. u reason for
paying thou bills was not because the election was com-
ing on. Thought it would be " better" to pay them before
the election, lest it might "do harm to the cause," if those
bills were not paid.
By the Chairman—My income is 6001. a year. I have no
This closed the case on behalf of the sitting members, and
Mr. Clark then summed up, on the put of Sir R. Pigot, the
evidence they had brought forward to rebut the allegations
in the petition.
When Mr. Clark concluded, Mr. Power requested the
@committee would adjourn to one o'clock to-morrow (this
day), when Mr. James would be prepared to reply upon the
whole case.
The committee accordingly adjourned till one o'clock to-
morrow (this day).

sant in to Mr. Wilson's committee. AspenslV. party ran
up a bill of 301. also. Neither of them bad been Laid.
This closed the case for the petitioners.
Mr. Serjeant Wringliana then said that, although be had
several man witnewes ou his brief. he would not call them.
but mog ask the committee to adjoutn now till to-ur Teo.
(this day), as his learned friend, filr. Jitra(S. on whom thu
task would devolve of summing up the evidence in staep.r
of thii petition, was engaged at prtsaat in a similar task be-
fore the Chatham committee.
_ . .

The committee accordingly adjourned till eleven o'clock
t3.IIIOTOW (this day).

AUSTRALIAN ROYAL MAIL STEAM-PACKET

COMPANY.

Yesterday a meeting of proprietors in the above
amtnpany was held at the London Tavern; Mr. Munn, one
of the den ctors, in the chair.
The SEcItETSUT, Mr. Marshall, yroccedad to read th,
report, which stated:that the lament aneetir.g had been
is compliance with a regui.ition prea.nted at the
meeting of the 2lth November last. The Company had
new bee steamers silos?, which hut been approved and ac-
cepted by government fur the performance of the mail cone
ttatt, and which, as the shareholders knew, were celled the
Au•trali-u. Melbourn- Sydney, Adelaide, an l Victoria,
the letter not yet Ceitly4i.ll I report proceed. il to de-
tail of the voyages of tit., Austraiiian and Melb.iorne,
ve.th which the l ntihe are already famliar, and explained
the it:Mc:Airs under which tLc service was necessarily per-
!amid in an infant yryt.usisatiAL On the wi, It. low, etr,
the .rk had beta creditably Mane, and the profits enabled
the direetars w on, to the propri.tary a dividecd of ( per
cent. on the paid.ep capitid. Ato it.thly terrine was in ins.
mediate conteni;lation, and apseirMations had been deli
%aired in of tar, • new screw reamers of greet power and
torrential rate of spend ter its pc rfunaanc.t. Two vacancies
resisted in the directim, which it would be thu alu'y o! the
pro;e:eton to fill up at the present meeting. The report
turthcr contained an account of expenditure, the main par-
ticuisn of naieb will be teund detail, d in the ch“irman's
speech. The report and balance sheet havin.t been read,
Marx, the ch..irman of the day, said he lad
One or ter a remarks to make, which he trudol would ei.-
atiln the proprietors thoroughly to utnieratand the .ta'v of
tier affairs, and the nasnr.rr in which they bed b.eu
administered. Thai company eansisted of 50,000 shares at
101. each, of which, as they had b. en told at the first gene-
ral Wetting. 10,000 were truismd for distributi.rat in the
culJnies. The remaining 10,10') had been distr.butul in
this country to as stabb a body of bt.arebolders as ever had
combined in any new undertaking. (11 at, hear.) Of the
first call Caere remained due, up to the time of staking
the union% 2,3201., and of the first in• talment of the w-
oad call 0,43.,11., but most of the se alms had been paid is
Dint, the amounts hal beta furnished, mad there was no

doubt that the remainder would be imiUedistely fortheem-
log. (dear, hear.) 7,1181. had been received on the 31st
of D comber in entitipatoon of the snood instalment of
the s. cued call, so that tha proprietors would we that up
to th • 31st Dneesher the p.id up cap cal amounted to
191,743: , of which the company had expended, on the con-
structien or pureiare of five shies, 185,89 ta, rid. The Aus-
tralian had cost 47,0001.. the Sydney 27,9381., the Melbourne
29,500/., the Adelaide .15,2601., and the Victoria, not jet
completed, 18,6404 With respect to the Austrilien and
Sydney, the pmprietors would see that although the dine-
tors had been forced into the market by their connect
under disadvantageous circumstances, the money which
had been paid for their vraseis would be realised were
they taken into the market tomorrow. (Hear, hear) or
the Melbourne, mon might probably be said hereafter, but
this be would say, after all, that the. directors would find
that vessel an eligible purchase. The contract price for
the Adelaide and Victoria was 31,5001. each, • rate *peel
which they had reason to congratulate themselves, as now
they could not be contracted for under an ideates ef
10,0001. or 12,0001. on the price of each. (11-ar, hewn) !
The preliminary expenses had been reasonable-
-3,4271. 14s. 2d., of which sum the solicitor's charges, inelnd-
kg the heavy ce.t of the contract, amounted to 1,r1.3t ;
they had pine for brokerego 1,392/., and for printing eh:.
Advertisements had cost 381., sad for laying dune a opt, in
of book-keeping they had paid the moderato sum of 50
.
ia The proprietors would be: glad to hear that the
broker's e
amount had been settled. (Hear, hear.) The
other items were, office charges, 4,2641., of which sum the
directors had received 2,430!., salaries 8381., rent 2501., and
stationery and printing '251/. 127/. had been paid fur the !
entertainment given on the trial trip of the Adelaide, and
the remaining items were too insignitinnt to require notice.
Ile might say generally, that the whole wan considerably
within the sum named in the original prospectus of the
ni-
rectors. He could not open his uhservations respecting
the trade better than by referring to that portion
of their prospectus in which the directors spoke of the slow
progress of emigration to our Australian colonies. It
would be difficult to overrate the magnitude and import-
ance of the events which hail occurred noes the inning of
that prospectus. (Hear, beer.) The discovery of the gold
and the inereasirg hosts of emigrants following that route
had caused the coot of all articles of consumption to rise
in some eases 200, 300, and even 400 per
cent. Commerce had increased in the same proportion, the
freights of sailing vessels from London to Sydney rising
from 21. 17s. CI to 8 guineas per ton. The benefim the
eempany l.ad derived from these changes, especially as re-
gudill the homeward freight, preponderated over the die-
advantages, but net so much as under more favourable cir-
cumstances might have been the case. The expenses had
increased beyond all ealmalaion, especially as regarded
fuel, the coal freights having risen from 355. to 4 guieeas
the ton. As far as regarded the coaling stations of St. Vin-
cent and the Caps, they were protected against sinister
influences by contracts made previously, and which would
extend over this, the next, and the following
year. Lot in the colony they had to contend
with greatly enhanced prices, a state of things which he
hoped soon to see changed, as the presence of good coals
bad been ascertained in the Newcastle and Hunter River
district, and their agent at King George's Sound had sent
them home an excellent specimen found at only thirty
miles distant (rum the station. Turning to practical results
as shown in the voyage of the Australian, the tie t, he be-
lieved, in which • steamer bad completed the home and
outward voyage, be found that notwithstanding the diffi-
culties inseparable from a first voyage, she had made her
outward voyage in 93 days, end her homeward in 112,
while the average of sailing scads was 119 and 128, show-
ing • saving respectively of 24 and 26 days. Ile had no
doubt but that with matured arrangements the original
promise of the prospectus would be fulfilled. So much had
already been saved in tho Australian's second outfit that
the saving would form no inconsiderable contribution to
the melt dividend. They hid suffered much from the
desertion of the crew in Sydney, and hating to pay men
101. a month for the homeward run, and also from ha• ing
bad to psy Gt.& ton for cods; but notwithstanding all these
circumstances the vessel had realised such • profit on her
first trip as enabled the directors to pay • dividend of 54
per cent. on the paid-up capital of the company. (Cheers.)
After making allowance for every contingency that could
enter fairly into the accounts her net profits amounted is
4,4751. (Cheers.) This was allowing the voyage of the,
Melbourne to be wholly unproductive, and enable them to
pay the dividend on the paid-up capital of the current year.
With respect to their future prospects, of course much ISOM
petition was to be expected, but he believed that the time
when the supply of transit to our Australian coloeies wield
equal the amused was yet to be foreseen. (Hear.) Having
mentioned some complaints of the colonists with respect to
the delivery of the mails, the chairman proceeded to say
that they hoped ultimately to make the run out direct, and
tandem by New Zealand and Cape Horn. (Hear.) Much
difficulty had been occasioned by the delay in the
fulfilment of contracts by manufacturers; but with respect
to the company's contract with the government, they
trusted it would be profitable, and as it was, he had to
acknowledge that they had been treated with much kind
consideration by the government. (Hear, bear.) On the
last voyage of the Australian some complaint' had come
from the Passenger., but he held in his hand an account of •
silver tankard, worth 601.,• presented to Capt. Hoseason by
the passengers for his attention ; and as to scarcity of pro-
visions, there were maks going out again which had been on
the first voyage, sad would new victual the men. (A laugh.)
The circumstances connected with the pus rebase of the Mel-
bourne had been fully explained at the meeting of the 24th
1(ov., by. Mr. liaises. het they were tells ready for any
inquiry into the deenstimem tibia the proprietom might
wish to initiate, lee eid out think, seeing that
*aims of law wing, that their interests would be
saved by proem agitation of the subject. As to
the delays which were taking place with regard to
the ship contracts, the directors were acting under
advise, and would take care to enforce the company's
roar:iguhts. (Hear.) The detention of the Adelaide at
th bee bees calmed by the alterations necessary in
her reader, end the detention at St. Vincent had arisen
Wildly Aim went deo& These delays had arisen from
eleeomMmssm EMT which the present directors had no con-
WA whisk would be remedied in all future voyages.
to the administrative engineering depart-
ment, he inform the proprietors that Mr. Brunel had
Mired from the service. (Loud cheers.) He must, how-
ever, is 'simony that his belief in Mr. llrunel's skill was
soilminisbel. sod that that gentleman was absent when
the purchase ef the Melbourne was effected. The most
hematte' remits hod wises from the appointment of Capt.
Membiess se modes superintendent ; and of their secre-
tary, al to lie presenee, he would say that his con-
duct la the 'stalest' of the company at Lisboa,
d the detention of the Melbourne,
was ell (Loud cheers.) One word
mere es sastlys At the August meeting some-
thieg wes mid et with another company. Of
this he meld ooly my that eentldential communications
mere es with the empty alluded to, of which it
DM be produst to my mere than that the interests of
the wield be stilesied to, and that nothing
wee or geoid take place *iffiest their entire eoneurrenee.
(Cheers.) Brining strongly seeemenended Messrs. Frith
and Le Breton to fill the ewe memeies in the direction, the
chairman alluded to the ibromad Mr • committee of inves-
tigation, which, after the vete et ondidence of Nov. 24, he
thought the proprietors would hardly accede to. (Cheers.)
If the threshes eoseelted their ewe feelings merely, thiq
wade est mem the slightest dataity in the way of such
•'egmmlMes. bet they did set think it for the tin-
tweet el the eassysiy that their meeting should be
made • Mtge for the display ef unsubstantial griev-
ances. (Cheers.) The gentles's& who demanded the
inquiry had only become a shareholder on the 27th of De-
cember last; and although the proprietors might feel stir-
prised at his joining a company the affairs of which ro-
wed a committee of inquiry, their surprise would be a
little ii layed when they learned that ho had claimed 1,0001.
es
the promoter of the company, which claim had not been
paid. (Loud laughter.) Their other opponent was • rtse-
w me in the Melbourne, and he (the chairman) was glad
le theeght so well of the company as to invest after all his

misfortunes. (Cheers.) If he had not thought well of the
company, he must have bought shares from a motive which
need not be more particularly indicated. (Hier, bear.)
After one or two further observation', the chairman moved
that the report be adopted and printed for cireulatioo.
The motion Laving been secoaded,
Mr. Davis proceeded in justification of an ameadment
he hail to prcpuse, to admit, the acts of the direction.
Having justified his claim to the 1,0001. as a promoter, he
croceeded at souse length to animadvert on the circum-
stances under which the Melbourne had been purchased u
a substitute for a ship which Mr. Scott Russell had cosi-
tteeted for, but had filled to supply. The directors, he
illeged, hail paid 18,000 f. on account of the Melboutne,
while, in fact, that vessel was mortgaged to the government,
sod wus wI, : beyond the control of the directors. Having
complained ot the management, of the captaine, and of the
,gents of the company, timid some signs of impatience on
the pin of the meeting, Mr. Davis concluded by moving
'hat the report be adopted as far as regarded the dividend
—(a laugh)—but that a committee of inquiry be appointed,
to consist of Moan. Bleeket, Fischer, Itenderson, Moore,
and himself.
Mr. Moons seconded the amendment, contending that
the average passages of the sailing vessel, did not exceed
0•.1 days. its a colonist of many years standing he could
state that the company was most unpopular in the colony.
It ectually stunk in their nostrils.
A HENTLEIEAS who announced himself as a passenger
by one of the company's vessels, acid he had bougl.t 100
of their shares in Sydney, and had regretted it ever since.
lle could confirm the dissatisfaction of the colonists in con-
sequence of the bad performance of the vessels. He ceuhi
esture them that a *ailing vessel, the Roxborough Castle,
Was coming home full of passengers oho had taken let
in preference to the steamer. list had bought his shares
because he knew there were two millions of bullion wait-
iog fur the company's vessel, but that freight she had not
obtained. (fleas.) Her gross freight was:2:o,ooot., but her
profit was only 4,0001., iu consequence of mismanagement.
!loving given a glowing detail of Isis sufferings as a passen-
ger, end complatued of the delays in coaling at all the
stitiuns, sod of the failure of the patent fuel, the speaker
concluded by exhorting the proprietors to better manage-
ment, with which, he said, their company would be one of
the meet prosperous in the world.
Mr. HAWES defended the purchase of the Melbourne, a
transaction which, he said, would bear the most searching
investigation.
Mr. Serjeant Attire supported Mr. Davis's amendment
in a lengthened speech, but did not touch upon auy new
point of interest.
Mr. A. Moue defended the directors, and counselled una-
nimity.
And, after some further discussion, Mr. Davit's amend-
ment was put, gild rejected by a largo majority. A ',allot
was demanded, to take place on an early day ; after which
the report was adopted and the directors elected, when,
shank, having been voted to the chairman, the proceedings
terminated.