The Express.
London, England, 1851-06-12 00:00:00

BAMBRE AND MEUSE RAILWAY.

Yesterday the twelfth half-yearly meeting of this
company was held at the offices in Moorgate-etreet.
W. P. RICHAILDS, Esq., took the chair. The report says:
"Comparing the present prospects of the company with
its position during the few preceding meetings, the
directors think there is much cause for congratulation,
and eonfidendy hope to bring the Sambre and Meuse
enterer:le to a successful termination. The accounts of
the receipts and expenditure of the half-year are thus
stated:—The receipts from traffic amount to 4,4781. 3s. 4d. ;
the expenditure to 4,0391. 164.; leaving a surplus of
2381.75.4 d. By the terms of the provisional agreement with
the Belgian government printed at the end of this report it is
calculated that the trunk line to Vireaux can easily be
opened in the additional time granted by the government, the
measure of time being the tunnel at Sanseilles, which should
be commenced u soon as possible. The prolongation to
Silenreux need not coat more than 10,000/. and will, no
doubt, add to the present traffic, and could be'opened in six
' months. Resolutions will be proposed to the consideration
of the meeting, arising out of the future intended arrange-
menu. Other arrangements remain to be made with the
owners of debentures, whose position will be greatly ame-
liorated by the improvement of their security, and it Is
hoped they_ will kindly grant every necessary facility.
The CHAIRMAN said their present position on the
whole must be a subject of congratulation, if they only con-
sidered that at one time they were at variance with their
contractors, who were also incapable of fulfilling their en-
gagements. They had now also a favourable communi-
cation from the Belgium government; but still he had no
right to anticipate what course they would take. Being
free from the contractors, they were at liberty to negotiate
with any parties they pleased, by which a saving of from 20
to 30 per cent. might be effected. (Hear, hear.) The
directors had ikow the prospect of raising all the money
they required on reasonable terms. (Hear, hear.) A capi-
talist of Belgium, who was in connexion with French capi-
talists, had made them an offer to supply the means at 5 per
cent. on preference shares, with the understanding that any
balance of traffic should afterwards go to secure the share-
holders their 5 per cent., and the surplus that might remain
after that should be devoted to buying up the preference
shares at par, with a view to the ultimate merging of both
descriptions of shares. It would require 200,0001. in addi-
tion to the money already raised to complete the line to
Virtu:, the interest of which would be 10,0001. Now, as
to traffic, suppu ing they only carried 100,000 tons of coal,
that would give them 24,0001 a year, to which they might
add 10,0001. a year from present traffic. This would make
34,0001. a year. They managed the present traffic for
8,5001„ to which they might add 3,5001. for the additional
traffic, thus leaving a balance of 22,0001. a year, from
which they could pay 10,0001. a year for the 200,0001., and
12,0001. could he avoided amongst the shareholders. The
branches could be made for a less sum than 200,0001. addi-
tional, on which it was expected the Belgian government
would guarantee 4 per cent. Since, if some of these
branches might not pay, others would, and so repay the
government by some dividend.
After some conversation, the report was adopted annul-
noway.
Mr. Sheward was re .elected a director.
The meeting was then made special, when the agree-
ment with the Belgian government was ratified by the
shareholders.

Power was given to the directors to raise 400,00 W. by
preference shuts or debentures, to complete the lice to

A vote of thanks to the chairman and directors was then
passed on the motion of Mr. Fungi, seconded by Mr.
AUSTIN, when the meeting adjourned.

LIBERATION OP Bosse m.—On Tuesday evening
a public meeting of the inhabitants of Glasgow was held in
the Citykall, called by the Lord Provost, in oonsetrence of
a requisition sent bins for the purpose, to memonalise the
British government to interpose its influence to procure the
liberation of the illustrious Kossuth and his brave com-
panions, and their restoration to all the rights and privi-
of free citizens of the world. The following
resolutions were unanimously agreed to : " That this meet-
ing deeply sympathies with ell sash as are the victims of
civil sad eosls.issfial dlispathea throughout the world, but
in the meantime feel spilly called spa to extend a becom-
ing amount of hospitality to them =Om who have taken an
active part in the late struggle for ladepeadenos In Hungary,
and who of their own free choice have engin a brae sad
an honest means of living in this lea& se Amami Ikea the
shelter it has afforded alike to the erei the
oppressed of the various nations on the M et the sigma"
That this meeting of the citizens or worm sest4h::
respectful memorial to Lord Palsattatas. jes
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. is the begs
may be still further induced to use MIA earls es ere esa-
sistent with his high office, in endeavouring to proure the
unconditional freedom of the illustrious Kesesith, shrug with
his other compatriots now confined at Kuttayah, within
the Turkish territory.'. A committee was then appointed,
to carry out the views here expressed. When the meeting
broke up there was such a rush of people to give tho Hun-
garians, of whom there were five on the platform, a hearty
shake of the hand, that some confusion and delay took place
before the hall was cleared.

DEATH OF LORD DENDRENNAN.—Wa regret to
have in announce the sudden death of Thomas Maitland,
Esq., Lord Dundrenimn, which took place yesterday at
Melville-street, about 9 o'clock, a.m. His lordship was
seized with illness last week ; and, although the complaint
took the alarming form of paralysis, up to Monday strong
hopes were entertained that his naturally robust constitu-
tion would rally from the attack. The deceased gentleman
was the son of the late Adam Maitland, Esq., of Hendren-
nazi, in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright. He was born on
October 9, 1792, and married, July 3, 1815, Isabella Ora-
ham Macdowall, daughter of Janice Macdowall, Esq., of
Oarthland. In 1813 he was called to the bar, where he
displayed considerable ability and assiduity, and suc-
ceeded in attaining • very high standing in the
whig ranks of the profession. In 1840, he was
made Solicitor-General, which place, however, he
held only till 1841, in consequence of the accession of a con-
servative government; but, on the return of Lord John
Russell to power in 1846, he was re-appointed to the °Zoe,
and continued to possess it till his elevation to the bench in
1850. He was elected member of parliament for the Stew-
artry in 1846, and succeeding in obtaining his re-election
at the general election in 1837, he sat for the Stewartry till
ha acceptance of the judicial gown dissolved his connection
with the parliamentary represents Tan, It is so short a time
since he obtained his seat on the bansh, that a verdict could
scarcely be passed on his conduct se • judge. We tan,
however, say with truth, that brief es has been the expe-
rience of the bar and the practitioners of his qualifications
for the judicial office, it was maim& to gain him the
highest confidence. As usual, there are opinions
as to the government's choice of a lIINSININR. It is, how-
ever, generally understood that the vessel sewn will be
conferred upon the solicitor-general.—Nerni s.'" A Mail.
A LARGE WHALE was takes N Fehiny last in
Great Man's Bay, on the seen of Coneenieras end his cap-
titre was alerted in retirees ueseinnae wanner. It sppeus
the huge create: rowed same into a narrow creek
which was not magi le glee hies turning roan, and
there be stuck, sal whenever he opened his immense jaws
his assailarsta pawed In the cavity large Moen until they
filled him to the teeth with panne, ea that took
then a whole woe to eianqala are ea how-
ever they ga a pea smugly et Wake he ask hbeva—
Mei Pqmr.