The Express.
London, England, 1846-12-19 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 19, 1846.

FUND&

Bank Stock, 206
3 per Ct. Ned. ATM., 94 14
New 31 per Ct. Anw., 96 Sf
Long Anna., Exp. Jan. 5, 1560,9
IS-10.

ions Anne., 30 Tint; Oct 10,
1859, 9 11-18
Consols for opening, 93k I
Exch. Dills, .Cl,OOO, Lid., Is to
Ditto, 1500, 13 10
Ditto, mall, 13 10

FUPiDS.

5 per Cent. BradWu BondiW--
5 per Ct. Mexican, 1810, 21
Ditto Account, Dec. 91, 2n
per Ct. Portuguese Bonds, 991
4 per Cent. Portuguese Bonds,
Account, M.
5 per Cent. Basilan Bonds, 1822,
tetß 111‘

.s
per Cent.
Spanieh Piastre Deals,
54
2i per Cent. Dutch Exchange, 12
Gull. 604 4
Ditto Acct., Dee. 31, GO4
t per Cent. DutchCcrtdattee,924

ES AND
PARIS, I

.
1 STOCKS ABROAD.
Dee. 16.

3 per Craw. .

fy Lo. :

ikhor; a, IMO.
De. !OWL

Do. 2i,
Naples Boatel

Treasury bond.

Poe
Maw,
01 *1
Ile al

3~ 4 m

OpealssT
rl 23
111 73

Exchange ea Leedom (30 4TH), t4s.
De. Da (0 days). VI U.

Highest.' Loyrest. Ciatißt.
SI 113 SI OS BIOS
I 112 lle 73 Ile, 110
• I
I 11
PI
••
O. !

THE MEXICAN CONSULATE.

Much discontent is expressed in private letters from the
city of Mexico, and by merchants in this city, commercially
connected with Mexico, but in no way mixed up, either now
or heretofore, with Mexican loan affairs, about the manner
in which admittedi grievances are dealt with, not only by the
government of that country, but by consular and diplomatic
agencies whose duties should largely consist, as understood,
in vindicating the rights and promoting the interests of their
countrymen.
Some few years since, previous to the French blockade
we believe, the Mexican government imposed a eon-
sumo, or extra-eonsumo, duty on imported commo-
dities, contrary to express stipulations of treaty. The
duty at the time was paid by the merchants under
protest. After the passage of various notes, and some
negotiation on the subject, the government of Mexico con-
fessed to the wrong, and promised redress, by refunding the
values so extorted. To a deputation which waited upon him,
three years ago, to urge the satisfaction of these claims,
Lord Aberdeen promised they should be strongly enforced.
Yet tho claimants thus unjustly despoiled are as yet no fur-
ther advanced in the object. And they attribute their ill
success, not apparently without sufficient cause, to
the want of exertion or neglect of the British
consul, primarily, and, secondarily, to the British
minister. Mr. Mackintosh, the consul, is engaged in exten-
sive money transactions on his own account with the Mexi-
can government as a merchant, out of which claims of his
own may arise more worthy of his care than the interests of
other parties. Or, having such gainful transaction., the
consul may not like to offend the government as the grantor
of good things to the merchant, by forcing too urgently and
offensively upon its attention the prior and paramount ne-
cessity of fulfilling its obligations towards others. The con-
sul merchant, it is stated, has also with others farmed the
tobacco duties. These considerations should demonstrate
the impropriety and impolicy of appointing merchants a. con-
suls abroad. The case of vice-consuls is somewhnt different.

As to Mr. Bankhead, the British minister, as he dees not
sp-ak or understand the Spanish language at all, he is in
the habit, it is stated, cf consulting Mr. Mackintosh, the
Consul, on every subject or representation submitted to
him, and of being guided by his advice. He is not, how-
ever, a singular example of the Foreign Office management,
in selecting representatives for foreign stations, who can
neither understand the people they are to treat with, nor
be understood themselves.
CROSSED BANKNAGS' CHEQUES.

Sir,—The city writer of the Times of Thursday has thought
proper to adopt the assertion of a correspondent who has
suffered from the misapplication of a cheque for 791. lls. led.
by his clerk, and founded • claim upon the Bank of Eng-
land, to restore the sum because they paid the cheque to one
banker, the cheque being crossed with the name of a different
banker " in opposition to the rule that crossed cheques
can only be paid to the banking house indicated by the
crossing, ' as asserted by the party who has been de-
frauded of the .cheque ; that the sufferers should be
willing to adopt a flattering mode of special pleading
may be excused, hut that a public writer should find fault
with the Bank for not yielding to the demand made is some-
what astounding, for the custom is not so. A cheque is pay-
able to bearer; the custom of crossing a cheque was long
ago found to be useful to many parties, but it is not impera-
tive on any. Ist. Crossing a cheque in blank and Co. is
frequently adopted by the drawer to prevent its being pre-
sented, and cash demanded, as it must then go through
a banker's hands and through the clearing-house,
except when paid into the Bank of England or a
joint-stock bank, neither of which use the clearing-house.
2ndly. Cheques are frequently crossed with the receiver's
banker's name and Co. and it then serves as a sort of equi-
table receipt to the drawer, in addition to the convenience
ea to payment above-named. 3dly. Persons who receive
cheques, without knowing to whom they will transfer them,
cross them in blank and Co., as a mode of security in case of
loss. These are the inducements to cross cheques, but the
mercantile world knows that the understanding is, that
they must, when crossed, pass through a banker's
hands, hut no hanker would be justified by custom in
refusing to pay a cheque if crossed with thename of bank-
ing house A., and win presented by banker B. Cases of
this description occur daily • ' drawers of cheques frequently
cross them with wrong hankers' names in error, leaving
them to be called for by the parties entitled to receive them.
The Bank of England saw, when the cheque was presented,
it was intended to pass through a banker's hand ; it was pre-
sented by a banker, although not the one whose name was
written acmes ; let us suppose the Bank bad refesed to pay it
to the Commercial Bank, what would have been the results ?
The Commercial Bank would have brought an action
against the drawer for the amount, as it came into their
hands through a bond fide regular customer. The drawer
would have said to the Bank of England, you have
damaged my reputation by dishonouring my cheque, aad
the complainants in vain would have endeavoured to fix
their loss on the Commercial Bank, who had given value
for it. A case of this kind occurred a short time ago. A
person had his pocket picked of a creased cheque,
the thief adroitly made some excuse at s respect-
able shop, got the tradesman to give change in part,
who paid it into his banker, found the cheque had
been stopped, but he recovered of the drawer in an action
at law. It is hardly necessary to my that to put the crossing
of a banker's name on a cheque on the same footing as •
payee to a bill of exchange, would not only be attended
with great trouble, but some risk. Suppose a banker was to
stop payment in the middle of a given day, how would the
holders of crossed cheques be situated, if they could not use
them through another banker ? lll.

balance of 45,0004. Warrants fur the psyment of interest on deposit.
lm to the 20th September Ire will be immediately issued. The
Bristol
non-aud N.
her of directors is seventeen ; the Great Western, the Br
e._
Exeter, and the South 'Devon name seven. Great benefit has been
26
derived from the medial ea-operation of these c iraponies The engi-
"l
neer Ise been busy setting out the line and preparing for cotracts. ,
the
....;:te.---th,,,—...6ce:thkg.i:to'iniay
deem expedient, to aPply to
Mr. Brunel thinks uo improvement can be wade in the line, with
the tis:
joint expense of the Cornwall
ja
will be made early in the ensuing year. The report enlarged „
exception of a deviation at Saahltasho
South Devon
isroutocobenitaietfoecteated at the
eau 2
adopted, and ordered to be printed and circulated. 'Me usual
motatritheilonbeonoederithtsthoWthce.tb:ilirdie: derived
ovedtandt,„femoihcaratilineael:tricaptieilitetireesportorPh
woi_itbine tit„
routine business of a first meeting then transacted with Feat Itar-
cuedoaunisfulofusintylo.
rath3lehe.eMnfoalgad.w—tinghTheyerr!oenecoluhteralirconh3hawemasvingeaporriwre.7edced..
to
take
such
next session, for an act for the alteration of the line of the Cornwall
parii iment in the
Railway between Plymouth and a point near Saltash ; and for powers
to purchase, lease, or jointly construct and use aortions of the South
Devon Railway and Works, and to purchase the Saltasta Ferry ; and to
sell or lease the new works to the Great Western Railway Ommany,
or to the Bristol and Exeter Pathway Compaay, or to
the South Devon Railway C,onapany, and to do such acts as the
directors may deem expedient in reference to the capital for such pur-
poses, and for the amendment of the powers &deftly conferred by
meliament an this company."—Mr. T. Gill, Chairman of the Soak
Devon, embraced this occasion to contradict elf-du:My, and in tels,
reports sedulously disseminatal to the disadvantage of that line. lie
said—" With regard to the exaggeration. publi.hed respecting injuries
on the line, the directors had telt those statements to be so extremely
absurd and preposterous that they thought they should best consult
the interest of the proprietors, and their owa duty to them, by taking
j 26 notice wh deter of them. They bad been regarded by the
dieectors as reports got up by interested parties, DI order to serve
Orli, own purposes. They had sustained one damage, and one damage
wily that might be called a teal injury. A portion of the wall was
Wilt in the first instance as a mere open wall, with the stone of the
systry, which was believed to be sufficient for the purpose; but it
INS found not to be to, and that portion had suffered ; but no part of
Abe Bee where the wall hal been built as a strong masonry will had
Waned In fact, the directors considered it a gnat triumph in hav-
ims this year such very severe and unexampled storms to try their
weeks, and finding that the only portion which suffered was that
width might naturally be expected to give way. The mere dry wall
was now being replaced by a sub-taratiad masonry wall, and after this
be should have no doubt of the line being as complete and secure as
my in the kingdom could be. ,
OLasoolv, KILMIRNOCK, AND ARDItOSSAN. —Special
Meeting, Dec.ls; the Earl of Eglintoo inthechair. From• report issued
clin the 9ist of October last, containing the terns under which theoom-
piny was toacquire the Ardroosan railway, harbour, and dock', and all
Ye rights,powers, and privileges of the Arch an company, it appeared
that the price of the railway and harbour in to be 200,0001., payable by
four instalments at Martinmas, 1850, sl 52, and 53. Until Martinmas,
1830, no istereet runs against the prier, but the proprietors of the
railway and harbour retails the intermediate pi °tit., and pay 4 per
cent interest on any advances made by the Glasgow Kilmarnork, and
Androwan Company fur the improvement and extension of the rail-
way and harbour, besides such sum for tear and wear of plant as shall
be riled by arbitration. The company have the option of entering
into possession of the works at any time, on giving six months' inti-
mation, and paying the first instalment, and interest thereafter at the
rate of 4 per cent. per annum on the remaining instalments
until paid. The proprietor of the harbour ie to obtain the
assent of the harbour trustees and the sanction of parliament, to an
arrangement whereby 6(1,0001. of the purchase money shall remain in
perpetuity upon the harbour, ate rent of 2,000/. per annum. In the
event of the proposed arrangement not being adopted, a penalty or
forfeit of 25,000/. will, under the original arrangement, fall to be paid
to the proprietors of the ardreessn railway and harbour. By the
postponement of the payment of the purchase money, the director' of
the Glasgow, Kamm pock, and Ardrossan believe that for the t resent
works they will not require to make more luau four calls of if. 10a.
each, before Martinmas, 1831, inasmuch as when those calls shall
have been paid the company are authorised by their act to borrow on
mortgage or debenture to the extent of 210,000/., and they
expect that by making throe calls during the next two year. they
will have no ditficulty in opening the entire works to Kilmar-
nock and Irvine, and the
.junctions with the present Aynthire and
Antrossin Hailwaye, early in the year 1549." The noble chairman
explained that he had taken no part in the discus-ion of the arrangements.
The directors had driven a hard bargain with him, and they were per-
fectly right in hoeing done so. Ile had relinquished sews Oi 20,0, 1.
which the precious arrangement would have given him. Ile, there-
fore, felt no hesitation or delicacy in re's-minuend:lw the adoption of
the report. Mr. Graham, of Ferenew, moved " That this meeting of
the Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and .Arden son Railway Company, approve
of the purchase of the Ardrossan Harbour ta ligilway, on the terms
which have been submitted to this meeting, and instruct the directors
to execute the contracts of gale of the .Irdrosaur liarbour anal Rail-
way, now laid before the meeting. The Lord Provost
seconded the motion. In reply to a question put by Mr. Barlow, the
Earl of Eglhiton exslained that all the arrangements which had been
entered into by the directors with the Caledonian company were
known ; but the directors of the company were bound in nothing ex-
cept to recommend to the shareholders the proemial of the Caledonian
and wh'cli the meeting might rest satisfied should be dour before any
agreement was come to on the subject. Mr. Graham's motion passed
unanimously.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.—Ting GREAT WESTEItN
AND rue. Losuar AND NOUTII.WIOTENN.—A VO:UMill011.4 COM-
spondefwe between the Chairmen of these two companies, with
an equally voluminous preface, in the form of a letter from
the secretary of the Great Western to his directors, was pub-
lished in yesterday's Herald. The personal question at wale
between these parties is one in whir h, in our estimation, the public
has tuarvellousiv little concern. And us the only point to be gained
by printing the 'Correspondence at full length is, showing which party
behaved meet or least handsomely, the waste of the Apace it would
require would be positively sinful. Thus much, however, we may
way: After a deliberate and dispassionate perusal of the document,,
we ace misunderstanding and asperitiee on both sales; but nothing
inoonsiatent with the most perfect integrity and highest horour on
either. The only circumstance that Imparts to this correspondence any
interest for the public is the unequivocal vote of intimation it gives
that next a. wan the battle of the gauges is to be fought over again.
Mr. Glyn asked that the directors of the Great Western should agree
" not to reek to disturb the proviso of the existing Gauge Act of la t
sesaion." Mr. Russell replied, "If by this condition you mean that
no steps should be taken to continue the Wand as well IRA the narrow
gauge through Birmingham to Wolverhampton to which the broad
gauge Is already sanctioned through Woroister) to such a proper
sition It would he imgaitible that we should se In another
letter Mr. Russell stated that before entering into acy negotiation
with the London and North-Western, his company required
that "it be clearly understood that each party about" be
entirely at /them to carry out and fulfil all the pur-
poses fee which any line has already been sanctioned by par-
liament." In a third letter he explains—" My exprmi”n had
reference not to the lines only, but to ' the purposes' fur which they
were designed." In the same spirit Ste. Saunders refused to accede
to a proposal made on the part of the North-Western—" to right one
battle In next session as to the broad gauge being allowed between
Fenny Compton and Wolverhampton, said then abandon it for ever if
defeated." Ile aslgned as his reason that the broad gauge being
already sanctioned to Wolverhampton by the Oxford, Worcester, and
Wolverhampton Bill, the inhabitants and merchanta of South
Staffordshire and Birmingham would never cease to agitate
for it, if only to avoid at Fenny Compton the break of
gauge to Valli the North-Western Counsucy had attached no
much importance; that no single contest would ever reconcile
the public travelling over the Great Western, and Oxford and Itugby
railwat•, to being shifted out of the broad gunge carriages within a
few miles of their destination, whether It were Leamington, Warwick,
or Birmingham" if this argument is solid fur the extension of the
broad gauge to Wolverhampton, it will be equally valid when the
brood gauge gets there for its extension to ntaffonl, and an, peaee-
meal, nerthwanks, as tar as the brawl gauge lamp:mice may wish to
extend it. The battle of the gauges is to be fought over again next
semen.
OlizAr NowniunN.--Mr. Bramey hes taken the contract
for the portion of this line between London and Peterborough, and oa
Monday next the works will be

THE Sot: TH BAH I ERN, Asti FORD Alin HASTINGS
BRA-NCR, will be camp:dal during the present month.
ACCOMMODATION Tolt THIRD-CLASS PASSENGERS IN
FRANCE., AND REM:CMON OP PAM:P.—The commission of the 131 -
Rhin, appointed to report upon the propriety of substituting cover.
ed fur uncovered wagons on the Strasburg Railway, and reducing
the fare. to the followingoarlewitirelasa, 0 cent.. per kilometre
instead of 10 cents. ; 2nd clam, 6 cents. pee kit, instead of 74 cent.. •,
and 3rd ClatlA, 4 cent.. instead of 3 cent.. ; has come to the sub-
joined conclusions:— let. The commission considers the suppres-
sion of uncovered wagon, not only as an improvement, but as a mea-
sure of humanity to the poorer chimes who make use of these vehicles
during the bad weather. 2nd. The commission estimates that, In
the general interest, it would be desirable to reduce the mres in the
proportions proposed by the company, or even in a still larger ;we-
portion. It is, in fact, incontestable and uncontested, that if, fur a
distance of 140 kilometres the railway front Str,burg to Beale
conveys no more, upon an average, than 700,000 passengers a year,
thi+ paucity of passengers must be attributed to the too high price
of matt. The pourer clam, the iuhabitants of the numerous rural
communes along the line like better to make the journey on foot, or
to satisfy themselves with the twains of transport used before the
creation of the railway, than to bear the expense of the new mode of
travelling. To bring to the railway this part of the population, and
lead it to acquire new habits, they some be offered, besides the ad_
vantage of celerity, that of a rate of charge. which is not above their
means, and carriages which do nut expose the passengers to the incle-
mency of the weather. 3rd. The commission consequently thinks,
that there should be four chimes instead of three, by adding to the
carriages of the first two classes covered wagons and ierriages with-
out mote, and some also uncovered, as there mins on the Baden rail-
way, and which will serve during the fine weather at the peace of 2or
3 rents. per kilometre for short distances, for a pathos of the popula-
tion which now makes no use of the, railway. 4th. The commission
thinks It is to be feared that the organisation proposed by the COM-
pany, would not be sufficiently advantageous to the poorer dames
to induce them to make use of the railway, and that the
only result of this organisation would be to uncles!' the passengers,
without much increasing the number, by forcing a portion of those
who make tree of uncovered wagons at 0 cents., to take the
,Ann-i-bane at 6 cents., and by tonere-coup the Revengers who
make use of the elgars.l-beme, charged 74 cents., totals diligences in
which they would pay 9 seats. The report aoricludes by stating that
the proposition of the company would not have the cleat of drawing
upon the line the poorer population, and would Increase the charges
for the maildtecLuises. The comunsair recommend. the company to
make a trial of the plan they propene, in reference to the number
of chews, and the accommodation for penmen, and to report upon
the result at the end of a year.
BDeINESS OF THE ENSUING WEEK.—(Prom Raihmy Chromic, e.)
MKETlNGS.—Ashburton. Newton, and South Devon, Dec. 21, Ash.
button ; Boston, Stamford std Birmingham Ritmtford and %Vista-wish
line)—lles. 22, Weetminator; Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow, and
Dublin—Dec. at, London; Wept Cornwall--Dee. 22, London;
Somerset, and Weymouth—Dee. 22, Chippenham.
Coma:area. —Great Southern and Weeern (1.).--43eal oil, Dee. 23;
Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle-10,000 tons of wrought inn rails
Dec. 21.
. .

11111;13IDA. —Direct Darabsy and Madraii—Pirst half-rear% interest,
now payable at the allots of the oommay, 10, Pentnuroh-street; Paris
and Lyons-21. 40c. par aline, Oohs 120e1 from the call of in
due Dec. 90.
CAus.—Aberdeen —IL doe; Anise sad Bsalugne--21. Dec. PO
Csledonlitn: M. an Clydinghtlerlenstlenjes, and 61. on
601. shares, due ; and Imam due' Wield and Eamon.
ton 10s., due ; Dmaries, and Otelisle..--2J., Ms. due;
Grog G gad inclan 3L on Masa 201. sham, due ;
and et. Edam& —2l. 1014 Den 21 ; loneaster and
Junotlon-11. le. en=eliares, dos; Lowestoft Ital.
wp Merbaur-21. dee; end laa*--61. on the Hod.
Janellensgoek,6oLablan Dec. lb; Norfolk.—
ronglirit=s, Mei Paris and Lyens-eiL, Dee. 20; Preston
seer mire kiitaarboar shin;;-2/. on tie I* Des. sham,
duello.,, Stirling gni. Duite
11. 10s., due; Taw Vele —U., Dee. 21. nil We—
SIGNATURE OF PARLIAMENTARS CONTRACIII.--Beilielin4 Pad. Mr-
hour. : At the Company'. /faces, 63, King WiWninaange; Mewls.
Manley and Washemi, Bristol; Mr. Myatt, litimplan ; the
National Provincial Bank, Sturminstar, Newton Managed, Dorset;
and Mr. Welsh, Poole, Dorset, until Deo. 24,-Derbyshire, Stafford-
shire and Worcestershire Junction. and Direct East and Wert June,
non Now lie forsignature at the offices of the company.—Edinbitrati
and Northern: At London, Dee. 19.—t6Outh Yorkshire, Doncaster,
and Goole At London Av. 19.—Weaford an Valencia : Till Dec. U.
TIANIIITS. Beau, Cusgen.--Ohegow, Alcor* and nionklande Junc-
tion : Prom Dec. u till Jan. la. .
TaArrtc for aflame Wan, nil
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I(ll=callaientood' '— UO
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inn ',gm
D riasN r Astec*Lai .. •'
sat
Er. inneninn :11144
Cssades .• • .-I Meal 14774
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P.4labc• t ut./61, Mr' •MO
?.d.4 Ayr igem 1,11.3
wsidi 6 On. 8181TN
Ot. douthrst. W•gtO are
Great Welt. 11.1136, UMW
don
,171
Lc cc.. * Won*. 103 13.43,
Ueda& nu& via ••• I kg

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