The Express.
London, England, 1848-01-19 00:00:00

society. It might probably be observed that it weeld-76
aside's to combat tho duke on the pbint of national
seeing he was so used to victory. But he (the opeeketitZ
reply no to this proposition, for the duke had lest,_
lee—by public opinion, which he discovered had mess ppm
than all the French &ranee. He (the speaker) dad
thief.* disparage the Duke of Wellington, but to
the people to enter the field once more
him, and if they did their duty on the pr,t
OtetliOtt there was every reason to hope he wed(
be beaten egain as he had been before. What was the teal
object of the move ? Re feared it was in order to stints,
late the savage and tiger propensities of tke people, eltnnt
were becomits lost in the peaceful pursuits of mu*
commerce, and agriculture. But if the bulldog mint wee •
to obtain prevalence, what was to become of commerce ? It
might be said there was plenty of commerce during the sew
and that will again bathe case. But let him remind li
auditors of the nature of that war commerce, which wen%
trade in gunpowder, musksts, provision, and clot
the army ; the commeree, in short, of the cominimmiet
wholly on the wants created by war, and ending eidag
In hoe letter respecting the state of the national Mem
the Duke of Wellington had looked solely to France am
invading and aggressive power. But were there not
continental and European people ? and would they
look on whilst France added England to her territory
wag not for the interest of Europe that France
become possessed of Begland, for in that case there
ensue a scheme of universal conquest and of subjugating
Europe under one yoke. Besides, if the present lift
things in France wee looked at, it would be seen she wig&
no state for war, and no one knew that fact better than
Philippe. He begged to thank the meeting f.r
listened so patiently, and to move the resolution w
' had read.
Mr. A. B. STEVENS seconded the resolution, which wet
carried.
Mr. J. Basaarr then moved the third resolution,
Thst the following petition be adopted and signed by 10, &anis
on behalf of the meeting, and that it be confides to John llaApyA
Esq., to be presented to the House of Commons, sad
MMaiworth be requested to somas% the prayer thereof.
Mr. J. KENT seconded the resolution, which was emu&
The Citatituarr then read the petition, which embodied
the sentiments of the resolutions, after which a ems of
thanks wee passed to him, and the meeting separated.

ST. KATHARINE'S DOCK COMPANY.
The proptietors of this company met yesterday, for
the purpose of declaring a dividend for the six mouths
lug the 31st Dec. Thomas Tooke, Rsq., in the chair.
After some formal business, the Chairman stated that tka
accounts for the 12 months ended on the 31st ult. had bent
completed for the inspec•ion of the proprietors, and tbit
from these it appeared that the general balance, hroatdd
forward on the Ist of January last, was 88,5691. 75., and treat
the balance brought forward on the first of the prey
month w. .s 88,9801. 19s. 3d., showing a slight increase. The
gems earnings of the company (fractions omitted) were
daring the year 1846, 229,8151., and the expenses amoaittaa
to 124.2701 leaving a balance in favour of the company at
165,5451., whereas the gross earnings during the bat 7.1
were 260,0041., and the expenses 146,2681., leaving a Wane
in favour of the company of 113.7361., being an Mame of
8,1911. in the net earnings of 1847, as compared with than td
the year 1846. The accounts further showed theta diminution
of 5,3141. had taken place during the let year in the sham
for interest upon the limiting debt, 353,5001. of which had
been already extinguished by the measure of coorersion ih
progress, which sum of 5,3141., added to the net
constituted an amount of 79,2341. applicable to divideneutit
the past year, but 4,6271. short of 5 per cent., competed
the increased capital, which now amounted to 1,700,6371
It would be in the recollection of such of the proprietom who
were present at the last January meeting that the direetonthen
announced, "that unless there di, uld be a material increase la
the earnings of the company, during the (then) CUMlltra;
they would not feel justified in any further encroachment
on the Rest; but would consider themselves ashndocile
alternative but that of proposing at the next ( )
January meeting a reduction in the dividend." And at the
July meeting • declaration of similar import was incident-
ally made in answer to an inquiry by a proprietor. Not.
withstanding the great augmentation of business, and in-
crease in the earnings daring the past year, ths gross amount
of which exceeded by several thousand pounds the gross
earnings during any one year since the opening of the docks,
the net earnings were, as before stated, short of the usual
dividend. The directors, therefore, were "mulled of the ex-
pediency of adhering to the determination which they
announced in January last, not to encroach further upon the
Rest, and they were then prepared to recommend such a re-
duction in the rate of dividend as may afford the means of
replacing, from time to time, the sums that have been taken
from the Rest (of which amount the proprietors have had the
benefit in the shape of dividend). And farther, of making
some provision for contingencies, which might be expected
during the year from derangement in the merouthle sod
monetary affairs of the country, the injurious effecuof which
must be especially felt by the trade of the port, and conse-
quently in a degree by the dock company, in common with
all other establishments connected with the commercial and
shipping interests of London. Under these circumstance'
the directors recommended to the proprietor', to de.
elate a dividend for the half year ending the 31d
December last of 2 per cent., the income tax to he
defrayed by the company. Before, however, sub=
• resolution to that effect to the meeting, the directors
it proper to advert to the disproportion between the gross sad
net earnings of the company during the past year, which
they had reason to believe, as respects that establishment,
had not been singular in the port of London. The cause
were fully accounted for by the description of merchandise
that formed the chief part of the excess landings, having been
bulky, and subject to heavy expense for labour, which had
been further increased from the great pressure of badness
during a limited portion of the year, in consequence of the
simultaneous arrival of a very large number of the cargo's;
whilst at the same time it was to be observed that the doh
rates on such description of merchandise were extremelylew.
It would, however, be satisfactory to the proprietors to find
from the statistical returns of business transacted in them
docks during the last year, evidence of the industry and ea-
cawing attention which have been devoted by the mamma
meat to the interests of the company. Those returns showid
the following results:
IT. ZATELAJWCZ DOM%
1845. 1846. 1647.
Goods landed
Increase In 1847 39,795 tom

Geode delivered
ase in 18 117,200 tons 131,079 16,960
tow tons 148,039 lon
Incre47

kee
Landed enddeli•aed 229,117 tons 234,885 tom 305,729
]name In 1847 70,874 tom

Stock of gad* ill 60,126 tons 61,091 tons 70,772 tta
warebouse Dec. 31
Increase Slat Dec., 1817 9,681 tons

RICIFFINO.
1845. 1846. 164?. •
Ships. Tons. Shim Tons. Ships. Ills
Entered with cargoes .. 619...170.778 673..171,481 742...1110,817
Increase in 1847 over 1816, 69 ships, 19,376 tons.
1645. 1846. 1847.
Ships. Tons. Ships. Tons. Ships. Um.
Entered light to load .. 35e...34,523 244..25,604 281...27,242
Increase in 1847 over 1846, 37 ships, 1,638 tons.
Tots/ iocresse in ships and register tonnage in 1547 over 1849,
106 ships, 21,014 tons.
saber wren CALOONS :aril= TIM roar OF LONDON rams Mae
Fans.
1846. 1847.
British ... 5,228 ships-1,134,846 tons. 0,265 141ip5..1,426,612 tins
Foreign.. 2,479 ships... 393,388 tons. 3.105 ships... 492,344 toss
increase in 1847, British 1,037 5hip5...291,966 tars
Increase in 1847, Foreign
lass
Total increase in 1847
The CHAIRMAN then submitted a resolution for dw.2m4
a dividend as proposed, and expressed his readiness to afford
to the proprietors the fullest information, upon the affairs of
the company, as might be desired. And in reply to several
questions he stated, that the wages had been increased math
by the large imports of flour, corn, and rice, which requited
more labour to store them than the more light and valuables
articles.
Mr, &mu was satisfied with the progress of the dais,
but thought the dividend ought not to be reduced. Es
should move that the proprietors themselves pay the imams
tax in future, as it would be a vain hops to expect that the
tax would be taken off by the government, though it might
be increased.
The Cake replied, that it would be a difficult thing
now to make out the warrants with the income tax dedactid
The subject was one of importance. The directors did net
think it prudent to decrease the " rest" further, as Rim
their floating capital to carry oa the business of the concern
As to the imports this year, the directors did not anticiplisi
the state of the East and West India trades being iced-
dered, any such large arrivals as had occurred in the PA
year or two.
The amendment relative to the income tax haviog boa
withdrawn the motion for the declaration of the dividend
was agreed to.
On the motion of Mr. Alderman FAILBCOIIII, which WS
deli seconded, the thanks of the meeting were gives? the
chairman ado
rectors, for their zeal and attention the
‘anagementthe docks, and the meeting was adjourned.

COURT OF Swan, GITILDRALL.-THE GAS
MOVEMENT IN THE ClTT.—Yesterday the Commiseicimm
of Sewers met fer the despatch of business—Dlr. Dept/
Peacock in the chair.—Mr. Dew, the chief clerk, informed
the members of the commission thnt he had received' lettt
from the City of London Gas Company, in which, intr..
pliance with a re,olution of the court, they had come tett*
determination to reduce the price of the gas suppliedhl
them to the City (tbe public lights) from le. to Gs. pc
sand cubic feet. No other company had made any similar
offer.—Mr. Lawrence was of opinion that the reduction wee
very inadequate, and he should move that the letter be r-
ferred to the committee appointed for the purpose, which,
no doubt, would agree with them that a much greater ce-
duction could be made. At Liverpool, Manchester, Bir-
mingham, Nottingham, ant other large commercial and
manufacturing towns, gas was supplied at 4s. per 1,000 calm
feet, and why the metropolis could not be supplied at the
same rate of charge he could not understand. There ine
another part of the subject to which he was anxious today
the attention of the committee—that was, to ascertain whe-
ther a purer gas than what was at present supplied 0) ON
public could not be obtained. From the greet a
minces which had been made in chemistry. 10
was of opinion that a purer gas could be obtained: ins PO'
sent gas was moat obnoxious. Let any of them enter the
large establishments in the metropolis, particularly thole,*
paper offices, and they would find that a most impure sad
highly offensive atmosphere was breathed, which was most
detrimental to health. With these remarks` ed would move
that the letter be referred to the committee, hoped Sig
they would be enabled to report that the gas could be, eh;
touted at a lower rate than now offered, and also deVONI OK
the obnoxious effluvium that escaped from A.—A Melba