The Express.
London, England, 1849-08-31 00:00:00

RAILWAY MEETINGS.

NAVAL.
ADHIHALTY,AVOCHT 30.—APPOINTMiNTS.—To Alarrn—
Master : J. P. P. Warren. Cormorant—Surgeon: W. ,
MuKinley. Assistant Surgeon :J. T. filosgrove.
WOOLWICH, AVOlisT 30.—Desperate, at. sloop. was un-
docked to-day, and taken into the basin, having been cop-
pered and having had her screw propeller fitted.
DZVONPORT, Arecur 29.—Arethusa, new 50. gun frigate,
in charge of Mr. Mills, second muter attendant, and party,
arrived on Sundsy from Pembroke, and was towed into har-
bour on Monday, to be unrigged and prepared for ordinary.
Myrtle, steamer, arrived with supernumeraries yesterday
from Portsmouth, and returned the same evening.—Crane,
packet, Lieut. Parsons, has bad her defects made good ; she
was taken into the Sound yesterday. —Sunday being the an-
niversary of the Prince Albert's birthday, the various ships
in the harbour and the Sound were decorated with their
colours, and at half-past one o'clock, royal salutes were fired
by her Majesty's ships Impregnable, 104, Capt. Sir Thomas
Maitland, C. 8., and Agincourt, 72, Capt. J. Hope John-
stone.—The Arab ship Artender, Capt. Mahommediliamees,
belonging to his Highness the Imams of Muscat, put in here
on the 23rd instant, in consequence of the sickness of her
crew. She burthens about 500 tons; has a complement of
55 hands, and being laden with a general cargo, is bound
from London to Zanzibar. On the passage from the Downs
alas lost five of her people from the prevailing sickness, and
on entering the Sound sent four sick on board the Tyne
hulk. One more has been sent there since, but they are all
I in a convalescent state now, and the ship will probably, on
Thursday, proceed OD her destination.

MILITARY.
WOOLWICK, AVOUCT 30.—The whole of the Royal
Horse Artillery. field batteries, and battalions off duty, were
asstsabled on Woolwich common this morning, and went
through the evolutions of a field day, in rehearsal of a grand
review, which, it is stated, will take place on Saturday next.
OWLS/LC—On Saturday, Capt. Ross, barrack-master,
Devosport, received orden from the Board of Ordnance, to
issue male to the different guards in this garrison, for night
use, during the continuance of the cholera, in communes
of an application to that effect having been made by Major-
General the Hon. Henry Murray, C.B.—On Tuesday, a
gunner of the Royal Artillery, quartered in Plymouth Cita-
del, weeneised with cholera, which terminated fatally in a
few hmrs. This has been the only case among the mtlitary,
during the last ten days.

THE RECOVERY OF THE LOST JOURNALS, &C. OF
Tan Horse OF LORDS —ID addition to the 12 journals of
the minutia of the House of Lords saved from the prat fire,
and so recently and singularly recovered (es described in this
journal of Wednesday last), and which, it will be recollected,
were found at the shop of Mr. Tarry, cheesemonger, of the
Walworthrood, he having purchased the same with other
waste paper at a sale of the effects of the late Mr. Croft, one
of the librarians of the House of Lords, another manuscript
volume which was bought by a gentleman a few days since
has been forwarded to the librarians. This Is a thick folio,
bound in calf, and lettered on the back. " Cases, H. of
Lords," and apparently is a sort of index. His entirely ma-
nuscript, and on the title-Page is described as "An Abridge-
ment common placed of Cases in the House of Lords upon
Appeals and Writs of Brrors, witk two tablm, one of the
title under which they are placed, and the other of the
names of the cases, with notice taken whether varied,
affirmed, or reserved, and when." It is evidently a praise-
tion which has cost much time, labour, and careful research.
ere recorded is that of the cAiebnted John
Churchill, first duke of Marlborough, and is entitled, " The
Duke of Marlborough v. Strong," dated Bth March, 1721.
SERIOUS RIOT AT WATERLOO BRlDOE—YeetEr-
day, between two and three o'clock, • gang of thirteen fel-
lows, evidently wih an intention of robbing the toll house,
caused great slamsand confusion on the Surrey side of Wa-
terloo-bridge. They endeavoured to firm past the pay
place without payment of one of them, but Snowden, the
collector, anticipating their object, closed his door and re-
sisted, when he warstruck by one of the gang. Snow-
den called to his cempanion (Denman),who bad charge of
the carriage toll, foir assistance. but after a few minutes the fel-
lows passed over towards the Strand, seeing that the precau-
tions taken by the collector had thwarted their designs. Jest
as the affray vas over an officer of the L division reached
the tell house, having been round hie beat; bat better pro-
terglon 4 required for the Surrey side toll collectors. They
wen all reosiois' ad as • gaga of sraishen

yesterday 8 riagnt.o,nr.taCd.t7the.
GreSOat
rW.sALEta,tivoNnS:
The ninth half-yearly meeting of this company was hold
M. TALBOT, Esq., M.P., in the chair.
report of the directors, of which the following is a copy:
" Since the half-yearly meeting in February last the exer-
tions of the directors have been sedulously directed to the
completion and opening of that portion of the line which
lies between Swansea and Chepstow, from which they have
i considered t reasonable to expect a large amount of traffic ;
:11's available mesas of the company have, thererore, been
chisfiy devoted to this portion, and they confidently hope
that it may be completed and ready for traffic early in the
ensuing year. Oa this point, as well as en the state of works
genirally, the report of Mr. Brunel, the engineer, which is
subjoined, enters so fully into detail, that it will only be re-
qutaite for the directors to refer to the report itself.
" The borrowing powers of the company Wive been for some
time in operation, but the existing state of railway affairs, in
reference to the facility of raisieg money on debenture, has
rendered it difficult for thew coalmines of which the works
are unfinished to avail themselves of these powers to any
great extent: hence the carbon the proprietors have been
made with &degree of rapidity which the directors would wil-
lingly have avoided had it been practicable : seeing, how-
ever, the paramount importance of getting some portion of
the line into operation, they trust that the policy they have
pursued will, under the circumstances, be deemed sound and
judicious.
" The question of the agreement for guarantee with the
Great Western Company has been one of much anxious de-
liberation with the Directors. It must be borne in mind
by the shareholders that the Great Western Company con-
tend that this guarantee will not come into operation until
the completion of the line to Fishguad. Under the altered
prospects of those lines in Ireland with which the portion of
the South Wales Railway from Swansea or Carmarthen was
more especially designed to work, and the little probability
that exists of their being proceeded with very rapidly—the
completion of the Fisbgustd portion at present appears so
manifestly impolitic, with regard to the interests of both the
Great Western and this Company, thatyour Directors con-
sider they were justified in entertaining the ex-
pectation that some arrangement might have been
made with the Great Western Company for suspending this
portion of the line, the guarantee being permitted to come
into operation on the completion of the line to Swansea.
They regret to say this • expectation has been disappointed.
Several interviews have been held with the Great Western
directors, at which the point has been discussed at great
length, but hitherto with no practical result; the Great
Western directors not considering themselves justified at
present in recommenhing to their shareholders any altera-
tion of the existing agreement. Grailying as it would have
been to your directors to have seen such sa arrangement as
the above carried out, and advantageous as they doubt not
it would have been to the interests of both companies,
yet, under the expressed disinclination of the Great
Western directors to admit any modification of the view
taken by them of the conditions of the agreement, it ap-
pears to your directors that the interests of this company
will be best consulted by postponing, till some more favour-
able opportunity, the further discussion of this grave question.
Under these circumstances, your directors consider it the
best policy to keep steadily in view the eventual completion
of the line to Fisnguard, which they have the satisfaction to
state they confiiently expect may be completed, and the
guarantee brought into operation for a sum within the four
millions.
st Upon a careful revision of the amounts paid and still to
be paid, upon land, works, permanent way, and stations, the
total cost of the portion of the line between Chepstow and
Swansea, a distanie of 75 miles, may be saltily estimated at
' about 1,560,0001. To this sum are to be added the amounts
which may have to be expended upon other portions of the
iod
line
de up to
iteoex thent hs
epesect caohni yi tt his
is caa lt cul sc opening,theadwtehi Ils the
f ohPraT ve lent mt
eel ETU naet add-
what time to 960.0001., independently of our subscriptions
I to other lint 5, which may be estimated at about 140,0001.,
asking a total sum of 2,660,0001, To meet this expendi-
ture, the whole of which will not, however, in all probabi-
lity, have to be paid for several months after the opening of
the line, the company may calculate upon receiving
2,260,0001. upon shares, after all due allowance for amen
and unproductive shares which have been, or must even-
tually be, declared forfeited, leaving a compere,
tively small balance to be raised upon debentures,
of which about 100,0001. are already issued. Upon the
moans of easily reaching this first stage of our proceedings
these.= therefore be no anxiety. After this period the
eempany will be in the receipt of a revenue upon seventy-
five miles of railway, and which, in the opinion of those best
informed, will be considerable, although probably falling
much short of that which will be derived from the same
portion of the line after the completion of the connecting link
with Gloucester. With the assistance, however, of this
revenue, the directors cannot entertain any doubt of the
ability of the company to raise, without difficulty, and with-
out sacrifice, the further sumo' 310,0001. required for works,
current expenses, and interest, without deductions for
revenue, to complete the line from Chepstow to Grange-
court, where it joins the Gloucester and Dean Forest Rail-
way, and thus (flats the junction at Gloucester with the
Great Western and Midland railways. The total sum which
it is calculated will then have been required to be paid. in-
cluding all expent s and Mobilities upon the unfinished por-
tion of the line and the subscriptions to other lines, up to
the period of the opening from Gloucester to Swansea, is
2,970,0001.
" It has been already stated tbat,'upon a careful revision of
the estimates, your directors feel confident that the line to
F.thgeard can Ise completed, end the guarantee of the Great
Western Railway Company brought into operation for a
sum under the four millions. This is, of course, exclusive of
the subscriptions to other lines end certain other amounts,
the interest upon which is unquestionably guaranteed by the
Great Western Railway Company, over and above the four
millions, after the opening to Fishguard, although quections
may have arisen as to any guarantee commencing, and as to
' the payment of interest u debentures by the reat
Western Railwzy Company prior to this period. TheGpro.
pretties will at once perceive that, pending the settlement of
these questions, the directors could not, with due regard to
the interests of the company, state specifically the details of
these calculations, and the particular amounts which they
admit to be included in the four millions; but they can
assure the proprietors that they have adopted the safe side in
naming these estimates, and have not assumed that their
views only are to be adopted.
"With respect to the means of raising the required capital,
should the Great Western Railway Company call upon the
South Wales Company to complete the line to Fishguard,
the etors will bear in mind that, alter the oenin of
e linepropri from Gloucester to Swansea, the companyp will bg e in
ooesession of a line of ninety-four miles in length, opening a
direct communication between the whole of the miseral and
manufacturing districts of the south of Wales with the me-
tropolis and the rest of England, to which it will then afford
the only railway communization. With the ample security
which the revenue to be derived therefrom must afford until
the commencement of the lease, sad with the guaranteed
rental from the Great Western Railway Company, after that
period, your directors cannot suppose that any doubt will
exist of the perfect practicability of obtaining the capital.
" It may be proper here to observe, that it is the intention
of the Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow, and Dublin Company
under existing circumstances, to seek powers from parlia-
ment to limit their lies to Wicklow, and to make a cor-
responding reduction in their capital, by reducing their
shares from 201. to 101. each, and their number in the pro-
portion of three to two ; and a communication to this effect
has been received from that company. As regards the other
lines, on account of which advances have been made, the
Vale of Neath is the only one in respect of which it is
believed that any further liability attaches.
" Since the last half-yearly meeting, Mr. Russell has sent
in his b
resignation as chairmen of the -on ed of directors. Mr.
Russell hes presided over the affairs of the company from
its commencement; and his great experience in railway
affairs; his high personal character, together with his zealous
and unremitting attention to the affairs of the company,
render the loss of his services a matter of serious regret to his
colleagues. Your directors are much gratified in stating
that Mr. Talbot,A.P., of Mama= Park, the Lord Lieute-
nant of Glemortanabire, has undertaken the duties of the
chair; and they cannot but congratulate the proprietors on
his acceptance of the office. The great stake Mr. Whet
holds in the company, and his intimate acquaintance with
suf-
the districts through which the line passes, will
.he a
ficient guarantee for the faithful and effective ar
h
discge of
the duties of the office. They are happy to add that the
appointment has given very general satefaction throughout
the principality ; and they doubt not that it will be equally
acceptable to the shareholders.
" The least agreeable portion of the directors' duty o= the
present occasion is that of having to report a defalcation of
the late secretary, /dr. Armstrong, who has absconded, and
by which the company will be sufferers to the meet of
about 5,0001. The necessary steps have been taken BR his
apprehension and prosecution.
" The directors have to recommend the pesprietois is con-
firm the forfeiture of 1,615 shares. The amount already
paid urn these shares is 16,6101. 10s., and as there appeared
to your directors to be no probability of reseoveling any fur-
ther calls upon them, they proceeded to
.forfeit them at a
meeting of the board, and a resolution will now he submit-
ted to you for c mfirming that forfeiture, in accordance with
the provisions of the act of parliament. The usual state-
ment of accounts has already been circulated among the
proprietors.—C. R. K. Tglmow, Chiusano."
REPoarr.
"18, Duke.street, Westminster, August 27, 1849.
" Gentlemen,—The works west of Swansea, with the ex-
ception of those situated between Llsnelly and Pembrey,
have remained in the same state is at the end of the previ-
ous half-year. At the part referred to, where the line is
carried screw the sands, a little work has been executed to
complete some unfinished portions, and to protect the rest
from the action of the sea. With this exception, all our
expenditure has been confined to the operations east of
Swansea. Upon this portion, I am able to report that
great progress has been made; and but for the delays in
obtaining possession of land, which have proved greater
upon the South Wales Railway than upon any line with
which I have been connected, we shotild have been even
more advanced than I had anticipated at the peno o.f my
last halflearly report. At that time I stated tl&t, if we
continued at the rate we had then attained, we might hope,
•with a favourable season, to open the portion between Swan-
sea and Newport in a twelvemonth. Since that time,
some difficulties, which pievimulr existed in obtaining
land east of Newport, have been removed, the
.company
having been compelled to make use of their power
of taking compulsory possession ; and I have found
that, by some exertions, the line might be completed
tO Chepstow iastead if to Nrt and the entire distance
of eevearkfire mils opened nearly, if not quite as soon as

'7( "
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