The Express.
London, England, 1851-02-27 00:00:00

NORFOLK ESTUARY COMPANY.

Yesterday the half-yearly meeting of this corn-
poky took place at the bray's Inn Coffee-bowie, Holborn.
The Earl of OEFORD in the chair.

The report, which was read by Mr. Wisto, the secretary,
stated the directors had much pleasure in announcing to
the shareholders the commencement of the works autho-
rised by the company's act of 1846. After a period of up-
wards of four years front the incorporation of the company
the provisional contract entered into with Mines. l'eto and
Betts was finally completed on the 2nd of October last, and
the first sod was turned on the Rth of November last by the
chairman, Sir William Folkes. The contract, it would be re-
member,,, was for the execution of two cuts of two miles
each, and the works appertaining thereto, for the waters of
the river Ouse, below the town of Lynn. The amount of
the contract was 143,000/. The directors had been enabled
to effect a loan of 40,0001., to be repaid by instalments ;
and with this sum they had been enabled to meet their first
expenditure—viz., the purchase-money for the land taken
for the cut. The directors saw no reason to regret the de-
lay which had occurred in carrying out the works. The
session of parliament in which the company was incorpo-
rated was succeeded by a munetary crisis of no ordinary
character—a period when the difficulties in the way of the
company raising their capital would have led, in all proba-
bility, to an abandonment of the undertaking, after a consi-
derable outlay. The delay, moreover, lead given rise to
the offer, and parliamentary confirmation of, the legiti-
mate aid of those representing the interests of drainage and
navigation, who agreed to contribute the stun of 120,0001.
'l'he price paid for the land taken for the cut was within
the estimate of the directors. The directors had lately'
made an arrangement enabling shareholders to prepay 20/.
per share, 61. 10s. being paid, and to receive interest'
thereon at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum. In proof
of the confidence that existed in the success of the com-
pany, the directors referred to the fact that 11,342/. had
already been paid up, and of this sum 11,0421. had been
advanced by shareholders who derived no advantage from
the improvements resulting to drainage and navigation
front the company's work, It appeared that another
company was making application to parliament fbr an
act enabling them to reclaim 30,000 acre* of land
lying on the Lincolnshire side of the Wash. The
balance now at the banker's amounted to 23,140/. Ma od.
'rite report of Sir John Rennie, the engineer, which was
annexed, stated that the undertaking was prognwcing with
great rapidity; that 800 num. and 300 horses were employed
on the works; and that as the season advanced the amount
of work, as well as the number of men, would he mate- I
rially increased. There was every prospect, therefore, that
the cuts would he completed by the time specified in the
contract and in the act of parliament.
After some discussion relatise to the arrangement exist-
ing between the company and the Eau Brink Drainage
commissioners, the report was ailoptcsl and a resolution
was passed to the el 'et that the solicitors be desired to
enter into a correspondi urn with Mr. Archer, the clerk to
the Eau Brink Drainage Commissioners, in order, if pos-
sible, to put an amicable close to the points in dispute
between the Norfolk Estuary Company and the said coin:

Some formal business was then di•posed of, and the meet-
ing separated with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

GLAMORGANSIIME ELECTION.—BRIDGEND, WED-
NENDAY.—The election of a member for Ulamorganshire in
the room of Kid Dunraven, who has accepted the Chiltern
Hundreds, took place here yesterday. At the time when
the vacancy took plat: it era; thought that a free trader
would be brought forwanl, but in consequence of tle, anti-
cipations whim had been formed from subsequent events of
a general election, the tree traders determined upon hus-
banding their resources. The election took place at the
County Ilan here, and the only candidate, Sir George Tyler,
was conducted to the hustings by u sorry cavalcade, mus-
tering twenty or thirty horsemen and half-a4loren ear-
riages. Nor was the flank less lugubrious. The High
Sheriff, G. P. Turbervilk, Esq., having opened the pro-
ceedings, and called upon all parties to wive the speakers a
fair hearing; Nash Vaughan Edwards Vaughan, Esq.,
of 'Menlo, proposed General Sir George Tyler, as a
fit and proper person to represent the county in parliament.
IL C. N. Came, Esq.. of Nash Manor, seconded the nomi-
nation, and said Sir George Tyler would keep a watchful
eye on the expenditure of the nation, and vote for the
repeal of any tux except what was coosidered necessary for
the welfare of the state. The Sheriff then put the usual
question, and no other candidate being propootsl, declared
Sir George Tyler duly elected. (Cheers.) Sir George
Tyler then returned thanks to the electors, and was subse-
quently "chaired" round the town. . _

ARTILLERY.—IIer Majesty has been
pleased to appmve of the following promotions in the
Royal Regiment of Artillery, vit. :—Brevet-Major Charles
Bettie Symons, to be lieutenant-colonel, vice Nevctt,
deceased ; Second Captain Ashley, Maude, to he captain,
vice Symons; First Lieutenant Walter Ferguson Lock, to
be sccond.eaptain, vice Maude ; Second Lieutenant Richard
Oldfield, to be first lieutenant, vice Lock. In consequence
of the above, Lieut.-Colonel Cuppage is removed to the hit
battalion on lieutenant-colonel's pay, in the room of Nevett;
Lieut.-Colonel Symons is therefore posted to the 2nd batta-
lion on major's pay, vice Cuppage.
Ilia Lordship the Master-General has been pleased to ap-
point Captain and Adjutant John Brandling to the Royal
Horse Artillery, vice Captain Maude, promoted.
DISTRIBUTION OF TIIE EFFECTIVE FORCES AT
HOME AND ABROAD on the Ist of January last, as statesl iu
the army estimates for 1551, page 44

-
RANK /;VII FILE.
In Great Britain.. Cavalry 3,947
Foot Guard, 4,363
Infantry of the line 21,037
Recruiting foree for regi-
ments in ladia 1,614
- 31,161
In Ireland Cavalry
Infantry
- 21,241
In the Colonies ..Infantry
West India Iteginienta
Local Colonial Corp 4,831

- 36,019
In India .....
Infantry

jj- 27,030

Total effectisc rank and file 114,451
This War-office distribution excludes altogether the ofil-
curs, non-conunissioned officers, trumpeters, and drummers;
but a ratio of 1 to 7 in the above numbers will, as nearly
a is necesary, give the proportion these ranks bear to the
rank and file—thus :
Rank and file in India
Add for the other ranks, in the ratio of 1 to 7, or
one•seventh

Total of all ranks
Which approximates to the number of all ranks now serving
in India.

ACCIDCITAL DEATH OF MR. Boom, RAILWAY
CoNrascroa.—Yesterday, Mr. Wakley, M.P., held an in-
quest at the Morton Arms, Hawley-road, Kentish Town,
on the late Mr. John Booth, sub contractor on the Birming-
ham Junction of the East and West India Dock Railway,
aged 49. The body presented on appalling spectacle, the
skull having been literally driven in. James Stutter said
that lag was working the crane at the viaduct by which they
were hoisting a stone of 5 cut., wheal, in canseluence
of the chain being foul, the stone came in contact with the
side of the viaduct and its progress was stopped. Deceased,
who was standing on the parapet, leaned all his weight
against the chain to drive it item the wall, when the chain
swerved, and deceased, losing his balance, fell amidst bricks
and rubbish to the road below. In his fall he called out
" Hold off, hold off," and tried to grasp the scaffolding as
he fell. Richard Whittaker, the foreman carpenter, sub-
stantiated the above e%itlenec. Several other witnesses
tful
iduw jury,
cpt a lne el.a thezdi la
in
itt death."
etrahniug. d'ha' brief
and
t widowncg deliberation,a
et the
4 andr nature
oosfr coroner
summedatrebtr.wet;an returned
bd, beloved I.
11uer. rt occurrence.
1.
hie untimely
t;ioTtCli: grehriye:
end.

--LONDON AND NORM WESTERN RAILWAY.-
Traffic for the week ending Feb. 23, 1861 : Paskengers, par-
cels, carriages, horses, and mails, ordinary, 21,542 f. 2s. sd. ;
merchandise, ordinary, 17,406 f. ss. 4d. ; cattle, 711/. 124. 341..
total, 39,6601. On 6d. Corresponding week, 18.30,
37,9131.0•. 10d. Aggregate : 1850, 806,535/. Bs. Bd.; 1851,
316,7911. ss.

---,.-__.
MIDLAND RAlLWAY.—Traffic for the week end-
ing Feb. 23, 1851, 19,6601. ss. Id.; ditto, Feb. 24, 18.50,
19,38.11.11. 9d. Aggregate, 1850, 1d1,4►;1. lib, 2d.; 1851,
167,0971. 13s. sd.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

THIS DAY.

LOW-STREET.
ROIIIIIIRIPA AT DKURT- LANK THEATRP.—Mr. ilait wm
for some time engaged in htaringeasesagningat well-known
thieves, charged with picking the pockets of person., in the
crowds who were waiting at the entrances to Drury-lane last
cslniX
E. fir, aged 19, most fashionably attired, w. .s charged
with staling a watch truni the person of Mr. lt. Kiug, a
grocer, of Paddington.

The prosecutor was in the crowd at the p:t entrance in
Little Rum. 11-stteet, and felt his watch tom from his goirl
The prisoner, who WAN a well-known thief, was observed by
several detective officers to push violently against gentle-
men. The prisoner was seen to drop something, and when
the officer stooped he found it to be a silver watch. The
prisoner was then taken into custody, and the prosecutor
identified the watch us his. The ring of the watch had
been wrenched off.

The primmer denied the robbery, and was fully com-
mitted for trial.
R. Parker, aged 16, was detected stealing a silk hand-
kerchief from the !locket of a gentleman who was also
standing in the crowd.
He was remanded for the attendance of the owner.

W. Joy and T. ✓onea were also eltargeti Zi.bPicklitg
pockets. They were discharged.
The constable stated that the crowds were so great that
it was impossible either to capture the thieves or find the
owners of property that had been stolen.
In Black said there were crowds of persons round
the doors of the theatre before two o'clock in the day.

WORSII I P-STREET.
COWARDLY ARRA VLY.—II. Parr '6 US Charged WWI .u-
-uulling Clifford.
. .

Complainant, who was labouring under extreme excite-
ment, stated that while returning home last evening, be-
tween eleven and twelve o'clock, she met the defendant is
Kingslund-road ; e gentleman was slightly in marmite of
him. Defendant prevented her pioasing, and on her remon-
strating he struck her with his fist several times on the
bead. She was stunned by the violence of the blears, her
nose bled, and she was very sick.
A constable, who saw the blows struck, said it wax some
time before the complainant was sufficiently recovered to
give the charge. Ile pursued the defending, who was ra-
ther violent.

Defendant Paid he mistook the character of the com-
plainant, and on accosting her she struck him first.
Mr. Y. Pearson corroborated this statement.

Mr. Ilanlonll 11,1 id it was one of thou; cowardly assaults
upon respectable females which of law had been of frequent
occurrence in this district, and hued the defendant .51., or
two months' imprisonmeut.
Thu hue was paid.
MARYLEBONE.

POISONING A CIIILI) GIN.-/Trlitria Muria
Earns was finally examined, charged with administering a
quantity of gin to a child named Blir.aheth Ramsey. under
seven years of age, whereby she had caused her death.
Th • particulars of tic cam were Own in the Express of
Friday and Saturday last.
The prisoner was committed to Newgatc for trial.
LAM BETH.

C RAMIE AtiAt YNT A IURORI)N.—WI/Ujw. T.
G. Smyth, surgeon, who was committed last week twin
various revolting charges, but remandisl to this morning
for the completion of the depo•ititni., wam broaglit up, awl,
the depositions haring been read, war fully committed to
Newgute for trial.