The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-13 00:00:00

THE DUKE OF GENOA.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Genoa paid a visit
to the Knightsbridge CarsLry Barracks, on Saturday mom
ing, for the purpose of inspecting the quarters of the Royal
Horse Gouda (Blue). The veteran Marquis of Angleans,
Colonel of the regiment, wu in attendance to receive his
Royal Highness. The Duke first inspected the men's dormi-
tories, and mess-room, and afterwards visited the officers'
quarters and stables. The perfect arrangements of the latter
were greatly admired by the illustrious prince.
His Royal Highness subsequently paid • visit to the Senior
United Service, and the Army and Navy Clubs, at which
the Prince was received by the respective presidents, by
whose he was eendreted threugh the various saloons and
te of these magnificent establishments.
defftrafternoon the Duke, accompanied by their Royal
Highnesses the Hereditary Grand Doke and Grand
Duelists of Mecklenbargit-ffitmlitz, and the Duchess Caro-
line of Keekleaburg-Strelits, and attended by his Excel-
lency the Sardinian Minister and a numerous suite, went
to f-ydenitans to Inspect the works in progress at the New
Crystal Palates. The royal party were received by Mr.
Owen Jones and Mr. Grove, the Secretary to the company,
and after devoting a couple of hears to the examination of
the building, their Royal Highnesses retired, having first
expressed their unqualified admiration of the great under-
taking.
On Saturday night his Royal Highness dined with the
Duke of Cambridge at his apartments in Bt. James's Pa-
lace. The Hereditary Grand Doke and Grand Duchess of

Meeklmhurgh-9treliu, and the Docker, Caroline of Meek-
lenburgh-Strelitz, were Muted to meet his Royal High-
new After dinner the Duke and the rut of the royal party
repaired to the Royal Italia°
Yesterday morning his Royal Highness went to Hew and
paid a visit to her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cam-
bridge. Euly in the afternoon the Duke left town for
Brighton, from whines his Royal Highness intended to go
on to Arundel Castle. the seat of the Deka of Norfolk, last
*vetting.
An inspretion of the royal dockyard sod garrison of
Portsmouth will occupy the Duke to-day. His Royal
Highness returns to town this evening.

THE PROTECTION or Wolol4.—The prize of OW
hundred guineas, offered by the Associate Institutiou for
the best easy on the Laws respecting the Protection of
WOlllll2, hu been awarded to James Edward Davie, Esq.,
barrister-at-law, of the Ozlord circuit. The adjudicator,
were the Bishop of Oxford, Via-Chancellor Wood, and
Mr. Bounden Palmer, M.P.

DEATH OP GENERAL HOWARD VTSE.—This death
of Genesi Howard Visa took place at Stoke Conn, near
Windsor, on Wednesday list, at the adenoma age of 89.
The gallant general was one of the richest anannonore in
the county at linaldagbam, and wu as muniftsont la his
charities, and lama labia Ail* of living, as say evantry
gentleman in en tioapilsa In early life General I'm
' was aids-do-map to tin kis LW Hanover when Dun
of Cumberland, and atontimolo repreoented to berongh
of 13•terley ivesliament. In pendia be was a tory of the
old school, resolutely clinging to the shadow after the sub-
stance bad been swept away. Ho haves behind him a
numerous family, three of hi sows being officers is the
Household Brigade, and ono of them (Ilifor Howard Vyse,
of the Blues) member for Northamptonshire.
SUSPECTED MURDER AT WISBEACH.—The Nor-
wicA Mercury of Saturday, states that there has been some
ezeitement at Wisbeach, easaequent on the suspected
murder of • young man, named Belneatone, the son of •
publican at that place. The investigation which took plate
before the magistrates at the Town Hall, on Thunday,
went to show that the deceased was drinking at a late
hour in the evening of the 29th of May, in company with
a man named Wilson, at the Bowling Green Tap, near
the canal, and that the wife of the landlord, Mrs. I
Weeks, and a woman named Cope were there also.
About half-past one o'clock, information was given to
the polite that a man was drowning in the canal, and
witnesses came forward who proved that they met
women running down the lane from the canal, one
crying that a man was drowning, and another witness swore
to having heard an altercation' and that she recognised',
Wilson's voice. On the other hand it was sworn to by
Weeks, the landlord of the Bowling Green tap, where
Wilson lodged, that when deceased left he went to bed, and
that he remained there until he was called up after the
alarm was given that there was a man drowning. Medical
evidence showed that deceased had received a violent blow
on the side of the bead, near the ear, and that there was an
extraordinary amount of extravantion of blood on the
brain produced by the violence, and in consequence of the
two women seen running from the direction of the canal
answering the description of Weeks and Cope, they were,
together with Wilson, taken into custody on the charge of
murder, and were committed for trial on that charge.

MERCHANT TAYLORS' SCHOOL.—On Saturday the
examination, award of prizes, and election of scholars to St.
John's College, Oxford, took place at Merchant Taylor's
School. The chief classical pnses were obtained by T. F.
Donkin, D. M. Gardner, and A. E. Graham. The chief
mathematical prises for the ear were obtained by Alexander
J. M'Canl and William G. en. Mr. Donkin obtained
the chief French prise, and r. Gardner obtained the
Montaore Hebrew Medal, to which Sir M. Monteflore
added a money present of 61. Mr. W. W. Wilson obtained
the head master's Hebrew prize and also the prize for his-
tory. After the examination, the delivery of the annual
speeches by the head students took place in the presence of
the head master, Dr. Heseey, the professors, some of the
members of the Merchant Taylors' Company, and a large
number of the friends of the pupils. The manner in which
the pupils acquitted themselves of this trying duty rellectr
great credit on the training of the school. After the deli-
very of the speeches, the prixemen were called up, when
the head master distributed the pries, with a few remarks
on the circumstances under which they were obtained, and
appropriate words of encouragement for each student.
Besides the principal prises, there were smaller, ones for the
best pupils on the junior forms.

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, JUNE 13, 1853.

AFRICAN STEAM-SHIP COMPANY.

---
The first ordinary meeting of the proprietors was
held on Saturday, at the company's offices, No. 3, Mincing-
lane ; Sir J. CAMPBXLL. chairman of the board, presiding.
The Sem...tory., Mr. E. Borax; read the notice con-
vening the meeting.
The CUAILMAN then read the following report of the
directors

' eet ing is called in pursuance of the provision in
the deed of settlement, which requires that the annual
general meeting of the proprietor. should be held in the
month of June. At this early period after the formation of
the company, it cannot be expected that the directors
should present so complete and ample a report and statement
of accounts as they would desire to do. The first voyages
Can only be considered as experimental, the novelty of the
service, and the number of ports at which the steamers
are required to touch, demanded great care and attention
in compiling the tables for the postal service, so as to en-
sure regularity and dispatch. It is, however, a source of
great satisfaction to the directors to be able to 'epee
that the Company's vessels have kept their time through-
out the whole voyage out and home, and have finally ar-
rived at Plymouth within a few hours of their postal time,
except in the case of the first voyage of the Forerunner,
which vessel was dinnasted in • violent gale in the Biy of
Biscay, and was obliged to pot into Gibraltar for repairs.
It was stated in the prospectus that the mail contract com-
menced on the Ist of September last. This was subse-
quently altered by the desire of the Board of Admiralty,
to the 24th of September, and the Forerunner being then
ready for sea, the contract commenced en that day.
In consequence of the builder not delivering the company's
ships in time to fulfil the conditions of the government con-
tract, the directors were compelled to charter two steamers
to carry the mails for the months of October and Novem-
ber. This has been attended with considerable ex-
pense, but tho contractor for the steamers having
allowed a portion of the charter-money, the loss on these
voyages has been much diminished. The mail for the
month of December was taken b 7 the Forerunner, that
of January by the Faith. In February the directors
were again compelled to charter a steamer for the convey-
ance of the mails, but in this cue they were fortunate in
securing a vessel, not only on more moderate terms than
before, but in every respect more suitable for the service.
The Forerunser returned from her second voyage in time
to carry the March mails, and she was succeeded in April
by the Hope. The mails of last month, May, were taken by
the Faith, and the directors have now every reason to ex-
pect that the service will bo conducted by their own 'vessels
with regularity and efficiency. From the foregoing it will
be seen that the vessels delivered to the company, under
the agreement with Mr. Laird, aro the Forerunner, Faith,
and Hope. Tho Charity was launched on the 23rd of May,
and is now being fitted with her engines. The Northern
Light willl be launched in July. It is extremely satisfac-
tory to the directors to be able to state that the three ru-
ms delivered to the Company by Mr. Laird, namely, the
Forerunner, Faith, and Hope, have in every respect an-
swered the expectations that were formed of them,
and while their speed is folly sufficient for the
purposes of the contract, they have at the same
time proved themselves to be good carrying vessels.
To afford facilities for keeping a stock of coals on the coast
of Africa, the directors have purchased two store ships, the
Statics, of 400 tons, and the Helena, of 865 tons, which
have een stationed at Sierra Leone and Fernando Po
respectively. These vessels will also answer as store ships
for cargo, and thereby afford great facilities to the steamers
in discharging their outward, and receiving their home
ward freights. It affords the directors great satisfaction to
be able to inform the proprietors, that the statements in
the appendix to the prospectus, regarding the pas-
senger traffic, and the trade between England, Madeira,
and the West Coast of Africa, have been fully borne out,
whilst the inter-colonial traffic iibeing developed in a very en-
couraging manner, and from the results of the five voyages
terminating on the 13th April, now laid before the pro-
prietors, the directors consider that they are fully justified
in expecting a fair and increasing return during the con-
tinuance of the government contract. The number of
shippers by the company's steamers is increasing rapidly,
new branches of trade are opening out, and the abolition of
the soap duty will give a great stimulus to the African
trade. The directors have much pleasure in stating, that
up to the present time they have not lost a single man by
accident or tropical (Busse ; in fact none of the men have,
up to the present time, been laid up by sickness. The
directors have also to report, that arrangements have been
made to commence a semi-monthly line from Liver-
pool, in connexion with this company, the details of
which will be hereafter laid before the proprietors.
The number of shares issued up to the present time
amounts to 11,008, and the sum paid thereon is 6.5,0401.
Several proprietors have also paid up sums in anticipation
of calls, to the amount of 33,4371. 101. The proprietors are
aware that the directors have issued notice for a call, pay-
able on or before 10th of June, which will produce the
sum of 66,0401., and will redness the amount of the sums
paid by the proprietors in anticipation of calls to
19,7121. 10s. The amount that will then he at the disposal
of the company as capital, will be as follows, vis.:—Deposit
on 11,008 shares, at 61., 65,0401. ; first call of 61. on 11,008
shares, 66,0401. ; amount paid in anticipation of calls,
19,7121. 101.; total, 129,7921. 10s. The directors having
fully considered the present requirements of the service,
propose to limit the shares to the 11,008 now issued, and
they do not anticipate that they will have to make any fur-
ther calls upon the proprietors, beyond the 101. already paid
during the present year. Should it become necessary to
issue the remaining 1,492 shares, they will be offered pre-
ferably and rateably to the holden of the then existing
shares. The directors have now to lay before the proprie-
tors the result of the working account for the first five
voyages under the government contract, ending the 16th
April. The total amount of current receipts is 11,0411. Is. 92. ;
the proportion of the government contract is 8,2591. 4e. Bd. ;
together 19,3001. 61.6 d. The total amount of disbursements
is 13,2281. 7s. 10d., leaving a balance of 6,0711. 18s. 7d.
from which amount there must farther be deducted the
sum of 2,6841. 18s. 10d., fora reserved fund, being 20 per
cent. per annum on the first cost of the Forerunner and
Faith, calculated for the period they were employed under
the government contract, leaving • net balance of
3,48 a 19s. 9d., which has been transferred to the credit of
profit sad loss. The reserve fund shows a net balance of
1,9721. 3s. 10d. after deducting the amount of
insurance for the Forerunner and Faith, calculated
fur the time they were employed. The expenses
of the five voyages have been considerably in-
creased owing to the heavy. charge attending the charter-
ing of the two steamers required for the conveyance of the
mails, in the months of October and November last. The
profit and loss account gives the following result, viz:
Balance of working account, 3,4861. 191.9 d. ; less for gene-
ral charges, and proportion of preliminary expenses,
9101. 3s. • for balance of interest on money paid in advance,
due to shareholders on the 30th April last, 6461. 181. 6d. ;
showing a nett balance of 1,9291. 18s. 3d.. being
the amount of nett profit on the first fire voyages.
Out of the balance standing to the credit of profit and
toss, viz., 1,9291. lee. 3d., the directors nro.pose, after de-
ducting the proportion payable to Mr. Laird, under his
agreement with the company, to declare • dividend of
2s. Bd. per share on 11,008 shares, free of income tax."
The report was adopted unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN proposed a resolution confirming the
declaration of a dividendof 2s. 6d. per share, clear of in-
come tax, payable on and after the 20th inst. He said we
have already shown you in the report that the company
have beensubjected to heavy expenses from two einem-
stances—vis., the necessity of charteriag vessels at an extra-
vagant rate, no others being to be bad, and, of course, we
were obliged to take what we could get rather than break
our contemn with the government; and the other circum-
stance was the high pesos of fuel. These two circumstances
frustrated our enenomitel intentions, and but for them I
may say our amounts would have been far more favourable
in their results. You will perceive that we have cam-
mewed a reserve fend by coming over oar small balance
to that purpose, which, I am sure, no proprietor will object
to. (Hear, hear.) It is true the sum we carry over is
small, but it is the commencement of a prudential system
which we feel confidant will meet with your approval.
Thee resolution having been carried,
Mr. HINRT Czaain expressed the satisfaction he felt
that the directors had taken notice in their report of the
very liberal conduct of Mr. Laird, but he thought the
general body of preprietors, who were benefited by that
liberality, owed it to themselves to recognise in a more di-
rect and formal manner their sense of that gentleman's
conduct in resigning voluntarily a considerable portion of
the money which undoubtedly was due to him, and he
therefore proposed that the thanks of the proprietonshould
be awarded to Mr. M'Oregor Laird fm the hberal manner
in which he hid voluntarily met a portion of the charge '
for chartering steamers.
Mr. H. Bunn seconded the resolution, which was una-
nimously agreed to, the Chainnan, in putting it, observing
that the surrender by Mr. Laird of • portion of his claim
was the more liberal as it could not have been, enforced
either in law or equity.
Mr. LAIRD, after retuning thanks for the compliment,
remarked that it was most satisfactory to find that this
company had now completed seven voyages to Africa with-
out meeting with a single accident. (lieu, hear.) And he
further remarked that they ought to be thankful to Provi-
dence that they had met with no mishaps from sickness,
though en the northern side of the Atlantic the West India
Company had suffered severely.
A resolution appointing Messrs. Banter and Colman
auditors, and awarding Gum 21/. each for their services,
was nextpamed and • vote of thanks to the directors, pro-
posed by Mr. Dilater and seconded by Colonel Mitchell, and
acknowledged by the chairman, cloud the proceedings.

A STEAM PACKET

is about to be

established baleen Hamburg and Seethampton.
THE VACANT ALDEBNANIC GOWN.—ON Saturday

a meeting, numerously attended, of the friends of Henry
Muggeridge, Bsq., of Castle Maynard Ward, and candidate
for the aldermanship vacant through the acceptation by
Alderman Wilma of the Ward of Bridge Without, was
held at the St. Paul's Hotel, St. Paul's Church-yard.
Mr. Thornton, the chairman of the City of London Union,
presided. The object of the meeting was to present to
Mr. Muggeridge the requisition of freemen and others resi-
dent in the ward, requesting him to come forward for the
aldermanic chair. Oat of 206 electors in the ward 110 signed
this requisition. Messrs. Farrar (common councilman),
Walton (silversmith), and several other influential inha-
bitants of the ward having decided to put to the candidate
certain questions as to residency in the ward should he be
chosen—as to any presentations to Christ's Hospital which
he might obtain by virtue of his office, itc., the meeting
was adjourned, after having given orders that the requisi-
tion, with the signatures attached thereto, should be adver-
tised in the morning journals. The thanks of the meeting
having been given to the chairman the proceedings ter-
minated.

SOME PASSAGES FROM TMACBERAY'S

LECTURES.