The Express.
London, England, 1853-07-19 00:00:00

UNION BANK OF AUSTRALIA.

Yesterday the annual general meeting of the
shareholders in this bank was held at the offices, Old Broad-
street, Mr. J. J. CUMMINS in the chair.
The SECKETAILY read a report, which contained the
following passages :
" The letters received from the branches come down' to
the beginning of April, and are without exception of the
most satisfactory character.
" The agricultural districts of New South Wales and
Victoria, as well as the colonies of South Australia, Vas
Diemen's Land, and New Zealand, in which no important
discoveries of gold have yet been made, have all largely
participated in the advantages arising out of the newly
obtained wealth of the other districts, and the increased
demand for all the products of labour at very remunerative
prices cannot fail to result in their permanent prosperity
and advancement. That under such circumstances. there
should have been a great expansion of banking transactions,
was fairly to be expected, and the directors are happy to
say that this bank has enjoyed its full propoition of the
increase.

" The inspector acting upon the; discretion vested in him,
and under a conviction of its increased importance, hen
opened a branch at Goulbourn, in New South Waler, 120
miles south of Sydney, to which Mr. George Ferguson
has been appointed manager. This gentleman bas been fur
many years m the bank's service, and has fully entitled
himself to the confidence of the directors.

The accounts present an amount of profit for the six
months now reported en of 16.5,2331. 9s. lld. This profit
admits of 164,0001. being appropriated for the purpose of
dividend, which the directors have determined to apply as
interest on the paid. up capital. This amount will furnish
a divilend by way of interest at the rate of 20 per cent.
(for the half year) on the amount paid up in respect of
each share in the capital of the company, payable in Lon•
don, free of income tax, on Tuesday, the 2nd of August,
and in the colonies, with the addition of 7d. in the pound,
as soon as the inspector shall fix after the receipt of
advices." _ _ .

After a very brief discussion the report, upon the motion
of Mr. THOMAS SMITH, seconded b 7 Captain LAWSON,
was unanimously adopted; and a dividend declared of 20
per cent. for the half year.
Mr. Benjamin E. Lindo and Mr. James Bogle Smith
were then re-elected directors, and the business terminated
with a ♦ote of thanks to the chairman.

ELOPEMENT IN HIGII LIFE.—A contempoiary
says :—" A rumour is extensively prevalent of the elope-
ment of the young and beautiful wife of • North Devon
baronet with an officer of the 35th Regiment." We re-
gret to say, hem other information, that there is too much
truth in this rumour.—Exeter Gamete,

---
A REFORMED CoNvicr.—A few days since, a
young woman presented herself at the Exeter city gaol,
and stated that she wished to thank the chaplain for the
excellent advice and instruction which she received from
him when incarcerated there. It appears that the young
woman was transported eight years ago from Exeter, and
that upon her arrival in Australia, she was allowed to enter,
under certain restrictions, the family of a clergyman, as a
servant, where she conducted herself so well, that on the
expiration of her time of transportation, he procured her,
at her desire, a free passage to England. She brought with
her a letter from the clergyman in whose family she had
lived. confirmatory of her statement, and testifying to her
excellent conduct whilst in hit service, and which letter the
chaplain read. She had saved out of her earnings 43 gui-
neas, which the chaplain recommended her to place in the
savings bank, and which has subsequently, we believe, been
done.—Deron Courier. . . . .

----•-
EMlGRATlON.—Emigration seems to be on the in-
crease of late in this part of Ireland. Amongst the large
numbers who have left by the trains daily during the pre-
sent week, was a batch of Claddagh fishermen yester-
day. The fact of these people, peculiarly noted for their
attachment to locality and their own mode of life, thus
voluntarily emigrating, proves how complete has been the
revolution effected in the habits and instincts of the trial
peasantry.—Gatiray Mercury.
SELLING A Wira.—A case of selling a wife ac-
tually and bona fide happened in the provincial town in
which I reside, about eighteen years ego. A man publicly
sold his wife at the market cross for Id.. ; the buyer carried
her away with him some seven miles off, and she lived with
him till his death. The seller and the buyer are both now
dead, but the woman is alive, and 11 married to a third (or
a second) husband. The legality of the transaction has, I
believe, vine chance of being tried, as she now claims some
property belonging to her first husband (the seller), her
right to which is questioned in consequence of her supposed
ahenation by sole ; and I am informed that a lawyer hoe
been applied to in the ease. Of course there can be little
doubt as to the result.—Notes and Queries.

SERIOUS RESULT OP A DOG FIGHT.—On Thum-
day (says Gakinani) Mrs. Dempsey, who keeps a reading
room in the Rut St. Honore, brought an action before the
Civil Tribute: against Mr. Steele and Colonel Hogg, both
Englishmen, to obtain 2,000 fr. damages and a pension of
1,200 fr. for life, as an indemnity for having had her leg
broken by their dog.. She represented that, on the :Ird
December last, Mr. Steele's son came with his father's dog
to her room. and whilst she was thawing the boy some
engravings. Mr. Hogg't servant came in with a dog. Ihe
two animals immediately began fighting, and in doing so
they knocked against her with such violence that she fen.
On being raised it was found that her leg was broken. Al-
' though six 11101‘03 have since passed away she has not yet
been able to walk, and she produced certificates from medical
men, that, en n if she recovers the use of the limb, which is
very doubtful, she will be lame for the rest of her days.
Mr. Steele's advocate contended that no indemnity was due,
as the accident laid not been caused by any negligence or
imprudence of his client; that it was by her caresses to one
dog exciting the jci'ousy of the other that the fight took
place acd that the two animals were so small thst it was
impossible they could bave caused such an accident. The
advocate of Colour)
l,inoiHfu
rioyigt
egmc
amuiasnedde,
the
az
a hesimilarsiddeongdt
defence.
foeaunnl cdde:na so
t.r thehb
ha
tribunal, however, decided that each of the defendants was
aseep7eirtmiseailapied'airtc.foiotfreet:ancedtmned them jointly to pay Mrs. Dempsey
1.000 francs damage:, and a sum of 500 francs annually
for life. _

SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY.—TraiIIe receipts for
the week ending July IG, 1853:-19,093/. O. Ild.; ditto,
week tmdinß July 17, 102, 17,6241 2s. lucrssas ia
1863,1,4701. 18s. 7d.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
ROUSE OF LORDS.—MONDAT,ICLY 18.
The LOILD eII•NCILLOV. took his teat at 5 o'clsek.

PETITIONS PRESENTED.
el,t• —By tbo Karl of DERBY, from Warnirk, pray-
ing fer a reduction of the tax on British salt imported into
ludic

N vientittes.—By the Earl of DERBY, from Fyfe,
praying for en inspection el nunneries.
(SCuILAND) BILL. —By Lord
BRULMIAM, from several hundreds of spirit dealers in
Scotland, against this bill.
LAW OF LANDLORD AND TENANT (IF.ELAND).
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE gave hot,:ce that he
would to-m.arow (this day) lay on the table • Lill relating
to the law of landlord and tenant in Ireland.
RUSSIA AND TURXEY.
Ito Earl of MALMESIWRY-1 wish to call the atten-
tion of the house to a matter of some consequence at this
moment, and to ask • question relating to it of my noble
Mead the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Sowed
your lord-hips have already observed upon the tone
and language of two notes that have appeared from
the Russian government—two circular notes ad-
dressed to their diplomatic agents throughout Europe.
I make no observation upon the tenor and sub-
ject of those notes, excepting to say that I do not
agree with the premises laid down in many parts of those
documents; and therefore I cannot agree to the arguments
tousled on what I consider erroneous premise". (Rear,
hear.) But I have been waiting with considerable imps-
tience—and I think your lordships must have joined in the
same feeling—for an answer from the government to those
two circular notes. I have been particularly anxious to
avoid embarrassing the government in any way, by any
observation relating to the unfortunate occurrecom going
on in the East ; but I think it is now time, for the dignity
of this country-1 think it is fair on the part of the opposi-
tion—to ask her Majesty's government now whether they
have made any reply to those notes, and whether, If net,
they intend to reply and publish their reply in the
name manner as the Russian government adopted when
they circulated those document'? I think it lees ob-
jectionable to ask this question to-day, because the
French government, now in alliance with us in
carrying out the objects we have in common, has
wade an able, firm, but yet very calm answer—(bear,
hoer)—to them circular notes. I think if her Majesty's
government delay answering thou documents, they will
run the rick of being miaapprehended or misunderstood, for
Mince proverbially means content. We have been already
told by my noble friend that he does not agree in all the
statements in those documents—(hear, hear, from the Earl
of Clarendon)—but it may be the cause of misapprehension,
sad her Majesty's government may be accused of being
unable to answer those notes, and even of fearing to answer
them, under alarm at the acts of a powerful nation which
is now attracting the attention of the whole world. I will,
therefore, earnestly beg her Majesty's government to state
to the house sod the country whether they have answered
those metes—one or both of them—and whether they in
tend, if they have answered them, that the reply should
be made public—however unusual that mode of treating
diplomatic documents may be—in the same way as the Rus-
sian sad French government* have done ?
The Earl of CLARENDON—I certainly admit,
my lords, that my noble friend bas earefully abstained from
embarreseing her Majesty's government, in any way, on
this important question, which is now engaging public
attention ; and I think my noble friend is also perfectly
aware of the reuses, the only reasons, why her Majesty's
government have wished to delay and postpone any dims-
sion on this subject. It wa. in the interests of paste, and
with • view not to impair those chances, such u they were
of bringing this question to a peaceable issue. (Hear, hear.)
My noble friend must be aware that the mode adopted ny
the government in my department of obtaining and receiv-
ing information is very different from that which seam-
• rily obtains in Ramis and Frazee. It is consequently may
foe the Russian and French governments to give the public
nook information as they may think necessary at the time
whoa they consider it most convenient. It is the practice
Letitia country to lay the papen bearing altogether on the
salSoct before parliament; sad this is the course which her
Majesty's government has undertaken to adopt, and which
they will very shortly proceed to take. The whole of them
papers will be laid before your lordships and the other house
of parliament. With respect to the two notes to which my
settle friend has alluded, and the observations which be has
Mann eat as to the capacity or the courage which we may
jamas la answering them, with regard to the Brat point, it
tY net far me to pronounce an opinion as to the duty which
devolves es me, but as to any fear of answering them, I
brut my noble friend will be perfectly satisfied that se mesh
emprehmalm at any time aniseed, either on my mind, or es
that of any other member of her Majesty's government'
(Chews.) To the Ant note no regular answer was mat, br
issue the greater part of it alluded to the negotiations
which had been originated with the French embassy at
Osastantisople, and the eagetlatises to which they after-
wards led ; and the rainless et that men had bees fans
Mined by previous sommualeadens hem her Majesty's p-
ennant to the cabinet of 81. Petersburg ; • ponies of it,
arenever, has been answered in substanee, but sot is the
fans of • regular answer Ia • esbeemeest de-
apassit. The second circular note from Omen Nes-
mired* was sae of a dlifereat elreasar, sad
esetsialy did require an mower, sad it was hemsdleeely
amwered, and that answer has game M St. Pefiellaegli.
(Hear, bear) I have oily further to add, that the elan=
was in entire conformity with the site of the ?Wadi p•
verament, as ladled, I may say, the whole our penes&
lags have been. (Cheers.)
The Earl of MILLMZSBURY-1 have ao doubt that it
my mobile fraud chess to answer these now, that he would
dose perfectly to the satisfaction el this country ; but I
think my noble Mond is mistakes is hawing an analogy
Manse these anis sad diplomas ceereepeadeues going
ea Weems am ematelm, arid which is entirely sewn, and
labia the proper time arrives it any be laid on your lord-
ships' table. Hat them circular sous are not private cot-
sespeadease—they are an appeal to all Europe—they ban
been published is the St. Petersburg!' Gwen*, and are ad-
dressed and Intended to hermit by every motors that can
teal is Skov& I sawn help tbiakbeg that We Majesty's
Iprisamast sib aa eneaseit dew of the ease, sad that
Ihey will bong on themselves esaiderable obloquy.
tea abroad aad at biome, la set answering those
eirealer metes in the mats mama I. which they an
delivered.

Lied HiLAEMONT biped his noble bird would not DD-
Ss* te ghe ea answer tea tweed= which be was about to
put to him, if Ms ea acing would not be siorapanied by
may breavesisree le the public emir. He wished to ask
Mudge friend, after what be had stated, when he eapeeted
Is be ebb to lay time paper before parliament—is bow
shirt a time hi smiled M be able to put them in periodos
of what the goveransect bad dose. lie was inclined to put
Sr wear to his noble Mend in consequence of the en-
traordiaary position in which both parliament and the
country were placed with regard to the knowledge of what
was going on, because while the utmost publicity was gives
to the policy, intentions, actions, and opinions of Ruda,
the nest replete mystery involved eves the opinions, pro-
reedier, and policy of this country. It was true that they
were told that England and France were negotiating
la the interests of the Forte and of peace, and they
bad further reason to hope that Austria and Prussia
bad taken a part, is conjunction with England and Franco,
is the 'maintenance of the inurpendence of the Porte and
peace throughout Europe. But, while this was the case,
Bunk was acting as though no negotiation whatever was
going on. While they were told that negotiations for peace
were pending, Russia was absolutely making war. This
was an awkward position fur countries like England and
France to be placed in, and it was only reasonable that
both parliament and the country shon!cl be informed how
long they were to be kept hn suspense, and how soon the
'ews, intentions, and policy of the government would be
aide known.

Tku Earl of CLARENDON—I can assure my noble
OrieNl that it is no small sacrifice to her Majesty's govern-
seat to have asked for the postponement of the discussion,
silo have delayed placing before the house the fullest in-
Ibrination on the subject. We feel that parliament and
the public have a perfect right to be informed in the man-
ses in which my noble friend points out, and it has been
our desire that there should be no unnecessary delay ; but
laced not go over again the reasons which have induced
us to ask for this delay. In answer to my noble friend,
however, I will say that 1 think a very few days will be
sufficient to show whether the negotiations that are on foot
hrtll succeed or not ; and whether they do succeed or not,
es soon as these few days are ever, I can promise your lord-
ships that the whole of the papers shall be laid on the table
of your lordship& house. (Dear, hear.)
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE—I wish to know if
any information has reached my noble friend at the
Foreign-office of the Russians basing assumed the civil
government of Moldavia, so Well as the military occupation
eif that prinelpality d Because, I have seen it stated that
the Post-dace has been taken possession of by the Russian
authorities, and that the Russian troops had advanced to

lb* Danube. If t►at is so, it is not merely a military occu-
pation for the purpose of carrying on negotiations after-
wards ; but it appears that the capital of the province has
bean taken possession of, the whole administration of the
government has been seised by the Russians, and they have
made Moldavia, and not Bessarabia, the base of their opera
time for advancing on the Danube. I wish to know whe-
ther the troops are advancini towards the Danube, oe who-
they are mill in the occupation of Jassy and the parts
adjacent ?
The Earl of CLARENDON—We have no information
of the kind to which my noble friend has alluded. I have
seen it stated in the newspapers that the post.oiliee has been
seised, and that the Russian authorities have taken on
themselves other administrative functions. No such in-
formation, however, has reached the government ; on the
contrary, we have every reason to believe that no advance
towards the Danube has been made, but that the llospoder
is still in the exercise of his functions. Your lordships will
recollect that the manifesto of Prime Gorgtschikoff, on
entering the principalities, enjoined the people to obey the
existing authorities, and promised that there should be no
disturbance of the existing institution,. I therefore think
it is not probable that so very shortly otter the issue of that
proclamation, the proceedings to which my noble friend
alludes could have taken place.
Lord BEAUMONT—You are very sanguine. (A laugh.)