The Express.
London, England, 1853-03-23 00:00:00

MARIA ANTONIA RAILWAY.

Yesterday a general meeting of the shareholders
resident in England was held at the London Tavern, Mr.
W. JACKSON, 31.1'., in the chair. From a translation of
the report of the general meeting held at Florence on the
14th ult. it appeared that the calls due in October last, had
been paid, and arranged for, on all the shares between the
Marla Antonia Company and the Anglo-Italian, and that
the board had been enabled to discharge 20,000/. of the de-
bentures to Mr. Bressey, due Ist November last, and a fur-
ther sum of 3,0001. not yet due ; and that from the net re-
venue of the nine months to 30th June last, amounting to
3,6821. 4s. 5d., there was a deduction of 2,1861. 3s. for in-
terest, leaving a balance of 1,493/. 19s. 55. for dividend.
The works for the completion A the line from Pecia to
Pistoja were, it was stated, in full progress, and the Maria
Antonia Railway would soon be united with the Lucca and
Pisa lines, while the more extensive line of Central Italy,
already commenced, would connect it with the States of
Rome, Modena, Parma, Lombardy, and Venice. A new
railway from Areal° to Florence was projected, and could
not fail to be productive of many advantages. The receipts
et the half-year ending December, 1652, were—for goods,
7121. 13s. ; for passengers, 5,548/. 81. ; rent of houses, 801. ;
total 6,3411. 10s. The expenses amounted to 3,3331. 15e.
The balance was thus disposed of : Debenture interest to
Mr. Brassey and others, six months, 1,4031. ; dividend of Is.
on old shares and Is. on new, 1,6001. The chairman, in
moving the adoption of the report, expressed his regret that
the amount of traffic was so small, contrary to the expecta-
tions of the English committee. Though the line had been
doubled, the number of passengers carried over it had not
increased in consequence, and this was only to be accounted
for by the prostration in which recent political events had I
placed the country. lie had no doubt that the line would
ultimately prove remunerative. The report was adopted.
In reply t 5 a question, the chairman said that there would
be a call of 21. in December next, and another of the same
amount in September, 18.5.5. Thanks were Toted to the
board in Florence ; a rcsoluaon was carried for reducing
the management in England to the form of an money ;
and the meeting terminated with an acknowledgment to
the committee.

LOUIS BONAPARTE AND QUEEN HORTENSE.—A
work called the "Album de la Iteine Hortense" has just
been published. It contains some of the unpublished mu-
sical compositions and private letters of her Majesty.
Amongst the latter i+ the following addressed to her son,
now the Emperor, shortly before her death : " 1 send you
this letter with my blessing. We shall meet again, shall
we not, in a better world? In quitting this world, I only
regret you and your tender str,ction, in which alone I
have found some charm. It will Ix a consolation for you,
my ileac son, to ,ty how your ntiou you htvc ren-
, ilvre•l your meth a harpy 1, 01.. c,tll I U 5. You will
think of all my t.-ndermss, and you will hive courage. It
is quite sure that we shall meet again. Believe in tLat
sweet idea ; it is too consolatory not to be true."