The Express.
London, England, 1851-09-26 00:00:00

IRELAND.

Dustin. Serr. 25.
Mr. Lawrence, the American minister, has de-
clined the invitation of the citizens of Cork to a pub-
lic dinner, bat has accepted that to en excursion
dow the River Lee, and a dejeuner on Haulbowline
Island. Ile was to have arrived at Cork from Glen-
gariffe last evening, and the excursion was fixed for
this day. 'fo-morrow, probably, his Excellency will
return to England.
Upwards of 50 families passed through Limerick
since Saturday from Clam and Tipperary, en route
Ito Liverpool to embark for America. The scarcity
of able farm labourers to complete the harvest work
in Ireland follows as a natural consequence on the
drain by emigration at every out-port in the pro-
vinces.

The following correspondence has passed between
the Prime Minister and the Earl of Luau], and has
reference to the late meeting of the Mayo Boards of
Guardians, the resolutions adopted at which were
published about a week or ten days since :
- Bangor, Sept. 16.
My Lord,—l have had the honour to receive your lord-
ship's letter of the 11th inst., forwarding a copy of resolu-
tions agreed upon at a meeting of the guardians of the
various Poor Law Unions in the county of Mayo, held at
Castlebar.

The government ill at all times ready to consider appli-
cations for postponement of payments founded upon grounds
which the treasury can fairly entertain.
But the boards of guardians of the county of Mayo seem
to consider that it is for them to decide what acts of parlia-
ment thoultl be obeyed, and which should be disobeyed—
what the legislature ought to have done and what they
ought not to have done. Upon such opinions of theirs they
declare their determination to rebid the execution of the

law.
It is obvious that if every beard of guardians, and every
vestry in the kingdom is to sesame a similar latitude, the
acts of the imperisl parliament will be set at nought, se-
aordlag to the haling which may prevail among various
laud bodies ia regazd to any tax or any law of which they
muse
sat pproe
this gemestal objection to the resolutions of the
bard of gesediaas of the county of Mayo, I must remark,
that the her an abide their resolutions are founded have
been math disfigured.
Without pointing oat particular errors, I must
your lordship to remind the boards of guardians over
re have presided of the following facts :
When the failure of the potato crop in 1848 and In 1I
brought upon Ireland the dreadful calamity of hash" the
parliament and people of Great Britain made it Wile ISO
once= to alleviate the pressure of so frightful a misiertans.
They did ant stop to consider that the improvidence of the
SWUM ud ste•picn of land in Ireland had induced them
to pine Is. gnat a reliance on the potato as an article or
food, they applied them themselves at once to the task of
alleviating distress and destitution.
In order to separate the relief afforded from the ordinary
administration of the poor law, local boards were constituted
with a power of borrowing from the imperial treasury.
With a view of obtaining some test of destitution, these
local boards were empowered to employ the apOssaits
for relief on public works pointed out by them ; o is
a public department (the Board of Works) wore &road
to lend their assistance in obtaining constant and regular
labour in return for money and food.
When from local mismanagement this test was found to
fail, large sums were advanced without the condition of
labour for the purchase of food for the destitute.
The sums advanced from the imperial treasury for these
purposes exceeded, if I recollect aright, 8,000,0001. sterling.
Nearly 500,000/. were collected besides by voluntary contri-
bution in Great Britain. The Queen's letters twice directed
collections in all churches and chapels for the relief of Irish
distress.
I think it probable that but for this large assistance
3,000,000 people would have perished in Ireland for want
of food, acid from diseases consequent thereon.
Many of these have since emigrated—many are now
earning good wages in Great Britain and Ireland.
A large debt, however, had been incurred. It became
a question with the government and with parliament how
to deal with this debt.
Halt' of the whole sum was at once wiped out of the
charge upon Ireland. It has been since discharged, or
nearly so. by tho produce of taxes on the United Kingdom.
The other half has remained a charge upon Ireland.
Some part has been repaid by the poor law unions. In
other cases were the debt was heavy, the period of repay-
ment, according to a proposal of the Irish government, his
been extended to over 40 years. It was not of course ad-
visable to keep up the local boards who had borrowed the
money for the purpose of collecting these instalments.
That duty has been imposed by parliament on the poor law
guardians.
In particular districts the pressure of poor law relief
is so great that some vatponements of immediate payment
to government may be fair and equitable ; but it is imposai•
Me for the Treasury, even in the interest of Ireland, to
sanction the doctrine that every loan made for public pur-
poses is to be subject to repudiation, according to the will
of the local bodies who may be charged: with the collection
of the sum to be repaid. It is obvious that among other
evil consequences of allowing such a doctrine to prevail,
would be this—that the House of Commons would, never
sanction another loan for Irish purposes, however clear the
public advantage to be gained by such expenditure.
I request your lordship to submit these considerations
to the hoard of guardians over which you preside. Upon
other grounds they may have cease deserving attention.
I have the honour to be. my lord,
Your lordship's obedient servant,
J. RUSSELL.
The Earl of Luau, dc.
The following is the reply unanimously adopted by
the meeting:
Caatlebar, Sept. 23, 1851.
My Lord,—Having laid before a meeting of the guar-
dians of the different poor-law unions of this county, held
In this town this day, the letter you did me the honour of
addressing to me on the 16th inst., I am instructed to oar
to your lordship the following observations:
The guardians cannot admit that they have much, se
alleged by your lordship, or indeed in the slightest degree,
disfigured any facts. They now repeat sad artatsin that
the moneys advanced under the 9th sad 10th Yie•
tons, chap. 7, and the 10th Vista* dam. 107, were
squandered in the most ankles mew; that the
boards of guardians exercised me eaeltral whatever
over the expenditure of that IMIIMIIIe the perms on
whom it was lavished were not these who won entitled to
relief under any poor law—and that the money was expanded
ea works which are and ever must be, utterly uselesss sad
which, so far from, confening a Wok islieted immure
dear geo,fre only a amiltpeetion of waft 111111 MIS won made
upon the county: to on hot an amount thao 111,111111. It
might have been added that this wasteful and Bbl
expenditure was insured in direct opposition to the whirs
et the county, wive:mod at a public nesting bill Is
Castlebar, on the Rh% Ile Illetember 1844, end is Mimi Mr
regard of tba moat IllttitioeS sad strew mow
18414,
sub moat
lmiship molds government
hi=Laudon ..l by a deputed:ma appointed by
mating toe the pops&
The guaollows dirsetber die isle the 61.11 imputed to
them *yew th .t thwg_hois owned kraght to
bids MSS NI tt Wmlhoehoyed wad which die
tr=l. ...0, Ira: law nay bo:orimr;
re es in ividnais or as toZ=at
es hompatible with disk as
M aim it losombest es them to mails the
limiuments °Cede effect to shot nowt mot
NI / obstruct, lint ceder impish* as ample awl of
gni law which it is their that duty to admhiles
Tsar lordship observes that the govermsoll le is ell
dam seedy to emaider apylisatiose for the
of hooded igiesposada which thoill=ils
entertals. The gusedlsos have to abeam that imil;
hue beis mode how; all gene ot the seamy
daft the last het aleseA slat misigterted, se hog bs.
=asssy the gemestasot -elsod est Ito Pow lamOola- 1
; sad U wet only on their fistreg heir eemeas-
matadors es this osblost allegthaer dim:warded thus they
most to eeneldor their seldom.
Thershowt Seedy their deep debt of
to tan gestie of inglisdi their vabarary sod
whoa sesta, elpher with
gridsswe
essollese is elleehtlog tot Abele of as asshor
whims kis Melissa OM the gelid albaled by thomovors.
must soder the sem ohm* alluded we tipl db.
to Os Mlle= ; sec els so Aped s
Wil=ty sitelberod, es k Is !Pryer IseaW6 le bed
admumegermwt, komessh the
mom
the craft egenumt at
webs and =use ell the dose were ezereiesil by
IMIIIIImisa
2PentViallestml=bliteare lit=re lirtstter=tel
ras agile art Hey most emuirjrssarhh thistrodisote.
dumb, whilia peer
ootht smat
01, la *de eis
gloiso, to be
swim limsLor
_Mow hasesidves to be made
he the esSon of •us :Wart ha its object,
111=1,11NNoll Mane to on claws in Inland.
Mpg on behalf of the meeting,
1.1211• N, Chairman.
To the light Eon. Lewd him Imeell.

EAST LANCASNIII RAILWAT.—Traie for the
week ending Sept. 21: Number of passengers, 44,1414 ;
to. 2,3141. 54. Bd. • goods, oke.,
r 7.7 414118 i. 11:rfttal' , 4,88 W. Is. 9d. Corre;poading week
lest year Passeagen , parcels, &e., 2,141!. 21. 2d. ; goods,
Ito., 1,701!. 9e. .—total, 3,8421. 111. Ild. Aggregate
from the let July inclusive; 1860, 49,4661. 175.; 1881,
acne,. ler. lid.

UNION RAILWAY.

Yesterday the half-yearly meeting of the share-
holders in this railway and canal took place at the Lion
Hotel, Shrewsbury; Earl POW'S in the chair. The follow-
ing were the only pampa is the directors' report worthy
of extract:

"Although there has been an increase of traffic on tree
Shrewsbury and Stafford Railway, the profits of the coin- 4
panygeneially have been injuriously affected by the cons-
petition at present prevailing in the district north of
Birmingham. The dividend declared by the London and
North-Western Company, at their last general meeting,
having again been at the rate of 51. 10s. per cent. per an- I
rum, the shareholders of this company will be entitled to a
proportionate dividend at the rate of 21 15s. per cet.t. per •
annum, which will be paid early in the ensuing month."
The statement of accounts showed that the earnings of
the canal during the half-year have been 60,0971. 14s. 10d.,
and the expenses 34,516/., leaving a balance to revenue
account of 15,5511. The railway revenue account showed
that the receipts had been 13,8621., and the expenditure
12,5341. The half year's interest on the debenture bonds
amounts to 15,6041., and the sum necessary to pay the divi-
dend is 417,9411., Ile. 104., thereby showing a loss to the
London and North Western Company in working this line
of 1640661. 18s. 11d. upon the half-year. The accounts have ,
been approved by the London and North Western Com-
Paße CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
said the shareholders would have perceived that their op-
ponents, the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Company, at
their last half-yearly meeting, passed a resolution
very triumphantly for the payment of parliamentary
and law contests out of capital. Now, so long
ss such contests were to be paid in that man-
ner, he feared they were not likely to be brought to an
end speedily. After the able exposition which had been
recently made by Mr. Glyn of the position and prospects of
the Loudon and North-Western Railway, and on the prin-
ciple of competition as applied to railways generally, very
few observations were necessary from him on that occasion.
Competition was said to be a good thing when applied to
agriculture, but, however that might be, there could be no
doubt that it was not beneficial when applied to railways.
It was a very common thing fur persons to talk a good deal
of nonsense on the subject of the monopolies arising out of
large companies, but anybody who remembers anything of
the working of the old canals—a new company and ma-
nagement every 20 miles, with endless junction tonnages,
and responsibility frittered awry—will readily acknowledge
that anything is better than a recurrence to that system.
At the time of which he was speaking goods sent from Lon-
don to Shrewsbury were bandied about from one company
to another in such a way, that if a man had a pipe of wine
sent to him, and a little canal water found its way into it in
the place of sherry, it was impossible to find out against
which of the half-down canal companies he had a claim for
the damage. Every body in the habit of travelling must
have found out the-advantage and the comfort arising front
a continuous line of railway under one management; the
same principle applied with reference to the conveyance
of goods ; goods were conveyed much cheaper, and safer.
and more expeditiously, a long distance on such a line as the
London and North Western Railway, than if it were a
aeries of short lines. For his part, ho (Lord Fowls) would
be exceedingly sorry to see a return to the old system, for to
it he believed was very much tobe attributed the decadence
of canals. Parliament possessed great power over railways,
to see that they did not abuse the privileges conferred upon
them ; those privileges were conferred on them for the ad-
vantage of the public as well as themselves, and parliament
had never yet shown itself slow to use ins power, and to pro-
tect the public. Ile could not, moreover, see how the
London and North Western Company could be regarded as
monopolising, when its efforts appeared to be directed to
perfecting the system of accommodation and facilitating the
public traffic in its own peculiar district. This was not so
with the Great Western Company, which neglected to
provide for the public requirements in its own district by
perfecting the railway accommodation to the ports in the
West of England ; and instead expended millions in the
attempt to extend itself to Liverpool, and entering on a
district which was already occupied by another company.
If this new system of competition was to goon, the effect of
such ruinous struggles and lavish expenditure would be to
Featly depreciate the value of railway property. Ile rethe-
fore hoped that all interested in railways, and
especially on such a line as the London and
North Western, would exert any influence they
' possessed with their representatives in the House of Com-
mons to prevent the Great Western Railway Company, by
t their superior parliamentary tactics, ruining property which
would otherwise be a safe and remunerative investment,
and most serviceable to those who wished to be spared the
trouble, expense, and inconvenience of holding small landed
properties. He had thought it right to say so much on the
subject of this competition and its attendent injury on the
shallow pretence of doing away with monopolies. This was
a matter relative to which he could not help drawing public
I attention. The noble earl concluded by formally moving
the adoption of the report.
' Mr. HENRY TOOTAL seconded the motion, which was
put and carried unanimously, as was also the only vote
r taken—that of thanks to Earl Fowls and his colleagues in
the direction.

RAILWAY.

The report by the directors, to be presented to then
half-yearly meeting, at Glasgow, on Tuseday,the 30th inst.,
says:
0 The shareholders are no doubt aware that the Arrange-
ment Bill received the royal assent on the 7th August last.
The clause which the Commons introduced, conferring a
preferable right in favour of Mr. Baxendale, a Clydesdale
proprietor, was expunged by the Lords—a meet advan-
tageous change for the company. One of the most impor-
tant features of the new act is the relief from the enormous
burden of raising the rum of 675,000/., formerly imposed
by the Clydesdale Amalgamation Act, in order to pay off
the Clydesdale stock.
" Another important fact is, that by the abatement in
their dividends, consented to by the guaranteed and pre-
ference interests, the Caledonian Company are relieved of
an annual preferable burden of nearly 44,00 W. for three
years, and 33,0001. in perpetuity.
" The act also recognises and validates all the creations of
share and loan capital heretofore made by the company ;
defines the relative position of the company, and of the
guaranteed and preference shareholders for the future; and
provides for the liquidation of the floating debt, and com-
pletion of the railway—the stations and the plant.
" The opposition to the bill, so keenly carried on in the
committee of the Lords by the Scottish Central, Dundee
and Perth, and Glasgow General Terminus Railways, was
signally defeated. These parties affected to seek only pro-
tection to themselves from any alteration of the position of
the paranteed partners of the company, by the Arrange-
ass
the of to thecrpeiVitouticeweoref eredisisseitoers.4bu ptroitteewtaseds:hoanwdn
the turned
epps,
the immediete rase tics of claim which were denied by
die Clebehmier Corn . end which were, in two
retsmess. Os abject of dlseomfs. he marts of law. The
Calsamina directors could stmt maser to buy off their
Mirraessuch terms, sad they .mimed the demands of
ppeasats with mesess.
* Siam the act pmseei. the provider relating to the re-
ma straetisa of the Caleiesiea beard of direction, has been
carried into rho by the istredastisa of four members,
appointed by the guseenteed seeegenien and the retirement
et err member ham the faseree bend; thus now consti-
tuting a beard of Ms membsee, In anamion with this
sager the dkesters ham emir ia berg the valuable
00-operadem of ems el their isle Mr. Gray, who
has retired beet the beard la osseedarce with the require-
/sere of the set of padreasat.
" The seised= et the Tithing member was, by consent,
lleili to be decided by let.
Oa Me new board us now constituted, must depend the
easesestal hose of thine anticipations which all classes have
homed. men et lies eaoldeatly, of the future success of the
Oaledsedea die development of its resources. This
rem& will nMattered without its difficulties : but these,
I it le begged. will disoppmr, under the ininenee of that unity
of mime eel keerrey el sentiment at the board, without
will, and a dm moped to the intreers and of every
clam debeerdridiss, the ammeserest must be a failure.
Ire.. the fear prisms who base joined the board as re-
citatives of the guaranteed lime. the old directors
to receive hearty and valuable mongeranon.
la the settlement of the doming debt great prudence
mad eisewmperisa will be required ea the part of the
1 ansilsos. _ _

• The moditioa of the company, under it, guarantee
bardaws, sew =so much named by the Arrangement
hat,liftli its credit= and the proceedings of
the erediasalan courts of law, Ihr their own security, aggra-
vated the evil. These are now placed on a satisfactory
amities ; the effect of which will be, it is hoped, to restore
the eempany's credit. But that whke Rut chiefly ope-
rate in iamb* due nfidant may capitalists and
'dm having funds for co
investamat, mum ba the state
of the tompany's annual masa sal its annual burdens ;
and it Mirk the division great satishetien to be able to
exhibit a detailed Meassat (see No. I
aid. wbish the ssoority dalmeture creditor
net fair die the edam, dthenture debt, bat also for the
asposed sew bat if 111116.1101.—is quite clear and evident,
entiselpelbson the preepeouve additional security
teen the laresseed revenue, and the re-
dnedantialseest ea the par* debenture debt. This
dessaist thews, that sec a sothoity for investment, the
Cabbalas debeedosa sow artsid. oath now to reek in
a MO plass waft midway sesarldea
ala Mae fhb aus appear eseasstel amid be
taken, than by the elanbeidhes ladalerk. us tar as In
their power. inmsfas de those dthenter's ; be they pat
be aware that oaths peeerefes d tbe assatimy Awls tor
tarrying ea the sew walla eat esstMslisg the
sits tor the sesseemodotha et Ml=l heSo—db•
papa et ea aelyanauX *ee the settl-
er of thaiesi te Ow peen,
say
sea dated-

" The present state of the money market, and the re-
stored credit of the company, inducethe hope that it will be
able hereafter to renew its debentures, or effect new loans
on more advantageous terms : and that before the lapse of
another year the directors will be able to report a material
improvement in the state of your affairs.
"The Greenock and Barrhead lines being now amalga-
mated with the Caledonian, these railways have ceased to
be managed in isolated portions, by separate and indepen-
dent boards. A vigorous administration under one board
cannot fail to be productive of beneficial results.
" The realisation of the company's meta must necessarily
be a question of time, regulated much by the state of the
money market, u affecting the particular class of stink
held. The Scottish Midland shares form a prominent part
of these assets ; and they arc now held in a peculiar way,
is consequence of a clause inserted in the New Arrange-
meat Act, at the request of that company, for its protection
against the undue influence and control in its affairs' which
the possession of so many of its shares in the hands of the
Caledonian Railway Company might have occasioned. The
clause excludes the Caledonian Compauy front routing at
the Scottish Midland meetings in the election of director',
or in the constitution of any contract between the two
companies for the sale or lease of the Scottish Midland
Railway.
" Considerable reductions have been effected in the
working expenses during the last half-year ; and the direc-
tors believe that the saving may be earned still farther by
the continuance of a system of economy, and attention to
details on the part of the officers of the company.
" In the execution of new works, or completing the
portions still unfinished, the directors will exercise due
Vreeaution, in eelecting for earliest execution those works
' erhich are most urgent, and are calculated to be most pro-
ductire. _

" At no distant date they trust to be able to report that
the whole of the necessary works have been completed, and
that the capital account may be closed.
" There are some questions of considerable importance,
which are the subjects of discussion in the courts of law or
of dispute between this company and the Scottish Central,
and Dundee and Perth, and the Glasgow General Terminus
Railway Company. The disputes are similar iu character.
They arise from transactions and agreements, which the
directors are advised to be illegal, and which have been
challenged as such by the Caledonian Company ; and in the
case of the Scottish Central Company they have also been
challenged by the Landon and north Western and the
Lancaster and Carlisle Railway Companies. The ground
of objection chiefly is, that the transactions and agreements
were beyond the powers of directors, and were a misappli-
cation of the capital and funds of the Caledonian Company
from their statutory objects.
" Heavy legal charges have necessarily been incurred, in
consequence of the extraordinary, position of the company,
oppressed by, law suits and writs in execution; involved,
also, in parliamentary contests, where the opposition to the
Arrangement Bill was at one time so universal, that it ap-
peared as if every man's hand was against the Caledonian
Company, and the company's hand necessarily, and iu self-
defence, against them. By firmness, tempered with con-
ciliation, that opposition gradually disappeared, or was over-
come; and the result at last, although attended with much
labour and great expense, ended in the Arrangement Act.
Alter the unexampled trials of this company, It is hoped that
a brighter era is before it.
"In entering upon a new career, it will be the first ob-
ject of the hoard to study economy in every department of
the management, and to develop every source of traffic
which can be made available. For this minnow, the ex-
perience of the new directors will bo called into active
service.

" Mr. Duncan, who enjoys the full confidence of his col-
leagues, has been unanimously appointed chairman of the
new board.

" The ensuing general meeting has been called to take
place in Glasgow, instead of London. After so many re-
cent meetings in London, there being no election of direc-
ton till September, 18.52, as fixed by the 'Arrangement Act,
there is nothing at present of sufficient imp :rtanee for dis-
cussion to justify the board in incurring the expense of
holding the half-yearly general meeting there. But as the
ordinary stuck is chiefly held in England, it follows that the
convenience of tho shareholders at large must always be
studied, when questions of moment occur for their conside-
ration ; and the present instance is to form no precedent to
the contrary, in regard to future general meetings.
" The directors, however, arc must desirous that as many
as can conveniently attend should be present; and any
shareholder may receive a ticket or pass along the line, to
and from the meeting, on application to the secretary."