The Express.
London, England, 1848-04-07 00:00:00

ROYAL MAIL STEAM-PACKET COMPANY.
An annual general meeting was held yesterday at
ths London Tavern. Mr. Colville presided. The report of
the directors was to the following effect
Since the last general meeting was held, an anangedirect
ment
has been made, giving to the Wes: India colonies a
monthly postal communication with the northern
state. of
America, which the company's operations ate xtended
to New York; and this new line via Bermuda, will be
commenced on the 7th of next month'. The company, how-
ever, are at liberty to di.oontinue this branch of service,
should it be found hereafter that, contrary to expectation,
it cannot be maintained with advantage. The directors,
having taken into cons;deration all the circumstances of
the company, recommend that • dividend of two pounds
per share, exclusive of income tax, be declared ; the
same to be payable on and after the 10th instant.
The working account showed that 412.0621. 7s. Bd. had been
received during the year. and 300,661!. 18s. 10d. di.bursed,
leaving a balance of 112,3001. Bs. 10d. In 1816 there had
been 407,1161. 18s. 2d. received, 285.4751. Be. 7d. expended,
and 121,638/. remaining on hand. year 1847
and loss ac-
count showed the profit on the year 1847 to amount to
99,9881. 135. fid. The balance-sheet showed a total of
1,133,9881. 7s. 6d. On the creditor side the items were—By
capital s:ock. 31st December, 1846, and arrears of calls re-
ceived in 1817, 888,98.51. • dividends enpaid, 3,1341. Is.
insurance account, 49,9631 Is. 2,1. ; bills payable and out-
standing accounts. 47,2671. Ifs. 2d. ;
3a. rdd.eserve fund,
70,6191. 169. 6d.; profit and lots, 74,018/. 1"
On the motion being put for the adoption of the report,
Mr. RIDGWAY observed that, considering the increase of
27,0001. which had takes place in the income of the company
doting the period from 184.5 to 1847, and the largesing t reserve
and insurance funds at their disposal, it was surprihat
the shares sho'ald be iu so depressed a state in the market.
He attributed the want of confidence of the public
to the smallness of the dividend paid. He was
glad to see that there was a slight addition to
the amount of their present dividend, but considered that
it might be materially Incensed. It was not right that the
shareholders who had supported the company from the com-
mencement should only receive the same rate of interest as
those who had purchased. recently in the market. It wa.
said th if they aid • large dividend the government
would notat be disposepd to renew their connect ; but he would
maintain that the overnment could not do without their
assistance, which, especial.y in the event of a war, would be
of a meet valuable description. With reference to the ma-
nagement of the company, he complained that
there was not sufficient attention paid to the es.
tablishment of • prompt and constant communica-
tion with our possessions in the West Indies, an
object which he considered ef far higher 'mpor.
twice than going to the United States. lie concluded by
moving an amendment to that nen of the report ti
re-
lated to the dividend, by proposing that it be raised to 21. 6s.
per share.
The CHAIRMAN observed that the directors, looking upon
all the circumstances, had recommended the dividend, which
they conceived moat conducive to the interests of the com-
pany. The hon. proprietor had probably forgotten that the
contract was for a limited period, and that it was neces-
sary to preserve the accounts in such • condition
as to provide for the contingency of its not being renewed.
If they did not do so they would, as directors, be eztremily
blamed for dividing the money s
uableuing the proprie-
the
tors to believe their property as val at the end of
contract as at the beguming.
The amendment not being seconded fell to the ground,
and the report was adopted without dissent.
The CHAIRMAN, in answer to a proprietor, with regard to
the sum of 2,8501. which appeared among the disbursements
of the working account, under 'he head of "managers, is
eluding the secretary and colonial superintendent," ',tam]
that Capt. Mangles and Capt. Chappell each received 1,0301.
annually from that amount, and Capt. List, inclusive of his
eatery as director, received the same sum. They were ne-
cessary expellees, and were well merited by the services of
the respective gentlemen.
Capt. MANGLES observed that if the proprietors believed
they could get the same services nerformed for less money he
was quite willing to surrender his trust.
Mr. Masterman and Capt. Nelson, the retiring directors.
were then re-elected; Mr. C. W. Short was elected to till
the vacancy in the board caused by the resignation of Sir .1
Brown ; and Capt. Wish to fill toe vacant post of auditor,
caused by the necessary resignation of Mr. Short.
On the motionRIDGWAY, thanks were thee voted
to the Chairman, and the proceedings terminated.

PROHIBITION OF THE CHARTIST MEETING
ON MONDAY.
A placard, of which the following is a copy, was
extensively posted throughout the metropolis last evening,
by order of the commissioners of police :
" NOTlCE.—Whereas the ass-mblage of large numbers of
people, accompanied with circumstances tending to excite
terror and alarm in the minds of her Majesty's subjects, is
criminal and unlawful ; and whereas not only those persons
who take an active part in such assemblage, but those also
who by their presence wilfully countenance it, are acting
contrary to law, and are liable to punishment ; and whereas
an act of parliament, passed in the 13th year of the reign of
kis late Majesty King Charles 11,,
intieuled 'An Act against
Tumults and Disorders, upon pretence of preparing or pre-
senting public Petitions or other Addresses to his Majesty in
the Parliament,' it was enacted, that no person or persons
whatsoever shall repair to his Majesty, or both or either of
the houses of parliament, upfm pretence of presenting or
delivering any petition, complaint, remonstrance, or
declaration, or other addresses, accompanied with excessive
numbers of people, nor at any she time with above the num-
ber of ten ,persons; and whereas a meeting has been called
to assemble on Monday next, the 10th inst., at Kennington-
common, and it is announced in the printed notices calling
such meeting that it is intended by certain persons to repair
thence in procession to the House of Commons, accompanied
with excessive numbers of people, upon pretence of present-
ing a petition to the Commons House of Parliament ; and
whereas information has been received that persons have
been advised to procure arms and weapons, with the pur-
pose of carrying the same in such procession ; and whereas
such proposed procession is calculated to ex:ite terror and
alarm in the minds of her Majesty's subjects; all persons
are hereby cautioned and strictly enjoined not to attend or
take part in, or be present at, any such assemblage or pro-
eesoion. And all well-disposed persons are hereby galled
upon and required to aid in enforcing the provisions of the
law, and effectually to protect the public peace, and suppress
any attempt at the disturbance thereof.—(Signed) C. Row AM,
IL MAYNE, Commissioners of the Police of the Metropolis.
Metropolitan Police-office , Whitehall-place, April 6."

Mine any more &w it thertition be rejected on Monday, me 10th
inst., but will declare Its nines permanent, with a clew to the
adoption of the nemesaty measures to establish the People's Charter
ee the law of the tan&
Mr. CVFEAY seconded the amendment. He bad come to
the conclusion that the tinse was gone by for memorial&
He should accept the rejeetion of the petition as a declare
Lion of war, and into that war he was ready to enter. (Rear,
hear.)
Mr. BRONTIERE O'BRIEN said, at the risk of some unpo-
nularity be must oppose both the programme and the
amendment. If he thought the present convention was so
constituted as to be espable of carrying out ulterior measures
with the support of the country, he should concur in the
amendment; but he contended this convention had been
the
only appointed for the special purpose of superinteng
presentation of the petition ; and no authority had been de-
!egated to the members by the people to go further. lie
wished a fall representation of all classes of the people in a
great national assembly before any ulterior measures were
adopted; and therefore he begged to propene se another
amendment a resolution to the effect
That this convention, representing se it does only a small seeth d e
the industrious classes of thin country, can only be comairlered as this
mecumr to the convocation of another and Mire impormin body to
re
ruby %gat, gedeteturrally.ti.andtib. do thenorvgeer I
liad esneentionteo
strictly legal and eowititutional one of superintending tie peeseßestioß
of the national petition, and that it leave all oftener mesems to a
national ansembly, which shall represent the country=s ,
he convoked at the earliest period that may be 1141111
that thio convention does further pledge noel( tore rimy awl
conotitutional means in is power to promote the speedy and
calling together of such national a setnbly.
Mr. LOWRY (Carlisle) seconded the amendment weed by
Mr. O'Brien, on the ground that his constituents when dry
sent him never contemplated this convention being a pee.
manent body.
Mr. F. O'CoNNoa addressed the convention on the genie
cat question of the prgramme submitted by the executive
c.,mmittee, and in a long spessch urged his former arguments
in favour of the charter_, declaring that be would rather die
a martyr in the cater than live a slave. He'ded upon the
I convention not to tic its bands by declaring fto be per. 1
manent, but to consent to the convocation of a national
assembly elected with a view to its permanency nntil tlwr
Airier was carried. for ore, would never shrink from
the risk and responslity which, the movement had cut
upon him. but he entreated them not to damage the great
reuse now by interfering with the duties for which they had
been specially appointed, but let a national assembly be con.
ruked, and whatever the msjority of that assembly willed he
was determined to carry out. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. li. CHILD (London) said he had another amendment
to the propesition of the executive to submit to the conven-
tion. llia amendment was—
Mud this convention is called together in coneequencs of unpaid-
:Med distress—a distress brought on by circumstances such as never
existed in any nmutry in the world before; that the great mem of the
working clarets having no confience in whomole, and having
seed together men of their awn elms inhey have confidence,
would feel that three men were neglecting their duty if they wasted
their time at this the commeneementof their proceedingo upon a mat-
ter they cannot thnitibly know anything about until utter the pre-
rentation of the national petition ; be it therefore resolved that the ,
further debate on the motion now under discussion be adjourned'
until alter Monday the 10th blatant.
This motion having been seconded by Mr. DONOVAN of
Blanchester,
Mr. TATTERSALL (Rochdale) moved, and Mr. LINNET,
(Wrmingham) seconded, • further amendment
Th., the convention eecommend the holding of eimultaneons
meetings throughout the country on the 12th indent. to inte
ronoiderrstion the decision of the Ilnum of Commons upon thenational
petition, and to decide upon the future policy to be pursued by the
convention.
Mr. EuNEST JONES introduced and moved the adoption
of a fifth amendment in the following terms:
Be it resolved, that in the event of the national petition being TO-
Waco by the lloum of Common', a memorial, to be adopted at simul.
sumo. meetings of the people, obeli be addressed to the Queen,
oemanding the dissolution pm,
parliament and the diomissal of bee
minbeeriol advieers ; and, further, that the mid oimultancoue meet.
ings shall elect delegates to a new convention, inotruchd to ,It per.
presently until the charter is made the law of the land; and that the
present convention continue sitting until the meeting of such rm. '
baud convention.
Mr. CLARKE, (Bristol) seconded the hat-proposed amend-
ment. All these six several and distinct proposition'
were then fully hemmed, andralong, a long, somewhat stormy, sad
violent debate ensued, in the course of which almost every i
delegate present declared his opinions upon each. The
language used by some was el a pacificatory character,
urging the enforcement of the chartist claims by the employ.
ment of moral force only; while others boldly and nubs:44
tatingly " declared for war." The opinions as to the merits
or demerits of each proposition wire various, but those of
the executive council and of Mr. E. Jones seemed to be
most generally popular. The discussion was protracted
until the hour at which the convention adjourned for din-
ner. On its meeting again at halt put 2 o'clock,
Mr. C. DoYLE, the secretary, suggested a further proposi-
tion to the effect that "the convention agree to the appoint-
ment of a:provisional enmmittee of thirteen from the delegates
present, to remain in London to make arrangements for the
meeting of the national assembly, and to take under their
management the general affairs of the chartists up to that
time. This would not only save expense. but would enable
many delegates to agitate the country districts in the interim
beteen tLe mretino of the national atsembly and the pre-
sentw time, This addendum to the original programme was
strongly objected to by Mr. Coffey and others, and the gene-
ral debate was renewed with increased energy and vigour.
It continued until the approach of the hour when the ad-
journment for the day had been fixed to take place, but it
was put an end to by
Mr. CLARKE announcing that an amalgamation of the
two propositions—the one of the committee, and the other
moved by Mr. Ernest Jones—had been effected, and he
trusted would receive unanimous support. The programme,
as agreed between the committee and Mr. Jones, would
stand thus in its amended form:
1. That in the event of the aationd petition being rejected by the
tit wee of Commons, that this convention prepare national mernosial
to the Queen to dissolve the present paraament, and call to her coun-
cil ouch ministers only as will make the people's charter a cabinet

measure.
2. That thin convention agree to the convocation of a national as-
sembly, to consist of delegates appointed at pub!ic meetings, and to
remain sitting until the people's charter is the law of the land.
3. That this convention call upon the country to hold simulta-
neous meetings on Good Friday, April 21, for the purpow of adoPting
the national memorial of die chartist delegates to the national
assembly.
4. That the national assembly meet in London on Monday, April
the 24, and
5. That the present convention shall continue to hold its sittings
until the meeting of the national assembly.
(Cheers.) lie moved the adoption of the amended pro-

gramme.
Mr. E. JONES said for the sake of unanimity he withdrew
his amendment, and cordially seconded the motion of Mr.

Clarke.
All the other amendments having been withdrawn, the
amended programme was put and agreed to,Mr.Cuffay alone
being dissentient. —This result of the day's proceedings drew
down long-c ,ntinued cheers from the vast mass which atthis
moment tilled ey.ry corner of the building.
Mr. E. JONES gave notice of his intention to-morrow (this
day) to move the adoption by the convention of a tri-colour.
(Renewed cheers.)
The convention then (half-past 6 o'clock) adjourned to 9
o'clock to-morrow (this day).