The Express.
London, England, 1848-06-07 00:00:00

Wr. .

FUNERAL OF THE PRINCESS SOPHIA.
The remains of the Princess Sophia were yesterday
nieruing, at an early hour, consigned to the catacombs of
Wens:•l-green Ccalttery,
lin a vault near to the which con •
tales the ashes of the cte Duke of Slsier. The funeral
eortegs, agreeably to the erre:and wishes of the illustrious
deceased, was as private as possible. The hearse containing
the holy ad not display any armorial bearings, neither was
there an escurcheon on the velvet covering of the hearse.
The procession left Kensington Palace at the early hour of
five o'clock, and was composed of the hearse (drawn by six
horses), nine mourning coaches, each drawn by four horses,
containing the medical attendants and domestics of the
late princess. The procession arrived at the entrance
of the cemetery about a quarter before seven o'clock,
where it was met by H.R.H. Prince Albert, H.llll. the
Duke of Cambridge, ll.lt H. Prince George, t he Lord Cham-
berlain of her Majesty's household, the Clerk of the Closet
to the Queen, the Bishop of Norwich ; the Deputy-clerk of
the Closet, the Dean of Hereford ; and the chaplain in at-
tendance upon her late Royal Highness, the Rev. Evan
Nepean. His Excellency Court Kielmansegge, the diplo-
matic representative of his Majesty the King of Hanover,
the brother of the late Princees, was present in the chapel.
The funeral procession palmed into the chapel, the pallbearers
being Lsdy Charles Somerset, Lady Georgina Bathurst,
Lady Augusta Heinz., end Lady Augusta Cadogan. The
body was placed on the bier, and the burial service
commenced, the Clerk of the Closet, the Bishop of Nor-
wich, ,ttieiating. The chief mourner, the Duchess of
Norfolk, sat a• the bead of the corpse. The whole ceremony
was over by half•past seven o'clock. There was no attend-
ance of military, and only a few policemen to clear the line
of road, should there he any obstruction, but their services
were not required. The great bell of Westminster Abbey
tolled at intervals during the morning, and orders were
given for closing the theatres last evening.

BANK OF BRITISH NORTH AMERICA.
The usual annual meeting was held yesterday at
the offices in St. Helen's-p:se,, 11;iPlepseate-street. Mr. J.
Dowse presided.
The SaCKETABY read the report of the directors, who
stated that in their last report they re!crred to the probable
reaction in the North American colonies and to a fall in
the price of agricultural produce consequent upon an abun-
dant harvest in Europe ; and they also remarked on the ne-
cessity for caution in the business operations of the bank, ow.
ing to the severe pressure in the British money market.
Their most anxious endeavours had been devoted throughout
the year to guard the bank from the distress which they
could not but apprehend from the above causes ; and although
in passing through the unparalleled commercial calamities
of the last autumn losses to a greater extent than was ex-
pected had been incurred, the measures of precaution which
the directors had caused to be taken had materially di-
minished the evil. The extreme scarcity of money which
had been experienced by the commercial dames in this coun-
try was of necessity soon felt throughout the North Ameri-
can colonies, in the withdrawal or curtailment of mercantile
credit or banking accommodation. In submitting the usual
Statement of the results of last year's business, the directors
would remark that th e diminution in the net profits, as com-
pared with those of the year 1817, had been occasioned by the
increased amount which it had been thought proper to set
aside to meet the estimated losses by bad debts; and although
the gross profits of the bank for the entire year 1847 had ex-
ceeded those of any former year, the rate of profit during
the last quarter was materially diminished by the measures
of precaution adopted by the directors. The not profits for
she year 1847, after making the required provision for bad
ar:tl doubtful debts, not being found equal to zs year's
dividend at the rate of six per cent., the directo,i, ad-
hering to the principle laid down in their last rep la,
felt that they but consulted the real interests of th.e
proprietors by announcing their intention of paying a half-
year's dividend on the .sth of July at the rate of 5 per cent.
per annum. The amount of undivided net profit to the 31st
December, 1846, was 61,4571. th. 6d. The net profit for the
year 1817, after deduction of all current charges and pro-
viding for bad awl dr!hrtul debts, was &4:0451.31., making

115,5021. 110. 6d., from which was to be te'aen the amount of I
dividend paid, viz , at Midsummer er..el Christmae 30,0001
respectively, leaving the amount of undivided net profit to
the 31st December, 1817, 55,5020.. lls. 6d.
On the motion being put rot the adoption of the report,
A PROPRIETOR begged to call attention to a subject to
which ho had referred at the last meeting, viz., the accounts of
the bank. lie complained that the proprietors were not, and
never had bc.n, furnished with any statement of their assets
slid liabilities by which they might arrive at a knowledge of
their true position. Ile hoped that the directors would give
their promise to furnish such a statement for the future;
otherwise he would at once projeaso • resolution on the
subject.
The COMMIX:I said it itad never been the practice of the
directors to give such information, and they saw n mum to
alter the MOW which they had taken. lie could assure the
unerring that the whole capital was i,.t act, and that there
was iii addition the amount of undivided profit stilted in the
report.
After some conversation, Mr. Werisren moved a rtsolu•
thni to the effect that it was a xpedient for the satisfectien of
the s:oircholders, and the public credit and general welfare
of th, bank, that the directors should in future furnieh the
total no omit of assets and liabilities at every general
meeting.
Several directors exposed their regret that a demand
',heel,' to made which they conceived to be so illjUti Mil to
the Mutest* of the company ; at the same time, they ws re
wiling to acquiesce iu any decision at which the proprietors
might arrive.
in enswer to some observations from a proprietor, with
regard to the dimieishi d dividend, the Chairman pointed
out the necessity for the reduction which had b. en made,
consequent upon the ceneral depression in comniereial
affairs. In reply to Capt. Kel:y, he said that the antenna at
which they hod estimated their bad and doubtful debts was
'2ii,oool. With regard to the accounta which were desired,
he loured the proprietors OW, the directers published •
etatement of their assets and liabilities every year in the
London Gazeac, where the statement for the present year
, would appear in a few days. If the eroerietors so derived
he did not know tl:at there was any objection to publish it
in future before the day of meeting.
. Several gentlemen cap I themselves steisfied with the
explanation given, and the resolution was eventually with-
( drawn, it being umlerstood that the questien of the further
puhlkatien of the accounts should still be open for the e tn.
sideration of the directors. The retiring directors having
been reelected, a complimentary vote to the chairman con.
eluded the procee

GOVERNMENT PREPARATIONS FOR TILE CONTENI-
-I`l. StElr CHARTIST DEMONSTRATIONS oN MONDAY NEXT,
—Yesterday afternoon a lengthened interview took place at
the Hume °thee between Sir 0. Grey, the Attorney and
Solicitor General, and Col. Belem and Mr. Mayne, the to o
commissioners of police. The importance of the interview
mey be ga•hereil from the feet that the Secretary of State,
with the law officers of the crown and police commission-
ers, were upwards of two hours in deliberation. During the
afternoon it was reported in the neighbourhood of the House
of Commons and Downing street that the meeting had a
two.fold obj. et ; the first, it is stated, was for the purpose
of arranging measures to put a stop to the proposed demon-
stration in Monday next, when the metropolis is threatened
to be kept in a state of excitement by numerous meetings to
be holden on that day. The s, eond object, it was said, wiiit
to consider the necessity of applying to parliament for addi•
tional powers to citable the execteive to put a
atop to the present uncanstituti mai agitation. Before
the interview trek piece Sir 0. Grey was in communication
with several of the judges, and, after it was over, the right
hon. b ironet had an int• rsiew with the comrnsbiler.in chtcf,
at the 11:41t Guards ; immediately atter which a messenger
was st:spatehed to Woolwich. Subsequently, the Secretary
of State proceeded to the official residence of L.rril J. Russell,
iu Downing-street, where several members of the cabinet re-
mained in consultation for a considerable time. This accounts
for the non-appearance of any of the cabinet ministers in the
house of Commons up to six o'clock, with the exception of
Mr. Labouchere, the President of the Board of Trade. In
the course of the day orders were Rent round by th, right
hon.:baronet to the police magistrates of the metropolis to
issue a notice caring upon those gentlemen, tea lesmen, and
others, who had been sworn in as *racial constables, but
whose period of service had expired, or would expire taday,
to attend to be re-sworn
HEsTleteflOS OF A eIIAPEL EY FIRE.-14mt right
a fire broke out shortly after nine o'clock in the school-room
attached to Park Chapel, situate in Grove street, Camden.
town. The chapel, which belongs to the indep. ndents, was
built in the year ISI4, and was mtniati red by the lice,
Mr. Harrison. The first alarm was given by a gentleman
passing, who observed a quantity of smoke inning from one
of the basement windows. In s few minutes the whole of
the interior of the chapel was one body of flame, the im-
mense quantity of woodwork forming the pews, &c., burn-
ing with gri at rapi lity. About Ir.lipast 9 o'clock, and bog
before the arrival of any cf the engines, the roof fell in with
a tremendous crash, maid great tears were felt by the in-
habitants of the lo.ures facing the tide of the chapel in
Gloucester-street,that the fire would catch their dwellings. At
the residence of Mr. Williams, surgeon, at the corner of
Grove-street, the boat was so intense that water had
to he continuously thrswn over the roof to prevent it
from catching. Although the reflection was seen for miles
round, it was nearly three quarters of an hour 'before
the first engine (except the parish engine) arrived, and then
there was such a scarcity of water that it was some time be-
fore they got to work. At that time the weole of the iatetior
of the chapel was destroyed. By half past ten the hie was
entirely subdued. The cause of the cal unity is attributed to
an escape of gas. The building was tufty insured.

THE REFORM MOVEMENT.

MEETING IN LAMBETH.

Yesterday evening a mectin,, of the electors and
inhabitants of this borough was held at the Horns Tavern,
Kennington, under the auspices of the Lambeth E cetoral
Associattm, to give ezprewion to the sentiments of the
borough as to Lord John Rouelis declaration that the
miclule and working classes did not desire any great measure
of reform like the People's Charter or that propcsed by Mr.
Hume, and to adopt measures in supportof that hon. gentle-
man's motion now before the House of Commons. TLo c••-
sembly•room in which the meeting was held was crowded to
' excess, and the proceedings were sescral times interrupted
by demands for nn adjournment to Kennington Common,—
' the room, though capable of accommodating 4,000 or 5,000
persow, not being nearly large enough t t contain the vast
member of persons who sought admission. The platform
was titled by the leading politicians of the borough. The
seat on the right of the cha r was occupied by Mr. Pearson,
M.P., and at a later period of the meeting that on the left
was taken by Mr. T. D'Eyncourt, M.P.; both the hen.
members were greeted with the mcst enthusiastic cheering.
Mr. Cnas. Jofstia was voted to the chair, and after read-
ing the advertie mint calling the meeting, he said it was
necessary, pi rhaps, that he shou'd explain who the Lambeth
E ectaral A.E.ciation wire. It was a society formed imme-
diately after the last election, but which ha existed during 11
that election under a different organisation. One of the
happy effects of its first organisation was the introduction of
Mr. Pearson to the representation of the borough. (Cheers.)
Ile would state the principles on sshich the L‘mbeth Elec-
toral Committee was based. They were no friends to
finality whigs—(checrs)—nor were they friends to the tortes,
wham conservation was to conserve all enactments which
savoured of class legislation and ultra toryism. The associa-
tion was pledged to the most cornolete and radical reform—
they wanted to see a full, fair, and free representation of the
pesple—(hear, hear)—without which there could be no good
gueernment or sound legislation. They had ammo theta
in the asmciation individual vows and differences of opinion,
but they knew what the purport of Mr. Ilume's motion was.
lie would read it to the meeting. It was—
That this house as at present constituted does not fairly represent
the population, the property, or industry of the country, from which
has arisen great and increasing discontent in the minds of a large
portion of the people. That, with a view to amend the representation
of the people, lease he niven to bring in bills for the purpose of prt,s.
viding that the elective franchise shall he so extended as to nubs..
all householders.
(Cheer..)—and he added, in a letter that had since been re-
ceived front him, that he intended to include lodgers.
(Cheers.) That would amount to a very large extensi-41 of
the suffrage indeed. (Hear, hear.) Mr. litune's proposi-
tion went on bather to say,
That voles Wall be taken by ballot; that the duration of parliament
I shall not exceed three 3 earsthat the apportionment of members
to popuLotion shall be wade mare that
In all this there were, perhaps, same present who
did not agree, but no one could deny that the views hero EX-
preved were a great step in advance. Speaking fir himself
as an individual, he (Mr. Jones) should have preferred uni-
versal suffrage. (Much cheering.) lie believed that prin-
ciple could be more succeufully defended by sound argu-
ments than household suffrage. (Hear, hear.)
The SEciteTaity here read a letter from Mr. T. D'lyn-
court, M.P., promising to 'Strad if possible, and letters
apologising for inability to attend, but exprersing sympathy
in the movement front Mr. O. Thompson, M.P., Mr. Bright,
Mr. H. Vincent, and referred to the answer to the invitation
given to Mr. Cobden, which the secretary said they might
have seen in the Express, wherein he excused himself
from attending, because he believed the meeting would have
more effect if confined to the people of Lambeth.
Mr. J. To WAITEB rote to move the first resolution :
That in the judgment of this meeting, the declaration of Lord John
Russell, as reported in the debates of the House of C4MllllOll* on the
23rd of May tut, must be regarded ea evinceng • real or affected igno-
rance of the state of public opinion, and a willingness to mistake the
determination of the people at large to maintain peace and preserve
order, for confidence in her Majesty's government, and satLfaction
with the present course of legislation—sod that therefore it is incum-
bent on all who would avert civil commotion, accelerate the progress of
freedom, and promote the tuitional welfare, to give constitutional espr
Mon to their views and smsther, turd determinately to sees sach further
reforms, as they believe will be conducive to the prosperity of all
dames of the community.
But they had had another declaration from Lord J. Russell
a few days ago when he gave notice of a bill to repeal the
rate-paying clauses of the Reform Act. (Laughter.) He
believed his lordship and some of his followers had had their
attention drawn to that question by what took place at the
last election for Lambeth—(cheers)—and he trusted the
people of that borough would so perform their duty en still
to deserve his lordship's are and attention. (Hear and
laughter.) He confessed that he was one of those who had
for a long time been agitated by a kind of reciprocity of hope
between Lord John Russell and Sir It. Peel. Ile had had
his mind baoyed up from time to time by expectation from
changes of administration until repeated disappointments had
convinced him that all the people expected from either party
Vas the fortification of class legislation. (Hear, hear.) As
to L ord J. Russell, his recent course showed that his only
object was to raise the barrier still higher against the
right. of. the People. Tears and a cry of ''Three
groans for Lard Rui" •") it was necessity, therefor:,
that the peopi:' ithatild strike out R LeW ellnime for themselses,