The Express.
London, England, 1853-02-09 00:00:00

£18,912 18 10

Cu.
By expenditure during the hsifyear, u follows :
By travelling L7S 16 1
By salaries 142 0 0
By postages and Ntatiuticry ll 23 13 7
By rent and taxe4 to Michaelmas (when tine
UMW ceased) l4 0 0
By ISIDICCHUIVOUS .'IPCIMIVS and advertising
By interest on calls
By interest on land purchase l7 4 1
By Wenn.: 15,521 6 9

118.012 13 10
The CHAIRMAN moved the adoption of the report.
Mr. J. Sans seconded the motion, which wss carried
untnimuudy.
The retiring directors and auditors were re-elected.
Thanks were voted to the board and the Petretary respec-
tively, and after a !mid acknowletlement ul the same the
meeting separated.

SHREWSBURY AND lIEItEFORD RAILWAY.
The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders in
this railway was held yesterday, et the Lion Hotel, at
Shrewsbury ; Mr. °MISSY Gone, MT., in the chair.
The following re; oct of the directors was read by Mr.
ROBERTS, the secretary :
tt The condition of the permanent way over the portion
of the line between Shrewsbury and Ludlow, opened to the
public on 21st April last, and since worked by Mr. Brassey
under agreement, and the particular' of progress of the
works over the portion under construction between Ludlow
and Hereford, end the effect of the late heavy rains and
floods on the works, are folly explained in the annexed re-
port of your engineer. The agreement with Mr. Brassey
for working the line between Shrewsbury and Ludlow, at a
guarantee rent of 31 per cent. per suP.um on the amount of
capital expended in construction on this portion of the rail-
way, enables the directors t I recommend that the dividend
now to be declared be 3s. 41 per share (free of income tax',
equivalent to 3 per cent. on the Whole of the capital at
present paid up. and that it be made payable on the 20th
inst. The directors recommend Rest the shares, the for-
feiture of which is proposed to be confirmed at this meet
lug, together with those previously forfeited, and nut dis-
posed of, be issued at It. per share discount (by which the
comoany will sustaia no loss) to any proprietor who shall
apply to the secretary, in wriang, fur any number of shares
sot exceeding one-third of such proprietor's registered hold-
ing; and that this offer be open to all shareholders till the
14th day of March next, after which period the siirectois
suggest that authority be given them to sell, or otherwise
dispose of, the residue of such shares as they may deem best
for the interests of the company. It would be premature
iu the directors to venture on any statement of the probable
amount of traffic that may be expected over the line when
open to flerelord, and working in friendly alliance with the
South Wales, Hereford, Ross, and Gloucester, and New-
port, Abergavenny, and Itereford Railways; and with
other lines communicating from the south of England to the
north; but they are enabled to state, and it will be satis-
factory to the shareholders to know, that the traffic over''
the opened portion of the line fully confirms the expecta-
tions of the directors, and gives promise of future success.
Several measures have been introduced in the present ses-
sion of parliament which may affect the interests of the
company, and to the provisions of which the attention of
the board will be directed. Amongst these measures is a
bill introduced by the Great Western Company for the pur-
pose of authorising them to lay down a mixed gauge on this
line, end on the lines of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham,
and Shrewsbury and Chester Companies, to which the
directors have given much consideration, and have
submitted their views to the Great Western Com.
psny as to the terms upon which they would be
justified in assenting to, and reesmenending such bill.
The directors have instructed the contractor to proceed
with the works of the station at Hereford, in conjunction
with the Hereford, Ross, and Gloucester Company, and
they regret that, at present, the Newport, Abergavenny,
and Hereford Railway Company have not communicated
their assent to juin in this arrangement."
The statement of " general account" showed that the
total amount of receipts ou share capital, debenture b ends,
&e., has been 337,0731. 3s. Under the head " expendi-
ture" there are the following amongst the pi incipal items:
Land, compensation, &c., 60,9121.; Mr. Bracey, on ac-
count of works, 174,0811.; works at Shrewsbury station,
29.200/.; the total amount of expenditure has been
291,786 k Os. 5d., leaving a balance in the hands of the
bankers amounting to 19,3621. 91. 3d.
The CHAIM)/ AN moved the adoption of the report.
Mr. WILLIAMS, of Chester, seconded tits motion, which
was put, after a brief discussion, and unanimously carried.
A resolution was passed, confirming the forfeiture of the
shares' which are to be re-issued on the terms recommended
by the board. In all there have been 13,000 shares for-
feited, four thousand having been declared at this meeting.
A dividend of 3s. 4d. per share, payable on the 20th inst.,
was declared.-

--------
A vote of thanks to the board was carried by acclama-
tion.

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK.
The official report mays:—Change of temperature
has produced a great increase in the mortality. The pre-
sent return shows that the deaths in London, which
scarcely exceeded 1,000 in any of the four weeks of Ja-
nuary. rose in the week that ended sth February to 1,220.
The mean weekly temperature in December of last year was
about 48 deg., in the two following weeks of January it
was 45 deg., it thec fell to 41.9 deg., and in the last two
weeks it declined to 371 deg. and 36.5 deg. On Tuesday
last week the mean temperature was only 31.6 deg.
In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1843-.52 the
average number of deaths war 1,053, which, if raised in pro-
portion to increaw, of population, would give a mortality of
1,164 for last week. Hence it appears that the inertaltty,
which for many weeks has been below the estimated
amount, now exceeds it.
_ _

The inerease arises chiefly from diseases of the respira-
tory organs (principally bronchitis and pneumonia), which
having been fatal in the two preceding weeks in 171 and
199 cases hare now risen to 250. Phtbisis in the acme pe-
riods carried off 134, 138, anu 151 persons ; and 49, 40, and
61 children died of huoping-cough.
The following eases were registered in the week : At
47, Church-street, Bethnal-green, a woman, aged 68 year.,
died on Ist February, of " summer cholera end chronic
diarrhma (18 weeks) ; disease of intestinal canal, atrophy
and exhaustion (10 weeks)." And at 1, Bummer-street,
Peckham, on let February, the sea of an omnibus driver,
aged 3 years, di, d of cholera, diarrhoea (30 hours.)
In the church sub-district of Bethnal-green, at 15, \Vol-
verly-strect, the son of a weaver, aged one year, died on
28th January of " variola (12 days), unvaccanaad." Mr.
Briggs states that the father and another child are very ill
with the disease, and neither of them has been vaccinated.
At 1, Regent-street, Mile-end Old Town Lower, the son
of a fishmonger, aged 15 weeks, died on lst Janu-
ary of " varinla (10 days), not vaccinated." Mr. Castleden
mentions that 4 other children in this family have been
severely attacked with small-pox after vaccination, but that
they are all recovering. Of 11 persons who died of this
disease 3 were adults, and one was a woman who had been
vaccinated.

At 9, Henry-street, Ilampstead-road, on the 2nd and 4th
February, the daughter of a carter, aged 6 years, and his
son, aged 10 years, died of " scarlatina maligns, with pa.
trid sore throat." Mr. Day, the medical attendant on
these cases, makes the following report : " At the
rear of the premises, 9, Denry-street, stand some cottages
in one of which the two deaths occurred. 'lice room is
• small one, and, I believe, was occupied by five inuivi-
duals : all its inmates have heen more or less affected with
sore throat produced by 'Muria emanating from the
dying and dead. for no perfect ventilation could be obtained
owing to the back room being occupied by other persons. I
have suffered from sore throat myself, and also a young
man who visited there. I should have made a more accu-
rate survey of the dwelling, but was deterred by a ferocious
dog kept by the occupier of the adjoining apartment to the
terror anu annoy trice of the neighbours."
In the sub-district of Waterloo (2nil part), Lambeth, at
13, Cheitenham-place. on 2nd February, the wife of a
tailor, aged 20 years. died of " typhus " (about 14 days).
The informant of this death was requested by the medical
attendant to state that it is to lie nal ihuted to the unwhole-
some smells that pervade the house. Whence these arise is
at present unknown. The deceased had twice sutfcre:l pre-
viously from the some disease.
In Dover-road, Chirilton, the ann of a labourer, aped 11
yean, died on 30th January of " malignant scarlatina (6
days)." The medical attendant remarks : " The house in
which this child died is wholly unfit for human habitation.
Shout a year and a half ago three chiidri n died front ma-
lignast disease of the throat in a cottage adjoining." Mr.
Doak, the deputy registrar of Peckham, states that scar-

Wins is very ►evere at present in the neighbourhood of
Rye-lane, where also a fatal ease occurred on 30th Jemmy.
In St. Was, Cripplegme, at 7, Genre-court, a brewer's
workman, aged 39 year., died of " bream:ride, pneumonia."
(Post mort.) The deputy registrar observes that " this is
the fourth death that has occurred in the same family plate
Mach, I 8.12; the only sleeping apartment is a small room,
damp, and without chimney or other means of ventilation."
The following death, occurred is the London Fever
Hospital in the week :—Oa 31st January. a woman, aged
61 years, from Half-moon-court, Holborn, " typhus. In
hospital 3 days." On 3rd February, a female servant,
ago d 17 years, from Lumley-court, St. Martin's, " br, n-
chitis. In hospital 9 days.' Ott 3rd February, a female,
about 30 years, front the Holborn Workhouse, " typhus.
In hospital one day." On sth February, a nurse, aged 41
years, front Sydney-grave, City-read, "typhus. In hos. I
pital 18 days."
Mr. Joseph, Registrar of the Rectory sub-district, Mary-
lebone, makes the following observations The return
fur the past week will probably show a large increase in the
number of dea•hs; at all events there has been an increase
so far as my district is concerned. The deaths in hlnryle-
bone Workhouse daring the winter have averaged from 7
to 10 weekly, a low rate in comparison of the deaths of
former years. This week, however, has produced 24, and
the majority of These were Irons diwases of the respiratory
organ,, clearly showing that the recent sudden and severe
alternations of temperature have proved especially disastrous
to persons suffeing from such divests. TM se deaths have
been at all ages, from the infant of 7 ders to the old man
of 00. In the wards where these capes have been treated
werinsh as well as ventilation has been especially cared
fot." In the sub-district 40 deaths were registered in the'
week. _

Mr. Itixon, the Registrar of the sub-district of Woolwich
Arsenal, says:—" Between the 19th and 21th January in
elusive, 6 deaths occurred in the Royal Ordnance Ilosoital.
1 do not remember that so great a mortality ever occurred
before in a single week amongst the military since the com-
mencement of the registration. Thtoe or 4 deaths hare
taken place in a week, but the number seldom exceeds 4 or
5 in a month."

Last week the births of 827 bows and 732 girls, in all
1,5:9 children, were registered in London. In the eight
corresponding weeks of the years 1845.52 the average num-
ber was 1,507.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height
of the barometer in the wick was 29.782 in. ; the mean
daily reading on Monday and Tuesday was above 30 in. The
mean temperature of the week was 36.5 deg., which is 1.3
deg. below the average of the same week in 38 years. The
mean daily temperature fell from 39.1 deg. on Sand .y to
31 6 deg. on Tuesday. or G.l deg. below that average of the
saute day; anal it continued, though not to the seine eaten?,
blow the average during the rest of the week. The wind
blew from the nurth•east at the tool of the week, hut the
air was fir the most part calm. The mean dew point tem.
perature was 31.5 dig.

DREADFUL MURDER IN DEVONSHIRE.
CONFESSION OF THE MURDERER.

On Sunday morning (as we briefly reported yes-
terday) a shocking murder was committed near a
little village called Clayhidon, about ten miles from Iloni-
ton in Devonshire, and about five miles from Wellington in
Somerset. The victim was a rrspectable land surveyor and
miller, residing at Clayhidon Mills, named William Black-
more. lie was also the collector of taxes fur the perish.
and was much esteemed in the neighbourhood. Ile was t 53
years of age, was married, and had ono grown-up son. He
had been out collecting tithes on Saturday last, and in
the evening he went into a roadside public-house,
called the White Horse, #Lar Clayhidon, where he drank
freely in company with three labouring men. They all left
the public-house together about one o'clock on Sunday
morning, and at four o'clock the body of Mr. Blackmon
was found about a quarter of a mile from his own house by
his son and a servant mar, stretched across the road in a
dreadfully mangled state. The head was severely fractured,
and there was blood seaweed about the road. His purse,
containing two five-pound notes, was found in the road by
his side. The three men who let the house with the de-
ceased were labourers, named George Sparks, Edmund
Sparks, and James Hitchcock. They were at once taken
into custody.
An inquest was held on Monday, at the Half-moon Inn,
Clayhidon, before It. H. Aberdein, Esq., coroner for the
district.

J. Marks, a labourer, deposed to having met the three pri-
soners and the deceased betwt en 1 and 2 o'clock on the Sunday
morning in the road leading to their house—the prisoners
lived in the same direction us the deceased. After a salu-
tation they passed on. Edmund Sparks was walking by
the ride of the deceased, and George Sparks and James
lii•cheeek were walking behind.
George Braddick, a constable, apprehended the prisoners
the same looming, just before daylight. George Sparks
lodged with his brother, about a half mile Irons the deceased's
res.dence ; and when he went to him he was in bed. He
denied acy knowledge of the crime at first. The witness
then requested him to put on the same clothes as
lie wore that morning, and he did so. Oa the waist.
cost were spots of blood. On searching the house
fen sovereigns and a half were found wrapped
up in a rag. Whilst the witness was engaged in searching
the house several people came in and put sundry questions
to the prisoner. At last he exclaimed, " It's no use to
care, nor to think any more about it ; for I would as soon
tell the whole of it as not." The prisoner then gut up from
his seat, took up a pair of tongs, and, showing the position
in which he stood, said, " I struck him inck•handed, and I
think I killed him the first blow, but I struck him twice
after that." Ile further said he struck him with a part of
a pair of fire•tongs which he bronght away with hint from
the White Horse, and which was subsequently found in
the water at the spot indicated by the prisoner.
The prisoner, George Sparks fully exonerated the other
prisoners in his confession ; and they severally declared
that they left the deceased by a Frcuch nut-tree, and went
to their homes. The only suspicious circumstances in re-
spect to Hitchcock were, that on his g-eat-coat, which he
wore, there were spots like blood ; but there was some dif-
ference of opinion as to whether it really was blood. Foot-
markA, corresponding with his boots, were also dis-
covered near to where the body was found. There was no
evidence against Edmund Sparks, further than his being
in the company of the others at the public-house, and
being seen with them on his road home.
Mr. William Buncombe, surgeon, described the nature
of the injuries inflicted on the bead of deceased. In his
opinion the injuries were such as were likely to have been
produced by the instrument alluded to, via., the part of the
tongs which George Sparks confessed to having taken from
the White Horse.

The jury returned a verdict of "Wilful Murder" against
George Sparks and James Hitchcock, atd they were at
once committed for trial.