The Express.
London, England, 1853-02-24 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL AND MARKETS.

MINCING-LANE.—THIS DAY.
Si:GAIL—The market remains firm. A fair p
of the public sales, consisting of 3,200 boxes of 11roportioit
and 3,000 boxes of Pernambuco, sold at previous rates, the
remainder bought in, at full prices. The refined market is
unaltered. Grocery lumps, 46e. to 47a. 6d.
PPY/111-1,000 Ulf bake of Meeks won eared ; tisk
importer met the buyers, submitted to a decline of le., nod
all sold.

TEA.—The market is steady. luiported into London
from the let of January to the 16th of Februry, 1853,
11,094,0001b1. ; time time in 1952, 10,153,0001 h. ; de-
livered, 5,721,0001b5. ; same time in 1852, 5,608,00011 n.
Stock in the United Kingdom on the 10th of February,
58,833,0001h5. ; same tine in 1852, 55,000,0001 N.
INDIOO.—The quarterly sale closed to-day. The total
quantity declared was 14,7,50 chests, of which 8,200 sold ;
the remainder bought is or withdrawn. Bengal cold from
4d. to Bd. advance, including favourite marks. Kurpaha
sold 3d. to 6d. ; &small portion floc, 6.1. to Is. Madras dry
leaf prices opened at 3d. discount, but closed at par.
Rics.-600 bags Bengal sold 11.. 6,1. to 125., which were
full prices.
In other articles no alteration.

SMITHFIELD HAY MARKET.—THIS DAY.
Mr. E. J. Davis reports no alteration in the trade. Prime
meadow Hay. 841. to 9Us. ; inferior, 72.. to 80s. ; Rowse,
60s. to 601.; Clover, 955. to 106 a. ; second cot, 755. to 901. ;
Straw, 325. to 365.

TALLOW MARKET.—THIS DAY.
The Tallow market remains quiet, at the annexed quo-
tations :—TownTallow, 445. ; Petersburg Y.C. on the spot,
445. 341..

THE MILITIA.
(From Tuesday's Gazette.)
The following commissions have been signed :
Henry Jordan 'Thornhill, gent., to be second lieutenant,
in the Huntingdonshire Militia.
Lieutenant Charles James Trevor Roper, to be captain,
in the Royal Flintshire Militia.
Richard Pelham Warren, Esq., to be captain in ditto.
Alexander Robert Chamberlin, gent., to be lieutenant,
vice Smith, resigned, in the 2nd or Eastern Regiment of
Norfolk Militia.

Spencer Thomas Smyth, gent., M.D., to be assistant-
sargeon end ensign, vice Green, retired, in ditto.
Ivan Swen Andrea Herford, gent., to be ensign, in the
Ist Regiment of the Duke of Lancaster's Own Militia.
The Hon. Reginald Algernon Capel, to be ensign, in the
Hertfordshire Militia.
Arthur Macnamats, Req., to be ensign, in ditto.

RUMOURED APPEARANCE OF Two FRENCII
STEAMERS ore THE COAST.—On Thursday last, considerable
sensation was produced in Exmouth by the report, brought
in by tome fishermen, that they had noticed two French
steamers off the bar. The object of these steamers appears
to be to take the soundings of the port, as they are noticed
to advance at dusk, and to retire at daylight.—Foster Gas.
' GUNPOWDER ACCIDENT.—On Saturday a farmer
living at Pit Farm Mambead, named William Ellis, having
&quantity of gunpowder, placed it in • pewter plate near
the fire, for the purpose of drying it, when by some means
it exploded, totally blinding him and shattering the win-
dows of the house. He now lies in • dangerous state.—Rid.
EXTENSIVE FIRE THIS MORNING.—The immense
pile of premises extending from No. 8 to 14, St. Paul's
Churchyard, and occupied by Mr. John T. Pawson and
Co., linendrapers, were discovered, at half-past 2 this
morning, to be on fire. The flames were at first perceptible
in the lower part of the house at No. 8, and it is conjec-
tured that the overheating of a steam apparatus was the
cause of the outbreak. To convey au idea of the business
done in the firm, we may here mention that no less than
three hundred young men are employed therein—one hun-
dred of whom were asleep on the premises when the alarm
of "fire " was given, and it is gratifying to learn that all
effected their escape. The engine from the Farringdon-
street station wee soon on the spot, but considerable time
elapsed ere the others arrived owing to the bad condition of
the streets, consequent on the hard frost. Water being ob-
tained, the hose was directed to the burning mass, but at the
time of going_to press the fire was still raging.
SOUTU WALES RAILWAY.—The items of the
revenue account from the 19th July to the 31st December,
1852, are as follows :—Dr. To maintenance of way, stations,
and works, 5,8521. 15s. 6d. ; to supply of rolling stock and
power provided by the Great Western Railway Company
(subject to the award to be made by Sir Wm. Cubitt), say
19,0001.; to carrying account, via., wages to guards, police,
porters, clothing, oil, tallow, &c., 3,7841-Bs. 9d.; to gene-
ral charges, TIE., superintendents and clerks, advertising,
printing, stationery and sundries, including travelling ex-
penses, 2,9681. 16s. 10d. ; to compensation for accidents,
returns and allowances, 611. Gs. Bd. ' • to government duty
on gross receipts from passengers, 1,3461. Is. ; to rates and
taxes, 2761. 17e. sd. ; to general office expenses, 7871. 10s. •
making 34,0771. 16s. 2d.; to balance carried to general
revenue account. 23,3341. Os. 34. : t. tai, 67,4111. 164. 6d.
Cr. By traffic, viz., passengers, 37,4721. Os. Ild.; carriages,
hones, and dogs, 6451. 131. sd. ; making a total of 38,017/.
14s. 4d.; mails, expresses, &c., 5,3091. 17s. 61.; merchan-
dise, cattle, &c., 12,1921. 25.31.; parcels, 1,857/. ls. 9d. ;
by rent of station platforms, coal yards, &c., 351. Os. 7d.;
total, 67,4111. 16e.
_sd.

YORK AND NORTH MIDLAND RAILWAT.-Yes-
terday (Wednesday) the half-yearly me.ting of this com-
pany was held in the De Grey ROOM!, York. The attend-
ance of shareholders was not numerous. Mr. H. 8.
Thompson, of Moat Hall, chairman of the company,
presided. The report of the directors, which bad been
previously circulated among the shareholders, was taken as
read, after which the two retiring director., Mr. Alderman
Seymour and Mr. Priestman, were unanimously re elected.
The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, re-
marked that. looking at the accounts, the traffic of the
company had taken a very decided start. This increase
had arisen from the soundest and best of all possible sources,
viz , the development of traffic at all the small stations ; and
there was also a general improvement over the whole line.
The report was then adopted, and a dividend was declared
after the rate of 3 per cent. per annum, deducting income-
tax, and to be paid on the 3rd of March next. The meet-
ing:was then made special, for the purpose of considering
the propriety of giving increased terms to the Leeds
Northern Company, in connexion with the proposed amal-
gamation between that company, the York, Newcastle and
Berwick, and this company.-The Chairman moved that
those terms be sanctioned, viz., 8,9, and 10 per cent. to the
Leeds Northern Company for the first, second, and third
years of the amalgamation, and thenceforward at 10 per
cent. He was still of opinion that the terms originally
proposed were fair and equitable, but the directors thought
it would nevertheless be better to give the increased terms
rather than that the amalgamation should go off altogether.
Mr. Shaw of Wakefield, asked if the competition had
ceased between the three companies ?-The Chairman said
some alteration had been made. They had reverted to the
fares which were in existence before this groat competition
commenced. He entered into a variety of reasons why the
directors considered the amalgamation would be advantage-
ous to this company ; and the amalgamation motion was
eventually carried.-A vote of thanks to the directors con-
cluded the bounces of the meeting.
LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY.-
Return of traffic for the week ending Feb. 20, 1853 :-
Passengers, parcels, carriages, horses, and mails,
21,2161: 16s. 114. • merchandise, 19,1931. Os. 2d.; 'cattle,
7831. 14,. 2d. Tot:al, 41,1931. lls. 3d. Corresponding week,
1862, 39,1901. 13s. 10d.
GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY.-Return of traffic,
for week ending Feb. 13, 1863:-Passengers, parcels, car-
riages, hones, dogs, and mails, 5,7741.119.9 d. ; merchandise
and minerals, 7,081. Os. 7d.; cattle,olBl. 9s. Id.-
Total, 13,2;111. Is. 5d.; Corresponding week, 1852,
11,4041. 15s. 6d.
LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY.-
Amount of traffic for the week ending Feb. 20, 1853 .;--Paa-
liftmen, 6,3581. Is. Id.; goods, 2,6361. 4s. 9.1. Total,
8,9941. ss. 105.
CORY AND BANDON RAILWAY.-RettlTH of traffic
for the week ending 19th of February, 1853 :-Passengen,
parcels, &c., 1101. 41. 4d. ; merchandise, cattle, &c.,
581. Bs. Id. ; total, 1681. 12s. sd. Traffic for corresponding
week last year-Passengers, parcels, &c., 851. 15s. 9d. ; mer-
chandise, cattle, etc., 201. Its. 3d. ; total, 1061. is. Od.
BELFAST AND COUNTY DOWN RAILWAT.-The
traffic on the above railway was, for the week ending
Feb. 20, 1853 : - Passengers, 1101. 18s. 7d. ; subscriptions,
1.21. 121. lls. 4d. ; goods and parcels, 351. 14s. 9d. tat,
1591. 4s. 811. For the week ending Feb. 22, 19/41:e- •
gen, 2591. Os. 6d.; subscriptions, 104. lei ald. ;
and parcels, 391. 17s. 11d. Total, 3091. 11sh 4d. ' .