The Express.
London, England, 1862-11-03 00:00:00

WEST ?LARDERS RAJLWAYS-(THIS DAY).

The 34th half-yearly general meeting of pro-
prietors (preliminary to the ordinary meeting to be held at
Bruges on the 10th inst.) wee held at 1 o'clock, at the
offices of the company in Moorgate.street, Mr. it. TILL in
the chair. The directors' repott contains the following
statements :

" A considerable falling off in trade, together with the
reduced scale of rates, has diminished the receipts upon
the lines during the past half Isar by 736/. 2s. cal. The
commercial distress is common to all other lines. As
regards the reduction in the taiafs, in connexion with
the government Foe, it is necessary to await the
expenence to be afforded by another year of a
more ordinary character in order to determine upon its
advantage or others ese. This is a subject which the
directors will not fail to examine and determine
upon at the proper time. The expenditure, owing to
the large outlay in the corresponding period of 1361
for new tyres, &c., is less by 898/. lls. 4d. than at that
time; and the result of the half-year's working
shows a net profit of 5,4021. Ca. Bd., applicable to dividend.
The directors propose oat of this sum to declare a dividend
of four shillings per share, payable at the usual places
on the 15th instant, leaving a balance of 501. 18s. Bd.,
which, with the former balance, will amount to
961. Bs, 10d. to be carried forward to the new account.
Both road and plant are kept in excellent order ; and the
engineer's report upon them is open to the inspection of the
shareholders. During the half-year some alterations have
been made in the workshops as well as in some of the stations
with a view to economical working and to meet the increased
traffic. Many new schemes for railways in Belgium have
been proposed, some of which might affect our lines. Such
projects will continue to receive the best attention of the
directors."

The CHAMMAN observed that the report of the directeur-
gerant (M. Chantrill) was so complete, that it left him
scarcely anything to say in moving the usual formal reso-
lution. This he believed was only the second occasion on
which they had had to report some sli3ht interruption in the
onward program of the concern. It arose, however, from
the same cause which had affected almost every interest in
this country. Belgium was, like ourselves, suffering se-
verely from the deficiency in the supply of cotton. Ghent
has large establishments engaged in the manufacture of
cotton goods, and the difficulties were occasioned by the
want of the raw material.

The report was adopted, ead a dividend at the rate of 4.
per share agreed to.

PRESENTATION OF THZ LORD MAYOR ELICr TO
THE LORD CHANCELLOR. —{TlllB DAY.)—Mr. Alderman
Rose, the Lord Mayor elect, was this day promoted to the
Lord Chancellor (Lord Westbury) in the hall of the Middle
Temple with the usual ceremony.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. —(THIS Day.)—The
judges assembled this morning for the purpose of fixing the
days for holding the sessions of the Central Criminal Court
for the ensuing year. The following days were appointed :-
1862.—Monday, November 24; Monday, December 15.
ls63.—Monday, January 5 ; Monday, February 2 ; Monday,
March 2 ; Monday, April 6 ; Monday, May 11 ; Monday,
June 8 ; Monday, July 13 ; Monday, August 17; Monday,
Septemtser 21; and Monday, October 2ti.
With reference to a report which had obtained
currency, that the Duke of Newcastle was seriously Melia-
peed, the 04acreer mays," We are glad to be able to relieve
the anxiety of the numerous friends of the Duke of New-
castle. We have the best authority for stating that there
is no foundation for the rumours of the alarming nature of
the duke'a illness." The Natii aeham Daily Guardian
states That his Grace was not sufficiently recovered from
his indisposition to attend the meeting for the delivery of
the prizes in conuoxion with the Oxford local examinations,
and le the advice of his medical attendant, Dr. Robertson,
he left Nottingham for Clumber on Friday morning."
SERIOUS ILLNESS OF THE MARQUIS OP BREADILL-
BANE.—The Marquis of Breadalhane left London about a
month back for the Continent, after a partial recovery from
• severe attack of illness. Only a few days ago accaunts
were received that justified the impression that his lordship
had derived benefit by his journey on the Continent. The
marquis's malady haa, however, assumed a serious aspect.
A telegram was received yesterday morning from Unwise
(Switzerland), to the effect that the most serious arms-
torns have set in, and but slight hopes are now held out
for his recovery. The Duke of Buckingham left yesterday
(Sunday) for the purpose of joining his uncle.
LORD BROUG HAM ON THE GLASGOW MURDER CASE.
—The quarterly epistle of Lord Brougham to the Earl of
Radnor, published in the Law Maaa:ine, refers to various
subjects of interest relating to the administration of the law ;
and is advocating the principle that accusal persons should
be allowed to offer themselves for examination, he alludes
to the Sandyford murder case, which has recently excited
so much general interest. He characterises the agitation
upon the subject as a scandal, and remarks that Jessie
M'Lachlan would have desired to be examined, and that her
sifted testimony would either have led to en acquittal or
confirmed the verdict : in either case the public mind would
have been eatisfied. As it is the woman has been convicted
of murder, and, though sentence of death is not to be carried
into execution, she has not received a pardon, though the
respite was panted on the ground of the doubt which (mine
as tabor guilt. Lord Brougham considers that the only
objection urged against the proposed extension of the Evi-
deuce Act—that any party declining to be examined would
beiupposed to be guilty for that reason—would be entirely
removed by the judge's explanatioa to the jury.

Stock on hand this day ... .caaks
Delivery last week
Ditto from Ist June
Arrival last week
Ditto from Ist June
trice Y.C. per cwt. this day I
Ditto Town last Friday

68,617
Y. 344
. 41,469
6,6229
74,962
616&L
• GU. &L

93,793 43,606
3,325 1,898
65,u24 32,961
7,415 287
47,001 59,255
514. 96. •74. Od.
554. 9d. 474. Ad.

1800. UM

Arrival for the week ending 2: ov. 10. last year, Ar 2 mum
and delivery. 3.`ki east':

week comprised 212 casks South American,
155 other places ; total, 21,7 casks.

METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.
(THIS DAY.)
We have a few more beasts than on Thursday last. Trade
is excessively dull owing to the mild weather and a large
supply at the dead-markets. Thursday's quotations
are realised for choicest kinds, but a clearance cannot
be effected. The number of sheep is very little larger;
however, the demand is much smaller, and prices are lower.
A large number remain unsold. Calves are lower. From
Germany and Holland there are 2,290 beasts, 8,850 @beep,
and 248 calves ; Ireland, 1,190 beasts and 1,030 shoe ; and
2,940 beasts from the northern and midland counties.
Per stone of Blha. a d. ad. Par stone of Ma a. . a. d.
Best BMA, Ilerefda. 4 6 4 8 Beet Inuall/-bdaillt 0 0
Best Short-horns 4 4 4 6 Best Long-w 0015.... 4 1 6
Second goal beast 303 10 Do. do. Shorn .... 0 0
Calve*
Pins
Best Dos& Ulf-brads 6 4 6 6 LiMM 0 0
Beasts se market, 6,420; Asp and Limbs, 24,630; Calm, 222
Pigs, 430.

BOROUGH HOP MARKET.—(THIS DAY.)
Messrs. Pattenden and Smith report that the hop market
continues firm at the late advanced rates. Colony sam-
ples of all sorts are difficult to meet with.

COAL MARKET.—(THIS DAY.)
Wall.) End Hatton 19a. 6d.; Walls End South Hatton,
19e. 3d.; Walls Ead Russell Battens, 113 s. 6d. ; Wall
End Hatton Lyon., 18s. ; Holywell, 16.. 9d. ; Wylam,
16a. 9,1. ; lambert's Hartley, 17a. 9d.—Ships at market, 35.

THE METROPOLITAN RAILWAY.—The require-
ments of the Railway Department of the Board of
Trade respecting the working of the signals upon this line
have caused greater delay than was expected, and much
disappointment to the engineers and all persons connected
with the line. Not only have the signals been required to
be larger and more numerous, but the machinery for work.
log them has had to be adapted to this altered state of
things. A few days will now witness the completion of all
the necessary chooses, and, if possible. everything will be in
working order by the 10th instant.—Obsereer.

THE DISTRESS IN LANCASHIRE. —The members
of the Working Men's College, 45, Great Ormond-street,
held a meeting on Saturday evening, for the purpose of
establishing a fund for the relief of the distress in the
north. The chair was occupied by R. B. Litchfield,
Esq., 8.A.; the Principal, the Rev. F. 1). Maurice, being
unavoidable absent.

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, LIVERPOOL. —The
contests in the various wards of this borough were brought
to • close on Saturday. The following is the result :
Libersi. —ln Evertor and Kirkdale ward Mr. Stitt was
elected by a majority of 74. He was opposed by Mr. Hub-
back (conservative). In all the other wards the gentlemen
elosted!were conservatives. Castle-street ward. majority
for Mr. Maxwell 151 ; Lime-street ward, majority for Mr.
Cooper 32; North Toxteth ward, majority for Mr. Livingston
67 ; South Toxteth ward, majority for Mr. Wilson 108.
SocrwamProw. —The municipal contests here
have bees the severest known for some years. The result is
a conservative gain of three yoke, viz., one in each of the
wards of St. Michael's, St. Lawrenoe, and MI Saints.
ATTEMPTED CHILD MURDER.—At Hereford, be-
tween 3 and 4 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, • tramp,
who gives the name of Caroline Eddy, and represents
herself as belonging to Bath, made a very determined
attempt to take the life of her youngest child, a boy
shout 15 months old. She had three other children
with her, the eldest • youth of about 15, and having
sent these away she turned out of Widemarsh.street,
a main thoroughfare, into Blackfriarsetmet, which cop-
sista of very few houses. There she attempted to gimmick
the child by mains of • strong piece of string tied twice
round its neck. The woman was taken into custody. She
stated that her husband is an inmate of a lunatic asylum at
Bath, and that, having nothing to give the child, she had
resolved to destroy it. The appearance of the woman, who
is of middle ap, does not denote very great distress. and
she seems perfectly mane. She was taken before Mr. I'. T.
Davies, • city magistrate, on Saturday evening, and re.
mauled natal Monday (this day).