The Express.
London, England, 1848-06-22 00:00:00

EAST INDIA HOUSE.

Yesterday a quarterly general court of proprietors
of East India Week was held at the company'll house, in
Leadenhall.street. for the despatch of hustuesa ; Sir James
Law Lushington in the chair. The minutes of the last court
were read and confirmed.
The CHAIRMAN acquainted the court that the petition re-
lative to the sugar duties, which was agreed to at the last
general court, was presented to the House of Commons on
the following evening by John Masterman, Esq., M.Y. for
the City.
The CHAIRMAN then said that the accounts and papers
which had been !aid before parliament since the last quar-
terly general court were now laid upon the proprieters' table,
the titles of which would he read by the clerk. They were
read accordingly. An account of the superannuation
granted since the last court was also read.
DIVIDENII.—The CHAIRMAN acquainted the court that
the dividend warrants would be ready for d.livery on the
6th July,
BY R-LAWS.—The report of the committee of bye-laws was
read. It merely stated that the bye-laws had been duly
observed during the past year.
THE RAJAH or SATTARA.—Mr. SULLIVAN said the ques.
lion rela,ive to the Itajilt of Setters had, within the last
three weeks, assumed a new aspect. The disappearance of
Allah Sahib from the scene induced him to inquire what
were the intentions of the directirs with reference to the
territory of Satter*? It was stated teat it was not intended
to allow the adopted son of the late rejah to succeed to the
property of his father. He wished, therefore, to know
whether the directors had sent out to India '.ny and what
instructions on the subject of the disposal of the rajah's
territory ?
The CHAIRMAN said be had a very plain answer to give
to the question—namely, that no instructions wha.ever had
been sent out to India on the subject.
Mr. SULLIVAN inquired whether the directcrre had it in
contemplation to send out any instruntions on the subject?
The CualliMAN said that he could not say what course
they would adopt until they had received certain despatches
from the Bombay government.
Mr. Lewis wished to know whether those despatches
would be laid before the proprie'ors when they did • ?
The Cna.inmate said he could not give any assurance to
that effect until be knew what were the contents of th ins

Panel's.
I 'Mr G. THOMPSON regretted that the chairman had not
given a more satistactory answer to the question that had
bean put to him.
The C 'tallow+. said that, until the directors were made
acquainted with the View, of the Bombay government oa
the subject, he could not give the hou. proprietor any forth( r
information.
RAILWAYS IN Itintw.—Mr. SULLIVAN said the public
were extremely anxious to knew what steps the directo.s had
taken with reference to the establishment of railways in
India. Ile believed that out of three companies that had
been formed for that purpose, two had since expired, and the
third was in a state nearly approaching. to dissolution, in
consequence Of which he feared that the introduction of rail-
ways into India was further off than it was four or
five years ego. A valuable opportunity. had been
lost of introducing British manufactures Into India.
It was not by protective duties or any such trumpery
stuff that the interests of India would be best promoted. To
do justice to India every possible facility should be afforded
of bringing her produce to market. He hoped the directors
had had the twitter under their coneideratien, and that they
would not suffer India to be behind all the rest of the world
with reference to railways, of which no country stood in
greater need.
The CHAIIIMAN, in reply, said the hon. proprietor was not
strictly correct is his statement with reference to the railway
companies of India. The Bombay Railway Company had
had four months' time given them to prove that they had
sufficient capital to go on with, and he hoped that the neces.
sary deposits would be paid in Ausust next. No persons
could be more desirous than the directors teethe introduction
of railways into India, and now that their hands were clear
by the dissolution of two of the proposed companies, they
would keep the suhjict before them, and consider what
would be tee best means of promuting the introduction of
railways into India. It was quite a mistake to suppose that
they had any wish to throw obstacles in the way of any rail-
way company.
Mr. SULLIVAN said it was not want of sufficient cultiva-
tion that was complained of, but the enormous cost of bring-
ing the produce to market.
Yr. G. Tnusesos said that all persons who were ac-
quainted with the affairs of India agreed as to the propriety,
and even necessity, of the introduction of railways into that
, country; and while he was glad that the directors had not
, too readily granted terms to any railway company, he hoped
that in their future consideration of the question, they would
, not evict from those who had embarked their capital in such
. undertaking renditions with which it would be impossible
, for them to comply, consistently with the duty they owed to
the shareholders, but that every facility would be atTorded
: them for the bona fide accomplishment of the scheme they

prgosed •
Mr. TWINING thanked the directors for the great atten-
tion they bad paid to this all-important subject.
IDOLATRY IN INDIA.—MT. POYNDER rend several memo-
rials from baptist congregations in different parte of the
country, pr ying that the government of India would take
no part or in any way assist in the idolatrous worship of the
natives. The following is a copy of one of the documents
put in :
itmolution of the ban lot missionaries in Orlon, assembled in an.
nual conference, at Cuttack, Feb. 18 to 813,
_lB4B :—That as a Early of
missionaries, called by the Providence of God to labour in Orissa, we
feel constrained to renew our protest against the iniquitous contino-
: ante of the government donation for the support of the vile.t system
• of superstition that ever degraded man and dishonoured God; and
that we intend, in the name of that God who abhors idolatry, to raise
our voice against this abomination till it 'hall be swept from the earth.
That Mr. Lacey be requested to furnish the committee with the requi-
site information an to the prevent position of this question.—{Signed)
ISAAC iirIAINS, Chairman.
The hon. proprietor gave notice that he would call the atten-
tion of the directors to these memorials on the next court
day. The court then on the question adjourned. It was
very thinly attended.