The Express.
London, England, 1851-12-05 00:00:00

MEETING OF MIDDLESEX MAGISTRATES.

PENINSULAR AND ORIENTAL STEAM NA-
VIGATION COMPANY.

The eleventh annual meeting of the company was
hold yesterday at the offices Leadenhall-street. Captain
THORNTON, R.N., in the unavoidable absence of the
chairman of the board, presided.
The SECRETARY (Mr. Howell) read the following re-
port of the directors :
" The account, of the year's operations exhibit the fel:
lowing results :—Balance of net profits for the year ending
Sept. 39, ISM, after providing out of the earnings the usual
reserves for wear and tear, insurance against sea risk, and
depreciation, also for expenses contingent on placing
several of the company's steamers on their reap ctive
Actions in India and China, Sc., as per statement,
114,03061.185. 10d.; add the balance of undivided profits from
the previous year, as per balance-sheet, 8,4091. Ils. 3d.; leav-
ing disposable for die Wend, Ate., for the year,90,2161.
deduct dividend for the half year ending March 31, 1601,
40,0001.; there remains, $0,2161. 10a. Id. ; from which has to
be deducted the half-year's dividend of four per cent.
now about to be recommended, and estimated to amount to
42,000/.; a balance then rennin% to meet contingencies, and
to be carried to the next year's account of 8,2161.10..1d. The
guarantee insurance fund now amounts to 191,6101.55. 11d.
and the depreciation fund to 271,0841. 10s. 3d. The bal-
ance remaining at the 30th September, ROI, on the pes-
prietors' underwriting account, amounts to 29,53.11. 31. Id.,
out of which the directors recommend a payment of IL per
old share, and Is. per new share, earlyits the ensuing year,
to each proprietor on the number of shares for which ha
may be cutitled to the dividend now about to be declared,
which, it is estimated, will amount to 20,5001., leaving a
balance to the milli of this account of about 9,03e1. A. hi.
to be carried to the next year's account.
INCREASE OP TIM COMPANY'S FLNITT.—In the re-
port of the direators, of the 31st of May last, it was inti-
mated that two screw steamers, of 1,200 tons, and one of
I,tloo tons, had been contracted for. The two former are
expected to be ready for sea in January next, and the
latter may be expected to be handed over to the company
in May following. The directors have also to announce,
that in order to maintain a regular monthly communisation,
or more frequently, if found to be necessary, between Cal-
cutta and China, they purchased, on the stocks, two screw
steam-vessels, of about iOO tons each : the first, the Shanghai,
was despatched for her station on the 22nd of October last,
and the second, the Chusan, will be despatched about the
close of the year, or early in January next Its order to
meet the growiug demands of the public on the company's
tines of communication between England, Judie, and
China, tic., fur inure extended passenger accommodation,
and also for an increased rate of speed, the directors have
contracted for one of a series of large steamers, which they
have named the Himalaya, measuring upwards of 3,000
tons, and to be propelled by engines of 1,200 horses-,
power.
" LOSS OF THE STEAM SHIP PACHA.—The directors
regret to report one casualty to the company's fleet during
the last twelve month, in the loss of the steam ship Pacha,
in the straits of Malacca, at midnight of the 21st of July
last, by collision with the company's steam ship Erin, the
former being on her way from China to Calcutta, acid the
latter bound from Calcutta to China.
" With this exception the directors have much pleasure in
reporting to the shareholders that the latest accounts IT-
mitred from the different agencies and stations of the com-
pany show their fleet to be in a most efficient state, and
their affairs generally in a satisfactory condition.
"TRANSIT AND RAILWAY THROUGH EGYPT.—The
determination of his Highness the Paella of Egypt to com-
mence the construction of a railway through that country
was adverted to by the direcsirs in their last half-yearly
report. Since that period circumstances with which the
proprietors have no doubt become acquainted by means of
the public pipers have somewhat retarded the actual corn.
mencament of this important undertaking ; but they have
now the satisfaction to announce that these difficulties have
been removed, and that the largo staff of engineers, who
were conveyed to Alexandria by the company's September
steamer, had at the date of the last &deices entered upon
their operations, and that the works will now be earned
forward with all possible speed.
"The uutgoing directors by rotation, Mr. J. C. Ewart
and Cap
_lain A. Nairne ; and the auditor., the lion. J. T.
Leib Melville and Mr. Raikes Currie, being willing to
ileres ergs if re-elected ; and being, under the terms of
*a dead, immediately re-eligible, the board cordially re-
commend these gentlemen to your choice.
" The directors now recommend that a dividend of fuur
per cent., clear of income tax, for the half-year ending 30th
of September last, be declared, sad be payable on and after
the 23rd inst.
General BRIGGS, in moving the adoption of the report,
which, he said, was in itself very satisfactory, complained
that the accounts were signed by only one of the auditors,
and requested an explanation of that fact. As regarded the
screw steamers, he thought their power and velocity bad
yet to be pruned to the proprietors, but he presumed that
before entering into engagements with regard to them the
directors had taken care to satisfy themselves on the sub-
ject. He was confident that the proposals of the hoard for
the new contract would be such as the government would
seeept, and that the concern would continue to flourish.
Dr. A. BEATTIE, it seconding the motion, said the re-
port for the year ending the 30th of September last, just
handed to them by the directors, and to the accuracy of
which, in apecuniary point of view, from a personal exa-
mination of the accounts, he was able to testify, showed
that the affairs of the company had continued, by madness
and careful management, to progress in a very satisfactoey
manner.
The motion was then adopted.
Mr. IiA.DOW proposed Mr. De Salii to fill the mew,/
in the direction, observing that that gentleman had had
great experience in mercantile matters in Australia, and
had shown his qualifications for the office by_ the evidence
which he gave before the committee of the House of Com-
mons on steam communication last session.
The motion was carried unanimously.
Mr. DE SALIS returned thanks. He said during his
residence in Australia he had naturally acquire I some
knowledge of its local affairs, as well as its social require-
ments. At any other period he would gladly niche some
remarks with regard to their probable future relations with
other parts of the world, but as the matter was then under
discussion be thought it desirable not to do so. He be-
lieved, however, they were all agreed in thinking that the
period when they would establish relations with Australia
was not far distant. (Hear, hear.)
On the motion of /dr. WILLIS, seconded by Mr. WIL-
LIAMS, the retiring directors were re-elected.
Captain NADINE returned thanks for himself and Mr.
Ewart.
Mr. WILLCOX in proposing that the auditors should be
re-elected, stated that the reason why Mr. Melville alone
had signed the accounts was that Mr. Carrie was on the
continent.
The motion having been seconded and agreed to,
Mr. MELVILLE returned thanks for himself and Mr.
Clinic, and said that the latter gentleman on his return from
Italy would gothrough the accounts, and uo doubt append
to them his signature.
Major HYSLOP moved in accordance with the recom-
mendation of the board the payment of a dividend of 4 per
cent. for the past half-year, and declared his belief that
that dividend had been honestly earned.
Colonel SANDI'S seconded the motion, which was
adopted unanimously.
A vote of thanks to the chairman and the directors gene-
, rally terminated dm proceedings.

i IRISH CiiClail MliiiilONs.—Yeaterday a public
meeting of the friends of the society for Irish Charch Mis-
sions to the Roman catholies was held at the Queen's Con-
cert Room, Useever-square, to adopt measures for extend-
' ing its operations. The Earl of Shaftesbury presided, and
is swan the preseedlap remarked, that the temporal,
pthilied, mad prehohly the spiritual interests of Ireland de.
radii apse the Mai of such missions as those the society
was earam H. traced the history et the connexion
of lisolowl altkiegiand and declared that it was the plain
duty of this WNW/ to attend to the spiritual interests of the
sister lead. The Duke of Manchester, the lion. Arthur
Rhona, Mr. J. C. Colouboun ' • the Rev. T. Nolan,
MA., istembeat of St. John's Chapel, Bedford-row ;
the Rev. W. Cadman, M.A., minister of Park Chapel,
Chelsea I the Rev. Akixander Dallas, M.A., rector of
Wi. s.jl Ow Rev.:. O'Callaghan, M.A., and other con-
time, the messing, stating that the religious
movement in Ireland had been of a remarkable character,
load the labours of the moiety's agents bad been blessed
1 with siegthar memo. She minims in West Galway had
bees the moans ee a district, extending 50 miles
la length sad SO in bradth, characteristically pint/stint,
whisk hat a few yean ago was ehereateristicelly Romish.
lln thus dilaist, three or foes mime, there were not
I more than SOS mammals, and there were now at least
i 6,000 peeem heed hem Itemarikras, and attending the ser-
vine and benieWeasei the Chuck of England, while up-
I wards of 3,500 children if mama or Romanists were to
be' found in the eseletee oohed& In the city of
Dahlia Moms 2,000 ymeosionle IMO visited weekly
by thesra of the etikey, who head a ready
semi . zitallis. ism so their • inotrum•
tissa mitstilommat which had taws
Ikea lima neismosabilin every diarist with
41:•=1 smith ommihosatise. Not a single hasense had
in whisk a convert bad him sometime hake a
mogileste of say mime, or of a lamb if the poise. Br
isms/at a7:ig, the amilitheed evidemo ell mem
11.1sie sad the modhgateest sham amompt
eimatittee bat Matmakile ire hi the may
tilt itt/ir hods in osithatag the ebitied belay them.
They had seat spots throe* the
is
MAW
sad best
imaged he manse et matmiestvial
mails in Desabal. Many, Otheera _
Ye GthlW_______•thd TalmAlobiew be
qeceiszy to ammo them new aliens
lrgmtt, wee
the their: aistalaess of the _ ,
,:lartepjelgini
liberal wee soMos:d iattl 'UMW to.
..tuainersh
.......a.*.di '

Yesterday a meeting of magistrates of Middlesex
took place, at the Begrime House, Clerkeawell, for the de-
vetch of the ordinary business of the county. hlr. Powterim.
presided, and there were about forty magistrates present.
The report of the committee for finance and general pur-
poses recommended the payment of the coroners accounts as
follows :—.114r. Baker, in respect of 89 inquests, held by him
between the 3rd of October and the 13th of November,
281 f. 18s. 9d. Mr. Wekloy, 108, held by him from the 2nd
of October to the Bth of November, 4161. 21. 9d ; and Hr.
Bedford, for IS inquests, held between the Ist and 31st of
October, 641.25. Ithl. The committee reportei: that they
had required the coroners to furnish them with further infor-
mation as to the necessity for holding the itiquests in certain
cases set forth in their accounts, and having carefully ex-
amined the circumstances' they had resolved to recommend
t .e court to disallow the fees in five cases charged for by
Mr. Baker, five by Mr.Wakley, and in one case in Mr. Bed-
ford's account.

The report was sdopted, and resolutions passed in ac-
cordance therewith.

VIZ PRISONS.
The report of the committee of visiting magistrates of
the House of Correction at Culdbath-fields was laid before
the court by Mr. Maude, the deputy clerk of the peace.
It spoke htghly of the internal state of that prison, and
stated that during the past month the daily average num-
ber of prisoners was 1,180, and that the number of prisoners
at the date of the report was 1,142. There was only one
prisoner in the Infirmary, and but 30 requiring medical at-
tention.

The report from Westminster Bridewell stated that the
number of primness was eiM, and that from the House of
Detention gave the total number of prisoners confined in
that establishment at 219. The general health in both
these prisons was spoken of as highly satisfactory. Several
oilicers were recommended to the court tor increase of
wages, according to the progressive scale, fur length of
se►vice.

These reports, after a short diseutsion, were adopted by
the court, and orders made seconlingly.
Mr. JOSIAH WILSON then, pursuant to notice, pro-
ceeded "To call the attention of the court to the subject of
the progressive increase of the salaries of the warders and
officers of the prisons, and if desirable to move lor a com-
mittee to consider the same." It was a matter that
required revision ; and, if the alteration were not to have a
retrospective operation, it might be rendered applicable for
the future, andheshould move that it be referred to the

committee for finance and general purposos to conZder and
report thereon.
Mr. ROTCII seconded the motion.

f.; Mr. W. WILLIAMS, M.P., said he had served on the
expenditure committee, whose report had been named, and
some of the members of that committee, without dissenting
at all from the report when it was laid before the committee,
had come down to the court and opposed nearly all the re-
commendations it contained with regard to economy and
the reduction of expenditure, and he was sure that that court
would never attend to or carry out any recommendation of
any committee for a reduction of expenditure. he court
attended to no recommendation for economy—they had
violated their own standing orders, and the rules that had
been laid down to guide them in these matters, and there-
fore he thought, if this question were referred to the com-
mittee, that committee's decision, if for economy, would be
disregarded.
Mr. TO WNEND thought, if the public took its views
of the court from such statements as that just made, it was
no wonder it entertained the opinions just stated by the
hun. member. The court always carried out wholesome
economy, and that was the sort of economy he supported.
(Hear.)
Mr. Wilson's motion was carried by a majority of I.
On the motion of Mr. ltovcit, 5001. waagrauted for alter-
ations, at the Guildhall, Westminster.
On the motion of Mr. Trummt, the standing orders of the
court relating to music and dancing licenses, as altered on
the last county day, were re-declared standing orders of the
court.
The other business was at a formal character.

BIRMINGHAM, WOLVERHAMPTON, AND

STOUR. VALLEY.

A long correspondence on the subject of the open-
ing of this line has taken place between the London and
North Western Railway Company and the Shrewsbury and
Birmingham Railway Company. fhe first letter is dated the
22nd ut Nov., 1851, and emanates from the London and
North Western Company, stating that the line was about to
be opened, and that in order to prevent any misunderstand-
ing the directors were advised that the event had happened
upon which iglwas provided by the Stour Valley Act of 1847
that the special powers of using the line given to the Shrews-
bury and Birmingham Company should cease, and the direc-
tors felt it their duty to act upon that advice. In answer
to this the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Company on the
24th November gave notice through their solicitors of their
intention to run over the Stour Valley line on the let of
December, stating that the directors did not consider that
the company hail either relinquished or forfeited the right
which it obtained to use that railway ; and that the ques-
tion could be decided in a court of law by consent of both
parties, the right in the meantime being conceded without
prejudice. Mr. Carter, the solicitor to the London and
North Western Company, in reply to the notice from the
Shrewsbury and Birmingham Company, stated en the 27th
of November that the company had been advised that under
the agreement made by the Shrewsbury and Birmingham
Company with the Great Western Company and the other
proceedings of the parties the special powers given the
company under the Stour Valley Act of 1847 had ceased,
and that it was the intention of the company to resist
by all lawful means any attempt to exercise those powers.
And, in order to afford every reasonable facility for ob-
taining a speedy decision upon the question at issac, they
suggested that the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Company
should file a bill, and move fur an injunction to restrain
the London and North Western Company from pre-
venting them using the line in the terms of the act, the
London and North-Western undertaking to admit that they
resist such use, and the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Com-
pany undertaking to produce the agreements in question,
and all other documents affecting the matter. Between the
27th and 211th of November some letters passed between the
solicitors on both sides respecting the intention of the
Shrewsbury and Birmingham Company to book passengers
and to run over the Stour Valley line with engines and car-
riages. On the Ist of December the executive committee of
the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Company submitted a
proposition to the London and North-Western Company to
the effect, "That the exercise of the right of the Shrews-
bury and Birmingham Railway Company to use the Stout
Valley Railway be suspended without prejudice for •
month, the London and North Western Company undertak-
ing forthwith to bring the objection raised by them to that
right before the court for adjudication by injunction or
otherwise, and to open forthwith and work for public use
the Stour Valley Railway between the joint station at
Wolverhampton and Birmingham." The Shrewsbury and
Birmingham Company undertook, if the lint proposal be
not accepted, to suspend in like manner, until after Monday,
the Bth inst., the exercise of the same powers under any cir-
cumstances. On the and of December, Mr. Carter, the
solicitor to the London and North Western Company, stated
in reference to the course adopted by the Shrewsbury and
Birmingham Company oa the Ist instant to force a pas-
sage over the Stour Valley line, that: nothing but the pre-
sence of the mayor and magistrates and of a body of police
prevented them from carrying their threatened violence into
execution, and that certain loss of life must have been the
result. That before they could run their engines and car-
riages on the Stour Valley line it was therefore absolutely
necessary that the extent of their alleged rights should be
ascertained by an appeid-terthe taw. Mr. Roy, the solicitor
of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham, in a letter dated the
3rd of December, complains that the solicitor of the London
and North Western Company had misrepresented the con-
duct of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Company on theist
instant, stating that the latter company had given sufficient
notice of their intention to run over the line to enable the
London and North Western Company to move the Court of
Chancery to restrain them from exercising the right, and
that instead of doing so they chose to threaten them (the
Shrewsbury and Birmingham Company) with violence to
case they carried on their traffic from Wolverhampton.
tinder the circumstances the company hod no alternative,
rather than risk the public safety, but to abstain from car-
rying on the traffic of the district and to call in the aid of
the magistracy and police while they formally asserted their
right. Ile concludes by stating that since the London and
North Western Company penistia keeping the Stour Valley
Railway closed, the Shrewsbury and Birmingham have
gone further, and met them with an offer to suspend their
right of using the Stour Valley Railway if the London and
North Western will carry the public themselves.

REPRESENTATION OF CARDICAN.-It is current'
pelled, that at the nest general election the;metit high
sheriff sheriff of Bristol, John Ifarford Batteroby, ~ will
brought forward, cm the
.E.OZlServative interest, or the re •
presentation of the Cardigan boroughs. Mr. Battersby is
the sea-law of Chevalier Bunsen, and heir to John
Sambset Ilartord, Dab of Maize Castle, in the neigh-
heartseed of Bristol.
REPRESENTATION OP BRISTOL—The statement in
now Misajimaad that at tie sa4 election, Mr. Frede-
rick TIMM by the liberals of the
city kt pratast tatting liberal member,
Mr. Eleit, he the It has been plainly
hinted it taw dime fait at the Dolphin, in connec-
tion doe Caen tressey. that lie. Philip Miles
..,21_,,,,..rimmot.lisrwarg IS the inaserrative cause.
antteat would ensue;
is=no 11111101111 that the filleirmers are strong
enough to dem time aim. Mr. Prod: Peel, Lady Peel,
and a pare= sense tuaily Los for nese time past been
ratigist is pialsay. at S Gifted, is the immediate
riolaityaki#l4:-