The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-15 00:00:00

AUSTRALIAN ROYAL MAIL STEAM PACKET

COMPANY.

Yesterday an extraordinary general meeting of
this company took place at the London Tavern, Bishops-
gate-street, for the purpose of resolving the time required
for the tenure of shares by a director previous to hii elec-
tion, from the period of six consecutive months now re-
quired by the deed of settlement to the period of ten
consecutive days next preceding his election, as agreed to
at the last general meeting, and since sanctioned by the
Board of Trade ; and so far as may be requisite in relation
thereto, annulling, altering, or varying the existing provi-
sions of the deed of settlement. Also for the purpose of
appointing new directors, appointing an auditor, and filing
the remuneration of directors and auditors. Mr. FRITH in
the chair.

The minutes of the last meeting having been read,
The CHAIRMAN announced that an application had been
made to the Board of Trade, and that the
result was a concession of the proposed altera-
tion in the deed of settlement. It was now their duty
to proceed to the election of directors—five gentlemen
had altogether retired from the direction, and they were
therefore called upon to elect seven gentlemen in lieu of
those who had tendered their resignations, but who were
eligible for re-election. In the first instance, however, he
would propose a resolution to the effect that so much of the
provisions of the company's deed of settlement, and pad-
calmly of its 44th clause as provides that no shareholder
shall be eligible to the office of director unless for six con-
secutive months next previously to the time of his election
he shall have been registered as the proprietor of the num-
ber of shares prescribed as forming the necessary qualifica-
tion for a director—shag, with the consent end approval of
the Board of Trade, be so far altered as to dispense with the
necessity of any tenure of shares by any person who may be
hereafter elected a director, for a longer period than ten
days next preceding the time of his election.
Mr. WALTON seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN then observed that it was now competent
for any gentleman to propose the names of seven candi-
dates to occupy the direction.
Mr. MALINS was of opinion that their interests would
be best consulted by retaining on their board a certain
number of gentlemen who had already gone through the
ordeal of the management of this company. He thought
it would be highly inexpedient that the directors should
retire in a body, and on this ground he proposed that Mr.
East be requested to retain his position as a director.
A long and irregular discussion then took place, in the
course of which various opinions were expressed respecting
the course which it was advisable for the minting to adopt;
and it was suggested that the directors should consist of
gentlemen who were acquainted with shipping, and whose
practical experience was of such a nature as to qualify them
for the management of a great steam company.
Mr. AMBROSE MOORE said the shareholders ought not to
be content to receive the name of Mr. East, or that of any
other gentleman unconnected with the general body of
directors. lie therefore proposed that the following gentle-
men be appointed directors : Mr. East, Mr. Kennedy, and
Mr. Shepherd (from the members of the direction who had
I tendered their resignation), and Mr. Matins, Mr. Tootle,
Mr. Davis, and Mr. Jackson (from the body of proprietors.)
A discuasiJn ensued upon the propriety of electing these
, gentlemen under the circumstances, and the proposition was
Irejected.
Mr. MOORE then moved a resolution to the effect that a
, committee of shareholders be appointed to prepare a list of
directors ; that the meeting be adjourned for three weeks,
in order that time might be allowed for the purpose ; that
any shareholder willing to serve should send in his name
on or before the 26th inst. ; and that the list be prepared
six days before the day of election.
Various opinions were expressed for and against this re-
solution—some gentlemen contending that it was advisable
for them to be guided by the old maxim, that " delays are
dangerous " (as they had been proved to be in reference to
the affairs of this company), and others urging that it was
better that they should be influenced by another trite
Malign, which said "look before you leap." The waver%
Illetion at length assumed somewhat of an angry tone. and,
' iu the midst of much confusion and misunderstanding, a
number of .zentlemen were proposed seriatim as directors,
and their election agreed to by a majority.
Mr. ?doom, seconded by Mr. Gens Elf, demanded a
ballot upon each election, and, as he refused to relax Ills
determination in this respect, notwithstanding that he re•
ceived repeated entreaties to do so, it was ultimately rip cd
that the polling should be proceeded with during the next
three days, and that the meeting be adjourned till Friday
to ascertain the result. The meeting was accordingly ad'
loaned.

Vty Court.

•

WINDSOR, Nov 14.

The Duke and Durbesa of Brabant, attended by
the Url.oan Minieter and the Count and Count.es Gustave
de lenooy, left WISIIOOI tut evening by the Great Western
*Wetly for Plymouth.
The earl of ClArcudon ieft the Castle to•day for Loados.
Lord E:phialltolle bad an audience of the Queen.

A deputation from the parish of AU Saints, Poplar, rela-
tor to clooing the churchyard, transacted buaint sa pater-
day at the llonie.othee. The deputation conaisted of the
Ber 1. T. Basely (rector), Messrs. John Carter, Samuel
K. Charles Darling and Edward Coleman (veatry-
• nd r Cuss. C. Clte (vestry clerk) The (foram-
t,,a introMduced be Mr.ee thas. S. Butler,. M.P.
04 Earl of Clarendon
on
in town yesterday from a
vivo to ter *tit sty at Windatir Castle.
v....patches were received at the Colenial.office yesterday
tremolo Governor of Bermuda. Dispatches were seat
yesterday to the Governors of the Cape of Good Mope and

lier Mujesty the Queen, hearing of the very
btoy „rein up ► the fund. of the Shipwrecked Fisher-
men And Menace.' 11uyal Benevolent Society, consequent
spuu late disevrous gales, hes with her accustomed
liist.r.iry ye...muted this vulauhle institution, of which she
ramp, with the sea of 100 guineas.

The Austrian Ambassador at St. Petersburg, Count
Memdos if Pouilly, now at Vis ring will, it is raid, shortly
return to St. recall. f
the purpooe of deli •g an
impart letter of recall. Count Valentine Esterhasy, at
present Austrian Ambassador at Munich, is spoken of as
their hsble future Austrian Ambassador at the Court of
St. Peter, meg.
)I.ljur lierbert Edwardes is spoken of in India as
the pr ,bahle successor to Colonel Marks:ton, lately assassi-
nated at PiIbIIWUT.
I.ord Fullerton has retired from the Scotch bench.
The Rev. When. Vincent Sheldon has been
appointed to the curacy of St. Matthias Church, Liverpool,
as the nomination of the Venerable Jonahan Brooks and
the Bev. Augustus Campbell, rectors of Liverpool.

DEATH OF MR. THOMASSON, IN INDIA.