The Express.
London, England, 1851-11-04 00:00:00

LOCAL :.lIARE MARKETS.

Ltvansmot, Nov. 3.—The market opened this morning
a little better, but the improvement was not maintained,
and we close very flat and at lower rates.—Birkenhead,
Lancashire, and Che-hire, 11) d.—Ditto (lute Chester and
Birkenhead), 'l6).—Ditto (2:9. shares), 61d.—Lancashire '
and Yorkshire, 54 —Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, 21 d.
—London and North Western, 1131 i—Ditto (new quar-
ter shares), 21 p.—Midland, 48 (Erewash Valley),
631—North Staffordshire, 8) d.—North Western, 14 d.—
South Eastern and Dover, IN—York and North Mid-
land, 191.
BIRMINGHAM, Nov. 3.—This market was very languid
to-day. and priers showed no symptoms of improvement.
Old Birmingham Canals were done at 941 ; and General
Steam Navigation Company's shares at 271.
LEEDS, Nov. 3.—The market opened rather better this
morning, and both Midlands and Lancashire and Yorkshires
were dune at a small advance upon Saturday's sales ; but
upon the whole, the market does not indicate any change of
importance. The closing quotations were as fellows:—
Midland Stock, 47(, opened at 4S; York and North Mid-
ands, 19; Lancashire and Yorkshires, 34.

CHARGE OF FORGERT AT ROCHESTER. —At the
sitting of magistrates, at the Guildhall, Rochester, on Sa-
turday, Mr. Austin Robert Stare, of Strood, ironmonger,
Was charged with having forged a bill of exchange for
310/., purporting to bo accepted by Messrs. Cheetham and
Gill, shipbuilders in the neighbourhood. Mr. Stephenson,
solicitor, explained that the prosecutor* were shipbuilders
at Frindshury ; that in July, 1819, a deed was entered into'
between them and Messrs. French and Stace, by which the '
latter consented to advance money at a certain per tentage,
and which deed gave them great powers. Ile said it had
been recently ascertained that bills of exchange were in
existence bearing the prosecutors names, in consequence
of which they went to London, where four bills were traced,
purporting to be accepted by them—two for 3001., one for
340/., and one for 3.101. 12s. 44.—which they believed to
have been accepted in the handwriting of Stave, and which
they repudiates]. The one in question was dated the Bth of
June' and made payable at the London and County
Bank, the holders of which were Messrs. Barclay, Bevan,
and Co., of Lombard-street, and purporting to be accepted
by Cheethant and Gill. Mr. William Shaw, clerk to Mr.
Curtis, solicitor, of Haberdashers' Hall, London, produced
the bill of exchange which they had received from Barclay'
and Co. about a fortnight ago. Crow-examined be Mr.
Hawkins—We have issued a writ against Stace for this ac-
ceptance, and also against Cheethara and Gill, and the se
tions are now pending. Mr. George Cheatham and Mr. G.
W. Gill were both examined, both of whom denied
having authorised the accused to accept bills in
their names. Mr. Hawkins handed in the deed bearing
date July 2, 1819, from which it appeared that an
arrangement was entered into between Cheetham and Gill
on the one part, and French and Stace on the other, in
which the latter undertook to advance money at 30 per
cent. interest; whilst in another covenant the former
made over the plant and machinery at the Ship-yard to
French and State as security for such advances. Mr.
David French, of Chatham, coal-merchant, who was called
by Mr. Stephenson, said he had been in the habit of send-
ing bills for acceptance to Stace drawn on " Cheetham,
Gill, and Co." On the Bth of June he drew one, and his
orders were, if Cheetham was not in the way, to go on to
Stace. The acceptance prodiced, he said, was in Stace's
handwriting. The mayor said he thought sufficient had
been stated to send the ease to a more competent tribunal,
and asked the defendant " if he had anything to say in
answer to the charge," when it was intimated that ho in-
tended to reserve his defence. Mr. Hawkins, addressing
the bench, said—lf the magistrates have determined on
sending the case to a jury, the less I sly now the better,
as I am not desirous of giving those parties who appear
against us the opportunity of fabricating a tale for the
purpose of refuting that which is batty ,Mfr a defence. Mr.
Stace believes he has a perfect defence to make to the
charge, and if the whole case had been gone into to-day, I
have no doubt the court would have been unanimous in
dismissing it. I am, however, most anxious to say, as it
might be to the prejudice of the defendant, that 1 trust
those parties whose attention may be drawn to the case,
will for the present suspend theirjudgment. The accused
was then bound over in the sum of 3001. and two sureties of
150/. each, to appear and take his trial at the next assizes,

WEST FLANDERS RAILWAY.—The report of the
directors to be submitted to the shareholders on Thursday
next, states, that the receipts of the last corresponding half-
year were increased to nearly 1,2001. by the visitors to
Bruges on the occasion of the religious fetes which occurred
in the month of May, 18]0; making the necessary allow-
ance for that circumstance the present account may be con-
sidered satisfactory. The receipts for the half-year ending
31st August last amounted to 7,276/. ; for the corresponding
period of IMO to 8,622/., and for the same period in 1849 to
8,9871. The expenditure for the hilt year ending 31st Au-
gust last amounted to 4,902/. ; for the corresponding period
of 1850 to 3,0631. • and for the same period in 1819 to
4,8•13/. The profits of the half-years respectively were
2,373/., 3,858/., and 2,1331. The profits of the past
half-year will enable the directors to declare a dividend
of is. 9d. per share for the half-year, leaving a small
surplus to be added to the former balance of profit
and loss. The directors hove had much negotiation with
the Minister of Public Works, with a view of forming some
plan which might enable this company, with the powerful
aid of the Belgian government, to execute a further portion
of the conceded lines, and they had expected to be enabled
to place before the meeting for their consideration the par-
ticulars of the arrangement which has been agreed upon;
but in consequence of the dissolution of the Senate the
directors have been disappointed in doing so. The delay neces•
gorily arising from this untoward and unexpected result is
of much leas importance than the effect it is calculated to
produce on the capitalists in this country and on the continent,
who will prub.dily entertain feelings of distrust, when mea-
sures of so much importance as those entertained by the
Chambers in their last sessions are impeded and ultimately
negatived by the party opposed to the government. The
report of Mr. Chantrell, the managing director in Belgium,
states that decrease in the traffic receipts has arisen from a
general stagnation in trade, and not from any competition.
The trade is, however reviving. The permanent way was
in a very satisfactory state. The working stock is adequate
to the requirements of the traffic, and is in efficient work-
ing order. The servants of the company continue to fulfill
their respective duties most satisfactorily. The capitol ac-
count shows that 342,7791. had been received, and 342,2581.
expended, leaving a balance of 521/. The revenue account
for the half-year showed that 7,2781. had been received, and
4,9021. expended, leaving a balance of 2,3731. The proposed
dividend will amount to 2,3421., leaving 311., which, added
to the former balance, will leave a balance for the next ac-
count of 7431.