The Express.
London, England, 1847-07-15 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 15, 1847.

WHITEHALL, JULY 12.—The Queen has nomi-
nated and appointed the Right Hon. John Earl of Stair and
the Right lion. James Earl of Elgin and Kincardine to be
Knights of the most ancient and most noble order of the
Thistle.
DOWNING-STREET, JULY 10.—The Queen has
appointed S. A. Rawlins, Esq., to be ber bilesty's treasurer
for the island of Nevis, and W. H. Holmes, Esq., to be
provost marshal for the colony of British Guiana.

PARLIAMENT WILL RE PROROGrED, it is now Con-
fidently stated, by her Majesty in person, on Thursday, the
22nd inst.—this day week.
ROYAL SANTIAGO MINING COMPANY.—The half-
yearly meeting of shareholders was held yesterday at the
offices, in Broad-street Buildings. Baron Goldsmid presided
during the early part of the proceedings, his place being sub-
sequently occupied by Mr. Alderman Thompson. The directors
commenced their report by alluding to a statement made by
them at the last meeting with regard to a slide and change
of strata which had suddenly been encountered in the ludo
in St. Andrew, by which the affairs of the Company had
been materially changed. The raisings of ore had been
limited to the reserves in the mines, from which 899 tons bad
been extracted in the half-year ending on the 28th of
February last. Of this quantar, G3B tons had been sold,
and produced, net, 7,0801. 3s. 3d., and the remaining 201
tons were estimated at 1,4001., which, together with the in
terest accruing on capital, eke., make the total receipts
9,2891. 24 6d. The expenditure during the same period, in-
cluding law charges incurred in the sanctuary groused
. suit, and
the income tax, amounted to 8,7131.6 a. 5d., leaving a profit of
5751. 16s. Id. The directors announced that they had re-
solved upon operations for the discovery of ore in three of
the rerlenencsas of the greatest promise, and as about 1,605
tons of ore had been obtained from two of them at shallow
levels they considered that at a greater depth the lode would
be found of a larger and more regular character. The
directors regretted that the affairs of the company were not
yet in a condition to warrant them in declaring a dividend.
The report was adopted.—Baron Gold,mid was re-elected to
the directorship, sad Mr. Alderman Thompson to his post of
auditor.

UNION BANK OF LONDON.—Yesterday, the eighth
annual general meeting of the proprietors of stock in this
bank, was held at No. 2, Princes-street, Mansion House.
Sir Peter Laurie occupied the chair, and a report, from which
we take the most important paragraphs, was read by the
secretary. The report stated the net profits of the year to
amount to 47,5981. 16s. 7d. Ample provision had been
made for bad debts, and 25,1451. Is. 101. had been paid to
customers for interest on their current and deposit accounts.
The directors considered that they were justified by this
prosperous result in increasing the rate of dividend, and they
therefore declared a dividend for the last six mouths of 31
per cent., which, with 21 per cent. paid in January, would
make the dividend 6 per cent, clear of income-tax, for the
whole year. "After providing for the dividend, now amount-
ing to 25,3741., fur the year, and appropriating 5001.
as usual, in gradual liquidation of the preliminary expenses,
there remained a surplus profit of 21,7211. 16s. is., of which
16,6961. ss. sd. had been carried to the reserved fund, now
amounting to 40,000/. sterling invested in government secu-
rities, and the balance of 5.0281. 11s. 2d. had been carried to
the profit and loss new account." The report concluded by
stating that "the directors had considered the subject of the
appropriation of the reserved shares, and had resolved that
they should be offered, in the first instance, to the share-
holders only, in rateable proportion to the shares held by
them, and on such terms as should be equivalent to a liberal
bonus." After a brief discussion, in which several proprie-
tors took part, and in which they were unanimous in the
expression of their confidence in the discretion and ability of
the directors, the report was unanimously adopted, and or-
dered to be printed and circulated among the proprietors
Mr. P. Laurie anal Mr. J. Farquhar, who, in accordance
with the provision of the deed of settlement, retired from
office by rotation, were unanimously re-elected ; and Mr. J.
Chapman was chosen a director in the room of Mr. W. P.
Crawford, resigned.
THE ALFRED LIFE. ASSURANCE COMPANY held
their annual meeting yesterday, at their offices in Lothbury,
Sir David Scott, Bart., in the chair. The report stated that
the Annuity Fued remained unaltered, save in the diminu-
tion necessarily arising from the payment made to the an-
nuitants, and the small sum contributed to the general ex-
penditure. Tho Assurance Fund account exhibits en in-
COMP, arising from interest and premiums, of nearly 18,000/,
2,9431. 13s. sd. of which results from the new policies issued
during the year, which amount to 101, averaging 7501.
each. The chief payments from this fund have been, for
claims on decease of lives assured, 4,633 f. lii. Bd.; for
premiums returned on dropped policies, 1,1171. Ils. 5d.;
and for expenses of management, 2,279/. 12s. 11d. After
making prevision for these and all other demands, a
surplus of 9,2151. 18s. 7d. has been carried to the credit
of this fund, which now amounts to 55,218/. 19,. sd.
The society continues to be fortunate in the sanitary
condition of its members. Amongst the large number
now on the books, only four deaths kayo occurred
during the year—much less than might reasonably have
been expected. This fact testifies to the discrimina-
tion exercised in the selection, as well as to the general
prosperity of the association, which was further shown
to the annual increase of the assets from the commencement.
These, in 1815, had progressively arisen to 72,9751. 17s. 24.,
and now amounted to 99,788/. Its. ld. This progression
gave promise of the importance which the Alfred might,
at no distant period be expected to attain. The directors
wished it to be borne in mind,that as the accumulated capital
augments, that contributed by the shareholders becomes
proportionably of less moment. Thus the assured will have
practically all the advantages to be obtained in a mutual
office, while they have all the security afforded by a sub-
scribed capital. The balance-sheet showed that the total
expenditure was 286490/. 3s. sd. On the other side, among
the items were, paid-up capital, 17,5501. ; assurance fund,
55,318/. 193. 5d.; annuity fund, 27,0191. Is. 81.; total sum
assured, 176,800/. 13s. Bd. Tho report was unanimously
adopted, the chairman observing, in putting the motion for
its adoption, that the directors, in order fully to carry out
their operations, required the assistance of the shareholders.

IRISII WASTE LAND SOCIETY.—A special general
meeting was held on Tuesday, at the King's Head Tavern,
Poultry, to consider the propriety of proceeding with, or ar-
resting the operations of the society. The Earl of Devon,
having taken the chair, Colonel Robinson, the manager of
the *states in Ireland, read a etatement wherein, after alluding
to the objects of the society, he described minutely its estates,
four in number, viz., Balmakil, in Galway ; Gleneaske, in
Sligo; Kilkerie, in Galway ; and Taligoline, in Limerick.
The system which had been pursued for the improvement of
these lands was said to be as follows :—Practical experienced
agriculturists were employed u stewards, and to instruct the
tenants. the estates were surveyed, valued, and laid out
into compact farms. Occupation-roads were laid out,
opening communications with all the available lands,
to be completed as employment might be required. Ex-
ternal boundary fences, with double ditches to act S 3 drains,
were made, and also numerous internal fences and ditches
to divide the farms and serve for main drains. Cottages
were constructed far many of the tenants, and compact
farmhouses with convenient outbuildings for the dwellings
of the stewards, and the use of the model farms. Practical
instruction to the tenants was given on those farms, which
were about 10 statute acres each in extent, and there also
such improvements were tested as appeared applicable to the
peculiar soil. They are let to tenants at 31 year leases, at
rents either fixed at a moderate average rate for the whole
term, or at progressive rents rising Iron small amounts.
Loans of seed, at wholesale prices, were made to needy
tenants in the spring of each year, and repaid by them
in the autumn. Prizes were annually given by the
society and the head landlords for various departments of
agricultural improvement; and school-houses were estab-
lished (without expense to the society) on each estate, for
the instruction of the children of the tenants. He then pro-
ceeded to detail, at considerable length, the progress which
had been made by the society, and the improvements which
it had effected for the last few years, as shown by the in-
creased value of the property, and the ameliorated condition
of the tenant-farmer', down to the period of the potato
blight, the effects of which bad been reported in February
last. The society had sought to relieve the deep distrem
which that disaster eccsaioned, by continuing such reproduc-
tive worksas would permanently improve the country, by
which means the lives were saved of all those who, being
connected with the society, chose to work. Thus,
about 28,000 perches of draining and other works
hod been completed since October last. As the season
advanced, it became indivpensablc to supply the tenants with
provisions and seeds of different sorts, on loan, to enable
them to cultivate their lands ; and by this means he believed
that the foundation had been laid for enabling the tenants to
recover their loss.—Mr. Birmingham made some observa-
tions deprecatory of the operations of the society as in-
sufficient, and complaining particularly that the accounts were
not published. Col. Robinson and the chairman explained.
and a resolution was carried in which the meeting re-
gretted the disadvantageous circumstances which had
hitherto stood is the way of their operations, and pledged
themselves to use their best exertions towards the future
support of the society. A conversation then arose with refer-
ence to the arrears upon calls due from shareholders, when
it appeared that of the last call, 630 shares remained unpaid
upon, amounting to the sum of 1,2501.
ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.—The half-yearly meet-
ing of this society was held on Tuesday at the office, 3, Tra-
falgar-square, Mr. B. Hawes, sen. in the chair. The fol-
lowing cases were considered, and silver medals to the actors
in each granted: —To Lieut. Woolridge, R.N., and Mr.
Brutwhistle, mate of H.M. sloop Spike, for having saved
Stephen Box, who fell overboard at Sheerness, June ft, 1845.
To Mr. Ralph Bates, for having saved, at night, on the 12th
of last February, Arthur Willow, who fell through the ice
whilst skating, in Lancashire. To Lieut. H. W. Hire, of
11.14. sloop Ilecla, for baying saved W. Richardson, sea-
man, on the 12th December last, washed off the forecastle in
the Grecian Archipelago. To Capt. Archibald Cameron, of
the Prince, river steamer, for saving, by daring personal
exertions, tho crew and passengers of the Sirius, in Bally-
cotton Bay, on the 20th January last. To Capt. Bernardino
Camp, and his chief mate, Mr. Villary ide, for their humane and
noble conduct is saving 79 persons belonging to the steam-
packet Tweed, wrecked in February last. To police-con-
stable Brown, of Clonmel, for having rescued, on the 10th
of May last, a man and a boy from being drowned is the
Suir during a flood; in attempting to save a third party, the
constable narrowly escaped drowning himself.—Mr. Chiseller
stated that, since December last, 13 persons had been taken
out of the Serpentine by the society's men, and 12 out of the
13 resuscitated. The total number of persons during the
period mentioned coming within the sphere of tie society's
exertions was 72, 7 being attempted suicides, and 6 out of
the whole terminating fatally.—Thanks having bren voted
to the venerable chairman and treasurer, the court broke up.
THE AGED MASONS' Asytt'xi held their annual
meeting, last evening, at Radley'e Hotel, Blackfriare, to re-
ceive the report fur the past year. The report showed that
zeasures were in progreu to obtain a site, within 4 short