The Express.
London, England, 1849-08-28 00:00:00

CALEDONIAN,

The report of the London Central Committee of Share-
holders states, that there will be no dividend on the or-
dinary 'hares this half year, unless paid out of the capital.
That in defiance of the assurance given at the special meet-
ing of May 29 la*, the Barrhead hill, involving an annual
rent of 16,6001., has metered for the directors gool interest on
4.5,0001. of their own liabilities. That all the shareholders
able to attend at the next general meeting should make a
point of doing so, as it will Se then shown that above
600,0001. of the funds have been most inexcusably wasted.
The report of the directors will be met by an amendment in
fav,ur of a full inquiry into the past management and en.
peaditure ; five new directon will also be proposed ; and, as
every effort will probably be made to defeat such amend-
ment, or to render inquiry abortive, the shareholders are re.
quested, when they receive prosy papers, to draw their pens
through the directors' names, and substitute those of the
Ron. Captain Plunkett, Mr. Copling, and Mr. hi'Dlicking.

THE FAILURE OF THE GRAND LAND SCHEME OF
Ma. O'Corthoe..—At the last county court 10T Northampton
final judgment was given in the long-pending case, Oubbins
o. O'Connor. Some months since, it will probably be re-
membered, an action was brought against the defendant as
promoter of the " grand land scheme," for expenses incurred,
the scheme being a failure. The defendant relied for ade
Bees on the fact that the whole system was in contravention
et the law, and that no mousy paid could be recovered back,
unless there had been actual fraud, which was denied by
him; and he urged that he had acted in perfect good faith,
and without deriving any pecuniary benefit or advantage.
A verdict was given against defendant, who applied for a
new trial ; and aft[ r bearing arguments, his Honour now
said that the position taken by defendant was un-
tenable. Much stress had been laid upon the grandeur
and benevolence of defendant's scheme, the perfect goad faith
with wh-ch all the proceedings had been conducts d and to-
tal absence of all pecuniary benefit to defendant ; but de-
fendant had been endeavouring to carry out a scheme
against a statute with reference to such undertakings. As
to the good faith between the plaintiff and defendant, as to
the expenditure of the money, his Honour said those who at-
tempted in defiance of law to carry out schemes, however
grand and benevolent, widest the law, mud do so at their
own ride. There were a multitude of difficulties
and etc ',armaments besetting the scheme and all con-
nected with it until placed on a footing recognised and sanc-
tioned by the laws of the land. Defendant could not get
rid of the liabilities which attached to him as promoter of
the scheme, and he (his Honour) saw no reason to alter: the
decision he had first coma to.—Defendant was then ordered
to pay the amount without further delay.
PRISON DISCIPLINE.—On Friday evening last,
Charles Pianos Req., M.P., delivered an interesting lec-
ture, which lasted for three hours, on prison discipline, at
the Royal Subscription Rooms, Exeter. John Rillifsat,
E.g., a magistrate, and late High Sheriff of the County of
Devon, took the chair. In introducing the honourable
member for Lambeth to the meeting, he said he was pleased
to see so many of his brother magistrates present, for the
subject on which they were about to hear a lecture was
second to none in importance. The lecturer said the cause
of crime was self-indulgence, and the want of self-denial.
He illustrated his system of prison discipline by means of
twenty-six large diagrams, with 'sui,able incriptions on each,
uncovering one at a time, thus gradually developing his
plan, and fixing it on the minds of his hearers. He drew a
comparison of the system adopt d at the Model Gaol, at
Reading, which he designated as the indolent and Lapin.
sive system, and contended, with great force of argument,
that the farm prison would be more economical, and
reformatory than the enervating system at the " Reading
Castellated College." A correspondent says : " Mr. Pear-
son's enthusiasm in speaking of the criminal's reformation by
the plan he would recommend, convinced his audience that
his mind was thoroughly imbued with this most important
subject. He is an earnest and determined opponent to the
solitary and idle system ; yet, by his plan, he would enforce
silence. His plan should be a training school of industry—
he would keep the prisoners at work for eleven hcure, and
allow only seven hours for sleep, except on Sundays,when ten
should be allowed. He would have them receive religious
instruction, he would improve them physically and morally,
and was convinced that by his system a disposition to labour
would be excited—that a prisoner would feel that his liberty
and independence depended entirely on his own exertions.'
The consideration of the subject stands adjourned until
Thursday next, when the Rev. Mr. Osborn, chaplain of the
Bath gaol, will answer some of Mr. Pearson's objections, t'
which Mr. Pearson will be allowed to reply.
FREAKS or A FURIOUS BuLLocx. —Yesterday
alwesour, one of is drove of exec, being shims from Smith-
leld to Carnaby market, when near the end of Hatton-gar-
den broke sway from the herd, and Nude off at a rapid pace
up Holborn and down Gray's-inn-lane. The beast selected
the footpath for its flight, gristly to the alarm of the nume-
rous pedestrians and shopkeeper., knocking down several
persons who were masterly bruised and contused ; an immense
crowd of boys and men, accompanied by dogs barking and
yelling, followed at his heels. In the King's-road he
knocked down • vendor of earthenware, named Callum,
residing in Agar-town, St. Pancras, whom he severely gored,
toning the poor fellow's goods, which were all destroyed.
110 continued pis flight through Brunswick-equare and
Judd-street: Labia career several other persons were knocked
down, and Mr. Tr* !ironing, of Burton-crescent, so severely
injured that no hopes are entertained of his recovery. He
pursued his flight to Tottenham-court-road, where he WY
secured, and lodged in Richards's slaughter-house.