The Express.
London, England, 1865-10-16 00:00:00

DE GREY Oil PUBLIC! AMISS.

AMERICAN AND CANADIAN MAUS Drfn THIS
WEER.—Ther• are three etwalera due at Liverpool this
week with the American and Canadian mails. The Allan
Company's steamer Moravian, from Quebec on the Tth
may be expected to reach Liverpool in the course of to-
morrow (Tuesday) ; and on Wedneeday awning next the
lumen Company's steamer Etna. from New York also on
the 7th, will no doubt reach the Maguey. On Saturday
next the screw steamer Cuba, belonging to the Cunard
Company, will possiblyunseat Liverpool, with dates from
Bootee to October U, sod Halifax on the morning of the
13th.
Tug Slavicr..—" Year by year," ears
writer in the Star, "the Civil Service of the country has
been emoting itself, and by the exercise of esprit de corps
now happily promises, but at one time greatly needed, it
has taken up its proper position in the country. The Civil
Service Rifle Regiment is, to use the roue able threes,
' second to Pone f the Civil Service csicinten bold their
own among the best elevens of England ; the Civil Service
Club pennon to be one of the pleasantest Loedoo
the Sint prospectus of the Civil Service Musical Society,
juste ns& looks eminently vigorous and healthy. The
Princ of Wales is *coo ; the Duke of Cambridge,
Lords Hartington, De Grey and Ripon, Granville,
Donoughmore, Palmerston, and
Darwin, and Mr.
Gladstone aro vice patrons; the preddent is Mr. Stephenson,
the chairman of the Board of Inland Reveal»; and the
viee-liresident, Mr. Frederic Clay, facile prnexpa wootgat
musical amateurs, sod composer of some charming operettas;
the ban. werebary is the indeletipble Mr. Guy Pym,
Civ who,
after jumping innumerable hurdles as mamapr of the il
Service Athletic Sports, will, in his new capacity, be
enabled to take a few bars' rest ; sod the committee have
been leaky in the selection of their working members,
having Mr. Arthur Sullivan as conductor, and Mr. J. Foster
es director of choir. The acuity is not exclusively confined
to member of the Civil Service. Ladies and gentlemen
unconnected with the service will be admitted to the con-
cern on certaio terms, bet they will not be eligible for
grimiest= to the reburials, nor have say voles in the deli-
berations of the society."
limy mount or EDINBEROII.—The appointment
by the Home Secretary of Professor David Mamma, of Uni-
versity College, London, editor of Ncionitlan's Magazine,
to the chair of Rhetoric and English Literature in the
University of Edinburgh, rendered vacant by the death of
Professor Avt.min, bonalready bees ernionnowl. The riflery
attached to the chair is only 200 L, but to a popular pro-
fessor there is a certainty of a large close. Two other pro-
fessorships are at this moment vacant in Edinburgh Uni-
versity. One is the chair of masse, endowed by General
Reid, vacant by the demise of Professor Donlan's, and the
wpointment to which is in the beads of the University
Court. The court is to meet for the election of a profewor
of music in the first wink of November, or so won there-
tot s the Rector (11r. Gladstone) can find it convenient
tbe preseot. Among the caodidates are Mr. Hollth, 11r.
J. P. Oman), Mr. G. A. Mader-len, and about 20 others,
including several foreign professors of music. The salary is
4201., supplemented by class fees. The music is
Poe
through the care of the tate Professor Dooaldson, one of
the hest equipped in Europe. The remaining vaceney is in
the chair of Soots Law.
Derrninerrrn FIRE lir FritSBURT.-.-Yeaterdity
morning, at en early hour, a Ire broke out in the pre-
mises of Mr. Themes Neale, patent pasteboard bettor
manufacturer, situate in Binh-court, Wilsoe-street, Fins-
bory-square, and could not be extinguished until the fac-
tory woe burned out, the whole of the valusb`o contents
consumed, arid the premises of Mears. Heathfield said
Co., chemical works, were damaged by ere end water.
The origin of the fire is unkpowo. Fortunately the Bearers
were insured in the Royal Fire-office.
AMATEUR HIGHWA/SUN.—On
todayYh John
toughing, • young Irishman, who was stated a student
at one of the colleges at Bath, was charged before
T. B. Sauaders and J. H. Webb, magistrates at Bradford-
on-Avon, with assaulting two boys, named Howes sad
Rosen. with intent to commit highway robbery. t
oat on The pri-
soner. with two or three fellow-collegisw, wep
Saturday on a fishing excorrion on the river Avon. After
having partaken freely of some Irish whiskey the sport of
'wring was relinquished. and the primmer *ad his own-
conioos disembarked. Proceeding slang the Litrider Starr
turnpike-road they met the two boys in a donkey cart, and
Loughran presented. a horse pistol at them, with the ds.
mood, "Your money or your life." The boys, who were
much frightened, eadeavonred to escape, but were prevented
by the prisooer, who pushed one of them back into the cart,
and commenoed rifling his pockets. The youth resisted, and
in the struggle his coat was torn to pieces, bat he managed
to get sway from his assailant. The grimier then set opos
the other boy sod the donkey, eni best them with his fishingo
rod till it was broken to pima. Meanwhile the lad wh
had escaped had roe to the Viaduct Ice, where be obtained
assistazice sad some half doses man went to the scene of
solos. Tiny were, however, attacked by the prisoner and
his friends, and one of them had his head laid open with a
blow from the butt end of the horse pistol. The prisoner
was afterwards apprehended, but his companions escaped.
After hearing the evidence Mr. Saunders said be weld not
believe for a sonnet that the prima ever Wended to
commit a highway robbery, but that • most unprovoked
assault had bees committed on the boys had been clearly
proved. Ho thought there was a technical doubt as to
whether the prisoner, having been charged with attempting
to commit a felony, weld be dealt with otherwise than by
being committed for nisi. The Rev. T. Longbow, minister
of Queenoquare Chapel, Bath, who appeared as the pd.
ewer's guardian, that if the asegletrates could dispose
of the came susomanly he was prepared bo pay any amount
of fine they were pleased to inaist. Ultimately the nisei&
testae decided on convicting the prisoner of a common
wank role sad inflicted • fine of 31. NIL with U. 10a.
meta Charges of assault had bees peed/reed sonnet the
prisoner by the ostler of the Viaduct lan and three ether
men who went to the assistance of the complainants ie the
first awe, bat they were all oompromised and witbdsswv.
Carrrißsuas Butzvomart Cnots.—The annual
festival in connexion with the Browoleet Choir Fund of
Oenterbury Cathedral is to be celebrated in the eathedoal
on Thursday, the 19th test. The choir witl be streegtinued
by additions from Si. Georges, Wieilsor.Si. Paul's, WIND.
infester Abbey, Boarder, Fly, sod other cathedrals. The
winos win be mocha by the Very Her. Dr. Hairy
Alford, Dean of Cristerbery.
OlveraL PArAug„-...HA13-1-0110WII
RATCOIDOT, OM IC *Antivenin na raweein, 1,910;
&ft by min this% 4,36 f ; told *lima 5,137.

On Friday evening, Foal de Grey and Ripon and
Sir Charles Wood, M.P., were present at the Mayor of
Ripon amnia itaajatit In responding to the toast of
Has Majesty's M.
Earl Ds
ad said that during the peas years Lord
Palmerston administration had laboured, ad been well
maid, to relieve the public burdens, sad to reduce the
taxation, sad he thought he might appeal to the Termite of
the financial policy of his right hon. trial dthe Chancellor of
the Exchequer is proof of the mention that Mr. Gladstone
was no unworthy pupil of his great Winer Sir Robert Peel.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer had bees enabled to
completes peat workbegun before the time of Sir Robert
PeelAand though so doubt carried to great perfection
by that minister, left to Mr. GlAditollo to complete
awl establish upon a firm basis. He had only to lay that
if the principles upon which they bad endeavoured to con-
duct the government of this country bad met with the
approval of the country at hags ; If they wore satisfied
that in benign affairs, while they bad preserved pease
they bad upheld the honour of the country; that in
financial affain, while they bad reduced taxation and
taken off public burden', they had not diminhhed—and
he might Judy take credit for bavirg increased, the
effloiewey of the various brooches of the public service ; if
that had been so, and they received the approval of the
country am they tad done tip to the wont time, it would
be than constant endeavour to admits in the coarse
they had pursued. and maintain the same principles.
It they steadily adhered to the course end policy Iftisti
they had set before them from the commeneemeat, and
found is the future so diminution of the approval which
bad been accorded to them he might still hope for largo
share of public conlitionee—linelted to so party, circum-
scribed by co escrow limits, but recorded through the
length and breadth of the country. _ (Applause.)
Sir CHABLIS WOOD briefly responded so she tout of the
" Borough Members." He thought, upon the whole, the
result at the WA election had proved that the conduct of
the government had met with the approbation of the coun-
try, and it would mower her Majesty's Ministers to per-
severe in the same comm. He dad sot think that either
Faunal= in Ireland or the cattle Plarle in England
afforded any cause of greet society. With the blessing of
Provideoce, he hoped the last would be mitigated, so as not
to preen severely upon them ; and the drat seemed to be
more a matter for laughter. He thought be might coops-
%elate the country on its prosperity. Owing to the won-
derful energy of English assouteaturers, the revenue, in
spite of the reduction of Mistime, kept
.up to an amount
which seemed remarkable not only to foreign countries but
to coonelves. (Applause.)

-
• ANOTHER JOINT arm% SCNAD.A.L.
(frran the Daily News.)
' Another joint stock scandal has just been brought
to light, though, in referring to it, we would
y point out that the statements made are
specially
of an ex parte character. For some time
past the attention of the shareholders in a concern
known as " Smith, Knight, and Co. (Limited)" his
been disagreeably aroused by the serious deprecia-
tion in the value of their property. Ot the
extent of this depreciation it -will be suffi-
cient to say that the shares are of 501
each, with 101. paid, and that they have
been dealt in tcoday as 101. discount, so that. ac-
cording to the valuation in the market, the share-
holders have virtually lost the whole of tLe money
which din have paid into the concern. A move-
ment having been made for the appointment of a
committee of investigation, this course has been
acceded to by the directors, and, pending the issue
of the committee's report, the meeting called last
month was adjourned to the 26th inst. The com-
mittee, consisting of Messrs. Alfred Idwards,
Thomas Bevan, and H. C. Cheeswright, have this
day issued their report to their co-proprietors. and
in consideration of the serious nature of the charges
brought against the management of the company,
we append their statement in extenso. When we
hear of 230,000/. in cash and shares beingaesi ned
for the purchase of a busineea, wilp
lant,
ite., and are informal that the "goodwill'
is worth nothing whatever, and that the contracts
taken over are not only unremunerative but
actually burdensome, it is evident that a fell ex-
planation is required. The committee affirm that
the plant and effects taken over, and set down at
70,0001, were never valued; that in addition to the
large sums agreed to be paid to the vendors a
'further amount of 22,7471. appears to have been
improperly paid them • that the finances of the
undertaking are managed in a most improvideut
manner • that the enormous sum of 72,0001.
has been paid away for " secret service
money ; " that the vendors have not
either of the calls upon the 20,000 shares heat
them ; and, finally, they recommend that a volun-
tary liquidation shall forthwith take place. On Um
other hand the committee point out, on the favour-
able side, that contracts have been sub-let upon
such terme as to promise a profit to the company
of about 177,500/. in the course of the next three or
four years. Considering, however, that the com-
mittee espiess a total want of confidence in the
management as at present constituted, it would
seem that the shareholders, who are still liable for
40/. a share, must take action and look to their
interests at once. The proceedings at the meeting
on the 26th instant will doubtless be of an interest-

lug character.
The undeceived shareholders, repreamtbg se well other
proprietors hi the company, waited upon tee directors a
few days anterior to the date of the meeting called in
September, sod informed the directors that it wee Aar
intention to propose the appointment of a committee et
investigation at the ensuing meeting. The directors,
after considerable diecussiou, invited the undersigned
themselves to investigate the affair* of the eompaa, with
the addition of the name of Mr. William Ili:Candlish. sad
to report. The meeting was adjourned for this purpose to
the 26th inst.; Mr. McCanilish, being called abroad,
retired early from the investigation. The undasigead re-
port to them co-proprietor as follows :—The committee fled
that the purchase pries agreed tube paid to Messrs. Smith
and Knight for goodwill of bunions, goodwill of cop-
tracts enand, plant end effete, and lase of house, was
in cash and bills 110,0001. ; 20,000 shares, 5/. paid, 100,0001.
Total, 230,0001. The committee are unaware whet wen.
the grounds upon which the directors as trustees fort. he
shareholders esnsidered themselves justified in disponi' ef
these large OUVlll;soyeast they find that any balsam...hest a
thefts dSdthaad Knight smear been them. nor Wer
the Sant and effects, which were set down at 70,000 r.
valued, nor any inventory taken nail months afterwards.
The comenithe are of tos that the goodwill of the cos-
theta heeded Over by Smith and Knight was oil, and tha t
t
taken as • whole they were not only unremunerative,bu
burdensome. The committee find that in saddles to theft
hale sums whisk were 'greed to be paid to Messrs. Smith
and Knight, the directors have further sad as it would
Hem improperly. paid them : amount of various bills
and debts incurred by the firm of Smith and Knight in
their farmer business, 1,3761. ea. 4d. ; accepteacei
of the former firm, 4,0914 10s. • materials and
of which were included in do; sum stipulated
of 70,0001., 17,2791. 12s. 11d. ; total. 22.747/. fie. 3d.
The committee osenot too much disapprove of the course
taken by the directors ie all that relates to the taking ever
of the business of Smith and Knight. They are apprehea-
sive, moreover, that a complete investiptios would dio-
rites other improper payments to Messrs. Smith and
Knight. is leektag at the mimed breath of their ioquhry,
the committee have carefully wandered the preen% pod-
ties of the affairs of the company. Although the contracts
in course of prosecutioa are for the most part what
and ate
termed cash aostraeta, the amount of bills payable
'Diagonals coming forward are beyond all proportion in
companion with the balances evadable for liquidating them
as they fall due ; r many of the °outrages the outer:diets
keep reedy pea with the receipts, ia some are far in
advance of them. The committee regard with the
greeted alarm sad distrust the geseral character el
the lansinsee. The direeters appear to keow little ar
teething of what is going on. and in Mr. Knight as
managing director the committee have no oo
discs whatever. The direthin. moreover. ore mush
divided to *pima° anther thaneelva. To raise mew to
meet the priming deemed' upon the company, the most
improvident anaingemesta have been made. Large sums
have bees honeyed upon awe= terms by way of lean
upon the promimory notes of the company, with the ism
of debentures for • much larger amount as collateral seeo-
rity, old* urea maturity a the notes, U =maid, may it
the optima al the leers, be sold tor what they may
realise, and the company charged with the differencech tra . It
smears to the committee that the repetitioo of su sh.
mations meet infallibly led to utter rain, sod in the eed to
every soloist shareholder being called upon for the
full term of his liability of 501. per share. The committee
find that enenneus sums amounting to MOO/. have bleu
aid awsy for escreteervies mosey. It would appear aa
far as the committee can learn that Mr. Knight has hed
the sole and irresponsible distribution of this.
sums. The committee are bound to add that they te-
pid such dealings with astonishment, nor ate they
aware that it was is eoatemplation of the subscromrs to
Smith, Knight, and Co. (Limited), to invert their money In
such a manlier. The relatioes of Mr. Smith and Kr. Kei4it
area
to the company peculiar. Notwilbthwiding y
have received sad retained as above, 22.7471. iii. 3d.:
addition to the ram stipulated to be paid them, 230.0011;
addition further to tie dividend on 20,090 shares, de-
clared as it appears to the committee most improperly by
the directors- just anterior to the making of the call y
6.0001., they. have failed to pay either of the cells hit_fiL
per share due mJuly, or 3/. in October, upon the 20,0110
shares held by them, nor, se they state, Is there any *-
spent or intention of their doisg so. The esamithe
would next call attention to • feature more
emi-
miming character, if it an be depended upon. Important
trot undedekth by the company slimeds feestatioa have
been sabla at a profit to yield about 177,6001. over the
next three or fear years, as the works program. The com-
mittee
-
trust that • valuable amet may eventually ad
from this awes, which may save the company from a test
disastrous liquidation. The committee are, however, per-
suaded that ova with this inexistence nothing on savellte
company Dalai the shareholders resolutely Intervene at
this moment. The committee are of the decided opinion
that no sew badness should be undertaken ; that a volun-
the
tary liquidation should forthwith take plea, sad
to with that
creditoes of the company shoald ben scalated pen-
nons their clams; that the impasses of the administrate:ma
the company should be cut down, and that three share-
holders and two directors 'head be appealed liquidating.
The committee further saves that all relatives of *seem-
pony with Mr. Smith sad Mr. Knight should cease, that
their 20,000 shares should be at oneeforfeited, and that they
should be proeseded spirit for the amount al the two cells,
as well as the sums improperly remised by them. It ban
provided by the articles that Mr. Knight should hold the
°Mos of mineeieg director with its benefits for severs yeas
noires removed by a special resolution, meth special resdlu-
tion would ha seesseary to be pared. The committal are
tics
convinced that it is only in this way that it will be possible
far the sharelichices of the remaining 20,003 shires to re-
cover ultimately a patios of the money they have invested,
after satisfying the claims of the coedited. In conclusion.
the committee savagely recommend that the shareholders
pay up the paseet all that they may he entitled tO ahead
and veta the *ageing eneeting.—Athitan EDWARD S.
"^aolu.s /Man, IL 0. Cmuswatois.

- -
Wear's° Milt's Oattson• 45„0ti1t5.2 °MOM>.
nanny, tbs Rev. r. D Maori" L.A.
The feet tam of the twelfth yoar will comment A.
Moehty, Cootobor 73, when tits usual slaws bs famed
in studs, lbswhig, ntatbematits, Wary. ono.
Brophy, and pbrisal whose. Spent New el Imbues
will be delivered es the " Constitutional Obbory of Reg.
land" Nod the " Goestsl History of EEP3OOI. and 'pad
dame will be termed kW time stnity et alnenietty, asaingy,
sea lofts The ptiesipal will Mimi the lnaugatal
aims on • Oftsbar 12, at 8.30.