The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-13 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OP THE 1111PRVIS,

Sia,—At the recent Conference at the London
Coffee-house, it was suggested by Mr. George Potter that
on some early occasion a special sermon should be preached
—if possible simultaneously—by the clergy of all denomi-
nations on the relations of working men to Christianity,
and that such intention should in each case be made
known to the non-churchgoing public. lie also expressed
his confident belief that thousands of people who rarely
go to a piece of worship would make a point of attending
such special service. The suggestion has found much
favour, and I understand that a number of ministers
of the Gospel, including some clergymen of the church
of England, will ende.ivour to carry it out on the
last Sunday evening of the present month (the
24th inst.). There is no time for this excellent pro-
posal to be considered by the ecclesiastical autho-
rities of any denomination, if it were desirable.
Nor is there any need for any such formality. Every
minister of religion, whether belonging to the established
church or to the nonconformist communities, enjoys the
liberty of preaching, and I suppose it would be in the
power of nearly all, as it is the intention of many, to give
expression from the pulpit in their own way to the special
claims of the Gospel upon our industrial population, and
especially to speak such words of loving sympathy as will,
at least, help to break down unfounded prejudices against
religious institutions and the public worship of God. It ei
hardly possible to overrate the beneficial °fleets that might
indirectly result from such services bring held in thousands
of places of worship next Sunday week, and only a tacit
understanding among Christian ministers is needed in
order to accomplish the object. May I ask a little space in
your columns to give further publicity to a valuable pro-
posal, which, I have no doubt, would have been cordially
endorsed by the committee that convened the late con-
ference, if opportunity had since offered for their owl-
sideration of it ?—1 am, t 3. MORLEY,

Treasurer of the late Conference.
18, Wood•street, Cheapshle, Feb. 11.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN.

The report of the directors, to be submitted to
the half-yearly meeting on the 22nd inst., states that the
accounts for the half-year ending 31st December, 1866,
duly audited and verified, present the following results:—
Net proceeds of the half-year's revenue, 1,124,9331. Bs. 2d.;
balance from last account, 28 191. 10e. 3d. ; disposable
balance, 1,133,1021. 18a. sd. ; which enables the directors
to recommend a dividend, at the rate of tig per oent. per
annum on the ordinary share capital—leaving a balance of
72,3001. Us. AL to be carried to the credit of next half-
year. As compared with the corresponding period of 1863,
the amount received for passengers, goods, minerals, and
cattle, the number of passengers and tuns of goods and
minerals carried, and of train miles run in 1866, have been
as follows :—Passengers, &c., receipts, 1,329,4*8/. (in-
crease, 243690; goods, minerals, and cattle receipts,
4799,8091. (increase 81,70 W.) ; total, 3,329,2171 (increase,
104,0044 Passengers, 11,197,978 (increase, 367,681) ;
goods and minerals, 8,091,748 tons (increase, 322,316 tone);
mileage of passenger trains, 5,478,843 miles (increase
117,996 miles) ; mileage of goods and mineral trains,
5,6'39,470 miles (increase 240,117 miles).

LONDON AND BLACKMAIL. —The sixty-first half-
yearly meeting of proprietors in this concern was held
yesterday at the London Tavern, Mr. F. W. Haigh in the
chair. The report having been taken as read, the chairman
moved its adoption, remarking that there could not now
be any complaint of the non-production of the accounts of
the concern. Comparing the position of the company
some years ago with its present, there was great cause fur
satisfaction. Numerous difficulties had been surmounted.
and the extension works that in some companies had
proved ruinous, had been their salvation. The dividend on
the original Blackwell stock was 2 per cent., while the exten-
sion works with about the sauce outlay returned nearly 6
per cent., or a mean of about 4 per cent. on the whole.
The Eastern Counties Company could not complain of
their bargain, as they were making 4/. 4s. per cent. There
was now a favourable balance of 11,300/. to the account of
the London awl Blackwell Company. Some dissatisfaction
hest been expressed a, certain long standing accounts, but
the fault was not theirs, end he protested against an
unfair construction being put upon the actions of the b.
It was only recently that the Eastern Counties Company
had come to terms, and the matters in dispute would be
settled shortly by arbitration. The resolution was seconded
by Mr. C. Whetham, and, after a brief discussion, adopted.
According to the recommendation of the report a dividend
of 4/. 4a. 2d. was declared upon the 1,70:1,10:./. of capital.
It was stated that the debenture debt of the company
being fully secured by the revenue of the line, the board
considered it desirable to issue a perpetual debenture
stock, instead of borrowing money to replace debentures
from time to time falling due ; a resolution was therefore
carried authorising the creation of debenture stock bearing
interest at a rate not exceeding 4/. it.. per annum. Mr.
G. Smith having been re-elected auditor, the meeting con-
cluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

MEETING OF COTTON SPINNEIES.—A large meet-
ing of cotton spinners was held yesterday afternoon in the
Town Hall, Manchester, which had been convened by the
Cotton Spinners' Association, to adopt resolutions with re-
gard to subjects of frequent grievance as against the cotton
brokers at LiverpouL Mr. Hugh Mason presided. The
following resolutions were unanimously pealed. Moved
by Mr. Hanson, of Halifax, seconded by Mr. W. C. Jones,
of Leigh, supported by Mr. J. Fish, of Blackburn:—
" That the terms of payment fur cotton be, on and after
the Ist March next, cash in ten days, less 14 per cent.
discount ; interest at the rate of o per cent. to be
allowed or charged for payments earlier or later."
Moved by Mr. G. L. Ashworth, of Rochdale ; seconded
by Mr. Richard Howarth; and supported by Mr. J.
Ogden, of Dukinfield :—" That all invoices be dated on
the day of purchase, excepting in those cases where the
seller may be unable to deliver on that day, when the in-
voice must be dated on the slay when he can deliver the
whole of the cotton." Moved by Mr. Henry Harrison, of
Blackburn ; seconded by Mr. Richard Calvert, of Walton-
le-Dale :—" That in order to obtain reliable reports of
the stock of cotton, the Liverpool Cotton Brokers' Asso-
ciation be requevted to procure from all its members a
daily account of the quantity and the sorts of cotton ac-
tually forwarded to the carriers, and also to abolish all
notice and report in its circulars of speculations."