The Express.
London, England, 1866-05-18 00:00:00

ITALY.

FLORENCE, Mar 11,
The Opinione of to-day publishes an article,
which says :—" The future of the German nation
depends upon the Liberal party. The deplorable
constitutional conflict in Prussia should not nage
us forget that it is the vital and traditional bite-
rest of Germany to eliminate the heterogeasaia
influences of the Austrian empire. Despite Ga
mistakes of the Prussian government, despite the
liberal attitude occasionally assumed by Austria, the
Liberals ought to embrace the sole opportunity
offered by the Power that representa the future d
Germany, and whose policy is necessarily prove*
ing, while the Hapsburg policy was necessarily
actionary. It is the surest means to bring Goat
the advent of liberty. The cause of Italy is ides.
tical with that of nationality and liberty. Gemini
should follow the example of Italy, which did ha
hesitate to rally round the House of Savoy, whoa
mission in Italy was identical with that of Penury ,
in Germany."

THE SPANISH CORTES.

MADRID, Mu 18.

The Cortes held an extraordinary sitting last Rot
for the discussion of the financial bill lately intro-
duced by Marshal O'Donnell. Extra sittings Eyre
been held during the week for the same purple.

OUTWARD BOMBAY MAIL.
GIBRALTAR, Ye C.

The Syria, from Southampton on the 12th inst.,
arrived to-day at 7 a.m., and leaves at maim
Alexandria.

GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY.
(THIS DAY.)

An extraordinary general meeting of the dm.
holders of this company was held at the King'sata
station this day, to consider and approve, or °thanks al
upon, a number of bills now pending in parliament
Colonel PACKE occupied the chair. He said Am
were 26 bills on the list to be submitted to
them. This was requisite under the Whitish&
standing order, but there were only firs a an
of the bills which were the bills of the company.
Mr. HUGHES asked the solicitor whether he had el.
"mined into the borrowing powers given to them by
parliament, and whether the company had exceeded them,
or whether they had exceeded the authority given tithe"
by the proprietors. He had no suspicion that they kid daw
so, but it was necessary for the interests of the Maze
holders that an authoritative declaration should be
by the solicitor.
Mr. LEECH said at the request of the board be mode
close examination into the borrowing powers and hoe
far they had been exercised two or three years ago, ant
found that they had not been exceeded. The hernial
powers in the bills passed since were as usual tette
amount of one-third of the capital.
Mr. HUGHES said that was no answer.
_ _

The SOLICITOR said he could not answer the mustier
to what bad been done since he made the examination.
The Swansea said he could state from his own tees-
ledge that neither the borrowing powers given by paths
ment, nor the powers given by the shareholders hid err
been exceeded—indeed they were within their beim*
powers.
The CHAIRMAN said he could assure the hon. propriete
that the greatest care was taken in this regret.
The SOLICITOR then read the heads of the first bill
which was to confer additional powers on the undertake
to obtain additional land and enlarge the line near Hello
way and additional land at or near several stations, tie
share capital to be authorised for these pmpones be*
810,0001., with the natal borrowing powers.
Dr. JARDINE wished to caution the shareholders lags*
increasing their capital.
Mr. HUGHES said he had had no confidence is th.
directors since the retirement of Mr. Denison bens
they were pursuing a system which was condemned bylir
Denison, who said these branch railways would never pay
If this system continued this railway would become like
the Great Western. But he could only protest, because In
knew that by the proxy system the directors could do as
they pleased.
The CHAIRMAN said this bill was absolutely necessary for
their traffic. The new line to be made was only the
doubling of the tunnel at Holloway.
The motion that the bill be approved was then put, sod
carried by 8 to 6.
The second bill, which was to abandon the short thee
to Barnet, power to obtain which was received two pars
ago, was then approved.
The next was a bill which was for making • railway
the West Riding of Yorkshire from Bradford throagh
hccleshill to Idle.
The CHAIRMAN said this railway was three miles sarl
half long, and the parties in the locality hail subscribed
third of the capital. The capital was 65,0001., with *
usual borrowing powers.
The bill was approved.
The next bill was to vest the undertaking of the Rai
Riding and Grimsby Railway in the Great Northern sea
Manchester, Sheffield, and Linnilnahire Railway jointly.
Each company to subscribe 200,0001. to construct*
Althorpe-on-Trent and Lincoln line.
The CHAIRMAN said the line would shorten the dist*,
from the West Riding to London by seven miles.
7 7... .

The bill was appro;ed by 12 to (C.
The next bill was a bill for constituting the Go'lt
Northern and Midland Railway Company joint owners
the railway authorised by the Manchester, Sheffield. la
Lincolnshire Railway (extension to Liverpool) Act, 1965,
The CHAIRMAN said this was a new railway DOT OW
structing. It was considered advisable that the compel
should have an independent line to Liverpool. This
a third line between Liverpool and Manchester, and *a t°
be vested in the Manchester and Sheffield, the Midlsca.
and this company. This company's proportion of tbS
authorised capital was 250,00 W., with the usual born:not
powers. . a .

r _
The bill was approved by 9 to 4.
The next bill wan to enable certain branches to he role
from the last-mentioned railway, at a cost of 40,001• soh
scribed by each of the three companies, and usual borrow*
powers.
This bill was likewise approved.
The seventh bill was a bill for empowering the
cheater. Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Company to nuke s
central station and railways in Manchester, and far °the!
purposes. This bill, it was explained. required no car
tal, and was for the carrying out of working arrallgesea9-
It was approved after some discussion.
The eighth bill, which is to vest the Liverpool mita
station in the three companies, and for which no adh'
tional capital is required, was approved unanimously.
The next bill is to complete the Chester lines, an&
enable the three companies to make a line seven •1.,
long, from Chester to the West Cheshire Hoc. The caps!
to be raised by this company for this line is 93,0001. sho
capital and the usual borrowing powers.
The bill was approved by 10 to 4.
Three bills, authorising the use of the Cheshire licit
and for w'aich no capital is required, were also approved.
Other bills for making a railway from '.‘lacalesEeld
to
Knutsford and Warrington, to authorise Hatfield Chow
Working and Improvement Company to mike railways. t 1
confer further powers upon the Hemel-Hempstead
Coe
piny ; to make a railway from Louth to the Five-tou!:
house Station of the Great Northern Railway %Ai's
bills are promoted by other companies, and to which 0,
company subscribes no capital—were approved with 64
opposition.
Bills to confer additional powers on the 3letropal*
tan Railway, and for entering into agreements bettro•
the two companies were agreed to; to authorise tis
Great Eastern Company to make certain railways fret
their system to the Alexandra Palace, forming a luncl
with this company's line at Wood-green ; to authorise t
Edgware, Highgate, and London Railway Company
extend their railway to Barnet. were also appnwed.
The total capital authorised by these bills, it was state.
is 1,415,0001., with borrowing powers to one-third OW
amount.
A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the Pet
oeedings.

The Council of the Royal Horticultural Society,
at their hat meeting, passed a resolution opming the Fhl
wick--garden free to strangers during the week of
International Horticultural liahibition