The Express.
London, England, 1866-02-12 00:00:00

egARING-011088
(Til HOYI
lsL COMPANY (LIMITED).
DAY.)

COMPLAINTS wrra REGARD TO VLSITORS.
The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders wee
mkt at 10 &stook this morning at the Hotel, the Hon.
Dna BUG is the chair.
The report stated that the house bad been wall filled from
ibowslening, mod numerous aitathens for apeeememe
bed thetastly been declined. During the winter months a
dean= of busithes might have been aeticipated, bat on
Ise matrary, the demand has frequently exceeded the
sweat of aeomamodstion the betel in capable of
&raw The public have also haply availed them-
si;as of the Railway Restaurant, and the Shades in Vil-
thogreset, both of which have been very eneeserful.
pla directors have thought it desirable to supply what has
hitherto been felt by coatizien' al travellers se • great want
*Undo* hotels, namely, a table if bee. A superior table
Age at 6 o'clock every evening was accordingly established
le November last in the omegas' apartment overlooking
Ike trains and platforms of the Charing-craps terminus ;
aid it Mabee° highly appreciated by guests visiting the hotel.
The trade receipts from all sources daring the seven and
a half months ending the 31st December, 1865, amounted
46,422.1. 3s. IL, and after placing 2,001. to the
'slit of the reserve fend for depreciation and renewals,
them remains • balance of 1 2651. Bs. 5d., and the
direction recommend that • die' be declared at the
rata of 12 per cent per annum, or 15e. per 101. share, free
of income tax, for the seven and • half months, leaving
1,2651. ss. sd. to be carried over to the next half- year.
The CHAlllthn, in moving the adoption of the report
end accounts, said—l have much pleasure in being able to
congratulate you on the successful operations of the com-
pany as referred to in the report and accounts now sub-
mitted. It appears that the habits of the English are
changing by railways and other mums. Our countrymen
begin to find hotels preferable to lodgings. Indeed,
I expect a large portion of the population will In time be
reddent in hotels in the same mariner as on the
Continent—thus avoiding the anxieties of honeekeeping and
obtaining • pester change of society There are visitors sow
staying at the Obaring-cross Hotel who have lived
in it almost from the first day it was opened.
We find that to the dull season of the year we
have been just as busy ea In May and June. The
great number of visitors theommodated has severely taxed
the enericirs of the staff snd, looking at the difficulties
in organising all the details necessary to put such an estab-
lisherect in working order, I cannot but state in all fak-
eer that we are much indebted to the officers and servants
of the company. With reference to the complaints of in-
civility referred to in the Times, the chief barmaid, the
person alluded to, had left the service of the company
before those letters ohms under the notice of the directors.
You ma easily understand that where applications for
emommodation are more numerous than the place can
afford, some inconvenience must naturally occur. The cir-
cumstances have been investigated, and it hes been found
that great difficulty arises when parties keep their rooms
for a looser period than they have previously arranged. The
apartments are frequently re-let to guests who wish to 021110
in. The crowded state of the hone, renders it impotent:de even
to provide temporary rooms in the meantime, and dis-
appointment has been ueavoidably occasioned. The number
of sleeping guests who have visited the hotel sines the
opening is 45,000, and that of casual visitors 5,000. Yoe
moat bear in mind that when visit es change their minds we
=mote impel them to vacate their apartment,. The directors
are exceedingly anxious that everything should be done to
insure civility and comfort ; and with every disposittha ia
the world to afford convenieuoe to guests, it /a obvious
the house can only give accommodation equal to Its capa-
city. The directors, as well as the manager, themes the
realest passible regret thet anyone should have bad cause
for complaint, and we beg to assure you that no effort shall
be wanting to conduct the hotel in a creditable mother.
We have every confidence in the manager, who in opening
the hotel selected the most efficient employis, but if in
the cues named they failed to carry out his instructions
be mock regrets it, as we do all. The profit oa the hotel
management has been considerably higher then could have
reasonably been anticipated when compared with
undertakings of a similar nature. The general
satisfaction which has been expressed, and the
coot need support the establishment meets with
shows them instances to be of an exceptional character.
With regard to the question of keeping the house open
throughout the night, the directors are carefully consider-
ing this matter, and if they find that any beneficial change
an be made so as to meet the further requirements in this
thu, without acting prejudicially to the comfort of
s generally, they will only be too happy to make
such arrangements as will meet the moo. But we
must, above all thine, be particularly careful that we
do not get the hotel a bad name by making it what Is com-
monly called • " night house" io such • locality, We pride
eareelves, and have been highly complimented, on the
quietness of the house. Guests speak of it, that after a
certain hoar it is as quiet as their owe homes. I may,
however, state, that since the hotel has been opened guests
who expect or are likely to be late, having previously ordered
supper, it has always been ready for them on their rehire.
It Amid also be borne in mind that the hotel is kept open
for passengers arriving by the tidal and other trains of the
South Eastern Company, at whatever hour of the night the
trains may come in, when it is especially taken care that
the requisite accommodation is prepared ready for them Is
the coffee-room. We shall, however, be glad at all times
to meet the public requirements, as fax as can possibly be
die in this respect In conclusioo, I would add that we
moth not overlook the fact, that not only bee the hotel been
successfully opened, and a vast amount of business done,
but a most satisfactory result has also been produced with
every probability of is being maintained. (Cheers.)
Mr. throws Sierra said although be read the letters which
had appeared with great anxiety, be felt confident from
his knowledge of the chairman and the other directors that
a satisfactory explanation would be given. (Flesr, hest.)
It now appeared that the lady in question had lets when
the complaint wan made, but even if she had not he should
have felt satisfied that the directors would take the proper
course. A 12 per cent. dividend was very pleasant, but it
was also desirable that the hotel should stand well in the
mrticostion of the visitors.
Another SHASIHOLDI2 also expressed his satisfactios at
the explanations given by the chairman in relation to the
charges of incivility. He added that having resided in the
hotel he could testify to the satisfactory nature of the
accommodation afforded both to individuals and families.
The report was adopted and • dividend at the rate of 12
par cent per annum declared.
The meeting was then wads special, and a resolution
agreed to for raising 20,000/. on debentures, making the
total debenture debt 40,C301.
A vote of thanks to the chairman and the other directors
terminated the proceedings.

Mr. Westland Maraton'a new play was read at
the Haymarket Theatre on Tburality. Miss Kate Wile
h envoi to play the heroine.
M. Victor Hugo'a new novel, " Les Travailleurs
do la Mer," le being tranalat xi into English by Mr. Moy
Thomas. _ _ .

The experiences of the amateur casual of the
Pall Mail Gazelle have been dramatised at the Maryle-
bone Theatre, ander the title of Lifc in a Woraouse.

The Missionary ship John Williams, bound to
Melbourne, Australia, which sailed from Portland last
Monday week, has again returned there for shelter, having
sapenenced very severe weather since she left. There are
also several large steamers which were outward bound again
at anchor in the harbour, having put beck through the
heavy weather which has prevailed in the Channel for so
may weeks past.
A.lceremony interesting to the English residents
no less than to occasional visitors in Madrid was celebrated
on the 7th in the afternoon. This was the consecration,
by the Bishop of Illinois, of the British cemetery in the
suburb of Oaravanohel, about one mile out of the Toledo
gate. The cemetery stands on a oommandiog eminenoe,
with a magnificent view of Madrid across the Maoranares
Valley and of the dreary land for miles around. The arms
of Bathed are on the entrance, with the simple inscrip-
tion, "British Cemetery," and the date of its erection,
Inside. over the wit, there is cross.
The Times scat that a number of ladies, occu-
pyieg a high social position, have formed a society for the
Cusco purpose of improving the condition of the ballet
&seers. In order to become a member of the institution

the dancer is to deposit is the nearest Post-office Baviop
Bank a sum not less than IL a fortnight. The committee
of ladies, on the other hand, are endeavouring to raise •
feud out of which they propose to pay a per osntage upon
the deposits equal to and in addition to that allowed by the
government. The members will thus receive double ie.
tenet on their savings, It is also hoped that the fund will
be sufficient to afford extra assistance in the event of s'clt-
IMMIS or distress. It it, therefore, proposed by the commit-
tee that the lady of the ballet who has outlasted her pro-
foulon—ny at the age of 35—shall receive an allowance
for three months, that she may learn one of the few trades
that afford employment to women. A book for imbscrip-
Cons to the " Ballet Benefit Band" is opened at Mews.
Drummond's.

VEKDICT OF MANSLAUCHITLIL DAY.)—
This* Dr. Lankeeter resumed an adjourned inquest at
the keys' Free Hospital, on the body of Louisa Deshler.
7110 wan knocked does and run over by s horns and out
13than by a man named John Wright, who was in
3110 custody of the polio*. The deceased lady was
Med 76, and was the widow of • Belgian pattern's,
• turs' after • lengthened deliberation delivered a ver-
w▪ "
" Manslaughter" spinet John Wright. The fore-
man mid that the general feeling of the jury was that the
man was not drunk as had been alleged, ani that he tried
tope]. tip when he raw the woman. They would like if
Pifsible to recommend him to merciful sossideration. The
Prisoner was then oommitted for trial.
FORZION-OTIPICZ, Fan. B.—The Queen hag been
Ltd to Approve of Mr.Ma jon., ss Consul in
oa for his Majesty the King o the Netherlands.—
Marette.