The Express.
London, England, 1859-08-27 00:00:00

SOUTH EASTIRN RAILWAY.

The following is the enbetanin of the report of the
directors, to be eubcolued to the half-yemly meeting, at the
Bridae.house Hotel, London.bildpa, on the tat Sept.:
"The so:company* watements of receipts lad expendi-
ture for tbo half-yeat ending *tidbit of July last mishit •
total gross theme during that period of 624,9181. 1, (ta-
ctual's 22,9361. Is. sd. modien from eteamhost fteM),
being an barer@ of 29,8161. 16e. 11d. complied with the
oureepading period of 1868. After paying sad podding
far all working *veneer, mate, interest on loam, annuities
sad dividends ea preference asoek, there rensatne • Wane::
meltable for dividend on the ordinary stock of 149,7881.
16s. ld. A dividapd of 12.. per 301. stock, or at the rote of
41. per cent. per annum, Sill absorb a stun of 146,6744
leaving a balance. to be carried forward of Mid.
16s, 14; and We rate of elivideed the directors raoom-
inked to be paid on Thursday, the Bth of Septeniber next.
The human midst She had of pamenger traffic is 10,9111.
lie. 6d., sad arises anima entirety from the steady growth
of the local traffic to and from the radius stations on the
Main, North Kent, sad branch lima. The toted number of
maims now open is 95, nod it is milshatory to end that the
facilitke which the arenas have comadwid it expedient
from time to tide to provide for the aomsomodation of the
Meal Credit, by the jealous sependiture of ceded et these
starker, have been followed by sa adequate memo. The
through traffic of the past half-par km necessarily been
Miected by the disturbing tuners eluting on the continent.
The total tregelpta frees this some, however, have been anis-
tained red with the corresponding penod of lost yew.
The bait& 'under the bond of merthaadise tnffio is
7.9661. lea, atembilpg peibelpedly fa Mediums! merolsendise
(6,0621.), eat ends (1,2941.); and it la redeem to the
, directors to be enabled testate that this addinonat °Mk has
1 been earned at a ecemeratively small increase (81161) to the
working ex and an isms' diereses In the linkage run
by the good. Maths. The expenditure incurred in working
and amintotelnp the hue daring the half-year exhibits an
increase et lAN.; bet, when talus In 4071Delkill id* the
increase in the traMo woad, amounting to 24261/.,, this
festers is the momenta will be regarded with gradanWon by
the proprietors. The verde. stook of the railway, together
with the wattled wade, ham bent hilly shebtOdned, and all
upenees of ~oral aid easintenance charged directly to
revenue. The company's stems pickets continue to perform
their voyages hoes port to port with their usual regularity
end despatch. Dialog the lest bill-leer the Princess Maude
tae undergone extonelve repair, and hes been renewed
in her hull and holler at a cost of 2,9961. Similar re-
a.wsls have been effeeted Rom time to time in the
other vessels, at the cost of revenue by which their
efficiency bas ban telly tosintahred. Tim proprietors are
swam that kit several yeses pest the steam picket
revenue, besides burin tbe cost of these renewals, has been
further charged with the sum of 2,500/. in each half-yam,
for theperposee of a reserve and &armee fond, which now
*mounts to 26,8691 As intimated at the last ban yearly
meeting, the directors do not consider it necessary to add
further so that fond ; and me they will continue to charge
such mounts em may. be required for the anniteciance ant
repairs of the vessels directly to revenue, es heretofore, they
recommend that for the present no further additions be made
to the rosette fund in question. The especial attention of
the bead continuos to be directed to the subject of the teting
of the railway by the parochial authorities, and appeals have
in several instances been ancoseduily prosecuted against the
amend at which the Hoe b maisied. The directors
anticipate that, by following the game course the rating of
the line generally will eventually be placed upon a more
equitable footiog.Thelargest item in the expenditure of ?iota!
daring the last half.year is tbe amount of purchase (16, / )
of the Caterbam Railway, which is now the property o this
company. The other principal teems bays been for additions
to the riding stock (6,7901.), and new station and siding
socommodation et New•mose, Aidamhott, Elwood, and Belvi-
dere • the expenditure for these purposes having already re-
ceived the approval of the proprietors. The large and
steady Mamas In the traffic of the railway bas fir some time
peat severely tried the resources of the locomotive and
carriage departments, end the directors me of opinion
that, with a view to the more efficient and economical
working of the traffic, as well as the better accommodation
of the public a °renderable addition ought to be made, with
se little delay: es posithis, to the working stock of the ocemany.
While the Drusber ef passenger. convoyed bon increased in
ten year 75 per coatond the passenger receipts 63 per cent.,
the increase in the passenger carrying stock has been in-
creased only 54 per oast.; and *tale the tonnage of goods
carried has during. the some period increased 222 per cent.,
nod the goods receipts 161 per cent., the goods carrying
stock has been lammed oily 101 per cent. ; the additions
so made being ascertained to be altogether inadequate for
the efficient working and accommodation of the increased
traffic. The directors hays therefore arrived it the conclu-
sion that it is expedient to add to the oompenye working
stock 150 presager carriages, 250 goods waggon' and
truck e. end 12 locomotive engines, at an isthmoid cost of
75,0001. They believe that the requirements of the traffio
fully justify this additional outlay, and that it will prove
amply remunerative intim result.

Barnes Mrsirrx.—To-day is the last day of this
Institution being opened no the 4mblio Satutday, as the
period doting which tt b opened to the public on that day
terminated with the peeseat week. The experiment of open-
ing the institution in accordance with the Saturday half-
holiday movement has been eminently ettecessful, and it is
attended by the treaters that the tame plea shall be adopted
next summer. After Wednesday next the Institution will
be entirely closed to the public all the 7th of September, as
meal at this period of the year.
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST CHOLERA.—ltwillbe antis-
h dLatrobto us
the tevp.iiitiasty
factory to the inhabitant/ of the North of England to know
that the authorities in the towns the most likely first to feel
dthuerroggecigthoe m of
choler*
—ihmidis
autumn—an folly .ii,
of taking every preceetioaary measure, both for the
' prevention of en outbreak of the malady, and for
checking its spread, should it unfortemately make its ap-
pearance. Yesterday a meeting of the mayors of the
towns on the Tyne was held in the Town Hall, St. Nicholas'.
mare. The Mayor of Newcastle (Mr. Joseph Layorck), to
it of having convened the meeting is due,
coupled the
the chair; sod several measures, intended to accom-
plish the objects stated above, went agreed to. A meeting of
other local authorities, barites the sante objects in view, took
place in the same place on the previous day. The Inhabi-
tants of the district may therefore be congratulated on the
feesttbat their local searchesa are not deterred by the leer of
alarming timid minds with the appearance of preparation
for en attack of Air dames, from taking every step which
medical seisms can suggest as 'Sway., either in Fortuities
the appeaser* of cholera, or in getting rid of It. as soon aa
possible, should ft spoese.—Naressils Chronicle of yesterday.
MYSTERIOUS DISCOTERY ON TRU THAMES.—
Yosaiday soosiwooloo liebtoroom navigating
a croft on
the Thames, near Velubell-brlde. digoovered • mein floating
lup with the tide. With some &Scotty they secured it and
towed It ea shore, Having been conveyed to the Smut.
public beam, Niue Elmo, it w found to be carefully
screwed down down, sad when it was opened the body of a
boy shoat saves or sight yews old was found. TIM certain
ass* on the body dotab le gemmed not to hare to place
from *Moral osier, and information haortae iving ban fo
examinar tion.warded
to the coroner, be has ordered a post
CRYSTAL PALACZ. Mums DAT.—.
PRIDAT, ROOM 24.—RdadoO6000 OS VITOPIO4 Z 453 ;
• aft. by MOOR *kilos MS; total rialters, 2,74‘

HAINOICIUIIB--NEW MODEL—
lama sod Oa. M. lasuborest.

Orbs exprsoo*

TO CORRIMPONMINTS.
My oribiessein Itionded for "The is Leeks
weig( Payer, Jaw be et the Othee, 10,
by Tye cICWI ea tie ley cd pablialtem

SA AAAAA Mr
CM Wanes. TEN 001T/DITID OLDOTJON. awl
C. Nram•—liA3ll AND nom Kr. L W•beatawl Ms. C.
lilaKcitc—Aad NALLoilm.

Tor Ivismo,_lllll SWAN?. Mr. w Mis. C. Musa.—
11.4 MIMIUMMLI Negri Dana/L—Oimmes at T.

Ti. Vim% Till WA /OWI/I.—JACI JAOEI
BAOTOU. liar. fi. Weed W. Oiaditi—A6l TUE STRI N 0
Or PURLS W. N. 11.211.10

•ION NAVAS AT LONDON INIDGIL
ras. pet.aseilims. ar. Us— --Aliners. 114. =
Twiteaire.Mualm IL Vis........—Aamaisk IL

LONDON. WUNDAY. AUGUST 27.

E French army is 'readably a 'abject of deep
interest in this emote, ; keit" numbers, equipment',
and mobilisation are as much the pulse of the govern-
ment, as the funds are said to be the pulse of the
nation. Who its active force is reduced, as when •
Beet just before i• etneraission is laid up in ordinary,
pesoefel men are happy, and professional alarmist'
are involuntarily disappointed. A large reduction
was naturally expected as among the first- fruits
of Villa:nem Such a result was bruited about
by the semi-official journals of the Empire, sad
the 21fuwileur has since announced the scheme
of the French Government in teems ism
vague and iadistinet. Rut a moment's analysis
materially depreciates the value of this portentous
guarantee far the peace of Europe. For, after all,
what does it amount to? It consists of three prin-
cipal provisions. Filet, the whole clam of 1832, who
were called into service at the end of that year, an
to be disembodied on the 20th of September next.
We class totwiste nominally of 80,000 men, for
the Government may consent» that number an-
nually but the exhaustive infiernee of the RUIII4IIIII
and kastrian wan has probably reduced it to Ism
than 60,000. The whole of this body would
however, in the ordinary course, claim their dir
charge at the 31st of December, when the new con-
scription of 1839-60 would be brought fully into the
WIMP ; and this boasted redaction of 60,000 men at
the most is only a reduction for a hundred days.
lbe second proviaion consists in the grant of six
months' furloughs from the same 20th of September,
in a ratio which is not yet specified. Now we are
not going to acme the French Government of any
definite belligerent designs; bat it is Wear
that, let them be what they may, ne
fresh hostilities mould well be undertaken until
Best Mirth, and that by that time not only would
the class of 18.52 be replaced by that of 1839, but the
mea on furlough of the later elegise would have re-
turned to the ranks ; while the government, though
continuing no doubt to pay them their small allow-
noose, would economically send them to live on their
friends or their wits, instead of on the Imperial Com-
militarist. The third and lastprovision of theilforiferr
allows the retirement of those who can prove, ac-
cording to our idiom, " argent private belissus," or
who an absolutely no:meaty to their respective
families. Bat es their respective families have
hitherto contrived to dispense with their presence,
we min hardly be very sawing of the number who
mai be &hie, as well es willing, to prove their
claim.

There can be no doubt that, although Republican
economy, after 1848, never interfered with the posi-
tion of France as a great military Power, the forces
of the Empire have greatly exceeded those of the
Republic. From a public document before us, we
see that the French army in 1853 consisted of
373,000 men, and that of these only 44,000 had served
for seven years. Since that period there have been
two destructive wars ; but whenever there have been
hostilities there have also been extraordinary levies.
On this account it is difficult to compute the ordinary
extent of the French army with exactness. If its
annual conscription of 80,000 were never exceeded,
its normal number, barring casualties, would be of
course 560,1000. But in war the number of cos-
scripts has been nearly doubled; and the iocentives
offered by Government to re-enlistment are probably
in effect a setoff against casualties during peace-
lust as extraordinary conscriptions may nearly can,
cel casualties in war. On this basis it is impartible
to compute the French army at Ws than
500,000 men. Algeria meanwhile absorbs 80,000,
and after providing garrisons for the few distaet
colonies of the Empire, we must still estimate the
standing army in France herself at fully 400,000,
At this rate, although the forces employed in Algeria
bad undergone considerable increase before the late
war,we most reckon the increase in the ordinary num-
bers of the French army at more than 100,000 men
since the commencement of the Empire. The only two
presumptions that we have heard advanced against
such a computation can hardly be said to assail it.
It is alleged that the French army, according to
official documents, costs very little more than our
own, which according to this computation is not
one-third of its number; and that the Govern-
ment, if it possessed such immense forces when war
broke out, would have at least 150,000 men at its
disposal without demanding extraordinary cormerip-
tiooe. Bat the fact is, that, whileevery one acknow-
ledges the abuses prevalent in the Eng:ish army, the
French returns of expenditure are incomplete; for
though the total is always neatly rounded off in
imperial documents at a few million francs less than
the revenue, there is nevertheless a regular end mye-
tenons addition, in the next schedule, to the intermit
on the national debt. And the extraordinary C3,H
scriptions have been instituted merely for reserve, for
the French had, io the late campaign, twice de
hated the Austrian,. before any fresh conscription
eou.d take effect. We believe that at no period
since the Russian war has France posses .4 ltee
than 120p00 men disposable for foreign service.
Yet French authori:tes would have as believe
that this great military array is a mere "fleabite!
is Mr. 10,e tete, language, and invoke, a amp
of Daly one-f.fth of the ordinary revenue of Praha&
While Austria 1/ incontestably being ruined by an
army no larger in proportion totter population—while

. .
Prussia is wilfully oppressed by the same military
overgrowth—and Ramis is incapable agent efforts
beyond her frontier., the oth a 1 documents of tin
French empire represent the 'military expenditure's
never exceeding 337,000,000 f., or 12,440,000/, dmt►
log peace. Uwe reckon the French army at woo°.
tam is at the rate of 254 per man, usfaatry, cavalry
and artillery—pay, provisions, accoutrements
hones, ceases, and magsxlnes incladed. Is this
passible is a country is which a franc ma hardly be
said to go mach farther than a shilling is Englaed P
If each a statement were credible, what meteorite'
instititiees wild stand against the pommel From*
did she only resolatisaime the ►pplicatioe of her 'e-
yesore in the interims et the arsay ? Take the ►edge►
of 144 a. The groom revenue is there compared et
1,:it9.000.000 hues; the interest es the matiamg
debt involves a charge of 610;100,000 hamlet end

there remain therefore just 1,200,000,000 fresco for
current expenses. The set menu cannot be pre-
cimely stated; for the charge of collection is mixed
with that of civil government ; and to a state so
centralised as Francs, the difference between the
"net" and the "gross" must be comparatively
slight. Assuming the expense of collection to be
as much as 200,000,000 francs, there remains a
thousand millions of francs or 40,000,0001. sterling,
for the net revenue. Of this, as we have seen,
only one - third is charged for the army,
while the cost of the navy is estimated
at lees than 5,000,000!. Of what becomes of the
vast remainder there is no satisfactory amount ; and
we are left to the illusory hypothesis that, after de-
I fraying the expenses of civil government, it is con-
sumed in beneficent works of mural and material
progress. Surely 33 astute a ruler as Lout, NA.
POLION. if he could maintain his army for one-fifth
of his total, and one-third of his disposable, revenue,
would hardly maintain the pressor° of a taxation of
ow 70,000,0001. a year.

The recruiting of an army by conscription must
nsesesarily make military service in a certain
degree unpopular, but three great advantages
in the eyes of the common soldier, give the
French army a superiority over oar own. In
the first place, the republicanism of French society,
by penetrating into the army, gives to every
' man the chance of becoming a marshal and duke of
the empire; and at any rate to become an officer is
no rare destiny. Then tie few colonial settlements
of the French render the proportion liable to serve
in foreign climates vary small ; and while fully two-
thirds of our own army is abroad, four-fifths of the
French army remain at home. Again, like the Pru-
den, but unlike the Austrian troops, nearly every
French soldier is of the same nation with his
Government I even the Zouaves are chiefly
French matirais midi (who are chosen to guard the
Tuileries from a motive which may be well conceived);
and there is none of the " Hannibalient e in Friaoo
of sending Hungarians to keep down Italians, and
Italians to keep down Hangariara. Nationality,
promotion, and home service are thus three sustain-
ing moditions of the conscription. To these incen-
tives the EMPEROR has now added furloughs and
diacharges in anticipation ; and he is no doubt quite
at liberty to make the most of it to the army as well
se to foreign governments. The first instinct of
every despot mast necessarily be to keep his army in
good humour in peace, and to lead them to glory in
war ; nor does any man know how to do this better
than LOLIS NAPOLEON.