The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-23 00:00:00

In their report the directors state that the whole of the
purchase-money due to the Gutta Percha Company has
been paid to them, consequently this company is in full
possession of all the property, de., included in the value-
tions referred to in the last report. The final award to
Messrs. Glass, Elliot, and Co., for their business of tele-
graph contractors and manufacturers, has been received,
and makes up the total sum of 163,4701. 10s. 10d.,
payable to them for the property and goodwill
of the firm, being 11,5291. 9s. 2d. less than the
amount of 175,000/. mentioned in the agreement, and pro-
visionally introduced into the accounts for the year ending
December 31, 1864. This property is also now in possession
of the company. The result of the attempt to lay the
cable in the autumn of last year, is too well known to need
remark. The directors have entered into an agreement
with the Anglo-American Telegraph Company to manu-
facture and lay a new telegraph line between England and
America, and to endeavour to complete the line partly
laid in 1865, in the success of which opera-
tions they have the greatest confidence. The net
profits for the; year ending December 31, 1865,
after deducting the entire loss on sale of Atlantic telegraph
shares realised and the depreciation in value of those in
hand, amount to 118,3421.195. 5d., which, with the balance,
43,3251. Os. Bd., brought forward from 1864, will make
161,668/. Os. hl., from which a reserve has been made for
repairs of the Malta and Alexandria Telegraph of
6,3561. 3s. 3d. ; and the following further
amounts have been deducted, viz., interest on un-
paid purchase money, 18,770/. 17s. 10d. ; third interim
dividend or interest to the shareholders on capital at 5 per
cent. per annum, 9,297/. lls.; leaving a disposable balance
of 127,243/. Bs. This balance the directors propose to deal
with as follows, viz. :—To write off the amount of expenses
in connexion with the valuations and awards, 2,430/.
15s. 3d. ; to pay balance of interest on capital at 5
per cent. per annum, 13,2131. 12s. ; to carry to the
credit of the reserved fund in pursuance of the articles
of Association, 8,5821. 18s. 4d. ; to pay a dividend at
5 per cent. (free of income-tax) which with the interest
or interim dividend make up a total dividend of
10 per cent. per annum on the paid-up share capital ;to
carry to a reserve account in respect of outlay on Atlantic
expedition of 1865, 60,0001., which will make the amount
in reserve 81,1771. 3s. 11d. ; and to carry forward to 1866
a balance of 16.588/. 18s. sd. The whole of the company's
works and machinery are reported by their engineers to be
in a thoroughly efficient condition, and are fully employed
on important and remunerative work in addition to the
manufacture of the new Atlantic cable. The company have
obtained a renewal of the lease of the Malta and Alexan-

dria Telegraph.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report
and the declaration of a dividend, making up 10 per cent.
for the year, said, when they met last year theymet fullof
hope that the important work they then had in hand would
be carried to a suoceuful issue ; they met now also
with hope, for though they failed in their great
undertaking they had still hope, for they had
experience to work upon. Notwithstanding the
failure in the laying of the Atlantic cable the directors had
to announce a dividend of 10 per cent., which had been
honestly earned, and they were full of orders. If the
Atlantic cable were successfully laid this year, they saw a
large increase in the demand for cables. A general im-
pression was abroad that the company was connected
with the Atlantic Telegraph Company, but they were no
more connected with it than they were with any other
company for which they constructed cables.
Mr. A. H. CAMPBELL, M.P., seconded.
Mr. EAMES asked if it were intended to make • further
call 12/. 10s. he thought was quite enough out of 201.
The remainder ought to left for contingencies.
The CHAIRMAN said their business required them to
keep in hand • large amount of material. They did not
contemplate making an immediate call, but if the cable
were successfully laid the question of increasing the
capital of the company might arise.
The motion was then put and carried, and Mr. D. Chad-
wick and Mr. R. Young having been re-elected auditors, a
vote of thanks was given to the chairman and director'.
The CHAIRMAN, in acknowledging the vote, said it was
contemplated that the Great Eastern would start on her
second voyage to lay the Atlantic cable, and he trusted
that in three or four months they would have to congratu-
late themselves on the completion of the greatest work
which had ever been undertaken in all time.

REVOLUTION IN PANAMA.—LIVERPOOL, APRIL 22.
—The West Indian and Pacific Company's steamer Ven-
quelian arrived here to-day, with dates from Colon to the
27th ult. A revolution broke out at Panama on the 24th
ult., but was suppressed. Among the revolutionists killed
were the celebrated Leodus Sigurbia and Buril and among
the prisoner is the Venquelian general Level de Godd.
—Renter's Telegram. _

RETURN OF THE VICAR OF FRONIE.—The Rev.
W. J. E. Bennett, vicar of Frome, has for some months suf-
fered from severe indisposition, and has been compelled to
reside in Bath and Weston-super-Mare. He has,
however, so far recovered as to be enabled to re-
turn home, and his arrival on Thundery kat was
most cordially greeted by his parishioners. A large num-
ber assembled on the vicarage lawn, and as the carriage
drove in they gave the vicar a most hearty welcome. An
address, beautifully illuminated, was read by the church-
warden, Mr. Penny, and presented to the rev. gentleman,
who was deeply affected by this new token of the affec-
tionate regard of his parishioners. Another address was
presented to Miss Vikery, who had assiduously attended
to Mr. Bennett in his illness ; and a valuable book was
presented to Miss Bennett. The bells rang out merrily,
and altogether the proceedings were very gratifying.—

Salisburi Journal. -
A STRANGE POSITION FOR A BIRD'S NEST. —On
the 14th of last month, a woman named Eastbury was
missed from her home, near Blocksley, in Warwickshire,
and although the most diligent search was made for her by
the police and her friends no trace could be found of her
whereabouts. On Sunday last, a man named Mark Spires,
was passing along the warren, near Dovedale, on Lord
Northwick's estate, when his attention was drawn to the
cackling of • moorhen on the side of a small orna-
mental lake, nearly surrounded by laurels and shrubs. He
went to the place to see what was the matter, and was
horrified on finding the dead body of the missing woman
in a highly decomposed state. The moorhen, which had
arrested his attention in the first instance, had built its
nest on the bosom of the corpse, and it contained seven
eggs in a forward state for hatching. An inquest was held
upon the corpse, when the coroner's jury returned a ver-
dict of " Found drowned."
A SINGULAR INQUIRY.—On Saturday last, a
singular inquiry took place before Mr. Whitehead, deputy
coroner, at a small village near Rochdale. About 50 years
ago, a person, named James Wild, whom his family and
relations described u of a miserly and greedy disposition,
built a cottage at a village named Gravelhole, about three
miles from Rochdale, and carried on there the trade of a
grocer and fanner. He married and had six children. In
183 d, he died very suddenly, and hi/eldest son, who is blind,
and named Francis Wild, stated at the inquiry that his
father left the family ten cottages and a share in the farm-
ing stock. After his father's death his mother frequently
stated that her husband must have concealed money, and
brooded over not finding it very much, until at last she
committed suicide. Shortly before his father's death his
mother asked him what had become of souse money
he had received for some fustian pieces he had sold. He
replied, " Oh, it will turn up some time." He him-
self was of opinion that his father used to hide money
secretly in the house. The Coroner—Why? Witness—
Because it is a family complaint. (Laughter.) He had
an uncle, named Abraham Wild, and after his death
a large sum of money was found concealed in the
ceiling over the pantry, and it was divided among
his relations. (Laughter.) The old house at Gravelhole
is now occupied by a relation named John Wild, who is a
widower with two children and a labourer. The other
day the stairs over the pantry were pulled down to make
some alteration in the premises. A. large quantity of
mortar and bricks fell out. While one of the youngest boys,
named Robert Wild, nine years of age, was clearing it away, 1
he found a purse, containing, it is stated, 112/. or 11Y. The I
young urchin, who evidently is troubled with the family
oomOaint, hid the purse until his father returned home in
the evening. The elder Wild opened it, and soon afterwards I
visited a public-house, where he boasted of his treasure, and
proclaimed he was the richest man in Gravelhole. When
the inquiry was first made by the deputy coroner, he was
ordered to attend, but he refined. A. summons was then
is sued against him, but he still persisted in not attending.
At last he was brought up on • warrant. After being
sworn, and giving an amount of how the parse got into
his posaesion, he gave evidence very reluctantly and
stated that there was only 2911_ in the purse, which he had
spent in paying debts and buying clothes. But it was
proved that he had given 601. to his employer to keep for
him, besides debts that he bad paid. The jury gave a ver-
dict to the effect that the money was not treasure trove,aud
did not belling to the crown, but should be handed over
to the babe-at-law of the deceased James Wild.
MNTROPOLITAN Fass Hoortai., DWOMeßnti-
&Masa, 0117.—The aggregeternanber ape pstimits relieved
during the week ending April 21, waa—medical, 941 ;
surgical, 569 ; total, 1,510, of which 496 were new case,.