The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-11 00:00:00

CRYSTAL PALACE COMPANY.

The report of the directors to the meeting of
proprietors on the 18th inst. has been issued. The result
of the year's working shows • balance to credit of 44,5881.
12s. 3d., which, when added to the sum of 3,272/. fe. Gd.
carried over in January last, makes • total amount of
47,8601. 17a. 9d. to the credit of revenue account. After
payment of the dividends on the debenture and preference
stocks, and the balance of interest account, a net sum of
15,861.75. Id. will remain. Out of this the directors pro-
pose that • dividend of lg per cent, be declared on the
ordinary stock, leaving • balance of 9161. 4s. 7d. to be
carried forward to the credit of the current year. The
exceptionally large number of visitors in 1865.6 has not
been maintained during the past twelve months. There
has, in fact, been a diminution in the number of visitors
on payment during the year to the extent of 260,452, and
• consequent reduction in the receipts, as compared with
those of the preceding account, of 16,0421. 2s. 4d. But
when the commercial distress affecting such large sections
of the public— the total lose during the year of the attrac-
tion exercised by the tropical department—the adverse
effect of the counter-attractions of the Paris Exhibition...,
and the extremely inclement weather in the early part of
the year, are remembered—weather which was without
parallel for severity in the history of the palace—the
directors think that the proprietors will not regard this
diminution in any other light than that of • temporary
depression, which will right itself as soon as the creep. ;
tional circumstances that caused it are removed. It may
be pointed out that the diminution in the receipts of the
I exhibition department is more apparent than real, since it ;
partly arises from the fact that some doubtful amounts,
which formerly stood to the credit of that department, ;
have been written off as "bad." The department also
shows a less return than usual owing to some of its sources
of revenue (such as that arising from visitors to the north
tower) having been stopped by the fire. This lose, however,
is also but temporary, and it may he anticipated that this
important branch of the company's revenue will recover ;
itself during the coining year. It is encouraging
to find that in the teeth of the adverse circumstances

*boys mentioned the sale of season tickets has nearly
maintained itself, while the subscription to the reserved
seam at the &Muds, Concerts has improved.

A DRUNERN LANCER. —Late on Saturday night
two privates of the 9th Lancers, fully armed, rode into
the Parade, Cork, on their way from Ballincollig to the
military barracks, where the main body of the regiment
is stationed. At the corner of Patrick-street one of them,
who was very drunk, halted, and called • female from the
footpath to come over to Aim. The woman went out into
the street, but seeing the condition in which the man was,
she turned and ran back to where two gentlemen, Mr.
Jones and Mr. Ahearn, were standing bidding each other'
pod night. The lancer rode furiously after her, and
dashed between the gentlemen, who had • very narrow
escape of being knocked down. Mr. Jones said to the fellow,
"What do you mean ?" astonished at his outrageous de-
meanour. Without replying, the soldier turned sharp round,
whipped his lance out of its rest, and pointing it at Mr. ,
Jones spurred his horse. Fortunately the horse stumbled on
the smooth flags and Mr. Jones, before the soldier could
bring the animal to the charge, had time to run across the '
street and take shelter behind • lamppost, around which
be could dodge his assailant. Mr. Ahearn and the woman
escaped in another direction. The lancer remained on the
flagway shouting, and wheeling his horse, which apparently
be was too drunk to manage, and endeavouring to return
to the charge. The constables then attempted to secure
the lance, but were unable to do so, and in the effort two
of them very narrowly escaped being wounded. The!
second soldier then rode up, and deprived the fellow of
the lance. On losing this weapon he at ones drew his
sword, and flourishing it wildly about in • few seconds
cleared • wide circle around him by • series of frantic
charges. This lasted some ten minutes longer, when at
length the remonstrances of his companion had some effect
in calming the excited soldier ; and he was prevailed on to
ride away, on which condition his lanes was restored to
him. At the barracks both soldiers were put under arrest,
and the matter will be investigated.—Core /examiner.
FORTUNE-TELLING tY WARWICKSHIRE. —At
Leamington, yesterday, • woman named Hannah Maria
Moore was charged with fortune-telling. The defendant
resided ate lonely cottage in the outskirts of Leamington,
and has long been celebrated for her knowledge of the
occult arta and her skill in divining the future. If report
be true, the rich were as credulous as the poor, and even
carriages might be seen waiting after nightfall in the
gleteltsr of her dwelling. At last, so notorious did the
become, that the police took steps to obtain a con-
viction. Accordingly, on Monday night, the wives of two
of the constables
to d her • visit. If ber powers of divi-
nation are to be judged by what she revealed them,
they were certain not great, for she not only failed to
discover the tree object of their visit, but showed great
consideration for them, and, oat of compassion for their
indigenes, only charged 3d. for all ler glowing promises of
sweethearts, weddings, and • long line of descendants.
It would appear, however, from a letter found in her
pomeaeion when apprehended, that she occasionally en-
gaged to exercised her arts so as to send sweethearts to
pug women, as in the communication alluded to her
eorrespondent upbraided her for not having fulfilled bar
promises, and exhorted bee to redouble her efforts. The
bean committed her to gaol for a month with herd
Liner.