The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-07 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 7, 1867.

ilAte Ententgetut.

COURT OF EXCHEQUER.—Fio. 6.

:iittings at Nisi Prins in Midillesex.—(Before Mr. Baron
Martin and Special Juries.)
~( OPLAKIL-LI REL.

This was an actkn for libeL The defendant pleaded
not guilty.
Mr. Se-want T:ndal Atkinson, Mr. Thorns., rind Mr.
lfr ~ ~ ley, rare for the plaintiff ; the Solicitor-General,
Mr. Coleridge, Q.C.. and Mr. C. W. Wood, for the
defendant.

Mr. 4erjeant At'..inaon said the plaintiff was Mr. John
Daniel l'inim, a aelidtor, who had been in practice for
forty yenta, and the defendant, Mr. Francis Goodlake, the
f the 7''. newspaper. About thirty years
alto the plaintiff h.cxtue aclinairted with a person named
Charles Fletcher, an officer in the service of the late East
India Company. Davin.. fallen into boa health, and being
ine.pable of waeaging his affairs, Fletcher was pensioned
by tb' company. and for some rears the plaintiff had acted
as trustee on In. behalf, for the purpose of receiving the
looney.:md makitv• him a weekly allowance. Fletcher
had accumulated abOut'll',.. which heihaul deposited in the
Illoomahury Savings Bank, and in August hat be autho-
rized the plaintiff to withdraw the money, band him over
a portion for his immediate wants, and retain the remain-
der fora certain time, until it was required. This the
plaintiff did, but in November hat he received a summons
at the instance of Fletcher, requiring his appearance at
• lerkenwell. to nn,wer a charge of defrauding him of the
money. The case wan heard by Mr. d'Eyncourt on the
Zird of November last. and on the following day this
report appeared in the rata :

John Daniel Pineyt. aolicltor, of Mk (treat James-street. lie I•
fordeou. was stuomatool before Mr. d'Eyncmirt, to answer the
follow her complaint .--'• For that you, on or about the oath day
of Au..t. leas, in the parish of St. Pancras, 41i0 unlawfully,
With ;:oh t..la•lrau4, And by mwuns of fake pretences. fraudu-
lently induce Charles Fletcher to write his name upon a certain
baler. In order that tie- »mac might be afterward» dealt with as
a rain:J.le security. contrary to the statute." Mr tolling, bar-
rister. appeared for the rosea•utton, and opened the case at
sonic length. from which it appeared that the complainant woo
an old man 7tt years of age, aml was fonnerly an ensign in the
Madras L f.wtp. Ile wad granted a pension. and as he was a
own of weak mind. a flower of attorney was given to the defen-
dant to receive the pension. In August last the defendant
uti the romplainant to aim a paper to withdraw some money
that he had in the wings bank. and since then the complainant
had not sacs the defendant, pier had he received any of the
mow•y that the• defendant had taken out of the hank. Ile should
show that this sat a eery enrol case. Wad it was one
in which other proecedlnga wool be taken In the Court
of Queens Bench azclust the Jefemlant. The learnt"!
gentleman then went inte the facts at some length.
The complainant who appeared very feeble, and who was allowed
to he seated whilst giving his evidence, having supported by his
testimony the statement of his conned, Mr. d'Eyncourt said
that If Mr. Na,',.. willed to act honestly In the matter he
would at once pay the money. )tr. Collins said if that was
done the matter, as tie LI this coqrt was concerned. would be at
at end. though further proceedings would be taken In the Court
101 queen's Bench. Mr. Pinero said he had offered the money,
hut it had been refused —Mr. d'Eyncourt remanded the case
for a week to allow a settlement to be made, and allowed Mr.
I•inern to go at large on his own recoLmitances In the sum of
Lino.

On the tat December another report appeared in the
Times of the adjourned proceedings, in which, after
setting out the ch.age in almost the same words u in the
preceding report, the following appeared:

The facts of tit, 'see were fully reported In the "Times" of
&denim last. Mr. :dealt:tit harriater, who attended for the
prosecution, stated that acting under the stigmatism thrown out
by the magistrate. the defendant had paid the whole of the
money in dispute. amt therefore the summons would now be
withdrawn. Mr. trtlytomurt alto' cd that course to be adopted,
and said the aummons was discharged.
The learned counsel said that so far from his client
wishing to defraud Fletcher, he had been his best friend,
and had sated for many years for him, in regard to receiv-
ing his pension, without a farthing of remuneration. The
complaint against the first of these reporta wan, that it
only gave the highly-coloured statement of counsel, and
left out the examination and cross-examinstionof Fletcher,
and that in this imperfect and:ft"' shape°
it was "'cu.
Wto laced seriously damage the racter and reputation of
the plaintiff. The second report was also represented to
be of an equally injurious tendency. A letter was written
to the TiVISto, complaining of the untruth and inaccuracy
of the reports, and requesting a public apology rad com-
putation ; and a few days afterwards a note was appended
to the Clerkenwell police report, to the effect that the
letter had been referred to the reporter, and that he said
the report was correct in every material circumstance.
Under these circumstances, the plaintiff felt bound to
being this action.
Mr. Ptnero, the plaintiff, said that at the first examina-
tion he told the magistrate that Fletcher was of unsound
mind; but he allowed the case to go on. The report omitted
the croes-eamuination, which contained material state-
ments in justification of his conduct. After the money
was withdrawn front the bank his son took it several times
to Fletcher, in order to hand it over to him. He offered
to pay over the 171. when he attended at the police
court, and Fletcher had now rine; ved the whole of that
amount. He had frequently made presents to Fletcher.
Since the reports Lad appeared in the Times rain busbies*
had fallen off considerably, especially in the common law
department.
lit. Alexander, the chief clerk at Clerkenwell Police
Court, produced his notes of the evidence, sod in cross-exa-
mination said Fletcher stated that he told the plaintiff
that he only wanted 41. or N. out of the bank ; that when
he signed the order of withdrawal he thought it was for
that sum, and not for the whole 17!; that he did not read
the paper: that the plaintiff guided his hard when he
attached his signature, and that he had not seen the
plaintiff since the money was withdrawn, although he had
been looking for hint. The witness added that he most
distinctly recollected Mr. d'Hyucourt saying that if Mr.
PRISM wished to act honestly in the matter he would at
once pay the money-
Mr. Coleridge, on the part of the defence' submitted
that the reports gave a substantiall correct, honest, and
y impartial account of what passed before Mr. d'Eyncourt ;
and that if the examination and cross-examination had
been published, they would not only have fully borne out
the opening statement of Mr. Collins, the counsel, but
rendered she account leas favourable to the plaintiff than
the one which actually appeared.
Mr. Baron Martin, in summing up, said that, adopting
the judgment of tho Court of Queen s Bench in the case of
" Lewin v. Levy," he would ask the jury whether they
thought the reports of the proceedings before the magis-
trate were an impartial and correct account of what oc-
curred. If they thought they were they would find a
verdict for the defendant ; but if, in their judgment, they
were not reports of that character, the plaintiff was en-
titled to a verdict. The question of damages wan entirely
one within their own province.
The jury, after a long absence from court, found a
verdict for the plaintiff—damages, 101.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

(Before Mr. Bodkin, Anistant Judge.)

Afar, Ann Johnson. 47, was indicted for stealing 10
shirts and other articles, the property of Ormond Rechart,
her master.

The prosecutor keeps • laundry at No. V, Lisle-street,
Leicester-square, and the prisoner stole the property
while in his service as laundress. Five pawnbrokers pro-
duced • large amount of property that had been pawned,
the tickets for it being found on the prisoner.

The jury found theinisoner Gnat;
Mrs. Howe, weeder at the Westminster House of Cot.
rection, proved several previous convictions against the
prisoner.
The Assistant Judge sentenced her to be imprisoned
and kept to bard labour for 1$ months.
Thomas Hanons9, 14. a ehoeblack, was convicted of
stealing a cheese, and sentenced to be imprisoned for one
month, and then to be kept in a reformatory for three
years.

the school, followed by the prisoner, but ea soon gist he saw
the mistress approaching he made hie escape. She was
then taken to (.:%!y's liafpitaL

In answer to the court the girl said that latterly she had
played with another boy, and that made him cross. As
she was entering the school on the afternoon in question
he asked her to play with him, and Immune she refused ho
followed her in, and said he would have her life.
The prisoner, in reply to the charge, Raid (crying) it was
all true what they had said, eseept using the hammer.
He was very sorry, and would not have done it only the
prosecutrix laughed at him and jeered him.
The jury found him Oi,ilty of a common assault, recom-
mending him to mercy on account of his youth.
The father of the prisoner was called forward, and said
be was a chairmaker, and had eight children besides him.
He assisted him in his trade, and was always a good tem-
pered buy.
The Chairman told the prisoner that be bad got himself
into • sad plight by losing his temper in such a manner.
They, however, must punish him, but it would not he
heavy. He accordingly sentenced him to seven days in
the common gaol, and during that time the chaplain would
speak to him, and impress upon his mind the wickedness
of his act. He hoped the prisoner would never give way
to his bad temper again.
The prisoner was then removed by the gaoler, crying,
and promising never to do so again.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

DUNSIOX-HOUSE.

A well-dressed youni—ro-an; name— R'krt Chap-
man, was brought before the Lord Mayor, charged with
stealing 52/. 78.11., the property of his employers, Messrs.
Miller and Miller, solicitors, of Sherburne-lane.
The prisoner was employed as a clerk by the prosecutors,
and it appeared that in August, 1865, be was entrusted
with a chsque for the amount above stated for the pur-
pose of paying legacy duty at Somerset-house in a Chan-
cery suit in which Messrs. Miller were engaged. Instead
of paying the cheque, however, he went to the Union Bank
of London and cashed it, and applied the proceeds to his
own use. The prisoner was discharged in November last,
and it appeared that the misappropriation of the money was
not discovered until some time afterwards.
The prisoner was committed for trial.
CLERKENWELL.

Hoar Barrett, a domestic servant, of prepossessing
appearance, was charged before Mr. Partridge with stealing
from the dwelling-house of her master three diamond
studs, value 601., and a gold chain and watch locket,
value 191., the property of Mr. Norabjie Dessaboy, a Par-
see.

Mr. Louis Lewis, of the firm of Lewis and Lewis, Ely.
place, prosecuted ; and Mr. Wakeling defended the
prisoner.
Mr. Lewis briefly described the case, which was that of
• servant girl, who, had been dismissed from her situation
at Fairfield-lodge, Honsey, where the prosecutor was living,
when it was discovered on the evening of her leaving that
the jewellery in question was missing. Steps were taken
to trace it, and eventually it was discovered that the bril-
liants in the studs, for which GO/. had been given, had
been sold by the prisoner to Mowers. Gardner and Van-
prague,diamond merchants and jewellers, of Oxford-street,
for the email sum of 13!. 10s., and the gold chain
and watch locket to the mune portico for Ti!., the
original price having been Lg. There was also
another feature in the case, which Mr. Lewis
severely commented on. He said, I shall also be
in a position to prove that the brilliants weigh two
and a half carats and were sold as three carats,
and that Messrs. Gardner and Vanprague denied
the weight and averred themselves, and by their books.
that it was only It carat. The watch locket and chain had
since been sold to Mr. Richd. Attenborough for 101., which
fact was discovered in consequence of the prosecutor being
acquainted with Mr. Geo. Attenborough. Mr. Rich.
Attenborough had since sold the articles to a Mr. Ben-
jamin Benjamin, who, instead of giving every information,
told the officers that the things were over the water, and
he (Mr. Lewis) was of opinion that Mr. Benjamin should
have been sent over the water too for the share be had
taken in the transaction, and he might conclude by saying
that there were certain witnesses whom he would produce
who should have been placed in the dock with the pri-
soner had it not been that their evidence was required for
the prosecution.
Lawrerce Vanpyague, a partner in the firm of Gardner
and Vanprague, diamond merchants and jewellers of 119,
Oxford-street, then gave evidence as to the purchase of the
articles from the prisoner. In answer to the magistrate, be
said he sold the brilliants toadealerabout an hour and a half
after ho had purchased them. The name of the dealer is
Mr. Jacques Vanprague, of 40, Upper Bedford-place, his
brother. He sold them to him for 14/. 17s. 6•1. to the best
of his belief. In cross-examination be said he did not re-
collect saying to prisoner, " Have you any more T " mean-
ing any more brilliants." He did nut recollect saying
" If you have any more brilliants bring them to me, and I
will buy them." He knew several women acting as
diamond merchants. On being pressed to name one he
named • lady in France, but although he said there were
perhaps a thousand in England he could not recollect the
name of one. He further admitted that it did mein some-
what odd the prisoner coming on suck as errand. They
were white stone.' and were allowed for at the rate of 14.
the carat. He did not enter them at the time, as they
corresponded with the endorsements on the cheques
given in payment.
Mr. Partridge, to Mr. Vanprsgue—l am very sorry that
the prosecutors are of opinion that there is not sufficient
evidence to indict you as a receiver.
Evidence was then taken as to Mr. R. Attenborough's
'foreman having purchased the watch locket and chain for
101. from Mr. Vanprague, and sold it for 13/. to Mr. Ben-
jamin. Mr. Benjamin also spoke to the purchase, but
when asked by Mr. Lewis to whom he had sold the articles
he very angrily replied, " What's that to you r
Mr. Partridge—Mr. Benjamin, you must recollect that
you are in a oourt of justice, and must answer every ques-
tion put to you by Mr. Lewis unless I interfere.
Witness—l sold them to • Mr. Stratus whom I know
very well. but do not know his address. I sold them to
him for ISt. I will endeavour to bring Mr. Strauss up as a
witness. I gave the chain up directly it was inquired for.
Mr. Lewis said he was going to ask for a remand for a
week, as the prosecutor was more desirous of punishing
Messrs. Gardner and Vanprague than the prisoner.
The prisoner was then committed for trial.
Mr. Partridge—Tell Mr. Vanprague to ate? into the wit-
ness-box. On that gentleman again making his appear.
ance the magistrate said—" I shall not allow you your
expenses.'

PRWRCUTION OF CuLOY FL NRLsoN AND
LIEUTENANT BRAND.

APer our report left yerenlay Dr. A. Fiddea :aid Mr.
Lewis, of Jamaica, gave evidence as to the circumstances
of Mr. Gordon's arrest and execution, and Mr. Roundel'
put in documents laid before the Jamaica Commiseion.

In answer to Mr. Stephen, Mr. Lewis stated that
General Nelson was present at the execution.
Mr. William Wallett West, clerk to Messrs. Sheen and
Roecoe, the solicitors in the case—l have made inquiries,
and from information I have received ,oneral Nelson
may he found within the jurisdiction of the court, at the
United Service

Sir Thomas Henry thought that was too vague.
Mr. Stephen submitted that it was sufficient to show
that the person was known of suspected to be within the
jurisdiction.
Sir Thomas Henry said that could not apply under the
24th and 25th Viet., under which alone he could act.
After some discussion, Mr. Stephen applied for an ad-
journment, in order to produce witnesses who had actually
seen Brigadier Nelson going in and out of the United Ser-
vice Club, and Lieutenant Brand in Regent-street.
Sir Thomas Henry consented to this course, and ad-
journed the proceedings till this day.

THE SPRING ASSIZES.

cßowx-orricz, IMIRULRY 4, 18U7.

Days and places appointed for holding the Spring Assizes. 18C.
HOME CIRCUIT.—The Eight Hon. the Lord Chief Justice of
the Common Mesa, Mr. Baron Bramwell.

liertlonlitdre, Wednesday, February 27, at Hertford Eases,
Nionda), March 4, M Cheinisfont. Kent, Monday, )larch 11, at
Maidstone. &wet, Monday, March IS, at Lewes surrey,
Monday, Muth 25, at Kingston-upon-Thames.
WESTERN CIRCEIT.—The Right lion. the Lord Chief Baron,
Mr. Justice Bytes.

County of Southampton, Wednesday, Feb nary 27, at the Castle
of Winchester. Horsetailire, Tueoday, March 5, at Dorchester.
Devonshire. Friday, March 8, at the Castle of Exeter. City of
Exeter, the same day, at the Guildhall of the said city. Corn-
wall, Friday, March 15, at Bodmin. Somersetahire, Wednesday,
March 20, at Taunton. Wiltshire, Tuesday. March 26. at Devises.
City of Briltol, Friday, March 29, at the Undid!nal of thesald city.
NORFOLK CIRCUIT.—Mr. Baron Martin, Mr. Justice Wiles,
Rutiandshire, Wednesday, February 27. at Oskham. Leicester-
shire, Thursday, February 28. at the Castle o: Leieester. Bo-
lough of Leicester, the same day, at the borough of Liieester.
Northamptonshire, Monday, March 4, at Northampton. Buck-
inghamohlre, Thursday, March 7, at Aylesbury. Bedfordoldre,
Monday. March 11, at Bedford. Huntingdonshire, Thursday,
March 14, at Huntingdon. Cambridgeshire. Saturday, March
10, at the County Courts. Suffolk, 11 ednesday. ties eh 20, at
Bury St. Edmunds. Norfolk, Bs.unlay, March 53, at the Castle
of Norwich. City of Norwich, the same day, at the Guildhall
of the said city.
OXFORD CIRCUIT.—Mr. Justice Blackburn, Mr. Baron Montt
Berkshire, Monday, February 25, at Reading. Olfordohire,
Thursday, February 28, at Oxford. Worcvalerahlre, Monday,
March 4, at Worcester. City of Worcester, the same day, at
the City of Worcester. Staffordshire, Saturday, March a, at
Stafford. Salop, Wedneaday, March 20; at Shrewsbury. Here-
fordshire, Saturday, March 23. at Hereford. Monmouthshire,
Wednesday, March 27, at Monmouth. Gloucestershire, Tues-
day, April 2, at Oloucester. City of Gloucester, the same day,
at the City of Gloucester.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—Mr. Justice Mellor. Mr. Justice Shee.
Westmorland, Saturday, February Hi, at Appleby. Cumber-
land, Tuesday, February 19, at Carlisle. Northumberland, Fri-
day, February 12, at the Castle of Newcastle-upomTyne. Town
of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. the same day, at the Guildhall of the
said town. Durham, Wednesday, February 27, M. Durham.
Lancashire, Tuesday, March 6, at Lancaster. Lancashire,
Saturday, March .9, at Manchester. Lancashire, Saturday,
March 22, at LiverpooL
MIDLAND CIRCUIT.—Mr. Justice Smith, Mr. Justice Lush.
Warwickshire, Thursday, February 26. at Warwick. Derby.
shire, Wednesday, March 6, at Derby. Nottinghamshire,
Monday, March 11, at Nottingham. Town of Nottingham, the
same day, at the town of Nottingham. Lincolnshire, Saturday,
March 16, at Lincoln. City of Lincoln, the Game day, at the City
of Lincoln, Yorkshire, North and East Hiding Division, Friday,
March 21, at the Castle of York. City of York, the same day, at
the Guildhall of the said city. West Riding Division, Thursday,
March 12, at Leeda
CIRCUIT OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF WALES AND
COUNTY PALATINE OF CHESTS:IL—Mr. Baron Channel,
Mr. Justice Koallug.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

METROPOLITAN.

The half-yearly meeting of this *employ was
held yesterday at the London Tavern ; Mr. JOHN PARSONS
in the chair.

The report, of which an abstract has been published, was
taken as read.

The CHAIRMAN moved its adoption, and commented
upon its various statements. Notwithstanding cholera,
depression of trade, and the apprehensions under
which the commercial world so long suffered, it was
satisfactory to find that the receipts of the second half of
1866 had been even more than could have been anticipated
at the last general meeting. The increase in the revenue
of the past half year might be said to be something re-
markable. After deducting all expenses and interest
chargeable against revenue, the receipts left a net avail-
able balance of 86,246/., making an increase in the total
net income of 11,6751., which it should not be forgotten had
been earned upon a partially opened line. This was a better
augury of future success almost than any other company in
the country could boast of. As to the present year, they
were going on at a weekly increase of 5001., and so far as
could be seen that increase would still further be aug-
mented during the year, without increasing the mileage or
bringing into play any other sources of revenue. The
shareholders might calculate with tolerable certainty that
although there might be lan iucrease in one week and a
decrease in the next, according to the variation of weather
and other minor circumstances, the gross income will be
increased in 1867 over 1866 by something like 26,000/.,
without a corresponding augmentation of expenditure.
The number of trains running now was the same as in the
corresponding period of 180, making a large proportion of
the increased income net. The expenditure of the past
half-year had been increased by about 5,0001., attributable
to various renewals—by the substitution of steel for iron
rails, and the enormous wear and tear of the rolling stock
of a line where the doors were so often opened and shut.
There nad also been a large increase in the rates and taxes,
which had amounted to 7,000 f. as against 5,0001. in the
previous half-year. Some articles bad recently appeared
in the newspapers respecting the differenoo between
the rating of omnibuses and railway trains. Look-
ing upon their carriages as steam omnibuses,
be thought the Metropolitan Company had great reason
to complain of their high rates and taxes. He believed
the General Omnibus Company by the removal of tolls and
reduction of duty from Id. to id. had been relieved of a
burden of not less than 26,6001., while the charges upon
railways had been increased rather than diminished. In
1863 net revenue of the Metropolitan Railway was
58,0781. ; in 1884 it was 70,7 751. ; in 186.1 it was 86,00 R/. ;
and in 1866 it had increased to 125,0831. (Cheers.) This
was a rate of progress such as the most sanguine could
hardly have anticipated. In 1866 they were paying upon
a capital of 2,482,500 f., whereas in 1863 they were paying
upon a capital of 1,124,3501. The Metropolitan Railway
had been in many respects a singular undertaking, inas-
much as they were forced into various extensions they did
not previously contemplate. The first thing they had to do
west° make • railway from Paddington to Farringdon-street.
Nextthey had to propound the extension to Finabury,which
some shareholders said was perfect madness, while others
urged that the line should run from Paddington to the Bank.
The very first year the undertaking was opened from Pad-
dington to Finsbury the excess of income of the company
was net 40,0001. This was an assurance that the course
then taken was the wise and intermediate course between
that proposed on the one hand by men who would do nothing,
and on the other by men who would do everything. The
board were aware the company were carrying out a series
of undertakings the future of which they knew nothing
of. The questions asked respecting them was whether
they would be pruductive of profit, and whether they could
be completed within the contemplated time. If they
could, the position of the company would no doubt be
supenor to that of any other in the kingdom. If, on the
other hand, the expectations that had been mist,' were
not borne out by results, the shareholders would have to
bear a certain amount of suffering. Several letters had
been received, some from anonymous correspondents, ask-
ing how the extension shares were to receive their 6 per
cent., and how the ordinary shares were to fare in the
matter of dividends for the future. By the arrangement
with the contractor the holders of extension capital
would receive their 6 per cent. until the lines were opened,
when they would be paid from revenue like the rest ;
and the old shareholders would be paid according to
whatever revenues the undertakings produced. When
the extension lines now being undertaken were completed,
the whole of the London, Chatham, and Dover and Great
Western traffic would be diverted to the Metropolitan
line. (A Voice—When will that be!) He hoped that
would be by the end of 1866. The shareholders must
remember that the widening capital, which was a charge
upon this half-year, did not reduce them a single penny.
The company held a large amount of surplus property in
Finsbury, bought to supply the Great Western, Midland,
and Great Northern Companies with station accommoda-
tion that was at preseut unproductive. The substructure
of the meat market in Smithfield was also at the present
moment unproductive property. Tho small amount of
traffic that was being carried over the broad gauge lines
might as well be carried over the narrow gauge ; the
whole of the traffic to Finsbury could be worked by two
lines of rails instead of four. The question often asked
was whether these unproductive works would ever produce
anything. During the past half-year the works upon the
Notting-hill and Brompton Extension, and the works for
widening the line between King's-cross and Farringdon-
street had made great progress. Arrangements had been
made with the Great Western Company which would come
into operation at a period of four months after they had
possession of the large depot for goods in Farringdon-
street. Delays bad arisen owing to some litigation
with regard to a factory on the grontul ; but the suit
bad terminated in favour of the corporation of
London, and within the last 48 hours intimation had been
conveyed to the Metropolitan Company that they would be
DOW pLoed in possession of the land it was necessary to
offer to the Great Western. The board had been in no
hurry to conclude negotiations, considering mature delibe-
ration was best. Some persons had said the Great Western
would never avail themselves of the agreement, and that
the Metropolitan shareholders would never receive any
benefit from it. Gentlemen who entertained opinions like
that could not know bow mutually beneficial the arrange-
ment was for both parties. The Great Western would be
able to take their dead meat from the West of England
into. Smithfield-market without transhipment ; and • large
portion of their expenses of carting front Paddington tothe
City, now something like 7s. 6d. per ton, would be saved
by the establishment of a goods depot in the City. It would
be an immense advantage for the Great Western to have a
place of business in the very heart of the City. That com-
pany had already laid out something like 60,0001. in
Smithfield-market. When companies like this spent large
sums of money upon other people's property it was not
without a cause ; and in the present instance it
must be at once seen that there was no reason
for thinking the Great Westeni did not intend to
avail themselves of the facilities of the Metropolitan line.
They had lately been in negotiation with the Midland,
and had settled the main items of an arrangement, the
intention being that both the Great Northern and Midland
should go to Finsbury and have aeons toe moderate sized
station, where they might carry on an omnibus trade.
The Metropolitan Company would be paid a fair rate of
interest for the station accommodation provided for them
at Finsbury, and a minim rate of toll would also be
given. These various sources of income altogether would
amount to • sum that would be a very good rate of interest
upon a million of capital. He was sorry to say that the
directors of the Metropolitan and St. John's-wood Railway
had requested assistance from the Metropolitan, to enable
them to complete their undertaking. The capital already
expended upon that line was about 300,0001. of ordinary
stock, and 10,0001. in debentures, and a further sum of
150,0001. in addition to 50,0001. of debeature capital still
available, must be provided before the railway can be
opened. By an act passed in the Metropolitan Com-
pany were authorised to subscribe 100,0001. ordinary stock
towards the Hampstead extension of the St. John's-wood
line, and it was now proposed to alter the power by making
the subscription applicable to the preference stock.
Although he wished the public would come in and make
the St. John's-wood Railway without recourse to the
Metropolitan Company, under all the circumstances the
best course to be adopted was that now recommended.
(Cheers.)
Mr. C. Gttrix. M.l'., seconded the adoption of the

report.
No question was asked, and the motion was unanimously
carried.
A dividend was declared upon the preference stock of 5
per cent., and upon the ordinary stock and new ordinary
shares of 7 per cent., payable on the 15th inst. A balance
of 7,9991. will thus be carried forward to the next account.
A resolution was passed converting the extension shares
into extension stock. _ _

.—lia;;;;;11ale,blr. Russell Scott, and Mr. Sberriff,
M.P., directors, and Mr. B. 0. Armstrong, auditor, were
re-elected.
A rote of thanks to the chairman and board closed the
meeting.