The Express.
London, England, 1866-11-07 00:00:00

THE NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY.

The former Edinburgh and Glasgow directors
met yesterday, and resolved that the report of the
investigation committee disclosed a course of systematic
and fraudulent deception, and deliberate falsification of
accounts ; and that the Lord Advocate be requested to con-
sider whether the seta imputed by the committee to the
chairman did not require investigation by the public pro*
neuter, and criminal prosecution it confirmed.
In a letter which Mr. Hodgeon, thelcbairtnan, has ad-
dressed to Mr. Walker, the secretary of the North British
Railway, ho says :—" With respect to the future, I would
submit that it lies with the proprietary to choose in whom
they will confide the conduct of their interests ; but, for
myself, I say, without hesitation, that no mere majority
of votes would induce me to retain a seat at the board.
Nothing but an unmistakeable expression of opinion on
the part of the great body of shareholders that my services
were needful would persuade me to encounter the difficult
and in some degree, painful task that continuance in office
would impose."

PUBLIC COMPANIES IN THE COURT OF
CHANCERY.-(THIS DAY.)

THE CONTRACT CORPORATION COMPANY
This afternoon at the chambers of the Master 01
the Rolls, Chancery-lane, a number of creditors' claims
against this company were brought forward which it was
urged were of the nature which the law provided should
be paid in full.
The Chief Clerk (Mr. E. B. Church) said that it was a
matter for the official liquidator, who would realise some
portion of the property belonging to the company which
had come into his hands, and which it appeared was of •
more gregarious character than usual, in order to pay the
debts, of which notice would in due course be given to the
parties.
Order accordingly.
BREECH-LOADING ARMOrRY COMPANY.
There was also • meeting for adjudication on creditors'
claims. A number of names were called, including the
Birmingham Gas Company, Mr. Blythe, and Mr. Callisher.
The last one only was present ; but the official liquidator
intimated that he was not ready to go on with opposed
claims.
The Chief Clerk expressed his surprise that persons
should have been summoned to appear before him if the
official liquidator was not ready to proceed. Re should
adjourn the whole of the opposed claims until the 2.)th of
November, leaving the question open whether or not that
functionary should not pay the costs of summoning
parties unduly, each case to stand on its own merits.
Order accordingly.
BARRED'S BANKING COMPANY.
This matter again came before the chief clerk to the
Master of the Rolls this afternoon.
Messrs. Maraud and Co. appeared to ask for leave to issue
a summons to vary the list of the contributories by ex-
punging the names of their clients on the ground of fraud.
The list was settled on the 24th July last.
Mr. Lording (Freshfield and Co.) for the official liqui-
dator did not oppose. The principle involved in the mat-
ter was just the same as that in Mr. Emmanuel's cases.
Mr. Joel Emmanuel also applied for an order that the
evidence of Price, Gregory, and others, taken before the
special examiners, might he used as evidence on behalf of
the 45 contributories for whom he appeared.
Mr. Lording said it was no use increasing expense, and
he would assent therefore to the order being mado.
The Chief Clerk said that of course the coats would be
costs in the whole matter.
Orders accordingly in both cases.
BOYTH BLACKPOOL HOTEL COMPANY.
In this matter an order was made to-day, on the applica-
tion of Messrs. Gold and Ron, for the taxation of the costa
of the petitioner for the winding-up down to the period
of the appointment of the official liquidator.

Sir Henry Bulwer is at present in Paris.
Colonel Broome, Major Chesney, and Major
Blalleson have been appointed a committee to decide on
the claims of Indian officers to compensation for the loss

of their bonus.
On Saturday Le Nvz.z.e de Figaro is to be given
at Her Majesty's Theatre, and at the first morning per-
formance Den Giovanni, with M. Gassier as Don Giovanni,
Mane. Titiens as Donna Anna, Mr. llohler as Don Ot-
tavio, and Mr. Santley (first time) as Leporello.
The Dean of Carlisle is (says the Om/kr/and
Poroua) about to deliver a course of five lectures in the
Mechanics' HalL The first lecture will be delivered on
Tuesday (this) evening, the subject being " Domestic
Ritualism."
The Rev. William Steele, head-master of Portora
Royal School, Enniskillen, has sustained a grievous
affliction by the sudden death of hie eldest son, who was
drowned in Lough Erne on Monday morning. Along with
a companion, he went to take a row down the lake, and
landed on Devenish Island. The boat, which was not
fastened, went adrift, and Master Steele took off his
clothes and swam after it, intending to bring it to shore ;
but when out about 15 yards he sank. It is thought that
he was seized with the cramp, or was entangled in the
weeds.
Yesterday, at 99, Eaton-square, the wife of
Colonel Taylor, M.P., gave birth to twin daughters.
The death took place, in September last, at
Singapore, after a short illness, of the Rev. E. S. Venn,
M.A., missionary of the Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel in that island, in his 48th year.
The death took place on Sunday last of Mr.
Serjeant Storks.
King Louis I. of Bavaria has left Munich for
Rome, where he will pass the winter.
Mr. Gladstone will prolong his stay at Rome
until the end of December. Besides conversing with the
Pope, lie has improved his personal knowledge of the
situation by interviews with Cardinals Antouelli, Di
Pietro, Silvestri, and some others, such as Count
Antonelli, Governor of the Roman Rank. Tho cor-
respondent of the Post says :—" Mr. Gladstone
has been more astounded at the allocution, because,
in his interview with the Pope, the sentiments put
forward by his Holiness, if not Italianissimi, did not
absolutely exclude all idea of reconciliation. I give the
mildest version of Pio Noun's conversation on recent
events, for it is hardly credible that he should have given
utterance to the expression generally attributed to him on
the cession of Venetia—vie., that the day on which the
news reached him was one of the happiest of his life."
A wintry sign at Paris is the publication of the
many and varied class of almanacks to which November
gives birth. The most popular are the small volumes in
18mo, price 50 centimes, or sd. A bookseller's list con-
tains the following, viz., Annuaire Mathieu (de la Dr4nte),
Petit Almanach Impirial, Almanach Prophßigue, Alma-
nach du Journal Inner Le Parfait Yigneron (Almanach
do dfonitcur Almanach Lunatique, Almanach
Cuutigue, AisnanatA pour /lire, Alumna,* des Dams et
des Dentoisel,ts, La Mere Gigogne, Almanaeh du Chari-
rani, Almanorh Astrolooigue, Almanaeh des Sonne Cuisine
et de la Witrr..sc de Maison, Almanaeh du Cultioateur,
Almanach du Jardinier, Aleta wen des Orphtons, Alma-
nach de l'Unirers Illuare, Almanach d'lllustrations Mo-
Almatusch de la Littrature, du Thafre, a da
Beaux Arts, Breriairc du Gastronome, .ke.
The courts of justice in Paris resumed their
sittings on Saturday. The usual solemn mans was cele-
brated in the Sainte-Chapelle, the Abbe Surat, Vicar-
Geceral, officiating, and all the official personages being in
their robes of ceremony. After divine service the various
judges proceeded to their respective places of sitting, and
the customary addressee of meeting were delivered. Ie
the Court of Caseation, the Procumur-General Delangle
pronounced a euloginm en the late M. Dupin ; and in the
Imperial Court, the Advocate-General Descouttures spoke
with great erudition on the right of appeal.