The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-28 00:00:00

BRITISH AND IRISH MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH

COMPANY (LIMITED). ---
The fourth ordinary general meeting of shareholders
was held yesterday. at the Clarendon-rooms, Liverpool ; Sir
J. Carmk.. in the chair. The report stated that the gross
income of the twelve months amount, to nearly 911.0001.,
against 74,0001. in 1859, 73,0001. in 1858, and 71,2001. in
1857, the year when the two companies were amalgamated.
This large increase is not derived from env one particular
source. but partly from the extensions of 1850, and from a
general growing use of the telegraph by the public, which
in the opinion of the directors must aecessarily continue.
The traffic on the lines erected in 1860, only now coming
into use, will soon be satisfactorily developed. There is,
however, a coesider•ble addition to some of the items on
the debit side of the amount. In engineering staff, mate-
rials, and maintenance of lines and instruments, there is
an increase of above 5,0001. This ernes from
the greatly extended length of lines, sod from
many lines, among them first constructed,
having been nearly renewed by new poles Red improved in-
sulators, which may be kept in good order at moderate cost,
for years to come. There has ales been a large per center
deducted from instruments, apparatus, &c., and placed to
the debit of the same anrouut. In the iximmercial depart-
ment a considerable saving has been effected by the more
general use of the Bell system, whereby the expense of a
reader or clerk is saved at many instruments, and it has
been sufficient to counterbalance the natural increase seising
from the opening of many additional stations, and thus to
keep the aggregate amount of the charges iu this depart-
ment the same as those of last year. Under the head of
mute and taxes there appears a large increase, arising from
the rents of additional stations, and from the deductions
made in the valuation of leasehold property which have also
gone to the debit or this account. The cost of repairs of
stations and offices is also higher, owing to the addition to
this account of ten per cent., which km been de-
ducted from the valuation of fittings mid furniture.
The net increase, compared with 1859, amounts to 6,600 f.,
and after paying the 7 per cent. preference dividend, the in-
terest on the debentures, and • dividend at the rate of 5
I per cent, per annum for the last half•yeer on the ordinary
stock, leaves 2,0001. to be carried over. Further extensions
have been in progress during the year, and are just completed,
adding 329 miles of line, with 1,009 miles of wire, to the
company's system. The following new stations have been
opened in connexion with the foregoing : Edinburgh,
Leith, Dundee, Allan, Perth, Bonnie and Avonbridge. in
Scotland; and Downp•trick, Mocasterevan, Timm, Fid.
down, and Maryborough, in Ireland. The report and ac-
, counts were adopted. Some questions as to elm additional
longtime( line constructed having been oinked by Mr. Sy-
moods, and answered by the Secretary (Mr. E. S. Bright),
a dieeterien took pleas upon the question of the numbers
composing the direction, and ultimately a resolution pro-
posed by Kr. Manly for the appointment of a committee to
inquire into mad report upon the best method of managing
the eeeepeny'e affairs in future with a due regard to unity
and economy was adopted. The retiring directors were re-
elected, end the enlaces, Meows. Delve and Bewly, were
also reappointed.

The reform in the passport system continues to
mate progress in Prussia, the Chaasher of Deputies has had
■ proposition brought before it, to hare the position of
foreigners in the country regulated by law, with a complete
suppression of purports.
Several journals state that the prelate selected as
the Preceptor of the Prince Imperial is Mgr. Landriot,
Bishop of La Reeled* but now Archbishop of

MUSIO.

--o--
THE MUSICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.
This society gave the first orchestral concert of
this (their third) season, at St..famee's-hall, last evening.
From the annual report of their proceedings, just issued,
it appears that this body numbers no leas than sixteen
hundred fellows, associates, lady asalciates, and nominated
subscribers. It is consequently intimated that no more
members or subscribers can be admitted this year, and that
names of candidates for 1862 should be sent to the hono-
rary speretaff, who will register them in the order of their
reception. These circumstances, together with a favourable
financial statement, evince the flourishing condition of the
society ; and the mine conclusion may be drawn from the
cromfed state of the ball last evening.
The concert was a very excellent one, but was not distill•
guisbed by any remarkable feature of novelty. On this
head the society's views, it would seem, have undergone
some change since they commenced their operations. They
bare learned to be cautious in the introduction of new and
untried work, and the result of longer experience will only
be an increase of this kind of caution. The character of the
concert will at noes be seen from its programme, which was
as follows :