The Express.
London, England, 1868-02-24 00:00:00

• THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION.

A return was issued this morning of every mer-
chant vessel or steamer engaged in the Abyssinian expedi-
tion chartered in England, with the net and gross register
tonnage of each ship, the hors►power of each engine, the
price per ton for which each vessel is chartered, and the
names of the owners and broken. From this return it ap-
pears that eighteen ships have been chartered for the ser-
vice, one of which (the Bosphorus), has been lost. The
largest vessel is the Queen, of 3,517 tons burden (includ-
ing engine room), and of 350 horse power, belonging to the
National Steam Navigation Company, Liverpool ; and the
smallest is the Venetia, of 754 tom, 150-horse power, be-
longing to the Ocean Steam Navigation Company. The
highest rate per ton per mouth is paid for the Queen,
being, if discharged at home, 375. 6d. ; and if abroad
three months additional pay. The lowest rate is paid for
the Coumoundouros, viz , 245. od. if discharged at home,
and 10s. if discharged abroad. In the case of the
Parana the charge is the same (25a.) both at home and
abroad. The gross tonnage of the 14 ships chartered by
the government is 34,237 tons, and the aggregate steam-
power is equivalent to 4,670 horses. This return was
moved for by Mr. Richard Young, and is signed by Capt.
W. R. Mends, the director of transport services.

71t4RING-CROSS HOTEL COMPANY (LIMITED).

The half•yearly meeting of the shareholders was
held at half-past 11, at the hotel ; the lion. JANZ9 Bin
in the chair.

The report was as follows:—" The directors have the
gratification to report to the proprietors the continued
prosperity of the company. It will be seen from the
accounts that the profit on the business done during
the past six months is 10,7.381. 1311. Bd., after
placing 20001., to the credit of the reserve fond for
'repairs and renewals, 2,4091. 4s. 10d. Interest on debee-
I tures, and charging all other incidental expenses • which
sum of 10,2381. Ds. Bd., together with 1,0811. 13s. ld.
brought forward from last half-year, will amount to
11,1101. 6s. 9d. With the sanction of the proprietors,
your directors propose that • dividend at the rate of 12
per cent per annum, free of income tax, be declared,
amounting to 9,6001., and that the balance of 1,7301.
fie. 9d. be carried over. The dividend warrants will be
payable on and after the 2nd March next, at the Imperial
Bank, Victoria-street, Westminster."
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
sad he bad nothing to add to it. The business was greater
than in any preceding half-year. Tee receipts of the
second ball of 1861; having been 33,000/., those of
the last half-year were 39,8001. The business of 1867
would have caused every room in the house to be
occupied every day for ten months and • half of the year,
and as some of the rooms had been undergoing repairs it
might he assumed that all the rooms available were occu-
pied every night during the season. The dividend also
showed an increase, the board now recommending that it
should be at the rate of 12 per cent. per annum, and a good
balance would be carried forward.
lir. C. W. EHORALL seconded the motion.

Hr. G. HUGHES, one of the two auditor,, said he
should have been contented with a dividend of 10 per
cent., not considering it advisable to divide nearly all that
was earned.

Mr. Mason approved of the coarse taken by the directors
u regarded the divklend.
Mr. A. BEArris took the same view. As a shareholder,
he had no hesitation in accepting the handsome dividend
recommended. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. 6.Srmi, the other auditor, likewise orsosidered the
recommendation a proper one.
Mr. TURNIR thought that some provision should be
made for getting rid of the debenture debt. He would be
glad to know for what amount the company was insured,
especially baring regard to the resent fire.
The CHAIRMAN, in reply, stated that the hotel was
insnred for 113,0001., the amount effected on the railway
company's booking offices being 15,000/. There was
a sep►rate rental insurance of 18,250/. The total
insurance for the hotel was 131,3201. As re-
garded the dividend, be said he should be glad to
be:;r:ert something by, but the dividend had been honestly
and the proprietors were fully entitled to
it. The board had under their consideration • plan
for meeting the evil of baring to renew debentures
from time to time. Their object was to obtain one molt.
gage. He had no doubt the company would always earn
a handsome dividend, and he did not think the amount
would ever be leas than 10 per cent. (Hear, hear.)
The report was then adopted, and • dividend at the
rate of 12 per cent. per annum having been declared, the
meeting terminated with votes of thanks to the directors,
the manager, Kr. lbw, and the secretary, Mr. G. S.
Minn

We are requested to state that the State apart-
ments of Windsor Castle will be closed on and after
Wednesday next, the 26th instant, until further notice.
The Irish Times says that the report of the
railway commissioners is not yet completed, but it believes
it may state with certainty that their recommendation
. . . .

will not be in favour of a purchase of the lines by the
government, but of effective aaMatance being rendered to
the various railway companies by loans on very advan-
tageous terms. The commissioners leave Dublin to-night
,for London. _ _

--- ---
A sporting correspondent says that Lord Paton,-
ham, who has bean staying in Yorkshire with Sir George
Wombwell, has been astonishing the natives, not only by
the hardness of his riding, but by the dexterity of his
swimming, u when run away with the other day by a
hard-pulling brute, who disappeared into the river with
him, he " took to the water as keenly as an otter, and
swam as well in his top-boots as Beckwith, the champion,
at the Westminster Baths."
THE " MESSIAH" AT 817RREYCIllniL.—OM Tues-
day evening last a performance of the Mestink was given
in Surrey Chapel, 'order the direction and conduetorship
of Mr. T. W. Horn, the organist, in order to sorer the
expenses of the resent repairs to the organ. The accom-
paniments to the solos and choruses wen by Mr. J. Tun-
stall (organist of St. Catherine One, Leadenhall-strest).
The chapel was crowded, and a large sum was reales&
A PRISONER TURNING THZ KEY ON HIS GAOLER.

—llanghable incident has occurred in Poole gaol. On
Monday morning, while Mr. Whitehill, the governor, was
visiting the prisoners, he had occasion to go to the further
end of the cell of • man named Allen, incarcerated for
bousebreeldng, when the prisoner, the opportunity,
=forward and succeeded in reaching the right aide
door before his captor,he on whom at once turned
the key. Allen lost no time in endeavouring to run away,
but had not proceeded many yards along a dark passage
ere he found himself in the unwelcome embrace of a
The result of his escaped* is that the visiting
I reltose hay. adored him • bread and water diet for seven
dare—Salisbury Journal.
Tan SisouLararr IN ran CALINDAR.—It has
been remarked that in 1868 there are five Saturdays in
February. _ By a rough guns, es it would seem, it has
b.. added that this has not taken place for a some of
years. Exactly 28 yawn, amounting to a solar cycle, have
esed sines the same thing occurred. During that period
day of the week has enjoyed the honour of appearing
fin times in February in its own leap year. The calendar
of the present century contains 24 leap years, whisk may
be arranged in seven eUnee—February has five Sundays in
1824, 1852, 1880; five Mondays in 1808,1836, 1864, 1892 ;
five Tuesdays in 1820, 1848, 1876 ; five Wednesdays in
1801„ 1E32, 1860. 1888 ; five Thursdays in 1816, 1844, 12;2;
five Fridays in 1828 1858, 1884 ; five Saturdays in 1812,
1840, 1868.., 1898.—Arekdart Advertiser.
EAST LONDON RAILWAY.—The director. in their
report state that the severed way was completed to within
SOO yards of the Thames Tunnel, sad the works to amass%
the Gowned way with the tunnel were in satire pregame.
The embankment wee nearly completed to the jostles
with the Brighton Railway, and from this peM te the
north bank of the Thames the line might he reedy tar
teethe Ware the end of the summer. Until the Wee of
the share wind was completed and bonowthe powers
were ghtsined, the important works in the Leaden Docks
could not be commenced. The directors had been
obliged to prepare a bull for this session of parlimmt, to
procure an sztocudon of time for the exer.- of erg;
eery powers in taking land, and if necessary to
existing arrangemnds with the Great &Morn, as well as
to improve the ecanexions with the Brighton line at Nev-
em& The directing stated that all the erpenditure of the
asoizcy bad been paid in cash, end that no bend or other
security en thopeperty of the annpeny had been
brad. There wen MIR 10,882 simnel to be bused, with 41.
per share to be phi ctsinhinkrbisr• they eel:aerl
tared sad the burro powers exerelesi The
aroma* to the 31st shereed that
had been impended, Lavin a balms, el 71,8671.
Tan Weer Ulnas Ilonerrer,
W. The umber of patients ender treatment at this
balite' daring the past week amewaled to 867, el wideit
102 were new isms.
emir, BRzarer•ersze.unt DIOMAKIB, 66 GRZIT
I W.—One bsiedred
I end tam pedents were Wined of tide dlermary &Wei
en week was Feb. 21. „ .

Mack on band this dy..amica
Dsilyary last week
_

45,871
1,976
71,147_

KM
2,171
00,408

—DittWirt's:, Ist Jaw
Arrival last week
Ditto from lit Jim

""iii I --a
73.701 i NMI
4. .
406 01434
ne 48 6

!rift 'CC. ea spot this day —1
Ditto Tows bag Friday ....

13,07
1,541
74.177

1 80:ili
at ad.
430
660

Arrival for the yak ending 4th March last yosr 1,102 cask;
sad delivery. 1.904 auks. She snivel bat weak cosprlmad 448
casks Australia 584 South America—totsl, 1 232 cask.

METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.
(THIS DAY.)
There are a few more beasts than on Monday last.
Trade is vary dull, and Thursday's quotations are with
diMeulty radioed. The number of sheep is about
the mane as last week. The demand is
smaller, as is usual as the imannesseessent of
Lent. Prices are lower on the avenge. Goad salves are
still loam and dearer. Our foreign 'apply ecineists of
599 beasts, 1,400 sheep, 78 ogres, and 10 pigs. From
Scotland there are 420 baste, Ireland 100, Norfolk
and Seffolk 1,300, and 980 hum the Northern and Mid-
land Cloontko.
Poo dots•of 11120 •d. a 4. Per same :data ad. •4.
add Seib, Iforidda 4 8 4 1 D•ADusLHfol•tf • • 0
Ss•l Yo<t.bmen• .. 4 6 4 H•• Li 4 6 4 1
%cool qua bigots 2 8 8 Do. flo. Own.— 0 0 0
Careso 0 6 'Wait Nomad qua • 6
PUP• 4 4 Do. do. 882.0 0 • •
84010m41111-hred• 6 0 6 Lusts 0 0 0
Essois 53 merket, 3,390; ob•sp and lambs, 17,060; aim, 86;
820.

BOROUGH HOP MARKET.—(THIS DAY.)
Nom. Naiad= and Smith retard the demand for
abase ascription' ointinoes tolerably steady at the ra-
d-nation, and stocks of this alma are getting vary limited.

()BRAT DAMAGE TO THE BILEALWATIR AT
HORTIDIAD.—HOLTHEAD, SUNDAT.—A to rife north-west
pls his visited this port. The breakwater, which runs
two Jan seaward. and was only repaired last wseki has
spin been broken through. A hap breach has been made
between the lighthouse and the breakwater. Machinery
and aeries were destroyed by the dorm, and the lights
wen put out. Nothing short of backing the breakwater
wm withstand the wean.
Ax Aoraws's Pirisrow.—The Minister of the
Preach Emperor's Household and rue Arts has just wh-
innied to the Council of State a deans axing the retiring
of Mdlle. Angtastine Broken, of the Theiles
Vngizenqa sis. The amount as fixed at 6,4001. (SOL) for 27
yaw of coneecutive servicsm
DISTURBED AT SUPPE/L.—Ms pas Rinds &
deseest the night Ware last on the shirdwel wennien
L Villette, and amend tee vigrasie is tiny wane
fasedig an a meenier he iegtdn or saw. aiwpossi el
issginente at victuals d all kinds. leek lied herashehis
=fa, poultry, wink vegetables, in., all ei whisk
slake' twitter in an ininwee serest pat,
amid whisk they wine all ennatting dews They ap-
wend Ludy the simpswilien et their noisforinno
is being hetlintgaM Joe Si Ws eswanessinesst al Weir
NNW mg the =we me Wit amod for the pales to
altes tliw had &Yid add not be acceded
5,. DWnw the Owe guessing WOW ihrilve dam ins-
Admen, brim or wig sr 'walk weans af add-
Nose, ewe aim Nersweil 1/6 pfma Ii a tio nos book,—