The Express.
London, England, 1850-12-19 00:00:00

EAST INDIA HOUSE.

Yesterday a Quarterly General Court of Proprie-
tors was held at the East India House, Leadenhalstreet,
Captain SilaritaßD took the chair.
The CLERK (Mr. Mayne) having read the minutes of the
ormcr meeting,
the CHAIRMAN informed the proprietors that the divi-
dend warrants would be ready by the Eth of January next.
Mr. LEWIN rose to move a resolution to the effect that
as vacancies to chief officers occurred in the army of India,
they should be filled up by a just proportion of Indian as
well u Queen's officers, unless the former should be found
unfit for such offices. He alluded, in support of his motion,
to the late appointment of Sir John Grey to the government
of Bombay. No doubt the appointment had been concurred
in by the Doke of Wellingtnn, but, notwithstanding, he
(Mr. Lewin) maintained that Sir John Grey, from his great
age and infirmities was quits unfit for the appointment; be-
sides • hich, it appeared unfair towards the Indian army, in
which men were found perfectly qualified for that or any
other situation. (Hear, bear.) He could not see why any
high offices should be given only to certain troops. Were
Sir John Littler and Sir Walter Gilbert ever surpassed by
any officers in the British army ? Why these officers were
passed over it was impossible to say. It was well known that
in every instance of competition with the expeotanta of the
government the Indian officers had been sacrificed. (" No,
no.")
Mr. WEEDING protested against such attacks, as quite
oat of order.
Mr. LEWIN would say, in reply to that gentleman, whom
he might style " Mr. D.tto," for he believed be always re-
peated what wee geld he the chairman—(laughter)—that he
was not out of order. They did not show that spirit they
*sett in protecting their officers; for in the ease of 0 aorta
Littler, the court took no steps to vindicate that gentleman.
from the (slight cast on his reputation. (Hear, hear.)
The bon. proprietor then alluded to the observation of the
chairman at the last meetiog, wherein he spoke of the
" misconduct" of Mr. Lewin. He now called upon the
*halms* to state from what authority he used those words,
or to withdraw them.
Mr. SULLIVAN very heartily concurred in the opinion
of the hon. proprietor as to the high qualities of the officers
in the Indian army. (Hear, hear.) He had heard of no
occasion where the court had neglected to bring forward
deserving officers of the Indian army, and he hoped and
believed they would continue to do so. (Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN trusted that every proprietor would do
the directors the justice to admit that on all occasions they
had defended their officers to the utmost of their power and
ability. (Hear, hear) The cue of General Littler was an
extraordinary one. officer was appointed to the highest
situation the board of directors had power to bestow. (Ap-
plause.) The trams system of promoting deserving officers
of the company's service would be continued. (Hear, hear.)
In regard to withdrawing his expression of the word "
conduct," he begged to say that the papers were in the pro-
prietors' room from which he had drawn that conclusion.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. LEWIN said they were a parte statements, and
anything drawn from them was erroneous and false. (Con-
fuion )
A DIRECTOR observed that the appointments to certain
°Domande were given by the Horse Guards, in which
neither the Court of Directors nor her Majesty's ministers
bad any power to interfere.
The CHAIRMAN said he should move the previous
igsestion.
General CAULFIELD, • dirctor, protested against the
Language used by Mr. Lewin.
The CHAIRMAN requested the clerk to read two docu-
ments. From these it appeared that the conduct of the
Marquis of Tweeddale, in the removal of Mr. Lewin from
W hie judgeship, was approved on the grounds therein
m&men-
Bees angry observations passed in respect to the word
saisseaduct" between Mr. Lewin, the chairman, and
other proprietors.
Idr. Serjeant GAZELEE hoped that a compromise in this
matter might be come to. The chairman would no doubt
admit that he did not use the word " misconduct" in a moral
sense, and no doubt the hon. proprietor (Mr. Lewin) would
agree to withdraw the imputation of faleenood applied to the
chairman.
After a reply from Mr. LEWIN, in which he vented to
this suggestion,
The CHAIRMAN observed that the word was not used
in a moral sense. He could not. however, but express his
astonlahnsent at the conduct of Mr. Lewin on this occasion,
after the liberal treatment ke had received from tho com-
pany. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Lamm, Mr. Creates, and Capt. McKinnon having
made some observations,
The CHAIRMAN ordered the clerk to read the resolution
proposed by Mr. Lewin, and submitted as an amendment to
it, " That this court do now adjourn."
The amendment was carried, and the court broke up
accordingly.

STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH BRAZIL—GENE-
RAL POST•OPPICI, Deb.—Her Majesty's government have
concluded a contract with the Royal Mail Steam-packet
Company far the conveyance, by steam-packed, of the mails
between this country and Brazil. The first packet under this
contrast will leave Southampton on the 9th January next,
after the snivel at that plea of the day-mill from London,
and the service will thenceforward be continued by packets
mailing from Southampton monthly and calling at Lisbon,
Madeira, Teneriffe, St. Vincent (Cape de Verde), Fenian-
Woo, and Bahia, en route to Rio de Janeiro. A branch
eteent-peeirat will proceed, on the arrival at Rio de Janeiro
of the past from England, to Monte Video and Buena;
The mails for Snail and the other pls mentioned
:mt. up in London on the morning of the 9th of
se
math, exoept when the 9th happens to fall on a
Sudsy, when the mails will be made up and despatched
from London on the morning of the following day. As the
new line of packet' established between this country and
the Cape of Good Hope, as well as than peaked, will touch
at the Cape de Verd Wanda, the letters and newspapers for
those hands will be forwarded by either line of packets,
aooording to the time each letters, &c., may be posted.
The rates of postage epos letters and newspapers forwarded
by these paekste will be the same as are at present chargeable
to the reepeetive places, tea.:—For bitten not exceeding
lox.: Rio de Janeiro, 2& 9d.: newspapers, fen; Lisbon,
ls. 9d. ; neweltspers, led.; Madeira, Is. 10d.; newspapers,
2d. ; Tamil& la. 111 d. ; newepapers, 2d. ; St. Vincent
(Cape de Verde), le. 10d. ; newspeons, 2d. ; Pernambuco,
21. 9& fin; Bahia, 2s. 9d. ; newspapers, free ;
Moan V"itleonr r.rsirL ; newspapers, free ; 13nmos Ayres,
2e. Id.. n free. rostomaters will bear in mind
that letters, , ineesded to be transmitted by the Boma
primes snot fa Mars be net to Landon, instead of to Fal-
lon" r liontelors.
OICITIFIZLD Maiirr.—Leat night a meeting of
Maim sad MMus esamoted with the trade of Smithfield
Minkel lest pipe at lbmiemplas Hall, Snonhill, at which
Mr. BMW yemidol. The main had been convened to
take WO emilemodro the use toll which the aeepma
dm hem tailored their intends. to Indio moosuds on
disk hem the omorket Ilmithdad lemma enlarged
le the =ate pka. Mr. O. Zie with
Deptille mod snood icemen men,
woe pemetatikaeltter—aew preliminuy remark, from the
°heir. be Moodie d Mr. C. Pennon' who said he felt
the gooiest hamlet I • the proposed mosaics of the
=Moaddt by Os esspoth raise who were Miser it ell
goy la meet e war t's sad Thies et the pahlia asi
with gamma es Math he Mt that theme who 'Mead M tke
stlatial mad lei sat Addy moilheol sea seelleidlim
As to at ef Se 'amass. be Illeught that
woad he Imegoseed Ms —yes led ~Mom Better
arrengsemate Inte repast/ the mmgemsat of the
masks*. tar lasommed and gal*. AI of the
alleged a laeeaeiarsm he squealed hi talon
Mot ambles maid he Wiz dm the
mediae be Ile elle et Ihe seri Med earlie. 101 Ca S yids); it
Mimed Me swag. sod *mho Irvin hems 4,
Mr. Poem, mod me he the fasheamt Me "3
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