The Express.
London, England, 1850-03-27 00:00:00

CLARENCE.

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The annual meeting of the proprietors of this rail-
way was held at the George and Vulture Tavern, Lombard-
street, yesterday: Mr. BLANSKAID in the chair. The seers.
tary read a report of the committee of management, contain-
ing the following statements:
" in the report made to the last general meeting, the com-
mittee attributed the deficiency in the revenue of that year
to the plural depression in the eoal trade and disturbed
state of the continent. The state of accounts now submitted
showed a farther decrease of
2,7561.17 e. 9d., which the committee mush regretted, be-
cause the greeted part of the deficiency was to be attributed
to the diversion of nearly the whole of the coal traffic from
off the Clarence line, at BiLiaghans, on to the Stockton and
Hartlepool line, leading to the West Docks at West Hartle-
pool, by which the Clarence Company not only lose the reve-
nue on 31 miles, the distance from Dillingham to Port
Clarence, but likewise that arising from shipping duce and
other sources. The committee computed the injury to the
Clarence from this source to amount to some thousand pounds.
Although, at the last general meeting, a resolution was
passed in the following words—' That a dividend of 30s.
per share on the original shares for the year 1848, be pay-
able on or after the lit Jane, 1849, subject to the raising of
these= of 7,3941. mentioned in the report by an issue of
government loan shares, carrying a rate of dividend not
exceeding 5 per cent., and that the committee be author-
ised to issue the same Mures accordingly.' Yet the diffi-
culty they found in the first instance of can, lag that
resolution into effect, and subsequently the itiveg legal
doubts that were expressed of the powers of the company
to make se issue of government loan shares for the reimburse-
ment of previous payments combined to render thie resolution
nugatory. It would be seen in the accounts now submitted
that, independent of the regular fixed chugs on the com-
pany's resource., they had during the last year beta obliged
to 11111 a portion of the in the payment to the Exche-
quer Loan Commissimers of the sum of 1,63.51. 12s. 3d.
principal besides the stipulated interest, and they have also
paid to Messrs. Williams and Co., 1,5001., in discharge of
pen of what is due to them. Under these circumstances,
and the present state of the revenue, and the company's
affairs, there was no legitimate source cut of which any
dividend could he paid on original shares, and there was •
notice given by an individual member of the committee to
rescind the resolution previously referred to of the last
general meeting, which would claim the attent.oa of the
proprietors."
The statement of receipts and expenditure exhibited a
Brow revenue of 39,0661. 7s. 7d., and a gross expenditure of
20,2581. 18s. Od., leaving a balance of 18,8071. 81. 93. The
other aide of the account sbowed a payment to the
Exchequer Loan Commissioners of 1,6351. 12a. 3d., being the
Instalment of a loan of 29,9091. 13s. 3d., and this with
other payments for interest and dividends en first and second
I class shares brought up the total payments to 16,1781. 135.,5d.,
which, being deducted from 18,8071., the balance of pfbfit,
left only 2,6281. 15s. 4d., to which, however, was to be added
• balance brought over from last year of 10,8921. 3s. ld.,
making altogether 13,5201. 18s. M. The company are em-
power, d to raise 599,6451. 13s. 11d. as capital, and the whole of
this amount has been raised with the exception of 10,0251. 10s.
The CHAIRMAN said it would be seen by the report
that, owing to the depression in the coal tiaras and the other
curses alluded to in that document, their revenue had fallen
0ff2,6281. as compared with the preceding year. It would have
been contrary to the opinion of their legal adviser to have
raised a further sum on government loan shares, and have
declared a dividend with it, and it would have been capi-
talising . With respect to the coal trade, it was to
be hoped that things would mend if peace in Europe was
maintained. It must be remembered that the blockade of
the northern ports was not taken off till last Ausust, but he
trusted that the coal trade had now received an impulse, and
that the affairs of this company would under ordinary circum-
stances show a great improvement.
Mr. STURGE said he couture.' in this report as to the
cause of the decline of the ue—that cause being
the diversion of the traffic from the line. The directors
might have supposed last year that the duress* was owing
to the disturbed state of Europe, but he had been at some
pales to ascertain the amount of traffic, and he found that
the falling off of the traffic last year was only from
20,000 to 22,000 tons. The falling off of the re-
venue this year was owing to the large diversion
of traffic from the line, the coal going off at Dillingham,
to the Hartlepool line, from which the low to this company
was 4,0001. and upwards. Last year the quantity of coal
brought down the line was 444,000 tons; this year it was
492,000 tons, and there ought to have been • corresponding
increase of revenue, but unfortunately that was not the case.
He happened to differ, unfortunately, with some of the gen.
Osman with whom he sat.

The CHAIRMAN observed that some of the gentlemen
around him suggested that there might be some things said
at the meeting which it wonld be well should net go before
the public. Certain arrangements were In progress, and it
would not be well that they should give a knowledge of
their concerns to the public ; and he hoped, therefore, the
gentlemen of the prose would not take it amiss if her, quested
them to withdraw.
The reporters then withdrew.

LOANS FOR RAILWAYS IN IRILAND.—By a return just
issued of all monies lent to four railway companies in
Ireland, by the Exchequer Loan Commissioners, via., the
Dahlia and Drogheda, Great Southern and Western,
Waterford and Kilkenny, and Midland Great Western
Railway, between 1842 and 1849, it appears that the total
sum so advanced, amounted to 831.0001. at 5 per cent.
interest; the interest paid to 72,1931., and the principal
rep sid to 51,1791. The total amount of loans by the com-
saWioners of public works, from 1832 to 1842, at 4 ►nd
5 per cent., to the Dublin and Kingstown, Ulster Ex-
tension, and Dublin and Kingstown Branch to Dslkey,
amounted, as shown by a similar return, to 157,2001. ;
amount of interest paid to 56,3671., the amount of interest
due to 1,8741, the principal repaid to 99,5951., and princi-
pal outstanding to 57,6041.

ROMANCE OF REAL Lira.—The magistrates at
Upton-on-Severn Petty Sessions have been engaged
in adjudTating on • case of bigamy, e'mmitted under very
reeutier circumstances. The accused bigamist is one John
Curtis, • labourer, of the village of Strensham, and he stands
charged with having married a seeocd wife daring the life-
time of his flrit, whose mai len name was Anna Maria Wil-
kins, and whom he married at Stringent in 1835. Curtis
and hie wife lived together until the year 1840, when they
Game to a mutual agreement to separate. Upon this sepa-
ration taking place, the wife, who wss of • masculine cha-
racter, determined to " change her conoition " otherwise,
and forthwith she assumed male attire, and proceeded lato
an adpining county (Staffordshire), where she engaged
with a farmer as day labourer. She subsequently paid her
addresses to a housemaid employed to her master's esta-
blishment, and they were actually married, and lived toge-
ther for several years, the secret of the supposed husband's
sex being undivulged. At length, however, the housemaid,
tired of her female husband, removed to a distant part
of the country, while the heroine of our story remained in
' Staffordshire. In the meantime her real husband, Curtis,
married again, end the fact was very shortly afterwards con-
veyed to the ears of his real wife in Staffordshire, upon
which she wattled her proper female attire, had Curtis
taken into custody, and appeared to proeeeute him for
bigamy. The magistrates having heard the evidence, com-
mitted Curtis fur trial.

TEE PERSONS POISONED.—Greet excitement pre-
vails at present in Stow Bardolph. Norfolk, in consequence
of it having been discovered that a respectable farmer, named
Peer, residing in the village, together with the whole of hie
family, consisting of ten persons, had been poisoned. The
family consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Page, their son, Mr. Page's
two sisters, a governess, a man servant, sod three female err.
vents. Oa Wednesday morning last, the family sat down to
breskfast, and partook of tea, which was sweetened by some
white eager, which had been purchased at Downham by
Mrs. Page. Alter drinking the fen. Mr. Pare enssPlsined
that he felt sick, and attributed it to the sugar. It was then
examined, and a few particles of white substance were dis-
covered in the basin. One of the females present remarked
that it was very likely that the stuff was put in to cheapen
the sugar, and it was determined that it should only be used
for puddings. At dinner • fruit pudding was servea up, and
the sugar was again used. Immediately after dinner, the
whole of the family were seised with symptoms of poisoning,
and experienced dreadful agony. Mr. Page died in the
enures of the night, and the medical gentleman in atten-
dance has since reported the death of his son. Hopes are
entertained that the other members of the family and the
servants ,all of whom are still very ill, will recover.
FISHING FOE A REGIMENT, OZ FOR AN EXTRA
Vita YNAINI ON rill BT4PF.—Th• Visited Seimigolligides

b.' tho followics onsounoemet
Frederick Filmtoren*, Intends to

a IPTsi .OI th; Dab. of Nfiiii;irrono;
Nay Ls oomaiscootioa of Ids gosoes I

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