The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-25 00:00:00

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PROSPECTUS OF THE
COMPAGNIE GENERALE do OMNIBUS
de LONDRES (GENERAL LONDON
OMNIBUS COMPANY.)

Established in Paris, under Acts of tbe 4th and 17th Decem-
ber, 18.55, as a " Societe en commandite," by which the
liability of each Shareholder is limited to the amount sub-
soribed:
Capital -Twenty-five Millions of Francs—One Million Sterling,
In 250,000 Shares of 100 francs, or 41. each.
In Two Series.—The First, 200,000 Shares (800,0001.)
Tho Second, 50,000 Shares (200,0001.)
The First Series only will be issued at present.
OBRANTS OF TUE COMPANY—Maciaamara,, Carteret, Willing,

and Co.
21.01.02 as ni LONDON.
Messrs. John Wilson, -Messrs. Richard Hartley,
„ John Barber, I „ John Trevett.
=HUES OF THE COUNCIL OF SURVEILLANCE:
Robert • Keating, Esq., M.P., Director of the London and
County Bank, London.
Le Comte De Lantivy, Paris.
Vacossin, Administratenr de la Compagnie d'Assurance l'Ur-

baine, Paria.-
Frederic Tocbe, Bauquier, Paris.

Edwin Chadwick, Esq., C. 8., London.
Augustin Dubois, Administrateur des Forges de Moutataire,
Paris.
Marziou, Direoteur-Geraut de l'Union Maritime, Paris.
Th. Harrisson, Esq., London.

ILLS HERS.
..Messrs. Greene and Co.
The London and Comity Bank.
In Loudon_ { Messrs. Robarts, Curtis, and Co.
SOLICITORS.
In Paris Mr. Petit Borgons, Avoue au Tribunal de Pre-
miere Instance.
In London 11039113. Wilkinson, Gurney, and Co:
The undoubted advantages produced by the amalgamation
of the omnibuses of Paris have originated the plan of concen-
trating is one great enterprise the several associations now
working the omnibuses of London.
If in Paris this amalgamation has made the capital con-
nected with it the most productive of any employed in loco-
motion, it is destined to produce in London effects of still
greater importance.
Not only will large savings be effeoted in the present cost
of working the omnibuses of London, by a system which,
being well organised in all its details, and at the same time
amply supplying the wants of the public, will enable the Com-
pany to withdraw duplicate and in some cases triplicate ve-
hicles running over the same ground at the same time, but
important improvements, alike advantageous to the public
and profitable to the Company, will be introduced.
As regards the public : A complete regularity in the ser-
vice, which will confer all the advantages that in this respect
Paris possesses over London, combined with speed ; the
adoption of a low scale of charges, and the certainty that
there will be no frequent and sudden changes in their
amount : the departures and arrivals taken place at precise
times, and in accordance with a time bill, which will be pub-
lished monthly, on the plan of the railway time tablel.
A 3 regards/ the Shareholders : The receipts o the London
omnibuses average 2/. 7s, a day each, and the expenses, in-
cluding wear and tear, abOut !l, le, 6d. ; this gives in the
present state a net profit of about 100/. a year per omnibus.
Under the improved system of working, this profit would be-
yond doubt be considerably increased. The average receipts
of each of the Paris omnibuses before the amalgamation were
about 21. Bs. a day ; since the amalgamation their daily aver-
age is 21. 17s. 6d.
In England, horse keep—the mast expensive item con-
nected with omnibuses —costs less than in Paris.

In Paris

The Paris Omnibus Company is liable, whenever the profits
reach a certain percentage on the capital, to have the annual
tax, to which it is subjected, increased by order of the Go-
vernment. No such power exists either with the English
Government or with the municipality of London.
The purchase of a London omnibus comprises, as in Paris, the
omnibus, its appurtenances, as well as the good-will or
" times" of the omnibus.
In Paris the Government compel the running of the omni-
buses to be nearly the same at all seasons, In London, on
the contrary, the omnibus proprietors can proportion the
number of vehicles to the season of the year and the hour
of the day, according to the ,wants of the public only. Honee
as advantage in London denied to the Oinnibus Company n
Paris, whichis compelled to run as many vehicles- late at
night and early in the morning as in the most busy periods
of the day, in the winter as well as iu summer.
In Paris the outside fare is only half the inside fare. In
London they are the same; and the outside of the omnibus is
as much used as the inside.
The indicator, as used in the Paris omnibuses, is unknown
in London : its adoption cannot fail to add largely to the
receipts of this Company.
As soon as the present omnibuses are unfit for use, they
will be replaced by others, affording more comfort and bet-
ter accommodation to passengers. _

To obtain the foregoing advantages both for the public and
the shareholders of this Company, the services of the most
experienced and intelligent omnibus proprietors have been
secured, under whose management the business of the Com-
pany will be conducted.
Contracts have been entered into for the purchase of the
greater number of the 810 omnibuses now working in Lon-
don, and it is expected that arrangements for the remaining
portion will be completed at a very early date.
The Firit Series of 200,000 shares only (800,0001.) will be
issued in the first instance. The capital so raised will pay for
the-810 omnibuses, the leases of stables, yards, and other
property minima for the working the omnibuses, as well as
for a working and reserve fund. The latter, amounting to
about 200,0001., will give strength and security to the Com-
pany.
The Second Series of 50,000 shares can only be issued with
the sanction of a General Meeting of the Shareholders of the
Company, and will be used to increase the business of the
Company whenever circumstances shall render it necessary.,
Each shareholder will have the right to this Second Seriea
of shares, at-the rate of one for each four of the First Series
of which he is the possessor.
The duration of the Company is for 60 years.
With the present imperfect system of working, each of the
Loudon omnibuses gives an average profit estimated at 100/.
per annum, representing upon 810 omnibuses an annual pro-
fit of 81,0001., which alone would be sufficient to secure a di-
vidend of 10 per cent, upon the 800,000/. first subscribed.
Assuming, in London, with the new system, an increase of
Si. per day (instead of Bs., as has been the result of the amal:
gamation in Paris) to, each omnibus, the result would be, on
the traffic -of 810 omnibuses, an annual profit of more than
150,0001., and upon the capital of 800,0001. would insure a
dividend of nearly 20 per cent.
The Paris Omnibus Company is now paying at the rate of
15 per cent. per annum.
It is the intention of the Company to publish every week
the traffic returns.
98i per cent. of the dividend of the Company will belong
to the Shareholders---li only being appropriated to the ma-
nagement.
Out of the capital subscribed a limited number of shares
have been reserved for distribution in England, and may now
be applied for.
The applications for shares should be made in the sub-
joined form, and must be accompanied with a deposit of 1/.
per share with the bankers of the Company, on the number
of shares applied for. The remaining 3/. per share must be
paid upon allotment, on the number of shares allotted.

- • FORM OF APPLICATION FOR SHARI& . .
To the Gamuts of La Compagnie Generale des Omnibus de
Londres (the General London Omnibus Company).
Gentlemen,—I request you will allot me shares
of 41. each in the above Company, and I engage to take the
same, er any less number that may be alloted to me. I have
paid the deposit of 11. per share, required by the prospectus,
to the bankers of the Company, and I engage to pay the re-
maining 3/. upon allotment, on the number of shares allotted
to me.

Name
Profession ..
Residence
Date

1

The above application must be forwarded to the London
and County Bank, with the deposit of 1/. per share on the
number of shares applied for, against which the bankers will
furnish a receipt.
N.B.—Forms of applications for shares may be had at the
Company's Temporary Offices, 47, Old Broad-street, London.

J.HEATRE ROYAL, COVENT GARDEN.—
Profesaor ANDERSON, the Great Wizard of
the North, respectfully announces that this THEATRE will
open on WEDNESDAY NEXT, Dec. 26, under his manage-
ment. He has fortunately suoceedoil in arranging with the
Directors of the Royal Italian Opera for a short season, dur-
ing which he will produce many novelties at this the most
magnificent Theatre in the Metropolis. On WEDNESDAY,
Dec. 26, he will have the honour of presenting his Entertain-
2nenr of MAGIC and MYSTERY, on a new and more ex-
tended scale, as performed by him 129 times at the Lyceum
Theatre, before an aggregate audience of 339,000 ; to be fol-
lowed by the Great National, Historic, and Chivalric PAN-
TOMIME, which has been so many months in preparation of
the BELLE ALLIANCE; or Harlequin IGood Humour, and
the Field of the Cloth of Gold. Professor Anderson hopes
that the Nobility and the Public will appreciate his efforts to
open Covent Garden Theatre during the Christmas season.
Associated as the history of the house is with so many glo-
rions recollections of Christmases that have long since passed
sway, when " The Pantomime at Covent-garden" was the
town talk at Christmas-tide, and when to go and see it was
as- much a matter of course as to place the holly over the
mantel, or hang the mistletoe in the hall. Mr. Anderson
trusts that a Pantomime reproduced onthe same boards—the
boards whereon the fame of " Mother Goose" was acquired,
and the popularity of the " Greatßed of Ware" was won, and
produced ea these beards with more attention to details and
to scenic effect than has ever been given to any Pantomime,
will certainly enlist the patronage, and those whose pleasant
memories of Covent-garden rendered to them the recognised
field of Pantomimic triumph, as it will attract the visits of
these who have heard only with curiosity of that which
the stage of Covent-garden can produce. As the Royal
Italian Opera, the house for years has been the most distin-
guished, as it is the noblest Theatre which London pos-
SOWS. Since it has been rebuilt and remodelled it has been
comparatively shut up to the public generally. The
Theatre of Royalty, the house of fashion, the heavy expenses
of its directors, have rendered it impossible to open its doors
at the usual theatrical prices. Professor Anderson now sub-
mits his intention (in fall confidence that it will be understood
and duly valued by the public), to make the admission to the
Theatre Royal Covent-garden the same as that charged to
theatres of less pretensions and with less capabilities to ac-
commodate an audience. The whole of the magnificent bal-
cony recently erected after the Continental model, and a pa-
rallel to which is not to be found in any theatre in Great Bri-
tain, will be retained, and present its unrivalled coup-d'ceil of
beauty every evening; the admission to it will be 4s. The Pri-
vate Boxes on the third tier will be removed to form a range
of Upper Boxes unequalled by any other theatre in' London ;
the price of admission to which will be 2s. 6d. There will be
no pit stalls ; but the entire of the extensive and majestic
capableof holding more than 1,500 persons, will be given
to the public at an entrance fee of 2s. The fourth tier of
boxes will be completely removed, and added to the Amphi-
theatre, r as to constitute one immense, commodious, and
most eligible gallery, the admission to which will be One
shilling only, while it will command's view of every part of
the stage, and of the stupendous and elegant house. In fact
no attention will be spared by Mr. Anderson to render Co-
vent-Garden Theatre, par excellence,
Entertainment ; nor the house for Christmas
will he forget, consulting the con-
venience of the public, to supply them with the best talent
that money aen command for their amusement.
The inducements which have led him to undertake so large
a-tenture have been numerous, and were he quite sure that
the public would feel interested in learning them and his ar-
rangements for their entertainment, he would cease to speak
of himself in the third person, and address them most re-
spectfully somewhat in this style:—Ladles and Gentlemen—
Considering myself deeply indebted to my generous patrons,
the British public, who, after several years of uninterrupted
favours, have recently thought fit to visit me nightly at the
Lyceum Theatre, leaving me such substantial proofs of their
friendship and munificence as I scarcely know what to do
with, it seemed obviously my duty, in the commonest grati-
tude, to attempt something for the benefit and amusement of
that public, on a scale previously unattempted either by my.
self or others. The question was—how to do it ? Wizards,
after all, are but mortal men with restricted powers. The