The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-25 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

The Haytian Minister had an interview with Viscount
Palmerston yesterday. M. Tricoupi, the Greek Mini.
ster, had also an interview with the noble Viscount.
A deputation from the Mistley local board of health
had an interview with the Right Hon. W. Cooper, M.P.,
President of the General Board of Health, at his office,
Whitehall. The deputation consisted of Mr. Charles
Samuel Bawtree, Mr. Henry Bigsley, and Mr. David
Mustard.
Despatches were sent yesterday from the Colonial-
office to the governors of the North American provinces.

We understand that the Queen will arrive at Boulog-ne
early on Monday, but will not embark till 11 p.m. The
Royal Mail steam-packet Vivid is announced to take a
limited party of excursionists from Ramsgate and Dover
to witness the review and the embarkation.

Lady John Russell is still indisposed at Pembroke
Lodge, in Richmond-park. Lord John received visits
yesterday from Viscountess Palmerston, Lady George
Grey, Mrs. L. Fox. the Right Hon. Charles Villiers,
Mr. Bulkeley, &c.
The Hon. Mrs. G. Villiers (mother to the Earl of Cla-
rendon) leaves town this week for Hertfordshire.
The Marquis of Winchester arrived in Town on Tues-
day from his seatin Hampshire.
The Turkish Ambassadar, his lady and family, era
staying at St. Leonard's-on-the-Sea.
The Duchess (Dowager) of Beaufort and the Ladies
Somerset have left town for Badminton.
The Earl of Digby has arrived at Shei borne Castle,
from town, until the spring of the ensuing year. The
noble and venerable earl, now in his 83d year, was wel-
comed on his arrival by the church bells of Sherborno
ringing a merry peal.
Colonel Sibthorp, now
at the Royal Albion
-Hotel, Brighton, is, we (derald).ra
Tory iputrersat state of health. vet to loArn, iLL a

ITHIS DAY'S NEWS

GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY.
(THIS DAY.)

The half-yearly meeting of the .shareholders of this
company was held this morning at the London Tavern,
Bishopsgate-street ; E. Denison, Esq., M.P., in the
chair.

The notice convening the meeting was read by the
Secretary, Mr. J. Mowatt. The report and accounts
were taken as read.

The CHAIRMAN said the number of the proprietors
was less this year by 300 than last year, which showed
the stock was getting into fewer bands, and that the old
proprietors had still confidence in the undertaking.
There were at present 5,843 shareholders. In drawing
up ,the report in the hands of the shareholders, the
Directors had endeavoured to give all the information
they possessed on every subject connected with the
railway, which rendered it unnecessary for him to de-
tain them with a lengthened speech. Nothing had been
kept back, nor had they indulged in any high-flown ex-
pectations as to the future state of the traffic. The
Directors were of opinion the property was in a safe
state, and in a sound position. The future prospects
of the company must to a certain extent depend on the
trade of the country, and on the xlifotiations now going
on with other companies, but of which he could not then
say more than he sincerely hoped and believed they
would be of a beneficial character to the shareholders of
this railway. As soon as these negotiations were brought
to a fixed point it would be the duty of the directors to
call the shareholders together, and in form them of the na-
ture of them. Their dividend, like that of other railways,
was unfortunately smaller than many anticipated,
which arose from the increased price of coke and the in-
crease of interest accumulating, against them. He
thought, however, the lowness .of dividend was a ch._
cumstance that need not affect their calculations or ex-
pectations as to the value of their property. At the
summer 'half-year the dividend had always been consi-
dered as An instalment only, and he hoped at the end of
the next half year they would receive as good a
dividend as the last, but he would not pledge
himself to it, because the increase of expenses
complained of would be still accruing against them. He
moved the reception and adoption of the report and
accounts.

Mr. BACKE, deputy chairman, seconded the motion.

Mr. FIGGINS called attention to what he considered a
breach of trust on the part of the officials, from the
amount of dividend to be paid by the company being
known in the market long before it reached the share-
holders. It had the effect very often of depreciating the
price of the stock and inflicting injury on the share-
holders.

Mr. HUGHES said the report had been prepared with
a great deal of care, andr- without wishing to
say anything offensive, he 4tloought, also, with
a great deal of contrivance to gike the directors power
to raise large sums of money. ;Ite thought it would be
more satisfactory if the direefers would state for what
they wanted the 330,0001. they proposed to borrow. So
far from its being wanted in consequence of " a combi-
nation of circumstances," as stated in the report, it arose
from the injudicious management of the Board of Direc-
tors. He was of opinion the directors should have no
more powers to raise money unless they stated specifi-
cally and in detail what the money was required for.
He complained of the lavish 'eXpenditure of the com-
pany, probably from their believing that the more magnifi-
cence they could display the more advantageous it would
be for them. The right men had not been put in the
right place, but square men had been put into round
holes. (Hear, hear.) He did not like to move for a
committee of investigation, but he suggested that the
directors should propose something of the kind for the
satisfaction of the shareholders; (Hear, hear.)
Mr. GIESLER remarked on ,the enormous percentage
for expenees on this line, compared with that of other
companies. He also complained of no information being
suppiied in the accounts of the cost and sale of coal,
but only the amount for carriage.
Captain HALL thought their smallness of dividend was

not to be wondered at, when they found 85,2857. en-
tered in the accounts as expanded in 1854, by Mr.
Cubit, their engineer.
The CHAIRMAN said he deprecated the breach of eon-
fidence complained of by Mr. Figgins. Everything had
been done to prevent it, but unfortunately without
succesl.

A SHAREHOLDER suggested that the evil complained
of might be got over by the directors publishing weekly
their expenses as well as receipts.

The CHAIRMAN raid that question was discussed at
the last meeting. It would be an expensive process,
and in a great measure deceptive. The money com-
plained of by Mr. Hughes as • having been applied to
other purposes than dividends was required to meet a
number of bonds then coming che. The object in borrow-
ing now was to be provided with the means of paying
off any other bonds between thia and Christmas. From
a balance-sheet prepared yesteiday he found there was a
balance of 673,0001. in favour of the company over and
above what they owed, had ordered to be done, and
had contracted for up to 30th June last. The compari-
son of working expenses alluded to could not be relied
en, because there was nothing so fallacious and decep-
tive from the different railways'inaking up their accounts
on different plans. Were the''working expenses made
up on the same plan, those of this line would be found
to be higher than others, because this company worked
over a hundred miles of the lines of other companies,
for which they paid on an average two-thirds of their
earnings. He had no objection to an investigation of
the accounts by a committee of shareholders, if they had
not sufficient confidence in the auditors. Every share-
holder had a right to examine the books, which were
kept open for six weeks for that purpose. The ap-
pointment of such committees on other lines had pro-
duced much harm, and originated feelings of distrust.
Mr. BILLINGS, after some remarks on the general
management, remarked that if the directors required
money for paying off the bonds they might obtain it by
giving the shareholders 3i per cent. on advancing their
unpaid calls.
The CHAIRMAN, in consequence of some remarks being
made on the amount of compensation paid to Mr. Hall,
the Recorder of Doncaster, said the Legislature treated
railway companies shamefully. The public had benefited
more by the construction of railways than by any simi-
lar amount of money laid out by the public at a given
time, yet Parliament, who wakthe representative of the
people, had on all occasions nits a tilt against railway
companies. Unless the railway companies of the king-
dom made common cause with each other against the
public as the public had against them, the whole
railway property of the kingdom would be ruined.
(Hear, hear.) After some further general remarks,
he put the motion for the reception and adoption of the
report, which was agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN then moved the fragment of a divi-
dend of 21 per cent. per annum, being 11. 2s. 6d. per
cent. for the half-year upon the original stock ; and 21.
per cent. upon the B stock; leaving 6531. 3s. 4d. to
be carried to the next account,' which was agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN next moveil for powers to enable the
directors to borrow 330,000/. or the purpose of paying
off bonds during the ensuing' half-year, which was ulti-
mately agreed to.
Thanks were then voted to the chairman and the
directors, and the meeting terminated.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.--(THIS
LAY.)

OLD COURT.
(Before the Recorder.)

John Pallet, 35, cabman, John Smithers, 22, plasterer,
and Thomas Summers, 24, bricklayei, were indicted for
burglary in the dwelling-house of Alfred Neilford, and
stealing a quantity of leather and cashmere, valued at
801.

Mr. Sleigh prosecuted, and Mr. Metcalfe appeared for
the prisoners.
The prosecutor is a leatheAeller in the Harrow road,
and upon the night of the *tit of July his shop was
broken into, and the propertltstolen. Upon the same
morning a tradesmen in the neighbourhood was awoke
by the barking of his dog, ald upon looking out saw
Smithers in a passage adjoinitig his house in the act of
arranging some parcels. He instantly went down, and
tried to apprehend him, but he struzgled and got away.
In the meantime some one removed the property, and
at a later hour in the morning a bakerresiding next door
to Pallet, the cabman, saw a cab drive up to his door,
and he saw Pallet and Summers move several parcels
into the house. Informatictbeing given to the police
Pallet's house was searched, 'sand the greater portion of
the property found.
The jury acquitted Pallet, who had evidently been the
dope of the other prisoners. Smithers and Summers
were sentenced to 14 years' transportation.

NEW COURT.
(Before Russell Gurney, Esq., Q.C.)
John Lynn, 24, a seaman from Finland, was convicted
of cutting and wounding a irostitute, Ellen Graham.

Mr. Platt defended.
The affair had taken place in s brothel in Neptune.
court, to which house the prisoner had accompanied

prosecutor.
He was setenced to twelve months' imprisonment.
ti-Of titif WWI. •