The Sun.
London, England, 1852-08-31 00:00:00

DIRECT LONDON AND PORTSMOUTH
The half-yearly meeting of this company was con.
vened on Friday at the London Tavern ; Mr. W. A
Wilkinson, M.P., in the chair.
There was not a sufficient number of shareholders
present to constitute a legal meeting.
The report stated that the preparations for the final
abandonment of the undertaking were progressing
satisfactorily, though slowly. The suit referred to in
the last report, as then about to be heard, was adju-
dicated upon by the Lords Justices, in March last,
in the company's favour, and the directors trust that
this decree will materially facilitate the dissolution of
the company. There are, however, other proceedings
still pending, which render any decided step in that
direction at present unadvisable. The directors, how-
ever, anticipate effecting arrangements, which they
hope will enable them to make an immediate payment
to the shareholders of ten shillings per share. During
the last half-year the number of shares on which the
calls are in arrear has been reduced by 756, and the
number on which payment has still to be enforced by
the solicitors is now only 2,710. The accounts to
the 30th of June showed that 147,3881. had been re-
ceived, and 120,5741. expended, leaving a balance of
26,8141.
The CHAIRMAN said it was a question of great
anxiety to the directors how they could best wind up
the undertaking. The general Act for the winding-
up of such schemes was so decidedly objectionable in
many of its provisions, that' the. legal advisers of the
company could not recommend diem to wind it up under
that Act, for in fact such an operation would absorb
all the funds in hand, and leave nothing to be dis-
tributed among the shareholders. The directors were
most anxious to return a portion of the money to the
shareholders, and, if they could do so, it would afford
them pleasure to return the whole. But the fact was,
the Act of Parliament contained no provision for re-
turning the money, and that being the case, the di-
any portion
of the money paid with safety to themselves and the
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the company ; but, if the application to Parliament
would be lost to the company without any good
result. If they could wind up their affairs at a rea-
sonable expense, 11. per share could be returned to
the shareholders.
A SHAREHOLDER, who stated that be rep
parties holding 2,000 shares, said be had confidenen
their
in the directors, and would leave the matter in er
hands.
The shareholders then separated. resentede

---------------- -
COLOSSAL WALNUT-TEEL—On the road from
trunk, 14 feet in diameter, is onif
grow near, but they
Martel to Gramat (Lot) is to be seen a colossal walnut-tree,
at least 300 years old. The height of the tree is about
55 feet; its branches extend to a distance of 125 feet ; the
20 feet high, but it
sends out seven immense branches. It bears on an average
each year fifteen bags of walnuts. Other walnut-trees
are of very moderate dimensions.—
grow

ARRIVAL AT SWINDON.
The royal train arrived at Swindon at 144 P.M.,
when her Majesty, his Royal Highness Prince
Albert, and the royal children, together with her
Majesty's suite, alighted andioceeded to take re-
freshment, which had been provided
good taste of this establishment. Her with the usual
Majesty, after
nesting here for half an hour, proceeded on her jour-
ney along the Swindon branch, or Great Western
Union line to Gloucester, 37 miles.
JOURNEY TO GLOUCESTER.
After leaving Wiltshire, at about ninety-eight
miles from Paddington, the line traverses perh aes the
most lovely and romantic scenery upon an
in the kingdom. The " Valley of Stroud" railway" is well
known to travellers and tourists as presenting a e
con-
tinuous series of lovely landscapes. The valley is
almost in the character of a mountain gorge, with
a brawling stream in the bottom which partially
furnishes the motive power for the numerous
cloth and fulling mills of the district, the quality
of the water, too, being peculiarly adapted for
dyeing purposes. The Stroud Valley clothiers, it
will be remembered, asserted their pre-eminence
at the Great Exhibition, having carried away numer-
ous prizes for clothing fabrics. The greater portion
of the Great Western Union line is upon a rather
steep incline, leading as it does from the Cotswold-
hill district to the fertile vale of Gloucester. The line
necessarily follows for a considerable distance the
sinuous course of the valley and stream, and there-
fore abounds in sharp curves, which in the rapid run
down towards Gloucester are very perceptible to the
traveller, who feels first the one and then the other
side of the carriage raised to meet the propelling
power and counteract the disposition to run off the
rails on the other side of the curve. In the middle of
the steepest part of the incline is a rather long tun-
nel, called the Sapperton tunnel, the dread of timid
travellers on the up journey. It will be remembered
that it was in this tunnel that a long and heavy Ex-
hibition train separated in two last summer, aad the
one half running back by its own specific gravity at a
fearful pace down towards Stroud was met by an up-
train, but through the admirable tact of the driver of
the up-train any serious consequences were avoided.
At all the small stations—Cirencester Junction,
Tetbury-road, Brimscombe, Stroud, and Stone-
house, the population turned out and gave
the passing train a loyal cheer. At Stroud, where
the railway runs almost through the town, the ieha-
bitahts came out in great numbers, and were enthu-
siastic in their demonstrations of loyall. The train
passed rapidly on to the Standish Junction, where the
Great Western Union Railway runs into the Mid-
land (Bristol and Birmingham Line.) Here the
speed was slackened until the junction was crossed,
and then a ten minutes' rapid spin along the vale of
Gloucester brought Majesty within sight of the cathe-
dral tower of the " fair city," as it is called.
GLOUCESTER.
At Gloucester preparations on a large scale had
been made for the reception of the Royal visitors,
who had to wait at the station for a quarter of an
hour in consequence of the break of guage occurring
here. Taking advantage of this, the clergy and cor-
poration of the city addressed a humble request to the
Queen to be allowed to pay their respects to her
Majesty, and, a most gracious answer having been
made to this request, addresses were prepared by the
clergy and the corporation for the presentation on her
Majesty's arrival. It was intimated, however, that
none bat officials would be allowed upon the platform
during her Majesty's stay, and accordingly it was kept
clear. A gallery had been erected at the end of the
platform of the Midland Railway—which has broad
guage rails on the one side and narrow on the other,
for the accommodation of the Bishop and clergy and
the corporation, but in consequence of the indecent
crowding—not to say mobbing—of the Royal party
on the occasion of the Queen passing through Glou-
cester in 1849, it was arranged that the platform
should not be further encroached upon. The plat-
form itself was ornamented with arches of evergreens
and flowers, and covered with crimson cloth. A
guard of a hundred men, draughted from the 73d
Regiment, from Horfield Barracks, attended at the
upper end of the platform, and a body of local pen-
sioners was in attendance also. The public, never-
theless, were notforgotten, and special provision was
made for the accommodation of the ladies of Glou-
cestershire, a range of seats being placed along the
South Wales and Great Western platform, from
which an excellent view of her Majesty's arrival and
departure was obtainable. A long row of railway
trucks and carriages were also placed along the line
adjacent to the station for the accommodation of the
public, while some hundreds of children from the
public schools were penned like sheep in cattle-trucks
along the railway, so that there was a strong muster
of the population of the city and county of Gloucester
ready to give her Majesty a hearty welcome.
Her Majesty's progress had been telegraphed to
Gloucester from every station between that city and
Swindon, and the strictest punctuality was observed
throughout the journey. At twelve minutes past
three o'clock the arrival bell signified the approach of
the royal train, and immediately afterwards it was
drawn slowly into the station amid the most enthu-
siastic cheers of the people and the waving or hand-
kerchiefs by the ladies. There had been a sharp
shower just before, but at this juncture the sun shone
out with great brilliancy, and the scene was a most
cheerful and imposing one. Flags floated at every
available position, the royal standard waving
all ; the soldiers and pensionersnth presented above
arms, the
band played the National A
the people rent the air, and em, and the shouts of
the Thrognaer assurance of their
loyal attachment to
There were in attendance the following directors of
the Midland Railway :—Mr S. Beale, deputy-char-
man; Mr. J. Le • I&
r. E. H. Barwell, and Dlr. d
Mercer, with thewts,
secretary, Mr. Bell, and ass•J.
Sanders, the general reporter
Tanar, to whom La
is indebted for the assistance. which he rendered him
in the discharge of his duties.
On the arrival of the train the Bishop
and_ Bristol, attended by his chaplaiDs Toile ;layer,
esxtter.
Browne, and preceded by an epparitor,
inti?
no f oe uvtco. w n
Mr. Clutterbuck, attended by Mr. zien er wearing the
clerk, and preceded by the wordbe.
duoteu to the Royal
cap of maintenance, were 0_
tat': the addresses already
carriage, when they Preeenwere most graciously re-
agreed upon, and wh
ceived by her Majest.Y.i
t
iTbe following is the address
of the Mayor and core motion
MAJESTY.
"To THE QtrEgNs:
your
Majesty:—
or:t ; :
" May it Pl-sty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the
,4 We, your I",eceomou and Council of the ancient
Mayor, avail ourselves with pride and grati-
A.lderase
yof n
0 the Glwice- ser
present opportunity to renew to your Ma-
the.i
expression of our most devoted loyalty and at-
jeaty
ensteobm to your person and throne, and to offer to your
warmest
welcome
your Royal Consort and children our
warmest welcome and oongratulation.
beg to express our earnest hope that, under the
Divine blessing, your Majesty's sojourn at your Highland
residence may be tho means of preserving you in that
health which is so necessary to the happiness and wel-
fare of your faithful subjects.
" And we fervently pray that your Majesty and your
Majesty's Royal Consort and beloved and youthful family
may long continue to enjoy the proud satisfaction of be-
holding the grandeur of your empire and the contentment,
happiness, and unity of your people.
" Given under the common seal of the Mayor, Alder-
men, and Common Council of the city of Gloucester
this 30th day of August, 1852:'
The following is,a copy of the address presented by
the Lord Bishop :
M o,& Gracious Sovereign—
s, We, yor Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the
Bishop an clergy of Gloucester and its neighbourhood,
humbly apProaoh YOU to testify our happiness at be-