The Sun.
London, England, 1852-08-27 00:00:00

•

BRISTOL AND EXETER.
The 323 half-yearly meeting of this company was
held yesterday stt Bristol ; Mr. J, W. Buller in the
chair. Mr. J. B. BADHAM read the 110 • nee coevenmg,
and the report of the directors, an abstract of which
apaearad in The Sun of yesterday.
Tati, CHAIIIMAN, in moving tbs adoption of the re-
port, said it was quite as satisfactory as any which
had ever been laid before this company. With regard
to the receipts of traffic, they were certainly most en-
couraging. Apprehension were expressed by gentle-
men of the highest authority in railway matters that
the increased traffic during the Great Exhibition
would have been prejudicial to the general interest of
railways ; that it would have produced a collapse or
exhaustion from which the incomes of the several
companies would not recover for a long period of time.
Ile had the pleasure of answering them on the last
occasion that that result had not been produced, and
he
had now
greater pleasure in saying that on com-
paring
the traffic of the half-year just brought to a
close with the corresponding half of the preceding
year
the the results were is all respects most satisfactory.
816/ showed, in the first instance, an increase of
3
I •on the traffic receipts, an increase which
was made, not only on the goods, but also
on the receipts from
passengers ; and if there
was a diminution under the head of parcels,
it was fully accounted for by the quantity of fish re-
ceived from the South
Dsiderably smaller evon line having been con-
than usual.er The directors could
state confidently they w
the whole of the 5 and 43-e in a position to reduce
per cent. debt, and they
only wished persons holding su
present them like bank-notes, to
debentures would
changeo be paid off imme-
diately in cash. That happy
the company from heavy embarrassments, would relieve
and would
be a source of constant and decided improvement.--
by a
, resolution of
(Cheers.). The directors had advanced
Crediton Company, as authorized
6 000/. to the
i at 4 per cent.,
the proprietors, upon preference shares
ecnbele premium.
d to dispose
and he had no doubt, if they were
of them they could obtain a considerable
rr
oourilgdina
He hoped the time would come when they
re-
ceive some interest on the large numberyowf
shares which they held in the Crediton Company.eb
In
the course of next year most probably
Devon line from Crediton to its terminus at ert
Barn-
staple would be opened, and it was impossible to
suppose a considerable increase would not take place
on the traffic on the Crediton line. The works on the
North Devon line were making satisfactory progress
in the hands of contractors of large capital and great
experience. He had not heard that the works had
yet been commenced on the Glastonbury Canal, but
the company was formed, and the Bill to change
it to a railway had received the royal assent. The
canal was a most inconvenient means of transit. At
present it was closed for repairs, and likely to remain
closed for six weeks. It was impossible any large
amount of traffic could be carried on with such inter-
ruptions. They would find the change of great ad-
vantage in bringing an accession of traffic to their
main line, and therefore he felt assured that, in addi-
tion to the reasonable encouragement they had given
to that undertaking, should a small sum be required
to complete it, they would not refuse their assistance,
if they were satisfied the utmost bad been done by
the public and the neighbourhood before application
was made to them. It was also satisfactory to see
that the directors of the Cornwall Company bad de-
termined to proceed in the construction of that line.
He had always felt that the Cornwall Railway, being
on the broad gauge, ought to be completed, and he
had high authority for believing the traffic over it
would be considerable. With the advantages they
now possessed in a better knowledge of the construc-
tion of railways, and the material reduction in the
expenses of the line, it could be completed within the
amount of the capital subscribed. He thought
it would pay a fair interest, and, while
greatly benefiting the South Devon Company,
in which they had so large a stake, it would indi-
rectly benefit the Bristol aid Exeter line. The corn
munication betwecir Plymouth and Saltash by a
bridge would be of immense advantage in inducing
travelling among persons in Corn wall who bad been
prevented by the difficulty of crossing the Tamar at
Torpoint, and in superseding water communication,
which was now resorted to by many passengers, who
would otherwise go by land from Falmouth and
Penzance to Plymouth, Exeter, and London. Corn-
wall was famous for the cheapness with which works
were conducted, and could boast of the cheapest via-
duct ever formed. The West Cornwall Railway had
just been fiaiihed at a reasonable rate, and was opened
for the public train;; yesterday. It ran from Truro
to Penzance, and when the Cornwall Railway from
Plymouth to Truro was made there would be a direct
broad gauge line complete from Paddington to Pen-
zance, to the great advantage of this company and
all connected with it. With reference to the
central scheme of the South Western, from
Salisbury to Exeter, he said they had to
decide whether they would allow a narrow or a broad
guage line to come to Exeter. Exeter might appear to
be the terminus of their line, but it was the centre of
their area of traffic, and of the greatest importance, as
the centre from which the most important traffic to
them was drawn. The worst feature in the e
casnarrow was,
that the parties who were promoting th
to
suppose that th® country through
gauge line did not supp
which it passed would suoat it, but looked only
abstracting a portion of the Bristol and Exeter
traffic
to save themselves from any great loss. Take it at
the best, there WB3 no reason to believe the line would
be remunerative, if they did not abstract a portion of
their revenue ; and the danger was that, while en-
gaged in warm competition at Exeter, the one endea-
vouri
ng to retain, the other to abstract, between the
th
two the profit might be lost. From de earliest period
it was always felt by those intereste in the Briwas
stol
and Exeter Company that their vulnerable point
Exeter. They bad the misfortune to have ambitious
and restless neighbours, and he believed there was no
other security but in their own exertions. They
must entertain the question, whether they liked it or
not, and see from whom the attack was likely to be
made. The only security for the maintenance of a
considerable portion of their traffic was by making
preparations against the attack with which they were
now threatened.
The report was then received and adopted unani-
mously.
The CHAIRMAN proposed a dividend at the rate of
21 per cent. for the half-year.
This was carried unanimously.
Mr. CASTLE said a resolution was passed at the las_
half-yearly meeting, which, in some measure, tied the
hands of the shareholders in the election of directors.
The resolution alluded to was as follows
" That, with a view to promote the selection
and
ap-
pointment of suitable persons to be directors of this
com-
pany, and to give all duly qualified shareholders a fair
and equal opportunity for election, it is ordered that in
any future election of directors to be made
meetings of the proprietors the names at general
shall be made in-
tended to be proposed for such election, of candidates
whether
directors or others,retiring
in order that
writing, to the secretary, fourteen days known by notice in
general meeting,
pub-
lished by advertisement, which previous to such
general the same might kiee..
required to insert in the
least before the intendedul the directors are
_hayrepayt
usual
.newspaperhsattennod II
person
shall be deemed eligible, or be election
danaddtireetor%Uniess
such notice shall be given in the elected
aforesaid."
He (Mr. Castle) would move that
rescinded. The meeting on that ()cm n_
by surprise. The resolution was brought
Mr. Norris at the close of the
than two-thirds of the shareholders badisd wardtaken
tovir by
g( when more
inleft the room.
that resolution be
after a good
Dr. GREEN seconded the wbiach Ur. Norris,
deal of discussion, in the course.
. , moved the resolu-
who had at the previous Ineetag;
to
done so with a
nioticofn.
tion in question, explained On to the shareholders,
ler
view of really giving and negatived by a large
it was put to them eetng,
e
mor
majority. proposed, " That this meeting
ANsunmexpetion of the works on the The CHAIRM
Corn-
approves of the_rroern
Plymouth to Falmouth, and the
wall Railway
the
1,500 whole and 1,500 half-shares
coaversion
a in that undertking into 4,500 shares
of this nor?r,. oy This would bee an advantage to the
of 201. each.
conitros
,t a their liabilities would be thereby reduced
112,000/. to 90,000/.—Carried unanimously.
a CHAIRMAN then proposed, " That the direc-
froTol
tors be authorised to make such preliminary arrange-
ments as they may think necessary for promoting in
Parliament a line of railway on the broad gauge
through the district of the Wilts, Somerset, and
Weymouth Railway and the Bristol and Exeter
Railway, and to take all proper measures, separately
or in conjunction with other parties, to advance and
promote the line, and that such measures be reported
at a special general meeting of the proprietors, to be
convened for that purpose.
Mr. Nottais seconded the motion, and enlarged
on the necessity of the directors being
armed with
sufficient authority to contend with the South--
Western Company.
Mr. INGLESFIELD had attended the meeting of the
South-Western Company the other day, and his im-
pression was that the shareholders generally were

decidedly oppobeA 4G the reeample 3if w eti, a fusi
interested persons who were in favour of it.
The secretary of the company, Mr. J. B. BkrogAM,
begged to confirm what had fallen from Mr. Ingles-
field. It was only a few of the South-Western share-
holders who advocated the views of Mr. Locke and
Mr. Chaplin. No doubt, however, they were sincere
in the determination to do everything in their power
to promote the scheme. After the meeting he (Mr'
Badham) had a conversation with some of the plCl-
cipal authorities, and he suggested that, supposing
the Bristol and Exeter and the Great Western Com-
pany were willing to enter into a solemn rgreement
that if the South-Western Company did nothing they
would not, would they come into such an arre.ngee
meat ? Mr. Chaplin said he would not, ana his
reason was that, however faithful and worthy of c Ine
fidence gentlemen might be in their individual caps"
citir s, he had no contiaence in boards.—(Laughter.)
The resolution way then put and carried.
The proceedings terminated in a vote of thanks to
the directors and the chairman.

NORTH-WESTERN.
The half-yearly meeting of Cais company was he LT
at Morecambe on Tuesday, Mr. P. Dawson in the
chair.
The SEcaLTAnY read the report for the half--year
ending the 30th of June, 1852. Tie oayments on
capitui account amounted to 66.9491. During the pest
half-year the second line of rails bas been laid d.)lvn
for a distance of tour miles, and opened to the puidre
OR the Ist of June. Arrangements have been made
for the completion of the second line between BM
Busk and the junction of Skipton, and this, work will
be finished before the end of the present year. The
traffic receipts for the half.year amount to 16,7981.,
against 13,336/. for the corresponding period of 1851,
and the expenses incurred in working, maintaining,
and managing the line for the same period .are
12,903/, leaving only a balance of 3,8951. appl
to theicAle
preference shares capital, which is insufficient for
Payment of interest on debenture debt and
that purpose by the sum of 3,168/. The agreement
between the Midland and North-Western Companies
for the working of the North-Western line for a period
of 14 years,
sealed with the common seal of the two companies,
from the Ist of June, 1852, has been
and the Midland Company commenced working the
line on that date.
A valuation of the engines, car-
riages, and other working stock has been made, and
the whole have been handed over to the Midland
Company. The valuation amounts to 35,958/, and
this sum will go in reduction of the capital account.
The directors feel satisfied that the contract will
prove mutually advantageous to the shareholders of
both companies. Steam packets have been provided
for the traffic between Morecambe and Piel, and sa-
tisfactory arrangements have been entered into with
the Midland Company for working the same. The
shipping traffic at Morecambe continues to increase
both in character and quantity. The directors are
using their best endeavours to establish a private
company for the providing and working a line of
screw steamers between Morecambe and the Clyde.
The directors are enabled to borrow money on the
security of the company's debentures for three, five,
or seven years, at the rate of 31- per cent. per annum.
The CHAIRMAN moved that the report be received
satisfied that the
and adopted.
Mr. ALcocß said that the Midland Company were
15,0001.; that they receiptsh of the
.ad no hesitation in guaranteeing
that sum. The line would be above
receipts for the half-year ending 30th
of June was 16,7981 if
would be debited
15,0001. then the .;the
receipts
pitanyapwpeearreebdoucnledartotogaie' were under
capitalwitith account of the company
balance. The Midland
all
le them half the receipts;
parties that the amount
Cbwuootmuld be more than the interest
iliptonsthould be, as was
the preference
shares and the debentures, but if
s were less than
debtors to the Midland
not very likely, that the receipts
15,000/ , then they would be
Company for that amount. He thought they might
confidence look for 18,0001. annually as their
ight
half of the receipts, while the interest on the deben-
tures and the preference shares would not be more
than 14,000/.
Mr. ALCOCS seconded the adoption of the report,
which was carried with only two dissentients.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the
proceedings.

CITY ANTIQUITIES.
For the last two mouths excavations for foundations
of buildings have been making on Tower-hill, close to
the fragment of the old city wall, which was given up by
the corporation some few years since to be pulled down,
but which, owing to the interposition of the Woods and
Forests, has been respited up to the present day. This
fragment, in the almost entire absence of any other re-
main of the great wall which once surrounded the city,
is well worth preserving; the upper part is probably not
older than the time or Henry 111., but the lower is
Raman work. The excavations alluded to above revealed
seine of the original Roman masonry, which hai been
c, ocalPJ by houses and other buildings. It was in ex-
cellent preservation, the fetv stoma quite perfect, and the
rows of red tiles (51311 as are usually found in Roman
walls) r,rnained to the, extent of two or three
layers. Clo:,o to this portion of the wail, and piled
up to a considerable height, was a mss of cut and
sculptural stones, which at some remote period had
formed ono or more buildings of magnitude such
as abound in Roman London. Some of these had
been foundation stones, others had been portions of
cornices, pilasters and columns, and cne was the half of
a millston., in Andernach lava. The most attractive of,
these stones (for it appears the trustees of the British
Museum have been induced to accept it) had originally
formed part of a composition of very elegant design. It
is five feet in length, end at ono end is sculptured to re-
present a roll of tolinge, bound round in the middle by a
band and strings. The other stones are carried off to be
used, it is feared, for building materials, like many si-
milar remains found in the city in past years. The want
of opportunities for their proper examination is to he
lamented, as one of the larger flat slabs (upwards of five
feet in length) is inscribed with letters, some of which
are nine inches in length; they belong to a sepulchral
inscription, of which only three lines (two of them incom-
plete) remain. It is extremely probable that at least
other portions of the inscription are upon some of the
tones found with this inscribed one, but, as they are now
carried away from Tower-hill, there is but little hope of
their being examined. With respect to the wall, it will
certainly be preserved, for, like the Mint wall at Lin-
coln, it is being enclosed, and in the course of a few
days or weeks will form the side wall of stables.

SEABORNE MAILS.
EN signifies that the mails are sent from the General Post-0141
by the night—and M by the morning—dispatch.]

When made up in From what when
rucacs, Gellert.). Post-oedcc port dia- due.
London: patched.

America (by Brit. pht.)N Aug, 27
America (by U.S. put.) NI .. ••
• •
America (by U.S. pitt.) M
Australia (via South- .. ..
Ditto,ie a tiv
al via
iCa.*o.f
.G.
.. 1.1. o.p. e Ns,
19th.• 8:• :30 .t.:11.• :
ampton) ..
.11.1 .
Ditto (via Marseilles) N •,
• • • • •••
Dover -. !soy. 30
iraouttli••lAug. 26
Africa (West coast).- N 14th of the month 'ma," . I Aug. 28
Belgium .. .. N Daily ,rsonthoopt•
ene°etnampt. Sept. 16
ver
Brazil ..month ::46etharoot„ Sept.. 16
..
.e.f m.e.,,Dover :. Daily
Buenos Ayres „. .. M 9th of the month
senthampt.lSept. 1
California(viaChagret)M 2dlk 17th of niont,,, inpuouth..lAng.
226
Cape of flood Hope N 14th of the month nymeuth.. Aug. 6
Cape de 'Verdi .. .. N2d of the, o.l2o,.tt.he;,pover ..• Aug.
_e3o.
Constantinople* .... N 7th 17th_27,7;ee, SoulamPl• ,Itiptii: sat
Channel Isles
Central America .. DI 2d & 1Z,r7., &Fri. 1.
Chili .. .. .. ,M 2d ' dell? •• '' Dover .. ce ally
.. .. N M0n.:70..0f mot) I,,e_g°uuthampPt.. ils,r:Se *it. ld•
m;N Twice ‘ „thefine Dover •• Aug. 30
France .. .• .ithi7th2... irridey London .. Tues. Sat.
N
Greece* • • • • •: if raesdaY yk sewn London .. Men.Ther
Hambnrgh
.•
'.
8f Igednegihe month Sonthampt.Sept. 16
Holland • • • • ' N 17...fi1l of the „. .. IHolyhead • ,Twicsedenl
Honduras ..
e athang, ~., etbsc24t e
...n• :)1'......:11 21'0":theeof the efmmoonuththnSoou,therantpt.. 'Aug. 26
India
a(clvia :0.
India(viaMarsei re N 15th e
fa''''° I 7 15th a mouth Plymouth.. •
f month Plymouth.. Aug.lAug 2266
India, via C. 0 . .. I 1 !
Mauritius .(Via s4l2oth of the month
Mecliterran:en) •• --1-
outhairP.. (via c
Bfmedesiteeuirral....*^-.:
.:.• MIT tdtilf2t4lVllionfrnothnt.h.
Madeira •
wale° ': .: .. Mr 179tthh,onf
thtlal9natzn2t7htb
~...,,,a •• •• 11 &30th of month
'"-,-... .. Nlsth 151.1125 th ofmo
NaPore.tetes* .. N,5 th 15th 25th of mo
reP*--,,„--- . .. .. Ml7thl7th27thefmo
row. - .. .. Mr2cl & 17th of ninth
Peru
~," ** .. N sth 15thu5thofmo'
rrt in-"rdios•• .. .. M 17th of the month i
West Indies (except
rievanna & Nassau) 111 3d of the month ..
a The mails to those countries thus mar:
French packet via M

Liverpool ••
Liverpool••
Southaript•

Inept.
2
lAug • 31
Aug. 96

ISouthampt. !Aug. 28

Dolor
SonthamPt. Sept. 1
Sonthampt. Sept. 16

- -
IDover Aug. 28

Dover •• Sept. 2
,Dover .. Sept. '2
Southampt. Sept. G
Southampt. Sept. 1
'Dover • • Sept. 2
Southampt. Sept. 1
Sotithampt. I
ked (*) are conveyed by

EXTENSIVE FIRE NEAR WHITECHAPEL CHURCH.—
This morning, at a few minutes past one o'clock, a fire
broke out in the extensive premises of Mr. Walker, whole-
sale ironmonger and general furnisher, No. 34, Whitechapel-
road. The discovery was made by police-constable No. 211,
of the II division, who sent for the fire escape and engines.
After the lapse of a few minutes, Mr. Walker and two
women, who were sleeping in the premises, were made sensible
of the outbreak, and they forthwith made an attempt to es-
cape by the stairs, but the moment they did so the floras
shot forth in such a body as to drive them back. Having
gained one of the front windows, they besought the e the
tors to procure a ladder and save them. Fortunatelyiss,
Royal Society's fire-escape drove up in front of the Prest the
when Wood, the conductor, placed the machine agsLn., par.
building, and succeeded in rescuing three Peraelgg' lose.; were
Walker, his wife, and another woman.
soon on the spot. The firemee, underthe
laboured inces-
Alessi s Braldwood, Fogo, and Connortoc direction of
nceeded in getting
Iri o*eroa: sluskuenr eow II •
santly, and before three o'clock they,
the fire under. The whole of'ig premises and
damage is done to
their contents are destroyed, :Ibres'efir
those adjoining. The origin ofd
Soon as authentic intel-
A QUICK RETURN:—"g
I.l26,,ocforrAoubstotraa,tiiav: of the report
i it became the
ligence had reached this coun
of tht' richness of the g°4-1 ,•el,ondon merchants to consign
signal for many enterpristue
Aee quantities of goods to meet the de-
to their agents thereT
enriched colonists, and the crowd of
mend of the suddei try
expected would be attracted to the
emigrants theyA;i,
uesttYthose who availed themselves of this
diggings. Ara-7; the Messrs. Nicoll, of Regent-street
golden •opirwuenfe-conspicuous, and:in return for several large
and Cornh-
not many months since encumbered thee
Paekewages' whichthere may now be seen in the windows ofet.b.
Reg- Vit;reet ware-rooms a few boxes of the precious metal
em-s- haege for their well-known garment*, Is, 5
taken in exc for tirst-
eme that a market does exist in Australia
tee in the
prow. .
tish goods. Much curiosity is e'tect
ewe Jeri
neigh bouthood, and vast numbers seem a a, .a. a rod.
the xnetal in 0.44 state in which it la • Nolll—'6ll/-1.
tavails to view