The Sun.
London, England, 1852-02-23 00:00:00

Excellency the Commander-in• Chief Sir Harry Smith,
on the occasion of the re-embarkation of this detach-
meat,
"I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient
humble servant, " W. OWEN, D.A.G.
(Copy.)
"Head Quarters, King William's Town, Dec. 3, 1851.

General Orders, No. 207.
" In the commencement of the war Commodore Wy-
vill, with his characteristic zeal for the good of her Ma-
jesty's service, landed the Marines of her Majesty's ships
Castor and Dee, under the command of Lieutenants
Harris and Reed, for the purpose of joining the army.
Circumstances now demanding their return to their
ships, his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief has great
satisfaction in conveying his marked approbation of the
conduct of Lieutenants Harris and Reed, and of the
non-commissioned officers and soldiers under their com-
mand. They were attached to the 73d Regiment, and
accompanied that corps on very many arduous patrols,
their gallantry in the field and their endurance of fatigue
being ever conspicuous.
(Signed) " A. J. CLOETE,
"Deputy Quartermaster-General."

EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY
The thirty-first half-yearly general meeting was held
at the London Tavern on Friday; Mr. D. Waddington,
M.P., in the chair, " for the purpose of receiving a re-
port from the directors of the progress of the under-
taking, and of a certain proposed arrangement with the
Great Northern Railway Company, and for the transac-
tion of other business."
Mr. OWEN, the secretary, having read the advertise-
ment convening the meeting, and the seal of the com-
pany having been affixed to the registered list of pro-
prietors, the chairman called on the secretary to read
the report. In accordance, with the generally expressed
wish of the meeting, this form was dispensed with, as
the report was already in the hands of the shareholders,
and the document was taken as read. An abstract has
already appeared in our columns.
The CHAIRMAN then said—Gentlemen, in addressing
you this day, for the purpose of explaining those parts
of the report with which I am desirous you should be
most freely acquainted, I claim your unprejudiced and
dispassionate attention, in order that we may discuss
the questions upon which you may differ from the
board of ' directors, although I hope you will not
differ from the board,—calmly, and as sensible
men of business, because by such a course you
will best consult your own interests and promote
the prosperity of the company.—(Cheers.) And
first, I will call your attention to the balance exhibited
of net revenue of 83,894/. 7s. 11d., with a balance of the
previous half-year of 5,624/. Os. 4d., out of which we
propose to pay a dividend of 4s. per share, leaving a
balance of 21,275/. Os. 3d. to be carried forward to the
credit of the revenue account for the succeeding half
year.—(Cheers.) I am aware, from communications I
have received from some of the proprietors, that with
this balance in hand it is contended by many that we
ought to pay a larger dividend.—(Loud cries of " Hear,
hear.") But, gentlemen, I think we have seen the error
of paying the utmost amount of dividend which the funds
of the company have been previously represented as
able to afford; and the board, looking at the extraordi-
nary traffic during what is called the Exhibition half of
last year—for it must be assumed that a large propor-
tion of our increased traffic during that period was de-
rived from that source—and that there would be no
similar incentives in the ensuing year to travelling and
traffic, it was thought the best course to declare only a
dividend of 45., and to carry forward the la
rae
amount of reserve I have named. But al-
though, no doubt, we did derive in the ag-
gregate a large amount of traffic from the Exhibition,
the directors do not think that the whole of our in-
creased receipts were fairly attributable to that alone,
because it no doubt interfered greatly with the pleasure
traffic from which so large an amount of the summer re-
ceipts of this company are derived, and many of the re•
gular customers of the company who would have been
compelled to travel ever the line availed themselves of
cheap trips; but there is no denying the fact that the
company did derive some benefit more than under ordi-
nary circumstances they could have expected to realise
from the Exhibition. I hope and trust, therefore, the
shareholders will approve otahe decision of the board as
a wise and safe policy, for even supposing that we go on
improving, as I trust we shall, and our receipts should
show no diminution from the absence of the Great Ex-
hibition in the ensuing year, the money will still be
there, and you may have an extraordinary dividend
hereafter.—(Load cheers.) You will be glad to bear, in
the meantime, that so far, our returns have exhibited a
very satisfactory increase; for in the twelve weeks fol-
lowing the closing of the Exhibition we received an ad-
ditional traffic of 5,997/. 17e.—(Cheers)—and this, not-
withstanding the reduced rates to which that traffic was
subjected, in consequence of the competition of the Great
Northern Railway Company. Passing from our receipts
to our expenditure, it is a source of great gratifica-
tion to your directors that they have the opportunity of
stating, through the medium of the balance-sheet, that a
large amount of reduction has taken place; and that our
locomotive superintendent, Mr. Gooch, feels that this is
not the minimum of your expenditure.—(Cheers). It is
a source, also, of great satisfaction to the directors that
in comparing the details of the expenditure account with
past reports, we find that with one exception only (leav-
ing out of the question rates and taxes, over which, I am
sorry to say, we have little or no control) that every
branch of the service is carried on at a reduced cost.
The only exception is in the goods department, and that
arises from the fact that our incessant traffic required
additional sacks to lend out to the public, and additional
tarpaulings to protect that increased traffic from the
weather. The expenses of these have been charged to
the revenue account. After referring to the Eastern
Counties and Great Northern policy in reference to the
Newmarket and Chesterford and East Anglian lines,
and the settlements of the questions in reference to
them, he touched upon their arrangement with the
Great Northern Company. By that arrangement (he said)
we take upon ourselves a guarantee of the Great Northern
for 16,6001. per annum, in respect to their line from
Hitchen to Shepreth. I will state the operation of this
agreement somewhat more fully than it is detailed in the
report. We take upon ourselves a guarantee of 16,8001.
per annum, for which there will be handed over to this
company eighteen miles of railway from Hiteben to
Shepreth, the eight miles beyond Shepreth to Cambridge
being our own line. The terms are, that the Eastern
Counties shall not run less than three trains per day
between Cambridge and Hitchen, the hours and speed
to be fixed by ourselves. We book through to London
' if we think fit, and the Great Northern is to allow us,
and we are to receive not only our own rates over own
line from Cambridge to Shepreth, but the maximum tolls
allowed by Act of Parliament for the distance between
Shepreth and Hitchen, and 60 per cent. upon the
other 62 miles; and so in booking from Royston we are
to have our fares upon our own 12 miles, and
60 per cent. upon the 32 miles: over the Great
Northern. In addititon to this we have obtained
a bonus on all the, traffie passing Peterborough. Thus,
taking any given point in this line to a given point on our
line, the fare between which shall be 205., and the mile-
age upon each line represents 10s., wo are to have our
own 10s. and 20 per cent. out of their 10s. With this
bonus and the privilege of 60 per cent. on the London
traffic, we anticipate that the 16,0001. drawn from one
pocket will be put Into the other. But we shall obtain
besides many contingent advantages. For instance, the
Great Northern Company, being bound to give us our
own rates, over all our own districts, or otherwise to pay
a penalty of seven times the amount they receive, we
cannot suffer in any way by competition from the Great
Northern. In addition to that the Great Northern
agree within a boundary mark, which includes Hunting-
don sad Peterborough, and charge equal rates to Lon-
don, there is a different boundary to be drawn close to
their line, starting on the left from Holboach. After
some further remarks he moved the adoption of the
report.
Mr. Rue seconded the motion for the adoption of
the report.
Mr. GEACII, M.P., moved that out of the 21,000/. to
be carried over, they should give the chairman 1,500/.
for his services for the past nine months, and that he
should be paid at the rate of 2,0001. for the future.—
(Loud cheers and cries of "No, no.") They must
consider that if they could not manage their own affairs,
they must delegate that power to the board of directors,
and that being very large, it must be delegated to one.—
(No, no.) They had a revenue of 800,0001., and their
success depended upon the way that it was managed.
They had got the right man to do it—they had his almost
undivided exertions, therefore, he was amply entitled to
the remuneration he had named.—(No, no.)
Mr. NORRIS rose to a point of order; the proposition
before them, at the present time, was the adoption of the
report.
Mr. QUILTER, in answer to a question from Mr. Box,
said the amount of capital of the Norfolk Company re-
mained at 2,130,0001., on which they were entitled to
receive interest and dividend.
Mr. Howxs moved that the dividend be 58.—(Hear.)
Mr. Box seconded the motion, and said he felt so
strongly on the point, that he should be inclined to go to
ballot on the question.
The report was then carried amidst loud cheering.
Mr. LEACH, M.P., then brought forward his motion
above alluded to of the remuneration to be allowed to
the chairman, which was seconded by Mr. KNIGHT.
The motion, having been seconded, was, after some
men
employed
naittduet
discussion, carried amidst loud cheers.
The CHAIRMAN said he could not find words adequate
to express the gratification he felt. He had never for a
moment anticipated this vote at their hands; but having
passed such a resolution, ho thought it unworthy his
name, unworthy his country, and unworthy their confi•
dence, if he did not devote the entire of his time and
energies for their interests.—(Loud cheers.) He could
assure them that when he found himself inoperative for
good, salary should not keep him one moment in his po-
sitiou.—(Loud cheers.)
beLfoorredthAelfmreedetPinagg Paget and Mr. Waddington were then
re-elected directors, and in appropriate speeches returned
thanks.
hadaho pbs
mechanics'r.
Mr. elTgehvh teeinssuwt as also unanimously re-elected auditor
of the company.The CHAIRZAN said ho wished to name aenstuwtoboojtrfehkcao-t
purpose withyouctotd
wished to recommeci
under their
oseparated
ot whichconnexion
xtiho
nob
establishment
referencetahb lis h
theirn
their works at Stratford. Mr. Gooch
establishment of
many men at their worikts
layingnot vote any sum of money for that
that that 5001. be voted towards the
btefosrterat.thfoerpdr,opanridethoors,thaonudghhet
wheinnstathiateurteiownas
sTohmeuychhadagreat
up a
gonoddtheir em
at the present time,.
agreed tao pleleooaryvde7r sl,
it thatt it f
the board their authority for
feeling amonst them.
dissatisfac-
tion existing amongst men
Hwaosheospseendtitahleyto
wouldkeep give
separated.a vote
o
carrying it out.
The meeting unanimously
o the
discretion of the directors, and after
thanks to the chairman the meeting

IMPROVEMENT IN THE ADMINISTRA-
TION OF THE POOR-LAW.
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
BOLTON, FRIDAY.—On Thursday evening a public
meeting of the inhabitants of Bolton, Lancashire, was
held for the pu.rpose of taking into consideration the
propriety of petitioning Parliament in favour of such a
change in the present administration as will do away
with the system of keeping paupers in complete
idleness or useless task work, and enable the
guardians to avail themselves of the best means
within their power to render the workhouses self-
supporting. by employing the distressed in works of a
remunerative nature. The meeting took place in the
Town Hall, the body of which was well filled by the
middle and the platform being reserved
for the
magistrates, working
clergy, classes,poor-law guardians, &o. The
chair was taken by Robert Heywood, Esq., J.P., who
briefly addressed the meeting, and introduced Mr. G.
Stark, who appeared as the representative of the Poor-
law Association, to expound its principles. Mr.
Sttaarrkk, sasf°teer !Ian): address of considerable length, in
which he
.vindicated the abstract right of every
human being to labour for his own subsistence,
demonstrated the failure of the Poor-law Amendment
Act to carry
.out the designs of its framers—showed that,
notwithstanding the promise held out that the measure
had been passed to mitigate the evils of pauperism and
relieve property from the pressure of poor-rates, pau-
perism still
,existed, and nearly 100 millions sterling had
been wrung from the people for its support since the
passing
.of the measure—proceeded to refer to practical
illustrations of the advantages of the reproductive
system as presented its different unions, parti-
cularly in. Cork and other Irish unions. Although
they were in the habit of despising anything that ema-
nated from Ireland, asking, as it were, " Could any good
come out of Nazareth?" still, he contended, the Irish
people had the common sense to take the initiative in
this matter, and the English people, in dealing with their
poor, would follow the example of these few Irish unions
if they had any regard for humanity and economy. Mr.
Stark referred to various objections that had been raised
by so-called political economists and mock philanthro-
pists against the principles of the Poor-law Association,
and resumed his seat amidst considerable applause.
Mr. EDMUND AsHWORTH, J.P., proposed the first
resolution, to the following effect:—
" That in the opinion of this meeting the substitution
of reptc,ductive employment of the destitute instead of
compulsory idleness or useless and degrading task-work,
is not. only calculated, under judicious management, .to
ans!hoi ate their condition, by preparing them for a life
of industry and self-reliance, but that it is fraught with
great advantage to the community by reducing the bur-
den of poor-rates, and diminishing the number of per-
sons exposed to the temptations of crime.
Mr. J. WINDER, an influential and painstaking mem-
ber of the board of guardians, seconded the resolution,
and in doing so made a statement of the number of able-
bodied persons (atiut a thousand), both inside and out-
side of the workhouse, who were supported by
.the com-
munity, and not permitted to contribute by their labour
to their own support. In very forcible terms Mr. Winder
denounced the absurdity of the present system. He was
convinced that the poor people were not only able, but
most willing to support themselves.
The resolution was supported by Mr. Parkinson, T.C.,
Mr. Richardson, several working men in the. body of
the room, who made excellent speeches, and it was car-
ried unanimously.
Mr. HICHARDSoN moved, and Mr. CULLEN, J.P.,
seconded, a petition to both Houses of Parliament in
favour of the general enforcement of the reproductive
employment of paupers.
The petition was carried unanimously, and ordered to
be entrusted to Sir Joshua Wahnsley in the House of
Commons, and the Right Rev. the Bishop of Ripon in
the House of Lords.
A vote of thanks having been passed to the Chair-
mau, and another to Mr. Stark, the meeting separated.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—Appleby, Feb. 20.
Mr. Baron Alderson and Mr. Justice Cresdwell sr•
rived here yesterday afternoon from Lancaster, and im•
mediately proceeded to the court and opened the com
. .

mission.
The good people of this primitive county town,
alarmed by the rumours of removing the assizes to the
more central and convenient site of Kendal, which were
rife when the hereditary shrievalty of the county
ceased, and tho judges were deprived of their accustomed
retainlodgi tngsheairt
athnociceansttlper,ivairleeg. Newmeaking lodgings have been
vigorous attempts to
provided for the judges, in addition to improving the
court house, and a rumour of " a railroad to Appleby"
is industriously propagated. It may not be without uti-
lity to bring suddenly back to our view the manners and
habits and means of locomotion of our ancestors, and
to compel all those having business at the county
assize twice a year to leave the rail, with its business-
like punctuality and rapidity and comfort, and
resort to ancient post-chaises, rickety phaetons, gigs, and
deg-carts, impelled by horses
_fresh from the plough,
and driven by the rawest of drivers, not forgetting the
ancient quiddam of Is. 6d. a mile, toll-gates and driver.
To be sure when there is a much more important town
in the county from which the chief part of the assize
business comes, and to which there is already a railroad
direct, in connexion with a trunk railway traversing the
county north and south, one is apt to wonder at this,
and to admire " that stability of institutions" which
abhors all change. Nevertheless, this reversion to the
habits of the last generation has its use, and we return
from such a brief visit to the ancients to the modern
rail and to the world as it now is, with a higher appre-
ciation of its progress, and of its adaptibility to the
wants of civilised men.
Their Lordships having this morning attended Divine
service, proceeded to the Court house at twelve o'clock.
The calendar contained the names of five prisoners,
two charged with burglary, two with larceny, and one
with a criminal assault on a child.
Mr. Justice Cresswell sat in the Crown Court, and
disposed of the chargei in the calendar. Three of the
, the charge of assault broke
down, and
p nsci tried,l
the fourth
his
d y
ui
case,Lordship
rd
at two o clock.
a charge of stealing some
hip finishing the Crown busi-
nessprisonersocloth, r n
CIVIL SlDE.—(Before Mr. Baron ALDERSON.)
The cause-list contained an entry of two oauses, both
marked for special juries,
COATES V. HA.RRISON.

This was an action on the case for slander.
Mr. Bliss, Q.C., and Mr. Overend appeared for the
plaintiff, and Mr. Sergeant Murphy and Mr. James for
the defendant.
The plaintiff, it appears, was a draper at Kirby Lone-
dale, and had also another shop at Milnethorpe. The
lived at home with his mother, who keeps the
AdGeprfeereinindlaansttis a young man, only just of age, who in
Dragon inn at Kirby Lonsdale, and who now acts
as land steward to Alderman Thompson. The plaintiff
heard a report that it was imputed to him that he was
about to become insolvent, and he issued placards offering
a reward of
.501. for the originator of the report. At
a customer, and she gave np a Mr.
a commercial traveller, as her authority, and Mr.
Green, on being applied to, said, that being at the Green
Dragon, kept by the defendant's mother, on the 18th of
April last, the defendant came into the room where he
last
ho
Green,
traced it to
was, and said to him,
" gave you heard that one of our
principal drapers - in Kirby Lonsdale will make an as-
signment before )10nday- nest?" Green asked, " Who
it was?" and the defendant said, "It was Coates."
This slander Mr. Green had mentioned to others and
the news spread, and, as was alleged, brought the
3' in his trade.
plain-
tiff's creditors up9n. him, stopped his credit, and did him
tion that the plaintiff had failed some years ago for
1,8001.; that he then became a cattle dealer, and did not
greatlor ptehoeudnetafernydiannj.t7
it
was elicited in cross-examina-
succeed; and that for several months preceding
. last
April actions had been brought against him both in the
superior and county courts to recover debts. It also
appeared that he had been overseer, and had been remiss
in settling the accounts of his year of office.
The Learned Counsel for the defendant attributed the
origin of the report to these circumstances, and con-
tended that the defendant had only repeated without
malice what he had heard commonly spoken of.
His LORDSHIP having summed up, •
found a verdict for the plamtiff—dama
one farthing.
The jury g

for the plaintiff, and Mr. Berg
GREY V. LEWTHWAITE.
In this case Mr. Bliss, Q.C., and Mr. Temple appeared
James for the defendant. cant Murphy and Mr.
The plaintiff, Miss Alice Gray, is an old maiden lady
of upwards of 80 years of age, entitled to some property
at Burton in Kendal, and the defendant so built a shed
near some of her houses that it narrowed and obstructed
her right of way
to them upwards of three feet, so that
a loaded cart could not now pass. Tho action was brought
for this iufringement of the plaintiff's right of way, and
to establish her right. The cause occupied the Court
till near seven o'clock.
The jury found their verdict for the plaintiff.
This terminated the business of the assise.

Mti
R DR
arisinglN SCOTLAND.— A very determined
murder,
out of a quarrel, was committed on Satur-
day evening, in Dunfermline, one of the principal towns in
the county of Fife. The parties implicated in the quarrel
were an Englishman and an Irishman, both of whom were
employed in the malleable iron works in the neighbourhood
of Dunfermline. During the week they had quarrelled se-
veral times, and on Saturday last, which was pay-day, the
quarrel resulted in a fight, in which, according to report, the
Englishman had the worst of it. This fight took place at an
early period of the evening. The Englishman, thirsting for
vengeance, went into a butcher's shop at a subsequent period
of the evening, and on pretence of requiring to cut some
meat that he had previously purchased, borrowed a knife
from the butcher. Armed with this formidable weapon, he
walked about the streets for several hours in quest of the
Irishman, whom he unfortunately discovered in the High-
street of Dunfermline about eleven o'clock, when he ran up
to him and thrust the knife into his side. The Irishman,
who was a very young man, immediately fell, and was carried
into a shop close at hand, where he expired in the course of
miles from Dunfermline,y,
wtwitehnotyutmdineluates. The murderer made his escape out of town
and lodged in gaol.
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butwas
atappthreeheoonudresde
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dfoay,
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anc
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i atiau butter,or
names
acake,re JohnbelongingJoan,to a or
es er
o remedy,
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dt It is
Queries.
the Bth of that
the 26th of December mentiotne this
h pins of Longomilla be-
month a battle took place
(Truz and the Government troops
tween the insurgents uncle!
which upwards of 3,000 men
commanded by Bulnes,
la
The engagement resulted in a
ifm eatenar r iedilyc ott:,:hpel esufferer
AFFAIRS IN Cello:bat :Letter froomn Valparaiso to
were put hors de
the in e il'e the opposing part'
les threw
said that in the heat of
kind of compromise
Saturday,theßritish Embassy in
Government.arballeantobythaerri
, and
...taught with their knives.
VE a the St.
from
George's Hotel,
St• lioure, at Paris.
awTayhtehei\,irifiarreaci Marquis
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