The Sun.
London, England, 1852-09-13 00:00:00

N°.18,714.] LONDON, MON DAY • 4; Wr • •
AY 1.273
SEPTEMBER 13, 1852.
• . 4f,

Just Ready. in 3 Vols., post Bvo., 312. Gd.,
31 EMOIRS OF THE BARONESS D'OBER-
KIRCCI; including Numerous Curious Particulars illus-
trative of the Secret History of the Courts of Russia and France .
Written by Herself, and edited by her grandson, the Count DE
DIONTBRISO

Also just published, in 2 vols., 215.,
COLONEL LANDMANN'S ADVENTURES AND RECOL—
LECTIONS.

" These volumes contain a series of very amusing and remarkable
occurrences, well calculated to attract attention and interest."—Sun.

LIFE OF MARIE DE MEDICIS. By Mias PARDOE. 3 vols.
Bvo., with fine Portraits, 425.
"A work of high literary and historical merit, possessing the most
absorbing and constantly-sustained interest."—John
Colburn and Co., Publishers, 13, Great Marlborough-street.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE ASSO-
CIATION.
In 40,000 Shares of 51. each.
Paid up in full, no further liability.
Registered provisionally, and to be incorporated pursuant to 7 and S
Victoria, cap. 110, or by Royal Charter.

The Puke of Leinster.
The Marquis of Clanrlearde,

TRUSTEES.
I Frederic Mildred, Esq.
Benjamin Oliviera, Esq., M.P.

COMMITTEE.
PRESIDENT—The Marquis of CLANRICARDE.
The Earl of Barrington. Sir John Bayley, Bart.
Major-General the Boa. H. F. C. Barry Baldwin, Esq,
C. Cavendish.

With power to add to their number.
STANDING COUNSEL —C. A. noggins, Esq., Q.C.
BANE ERS—messrs. Masterman, Peters, Mildred, and Co. ;
Messrs. Charles Hopkinson and Co.
Sommoas—Messrs. Hughes, Kearsey, and Masterman,
No. 17, Bucklersbury, _ . .

SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY.
At the THIRTY-SECOND HALF-YEARLY GENERAL
MEETING, and at the SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING, of the
SOLITII-EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANY, held at the Bridge
House Hotel, London-bridge, on Thursday, the sth day of Septem-
ber, 1852,
JAMES MACGREGOR, Esq., M.P. Chairman, in the Chair,

The advertisements convening the meetings were read, and the
following resolutions were passed .-
1. That the Report of the Directors, and statement of accounts, as
now read at this meeting, be received and adopted.
2. That a dividend (less income-tax) for the half-year ending on
the 31st of July last, at the rate of 7s. Gd. per 301. stock, be now
declared on the Consolidated Stock of this Company, and be made
payable on the 13th lost.
3 That, with the view of determining the amount at which the
capital expenditure will cease, the directors be requested to submit
to the proprietors, at their next half-yearly meeting, a detailed esti-
mate of the amount required to complete the lines and works of the
South-Eastern Railway Company ; aLso a statement of the entire
debts and liabilities of the Company, and of its property and assets
with the half-yearly accounts.

4. That the declarations of forfeiture by the several resolutions of
the Board of Directors of the 223 day of Arail last, so far as
such forfeiture, or any such declations thereof, relates to theany
follow-
ing shares thereby declared to be forfeited, or any of them-viz., the
shares numbered 5,732 to 5,733, 21,518 to 21,520, 56,297,,
57,674 to
57,678, 59,834 to 59,836, 67,248 to 67,264, 68,813 to 68,827,7771
to 69,786, 70,481, 70,671 to 73,681,58 to 8,2
52, 71,1781t6, 8
71,182,041,43
toto
7,510 to
81,467,
7 689,7,
28
to 71.519, 71,758 to 71,787, 73,738 to 73,762, 78,709
,789,
91,38
96,95844,440 to
8
79,133 to 79,145, 80,785 to 80,799, 8
81,476 to 81,478, 81,678, 81,716 to 81,730, 82,606 to 82,615,
to 84,452, 85,404 to 85,408, 86,752, 86,755 to 86
91,349, 91,391 to 91,493, 91,898, 92,841 to 92,852, 96,953 t°
97,463 to 97,477, 98,156 to 98,162, 101,676 to 101,685, 101 823
to 101,842, 104,737 to 104,743, 105,592 to 105,594, 105,889' o
105,891, 105,912 to 105,919, 107,112 to 107,126, 107,547 to 107,576,t
107,782 to 107,831, 109,327 to 109,336, 110,177 to 110,240, 110,624
to 110,628, 114,456 to 114,490, 116,380 to 116,384, 116,495 to 11,6497,
116,796 to 116,799, 117,162 to 117,171, 117,681 to 117,685, 118,376
to 118,385, 118,535 to 118,612, 118,785 to 118,790, 119,566 to
119,574, 120,025 to 120,029, 120,040 to 120,044, 120,648 to 120,659,
121,586 to 121,600, 122,570, 122,962 to 122,964, 123,114 to 123,116,
123,268 to 123,277, 124,325 to 121,342, 124,855 to 124,856, 125,216 to
125,240, 125,489 to 125,491, 126,715, 131,561 to 131,575, 132,331 to
130,343, 133,680 to 133,682, 136,118 to 136,122, 136,817 to 136,841,
136,972 to 136,991, 137,576 to 137,585, 139,376 to 139,387, 141,031 to
141,043, 141,149 to 141,166, 141,192 to 141,203, 142,013 to 142,017,
144,766 to 144,774, 147,132 to 147,236, 150,741 to 150,817, 151,085 to
157,087, 151,779 to 151,781, 151,838 to 151.842, 152,172 to 152,177,
153,326 to 153,327, 153,575 to 153,585, 154,814 to 154,818, 154,975 to
154,984, 157,133 to 157,138, 157,251, 157,282 to 157,297, 157,362 to
157,363, 157,367 to 157,370-be, and the same are hereby respec-
tively confirmed.
5. That the Directors he, and they are hereby ordered and di-
rected to dispose of all the shares declared to be forfeited, and as to
which the declarations of forfeiture have been confirmed at and by
this meeting in manner directed by the Act of Parliament, made
and passed in the sixth year of the regn of his late Majesty King
William the Fourth, intituled "An Act for making a Railway from
the London and Croydon Railway to Dover, to be called the South-
Eastern Railway."
6. That this meeting approves the views of the Directors as ex-
pressed in their letter to Lord sondes of the 2d of September instant
with 'ward to a proposed extension of the North Kent Railway
from Strool to Chilham, and that the Directors be instructed to take
such future steps in relation to that extension as they may deem
most conducive to the best interests of the Company.
7. That the Directors be, and they are hereby authorized t• bor-
row: at interest, on mortgage of this undertaking, any further sum
of money not exceeding 180,000/.
8. That the Directors be instructed to give notice to the Canter-
bury and Whitstable Railway Company, of the South-Eastern Com-
pany's intention to exercise the option given to them to purchase
the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway Harbour and Works on the
terms agreed on between the two companies.
9. That the Directors be authorised to negotiate terms with the
South-,astern and Continental Steam Packet Company for the
purchase of that company's steamboats ; such terms to be submitted
to a future meeting of this Company for their consideration ; and
that a committee of five proprietors, who are not proprietors in the
Steamboat Company, be associated with the Directors to consider
and report on the terms that may be so proposed.
10. That the following proprietors do constitute such committee •.
-Coles Child, Esq., James Ivyleafe, Esq., George Smith, Esq., R.
A. Gray, Eat , It. S. Wilkinson, Esq.
11. That Thomas Browne, Esq., who vacated his o lice of Auditor
of this Company by becoming disqualified (but is now again qualified
for the office) be re-elected an Auditor of the Company.
12. That the consideration of the question of converting the mort-
gage debts of the Company into preferential stock be adjourned.
JAMES MACGREGOR, Chairman.
The Chairman having left the chair, it was resolved :
13. That the best thanks of the meeting be presented to him for
his conduct in the chair. _ _ .

.......,
14. That the best thanks of this meeting be and are hereby given
to the Secretary and other officers of this Company for their zeal,
attention, and efficiency in the discharge of the duties of their re-
spective offices. G. S. HERBERT, Secretary.

SECURITY TO EMPLOYERS.
TO SECRETARIES OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS,
CLERKS, STATION-MASTERS, RAILWAY OFFICIALS,
BANKERS' CLERKS, TRAVELLERS, AND OTHERS.
TIMES LIFE ASSURANCE and
JL GUARANTEE COMPANY.
32, Ludgate-hill, London.
GUARANTEE FOR FIDELITY OF TRUST.
PROFITS DIVIDED.
RATES—From 7s. 6d. per cent. upwards. No charge for Stamps
An allowance made hi the Guarantee Premium where a Life As-
surance and Guarantee
FE are combined.
L ASSURANCE.
Policies Indisputable save in cases of Fraud.
Arrangements can be made with this Office to prevent the loss of a
Policy where the. ssu is unable, from temporary embarrassment,
to keep up the payments

H. B. SHERID A.N.
TIMES FIRE AND PROPERTY ASSURANCE COMPANY.
Every description of Fire Assurance. Profits Divided.
Agents Wanted.

11. B. SIIERIDAN.

and TRADESMAN'S
MLIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY, E
RmeuTHIAtLNT'S
5, Chatham-Place, Blackfriars,
And all the principal towns in the king
TRusTEEs.
London,doni.
effery Smith, Esq. Thomas 11015', Esq.
David Fergusson, Esq.
Policies Indis pAu
td,vbai
,taegxecse op
tffe inr ecda
shey
s othisfraud. Society
All the Medical Fees paid by the Society.
Assurances of every description effected.
Non forfeiture of Policies.
Assurers unable, or who find it inconvenient to pay their Pre-
miums as they fall due, may have a credit on application to the
Board.
Loans granted on Personal and other Securities in connexion with
Life Assurance.
The Directors being desirous of extending the Agencies in and
round the Metropolis and throughout the Provinces, are ready to re-
ceive applications from influential and active persons, accompanied
with a reference.

GEORGE THOMSON, Manager.
THOS. MI7SCiRAVE, Secretary

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.
C HEAP EXCURSION TO SOUTH WALES.
On WEDNESDAY, September 15, an EXCURSION TRAIN will
leave Paddington at 8 15 A.M., for Swansea, calling at Newnham,
Lydney, Chepstow, Newport, Cardiff, Llantrissant, Brid4end, Port
Talbot, Neath, Swansea, and all Stations on the Vale of Neath
Railway and will Return from Swansea on WEDNESDAY, Sep-
tember 22, calling at the same stations, thus affording the Public an
opportunity of visiting Chepstow Castle, Tintern Abbey, the Wye,
and the Magnificent Scenery and Waterfalls of the Vale of Neath.
Passengers for stations on the Vale of Neath Rai way must alight at
the Neath Station, and proceed the saute or following day by any
of the Ordinary Trains of that Company, and must return to Ne
on TUESDAY, September 21, in order to meet the Excursion Train
from thence on WEDNESDAY, at 7.50 A.M.
Fares There and Back.
First Class.
15s.

Newnham, Lydney, or Chepstow..

Newport or Cardiff .. • . 17s.
Llant rissant, Bridgend, or Port Talbot .. 20s.

Heath or Swansea .. .. 225.
Resolven,Glyn-Seatb, Hirwain Aberdare,

on the Vale of Neath Railway ..

Closed Car,
I ls. 61.
123. 6d.
16s. 61.
17s. 61.

The Excursion Tickets are not transferable, and are only available
!or the Excursion Train. Tickets may be obtained previously at 27,
King-street, Cheapside ; 269, Strand; and at the Paddington
Station.

N.B. The times of stopping at the different stations, and other
particulars, will be given in handbills, which may be had at the
above-named places, or at any of the offices of the Company.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.
CHEAP EXCURSION to CHEPSTOW.
On SUNDAY, the 19th September, an Excursion Train will
leave Paddington at Half-past Seven o'clock, for Chepstow, cram;
at Stroud, Gloucester, and Cheltenham, and will return from
Chepstow the same evening at Half-past Six o'clock, calling at the
Same stations.

Fares There and Back.

Ist Class. Closed carriages.
To Stroud
To Gloucester or Cheltenham -10 s. .. Gs.
To Chepstow - - - - I Is. .. 75.

Tickets, which are only available for the Excursion Train,
may be obtained previously at 27, King-street, Cheapside, 269,
Strand, and at the Paddington Station.
Passengers having Luggage can only be conveyed at the ordinary
fares.

eIREAT WESTERN RAILWAY,
11.-A CIIEAP EXCURSION TO THE WEST OF ENGL AND.

On MONDAY, 20th September, an Excursion Train will leave
Paddington at 8.15 A.m. for Plymouth, calling at Weston-super-
Mare, Bridgewater, Taunton, Tiverton Road, Exeter, Starcross,
Dawlish, Teignmouth, Torquay,' Totnes, and Plymouth, and will
return from Plymouth at 8.15 T.m. on Saturday, 25th September,
calling at the same stations.
Fares there and back :
First Class. Closed Carriages.
Weston-super• Mare or Bridgewater .. 255. .. 13s.
Taunton or Tiverton Road 28s. .. 15s.
Exeter 30s. 16e.
.
Starcross, Dawlish, or Teignmouth .. 325. .. 17s.
Torquay or.Totness 335. 18s.
Plymouth .. 20s.
"

The Excursion Tickets are not transferable, and are only aval,able
for the Excursion Trains. Tickets may be obtained previously at
37, King-street, Cheapside ; 269, Strand ; and at the Paddington
Station.

N.B. The times of stopping at the different stations. and other
particulars, will be given in handbills, which may be had at the
above-named places, or at any of the offices of the Company.

IMPORTANT MEDICAL AND SURGICAL WORKS,
Just published, by U. BaiMere, 219, Regent-street, London.
No L
Bvo., in cloth, price 55., by post free, Is. 6d.,
ON TRUE & FALSE SPERMATORMICEA ;
with the View to the Correction of wide-spread Errors
n relation to the Treatment and Cure of Sufferers from Debility of the
Generative System, or Sexual Hypochondriasis.
Translated from *he German of Dr. PICKFORD.
"Dr. Pickford is known to English readers by his frequent practi-
cal contributions to German medical literature. This is the first
line, he informs us, that he has addressed himself to the non-medi-
cal reader. We trust this may not be the last, if he shall
detect any other equally flagrant evil which it may be in his
ower to correct."—London Medical Gazette, May 30, 1851.
—" The editor has conferred a great boon on the sufferers from this
distressing malady by translating this little book, and by laying bare
the scandalous practices of unqualified adventurers, who profess to
cure a disease of which they know nothing, with no other object
than to fill their own purses. The difference between true Sperma-
torrhcea and the various forms of disease which resemble it are
accurately described, and thus a safe guide is offered for the
treatment of the malady "—Medical Circular, May 5, 1852.
—" We have delayed so long upon the contents of the preliminary
chapter, that we have scarcely left ourselves space for any notice of
the subject specially treated of by Dr. Pickford ; but the moderate
price at which the brochure' is sold, places it within the reach of
every one interested in the matter."—Dublin Medical Press, April
13,1852.

COMMERCIAL TREATY BETWEEN
ENGLAND AND FRANCE.

It has, we understand, been rumoured at St. Cloud
during the past week, that M. De Persigny has settled,
with the British Cabinet, the basis of a treaty of reci-
procal Free-trade between England and France. It is
stated that the principle of the arrangement on which
the two Governments have agreed is, that all the com-
modities of each country shall be admitted into the other
on payment of a low duty—the highest impost levied by
either on the productions of its neighbour not to exceed
15 per cent. It is added that the rate of postage be-
tween the two countries is to be reduced to seven sous,
instead of sixteen, as at present. How far these
rumours may be regarded as authentic, we have no
means of judging, otherwise than as they derive more
or less of antecedent probability from the political
position or the expressed opinions of the respective
Governments. With reference to the alleged commer-
cial treaty between the two counties, it is obvious that
each Government has strong inducements for entering
into some such arrangement as that which is stated to
have been mutually agreed upon. On the one hand,
the President of the French Republic—especially if the
early proclamation of the Empire has, as is stated, been
finally decided upon—may naturally be solicitous to
strengthen his position against the Northern Powers, by
sealing an English alliance, cemented by the interests of
the commercial and industrious classes of this country.
On the other hand, it is no less obvious that a treaty of
commerce with France on the basis of reciprocal Free-
trade would be the most plausible answer which the
Government could °nor to the complaints of
their Protectionist
to
supporters, should they decide
e cettoomvn
very
commercial
yrocrial
policy. Mr.
consistently,
o accept
advo-
cated a
vo-
ceoitlhluesrivetodearebaatndoon P
n threoirt
m
Disraeli has repeatedly, if not
cated that form of commercial freedom which is implied
in Reciprocity; and should be be able to announce to
the Hoase of C0M030133 the conclusion of a liberal
Reciprocity treaty with France, he may possibly hope
to convince a portion of the Country Party that he has
given them the best available substitute for that Proton-
tilm which the verdict of the country has condemned.
So far, therefore, as the intentions of the Government
may be inferred from the position in which they are
placed by the result of the general election, and by their
party interests, the rumoured Free-trade treaty with
France—whether it be really determined.
m on or not—
may at all events be regarded as prima facie probable.
Morning Chronicle.

[ADVERTISEMENT.] - Holloway's Ointment and
Pills are first-rate Remedies for the Cure of Bad Legs.—Mrs.
Elisabeth Fields, of No. 11, Naylor-street, Liverpool, was
afflicted for many years with a dreadful bad leg, and which,
after trying innumerable remedies without experiencing the
slightest relief, was pronounced to be incurable. Notwith-
standing this, however, she determined on giving Holloway's
Ointment and Pills a trial. These she purchased of Mr.
Sheldon, chemist, 50, Vauxhall-road, Liverpool (who can
vouch for the accuracy of this eatement), and by persevering
in their use for a short time the wounds were completely
healed arid her leg perfectly cured, to the astonishment of her
neighbours who had witnessed its dreadful condition.—Sold
by all Druggists, and at Professor Holloway's Establishment,
244, Strand, London.

ACCIDENT IN THE FLEET DITCH.—On Saturday
a fatal accident occurred, about half-past three o'clock, in the
open common sewer of the Fleet Ditch, at the back of St.
Peter's Church, in Saffron-hill. Until very recently it was
not known that any portion of this abominable river of filth
was left uncovered, either in the City or through its course
as far as Kentish-town, and in the latter place, even, it has
been covered as the buildings progressed; bat lately the re-
moval of a mass of wretched hovels, inhabited by the poorest
of the poor, in order to form the line of new street from Far-
ringdon-street to Islington, showed that the archway of the
sewer terminated in the rear of St. Peter's Church, at which
point, the new sewer being considerably below the old ditch,
a perfect cataract was formed of the sewerage, occasioning a
most offensive and pestiferous exhalation. Until the houses
were pulled down, the authorities never troubled themselves
in the matter; but after the plague spot was brought before
the public gaze, a wooden fencing was put up. It was at the
spot above mentioned that the accident occurred. A little
boy, six years old, named Wm. Martin, whose parents reside
in the vicinity, was playing in the open space, when ho
climbed on the pailings, and, his danger being perceived by
a little girl about 10 years old, she held to his clothes, and
was also pulled over, and both fell into the stream. A num-
ber of persons who witnessed the accident at once scaled the
pailings, and succeeded in saving the girl, bat the little boy
was swept away by the flood, and carried towards the Thames.
Several men subsequently searched the sewers, but, unhap-
pily, without effect.
EAST INDIA TELEGRAPH.--The East India Com-
pany, stimulated by the necessity for quick communication,
as well for the purposes of good government in times of peace,
as for the command of an army at a distance in times of
war, have decided upon connecting the principal cities of all
the presidencies by means of the electric telegraph. We
understand it is intended that within two years from this
time the lines shall be complete in every direction, to the
furthest extent of the company's territories; and from that
time communication can be had between the seat of Govern-
ment and any remote district almost instantaneously. The
order for the wire (about 3,000 tons) has been placed in the
hands of M essrs. Morewood and Rogers, of London, to be
by them galvanised, so as to ensure the most perfect protec-
tion from oxidation. The wire, we understand, is unusually
strong, and has to be prepared with the utmost care, as it
will have to bear not only its own weight from post to post,
but also, in many districts, the weight of immense numbers
of monkeys, who will come from the woods to swing upon it,
also huge eagles to roost at night. The East India Company
have put the telegraph under the charge of Dr. W. B.
O'Shaughnessy, of their medical staff, he having already
constructed a line of several hundred miles ih India with the
moat complete auccets.—Mining Journ,al.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
SHREWSBURY AND CHESTER.
On Saturday an extraordinary meeting of the
shareholders in this company was held at Chester.
The meeting was convened by rcquisi,iont
signed
by 13 shareholders, to consider and decide upon the
propriety of removing the present directors 0:
the company and to elect new directors in their
place. The whole of the directors were present. Mr.
W. Wardell, the chairman of the board presided. Itn•
mediately on his right was Mr. Butt, the Qleen s
Counsel, and behind him was Mr. W. 0. Hunt, the
solicitor of Parliament-street.
The CHAIRMAN proceeded to open the business—
He said that the meeting had been called, as they
were aware, by a section of the shareholders of the
company, and not by the directors. They did, how-
ever, consider it to be their duty to attend the meet-
ing not only as shareholders looking after their own
interests, but after the interests also of the bonfi
shareholders in the company, for whom they were the
trustees ; and in order that their property might not
be jeopardised or injured by
any proceedings which
might take place. Under the circumstances in which
the company was placed the board had thought it ex-
pedient to request the attendance of Mr. Butt, QC.,
and under the advice of that gentleman he should
conduct the proceedings as chairman, in order that
they might be regular, lawful, and in conformity
of the company.—
(Hear, bear.) He hoped that every gentleman would
with the existing engagements
avoid the expression of approbation or disapprobation
ofany
l
of the sppresume, that
eakers. He
every person present had an honest opinion to give ;
mightand it was only by hearing fairly and fully that the
nad a whatright t o be said
presume,by
and
truth could be arrived at.

Mr. G. Momto said it devolved upon him to sub-
mit to the meeting a motion following up the requi-
sition which had been read.—After reading some
correspondence to show that the directors had refused
to meet to consult with some of the remonstrant
shareholders, he proceeded to observe that the unjust
steward and lax official were at all times subject to
dismissal by their superiors the instant that they failed
when they in the performance of their
ex-
ceededduties when them as well as when they failed to execute
them—above all, when they opposed themselves to the
interests of their constituents. It was for the meeting
to determine how the present directors had fulfilled
their trust. For years the unfortunate shareholders
had received no dividend, in spite of the large pro-
s their
pro-
mises of the directors.—(Bear, hear.) Por the last
four years every report had been full ofad
delightfulof them.
vista to come, but it had never reached_e
satis-
fied were plunged in difficulty, and h them
was ;
ati
lied that they did not yet know the end
Though the traffic had doubled, tripled, and qua-
drupled wi-bin the last few years, even the few pence of
dividend which they had before received they were
now deprived of, and they were deeper in debt than
they had ever been. He charged against the direc-
tors, first, that, in opposition to the cautions and
consre-
monstrances of a large section of the shareholders,
holding stock to the extent of hundreds of thousands
of pounds, they had placed individuals in the direc-
tion without the slightest consultation with the share-
holdersNext,iltls in Parliamentherehad ena largent
succession involving
legal ex-
penses, which, for a short line like theirs, appeared
to be very disgraceful. In the last half year, while
they were receiving no dividend,
theseand
expensesconstant
wishes of the the
e r
in supporting amounted to between 4,000/ and 5,000/.
Next
ha dbee n a
moatthe
wasteful
private
ends eict
andra extravagant a gwai os
ht expenditure
di-
rectors. Among the charges with which the pro-
prietors never should have been saddled were, up to
31st August, 1851 (the last account received), to Mr.
John Butt, Q.C., fees for attending meetings, 2131.
(Shame) ;—to Mr. G. B. Ross, a junior lawyer, 921. ;
for proxy stamps, 5461. Was that a righteous and pro-
per charge to enable the directors to oppress the share•
holders ? For transfer stamps to parties for creating
votes, 1211. During the last 18 months they had
paid to the directors 1,4031. in addition to their 6001.
a year. Of that sum Mr. R. Roy, a director, had
been paid 101/. for law expenses. lie knew not in
what court Mr. Roy practised, but he was clearly
disentitled under the 81st clause of the Act to con-
tinue to be a director. The whole of the sinking
fund had been swallowed up. There had been the
grossest negligence in the matter of outstanding debts,
and large sums were constantly written off as bad
debts. Tne whole available revenue of last half-year
was 20,1611., while the money owing them was
38,8851. There had been a determined adherence to
the delusive offers of the Great Western Company,
and a most iniquitous attempt to exclude the share-
holders from all judgment in the matter, notwith-
standing that since the offer of the North-Western
had been promulgated their shares had risen from 13/.
to 241.—(Hear, hear.) The last attempt of the
board had been to deprive the proprietors of all power
over their property—to confiscate it—and to tie their
hands irrevocably by a so-called " Traffic Arrange-
ment Bill," which had, however, been most properly
scouted by Parliament. After some further remarks
he concluded by moving—
" That the following directors of this company—vis.,
William Wardell, Robert Roy, Thomas Jeffrey Badger,
and Edward Francis French—be immediately removed
from their office of directors, and that they are accord-
ingly now hereby so removed; and that:the following per-
sons be and they are now hereby elected directors of this
company in the respective places of the said persons so
removed as aforesaid, viz., Robert Gardener, of Chase-
ley, Lancashire, in the place of William Wardell; Henry
Kennedy, of Upper Bedford-place,
London,
in the place
of Robert Roy; James Durham, of 107, Gloucester-
place, Portman-square, London, in the
place of Thomas
Jeffrey Badger; and Andrew Perstow,
of Vietoria-ter-
race, Nottingham, in the place of Edward Francis
French. And that the following
Williams, Richard Egerton, John Piloyle, and James
John
Harwell—provided they be now directors- of this com-
pany, be also immediately removed from their office of
directors, and that they are accordingly now hereby 50
removed; and that the following persons, provided they
are not now directors of this company, be and they are
now hereby elected directors thereof in the respective
places of the said four last-named
persons, namely,
j
George Moore, of 54, Alban__
street , Edinburgh,
in the place of Richard Ellerton ; 'William
Gordon Thompson, of 83, Gloucester-terrace,
Hyde
Henry Visors East, of 14, Canterbury-villas,
Park-gardens, London, in the place of John Boyle; and
vale, Paddington, in the place of Jaws 'Rowell."
Mr. H. KENNEDY seconded the motion. His only
cared
desire was to improve their property, and he
not whether the means of doing so came from the
North-Western or the Great Northern Company;
but he fully believed that there was something to pre-
vent the shareholders entering upon any agreement__
Maida-
they could get 41 per cent. from the North-
which might tend to advance their own interests. if
he thought they ought to take it, but they never
would until the present directors were superseded.
Mr. B. ROY then proceeded to answer seriatim the
charges which heel been brought against the directors.
He commenced by characterizing the motion as
._
irre-
gular, thoroughly illegal, and terous ; for if
preos
the gentlemen who assumed to be directors, and
who had al read ready in anticipation taken their seats
that day ? He should be sorry, howe
at the end of the board, had, been legally elected,
, North-Western,
where was the necessity for re-electing them again
to
eminent adviser of those gentlemen the injustice
to
suppose that he attached the slightest importaenecleose
proceedings which had taken place at tb
• ble that the
of the last meeting It ouestiona
directors -. was
tin - the vacancies
had a perfect right to fill up
at the board. Mr. Monro had told them that there
was no dividend. That was unfortunately no new
Chester Company ver to do the
information, but it was entirely attributable to the
North-Western Company, who had alone kept down
d
the rates of traffic in order that the Shrewsbury anh
offer of 4i per cent. the moment it was made. t
in Parliamen ,
was true they had had many Bills
but except
n two recent cases when they
had them-
selves negatived them, he should be glad to know
Their traffic had
when they had been unsuccessful.
might the more readily gulp the
been blocked up towards Birkenhead. They applied
and got running powers over that line, and now they
enjoyed the advantages of a station of their own at
Birkenhead, and complete running
powers to it.—
(Hear, hear.) Now, as to the extravagant expendi-
ture, the sum paid to their valued friend Mr. Butt
required no comment fromi
him, althought must
have required considerable nerve to have alluded
to it, The next item was 5461. for proxy
stamps, but they were sent to all sides,
and he considered that there was no mere
legitimate or necessary
expense than that consequent
upon putting into the halide of every shareholder
a proxy. Then there were
payments to directors.
On this head he would only speak for himself, and he
found that during last year he had been 256 days in
days London in Eondiftur handesgolebusGinieasssgoofw, and 36 days fromthe company, three
home in the country—total 295 days. All that he
had received had been his share of the directors'
allowance, and expenses out of pocket. The out-
standing debts, he admitted, were too large, but some
of these were under arbitration, and others were being
but during au existence of seven years all that had
received daily.-1,0001, had come in that morning ;
been put down as bad debts was 3411, and that he
-s not very
thought w. much.—(Hear, hear.) The
really substantial and important question, however,m
to consider w
for theta this :—The two greatest
..

co
anies
tbrhcy,foustesheedterirns
answer
North-Western
ssi tne rtti ahh the
over and over again the directors had appealed to the
Ctworld were contending for their line;
cent, for the line, ile
proposition to his board,
p rhouvti d
esdo
ocibeadylm ee
small ; but they woaniC;
it
for a guarantee, however
wouldtmh guaranteee
b rr
would nothing—thean.c,cep,l.een
were they that thoemythPesYauid They d'arrangedow down
unanimously i'e
North-Western Comp\a‘licey,s,teanodthey, then inl-
and so anxious
They were notr d" withto g thatpiver
Company for a
them a fixed portion of' traffic. Th it was rejected
a guarantee, but they offered an interchangeilP°sPydolwinne,thaendbrtooadpgayuagtheeitro
toLlli.verTpohoal
doubtedly went to the Great
traffic agreement.
ot on
theirla
to run
agreement which had been entered • into with the
Great Western.—(Cries of " No, no •
f
no agreement.")
That
traffict,ao
was the
giveth e;
Yes, and it had the seal of the company to it, in
o
sequenc of the vote of the largest meeting of their
shareholders which had ever assembled.—(lleat.
)
After this it was that the North-Western Company
came forward with the bait of 41 per cent. He con-
tended, however, that they were bound both in law
and honour to the Great Western Company, and that
regarded simply as an arrangement, it was preferable
to the offer now made by the North-Western. Mr.
Roy then retaliated at some length upon Mr. Monro,
and asserted that that gentleman had offered to attend
at the last meeting but one, and support the directors,
if he were paid his expenses. Almost all the leading
me in the present movement had at one time strongly
advocated an arrangement with the Great Western,
and pre-eminent among those was Mr. Forbes. He
alluded to the pacific course which had been recom-
mended by Mr. Glyn with reference to the-Shrews-
bury lines, and contrasted it with the language em-
ployed in the circulars which had been issued, and
attributed it all, nevertheless, to the North-Western
Company.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. TAUNTON apprehended that the main question
which the meeting had to decide was, whether the
directors were guilty or not of the grave charges
which had been brought against them, and whether
or not they were entitled to the confidence of the
proprietors. The meeting had listened with patience
and attention to the charges brought by Mr. .Monro,
and to the answer of Mr. Roy, and he was convinced
that their verdict must be one of entire acquittal.—
(Hear, hear, and disapprobation.) He contended that
the directors had nut bad fair play shown them,
and that the circulars which had been i=sued against
them showed a dishonourable and un-English spirit.
If they wished to obtain a dividend on their pro-
perty, let them not fetter nor unseat their present
directors.
Mr. WHALLEY. (High Sheriff of Carnarvonshire)
said the simple question before them was whether
they should have four new directors upon the board—
four gentlemen who were not committed to any par-
ticular line of policy—(Hear, hear, and Oh, oh !)
some of them learned in the law, astute men of
wealth, who, if any flaw existed in the agreement
with the Great Western Company, would discover it,
and, if it were deemed desirable for the interests of
the company to get out of it, would find some means
of doing so. He denounced the system which the
board had pursued towards those interested in mineral
traffic as most partial and unfair, and stated that he
had presented a petition to the Board of Trade, signed
by upwards of 100 of the trading interest of the dis-
trict, complaining that the mineral traffic was wholly
undeveloped, and that no accommodotion was shown
to any but those connected with the directors' clique.
He contended that to reject the offer of the London
and North-Western would be a suicidal policy, and
that it would further postpone all hope of a dividend
to an indefinite period.
Mr. EAST (one of the gentlemen elected a director
by the shareholders), after analyzing in lengthened
detail some evidence given by Mr. Roy before the
House of Lords' Committee on the subject of alleged
" faggot votes," declared that he had no confidence in
the present directors as a board, while he had every
possible objection to their policy. He objected to
them, among other things, because they were par-
tisans, and because they had set the shareholders at
defiance.

Mr. LOWE denied the charge of partiality to certain
mineral traders brought forward by Mr. Whalley,
and stated that, to his own knowledge, 70,0001. had
lately been invested in mineral works, not one far-
thi❑g of which would have been so employed had it
not been for the facilities afforded by their railway.
They must remember that it was not a mere question
between 4i per cent. and nothing, for they had the
guarantee from the Great Western of 3i per cent.,
and he believed that in a few years they might expect
10, or even 15 per cent.—(Laughter.)
Mr. A. K. BARER, who said he had been intrusted
with proxies representing a large amount of stock,
doubted very much whether they should ever get 43}
per cent. from the North-Western, because first, he
doubted the ability of the London and North-Western
to comply with the terms they had proposed;
secondly, because he doubted the power of this com-
pany to accept those terms ; and thirdly, because he
much questioned whether Parliament would sanc-
tion it.

A very irregular and confused discussion ensued,
in which Messrs. Roy, Whalley, Beattie, and others
took part ; and after a few words from Mr. Robert-
son, the engineer, who advocated the introduction of
the broad gauge into the district; and from Mr. H.
Brown, of Chester ;
Mr. Murt() replied upon the whole case, and in-
dignantly repelled the insinuation that his ser-
vices were to be purchased. The course which he
had taken had been prompted by a due regard to the
large interest which he had in the concern. He
then called upon the chairman to put the resolution
which had moved.
The CHAIRMAN.—I am advised that the resolution
is altogether so informal that I cannot put so idle and
nugatory thing to the meeting.—(Cheers, hisses, and
great confusion.)
Mr. MONRO complained that the chairman had,
under these circumstances, allowed the proceedings
to go so far, and added, " Since you refuse to put
the question I shall do so myself."—Great inter-
ruption, cries of " Order," " Chair," " That's right,"
and the like.) He then at once put the resolution,
and, having called for a show of hands, declared it
to be carried by a large majority. Subsequently he
demanded a poll, and requested the chairman to de-
liver the usual books of the company, in which the
result might be recorded.
The CHAIRMAN refused to recognize the proceed-
ing, and declined to hand over the books.
Mr. MoNRo and his coadjutors then commenced to
record such votes as were tendered upon loose sheets
of paper, and this continued for about half an hour

amidst great confusion, the polling being confined to
the adherents of the North-Western party, the direc-
tors' friends refusing to poll.
While this was proceeding, Mr. TAUNTON inquired
of the chairman whether the directors had a majority
of the proxies ?
The CHAIRMAN said he believed they had—a large
majority.

Mr. COLLIS then moved the adjournment of the
meeting till the 20th inst., when the consideration of
the subject for which they had been convened should
he continued.

Mr. D. ROBINSON seconded the motion, which was
put by the chairman, and declared upon a show of
hands to be lost. A poll was then demanded upon
this motion. Scrutineers were duly appointed ;
the polling was fixed to take place on Monday (this
day), and the proceedings, which occupied nearly
seven hours, terminated.
The entrance to the meeting was, during the whole
sitting, guarded by the police.

[PRICE 51).

asPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.
TIMES.—It is with some surprise that we observe
in an able contemporary a depreciation of the Peru-
vian title to the Lebos lalaeds, and en approval of the
American resolution to approorite, without payment
or license, the deposits they contain. We did not
really imagine that this claim of common right to the
possession of an indapendent State would have found
any deliberate advocates on the British side of the
Atlantic. To recapitulate the points of the case must
be almost superfluous, hut is at any rate easy. These
rocky and barren islets lie within a score or two miles
off the Peruvian shore, and are se situate, that both
the seaward and the landward groups are visible to
any vessel sailing between them—the ordinary course
of coasting ships in those parts. They are alleged by
the Peruvian Government to have been considered
from time immemorial as pertaining to its presper
territory, first under the Spanish authority, and af-
terwards under its Republican successors. In proof
of this assertion it is shown that many ancient and
well-executed maps describe them specially by their
names, which are Spanish, as comprised within the
Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru; and that no maps de-
scribe them as pertaining totherwise. One map of
Peru, distinctly containing the "Isolas de los Lobos,"
is to all appearance two centuries old. Alcedo, the
geographer, in his work printed in 1787, enumerates
among the " nations and principal places of Peru,"
twelve islands, o
" Lobos." The name orgroups of islands, among which is
as many of our correspondents
have recently remarked,loccurs repeatedly in voyages
of the last centur
of such a fact cyOuladndip wherever the intimation
that the territory helot, expected, it is implied
e to Peru. The Peruvian
Government is in actualB possession of the islands, -
and claims to have been in such possession always,
whereas no other Government has ever put forth
we
like pretensions. We confess do not see how
any state title to unoccupied
and, cupihi it is
d territory could by pos-
sibility be stronger,held that with-
out occupation no title can subsist, we shall then be
maintaining that territory so valuable
a
the world quarrelling for it, has notvyals to set half
value enough to
i
constitute it the private property of an
The old notion that desert land, or land whichpe inttwall.
worth nobody's while to occupy, should be deemed
al
the disposal of all comers, was highly natural in times
when this very desolation carried with it the presump-
tion of worthlessness. It was reserved for modern
ages to discover a treasure which not only renders the
non-habitability of a territory compatible with ex-
ceeding value, but actually makes the former condi-
tion indispensable to the latter. It is precisely
because the Lobos Islands have never been
occupied by man that they were frequented by
birds, and that their extraordinary riches have been
acquired. If no State can possess territory without
occupying it, then no State can possess guano terri-
tory at all, for the former possession would infallibly
destroy the latter. Fifty or a hundred years ago the
Lobos Islands were of no known value to attract no-
tice or remark. It is preposterous to expect that the
title of Peru to such property should be demonstrable
by any public recognitions of the fact, but all the
evidence that could be anticipated is fairly enough
forthcoming. It is plain that the islands must neces-
sarily have been discovered by the settlers of the
main, and presumable with something very like cer-
tainty that such settlers as Spaniards in the 16th
century would take them into their dominions. Ac-
ccrdingly we find them designated by characteristic
Spanish names, included in the Spanish maps of this
Spanish province, and enumerated by careful geo-
graphers among Spanish possessions. What more
could be looked for we are at a loss to see. Against
this it is argued that they lie at a greater distance
from the main land than that which would make
them appendages of such land by the maxims of
public law. But this is no more than saying
that the Peruvian title lacks that particular
quality which would remove it from discussion
altogether. Islands within three miles of a
coast pertain to that coast ipso facto, but there is
no reason why islands beyond this distance should not
pertain to it likewise. Of the Isles of Wight, Scilly,
Man, Lundy, and a hundred others belonging to Great
Britain, how many are within three miles of the
English shore? Discovery and occupation constitute
a title as good, though not always as palpable, as that
of proximity. That the Spanish discoveries of 1574
preceded the notable exploit of " Benjamin Morel',
lun.," in 18e:3, we need not be at pains to remark,
while, as to occupation, there was as much as the case
admitted. The Peruvian Government asserts that its
Indian subjects have always maintained lodgments of
huts upon the islands, but that the practice has been
discouraged, for the very reason specified above that
it was destructive of their staple produce. If no
people are to possess lands which they do not inhabit,
what becomes of the title to half the American conti-
nent ? It is not correct to say that the Peruvians have
only claimed the sovereignty in question from the
time that guano deposits acquired their value. They
asserted it long before after the only fashion that the
case then seemed to invite, for nobody will assert that
the Spanish title has not descended to the present
State of Peru. They took little heed of their outlying
property as long as it appeared unproductive. As
soon as its worth became known they forthwith set a
guard upon it, and their right of jurisdiction in this
respect was never denied. As to any privilege ac-
quired by usage, they are surely beside the real
point at issue. If the Americans have fished or
" sealed" off the coast at discretion for 60 years, they
may perhaps expect to enjoy that liberty still, just as
the British commander in the Pacific 18 years ago
thought that the English bad acquired a right of
fishery. But can this convey a title to the guano
deposits? Our contemporary remarks, apparently
with approbation, that Americans " can seen no dif-
ference, as to right, between catching seals and
gathering birds' dung on the Lobos rocks. is to
be hoped, under the circumstances, that they will see
some difference' between catching codfish and gather-
ing fruit, otherwise the harvests of our North American
colonists are likely to be in danger. A right of way
through a field does not carry with it the privilege of
cutting the bay. The true merits of the case were far
more faithfully set forth in an article in the New
York Journal of C.mmerce, which we transcribed on
Friday last. In this honest confession it was plainly
urged, that as guano was necessary for the production
of wheat and wheat for the sustenance of man, it was
not allowable in any nation to put its own price on
such a treasure—an argument which we trust will be
recollected by the Americans themselves in their sales
of "bread-stuffs," for, if that which makes corn
ought to be common property, a fortiori ought corn
itself to be so; and it will be unendurable that the
valley of the Mississippi should " lock up," or part
with only on its own terms, a commodity which half
Europe is craving for. By way, however, of reduc-
ing the question to a point, and, as was evidently
intended, to an absurdity, the American jour-
nalist concisely asked whether " the twenty or twenty
live vessels which had left the United States to bring
guano from the Lobos Islands could be expected
to come hack empty ?" We remember ah similar
inquiry being once made by a dog-stealer,
whether, when he had been up " night o asked
'af7er night"
watching for a certain spaniel, he
was to come off
without any reward at all ? Accordingly the Journal
of Commerce recommended that Peru u should
indem-
nify these adventurous vessels bybuying thie
charters," and then come to
an understanding,
having reference to the degree of "title or colour of
title which each nation," i. e., Peru and America,
" may, be able to present." What the American
title is most English readers have by this timeeeon
learnt. The islands are incontestably either as?
property or Peruvian property. Our own_less than
tnent, by the mouth of Lord Palmerston
no
nnaitted the
cionivern
that of Lord Malmesbury, has honestly. a,
prima facie claims of Peru, t
anddiiction to which it
if the latter State
has not always exercised the jurisdiction
pretended, it must be remembered that the
just as long.
mon" claims were kept
Neither one party nor the in abeyance
tboeshteirrgeadiotehde.msßelovtehs
in the matter till sornetltutehge
same time; but, whereas
took active steps aii,pouru
is
as
plain as it could be
the previous previous title of e
pected to be, there is nothing whatever to warrant
the indiscriminate license of rovers at large.
HERALD.--The public conduct of a man like
Mr. Webster is a fair subject of criticism ; but the cri-
ticism itself should_ be fair. An inquiry into motives
a mere loss of time. It removes discus-
is at best
s-ion from matters which admit of demonstration to
matters which can never be proved, and which, if
they could, would concern us but little. We do not
participate in the solicitude of a morning contempo-
rary to fix on Mr. Webster an electioneering motive
in the position he assumed the other day in relation
to our fisheries, or in the language he now holds re-
specting the Lobos Islands. Indeed, as regards the
latter affair, the probabilities do not countenance the
imputation, inasmuch as Mr. Webster's first statement
was confidential, was intended to remain private,
and, therefore, could not sell have had any public
embroilment or agitation for its end. But, we re-
peat it, this sort of criticism is irrelevant, unprofit-
able, and unworthy. It is not a little remarkable that
the very same English journal which recently almost
took part with Mr. Webster fur the purpose of
injuring and misrepresenting our own Government,
is the journal which now labours to stigmatise him
with these extra litem imputations. His conduct is