The Sun.
London, England, 1852-02-13 00:00:00

The 333 half-yearly
GREAT WESTERN.
gereral meeting of the proprietors
of this company was held yesterday at the Paddington
statien, Mr. Charles Russell in the chair.
After the usual preliminaries,
The Cirernerete epeko us follseve:—Grntlemen, the
greater facility of obtaining money, which for acme tiato
pin: has existed, has f=ail -ter:de:icy to give e renewed
impulse to railway specuiation, and I was at one time
apprehensive that we were about to eriesers ss recces, nee
of the yea 1845 and 1816. But, fortunately, the gone
sense of the country and the rseecre expsrieeee of no
distant period have prevailed. Many of the most im-
provident and hasty speculations which were suggested
have failed from the utter discouregement they re-
ceived; and I hope we zany now trust to the Legislature
to wit severely those schemes which still remain.
(Hear, hear.) Under the circurnstalees, tee have felt it
oar duty to observe those principles which we have for
some time prescribed to ourselves. When overtures
were made to us to promote lines towards the West of
England, which were thought to bo adva,ntageons to
ourselves at the expense of our neighbours, we at
once declined them; and we have on all oc-
casions resolutely set our faces against all ex-
tensions and branches which were not required
by an imperative public necessity, or which
were not calculated to afford a remunerative return for
the capital to be invested in them.—(Cheers.) In pur-
suing that course, I believe wo consulted no less the
general interests of the country than the partieular in-
terests of railway companies. The returns of traffic for
the kingdom for some time show that those extensions,
and branches, and new lines which have been last made
scarcely afford the means of working them.—(Bear,
hoar.) To employ capital in such enterprises is.not only
injurious to those who may be misled into investing
iheir money in them, but it is a waste of the national re-
ources. It may be extremely convenient to towns end
villages to have railways passing close to them, but this
is a consideration totally different from the commercial
question, which simply is, " Will the lines pay ?" and
that is the only question with which railway companies
have to deal.—(Hear, hear.) If railways are to be made
for these reasons, the onus of the cost should fall, not
on the shoulders of existing railway companies, but of
those who aro to derive benefit and convenience from
their construction.—(Cheers.) Wo have endeavoured to
bear these principles in mind in the arrangements we
have made with the new railway companies, which
arrangements are to be submitted in the report for
your approval. The influential inhabitants of the
county of Hereford are desirous to have a line of
railway from Gloucester, by Ross, to Hereford, and
they have fairly met the responsibilities of that de-
sire—they have subscribed largely for the purpose.
Such assistance as it is in our power to afford them
we have cordially rendered, and will continue to render
to them. We have transferred to them, at reduced
rater, land which we had purchased for our own line. We
have consented to facilitate their obtaining capital.
by permitting their debentures to have the first
lien on the receipts ; and we undertake to
work their lino on very moderato terms ; and we
have negotiated with the Forest of Dean Railway Com-
pany that they shall take a considerable amount of
capital in the concern. Such assistance it was reason-
able in them to ask, and such assistance we were
enabled to afford without any verygreat sacrifice to you.
In the same way the counties through which our Wilts,
Somerset, and Weymouth Railway passed were desirous
that that line should be completed. They also have
taken the burden in a great measure on themselves, and
have formed a company for the purpose of completing
that line. The assistance that we have rendered to
them is of a different and of a more extensive character.
We have consented to surrender to their use the un-
finished works which we have ourselves made in that
direction, on the condition that they shall return to us
those works completely finished at the expiration of
a stipulated term, and for a moderate, specified
amount. This arrangement suited the purposes of
both parties. It suited us to have our line completed
without incurring any additional expenditure, and
without any extension of our capital ; it suited them to
get a line on such moderate terms that they are fully
assured that they will derive a fair rata of interest for
the money they employ upon it, and that they will be
able also to form a sinking fund which shall replace
their capital at the end of the term, when they must de-
liver the line up to us. In both these arrangements you
will observe that we have kept in view the principle to
which I have adverted—to require that local districts
shall themselves provide local means for local purposes,
and that we shall only render such assistance to them as
will prove no burden either on your resources or your
capital. The Hereford, Ross, and Gloucester Company
have, I observe from the newspapers, already com-
menced their operations, and I hope the Frome, Yeovil,
And Weymouth Company will suortly be in a condition
to do the same. With respect to our northern lines,
.hey stand on a very different footing. These lines
ere the result of a contest in which we succeeded in pre-
venting our own district from being intersected from
north to south and from east to west by narrow eon()
lines. They were undertaken for purposes of defence.'l
Large sums of money had been expended on them. It
sees impossible to recede from them, the enly
course that remained to us was that which
wae recommended by your committee of on-
sultation--tt recommendation in which we most
cordially concurred—that we should finish those lines
with the utmost possible expedition. When we last met we
had just failed in two earnest endeavours that we had
made to come to an amicable arrangement with the
London and North-Western Ccmpany, and in cons?.
(pence of that failure we had entered into an alliance
with the Shrewsbury companies. We have since com-
pleted that arrangement by entering into an agreement
with the Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Com-
pany. I regret that that agreement should have assumed
the form of a guarantee, and, for myself, I should rather
have preferred that it had been a mere traffic arrange-
ment.—(Hear, hear.) But the gross receipts of that
line already nearly equal the annual amount that is
parte teed to it by the three companies. The question
therefore is little more than one of working expenses,
sad there can be no doubt that, when it shall be com-
pleted and in operation together with the other com-
panies, its income will be fully sufficient to meet this
additional expense.
A SHAREHOLDER—Never.
The CHAIRMAN—However, the ease was surrounded
by difficulties, and I believe that the arrangement we
have made was the only safe and practicable arrange-
ment that we could make. Bills for the purpose of
giving effect to these arrangements have been sent by
the examiner to the Standing Orders Committee, but
Wiz on extremely unimportant and technical points, and
we have uo doubt that they will be easily set right by
that Committee. I am told that we are to expect
formidable opposition to these Bills, but I con-
fess I um at a loss to understand on what
Public grounds they are to be resisted. We do not
ask for sanction to any new line; all wo ask
is, the sanction of the Legislature to make arrangements
between companies having continuous lines already sanc-
tioned, and which have a common interest. The only
question that can, as it seems to me, be raised is, shall
these lines be worked in a manner which shall bo advan-
tageous to the companies to whom they belong, and con-
venient to the public for whose use they were made, or
shall they be obstructed and intersected for the benefit
of a rival company? This seems to me to me to be the
only question, divested of all ingenious sophistries, which
can possibly be raised; and when I hear of a renewal of
the battle of the gauges, and of the long and protracted
contests for which large sums have been hoarded, I own
lam surprised. I may have an overweening confidence
in the strength of our own case; but I must say that it
seems to me that the only question that can be raised is
one that will admit of but one, and that a very early
and easy, solution, and that a ommittee of either House
of Parliament, with the common sense and practical
manner in which they treat such questions, will dispose
of this matter in a very few days. lam far from deny-
ing that it is natural that the London and North-Western
Company should regard with feelings of uneasiness
and dissatisfaction our approach towards the north.
But they should not altogether forget that these re-
sults are the consequence of that policy which thei
themselves thought fit to pursue towards us. t
was not to injure them ; it was to defend our-
selves against aggression from the north and from
bestthe
south, that we—how reluctantly, those about me
know—wore compelled to push forward our advanced
posts to Birmingham and Wolverhampton, and to make_
alliances with northern companies.—(Hear, h e an) I_
will not affirm ono word which I am not capablestage
proving by written evidence.—(Hear.) At everyb mostt
of our progress we have been, not only willing,
theil Lou'desirous to make amicable arrangements with
could secure to
Lon-
don and North-Western Compan
ourselves that position which we hadif wa:tuslelr,othtaainh.de:
And, gentlemen, we feel, and we have lboeng felt, bsln
opening of these northern lines would be s
impor-
tant era in the progress of your undertaking,tria, and that the
and there-
years 1852 and 1853 would be years of
in
that direction
fore of necessary caution. Our lines
e time as far as
have been opened and worked for
which has been
Banbury, and the interest on the_ catappeital
int, but to Fenny
expended on them, not only to that
C ,mpton—a distance, I believe, of about thirteen miles
further—is already charged against our current receipts.
In the course of the next
twelveor fifteen inernlis an
Birmingham
additional distance of 42
willcompleted and opened, and the
to
be added to your ann'ete through to
Wolverhampton, will be
the interest upon ittimeaward
Sou
mustat the
not forget
E.e Luce aura
l
current expenses. You have
e e
u
co. tly lines, but at the same
you a continuous
that these 42 miles will afford through
line from London hy.flra'irghhoamarenr mustdWaivoc'rechuarmaPfttbuer;
to the, north. Some interval, we
these lines before
ruore the r ffi
the opening of
1) fully developed. The
b e
upon them canbaffle
traneterred
cannot ho readily
will new traffic
of a country
from one channel tlot is to m et
spring up in a datylirectors the
exigencies of this
period that the unanimously recommend you
to reserve the large balance of 100,0001. We do not
want it for the purpose of warfare or for Parliamentary
contests
which, if we can possibly help it, shall never
arise. contests,
want it to sustain the value of your pro-
perty, and teemaintain our credit through that interval of
transition to which I have adverted, and wo pledge our-
selYell that sot 94°EhiUiug Of it Shali be wautolY or

wastefully expended. At the end of that period—a brief
period, I hope—l trust there will be a large portion of
that money at your disposal to distribute among you.
Vtre shall teen have surmounted all our eifficultier, and
froM that time I anticipate we may confidently look for-
ward to a steady and progressive improvement, which
Ebel' ace no further interruption.— (Hear.) In the few
obtervations I hove eddresecd to you I hare cent:reed
myself to the consideration of our relations with other
companies., end of the prieciplee on which we desire te
regutate them. Wo trust you approve those principles.
Ie conducting such affrirs as these, of which we have
the rnanagemenr, it is iedispensab!e to proceed with
steadiness end firmness; hut the principles which have
hitherto governed we and which, if the control centi-
rates with us, shall govern us, are those of forbearance,
moderation, and peace.—(Cheers) As to your internal
ff,ire, all necessary information is given so fully in the
report that I will not (Italia you longer by going over
that
ground. I will only congratulate you on its satie-
factory chereeter as regards both the past and the fu-
ture, and remark that it is the best report yen have had
for a long Brno
presented to you.—(Ceeers.) J have,
it,
'l't -sitzicuttegyTTßcerivteti
ypnourreaspdpitohveal.
report,therefore, great pleasure in begging the secretary to read
---(Ciheoefraw.)hich the
main points were as follow:
" The remarkable increase of passenger traffic over
Great Western lines during the Exhibition
which appears, in proportion to the ordinary
receipts, to
hare exceeded that of almost every other
railway; a hey enabled the directors to present accounts for the
exhibiting an unusual profit from the revenue of the
company. The only additions to the railways worked
have been 4i- miles of single line between Westbury and
Warminster, which branch was opened on the 9th. Sept,
last; and 7A miles (the Gloucester and Dean Forest
Railway) opened on the 19th Sept. between Gloucester-
and Grange Court, at which point it unites with the
South Wales Railway. The excess of passengers during
the half-year, upon a comparison with the same period
of the year 1850, shows the following result:—More
passengers conveyed, 447,549 ; increased receipt,
123,4271. Of that number 266,645 persons were con-
veyed in excursion trains, yielding an excess of 43,3291.
over the excursion traffic during the corresponding half-
year of 1850. There has been an increase of 24,073 tons
of merchandise conveyed, which, with some minor sources
of income, have produced an additional receipt of
8,519/. Of this 108,246/. may be treated as the gross
receipts derived from travellers visiting the Great
Exhibition and agricultural meeting at Windsor.
The total additional charge for all the earnings of the
half-year is only 20,846/. The result of the half-year,
after bringing to account the previous balance, and pro-
viding for every prior claim, enables the directors to
suggest on this occasion an increased dividend, which
they recommended to be 2i per cent. for the half-year,
payable at the usual time. This reserves a balance to be
carried over, which the directors consider sufficient,
after paying mortgage interest, and all guaranteed divi-
dends on preferential stock, &c., to secure a dividend
on the ordinary rateable stock of the company of at least
4 per cant, per annum, from the time when the purchase
of the Birmingham and Oxford, and Birmingham, Wol-
verhampton and Dudley Railways shall have been com-
pleted, and the capital be charged against revenue, until
both those lines shall have been entirely constructed,
and their proper traffic acquired. In order to complete
at the new Paddington station the departure lines, roof,
and platforms for passengers, with booking offices, &c.,
and a new merchandizo shed, as well as to proceed with
the erection of general offices for the business of the
company, warehouses for merchandize, stores for grain,
and goods offices, together with two convenient depots,
the one for landing cattle and the other for un-
loading coals, iron, and other heavy goods at the
'London terminus, it is requisite to apply for a further
vote of 65,0001. at this meeting, besides 10,0001. to
pay for land, which must be purchased as a site for
some of those purposes, and for a new engine-house,
with buildings, sidings, &c., for the use of the locomo-
tive department at Paddington. Your directors have
been for some time in negotiation with gentlemen who
have local interests to promote in Weymouth, or
between Weymouth and Frome, for the prosecution of
the unfinished works of the Wilts and Somerset Rail-
way within that district, being a distance of about fifty-
three miles; and they are happy to report that an agree-
ment has been entered into, by which they undertake to
find the capital necessary to complete the works and sta-
tions of the railway, to be worked on the broad gauge,
and in connexion with Great Western trains. This
company are to grant to the promoters a lease of the
property for a period of twenty-five years, with the be-
neficial use of the works and land, at a merely nominal
rent, and are to provide locomotive plant without pront,
for working the line during the lease; at the expiration
of which this company will be entited to redeem the
whole in goeitcoedition es a double line of railway,
with stations and appurtenances, upon paying 100,0004
to the promoters. A Eill is before Parliament for au-
thorising. and confirming the said agreement, es well as
for giving effect to the purchase of the Kennet and
Avou Canal, urd for improving the junction with the
Oxford Railway at Didcot, by making a short
avoiding lino there, essential to the convenience and
grea'er safety, as well as expedition, of the trains'
which will have to run throughout towards the
north. A separate Bill has been introduced to secure
the complrtion of the short lino between the Birming-
ham nod Wolverhampton Railway at Priestfield and the
to en of Wolverhampton, which originally formtd a
portion of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton
Railway. Since the last half-yearly meeting was held
in Bristol, the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton
Company Passed a resolution adopting the recent
agree:at nt between the two companies—but with a stipu-
lation—the effect of which would have been to bind this
company to all their liabilities, as well as to complete
the railway; and subsequently to pay to the Oxford,
Worcester, and Wolverhampton shareholders, 30/. as
principal, or 303. per annum as interest, for every ori-
ginal share, then worth in the market about' 15/. Your
directors did not think themselves justified in acceding
to a condition so entirely at variance with the principles
upon which they had undertaken to negotiate
for the lease of that railway. The agreement under
the common seal of that company still remains
in abeyance—no resolution of proprietors having
been proposed to reject it—while the directors who made
the agreement have considered themselves at liberty,
without even the sarction,of a general meeting of share-
holders, an.d in manifest defiance of their engagements,
to employ the name and funds and credit of tho com•
pany to promote a third line of railway between London
and Oxford, even before they have obtained sufficient
capital to complete their original undertaking. Your
directors deem it their paramount duty to take every
means for rendering the individuals who have been par-
ties to such misapplication of the property liable for the
expenditure, as well as to frustrate the objects of any
application to Parliament to sanction such a scheme. An
agreement has been concluded with the Hereford, Ross,
and Gloucester Railway Company, by which certain
lands previously purchased by this company have been
disposed of by them, in order that they may proceed at
One with the works upon their line to Hereford, which
is to be constructed on the broad gauge, and when COlL-
p!eted this company have engaged to work it for their
account. Bills to confirm and carry out the amalgamation
of the two Shrewsbury companies with this company,
and also to authorise a lease or contingent amalgamation
of theßirkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Railwayrlia with
m n.
t
the three associated companies, are also beforeP
The necessity of an early completion of the
docks at
becomes daily
Plymouth is obvious, and the measure
more important in consequence of the
the Government
several new
con-
tracts for postal steamers into which
have entered, or of which notice has been given, and the
•
arrival
final adoption of that port for departure and
must depend upon the dock accommodation being oh-
' -
on
tained. Your directors recommend at a resolutt
should be passed at this meeting, to enable them to aet
range, concurrently with other companies or persons, to
afford further assistance to an amount not exceeding
13,000/., either by advance upon debentures, or by pre-
ferential stock of the dock company, or upon both. cecu-
ritie:."
The CHAIRMAN proposed the adoption of the report.
Mr. OLIVEIRA thought that in it the directors had
treated the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton
with too much severity and harshness. He hoped still
to see an arrangement made by which expense would
he
saved to both companies, of
one of which (the Oxford,
Worcester, and Wolverhampton) he •
Was a director.
Mr. JESSEL also wished to promote the I • nterests of
both lines; and, with that object,
see them entering into
some amicable arrangement.
Mr. DE WINTON said there a
feeling in this directory.—(« gear,
to bo a ous
'
ear, hear," and 'No,
no.") Mr- Glyn had told
the London and North-
Western proprietors to keep
arming themselves for the coming
a eeservo fund, by way of
Western. 14
sae (Mr. De Wintodciocintet withO
the Great
hat concilia-
tion would be the rule with the directorps of the Great
Western Company, whose northern policy he thought
had been erroneous, and a complete failure. In conclu-
sion, he begged to ask whether what had been stated in
the newspapers, that en amicable arrangement had been
come to by the
companies was true, and whether it
would put an end to the contest?
The CHAIRMAN was extremely sorry to say that no
arrangement had been come to with the London and
North-We tern and instunced the promotion of the
Tring line towards Oxford by the old London and Bir-
mingharn—t he promotion of the Birmingham and Ottfot (1
Icy the Grand Jaectior, now a portion of the London and
other cr.-ampler, as cases in which
North-Western,—and
the aggretsion had clearly not been upon the Great
Western, lad asked whiaLer they
were to Nand with their
hands behind
hilst repeated encroachments
their backs vi
were med.'s upon their traffic? It had been impossible
fur them to do otherwise than they hod done. `they
would have been guilty of the greatest dist.; gatd to the
ir at last th •
interests
of the shareholders, • they had not
tat,en the coerce which they bad taken, if they had not
advanced upon the enemy, instead of letting hint come
among ther.--(Hear, gear.)
The Hon. Proprietor
seemed _
to be frightened of a contest. He begged of
• cam's of
and
standing, to have no such fears, Among the due „
both companies were men of the highest character
standing, and certainly he could not believe ,that,Tuc.
men would ever permit themselves to bo influone d by
ti
mere impulses, by the se ee dions of reeklsssnoss or
og
Sup other Min
passion, or that they would pursue

THE HIGHLANDS.—DEPUTATION TO
81R GEORGE GREY.
Yesterday afternoon a deputation from the directors of the
Royal Patriotic and Industrial Society of Scotland, and
from the Committee for Industrial Relief of Highland Dee-
titution, was received by Sir G. Grey. The deputation wee
introduced by C. Cowan, Esq, M. P., and included Clutly
Macpherson, M'Leod, of M'Leod; Sir John Heron Max-
well, Bart.; Colonel Sir D. APDougall, Knight; Mr. Ben-
jamin Bend Cabbell, M.P. • Mr. C. Forbes,.et Aslowa ; Mr.
Caldwell, of Mishiuish ; Mr. George Bain, Hon. Sec. of the
Highland Society of London ; the Rev. Henry Mackenzie,
Rev. J. Kennedy, Mr. J. Bailey, and Mr. Charles Bond,
Secretary of the Society.
trial Mr.s Society
etF
yo Rol rsscostatedd h
esa tt
atheil
sRi oz alinP
1846,t rio i
fcoar ntdhlen
rd
uu
pose of devising and disseminating information on the
as
sarwtieal
afasiloufreeloothi
clothing,
ge
means of improving the condition of the poor, particularly
l
eghetaaeliinntli
dash:
Itanethertmney,
,ot,uhrw
.hneaaatepdbsri
toweadlattuothecoctiev Highlands,
although
v ttii occupationthtehe icafrnroosolicitudepn,
siooorw.ff
htit
lihhacBedehs
state orpil hoz
parts
cropped
p edbt
soyfdb theett ettnoee
snfsvPBauule:esalecl
ynht3ap:Clalitoafr secretary, Mr,
limitedalt 'vi
average
extent
axgßt
eeonntd description,
that
ha had
tdt hjeiu3s, just
ee: e o returned.ineagd
already
oli It
nt
hhweaa
fide becomeotnotif nu
foode d
nhelihnbgourbesenorexolnaueixtetdrandenoruinsgailidv,
la)notdatowe,raen:diritnhgeonmetahnescat of the people
esuae-hearass
diate relief in twenty-ane districts in the formhahloal
by he committee then present, mho had •
•- • spalation emigrate, distress would sti
given some ilim: -
rftdipte:ryisvmetaoivgtpfauaetitsrili
itoeaeinindsr,
return for knitting. Considerable nuMbershad emigrated,
and many more were anxious to go to Australia, but they
11^1 neither the means nor the prospect of accomplishing
desire.' Should, however, half or two-thirds of the now
it arose not so much from the absence of natural resources,
each as climate, soil, and fisheries, as from their non deve-
lopment. The cultivation of flax in the Highlaeds. which
would afford adequate employment for all the existing po-
aulation, had for some years been advocated by the society,
nd the aid of Government was now solicited to enable it to
assist in the erection of scuthing-mills, and in instructing
the small tenantry in such economical husbandry as Would
obviate those appeals'to stave off destitution, which, without
such permanent improvements, threaten to be perennial. As
auxiliaries to this great and generally, applicable object, the
deputation also respectfully urged the establishment of a more
rapid communication with the outer Hebrides, by means of
mail steam-packets, and by encouraging the formation of the
Oben Railway.
The Rev. J. KENNEDY observed that Sir John AfTeill had
represented to Government that unless the population were
reduced to the level of the existing resources, some fearful
calamity would, probably, ere long overtake' them, and
the Government Emigration Bill was passed accordingly.
It appeared, however, that that measure had been
inoperative, and he had just received a communi-
cation in which he was assured that in one district two-
thirds of the population would, by the end of this
month, have consumed the seed they should have
reserved for their land. Under these circumstances, he re-
spectfully suggested that there existed an urgent necessity
for Government to aid such measures of permanent im-
provement as had been suggested, particularly as he was in-
formed, on the authority of Lord Macdonald's factor, that
the extraordinary power granted to poor.law inspectors last
year of giving relief to extremely destitute,
i but able-
bodied persons, would not be renewed this year, inasmuch as
some ratepayers had objected against its legality.
Sir G. GREY expressed his sympathy with the destitute
people in the Highlands, but feared the malady then had
become a chronic one. Parliament was very averse to
making local grants, and he thought the more Govern-
ment abstained from direct interference the better, as by
such interference they frequently checked natural and legi-
timate sources of operation. Before granting money to the
Highlands he thought Parliament would require the poor-
law of Scotland to be assimilated to that of England.
The Rev. linarar MAcaniszna having suggested the infu-
sion of greater utility into the Scottish Fishery Board, and
that it should teach and aid the west coast population to be-
come more successful fishers, he said it was distressing to see
a peaceful and manly race like those Highlanders decaying
away from the face of the earth, for the want of a little sti-
mulus and aid.
Sir G. GREY observed that the Government had taken
pains last year to ascertain the condition of the West High-
landers, and they had been told that eleemosynary aid had
proved very baneful to their habits ; that they appeared to
think others would keep them from starving. and to be con-
tent with that, and averse to going five miles away to pro-
cure work, although he understood that labourers were re-
quired in other parts of Scotland.
Mr. C. Fonzes said, in Aberdeenshire he had- often seen
poor people far away from their homes, travelling in search
of employment.
aura' APPriEasost could testify to the industry of
these people. His own population being fully employed,
he had in affecting drainage and other improvements to
employ labourers from a distance, and these were all from
Skye.
Colonel Sir D. M‘DonGaer. observed that the staple em-
ployment of West Highlanders had been annihilated by the
Legislature in admitting barilla, and he felt that they had
a stronger claim upon Government than any other parties
in the United Kingdom. As as old Highlander, he bore
testimony to the admirable patience and fortitude with which
those poor people had endured greater privation than auy of
their fellow-subjects. Meal had generally been a luxury,
and potatoes and salt their ordinary diet. He thought Go-
vernment should mark its estimation of their exemplary
conduct by promoting such measures as these for their per-
manent improvement. •
After some further remarks, Mr. Foanes thanked Sir G.
,kpinadrireeeiatnepntito.
whendeputation,it
wasavrhesi Which thenresolved
talrea
t
the publication of their commissioner's report as to the state
and pis spects of the West Highlanders was highly desirable,
tGurrenyedfotrol hisB
nst‘Prefett,he
audit was accordingly ordered to be printed.

ADELPHI THEATRE.
Notwithstanding the various theatrical attractions of •
the London theatres at the present time, this favourite*
house is nightly crowded to the ceiling by audiences in
the highest state of enjoyment. A new piece, 77. c
Leghorn Bonnet, is to be produced on Monday next.

OLYMPIC TiIEATRE.
A farce, stated to be " entirely original," was produced
with complete success at this theatre last evening, under
,
the title of Matrimonial—A Gentleman, 6-e. It is full of
broad, side-splitting fan. A gentleman puts an adver-
tisement in a Sunday paper for a wife and it is
answered by an elderly lady, who sends her maid to
conduct him to the appointed rendezvous. The maid,
however, finds another person oa the spot, who is the
lovfr of her mistress's niece, and brings him instead.
This eauscs all manner of ludicrous mistakes, until, of
course, all ends happily. Like most productions, tho
farce will bear a little curtailment. The dialogue is
lively and smart, and the incidents highly diverting,
Compton and Snalders filled the principal parts with
extraordinary humour, and the piece is certain to have a
good run.

THE DANIsII LFGATION.—His Excellency M. de
Extraordinary and Minister
who has been appointed Danish Minister at the Court
iorat
of St. James's, in roans of the lamented Count Reeentlow,
ECnovuoryt of Berlin, will
whither he will be followed- ' e
reached London on Wednesday. M. de I3ielke, Secretary of
circle of friends' to
Legation to the Danish mission at this Court, who has acted
as Charge eeeiffaire.. since the decease of Count Reyentluw
dil ijhjleaolasevntrniednwi:lig'in;:bbfiebeinenrestsnhie:fiarf"3:ny:leatiwhnr gittspeeh:e:post,
many good
IlenlgAathv
1 I
who by the
he he has en-
deared
sojourn in London.
THE ENGINEERS' STRIKE. 1
1 Special
meeting of the London Society of Co general
Wednesday evening, at the Lower SchoolPositors was held on
Farriegdon-street, tor the purpose of “ Room, Harp-alley,
cation from the Amalgamated Sec' considering an appli-
pecuniary vsistance; The 101 l Society of Engineers, &c., 11)r
mously ;Treed to, vie.:___,,
Th owing resolution was unani-
funds of this society to the E, at ICO/. be given from the
gamated Society of Engine :ecutive Council of the Amal-
abovo referred to, the ers'
&c."
In addition to the 100/.
Amalga-
mated Society Executive Council of the yesterda
Ship Caulkers, and 20/. from received 501. from the Thames
The skilled workm 'rorn the Coopers' (Bristol) Society.
shops. en still refrain from entering the London
TIIE CALEDONI
this sr
t AN SOCIETY.—The annual ball of
, le y took place •
e. last night at the Hanover-square
Rooms, upon this '
Cale-
donian As -Ju occasion in aid of the funds of the Cak-
nii.
t. These Scotch balls are at oil times the most
brilliant and 3 n
areting that the metropolis produces,. tor,
depending in but limited degree upon the subscriptions of
the public, the attendance is invariably large and social,
while the gaiety and variety of the illghland costume give a
speciality to the ensemble not to be found in any other as-
semblage of the same sort. The arrangements of last night
were upon the usual complete and liberal scale. llenderson•s
band was in office, and the company, amounting to about
3:10 individuals, entered into the Terpsichorean pleasures of
the moment with unrelaxing energy and spirit. The ball, in
short, was a gratifying illustration of the harmony and good-
will that animate the Scottish families of the metropolis.
There was obviously much personal enjoyment, but what
was better there seemed to be great concord and unity of
feeling—the sympathies of friendship as well as the acci-
dental cheerfulness of a merry-making.
NOVEL EMPLOYMENT OF INDIARIIIIDER.—Au in-
genious discovery, by which indiarubber and gutta perch*
are rendered applicable to the formation of artificial features,
and to the covering of artificial limbs, has been made by Mr.
F. Gray, of Cork-street. By this discovery the necessity of
what is called the Taliacotian operation, in supplying the
place of a lost nose to the face, is removed, for that feature
can be formed, and, as it were, grafted on the integuments in
such a manner as closely to resemble nature. The human
ear can also be closely imitated by the substance produced
by the mixture of the gums of which indiarubber and gutta
percha are constituted. in respect to artificial Sande, the
material of which they are formed can be covered
with this substance, which perfectly resembles the na-
tural skin and is almost equally flexible. So complete is the
deception, that, without the closest inspection, it is nearly
impossible to discover that art has superseded nature. This
invention is among those which prove the great variety
of uses to which the materials employed in it can be

glass, the size of '
applied.
[ADVERTISEMENT.] —TOE RoYAL EXLIIBIYION.
xvVelirlyn 11 ts,mbayl i
S. and 13. Solomons, Opticians, 39, Albermarle-street, Picca-
dilly, opposite the YOrk Hotel. A valuable, newly-invented,
which a person can be seen
They are invaluable for Shooting,
and known Imiles
distant. They answer every purpose on the race-course,
waistcoat- pocket
at the
at 1.. opera-houses country scenery, and ships are
; powerful
clearly seen "
to 14 miles.
Yachting, to Sportsmen, Gentlemen, Game jeerK Stalking,
Tourists. Telescopes possessing snch extraordinaryeePers' and
that some, sb,inches, with au extra eye ' powers,
dis-
tinctly jup;ter s moons, .. 1 b in
S^tut, 'R. piece, will show
,r, and tl-
with tho same TelescoFe can be Repn at' ,e double stars ;
wiles distant, and an object ft cm 16
to pe,rson's countenance 3
sede every other kind for the wai 2O miles ; they super-
larger, and all sizes with increasingstcoat pocket, and are of
Opera ,and Race-course r,l powers accordingly.
„asse
Newly-invented preserving .-s, with wonderful powers..
they are placed before Spectacle Lenses; immediately
clear and distinct, the imperfectmoat
t vision, every object appears
its youthful, natural and aged defective sight is brought to
game Vibrator, and all original state. The Invisible Or-
-- •
9
kinds of Acoustic instruments for relief
of extreme deafr....s. d
tit* the York HotsL , Albemarle- street, Piccadilly, own-

A. lady in the neighbourhood of Penrith, 53 years
of age, ha just cut two front teeth, which are part yf thi
third set of teeth ILI the upper jaw.