The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-19 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 19, 1863.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

THE NAVY.

The Powerful target-ship is receiving alongside Portsmouth dock-
yard another supply of armour-plates for testing at the practice
moorings in Porehester creek. They include five plates from the
Thames Iron Works Company, one of five inches thickness of metal
for the Ocean, and four others experimental, one 15-feet rolled plate
is from Rigby and Beerdmore, of Glasgow. The Mersey Company,
Clare, Horsfall, and Co., send 12 plates of a somewhat novel charac-
ter both as regards their size and the way in which they will be
bolted on the ship's side for firing at. Each of these plates are 6 feet
long by only one foot wide, and are two and a-half inches through
the metal. Six of them will be bolted on the ship's side in a longi-
tudinal position, and close to each other, forming a layer of iron
planking of two and a-half inch iron, six feet square. Over this layer
will be laid and bolted the remaining six plates of planks, but in a
vertical position ; the whole thus forming a square of iron planking
five inches in thickness, but divided in the centre; and laid at right
angles. Two other plates have been fixed on the Powerful's side,
for trial at the same time, and the result is watched with conside-
rable interest. This is purely a Government experiment. A Royal
Alfred Plate was directed to be taken from the stock in the dock-
yard, cut through the centre, and the two parts then bent four-and-
a-half inches, the thickness of the plate,. from a straight line, one
part to be heated and then bent to the required curve in the wedge
press, and the other half to be bent cold in the hydraulic press--the
object sought being to ascertain whether any or what difference ex-
isted conseqnent upon the two systems of bedding as would be shown
when struck by shot. The plate to be bent cold was first taken in
hand, but owing to the opening of the metal, the plate was not bent
beyond two-and-a-half inches, instead of four-and-a-half inches, as
ordered. The remaining portion of the plate was therefore bent in
the wedge press only to the same extent. It has been contended
by many that iron armour plates can be bent cold with the same
facility that they can when heated, but, 89 far as is known by
experience in the Government yards at present, this cannot be
done, nor can plates over three inches in thickness be bent at any
time cold and with the hydraulic press in safety. This opinion is
borne out also by that of more than one firm engaged in the manu,
facture of armour plates. More is known of the results attending
the bending of rolled than hammered plates, and While it is said that
the cracks in the latter caused by the bending are. more destractisar
than is the case-With the former, enough is known of the results to
the rolled plate to enable a tolerably safe prediction to be formed of
the nature and extent of the openings in the metal, however excel-
lent may be the plate's quality. The reason of this is simple enough.
If in bending a plate its inner circle could be made to submit to its
due share of compression, and thus reduce itself and ease the outer
circle in its expansion, it would throw the neutral axis in the centre
of the plate, and there would be less risk of cracks or opening. of the
metal in a direction with the fibre. The inner edge or surface of the
plate does not, however, when cold undergo any important compres-
sion, and the whole force is tensional and greatest on the outer edge.
The pressure with the single ram hydraulic presses in use in her
Majesty's dockyards is also local, instead of being diffused over the
entire surface, and thus with a hammered plate risks the breaking
of the metal, and with a rolled plate, the strain being thrown across
the fibre of the metal, the risk is an opening of the plate's outer sur-
face in the direction of the fibre. This plate is the first which it has
been attempted to any extent of curve, cold, by the hydraulic press
at Portsmouth. With a different application of the hydraulic power
to the single vertical ram at present in use to a plate's surface, the
plate being heated in the furnace to a black heat, it is thought that
plates may yet be bent with a certain degree of safety to any curva-
ture. This would probably be accomplished by six or eight rams
placed horizontally, part bearing on the outer and part on the inner
surface of the plate, by which means the tremendous pressure brought
into service by the hydraulic press would be diffused over the plate's
entire surface, which it is believed would render a good plate secure
from any serious injury. Perhaps the safest and most economical
plan would be to let the manufacturers of the plates bend them
at the time of manufacture to moulds furnished them from the yard
in which the ship for whom the armour is destined is being con-
structed. It cannot be doubted that not only the manufacture of
armour plates, but also the preparation which they have to undergo
after they are manufactured, is at the present moment a subject of
the greatest interest, not only to iron-workers and scientific men,
but to the public generally. In the Naval Estimates for 1863-64, iron
and armour plates for iron-cased ships building at Chatham figures
15,0001., and iron for armour plates for wooden ships for i 60,0001.
The Curacoa, 24, screw frigate, in the basin at Portsmouth, has re-
ceived her lower masts, has got her tops on, her topmasts pointed,
and is getting up her lowier rigging and stays. A swarm of ship-
wrights, joiners, and caulkers are about her decks at work to com-
plete her for the pennant.
The Megaira, screw troopship, Commander L. H. Henderson, em-
barked the right wing of the 61st Regiment this morning at Ports-
mouth for conveyance to the Channel Islands, returning with a wing
of the 2d battalion 18th (Royal Irish), under orders for New Zealand
The Esk, 17, screw corvette, 1,169 tons and 250-horse power, was
floated out of No. 5 dock yesterday at Portsmouth, where she has
been undergoing very heavy repairs to her hull, having been, in fact,
almost rebuilt, in consequence of her very defective condition. In
the last week of the old year but part of the ship's frame was stand-
ing in the dock, owing to the removal of the decayed and weak por-
tions, both bows being entirely swept away as far aft as the fore
channels, a great number of her timbers taken out and other parts
of her framing removed, and planking and lining partially stripped.
Since then she has been taken in hand conjointly with the Curacoa,
and shipwrights crowded upon her as thick as they could conve-
niently use their tools to give her a thorough repair, yesterday
being the exact time then fixed for bringing her to her present state
of progress, and floating her out of dock ; and, greatly to the credit
of the shipwright department, the programme has been faith-
fully adhered to, the prescribed amount of work done, and the ship
undocked on the day originally named when commencing the work.
There is, it is asserted, no record of an equal amount of work in the
repair of a ship having been done in the same time on any other
occasion in any of the dockyards. It cannot be forgotten, however,
that to execute this work the workmen were almost entirely with-
drawn from the iron-cased ships Royal Sovereign and Royal Alfred.
Indeed, at present there are not more than two men and a boy em-
ployed upon the Royal Alfred. A of this csLagut4f
vessels will, • however, be ready for commission, as stated by Lord
Clarence Paget, on the 19th of March next. The Esk was built by
contract in a private yard at Millwall, in 1853-4, and was a very
unfavourable specimen of such work, judging by the official reports
concerning her. Her frame was weak, and the materials not of the
best description. In carrying out her present repairs it has been
found necessary to strengthen her main-deck beams by 16 additional
knees. Several of her lower-deck beams have also been strengthened
in a similar manner, and other parts proportionately. The ship is'
without doubt, much stronger now in every respect than she was
when first off the stocks. The repairs have been made under the ,
direction and supervision of the same foreman, Mr. Loney, to whom
was assigned the outfit of the Warrior and Black Prince. The 2d of
April is the date named when the Esk is to be out of the hands of the
dockyard authorities and ready to hoist the pennant.
The royal paddle yacht Osborne, Master-Commander G. K. Bower,
sailed from Portsmouth yesterday at 4 p.m. for Antwerp, to convey
to England her Royal Highness the Crown Princess of Prussia.
t
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eblyeenlefrtectehievesdereawt Ps ltyelnamo u
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andJ. S. h Joshing,ina
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She continued at Hongkong. About 3o invalids from the frigate are
d
coming home in the screw steamship Sanspareil, 70, Capt. George
L. S. Bower. It is reported at Plymouth that, in consequence of the
state of his health, Rear-Admiral L. Kuper is about to le ave his
command.

Last winter the French steam frigate Vauban left Vera Cruz with
military invalids for France. When off Cape Hatteras she lost her
mainmast, which, in falling, injured several of the crew. Shortly
after she was exposed to a heavy gale, and bore up for Bermuda,
where it was discovered that the head of the rudder and the pintles
were seriously damaged, thus rendering her arrival at the island a
subject of twofold congratulation. In the absence of Admiral Milne,
Capt. F. H. H. Glasse, C. 8., the naval officer in charge, placed the
resources of the Government establishments at the command of the
captain of the Vauban, whose disabled ship was immediately handed
over to the officers of the Royal Arsenal there. All the worst cases
of disease among the crew and many of the soldiers wounded in the
Mexican war were sent to the Naval Hospital in Ireland Island,
where they were placed under the care of Deputy-Inspector-General
R. E. Smart, M.D., and Dr. W. G. Domville, of the flagship Nile.
On the 6th of January the Vice-Consul for France, who resides at
Hamilton, paid an official visit to the Naval Hospital at Ireland
Island, and was much gratified at witnessing the comfort and
order which prevailed, and on learning from the afflicted inmates
themselves how much they felt indebted to their physicians for the
benefit they had derived. The utmost cordiality exists between the
officers of the Vauban and the residents at .Bermuda. Her repairs
were not completed up to the middle of January.
The paddlewheel steamvessel Caradoc, 2, Lieut.-Commander Wil-
kinson, having embarked supernumeraries, left Plymouth on Tues-
day for the Mediterranean.
During the past six months several hundred of the convicts at-
tached to the convict establishment at Chatham have been engaged
in preparing the materials, manufacturing the bricks, and iu various
preparations to build the additional docks and basins at Chatham
for the reception of a class of vessels considerably larger than any
now afloat belonging to the British navy. The whole of the land
required for the proposed undertaking has now been obtained pos-
session of by the Admiralty, the various corporations, public bodies,
and other parties interested having had their claims satisfied. The
total cost of the construction of the proposed basins, docks, and locks
at Chatham, including the embankment of a considerable portion of
the Medway, which is to be deepened Irom Chatham harbour to the
Nore, so as to form a channel 600 ft. wide and 27ft. deep at half tides,
which will give sift. at neaps and 35ft. at springs, is close upon
1,000,0001. sterling, the Admiralty estimate of toe work being 943,8761.
Of this suns 68,0001. has been already voted for the work. The Navy
Estimates published on Tuesday show that only 20,0001. will be asked
for by the Admiralty to carry on the works this year, so that no
very extensive operations will be commenced in the proposed un-
dertakings for several months to come. In addition to the docks
already existing at Chatham it is intended to construct five other
docks, each of which will be very nearly double the length of the
largest dock at that yard. The three centre docks of the intended
number will be each sooft. in length at the clear, with two smaller
docks of 400 ft. in length. Each of the new docks will communicate
on the south side wilh a large basin 22 acres in extent, with a depth
of soft. at the neap, thus enabling vessels of the Warrior and Achilles 1
class to float alongside the wharf with all their guns, stores, &c., on
board. There will also be two other basins at Chatham, the largest
of which will be 31 acres In extent' by upwards of 2,000 ft. at its
gaaretantethstelaligro,toganddoo7ookft. . in breadth,
owitwthotlliaergsaemdooe depth of ofhowaarteer.
pairing basin of somewhat lesser extent, this being intended to have
asthothtoetwahole
being
willMft .tbhyus4wbeftexin-
biuireadarteha. ofThaboo ntot
tsaievebnastancresar,eaitsalten
of the basin accommodationb e aairaullt thha le
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oasy a ln iduocchk ya ag rda 1 ns
,
which are totally inaccessible to large ships. The new
Deptford,
actly 60 acres, which will
and basins intended to be formed at Chatham will occupy the
ex-
tent of which is only 41 acres, including the basins at Woolwich and
docks
south side of St. Mary's Island, the portion of which bordering on
Chatham harbour for a distance of about two miles having been al-
ready embanked by the convicts, who have been employed on the
length
work for several years past. Two locks, each of SOO feet in .
wide to receive the largest class of iron vessels, will
and sufficiently
communicate between the largest of the three basins and the river.
who are the owners of the Medway azs far as the Nore, for the Admi-
raltyhich contains a valuable earth
to dredge the bed of the river, w
ertnission has been already granted by the corporation of Rochester,
for the manufacture of cement to be used in constructing the new
docks and basins. The other works in progress at Chatham, for
vf oers new which a vote will be required this year, include a new caisson for
the dock in which the Achilles, So, is under construction, foundations
cost of the latter vessel cannot be ascertained the harbour of mud, and for new machinery, the total estimate for
eluding the
tehseowhole of the above being 21,6601. A further sum of 67,0401. will
wg
unnidaceillerYs,tnitheetieonlnaragtemeheantthoafmthaenplumber's shop, clearing
,be required to be voted for engines and machinery for the
The amount required
machinery for the iron frigate Achilles. The exact
plete her, beyond the large mates, but it is
ably less than that confidently stated that it will be consider-
dtaialnerdeadfryomordtehreed,esintiz
off iron vessels built by private firms.
sum will be taken in the votes
storesgaetedto of that material already accumu-
lated
additionnialade
or armour-plates, and iron to com-
Navy Estimates f0r,1863-4 is I,osB,27i:lyear'
this
estimates to be 15,0001., which
at Chatham, Is stated
Yesterday at the Admi-
The net decrease in the
• The following appointments were
ralty :--Capt. F. A. Campbell
in the Royal Oak ; W. G. Wratten, chi' to
cf
the Fisgard,
borough ; Peter Steil, chief engineer, to thenflineer, to the Marl-
for service
Atlas ; Robert J. Hay, chief engineer, to thee Ccumberland, for the
berland, for the
BristolChannon, engineer, to the Indus, as
and Thomas Rose, Ist class assistant engineer, to ttsoupernumerarY '4
. Indus, for the
Fervent.

at Netley Hospital during the first week in the ensuing month, im-
mediately after which the entire invalid depot at St. Mary's Barracks
will also move to the same establishment. As soon as the new ar-
rangements are completed Chatham will cease to be the station to
which troops will be forwarded from all parts of the world for the
purpose of being discharged. Under the new system the vessels ar-
riving from abroad with troops will lie in Southampton Water, near
Netley, where the time-expired men and invalids will he landed,
when those not requiring medical or surgical treatment will be at
once sent inland to their depots or forwarded to their homes, while
the sick and wounded only will he detained in the hospital, the plan
of keeping up what is termed an invalid depot, as at Chatham, being
discontinued. The intention to convert Fort Pitt into barracks for the
reception of officers and troops has, it is understood, been abandoned,
and the building will still be retained for a hospital, for which its
excellent site eminently fits it. According to present arrangements,
it is intended to make Fort Pitt the central hospital for the whole
garrison, thus doing away with the necessity of separate hospitals
for the Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, and the Line, as is the case
under existing arrangements. The officers of the Staff already
named as selected for the new hospital at Netley are Col. R. Wilbra-
ham, C. 8., Governor ; Major J. M. Kennedy, Paymaster; and Capt.
W. Hawtree, Captain of Orderlies.

entrapped into fellowship with those who represented the
principles of human slavery, and were themselves traf-
fickers in the sinews and the souls of their fellowmen.
He contrasted the conduct of the corporation in decreeing
busts of Granville Sharp and Clarkson, and said that the
city of London would lie under a stigma which he be-
lieved it did not deserve until its citizens met in Common
Council to resent the insult which the present Lord Mayor
htid put upon it in welcoming Mr. Mason. He concluded
by moving—

"That the Lord Mayor, by inviting and receiving at the
Mansion-house Mr. Mason, the author of the iniquitous
Fugitive Slave Law, as the representative of those Southern
Confederate States in America whose independence the Bri-
tish Government has hitherto refused to recognise, has
offered a wanton insult to the Government, to the citizans of
London, and to the whole British nation, and has disgraced
the annals of a Corporation not more renowned for its anti •
quity than for its great and continued services in the cause
of freedom, and the honours it has rejoiced and been proud
to render to men distinguished by their Christain and
philanthropic labours and sacrifices for the liberties and
welfare of mankind."

Mr. J. CUNNINGIILX seconded the motion, which was
supported with much energy by Mr. Washington Wilks,
and carried, like the first, with entire unanimity.

The proceedings terminated shortly before 11 o'clock,
with a collection.

The Marriage of the Prince of Wales.

The great reception to be given to the Prince's
bride on her arrival in this country promises, as
' each day developer fresh preparations, to be one of
the most spontaneous and magnificent popular wel-
comes ever given in England. Along the whole
length to be traversed by the Princess, from Graves-
end to Windsor, there is not a municipality or cor-
poration which has not its thoughts fixed just now
on how best to welcome and do honour to the caval-
cade while passing through its boundaries. There
is not an important space along the entire route
which has not been already marked out as the scene
for some display, and the sites which have not yet
been definitely allotted have many eager claimants
from different bodies, ail more or less qualified to
occupy them with credit and effect.
The efforts made by the people of Gravesend to
do honour to the departure of the Princess Royal
have led to high expectations of what the Corpora-
tion would do on the arrival of another royal bride.
As on previous occasions, the portions of the town
through which the procession will pass are to be
given over from roof to basement to a professional
decorator, Mr. Snelling, whose designs for the ap-
propriate and harmonious adornment of all the
thoroughfares were accepted yesterday. This
arrangement insures a completeness of effect and a
harmony of parts to the whole that are impossible
when the work is left to individual efforts, which on
this occasion will only be suffered to expend them-
selves in the side streets off the main route. The
principal features of the decoration will be a kind of
light garlanded arch, bearing banners, with the
arms of the Prince and Princess, surmounted in the
centre with the Prince's coronet and plume, and
having handsome winged Victories on either side
extending chaplets of flowers. The greater portion
of the line of procession will be roofed in as it were
by these light structures, which are to be erected
at intervals of every 40 ft. along Harmer-street, at
the top of which a massive triumphal arch will be
erected, with its four ribs meeting in the centre,
over the intersection of the roadways. Here, also,
will be a richly decorated stand for visitors. All
along the New-road to the railway station similar
decorations will be continued, so as to form one con-
tinuedvista of arches and garlands throughout. The
station itself will be beautifully adorned by the Com-
pany, and the Terrace-pier, on which the Princess
will land, by the Corporation. Under the awning
of this pier are to be seats for 1,200 visitors, for
which seats there are already nearly 4,000 appli-
cants clamouring for tickets which really belong to
the ratepayers, at whose expense the whole wel-
come is given, and whose claims the Corporation
have most properly determined to consider first.
The Danish man-of-war Slesvig, with the Princess
on board, and escorted by two Danish frigates and
the English ships, is expected to arrive off the pier
a little before noon. The naval portion of the de-
monstration, will, it is probable, be increased from
the Nore by several gunboats, manned by the officers
and men of the Naval Reserve of the port of
London, who have petitioned the Admiralty to be
allowed the honour of thus forming part of the river
escort—a petition which, we believe, the Admiralty,
have already acceded to. The military commandant
of the district will furnish the guard of honour on
the pier from Chatham, and the West Kent Yeo-
manry, one of the finest bodies of cavalry in the
kingdom, will form the escort, under the command
of Major the Earl of Darnley. The Prince of Wales,
with the Danish Minister and other distinguished
personages, will, it is expected, go on board the
Slesvig to welcome the Princess, and her landing
is to take place, with all the Royal ceremonies of
salutes and manning yards, at ono o'clock. On
landing, Mrs. Sams, the wife of the Mayor of
Gravesend, will present the Princess with a bouquet
in a richly-jewelled case, which has been purchased
by general subscription by the ladies of Gravesend.
As on the occasion of the Princess Royal's depar-
ture, 60 young ladies, dressed alike in red and blue
and white—the colours of England and Denmark—
will be stationed along the Terrace-pier, 30 on each
side. Each of these young ladies will be provided
with ample, though pretty, baskets filled with
violets and roses, which they will strew along the
path as the Princess advances. Viscount Sidney,
as Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, will receive her High-
ness at the upper end of the pier, and present the
Mayor and the other members of the Corporation.
An address will be presented by the town-clerk,
but, following the admirable rule which has lately
come into fashion on these State occasions, it will
be presented only, and not read.
The Royal party and their suites will then enter
their State carriages, and proceed in procession
through Gravesend by the route we have already in-
dicated to the railway station, the whole extent of the
line from pier to railway being kept by the Kent-
ish Volunteer Artillery and the various Kentish
rifle corps. The Royal train is expected to arrive at
the Bricklayers' Arms Station soon after 2 o'clock.
It is understood to be the wish of Sir George
Grey, the Home Secretary, that the Royal progress
should be facilitated as ranch as possible from the
Bricklayers' Arms Station to that of the Great
Western, at Paddington, in order to spare the Prin
cess unnecessary fatigue. Originally Sir George de-
sired that the Royal procession, after passing along
London-bridge, should proceed by way of Cannon-
street to Temple-bar, an arrangement which would
have materially abridged the distance; but on being
told that a large number of the principal citizens in
King William-street, about the Royal Exchange
and the Mansion-house, in Princes-street, the Poul-
try, and Cheapside would be deprived of the pleasure
of seeiug the pageant, he yielded the point, and so
from London-bridge to Temple-bar the procession
will follow the more circuitous route of King IVil-
liatn-street, Cheapside, St. Paul's Churchyard, Lud-
gate-hill, and Fleet-street. An endeavour will be
made to keep the civic retinue within reasonable
limits, and to that end it will probably be composed‘h
of representatives of the different branches of.
e.ite
corporation, rather than of the whole body
It will consist chiefly ofmtihdedleLsoerxd;
Mayorth
Sheriffs of London and the
members a and the
of
the Reception Committee, about
com-
posed of Aldermen and Common
Councilmen ; a 40 in number,
and wardens of the 12 principal livery companies ;
de-
putation from the Court of Lteutdraancy ; the masters
and probably the ministerial officers of the Corpo-
ration. The Lord Mayor will go in state, and the
rest of the civic authorities in carriages—open, if
the day be fine. The membere of the Court of
Lieutenancy will be in uniform ; the Aldermen,
Sheriffs, and Councilmen will wear their official
robes, as will also the officers of the Corporation
and the masters and wardens of companies.
A grand triumphal arch is to be erected, by the
authority of the Corporation, near Fishmongers'-

PRICE .... -..4d.
STAMPED ....sd.

hall, at the entrance to the city, and London-
bridge will be decorated throughout its entire
length with flags and trophies. In front of the
Mansion-house a gallery for 400 people will
be constructed, and the portico of the build-
ing appropriately ornamented• The whole of
the open space within the enclosure on the
east, south, and west sides of St. Paul's Cathedral
will be occupied by seats, rising tier over tier, and
with canopies, for the accommodation of about
10,000 people, including the Dean and Chapter,
the governing bodies of the whole of the livery
companies, nearly 80 in number, with their
friends, and about 700 boys from the City of Lon-
don School and the Orphan School. The whole of
this vast amphitheatre of seats will be erected in
the most substantial manner, under the direction
of Mr. Bunning, the city architect, and some notion
may be formed of the care which will be bestowed
upon the work with a view to the public safety
when it is stated that, with the exterior decora-
tions, it will probably cost about £7,000. The ex-
pense will be borne jointly by the Corporation and
the livery companies. Temple-bar is also to be
elaborately decorated, and on the evening of the
nuptial day it and the Mansion-house, and probably
Guildhall, will be illuminated. Yesterday the
Court of Lieutenancy held another meeting at
Guildhall to make their arrangements, and the
Reception Committee will meet again on Saturday
to forward the work.
Along Pall-mall the windows and balconies of
the clubs will be draped, and this fine thoroughfare
will on this occasion present a really magnificent
appearance. Perhaps, however, the great centre
of attraction will be in Hyde Park, where not only
will there be an immense concourse of spectators, but
from 18,000 to 20,000 of the finest of our Metropoli-
tan Volunteers will be massed, so as to give the
Princess a fair idea of the strength of that second line
of defence within which she is in future to dwell,

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE.

The adjourned half-yearly meeting of this com-
pany was held on Tuesday at the London Tavern
to receive a report from the scrutineers, as to
the result of the poll demanded on Friday and
for the transaction of the remaining business of
the half-yearly meeting. Mr. T. Broderick, the
chairman, presided.
The CHAIRMAN stated that the poll had closed at
2 o'clock on Saturday, and the result was that
78,749 shares, representing 19,055 votes, were re-
corded in favour of the adoption of the directors'
report, and that 56,164 shares, representing 15,214
votes, were recorded in favour of Mr. Anderson's
amendment; consequently there was a majority of
22,585 shares, representing 3,841 votes, in favour
of adopting the report of the directors.
Mr. IVATKIN objected to that mode of stating the
result of the poll, and required the chairman to read
the report of the scrutineers, from which it appeared
that there was a majority of 5,535 ordinary shares
in favour of Mr. Anderson's amendment, and a
majority of 28,120 preference shares in favour of
the motion proposed by the directors. Deducting
the majority of ordinary , shares, 6,535, from the
28,120 preference shares, left the majority for the
directors' motion, 22,585 shares representing £3,841
votes.

Mr. WATKIN thought the directors ought to con-
sider that the holders of ordinary shares, who were
most interested, had voted against the adoption of
the report, and in favour of Mr. Anderson's motion.
On the motion of the CHAIRMAN the report was
received, and a dividend at the rate of 31 per cent.
per annum on the ordinary shares of the company
for the half year ending the 31st Dec. last, less in-
come tax, was declared, payable on the 28th inst.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed that all the ordi-
nary shares of the company, upon which the sum
of £l9 16s. 4d. per share had been paid up, be con-
verted into a capital stock of the company,
Mr. GoEz thought that it would be better to give
the shareholders a small bonus by consolidating the
shares as £2O each.

CHAIRMAN said the secretary had suggested
the repayment to the shareholders of odd shillings
and pence, which would simplify the conversion into
stock, and would only amount to a few shillings and
pence per share.
Mr. BURCHELL explained that the act authorised
th© company to raise £3,200,000 on shares, and if
they adopted Mr. 0 oez's suggestion they would have
a larger amount of share capital than Parliament
had authorised.

The motion of the chairman was then agreed to.
Mr. ANDERSON said the result of the poll was
most gratifying to him, giving a majority of 5,500
ordinary shares in favour of the amendment. He
considered that the preference shares had no imme-
diate interest in the increase of the dividend. The
preference shares were secured their dividend of 5
per cent. by £4,000,000 of stock. He hoped the
holders of preference shares in future would refrain
from yoting against measures intended for the im-
provement of the ordinary dividend, Although the
preference shareholders had defeated him on that
occasion, he would not slacken his efforts to reform
the board.

Mr. GOEZ said they had now 13 directors, and
they had power to elect 24 directors. He would
propose that Mr. Atkinson, Mr. Watkin, and Mr.
Leith be elected to seats at the board, and ho
hoped the directors would receive the sugges-
tion in a friendly spirit. He then gave notice
that at the next meeting he would propose that a
similar by-law to that passed at the Great Western
meeting be adopted by this company.
Lard A. PAGET suggested that Mr. Anderson and
Mr. Leith be elected directors.

Mr. GOEZ proposed that Mr. Watkin be elected a
director.

The CHAIRMAN could not agree to the election of
Mr. Watkin.

After some further observations,

Mr. Anderson and Mr. Leith were elected mem-
bers of the board, and the proceedings terminated.

LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE.

The half-yearly meeting was held yesterday at
Manchester.

Mr. H. W. WICKUAM, M.P., the chairman, ex-
pressed his regret that owing to the continued de-
pression of trade in the cotton districts, the income
of the company had suffered severely, but he
tbe-
lieved there were slight symptoms of improvement,
enthe
and those who looked at the traffic there returnswas f
last five or six weeks would see that
some increase as compared with the correspondingoopts,ei
week of last year. The falling off in receipts,
owing to the cause referred to, had been
£130,00'), equal toeaadeividend of 2 per cent. com-
pared with the half-year ending December, 1860.
The receipts of the last half-year were less than
those in the corresponding half of 1861 by 1;78,000,
and that amounted to about 8 per cent. on the whole
but he was glad to say that the directors had also
been able to make a saving in I he working expenses
during the same period equal to 71 per emt. He
moved the adoption of the report and accounts.
Mr. G. WILSON, deputy-chairman, seconded the
motion.

The motion was unanimously adopted.
The CHAIRMAN then moved the declaration of the
guaranteed dividends on preference and other stock,
and 2 per cent. on the ordinary stock foe' the half_
year, payable on the 2d of March.

Mr. ANDUS seconded the motion and expressed a
hope that, from the state of the traffic, next half-
year instead of paying a dividend of 4 per cent. per
annum they should be able to pay 43 per cent.
The motion was passed.
Mr. Andus and Mr. Fielden, directors retiring by
rotation, were then re-elected. 11r. liarpur was
also re-elected.
The CHAIRMAN then moved that the directors be
authorised to expend not exceeding £lOO,OOO on the

The report of the directors states that £51,228
had been added to the capital account during the
half-year ending 31st December last. The revenue
account showed a gross income from all sources of
£87,616, and a total expenditure of £33,257, leav-
ing a balance of £54,359, which, after meeting the
interest and preferential dividends, would yield a
dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum on
the ordinary capital, and the directors recom-
mended the declaration of that dividend. The
capital account showed that £2,463,549 had been
expended, leaving a balance in hand of £54,900.