The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-01 00:00:00

R4ILWAYS AND PUBLIC
IN PARLIAILEN2'.

Yesterday the following applications for new
railways, harbours, ferries, waterworks, and muni-
cipal improvements were declared to have complied
with the standing orders by Messrs. Smith and
Frere, the examining barristers of both houses of
Parliament :
LONDON, CHATHAM, AND DOVER, AND MID-
KENT RAILWAY.--The object of this` bill is the
lease of the Mid-Kent Railway (from Bromley to
St. Mary's Cray) to the London, Chatham, and
Dover Railway Company, and for issuing new
shares and stock in the general undertaking not
exceeding the aggregate capital of the Crays' Com-
pany.

NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY.—To construct the
Team Valley and other bratich railways in Dur-
ham ; raise £400,100 and borrow £133,000. The
company's second bill has for its object the lease of
the Hull and Holderness Railway.
BISHOPS WALTHAM, BOTLEY, AND BURSLEDON
RAILWAY.
WEST SHROPSHIRE MINERAL RAILWAY.—For
making railways in West Shropshire, at £lBO,OOO
and £60,000 on loan.
The other bills disposed of were the Oswestry
and Newtown, Llanidloes and Newtown, and
Shrewsbury and Welshpool, amalgamation and
arrangement with London and North Western;
Parsonstown and Portumna Bridge Railway, for an
extension of Portumna across the Shannon, and to
raise £22,000; Enniskillen and Bun doran Railway,
for an extension of the Midland Great Western, at
Sligo, and raise £150,000, and borrow £50,000 ;
Hereford, Hay, and Brecon Railway, for deviations ;
Dare Valley-Railway, for a line from Aberdate, in
Glamorganshire, and branches, at an estimated cost
of £40,000; West Midland Railway, for additional
works; Farringdon Railway.
The bill of the Mid-Wales Railway, for a branch
from St. Harmon, in Radnorshire, to the Manches-
ter and Milford Railway, was withdrawn
The bills for Queenstown Improvement, Wake-
field Waterworks, Nottingham Waterworks, Tyne
General Ferry, and Ventnor Harbour, for construct-
ing a harbour, piers, and other works at Ventnor
in the Isle of Wight, and to raise £26,000.

7711 EVES AND REVIVAL 111BETING3.

Since Sunday last the Rev. J. Caughey, an American
revivalist of some eminence, has been preaching at Bristol
in connection with the United Methodist Free Church, and
has been attracting crowded audiences. The rev. gentle-
man's discourses there are all characterised by great earn-
estness. At the conclusion of hie discourses there are gene-
rally held "revival meetings," and it frequently happens
that those meetings are conducted with much warmth.
During the present week Mr. Caughey has been holding
services at Milk-street Chapel, and on Tuesday night there
was a crowded attendance. Whilst the service was pro-
ceeding, and the audience appeared to be actuated by a deep
devotional feeling, a circumstance occurred which ought to
set those persons on their guard who frequent meetings of
that kind. It is not long ago when mention was made in
the newspapers of a clever London pickpocket abstracting
a gold repeater from the clergyman or minister who was
pouring into his apparently sin-stricken mind that conso-
lation which it was his province to bestow, and the case in
point was one which might have resulted in a similar loss
had the impostor not been recognised. On the evening in
question, and just at the commencement of the prayer meet-
ing, a young man who had been paying considerable atten-
tion to the words of the preacher was perceived by those
near him to be in a swooning state. His frame was rigid, and
he appeared to be "stricken" with those bodily manifesta-
tions which characterised the revi vale both on the other side of
the Atlantic and in the sister island. On each side of him
was a lady, ani his body was thrown completely across the
"lap" of one of them, whilst his arms, or at least one of
his arms, was enveloped in the folds of her dress. Consi-
derable alarm was naturally felt by those in the vicinity of
the " stricken" one, and assistance was at once rendered.
of
thoseposition,
hT;hsefiyrsotuonrgy manwas
fhoarv,i,nego
lbde e n
water,"rai
but,raised
uP fuponrom one
who had gonelto his assistance perceiving that he was what
P.C. 901 would (all " a suspicious character," he was car-
ried out of the chapel, much to his disappointment. See.
ing that he was recognised or suspected the fellow be-
gan to personate insanity, and with an oath demanded
the way out of the passage. The mode of exit was at
once shown him, and with another exclamation he
rushed out into the street. He was followed to the door,
but perceiving that his game was discovered he very
speedily disappeared. We have not heard whether any-
thing else disappeared_a.t the same time, but yesterday, at
the Council. house, the rogue was brought before the sitting ,
magistrate, charged with stealing a quantity of meat. The
offence was clearly proved, and the fellow having been
more than once convicted of felony, he was sent for trial
before the recorder. The prisoner was accompanied at the
revival meeting by a gang of confederates.— Western Daily
Press.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

BETTING AT MANCHESTER -FRIDAY,

Wo had rather more business to-day than for some time
past. The Two Thousand Guineas and the Derby exhibit
little change. The Marquis is not in such strong demand
for the former ; and for the latter, any advance upon 8 to 1
would havo been taken about the favourite, and 12 to 1 was
asked for against Old Calabar. Typee colt was supported
to win a few thousands at 25 to 1. The Chester Cup moves
along very slowly, and but few books are opened upon that
event, The same remark will also apply to the Grand
National Steeplechase, although appearances lead us to
infer that it will prove a fair speculative race. Closing
prices :

TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS.
4to 1 agst Old Calabar (offered)
sto 1 agst The Marquis (offered)
12 to 1 bar two (offered)
DERBY.
Bto 1 agst Buckstone (offered)
12 to 1 aget Old Calabar (wanted)
Ico to 8 agst The Marquis (offered)
25 to 1 apt Typee colt (taken)
25 to 1 agst Caterer (taken)
33 to 1 agst Athleta (taken)
50 to 1 agst The Knave (taken)
50 to 1 agst Spite (taken)
60 to 1 agst Master Fenton (taken)
60 to 1 agst Vanguard (taken)
60 to 1 agst Argonaut (taken)
1000 to 15 agst Star of the West (taken)

GRAND NATIONAL STEELECHASE.
100 to 8 agst The Dane (taken)
20 to 1 agst Thpmastown (taken)
200 to 9 agst Tippler (taken)
35 to 1 agst Huntsman (taken)
100 to 6 agst Brunette (offered)
20 to 1 agst Jealousy (offered)

RACING FIXTURES FOR 1862.

FEBRUARY.

Lincoln

21

Nottingham S
4
Derby Spring 6
Liverpool 5....
Doncaster

LLCM,

Northampton
Croxton Park 4
Epsom Spring
Ponteland

Coventry l7
Warwick Spring
Shrewsbury S .. 27

Newmarket F S 5
Cheater Spring l3
York Spring

Epsom Summer 3
Chelmsford ll
Manchester ll
Ascot

Newmarket C 2l
Catterick Bridge
Abergavenuy 24
Thirsk 29
Y.
Salisbury .. 22
Bath
Harpenden 3O
ENE.

Odiham
Bibury Club
Newton
Stockbridge 3
Winchester
Newmarket
Worcester
Liverpool

Newcastle
Hampton .......... o. 25
Carlisle .............. 26

'LY.
Abingdon ........
Pontefract
Hungerford . l7
Nottingham . . 22
Southampton .. 22
Stamford 24
Marlborough
25
Goodwood
29

We understand that a petition for a literary
pension to be bestowed on M. r. Leitch Ritchie, the well-
known author and editor, signed by the Poet Laureate,
Charles Dickens, Thackeray, and other celebrated writers
has been presented to Lord Palmerston, and received the
promise of his favourable consideration. It is to be hoped
that this gracious effort of the literary world in behalf of a
brother-writer disabled by illness may meet with the suc-
cess it deserves. At least, it is a pleasing proof of the
kindly feeling existing in the present day among the mem-
bers of the press.

DISCOVERY OF A NEW COAL-FIELD.—We (Scots-
man) understand that the celebrated "Dunfermline Splint"
seam of coal has just been discovered in a new pit lately
sunk on the estate of Lassodie. The coal is of unusually
fine quality; and as the mineral-field is extensive, and con-
tains all the other seams of the district besides, the mineral
wealth and the railway traffic of the locality will be greatly
increased for many years to come. The coal-field is opened
up by the West of Fife and Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee
Railways, and Charlestown will be the principal shipping
port.

BIRMLYG.AM CHAMBER OF COMMEI?C_E.
• •

The half-yearly meeting of the members of the
Birmingham Chamber of Commerce was held in the
Committee room of the Town-hall on •Thursdny.
afternoon. There was a large attendance—Mr. It.
Spooner, M.P., president, in the chair. •
The report of the committee stated that in refer-
ence to the bankrupt law they could not congra-
tulate the chamber upon having obtained all that
was desired in the way of bankruptcy reform, but
it is a matter of much satisfaction to observe that
although the act is inferior in many respects to the
hill introduced by Lord John Russell and Mr.
Headlarn, at the instance of this and other chambers
of commerce, yet the act does not recognise some of
the most important principles which this chamber
has always insisted upon as essential to bankruptcy
reform—namely, the abolition of the distinction
between bankruptcy and insolvency, and between
trader and non-trader, increased facilities for volun-
tary settlements between insolvent debtors arid
their creditors, the registration of deeds of arrange-
ment with power to enforce their provisions in the
Court of Bankruptcy, the relief of the creditors'
fund from the compensation annuities for abolished
offices, and more stringent provisions for the punish-
ment of fraudulent debtors. The principles which
this and other chambers advocated, but which have
not been adopted in the act, are :—The consolida-
tion of the statutes relating to bankruptcy and in-
solvency ; the transfer of the salaries of the com-
missioners and judical staff from the creditors'
funds .to the consolidated fund ; the administratimi
of the estates of deceased insolvents; the pay-
meat of the official assignees partly by fees and
partly by salary ; and the abolition of the
office of messenger. It is very probable
that it will be found necessary to bring in a bill
to amend the act. The accidental omission of
one clause in reference to the discharge of
the creditors' assignee, renders such a bill essential

to the working of that set of clauses. Should
such an amended bill be introduced, it will be for
the council to consider whether advantage should
not be taken of the opportunity to remedy such
deficiencies of the act as may be found to interfere
with its satisfactory working. As to the commer-
cial and agricultural capabilities of British India,
your council lost no time in complying with the in-
structions of the last half-yearly meeting, but the
committee appointed at its first meeting found it
impossible to proceed with an inquiry of so varied
and general a character, until some definite and re-
liable data were before them, on which to
base their conclusion. This the member who intro-
duced the subject has kindly undertaken to supply.
The recent complications between this country and
America, and the questions of international Nlari-

time Law involved therein, have suggested to your
council the propriety of inquiring into this impor-
tant subject; a committee for this purpose has teen
appointed. The subject of partnership law amend-
ment and extension of the principle of limited lia-
bility to private partnerships was one of the first
that engaged the attention of this Chamber, and it
will be remembered that during the progress of the
Joint Stock Companies Act of 1850 this Chamber
urged upon the Government, both by deputation and
petition, the importance of making several modifi-
cations in the principles and details of the bill.
Your council append to this report a series of rea-
sons for an amendment of these laws, which they
submit for discussion at the present meeting, and
are prepared (ender the authority of the Chamber)
to bring the subject under the notice of the House
of Commons early next session.

Mr. G. DIXON introduced the subject of Partner-
ship Law Amendment, and moved, "That the coin_
cil be requested to take such steps as they may deem
proper for carrying into effect the modifications in
the laws regulating partnerships proposed by the
council.
Mr. A. RYLAND seconded the motion.
Mr. H. SMITH said the proposition involved two
matters which he thought would be well separated.
It was one thing to limit the liability of a partner
in a certain firm to a certain amount of money, but
it was quite another thing to give to a partner a
share of the profits, without any share
in the liabilities; and whilst he saw so many
reasons for limiting the liability of a partner to the
amount he subscribed, he must certainly demur to
the propriety of abandoning that principle of corr.-
mon law and common sense which said that every
Joe participtating in the profits of a partnership
should also participate in its burdens.
Mr. GEORGE SMITII seconded the amendment
After some conversation, Mr. Dixon and Mr.
Ryland consented to meet the amendment, by mov-
ing each of the three propositions involved in the
original motion separately.
Mr. DIXON then moved " that the council be

instructed to urge upon the Government the pro-
priety of introducing a bill during the next session
of Parliament, to effect the extension of the prin-
ciple of limited liability to all private partnerships,
io as to permit either a portion or the whole of the
partners of a firm to be liable only for the amount
subscribed by them."

Mr. J. LowE considered the principle of limited
liability dishonest in principle, and unsatisfactory
in its operation. He trusted they would still ad-
here to the good old English practice of making
every partner engaged in contracting debts re-
sponsible to his last shilling. (Hear.)
The motion was carried by 20 to 5.
Mr. DIXON then moved, " That the Council should
be instructed to urge upon the Government the
necessity of passing an act containing provisions for
the compulsory registration of the names of all the
psrtners of a firm and of the amounts contributed

by the limited partners if any such there be." In

doing so he said the resolution arose as a necessity

out of the last one.

Mr. RYLAND seconded the motion.
The PRESIDENT suggested that the word " actual"
should be inserted before the word " amounts" in
the resolution, so that limited partners should not
be able to do as they did in companies—take an
interest of £2OO, and only pay up £25. (Hear.)
The resolution was amended as suggested and
carried unanimously.
Mr. DIXON then moved—" That the act do pro-
vide for the power to grant participation in profits

:o clerks, ngents,manaiers, or workpeople, without
;he privileges or liabilities of partners." He entered

at some length into his reasons for supporting the
resolution, and replied to the objections of Mr. H.

Smith.

Mr. SMITH, however, stated that he adhered
to everything he had previously said.
A vote of thanks to the President brought the
proceedings to a close.

FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT. -- NORTH SHIELDS,
FxIDAY, 7.30 P.m.—A messenger has arrived in this town
and passed on to Sunderland with the appalling account of
another frightful accident that has occurred but a few
miles from Hartley. Messrs. Mounsey and Dixon have
recently recommenced the extensive ironworks at Bedling-
ton. This afternoon, about 10 minutes to 4, Mr. Mounsey,
Mr. Dixon, and Mrs. Mounsey, who belongs to Sunderland,
and several ladies, had gone to the new mills to see the
workmen saw iron. While viewing the process Mrs.
Mounsey got her dress entangled among the machinery,
was in a moment drawii in among it, and, according to the
messenger, she vas literally torn to pieces. The spectacle
is described as most frightful. I have been down to the
railway-station, and the guard who has brought the half-
past 6 train from Bedlington describes the excitement there
as ft ightful.

SHIPWRECK ON THE FRENCH COAST. Bou-
LOGNE, JAN. 31, 3.25 P.M.—The Huguenot, Capt. Forbes,
from Colombo to London, laden with coffee and oil, went
ashore last night near Staple. Crew of 18 men saved.
LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.—Sir Eulwer Lytton'
" Strange Story" is announced for publication next week
It will break through the old form of three vols., 31s. !id
although comprising more than the average quantity of
novels, and is to appear in two thick volumes. The de-
ferred appearance of this work, we are informed, has arisen
from some curious scientific developments in the course of
the tale, which will add materially to the zest for its perusal.
SUICIDES AT HOMBURG.—A letter from the above
place states that another suicide has just taken place there,
himself
gambling,
a young man, a Prussian, having shot himself after having
lost all his money at a gaming-house. This makes the third
existence
the y occurrence of the kind since the commencement of newthe
year. A rich R
uitzs an end to o
his ad
in
sisn, who h
left Homburg soon afterwards for Berlin to procure more
money,and p
latter place.
The thirl sacrifice was that of a traveller,
who hanged
himself at a neighbouring town after ha •
vmg beggared him-
self at Homburg.