The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-10 00:00:00

The Atlantic Telegraph Company.

An extraordinary general meeting of the share-
holders of the Atlantic Telegraph Company was
held at the London Tavern yesterday afternoon.
The Right Hon. J. S. Wortley, chairman of the
company, presided, and there were about 60 share-
holders present. The business had been arranged
previous to the recent interruption of the en!ierprise,
and was solely of a financial character.
The CHAIRMAN said :—Gentlemen, before pro-
ceeding to submit to you the resolutions necessary
to carry out the objects which are indicated in the
notice of the meeting. I feel that some explana-
tion is perhaps•due from us relative to the circum-
stances under which the meeting was called. I will
confess to you at once that the notice was drawn
and the resolutions I am about to submit to you
were framed under very different circumstances
from those that at present exist. We resolved some
time ago, under the prospect and immediate hope
of laying the cable, that no time should be lost in
occupying the ground which otherwise would be
quickly taken by others, and making such arrange-
ments for-capital or money power as would enable
us to enter the field with competitors, and to in-
crease the means of communication by telegraph
with the continent of America. I need not tell you
in what respect circumstances are now altered ;
while many think the
but we still feel that,
case is desperate—l shall not intrude my opinion
on that subject—while many would deem the success
of the present cable almost hopeless, yet even in that
condition we believe it would be for the benefit of
the Company to render the capital more divisible
and more manageable by converting it into stock.
That is one of the main objects for which this
meeting is called. There is one other thing which
may sound as a mere fiction at the present time,
namely, to ask you for power to issue fresh shares,
to raise new capital to the full extent of our parlia-
mentary powers. The original powers were for
£2,000,000. Of this £1,200,000 has been raised at
different times. I will not enter into detail as to
how that has been applied, but you have given your
confidence to your directors, and you have approved
of the course taken. We cannot tell, unpromising
as our present condition is as regards this cable—
we cannot tell what 24 hours may bring forth, and
I can give you no information. We are expecting
every hour to receive some more detailed and satis-
factory statement. No one can tell what our posi-
tion may be a week hence ; but, supposing our hopes
are gone for this year, yet these resolutions, if car-
ried out, will enable us to struggle against' those
difficulties, and, I hope, to revive this great under-
taking. (Hear, hear.) Now, gentlemen, I have
often met you and received your indulgence under
circumstances of great difficulty and discourage-
ment, and, during the seven years I have had the
honour of presiding at these meetings, I have
never been deserted by the shareholders. I did
think, at the meeting which took place a week
to-day, that I should now have to congratulate
you upon your success. Providence bas ordered it
otherwise. Still I would advise courage and perse-
verance. It is universally admitted that this is one
of the greatest undertakings the world has ever
known. It is universally admitted that if com-
pleted the benefits will be beyond description. It
is almost universally admitted that this great enter-
prise will at some time be accomplished. Let us,
then, relying on the commercial energy of the Eng-
lish people, let us persevere, and hope for a better
turn of fortune. (Hear.) There are at the present
time some circumstances calculated to give us en-
couragement; for although we take it as a fact that
this expedition for the present has failed, we know

I much more valuable proof of experience. The Great
Eastern has passed over the deepest portion of
the ocean, with one slight exception, which she
would have to pass between Europe and America.
She passed over 2,400 fathoms, and the signals were
perfect. I must say, however, none of the telegrams
that had been received were this company's. They
were from the Construction Company. That com-
pany was respdhsible for the information--this
knew nothing about it ; but the information of the
Construction Company was that the Great Eastern
had passed over water no less than 2,400 fathoms in
depth ; that they then got to shallow water, and the
signals were better than they had ever been before.
What does this prove ? It shows that the cable is
capable of transmitting signals even in the great
depth of 2,400 fathoms, an i these were as perfect as
they were at less distances. Therefore, gentlemen,
I say, with the scientific committee, that the effect
of the pressure, so far from injuring, would improve
the transmission. I have before me a communica-
tion to a public journal from a gentleman who says
- that the pressure must destroy the cable, and that
it must at this moment be a total wreck. He says
the company never made experiments for testing the
various atmospheres. Now, the scientific committee
had means of applying a pressure of 6,000 lbs. to
the square inch ; but, after having proceeded to a
certain extent, they found the cable was improved
by pressure, and they did not apply the full ex-
tent'. As to length, it is true that the last cable
did not speak well at the full length. This cable
has sent perfect messages throughout the whole,
and with a portion of more than a thou-
sand miles submerged. This proves you can have
a long cable without deterioration, because, as they
went on, the messages improved rather than de-
teriorated. Therefore what possible reason can
there be to imagine that messages cannot be trans-
mitted 1,500 miles ? However unlucky we may be,
we must proceed with our exertions if the enterprise
is not to be abandoned. We cannot do anything
until we have command of more capital. It remains
to be seen whether we can lay such facts before the
public as will raise their confidence. As to the
main objects, we have on our books £l,OOO share-
holders, £2O shareholders, and also a large constitu-
ency having £5 shares. All those will be made
more transferable when converted into stock, £5
shares having the preference. I repeat that, as to
intelligence, all that we have comes from parties
different from us, and although I have nothing to
say in praise or blame, the information comes from
them ; but when we get reliable information--and,
in all probability, such will come in 48 hours—you
shall be put in full possession of it. I have nothing
more to say except that, after the perseverance and
talent, and resources this company has devoted to
this great enterprise—after the extent of success we
have reached, and the problem we have have solved,
we have arrived at a time at which, though they
have hitherto refused us all aid, we may fairly ap-
peal to the Governments of great nations to give
assistance in so vast an undertaking. I am not
saying we are going to do so, but the time has come
when this should be regarded as not merely a
national, but as a cosmopolitan institution. (Rear,
hear.)

Resolutions were then moved by the Chairman,
seconded by Mr. Lampson, Mr. S. Gurney, M.P.,
Mr. Le Breton, and Sir E. Cunard, and passed:-.

Ffrot Ta oonvort into consolidated eight per cent.
preferential stock the eight per cent. preferential capital of
the Atlantic Telegraph Company, at present consisting of
120,000 shares of .£3 each.

"Second—To convert into ordinary consolidated stock
' the whole of the ordinary share capital of the Atlantic
Telegraph Company, consisting of 350 shares, of the par
value of £l,OOO, and 5,643 shares, of the par valuo of £2O,
and to issue, either in ordinary stock or in shares, as may
be most convenient, the sum of £137,140 of ordinary capi-
tal, authorised at the extraordinary general meeting of
March 31, 1864, and agreed to be issued in instalments
fully paid up to the contractors from time to time after the
successful completion of their contract; and if issued in
shares, it is intended to take power at any time hereafter
to convert the said shares into ordinary stock of the com-
pany.
." Third—To issue such amounts of now capital as may
be required for the construction and laying of a second
Atlantic telegraph cable under powerg of the Act of Par-
liament."

In reply to Mr. MORRIS,
The CHAIRMAN said the cable cost the company
nearly £700,000, but the present one had been
manufactured under exceptional circumstances, and
the next might be obtained for less.
No other shareholder rising to ask questions, the
meeting, which had been throughout of a strikingly
quiet character, terminated with a vote of thanks to
the chairman.

Murder in Tipperary.

(Front the Dublin Express)

TIPPERARY, Tuesday.
A crime of a terrible nature has just been com-
mitted in the very centre of the town of Tipperary,
and while the people thronging the streets were
engaged in their ordinary daily business. A man
named Dowdle, residing near the town, came to
attend the funeral of a friend, and, as he was walk-
ing behind the hearse, in company with his wife,
he was struck from behind three blows with a
" loaded " blackthorn stick, ferruled with a long
iron ring, and wedged also with iron. The man
who struck these 'murderous blows cried out,
" Here's a three-year-old ! " and then ran into a
shop belonging to a relative. The wife attempted
to save the husband, and warded off one blow.
The wounded man walked into a neighbouring
house, and asked leave to sit down. He did not
remain long, but went out to tte yard, where he
fell insensible, and died in a few hours. A neigh-
bour of his own, William Condon, was arrested,
and informations have been sworn before Mr. De
Gernon, R.M., charging him with being the person
who inflicted the injuries from which Dowdle lost
his life. The inquest will take place to-day. It
will be of a merely formal character, and directed
simply towards the discovery of the cause of death.
Condon is in prison, and the magistrates have
charge of the informations already sworn. There
is a strong feeling of indignation at the occurrence
of this barbarous murder, for the outrage seems
from its surrounding circumstances to partake of
that character. Tipperary, so peaceable lately, so
warmly congratulated upon its improving condition,
is again stained with blood.
The inquest upon the body of James Dowdle was
commenced this afternoon before the coroner, but
to be adjourned for a fortnight. The wife of the
deceased, who swore directly before the resident
magistrate against William Condon, was in a state
which prevented her examination. She appeared
most reluctant to give any evidence. Condon has
not been fully committed, but remanded for further
examination.

A FEMALE ARMY DOCTOR.—Another instance of
young ladies devoting themselves to medical studies
is mentioned in the Journal de Saint Rtersbourg. The
university regulations in Russia do not admit females as
students, but a Mdlle. K—, who had a great desire to
study medicine, some time since applied to the authorities
of Orenburg for permission to follow the medical course
stating that she intended to devote her acquirements to the
service of the Cossacks, who haven superstitious objection
to being treated by men, and always have recourse to
ignorant old women instead. The young lady's proposal
was accepted, and the Cossack Regiment of Orenburg
granted her an allowance of 28 roubles per month. Mdlle.
K— passed her examination in May last for the first
half of her course of study as well as, if not better, than
any of the male students, and the same regiment has since
sent her a present of 800 roubles as an encouragement.—.
Galignani.