The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-18 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 18, 1853.

AUSTRALIA. Parties about to proceed to
Australia can be assured in the PROFESSIONAL LIFE AS-
SURANCE COMPANY, 76, Cheapside, London, w.thout payment
of extra premium for voyage to or residence there.
EDWARD BAYLIS,
Resident Manager and Actuary.

PROFESSIONAL LIFE ASSURANCE COM-
PANY, admitting, on equal terms, persons of every class and
degree to all its advantages.. Offices, 76, Cheapside, London.
Notice Is Hereby Given, that the Sixth Annual General Sleeting
of the ,Pronrietors of this Corporation will be holden at the Offices of
the Company, 76, Cheapside, on Wednesday, the 2:+d day of March
instant, at 12 for 1. o'clock precisely, for, the reception of the Annual
Report of the Directors of the said Company; for the declaration of a
Dividend • the elution and reelection of Directors and Aud.tors of
the said Company; and for any other general business usually tran-
sacted at 'an Annual General Meeting of tne said Company.
.—.,„.V6IIWARD BAYLIS,
ReArdeinfatutg-er and Actuary.

March 11th, 1853.

All Policies issued by this Company are indisputable. No charge
made for Polley Stamps to the assured. Capital, X 250,060, guaran-
teed by nearly 1,400 Shareholders.

THE INDISPUTABLE LIFE POLICY
COMPANY,
72, LOMBARD-STREET, and 24, CONNAUGHT-TERRACE,
LOITDON.
• TRUSTEES.
Richard Malin., Esq., Q.C., M.P. I Richard Spooner, Esq., M.P.
J. Campbell Renton, Esq. I James Fuller Maddox, Esq.
William Wilberforce, Esq.
DIRECTORS.

William Adams, Esq.
J. Atkins, Esq.
H. Augustus Bevan, Esq.
John Dongerileld, Esq.
R. Henry Forman, Esq.
BANKERS—The London and County Bank.

J. Hamilton, Esq.
John Matthews, Esq.
C. Octavius Parnell, Esq
W. Williams, BK.

The FOLIC LES of this Company being INDISPUTAI LE. in
terms of the Deed of Constitu.lon duly registered, are TRANS-
FERABLE SECURITIES,—and used as FAMILY PROVISIONS,
they relieve the Assured from all doubt and anxiety as to the future,
and their validity not being dependent, as in the case of ordinary
Policies, upon the import of passed, and perhaps forgotten, circum-
stances, and Office documents.

Agents have been appointed in most of the towns in England and
Scotland, from whom, or the Manager, all information, Forms of
Proposal, &c., may be obtained.

ALEX. ROBERTSON, Manasvr.

LONDON LIFE ASSOCIATION.
Instituted 1806.
Office, 81, KING WILLIAM•STREET.
PRESIDENT—CHARLES FRANKS, Esq.
VICE-PRESIDENT—JOHN BENJAMIN HEATH, Esq.
This Society Is essentially one of Mutual Assurance, in which
the Premiums of its Members are reduced after seven years.
The rate of reduction of the Premiums for the last year was
70 per sent., leaving less than one-third of the original Premium to
be paid.
The Society also undertakes other descriptions of Assurance, in
which the Assured do not become Members, and having ceased to
allow any commission to Agents, the Society has been enabled to
reduce the Premiums for this class of Assurances to the following
very low rates :
Annual Premiums for the Assurance of £lOO.

Age Xs. d. Age] Xs.d. II Age Xe. d.
20 1 13 7 35 2 7 6 50 4 1 2
25 1 17 0 40 '2 15 5 55 5 1 0
30 2 1 5 45 3 6 0 60 6 5 10

The Court of Directors are authorised by the Deed of Settlement
lo advance money on the security Of Policies in this Association.
EDWARD DOCKER, Secretary.

LADIES of delicate complexion, who suffer from
exposure to cold winds and damp atmosphere, mill find Imme-
diate and soothing relief in the application of ROWL A NDS' K ALY-
DOR. It allays all irritation and tenderness of the skin, and renders
it colt, smooth, and pleasant ; removes cutaneous disfigurements,
freckles, and tan, and imps-ts a healthy and blooming appearance.
Gentlemen, After shaving, will find it allay the irritability and smart-
ing pain, and render the skin smooth and pleasant. Its purifying
and refreshing properties have obtained its selection by Rol alty and
the several Courts throughout Europe, thgether with the elite of the
arixtocracy. Price 4s. 6d. and Bs. 6d..per bottle.
ROWLAND'S MACASSAR Oh, is a delightfuily fragrant and
transparent preparation for the Hair, and as an invigorator and
purifier beyond all precedent. Weakness,
_premature greyness, and
tendency to fall off, are entirely prevented by its regular application.
ROWLAND'S ODONTO, or PEARL DENTIFRIFICE, preset yes and
b3autilles the Teeth, atren;thens the Gums, and renders the Breath
sweet and pure.

Sold by A. Rowland and Son; 20, Hatton-gardens, London ; and by
Chemists and Perfumers.

BANK OF ENGLAND, March 17, 1853.
THE GOVERNOR and COMPANY of the
BANK of ENGLAND give netice,
That the GENERAL COURT held at the Bank this day is AD-
JOURNED tql TUESDAY next, the 22 • imt , at Eleven o'clock In
the forenoon, for the purpose of taking the determination by vote in
print or writing, of the question in the following resolution proposed
at the Court for a dividend, &c.:
That a dividend be made of 4/. per cent. interest and profits for the
halt.year eudi•ig the. 28th February last, without any deduction on
account of the income tax:
The voting wi ;I commence at Eleven o'clock, and terminate at Four.
JOHN BENTLEY, Secretary.

THE CEYLON LAND AND MINING

COM I'A.NY. _
NOTICE Is flEltElay GIVEN, That no further APPLICATION'S for
SFIARES in this Company will be received after TUESDAY, the 22d
dAy of March ins: ant, except in country cases, which will be received
ine'llSiVo of WEDNEiDAY, the 23d inst.
Dated this Ilith (lay of March, 1853.
By order.

W. GALBRAITH, Secretary.

LAW LIFE ASSURANCE OFFICE,
Flcet-street, near St. Dunstau's Church.—London. March 11,
1853.—NoT1cs Is HEIIEBY GIVEN, That the BOOKS for Transferring
hares in this Society wi'l be CLOSED on THURSDAY, the 24th inst.,
and will be re-opened cn Wednesday, the 13th day of April next.
'f he Dividends for the year 1852 will be payable on Monday, the ilth
(lay of Apr... next, and oa any subsequent day (Tuesdays excepted),
between the hours of Ten and Three o'clock.
By order of the Directors,
WILLIAM SAMUEL DOWNES, Actuary.

GE.NE4AL SCREW STEAM SHIPPING
COMPANY.
()TICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, That this Company's Iron Screw Steam-
Ship ARGO, 1,800 tons, George Hyde, Commander, will leave South-
ampton for PORT PHILIP and SYDNEY on WEDNESDAY, the Ath
of May next.

The accommodation is of a superior description, and the cabins are
fully furnished. The rates of passage money_A,-ter Cabin, first
class, Sac; Fore Cabin, second class, 501. These rates are exclusive
of wines, beer, and spiritous liquors, which, however, may be had on
board at moderate prices. The ship will carry an experienced
surgeon.

Applications for passage to be made at Ws Oompzky's Offices, 2,
Royal Exchange-buildings ; and for freight and parcels, to Messrs,
Baifour, I.aming, and Owen, 16, St. Mary-ax,,

NOTICE.
TO INVENTORS, ARTISTS, AND OTHERS.

rr HE ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITII-
TION is now CLOSED until EASTER MONDAY, for the
purpose of ERECTING spacious NEW ROOMS for a PROT°.
tiRAPHIC SCHOOL, &c., &c.

;MODELS of MA :HINERY, which will be described to the Visi-
tors, WORKS of AR I', &c., are RECEIVED for EXHIBITION,
free of expense to the Depositors.

LAURENT'S CASINO, ARGYLL ROOMS.-
Lessee, CHARLES E. LAURENT, Onslow-house, Fulham-
road. Open Every Evening. The Orchestra will perform, during'
th. 3 week, "The Thiss.c," " Sharon:lca," "Rose," and "Amine"
Waltze.,. the "Napoleon" Galep, "Le Cirque" Quadrille ; "La
Valerie," " Juro," and "Steeplechase" Polkas.— Admission, Is.
Doors open at H: if-past Eight; to commence at Nine o'clock, and
terminate at Half-past Eleven.

Just published, in two 18rge charts, price 2s. 6d., by post 35.,
AVIEW of the RESOURCES of NATIONS,
exCibittng at a glance the PoPitt', Commerciel, Financial,
arid Wlitary Statistic- nt the Principal Countries in the World at
the Present Time, with other Valuable Information, collected from
the best authorities by H. FRASER, Esq.
London : W. Smith, 172, Strand ; Wyld, Charing-cross ; Sherwood,
Piper, and Co., Paternoster-row ; and ell Booksellers.

MASSACRE OF THE OFFICERS OP THE ENG-
LISH SHIP BERENICE, AND BURNING OF
THE VESSEL.

A most painful event was made known at Lloyd's on
Tuesday, as having unhappily befallen the master, his
lady, and officers of the English ship Berenice, in the
Straits of Gasper, while on a voyage to Sydney, who
were horribly murdered on board, and their ship after-
wards destroyed by fire. A previous mail had given rise
to some fears of a vessel having been burnt in the straits,
and an impression was entertained that the ill-fated ship
was the Berenice, which was missing, and the fact of some
of the fragments of the wreck having been picked up
bearing the Berenice's initials, little doubt was felt in the
matter. Much anxiety then arose as to the fate of those
on board, who comprised Captain Candy, his wife, first
and second mate, a Frenchman (a passenger for Aus-
tralia), two servants of Mrs. Candy, and about thirty-
five hands ; with the exception of the officers, there were
but few Europeans among the crew, who for the most
were JaN a and Manilla men. The ship sailed on the
6th of June from Singapore for Shahghai, and then
from that port to Sidney, on the 4th of November, with
the intention of calling at Java. Several of the crew
evinced a strong desire to leave the vessel on her reach-
ing that island, but the captain holding out an increase
of wages and additional rations to take the ship on to
Sidney, they were induced to remain, and the vessel
proceeded. Nothing was heard of her until
about the 10th of December, when a report reached
Marabaya (the residency of Tagel) of the remains of a
burned wreck having been discovered in the Straits. A
day or so previously a boat, containg 15 persons, arrived
at Marabaya, who on landing dispersed themselves in-
land before the authorities had time to institute inquiries
about them, and on the day following another boat came
in with a similar number and character of men, a mixture
offava, and Manilla men. When interrogated, they stated
that they were the crew of a prahu belonging to Rio, laden
with gambrie, which they represented had capsized, and
that a boy had been drowned. The whole of them ad-
hering to that one statement, they were believed, their
story at the time being thought to be true. The police,
however, bad their suspicion aroused by the conduct of
some of the men, as they displayed much anxiety to part
from each other's company, and to leave the place, and
it was not until they had been subjected to a most search-
ing inquiry that the truth was revealed. Some of them at
length confessed to having belonged to the Berenice, and
to the horrible fate which the captain and his officers met
with. According to their representations, it seems that on
the 2d of Dec. a mutiny broke out amongst several of the
Manillamen, on account as alleged of the master not hav-
ing allowed them the additional rations which he had
previously promised. About midnight they got Mr.
Candy on the quarter-deck, where they horribly mur
dered him. His wife, hearing his cries, rushed on deck
with two of the officers, when they almost immediately
fell a sacrifice. The third mate and the French pas-
senger, who witnessed the tragedy, leaped overboard to
escape the vengeance of the wretches, and perished.
Mrs. Candy's servants shared a similar fate as their
unhappy mistress. The whole of the bodies, with
weights attached to them, were hurled into the sea.
The ringleaders then took to plunder the ship of every-
thing that was portable, and after some two or three
days' luxurious living on board, they commenced de-
stroying her. Having lowered the boats, they kindled
a fire in several parts of her, and when she had got com-
pletely alight, they abandoned her. By the last ac-
counts the authorities were using every effort to bring
the principal actors in the barbarous acts of murder and
piracy to justice, and as many as nine had been lodged
in the gaol of Tagel. The Berenice was freighted with
a valuable cargo of tea, 'and her loss is therefore con-
siderable.

SUSPECTED MURDER IN THE CANONGATE,
EDINBURGH.

On Sunday morning, between four and five o'clock, a
labourer, named John Davidson, was found dead, under
circumstances that afford some suspicion of his having
been murdered. The deceased resided in Hume's-close,
Canongate, in one of those overcrowded haunts of po-
verty and vice which abound in this locality. He was,
it is said, given to drinking, which propensity his wife
unfortunately shared in. The latter, who is named Sarah
Brannan or Davidson, had formerly led an abandoned
life, and quarrels arising from the jealousy of the hus-
band are said to have been of frequent occurrence. They
were both between 30 and 40 years of age, and had lived
together for some time.
The deceased was last seen alive, except by his wife,
about 11 o'clock on Saturday night. Early on Sunday
morning high words and a scuffle in the room which they
occupied were overheard by some of the neighbours, but
the noise suddenly subsided. After a brief silence, the
woman came into an adjoining apartment, and told
the inmates that her husband had fainted. On en-
tering the room they found the unfortunate man stabbed
to the heart, and quite dead, though still retaining
heat. The instrument of death was a shoemaker's knife,
which had been worn by use to a very sharp point. There
was little blood to be seen, and to all appearance the
man's death had been instantaneous. Both parties had
on their clothes, and had not apparently gone to bed,
having in all probability spent the night in dissipation.
The attendance of a sergeant of police was then obtained,
who took the woman into custody.

On Monday the prisoner was brought before the
sitting magistrate and remitted for examination. Her
declaration was then taken by Mr. Dymock, the
Procurator-Fiscal for the city, and it will be followed
up, we believe, by the precognition of witnesses.
It is not, of course, yet known whether there is
sufficient evidence to commit the woman for trial ;
and from the privacy with which it is customary here
to conduct all judicial examinations, it is impossible
to arrive at the exact truth of the case, more especially as
the statements afloat are very conflicting. It appears,
however, that the prisoner attributes her husband's death
to suicide, and it is stated that the direction of the in-
strument was such that the blow might have been struck
by the deceased himself. On the one hand, it is
said the woman was heard in the course of the night
to threaten to stab her husband : while, on the other
the man is stated to have, not long ago, spoken of
committing suicide, in consequence of alleged provoca-
tions to jealousy. Some time ago, it is said, the prisoner
stabbed the deceased on the brow • but the affair being
slight, the matter did not come under the notice of the
police. The body of the unfortunate man was on Monday
examined by medical men. The wound was found to
have been in the heart, and to have caused almost in-
stant death. It seemed to have been inflicted in an up-
right position.

FARRINODON - STREET IMPROVEMENT. - Yesterday
Messrs. Pullen and Son commenced the sale, by auction,
of several houses which are to be cleared away for the
purpose of forming the new street leading from Farring-
don-street to Coppice-row, Clerkenwell. The buildings
are situated in Sharpe's-alley, Ray-street, and Coppice-
row, adjoining Clerkenwell workhouse. There are now
but few premises to be removed to complete the new line
of street, which, when finished, will form a direct tho-
roughfare from Blamkfriars-bridge to Clerkenwell and
Islington. •

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

SOUTH-EASTERN.

The half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors of
this company was held yesterday at the Bridge-house
Hotel, London-bridge, on the general business of the
company, and for the election of three directors and an
auditor, in the place of those retiring by rotation. Mr.
James Macgregor, M.P., the chairman of the company,
presided.
The report, which has already appeared. in The Sun,
having been taken as read,
The CHAIRMAN said-The statement of accounts which
has been submitted with the half-yearly report shows
that the gross revenue of the company has exceeded that
of the half-year ending on the 31st of January, 1852, by
the sum of 18,8391. 7s. ld., the earnings last half-year
being 424,5471. 85. 9d., against 405,7081. Is. Bd. in the
corresponding half of last year. The sum of 18,8391.
7s. ld, consists of an increase in the receipts for the car-
riage of goods of 12,0471. 16s. 7d. ; of passengers,
3,6431. 15s. 9d. ; of dues received at the harbours belong-
ing to the company, 1,1631. 12s. 5d ; of earnings of the
electric telegraph, 1,2601. 155. 11. ; of additional rent,
4221. 12s. 9d. ; and of fees on the transfer of stock, 3001.
13s. Bd. In th charges on the debit side of the account
there is an increase of working expenses, as compared
with the corresponding half of last year, to the amount
of 13,7701., and a decrease of 3,1011.. 3s. 7d. in rates,
taxes, tolls, and Government duty. The locomotive
working exhibits an increased expenditure of 2,558/. 12s.
being 58,7711. 155., against 56,2131. 35., consequent on
87,825 more miles having been run by engines the latter
half-year. In the rates, taxes, and tolls,. there is a
diminution in the amount paid during the half-year of
2,3411. 18s. 4d., the charge last half-year being 15,9801.
165.. 2d., against 18,3221. 145., 6d. It will not be out of
-place for me here to remind the proprietors that the Lord
Chia Justice of the Queen's Bench stated from-the Bench
that legislation on the subject of railway rating is indis-
pensable, but yet no steps have been taken to accom-
plish it ; and meanwhile railway companies are obliged
to submit to the grossest extortion, and to keep up for
their defence against injustice a costly and wearying sys-
tem of appeal, not always ending satisfactorily, in con-
sequence partly of the tribunal before which they are
brought. The issue of the 4i per cent, guaranteed stock
increased the comparative charge against revenue by the
sum of 3,3181. ss. lid. The result of the working
expense of the half-year is, that of the 18,8391. 7s. ld. of
surplus profits earned, 10,668/. 16s. sd. has been absorbed
by charges additional to those which occurred in the
half-year ending on the 31st of January, 1852, and
8,1701. 10s. Bd. thereof represents the additional net
profit in working the railway for the half-year ; and the
profit and loss account shows, therefore, that there is,
after deducting additional charges for rent and interest
on the guaranteed stock, a sum of 5,4421. 4s. 7d. avail-
able for dividend over and above the sum which was
available at the termination of the corresponding half of
last year, the sum now divisible being 136,464/. Os. 5d.,
against 131,0211. 15s. 10d. on the 31st of January, 1852 ;
and this will admit of a dividend of 11s. per share, and
leave a small surplus of 1,5201. 12s. ld., against 10s. 6d.
per share last year, and it applies to an increased expen-
diture of 369,2561. 19s. sd. As the proprietors will
observe, during the last half-year 199,0661. was spent on
capital account, during the preceding half-year 170,1901.
Bs. sd. The mortgage debt of the company is now
1,932,5751. or 72,6001. more than it was on the 31st
July, and 64,4851. less than it was on the 31st Janu-
ary, 1852, the rate of charge per annum being
4.10481., or. 0.2710 per cent, less than last year. The
increase in the home traffic of the line is certainly satis-
factory, and the directors trust and believe that it is an
increase which will continue and progress, and when the
long-anticipated opening of the French lines of rail-
way to the south takes place, it will no doubt tend to
develop the continental traffic, a large increase of which
might be received on the South-Eastern Railway, without
any addition to its working expenses. The total num-
ber of passengers travelling between England and France
last year was 172,600, and of these 106,844 passed
through Dover and Folkestone. The total traffic gives
an average of 473 persons per diem travelling between
England and France, or 236 persons each way. Of these
there travel by night between Paris and London 71 per-
sons each night-namely, to Paris from London, 39 per-
sons, and from Paris to London 32 persons. It thus
appears that 10,210 persons came through from Paris to
London during the year in the night. I may remind
you how-anxiously we pressed on. he Government from
time to time the propriety of giving the same 'facilities
on this side of the water to continental travellers coming
to London, as that which is given in France to these
who go 'from hence to Paris, as the French authorities
have long allowed the baggage to' go through unex-
amined to Paris, which is a great facility to persons
making an express journey ; and I am glad to be able to
inform you that the Government have at length granted
this request, and that the travellers by the night mail
from Paris to London will henceforth have the facility
of having their baggage examined at Dover, when they
arrive in time to do so before the train leaves for town,
'or in London when time does not permit it being done
at Dover, to allow them to avail of the first train for
London. I hope that this is only an instalment on the
part of the Government, and that hereafter we shall re-
ceive a like permission for all travellers who travel by
the express tidal trains from Paris to London. It is a
step in the right direction, and we may trust that whilst
great interests press for improved Custom-house regula-
tions, further facilities will be extended to the important
traffic between England and France, which passes over
the South-Eastern Railway. We state in the report
that permission to bring up bonded goods to London for
transhipment has been refused us, and chiefly because
we made the demand, and not the merchants of the city
of London ' • but I hope those gentlemen will make their
sentiments known to the Government on the subject.
The report shows the amount received for periodical
tickets during the half years ending on the 31st of
January, 1851, to have been 9,3041. 3s. ; 1852, 10,8121.
14s. Bd.; 1853, 13,3171. 15s. 3d.; but it may be well for
me to state also that the recepts for those three years for
periodical tickets were, in 1851, 12,2241. 14s. 2d. ; in
1852, 14,4.591. 10s. 4d. ; and in 1853, 18,7511. 17s. 10d.,
showing an increase of receipts from this source in two
years of 50 per cent. As an instance of the progress
which is making in local traffic on the line, I will take
the case of Abbeywood station, on the North Kent
line, which is familiarly known to many gentlemen in
that district as the Deputy Chairman's station. The
number of travellers to and from that station for the
first year of its opening was 22,996, and the earnings
7981. 10s. 10d. During the last half year the number
of persons travelling to and from the Abbeywood station
was 60,203, and the earnings 2,9781. 9s. 3d., showing
an increase in two years of 37,307 persons and 1,2791.
19s. 3d. in money. I may mention that there is at this
station a fine estate belonging to the governors of
Christ's Hospital, which is now being divided into allot-
ments for building ground ; that a large number of villas
are being erected there, and that there is every prospect
the traffic will continue to increase. Towards closing
the capital account, a necessary step is the sale of the
shares forfeited, and to be forfeited at this meeting, to
accomplish which a further resolution of the proprietors
is needed. The proprietors will observe that 29,9771.
13s. 4d. of calls in arrear has been paid during the
half year, and that the account now to be reovered
from shares forfeited and to be forfeited is 58,7941.
lls. Bd. The outlay of capital for works has increased
beyond the estimates of former years ; and this has
become apparent on the final settlements taking
place with the contractors. There is only one ac-
count for works which affects former estimates remaining
unclosed about which any difficulty or doubt exists, and
that account has been referred to arbitration, the party
claiming 20,0001., which the directors entirely dispute.
The expenditure of capital to Jan. 31 is 10,553,253/. 3s.
sd, ; deducting from this sum 371,495/. 13s. 10d., which
was written off on the consolidation of the shares into
stock, and which was something less than the interest
which has been paid back out of capital to the holders
of No. 3 and No. 4 shares, the amount of outlay is re-
duced to 10,181,7571. 9s. 7d. The value of surplus pro-
perty in former estimates was taken at 312,0001. Ac-
cording to the last report on the subject from the sur-
veyor employed by the company, the sum shown to be
the available value of surplus property is 280,076, and
the amount that would remain as capital spent, if that
surplus property be deducted, is 9,901,681/. 9s. 7d. This
result, after allowing for certain other sums which have
been applied in reduction of capital expenditure, already
exceeds the sum at which the capital of the company was
formerly estimated by 283,0001., or thereabouts, and the
contents of the report show that 70,0001. must be further
spent, and that 230,0001. beyond that should be spent in
the next three years in increasing the rolling stock of
the company, in warehouses, and other conveniences. It
has become necessary to consider, during the present
year, the most important of the measures alluded to in
our letter, viz., the extension of the Greenwich Railway
through Greenwich-park to Woolwich, the Astronomer
Royal not having completed the experiments ordered by
the Lords of the Admiralty in sufficient time for the pre-
sent session of Parliament. The measure is one of great
consequence, and the directors believe that it will be
more lucrative than any in which the company has yet
embarked, especially connected with the extension which
the directors still propose for the consideration of the
proprietors from their Charlton station to the point im-
mediately opposite the East and West India Docks, and
the point of conveyance of the northern lines of railway ;
and further, as effecting the means of carrying passen-
gers from London-bridge and the other stations on the
line, to join the steam-boats at Blackwall-point for
Gravesend and other places on the river, and forming
with the steam ferry at Blackwall, a direct communica-
tion with Camden-town and the London and North-
Western Railway. I may also mention that there are
parties who contemplate the construction of docks in the
Greenwich marshes adjoining the extension, which docks
would be a great advantage to this company. The cost
of the extension from Charlton to Blackwall-point, in-
cluding the construction of a wharf and landing-place,
and-of a steam ferry, and the other works included in the
bill, viz., carrying a dangerous footpath, now crossing
the railway on level at Redhill, in a tunnel under the
line; and substituting,a level crossing on the Bricklayers'
Arms branch for a 'bridge, is estimated at 50,000/. I
need say little about the project for effecting a junction
of the station of the Reading, Guildford, and Reigate
branch, and the Great Western station at Reading, the
immediate outlay would be 10,0001. The Strood and

[PRICE SD.

Maidstone line is estimated, with a new station at Strood
—much wanted there—to cost 50,0001. The directors
consider this line to be one which should not longer be
postponed making. In the month of October last no less
than 13 separate railways, some with extensive ramifica-
tions, were projected in the south-eastern districts, and
affecting our interests, and we saw the necessity of lay-
ing before you measures which we thought might, under
the circumstances, be demanded for-the protection and
advancement of the company's interests, and among them
was the project for extending the line from Lewisham to
Bromley and Croydon, which we proposed should be in
joint account with the Brighton Company. The directors
of the Brighton Company gave their assent, but subse-
quently, without notice or communication to this company,
negotiated with the South-Western Company for amalga-
mation with theni, and on the last day for the•purpose
of Parliamentary notices, there appeared the notice of the
Brighton and South-Western Companies bill to amalga-
mate. Much correspondence necessarily took place.
We objected to that amalgamation, thinking that the
natural alliance of the Brighton Company to make was
with ourselves, the South-Eastern Company—not with
the South-Western Company. The Brighton and South-
Western Companies since have determined to withdraw
the amalgamation bill, and the present state of affairs is
that the Brighton Company propose now the withdrawal
of the Lewisham, Bromley, and Croydon bill also. It
will be for you, gentlemen, to consider whether this is
the wisest step to take under the circumstances, or
whether further attempts should not be made to settle
now, either with the Brighton Company, or on our ac-
count, the question of communication between the me-
tropolis and Bromley, which, while unsettled, may ever
be a source of contest. The estimate for this line is
24,0001. It is right I should state that no bills contain-
ing powers for a combination of interest between railway
companies can be read a second time this session till
after the 11th of April, or until after the report of the
committee of the House of Commons now sitting on rail-
way amalgamation and future railway legislation shall
have been made. I earnestly trust that railway pro-
perty will be benefited by the inquiry which is taking
taking place before the distinguished persons constituting
that committee, convinced as I am that the interests and
safety of the public never can be promoted by a reckless
competition in the construction and working of railways.
I have the honour to move that the report of the direc-
tors and statement of accounts, as now read at this meet-
ing, be received and adopted.
Mr. JoHN HAMILTON, after complaining that the com-
pany had not yet got a tenant for the Lord Warden
Hotel at Dover, and that the directors were going to an
unnecessary expense in the erection of some ornamental
iron railing at the hotel at Folkestone, proceeded to
censure the general system of management, which he
contended was not such as to develop the traffic of the
line in a proper manner. Having censured the conduct
of the chairman with respect to some transactions in
shares, he addressed himself, to another matter, and ob-
served that out of 288 miles of railway belonging to the
company, not less than 165 miles consisted of branches.
Those branch lines had cost 4,078,0001.; and 118 miles
of those branch lines, which had cost 2,809,0001., did
not pay the expenses of working. The 28 miles between
Tunbridge-wells and Hastings, which had cost 724,0001.,
were in the same position, and the passenger traffic on
that portion of the line for six months was something
under 6,0001. The company therefore had 146 miles of
railway which did not pay the expenses of working.
The total cost of that quantity of mileage, including
300,0001. for locomotion, was 3,833,0001. The only 88
miles which paid a dividend were constructed before the
present chairman came into office. All the branch lines,
with the exception of the Maidstone branch, 10 miles,
and the Canterbury branch, 14 miles, had been made
since the present chairman came to the board. Such
management as that accounted fir the shares being at
only 481. He trusted he had stated sufficient to show
that the construction of branch lines should not be left
to the board, and moved that a committee of ten gentle-
men should be named by the body of proprietors to con-
fer with the board on the subject of branch lines, and to
report thereon to a special meeting.
In answer to a question by a PROPRIETOR,
The CHAIRMAN said that, at the last meeting, a cor-
respondence was submitted to the proprietors, between
Lord Sondes, Mr. Lushington, and the directors, with
regard to the Chilham line, and the directors distinctly
intimated that, on looking at what had occurred in pre-
vious years, and considering the expectations held out
that the North Kent line would be continued,
they did not recommend the proprietors to offer
any opposition to that line, provided the points
of junction and the plans and sections were approved
of. But it had been found necessary to oppose the
bill on the standing orders, because it contained clauses
seeking powers to run over the South-Eastern of so
unsuitable a character that the directors considered they
should have been guilty of a gross dereliction of duty if
they had consented to the granting such powers. The
objections of the bill were unanswerable ; but the com-
mittee resolved to allow the promoters of the bill to pro-
ceed, on depositing a fresh plan and amending their
errors. The bill had been read a second time, and there
the matter now stood. He would now state the objec-
tion to the line itself. There was a line called the
Chatham and Canterbury line. The line of Lord Sondes
formed a junction with the South-Eastern line at Strood,
crossed the Medway, and formed a junction at Chilham.
To that the South-Eastern Company offered no objec-
tion, but they differed as to the way of forming the
junction -at Chilham, because the gradients were bad,
and it set out a fork of six miles running parallel with
the South-Eastern line to Canterbury. With regard to
the other bill, he did not think there was the least pro-
spect of its passing. It was intended to come up from
the South-Eastern Company's station at Chilham, and
stop at Chatham without crossing the Medway. He
did not think the Legislature would pass any line except
on the principle of its being a continuation of the North
Kent line from Strood downwards. Now, with respect
to the accusation made against him, of having con-
structed all the branch lines of the company: On the
day when, contrary to his will and wish, he was placed
in the direction, he found projects in existence for the
extension of the South-Eastern line much more expen-
sive than those which had been constructed ; and the
first measure against which he set his face was a propo-
sition which was absolutely carried by the directors, that
if the South-Eastern Company constructed the North
Kent line, it should pay to the Croydon Company for
its assent a perpetual toll, collected at the rate of five
miles of running over the North Kent Railway. With
respect to the other charge made by the honourable
proprietor, he positively denied the statement that he
had, either alone as an individual or in conjunction with
any body of men, ever done any act to enable any man,
or any company, to sell shares for the purpose of realis-
ing high prices, to the prejudice of the affairs of the
company.
Mr. HAMILTON asked if the chairman would deny that
he had been a jobber in shares. (Oh, oh ?)
The CHAIRMAN said he would give the honourable
proprietor a flat denial face to face, and tell him that he
had asserted an untruth, and that he had no foundation
in fact for his assertion. (Cheers.) So far from admit-
ting that there was the shadow of a shade for such a
charge, he could produce evidence to show that in no
case whatever had his hands been soiled by any transac-
tion, and that he had never done anything inconsistent
with the interest of the company—that he had never
availed himself of his position to accept any shares, and
that he was now the holder of all the shares he had ever
held, with the exception of some which had been sold
under pressure, and which he had not the means of re-
taining. (Cheers.) He was no jobber in shares, and
enjoyedwhat he esteemed more than wealth—a character
unblemished for integrity. With respect to the Dover
Hotel, contracts had been entered into for its occupation
—and as to the ornamental rails at Folkestone, they
would be erected at a small cost, and the work had been
undertaken in justice and out of compliment to Mr.
Breach, who had paid a rental of 2,2401., and had ex-
pended a great sum of money on the establishment.
(Hear, hear.)

Mr. JOSIAH WILSON accused the chairman of dealing
in shares and rigging the market, and after reading a
letter written by Mr. M'Gregor, and dated December
2, 1847, referring to some private matters, said if the
chairman would grant him a committee of two or three
gentlemen, he would show such a statement of trans-
actions in shares as would make the boldest man's hair
stand on end. (Great confusion.)
The CHAIRMAN said the letter produced by Mr.
Wilson referred to matters which were inquired
into and fully disposed of in 1849, and he held
in his hand the report of a committee of five gen-
tlemen appointed by the proprietors to examine
into the subjects then in dispute.. With respect to
his (the chairman's) conduct, they said :—" They feel
bound to state their conviction that, notwithstanding
errors of judgment and an undue assumption of indivi-
dinal responsibility, his conduct has been honourable
throughout, and marked by a sincere, unflinching, and—.
excepting in his character of a very large proprietor—a
disinterested devotion to the interests of the South-
Eastern Company. (Cheers.)
Mr. WILSON said the committee would not look at
letters which he held in his hand. He had no con-
fidence in the board of directors of which Mr. ISVG-ego;
was the autocrat, and with whom he could _ do as he
liked. (Oh, oh, and laughter.)
Mr. JAMES RENSHAW (the deputy chairman) said the
assertion made by Mr. Wilson, that the directors were
er(eCnhceezid)
wholly led by the chairman, was not true.ht
They were as independent as any other
be, and the chairman always listened to their opinions,
and at times was guided by the(iar advice.d.
Mr. HENRY LEWIS SHALE 'rector) expressed his
concurrence in the remarks which had fallen from the
deputy-chairman.
The CHAIRMAN then put the question that the report
be adopted. The motion was ag only one dissentient. reed to, there being
Mr. COLES CHILD said that at the last meeting he pro-
posed.ie as a resolution that, with a view of determining tte,
amount at which the capital expenditure should . the directors should be requested to submit a detailed
estimate of the amount reqclulireeds to
.complete the works
and lines of the company. That estimate
given, and he 0001. be re-
had been
moved that the estimate of
un
ceived and adopted, and that the
of the original capital be closed at 10,623,253 k
expenditure on account
t
I TO"-
subject to realisation when expedient of the surplus
outs
con-
p
perty of the company, and that, with the view