The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-28 00:00:00

The third quarterly meeting of this flourishing society
was held at the offices 86, St. James's-street, Pall-mall,
last evening, for the purpose of transacting the ordinary
business of the society. Among the members present we
observed Lieut.-Colonel Dickson, one of the trustees of
the society, Captain John Bishop-Culpeper, H. E. Canney,
Esq., W. Dickinson, Esq., John Gate, Esq., Joseph Gim.
son, Esq., T. C. Grattan, Esq., Jerkin Jones, Esq.,
Vigers, Esq.
On the motion of W. DICKINSON, Esq., the chair was
taken by
Lieut.-Colonel DICKSON, who, in opening the business
of the evening, said the first thing to be done was to call
upon the secretary to read the advertisement convening the
meeting.
This having been done,
The CHAlRMAN—having heard the notice road, the next
thing was to hear the secretary detail the position of the
society since the last quarterly meeting.
Mr. T. S. SMITH then, in setting forth the operations of
this society, proceeded as follows :—He said the executive
committee have much pleasure in laying before the meet-
ing their third quarterly report, and congratulating the
meeting on the continued success which has attended the
society from the date of its formation to the present time.
The Free Trade Freehold Land Society has taken
a prominent position amongst the leading societies
of the day a position which it will he the aim
of your committee ever to maintain, and to make,
by its economical management and successful operations
the most desirable of all investments to its shareholders.
During the past quarter the attention of your committee
has been directed to a careful revision of the rules, and
they are prepared to lay before you at this meeting the
result of their labours. The alterations they propose will
be read at the next quarterly meeting, in conformity with
the acts of Parliament, and at the earliest possible oppor-
tunity will be submitted to your decision, and, if adopted,
will, your committee hope, contribute greatly to the pros-
perity of the society. The committee, in revising the
prospectus, have resolved to advance to shareholders
entitled to allotments, who may not be prepared to pay up
the full cost thereof seven-eighths of the amount instead
of three-fourths—a regulation which, while it secures the
funds of the investing members, will be a great boon to the
poorer shareholders. The number of shares issued and
cash received during the quarter has been as follows, viz.,
shares issued to the 22d December, 1853,2,021 ; ditto during
the quarter endint-, March 25, 968, together 2,989 ; cash
the receivedguatertorDenediceumgar
March 22
,1825 i;
50818.
33:507W:14s ; ditto, during
of 8,5861. 15s. Seventy-one valid shares haveina be en ng drawntttotal
in the ,ballot, and placed on the order of rights, to choose
allotments from the third part of the estates set apart for
that class of rights; eighty
rights of choice have been
created by seniority ; and eighty-
seven shares have been
completed by having the full amount subscribed thereon,
s
making a total of 238 rights choice, and the estates
already purchased are sufficient to allot 497. It may be
necessary hero to remark that no person is compelled to
take an allotment, but nay reserve his right, and exercise
it on any other estate which may be purchased for the
society, or may dispose of it to another. To facilitate
transactions of this kind, a list of rights for sale is kept at
the office, where members wishing to sell may register their
rights without fee ; and others wishing to buy may inspect
the list atany timeduringoffice hours. The committee have
just secured a most eligible estate, situate on the best part of
Surbiton-hill, near Kingston-upon-Thames, which will be
ready for allotment shortly. The attention of your com-
mittee and surveyors has been unceasingly directed to
secure such estates only as, from their position and capa-
bilities, would prove advantageous to the shareholders ;
and, notwithstanding the present competition, and con-
sequent high price of land, they have been enabled to
purchase estates at Anerley, Camberwell, and Surbiton,
which they can confidently recommend as worthy the ac-
ceptance of the shareholders, and which they believe will
prove highly remunerative, in testimony of which they
refer to the fact that rights of choice in the estates have
exchanged hands at considerable premiums. A very large
number of estates have passed under consideration, most
of which the committee have been obliged to reject, but
they hope, in a short time, to announce to you the pur-
chase of other estates as eligible as those already secured.
In the present financial condition of the country, the
committee have deemed it advisable to increase the
rate of interest, on deposits and subscriptions of not
less than a year, to five per cent. for the current
year, commencing from the Ist of January last. To ex-
tend the operations of the society, deputations have at-
tended meetings in various parts of the metropolis, and
explained its objects. They have been well received, and
have generally secured good audiences and enrolled a con-
siderable number of shares. The committee have further
to announce that they intend holding a ballot for right of
choice during the first week in every month, and recom-
mend the shareholder s to take particular care that their
subscriptions are duly paid up, to entitle them to the ad-
vantages thereof. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN—You have heard the statement just
made by the secretary, and if any gentleman has any re-
mark to make, it will afford the committee great pleasure
to hear him. The committee have had numerous estates
offered to them, but they have for the present declined to
purchase ; but he was happy to announce to them that
they had one in addition to the Surbiton that would soon,
ho hoped, be secured to the shareholders. It would not
be judicious on his part to mention the exact locality, but
this he might say, it was a highly attractive one.
The adoption of the report having been moved by Mr.
ASTBURY, and seconded by Mr. FOWLING,
The CHAIRMAN put it to the meeting and declared it
carried unanimously.
The SECRETARY then read a list of amendments that
were proposed by the committee should be made in the
rules of the society.
Mr. ELIOART suggested in addition to the alterations
proposed by the committee, that alterations should he
made also in the 11th and 40th. The alteration proposed
having been submitted to the meeting,
The CHAIRMAN said it was not competent for the present
meeting to make the alterations that eveninn.. The am end-
meuts would be read at the next quarterly meeting,
and a special meeting would afterwards be held on
1 the 4th of July, in compliance with the act of Parlia-
ment, at which the amendments would be confirmed, if
sanctioned. Previous to either of the meetings, the
amendments would be printed and forwarded to each of the
shareholders. (Cheers.)
A discussion here followed, in which Mr. ,TONES, Mr. T.
C. GRATTAN, and Mr. SLEAP took part, with respect to the
size of the allotments in this as compared with other so-
cieties where the cost was only 35/.
Mr. VIGEns, the surveyor, said that the allotments of
the society ou the Anerley estates, were, within a few
roods, a quarter of au acre, and that of a superior quality,
and although the size of the allotments on the estates of
this society were not precisely a quarter of au acre, they
produced a premium of upwards of 501. He had a pro-
position to make respecting the Anerley estate with re-
spect to the roads; it was originally intended that they
should be forty feet wide, but this appearing unnecessarily
large, it was proposed to reduce it to 3 i feet, and to give
the 5 feet taken from the road to the shareholders-35 feet
would still be a handsome roadway.
Capt. CULPEPER and MT. GRATTAN both supported the
alteration, which having been put to the meeting in the
form of a resolution, was passed unanimously.
Mr. VIGERS, in giving a brief statement with respect to
a beautiful estate which it was proposes to purchase, said it
was situate close to a first-class railway station, and was
within 13 miles of London.
Thanks were, on the motion of Mr. MEDWIN, given to
the Chairman, and the proceedings terminated, having been
of the most satisfactory description.

THE SOUTHAMPTON DOCKS, MONDAY.— Such is the
foul state of these docks, that the Royal Mail Company's
steam-ship Magdalena was compelled this morning, be-
fore receiving her complement of cargo, to remove from
her berth and take up a position in the river, where
the remainder of her cargo will be conveyed to her
in a steam-tug. It is a well-known fact, that large
quantities of mud are being continually washed from the
banks of the river ltchen, and carried into the docks by
the tide ; but, nevertheless, means should be adopted to
prevent such serious inconveniences as must naturally
occur to ships of the Magdalena's class, if it is rendered
dangerous for them to receive their entire cargoes with-
out shifting from their berths.
SOUTHAMPTON, Monday, March 27.—The Peninsular
and Oriental Company's steamer, Iber'a, Captain F.
Meehan, sailed at 2 p.m. today for Vigo, Oporto, Lis-
bon, Cadiz, and Gibraltar, taking out, besides the usual
mails, 39 passengers, specie—value, 17,0001. for Lis-
bon, and 2,0001. for Gibraltar. The Peninsular and
Oriental Company's steamer Ripon, with the heavy por-
tion of the East /Ilia, China, Australian, and Mediter-
ranean mails, just telegraphed, is expected to reach
Southampton about the 2d or 3d proximo. The United
States' mail steam-ship Hermann, Captain E. Higgins,
will reach Southampton in the course of Tuesday (this
day), and is to leave, with the usual semi-weekly Ame-
rican mails, for New *York on Wednesday. The Ame-
rican steamer Nashville, Captain Berry, with dates
from New York to the 14th inst., is expected to arrive
off Cowes, on her way to Havre, about the 28th or 29th
instant.

RATES OF EXCHANGE,--The quotation of the rate of
exchange at Paris presents no further alteration of mo-
ment, but bills were becoming scarce, and, as the period
required by the Mint for coinage is now forty days, there
oos seecy etii in:
is no inducement to send gold from London, At Ham-
cmh
money
findr n
etboausrbi Ham-
burg,
in
nit three
is
co,
rtchuel
ai
per•leasteion c beeneansc absAu no
doas t
Amsterdamh alteration,osew butiu
rency on this side, the latest being that the English Go-
vernment The
are
St.
about
Petersburg toletters prohibit
are t
exportationo he
of bul-
lion. 18th inst.,
no fresh but they contain nothing new, and bring
ousEs.—The Commissioners of Cu.s•
B quo-
tationoN opfE exchange.
ellii,aAnitgEeH.
toms have given notice of their intention immediatois.
wtoacreohmouuiseenscethtraokuingghosutotckthoef
uallnittheedgoodtistiaotnthe honcrdn.
Act requiring that process and re
formity with the clauses in the
it% s:ingedom, liindation
11 toms' Consolidation
years. It has also been intimated that all goods whichfi every
7ve
shall be found to have been in bond for five years,
and
which shall be neglected to be cleared for home con-
sumption or exportation, or to be rewarohoused in the
owners name within one month from the date of notice
to the warehousekeeper, will be sold by the Customs
authorities, and that the proceeds, after deducting ware-
house-rent and duties, will be carried to the account of
the Crown, to abide the owner's claim. This intimation
isofcoii considerable importance to the commercial public,
especiallycaseas V take, month
requisite iistisoitbeesatlello)swae(fltefrorntoltiiecle)a.rties
in each
"Ews' FREE SCHOOL, BELL-LANE, SPITALFIELDS.
The anniversary festival was hell at the London Tavern
on Wednesday, the 22d iesemt, under the presidence
of the Earl Granville, who I,ii,dly took the chair, in
the unavoidable absence of Loud .lohn Russell. About
200 gentlemen sat down to an elegant repast ; and,
after a portion of the children had passed through the
room, and two of them had recited two excellent odes,
composed for the occasion, with remarkable clearness,
and facility, a list of contributions in aid of the funds
of the charity was read, reaching in all to the largo
amount of 2,0001. ; and several toasts were proposed
and acknowledged. In drinking " Prosperity to the In.
stitution," the noble Chairman, as one of the Committee
of Council on Education, took occasion, in that capacity,
to bear witness to the able manner in which the educe.
tional arrangements of the establishment are conducted,
and the advanced state of progress of the pupils. The
school now receives more than 1,300 children within its
walls, and has been for some time past under the haw,.
tion of the Committee of Council CM Education,