The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-16 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 16, 1854.

TNIVERSAL PROVIDENT LIFE
.J ASSI RANCE, 52, King William•street, London-bridge.
LIFE ASSURANCE. Allrmance in sickness.
EDWARD PUGH RAWSELL, Secretary. •

GENERAL STEAM NAVIGATION
COM P -VN Y. .
Incorporated by Act of Parliament.
71, Lombard-street, London.
Notice is Hereby Given, That the Half-yearly General Meeting' of
the Proprietors of this Company will be held at tire Company's Office,
71. Lombard-street, on Tuesday. the 2qh instant, at Two o'Clock pre-
2isely, pursuant to the Act of Parliament, to transact the usual bust-
less, and to declare the dividend for the half-year ending the 31st
December, 1853.

MARTIN PRATT, Secretary,

London, Feb. 1, 1854

THE EASTERN STEAM NAVIGATION
C 'MPANY.

Incorporated by Royal Charter.
Offices-13, Gresham street.
At the THIRD ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of PROPRIE-
TORS; in this COMPANY, held at the London Tavern, llishopsgate-
street, London, on Wednesday, the 15th February, 1854 ;
HENRY T. HOPE, Esq , in the Chair ;
The Notice for holding the Meeting and the Report of the Court
of Directors having been read,
It was proposed by Trios Bisector., Esq., seconded by Jolts IL
Pitimprs, Esq., M.P.. and carried unanimously, "That the Report
now read be adopted."
I,opos,d by J 011 ti HARVEY, Esq , seconded by HENRY R. TREItEEN,
Esq , and carrii d unanimously, " 1 hat W. W. Cargill, Esq., and
.l roes E. Co email, E=q , he, and are hereby reelected Auditors of
the Company for the ensuing year, and that the thanks of this meet-
ing are due to those gentlemen fur the efficient discharge of their im-
portant duties"

IW. T. HOPE, Chairman

Proposed by C. F. GREEN. Eq., seconded by B. F. WATSON, Esq.,
,nd c irried unanimously, " That the best thanks of this meeting be,
and are h reby given to the Court of Directors for their unwearied
attention to the int, rests of the Company, and to thq Chairman for
the kind, courteous, and efficient discharge of his duties this day."
JOHN YATES, Secretary.

It was then moved by 11. R. TREIIERN, Fsq., seconded by Jcuit4
HARVEY, Esq., ..11,1 carried unanimously, "That the best thanks of
this m •eting be accorded to the Secretary for the unwearied diligence
unit; Tmly displayed by him in the discharge of the duties of his irn-
poi taut office."

OZEAU'S COPAHINE-MEGE, or Saccharatt,

C A.PSULES, approved by the French College 01 Physicians,
successfully administered in the Paris and London Hospitals, and
acknowledged by them to be the best remedy for the cure of
certain ~ieases (see " faucet " 6th Nov., 1852.) Price, per 100,
4.. Gcl. ' - 50, 2s. 9,1.—T0 be had of the Inventor, Gabriel Jozeau,
Fr nch Chemist, 49, Haymarket, London, whose name is printed on
the Government stamp ; and all the principal chemists.

ducing the town of Londonderry to a state of ruin. Since
the change in the leases of the town property the city
had become prosperous. The income of the society from
these leases amounted to 2,500/. yearly, and the society
had required from the tenants, for leave to convert their
leases into perpetuity leases, a sum of between 100,000/.

and 150,0001. The standing order to which he had referred
was passed, in 1847, and had the effect of preventing the
introduction of manufactures into the town. He now came

to the expenditure of the society, and he asked whether
trustees could be justified in spending within the last ten
years so great a sum as 22,0001. in law, and in appro-
priating to themselves within the same period 4,9001. in
the shape of fees. He had to complain of the excessive
expenses of management in proportion to the income,
and he considered that the large sums voted for deputa-
tions, entertainments, and fees ought to go to the benefit
of the towns of Londonderry and Coleraine.
The Chairman : Are there any practical remedies which
have occurred to you as being desirable to adopt to
secure a better management of these estates ?

Mr. Haslett replied that he did not think the Irish
Society could ever be made serviceable as at present
constituted. It was composed of gentlemen residing in
London, having extensive business avocations of their
own to pursue, and who seemed to think that what was
good for London was good all the world over, and were
ignorant of the peculiar circumstances and requirements
of Ireland. Again, the society was managed by 24
gentlemen, 12 of whom went out of office every year
withcut being eligible for re-election, the conse-
quence of which was that, a member being only elected
for two years, as soon as he bad made any progress in
acquiring a knowledge of the business of the society he
had to retire from office, and give place to another mem-
ber totally unacquainted with the duties. The result
was that the representations of the tenants were often
kindly listened to, and promises made that they would
be attended to ; but as the members who had the pro-
mises almost immediately afterwards went out of office,
they were never fulfilled, and no satisfaction could be
obtained. Again, the members were appointed not
because of their competency but for other reasons, such
as the desire for a pleasant excursion to Ireland and the
like, which were no doubt very agreeable. The estates
of the London companies in Ireland were generally well
managed, and he thought the Irish Society had shown
less liberality, as landlords, than the companies had
done. On the other hand, if the Irish Society were pro-
prietors instead of trustees, he would admit that their
conduct would not be subject to so much criticism ;

_ut, regarding them in the latter capacity, their manage-
ment must be highly condemned. He thought their
management expenses amounted to 60 per cent. of their
income.
Mr. Cornewall Lewis—Do you think it would be for
the benefit of the county of Londonderry if all the pro-
perty of the Irish Society and of the Loudon companies
were sold for the benefit of the companies and of the
trusts, and if the land were set free and sold to private
purchasers ?
Mr. Haslett believed it would be of great advantage
to have the land set free, but he had not paid so much
attention to the country districts as to the town districts.
He thought great advantage would result if the same
system were adopted over the society's estates as had
been adopted in the case of ecclesiastical leases. His
opinion was that, the Crown having granted these lands
for particular purposes, it ought to take care that the
trust was faithfully administered.
Mr. Anthony Babington, land agent, of Londonderry,
next gave evidence, which was generally confirmatory of
the statements made by the previous witness. He
pointed out the evils arising from the management
of these estates being entrusted to a fluctuating body
like the Irish Society. He believed that the London
secretary, and not the Irish agent, exercised most prac-
tical control over the property. The society's system of
management was very extravagant, and he knew from
personal experience, as a land agent having the manage-
ment of large estates entrusted to him, that private pro-
prietiirs would be very dissat'sfied if more than 5 per
cent. was absorbed in management expenses. The rural
property of the society was 1,500 Irish acres, or about
3,400 English acres, and the rental was between 2,0001.
and 3,0004 a year. The farm buildings, repairs, drain-
age, and other improvements were all effected by the
tenants, and in all his experience he did not recollect an
instance of any money belonging to the society having,
been expended upon the property. The estate was
divided between forty and fifty tenants. The witness
then stated the evils arising from the system of short
leases. The society refused to grant renewals of leases
to improving tenants. He himself held property
under the society, and bound himself to lay out
7501. in seven years on his holding. He made this out-
lay, and an outlay of several thousands besides, and when
he memorialised for an extension of the lease, the answer
he received was that a new lease of fourteen years should
be granted him at the expiration of the running lease, at
an increased rent of 50 per cent., and upon the distinct
understanding that he should waive his tenant right, and
that the whole of the buildings then on the land, or to be
placed upon it, with the other improvements, should be-
come the exclusive property of the society, at the expira-
tion of that term. He need not add that this "liberal"

offer proved a damper to himself and also to the other
tenants. He believed that it would be a great advan-
tage to Londonderry and its vicinity if the property
were sold and the proceeds invested for the purposes to
which the pre-ant income was applicable.
Mr. T. Colquhoun and Mr. George Franks, solicitors
of Londonderry, were next examined, and gave similar
testimony, citing instances at which they alleged that
the society had acted oppressively towards its tenants.
Sir Robert Ferguson' M.P. for Londonderry corrobo-
rated the statements of the foregoing members of the
deputation. He said he thought it was absolutely neces-
sary that the corporation of Londonderry should be
made independent of the Irish Society, and that:the con-
tribution of 1,2001. a-year for corporate salaries and mu-
nipal improvements -should be placed on a satisfactory
footing. The society held that this payment was merely
optional, and " during pleasure." This point ought to
be cleared up and settled, and itwas indispensably neces-
sary that the nature and extent of the Irish Society's
trust should be strictly and clearly defined. His recom-
mendations with respect, to the Irish Society were, first,
that a sum should be secured from the society for the
payment of the corporation officers ; secondly, that the
same principle which now prevailed with regard to Irish
Church property and the estates of Trinity College,
Dublin should be applied to the leases of the Irish So-
ciety. He considered a fluctuating body like the Irish
Society could never manage their estates satisfactorily.
The system involved as much uncertainty as might be
conceived to arise when a body of tenants were handed
over to a new landlord every year, and this objection
could not be obviated so long as the corporation of Lon-
don appointed the managers of the estates.
Mr. Lewis—What do you think would be the effect
if the corporation of London elected members from the
twelve companies for life, to manage the property !
Sir R. Ferguson said that the twelve companies held
that their position did not involve the performance of
any public duties, and regarded themselves merely as
private proprietors, and therefore he could not recom-
mend that they should be intrusted with these func-
tions. If the corporation appointed a body to manage
the estates for a period of ten years, that would cer-
tainly be some improvement ; 14 that arrangement
would be still open to the objection that all these parties
had their own private business to attend to in London.
At the same time nothing could be worse than the
present management.
The inquiry was then adjourned to this day.

BANKING Horms.—The following reply, signed by a
large majority of the city banking firms, has been given
to the protest recently made by some of the principal
wholesale traders of London against a supposed inten-
tion to alter the hour of opening. It was obvious that the
difficulty suggested could not be got over, and the pri-
vate banks will therefore be unable to fall into the pro-
position of the Bank of England, but will begin at nine,
as heretofore. It is, nevertheless, to be regretted that
a uniform resolution could not be arrived at, since the
proposed change vs ould have inflicted no inconvenience
upon the general public, while it would have corn-
prised advantages by affording an hour before the
commencement of payments, which would often
prove valuable in cases of robbery, losses, or other
casualties, that are not detected until just at the open-
ing of business. Meanwhile it is a characteristic
fact, that the whole cause of the obstruction to the de-
sired arrangement is attributed to the authorities of the
Customs. The cheques required to be cashed between 9
and 10 are those of houses having to pay heavy duties,
for which the Customs. will accept nothing but Bank of
England notes. Some years back a memorial was ad-
dressed to the Treasury pointing out the serious dangers
and inconveniences involved_ in this practice, and the
anxiety experienced by the mercantile community in
being compelled to send large sums of ' money through
the streets in the hands of their clerks. But, although
the request to be allowed to make- payment in
cheques was coupled with the suggestion that they
should all be marked by the bankers on whom they
were drawn, to signify that they would be duly
paid, or that, if this were not deemed sufficient, any
amount of Consols should be transferred tolhe Customs
Commissioners as security, it was peremptorily refused,
with an intimation that "their Lordship" larould con-
sider it inconsistent with the safety of the publicservice :
" London, Feb. 13.

" Gentlemen,—Refet ng to a communication- which has
appeared, expressing surprise and regret at the supposed re-
solutiou of the bankers of the city of London not to open for
business until 10 o'clock, we beg most respectfully to Inform
you and the other gentlemen signing that document tliat no
such resolution has ever been adopted by us, and that we
have uniformly opposed the change proposed, as an un ailed
for and inconvenient alteration of the established hourti of
business in this city.
" We are, gentlemen, your obedient servants,
" Glyn, Mills, and Co.Robarts, Curtis, and Co.,
Jones, Loyd, and Co.,
Prescott, Grote, and Co.
Travers and Sons,
Moffatt and Co.,
Barclay and Co.,
Smith, Payne, and Smiths,
Martin and Co.,
Hankey and Co.,
Williams, Deacon, and Co.,
Rogers, Olding, and Co.,
Willis; rorceral, and C 0.," 4c.

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.

MOVEMENTS OF THE GUARDS IN LONDON.

It was expected that the two battalions of Grenadier
Guards, quartered in St. George's Barracks, Charing-
cross, numbering 850, and the Scots Fusilier Guards,
stationed at the Wellington Barracks, also 850, would
have left the metropolis this week, the former this day
(Thursday), and the latter troops on Saturday next, en
route for Portsmouth, where they are to embark for the
Mediterranean ; but the departure of both troops has
unavoidably been postponed for a few days in conse-
quence of the soldiers not having been supplied with the
requisite flannels for under dresses, and other articles
rendered necessary for the journey. But the Grenadier
Guards have received orders to be prepared to leave
London, under the command of Colonel Brown, on
Tuesday morning next, when in all probability the Scots
Fusiliers will also take their departure. It is expected
that the three regiments, viz., the above and the Cold-
stream Guards, at present quartered at Chichester, will
all sail at the same time, in order to effect an arrival, as
near as possible, in a body at their destination.

A Eorse Guards circular just issued provides for the
augmentation of the army. The men to be raised will
be borne as supernumeraries-until the Ist of April next,
from which date the increased establishment will be
authorised by the War-office. The Ist battalion of the
Grenadier Guards is to be augmented from 800 to
1,000 rank and file ; and the six remaining battalions of
the Foot. Guards from 640 to 800 rank and file. The
following seven regiments are to be increased from 900
to 1,000 rank and file, namely-the 2d, 6th, 15th, 59th,
60th (2d battalion), 73d, and Ist battalion of the Rifle
Brigade.
The following 56 regiments are to be augmented from
850 to 1,000 rank and file, namely-Ist Foot (Ist and
2d battalions), 3d, 4th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 413th, 14th, 16th
17th, 19th, 21st, 26th, 27th, 28th, 30th, 31st, 33d,
34th, 35th, 36th, 38th, 39th, 40th, 41st, 42d,
46th, 47th, 48th, 49th, 50th, 54th, 55th, 57th, 58th,
62d, 63d, 65th, 66th, 67th, 68th, 69th, 72d, 77th,
79th, 82d, 85th, 88th, 89th, 90th, 92d, 93d, 95th,
97th, and 2d battalion Rifle Brigade.
The service companies of regiments are to consist of
600, and the depots of 400 rank and file, with the excep-
tion of those ordered for immediate active service, and
with reference to which special orders will in each case
be given. The 71st Regiment, on the arrival of the re-
serve battalion in this country, will be reduced from
1,200 to 1,000 rank and file, and will be divided in the
manner above specified. The 12th and 91st Regiments
are to remain at their present establishment of 1.200
rank and file ; and the sth, 20th, 23d, 37th, 44th, 45th,
56th, 76th, and 99th at that of 1,000 rank and file.

SOUTHAMPTON, FEB. 15.

Telegraphic instructions have this afternoon been re-
ceived from the Admiralty to prepare for the positive
embarcation of two regiments of infantry on Saturday,
the baggage of which will be sent to their port for shipment
on Friday. The Ripon, Manilla, and Orinoco steam-
ships will be in readiness, and there is apparently no-
thing to prevent the departure from taking place punc-
tually on the day mentioned. It is understood the troops
will come down on Saturday morning, and that the trains
conveying them will run right into the docks alongside
the respective ships. The Master Shipwright of Wool-
wich dockyard yesterday made an inspection of the va-
rious steamships belonging to the Peninsular and Orien-
tal and West India Mail Companies chartered by the Go-
vernment, with a view of enabling the authorities to fix
upon the precise number of soldiers to be apportioned to
each ship. Major Purvis, brigade major of the south
western district, has also been engaged in a survey of
the ships, and, in conjuction with Capt. Anstin, R.N.,
C. 8., the Admiralty Superintendent of Packets, will
superintend the embarkation of troops on the part of
the Admiralty and Horse Guards authorities.

No alteration in the destination of the steam trans-
ports which are to sail from Southampton and from the
other ports has yet been officially made known, and
the island of Malta is still, therefore, the point for
which (unless other instructions should be received)
the vessels will steer. As it is not intended that
they should touch at Gibraltar, the Ripon and Ori-
noco will, it is anticipated, with moderately fine wea-
ther, reach Malta in eight to nine days, and the Manilla
in probably 12 days. All the ships will, however, have
taken on board a sufficient supply of coals to carry them
on to the Dardanelles, or the Bosphorus, if necessary,
or, in case of running short, might fill up at Malta. It
is supposed to be the real intention of the Government
that the various detachments of troops intended for ac-
tive service, and about to embark, shall not land at
Malta, but that the flotilla of ships arriving at that
island will find additional orders awaiting them to pro-
ceed without loss of time to certain points of the Otto-
ma❑ territory, where there services will be needed. Of
course, these arrangements will be greatly modified by
the current of public events. By way of Paris and
Marseilles orders can be conveyed to Malta in four days,
and there is little doubt that the final instructions as to
the ultimate destination of the several divisions of the
British military force will be sent out in this way, Malta
being in the meantime a convenient rendezvous, where
the squadron of transports will be concentrated in im-
mediate proximity to the theatre of war, and ready to
be thrown upon any given point in the Levant for dis-
embarkation and active service.

PLYMOUTH, FEB. 15.

The 93dRegiment(Sutherland Highlanders) are making
every preparation for their departure. The height of the
bonnets of the two flank companies has been reduced
from 16 inches to 10, and that of the battalion com-
panies from 12 inches to 8 ; the feathers will be
shortened in proportion. The officers will have to leave
two thirds of their ordinary baggage behind. The
strength of the 93d is 880 men ; they count at present
829. The commanding officer, Colonel Ainslie, inspected
accoutrements yesterday, in order to see that all was
ready for service. Recruits have for some time past
been under thin five hours instead of four per day, sa-
crificing their school hour to the urgency of the present
occasion. There are in this regiment 250 married men
—a number unusually large ; of these only 45 of the
oldest, including the paymasters, can take their wives
with them. The distress of separation will fall particu-
larly hard on these women the daughters of emigrants to
Canada, in which colony they were married in 1848,
just previous to the regiment leaving forEugland. The
93d is expected to embark on Saturday, and their quar-
ters in the Citadel will, it is said, be occupied by the
20th Regiment, now stationed at Devonport.

WOOLWICH, FEB. 15.
ROYAL ARTILLERY.

Captain Gilbert's troop of the Royal Horse Artillery
left the garrison at 7 o'clock a.m. to-day, en route to
Chatham, to make room for the horses ordered to be
brought to head-quarters.
Eighty gunners, young recruita, left Woolwich this
morning for Sheerness, Shorncliffe, and Dover, where
a number of men of the Ist, 4th, and 9th battalions are
at present serving, and who have been ordered to join
at head-quarters with the horses of the companies at
these stations selected to fill up the batteries under
orders for the Mediterranean. _ _ _

2,000 Mini 4 rifles have been drawn for the Royal
Artillery, and all the gunners ordered for foreign ser.
vice are to be supplied with that arm.

ROYAL SAPPERS AND MINERS.
Upwards of one-half of the men who only returned a
few week's ago after their long service in Kaffir war at
the Cape of Good Hope, have volunteered for service in
the companies under orders to proceed to the Mediter-
ranean stations.

LIVERPOOL, FEB. 15.

On Monday 34 seamen (volunteers) were forwarded to
London from Liverpool, through the instrumentality of
Capt. Bevis, R.N., Admirality agent, and 30 will pro-
ceed hence to-morrow (Thursday). Capt. Bevis is also
making preparations for embarking a regiment of sol-
diers, 900 strong, at present stationed at Leeds, per the
Cunard steam-ship Niagara, which will take her depar-
ture hence for Malta on Saturday next.

LEEDS, FEB. 15.

The detachment of the 28th Regiment, consisting of
two companies, stationed in Leeds (which was the head
quarters of the regiment), under the command of Oolonel
Adams, received marching orders in the early part of
the week, which were communicated to the regiment on
parade on Tuesday. They took their departure this
morning, and as they passed down Briggate, and indeed
along the entire road from the barracks, they were
loudly cheered by thousands of spectators. They pro-
ceeded hence to Preston, to join the other companies of
the regiment, and will wait there for further orders to
embark for the seat of war.

It is understood that Lord Raglan refused the com-
mand of the British contingent, now mustering on our
southern shores for Turkey, unless it were made up to
the number of 20,000 men—anything short of this he
justly considered ineffective. As an old Peninsular
officer of great experience, he knew well how rapidly the
ranks are thinned in a campaign from fatigue, climate,
and a host of other diseases, not to talk of the unavoid-
able casualties before the fire of the enemy.
His opinion has been approved of, and six additional
battalions have been warned for active service. Several
British officers have applied to the authorities to serve In
the army of the Caucasus, where good officers are greatly
in demand, and where an important blow might be
struck to paralyse the military resources of Russia. The
cavalry force at present contemplated to be sent out
under Lord Raglan is to consist only of 500 men picked
from the Bth Hussars and 17th Lancers. This number
is less than that of one horse regiment on foreign ser-
vice. Each cavalry corps in India consists of 750
troopers.
General Brown, Colonel Airey, Lord Cardigan, and
several other superior officers have volunteered their
services for the East.
Nothing as )et is settlsd• as to what command his
Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge will receive.
Colonel Evre is to be appointed either as Adjutant-
General or Quartermaster• General to Lord Raglan's
foice.

DUBS, Wedneeday.—The warlike moyements an.