The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-26 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

The Queen held a Court, yesterday afternoon, at Buck-
ingham Palace. _

Viscount Stratford de Redoliffe, G.C.8., her Ma-
jesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
to the Sultan of Turkey, had an audience of the Queen,
to take leave, on his return to his Embassy at Constan-
tinople. _ _ _

The Right Hon. Sir Henry Lytton Bulwer, G.C.8.,
had an audience of her Majesty, on his arrival, on
temporary leave of absence, from his Legation at the
Court of Florence.

The noble Viscount and Sir Henry were respectively
presented to the Queen by the Earl of Clarendon,
K.G., her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs.
The Queen was attended by Lord Rivers, Lord in
Waiting, and Sir Edward Bowater, Groom in Waiting.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited her
Majesty, yesterday, at Buckingham Palace.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert presided, yester-
day afternoon, at a meeting of the Commission for pro-
moting and encouraging the Fine Arts in the rebuilding
the Palace of Westminster. His Royal Highness,
attended by Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon,
arrived at the Palace of Westminster at three o'clock.

The Commissioners present were the Earl of Carlisle,
Lord Colborne, Sir Robert H. Inglis, Bart. M.P., and
Mr. Hullam. Sir Charles L. Eastlake, the Secretary,
attended.

After the breaking up of the meeting, the Prince in-
spected some part of the building., His Royal Highness
left at twenty-five minutes past five o'clock, attended by
Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon.

Her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert,
attended by the Countess of Desart, the Hon. Caroline
Cavendish, the Hon. Flora Macdonald, Lord Rivers,
Lord Alfred Paget, and Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. A.
Gordon, honoured the performance of the French Plays
last evening with their presence.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, accom-
panied by the Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe. and
attended by Lady Fanny Howard and Lieut.-Colonel F.
Seymour, honoured the Princess's Theatre with her
presence last evening.
The Duchess of Kent visited the Duchess of Gloucester
yesterday, at Gloucester-house.
A deputation from Salisbury, with respect to the car-
rying out of the Public Health Act in that borough, had
an interview yesterday with the General Board of
Health, at their office, Whitehall. The deputation con-
sisted of Mr. George Sutton, Mr. Alderman Smith, and
Messrs. James George Coombs, Vandenhoff, and
Farran t.

Captain Beauclerc had an interview with the Earl of
Aberdeen, yesterday, at his official residence, Downing-
street.

A deputation from the Town Council of Wakefield,
consisting of the Mayor and Mr. Councillor Thomas
Micklethwaite, accompanied by Mr. George Sandars,
M.P., on the subject of the Public Health Act being
introduced into Wakefield, had an interview yesterday
with Sir W. Molesworth.

AUSTRALIAN ROY AL STEAM NAVIGATION
COMPANY.

Yesterday an extraordinary general meeting of the
shareholders of this company was held at the London
Tavern, Mr. J. Meek in the chair.

The report stated that the expenditure was chiefly
upon five iron steamers, which had been adopted by
Government as suitable to carry out the company's con-
tract with it for the conveyance of the mails every alter-
nate month. The company had been established for the
purpose of promoting the postal communication between
Great Britain and her Australian colonies. It came
into existence upon the 22d• of March, 1852, and upon
the 3d of June following it dispatched its first vessel,
the Australia, to Sydney, whose passage out and home
had been, notwithstanding the difficulties which beset
the undertaking, from want of time for due prepara-
tion, so far profitable as to justify the directors
in recommending a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent.
per annum upon the capital paid up at the 31st Decem-
ber, 1852. A monthly communication is, so soon as the
necessary arrangements can be made, to be established ;
and specifications have been received for the construc-
tion of three other steamers of larger power. From the
financial statement, it appeared that the whole of the
sum upon the debtor side amounted to 238,991/. 15s. 6d.,
of which 195,7531. represented the paid-up capital, and
13,1621. 18s. 3d. the excess of receipts over expenditure
upon the four voyages pending at the date of its being
drawn up. From the creditor side, it appeared that
188,8191. 17s. 6d. had been expended in the purchase of
a fleet, and that there was a balance on account remain-
ing to be dealt with. of 18,7211..178. 4d. Other items
balanced the account.

The CHAIRMAN said the capital of the company con-
sisted of 50,000 shares of 10/. each, Of these, 10,000
had-been.reserved for distribution in the colonies, and
the reinainiiig., 40,000 distributed in this country to a
stable and firm body of shareholders. Of the arrears of
call, most had been,paid, and there existed no doubt of
the payment of the whole. They had expended 188,891/.
10s. sd. in the purchaSe of ships, and although they had
purchased the Australia and Sydney to disadvantage,
being forced into the market, yet the money which they
cost could be realised if they were to be again sold. Of
the Melbourne he did not hesitate to say that it was
well purchased. The preliminary expenses only
amounted to 3,427/. 14s. 2d. The office expenses
were covered by 4,264/. Great changes consequent upon
the discovery of gold in Australia, had taken place since
the company had been started. The prospectus last year
spoke of the slow progress of emigration, but it would
be now difficult to overstate the magnitude and import-
ance of it. With that increase of immigration all ar-
ticles of consumption in the colonies had risen in price
200, 300, and 400 per cent., and with it commerce
had also increased in due proportion. Freights
had risen from 21.175. 6d. to Si. Bs. per ton.
The be-
nefits which the company derived from this state of
things upon the homeward voyage greatly preponderated
over the drawbacks, which were numerous
and impor-
tant. All their expenses in the colonies had increased,
especially in the item of coals, but they hoped that as
gold and copper had been found in such abundance, coal
would also be found in equal abundance. Indeed, he
had good grounds for the hope, as an important com-
pany had been just formed to work the coal fields of the
district of Newcastle and Hunter's River, and a day or
two since he himself saw a specimen of coal which was
brought from King George's Sound, and found about
30 miles from their station. As regarded the voyage of
the ship Australia the delay arose from hindrances which
were removeable, and which should be removed; Out, not-
withstanding all the hindrances, she had made the trip
out in 95 days, and that home in 112—saving, as com-
pared with sailing vessels, 24 days on the one, and 26
days on the other. He concluded by moving that the
report be received, adopted, and printed for circulation.
Mr. WALTON seconded the motion.
Mr. DAVIS moved an amendment to the effect that
the report be received, entered on the minutes, and
adopted, as far as related to the dividends, but that, in-
asmuch as the purchase of the Melbourne and other
matters required investigation, a committee should be
appointed for that purpose. In moving this he severely
criticised the management of the directors in the pur-
chase of the Melbourne.
Mr. MOORE seconded the amendment.
A long debate followed, at the conclusion of which,
The CHAIRMAN put the amendment, and declared it
lost. He then put the original resolution, which was
carried.
Mr. DAVIS upon this demanded a ballot for his amend-
ment, which was granted.
The dividend was then declared, Messrs. Frith and
Le Breton-elected directors, when the proceedings ter-
minated in the usual manner,

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