The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-30 00:00:00

MALTA.

MALTA, JULY 25.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's screw-
ship Bengal, with the Indian mail, has just ar-
rived ; and the Valetta will proceed this afternoon
to Marseilles.

The Fury, steam-sloop, Commander Tatham,
from Marseilles, arrived this morning, and will go
to Besika Bay early to-morrow.
The Triton, packet, is preparing for a trip to
Besika Bay. Her station will be supplied by the
Ardent, which will run between Malta and Corfu
with the mails.

The weather is oppressively hot, the thermome-
ter ranging within doors 86 to 91 deg.
The Modeste, sloop, Commander Lord Compton,
was lying at Leghorn on the 18th inst.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH.

The first general meeting of this company was held
yesterday, at the offices, Great George-street, Westmin-
ster ; Mr. Mowatt in the chair.
Mr. G. W. HORNE, the secretary, read the report,
from which we take the following extracts :
" The directors have much satisfaction in meeting the
shareholders at the earliest opportunity possible, under the
company's act of incorporation, which received the Royal
assent on the Bth inst. only.
" Although the bill was strenuously opposed in its early
stages by rival railway interests, it was finally carried
through Parliament with but little delay, and, what is of
still more importance, at very little expense, the whole
cost incurred in obtaining the act, and up to the present
time, for engineers, solicitors, and all other charges, not
exceeding 11,0001.
"With the double view of insuring the construction of
the line within a limited period, and at a definite cost, the
directors have entered into a provisional contract with Mr.
Brassey, by which he has engaged to make and deliver over
the line within a period of two years, for the fixed sum of
350,000/.
"For this amount he has undertaken to supply one en-
tire single line of railway, together with land, bridges, and
tunnels for a double line, and all stations and fixed plant,
he further engaging to pay the ordinary agricultural value
of all the lands required, together with damage of every
description, leaving the company only to defray the extra
cost in those cases where an amount in excess of this value
will have to be paid.
" The additional sum for which the company will become
liable for laud under this arrangement the directors are of
opinion will not exceed 7,0001. or 8,0001. in the whole.
" This contract will be now submitted for the approval
of the shareholders, and the directors have no hesitation
in recommending it earnestly for their adoption.
" With the view of enabling the shareholders to make
provision for the payment of calls with the greatest conve-
nience to themselves, the directors have, with the assistance
of the engineers, prepared the following approximate esti-
mate of the periods at which calls will be required to be
paid, viz.:— _

In November, 1853, £2, yielding
March, 1854, £2, „
June, 1854, £4, „
September, 1854, £3, „
January, 1855, £3, „

... £40,000
... 40,000
... 80,000
... 60,000
... 60,000

Add the deposit of 2/. 2s.

280,000
42,000

£322,000
And in April or May the balance required to finish the
line, unless otherwise raised under the borrowing Wye"
of the company."
The CHAIRMAN moved the adoption of the rePorto
which was unanimously agreed to.
The arrangement with Mr. Brassey for the construc-
tion of the line for 350,0001. was agreed to ; and the
directors, after some opposition, were authorised to
make arrangements to pay Mr. Brassey an additional
sum to construct the railway as a double line. The fur-
ther consideration of Mr. Brassey's proposal to lease the
line for five years, at a rent equivalent to 4 per cent. per
annum and half profits, was postponed by mutual con-
sent to the next half-yearly meeting.
The salary of the secretary was fixed at 4001. a-year
and the remuneration of the auditors (Messrs. H. Lacy'
and Robins), at 501. per annum each.
The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to
the chairman and directors.

LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—It ap-
pears that the directors of this company have resolved
to recommend to the proprietors at the general meeting,
on the 10th of August next, that the dividend for the
half-year ending the 30th of June last be at the rate of
31 per cent, per annum on the capital.
APPOINTMENT.—Mr. R. Birn~ barrister, eldest son
of the late Sir Richard Birnie, has been appointed, by
the Duke of Newcastle, Advocate• General for Western
Australia, at Swan River, in the room of Mr. Moore,
resign