The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-25 00:00:00

BIDEFORD EXTENSION.

The first ordinary meeting of this company was held
yesterday at the London Tavern, Mr. G. Braginton in
the chair.

The Secretary read the report, in which the directors con-
gratulated the shareholders on their success in obtaining
the act incorporating the company, which received the royal
assent on the 4th inst. The only alterations in the bill
were caused by the requirements of Parliament. The
capital to be raised had been increased from 50,0001. to
55,0001., and the borrowing powers reduced from
16,6661. to 10,0001. The directors have conditionally
contracted for the construction of the line and stations
with Mr. Brassey, and also for leasing the line, as far as
the nature of railway law will admit, for the same period
that Mr. Brassey works the North Devon line ; he (Mr.
Brassey) finding everything and maintaining the line and
plant during the lease, the company providing the land
only. The directors propose obtaining possession of the
requisite land as early as possible, and to commence the
work immediately. They have the satisfaction to add
that Mr. Brassey has engaged to complete the line in
nine months from the time the company give him posses-
sion of the land and notice to proceed.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
stated that arrangements had been made for cutting the
first sod on Saturday, and for proceeding with the works
afterwards.

The report was adopted ; and, after a vote of thanks
to the chairman, the meeting separated.

YORK AND NORTH MIDLAND.

The report of the directors states that the sum of
37,743/. had been expended on capital account during
the past half-year upon the lines of the company, and
9811. on those of the Hull and Selby. Of these sums
19,0001. has been paid towards the construction of the
Victoria Dock, 14,2771. engineering works, 3,7171.
stations and buildings, 1,105/. land, and 7,7501. in full
discharge of the plaintiff's costs in the action and refer-
ence between Messrs. Crawshaw and the company. The
amount of capital raised by the company to the 30th of
June last was 5,601,0181., of which 3,211,2611. is Con-
solidated Stock, 711,0051. Preference Share Capital, and
1,678,752/. Debenture Debt. It has been found neces-
sary to expend a large sum in addition to the rolling stock.
Not only is the whole of the new stock already provided
continually in use, but further additions are urgently re-
quired. It would almost seem that the only limit to traffic
at the present time is the difficulty of furnishing sufficient
working stock ; and though the outlay is necessarily
large, the return afforded by the increase in the receipts
is very satisfactory. The opening of the Victoria Dock
branch in May has given rise to an increased amount of
goods traffic, which will be still further augmented when
the rails and other conveniences in connection with the
docks are completed. Many hundreds of passengers
travel daily around the town of Hull, on the principle of
low and uniform payments, greatly to the public conve-
nience, and with a remunerative profit to the company.
The final judgment of the Exchequer Chamber respect-
ing the mandamus issued by the Court of Queen's Bench
to compel the formation of a line from Market-Weighton
to Beverley, was delivered on the 29th of April, when
eight judges being present the unanimous decision of the
court was that the mandamns should be discharged. All
liability, therefore, in respect of this line, is now at an
end, and important questions of law settled, in which
railway companies generally are deeply interested. Con-
siderable progress has been made during the half-year in
the Chancery suit against Mr. Hudson. The whole of
them have now been heard, and in the principal one the
account has been taken, and an order made by the Mas-
ter of the Rolls that Mr. Hudson should pay into court
by January 11, 1854, the amount due to the com-
pany in respect of that suit, which in the certifi-
cate of the Rolls Court is fixed at 54,5901. On ap-
peal to the Lords Justices, this order was somewhat
varied, it being decided that 20,0001. should be paid
into court at the time named, and that the order for
the payment of the balance of 34,5901. should stand over
till Michaelmas term (November next), when the Mas-
ter of the Rolls will name a day for its payment. In
the other two suits the accounts have not yet been
taken, and the amounts to be recovered cannot be accu-
rately stated ; but the decrees of the Master of the Rolls
have decided in the company's favour all the claims made
by them in each of the suits with the exception of two
items of 901. and 701., and a claim of interest of 1,3451.
The attention of the directors has been strongly drawn
to the advantages of a branch, four or five miles long, to
connect the Leeds and Selby Railway with the lines
south and west of Leeds, and a preliminary survey will
at once be made, with a view to ascertain whether it can
be constructed at a cost which will justify them in ask-
ing the consent of the shareholders to apply to Parlia-
ment for the requisite powers. The lines of this company
having been worked since the Ist of April lastin con-
nexion with those of the York, Newcastle, and Berwick,
and Leeds Northern companies, it has been requisite to
present separate statements of the revenue for the first
and second quarters of the year. The accounts show
that the net balance received by this company, on joint
account for the three months is 65,1021. The general
result of the traffic for the
_half year cannot but be grati-
fying to the proprietors. The net revenue, after deduct-
ing working expenses, leaves a balance of profit of
112,7921., to which must be added the balance of 4,9211.
brought from last half-year's account. After deducting
from this amount the preferential charges of rent of the
Hull and Selby Railway, 33,000/., and interest on de-
bentures and guaranteed shares, &c., 58,0781., the sum
of 26,635/. will remain available for dividend on the
ordinary stock. The directors recommend that a
dividend should be declared at the rate of 11. 10s. per
cent per annum, which will leave a balance of
2,4651. to be carried to the credit of the current half
year. In allusion to the verdict by a coroner's jury
of manslaughter against three of the directors, the
report urges that such a charge as the directors
having knowingly neglected any precautions in their
power to secure the public safety would not attach to
them, no accident, either fatal or producing serious in-
jury to any passenger, having occurred since the year
1847, and during the intervening period upwards of
7,500,000 passengers have been safely conveyed over the
lines worked by the York and North-Midland Company.
The revenue accounts for the half-year ending the 30th
of June showed that 16,5481, bad been received, and

PORTSMOUTH, AUG. 24.
Another division of the Channel fleet,
comprising the
Duke of Wellington, 131, Commodore H. B. Martin,
C.B ; Agamemnon, 91, Captain Sir Thomas Maitland,
C.B. ; Imperieuse, 51, Captain R. B. Watson, C.B. ;
Arrogant, 46, Captain Fremantle ; and Desperate, 8,
Captain Chambers (all screw-ships), sailedfrom Spit-
head this morning on a cruise, under the orders of Com-
modore Martin. It was expected the squadron would
have been detained some days, owing to a court-martial
having been applied for to try the seamen's schoolmaster
of the Duke of Wellington for striking the commander
on the head, without (it is alleged) any provocation,
which would have prevented the Commodore from putting
to sea ; but it is expected the trial will take place after
the return of the screw squadron to this port. Lieu-
tenants Anderson and Somerset of the Duke of Wel-
lington, had the honour of showing the four Royal
children of her Majesty over that ship, even descending
with them to the hold, on the occasion of the Queen's
last visit to the Duke. On Monday the stewards of
the Commodore and the wardroom officers received a
donation of 101. each from the Queen, for their assist-
ance in their respective departments on that occasion.
The Commodore's cook has also received a royal dona-
tion of Si.
Captain the Hon. F. T. Pelham has taken up his com-
mission and joined the Blenheim, 60, screw guardship
at this port, vice Henderson, resigned. The departure
of Captain Henderson is much regretted by both the
officers and ship's company, but they will find a most
able and amiable successor to him in Captain Pelham,
whose command of the Odin, on her first commission,
was one of uninterrupted harmony. We believe, on
Captain Chads attaining his flag, Captain Henderson
will preside over the Royal Naval College, and command
the gunnery-ship Excellent.
The Vulcan, 6, iron steam troop-ship, Commander
Von Donop, is ordered round to the eastward and left
Spithead at 5 o'clock this evening. ,
The Stromboli, 6, paddle steam-sloop, Commander
Hall, hauled out of dock this afternoon, having had her
bottom cleaned.

The Vesuvius, 6, paddle-sloop has been paid advance
at Spithead to-day.
The Rolla, 6, seamen apprentices' instruction brig,
Lieutenant Fenwick, of the Victory, in charge, came
into harbour, from Spithead, this evening.
1

DEPTFORD, .A.uusT 24.
Immediately after the Board of Admiralty concluded
its sitting at Whitehall to-day, the Righ Hon. Sir James
Graham, First Lord of the Admiralty ; Rear-Admiral
the Hon. R. S. Dundas, C. 8., Captain Alexander
Milne, and the Hon. William Francis Cowper, M.P.,
Lords of the Admiralty ; Captain Sir Baldwin alker,
K.C.8., Surveyor of the Navy ; and Lieutenant-Colonel
Greene, Director of Engineering and Architectural
Works, proceeded to Deptford Dockyard, to inspect
that establishment. Their lordships arrived at the dock-
yard at 2 o'clock, having entered at the west gate of the
Victualling-yard, and passed through that establishment.
On alighting from the carriages they were received by
Captain George B. Martin, C. 8., Superintendent of the
Dockyard ; Mr. Pearn, master-attendant ; Mr. Mouchet,
storekeeper ; Mr. Couch, store-receiver ; Mr. Aitchison,
secretary ; Dr. Bruce, surgeon of the yard ; and Mr.
Bromell, acting in the absence of Mr. Willcox, master.
shipwright on leave, and entered the offices of the store-
keeper, where they remained upwards of an hour inspect-
ing the books and documents of the yard, and ascertain-
ing the various details connected with the establishment.
On leaving the offices of the storekeeper they proceeded to
the blacksmiths' shop, and passing through it, entered
the joiners' shop, where they witnessed some beautifully
polished wood from the coast of Africa, which has
been shown by Mr. Bennett, inspector of joiners, to be far
superior in richness of colour and more pleasing to the
eye than the best mahogany, although it is of common
use in the dockyards. From the joiners' shop their
lordships went to the schoolroom, and afterwards to
the storerooms, several hundred feet in length, where
the old records of the Admiralty are kept ; and some
idea may be formed of the variety of manuscripts in the
building, when it is stated that a portion, weighing
between 600 and 700 tons, was some time sent from
Deptford to the tower of London ; and among the rare
and valuable papers were muster-rolls and log-books,
some of them as far back as the reign of Queen Anne.
Passing along the south side of the yard, they visited a
spot where it is contemplated to make improved facili-
ties for stacking timber, and eligible approaches for
conveying the heavy materials to the places allotted to
protect it from the changes of weather. Their lord-
ships then went on board the Hannibal, 90, screw
steam-ship, now ready in her cradle for launching, but
that ceremony is put off until next spring. Their
lordships remained some time on board, and on
descending at the stern of the vessel inspected the ar-
rangements made for fitting her with a screw-propeller.
From the Hannibal they went to the rigging-house, and
inspected the large quantity
booftshtotrhees
Victualling and
including a large supply of sails and cables. The car-
riages were ordered at half-past four to proceed to the
Victualling-yard and remain in waiting at the Cocoa-
mills, whieh their lordships inspected to-day, and left
town at five o'olock, after having made themselves well
acquainted during their two days' inspection with the
most important portions of
Dock yard at Deptford.

WOOLWICH, Aucr. 24.
The Rhadamanthus steam-storeship, Master-Com-
mander Belam, arrived here yesterday from Pembroke,
Devonport, and Portsmouth, and will remain about
eight or ten days to have some slight defects made good
which she sustained while using extra power in en-
deavouring to move the Caesar, 90, at Pembroke, when
she held fast on the ways. On the Sunday afternoon
on which great exertions were made to get the vessel off,
the workmen and labourers outside showed their excel-
lent disposition by offering their services gratuitously to
assist those employed inside the yard. The Rhadaman-
thus has been found most useful in conveying large
quantities of stores with dispatch from one yard to an•
other when required, and in some instances piling her
decks so as to carry as many stores as the Simoom.
The Cyclops steam-frigate, now also employed as a
dockyard lighter, is effecting a great saving by her em-
ployment in that capacity, as the whole resources of the
various yards can now be made available at any of the
yards when requisite, and in a very limited time.
board
the now in the basin at' this dockyard, taking on
ines
the remaining portion of the machinery for the g
y.
steam-ship of 500-horse power, at Devonport
tbohfoear etrhdettl Cee r
boilerseCs Cyclops opBason, willad
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VALUE OF LAND IN THE CITY OF LONDON.—The
estates committee of St. Thomas's Hospital met on
Tuesday to receive tenders for a piece of land belonging
to their corporation, and which has reverted to them In
the course of the improvements in the neighbourhood of
and connected with the new Royal Exchange. The
land in question is situated at the north-west corner of
Finch-lane, which is to be widened and rounded, and
contains only about 400 square yards. It is let on lease
for a term of 80 years, and for this small piece of land
the enormous rent of 1,3001. per annum net has been
given
dwith a condition to
Companyonebuilding. This letting,
übpyon the
ita Australasiansubstant ais t
if calculated at its freehold value at the ordinary pre-
pre-
sent price of Consols, would represent the extraordinary
sum of rather more than 520,000/. per acre.
CHINESE SAYINGS.—Some of the ordinary expressions
of the Chinese are sarcastic enough. A blustering harm-
less fellow they call "a paper tiger." When a man
values himself overmuch they compare him to a "rat
falling into a scale and weighing itself." Overdoing a
thing they call "a hunchback making a bow." A
spendthrift they compare to a rocket which goes off at
once. Those who expend their charity on remote ob-
jects, but neglect their family, are said "to hang their
lantern on a pole, which. is awn afar, but giTen no light
below,"