The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-21 00:00:00

DUBLIN AND DROGHEDA.

The half-yearly report of the directors, to be submitted
to the next general meeting, shows that the traffic re-
ceipts for the half-year ending 31st of December, 4852,
amounted to 30,3471., being an increase over those of
the corresponding half of the preceding year of 3,1161.
This increase appears to the directors as very satisfac-
tory, and leads them to look forward to such a further
augmentation of the company's income, when the via-
duct over the Boyne will be completed, and extension
of the Navan branch to 'Cells will be opened for traffic,
as will afford the shareholders a fair return for the
capital they have embarkedln-the undertaking. The
viaduct over the Boyne at Drogheda has been steadily
progressing ; and though the weather during the winter
has been very unfavonrable, the contractor, Mr. Evans,
still hopes to have it ready for the passage of trains at
the time originally agreed on, viz., in the month of May.
In pursuance of the resolutions passed at the last general
meeting, the preference of 4 per cent. shares then
created have been issued to the extent of 1,454 shares ;
and with the proceeds arising therefrom, and other
moneys in the hands of the company, the mortgage debt
due to the Dublin and Belfast Junction Company has
been reduced from 183;433/. to 130,0001. As these
preference shares afford a most unexceptionable security,
the directors have no doubt that they will soon be dis-
posed of, and the company thereby enabled to effect a
saving in the annual charge for interest. The balance
of net profits for the half-year is 10,7141., out of which
the directors recommend a dividend of 245. per old share,
and Bs. per third share, to be declared, which will
amount to 9,1261., and will leave a balance to be carried
to the reserve fund of 1,5881.

GREAT SOUTHERN AND WESTERN (IRELAND).—The
half-yearly meeting of this company was held in Dublin
on Saturday. The attendance was large, and the chair
was taken by Sir E. M'Donnell, chairman of the com-
pany. The directors, in their report, stated that the
traffic for the past half-year, as compared with the cor-
responding period of 1851, showed an increase of 16,139/.,
nor was the increase confined to any particular traffic,
but appeared to be extended to passengers, goods, and
cattle. There was a 'slight increase in the working ex-
penses, which, as compared with the receipts, were
equal to 34 per cent. The nett surplus revenue for the
half-year was 60,9581., out of which a dividend at the
rate of 4i per cent., or 11. 2s. 6d. per share, was recom-
mended. This would leave a balance of 4,7081. to be
carried to the next half-year's account. Arrangements
had been made for carrying out the magnetic telegraph
between Dublin and Cork. The Killarney Junction
Railway will be opened in May next. The report was
unanimously adopted.
EAST INDIAN RAILWAY.—The annual general meet-
ing of this company was held on Friday, at the office, 50,
Old Broad-street ; Mr. H. A. Aglionby, MP., in the
chair. The reports which we have already published,
was their read. A balance-sheet, and a statement of the
receipts and expenditure during the past year, were also
submitted to the proprietors. The home receipts, for
calls on original shares, deposits on extension B shares,
guaranteed interest, &C., were 200,0681, lls. ld. ; India,
9,9851. 6s. lid. • total, 210,5031. 18s. Payments, in-
cluding interest to proprietors, 144,384/. 12s. 7d.; India,
161,2281. 13s. ld. ; total, 305,6131. ss. Bd. The chair-
man moved the adoption of the report, which was
unanimously agreed to ; and, in reply to a question,
stated there was no reason to apprehend any interference,
as regards any other line, by which their interests would
be affected. A vote of thanks to the chairman and
directors terminated the proceedings.

Is THERE A BOURBON IN THE UNITED STATES 1--The
second number of Putnam's Monthly Magazine—a new
American serial, under the conduct of several of the
most eminent literary men in the United States—con-
tains an essay professing to establish the existence, in
the person of the Rev. Eleazer Williams, an American
missionary, of Louis XVII., heir of the throne of
France—in other words, that young Dauphin, whom
Simon, the jailor, treated with such brutality, and whom
historians relate to have died in his childhood. The
narrative is by one Rev. John Hanson, whose " worth
and ability " is assured by the Rev. Dr. Hawks, a well-
known clergyman of New York. The writer attempts
to prove, amongst other things, that Belanger, in 1848,
confessed, when dying, that he had conveyed the Dau-
phin to the United States ; that the French Ambassa-
dor, Genet, acknowledged that the Dauphin was in the
state of New York in 1817 ; that the Indian woman,
his reputed mother, does not acknowledge him to be her
child, whilst boxes of clothing and medals of Louis
XVI. and Maria Antoinette were left with the child ;
that he recognised the portraits of Simon the jailor, and
of Madame Elizabeth, when unexpectedly placed before
him by Professor Day; that, like the Dauphin, Williams
was idiotic at the age of thirteen, and that various in-
quiries have been made about him, from time to time,
by ecclesiastical and other dignitaries of France. This
is the substance of the various allegations attempted to
be substantiated by outward testimony; but the evidence
most direct, and at the same time most susceptible of in-
stant disproof, is that advanced by Mr. Williams him-
self, and which is to this effect :—He asserts, and is so
far supported by the evidence of others, that when the
Prince de Joinville was in America in 1841, he sought
out the rev. gentleman, and paid him distinguished at-
tention. But this is far from being all. The Prince not
only sedulously cultivated the rev. gentleman's acquaint-
ance, but, in an interview fixed by himself, disclosed the
fasts of William's history. A variety of circumstantial
evidene is given, but most of the rest' is highly impro-
bable, and almost refutes itself. Thus it is said, " With
regard to documents Mr. Williams has been u naccount-
ably careless. A short time since he received a letter,
purporting to be from the private secretary 'of Louis
Napoleon, making inquiries
in a respectful manner con-
cerning the events of his life, and also similar communi-
cations from several French bishops, and a cardinal, but
for reasons best known to himself, he returned no
answer. These letters, together with one from Louis
Philippe, were accidentally burned a few weeks ago
whilst lying on his table " (!) All this is very clumsy—
unworthy of a rappist or inen. a clairvoyant.