The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-09 00:00:00

COURSE OF EXCH.

:A.NGEr--YESTERDAY.

Amsterdam.-- .... 11 17%

Ditto, three months .. 11 19
Rotterdam ............ 11 19
Antwerp .............. 25 SO
Brussels .............. 25 30

Gibraltar •• •• •• ••..••••
(Leghorn •• •• •• •• •• •• •30 5
Genoa ........... . 25 35
Milan •• •• •• ••• ••••

llamburgh ............ 13 BV,
•• •• .... 25 73
Ditto, three months •• 25 ZO
~........ 25 30
Bourdeaus
Frankiort-on•Maine .... 1201 A

Venice •• •• • • •• •• • • •-• '••
Naples ..•• •••••••••• •• 41%
Prim rno •• •• •• .• •• .• •• 124%
Messina ....... . 125
Lisbon ••••••e••• •• •• •• 5316
Oporto ..........
Rio Janeiro ..
Buenos Ayres • . • •
New York, 60 days' sight
Philadelphia ..........

Berlin ..............
Vienna .. • • ............ 11 7
Trieste ............ •• 8
Pet ersburgh 38
Madrid ................ 50%
Cadiz • • •• • • .• IP• • 00000 •• 50
Barcelona.. ...... • • • ... I

PRICES OF BULLION, PER OZ.
Foreign Gold in Bars 43 17 9
Portugal Gold Coln .. 0 0 0
Mexican Dollars .... 0 0 0
New Dollars ...... '0 0 0
Silver in bars . . 0 i 1%

WEST FLANDERS RAILWAY.

Yesterday, the fifteenth half-yearly meeting of this
company was held at the offices 61, Moorgate-street. Mr.
W. P. Richards took.the chair, and said the report al-
ready published entered fully into the condition and pros-
pects of the railway that it would be unnecessary for him
to detain them with any lengthened remarks. The subject
of the report divided itself into three heads : the traffic, the
expenditure, and the new road to be made and the road
now in progress. Upon the question of traffic, he need
only assure them that it was progressing gradually and
healthily. During the last four months there had been
a small increase over the traffic in the corresponding pe-
riod of last year, affording a proof of the satisfactory
prospects of their line. With regard to the expenditure,
he might assure the proprietors that it had been reduced
to the lowest possible point of economy, and the work-
ing expenses had been brought down to 3181. per mile
per annum. It had been a matter of great disappoint-
ment to the directors that they were unable to open the
line between Courtrai and Wervicq until the 15th
January. but, the shareholders would feel that the delay
was not attributable to a want of zeal or activity on the
part of the directors or engineer. In regard to the line
now in progress between Wervicq and Ypres, he need
only repeat what they would find in the report, that
the works were proceeding very satisfactorily. The
increase of the receipts during the last three months, in
comparison with the corresponding period of last year,
was 5601., or at the rate of 71. per mile week for the
new line Courtrai to Wervicq. This was sufficient to
show that although they were guaranteed a certain
interest on this portion of the line by the Belgian
Government, they were nevertheless capable of earning
it. With regard to the preference shares, it was
understood that the interest upon them was to be
paid without at all trenching upon the capital, and
that the 5i per cent. should be paid out of the in-
terest arising on deposits, and out of the rates of ex-
change. The interest already amounted to 11,033/. ss. 4d.,
and they had received on deposits and exchanges•
11,0291. 9s. 6d., so that in order to make up the defici-
ency they had only been obliged to borrow 3/. 15s. 10d.
In the next half-year they would have a large amount
to pay upon, but by that time they would have opened
a fresh source of traffic, which would enable them to
meet all the liabilities. By the arrangements ip progress
and in contemplation they should be enabled to pay the
interest without trenching upon the profits of the old
line or interfering with the capital. He concluded by
moving the adoption of the report. The resolution
having been carried, a dividend was declared of ls. 3d.
per share ; and the business terminated with a vote of
thanks to the chairman and directors.

THE CATHOLIC HIERARCHY IN HOLLAND.—The re-
establishment of the Catholic hierarchy in Holland has
caused dissatisfaction amongst the Protestants. A peti-
tion, signed by 4,528 persons at Utrecht, is to be pre-
sented to the King, praying his Majesty, in virtue of
the powers conferred on him by the constitution, to re-
fuse his authorisation to the assumption of episcopal
titles.

RAILWAY TRAVELLING.—yesterday a return to the
'House of Commons was issued, from which it appears that
the receipts from railways in the United Kingdom in the
haif-year ended the 30th June last, was 7,195,551/. 3s.
18s.,
Did. in the corresponding period of 1851, 6,749,5211.
nd

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