The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-12 00:00:00

RAILWAY .INTELLIGENCE.

coupled with the advance in wages and
principal stores used, has mainly contribu rase
in the pd
the
working expenseafrom 39.82 to 42.46 per cent ."tu
From a comparative statement given in the report, it
appears that from the 31st of December, 1849, to the 30th
of .lune; 1854, the increase in the mileage of the line was
135 i miles, or 27 per cent. ; in the number of passengers
booked in the year 3,824,719, or 63 per cent. ; and in the
money received for them 123,7511. or 10 per cent. ; in the
number of tons of merchandise moved 1,603,173, or 122 per
cent. ; in money received, 361,042/. 0r52 per cent.; in the
number of tons of coals moved 779,638, or 103 per cent. ;
and in the money_ 101,8551. or 142 per cent. ; in the re-
ceipts for mails, parcels, and cattle, 35,9411., or 15 per
cent. ; total increase in traffic 622,5921. or 28 per cent. The
increase in the charge to capital for locomotives, during
the same period, amounted to 262,1081., or 26 per cent: ;
for carriages, to 56,6331. or 13 per cent. ; and for waggons,
to 351,492/, or 69 per teat. ; total increase of capital for
working stock 670,2331. or 34 per cent.
"The short branch connecting the Buckinghamshire
Railway with
.the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhamp-
ton, near Oxford, was opened early in April. The line
between Claydon and Bicester has been doubled, and, al-
though the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Rail-
way is as yet incomplete, a portion being still worked as
single line, the traffic is carried on as well to the mutual
advantage of the companies as to the increase of the public
accommodation ; and the bill introduced in the present
session by the Great Western Company, who sought special
and compulsory powers for working the traffic on the broad
gauge over the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton
Company's line, has been rejected by Parliament. The
directors have to report that, since the special general
meeting, held on the 21st of June, the following measures,
promoted by this company, have been sanctioned by Par-
liament :—A bill authorising a reference to arbitration of
all matters in difference with the West London Company,
so as to effect a complete settlement between that com-
pany and the London and North-Western and Great
Western Companies, on equitable terms. A bill reducing
the capital of the Shropshire Union, and authorising the
lease of • that undertaking to this company. A bill to au-
thorise:the transfer to this company of the Haydon-square
branch of the Blackwell Railway Company; for partition
of the Wolverhampton joint station ; for extinguishing the
right of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Company to use
the Stour Valley Railway and New-street station at Bir-
mingham, and for other purposes. The Shrewsbury and
Birmingham directors have succeeded in again setting
aside, for a time, on technical grounds, the award of the
referee selected by themselves to settle the terms for their
use of the Stour Valley Railway and of the Birmingham
station. An appeal has, by the advice of counsel, been
made to the higher courts, as a less costly process than en-
tering upon a fresh reference. Parliament has sanctioned
the bill fcr making a railway from Stockport to Disley and.
Whaleybridge ; also a bill promoted by the South-Stafford-
shire Company for a-line on the narrow gauge from near
Walsall to Cannock,_rejecting the line on the mixed gauge,
promoted by the Great Western Company. The Shrews.
bury and Birmingham and Shrewsbury 'and Chester Rail-
ways kave been amalgamated with the Great Western
Company, subject, however, to clauses protecting the
interests of this company, and which prohibit any appli-
cation to Parliament for power to extend the exceptional
gauge beyond Wolverhampton, 'unless the Board of
Trade shall hereafter, and five months at least prior to the
commencement of the session of Parliament in which such
application shall be made, have reported (and published
their report) that, for reasons stated in such report, it
would; in their judgment, be for the advantage of the
public that tbe broad gauge should be so extended, or added,
or laid down, and then only subject to such conditions as
to the use of the said broad gauge, and the maintenance
and continued working and use of the narrow gauge by the
Great Western Railway Company as to the said board
shall seem expedient.' Parliament havinF, thus dealt with
the gauge question, and other matters in dispute, your
directors trust that there may now be a termination of
the costly struggle which has existed for so many years.
The working of _the North Staffordshire lines in cordial
co-operation with thiiscompany has resulted in the mutual
advantage to the co-operating parties, and, at the same
time, in an increased public accommodation and conve-
nience; the full benefit of which, however, cannot be
experienced till a complete amalgamation is obtained.
Preparatory to the reintrodUction, in the next session,
of the bill for effecting such amalgamation, and in order
to remove the: obstacle which alone prevented the sanc-
tion of Parliament in the present session, a proposition
has been Made to the canal interest, offering to make over
to them the Tient and Mersey Canal on fair terms. The
proprietors are aware that, since the opening of the Man-
chester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway, there has
,been an interchange of traffic between that company and
this on friendly terms, under an agreement for a limited
period • and the directors have now come to the conclusion
tbat the time has arrived for establishing more intimate
and fixed relations with that company. Having given this
subject the most mature consideration, and having exa-
mined into the resources of the district occupied by the
Sheffield and Lincolnshire Company, the directors have
agreed to the heads of an arrangement under which the
lines of the two companies are to be treated as practically
one interest, so as to give to the public the fullest ad van-
tage of both lines, and to the respective proprietors the
greatest results which can be obtained. Although the ad-
vantages of the arrangement may appear. at the outset to
preponderate in favour of the Manchester and Sheffield
-Company, the directors are satisfied that it will result at
an early date in material and increasing benefit to both.
The directors have, on former occasions, expressed a strong
interest in the completion of the Worcester and Hereford
Railway; and, considering the expediency of opening, as
speedily as possible, the vast resources of South Wales, by
an uninterrupted route, to the-Midland districts and to the
metropolis, the directors recommend that, to insure the'
speedy completion of this undertaking, this company should
concur with the Midland and other companies interested
in any application to Parliament which may be necessar*
The proprietors are aware that considerable preparations
have been made in anticipation of working the Newport,
Abergavenny, and Hereford Railway; circumstances, how-
ever, have arisen which have compelled the directors to
decline proceeding with the working arrangements on the
terms proposed. It has been intimated, however, to
the Newport and Abergavenny board that this com-
pany will willingly assist, by friendly co-operation, in
developing the traffic of that line. The attention of
the proprietors has been called to the circumstance of
the great increase in the traffic being principally in
the goods department. This, unavoidably, has involved
the necessity of new and extensive warehouses, wharves,
sheds, and other conveniences. At Camden-station
it has been found necessary to remodel the whole arrange.
ments, in order to provide that increased accommodation
which is necessary for efficiently and economically conduct-
ing the traffic. The plan of the proposed works has under-
gone much consideration and the estimated cost of ade-
quately providing both "for goods and coals is 103,8501.
Besides this sum, a considerable expenditure is required,
iu order that the accommodation in each department
throughout the line shall keep pace with the growing traffic.
The particulars are shown in a tabular form at the end of
this report, and the directors request the proprietors to- •
authorise the 'specified outlay. From the statement of the
half-year's account, the net proceeds are 529,5161. Os. 5d •
to which add the balance carried from last account 86,0311
9s. ld. ; total 615,5471. 9s. Od. ; less farther allowances or
renewal of rails (abstract II.), 21,8871. 16s. 10d. ; showing
a disposable balance of 593,6591. 12s. Bd. The directors
recommend a dividend of 21. 10s. per cent. for the last six
months, amounting to 552,46 i 1. 14s. 6d., leaving a balance
of 41,1971. 18s. 2d. to be carried forward to the next half-
year's account."
An abstract of the statement of accounts has appeared
in The Sun.
The CHAIRMAN then moved, " That the report, with the
half-yearly statement of accounts, be received and adopted,
and that it be printed, and circulated among the pro-
prietors."
Mr. BENSON seconded the motion.
Mr. lIPCROFT said, he believed that their annual income
was reduced at least 100,0001. by losses or guarantees, rents,
.sic., to other lines, nit that the 86,0001. balance, which
they were reported to have had in hand when they last met,
would be insufficient to pay the arrears for Parliamentary
and legal expenses. Up to 1847 the same system of manage,
ment which still prevailed in this company existed in the
Brighton Company. Iu 1848, however, the stock of the
latter company had fallen so low that it was determined
to adopt a new system, and it was resolved to have nothinc,
to do with further branches or extensions, but to exclu-
sively attend to the development of the lines they already
possessed ; secondly, to incur no law or Parliamentary ex-
penses, but be at peace with their neighbours; and, lastly,
that the capital account should be closed. (Hear, hear.)
Now, what. had been the result of this policy ? Their in-
come had gradually increased, their dividend had been
raised from 2.1 to 5 per cent., and their stuck was in March
last selling in the market at 96, while that of the North-
Western with an equal dividend was at 92. (Hear, hear.)
That was the result of the Brighton policy, while the pro-
ceedings of this company had reduced the value of their
stock, which stood in 1847 at 176, but was reduced in May
of the present year to 96. Whether, under these circum-
stances, some changes were not required in their present
system of management he thought was a subject well
worthy of consideration, in order to preserve the company
froin ruin. (Hear, hear.).
Mr. HADLEY sail, it was quite time the proprietors
should take the management of their affairs into their own
hands. He concluded by moving an amendment to the
effect that the report be not adopted, which was not
seconded. ' '-
A long discussion ensued, in the course of which Captain
Woodgate, R.N., Mr. Dickenson, Mr. F. Smith, Mr.
Mitchell, and Mr. Howard, complained of the manage-
ment and thageneral state of the company's affairs.
Mr. PUNCHER remarked that in all the station construc-
tions of the company there had always been some blunder
or another. No sooner was a station built than it was
found to be inconvenient. With a capital of upwards of
30,000,0001., the company ought to be able to command
talent equal to prevent such mistakes. (Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN, remarked that the " blunders" com-
plained of arose from the fact of the increase of traffic
having surpassed the anticipations even of the most san-
guine.
After some further discussion, the motion for the adop-
tion of the report was carried.
Resolutions were passed declaring a dividend of 21. 10s.
per 1001. stock, and so on in proportion on shares of a lower
nominal amount ; electing Messrs. Du Boulay, J. Har-
greaves, J. Peckup, J. Tyner, and .J. N. Walker, the audit
committee for the ensuing year ; appointing Messrs. Ban-
bet
huo erlr and IL W. Moore auditors of the accounts of the
ernstei
ryrvac,i ;
nedNauuntehaotrs
oiniußgaittayu,oaunsduivisattiniuu u
gthefm
certain
afiour
shares into the generoahltc.pital stock of the company.
rucciallutralt,rt:l.ewb3on.:l
fye .b6l .set ishoraNtre s.
frue 12 ortud
shareholdersa
r: dltp. forward b hise
a resolution,ppit
ed
to thatcons
consider
ecromin-
rowsuperhitiys
iouftethuattiogru etaut
bringco mp
faunry.
what
'tar resolution at the meetings of the Great
Western and Great Northern Companies, in the hope that
all matters in dispute between the respective companies
might be thereby amicably settled.
After some observations from Mr. Flood, Mr. Puncher,
Glyn' Mr. Melina withdrew his motion
tahned. Mprro. concluded with a vote of thanks to: and
' the
chairman.
1

LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN.
The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yes-
terday
at the Euston-station; the Marquis of Chandos in
the chair.
Mr. C. E. Ste Wart, the secretary, read the notioe con-
vening the meeting, and the minutes of the last meeting,
which were confirmed,
The CHAIRMAN said they would perceive, from the state-
ment of the accounts, that the receipts for the half-year
ending the 30th of June last exceeded those of the corre-
sponding period of 1853 by nearly 100,0001. A great por-
tion of this had arisen from the increase in the goods
traffic. The goods traffic had increased considerably, and
more regularly than the passenger traffic ; and not only
was the increase in the goods traffic shown on their line,
but it was the case with railways generally. He found by
the report for 1853, issued by the Board of Trade, on rail-
ways, that in 1849 the percentage of passengers was 53 per
cent. of the whole receipts, and the goods 46 per cent. ;
but in 1853 their position was reversed, the percentage of
receipts for passengers was rather more than 47, and of
per cent., showing a considerable goods more than 52 in-
crease in the goods traffic of the kingdom. He adverted
to this, as-the great increase had been in the goods traffic,
• and consequently the working expenses were much heavier
upon that description of traffic than upon the passenger
traffic. Havity! a considerable increase in their traffic
during the year, it was necessary to mention that they
- had also an increase in their capital expenditure, which
now amounted to 32,143,878/.., and all of which was en-
titled to receive interest or dividend. The sum required
to pay the 'same dividend this half-year upon the capital
expended was 20,0001. more than that at the corre-
sponding period of 1853. The proprietors would also per-
ceive that the. working expenses were considerably heavier
than at the corresponding period. This arose chiefly from
two causes—namely, the increase in the rate of wages and
the great rise during the past twelve months in the price of
stores and all materials required for railways. Those two
causes not only affected the additional receipts, but ex-
tended to the whole traffic on the railway, increasing the
working expenses from 39.82 per cent. to 42'46 per cent.
There was also an increase in the rates and taxes and
general charges. The traffic on the line had been con-
siderably obstructed, and in some places entirely stopped,
during the first week or two of the half year. in conse-
• queues of. the.snow storm. This had 'increased their ex-
penses to some extent while clearing the line, and reduced
1 their receipts during the time the line was idle. With
-regard to the balance they could carry over this half-year,
• it would be larger than that at the corresponding period of
1853,after paying the same rate of dividend, 5 per cent.,
on the increased capital. The balance amounted to 41,197/.,
but from this must be deducted 14,6761., being arrears due
from the Chester and Holyhead Company, and paid
during the half-year. After deducting this sum,
and allowing for the balance they commenced the
half-year with, they would carry over a net balance
this half-year of 33,2001. against 29,0001. at the corre-
sponding period of last year. There was another feature
in the accounts which he thought satisfactory ; it was
with respect to the position of branch and leased lines. In
June, 1853, the deficiency that had to be met by the
company on the Preston and Were,, North Union, Man--
chester, Buxton, and Midland' and other lines amounted

to 42,0501. e but' in June, 1854, in consequence of the ge-
',." .'iferal increase of traffic on those lines, the deficiency
amounted to only 31,0001., showing an improvement in this
respect of 11,0001. In the guarantee on the North Union
Railway there was a deficiency in the half-year ending
June 3Q, 1853, of 1,0791., while there had been a profit
of 764/.-in this past half-year, showing an increase in the
receipts of 1,8001. The Buckinghamshire traffio at the
corresponding period of last year showed a deficiency of
19,0001., but during the past half-year it amounted only to
12,0001., showing an improvement of 7,000/. Thiswae due
in a great measure to the opening of the junction line with
the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Company, by
which a considerable amount of traffic was brought over
the Buckinghamshire line, and also over the main line
of the London and North- Western. He then adverted to
an item in the accounts of 11,9001., paid for land, with a
• view to sheNethat it was paid in oor 40 sums, in settle-
ment, of old claims, and that it was not a new matter.
'Looking at the increase of traffic on the branches during the
half-year, and comparing it with the increase in the ex-
penditure on capital account for the accommodation of the
traffic, he came to the conclusion that the latter on the
whole was a judicimikeipenditure ; and not only paid its
5 per cent.; but would tend itr future years to increase the
traffic. The goods.tratfic required large and extensive ac-
e .. commodation, and it was necessary they should provide for
e* it. In order that the proprietors may not be under the
a" impression that they entered into Parliamentary contests
• unnecessarily he had a list prepared of the 7 billsthey pre-
di seated to Parliament in the present session, or in which
g their interests were concerned in promoting; -• There were
8 presented by other parties bills affecting in sotnewaj or other
6 their interests or charging the company with undue costs,.
or to obtain undue and nnfairpo were over the line orstalions
e.-
—in all '23 'bills, elany of those bills might not at present
have affected them to anY large extent, but they would
eventually have Materially affected their interests. Several
bills were introduced to Parliament which would have sad-
dled them with a very undue proportioa of charge for spe-
• cial and !oval benefit. Bat to show that they had not in-
curred. needless expense in opposing bills, out of the 23
which were presented, in 1:3 cases the bills were either
withdrawn, or protective clauses were inserted, or the ob-
jectionable provisions expunged, without any appearance
for the company before the committees. There were some
otherbills, upon which it became necessary, in the opinion ,
of the directors, to appear by counsel in Parliament. The
Great Western Company, for the purpose of obtaining
compulsory powers over the Oxford, Worcester, and Wol-
verhampton railways, for the special accommodation of
the broad gauge, for the amalgamation of the Shrewsbury
and Chester and the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Com-
panies, and a bill to introduce the mixed gauge—thebroad
gauge, in fact—into the Cannock Chase district to the east-
, ward of the main line. There was also the Leeds, Bradford,
and Halitax Bill. Bethought it right to mention those pal-
ticular bills, which they felt it their duty to oppose, in
order that proprietors might judge whether it was not
actually necessary for the interests of the company that
they should interfere. The results of their opposition were
these :—ln the South Staffordshire district, the Cannock
- Chase district, the united scheme of the Great Western
and the Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Worcsetershire
• ' Companies for the introduction of the broad gauge east-
• ward of the main line had been rejected, and the line of the
• South Staffordshire on the narrow gauge had been sane-
. tioned by Parliament. He believed the proprietors would
admit that was a result, worth contending for. (Hear.) The
next was a bill'of the Great Western fOr compulsory powers
over the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton line in
favour of the broad gauge. This bill they petitioned
against, considering that, after Parliament had sanctioned
their junction with the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolver-
hampton, line, it would have destroyed the utility of
that junction to grant compulsory powers to the broad
gauge. That bill they joined in opposing, and it was re-
jected. The Leeds, Bradford, and Halifax was opposed by
them in the House of Commons to obtain clauses protective
of thefr interestc, and those clauses were acceded to and
arranges,' in the House of Lords. That was an opposition
necessary for the protection of the interests of the com-
pany. • There was also the two bills of the Great Western,
one for the amalgamation of the Shrewsbury and Birming-
ham and the Shrewsbury and Chester, and the other sanc-
tioning traffic arrangements with those companies. The
latter was withdrawn, and the other was sanctioned by
Parliament, but not until clauses had been inserted r
-
tective of the company's interests and making 't p u
i necessary
for them to obtain the distinct and full approval of the
Board of Trade to the proposal to introduce the broad
gauge upon the line, a portion of which was the joint pro-
perty of this company, and the Shrewsbury and Birming-
ham company. It was the wish of the directors to avoid
• such contests and the necessity of appearing in Parliament;
• but when bills were presented which might materially in-
terfere with the interests of the company and their powers:
over their own property, the directors thought it necessary
• to oppose them, and they had done so, as he had shown,
not unsuccessfully. (Applause.) With regard to one bill,
the Shrewsbury amalgamation with the Great Western,
that had been ipassed by Parliament, deciding the owner-
ship of the line, dealing with the gauge question. Looking
at the result of the Parliamentary session in relation to
what was tailed the private legislation of the House,
he thought the rests had been such as to put an
end to a great exten those causes of difference which
lad long existe , between this and other companies, and he
trusted that, as the truce which he had told them before
existed between this company and the Great Western for
the present session extended over the next session, as re-
garded
new lines, with the exception of the South Stafford-
shire, it would certainly not be the fault of the directors
' if any new causes of difference should arise hereafter.
(Applause.) With respect to the position.of this company
• with other companies, nothing was of more importance to
the development of their traffic and the increase of their
receipts than the most cordial agreement with all those coin•
panes whose traffic passed over theirline, and whose lines
were in d6nnexion with their own. He believed nothing
could be done to develope the traffic on those lines work-
ing harmoniously and in concert, with them which would
I not at the same time add to their own receipts. He then ad-
verted to the Facility Clauses Act passed in the present see-
r sion, which'he believed would protect them from aggt ession.
But, looking at the report. of Mr. Cardwell's committee, he
" could not see the results which were anticipated from
that report. No step had been taken to diminish the
env .
enormous expense to which
they were subjected in oppos-
ing injuriona schemest
mode to
Whichthey o protect their property. The only
couldi look for a diminution of these
Parliamentary e
' proprietors to exr) a.
was by the general feeling of the
projects the promotion of which
panics,
,t tent ti(;ybring
nstgeh them into hostility with other corn-
Powerhetodirectors to give every accom-
modation in their
he
public. The proprietors
might rest assured that e public would have acme.
modation in every distetrct,e and between every place re-
quired. -for its traffic. yewvionld have that accommo-
dation, and with that viceowarte
_oars firmly convinced that
providferacperooprieters of existing
the most economical
' Pletely deVeloping the traffic, by
inemzidhation for corn-
. railways 'to adopt was to
the station
accommodation and warehouse rootnto anse 'rt.'
goeht:asiuepnoott
lnecessaryththeliesnes
to receive all the traffic thatcould be brou
It was with this view that, on a former
and, to increase the rolling stock ; but the
mates were presentedto them"for the enlargement of there
traffic rociin,
traffic had gone on increasing in a very much larger deeree
. thin the directokrs in former times could have anticipated.
was still insufficient for the traffic, pated. ,
The rolling stock
0 aong the merchandise traffic expenses
they world se
they had had toY
pa large and increasing sums-4,000).
•in this year—for the use of waggons of other companies.
The fact was, their managers on many occasions had had.
• to refuse traffic of a very remunerative
to ct. h airancmtear
ny cases,
because
they had not warehouse receive i
in consequence of the. insufficiency room
of warehouse room and
station actommo, , lation the waggons themselves had
' been converted into warehouses, and thus diverted.
froth their legit
imate employment. He then adverted,
' to the 'increased station accommodation at Camden-
.
STRIKE OP. THE EN. GINE-DRIVERS ON THE
- _
' town and other stations mentionsciti
cinamtdheenfteopwornt:
sinnd-
which have
• 'waiving au outlay of 103,800/.
. LONDON
AND NORTH-WESTERN.
at Haydon-equare of 17,0001., and in the. whole about 1
" 155,0001, for the southern division, It is much to be regretted that the disputes •
arisen between the authorities and the engine-drivers and
58,6.361. for the nor-
division, and 4,711/. for the north-eastern division.
firemen of the London and North-Western Railway has re-
. The tecretary read the following report :
stilted in a general strike of those men opposed to the con-
. " The half-yearly statements of account placed in the
hands of the proprietors exhibit the following results, as i
division of the line,
!tract system throughout the southern
compared with the corresponding period of last year :
The intimation was first received per telegraph by the
1853. 1854. In-
uthorities at Easton station before the half-yearly general
Receipts from passengers, 2 • £ 0, a
. parcels, mails, Bsc,
...
..
689 747 704,543 1.4 796 ' meeting of the company, which was held yesterday,
Ditto, from merchn-
' , had terminated, that the Rugby men had refused en
a.. • '
dice, &c. ................ xa, 0r,., „„, o, 0; int mate to take out any trains after four o'clock, and
--------7= ___ll.4u'uw __°°'": ; a subsequent telegraphic message announced that the
. , Birmingham men had, also struck, and refused to work
, . £1,232,138 21,330,128 £97,990 _
- - Virorkilig e'xiiiinses PeeP7-37 —7— their trains. 'These announcements naturally created great
"It will be 4Thczvdd that the ' - ;584,894
increase of receipti has London terminus, and Bin leColiiiil;'the chief of the V 4,157 vitoniishiiiefit 'incr excitement among tlieL officials at the
i
t Wins geared some men upon vrhom
awn Giggly funa morchanunie tistio which • maitu motiTe depirtMen , _
..
I GC tie _ . _ -

* The receipts include the traffic ou the Orleans and Central, Or-
leans and Bordeaux, and Tours and Nantes.

REPRESENTATION OF ABERDEENSHIRE.

ABERDEEN, Wednesday.--The writ moved for in the
House of Common§ on Saturday, in consequence of Ad-
thlral Gordon havipg accepted the Chiltern Hundreds,
has been received here. Admiral Gordon has also just
issued an address to the electors, in which the following
passage occurs: .

"Gentlemen—Having in the discharge of my profes-
sional duty, in the
,present circumstances of the country,
assumed the command of a naval station, I feel that it
will nb longer be in my power satisfactorily to attend to
the important duties of your representative in Parliament ;
and it hi with great regret that I now relinquish the hon-
ourable position which, by your favour, I have so long
occupied. At the close of a Parliamentary career of not
less than thirty-three years, I can look back upon that ex-
tended period with the satisfaction of having consistently
adhered to' those constitutional principles and opinions
with which I entered the House of Commons, and which
Iconscientiously

It is dated "SheirneSs, July 27." Admiral Gordon is a
brother of the Earl of Aberdeen. He was a Lord of the Ad-
miralty from Sept. 1841 to Feb. 1846, during Sir Robert
Peel's Administration, and resigned his office when that
lamented statesman proposed his free-trade measures.
Admiral Gordon, however, afterwards, and at an earlier
period than many others, accepted that policy ; though,
at the lAst election, Lord Derby and'Mr. Disraeli being
then in power, he expressed an intention to give a gene-
ral support to their Government.
Simultaneously with Admiral Gordon's valedictory
addre,s, appears this morning the following :
"TO THE ELECTORS OF THE COUNTY OF ABERDEEN.
"Gentlemen,—The appointment of Admiral Gordon to
an important naval command having induced him to relin-
quish his seat in Parliament, I have been led to believe
that the tender of my services to the constituency of my
native county inay_not be unacceptable to many of your
number. 1 venture, therefore, respectfully to offer my-.
self as a candidate for the honour of representing your in-
terests in Parliament; and, should I become the object of
your choice, be assured that I shall enter upon the impor-
tant trust with the most anxious desire to discharge its
varied and responsible, duties in a manuer at. once accept-
able to you'and for the benefit of our common country.
" It would have been my wish, in as far as possible, to
have personally solicited your support ' • but I must, on
this occasion, throw myself upon your indulgence, when I
mention that the state of my health will, for the present,
necessarily detain me in England.—l have the honour to
be, gentlemen, your most obedient and faithful servant,
"HADDO.

" Great Malvern, August 5, 1854."
Lord iladdois the eldest son of the Earl of Aber--
deen. It is to be regretted that the state of his lord-
ship's health, which has been weakly for some time,
should have prevented him from personally attending
to his election ; but this excuse for his abience will of
course be held valid by all reasonable men. We shall
be prepared' to bear, especially so soon after the
Beverley election, which gave a seat to a younger son
of the Preinier, an outcry from the organs of faction
against the election of Lord Haddo ; but the electors of
Aberdeenshire, so far from regarding it as a disqualifi-
cation in a candidate that he is the son of their distin-
guished lord-lieutenant, will only welcome him the more
cordially on that account.
.It is impossible for any family
to, be more respected than is the family of Lord Aber-
deen throughout this district of country. A semi-autho--
rative announcement of the prospective retirement of
Admiral Gordon, and the consequent candidature of
Lord Haddo, waemade to the electors some time ago,-
_but no _candidate has yet declared his intention to oppose•
his lordshp's return. It is rumoured that a meeting was
held very recently at the Duke of Richmond's seat,
Gordon -Castle, Banffshire, where the duke has now•
taken up his autumn residence ; and it is thought the
Earl of March was named as a probable candidate on
the opposing interest. Others would also no doubt
aspire to the post had they any chance of success. It is
believed, however, that moderate men of all parties will
at least acquiesce in the election, whilst the mass of the
community will feel that every confidence may be placed
in the upright and patriotic intentions of Lord Haddo.
It may be mentioned that his lordship was born in
1816 ; that he has largely devoted his time to varied
study, and that latterly be has made several public ap-
pearances in connection with religious and philanthropic
movements, particularly those connected with the Church
of England.
The Sheriff has fixed the nomination for the 22d inst.,
and 'at present it is believed Lord Haddo will be elected
without opposition.

ROYAL ASYLUM OF ST. ANN'S Socirr:.—Yesterday
a half-yearly general meeting of the friends and suppor-
ters of this charity was held at the London Tavern, Mr.
Aldermoon in the chair. The worthy chairman, who
opened the 'proceedings, referred to the past labour of
the society, which he considered as a fair ground on
which to cliim the continued support of the public to
enable the committee to ;persevere in making the career
of the asylum one of usefulness, both morally and reli-
giously. Mr. Leeks, the secretary, then read the report,
which was unanimously adopted. Aldermoon Moon and
th Pownal, Esq., were then elected vice-presidents of
candid socieatesty, and a poll was opened for the election of
, which closed at three o'c:ock; when the
names of ,th oat. who had
flounced " from prove& etice6ssful veere an.
the chair, alter which the prooeediegs
cloned in the usual manlier.