The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-13 00:00:00

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[PRICE SD.

the dischazrge of these 6,000 seamen amounts to
240,000/.—the exact sum which We annually pay to
one company for contractin,, to carry letters fr.qn
Southampton2o4u,ro
oslowrhs etroe tows
it
tathhy,veteonpi-naesa Indies
heup street, anal
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rottenbba.
u Vernon,
We
ncoann, allowfia nnd
d
8t
w,000.0d/e.
cfko
er
rrse.
P a Vr en g
can eh
set iel lf findth e xe
Sn
means rtvoey setr' us phsehhi apps piyn
frame, and then pull them to pieces, to gratify amateur
architects, as has been the case with the Princess Royal,
at a loss of 11,000/. We can afford to lavish 18,5001. per
annum in playing at soldiers in our dockyards, and a
like sum in an insane competition with the packets of a
private company between Holyhead and -Kingstown.
Money is scarce and economy must be enforced ; so our
seamen are sent adrift ; but we can build, arm, and
equip a yacht, and humbly present it to the President of
Liberia and we can even fling 148,000 L into the sea at
Dover, under pretext of building a harbour of refuge,
apparently forgetful of the existence of the anchorage
called the Downs, within eight miles of it. We go on laying
down three ne w line-of-battle ships every year, for no better
reason than because our forefathers did so; and in the
mean time our real strength—our living hearts of oak,
are neglected, deceived, and cast on shore, with hearts
half broken and prospects wholly shipwrecked. Under
these circumstances—and however invidious it may be,
it is impossible to avoid making comparisons between
what has been done is compliance with the public de
mand for reduced expenditure, and what might have
been accomplished, had the Executive seriously set to
work in earnest for the abolition of abuses. These,
however, for the most part, remain untouched, and are
as prominent in their deformity as heretofore. We still
see enormous sums lavished upon an ineffective
list of officers ; still witness an expensive and
ruinous system of dock•yard extravagance, and
a host of subordinate boards and offices, whose exist-
ence is unknown, save through the medium of their
mismanagement—altogether making up an outlay of
public money, which, if applied to its legitimate use,
would render the naval force of Great Britain as effec-
tive as it is now decrepit, and increase, by one-fourth,
the power of protection, which the English flag is called
upon to afford in so many parts of the globe. Compari-
sons may eventually be carried further, and individuals
as well as boards arraigned at the bar of public opinion.
Cases of such gross injustice can no longer be perpe-
trated with impunity. If this country is to maintain her
position of maritime supremacy, the pressure must not
be allowed to fall with such inequality upon different
parts of the same body. All should share and share
alike, or, if any difference were made, it should be in
favour of those least able to protect themselves ; and
the reduction should be distributed in the same propor-
tion- as prize money—" the greater part amongst the
officers.'

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE,
SOUTH EASTERN.

An adjourned meeting of the shareholders of this
company was yesterday held at the Bridge House Hotel,
for the purpose of receiving the report of the committee
appointed by the shareholders to inquire into the affairs
of the company. The chair was taken at one o'clock
precisely. by James M'Gregor, Esq.
The CHAIRMAN said that he had to inform the meeting
that the committee of proprietors appointed to inquire
into the affairs of the company at the half-yearly meet-
ing of the Bth of March last, had communicated to the
directors, by a letter dated the 3d instant, that they
would not be prepared to make their report to the share-
holders that day. The directors, in order to avoid giving
unnecessary trouble to the proprietors in attending the
meeting, had issued a letter to them, dated the sth inst.,
acquainting them that the meeting would be held pro
forma, for the purpose of moving a further adjournment.
He had, therefore, to move that the meeeting be further
adjourned to the 17th day of May next, to the same
place, at one o'clock in the afternoon precisely. By that
time the directors were informed the committee would
be fully prepared to make their report to the share-
holders.

Mr. RENSHAW seconded the motion, and the meeting
immediately adjourned.

SOUTH DEVON.

A special meeting of this company was held on Tues-
day at Plymouth, for the purpose of determining on the
expediency of raising money by the issue of new shares
to pay off part of the debenture debt; Mr. Woolcombe
in the chair.

The CHAIRMAN stated that a circular had been sent
to each shareholder, explaining the general tenor of the
scheme. The object was that the proposed new stock
shall be so created as, in fact, to change places with an
equal amount of the debenture debt, and, consequently,
become a first charge upon the railway at 5 per cent. per
annum. The directors bad already received the un-
qualified assent of the majority of the proprietors of
whole and half shares; but inasmuch as they had entered
into an engagement with the preference shareholders, it
was necessary that the consent of those should be ob-
tained to the placing of these new shares in the
same position with the debenture bonds, of which they
were to take the place, enjoyed already. It was
the opinion of Sir F. Kelly and Mr. Lloyd that
the directors could not prudently or safely propose
such a scheme without first obtaining the consent
of each holder of preference shares. They also
recommended that the authority of the shareholders
should be obtained to introduce a Bill in the present
session to sanction the scheme, and that the meeting be
further adjourned until the result shall have been ascer-
tained. He concluded by moving resolutions approving
generally of the plan proposed, empowering the directors
to take the necessary steps to carry the plan into effect,
and to adjourn the meeting to a day in May to receive a
further report.
Mr. Fox was anxious that the resolution should be
placed upon the books of the company, which would show
that the scheme was assented to by the proprietors only
on the clear undertanding that the money to be raised
under it should be taken to represent borrowed capital of
the company, and that the borrowing powers should be
taken to have been exercised to the full extent. He sug-
gested that power might be taken in the proposed Bill to
convert the 6 per cent. preference stock into a permanent
5 per cent. stock, in case it should hereafter be desirable
to do so.

The CHAIRMAN was convinced that such an arrange-
ment would be very beneficial to the shareholder's, pro-
vided it could be effected on equitable terms. The gua-
rantee on the preference stock had nine years to run.
These resolutions, with the additions proposed by Mr.
Fox, were then put and carried.
A long conversation ensued with regard to the posi-
tion the company stood in with reference to the arrears
of calls due by Mr. Stevens and Mr. Saunders. It ap-
peared that both these gentlemen questioned the legality
of the preference shares, and demanded repayment of
the sums respectively paid by them on account of those
shares. The former gentleman demanded credit for the
sum he paid on 1,033 preference shares, and the latter
the sum of 2,8204 for the first call he paid upon them.
The company had taken active proceedings against Mr.
Stevens, on his promissory note, for the recovery of
23,000 L The directors had done all they could to

du.ce Mr. Saunders to take a different viewof the matter,
but they had not succeeded. An action had, therefore,
been brought against him; and they had no doubt the
validity of the preference shares would be established,
ant? Mr. Saunders' liability confirmed.
Mr. HUTTON complained of those gentlemen who were
indebted to the company to the amount of nearly
40,0001. endeavouring to throw off their liability.
A resolution, authorising the directors to raise
15,0001. under the powers of the Plymouth Great
Western Dock Act, upon the security of the shares bold
by the South Devon Company in the Dock Company,
was agreed to.
The meeting then separated.

NORWEGIAN WATER TELESCOPES.—HoW slow WO
sometimes are in copying the simple and useful inven-
tions of our neighbours is exemplified in our being so
long in applying an instrument which the people of
Norway have found of so great utility that there is
scarcely a single fishing-boat without one. We mean
the water telescope or tube, of three or four feet in length,
which they carry in their boats with them when they go
a-fishing. When they reach the fishing ground, they
immerse ono end of this telescope in the water, and
leaning over the gunwale of the boat, with their head,
or rather the whole of their face, closing up the other
end, so as to exclude the light from dazzling the lye
and distracting the vision, they look intensely through
the glass, which shows objects some ten or fifteen fathoms
deep as distinctly as if they were within a few feet of the
surface ; by which means, when a shoal of fish conies
into their bays, the Norwegians instantly prepare their
w_hicghieasses are as dig-
nets, man their boats, and go out in pursuit. The first pro-
cess is minutely to survey the ground with their
glasses, and, where they find the fish swarming
..absourul
in great numbers,: then they give ad
of ten-
the signal. n_d
round the fish with their large draught nets, tp3 for
these annodt
Ilion!
catch them in hundreds at a haul,
these telescopes, would often prohveesae iv_
used by
Nisornwoatyo,nly,
as gold fish
tinctly seen in the deep c.
profitable fishing, as the
in a crystal jar. This instrument
found
aboard
the fisherman, but it is also the navy and
. vessels of Norway. When their anchors get
coasting lfinessahtrr übsmeyeetn oft
into foul ground, or the cables warped on a roadstead,
immediately apply the glass, and,
theyguided by it,
take steps to put all to rights, which they could not do
rude
,o well without the aid of the . and simple instil-
ment, which the meanest fisherman can make up with
his own hands, without the aid Thu
preceding remarks form the introductionof a craftsemane.
notice
of a telescope, sameprinciple, t
andtb Dinotrio.
made on the
intro-
duced last week, we believe for the first time, into the
Tay, whereby the fishermen below bridge have been
enabled to discover stones, holes, and uneven ground,
over which the net travels, and have found the instill.
ment to answer to admiration, the minutest object in 12
feet water being as clearly seen as on the surface:.
1 Northern Warder.

DROUET;S TRIAL.—A full report in the Observer,
of Sunday morning, April 15. Price of the Observer,
The extensive publication of the Observer commences at
five o'clock Sunday mornings; Monday's Edition (but
for the country and abroad) at four Monday afternoons.
The Observer, of April 8, and gratis Supplement,
which contained 24 columns of. Rush's Trial and a Por-
trait, is yet on sale at 170, Strand.
TULE COAL TRADE.—The Commissioners of the
Customs' Department have issued instructions to the
collectors and controllers, and other principal officers of
the department at the several ports and places through-
out the United Kingdom, to prepare and transmit to the
Inspector-General of Imports and Exports, with the
least possible delay, the following account so far as the
same relates to their respective ports, viz., an account of
the number of tons of coals, culm, and cinders respec-
tively shipped at the several. ports of England, Scotland,
and Ireland to other ports in the United Kingdom, in
the year 1848, in continuation of a similar account ren•
dered for the previous year.
'At Rathkeale sessions fifteen cattle atu'i shoe
stealers were senteneed too transycetetipea.

THE LEGAL TITLE ASSURANCE
COMPANY.

crrovlsionally Registered, January U. 1q49.)
Capital, 2,000,0001., in 80,000 Shares, of 25/. eacn.
Preliminary Deposit, 2s. 6d. per Share
Fr:-:spectusea and full information may be obtained at the Tempo-
r :y Cfli:es of the Company, 13A, Cannon•row, Westminster, on ap-
pilaation to

G. F. HOWE, Hon. Sec., pro tem.

lIER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
Second Appearance of Mdlle. PARODI.
Second Appearance this Season of Signor LABLACIIE.
The Nobility, Subscribers to the Opera, and the Public, are respect-
nlly informed that

TO-MORROW EVENING
Will be presented Bellini's Opera of
NORMA.
Pollione, Signor Gardoni; Oroveso, Signor Lab'vPhe;
Norma,Mdlle.
Parodi ; Adalgisa, Madame Giuliani.
To conclude with (the Samery by Mr. Charles Marshall )the cele-
brated Ballet, entitled

LB DIABLE A QUITRE.
In which will appear
Mdlle. Carlotta Grist I Mdlie Marie Taglion', and
Mme. Petit Stephan, Mane. Carolina Rosati,
M. Paul Taglioni, M. Charles, M. Louis D'Or ; Mdlles. Thevenot,
Julien, Lamoureux, and Aussandon.
An entirely new grand Ballet, by M. Taglioni, is in active preps.-

r ROYAL, HAYMARKN't,
Mr. B. Webster. Sole Lessee
EVEN-E and Manager, O 4 Brompton.
Lessee N
Will be performed THE BRIGAND: Characters by, Messrs. H.
Vandenhott Rogers, Howe, Wallack ; Mrs. L. 5. Bnckfngham, and
Miss P. Horton.
After which a Classical Extravaganza, entitled THE SPHINX.
To be foltowed by THE ROUGH DIAMOND,
To conclude with the Farce of LEND ME FIVE SHILLINGS.

THEATER ROYAL, ADELPHI.
oder the direction of Madame Celeete,
THIS EVENING,

toll be performed THE HOP PICKERS. Principal characters
by Messrs. Lambert, Boyce, Wright, Paul Bedford, Hughes, Mun-
yard, 0. Smith, Cullenford, Worrell, Madame Celeste, Miss Woulgar,
Mrs. F. Matthews, Miss Taylor, Miss E. Chaplin, &c.
After which, WHO LIVES AT No. 9 ? Characters by Messrs.
Wright and Worrell, and Miss Chaplin.
Ts conclude with THE ENCHANTED ISLE. Alonzo, Mr. Paul
Bedford; Prospero, Mr. 0. Smith Ariel, Miss E. Chaplin.

ROYAL LYCLUM THEATRE.
Coder the Management of Madame Vestri.i.
Sole Lessee. Mr. Charles Ma,hews.
THIS EVENING
Will be performed a sew Drama., called A ROMANTIC IDEA.
After which, a new Piece entitled HOLD T OUR TONGUE. Cha-
racters by Messrs. C. Mathews, Selby, and Parselle ; Miss H. Gil-
bert, Miss Jane Coleman, and Madame Vestris.
To cenclade with THE SEVEN' CHAMPIONS OP CHRISTEN-

DOll.
Dres4 P•oxe., 54.; Upper Boxes, 4s. ; 2s ; Gallery, is. No
tuilf-price to any part of the booze.
.;ew 1:.ox-olIce, No. 2, Wellirt;to-, street, is open to the
putifi.; NEry •ay, from Ton till Six.

PRINCESS'S TREAT Gil:.
Mr. J. M. Maddox, Sole Lessee and .‘ianager.
THIS EVENING,
• Will be performed Donizetti's celebrated Opera, entitled LUCIA
DI LAMMERMOOR.
After which, a new grand Extravaganza, entitled NOUREDDIN
♦ND THE FAIR PFRSIAN.

INTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.
proprietor, Mr. W. Batty.
II Ader the Paronage •1 her Majesty the Queen, his Royal Highness
Prince Albert, &c.
Immense Novelty I,r the Holi lays—Re-engagement of Young Her-
nandez, who has gained the envied appellation of the " Wonder of
the World." He will have the honour of appearing every Evening
in his astounding Feats of Equestrianism—Mr. Batty has also en-
gaged Mons Tournaire, Mons. Benedick, Herr Henri, Madame
Teurnaire, and Mdlle. Adelaidini, together with their highly. trained
Horses.