The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-10 00:00:00

THE ASSAM TEA COMPANY.

The following are extracts from the Directors' Re-
port on this subject :
After a series of years of the most ruinous and dis-
astrous management, causing as it has done to the
general directory the painful necessity of frequently
expressing their dissatisfaction of the proceedings of
the local board, a decided change has at length taken
place in the aspect of our affairs, and the general
directory avail themselves of this the first public op-
portunity of stating the gratification which they had
felt from the improvement of the affairs of the com-
pany under the recent management of the local board
in India. The general directory have long felt
that results alone must be their main, if
not their only, guide in estimating the cha-
racter and ability of persons who have the conduct
of a business at so great a distance as India, and the
present officers of the company in India have been
the first to produce the only satisfactory results that
have been shown since the commencement of opera-
tions in Assam. They have kept within their esti-
mates of expenditure—they have exceeded their
estimates of produce—in a word, under the new
system, the company has worked to a profit instead
of a loss, and that upon an area of cultivation of com-
paratively insignificant extent.
The estimate of expenditure in India for the sea-
son 1648 was in round numbers 10,9001.—the
actual expenditure was 10,3001. The estimated
crop was 175,0001bs.—the actual gross crop has
been 210,0001bs.—the net crop will probably
amount to 190,000 lbs. The gross crop of 1847, was
160,000 lbs., so that the increase in 1648 has been
50,000 lbs. More than half of the tea of 1848 has
been realised, and has produced a gross average of
nearly Is. 11d. a pound; the net average after de-
ducting lead, freight, insurance, sale charges, &c.,
being about Is. lid. a pound. The actual profit made
in the past year, assuming the remainder of the
crop to realise only Is. sd. a pound, has been about
3,0001. Out of our receipts for tea, we have
been enabled to pay off 2,0001., part of the loan
of 7,0001., which had been so long standing
to the debit of the company, and the interest of which
has been a heavy burthen. The assets and liabilities
of the company in England at the present time, and
an estimate of our financial position at the close of
the manufacturing season of the present year, are
shown in the annexed Tables, E and F, and it will
we feel sure be very gratifying to the proprietors to
find that we have every reason to believe that the
operations of another year will enable the directors
entirely to clear the company of debt, and give them
funds to obtain the crop of 1850, so that the entire
value of that crop may be uncharged.
In answer to a proposal from the local board in
India, that the company's operations should be ex-
tended, the London directors sent out instructions and
remarks, of which the following are extracts :
"But you must bear in mind, in any decision
which the shareholders may come to, that it takes a
long time, well-established facts, and very decided
results, to restore confidence in the management of a
concern which has been so recklessly conducted until
lately, and to encourage a further outlay on the part
of a proprietary who have already lost so heavily.
" Having made these preliminary remarks, I beg
to say that the general directory will bring the; sub-
ject fully before the proprietors at the ensuing general
meeting. Their own opinion is, that the shareholders
will decide to pause somewhat longer before they
agree to any such an extension of the existing culti-
vation as would entail the necessity of a further con-
tribution, and that the time has not yet arrived when
a further call even for that purpose could be made
without causing dissatisfaction.
" The subject, however, shall be attentively con-
sidered, and in the meantime you will bear in mind
the importance of continuing to fill up the existing
cultivation with seedlings, so as to bring it to the
highest point of bearing."

ROYAL FREEMASONS' SCHOOL FOE FEMALE CHIL-
DREN.—Last evening the sixty-fourth anniversary of the
above charity was celebrated in Freemasons'-ball, when.
about 300 of the brethren of the craft, attired in mason's
costume, sat down to an elegant repast, at which the
Earl of Zetland, most worshipful grand master, pre-
sided, supported by Lord Suffield, Lord Milford,
the Hon. D. Dundas, W. F. Beaden, Esq., Alex. Dobie,
Esq., &c. &c. The usual loyal and patriotic toasts
having been duly honoured, followed by the accustomed
courtesies to the chairman and officers, the Noble Chair-
man proposed the toast of the evening, " Success to the
Royal Freemasons' Female School," and stated that the
institution was founded in 1788 by Chevalier Ruspini,
Outof
whose great benevolence reduced him to comparative
distress, and that two of his grandehildrenwlrilthsT.aed now in
turned
tt school,6oo
children educated
in
in the
institution
ro a tpresen t 65 g
ai
virtuousowuhtob a d goodthat
i:e
girls.
50years, After
t
and drunk with great enthusiasm. Theoaamstusweamsents of
the evening were enlivened by the vocal efforts of Mrs.
Newton, Miss Thornton,
Messrs. George, Ransford,
&c., and also by a hymn_
the evening amounted toexcellently sung by the
children. The collection of
about 6801.

On Tuesday, Prince Albert, attended by Captain
Gordon, visited ➢lessrs. Bakers' pheasantry, Beaufort-
street, Chelsea, and inspected their numerous and beau-
tiful specimens of foreign water-fowl on their
establishment, among which is a pair of those rare and
gorgeously plumagtd birds, the Mandarin Ducks, the
only pair in this country. His Royal Highness ex-
pressed himself very much gratified, and selected several
specimens for removal to the ornamental waters, 'Duck-
ughe,m Palace.

~~~i

~J N

COURT CIRCULAR. ,
The Queen gave a concert yesterday evening in Ouer
ingham Palace, at which a party of 350, comprising the
principal nobility and gentry in town were present.
Halt-past nine o'clock was the hour of invitation, and
at that time the company began to arrive at the Poise*
and were conducted up the grand staircase-end through
the green drawing-room, into the picture galier.,vl where
the visitors assembled.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester alTived
at a quarter-past nine o'clock, attended by Lady Lleor•
giana Bathurst and Colonel the Hon. Augustus Lidd'-'IL
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent was at-
tended by Lady Augusta Bruce and Colonel Sir George
Couper.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge was
attended by Lady Augusta Cadogan and Baron Knees-
beck, and was accompanied by their Royal Highnesses
the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess ,ce
Mecklenburgh Strelitz.
His Royal Highness Prince Leopold Court of Syracuse,
was attended by Geeertil Prince Castelcicaiet, the Neapo-
litan Minister.
The Royal Family were received by rl'ie Maids of
Honour, and the Grooms and Equerries in
Nesting to
the Queen and the Prince, who conducted roeir Royal
Highnesses to the White Drawing-room,
Majesty and Prince Albert received their ill' sstruites
visitors. e,•ere her
Their Serene Highnesses Prince Edward of Saxe Wei-
mar, and Prince William of Reese Philippstahl were also
present.
The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by tin*
Royal Highnesses the Duchess of lint, the Dueness of
Gloucester, the Duchess of Cambridge, the Hereditary
Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of MeckleL'burg
Strelitz, and the Count of Syracuse, passed from the
White Drawing-roore, shortly before ten o'clock, i gto
the Grand Saloon, which was fitted up as a ooncel t-
room. Her Majesty and his Royal Highness were
attended by the Ladies and Gentlemen in waiting. no
general company having also entered the Saloon, the
concert commenced.. The following was the pro-
gramme :

PARTE PRINA.
Trio, "La mia Dorabella," Sigri. Mario,
Tamburini, e Lablache (Cosi fan tutte) Mozart.
Air, " Va,dit• elle," Madlle. (Lind Roberto
it Di avolo) Menthol%
Duo, " Vivere io non potra," Madlles. Pa-
rodi e Angri (Donna del Lago) Romal.
Air, " II faut ceder a mes Signor
Mario (Zampa) Herold.
Duo, "Per piacere alla Signora," Madlle.
Lind e Sig. Lablache (Turco in Italia) Rossini.
Air, "Ah so estinto," Madlle Angri
(Donna Caritas) ...
Quartetto--"Placido j it mar," Mesdelles
Parodi e Angri, Sigri. Mario e La-
blache (Idomeneo)

PARTS SECONDA.
Air—" Notte tremenda," Madlle. Parodi
(Tebaldo ed Isolina) Morlacchi.
Duo—" Bel paese," Sigri. Tamburini e
Lablache (Regina di tiolgonda) Doniaetti.
Air " Wie palate mir der Schlummer,
Madlle. Lind (Freyschutz) Weber.
Duo "La ci darem la mane," Madlle
Angri e Sig. Tamburini (Don Juan) Mozart.
Air "Connuis-tu la chanson ?" Sig
Mario (La Chanson de Mai) Meyerbeer.
Sestetto " Sola, sole," Mesdellea. Lind,
Parodi, e Angri. Sigri. Mario, La-
blache, e Tamburini (Don Jean)
M. Costa presided at the pianoforte.
The following, amongst others, had the honour of
receiving invitations :—Their Serene Highnesses Prince
Ernest and Prince William of Hesse Phillippstal, hie
Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, the
Turkish Ambassador and the Secretary of the Embassy,
the French Ambassador, the Secretary of the Embassy
and Madame de Montherot, the Belgian Minister and
Madame Van de Weyer, the Bavarian Minister and Ba-
roness de Cettry the Portuguese Minister and Viscountess
de Moncorvo, the Russian Minister, Baroness Brunnow,
and Mdlie. Olga de Lechner, the Sicilian Minister, the
Hanoverian Minister, the Prussian Minister, Madame
Bunsen and Mdlle. Bunsen, the Danish Minister,
Countess de Reventlow and Countess Hilda de lievent-
low, the American Minister and Mrs. Bancroft, the Pe-
ruvian Minister, the Costa Rica Minister, the Austrian
Minister and Countess Colloredo, the Archbishop of
Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, the Archbishop of
York, the Archbishop of Armagh, Prince Schomberg,
the Gold Stick in waiting, the Right Hon. the Speaker,
the Silver Stick in waiting, Field Officer in Brigade
waiting, Scc.
Supper was served in the State Dining-room.
The Judge Advocate- General had au audience of the
Queen yesterday, at Buckingham Palace, and submitted
to her Majesty the proceedings of some Courts-martial.
Viscount Ponsonby was presented to the Queen yes-
terday, at an audience, by Viscount Palmerston, her
Majesty's Principal Secretary of States for FOreign
Affairs.
Lord John Easel' had an audience of ber Majesty
yesterday.
Her Majesty the Queen visited her Majesty the
Queen Dowager yesterday, at Marlborough House.
A deputation had an interview with Lord John Rus-
sell, yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-
street, on the part of the Royal Geographical Society,
including Mr. J. W. Hamilton (President). Sir Rode-
rick Murchison, Sir C. Malcolm, and Sir F. Beaufort.
lir. West Nash had an interview with Earl Grey, yes-
terday, at the Colonial-otlice.
Sir George Grey, her Majesty's Principal Secretary of
State for the Home Department, has issued invitations
for a full dress dinner party, at the Clarendon Hotel,
on Saturday, the 19th instant, to celebrate the Queen's
birthday.
Sir Charles Wood, Chancellor. of• the Exchequer, has
issued cards for a full dress dinner party, at his residency
in Downing-street, on Saturday, the 19th May, in honour
of her Majesty's birthday.

HER MAJESTY'S VISIT TO SCOTLAND.—From the

impro ements and preparations which are being made
in the Highland districts which were visited by the Royal
family last year, there is every likelihood of their re-
visiting Aberdeenshire in a few months. At a suitable
spot on the carriage way which leads from Balmoral to
Lochnagar, a handsome cottage is being built, and is
almost completed. It has been erected at the request of
her Majesty, and probably intended for a resting-place
on occasions of the Royal party taking excursions in
that direction.—Scotarnan.

FEMALE EDUCATION IN INDlA.—Yesterday the
firt annual meeting of the London Auxiliary Associa-
tion, in connexion with the Female Society of the Free
Church of Scotland for female education in India, was
held at the music Hall, Store-street; Charles Cowan,
Esq. M.P., in the chair. The meeting was but thinly
attended, and the majority of persons were females.
The proceedings commenced with a long prayer, part
of which was chaunted. The chairman having ex-
plained the objects of the meeting, a gentleman on the
platform read a statement, which the secretaries hoped
would be received instead of a formal report. It stated
that during the year 601 had been subscribed on behalf
of the association, and had been transmitted to the
treasurer of the parent society in Scotland. When it was
borne in mind that 3/. 12s. per annum was sufficient to
provide fur the board and education of a girl at the so-
ciety's institution at Calcutta, and that 6/. per annum
served for the entire maintenance of a girl at any of
the stations in India; the promoters of the association
bad no doubt that a larger number of ladies would be dls•
posed to contribute to the fundi. Forty girls had been
received as resident boarders at Calcutta, and twelve
had been admitted into the Christian church by the rite
of baptism. The convert girls, notwithstanding the
temptations to which some of them had been exposed,
were all kept steadfast in their Christian professions,
The report (which concluded by announcing that 151.
had been subscribed in addition to the 601. already men-
tioned) was adopted, and several resolutions were
passed in furtherance of the objects of the society.
Thanks were then voted to the chairman, and the meet-
ing separated.
THAMES ANGLING PRISERTATION SOCIETT.-..-The
eleventh annual meeting of the members was held yes-
terday, at the Freemasons' Tavern, W. H. Whitbread.
Esq. in the chair. Mr. H. Farnell, of Isleworth, read
the report of the committee,which congratulated the sub-
scribers on the severe check given to illegal netting in
the Thames' and the consequent increase of fish of every
kind. The last season for fishing, whether for fly, trot-
ling, or bottom angling, was considered the most unpro•
pitious 01 record. The prospects, this year, however,
were more satisfactory, as it was generally admitted that
the supply of fish of every description was most than-
dant. The preserves of the society were in a good states
as regarded the sunken boats, piles, &c., and as the sea-
son advanced, additional protection would be afforded.
The report having been received and adopted, a satertt.
ment of the society was read, from which it e pzet a Z.
thanks was passed to the committee for their that there was a balance of 51/. 91. 1 I id. A
exertions
in behalf of the interests of the society. Mr. Perkins
asarer
returned thanks. The chairmanproposed vote of
thanks
These gentlemen having responded, a vote of
thanks
passed to the chairman, and the meeting se-
tre
society.of the
to
was h
parated.
the honorary secretary and
THE PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION.—The annual
meeting of this society was held 'yesterday at Exeter-
hall, and was very numerously attended. Mr. Plumptre
presided, and in opening the proceedings dilated at con-
siderable length upon the turmoil and agitation which
prevailed in continental Europe, and especially in Italy
and the Papal dominions. lie exulted in the anticipa-
tion of the destruction of St. Peter's and the Vatican—
events which he had seen announced as probable from
the French intervention. He quoted circulars of the
Pope from Gaeta, in order to show that the character of
Roman Catholicism had not changed, and that Pius IX.
still asserted his pretensions as the representative of our
Saviour upon earth, and he concluded by predicting the
speedy downfal of Popery. The report was then read
by the secretary, Mr. Lord. It detailed the proceedings
of the association during the past year; in the course of
which 2,000,000 tracts had been distributed by it. Pro-
testant principles, it stated, were making rapid progress
all over the world, and with a strong pull, a long pull,
and a pull altogether Popery would be smitten for ever.
From the financial statement it appears that the receipts
of the association during the past year amounted to up-
wards of 900 L, and that their expenditure exceeded their
income by 6001. Against this balance assets were placed,
leaving the debt still uncovered at 100/. Mr. Jsa
man moved, and the Rev. D. Foley seconded, a motion
for the adoption of the report. The meeting was then
Stowell,
addressed by the Rev. W. HH. Peters, the Rev.
_
the Rev. T. Moriarty, and the Rev. C. Prest in support of
resolutions founded on the report, and in accordAnce
with the objects of the association. The usual vote of
thanks to the chairman having been carried, the prociketV
ings terminated.
The Earl of Ellesmere has directed the building of
a commodious church for the seamen Twang Runcorn.