The Sun.
London, England, 1838-03-09 00:00:00

QUARTETT CONCERTS.

HANOVER-SQUARE.
The second of the series of Quartett Concerts, established
"Y Messrs. Blagrove and Lucas, took place last night at the
11440er-square Rooms. We were glad to observe that a
14nels larger audience had assembled than at the preceding
Concert. Amongst the company was his Royal Highness
e Duke of Cambridge. The concert commenced with the
fluititett in D major (op. 18), of Onslow, for two violins,
tenor, violoncello, and double bass, played by Messrs. Blagrove,
Cattie, Dando, Lucas, and Howell. This quintett is un-
doubtedly a very beautiful composition, in a light brilliant
""Ile, full of playful passages, skilfully spread through the
several
instrumental parts. The second movement, a Largo
taestinuto, was by far the most effective. In it the double
83 "as conspicuous, and was played by Mr. Howell with a
411
round quality of tone, combined with great neatness of
ezecution. To the second piece, a recitative and air, of rather
mediocre character, the name of " Thompson" was ap-
Pended. It was sung by Mrs. Alfred Shaw, and when we have
e'_aied that, we need scarcely add that the composer, who-
tvvhr he is, derived every advantage from the assistance
Ich a splendid voice and fine taste could render. The
cr,
in particular, was magnificently sung. The first part
uneluded with a manuscript Quartett of Mendelssohn, pre-
stnted to Mr. Blagrove, as the Programme informed us, by
ne author, expressly for these concerts. It consisted of four
L°Yernents, an allegro, a scherzo, an andante, and a presto.
te. most of the compositions of the present day, it was ex-
d!ningly chromatic, intricate. and difficult ; but somewhat
"nid of interest for a general audience. It was played in a
`
~Inost finishe style, so that e nicest ear could scarcely
_ie!ect an inad ccuracy or a blemthish. Blagrove's playing was
?lendid, but if he could contrive to give a little more fire, a
}1,ll!!le more of force and energy, to his performance it would be
te more excellent than it is. The scherzo movment of
quartets was encored. The Second Part of heroncert,
acommenced with Mozart's Trio in E major, for pianoforte,
ndand violoncello, by Messrs. Cipriani Potter, 13Iarove,
ofss
Lucas, This, and the Quartets of Beethoven in F (No. 1
0 op. 18), were the gems of the evening, and left Messrs.
nslow and Mendelssohn a long way behind. The pianoforte
rest in the Trio was played by Mr. Potter with extreme neat-
ess, and in a style that conduced to the general Lff,,ct, in an
*special manner with no apparent wish on the part of the per-
former, to exhibit his own capabilities. The Quartctt, well known
to the amateurs, of whom a great number were present, was ad-
'bitted to have been played in a most finished and perfect style.
It was applauded to the echo. The vocal pieces of this act
were a canzonet, " The Maid of the Ganges," of Mendelssohn,
sung by Mr. J. Parry, jun. ; and a romance, " The Water-
king," of Dessauer, by Mrs. Alfred Shaw. Both were an-
nounced as" the first time of performance," and it may be the
17hat for any peculiar merit they possess. The first is a mere
and notwithstanding the nan:e of the composer, very
linferior to many an English ballad, of no considerable popu-
nf4ritY• The " Water-King" is a heap of unmitigated ;rash
F the German school, both words and music. Each was sung
at better than it deserved to be. We should mention, that at
tiles
fo concerts the vocal music is accompanied by the p;ano-
f Only, and that on this occasion Mr. Cipriam Potter per-
,orrued the duties of accompanist with great judgment and good
kast_
day'v The next concert of the series takes place on Thurs-
the 22d instant.

t The Duke of Devonshire after contributing 1,000/.
contributed
the new Roman Catholic Chapel at Dungarvan, has
qtrlbuted one hundred guineas to procure an altar piece.
1 The Duke of Devonshire has presented a club-
born'e ,at Dungarvan to the Liberals of Waterford and the
Pre-uga of Dungarvan. The Marquis of Waterford has also
Rioted one to the Conservative Club in that city.
he
r„orT Countess of Lonsdale, who expired at Cottes-
for ce Park, in Rutlandshire, on Tuesday evening, had been
Des:irtie months in a declining state of health, but her indis-
tditi,°.ll was not so severe as to confine her to her bed. Her
I.2dlalP was in her 78th year, and was, before her marriage,
Y Augusta nine, eldest daughter of John, fourth Earl of
~e,strnoreland sister to the present Earl, and half-sister to
t'leY Elizabeth Lowther. Her Ladyship had been united to
to Lonsdale more than half a century, having been married
`4,0 Noble Earl on the 17th July, 1781.
13 he families of the Earl of Westmoreland, Lord
\s;'l'ghersh, Sir John Lowther, Bart., Sir John Beckett, Lord
the _l4. Powlett, (S‘c are placed in mourning by the demise of
Countess of L'onsdala
i
di Lord Holland is convalescent ; his Lordship's n-
spesition was a severe attack of gout.
_. y -
tio4u P general opinion prevails in and about the
that c--en opinion that has laid hold of the public mind-_
B°Tne unfairness occurs in the subordinate offices with
the to the balloting for Committees. It is contrary to all
drawcalculations of chances that the same names should be
is thenriccessively on three or four Committees—and yet such
of the act—witness Mr. Fitzsimon, Sergeant Ball, and others
to th•L sarne political bias. Some of our friends ought to look
s-Dublin Evening Mail.

BRISTOL AND EXETER RAILWAY.

(Abridged from the Bristol Gazette.)
On Monday, pursuant to notice, a Special General Meeting
of this Company was held at the Merchants' Hall, for the pur-
pose of agreeing to the draft of a Bill to be brought into Par-
liament for making a deviation, and several branches, in the
Line of the Bristol and Exeter Railway.
The Chair was taken by F. Ricxxvrs, Esq., who briefly
stated to the meeting the object of their assembling, and then
called upon Mr. Ward, to submit the draft of the proposed
Bill, which is to enable the Company to make branch Rail-
ways to Nailsea, Weston-super-Mare, Bleadon, and Burnham;
also extending the time for the purchase of lands, and giving
the Company the power of purchasing more than half an acre
of land cut off by the Railway, the restriction to that quan-
tity having been found exceedingly inconvenient; and other-
wise to amend, alter, and enlarge the powers of the original
Bristol and Exeter Railway Act. Such was the outline of the
proposed Bill, and it was for the Shareholders to say if they ap-
proved of it.
. _

The draft of the Bill was unanimously agreed to, and the
Chairman was directed to sign it on behalf of the meeting.
This terminated the bu,iness of the Special Meeting.

THE HALF YEARLY GENERAL MEETING
Was also fixed to take place at two o'clock ; the Chairman
requested the Secretary, Mr. J. B. Badham, to read the no-
tice calling the meeting, which having been done--
The CHATRMAN again rose and said, he had often had the
pleasure of meeting them before, 'rut never under more cheer-
ing circumstances. The Directors had met with the support
of the Proprietors during times of much depression, and it
was through that support alone that they had been enabled to
discharge their task, and overcome the difficulties which had
surrounded them. From the most correct sources he was able
to inform them that the Bristol and Exeter Railway was daily
becoming more and more appreciated in London, Liverpool,
and Manchester, as well as in their own neighbourhood. It
was a Railway which was of the utmost importance to the
citizens of Bristol, and to the whole West of England, and
he claimed for it, therefore, their support as strongly con-
ducive not only to their own individual interests, but to the
interests of the city and that of the district at large. He
would conclude now by calling on the Secretary to read the
Report.

Mr. BADIIAM then read the following
REPORT.

" Since the Directors last presented to the Proprietors of the
Bristol and Exeter Railway a Report of the state and progress of
the undertaking, they have had the pleasure of witnessing such an
improvement in its condition and prospect; as is not only encourag-
ingbnt decisive.

The pressure which for many months afflicted and paralysed
the commercial energies of the country—diminishing the resources
and obstructing the judgment of those on whom it operated to an
extent which caused them to disregard, or lose sight of, the most
unquestionable estimates of advantage—has happily passed away :
public confidence is again diffusing its accustomed benefits, and
surplus capital is once more finding profitable employment in the
revival of productive industry and rational enterprise.
" As now occupying a high place in the first class of national
investments, well-considered lines of Railway have necessarily and
largely participated in the desirable results of returning prosperity ;
and that the Bristol and Exeter Line has successfully vindicated
the justice of its own claim to public support, will be hest shown by
stating that, without resorting to coercion in a single instance,
nearly Eleven-Twelfths of the last Instalment have been paid up—
that within the last two months the obtainable value of its Shares
has arisen from a heavy discount to a premium—and that an ex-
tensive amelioration in the Proprietary has been effected by trans-
fers to some of the most respectable and influential capitalists in
London, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Bath, and other districts
of the kingdom.
" Although considerations, no longer existing, have induced your
Directors cautiously to limit the scale of their operations, aid the
impediments occasioned by another severe winter have been alike
unfavourable to rapidity of progress, it will be satisfactory to the
Proprietors to learn that the advancement of the works on the line
has been gradually prosecuted to a considerable extent. Two-thirds
of the Line to Bridgwater (which includes four portions, of nearly
equal length, each of which is perfectly straight and level and with-
out any cutting or embankment) are under actual contract • the
remainder is definitively set out, and the property-plans ready for
delivery ; more than a third of the Land has been paid for, and
satisfactory agreements with the Landowners are being rapidly
effected throughout the whole distance.
" The Directors adhere to the determination, expressed in a
former Report, to complete the Line through the Backwell and
Nailsea Collieries, and by the watering-place of Clevedon and
Weston-super-Mare, to Uphill, and thence to Bridgewater, in the
first instance ; so as to insure a profitable return on the expected
outlay of 351. per Share ; the estimates of which they see no reason
to question. The Works will accordingly be commenced in a few
weeks to the neighbourhood of Uphill in Contract No. 4, A., and
the only two remaining Contracts, extending from Lympsham to
Bridgewater, will be advertised in the following month. The
Directors therefore confidently rely on the prompt support of the
Shareholders, to enable them to ensure, if possible, the opening of
the line to Bridgewater before the end of the ensuing year, when
about two-thirds of the Great Western Railway will also be com-
pleted—thereby effecting such superior facilities of communication,
between the West of England and London and the North, as must
at once demonstrate the indispensable necessity and national impor-
tance of both these great works. It will be satisfactory to the Pro-
prietors to know that the Directors of each co-operate with the
most perfect cordiality ; that the Chairman of this Company has
been appointed to the first vacant seat in the Direction of the Great
Western, and that important good offices have been tendered and
accepted with such willingness and promptitude as could only result
from a well-grounded conviction that the interests of both are indi-
visible. On repeating, however, the announcement of their design
to make the completion of the Line to Bridgewater their first
object, the Directors desire to accompany it by a renewed expres-
sion of their determination speedily to carry it forward to Taunton,
and thence to Exeter, as originally contemplated, with the greatest
practicable expedition.
" The communications with the Government, respecting the
establishment of a Steam-Packet Station on the Coast of Sonter-
setshire and on the Line of the Railway, leave no doubt on the
minds of the Directors of the ultimate accomplishment of this great
object, the advantages of which to the public and the Company are
incalculable.

" The application to Parliament, this day sanctioned by a Special
Meeting of the Proprietors, for permission to construct several
short and expensive Branches, to make a deviation from the ori-
ginal Line, and for other purposes, will be no longer requisite, as
respects the deviation, its necessity having been recently saperseded
by an amicable arrangement with the landowner.
" That the receipts arising from passenger and other traffic,
combined with the comparative cheapness of the works, afford a
certainty of an early and profitable revenue—that Geographical,
Parliamentary, and other impediments, preclude all fear of com-
petition—and that the natural advantages of the beautiful, fertile,
and populous country traversed by this Railway present such a suc-
cession of easy gradients as on most other Lines can only be ob-
tained by an enormous expenditure, are facts which former Reports
have so incontrovertibly demonstrated that the Directors refer to
them on this occasion merely for the purpose of assuring the Pro-
prietors that every new inquiry has only served to strengthen the
evidence of their correctness, and consequently to present addi-
tional ground of satisfaction.
" The Directors are fully persuaded that experience has already
justified their entire confidence in the superior ability and judgment
of their principal Engineer, the leading peculiarities of whose plans
for the formation of Railways, as developed on the Great Western
Line, are now attracting an increased share of public attentiun, and,
in the course of the next year, will have been so far carried into ex-
tensive operation as to give to the Bristol and Exeter Company all
the important benefits of his matured experience. The Directors
cannot thus glance at the Engineering Department without again
bearing testimony to the talent and unwearied devotedness of the
Resident Engineer, Mr. Gravatt.

" A ♦acancy having occurred in your Direction by the retire-
ment of Mr. Robert Castle, whose avocations have induced him to
resign a Trust to the duties of which he was no longer able to de-
vote an adequate share of his attention, his place has been supplied,
under the provisions of the Act, by the election of his relative, Mr.
Michael Hinton Castle, a gentleman resident in Bristol, and pos-
sessing a considerable interest in the undertaking.
" By section 139, of the Act of Incorporation, one-fourth of
the Directors (to be determined by ballot amongst themselves) re-
tire from office at the present meeting, and an equal number of
qualified l'roprietors are to be elected in their stead. The Di-
rectors thes balloted out are Messrs. Frederick Ricketts, W. D.
Wills, William Morgan, and James Brown ; but they are all re-
eligible, and have consented to stand for re-election.

" The annexed Account of Receipts and Expenditure to the
present time shows a disposable balance of 61,6351. 131. 5d., being
an amount exceeding two-thirds of the last Instalment, after cover-
ing every ascertained liability to the end of the preceding quarter,
and 53,8651. 15s. 6d. after deducting all disbursements to the
present time. _ _ _

- " A Map and Section of the Line, with a reprint of the Table
of Traffic, will accompany this Report, and will be at the service
of every Shareholder.

4‘ FREDERICK RICKETTS, Chairman.
" Bristol, sth March, 1838."

RECEIPTS.

£ 1. d.

First Call—Deposit of 21. 10s. per Share, on
14,988 Shares... 37,470 0 0
12

Reserved for Landowners..

15,000

Second Call of 2/. 10s. per Share on 14,900 Shares... 37,250 0 0
Ileservod, as above ... l2
In arrear BB

15,000

11 Call of 5/. per Share on 12,623 Shares... 63,115 0 0
Reserved, as above
* In arrear..,

15,000

Interest received from Bankers and Shareholders 3,497 9 0
Registration and Transfer Fees

£141,388 19 0
4 These arrears are daily lessening, and will doubtless be soon dis-
charged.

EXPENDITURE.
Parliamentary expenses, including Parliamentary
agents, and fees to counsel, solicitors' bills, NV i
nesses, canvassing, taking road-traffic, hire of
Committee-rooms, and all law charges and dis-
bursements, to the time when the Act of Parlia-
ment for constructing this line reeeived the Royal
assent... .... .... .................... 18,592 1 10
Engineering, including surveys of the whole line,
plans and sections, maps, professional evidence
in Parliament, and all other expenses and dis-
bursements in this department, up to and since
the time when the Act was obtained ......... 6,304 10 10
Travelling expenses before and since the passing of
the Act, and country agency employed in relation
to the line generally .. „...............,
Printing, advertising, stationary, bookbinding, and
various incidental expenses in Bristol and London
from the first projection of the undertaking
Expenses connected with ascertaining and setting
out the line since passing the Act...
Purchase of machinery, implements, utensils, and
tools, maps, plans, &c., for use on the line and at
including costs of the alte-
the engineer's offices,
ration and repairs at the office in Coronation-
road, furniture, and diibursement4 3,092 6 0

2,028 7 1

2,069 15 9

2,691 19 8

8,500 5 7

Salaries in the engineering and surveying depart-
ment, and draftsmen's salaries...
Purchase of land, surveying and valuing, and com-
pensation for damages
Payments to contractors and expenses relating to
the contracts
Law charges, conveyancing, and costs of title since
the Act was obtained
Office expenses, direction, salaries, office furniture,
rent, postage, and carriage of parcels
Balance in the hands of the bankers £61,635 13 5
Ditto in the hands of the secretary 83 13 4-61,719 6 9

9,319 2 8

1,990 19 10

5,158 7 0

£141,388 19 0
Since the period to which the above account applies, the Di-
rectors have made various additional payments for purchase of land,
compensation for damages, wages on the line, and advances to the
contractors, amounting to 7,7701. 4d., by which means the said
balance of 61,6351. 13s. sd. stated to be then in the Bankers'
hands, is reduced to the sum of 53,865/. 131. ld, viz.:—
Balance as above £61,635 13 5
Land and Compensation .......£2,440 16 9
Contractors
Wages, &c., on the line

£53,865 13 1
remaining with Bankers, and inclusive of a balance in the hands of
the Secretary for office disbursements.
ROBERT BRIGHT, Esq., moved that the Report be adopted.
Captain WALCOTT, R. N., seconded the motion. He
called upon the meeting to bear their testimony to the seal
and ability of the Directors, and to be no niggards in their
thanks.
The CHAIRMAN bore testimony to the great interest taken
by the Directors of the great Western Railway in all that
concerned the prosperity of the Bristol and Exeter line.
C. B. FRIPP, Esq., moved that the corporate seal of the
Company be affixed to the deed of registration.
MICHAEL CASTLE, Esq., seconded the motion, which was
carried unanimously.
W. JOHNSON, Esq., then, in a brief eulogistic address moved
the thanks of the meeting to the Directors, which was seconded
by G. JONES, Esq., and carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN returned thanks on behalf of his colleagues
and himself, and assued the meeting that nothing should be
wanting on their parts to promote the interests of the concern.
S. DIBSDALL, Esq., moved the re-election of the Chairman
and the three other retiring Directors.
G. W. HALL, Esq., had much pleasure in seconding the
resolution, which was then put and carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN, on behalf of the re-elected Directors and
himself, returned his sincere thanks.

RICILARD BALL, Esq., moved the thanks of the meeting to
the Society of Merchants for granting them the use of their
Hall.

The Rev. J. TAYLOR seconded the resolution, which was
carried unanimously.
(It was afterwards understood that no further call will be
payable for some months to come, and that the next call will
not exceed .51. per share. Also that such was the present
confidence in the prospects of the Company, that several capi-
talists have offered the Directors large amounts on loan to en-
courage the vigorous prosecution of the works.)
Thanks were then voted to the Chairman by acclamation,
and the meeting broke up.
THE WORKS.

In pursuance of arrangements previously made, a large
party of the Directors, Proprietors, and other gentlemen in-
terested in the success of the undertaking, now proceeded in
several carriages to Flax Bourton, for the purpose of viewing
the progress made in the works on that part of the line. The
party arrived at Bourton about four o'clock, and, under the
polite guidance of Mr. Gravatt the engineer, lost no time in
ascertaining for themselves the actual progress made. A
feeling of surprise and gratification seemed to pervade all,
the majority having previously entertained no idea of
the extent to which the works had been carried. More
than four miles of the road have been completed,
with the exception of ballasting and laying down the
permanent rails. Temporary sleepers and rails have
been laid down, on which a powerful locomotive engine
travels for the purpose of facilitating the transit of the mate-
rials, &c., used in the works, On the present occasion,
several of the carriages, fitted up as conveniently as time and
circumstances would allow, were put in requisition for the
party, who, to their great gratification, were conveyed along
the line at a speed, averaging from twelve to fourteen miles
in the hour. The bridges, cuttings, and embankments, are
all executed in the best manner, and reflect great credit on
Mr. Brunel, Mr. Gravatt, and the contractor, Mr. Hemmings.
After having minutely examined the works, the party re-
turned to the Angel at Bourton, where from 60 to 70 gentle-
molt sat down and did ample justice to an excellent dinner.
The Chairman, F. Ricketts, Esq., presided at one table, and
S. Waring, Esq., the Deputy Chairman, at the other.
As soon as the cloth was removed, and the usual loyal toasts
had been drunk, the Chairman rose and said it gave him heart-
felt pleasure to propose, " Success to the Bristol and Exeter
Railway," which was drank with enthusiasm. " The Great
Western Railway" was then proposed from the Chair, and
received with much applause.