The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-16 00:00:00

REDUCTION IN GOVERNMENT
1' , %.1- Of THE 6-

SIR,— I i,e s; to tion of England at the present mo
meat, and the d;fliculties that exist in a commercial
point of view, demand of her Majesty's Government
the most serious and instant attention towards a
reduction in the expenditure, to meet existing evils
and to prevent the occurrence of events and disasters
similar to those which last year proved of such fatal
consequences to the Continent.
In forwarding you the annexed account of income
supposed to be received by persons holding office
under Government, I beg to make a few observations
on the same, and send you a scale of per-tentage,
which I submit to your consideration for deduction,
and which the present state of the country demands
an inquiry into.
The mercantile part of the community feels it ex-
ceedingly difficult to meet the present taxation (which
to continue), without an increase in commercial pros-
perity, may be the means of causing an outbreak
similar to the late unfortunate disturbances in France,
and indeed throughout Europe ; for there are not
wanting in England those who are ready to excite
and provoke the disaffected (should there be the least
pretext) to similar acts of violence and rebellion.
I therefore propose and submit for your considera-
tion, to make a deduction from all in office under
Government, whether at home or abroad; and, in-
deed, all that are any way deriving incomes from
Government offices, either by way of per tentage or
in diminution, of salary, in proportion to the amount
received.
It therefore, in my opinion, behoves her Majesty's
Ministers in times like the present to give the matter
their serious and instant attention, and to strike at the
root of the evil before it be too late, and set the ex-
ample of retrenchment, and let the country see that
they (her Majesty's Ministers) are willing to make a
sacrifice equal to the community at large and propor-
tionate to the calls of the country.
Indeed the heavy taxation which the middling and
small tradesman are at present suffering under cannot
much longer be withstood; and that odious tax (on
income) is pressing with equal severity on the same
class of persons, which do not press in the same pro-
portions on the merchant or men who have sufficient
incomes out of business—the poorer class it cannot
reach ; it is therefore only the really industrious and
working man who feels it.

I trust this communication, which I send you in
good feeling, and with my best wishes for the prospe-
rity of Old England, will prove worthy your consi-
deration, if not wholly, in part ; and that we shall
shortly hear of much retrenchment in the Govern-
ment offices, that may be effected without material
injury to any one, and meeting at the same time the
wishes of the people, and without at all interfering
with the dignity of the Crown.

For all and every one bolding office under her Majesty's
Government, at present salary of
£BO and under £lOO a reduction of 3 per ct. per ann.
100 ~ 200
f t 6
f 0
200
If 300
ff 8
~
300 f I 400 ~ 10 ~
400 5, 600
$t 12
f 9
600 If 800 ~ 14
fit
800
fit„
1,000
ff 16
18 ,t
1,000 „ 1,500
ff ~
1,500 „ 2,000 f 2 20
2,000 2,500 • 22
ft
ff ff
2,500 „ 3 000 24
3,000
f P Of
~ 4,000
f f 27
4,000 „ 5,000 ~
30 ~ 5,000 6.000
~ 34 ~
6,000 and' ell above
ft 40
The above scale presents no impossibilities, and
would be the means of much real alleviation to the
present distress of the middle classes, wherein lies the
real struggle and dignity of the nation.
August 13, 1849. BRITANNICUS.

AN APPEAL ON BEHALF OF THE
DAUGHTERS OF HUNGARY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—Generous organ of the human mind, to thy
kind care I entrust my mite. The world may ask,
and call it vanity that has induced the humble maiden
to depart from the strict tenor of her way, to proclaim
to the world the sufferings of her less favoured sister-
hood. But you, 0 Freedom's champion, I know will
pardon her, when she declares that the honour of her
sex, the voice of reason, the dictates of humanity,
command her to appeal to the daughters of men in
aid of the cause—that cause which the Saviour of the
world has declared to be the most holy of holies—
the cause of the right and the just.
Daughters of Britannia! the voice of distress cries
aloud from afar. Listen, but for a moment, hark !
The cries of anguish rend the air ; they ascend even
to Heaven, and re-echo on the shores of Britain.
From whence come these cries, so unusual to our
ears ? It must be the cry of the negro slave.
No, sisters, it is from the East—from the banks of
the Danube ; the land of the noble—the husbandman,
the happy shepherd ; the land that industry and the
great Creator has caused so abundantly to overflow
, with rank and honey.
Why, then, these sad cries of distress ?
Sisters, my heart sickens, my breast throbs, my
voice falters, the pen quivers in my hand; but the
promptings of my inmost soul bid me proclaim, that
the laws—human, Divine, and nature's—have been
violated by the barbarous legions of the Neroes of
the north. It is the death-shriek of the fairest
of the fair— the daughters of Hungary—
sinking to the earth beneath the accursed lash of the
blood-stained knout, at the command of creatures
who call themselves the great and mighty of the
world. Sisters, it is the daughters of Hungary, who
appeal to Heaven and man for vengeance.
This must be a tale ! The gods forbid it! What
mortal sin have they committed ?
Sisters, pity, it is too true. Listen, the world
shall be their judge. The mother has given succour
to her child ; the hand of the sister—that hand, none
so gentle—has administered to the wants of her dying
brother ; the new-made bride has obeyed the com-
mands of the altar and of God. These, these are
their crimes for which the aged mother, the gentle
sister, the tender wife—like our great Redeemer—
have been bound with bonds—their flesh has been
lacerated—their precious blood has been trampled in
the dust. But they have hope in their Father who
reigns in heaven.
Daughters of Britannia, your blood curdles, your
cheeks blush, your hearts are ready to burst, whilst
I proclaim the foul deeds of these monsters of the
universe. Arouse, then, ye happy nymphs of the
sea-girt isle! call on the sons of freedom, of Albion
—on our good Queen Victoria, the patroness
of mercy and humanity, whose sceptre waves with
the four winds of heaven, whose ear is ever open to
the cries of the afflicted and oppressed—call on her
to declare to those tigers of the human race, "Thus
far thou hast gone—thou shalt go no further !"
A D AUGH TER OF BRITANNIA.

THE COLLECTIONS OF THE LATE SAMUEL GIBSON,
THE NATURALIST.—IO our notice of the death of this
remarkable man, we stated that, unless secured for the
Salford Borough Museum, it was probable that big
valuable collections, chiefly the fruit of his ownh indefa-
tigablemer zeal as a collector, would come to the hammer,
for the benefit of his widow and family. The catalogue
no
,
of these collections is so remarkable, that
apology for calling public
attentionttoitt.weßmesides a
good selection of works of authority on various branches
of botany and other departments of natural history,
we find, among the the botanical lots, Gibson's own
herbarium, containing a complete series (save about 20
species) of the British flowering plants ; an extremely
valuable collection of British seeds, seed vessels, &c.,
mounted between plates of glass (in all about 1,000
species); a very valuable collection of British ferns and
their allies (71 species, and about 700 specimens) ; a
choice collection of British mosses (346 specimens), very
neatly laid down ; another of 194 species ; a valuable
collection of lichens (204 species); and one of British
Jungermannim, &c. (75 species); a collection of British
Fuci and Algae (180 specimens); a unique collection of
dwarf British plants (426 specimens); and a choice series
of sections of British woods and plants, mounted for the
use of the microscope (about 130 species.)—Manchesier
Examiner.

IMPORTANT TO SIIIPOWNERS.—PLYMOUTH, AUG.
13.—Several passengers of the emigrant ship Colum•
bine, 1,000 tons burden, J. Cowent, master, made 'a
complaint to-day before the magistrates of her being
about to sail for New York without a surgeon on board.
It appeared that on the passage down Channel sickness
broke out on board, and three persons have died, and
three or tour more are still ill of cholera. The passen-
gers have been turned over to her Majesty's ship Tyne,
22, in order that the Columbine may be cleansed and
fumigated. Mr. S. C. Johnson stated that ho had writ-
ten to the owners for a surgeon to accompany the vessel,
but, although they were not legally bound to provide
onoe
one, yet in this particular case he had no doubt
would be allowed. With this understanding the parties
left.
SIR JOHN FaANKLIN.
Lady Frank-
burgh, dated the 31st of July, states:—" —A letter from St. Peters-
burgh, Emperor
possibility
bilitylin having addressed a mtchagrtrelrteowshase
som
Rus-
sia, in which she stated
which sailed four years ago from
that the expedition
discovery of the north-west passage,
England, for the
command of her husband, Sir John Franklin,
under the
intelligence had been received, had
and of which no
been thrown on the coasts of Siberia or Nova Zembla,
his Imperial Majesty instantly resolved to fit out an ex •
pedition to make a strict search on these distant shores,
and for this purpose the Imperial Academy of Science
at St. Petersburgh has been consulted as to the best
course it would he expedient to adopt."
SIR JOHN FRANKLIN'S EXPEDITION.—ACCOUTAS
from the Sandwich Islands, dated the 20th of May
announce that her Majesty's ships Pandora and Herald
were anchored at those islands. It will be remembered
that they were, some time ago, instructed to search in
the Northern Pacific for the adventurous Polar navi-
gator, in order to render succour if such were required.
The potato crops in the vale of Duddon are more,
prolific this season than for msny years past, and the
disease, which was so destructive in former seasons, has,
up to the present time, nowhere made its appearance.—
Cumberland Pacquet. • _

CITY COMMITTEE OF HEALTH.
The cotrui, tte- of 'health appointed by the Court
of Common Couacil met • in
yeterdo-• •
the chair.
y
The last proceedings having bee., read, t.;;e punted
circular issued by the City of London Union was read.
CHOLERA IN THE CITY
Mr. Simon (the officer of health. of the City of
London) attended, and reported that the number of
persons who died of cholera in the City of London
during the preceding week amounted to 41.
NUISANCES IN THE CITY.
Mr. Wilson attended with a certificate, signed by
Mr. Hadlow, medical officer, relative to a nuisance in
Little George-street, Minories, at a manufactory of
gut-strings occupied by Mr. Moffatt.
Mr. Simon reported that he had examined the
premises, and found that the stench was excessively
bad, and that the continuance of such a nuisance
would be likely to produce danger to the inhabitants
of the neighbourhood.
It was ordered by the committee that the City
Solicitor be requested to take immediate measures to
prosecute the parties.
Mr. Simon complained of a filthy nuisance at the
premises of a butcher, N 0.17, the corner of Nicholas-
lane. It apptared that the cellar of the house was
used by the butcher for the slaughter of sheep and
pigs, and that the cellar was immediately under a
house inhabited by Mr. Vincent, who attended to
support the complaint. It also appeared that Mr.
Croft, a medical practitioner of experience, had cer-
tified upon the subject, and that Mr. Vincent and
family were serious sufferers in their health, in con-
sequence of the abominable stenches to which they
were perpetually exposed from the slaughtering den.
The case was referred to the City Solicitor, with
the request on the part of the committee that it might
be prosecuted immediately.
Police-sergeant Paterson reported that a filthy
nuisance existed in Duke's-head-court, Ivy-lane,
arising from the slaughtering of sheep, &c., in a
cellar, in which where found two carcases of stinking
meat, which diffused through the vicinity an intoler-
able smell. The owner and the occupier of the cellar
appeared before the committee, and the latter said if
it was the desire of the committee he would at once
give up the occupation.
The case was referred to the City Solicitor, with the
request to proceed immediately and peremptorily,
evidence having been given to show that notice had
been three several times given for the abatement of
the nuisance within the last three months.
ALLEGED EXTENSIVE NUISANCE IN NEWGATE-STREET.
Several persons complained of Tyler's-market, at
the end of Newgate-street, near Warwick-square, as
a most odious nuisance.

Mr. Simons, who had examined the locality, re-
ported that the nuisance was extremely offensive.
The CITY SOLICITOR (who attended at the request
of the committee) said, upon hearing a charge of so
general a nature, that it would be impossible to pro-
secute a whole market. He should, however, take
care that the cause of complaint should he inquired
into, and that the most offensive premises should be
selected for prosecution. .

The committee, who are most actively engagei in
carrying out the views -of the corporation and their
fellow•citizens, then adjourned.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.—FOUR Ilinfsss DESTROYED.
—This morning, about two o'clock, the inhabilaots of
Three Colt-street, Liwehouse, were aroused from their
beds by the cry of "Firer' The catastrophe originated
in the house of Mr. Witley, the Three Colt chop-house,
Three Colt-street, and, from the circumstance of that
roof and three other houses being comprised in one, the
fire spread most furiously. Police-sergeant K 21, and
constable K 151, succeeded in arousing the various
families, all of whom escaped. several of the brigade
engines and the West of England also arrived, and water
was abundantly supplied from the East London mains,
but the flames spread to three other houses adjo'ning—
that of Mr. Atwell, butcher, a hair-dresser's named
Jones, and the house of Mr. Hind, grocer avel
taa-
dealer. Three of them were wholly and partially de-
stroyed, together with stock and every other valuable;
that of Mr. Hind seriously damaged. Three psr.ies only
are insured, Messrs. Watley, Atwell, and Hind, in the
Sun and Star fire offices. The origin of the fire was
unknown.—A second fire occurred at three o'clock, on
the premises of Mr. Morton, 8, Frances•street, Totten-
ham Coart-road, (the business carried on was that of
a writer on glass and medical outfitter); it originated in
warehouses at the back of the house; and although ten
of the brigade and West of England engines rendered
every assistance, the warehouses and stock were com-
pletely destroyed. The loss by the two fires is estimated
at 1,000/.

REPORTED ARRIVAL OF THE DUNCAN, CAPTAIN
HENIUCKSON.—Some excitement was caused yesterday
morning by the rumoured arrival, from Calcutta, of the
above vessel, whose captain, it will be remembered, is the
husband of Mrs. Henriekson, whose family, with her-
self, are the victims for whose murder the prisoner Glee -
son Wilson is about to be put upon his trial. So apropos
an arrival has not taken place ; and the report has pro-
bably been caused by some one of the five Calcutta
vessels which came up on Sunday being mistsken fir
the Duncan. We learn that Captain Henricksen left
Calcutta on the 17th of March, and crossed the bar of
the Hoogbly on the 18th. He is not considered as duo
until the 18th instant, but is not expected until the end
of the month, as the ship is deeply laden, and the ves-
sels which left on the 31st of March only arrived on
Sunday. The Duncan is bound to Liverpool not Lon•
don, as was first stated ; and there is still a possibility
of her arrival in time to enable Captain Henrickson to
be present at the trial of the alleged slaughterer of his
family. This is not the first rumour which has been
circulated respecting the Duncan and her unfortunate
commander; and it will give an instance how rapidly
details are appended in such cases, when we state, that
a few hours after the supposed arrival had taken place,
it was added, first that the captain had read of his be-
reavement at St. Helena, and next that he had become
insane, and the vessel had been brought home by the
mate.—Liverpool Standard.
THE ELECTION TOE KIDDERMINSTER.—The new
writ for this borough has been issued, and fixes the
election for next Tuesday week, the 28th inst.
THE BUTLER DIVORCE CASE.—We see it stated,
on what we deem good authority, that the terms of a
divorce have been agreed upon by the counsel in the case
of Pierce Butler v. Fanny Kemble Butler, satisfactory to
both parties. The principal conditions are, that Mr.
Butler is to allow Mrs. Butler 1.500 dollars annually ;
he to retain possession of their children (two daughters),
excepting two months in each year, which they aro to
spend with their mother. The arrangement aas agreed
to some weeks since—both preferring it to a further
contest before the courts; and the daughters are now
with their mother, in Massachusetts, where she purposes
takin,, up her residence.—Philadelphia Daily Z%ews.
The annexed notice, which is of interest to parties
connected with the Baltic trade, was posted at Lloyd's
yesterday afternoon :
" Royal Prussian General Consulate, London,
"(106, Fenchurch-street), Aug. 10.
" Sir,—Reverting to my communication of the 11th of
June last, I have now the honour to acquaint 3 ou, for
the information of the shipping interest connected with
the Baltic trade, that his Prussian Majesty's Govern-
ment has ordered the restoration of the Light on the
Greifswalder Oie, and that in like manner the inter-
rupted light near Swinemunde is ordained.
"B. lIEBELEB, Prussian Consul-General.

" Captain G. A. Halstead, R.N."
THE ORLEANS FAMILY. —The ex-King Louis
Philippe and several members of his family and suite
went from Claremont to Richmond on Friday afternoon,
and dined at the Star and Garter Hotel, at which eche-
brated house the family had sojourned for a lerght ned
period previous to their trip to St. Leonard's-on-Sea.
We believe that the ex-King Louis Philippe is in the
enjoyment of good health and spirits, and that the re-
mainder of the ex-Royal Family are also well.
ROYAL ARTILLERY.---WOOLWICH, AUGUST 15.
The remainder of Captain Lethbridge's company, sth
battalion, were medically inspected at nine o'clock, yes-
terday morning at the Ordnance Hospital, and will em-
bark to-morrow morning at the East India Docks in the
freight ship Devonshire for a passage to the Cape of
Good Hope; the first part of the company having em-
barked in the Atholl troop-ship for thdt destina-
tion in the early part of the present month. Captain
Low's company, 7th battalion, which left Woolwich on
the 28th of November last to augment the Royal Artil-
lery at the Mauritius, arrived at that station on the 28th
of March in the present year. Lieutenant Travers and
Hunter arrived with the companies. Captain Willett,
not Willan, has left the garrison on six months' leave of
absence to visit the seat of war in Hungary. The field
batteries, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel
Anderson, proceeded to the marshes this morning to
gANthDe Ndaeyvv.
encamppos
llthAeuirFerr7BiseossTdOUNCl:a
TAaGnEd go through
• ,
YORE.—A Treasury warrant is printed in Tuesday's
Gazette, directing that in future the postage between the
n d places shall, after the 20th September next,
weight,
half andou n
cse 0. o
Newspapers
psrpoagperss-
re
above- indasten packet rate of 4d. for every letter not ex-
ceeding
for
yce i
additional
aro to be charged Id. each, provided the n
se
jeyeedii
y g4dh.a
sus. postal
regulations respecting newspapers are complied With.
lf
an ounce
A VILLAGE ENCAMPED.—THE CHOLERA AT ME.•
GIVENEY.—On application to the authorities
Board of Health, the Ordnance department by the
have ordered
tents to be supplied to the inhabitants of Megaveney,
Cornwall, for them to live under whilst their
village is being
cleaned. Her Majesty's lighter
Rochester sail d from
Devonport, with the tents, on Tuesday last.
An excursion • trip from London Bridge Station to
Hastings and St. Leonard's, a distance of more then 70
milts, has been projected for Monday next, the :10th inst.,
the charge for the whole journey being ss. The train
starts at half-past eight in the morning, returns to the
metropolis the same evening, and will allow the excur-
sionists eight hours to enjoy the magnificent scenery of
Hastings and the surrounding ncighbonrhood. The ex-
cursion is under the management of Mr. Bishop of 11,
Great Winchester-street, City. As it is a first attempt to
enable the industrious and hard-working of our popula-
tion to visit, at so trifling an expense, this classic gn‘und,
it deserves to meet with complete success.
THE ARUM.--The 4th Regiment of Foot proceeded
on Saturday last, the 1 Ith instant, from Winchester to
Porsea barracks, where it is to be stationed. Th lst
battalion of the 71st Regiment of Foot marched from
Dublin to Naas on Monday last, the 13th; and the .Bth
Hussars from the same place, to New bridge, their re-
moval to Dublin having been rendered necessary by her
Majesty's visit to that diipital.

CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD
RAILWAY.

The half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors
of the Chester and Holyhead Railway was held
yesterday at the Euston Station. The meeting
was made special to consider and determine as to the
creation and appropriation of the additional capital
authorised to be raised by an Act passed in the pre-
sent session of Parliament, or of some part thereof;
and also, to consider and determine- upon the expe-
diency of reducing the number of the directors of the
company, in conformity with the provisions of the
same Act•

Captain Moorsome, R.N., chairman of the board
of directors, in the chair.
The minutes of the previous meeting having been
read and confirmed, Mr. Gifford, the secretary, was
called upon to read the following report of the direc-
tors for the past half-year :
" The causes which have operated to delay the com-
pletion of the Britannia Bridge, and with it the opening
of the entire line, beyond the period contemplated by
the directors at the half•yearly meeting, are explained
in the accompanying report from your engineer, Mr.
Stephenson. The board much regret that circum-
stances beyond control should have retarded a work so
essential to the full utility and value of the undertaking.
" The directors have the pleasure to inform you that
the main line of the Mold Railway has been inspected
and approved by the Government Engineer, and was
opened yesterday. The construction of this branch has
been effected at a moderate cost, the full advantage of
which will be secured to you by the tenor of the agree-
ment for the purchase, already laid before you, and
sanctioned at the meeting of the 30th of March last.
Arrangements are in progress for bringing the various
coal workings into connexion with the line.
" The directors have continued to give unabated at-
tention to the employment of the steam-packets in con-
nexion with the railway. The actual returns of the
company's vessels are now nearly equal to the Govern-
ment packets, although the latter make twenty-eight,
and the former only twelve trips in the week ; the ex-
perience of twelve months in their working, proves that
both must be running at considerable loss, and that all
would be benefited by the whole service being performed
either by the Government or by this company. The
directors stated in their last report that they had, at the
invitation of Government, submitted a proposition for
undertaking the whole packet service between Holyhead
and Kingstown; that tender not having been accepted
has been withdrawn, and the question therefore remains
unsettled.

" The following return does not include either the
amount due for the conveyance of the mails or the toll
payable by the Shrewsbury and Chester Company. The
Post-office authorities insisted upon the amount of remu-
neration for the conveyance of the mails, previous to the
commencement of the Treasury contract, being referred
to arbitration; and although the directors appointed
their arbitrator in September, 1848, no decision has as
het been given, in consequence of the Post-office not
aving furnished their arbitrator with instructions.
" The number of passengers conveyed from Ist Janu-
ary to 30th June has been—by railway, 119,911; steam-
boats, 6,637; making a total of 126,548.
" The gross receipts have been—
From the Railway. From Steam-boats
25,576 10 0 ... 3,381 13 8
5,473 12 2 0 0 0
933 211 ... 55 15 1

Passengers
Goods
Parcels

Total £31,983 5 1 ... 43,437 8 9
" The working charges have amounted to
23,6791. 12s. 104. from the railways, and 11,5361. lOs. 4d.
from the stew in-b oats.
" The Act authorising the raising of further capital,
for which your sanction was obtained at the last half-
yearly meeting, received the loyal assent on the 26th
June. By this Act the Company have obtained the
restoration of the power of borrowing on debentures,
which had been merged in the former creation of pre-
ference shares, whilst the shares which the said reso-
lution of the last meeting authorised the directors to
create, are reduced from 735,000/. to 525,0001.,
leaving, however, a discretionary power eventually to
capitalise the loans by a creation of shares.
" In order to meet the liabilities of the Company, and
to avoid the sacrifice which the immediate raising of ad-
ditional capital to complete the line would entail, the di-
rectors have solicited the assistance of the London and
North-Western Company, who have agreed to advance
100,0001. on the seem ity of a resolution of the board
pledging itself to aet upon the power conferred upon the
directors at the last half-yearly meeting, whenever re-
quired by the London and North-Western Company
to repay the loan by means arising from a further
creation of preference shares.
"7. At the last meeting it was intimated that interest
would be paid on the original shares, until the line was
completed by the erection of the bridge over the Menai
Straits, in accordance with the construction put by the
Government upon the contract with the Treasury for the
conveyance of the mails, the commencement of which is
dependent on the same circumstance. But the directors
now feel it to be their duty to state, that since the
funds necessary for the payment of this interest could
not be provided otherwise than by a new issue of pre-
ference shares, at a rate of discount, or of en-
hanced interest, which would render the transaction
permanently injurious to the interests of the company,
they cannot recommend the proprietors to purchase an
illusory advantage at such a cost. The only mode of
meeting the difficulty appears to be by a creation of
shares, under the powers of the last Act of Parliament,
representing the amount of interest due, and issuing
them, discharged from the payment of all calls, to the
proprietors of the original shares. If it should be the
pleasure of the proprietors to adopt this course, the di-
rectors recommend that these shares should not be issued
until the next half-yearly meeting, by which time the
entire line will be completed, and dividend will then be
payable out of traffic.
" The arrears of calls due at the last half•yearly
meeting amounted to 46,7861, of which 11,6901. have
been received. Notice of forfeiture has been given to
the holders of 506 shares, upon which, in the aggregate,
6,8921. 10s. have been paid; and the directors are using
every means to recover the balance, although they anti-
cipate but partial success.
" By the removal of the offices of the company to the
Euston Station, an annual saving of rent will be effected;
and the directors have revised the establishment, and
placed it upon the most economical footing.
" Agreeably with the intimation given you in
the last report, powers have been obtained by the Act of
this session of Parliament to reduce the number of di-
rectors to twelve, and the board recommending that the
reduction be forthwith effected have received the resigna-
tion of Mr. Collett and Mr. Thomas, which, with the
previously reported vacancy of Mr. Laird's seat, will
leave the number of six representing the general body
of the shareholdors, and on your approval of the reduc-
tion of the board to twelve, the directors appointed by
the London and North-Western Company will be re-
duced in the same proportion. The directors recom-
mend that the remuneration voted to them by the pro-
prietors should also be reduced.
"It is proposed to declare a dividend of Bs. 3d. per
abate, on the preference shares, to be made payable on
the 20th instant. _

In conclusion, the directors are compelled to state,
that the causes specified in their report of the 16th
March last, as having disappointed, in respect to the
traffic of the line, ' even the most moderate expectations
that were entertained at the time when this company
was formed,' have continued to operate to its detriment.
The terrible calamity with which Ireland has been
visited, the consequent depreciation of all property con-
nected with it, and .the diminution of the intercourse
between the two countries, is obviously beyond their
control. Your interests have also in a minor de-
gree been injuriously affected by the unavoidable
delay in the completion of the Britannia Bridge, the tar-
diness of the proceedings in forming the harbour of
refuge and packet pier at Holyhead, and by the competi-
tion of the Government steam-vessels with those of the
company, at a heavy loss to both parties. The first of
these impediments to the development of the traffic,
will very shortly be removed. The second and third, it
is beyond the power of the directors to obviate ; but
they cannot believe that her Majesty's Government will
continue to compete for a traffic, the whole of which,
under present circumstances, would be utterly insuffi-
cient to remunerate any other party than the proprietors
of the railway. Bat, whilst thus laying these facts before
the shareholders, without disguise, the directors also
feel it to be equally their duty to express their confident
expectation, that with the restoration of Ireland to its
ordinary state of prosperity, and the further develop-
ment of local traffic, the position of the shareholders will
be materially benefited, and that the returns of the
railway will be still further improved upon the com-
pletion of the harbour of Holyhead. In the meanwhile
the directors have used their best endeavours to ad-
minister the financial concerns of the company, and to
avail themselves of its credit, so as to obviate the neces-
sity, otherwise unavoidable, of increasing the capital upon
terms detrimental to the interests of the existing pro-
prietors. Mr. Philip Hanbury being the auditor who
goes out by rotation, now offers himself for re-election."
The statement of receipts and disbursements, includ-
ing outstanding charges of the railway and steam-boats
connected with the traffic to 30th of June, 1849, repre-
sented the receipts from the railway from the Ist May,
1848, to amount to 78,7861. 3s. 7d., while the total work-
ing charges were set down at 51,475/. 105. Bd., showing
a profit on the railway of 27,3101. 12s. 1 Id. The total
receipts of the steam-boats, dating from the Ist August,
1848, amounted to 6,8831. Bs. 3d., while the working
nal:F!s had reached 19,9991. 55. ld., showing a loss of
"'llsl'l6s• 10d on the steam-boats, which,- when de-
ducted from the led-
surplus,. left the rest profit on
traffic (exclusive of general balance toll and mails) at 14,194/. 16s. Id.
company to the 30thaO'fe.V' from the formation of the
,5871uule, 1849, placed the total ex-
penditure at 3.581
3,628,5401. 1 ls. 81., leaving balanceas.Cid"and tha receipts at
of 46,9531. 9s. Ild.
The en-4ineer's report Was asfl
" I beg to off r the following arersjt— on the state of
tisli---nonTa Bridge,
the works on No. 9 contract, and thearßsa
Contract.
being those alone which are unfinished.
—Since my last report, the lining of the Ll'an9da
Bangor Tunn,b; has been completed, so that at this and
mo-
ment the line may be regarded as entirely finished uptoßangor station. Of the works between Bangor station
and the Britannia Bridge, there remains to complete--
one tunnel front, which is in a forward state; No. 12
Cutting, which will be ready for ballasting next week;
the remainder of the contract is ballasted, ready for the
permanent way, and 220 yards of lining in the Belmont
Tunnel, which is commenced, and may occupy six weeks.
The cost of completing this portion of the contract
will be 9,000/., and I have no doubt about the line
being finished up to the Britannia Bridge by the lit Oct.
Britannia Bridge--The masonry of this contract is
completed as far as practicable, prior to the floating of
the tubes; awaiting that operation, the progress of the
remainder will depend upon the lifting. In this latter
proceeding there has been some delay, owing to an un-

THE

soundness in one of the large castings of the new hy-
draulic press in the Anglesea Tower, which occasioned
so much leakage, as threatened, at one time, to render a
new casting necessary, which would have delayed, for
several weeks, the process of lifting the tube, which
has been, as you are aware, floated into its
position for being raised. I have, however,
the satisfaction of reporting that the leakage has
been successfully stopped, and that the operation of lift-
ing is progressing, and might, by this time, have been
completed; but I have deemed it prudent to lift by short
stages only, and to build up step by step underneath
with brickwork, in order effectually to guard against the
serious consequences which might arise from any failure
or derangement of the hydraulic presses, whilst the tube
was suspended from them. Such an accident I believe
to be very improbable; but, after the fracture that took
place in one of the cross-heads during the lifting of the
Conway tubes (which was fortunately discovered in time
to prevent a very serious disaster), I do not feel that I
shoul be justified in omitting in the case of the Britannia
tube (where a mishap would, in all probability, interfere
permanently with the navigation of the straits)
any one expedient which caution can sug-
gest. With these feelings, therefore, I have, with
your sanction, resolved to follow the course
alluded to, notwithstanding it will protract the time of
lifting in each tube a fortnight or three weeks beyond
the period originally contemplated. The arrangements
for floating the next tube (which, with that already being
lifted, will enable us to complete one line of rails across
the Straits) are in a very forward state, and will certainly
be ready by the 24th instant, with the view of taking ad-
vantage of the spring tides of the 7th and 10th of Sep-
tember, if it should be deemed expedient to do so.
Upon this point I am hardly able to decide positively at
this moment, for if any delay should take place from
some unforeseen contingency, it may be advisable not to
float the next tube until the following spring tides. No
great loss of time would ultimately arise out of this
postponement, as the interval would be occupied
in removing the presses from their present positions
into those for lifting the second tube; and some advan-
tage would be gained by lessening the time during which
the principal channel for navigation would be interfered
with. On the other hand, I think it very desirable not
to allow the season to advance further than absolutely
necessary, before the next floating takes place. This
latter consideration appears to me so important, that
we shall not fail to avail ourselves of the spring
tides from the 7th to the 10th of September, if
consistent with the further consideration of the
circumstances I have mentioned as affecting the
question. The present arrangements will, I believe,
admit of one line of railway being completed in the
course of November. This conclusion is arrived at fromf
the results of our recent experience, and cannot ar
mislead; but I am bound to add, that the operations
control,are
so dependent upon casualties which man cannot
that the most careful calculations as to time
any maynotbe
exactly verified. Ido not, however, seereasonable
grounds
for doubting that one line will be finished
throughout by the date above mentioned, or, at the
latest, before the end of the year."
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the re-
port, observed that it was so little encouraging, that if
he were to consult his own feelings he should lay it on
the table, and leave it for the proprietors to move its
adoption or rejection as they thought fit; but such a
course would not be respectful to the shareholders, and
ho should therefore at once propose its reception. Their
affairs, no doubt, were discouraging, but not quite dis-
heartening, since they had much to be thankful for,
although their early anticipations had not yet been
fully realised. The tubes over the Menai Straits were
progressing satisfactory, if not rapidly. The two
smaller ones had been safely carried to their
final resting places in the air, while one of
the larger tubes was now to be seen midway
between the water of the Straits and the top of
the pillars upon which it would eventually be placed.
Now, it might have remained there obstructing the na•
vigation of the Menai, and serving only as a monument
of the recklessness of engineering daring, and the folly of
railway speculation; but he could give the proprietors
this gratifying information that it would ere long be lifted,
by the same hydraulic machinery that had raised it to its
present eminence, to a position, and applied to a purpose
that would entitle it to be classed amongst the wonders
of the world. The second tube, he could
promise, should soon follow it, and when they
obtained an unbroken railway communication from
the metropolis to Holyhead, they might reasonably hope
for a large increase in their traffic. He regretted much
that the tender alluded to in the report had not been
accepted by Government, whom he could not avoid ac-
cusing of having been guilty of injustice towards this
company. Men who had ventured their repute.
tions and their means upon such works as the
Chester and Holyhead Railway embraced might
have met with more encouragement at the hands of
Government, but it was useless to go into the
details of their negotiations with the Admiralty and the
authorities, as it could serve no good purpose, while, if
they ultimately succeeded without Government aid, their
triumph would be so much the greater. The delay
which had taken place in the works of Holyhead Har
bour was a source of great annoyance to him, and so
indeed was the whole result of their operations; but if
the proprietors thought he was not sufficiently energetic
to fill the office of chairman, to which he was elected at
the last meeting, he was quite willing to resign it in
favour of any more efficient man.—(No, no.) He, how-
ever, felt that, desponding as their prospects might be to
some, he could yet be of service to the concern, and if 1
the proprietors were prepared to confirm him in the
chairmanship of the company, he was ready to go on
encountering and, if possible, surmounting all
those difficulties which must ever be incident to an
undertaking of so much magnitude as this, and yet which
no human calculation could foresee .—(Cheers.)
Mr. MORGAN really could
,not take so desponding a
view of the company. The line, there could be no
doubt, was a good one in all points of view
but the difficulty of its works, and he could safely affirm
that there was not a railway in the kingdom that linked
together interests of greater magnitude or importance
than did this. To our vast American and West India
trade it would prove a most valuable adjunct ; and
on the completion of the Irish Midland Great
Western line, which would unite the important
harbours of Dublin and Galway in the west
of Ireland, the mails and passengers from
the United States, Canada, Nova Scotia, Newfound-
land, New Brunswick, in fact, from every part of the
western world, would be conveyed to the shores of
England in about seven days, or three days earlier than
by the present route, and by which means the most
dangerous part of the voyage would be avoided. It
might be madness to say so, but with such facts
before him he had no hesitation in predicting that the
ultimate profits of the line would not only be sufficient te
remunerate themselves, but in time, to pay off the
National Debt.—(Oh, oh.) At all events, of this he
was satisfied, that all those who rated their shares at less
than 70/. would live to regret the bargain.—(Hear.)
The resolution for the adoption of the report was put
and carried without a dissentient voice.
The dividend was then declared, and the retiring
auditors re elected; after which the meeting became
special, and a resolution was passed sanctioning the re-
duction of the directors to twelve, and their remunera-
tion to 1,0001. a year.
Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, and the
meeting terminated.

BANK OF ENGLAND.
THE LATE MR. PATTISON, M.P.
A general court of this corporation was held yesterday
for the purpose of electing a director for the remainder
of the year, in the room of the much-lamented
James Pattison, Esq., one of the venerated liberal
representatives for the city of London. The Court
opened at eleven o'clock, and at the close of the pro.
ceedings, at four o'clock, John Oliver Hanson, Esq., the
gentleman recommended by the Court of Directors, was
declared to be unanimously elected.

AUSTRIA.
The rumour of the defeat of the Russian grand
army, which appears in the Presse, is somewhat con-
firmed by the accounts which were received in
Vienna on the 10th, by the respective manoeuvres of
Georgey and Paskiewitch. It appears that General
Grabbe, on his advance from Altsohl to Losonz on the
22d ult., found that the place had been quitted that
very day by General Georgey's rearguard. He con-
tinued his pursuit of the Hungarians on the 23d, but
he soon found that he had lost their track, and it
was but on the following day that they fell in with
General Georgey at Gomor. It was then found that
the Hungarians, to the strength of thirty thousand,
had taken up a strong position on the heights of
Mishkolz, on the left bank of the river Sajo. The
Russians advanced to the onset, and a series of
battles ensued on the 23d, 24th, and 25th
ult., in which the fortune of war was equally
divided between the combatants ; but on the
26th, General Georgey, whose manoeuvres are
wont to puzzle his antagonists, quitted his posi-
tions, and marched in the direction of Tokay.
Part of the Russian army was then left behind at.
Mezo Kovesd, and General Grabbe marching in
pursuit of Georgey crossed the Theiss at Tissa Fured,
by way of Porosslo. This march was one of extreme
difficulty and danger, for the morasses between
Porosslo and the Theiss cover many miles, and the
bridges and all other means of communication had
been destroyed by the Hungarians. At length the
Russians, though in a sad plight, succeeded in gain-
ing the left bank of the Theiss, in spite of the
opposition of 2,500 Honveds, and a few troops of
Hungarian horse. A pontoon bridge was then con-
structed, and the whole Russian army crossed the
river, leaving their baggage behind, and commenced
forthwith to throw up entrenchments around the posi-
tion which they had taken up on the left bank, close
to Tissa Fured.
THE APPROACHING MARRIAGE OF HIS MA-
JESTY THE EMPEROR FRANCIS JOSEPH.
VIENNA, AUG. 13.—The visit of her Majesty the
Queen of Prussia to Pillnitz, and her return to Sans
Souci with Prince John of Saxony, his Consort and
_t_eise a s
r informed
has on
daughter, appears to have reference to an event which
pron_
equal happiness to both the royal families.
EmWperor eFrancis demandedthe best i
aunt h omr iatryr
marriage
t thethe
eldest daughter of Prince John of Saxony, Princess
Maria Augusta Frederika, born Jan.
22, 1827, and
that the negotiations are '
already
terminated.
It is
further announced that the eldest
so
John, presumptive heir to the thronen of of Prince
Prince Albert Frederick Augustus, is
affianced to
Saxony,
the Princess Charlotte, eldest daughter ofl:
or
two
alliances will forma yet closer union between the

SUN,

reigning families of Austria, Prussia, and Saxony.—
German Papers.

STATE OF TRADE.
(From the Manchester Guardian.)
MANCHESTER, TUESDAY.—FOT most numbers and
qualities of yarns some further advance has been re-
quired to-day. In this upward course spinners have
felt themselves urged on by the continued rise in
cotton. They have found it very difficult, however,
to carry the buyers along with them. The ma-
nufacturers hesitate ; the India merchants are
waiting the arrival of the mail; and the continental
houses are disposed to watch the effect of the
large shipments of previous purchases, which
are now going out, before committing themselves to
extensive operations at much higher prices. There
has been some degree of irregularity in the market,
however ; for, while most parties agree in stating that
little business has been done, there are others who
report a fair amount of transactions, on the whole, for
the German, the Russian, the Mediterranean, and the
home markets. In what has been done the full prices
of last week have at least been paid, and, to some
extent, more or less of an advance.
The goods market has also been, for the most
part, inanimate. It has, indeed, been easy to dispose
of printers' cloths, and the lower qualities have
shown a tendency to still higher prices. But the
wider shirtings, particularly of the lower qualities,
and various other articles suitable for India, are expe-
riencing a diminished inquiry, and the prices of some
of them are not fully sustained. Long cloths, T's,
and domestics are still neglected.
We have advices from New York to the 31st July.
The operations of speculators had raised the price of
cotton lc to ie. per lb. Spinners were buying from
hand to mouth. Little was doing for France, and
nothing for England. The manufacturers of heavy
cottons were still labouring under large stocks, with
little demand and depressed prices. The accounts of
the wheat crop were very good, and prices were still
rather declining.
ROCHDALE, MONDAY.—There has been another
and the flannels were eagerly
noon. Heavy goods, such as ker-
gboouoci bought market
upbefore to-day,
seys, have been dull of sale, and the transactions
have been more limited than on the previous week.
In wool prices remain steady, with little business
doing.
HUDDERSFIELD, TUESDAY.—Stocks continue very
low, and middling class of goods meet with ready
sale, especially those adapted for the foreign markets.
Prices remain firm, and the late advance seems to be
fully maintained.

SATURDAY.—.We have no particular
change to notice this week, in our report of the state
of trade, either in wools, in yarns, or in manufactured
goods, everything remaining about the same as re-
ported in our last.

LEEDS, TIIESDAY.—LittIe business done in the
Cloth-halls to day, and we can quote no alteration in
prices.

THE DANISH BLOCKADE.

SOUTHAMPTON, TUESDAY EVENING.—The United
States mail-steamer Washington, Captain G. W.
Floyd, arrived here at 6 P.M. from Bremen. She left
Bremerhaven on Sunday morning, and has encountered
a tremendous gale from the south-west during nearly
the whole of the passage.
The Washington brings the intelligence, so welcome
to the mercantile interest, that, in conformity with the
stipulations of the armistice between Denmark and
Prussia, the blockade of the German ports, including
the rivers Elbe and Weser, was formally raised on
Saturday, and that the Danish blockading squadron
has been withdrawn, the three frigates heretofore
cruising off Heligoland having departed for Copenha-
gen, thus permitting free ingress and egress to the
respective ports.

This measure had already produced its favourable
effects at Bremen, and ships under all flags were
crowding to their various destinations, laden with
produce from all parts of the world. A number of
merchant ships had entered the Weser, and commerce
was resuming its activity. The Washington saw a
number of ships pressing forward with a fair wind
for the Elbe and Weser.

The American frigate St. Lawrence, 44, Captain
Paulding, had left Bremerhaven for a cruise in the
Baltic.

The Washington has on board 200 tons of cargo
for New York, and brings 57 first-class and 104
second-class passengers for New York, and 6 for
Southampton ; total, 167, exclusive of children. The
following was the cargo delivered at Bremen by this
steamer :—Specie, value 1,6001.; 74 bales of furs,
126 boxes of manufactured tobacco, 10 cases and 4
hogsheads of manufactured tobacco, 153 packages of
whalebone, 50 bales of sarsaparilla, and 203 packages
of sundries.

She will sail hence for New York on Monday with
upwards of 200 passengers.

BALLOON ASCENT.

LEEDS, AUG. 14.—Mr. Charles Green, the veteran
aeronaut, made his 422 d ascent in the Royal Victoria
balloon, from the yard of the White Cloth-hall, Leeds,
la,.t evening. The day was very unfavourable for an
ascent; the wind was very high, and during the after-
noon there were several slight showers of rain. The
inflation of the balloon commenced at half-past three,
and terminated about half-past five. About half-past
six the car was attached, and at seven, the hour an-
nounced for the ascent, Mr. Green seated himself in it,
accompanied by his brother, Mr. Henry Green. The
balloon was then removed to a more favourable spot for
the ascent; and precisely at twenty minutes past seven
Mr. Green cried out " Let go," and the balloon ascended
very beautifully in a north-east direction. In five mi-
nutesi it disappeared from the view of the spectators n
the Cloth-hall, and although raining heavily at the time,
hundreds of people rushed from that place into Kirkgate,
the market.place, &c., where another view of the
beautiful machine was obtained. It now appeared
to be rising more rapidly, but owing to the
cloudy state of the atmosphere, it totally disap-
peared about fifteen minutes from its ascent. Mr. Green
states that they met with different currents of air during
their voyage, and after being up about half an hour they
descended about three miles beyond the city of York,
and 28 from Leeds. The voyagers slept at York and
returned to the Crown Inn, at Leeds, at half-past nine
this morning. This was Mr. C. Green's fifth ascent from
Leeds, and was announced as his farewell visit.

The first balloon ascent made from Leeds was by
Sg. Lunardi, who was the first aeronaut in England.
He ascended from the White Cloth-hall, Dec. 4, 1786,
and descended at Thorp-arch. The bells of St. Peter's,
St. John's, and Trinity Churches were rung and the
avenues to the Cloth Hall were guarded by the military
and civil power. Half a guinea was charged for admis-
sion. Since that time nineteen balloon ascents have been
made from Leeds by different persons, viz :—Mr. C.
Green, Mr. G. Green (son of the veteran), Mr. W. W.
Sadler, Mr. W. Russuw, Mr. and Mrs. Graham, and
Lieut. Gale.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.
Sir,—Five weeks since a letter, with the signature of
" A Hungarian," appeared in the Times, in which the
anonymous correspondent, not content with political
discussion, introduced a malicious insinuation with re-
gard to liossuth's early life. Neither myself nor my
friend Colonel Bikkessi would have sought an opportu-
nity of entering into a discussion on the merits of the
present struggle—a question which we are content to
leave in the hands of the people of England; but when
insinuations were made, professing to relate to matters
of fact, and affecting the private character of an indivi-
dual, we considered it necessary to challenge the accuser
to give some definite shape to his accusations, in order
arbelfeudt,aitifonan.y were brought forward,
have obtained any information on the subject from
ttolu'A'tifvwteeeramasanigtihsiftnatcbeterovreil of five weeks—quite sufficient to
Vienna or Presburg—tho " Hungarian" again comes
forward. Owing to the circumstance that Colonel Bik-
kessi has definitely quitted England, and that I myself
was absent from London, no earlier notice has been
taken of the second communication.

The " Hungarian" states that he meant particularly
to speak of Kossuth's public life, but at the same time he
repeats his insinuations. He speaks of accusations
which have never been refuted; why, then, does he not
specify them? If he can do so, let him do it; if not, the
English public will know what epithet is applicable to a
arson who attempts, by an anonymous charge, to defame
the private character of a political enemy.
I remain your obedient servant,
PULSZKY.

BOY DROWNED IN THE ARTESIAN WELL, ORANGE-
STREET.—On Tuesday Mr. Bedford held an inquest at the
board-room of the workhouse of St. Martin-in-the-
Fields, relative to the death of Samuel Ensor, a boy
aged ten and a half years, who was drowned in the
artesian well which supplies the fountains of Trafalgar-
square. The deceased was the son of the engineer of
the works, which* are under the direction of Messrs.
.Easton and Amos, and situated in Orange-street. About
six o'clock in the evening of Monday, during the tem-
porary absence of the men, he, in company with an-
other lad, went into the engine-room to look at the
works, when Mr. Amos entered, and deceased, having
been previously forbidden to go into that place, from
fear, stepped backwards to hide, and in consequence of
the well being at the time partially uncovered, he fell
through the aperture, descending a depth of no less
thin 140 feet from the flooring into the water, which
is 60 feet deep. It was some time before he could be
got out, when he was found to be quite dead. Ver-
(Let, " Accidental death."
From Natal the advices are still encouraging.
Business was improving and the frontier trade was in-
creasing, notwithstanding the 101. license enforced by
the Government. At the late sale of suburban allot-
ments prices had varied from 21. to 101. per acre, ac-
cording to the description of land.
There is somethieg in the last hour of the day, if it
have been itself a happy one, which seems to concen-
trate all the pleasant things of the past. It is like a fine
evening sky, calm and sweet, and full of rays, that are
all the rosier, because they are the lash—Eliza Cook's
Journal.
PORTUGUESE GRAIN.—A vessel has arrived in the
docks from Faro (Portugal proper), with 14,181 alges of
wheat, the production of the place. This is an unusually
large and important arrival of wheat from this district
of Europe.