The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-19 00:00:00

THE SUN, _ LONDON, FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 19, 1847.

of capital to be paid by either company should be determined
by the amount of traffic on either line, such traffic at the
present time not having been fully developed. These
suggestions were placed in the hands of the chairman
and Mr. Shuster, and they, after some considera-
tion, returned them with certain amendments, which could
not be acceded to by those representing the Eastern Counties
Company. This was on Thursday, and on Saturday they
met again, and a desire for a settlement of these differences
was evinced by all present. It was then suggested by the
chairman of the Brighton Company, that the South-Eastern
should lease that line. The proposition was well worthy their
attention, but it was one on which they had no data on which
to found a conclusion. If any arrangement should be come
to which they could safely recommend for the adoption of
the shareholders, they would lose no time in convening a
special meeting, in order to lay the terms of the agreement
before them ; but whether such an arrangement were come to
or not, they had the fullest confidence in an impartial hear-
ing before Parliament, and they believed, also, that they
tad the public opinion with them, that their wants would
be better served by their lines. The Lewisham, Brom-
ley, and Croydon line was one which the directors would have
asked the shareholders to sanction, even if they were already
united to the Brighten Company. It was a surface line,
with good gradients, and would bring the traffic of Wool-
wich, Greenwich, and Gravesend sonic seven miles nearer to
Croydon. It was their duty to recommend the carrying out
of this project. He would now move that the shareholders
sanction the introduction of a Bill to enable the South-
Eastern Railway Company to make a railway to connect
the London and Greenwich Railway and the North Kent
line of the South-Eastern Railway with the Bricklayers' Arms
Branch Railway. The estimate for this project was 55,0001. The
Bricklayers' Arms station had already cost a sum closely
approaching. to 300,0001., and he believed that this line
would, by giving increased traffic, assist in defraying that
heavy expenditure.
Mr. LEVY said that he had always considered, and had on
every occasion stated his opinion, that the Bricklayers'
Arms station would turn out, as it had done, a failure; and
unless assured by the chairman that there was a legitimate
ground for believing that the scheme now proposed would
amend matters, he should oppose the introduction of
the Bill.
The CHAIRMAN admitted that the Bricklayers' Arms Sta-
tion had entailed a heavy expense upon the company; but
matters were beginning now to assume a brighter aspect, and
they should not so much look to the past as to the future.
The station would be found really useful in times coming, as
th.tt at Londoi ..)ridge was so circumscribed, and lie believed
that the line now proposed would be a really healthy adjunct
to it.
Mr. CASH hoped the line would pass unanimously.
The motion was then put and carried.
The CHAIRMAN then put the other projects seriatim to the
meeting, and, after some remarks from the shareholders in
different parts of the room, they were carried unanimously.
It was also moved and carried that 5 per cent. interest
should be paid on the shares of the company, commonly
called the Nos. 3 and 4 shares, respectively.
Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, and the meet-
ing broke up.

WATERFORD, WEXFORD, WICK-

LOW, AND DUBLIN RAILWAY.
The adjourned meeting of the shareholders was held yes-
terday, at the offices, 449, West Strand; Lord Courtown in
eht chair.
Mr. SLADE, one of the scrutineers, then announced the re-
sult of the poll, yesterday, to be in favour of the re-appoint-
ment of the former directors; majority 16,833 shares and
1,620 votes. The report further stated, that certain proxies
tendered by Mr. Boyce subsequently to the last meeting had
been rejected.
Mr. DICKSON questioned the propriety of this rejection.
The CHAIRMAN said such a discussion would be quite irre •
levant, and declared the directors' list carried.
Mr. PERRY protested against the report of the scrutineers
being received, and intimated that the rejection of the proxies
would form the basis of future proceedings at law.
The CHAIRMAN moved that the directors should be em-
powered to apply to Parliament, during the present ses-ion,
for a Bill amending last year's Act, in reference to the space
between the 45th and 49th miles of the line, and such parts
of the Act as restricted the compulsory purchase of land. till
all the shares should be taken up, and to enable the company
to pull down the Ferry Carrig -bridge, over the Slaney, and
build a new one.

Seconded by Mr. LEWIS.
Mr. PERRY moved that the directors should be empowered
to go to Parliament for a Bill dissolving the Watertord, Wex-
ford, Wicklow, and Dublin Railway Company. The Hon.
Proprietor then read a printed draft of the proposed Bill.
Dr. GRAY seconded it.
Mr. HAYTEE, M.P., considered that such an amendment
could not be put, no notice having been given in the adver-
tisement making the meeting special for the purpotie.
Mr. PERKY handed in his motion, and begged it would be
noted by the secretary.
Mr. itEvNow moved an amendment negativing the
motion.
The CHAIRMAN put the amendment and the original mo-
tion, and declared the latter carried.
A poll was demanded. and Messrs. Slade and D. W.
Harvey were appointed scrutineers, the poll to remain open
till six o'clock last evening, and the meeting to stand ad-
journed from that hour till eleven o'clock to-day.

MAAgeDneßralAmSeetßingAolf LthleVpAropYrietCorOs 3ofltPheANY.
Madras
Railway Company took place yesterday, at the offices
or the company No. 2, Winchester-buildings. Colonel
Duncan Sim in the chair.
The SECRETARY read the following report, which was
unanimously adopted. The following is the substance of
the report:—
" The directors of this company have still to regret
their inability to inform the shareholders that any
material progress has been made in forwarding the
objects of the company since the last half-yearly meet-
ing. On the 3d of September last, a letter was ad-
dressed to the secretary of the Court of Directors of the
East India Company, with a request that the same
might be submitted for their consideration.
" No reply having been received to this communica-
tion, another letter was addressed to the India House,
on the 26th of November last.

" Not having received any answer, the chairman and
secretary waited on the Chairman of the East India
Company, at the India House, on the 14th ult., with a
view, if possible, to ascertain the sentiments of the Court:
it was suggested, at this interview, that the attention of
the authorities at the India House should again be called
to the subject, and, in consequence, another letter was
sent to the India House on the 29th ult.
" No reply has been received to this letter up to this
time ; but, from private inquiries made by the chairman,
it is understood that the following is the present state of
the case:—
" From statements which have appeared in the public
papers, it is generally known, that the authorities at the
India House, and the Board of Control, have offered
certain encouragement for the construction of a line of
railway to connect Calcutta with the north-west
frontier of the Bengal territories : from a state-
ment made in Parliament by the President
of the Board of Control, it appears that it is not yet
decided whether the company, or companies, to whom
this offer has been made, will accept it, or not. As the
directors consider that our line deserves a preference
over any other, of the same extent, that can be made in
India, they deem it advisable to await the result of the
negotiation now pending between the Government and
the Bengal lines, rather ihan to press for an immediate
decision, which perhaps might not, under existing circum-
stances, offer to the shareholders a sufficient induce-
ment to go on with the line.
" The directors are in daily expectation of hearing
the issue of the negotiation with the Bengal lines. And
as soon as they can ascertain the effect of that upon the
prospects of the Madras Railway Company, they will
lose no time in calling a special general meeting of the
shareholders, for the purpose of laying the same before
them ; and offering their opinion as to the Advisability
of proceeding with the line or taking steps to wind up
the company."
The following is an abstract of the letter sent by the
directors of the East India House :
" The grounds upon which it is considered that the
Madras tt:id Arcot line is entitled to the support of Go-
vernment are the following :
" Ist. Great facility of construction.
" 2d. A confident expectation of its proving a remu-
nerative undertaking.
"3d. That the risk incurred by Government in
guaranteeing a dividend upon it, will, in consequence, be
little more than nominal.
"4th. That the construction of a paying line of such
moderate length, as may render its completion within a
short period probable, will be of the utmost importance
in its bearing upon the future extension of railways in
India.
" sth. That the advantages to be derived by Govern
ment from this line, both in
exceed
insh
shareholders,
thosee financialho l
dcahasi
willad
cit:
rcua
l
point
iot
sf
evoi
no
swt
9ruwcitlilonfatro
commer-
cial investment.
" 6th. That the Presidency of Madras, which has no
moans of water-carriage, for the transport of the produce
of the interior to the ports of shipment, is so situated as
to derive the utmost conceivable advantages from the in-
troduction of railways.
"From the inquiries of the provisional committee at
MaCras, it appears that the cost of this line, constructed
in the most substantial manner, with a single line of
rails, and a roadway capable of admitting a double line
hereafter, would not exceed 4,6501. per tulle ; the
opinion of Mr. Simms is, that, although he thinks this
line might be made for 500,0001., or about 7,0001. a mile,
yet he considers that, in prudence, the capital should be
fixed at 600,0001.
" The grounds upon which the expectation that this
line will be remunerative rests have already been laid
before you in my letter of the 23d of May last. It is
there stated, that the immediate traffic which would
come on the line would yield a net income of about
16,0001. per year, exclusive of mails ; and this would be
sufficient to pay a dividend of 5 per cent. on the
apital which we have estimated as sufficient to make
the line at the rate of 5,000/. per mqe. All ex-
ratio to which no limit ha:: perience warrants the assumption that the traffic upon a
railroad judiciously situatedyet
tgboeeesn onnssiignicerdea;siiiti7isinima.
nbly situated ;
possible for any line in eat:
propel t on of theit jays ht,hilee riT:'ddeutiuenwotfhrythhteoinbteermio(r)rme
to the only considprahle ship utas
tv tpn:rs-s
irteverucal,
ei,,seere to
"nbet anyh 1:- water,liguree'Urnir'ili7diph;retovnetr.ty'el:::::t,pl7l
the capital invested in the constructi,n' o'f.-hisilt tic t
mty
be expected to vied a return of troutto
country 10 l5
~t shall
j
have been hiliy it. v taped, and the pre,b
when its effects upon th. (.4,mint.rce
of
the per cent.
that.
befort, the ex:nratif;,, of a year, rho profit
dividend would amount to full 5 per eeltn'tqsjit:e.toteee
capital estimated to he necessary hv Mr. Shunts.
If Lelia is to 11.,y,, railways, it appears to be of the
greatest importance that tee first undertaking of thee
kind :,houl.l be one that may sm.n be in action, and that
it may he a p:yieg line. The Madras and Arcot line
is of a sufficient 1, ngth to thmonstrate, in the fullest
manner, the results ci den) system in India. It is twice
as long as the Liverpool and Manchester line, the
results of the construction of which led to the
enormous development of the system acci,omplished,
and now in progress in this country. It is
not, so 1,11, rs to require the eNpncliture ,frf very
large capital before it can be brought into actual epera•
Lion. There is, probably, no propoaed line, of equal ex-

tent in India, that could be constructed in so short a
time, and at such a m,,derate cost; and as there can be
little doubt of its yielding a remunerative return from
the date of its being opened, its influence upon the
future extension of the railway system in other parts of
India would be of incalculable importance.
" Of the advantages of railroads to Government, in a
political point of view, it. is quite impossible to form a
pecuniary estimate, but upon this ground ; the line
from Madras to Arcot, leading, as it does, to all the
principal military stations. within that Presidency, can
be coasidered as second in importance to no line
throughout India.
"Of the three Presidencies in India, the territories
under the Government of Madras are by far the worst
off, for the means of internal transit of produce. There
is a considerable grain trade coastwise; but so little
available is this for equalising the effects of failure of
the crops, that famine is constantly recurring in
some part or other of the Madras provinces ;
there is no means of water-carriage to any extent
worth speaking of, for any of the produce from, or into
the interior of the country ; and if ever means of
transport are to be provided in that part of India, it
can assuredly be done by railroads, in a more effi-
cient manner than by the construction of common roads."
The following is an abstract of the account, which was
received with great satisfaction.
Dr. s. d.
To balance from last half-year 7,938 0 3
Calls paid and interest.
Half year's interest received from Lon-
don and Westminster Bank ll3 8 6

8,130 6 10

By postages, salaries, and stationery £l36 4 10
Office expenses, rent, advertising, and
registry
Balance carried to next half-year's account 7,841 4 7

£8,130 6 10
A vote of thanks was then passed unanimously to the
Chairman, and the meeting separated.

SOUTHAMPTON DOCK COMPANY
The half•yearly meeting of the proprietors of this
company was held yesterday, at the offices of the com-
pany, 19, Bishopsgate•street Within ; Mr. G. E. Pratt
in the chair.
The SECRETARY having read the advertisement calling
the present meeting, and the minutes of the last meet-
ing, proceeded to read the report, from which we give
the following extracts :
" In submitting the accounts for the half-year ending
31st December last, the directors have much pleasure in
calling the attention of the proprietors to the continued
and steady increase of their business, exhibited by the
cemparative statement of the half-yearly receipts for the
last three years, and by the return of the aggregate
amount of tonnage of the shipping which entered the
docks during the past year ; the amount of tonnage
which entered the docks in 1845 having been 158,680
tons; in 1846, 228,777.
" The revenue account shows a surplus, which, in the
opinion of the directors, warrants their submitting to
the meeting the propriety of declaring a dividend, clear
of income-tax, of one pound per cent. for the half year
(ten shillings per share), being at the rate of two per
cent. per annum. After payment of this dividend, the
revenue account will still retain a credit of 1,5141. 15s.
Bd. It will be for the meeting to determine whether it
is not desirable to begin to make a return upon the
capital of the proprietors by declaring an immediate
dividend, though small, in preference to awaiting a
postponed one of larger amount—and to deal with this
question as it may think fit
" The directors have to report that they have executed
an agreement with the Commissioners of her Majesty's
Customs, to build on the Dock Company's land, and
lease to the Crown for twenty-one years,a Custom-house
on an enlarged scale ; an arrangement affording greatly
increased facilities and accommodation to the trade of the
port of Southampton generally, as well as to that carried
on through the company's docks. A contract has been
entered into with Messrs. Baker and Son for the comple-
tion of the work by the 30th June next ; and the build-
ing is in rapid course of construction.
" The dry dock has been in constant work, and has
proved a most important addition to the accomodations
of the company's docks ; but already since the opening,
the Oriental Company have been obliged to send two of
their large steamers to Cowes to be repaired, in conse-
quence of the dry dock having been at the time occu-
pied by other vessels ; and it is apparent that a second
dry dock could be advantageously employed in afford-
ing accommodation to the smaller class of steamers
and sailing vessels, and thus render the large dock
(now at times urprofitably occupied by small vessels, to
the exclusion of the large steamers,) more available for
the first-class steam ships which frequent the Southamp-
ton Docks. The directors propose, therefore, to place
by the side of the other a smaller dock of much cheaper
construction, which, it is expected, may be completed
by the month of November next ; and they have reason
to believe that both docks will be fully occupied, and
will afford a fair return on the capital expended on them.
" The directors have not lost sight of the important
advantages which will result to the Dock Company from
the extension of the South-Western Railway to London-
bridge, for which extension an Act was obtained during
the last session of Parliament, and which they have
reason to believe will be carried out with all possible
expedition.
" The directors propose to secure suitable warehouse
accommodation, with a water frontage contiguous to the
London bridge terminus of the South-Western Railway,
and thus realise the object they have long had in vies.,
of being able to offer to merchants the option of housing
such portion as they may think fit of their cargoes
in the company's warehouses at Southampton, and
the remainder in London ; and of transferring their
goods from one to the other by a railroad running from
the doors of the warehouses at Southampton to those
of the warehouses at London-bridge. The directors
contemplate including in this arrangement the removal
of the London office to the London-bridge terminus, and
thus, by means of the railroad and electric telegraph,
place the London establishment and warehouses of the
company in direct and immediate communication with
their docks and warehouses at Southampton.
" The directors have the satisfaction to repor , that
the boring for water in the docks has been attended with
complete success, and that an abundant supply of pure
fresh water has been obtained at a depth of 220 feet.
Pipes round the whole of the quays have been laid down;
and the company will very shortly be prepared to deliver,
lay hose into the hold of every vessel at her berth, any
quantity of pure fresh water that may be required?'
The CHAIRMAN, before putting to the meeting a reso-
lution for the adoption of the report, asked if any gentle-
man was desirous to make any observations, or to ask
any questions on the points referred to in it?
A PROPRIETOR then asked what per tentage the dry
dock paid?
The CHAIRMAN observed, that it had been only open
for a period of six months, and there had been two
large ships that had entered and had not been charged,
but the amount it paid for that time was 4 per cent.
He should say that the most expected from it was
5 per cent., and, in conjunction with the small dock,
it was expected that it would be a great deal more
The great importance, however, of the dock was to
afford facilities of accommodation, and to bring addi•
tional trade .o Southampton.
Another PROPRIETOR asked what had become of the
agreement with Mr. Pilcher.
The CHAIRMAN said that that agreement was still in
abeyance.
A PROPRIETOR wished to draw the attention of the
Chairman to a paragraph in the report, which says that
" The directors have further to report, that they have
entered into an agreement to erect on the Dock Com-
pany's land, and lease to the Royal Steam
Packet Company, workshops on a large scale
for the repair of their ships and machinery."
Now, he was desirous to know if any agreement had
been made with the Royal Mail Steam-packet Company
for a definite term, as it would be desirable to fix them,
as had been done so advantageously with the Govern-
ment.
The CHAIRMAN observed that there was a lease for
twenty-one years.
Several other questions having been put, and answered
satisfactorily,
The CHAIRMAN then put the motion that the report
be adopted and circulated, which was unanimously
agreed F
The CHAIRMAN then put the next resolution—" That
the dividend mentioned in the report, of 10s. per share
for the half year, should be declared, and that the same
be paid on the Ist March proximo."
A PROPRIETOR asked, before the resolution was put,
whether from the past proceedings and future prospect
of the company, they might expect that such a dividend
as that now proposed would be continued in future half-
years
2-Ailihervec t
meetinged'
yddi
feii
dividend
they
et
eyen;
directors
dhs otherwiseauatdtAe
Ipnpßrolpresent.
sdAae
gnnzietth:
said
ahi thought it was a matter for consi-
deration whether they should not decline making any
ipedamti
anticipated
dewlvaoeupsl
probability
bonaobt
futureibt ey
of
frdui
tvdhie
adn
tet
dividends,
dmi ris, theubnu amount
peyha: ses tea,dno
resolutionit: h pet ehprerh eaasdpewvsnaatans
dividend.—(Hear.)
taai
hyrgiegedneser
on atdnom.
unanimously
to
e,
uat
shr y would nothave
paptraoAnal conversation ensuedsaanstdhtoetnhtehgeoivuwetorking of the
anticipatedcom-
taogrtehedfrtoom. the
railways to Southampton, in progress and projected.
motven,oaflidthanks
directors,wa
then separated. d
ree
catuo
sd
were
re-elected.
outgoing

day upon which that letter appeared in the Times, hut
so anxious was he to construe it into an invitation to
renew the negotiation, that he wrote a note to Mr.
Glyn, proposing that Mr. Saunders and Mr.
Swift should take up the matter where it
began, with a view of establishing peace between the
two companies. The result of that note was an agree-
ment between Mr. Glyn and himself, to the effect that
Mr. Saunders! and Mr. Swift should have full power to
conclude such arrangements between the two companies,
as should be considered beneficial to the interests of the
company they respectively represented. He was sorry
to say, however, that the arrangement never reached to
the extent of a meeting between Mr. Swift
and Mr. :Saunders ; for Mr. Swift, in the first
instance, insisted upon preliminary concessions which
the directors of the Great Western Company could not
consistently make. It, was not his intention to go fully
into the correspondence which had taken place on the
subject, but the real substantial and insuperable obstacle
to the arrangement was the possession by the London
and North-Western Company of the Birmingham and
Oxford, and Birmingham and Wolverhampton lines.
Notwithstanding the triumph of the Great Western
Company last Session, the London and North
Western company appeared determined to at-
tempt to exclude the Great Western and the
broad gauge from Birmingham. They wished
to hold the Oxford line jointly with its proprietors, or,
failing in that, to purchase it altogether. It was im-
possible for the Great Western Company to accede to
joint possession, because that would be in direct viola-
tion of their pledges to the public and their promises to
Parliament. He then alluded to the singular offer the
London and North Western had made for the Oxford
line. At the meeting of the Oxford proprietary,
which took place in Birmingham on the 30th of
October, the directors of that line were au-
thorised to negotiate with the Great Western
for the sale of their line ' • the consequence was, meetings
between deputations of the two companies, and after
the preliminaries had been agreed upon, the bargain
was made and the line agreed to be conceded, as was
well known to the Great Western Company. The
terms were considered just, yet at a meeting of the Bir-
mingham and Oxford proprietors on the 4th of De •
cember, Mr. Mozley, as the mouthpiece of the
London and North Western Company,
_and what
he then said had been confirmed by the acts of
the London and North Western Company, said he
saw no reason why the London and North
Western Company should, in the face of all the facts,
make an offer for that which they had already pur-
chased.—(Cheers.) Under influences, about which he
would not stop to inquire, a new set of proprietors were
invited to combine to set aside that which had been
done by a previous proprietary, who were fully com-
petent to do what they had done. A new set of
directors were to be forced on the management, in order
to repudiate/a solemn ;agreement, and, in the event of
failing in that purpose, to embarrass and prevent its
accomplishment.—(Cheers.) Those attempts would
recoil on the authors.—(A cry of "So they ought !")
The agreement required no further act of the
proprietors, no further sanction of Parliament.—
(Cheers.) The agreement with the Birmingham, Dud-
ley, and Wolverhampton, was also completed, with the
single exception that it required the sanction of Parlia-
ment.—(Hear, hear, and applause.) He regretted that
their efforts to effect an amicable arrangement with the
London and North Western Railway Company had thus
failed. What that company had to give them, except
peaceable possession of their purchase, he was at a loss
to understand. What they had to give the London and
North Western Railway Company was an assurance that
they would not extend the broad guage beyond certain
limits to be defined between the two companies.
It was for the London and North Western Company to
determine the value of this concession. It was for them
to consider the wisdom of seeking to recover the loss
they had practically sustained in the last session of
Parliament, or whether they would be content with
speculating upon the future.—(Bear, hear.) They had
chosen the former alternative as the more wise and ad-
vantageous for themselves ; but he was far from being
sure that they had not chosen the alternative most
advantageous to the G reat Western Company.—(Cheers.)
The Great Western Company were prepared to make
sacrifices for the sake of peace, but he knew an opinion
was entertained by many of their proprietors, men
possessing large stakes in the company, that it would be
much better for them to remain as they were, and
extend the broad guage into every available direction.—
(Cheers.) He readily turned from that subject to take
a glance at their internal position. It was highly gra-
tifying for him to perceive that their receipts were
increasing, while their expenditure was diminishing,-
(Cheers.) The number of miles run by their engines in
1845 was 240,000, while in 1846 the number was
346,000. (Hear, hear.) Yet with this increase of
mileage there had been no increase of expenditure.
—(Cheers.) He was glad to say too, that
they had reduced the number of their assistant engines,
and thus bad they not only attained economy, but they
had attained additional security. It would be remem-
bered that at their last meeting two auditors were ap-
pointed to investigate the accounts. Those auditors were
Mr. W. Croswaithe, of Liverpool, and Mr. M'Calmont,
of London, two gentlemen of the highest respectability
and experience, and he was glad to say those
gentlemen had reported that the accounts were
highly satisfactory, and therefore upon a very improved,
clear, and simple principle—(Cheers)—that was a suffi-
cient answer to all the newspaper calumnies, not to men-
tion the imputations of fraud which had been wantonly
threwn out. In conclusion, he thanked the proprietors,
and awarded that meed of praise to the officers of the
company for the diligence and care they had bestowed
upon the affairs of the company.
Mr. Sateenens then read the report. It stated that
the financial accounts and tabular statement, which had
been published and circulated, would have already made
known to the proprietors, the result of the working of
their line during the last half year, which would enable
them to declare at this meeting the usual dividend of
four per cent for that time. With respect to the traffic,
gleBr4:'and tth_eetnnel
it might be observed, that in the corresponding period of
1845, precisely the same length of line was opened end
worked thishe companynumher
o paess s
ei
n nage of goods, was a perfectly fair criterion of h
c ona par i soovne over
nb
in-
crease conveyed over identically the same railway;
so that_ the
this review of the business of the company
indicated
most satisfactorily the features of progressive trade,
when it was remembered that the excitment of 1845,
with the numberless schemes and the travelling conse-
quent thereon, was thus contrasted with the almost en-
tire cessation of such speculative movements during the
latter part of 1846. The increase in 1846 had been at
the rate of 503 passengers per diem, viz. 92,528 for th_
half-year, with an additional trade of 23,976 tons of goodthes
The balance now disposable being 218,8551. 19s. 741., th
directors recommended that a dividend of four per cent.
be declared for the half-year ending the 31st of Decetm
e-
ber, 1846, payable on or after the Ist of March,
h
proprietors registered on the company's books when they
were closed on the Bth instant. which dividend would_
amount to 211,0021. 4s. 9d., and leave a balance
next
half- year's account. Since the special
7,853/ 14s. 10d. to be carried to the credit of the ;ritl s
andg
of this company were held on the 6th Novemberof the
4th December last, the directors had, in pursuance
sea.
resolutions of the proprietors, affixed the common I
separate
of the company, and otherwise executed
t te
deeds, which had been prepared to carry ou
of
lease of the South Wales Railway, and the purchases that of
the Birmingham and Oxford Railway, as well tt_a.,way.
the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley
the Bir-
The provisions of the Act for incorporating
d.ewers
general meetings
i
mingham and Oxford Railway, which confery_eet.
on that company, with the sanction of a general
ing, to sell their line to the Great Western_
Company, required that the rates
not exceeding
company should be revised, to a scale n Act, before
that of the Birmingham and Oxford BailwaY
The
directors
the purchase could finally take effece
effect the pur-
consequently, and in order to carry
into
venant by such
chase of that line, bad entered into con
_toway
Coin-
deed, with the Birmingham and Oxford!harliament, for
pany, to have such revision made
before the Legis-
Rail
which purpose an Act was now
maximum
andtolls of this
lature, and as the same low scale of
the London
rates which was submitted to by
last year,
and North-Western Railway Company the Grand
in order to obtain the amalgamatio .
ham
Railway
Junction with the London and
livable to all traffic
way Company, and was to be made app from existing or
over the Great Western line, whethero
doubt that the Act
new railways, there could be n
of
the
public benefits
would pass into a law, on account
reduction of rates, upon which
Company was now offered by thetTaiNestern Rail-
to,be derived from that
I have its entire and unqualified
by this Company, wouh
provisions of the existing Act.
effect under the .
elfe t docks
of
the
eP ymout Plymouth,
Weymoutha
with the B • and
conjunction
The directors, in
Southc Devon Railway Companies, had
Exeter and the
conditional
the purchase of the Birmingham and Oxford Railway
mesangement for affording
entered into a
considered 'would be very • service•
measure which they co
line.
"Illhovem
The sum agreed to be
able to the traffic of the
was 7,5001.
subscribed by this company as A Bill for the
consolidation an
before Parliament,
in which
Harbour Trust
wat'iso the Great
power Somersetiven _
some aid to the edstabimlisi
Western, and the
wilts, s9d. Weymouth Companies, to
assist the Commissioners in raising funds by
their guarantee, to an amount not exceeding 40,0001.
The CHAIRMEN' in moving its adoption,
announced
the intention of
the company for the future to discon-
tinue the depreciation fund. The honourable proprietor
thought a statement of their
for he believedliabilities ought to be sent
forth to the world ; the public enter-
tained considerable misapprehension on the subject, and
the consequence was, that their stock was unnaturally
depreciated.
His proposal gave rise to a very lengthened discus-
sion ; but the matter was eventually set at rest by
The CHAIRMAN stating that the information demanded
would be found in his last halt-yearly speech.
Mr. SAUNDERS (the secretary) declared that if such
a statement to
tor be put to ward,
it would only lead
a bile the couldmisapprehension, state positively,
and were freely prepared to disclose their liabilities,
they must, in justice to themselves, place on the other
shit 01 the accounts what they considered would be the
probable returns of their engagements.
The report was Then adopted.
The dividend having been declared, the retiring
directors were re-elected.
A vote of confidence in the directors, and approving
of their proceedings in the matter of the Birmingham
and Oxtbrd line, was proposed and carried unanimously.
The meeting terminated, after the customary
thanks to the Chairman.

The Hibernia, Boston steamer, brings a box ail-
dressed to her Majesty the Queen. It is entered in the bib
of entry as "one box, contents unknown, for her Majes;y
Cie Queen." We believe it contains a quantity of illustrated
and other American publications, from one of the most en►i-
nent publishers in the New World, intended as a present tO
her Mjoity.—Liverpool Courier.

M. SOYER'S SOUP FOR THE POOR.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—In returning my most sincere thanks for the
benevolent intentions which prompt you to publish so
speedily my letter of the 10th inst.. relating to my new
kitchen and soup for the poor, in your valuable journal,
I beg your insertion of the two following receipts,
which, if closely followed, would confer an immediate
benefit, not only on the poor, and various charitable in-
stitutions, but also to the labouring population of the
United Kingdom. I much regret the delay that has
taken place since the publication of my former letter,
which has unavoidably occurred, the time being con-
sumed in experiments which I have made with various
kinds of farinaceous ingredients, produced and imported
into this country; and likewise with some of the im-
mense varieties of vegetables, cultivated with so much
success in this favoured soil; but which, generally speak-
ing, are not sufficiently appreciated, or used to the
greatest advantage by the industrious classes.
My intention is, with your kind permission, not only
to publish the receipt for one kind of soup, but for five
or six ; the whole, however, being made upon the same
principle as the first, to save any confusion in the mak-
ing, hoping they may prove advantageous, by giving a
change in toed which acts as generously on the digestive
organs as a change of air does on the convalescent, and
likewise to prevent the rise in price of any particular
articles; for, should the soup be approved of, and be-
come a chief article of consumption for a certain time,
such a receipt would bo quite useless in some parts of
the country, where the ingredients could mot be obtained.
My sincere devotion to this important cause being, to
take every possible advantage of every kind of nutritious
substances, animal and vegetable, and fish, and to con-
vert them, by study and judgment, into a wholesome and
cheap aliment for the million.
Several hundreds of letters I have already received
upon the subject have induced me to give immediate pub-
licity to the two following receipts, which I consider
quite correct. Having thus stated my impressions upon
this all-important subject, I now give you the result of
my first economical study to produce a cheap and whole-
some soup :
THE RECEIPT FOR SOUP No. I.

I first put ono ounce of dripping into a saucepan (ca-
pable of holding two gallons of water), with a quarter of
a pound of leg of beef without bones, cut into square
pieces about half an inch, and two middling sized onions,
peeled and sliced. I then set the saucepan over a coal
fire, and stirred the contents round for a few minutes
with a wooden (or iron) spoon until fried lightly brown.
I had then ready washed the peeling of two turnips, fif-
teen green leaves or tops of celery, and the green part of
two leeks (the whole of which, I must observe are always
thrown away). Having cut the above vegetables into
small pieces, I threw them into the saucepan with the
other ingredients, stirring them occasionally over the fire
for another ten minutes ; then added halt a pound of
common flour (any farinaceous substance would do), and
half a pound of pearl barley, mixing all well together.
I then added two gallons of water, seasoned with three
ounces of salt, and a quarter of an ounce of brown sugar,
stirred occasionally until boiling, and allowed it to
simmer very gently for three hours, at the end of which
time I found the barley perfectly tender. The above
soup has been tasted by numerous noblemen, Members
of Parliament, and several ladies, who have lately visited
my kitchen department, and who have considered it
very good and nourishing. The cost, at full price, was
as follows :

Quarter of a pound of leg of beef, at 4d. per lb ld
Two ounces of dripping fat, at 4d. per lb Oi
Two onions and other vegetables 1
Half a pound of flour, seconds, at I id. per lb Ol
Half a pound of pearl barley, at 3d. per lb li
Three ounces of salt and half an ounce of brown sugar Oi
Fuel
Two gallons of water

6*
This soup will keep several days, when made as above
described.

The above expenses make it come to three farthings
per quart in London ; but as almost everything can be
had at much less cost in the country, the price of this
soup will be still more reduced. In that case a little ad-
ditional meat might be used, and by giving away a small
portion of bread or biscuit, better support would be given
to the poor at a trifling cost, and no one it is to be hoped,
hereafter would hear of the dreadful calamity' of starvation.
THE RECEIPT FOR TEfE SOUP No. 2.

This can be made cheaper and in less time. Proceed
as Receipt No. 1 explains (as regards the fat, meat,
onions, and the other vegetables), but add one quart of
water upon the whole, which you let boil twenty minutes,
stirring now and then to prevent burning ; or else, if
convenient, set it by the: side of the fire, and add one
pound of maize, mix well together, and fill the stew-pan
with six quarts of water ; season as above ; let it simmer
one hour, skim lightly, and it is then ready for use.
If a large quantity is to be made, say 100 gallons, any
kind of vessel. now in use, such as copper or cast iron,
will do, have ready a spatula, or a piece of board the
shape of a cricket-bat, about six inches wide, tapering
towards the top as a handle (which must be from one
foot and a half to two feet above the surface of the ves-
sel), to stir with; the fire being well lighted, take
twelve pounds of solid meat, or eighteen pounds with
the bones (legs or clods of beef, with a portion of cow
heels, is excellent for the purpose, but any kind of edible
meat from beef to doe venison will do), cut it in pieces
about one inch square, put three pounds and a half of
fat; in case there should be difficulties to procure the
fat, put in one gallon of water instead; then you have
ready twelve pounds of onions, lightly peeled and cut in
slices, and 241bs. of vegetables of any kind, mixed (such
as carrots, parsnips, turnips, leeks, celery, cabbages,
savoys, sorvl, spinach, mangold wurzel, swedes, and
Jerusalem artichoke, all cut in a slanting direction,
which facilitates greatly the cooking), with the meat into
the copper left stewing about one hour, stirring the
whole contents until the moisture is nearly gone, which
will depend entirely on the fire; then add enough water
to cover the whole, which you let boil ten minutes; then
add 25Ibs. of flour, and mix it well together; then add
thirty pounds of either barley or rice, season with nine
pounds of salt and three pounds of brown sugar; after-
wards fill the copper with water, and boil the whole con-
tents for two hours or more, until the barley or rice is
quite tender, the soup is then ready for use.
In case either the barley or rice did not produce the
thickness required (as those ingredients may differ in
quality), then add, if too thin, a few pounds of flour or
oatmeal, previously mixed with cold water, to make it
in a liquid paste, and pour it in when boiling, about
twenty minutes before serving it out. But the proper
thickness is easily ascertained when the soup hangs
lightly on the back of the spatula or ladle.
One hundred gallons of this soup will cost under 11.
Respecting my plan of kitchens for the poor, I am happy
to inform you, Mr. Editor, that my subscription, which
is only of a few days' date, has met with the greatest
encouragement by benevolent contributors, the list of
which will shortly be published. I have been able al-
ready to begin one of those kitchens on a small scale,
where from forty to fifty gallons of soup can be easily
made, and quickly distributed to 200 or 300 poor, in
an ordinary sized London house. As soon as it is in
practice, this simple plan will be made public through
the press; therefore, any private application becomes
unnecessary, as it would prevent my carrying the plan
into effect.
A correct drawing of my large plan for making and
supplying 20,000 persons in four hours, is also in a very
and7lB 47s.ervant,
Reform
your
f ora•
ea
fvroedrrmy state.clu obliged
:
Feb.eb 1 humble With high consideration, I have the honour to be, Sir,

A. SOYER.

REVIEW OF THE BRITISH CORN

TRADE.
(From the Mark-Jane Express.)
In our comments on the position of the wheat trade
last week we expressed a doubt whether the depression
which then prevailed would be of long continuance; but,
though we were prepared to expect a rally, we scarcely
thought it would come so soon as it has. The animated
tone which business has again assumed has, no doubt,
been partly occasioned by the extreme severity of the
weather experienced during the last eight days; this,
however, cannot be regarded as the primary cause. The
periodical intervals of dulness and animation which
have succeeded to each other at different times during
the past four or five months have almost in every in-
stance been the result of a temporary lull and a subse-
quent revival of the Irish demand; and to the latter the
sudden rise which prices have again undergone must be
traced. As has been the case on all former occasions
this season, the first impetus to the upward movement
had its origin at Liverpool. Several Irish buyers visited
that port on Monday, and purchases of American flour
were then made privately at 40s. per barrel. On the
following day the market was numerously attended, and
large sales of the last-named article were effected at
41s. 6d. to 425. per barrel, whilst inferior sorts of wheat
were taken for the same destination at prices 4d. to 6d.
per 701 b., or 2s. 4d. to 3s. 6d. per quarter above those
current on that day se'nnight. Indian corn, which had
previously been neglected, was likewise in much re-
quest, and from 68s. to 71*. per 4801 b. was paid for
cargoes close at hand. Later in the week the excite-
ment increased, and on Friday a further advance was
established on all articles ; wheat was then quoted 3d.
to 4d. per 701 b., flour ls. 6d. per barrel, and Indian
corn ls. per 4801 b. higher than on the preceding market
day. The continued drain on oar stocks to supply the
wants of the sister isle, and the unusually large con-
sumption of breadstuffs in all parts of the United King-
dom, have already caused wheat to become somewhat
' scarce, and though we differ from some authorities, oa
whose judgment we generally place great_ reliance, we
cannot come to any other conclusion than that the stocks.
of wheat at present in the country are. smalleritthhanthrs
ordinary years at the corresponding period. With
to ship
largely to Ireland for ev
conviction, and with
thseprrolspemonths to come, whilst
no effective supplies from e
abroada can be looked for till
April, we can discover nothing in the position of affairs
to lead us to anticipate low, or even moderately low,
prices ; on the contrary, afurther rise appears to us
tar more probable. In giving this
.opinion, we wish our
remarks to be understood as applying only to the next
two months ; after tofhawt perio new elements
which nothing can at pre-
will come into play,
sent be known. The supplies of barley, which a few
weeks ago were liberal
at
the markets in those counties
where this grain is mosti extensively grown, have all at
once fallen off rnateria
i
low, before the discovery will and we think it will not be
will b e made that the crop of
this" grain has turned out quite as deficient as repre-
sented at harvest time. The maltsters, as a body,
ell-stocked ; and having during
are certainly far from
the week come
oovre awrd more freely as buyers, the
p forward more freely as buyers, the
supplies have proved inadequate to the demand, and
supplies
v-ainced about 2s. per quarter all over the
prices havheavade
kingdom. Oats, on the other hand, have not as yet re-
covered any portion of the recent decline, which may
be partly accounted for by the economy observed in
their consumption. The comparatively low price of hay
has caused that article to be used more extensively than

usual ; other substitutes have also been largely em-
ployed. But notwithstanding all these shifts, oats are
evidently becoming very scarce, and when the seed de-
mand commences their value will in all probability rise.
By our advices from Scotland we learn that the wea-
ther had not been so severe there as with us. Wheat
and barley advanced on Wednesday, both at Edinburgh
and Glasgow, but oats were not dearer at either place.
From Ireland the accounts are of precisely the same
character as before. The want and misery prevailing
are described as fearful ; and though a deficiency in the
means for conveying supplies into the interior had
caused an accumulation of stock at the sea-port towns,
with there-opening of the inland navigation, which had
been partially closed by ice, the stores at Dublin, Cork,
and Limerick, would, it was expected, be speedily
emptied. The extreme severity of the frost experienced
on this side of the Channel has also closed many of our
watercourses, and prevented supplies of grain from
the interior being sent down to the ports on the coast.
It is, therefore, probable that the arrivals will, for a
time at least, be short. _

During the week now about to terminate, the receilts
of wheat coastwise into London have amounted to only
872 quarters, and the quantity brought forward at Mark-
lane by land carriage samples from the home counties
has been equally small. On Wednesday the show on
the Essex and Kent stands was quite trifling ; there was
scarcely anything fresh up, and the few parcels left
over from previous supplies were easily plated at rates
Is. to 2s. per quarter above those current in the com-
mencement of the week. On Friday the millers mani-

fested an increased desire to add to their stocks ; and

factors having very little to offer, demand, d, and suc-
ceeded in obtaining, a further advance of Is. per quarter.
Foreign wheat, which has for some time been compara-
tively neglected, has again excited attention this week.
On Wednesday several parcels changed hands, on terms
at least ts. per quarter above those previously obtainab:e
and since then holders have further raised their preten-
sions; good red Baltic, as well as the inferior sorts, such
as Odessa, Danube, &c., being held about 2s. per quarter
higher at the close than the commencement of the week.
This rise has been mainly caused by a renewed demand
for meal to ship to Ireland; and, had not the scarcity of
vessels, and the high rate of freights, tended to throw
difficulties in the way of business, the transactions would

probably have been extensive.
Town-manufactured flour has been taken rather
slowly, the bakers still continuing to act on the reserve;
the millers have, however, remained firm, and the bar-
gain; closed have been at full terms. Ship flour being
worth more in the northern markets than here, the
supply into London has been small, and prices have
rather tended upwards. For American the demand has
undergone a decided improvement, and rather large pur-
chases have been made at a rise of Is. to 2s. per barrel on
the lowest rates of last week.

Barley of home growth has come very sparingly to
hand, nor have the receipts from foreign countries been
of any importance. The maltsters, who have for some
weeks held off, have been compelled by their pressing
wants to purchase somewhat more freely of late; and,
though business has not been brisk, sellers have expe
rienced no difficulty in realizing an enhancement of ls.
to 2s. per quarter on the best, and ls. on secondary
qualities. The panic produced in the barley trade by
the admission of sugar into breweries and distilleries
seems to have passed over; and, unless much larger sup-
plies reach us shortly, there is some chance of this grain
rising again to pretty nearly the same from which it
receded a fortnight or three weeks ago.
The operations in malt have been of a retail character;
the stocks of the article being, however, very short, and
the supplies having been small. higher rates have been
insisted on and obtained.
The total quantity of oats which has entered the port
of London during the week ending Saturday evening has
amounted to only 11,144 quarters; whereof 3,103 quar-
ters are from our own coast, 101 quarters from Scotland,
7,039 quarters from Ireland, and 904 quarters from
abroad. The usual consumption of the metropolis and
its suburbs at this period of the year, when Parliament
is sitting, and London is consequently full, is estimated
at from 20,000 to 25,000 quarters per week; whereas
the receipts from the beginning of the year, being
rather over seven weeks, have amounted to only 45,254
quarters. It follows, therefore, that all parties are at
the present moment very bare of stocks ; and though
there can be no doubt that the high value of the article
has led to great economy in the consumption, still we
believe that prices must undergo a further enhancement.
On Wednesday business was very dull at Mark-lane, the
factors generally asking somewhat enhanced terms,
which buyers refused to pay ; since then the inquiry
has not improved, and it has ben impossible to realise
over Monday's currency even for fine corn.
The recent fall in the value of beans has not led to
any increase in the inquiry, and sales have proceeded
slowly at the reduced terms current in the commence-
ment of the week.
Maple and hog peas have likewise moved off rather
tardily at previous prices, but a rise of is. to 2s. has
taken place in quotations of white boilers since Monday.
Floating cargoes of Indian corn, particularly those
close at hand, have been eagerly bought on Irish account,
and nearly as high prices have been realised as at the
period when the greatest extent of excitement prevailed.
By the packet-ship Queen of the West we have New
York advises of the 23d of January, and accounts from
other parts of the United States of corresponding dates.
The weather had been, and was then still severe, and the
inland navigation was still closed by ice. The exports
of flour had not been so large in January as the preceding
month, owing partly to the high rate of freight to
Europe; still upwards of 86,000 barrels of flour, 103,000
bushels of wheat, 242,000 bushels of Indian corn, 24,000
bushels of rye, 39,000 bushels of barley, and 16.000
bushels of oats, had been shipped from New '1,7,41

between the Ist and 19th of• January. Freight to
London was then 17d. to 18d. per bushel for wheat, and
4s. 6d. to ss. per barrel for flour. The price of fl •ur had
rather tended ur ards during the pre,eding week, and
good brands of Crennessee were then held at 5 clod.. 6.2ke
to 5 dolls. 69c. per barrel. The arrival of the liiberroa
was anxiously looked for, and in the absence of news
from Europe neither sellers nor buyers had manifested
much disposition to enter into extensive operations.
The return of severe weather threatens again to in•
terrupt the regular communication with the northern
continental ports ; but the advices from Dantzig reach
only to the 3d inst. A good deal of business has been
done there during the week ; about 650 lasts had
changed hands at high prices ; for tine high mixed 61s.
to 655. had been paid, and other sorts had brought pro-
portionate prices : subsequently the trade had become
somewhat dull, owing to the less encouraging tone of
the English letters. The weather was then wet, and
the damp state of the atmosphere had caused most of
the wheat to come to hand in indifferent condition. A
vessel had been chartered to load wheat to Liverpool at
4s. 6d. per quarter.
At the Lower Baltic ports a little reaction appears to
have taken place, in consequence of the fall which oc-
curred in the British markets towards the close of last
month.
From Rostock we learn, under date of February the
4th, that the demand for wheat had suddenly fallen off
materially, but that holders had nevertheless remained
firm, declining to sell below 655. per quarter free on
board. The inquiry for barley had likewise become
slow there, and 355. per quarter was then an extreme
price.
At Stettin stocks are stated to be very small, and little
effect had consequently been produced by the somewhat
dull tone of the English advices ; in the absence, how-
ever, of foreign orders the operations in both wheat and
spring corn had been on a restricted scale.
At Hamburg, on the 9th inst., wheat was decidedly
dull of sale, and there were offers from outports at prices
Is. to is. 6d. per quarter below the rates previously de-
manded ' - for parcels on the spot very nearly former
terms had been insisted on.
The accounts from the Mediterranean are interesting.
A letter from Marseilles of the 6th inst. informs us that
wheat, after having fallen some 6s. per quarter the pre-
ceding week, had again rallied, and that prices were then
within about if. per hectolitre of the highest point. This
reaction had been caused by a rumoured country demand.
Marianopoli had brought equal to 695. per quarter, which
was as high a price as that description of wheat had
brought at any former period.
From Genoa we learn, under date of February 2, that
the Government had issued a decree levying four livres
per cantor, or 3s. 6d. per cwt. duty, on the export of rice
the growth of Piedmont.