The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-18 00:00:00

SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY
COMPANY.
The twenty-first half-yearly general meeting of the pror
.._lnietors in this railway was held yestetday at the Board-
nu, London-bridge Terminus, for the purpose of receiving
!!e n:port of the directors, and transacting the ordinary bu-
55!'s of the company. James M`Gregor, Esq., chairman
the company, presided.
The advertisement calling the meeting having been read,
Aind the common seal of the company affixed to the registry
`et poprietors,
Ile SECRETARY proceeded to read the report, of which
she following is a brief abstract :
The Accounts of the South-Eastern Railway Company for
the half-year, ending on the 31st of January, 1847, slow
t the gross Reseipts of the Company on Revenue Account
:;ave mounted during that period to 236,404/. Os. bd.; that
?eat working expenses have been 61,197/. 9s. sd. • the
ieGnt of the Greenwich Railway and the Whitstable Railway,
le7Bl. 2s. the Rates, Government Duty, and Toll to
the
London, Brighton, and South-Coast Company, for
use of the Croydon Railway, 31,0471. ss. Bd., mak-
together the Expenditure on Revenue Account,
1),4,1221.4d. The Balance carried to the Account of
Ar9fit and,Loss, 124,2811. 3s. ld. • and the Profit and Loss
of 100,2031.75.
shows an amount at the 'disposal of the Proprietors
`.100,204/. 7s. 3d.
bao,The amount received for passenger traffic during the
"'Year on the South-Eastern Railway', exclusive of the
Greenwichsi„„ Branch, is 144,0001. 12s. 7d., of which
1",1- 15s. Id. has been paid by 112,419 first-class pas-
sengers; 54,683. Ps. 11d. by :'247,670 second-class pas-
ktgers; and 3:3,8901. 4s. 7d. by 381,708 third-class pas-
-ngers,
ti"," ws A comparison with the corresponding half-year of 1845-6
iti an increase during the last halt year of 38,5701. Bs. 9d.
lao7seelPts and of 16.040 first class : 41,186 second class ; and
third class in number, in all 187,579.
11:1,,lhe comparison of last half-year with the corresponding
':Year of 1845-6, shows an increase of 7,241 of persons
tarried over the Greenwich Branch, within that period, and
1le;8 is an increase of the earnings on this branch of
"4.3/. Ils. 7d.
eop;The merchandise account has yielded 37,245/. 14s. 7d.
th;nag the last half year, which exceeds by 13,320/. 6s. 7d.
tnount earned in the corresponding half of last year.
directors gave up possession of the New Cross Lo-
th;c4i7e Works on the 31st of January, in accordance with
the agreement which had been entered into, and removed
° South-Eastern Locomotive Establishment to the new
w
Its, at Ashtord.
"The amount due to this company from the Brighton
Aso PanY, on giving up the New Cross Works, amounting to
tY 40,0001, has not yet been paid.
"Thethe branch from Minster to Deal will open so soon as
qo;awing-bridge over the Stour is completed. Its construe-
„,,uss been delayed by the severe winter.
o:Line contracts for widening the Greenwich branch and
to it to Gravesend, and for filling up the canal in the
to Del, and doubling the line of the railway from Gravesend
forehester, are all let. All the works are proceeding
Itiejahly, and there is every reason to expect that they
LW* completed according to the contract which require
ht.:" works to be constructed and ready for opening within
months after obtaining possession of the land. That
of the North Kent Railway between Gravesend and
heater will it is hoped, be opened as a double line in two
as—
,
It" The directors have arranged with the Board of the
teeo mg, Guildford, and Reigate Railway to vary the agree-
existing with that company, and instead of the South-
Vvirn. Company allowing 4% per cent. to the Reading,
T n drord, and Reigate Company, on the whole outlay for
hoy4tructing the line and a division of profits besides, they
colagreed, subject to the approbation of the proprietors, to
east; ,SIA per cent. without division of profits, on a fixed
itiZaint 600,0001. The South-Eastern Company having the
e'',,,nsibility of executing the woiks.
itsd"e directors trust the arrangements they have made,
plB are making, for the interr.al management of the corn-
Y, will insure to them efficient aid in all departments of
the
knit]
isperviee, and they beg leave to tenderto the proprietors
- assurance that no exertions on their part shall be
of th gr, to uphold the property and increase the prosperity
The oouth-Eastern Company."
e then said that he trusted the report read
hwouldid „ne found satisfactory. On the 24th of February they
ad interview with the Brighton Company, which they
es,,,unped would terminate satisfactorily, were it not for the
pith determination of the Brighton Company to p
roceed
their Mid-Kent schemes. A copy of the corres-
tirittlee which passed between the Chairmen of the
I:ti"owipanies was read, and it appeared that while both
seies expressed themselves anxious to come to terms,
th
was willing to forego the schemes which they them-
tions.; were promoting. If he were asked why the negotia-
so„, at ad not been proceeded with on their part, he should
th',. that, as the basis of all negotiation was founded on
80' withdrawal of the Brighton Mid-Kent projects, the
`oath-Eastern Company, finding that this withdrawal would
to Lhe conceded, and esteeming these projects, if finished,
045 paying ones, had deemed it prudent to reject all
!tares while these projects were insisted on.
t„,.4 Snansuiromaxn said that there was one item of expendi-
Cesenerally found in the reports of other railways which
the
did not find in the South-Eastern Company. lie meant
in amount due to directors for their own services. Were
the directors not paid. or was the omission a clerical error?
the The CHAIRMAN said that when the directors undertook
management of the railway, they found that it was a
Matter of absolute necessity to apply the pruning knife to the
salaries of all the officers. The secretary, for instance, was
Only allowed 4001. per annum, and the others were propor-
tionably low. In adopting these reformatory measures, they
felt it to be their duty to begin at home, and a resolution
Was agreed to that their services should be given gratuitously,
limit the position of the company could be made fully satis-
factory to the proprietors.—(Great cheering.)
The CHAIRMAN then moved the adoption of the report,
Which having been seconded, was carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed .that a dividend of 21s. per
share on the paid-up shares be declared ;of 13s. on the
'hares
created on the 19th of March, 1844 ; and of 7s. 6d.
IT:Share on the shares created on the 7th day of November,
1814; the same to be made payable on the 12th of April,
'7.—Carried
•
eAlex retirin directors, Mr. Martin Luther Pritchard, Mr.
elearer Rag ndall, and Mr. Henry Lewis Sinai!, were re-
esiA
to / esolution, expressive of the
obligations of the company
seso?,l-4 Viscount Torrington. moved by Mr. Prasscorr,
soknqed by Mr. BLISSARD, and supported by Mr. D. SA-
-138. was carried with acclamation.
0,41.
L_CliAllistax said the business of the meeting was now
pres,out he could not permit them to separate without ex-
tioa'lng the thanks of himself and his colleagues for the
lh.anrable confidence they had reposed in them, and he
theirto assure them that no effort would be wanting on
ts,„,i Part to carry the affairs of the company to a successful
•vnation.—(Cheers.)
jr• BARLOW moved a vote of thanks to.the chairman.
MTh
COLEMAN seconded the motion, which was carried
rhunously.
e Cnsittatax returned thanks, and the meeting broke up.

UGURATION OF HIS ROYAL
jIGHNESS PRINCE ALBERT, K.G., AS CHAN-
eILLOR, OF CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY.
tTheher inauguration of his Royal Highness Prince Al-
bert' IC-G., as Chancellor of the University, will take
on Thursday, March 25.
t 1,1 deputations from the University will consist of
the e
,lee-Chancellor, the Heads of Colloges, the Caput,
.r'-vtora, Registrary, nd the Esquire Bodel. Whe-
theral; tne members of the Senate in general will attend
(:eremeuy we have not learned.
Thethe ;deputation will proceed to Buckingham Palace at
eh flour appointed. At the ceremony the Vice-
Ltncellor will address the Chancellor in an English
sil
,I,1; be will then deliver him the letters patent,
Iren with the University seal, and also the book of the
Oil. •
ersi statute.
Chancellors will then take the oaths of the elle-
w:le and supremacy, and then the oath of office, after
bleb the Vice-Chancellor, taking him by the right
ed, places the Chancellor in the chair ; the Public
Qt°r will then advance and make a Latin speech, after
the Chancellor will reply in English.
Royal Highness the Chancellor will entertain the
:Potation at dinner in the evening.—Cambridge Ad-

EXPORTATION OF FISH.
forwarded
following has been received in answer to a letter
warded by the fish markets of Yarmouth, to W. Wil-
lhekere, Esq.,to procure the interference of the Govern-
ferett t obtain, if possiblerestrict
the removal of certain dif-
tin "jao i duties, whic the cousumption of her-
g 8 on the continent :
" Foreign-office, March 4, 1847.
Sir.--I am direct( dby Viscount Palmerston, to
acknowledge the receipt of the memorial, which you
have, transmitted to him from the fishing owners and
6
cUrers of Great Yarmouth, and its vicinity, praying
°r his Lordship's interference with foreign Goverments
°II the Continent of Europe, to obtain the removal of
certain differential duties which at present restrict the
consumption of British cured fish, in those countries ;
and lam to inform you that it belongs to the Board of
Trade, to consider the matters treated of in the memo-
ti al transmitted by you, and that Lord Palmerston will
happy to pay every attention to any recommends
ton which he may receive from that Board, as to the
_est means of attaining the object sought for by the
memorialists. I am, Sir, your most obedient humble

" H. U. ADDINGTON.
" W. Wilshere, Esq., M.P., 37, Old Bond-street."
---Bitry Herald.

The Conde de Montemolin, who has been elected
~,
.nonorary Member of the British and Foreign Institute,
ntThllignified his intention of being present, with his suite,
• the Soiree of that Literary Association, to-morrow even.
5.• Friday.
~•r-IXTENSIVE FIRE AT SonAM.—We have just re-
Cted information of an extensive fire at Soham, that
nr,sl out on Monday night last, in Hall-street, on the op-
-6111,t0 side of the street where the late conflagration burst
lRa. V(e can furnish no particulars.—Bury Herald.
'',AW•DUST BREAD.—Sir John F. W. lierschell,
ts discourse on the study of Natural Philosophy, states
t
at eaw-dust itself is susceptible of conversion into a sub-
iiniee bearing no remote analogy to bread; and thou.gh cer-
-41 Y less palatable than that of flour, yet no way disagree-
• e, and both wholesome and digestible as well as highly
en, NoTE. " See Dr. Prout's account of the experi-
-18-2-7`a of Professor Autenrieth, of Tubingen. Phil. Trans.
"P. 380. This discovery, which renders famine next to
nbr;ssible deserves a higher degree of celebrity than it has
alned."—The following is the pas.-age in Dr. Prout's
eel', to which Sir John Herschel refers:—" To illustrate
inlP,_roperties of lignin as an aliment. the only point of view
experiments
we have to consider it here, I shall briefly quote the
showed
of Professor Autenrieth, of Tubingen, who
red some years ago that by proper nunagernent this
01l ciPle might be rendered capable of forming bread. The
thefirst place,h
everythingh that was soluble in water was re-
ed by frequent maceration and boiling. The wood
107 then reduced to a minute state of division, that is to
not merely into fine fibres, but actual powder ;
-o,7:nectar being repeatedly subjected to the heat of an
Pre• was ground in the usual manner of corn. Wood thus
of pared, according to the author, acquires the smell and taste
of , I.ll,flour. It is, however, never quite cornflour ut always
re,„ Yellowish colour. It also agrees with in this
iuteet_ ; that it does not ferment without the addition of
; and in this case sour leaven of corn-flour is found
go answer best. With this it makes a perfectly uniform and
niTeui% bread ; and when it is thoroughly baked, and has
rust' it has a much better taste of bread than what
corn. es.,gf scarcity is prepared from the bran and husks of
ton..h Wood flour, also boiled in water, forms a thick,
k "46 trembling jelly, like that of wheat starch, and which
Pet? lluttitioas."