The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-05 00:00:00

SOUTH SEA COMPANY.

The half yearly court of this company was held yes-
terday at the South Sea House, Threadneedle-street ;
Mr. Charles Franks in the chair.
A statement of accounts was laid before the meeting,
from which it appeared that the revenue of the company
for the half year ending the sth of January last was
156,4411. 4s. 7d., and the expenditure 91,679!. ss. 2d.,
leaving a balance of 64,7611. 18s. 10d.. out of which it
was proposed to pay a dividend of 13. 4d. per cent. for
the half year on South Sea Stock, amounting to 64,098/.
145. 6d., and leaving a balance to the credit of the com-
pany of 663/. 4s. 4d. It also appeared that the assets of
the company amounted to 814,951 L 4s. 11d., and its lia-
bilities to 775,211/. 1 ls. 10d., leaving a balance in the
company's favour of 22,644/. Ils. Id.
In answer to questions,
The CHAIRMAN stated that during the past year the
company had sold out 37,3911. 16s. 6d. Three per Cent.
Reduced Annuities, and had purchased at the prices of
the day 12,500 L Old South Sea Annuities; 23,495/. New
Annuities; 1,1211. of-Three per Cents. of 1751; and
8001. South Sea Stock; that was the only purchase of
South Sea Stock, there being very little in the market.
As the money was always re invested immediately, it
was sold out of the Government Securities, it would be
impossible to state what proportion the price of one
stock bore to the other. He did not think it would be
advisable to fix a price at which they should purchase
stock, but they should continue to obtain it at the most
reasonable rate. The value of their stock was 116 Z 13s.
4d. per 1004 and if ever they were paid off by the Go-
vernment, it must be at that rate.
The dividend was unanimously declared, and thanks
being voted to the Chairman, the meeting separated.

LIVERPOOL THEATRE Rorm..—We have much
pleasure in receiving from our correspondent in Liver-
pool a communication stating that Mr. G. Bennett's new
play, the Justiza (of which we gave a notice as having
been produced with great success some weeks ago at
Birmingham), was played to a Liverpool audience with
a success as complete us the author could well desire.
The frequenters of Sadler's Wells will be delighted to
know that an actor of such sterling merit is likely to
attain one of the highest ranks in dramatic literature.
It has been matter of surprise to us that he has not long
ere this attained the topmost position in his profession,
knowing, as we do, his attainments as an actor and a
scholar. We trust ere long to witness one of his plays
produced at one of our leading theatres.
ANTI- °Arm ASSOCIATION.—A public meeting of
the members of this novel association took place last
night, in the Calton Convening Rooms. Tho object of
the association is " to plead the rights of conscience, and
to sympathise with those who suffer for listening to her
dictates." The friends of civil and religious liberty
were invited to attend, but they did not respond very
warmly to the invitation, the numbers present not being
great. John Wigham, jun. Esq., was in the chair; and
he along with the Rev. Dr. Ritchie, Rev. Mr. Knox, Mr.
Crowe from Honduras, in Central America; Mr. Brown,
teacher, Nicholson-square; Mr. Mushet, merchant, and
Mr. James Letham, tobacconist, Shore, Leith, took part
in the proceedings. The drift of all the speaking was to
show that a-simple "yea" or " nay" was all that Scrip-
ture required of us to give, and that a solemn affirmation
or negation was equally binding as an creth—that a per-
son who would tell a lie would as readily perjure himself
—and that oath-taking was one of the most grievous
burdens under which a peOple could labour. One of the
speakers stated that he had been in correspondence with
the Duke of Argyle upon the subject, and his Grace
stated that he had not turned his attention much to the
question of oaths, and was not prepared to introduce a
Bill into Parliament, in regard to it, still if Lord Jus-
tice Denman should see fit to re-introduce his Bill of
1842, which went the length of not putting the oath to
any party who objected to it on religious grounds, he
would, in all likelihood, give that proposition his cordial
support. Various resolutions were submitted to the
meeting, and a petition, founded on the resolutions, was
read, with the view of being signed by those of the inha-
bitants of Edinburgh who approve of the object of the
association, and then to be intrusted to a Member of
Parliament for presentation early next session.—
Scotsman.
The congregation of All Saints' Church, Rother-
hithe, have presented to their minister, the Rev. Robert
Jones, 8.A., a very handsome set of robes, as a mark of
their respect and esteem for him, and that his great and
continued exertions in his church are appreciated. The
robes were presented publisly in church on Monday last
as a New Year's gift.