The Sun.
London, England, 1841-09-03 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM AND DERBY RAILWAY.

The general meeting of the Proprietors of the Birming-
ham and Derby Railway was held on Thursday last, the
26th ult. at the Waterloo-rooms, Birmingham, having
been adjourned from the 10th ult. for the purpose of re-
ceiving the Report of a Committee appointed to investi•
gate the accounts and the financial conditiOn of the Com-
pany. From this Report which was presented and read
to the meeting, it appeared that a considerable discre-
pancy had existed between the amount of traffic as pub-
lished weakly, and the aggregate amount ascertained at
the close of the half-year ; the latter having fallen short
of the former by no less than 1,989/. 18s. 3d. . This
error the Report stated to have arisen from errors
in keeping the accounts of the merchandise and
mineral traffic, and to have shown considerable
negligence in the principal servant of the Com-
pany. With respect to the general financial con-
dition of the Company, the Report stated, that, in ad-
dition to the sum of 800,0001. raised by shares, and
256,666/. by debentures, a further sum of 80,0001. would
be required to complete the line. With regard to the
revenue, it appeared that the gross proceeds of the traffic
for the past year had been 58,350/., which, after paying
the charges of working the line and the interest upon the
borrowed money, left a balance of profit for the year of
6,361/. 2s. 51, equal to about 13s. 4d. on each share of
1001. The Committee, however, expressed a confident
expectation that the traffic will ultimately be greatly in-
creased ; and they presented a series of calculations to
show, that a gross annual income of 113,4381. might be
fairly expected, which, if realized, will probably pay
about four per cent. to the Shareholders. After hearing
this Report read, the Meeting resolved that no dividend
should be made, and that the surplus of 6,361/. 2s. sd.
should be carried to the credit of the revenue account.

DUBLIN AND DROGHEDA RAILWAY COM-

MANY.

The usual. half-yearly meeting of this Company was
held in Dublin on Thursday last ; George A. Hamilton,
Esq., in the Chair. From the Report of the Directors,
it appeared that the works are rapidly progressing, and
that the expenditure will not exceed 14,00(1. per mile,
including the purchase of land. The finance Report of
last year stated, that, after the payment of expenditures
to the amount of 10,5841. 1%. sd. the Company had a
balance on hand of 13,571/. Os. 7d. The accounts pur-
ported to have been audited on 31st July last. The
whole line between Dublin and Balbriggan will be soon
in operation, and the remaining portion of the line will
not be commenced till next summer, as the work on that
division is very light, and will be completed in about
twelve months from its commencement. The Report
being approved of, it was resolved to form a friendly
Society for the purpose of ensuring, in cases of accident,
relief to the labourers employed by the Company. The
usual vote of thanks was then given to the Chairman,
and the meeting separated.

SHABBY TRlCK.—Amongst the novel expe-
dients daily contrived by those who " live by their wits,"
for the purpose of gratifying their passions or their ne-
cessities at the expense of the industrious, the following
is perhaps not unworthy of notice. The other day a
fellow entered a respectable public-house in this vicinity,
and, calling for a gill of whisky, said lie intended wait-
ing the arrival of a companion whom he expected to fol-
low immediately. After- some time, he rang the bell
and told the girl that his friend did not appear to be
coming and that she might take back the whiskey, as
he did not require it. The girl, without suspicion, al-
lowed him to depart, but
on going to the bar it was found
that he had drank the whisky and filled up the stoup
with ter. The fellow was speedily brought back by
the landlord, but he stoutly denied having tasted the
whisky, and refused to pay the value of it, for one of
the most cogent reasons imaginable, that he had no-
money. Finding it impossible to obtain satisfaction,
" mine host permitted him to depart, after bestowing
an admonitory kick or two on his breach.—Ayr Observer
THE PAST.—When the art of reflection takes
place in the mind, when we look at ourselves in the light
of thought, we discover that our life is embosomed in
beauty. Behind us, as we go, all things assume pleasing
forms, as clouds do far off, Not only things f.tmiliar
and stale, but even the tragic and terrible are comely, as
they take their plat cin the pictures of memory. The
river-bank, the weed at the water-side, the old house, the
foolish person, however neglected in the passing, have a
grace in the past. Even the corpse that has lain in the
chamber has added a solemn ornament to the house. The
soul will not know either deformity or pain.—Essay zin
Spirituel Laws.

It is singular that whilst so much has been said
about the humidity of the weather, there were fewer wet
days at Presteign last month than in the three preceding
Julys ; in July, 1838, it rained on 15 days • in 1839, 20
days ; in 1840, 17 days ; and in 1841 only 13 days.—
Worcestershire Cirronid