The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-05 00:00:00

can Government being increased, and their applying the
duties hypothecated to their own exigencies, and this
was the worst view of the case ; they would have the
British Ministry to insist upon the performance of their
agreement. On the other hand, by assenting to this
agreement the meeting would immediately bind the
Ministry in Mexico, so that the delay would be injurious
rather than beneficial, and for that reason it should have
his opposition,
The CHAIRMAN said, that the conclusion to which the
committee had come had only been arrived at after the
most sedulous consideration. The values of the several
stocks had been separately calculated by eight different
gentlemen, who had all agreed within a fraction. The
most contradictory opinions had been expressed on this
occasion; but it was his impression, that if they waited
until both kinds of bondholders agreed as to what would
be severally just to them, he thought Mr. Cabal might
amend his terms, and move an adjournment sine die.
He really thought that the allowance of 2901. for the
Active Stock, and 601. for the Deferred Stock,
was perfectly fair. And then with respect to the
suppc sition that there was no additional security,
he must contend that by the positive hypo-
thecation of the tobacco duties and of the silver
duties, there was a clearer claim established, and one
which would justify the right of the British Minister to
require the fair and full satisfaction of the debt, either
in principal or interest. Considering the unsettled state
of Mexico, the constant change of its Government, and
the great uncertainty of the future, he did believe that
by the arrangement now proposed there would be a
ngiraedaet isnueferr. easejioefagt hre, d probability.w,iwith
Mr
Bowles
of the
in
payment being
that the waiting for the American packet thewould e ibeef
totally useless, and on the same grounds as those which
that gentleman had laid before the meeting. He firmly
believed that the meeting would give him credit for ho-
nesty. He firmly believed that no good whatever
could arise from an adjournment, and for disagreeing
with the_ proposition of Mr. Murphy, and which
that gentleman might not hereafter have it in
his power to repeat. It mattered not to him whether he
ever received one shilling either of principal or interest,
but it did matter greatly tceothers for whom he acted,
and he acted on public principle alone.—(Loud cheers.)
Taking credit, then, for honest intentions, he would
assert his deliberate belief that, short of absolute cer-
tainty, the arrangement now proposed was the safest
that could possibly be made.
To the question of whether the debentures given for
the over•dne coupons were to be considered as of the
value specified upon them, or only worth the amount for
which they were actually given,
The CHAIRMAN replied, that three of the dividends
had been paid in cash, so that the debentures were only
worth the difference of the sum remaining unpaid.
The amendment for an adjournment for fourteen days
was then put and lost, and the motion for approving the
recommendation of the committee, and accepting the pro-
position of the Mexican Government, was carried by an
overwhelming majority.

Thanks were then-voted to the chairman and com-
mittee for their services, and the meeting separated.

TAW VALE RAILWAY EXTEN-
SION.-SPECIAL MEETING.

A special meeting of the scripholders, proprietors, and
shareholders of this railway took place yesterday, at the
London Tavern, at one o'clock, in pursuance of the Sessional
orders of both Houses of Parliament, Emanuel Cooper, Esq.,
in the chair.
The SECRETARY having read the advertisement convening
the meeting,
The CHAIRMAN announced that as soon as the intention of
Government was announced as requiring a meeting of the
scripholders to take place a meeting was convened in Exeter,
at which 10,370 shares were in favour of proceeding, and 1,660
against such a course, leaving an assentingmajority of 8,710.
But as an irregularity had taken place in the insertion of the
advertisements they were obliged to convene the present
meeting. The Bristol and Exeter Company had agreed, as
soon as they obtained their Bill, to take the line, and pay them
4 per cent. upon their paid-up capital and calls, and to be
subject to an increase at the following rates per .cent.
when the Bristol and Exeter received 9 per cent., 5 when -
they receive 10, 6 when they receive 11, &c. The
money already paid for expenses amounted to 6,949/. 125.11 d.,
and he believed that the total amount of expenditure, in-
cluding the present liabilities, would not exceed 10,0001., or
about 10s. per share. Their money in hand was about
49,8601. The Bideford branch had been lost in the House of
Lords, and they therefore considered that they would not
require as large an amount paid up as the estimated capital,
which was 533,0001. The whole number of shares were
26,630, and those allotted amounted to 23,000 ; and out of
these 23,000 shares, 20,725 had been paid up upon.
The CMAIRMAN then put a resolution, to the effect that it
was
-the opinion of the meeting that the Bill should be pro-
ceeded with. -
Mr. FITZPATRICK seconded the resolution.
The votes were then taken, when there appeared—
For going on
Against

Bfajority
The meeting then separated.

The picture of Miss Foote, painted twenty years ac,o
by Clint, is still a most admirable present likeness of the Coun•
tess of Harrington. The portraits of Liston and Bannister,
by the same master, are wonderful likenesses of these talente.
actors.

This little collection is rich in its portraits, an

would form an:admirable outline for the Duke.of Devonshire

or the Baron de Rothschild, to fill up with something still
mare recherche ; and we are told it is more than probable
the magnificent picture of the Kemble family will shortly be
subject to the competition and uncertainty of an approaching
sale, as well as a scene from the "Clandestine Marriage," a
beautiful picture from "King John," a scene from "No
Song no Supper," and also one from "New Way to Pay Old
Debts," with Edmund Kean as Sir Giles Overreach.

CAPTAIN STIIRT'S EXPLORING PARTY. —ln telligence
has been received at Adelaide, South Australia, from Mr.

Pierse's party, which was on its return to Captain Sturt with
supplies. The letters are dated November 14, and they were
then at a distance of 350 miles from Adelaide, and had not
been visited with a shower from the day of their departure.
They Lad fallen in with an overland party, 21 in number,
so much distressed from the exhaustion of their provisions

that they had killed some of their own beasts for subsistence. I
This party had lost between 200 and 800 head of cattle, out
of about double the number with which they started from
the pasturage of New South Wales. The number of wild
cattle in the interior of New South Wales, the descendants
of estrays from the herds of settlers, would appear to be
countless; Mr. Pierse's party had met with innumerable
herds in the highest possible condition. The writer of one
letter says that millions, rather than thousands, would most
adequately convey an idea of the vast numbers of these
cattle, who must have had the advantages of some extensive,
rich, and uninterrupted pasture.
THE QUEEN'S BIRTS:DAY.--The following order, re-
_ _

lative to the observance of the day appointed for the cele
bration of her Majesty's birth-day, has been issued by corn
mand of the Lord Chancellor :—" Whereas by the tenth o
the general orders of this court, of the Bth of May, 1845, it is
provided that the Lord Chancellor may from time to time, by
special order, direct the offices to be closed on days other
than those mentioned in the fifth of the same orders. And
whereas Tuesday, the 9thof June instant, has been appointed
for the celebration of the anniversary of her Majesty's birth-
day ; and such event has heretofore been observed as a general
holiday in the several offices of this court. His Lordship
doth, therefore, order that the several offices of this court be
closed en Tuesday, the 9th of June instant.—S. Comm,
itegistrar."
The Duke of Cambridge will preside at the centenary
dinner of the Lock Hospital and Asylum, at the London
Tavern, on Friday, the 17th instant.
TURKEY CARPETS.—The following - minute has been
issued by the Commissioners of the Customs :—Doubts
having been entertertained whether Turkey carpets are free
of duty, or liable to the duty of ten per cent. ad valorem, as
" Woollen Articles or Manufactures of Wool, ice., wholly
or in part made up, not otherwise charged with duty," nuclei
the Resolutions of the House of Commons, transmitted it
the order of the Lords of the Treasury, dated the 18th of
March last, and their Lordships having expressed their con-
currence in the opinion of the Board, that Turkey carpets
are liable to such duty :—Ordered, that Turkey carpets anc,
also cotton fringe, and all other articles of woollen of
cotton manufacture, wholly or in part made up, not other.
wise charged with duty, be charged with the-duty of 10 pe:
cent. ad valorem, and the officers at the port of London, ant'
at the outports of the kingdom, are to govern themselves it
the matter in future accordingly.
THE STATE AND PROSPECTS OF THE POTATO CRor.—
The season being now sufficiently far advanced to enabh
farmers to judge of the state of the potato crop, we hay(
syahosiurrkepsphlyi
been enabled to obtain such information as goes to show that
although in some districts a partial failure has taken place
the generel aspect of the plant is of a promising character
In Warwickshire, where the disease was severely felt last
year, there have been no blanks worth notice. In Derby
aLti
hno
etn s
d,
cropo
ne and
neverianr
ktehtwe
chieflyor
epotatoam depends for
0,
oatnhr eew nh oi
therer
eo,f
esculent,emh mthcomplaints,
1h eal health'.
appearance. From the accounts in the Scotch papers, it
would seem that no trace of the disease has manifested wif
although it was feared that the seed was in some cases con-
siderably damaged, and put into the ground without mud
hope that it would spring freely.
THE PORTUGUESE AllNisTnv.—Accounts have bet-I
received in Paris from Lisbon, through Spain, dated the 21s
ult. They state that the Duke de Palmella had partly sue
ceedei in forming a Cabinet. M. de Palmella, Presidento
the Council, takes ad interim the portfolios and finances. Th
Duke de Terceira is Minister of War, and the Marquis e
Saida:the, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
ROYAL BOTANICAL SOCIETY.—The second exhibition
of plants and flowers of the above intellectual institution took
place in the society's grounds, in the Regent's-park, on Wed-
nesday afternoon. The assemblage of rank and fashion was
more than usually numerous, the number of ladies most ele-
gantly attired being perhaps greater than on any similar
oecaston. The brilliancy of the day may in some measure
account for this, but there is but little doubt still more is
due to the success which was attendant upon the society's
last display. There existed one inconvenience, however,
consequent upon the great influx of patrons, which had its
origin in the inability of those entrusted with the disburse-
ment of refreshments to supply one tithe of the urgent calls
upon their sympathies. This, and the want of an efficient
system at the entrance, which needs but to be alluded to for
its remedy, were but small per contras against a very large
amount of actual instruction and refined delight. Two
military bands, now here and now there, amidst the shrub-
beries, played, in a finished and careful style, several of
the most admired overtures and airs, while a large body
of police acted as a corps of direction in preventing con-
fusion. The following prizes stood most prominent ,
For calceolarias (amateur), Mr. Wright, gardener to the Ho-
nourable Mr. Rushart, Wanstead, the first prize ; the second
to Mr. Gaines, nurseryman, Battersea. Mr. Kendall, of
Stoke Newington, carried away the prize for fuchsias, and
Mr. Cock, of Chiswick, was equally fortuate in his selection
of pelargoriums. In the latter and other geraniums, Mr.
Gaines, of Battersea, again excelled, and was followed close
by Mr. Parker, of Roehampten, who likewise became a prize-
holder. The roses were especially attractive, and reflected
great credit on the successful competitors: Messrs. Lane and
Sons, Berkhampstead ; Mr. Francis, of Hertford; and Mr.
Bettridge, Milton-hill, Bucks. Mr. Green, the gardener to
Sir Edward Antrobus, Bart., of Cheam, obtained the first
distinction for the azalias grown by him; and Mr. Mylam,
gardener to S. Rucker, of Wandsworth, the same for his col-
lection of orchidaceas, is; which honour Mr. Rae, gardener to
J. G. Bland, of Streatham, in part shared. The cape heaths,
which appear year by year to acquire greater beauty, were
abundant, but the finest of them were those of Mr. Ryle, the
gardener of Miss Trail!, of Bromley, who deservedly took the
first place. There were likewise a whole catalogue of other
floral excellencies, the extent of which alone precludes a
' more lengthy notice.