The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-24 00:00:00

long without obtaining the consideration of Parliament. In
that item of charge there had been an increase en their own
line of between 4,0001. and 5,000/. over the last. year. He
trusted that the day was not far distant when he should
have to congratulate the company upon a diminution
of this impost. He found Bills introduced into Parlia-
ment for the exemption of stock in trade, and he
thought railway interests equally entitled to consideration.
That was one grievance against which railway proprietors
had had to contend. But the railway interest had had
before to contend with difficulties which would have ap-
palled any other proprietors ; they had struggled on without
the assistance of Government, and success had attended
their exertions. By perseverance, by refraining from undue
speculation, by entering into as few engagements as pos-
sible, by fair, open, and upright conduct towards the public,
he had no doubt the present difficulties of the railway in-
terest would be removed, and prosperily again restored. If
any gentleman required further information with regard to
the affairs of the company, he should be happy, if able, to
afford it. He sat down, assuring them that he felt deeply
anxious to promote the interests of the Midland Railway.
In reply to a question from a PaormFron,
The CHAIRMAN said he had no intention of retiring from
the management of the company.—(Cheers.) He would
say further, that so long as he possessed health, strength,
and energy, and the confidence of the proprietors, nothing
should induce him to leave them.—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. BRANCKER (of Liverpool) inquired whether any of the
amount of the 50/. new shares had been taken to liquidate
the debts of the company?
The CHAIRMAN replied that no amount had been taken
for that purpose, but so soon as the new lines had been com-
pleted, the remaining sum to be called up would be then
taken to liquidate the debts of the company.
Mr. BRANCKER, after some further observations, said he
thought it would have been better if the directors had recom-
nsended a dividend of 5i per cent. and carried the balance
forwards.

A rROPRIETOR wished to know upon what amount of capi-
tal the dividend was declared?
The CIIAIILMAN—About seven millions.

Mr. WATERS wished for a reserved fund, to meet deprecia-
tion of stock, He should, therefore, move as an amendment,
that a dividend of 5% per cent. be declared.
The CHAIRMAN said before that was done, it would be
better that the report should be received.
Mr. laoxstDEs wished to know whether any rupture be-
tween the engine-drivers and directors was likely to occur on
the Midland line?

The CHAIRMAN replied that the best feeling existed be-
tween them. The Chairman afterwards observed that he
had been present immediately after the occurrence of the late
accident on the London and North-Western at Blisworth.
The accident was one of those misadventures which no fore-
sight could prevent.— (Hear.)
The report, atter a few other remarks, was received and
adopted.
On the motion of the CHAIRMAN, a dividend of 31. for the
half-year, payable on the 4th of September, was then
agreed to.
Mr. RAND (of Bradford) moved a vote of thanks to Mr.
Hudson for his able conduct as chairman of the Midland
Railway Company.
The CHAIRMAN, in acknowledging the vote, said he was
only anxious to preserve the confidence of the proprietors.
He could not close the proceedings of the day without re-
ferring to an event which every railway proprietor, and
every well-wisher of his country, must regret. He alluded
to the death of that great and distinguished man, Mr.
George Stephenson. His character, and the works which he
had left behind him, would live in the memory of his coun-
trymen to all future ages.—The meeting then broke up.

~ PROTECTION."

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—" Good phrases," says Justice Shallow, " are
and shall bo commended:" the word " Protection" shall
be commended for the good service it has done. Who-
ever has read Mr. Whiteside on the " Tribunals at
Naples and their procides," may be assured that his
account is not exaggerated. Ask a Neapolitan with
little or no money how his lawsuit is going on? be re-
plies, with shrugs and squeaks, " Eh! a Napoli tutto e
protezione!" (bribery.) This is the true meaning of
the word, and ought to be nailed to it. When a Bill is
passed " for protection of Crown and Government," one
is inclined to ask, Who dares take our Victoria, enfant
de la ;liaison, dread and dear Sovereign, under his pro-
tection, or make her his protegee? If Lord Stanley's
friend, 'yclept of the Two Sicilies, in the exercise of his
undoubted prerogative, made a law just now to double
the price of maccaroni, as our landlords did of bread, to
gratify noble cornfactors or Austrian mealmen,
that would be protezione in the strictest ac-
ceptation of the term. The customs of Naples
are daily brought to our doors by Pulcinella
their national maschera. His litigiousness and yet
hatred of law-offieers, in the first place—his attachment
to Judy, whom he beats—his fondness for tame animals,
yet his cruelty towards them—his spadacino valour as
in General Pepe, combined, however, with a perpetual
longing to run away—his superstition and yet profane-
ness—his vocal powers solacing all his misfortunes—his
perfidy, levity, caprices, and lies—his unmistakeable
beak, top-knot, and voice, as of a cockrell or game.
chicken, pulcinella—all these describe the union of
Greek volubility, Arab temper, Tuscan shrewdness and
talent, constituting—Punch. Certainly Naples is not so
far as from Comilla to Grand Cairo; Cerito, Lablache,
the Taglionis, three or tour Grisis and a Tosi, came all
the way to see us; probably also Grimaldi and Delpini,
clowns. One is apt to view Naples merely as a cele-
brated watering-place, but it is also the second capital in
Europe, London exclusive; population about half a mil-
lion, a court, nobility, and garrison more than propor-
tionate, with a fine breed of little barb horses, who ex-
hibit what Mme. de Stael saw in the human natives, a
je jle sais quoi do Nunaide." Here Pythagoras, in-
ventor of music, and the astronomy called Copernican,
dwelt.

Here Aquinas, who, according to some, would have
made three Newtons, was born. Here, in the time of
our Ileptarchy, Greek laws, medicine, civilization, and
refinement prevailed at Salerno and Amalfi. Hera
Cresar, Marius, _Pompey, Virgil, Romans of all ages,
" crowded on each other's villas, and jostled for the must
beautiful angles." Even Lablache is nothing new. "In
the plague at Athens, the few who escaped infection de•
termined to enjoy lice while it lasted. Tbey had singers
from Magna Grecia (Naples) and dancers from Gaul,
who received an Attic talent, or 1931. 15s. every month
for their trouble, which, in those times, was considered
a high salary." If any doubt the influence of Naples, or
the origin of the vocable Protection, let them consider
that Christina and her kinswoman, the Duchess de Berri,
are Neapolitans, besides the ex-Queen of France—and
surely we have heard enough of them. I saw Christina
at a public festival—a young princess of fatal, tragical
beauty ; probably in that vast assemblage were but few
ma►e creatures who would not have been glad to accept
her as sister, daughter, wife, or friend, notwithstanding
the Dias malorum she might bring her Menelaus and King
Priam. The Neapolitans combine the extremes of human
character. _

'I 'heir " protection of Crown and Government" " went
too far" in 1799 when the French Government evacuated
the city. Van Raumer, who surely is a good autho-
rity, tells us " Cardinal Ruffo was leader of the counter-
revolution, and the greatest horrors were perpetrated
before his face. (Persons now living can show you the
very spots.) Fra Diavolo; Macamone, the blood-quaffer,
and others of that class, were treated as friends by
and loaded %%id) titles and honours." If the brutality of
the many equalled that of the few it would go hard with
Foor humanity; but in the Carbonari year, 1822, when
no Government existed for several weeks, the wealthy
inhabitants end foreigners did not even bar their doors
at night. This is a great fact. Marshal Saxe (the only
Frenchman who ever beat the English in three pitched
battles) observed that in all disputes between the army-
waggoners and their horses, the waggoners were wrong.
Burke always presumed in favour of the people against
governments—as an Irishman he had reason. Abb4
Petrarch was involuntary witness of human sacrifice at
Naples, and the name of the place was Carbonaria.
Gibbon therefore was inaccurate in saying " the human
feasts of Leatrygons bare never been renewed on the
coasts of Campania." Such customs are merely external
necessities like Juggernaut, Thuggee, Suttee—but.
sy
treacherous echo is found in the hearts of those demi-
AfriCALIS. A day may come—who knows ? when that
great referendary, the oldest, inhabitant. will just be able
to remember human sacrifices or capital punishments as
fiercely applauded by modern as by ancient Britons.
Every instance of misgovernment and consequent
ferocity brings Ireland, piteous Ireland, to memory, but
one escapes from the idea. They have, in the matter of
whisky, conquered themselves—teach them now to con-
quer us. Would that I could be more useful to your
most useful paper !—I have the honour to be, Sir, &c.,
H. C. ARGENT.

RACING SUBSCRIPTION OFFICE, 301, STRAND.
On Friday last the managers of the Racing Subscription
Fund received at this office, distributed the horses to,
holders of the numbers tor the great Ebor Handicap, to,
the several classes of the subscribers, at the Parthenium,
St. Martin's-lane, Westminster. Before the distribution
was commenced, one of the managers addressed the as.
sembly, and said, that although he accepted the compara-
tively thin attendance of the subscribers as a proof of
the confidence they reposed in the managers—if any
further proofs were needed of that fact, in addition to
the rapid►ty with which they had filled up the subscrip-
tions—still the managers would
Therehave bweaesn,
itgorwateid,ainf
their attendance to look after their own interests had
been more numerous, especially as it was difficult to hit
eoxfeltuhdeed number.from th
emuibgthute
eb e
at once upon any method of distribution which
not be open to some objection.
important one which the managers had provided agoinst
andnamely,
thus
unfairly
The speaker then produced a ilox divided ()
some
compartments, each of which contained into
a too
parcels of num-
bers of 100 each; the first c,,mpartment containing from
1 to 100, the second from 101 to 200, and so on; the
whole 10,000 being thus arranged in an arithmetical se-
ries of hundreds. By this arrangement any number re-
q:llred could be selected instantly, and the subscribers
were asked to call for any numbers at hazard, in order
to test the fact. whether every ticket was not there to
to be placed in the wheel.
as well as the simplicity of
sa-
tisfaction, which r
he distribution This was done, and the result
the test, gave the utmost
ibutiicoh wasof warmly. expressed by all prese.t.
this gigantic Racing Subscription
Fui:d occupied nupwa.rds or two hours; the result of
whichwill b . e seen in our advertisement page.—From
the London Meicardile Journal.
Her Majesty's.
.Pianoforte and Harp makers, Messrs.
Erard, of 18, Great Marlborough-street, have also been
honoured with
the appointment of makers to his Royal
Highness Prince Albert, in consequence of the new im-
proved Pianoforte made by them to the order of his
Roy al Highness.
We are happy to announce that the proprietor of
f withheld,
might h
o r
horse.
the Royal Surrey Zoological Gardens has appropriated an
evening next week for Monsieur Jullien's benefit. We are
sure the public of all classes will respond to it; and we are
glad to hear that his professional brethren, both vocal and
ins: rumental, have so promptly proffered their aid. It re.
dounds much to their credit, and they may rest assured it will
assist them in the estimation of a generous public.
We understand that the Marquis of Breadalbane
wilt be•appointed to succeed to the office of Lord Cham-
berlain, which the Earl kipenoeris about to resign.