The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-22 00:00:00

SII N 7 AUGUST 22, 1848. ,

lation of new strata around and above it, and the re-
appearance of thesame land by denudation and elevation,"
by Professor Ramsay; " On some new eystidene, dis-
covered since the last meeting of the association," by Pro-
fessor E. Forbes; " On some experiments and borings in
search of coal," by Professor James Buckman; " On the
recent species of odostomia, a genus of gasteropodous
mollusks inhabiting the seas Of Great Britain and Ire-
land," by Mr. J. G. Jt (Treys, in section D. In the sub-
section of ethnology, the Rev. Professor Elton, of
Arneri,m, read a paper On the Ante Columbian ili-eo-
very of America." In section F. Archdeacon Willi ans
read a paper on the Gael and Cymry. In section G,
Mr. C. Williams brought forward his model of a ma
chine for raising water, by suspending two pumps
on a balance, and thus make one contribute to
work the other. Papers were likewise read to-day in
the botanical section by Dr. Daubeney, and Mr. Hunt,
Mr. Henfrey, Mr. Thwaites, Dr. Carpenter, and Mr.
Williamson. In physiology, by Dr. Waller, Professor
F. Sace, and Mr. Lennard. In ethnology by Sir R.
Schomburgh and Dr. Beke. In the statistical section by
Mr. Fletcher, Sir J. P. Boileau, and Mr. Harding. And
in mechanics by Professor Hodgkinson, Mr. Struve, Mr.
Glyn, and Mr. Budd.
A meeting of the general committee was held in the
afternoon, the Marquis of Northampton in the chair. It
was resolved to hold the next meeting of the Association
at Birmingham, in September, 1849. The Rev. Dr. Ro-
bertson was unanimously appointed President; and the
following noblemen and gentlemen were appointed Vice-
Presidents:—The Earl of Harrowby, 1.R.5.; Lord
Wrottesley, F.R.S.; Sir Robert Peel, Bart., F.R.S.;
Charles Darwin, sq., F.A.S.; M. Farraday, LL.D.,
F.S.S.; and Sir D. Brewster. A series of other resolu-
tions were passed, after which the committee separated.
At half-past four this afternoon a large concourse as-
sembled on the Burrows, to witness the exhibition of the
firing of Mr. Carte's rockets for rescuing sailors from
stranded vessels. The trials were in every respect most
successful.

In the evening Dr. Carpenter delivered a discourse on
" Recent Microscopical Discoveries," in the general
meeting-room, Park-street.
On Tuesday there was an excursion, with which the
geological section seemed much pleased. Several in-
teresting papers were read in the sections.
On Wednesday the general meeting was held, at which
thanks were voted to the inhabitants of Swansea for their
hospitality. This terminated the public proceedings of
the association for the present year.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
YORK AND NORTH MIDLAND.
Yesterday the half-yearly general meeting of the share-
holders in this company was held at the De Grey Rooms,
York. The attendance was numerous, and G. Hudson, Esq.,
M.P., presided.
Mr. GREY read the following report _

"The directors present to die shareholders the half-yearly
statement of accounts up to the 30th of June last, as well for
the revenue as the construction account. On the former the
receipts for passengers, parcels, and mails, amount to
94,2061. 19s. 3d. ; for merchandize and cattle, to 104,3271.
10s. 2d.; and fir rents and staithe dues, to 654/. 3s. sd. The
working expenses during the same period amount to 62,843/.
18s. 9d., and the interest on debentures to 18,6121. lls. 6d.,
leaving a balance of 133,038/. 2s. 11d. The receipts on account
of traffic have not equalled the expectations which the directors
had formed at the time of the last meeting. Events have
occurred during the interval which could not have been
anticipated, and the traffic on the lines of this company
has been very materially affected by the general com-
mercial distress, and more particularly by the im-
pediments to the traffic with the continent. The direc-
tors recommend that a dividend be declared after the rate
of 81. per cent. per annum on the consolidated stock of the
company; and after the same rate upon 151. per share of the
East and West rtiding shares, deducting income-tax. Thu
total amount of this dividend will be 99,904/., after payment
of which, and of the rent of the Hull and Selby and Brid-
lington lines, due on the Ist of August instant, a balance of
134/. 2s. 11d., will be left to the credit of the company. The
directors feel that this company is peculiarly affected by the
inequality of the half-yearly amount of traffic. The receipts
of the second half of the year have always considerably ex-
ceeded those of the first, on the whole of the lines, but more
particularly on those to Scarborough, Bridlington, and Har-
rogate, as the summer traffic is very much greater than that
of the winter and spring months, without occasioning any
material increase of expenditure. The directors have gone
into a careful investigation of the expenses of the company,
and arrangements have been made by which, without dimi-
nishing the accommodation to the public, they hope to re-
duce the expenses to the lowest possible scale. The directors
subjoin a statement of the particulars of traffic for the half
year :-Passengers : first class, 63,796 ; second, 125,412 ; third,
286,699 ; Government, 141,551. Total, 617,458. Horses,
2,615; carriages, 444; goods, grain, coal, coke, and lime,
512,796 tons; cattle, 24,460; sheep, 78,777 ; pigs, 11,765."
Appended to the report was the usual cash statement, from
which it appeared that on capital account there had been paid,
to December 31, 1847, the sum of 3,799,297/. '2s. The further
charges during the half-year ending June 30, 184 S, amounted
to 380,012/. 7s. Bd., making a total of 4,179,3091. 9s. Bd. This
sum had been realised by receipts on shares and debentures
prior to December, 1817, amounting to 3,393,264/. 6,. 6d. :
received during the hall-year on account of shares.
217,156/. 16e. 3d. ; on debentures. 359.703/., making
576,859/. 16s. 3d.-less debentures paid off, 96,500/. ; net re-
ceipts on half-year. 480,3591. 16s. 3d. ; loan front six per cent.
guaranteed stock, 300,000/. ; balance, 5,6851. 6s. 11d. ; total,
4,179,309/. 9s. Bd. The revenue account showed the balance
brought from last half-year, 15,306/. Os. Id.; receipts front
passengers, parcels, and mails. 94,106/. 12s. 3d. ; merchandise,
104,397/. 10s. 5d.; rents and staithe dues, 654/. is. 5d.; total,
91, 4 9 4/. 13s. 2d. The expenditure had been-in maintenance
of way and repairs, 5,889/. 15s. 4d. ; locomotive ex-
penses, 19,412/. ls. ld. ; duty, 2,820/. Os. 8,1.; direction,
7501. ; compensatiori, 497/. 9s. 2d. ; gas insurance. &c.,
1,339/. 19s. 3d. ; rates and taxes, 6,369'. 4s. 2d.; printing,
advertising, and stationery, 1,7591. 19e. 4d. ; salaries of en-
gineer, secretary, and clerks, 3,167/. 6s. 7d. ; wages of
porters, &c., in merchandise department, oil, waste, tallow,
covers, &c., 8,7961. ls. 11d.; wages of policemen, porters,
and guards, and Normanton station expenses, 8,352/. 17s. 3d.;
repair of carriages, waggons, &c., 3,478/. 6s. 4d. ; law
charges, 210'. 17s. Bd. ; total, 62,843/. 18s. 9d. ; interest on
debentures, 18,612'. 1 ls. 6d.; total payments, 81,456/. ICs.
3d ; leaving 133,0381. 2s. 11d. available for dividend and
Hull and Selby rent.
The Citaritsrast, in moving the adoption of the report,
said that the diminution which this company had sustained
in its revenue was such as he almost foretold at. the last
meeting, yet events had occurred which could not be then
foreseen, which had tended to make that diminution greater
than was anticipated. Although the income was much
larger than last year, had things remained in a quiet and
peaceful state. and had commerce revived, he had no doubt
they would have seen a very large addition to the traffic this
day. He felt satisfied that if the harvest was well got, that
the company would soon regain the position which it for-
merly enjoyed. The directors contemplated a revision, with
a view to greater economy in the working of their line by
a reduction in the number of their trains. Negotiations, lie
was happy to say, were going on between himself and the
Great Northern Railway Company with reference to the ap-
proach of that company's traffic to York. He believed that
the terms would amount to this, that the York Company
would work the line up to Doncaster with certain powers as
to running on each other's line, and to accomplish this the
York Company would have to construct a short line at a
cost of probably 80,000/., and this the would proceed with
so as to be able to open it early next ;:ear. Should the ne-
gotiation be concluded, they would shortly be able to send
large quantities of north coal to Hull, from which source they
expected a large traffic. After some further general observa-
tions he moved the adoption of the report, which was carried
unanimously.

The
CIIAIIMAN then moved that a dividend be now de-
clared of 41. per cent. on the consolidated stock of the com-
pany, and of l s. per share upon the East and West Riding
shares of the company, deducting income-tax, payable on
the sth of September next.
Carried unanimously.
This concluded the business of the meeting.
In reply to a question,
The Ciiainunw said, with reference to the line from Be-
verley to Market Weighton, lie did not feel disposed, until
the prospects of the harvest were ascertained, to enter into
contracts for constructing this line; but he was happy, to
my arrangements had taken place with the landowners by
which a very large saving in the works would be effected.
R. DENisos, Esq., proposed a vote of thanks to the Chair-
man and directors, which was carried unanimously.

YORK, NEWCASTLE, AND BERWICK.
The half-yearly meeting of this company was held in the
De Grey Rooms yesterday; George Hudson, Esq., M.P., in
the chair.
ha preliminaries having been gone through,
Mr. CLOSE, the secretary, read the following report of the
directors:—
"'rue directors beg to present to the proprietors the usual
statement of accounts for the half-year ending 30th of June
last, showing a balance of 193,2401. 3s. sd. in favour of the
company, on the revenue account, after deducting working
expenses and interest. The directors recommend that a divi-
dend be declared at the rate of eight per cent. per annum on
the consolidated stock, and upon 101. per share of the Ex-
tension Shares, No. 1, and that a dividend at the same rate
Le paid upon 15!. per share of the original Newcastle and
Berwick and the North Shields Purchase Sharesrespectively,
and at the rate of five per cent. on the remaining 101. per
share of the North Shields Shares. After the payment of
these several dividends and the half-year's rent of the Great
North of England Railway, a surplus of 34,650/. Bs. 6d. will
remain to the credit of the company. The unsettled state
of the continent has occasioned a very serious diminution in
the exportation of coal during the past half-year, and in ad-
dition to this circumstance the general depression of com-
merce has operated quite as injuriously upon the York,
Newcastle, and Berwick Company as upon that of any other
railway undertaking. It is, therefore, the more satisfac-
tory to the directors to be able to report that the average
receipts per mile (including the length of new line opened in
the interval) are nearly equal to the corresponding half-year
of 1847. It affords the directors much pleasure to announce
that the works of the Tyne High Level Bridge are so far
advanced, that on the let of next month a continuous line
of railway will be completed from the Gateshead station
across the river and through the town of Newcastle. The di-
rectors hope that the bridge from Tweedmouth to Berwick
wil lbe opened early iu October next. During the last half-
vear the works have been let for the construction of the Ala-
wick and Warkworth branches. The branch from Northal-
lerton to Bedale was opened for traffic in March last. The
directors have obtained, during the present session of Parlia-
ment, the following Acts, viz. :—An Act for enabling the
Hartlepool Dock and Railway Company, and the Great North
of England, Clarence and Hartlepool Junction Railway Com-
pany, to lease their respective railways and works to the York,
Newcastle, and Berwick Railway Company ; also, an Act for
enabling the York, Newcastle, and Berwickhailway Company
to improve their main line of railway, and to make certain
branches in the county of Durham, and for other purposes;
also, an Act for enabling the York, Newcastle, and Berwick
Company to deviate, or alter part of their Thirsk and Melton
Branch hallway, and to abandon part of the same, and for
other purposes. The directors add the usual cash statement,
and also the following details of traffic for the last half-year,
viz. :—Passengers, first class, 114,112; second ditto, 499,56, ;
third ditto, 820,953 ; Government ditto, 73,558 ;
1,508,370. Horses 2,150 ; carriages, 346 ; dogs, 1,201 ;

[PRICE op.

sheep, 56,119 ; cattle, 40,055; pigs, 5,370 ; goods, 218,177
tons; minerals, 1,261,799 tons. Capital Account :—Amount
received to December, 1847, 3,930,2851. lls. 2d. Received
on account of shares during the half-year, 343,381/. 10s.
4d. ; ditto, debentures, 144,9504 (less debentures paid off
22,4001.); net receiptS on half-year, 461,9311. 10s. 4d. lion:
from Great North of England purchase stock, 350,0001.;
balance, 296,038/. 4s. 6d—total, 5,038.2551. 3s. The pav-
merits to December, 1847, were 4.466,526/. Is. 2d. F;ir
the half-year ending December, 1848. they were 571,72.'1
1S;10d., making a total of 5,038,2551. 3s. Revenue Ac-
count :—Balance from last half-year, 45,83 n. 13s. 10 I.
Received for passengers, horses, carriages, parcels, and mink
117,317/, 2s. 11d.; goods, 48,2661. 13s. 10d. ; coal, 107,79.',1
6s. 7d. ; cattle, 10,1551. 7s. 6d. ; rents, 3,2141. 9s. 5,1. ;
demurrage, 1,9421. 19s. 2d. Total assets, 334,5751. 13s. 3d.
The payments have been for maintenance of way and work.,
13,4361. Bs. 4d. Working and repairing engines, stationary

engines, &c., 49,5034 ss. Bd. Coach and waggon repairs,
10,79!1. 7s. 3d. •, coaching account, including salaries to
clerks, wages of porters. guards, and police, 17,0131. 13s. 3d ;
horse hire, fuel, gas, and stores, 1,7081. 15s. 11d. ; shipping
and lading expenses, 1,0634 18s. 10d. ; way leaves and da-
mage ground rents, 8,521!. 12s. ; rates and taxes, 6,268/.
10s. 9d.; Government duty, 3,088/ ss. 9d.; miscellaneous
expenses, 4011. 19s. ld. ; direction, 1,2501. ; auditors, 501. ;
stationery, advertising, and printing, 1,2271. Bs. 6d.; com-
pensation, 1841. 18s. 7d. ; debenture interest. including
Great North of England debentures, 17,782/. 18s. Id.; dock
expenses, 305/. 19s. Bd.; income-tax, 2,622/. 4s. sd. ; insur-
ance, 1391. 3s. 9d.; total payments, 141,3341. 9s. 10d. ; leav-
ing a balance of 193,2411. 3s. sd. available for dividend to
shareholders and Great North of England rent.
The CHAIRMAN, in-moving the adoption of the report, said
he supposed they would all be agreed about the dividend ;
but in reference to the No. 2 (New Berwick) Extension
Shares, it was a question on what amount they would be
entitled to dividend for the coining half-year. Upon looking
at what he stated on a former occasion he had come to the
conclusion that it would be expedient to pay a dividend
next half-year upon the Si. now called, that dividend of
course being for the four months during which the call would
have been paid prior to the next meeting. By this arrange-
ment the No. 1 and the No. 2 Shares will rank equally from
the Ist of July last. With• reference to the lease of the
Hartlepool Dock and Railway he had no hesitation in re-
commending that measure to the meeting, because he
believed that from the increase of traffic that was going on
in that district, it would leave a considerable surplus towards
the next half-year's dividend, after paying the rent. The
lease is for ninety-nine years, commencing from the Ist of
July last, the rent to be not less than 8 per cent., and if the
shareholders in this company receive more, then the lessors
to have a like augmented rent. Everything was going on
most satisfactorily respecting the Tyne Bridge, and the
directors were warranted in expecting to effect a con-
tinuous communication by the Ist of next month ; this,
together with the completion of the bridge across the Tweed 4
would cause a large quantity of coal and coke to be con-
veyed to Edinburgh, and in other ways greatly to augment
their revenue.

The report was then put and adopted unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed that a dividend be now
declared at the rate of 8 per cent. per annum on the consoli-
dated stock of the company, on 151. per share of the original
Newcastle and Berwick shares; of 151. per share on the
North Shields Purchase Shares; and of 101. per share on the
Extension No. 1 Shares; and at the rate of Si. per cent. on
the remaining 10/. per share of the North Shields Purchase
shares. Such dividend to be paid, deducting income-tax, on
the sth of September next.—Carried unanimously.
The meeting was then made special, and
The CHAIRMAN proposed the following resolution :—" That
the terms of the lease of the Hartlepool Dock and Railway,
and of the lease of the Great North of England, Clarence,
and Hartlepool Junction Railway, now submitted to this
meeting, be approved of, subject to such alterations as the
directors of this company may think desirable."
This resolution was carried unanimously.
A conversation then ensued, in which Mr. RAND and Mr.
BARROW put several questions; in reply to which,
The CHAIRMAN read the resolution adopted at the meeting
in August, 1847, when the relative interests of the several
shares were arranged at the time of the amalgamation of the
York and Newcastle, and the Newcastle and Berwick Com-
panies, and by which resolution it was provided that the
original shares of the Newcastle and Berwick Company, when
fully paid up, and the North Shields shares, should become
the same as York and Newcastle shares, and should re-
ceive equal dividends therewith, viz., on lf.l. per share
from July, 1847; and on 201. per share from the Ist of July,
1847; and on 25/. per share from the Ist of January, 1849;
and that the new Berwick shares receive dividend and rank
equally with the York and Newcastle extension shares from
the Ist day of July, 1848. The chairman also appeared to
approve of a suggestion that parties in arrears of calls should
be charged six per cert. interest, and that a circular should
be issued requesting payment of arrears. He also promised
that at the next meeting a statement should be made of the
amount expended in the purchase of the Great North-Eastern
shares, out of the six per cent. guaranteed stock.
Mr. P. BROUGH, Paisley, made a few observations regard-
ing two circumstances : the opening of the bridges, and the
arrangement with the Direct Northern. To both of these
causes he looked for producing very increased traffic on the
northern lines.

Mr. Jou); RAND, of Bradford, proposed a vote of thanks
to the chairman and directors, which was carried by accla-
mation ; and

Mr. lIUDSON briefly returned thanks.

GREAT WESTERN.

[The following report has been omitted for want of room.
The twenty-sixth half-yearly general meeting of the Great
Western Railway Company was held at the Bristol Station
on Thursday; Clarks Russell, Esq., M.P., in the chair.
There was a numerous attendance of proprietors.
The SECRETARY having read the notices convening the
meeting,
The CHAIRMAN rose, and said it was the duty of the direc-
tors at this meeting to lay before the proprietors the results
of th,ir proceedings in Parliament during last session, and lie
should discharge the duty which fell upon hint with greater
satisfaction, because he earnestly hoped that it would be the
last occasion on which he should have to perform such a duty.
(Hear, hear.) He believed the company had now done
with Parliamentary proceedings for many years to come.—
(Cheers.) The Parliamentary proceedings of the company
during the last session had been confined within the narrowest
limits; they had not introduced one new measure, but had
confined themselves entirely to reviving those new measures
which were indispensable to make good their position against
the South-Western Company.—(Hear.) At the last meeting
he had expressed the conviction of the directors that they
would be able to obtain a Bill for the branch to Windsor.
They felt that their claim to that branch rested on such
strong grounds of honour and justice, that it would be im-
possible to deny it. They were not disappointed. They ob-
tained the Bill, and it was the intention of the directors to
proceed as rapidly as possible with that short branch.—
( Hear, hear.) The object of that branch was to prevent
the traffic to Windsor being taken away by the South-
Western Company, and he believed it would be effectual
for that object.—(Hear, hear.) An opinion had been en-
tertained that the extensioa of the South-Western line to
Waterloo-bridge would have given that company the advan-
tage of the traffic from Windsor; but he did not believe it.
Investigations hitherto made proved that the bulk of the
traffic to the metropolis came through the west, and not
the east, of London. Some portion of the traffic through
the county of Surrey was quite new, and would un-
doubtedly be carried on the South-Western line; but the
great bulk of the traffic by Windsor would continue to use
the Great Western line. On the other hand, the South-
Western Company had obtained their Bill, suspended from
last session, for making a line from Salisbury by Yeovil to
Exeter. But in these days the passing of a Bill for making
a line of railway, and the'actual constructing of the line, were
by no means synonymous terms. The line of railway from
Basingstoke to Exeter had yet to be completed, and it em-
braced a distance of HO miles. Putting the cost of this line
at 20,000/, per mile, the capital necessavy for its construc-
tion would amount to 3,000,000/.—(Hear, bear.) No rational
commercial man would be of opinion that people could be
found in these days to make a railway, costing three mil-
lions, over Salisbury Plain, and through such towns as
Shaftsbury and Sherborne. But if it were possible to con-
struct that line, still he believed that it would not abstract
anything from the western traffic of the Great Western Com-
pany, which, this session, has obtained a Bill to make a line
from Ilungerford to Westbury. The Bristol and Exeter Com-
pany had also obtained a Bill to make a line from Castle Cary
to Torquay ; on the completien of these two short intervals,
the Great Western would have a direct line to Exeter,
only one mile and a halt longer than that of the South-
Western Company—(Hear, hear)—passing through populous
and wealthy districts, and constructed with that power and
speed which peculiarly attached to the broad gauge.—
(Hear.) He was by no means appalled at the success of the
South-Western Company in obtaining the Bill. The delibe-
rate conviction of his own judgment was, that if the South-
Western Company should ever be so ill-advised as to con-
struct that line, it would prove more destructive to their in-
terests, and more utterly ruinous than the attempt to establish
a Newbury and Windsor traffic. He did not mean to criti-
cise the South-Western Company, they were) the best judges
of their own interests, and of the wisdom of their own mea-
sures; but when their proceedings brought them into colli-
sion with the Great Western Company, ho thought he had
not exceeded his duty by making these observations upon
the effect of those proceedings.—(Cheers.) He knew it '.ad
been said that if the South-Western Company had been the
aggressors in the south, the Great Western Company had
been the aggressors in the north. It had been asked, what
business had the company calling itself the Great Western
to proceed to Rugby, Birmingham, and Wolverhampton?
His reply to that was, that it was against their wishes, and
in opposition to their remonstrances; and in fact it was
with great reluctance that they were there. They resisted
going to Rugby and to Wolverhampton until the North-
Western Company concurred with the South-Western Com-
pany in forming a line on the narrow gauge through the
tract of their district, by Newbury, Didcot, Banbury, Ox-
ford, and further on. They never thought of going to
Birmingham, until the London and Birmingham Company
concurred with the Midland Company in passing through
a narrow gauge line to Bristol.—(Hear, hear.) He did
not advert to these circumstances to rip up old wounds,
which ought to be forgotten—(Hear, hear)—but he was
anxious, on the last occasion on which he should probably
have an opportunity of alluding to the subject, to enter
a justification against the: imputation east on the
wOarseaat
Western Company front various
.quarters, h
that 'they were
contumacious and pugnacious company,
the aggressors upon the London and
Com-
pany.—(Cheers.) The London,
Birmingham'
was only waiting
Junction Bill had now passed—at ruf
cll'a
niw, e andBter n x Oxford
dissen-
sionse
between them and the
ated.—(Cheers.) Every im-
portantfor the Royal assent; and he hLoz.pneddloenathaatndbyit
Forth-Western th
Company would be terraildi
been settled, and he hoped
point in dispute
their own traffic, but he said most
every company to protect
of the Great Western Company, that
there would be no wish toi. renew them. It was the duty of
sincerely on the part
they had been desirous to permit the most amicable rela-
tions to exist between them and their neighbours, and they
thought
a more favourable opportunity had never been
resented that
fotr each to consolidate their own interests. For the
internal state of their affairs, he must refer the proprietors
to the published report and accounts, which had been distri-
buted among them. It was true 'that their receipts had not
been so large as they would have been under circumstances
of greater national prosperity, but be thought they must be
regarded as satisfactory, when they considered the violent
disturbances which had occurred in all their political rela-
tions, and of the utter prostration of all commercial interests,
not in this country alone, but everywhere abroad. He did
not believe that the traffic would suffer by a comparisenwith
that of any other line in the kingdom. Many of those lines

?--e) FS I. • 11
-/.77:74\
• A:1:t;
wlii.tad made large extensions, had ad I es traffic that& t-i-i\l"; )../
befo e ; others had remained stationary, ',chi' liome-bact-ii2";;TR"
creased. He was glad to say the.f were in tha last category. - ~' ,...
f,a
Their traffic had increased, and they would
ithe \detsuls ,-- - '
stated in the report. That increase, however, Cnetebeen
proportionate to the length of new line opened. -tut-they -- ,
must bear in mind that the new line to Hungerford bad wily, ,‘ A V...
been opened eight or nine months—a space of time quite suf-
ficient for the developement of the traffic, although it was
progressively increasing. That line was made not merely for
the purpose of local accommodation, but with the ultimate
view of a contingency, which had since arisen, to make a more
direct line to Exeter. Its advantageswere not yet developed,
nor would they be until it formed part of the entire line.
The expenditure had increased with the new establishments;
porters, policemen, and clerks must be placed in the new
stations along the new lines. There had been also an in-
ereast in the expenditure of the locomotive department;
but then it was to be considered, at the same time, that the
trains had run over 55,000 miles more than in the former
period. On making a careful review of the aceounts, the
directors felt justified in recommending them to maintain
the usual half-yearly dividend of three.and-a-h alt per
c,nt.—(Cheers.) They were aware that the half-year
ending 31st December was always most productive ; and it
was in consideration of that sulject, as well as with refe-
rence to other matters, that the directors reserved a large
amount of balance on the last 31st of December ; and if the
meeting took the accounts front the 30th June, 1847, to
30th June. 1848, they would Lind that the receipts of that
period justified the directors in recommending the dividend
of 7 per cent. for the entire ye.tr.—(Cheers.) The Chairman
then referred to the depreciation which had taken place in
the value of railway property, and said the directors were
anxious to reduce the expenditure within the narrowest pos-
sible limit. A Committee were now sitting to see what re-
duction could be made consistent with the primary object of
safety and efliciency.—(Cheers.) The receipts and expendi-
ture of railway companies depended on many causes beyond
the control of railway direction ; but whatever could be done
ought to be done, and the directors were fully alive to the
necessity of adopting measures for strengthening the financial
position of the country —(Cheers. )
The secretary, Mr. SAUNDERi, then read the report.
In answer to a question by a proprietor,
The CHAIRMAN said, with regard to the reduction of fares
on the Great Western line, a question had been raised on the
construction of two Acts of Parliament which had lately been
passed. The question was, whether by those Acts, the direc-
tors were compelled to reduce their fares, and the opinion of
most eminent c tinsel had been taken thereon. Sir Fitzroy
Kelly, in the court of common law, and Mr. George Turner,
in the Court of Chancery, had decided that the company
would not be called upon to reduce their fares until the Bir-
mingham and Oxford Railway, and the Dudley and Wolver-
hampton Railway came into their hands. The Attorney-.
General land, however, given a different decision; so it was
possible that litigation might arise out of this matter. It
was, therefore, desirable he should say no more on this
subject with reference to its legal aspect; but as to the
common justice of the case, it would not be fair that the
Great Western Company should be called upon to submit to
a reduction of tolls until they had received possession of that
which was intended as an equivalent—(Hear, hear)—and he
could not believe that a narrow construction of Acts of Par-
liament should be brought forward to work an injustice upon
the company.—(Cheers.) If they should be obliged to re-
duce their fares, he believed they would not suffer by that
alternative ; on the contrary, he believed the company,
viewing the question as one of mere profit and loss, would be
gainers by it. They would have to give up sonic of the ad-
vantages which the public derives from the number and
speed ~f the express trains, and the class of people which
travelled in them, and the same accommodation could net
be continued to the public in many other respects.
Several questions, on matters arising out of the directors'
report and accounts, were put to the chairman, and satisfac-
tory answers having been given thereto,
The CHAIRMAN moved the adoption of the report, which
having been seconded, was unanimously carried.
A dividend for the half-year was then declared, at 3%
per cent.

A motion that the directors be empowered to raise capital
not exceeding 130,000/., for the construction of the Windsor
branch, was then unanimously adopted, and
Thanks having been voted to the chairman, the meet'
broke up.

EXPLOSION IN ALBANY-STREET.
The adjourned inquest was held yesterday before Mr.
Wakley, at the London University College Hospital, and
afterwards at the Orange Tree, New-road, respecting the
death of Mary Bentley, nursemaid to Mr. Loten, late of GO,
Albany-street, Regent's Park, who lost her life by the ex-
plosion which occurred on the 7th inst.
The Coroner having been informed that Captain Loten
was not able to leave his room, proceeded, accompanied
by the jury, to the ward in which that gentleman was
lying, and took his depositions. He said he had been visit-
ing his brother at No. 60, Albany-street. On the 7th inst.,
at five minutes before ten o'clock at night, he went down
stairs with Miss Burgh into the back parlour. He smelt gas
very strongly, when Miss Burgh said, " Had we not better go
and see where the gas escapes?" Witness took up a candle,
and opened the shop door, when the explosion occurred, and
he knew nothing more until he found himself in the ruins at
the back of the house. He was the% covered with dust and blood
so that he could hardly see. Having groped about he laid
hold of Miss Burgh, and succeeded in getting her into the
Windsor Castle public-house. She and witness were after-
wards conveyed to that hospital, where they had remained
ever since.—By the Coroner—For three weeks previously he
had experienced a strong smell of gas in the building, but
could never find out where it came from. The explosion
took place before the door was opened a foot. He carried
the candle rather higher than his head. He was quite sure
there was no gunpowder or gun cotton in the place.—ln an-
swer to a question from a juror, witness said that whilst the
boy was shutting up the shop, in drawing one of the shut-
ters out of the box he accidentally struck the meter and
turned off the gas.
Miss Jane Burgh, sister-in-law to Mr. Loten, deposed to
the main facts in the previous evidence, and added, that she
had lived in her brother-in-law's house about twelve months,
during which time she had been greatly annoyed by the gas
escaping. Her sister had written to the gas company, and
the inspector came and examined the meter. He said that
there was too much water in the pipes. lie examined the
pipes before last Christmas. Mr. Rowell, living in the same
street, came repeatedly to examine the meter. He at last
said that he could not attend to it any longer, unless he re-
ceived an order from the gas company. There were two
burners in the window, one in the shop, end another to light
the stairs.—Cross-examined—Witness, as she came down
stairs, smelt gas stronger than usual. Captain Loten asked
her to go with hint into the shop and sec that all was safe.
Ile took a candle in his hand, and was opening the door
when the explosion took place. Witness could not recollect
whether there was any flash or report. She believed she
was found on the balcony at the back of the house. Captain
Loton got her out. She was very much burned. Witness
generally turned off the gas. She did so on the night of the
explosion. The meter was kept in the shutter-box, under
the stall board of the shop front. On the night of the explo-
sion the gas was turned off before nine o'clock. The meter
was not injured. A juror said that meters were formerly
made of iron, but now for cheapness they were made of tin,
and it would be almost as safe if the gas could be wrapped
up in a sheet of brown paper instead of the cheap machines.
The Coroner said it would be desirable to see a meter fixed
like the one at Mr. Loten's.

Dr. Arnott, of 38, Bedford-square, said that explosions had
engaged much of his attention. He maintained that coal
gas, if sufficient quantities could be got, would produce al•
most any effect. One measure of ordinary coal gas and ten
of atmospheric air would give the greatest explosive power.
In his opinion the gas had been escaping for some time, and
had filled the apertures in the walls and under the flooring.
If an opening was made in the chimneys it would be almost
impossible for an explosion to take place. Gas ascends to
the top of a room, and there remains usually at the top of
the air as oil does upon water, as it becomes mixed with
atmospheric air the more explosive it becomes, and the pro-
bability is, in this instance, had Captain Loten held the
candle lower there would have been no explosion. The
surest remedy is to have a ventilator at the top of each room
in the chimney. Gas ascends about much more freely than
ordinary smoke, and the draft in the chimney would be sure
to carry it off, inasmuch as a chimney is always an air,.
pump.
Mr. Loten said he had occupied the house since Midsum-
mer, 1847. The gas was laid on when he went there. The
meter and pipes were in the same condition as when he
went there, up to the time of the explosion. About three
weeks before the explosion, the gas escaped very much and
smelt strong. There was nothing unusual in the construc-
dex
tion of the shop, except that leather had been placed
sound
smeltthe deo
gasrs. a
nOdntollolkondaayiigorhtTeduesmdaaytchbe,
wife
On the Sunday before the explosion,
wfibyttn thetfosn found no
and his socan hee
.
pwieeisiitetno
tTeohkampleasc.
llei.d thetton, suarnedilvtes ofthatreno not atx
ehopmloesi Nso•nh ewnetrhe
The CozoNitu said moat
extraordinary. He thought the parties who had had their
houses
were
todamagedn would
exhibition be
of more ia
their fl n mbursed
r e , if they
places.-
Other witnesses having given corroborative evideace,
police-constable Francis, 146 S, who was on duty in the
Collosseum on the night in question, said that on hearing
the report he went and found the whole of the gas lights in
the street extinguished. He found the deceased lying on the
pavement opposite the third house from Mr: Loten's pre-
mises. Her head was knocked to pieces.
The CORONER said it would be most desirable for a jury
to see a meter fitted up similarly to that at Mr. Lot en's, and
he adjourned the inquiry till Wednesday evening next,
cf
allow the officer time to inquire in the neighbourhood
whether any meters were so fitted up there.

RECAUTION IN CASE*.OF FlgllB TO
AmactiLTuiAL
'
Pitoontre.—The extent of damage to agricu
ltural property,,
in individual cases, is almost in every instance
in—
creased through the practice of concentrating the greatly
whole pro-
duce of the farm in one stackyard, or upon o 0
espo
t, and that
frequently in the midst of, or immediately
mass of thatched buildings, thus rendering contiguous to, a
the destruction of
the desir-
able that persons having largeir
possible,
and take care
should divide their stacks as much "
a building as to communi-
cate whole almost inevitable. It would be ex
that no stack should be so neoatrer.
other. We are aware that in
cate afire from one
many
hl but these more frequently occur where the
is not practicable, , ttuhethperemises are confined such a course
Where the bulk of produce is
the premises extensive, the precau-
large, and consequentlyd can easily be taken. Being now on the
tion we recommen
we venture to make this suggestion as worthy
harvest,
eve of •
f eonaideration.
amount
oft apnrcoedsu cwehzesrse
° • Mooas.—Notwithstanding that the accounts
1•ILK
the Moors in the highlands of Scotland are generally
from mall.
unfavourable, vet the contrary is the fact with respect to
game on the mountains and fells in the north of England.
The birds are tolerably well feathered, numerous, and plump,
but unusually wild, and the broods have congregated into
very large packs, which the sportsmen account for by reason, of the very wet state of the weather immediately preceding
the 12th inst., bat that day was a most
fair and sunny, and a tolerably still' b
reeze. Mr. T. Pettier-
glorious one, being
stonhaugh, Mr. S. Tinkler, Mr../. Richardson, and Mr. J.
Young, on Rodrip fell, near Alston Moor, bagged respectively
12, 1l 11, and 10 brace. Sir George Musgrave bagged 10
brace on Hart Side, and his son Master Philip, only aged 16,
brought down 19 brace. Of his age, this young gentleman
is one of the best shots in the north. On Shap tells the
lion. Colonel Lowther, M.P., and his son, Captain Lowther,
of the Life Guards, shot 20 and 'l4 brace respectively. Grouse
are selling at 4s. per brace.
THE .[ERIAL MACHINE.—A series of experiments.
was made beneath an immense tent or awning in Cremorne-
gardens yesterday afternoon, to test the powers of a machine
invented by Mr. Stringfellow, to sustain and propel itself
throughout the air. The day was most unpropitious, and it
would be hardly fair to pass a judgment on the powers of the
machine to carry out the assertions of the inventor, or those
who have witnessed it under more favourable circumstances.
It certainly possesses a propelling power, and it would appear
that, with the addition of a sustaining power, it might form
an important aid to serial or balloon experiments. A great
many scientific gentlemen and others connected with inven-.

tions were pre;ent. The attempts W7ll be repeated to-
morrow (this day), and as the thing is of rather more than
ordinary interest, the friends of science have an opportunity
of forming their own judgment of its merits.