The Sun.
London, England, 1848-05-31 00:00:00

PENINSULAR AND ORIENTAL

STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY.

The half-yearly meeting of this company ;as held
yesterday, at the offices in Leadtathall-street.
Sir John Pirie, Bart., took the chair.

The SECRETARY read the report, which said that, con-
sidering the extent of service to be annually performed,
the company was never in such an efficient working con-
dition. The "insurance fund" now amounted to
128,689/. 9s. 4d., and the amount of risk covered on the
floating property at Lloyd's and elsewhere was about
500,000/. Sir John Campbell had resigned, in whose
place Mr. Joshua Carter had been elected. Two ves-
sels had been put on a line between England. sad Italy
during the last six months. The directors, ,us
drawing attention to the importance of the Eastern.
Archipelago Company, stated that their cost for
coals in the last twelve months had not been less than
188,000/., which expense might be considerably reduced
from the discovery of coal at Lebuan, in Borneo, and
the complete establishment of the abovs•natned com-
l•any, which might supply the several depots at Hong-
Kong. Singapore, and other p!aces, at reduced rates.
The board had strengthened the establishment in India
and China by the addition of the Oriental, the Achilles,
and the Canton. The Euxine had been stationed on the
Constantinople line, and was expected to greatly increase
the company's receipts. His Highness the Pacha of
Egypt requested the directors of this company to con.-
tract on his account for the construction of a very supe-
rior steam-vessel for passengers' accommodation on the
Nile, which is in course of completion in London.
the needful funds for which having been received
by the directors, and the vessel is expected to arrive at
Alexandria in August or September. From the ac •
counts, it appeared that the balance of profit and loss
for the six months, after providing for the insurance and.
repair accounts, was 62,6291. I Is. 2d., of which 16,91.5. E
would be carried to the " depreciation account," leaving
a net balance of 45,714/. I Is. 2d., from which the di-
rectors recommended the usual dividend of four per cent.
for the six months,. at the rate of eight per cent. per
annum.

Several questions as to the accounts were put, and an-
swered satisfactorily by Mr. Carleton, the manager, when
the report was adopted.

A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman and di-
rectors, and the meeting adjourned.

TEE FANCY FAIR IN AID OP THH GERMAN 110 S•
PITAL.—The fancy fair in aid of the funds of the German
Hospital was opened yesterday at the Royal Barracks,
Knightsbridge, and will continue open to-day and to-
morrow. The riding-school was tastefully decked out
for the occasion with flags and other ornamental matter,
and the effect of the whole, with the military bands
playing outside, was extremely cheerful. The fancy fair
was given under distinguished patronage, including that
of the Queen and other members of the Roy al Family;
and amongst the fair shopkeepers on the occasion,
we observed the Duchess of Norfolk, the Mar-
chioness of Clanricarde, the Marchioness of Ailes-
bury, the Marchioness of Westminster, the Countess
Chesterfield, Countess of Jersey, Countess of Craven,
Countess Grey, Lady Beauvale, Mrs. Milner Gibson,
&c. The customers, at the time we were there, Lye
o'clock, did not appear to be ♦ery numerous, but the
discretionary prices demanded and obtained by the titled
dealers for such articles as they disposed of, we have
reason to believe, were suck as will tell considerably in
support of the charitable object held out as the induce-
ment to the undertaking. Connected with this day's
proceedings, we should mention that several German
musical composers have presented some of their newest
compositions to Dr. Freund, in aid of the funds, namely,
Leopoldine Blahetka, Dorn Ferdinand, Hiller Haupt-
man, Kreutzer, Kroff, Lindpaintner, Lachner, Loewe,
Muhlenteldt, Nicolai, Reissiger, Schultz, Schumann, R.
Schadel, Sphor, Wilhelm, Speyer, Antonia Speyer.
These contributed works were sold in the rooms for the
benefit of the funds ; they are likewise published by
Messrs. Wessel and Co., of Regent-street, for the same
object.

wE L
L METROPOLITANINGSor T n
I
N DuT
ASSOCIATIONsR
IV° Otr: c
I I C 06sTEI:. CLTTHhiDe
members of this association field a general annual meet-
ing yesterday, at their offices, 19, Coleman-street. The
object of the association, as stared in the prospectus, is
to erect dwellings for the working classes, combining in
their construction the several improvements in drainage,
vv
ae nn tt ial
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et iso
an ; as
hda tine
be supply
Calculatedo f water,
to
renderaad suchtheir
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aar
condition as complete as may be practicable. The chair
rlßraloprhtellseonwe,arLd,orßdaErt ,
risnupgtpoonrted
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re-
elect the directors who had retired, according to the
provisions of the charter of incorporation; which being
done, the secretary read the report, which was of a satis-
factory nature. After a desultory conversation, in
which the Rev. Mr. Blakesly, Rev. Sir H. Dukenfield,
and Mr. J. Tottie joined, and which chiefly related to
the question of the propriety of raising a sum of money
by mortgage on the property at present in the hands of
the association, for the purpose of more fully carrying
out their objects. The report was adopted unanimously,
on the motion of the Earl of Fortescue, seconded by
Earl Radnor. The auditors for the ensuing year having
been appointed, and the thanks of the meeting been
voted to the chairman, they separated.
PARISH or ST. PAlNCRlS.—Yesterday a meeting of
the directors and guardians of the poor of St. Pancras
took place in the newly-erected Board-room, Kir g's-
road, Camden Town ; Mr. F. Healey, the newly-elocted
churchwarden, in the chair. Mr. Pitt, the agent of the
Bo:rd, reported that on Thursday last an adjourned in-
quest had been held by Mr. Wakley, on the body of
Erz 'Pollard. who had died in the workhouse infirmary,
and in which case the jury had returned the following
verdict:—" The jury find that the deceased Eliza Pol-
lard died a natural death, but they cannot separate
without expressing their opinion that the system at the
workhouse in regard to the reception of patients is gene-
rally exceedingly lax, and that in this particular instance
there was gross neglect. They recommend that on the
order of admission for every patient, a statement should
be written of the condition of the patient, the disease
under which he is labouring, and the treatment he be,s
received. They thit4k it desirable that there should 'coo
paid competect nurses in the infirmary of the work.
house. and they also strongly recommend that there
should be a resident medical man." After some dis-
cussion, a resolution for the appointment of a committee
to inquire into the subject of the medical relief of the
poor was carried.

THU BLOCKADE or VENlCE.—Yesterday notice
was posted at Lloyd's that the Austrian blockade of the
port of Venice had been raised on the 16th instant by
the Neapolitan fleet, consisting of five war steamers, two
frigates, and a brig of war.

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.—We have great plea,-
sure in laying the following brief communication before
the public. After taking leave of our gallant friend Sir
J. C. Rosa at Greenhitbe, and knowing his opinions on
several points connected with the expedition (not then
tried and ascertained), it is must gratifying to us, and
must be most satisfactory to the country, to learn how
auspiciously this arduous voyage has commenced, and
how successful the experiments alluded to have been:
" 11. M. S. Enterprise, Mayl7, off Aberdeen,

" My dear Sir,—We have had a famous beginning to
our voyage. The ships answer admirably, and sail
much better than I expected. All seems smiling on UP.
I have sent our only steamer into Aberdeen for some
coals, as we are nearly becalmed off that port, and may
yet want her, and I will be able, I hope, to send you a
line when we dismiss our pilot.
" Ever yours, " J. C. 5.."
When we described the steam launches with which the

Enterprise and Investigator are provided, we did not
explain to our readers in what manner Sir James Ross
considered them calculated to be eminently usefuL
During an important period in these frozen seas, a crust
of ice is formed upon the water, which is sufficient to
prevent the use of oars, and thus puts an end to boat
service. But by employing the propelling force of
steam, motion is generated, and with two or three men
in the bow of the boat breaking away the ice in front
with heavy poles, way is made for progress, which Sir
J. Ross thinks might be made available to the extent of
three miles an hour: A moment's consideration will
show how momentous such a means may be in pursuing
the most interesting objects of the expedition. It was
by great exertions that the gallant officer got these aux-
, iharies.—Literary Gazette.
TIIE MYSTERIOUS MURDER IN SPITALFIELDS.—A
committee has been formed among the Jews for the
purpose of raising a sum of money, which will be in a
few days offered as a reward for the detection of the
murderers of the boy Lazarus. Nearly 501, has been
collected, and it is reported that a collection will be
made at the Synagogue, and it is fully anticipated that
the sum will be increased to 1001. An application has
been made to the Government authorities for the grant
of a sum of money in the shape of a reward, but an an-
swer has not yet been returned. The friends and rela-
tives of the deceased boy feel satisfied that, wbeu •
reward is offered, the guilty party or parties will be
discovered. Inspector Scott, and numerous other
active officers of the police, were yesterday busily en-
gaged in
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anr,beeutbuadp
STATE or TRADE.—Yesterday
transpired.t O a la te ;hour last
MANCHESTER.—
eveningwwith the
h e
nothing or ni port
the market was as
foreignun d
obtalse led beento
any
improvement
for
many weeks past.
• ld be difficult whatever; and it wouicul t to con-
ceive a depression more severely felt. There was a
large attendance of merchants and manufacturers yec
The
el
terday, but little or no business was done. Foreigners
were no more disposed to order than last week, and in
the home-trade prices were somewhat lower, and as
there is a general impression that stocks are increasing,
e ry
it is thought that a further reduction will still have to be
submitted to.
alfternTolafternoonanVilnccEid-CeillitAocw:
C E Ll.olt CISARTIST( nus
treT
O U rdi
carred which caused great amusement in this court. A
fat little man entered and took a seat near the counsel.
After some time he started up with much vivacity, and
throwing down his card before the Vice-Chancellor,
called out "The charter, and no surrender." Consider-
able laughter was excited by this outburst of political
feeling ; but, the intruder immediately escaped from the
court without any further observations.
The genial, propitious weather of the last few
weeks, has effectually allayed the fears of those of our
agriculturists who were taking a gloomy and despond-
ing tone as to the prospects of the forthcoming har-
vest. The wheat is now described as improving
daily ; throughout the country it is not remembered
that it ever looked more promising and luxuriant, on
well-drained land. The oats and barley also look well,
and have been much benefited, as well as all other crops,
by the refreshing showers which fell last week.—Neze-
castle Journal.
CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY.—TratEc for
the week ending Blay 27, 6014 13g. 7d.