The Sun.
London, England, 1848-06-26 00:00:00

ITALY.

The Gazette of Milan, of the 18th, says that it is
reported that DURAND°, having heard that the capi-
tulation of Vicenza was not executed by the Aus-
trians, had halted at the sound of the cannonade.
Learning that the Duke of SAVOY, at the head of
14,000 men, had crossed the bridge at Ronco,
General Dritatino had retraced his steps, and, in
concert with the DUKE and General PETE, who
brought from 4,000 to 5,000 men, be had beaten the
Austrians, who in this affair had 8,000 men put to
hors de combat. One of the Archdukes was reported
to have been killed.

The Risorg,imento says, that private individuals at
Venice have opened lists for receiving the signatures
of such citizens as desire to demand formally from
the French Government the assistance of a French
army towards gaining the independence of Italy.
Notice of this step had been given, not only to the
Venetian Government, but likewise to the Govern-
ment of Lombardy.

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.

(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.

GROUP, No. 9 11 --___ANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, AND
LINCOLNSHIRE (Station Approach at Manchester).—
Preamble proved, clauses agreed to, and Bill ordered to
be reported.
MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, AND LINCOLNSHIRE (Cross-
ing Sheffield-street, Manchester).—Preamble proved,
clauses agreed to, and Bill ordered to be reported.
LEEDS CENTRAL STATION.—CaSe opened, and evi-
dence taken in its favour.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
GROUP S —TAW VALE RAILWAY AND Dom--
Case closed, but decision postponed.
LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY (Exeter
and Crediton, Taw Vale Railway and I) ek, and Bod-
inin and Wadebridge Railway Companies' Arrane_
ments).—Ca,e closed but decision postponed. g
EXETER AND COWLEY• BRIDGE JUNCTION. Case
closed but decision postponed.

ELECTION COlll/111TTEES.
(THIS DAY.)
SLIGO.
The case for the sitting Member having been brought
to a close at a late hour on Saturday, the Committee
met this morning at twelve o'clock, pursuant to arrange-
ment, to consider their decision, and, after deliberating
for upwards of three hours, they came to the following
resolutions:—
" That the last election for the borough of Sligo was
a void election.
" That Charles Towneley, Esq., was not duly elected
to serve in the present Parliament, as a burgess for the
borough of Sligo.
" That the said Charles Towneley, Esq. was by his
agents guilty of treating."
This closed the labour of the Committee.

DUBLIN.
The scrutiny into the validity of Mr. Roynolds'
majority was resumed, and in the course of the day the
petitioners succeeded in striking tiff four votes.

LOUVAINE A LA SAMBRE
RAIL W AY.— -(THIS DAY.)
A meeting of the .hareholders in this undertaking
was held this afternoon at the Queen's Hotel, St.
Martin's-le-Grand, for the purpose of taking into con-
sideration the affairs of the company preparatory to the
general meeting to he holden at Brussels, in compliance
with the statutes. Mr. Barnes in the chair.

The report stated that the call which was made
payable on the Ist of May last, had turned out to be a
complete failure, the directors only having received
upon it about 1,000/. It also stated that the decree of
the Belgian Government had appeared allowing the
company until the month of May, 1857, for the execu-
tion of the main trunk line.

After considerable discussion, in the course of which
it appeared that 21,0001. had been already expended,
and that the directors had no money in hand, and were
unable, therefore, to proceed with the works, it was
ultimately agreed that the meeting should be adjourned
until that day three months, the directors promising in
the meantime not to be parties to the forfeiture of the
unpaid-up shares.
A vote of thanks was then passed to the Chairman,
and the meeting adjourned.

BANK OF AUSTRALASIA.
(TIIIS DAY.)
The fourteenth annual general meeting of the proprie-
tors of this bank took place to-day, at the offices of the
corporation, in Austin-friars, for the purpose of receiv-
ing the annual report of the directors, and for the elec-
tion of three directors, in tho room of those who went
out by rotation.

( ILIV , FARRER, Esq., tcok the chair at one o'clock,
ante.:. , upon the Secretary to read the report.
it
ie- , •er entry then read the following report:—
" .1,-tr,-t•bmitting this their fourteenth report to the
'
propriet,r:e the directors proceed to notice the transac-
tions of the past year of account, ending the 11th of
October last, and such other matters of interest as are
connected therewith. The statements (made up to
the above-mentioned period) from the various
branhces in the colonies, exhibit, upon the whole, a satis-
feceory result, particularly at Hobart Town, Melbourne,
Adelaide, and viewed distinct from the old accounts, may
be considered as realizing the expectations entertained
by the Directors. The proprietors will be pleased to
learn, that no material loss has been incurred by Bills
remitted trom the colonies on houses that have stopped
payment, or on those held in the London-office as
security for loans. The directors have to congratulate
th, proprietors upon the successful issue of the appeal
in the case against the Bank of Australia. The Privy
Council has decided every point in favour of the
Bank of Australasia. directing the costs of the action at
Sydney to be paid by the defendants, together with in-
terest upon the
origin in
al debt. The directors have
transmitted the ordercouncil to Sydanyemy
,e
nwt i tohf tihrie
structions to proceed at once to recover p
debt; and they will, as soon as possible, place themselves
in a position to fellow such a course, as circumstances
may render necessary, with regard to the shareholders
in this country. The labour question, on which tha in_
a
tercets of the colonists and of
tonally depend, appears at last to have excited thel:
five attention, not only of the Go v the bank, en
ernment, but also of the
public generally. Einigratio
nfrom this country has
been resumed ; and the directors have substantial
grounds for stating, that a further extension is in
progress. If labour be itdeqnately supplied, a great
improvement in the value of all Australian propearnt)t-
must follow, but, up to the latest advices, the w
of hands was severely felt, particularly in the older
settlement, and formed a topic of loud and general
complaint. Whatever, therefore, may be the
well-
grounded
hope for the future, the period embraced in
the present report shows no amelioration in this re-
spect. The continued depreciation in the price of
wool, the great staple of the Australian colonies, at
the same time, operates powerfully to keep them in
the state of depression from which they have so long
suffered. And, under the joint influence of these
unfavourable circumstances, the value of land and
stock, and all depending interests, remains nearly in
the same uncertain position as heretofore. The effect of
this state of things has been to cause a serious falling off
in the estimated value of the properties held in security
for oM debts, as well as to affect the position of many of
the old debtors to the bank, and to lead to the apprehen-
sion of a considerable loss beyond that already cal-
culated upon. The directors would have been well
pleased, had they been able to arrive at any estimate
satisfactory to their own minds, or which they could fee."
justified in laying before the proprietors, as to the extent
of_ such further loss on the old accounts, but this has been
found impracticable, in consequence of the superinten-
-4.!mt,--Mr. Hart, and Mr. Atherton, taking such widely
different views on the subject, that the joint report
which they had been directed to furnish, cannot now
be looked for. Mr. Hart is of opinion, that by follow-
ing a course of gradual liquidation, the properties may
in most instances be made to realize the amount which
they represent on the Bank's hooks, without leaving
any serious deficiency. Mr. Atherton, on the other
-hand,
reciappatearentllyue basing his calculations on the present
depreciated va of property, estimates that the loss
on winding up these several concerns will be very
considerable. It must, however, be borne in mind,
that since Mr. Atherton's arrival in. the colony, bis
oppojtunities of personally conferring with Mr. Hart
had been few, owing to much of the short time he
had been there, having been occupied in visiting all the
branches of the bank, including the remote branch
of Adelaide, in South Australia: the directors arei how-
ever, induced to hope, that after he has had an *lvor- j
tunity of duly weighing the reasons assigned for his
calculations by Mr. Hart, who has had much local '
experience,-he may feel himself justified in forming a
snore. favourable opinion of the value of those securities,
than he entertained %when he addressed the Court.
With such conflicting opinions before the Directors, it
is obvious that some further time must be permitted tee ,

elapse, and greater progress made in winding up
the old accounts, before they can hope to be able
to submit any estimate of losses that can be relied
upon ; and in the prudence of this course, they look
confidently for the support of the proprietors. Were
sales of Droper ties held by the Bank to be forced, there
can be tiT doubt that a very serious sacrifice must be
submitted to, in the present state of the colonies ; a
course which the directors are not prepared to sanction,
though they have given instructions, that no favourable
opportunity of effecting realisations shall be neglected.
The Secretary also read the following Abstract which
exhibited the operations of the year of account em•
braced in the Report :
Nett Profits in the Colonies and in
London, for the year ending 11 th
of October, 1847, after deducting all
expenses of munagement
Deduct deficiency on Bad
Debt Fund, at 12th
October,lBs6, as shown
in last Report... ... .£8,124 11 0
Law Expences in the suit
against the Bank of
Australia ... 1,261 5 1
Irrecoverable Debts writ-
ten off this year, in
London and the Colonies 7,068 10 5

... £50,369 17 10

Balance on Bad Debt Fund no yet ap-
propriated

16,454 8 6

... £33,215 9 4

The directors cannot encourage the expectation, that
this sum will suffice to provide for the whole losses that
may hereafter arise on secured accounts and other de-
pendencies, which cannot at present be realived, or
wound up ; neither, as already explained, are they in
a position to form any eorrect estimate of the amount
by which the fund may be exceeded by such
losses, as that must depend on the future welfare
of the colonies. They beg, however, to remind the
proprietors, that the arrears of interest due by the Bank
of Australia upon their debt, and not yet introduced into
the accounts, as well as the costs of the action to be re-
covered at Sydney, will form a considerable augments.
Lion to that fund. The assets and liabilities of the bank
at the balance of October, 1847, stood as follows:

ASSETS.
Government Stock, Specie, and Cash £326,729 16 1
Bank Premises... ••• 23,516 3 11
Bills Receivable, and other Securities 1,472,984 4 8

LIABILITIES.
Capital ... ... £900,000 0 0
Circulation ... ... 106,931 0 0
Bills payable, and
other liabilities ... 226.519 7 9
Deposits ..• .•• 536,328 010
Suspense interest ac•
count ... 19,536 6
Bad Debt Fund ... 23,915 9 4

£1,823,230 4 8

--------X1,823,230 4 8
The CHAIRMAN then addressed the meeting at some
length upon the present and past position of the Bank,
as well as its future prospects, and after some con-
siderable discussion the report was agreed to.
The directors that went out by rotation were then re-
elected, and the meeting separated.

TATTERSALL'S-THIS EVENING

GOODWOOD STAKES.
9 to 1 agst Crozier
12 to 1 agst Diplomatist
10 to 1 agst Chat
12 to 1 agst Hydrangea
14 to 1 agst Alpheia
20 to 1 agst Reflection
20 to 1 agst Chanticleer
25 to 1 agst Millwood

GOODWOOD CUP.
7 to 4 agst The Hero
7 to 2 agst Van Tromp
12 to 1 agst Chanticleer

Six o'CLocK.

ST. LEGER.
5 to 4 agst Surplice

JULY STASES.

Even on Flying Dutchman.

DERBY.
20 to 1 agst Flying Dutchman
25 to 1 agst Elthiron
25 to 1 agst Iloneycctmb
33 to 1 agst Uriel
40 to 1 agst Montagu©

QUEEN'S BENCH.—(THIS DAY.)
(Before Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN.)
THE DUK:E OF BRUNSWICK U. BAKER.
This was an actiOn brought by the Duke of Brunswick
against Mr. Baker, an officer in the service of Mr. Slo-
man,' the sheriff's officer, to recover compensation in
damages for certain slanderous expressions used towards
him by the defendant.

It appeared that the defendant, after great difficulty,
obtained access to the dwelling of the Duke, Bruns-
wick House, New-road, for the purpose of levying
an execution. A fracas ensued between him and the
domestics, i❑ the course of which he said the Duke and
the whole of them were a nest of

After hearing the evidence the jury gave the plaintiff
a verdict of 40s.

MARLBRO'-STREET—(THIS DAY.)
James Simmons, a master tailor, was brought before
Mr. Ilardwick, charged with cutting flowers in Kensing-
ton-gardens.
Thomas Clayton, No. 5, park-keeper, said on Sunday
morning, about half-past seven o'clock, ho was walking
in Kensington-gardens, when he saw the prisoner in the
act of cutting the flowers. He went up to him, and
found that defendant had cut a large bunch of sweet-
william. Notices were placed up every twenty yards,
requesting the public not to touch the flowers, and if the
defendant had taken the trouble to have read them he
would have known that he was acting wrong.
In reply to the charge defendant said when he went
into the gardens he had not the least intention of
plucking the flowers, but unfortunately, at the impulse
of the moment, he so far forgot himself as to commit the
act described by last witness. He was now very sorry
for what he had done, and deeply felt his degraded
position. _ _ _

Mr. HARDWICK said it was very singular that persons
could not walk in the gardens and enjoy the beauty of
the flowers without destroying them. If every one was
allowed to cut such flowers as pleased his fancy there
v‘outil soon be none for the public to admire. As a
warning for the future ho (Mr. Hardwick) fined him ss.
over and above the value of the flowers.
The money was immediately paid.

IVIPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

(THIS EVENING.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Their Lorthhips assembled at Five o'cloek.
Earl FITZHARDINGE presented a potition from
Bristol in favour of the Health of Towns Bill.

The Earl of EGLINTON presented a petition from
Ayr in favour of alteration in the Scotch Law of Entail;
also several petitions against the Scottish Registration
Bill.

Earl FITZ WILLIAM presented a. petition from Sin-
gapore, complaining of the local arrangements made by
the Government of that colony.
LORD G. BENTINCK'S CHARGES AGAINST
THE COLONIAL• OFFICE.

Earl GREY gave notice that he should to-morrow
move for returns of certain dispatches from the Gover-
nors of the West India Colonies, and he should take the
opportunity of alluding to what was reported to have
occurred in another place on that subject.
PETITIONS.

The Marquis of LANt;DOWNE presented a petition
from the College of Surgeons, praying their Lordships
to withhold their sanction from any measure establish.
ing a College of General Practitioners; also a petition
from Lancashire praying for the establishment of a
system of secular education.
EVICTED DESTITUTE POOR (IRELAND) BILL.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE, on the order of
the day for the third reading of the Evicted Destitute
Poor (Ireland) Bill, moved that the alterations intro-
duced into the Bill by the Committee on Thursday night
should be expunged, so as to leave the Bill in the same
state as it would have been left if those alterations had
never been introduced.
Lord MONTEAGLE supported the amendments
which had been carried o❑ Thursday night, and was
(LEFT SPEAKING.)

HOUSI-T,rI.OOIITIIONS.
The SPEAKER ~took the Chair shortly befor
o'clock.

olEOwilerleSConsidered and agreed
The following rep
to:—
Dunbar Customs, Water, and riarbour Dues Amend-
ment.
Helmsdale, Little Ferry, and Leek Rowe arbours.
Newry Navigation (Amendment of Acts).
LORDS AMENDMENT&
The Lords amendments to:the North British R •1 a 1
(No. I—lncrease and Division of Capital 8i11,,,,e-ce
read and agreed to.
SECOND READINGS.
The following Bills were read a second time:
Esdaile's (Orphan Working School) Charity Estate.
Highland Roads, Bridges, &c. (Scotland).
THIRD READINGS.
The following Bills were read a third tinie:--
Hamlyn's Estate.
Londonderry Improvement.
EXTENSION OF THE SUFFRAGE.

Mr. GODSON presented a petition in favour of Par-
liamentary reform and a reduction of the national ex-
penditure.
Mr. GREENE presented a petition from Lancaster,
praying for Parliamentary reform.
Mr. HASTIE presented a petition from Paisley, in
favour of the Charter; also a petition against the navi-
gation-laws.

Mr. G. BERKELEY presented two petitions from
Bristol i❑ favour of Parliamentary reform, as exempli-
fied in Mr. Hume's motion.

Mr. BROTIIERTON presented 150 petitions from
Salford to the same effect.

SLIGO.

Mr. WRIGHTSON brought up the report of the
Committee appointed to consider the petition against the
last election, which stated that the last election was void,
and that Mr. Charles Towneley was by his agents guilty
of treating.

—SEAMEN'S WIDOW'S FUND.
Mr. DUNCAN presented a petition from the Cham.
her of Commerce in Dundee against this Bill.
LUNATICS.
Colonel MURE presented a petition from Renfrew-
shire against the Lunatics (Scotland) Bill.

SUNDAY TRADING.

Sir DE LACY EVANS presented petitions from the
parishes of St. John's and St. Margaret's, Westminster,
praying the House to pass an enactment to prevent
Sunday trading.
Mr. C. LUSHINGTON presented two petitions—the
first from the principal fishmongers of London, and the
other from their assistants, to the same effect, and to
prevent the carrying out of fish on Sunday mornings
after ten o'clock. _ _