The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-06 00:00:00

now that'the crisis was come, instead of being prepared,
as they ought to have been, to lead the Chartists of the
' country to the death if necessary.
Mr. BRONTERRE O'BRIEN dissented both from the
programme and the mode of Mr. Reynolds' amendment.
He maintained that they only represented a small section of
the people of this country. There were vast numbers of
the working classes who placed no dependence npon
)
Mr. O'Connor or himself. These men should be in=
vited to join them, and for that purpose he proposed
that this Conference should be held to be only the pre-
enrsor of a truly national convention to be called at
sonic future time.
Mr. LOWRY seconded the amendment proposed by Mr.
O'Brien.—(Hisses.)
Mr. FEAROUS O'CONNOR denied that the Executive
desired to shrink from any responsibility that might
attach to them. So far from it, he declared that he
was prepared to abide by the decisions
of the majority of this Conference. The
object of the Executive was not to retard or delay this
movement, but to secure and strengthen it. Did lie
wish to retard this movement ? Was he not to be found
always in the front of danger ? Would be not be the
first mark for the finger of the law, or the mark of the
enemy ? Some men looked to posthumous fame rather
than to the ease of an ignominious lite, and so help him
God, he would rather die a martyr than live a
slave.—(Cheers.) He prayed them now, and he
felt that he could beg it on his knees, not
to damage their good cause by any pre-
mature step, which might be found irretrievable.
Mr. CHILD rose to move a third amendment—That
the motion now before the Conference be adjourned till
after Monday next.

Mr. DosaivAri supported the original motion.
Mr. TerrEneaLL said that this question was more
important than many members there seemed to consider
it. It was simply a question of peace or war. If they
said war, were they prepared for this ? Lord John
Russell was, to all intents and purposes, king of
England, Scotland, Ireland, and W ales, for the
Qaeen would not oppose his and the Cabinet's
wishes. Were the Conference, then, prepared to
thrust themselves forward in opposition to the
Government. He represented Lancashire, and he
knew that the..lads of Lancashire, if the petition
were rejected, would say, " We'll fight for it;" but he
did not wish this., He would, therefore, move another
amendment:—" That the people . should hold meetings
over the country on thel2th of_April, to consider their
present circumstancei, and to give instructions to the
Conference for their future guidance."
Mr. LINNET seconded the amendment.

Mr. E. JoNEs_moved. onother amendment—" That
in the event of .the petition being rejected, the people
should hold 'simultaneous meetings to demand the din°.
lution of Parliament and the dismissal of Ministers ; to
elect delegates to a new Convention, and to instruct this
conference. to sit. permanently until the meeting of the
nyw National Convention."
Mr. CLARKE seconded the amendment.

Mr. STEPHENSON supported it. He protested against
any sacrifice of human blocd when they were not pre-
pared to carry out their intentions successfully.
Mr. LUNN supported Mr. Tattersall's amendment.
Mr. ERNEST JONES, Mr. SHIRRON, and other dele-
gates, supported the amendment proposed by Mr. Jones.
The Conference afterwards adjourned.

At the re• assemblicg of the Convention, at half past
two o'clock, the discussion on the resolutions and amend-
ments before the Conference was resumed, and each
delegate who, addressed the meeting gave his reasons
fur supporting one or other of these.
Towards the conclusion of the sitting Mr. Tattersall
and Mr. Child withdrew their amendments, and gave in
their adhesion to that proposed by Mr. Ernest Jones.
Mr. CLARKE withdrew the resolution proposed by the
Executive, and accepted instead the same amendment.
The whole series of resolutions as amended was after-
wards agreed to.
The Conference then adjourned till to-morrow at nine
o'clock.

ROYAL MAIL STEAM-PACKET
COMPANY.—(THIS DAY.)
The annual meeting of the shareholders of this corn-
piny was this day held at the London Tavern, for the
purpose of transacting the ordinary business of the
company .
The chair was taken at one o'clock by A. Colville, Esq.
The notice convening the meeting having been read,
ihe Secretary proceeded to read the report, from which
it appeared that there had been an increase both
upon the reeeipts and expenditure during the past 3 ear.
The charges for cost, freight,' and other expenses for
coal, as well as those for wages, port charges, and pilot-
age, coal sacks, and office and law expenses, although
with an augmented business, were in the aggregate
624/. ss. 6d. less in 1847 than in the preceding year.
On the credit side of this account there was a decrease
in the homeward freight, arising from diminished ship-
ment of specie in Mexico, and there was less receipt
from intercolonial and homeward passage-money,
which was also chiefly to be attributed to the hostilities
in that country. The total receipts, however, from
freight and passage-money in 1847. exceeded
those of the previous year by 5,845/. 9s. 6d.
The balance upon the profit and loss account for 1847,
after charging the dividend declared in October last,
amounted to 74,0181. 13s. 5d., subject to the payment of
_the fert,laeom4ig jiyidend,. New boilers had been re.
%aired ftlr• the Severn,' . side levers and iron benne
tor the Avon, as well as extra repairing and materially
strengthening the l'eviot, amounting in the whole to
13,565/. 84. 7d., and were charged.in the profit and loss
account as not being properly chargeable to the working
account of the year 1847. By the balance-sheet it
would be observed that the suin standing to the
credit of the insurance account, after deducting
the cost of the Great Western, purchased to
supply the place of the Tweed, amounted to 49,9632 ls.
2d. The investment on this insurance account, how-
ever, had not been diminished, amounting on the 31st
of December, 1847, to 74,2811. 58., to which was added
in January last the sum of 25,0001, making a total of
99,2811. 55., invested in the purchase of 105,868/. 7s. 7d.
Three-and-a-Quarter per Cent. Stock; the general in-
vestment of 55,000/. remaining as at the end of the year
1846. The directors announced their intention to assimi-
late the working account, in future, to the method
in which the annual accounts were prepared,
as the effect of the company's operations would
by that means be more distinctly exhibited.
Since the last general meeting was held, an arrangement
had been made, giving to the West India Colonies a
direct monthly postal communication with the Northern
States of America, by which the company's operations
were extended to New York - and this new line, :44
Bermuda, would be commenced on the 7th of next
month. The company, however, were at liberty to dia.
continue this branch of service, should it be foind
hereafter that, contrary to expectation, it mull not be
maintained with advantage." The directors having to en
into consideration all the circumstances of the compiniy;
recommended that a dividend of 2/. per share, exclusive
ofincome-tax, the same to be payable on and after the liOth
instant.

From the statement of accounts laid before the meet-
ing it appeared that the total receipts of the company
fur the past y ear amounted to 412,962/. 7s. Bd., the di,
hur,ements to 300,6614 Hs. 10d., leaving a surplus of
112,3001. Ss. 10d. The total balance in favour of the
company after deducting loges and extraordinary (Alt-
lays tor the year 1847, was 99,9881. 13s. sd. The balance
in hand from the year 1846 had been appropriated fur
the payment of the dividend, declared Bth of April, 1847,
..mounting to 25,9701., and had carried to the credit
of the reserved fund, the cum of 56,5941. 15s. I Id.
The following general balauce-bheot was also laid
,
before the meeting:—
Da
To cost and outfit of
steam-Ahips, Sm
31, 1846 Dec.
••• ... 803.748 13 3
Add the Conway... 39,745 17 11
Deduct the Liffey,
sold
..• y,

.C. s. d.

643,494 11 2

4,000 0 0

To stock of coals, coal
sacks, &c
To stock of boilers, engineers' and other
stores
••• ••• ••• ••• To London and Southampton pre-
mises, Jamaica wharf, and Pacific
Treasure houses ...
To insurance 4,591 16 9
investment in •
Three-
and•a-Quarter per Cent. Stock "'74,281 5 0
To general investment
To ships' pending voyages •• • •• • 55,(X)0 0 0... ••• ITo bills receivable and cash balances
39,450,083 13 1
To Contract money due this day ... 60 3 1
,000 0 0
£1,133,988 7 6

839,494 1

29,374

21,711 1

CR.
By capital stock, Dec.3l, 1846 £888,835
Arrears of calls receid. in 1847 150

888,985 0 o
3,134 1 3
49,963 1 9

By dividends unpaid
By insurance account
By bills payable and outstanding ac-
counts
By reserve fund
By profit and loss

••• 47,267 15 2
... 70,619 16 6
... 74,018 13 5

£.1,133,988 7
The CHAIRMAN moved the adoption of the report.
A PaoPRIETou moved an amendment, to the effect
that the dividend be increased to 21. Ss. per share; the
motion, however, found no seconder, and of course fell
to the ground.
Some discussion took place upon the amount of remu-
neration paid to the managers of the company, after
which the report was unanimously agreed to.
n
Me. Masterman and Captain Nelson were re-elected
directors of the company; a gentleman was also elected
at director
ireetor in the room of one of the directors who re-
tired n
; and Captain fluish was elected auditor of the
cornmny.
C The Ihsel(s f the
hairmme meeting were
up
. then voted to the
d an, meeting
the

~...______........ D 1 y
.)
HOUSE OF LORDS.—(THIS
i Peers
The Tiouse at to day to hear appeals. The
any]
present wer Banda Lord Chancellor, Lord Campbell, a
the Earl ofn.
LAPSLYN ANT, OTHERS V. UUERSTON AND OTHERS.
The arguments in this part-heard appeal were re-
sumed and concluded to. day. The case came before their
Lordships upon an appeal against any interlocutor of the
Court Ot Session in Scotland, and the question at; issue
was whether the appellants were the lawful born
-childrn 'or i.ne -John• Lap,ley, ot Glasgow It ap-
pearcd that in the. year 179 a, 0114 Artilt,im
.14,p,ie1,
grocer in Edillburgh, died. In 1792 he had extr-
a el. ' ' d settlement 'll li. h h
cured a trust- isposition an se ement, yw le e
conveyed his heritable property situated in Virginia-