The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-04 00:00:00

GUILDFORD, CHICHESTER,
PORTSMOUTH, AND FAREHAM RAILWAY.
(THIS DAY.)
A special general meeting of the scripholders in the Guild-
ford, Chichester, Portsmouth, and Fareham Railway Com-
pany, was held this afternoon, in pursuance of the sessional
orders, at the Nine Elms station of the London and South-
Western Railway, for the purpose of having submitted to
their consideration copies of two Bills—the first, "A Bill for
authorising the sale of the Guildford Junction Railway, and
for enabling the purchasers to maintain the same, and to
make and maintain a railway therefrom to Godalming, and
from the London and South-Western Railway at Fareham to
Portsmouth;" and the second, "An Act for making rail-
ways from Guildford to Chichester, and from Fareham to
Portsmouth, with branches to Petersfield, in the county of
Hants, and to Chichester Harbour, in the county of Sussex."
Mr. Henry Currie, the banker, was voted to the chair, on
the motion of Mr. Mangles, seconded by Mr. Jones.
The CHAIRMAN saH, in the absence of Mr. Chaplin, who
was the permanent chairman of the Company, he had great
pleasure in taking the chair. The proprietors were aware
that the capital of the Company was a million and a quarter,
in 20,000 shares of 501. each, and 20,000 shares of 12/. 10s.
each. The number required by the sessional orders to con-
stitute a meeting was one-third, or 25,000 shares, making in
amount 416,700/. The proprietors had sent in scrip far ex-
ceeding that amount, and they would have sent
them to a still greater extent, were it not that they
were anxious to avoid the trouble of registration. The
number of 50/. shares sent in was 10,515, or 525,7501., and
the number of 12/. 10s. shares 1,74834, or 87,437/. 10s.,
t, makin a total of 12,2633% shares, and 613,187/. 10s. of
capital°, and being 3,9293/4 shares and 196,487/. 10s. capital
more than the sessional orders required. He did not know
whether it was necessary for him to trouble the meeting with
any observations on the merits of the two Bills. They were
aware that both of them had a good chance of being passed ;
indeed, one had already passed the Commons, and was now
before the Lords, who, he had no doubt, would shortly report
favourably upon it. He should be happy to answer any
questions the meeting might be desirous of putting.
After a short pause, the SOLICITOR (Mr. Bircham) read
the breviats of the two Bills; and a resolution approving and
authorising the dir ee: ors to proceed with them, was moved
from the chair and carried unanimously.
The meeting terminated with the customary vote of thanks
to the Chairman.

REGENT's CANAL COMPANY.
The half-yearly meeting of this Company was held yester-
day, at the establishment, City-road Basin, J. E. D. Bethune,
Esq., in the chair. The report of the directors stated that
the agreement as to the project for transforming the Regent's
Canal into a railway having become void in consequence of
the required amount not having been subscribed, the sum
of 5,0001. deposited as caution money by the committee of
that scheme, became the property of the Regent's Canal
Company, and that the same had been transferred to the ac-
count of the reserve fund, thereby increasing the amount of
that fund to 13,835/. 183. 2d. The committee had borrowed
of this amount 2,605/. I7s. 3d. to pay for a portion of the
property required for the new entrance to the Limehouse
Dock. The tonnages in the six months ending the 31st
of May, amounted to 528,865 tons, producing a return
of 18,934/., and the profit for the half year ending 31st of
March last, amounted to 13,057/. 16s. Pd., making with
393/. 4s. 6d., an amount of 13,451/. Is. 4d. to be carried to
the profit and loss account. A deduction of five per cent.
on the net profits of the half-year was suggested as a remedy
for preventing the reserve fund sinking below 10,0001., the
amount agreed upon for that fund before a dividend be de-
clared. In conclusion, the committee suggested a dividend
out of the profits of 12s. per share, leaving a balance of 600/.
towards the next account. Atter the reading the report Mr.
Green and Mr. Mayhew were rather vituperative against
some of the directors for jobbing in the shares of the com-
pany, which led to a long discussion, in which the Chairman,
Mr. Alderman Wilson, Mr. llitchirs Mr. G. R. Robinson, the
solicitor, Mr. Lyon, and others took part. The transfer-
book was ordered to be produced by the Chairman; but, on
examination, for the last twelve months no shares were found
to have been disposed of by the directors, which explanation
seemed to be satisfactory. A proprietor asked if the Com-
pany had come to any understanding between the East and
West India Dock Railway Company, in respect to the canal?
The Chairman said he could not at present publicly state
what had transpired, but they might rely on the committee
being quite alive to the interests of the proprietors. After
a deal of discussion on various topics the report was adored,
when the committee and auditors were elected, and a vote
of thanks having been passed the chairman, the meeting
separated.

COLONIAL MONOPOLY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Srn,—Can you or any of your readers assign to me a sound
reason why I, who am denuded of all protection on the corn
I grow and sell, should be required to support the colonial
monopoly, by paying a protected price for the sugar, coffee,
&c., I may require for myself and family ? It was surely
always understood that when the differential duties on corn
were abolished (the trifle which remains for three years
being little more than enough to pay the costs of registra-
tion), the differential duties on all other articles were to be
abolished also.—l am, sir, &c.,

A TENANT-FARMER,

We are requested to state that Mrs. Jameson's new
work, " Memoirs and Essays on Art, Literature, and Social
Morals," will be published by Mr. Bentley, New Burlington-
street, on Friday next, thd sth inst
SUICIDE Or A YOUTH.—yesterday an inquest was
held before Mr. W. Baker, jun., deputy-coroner, at the Ship,
in Finsbury-square, on the body of John Treacher Hall,
aged 17 years, who committed suicide by swallowing an
ounce of arsenic. It appeared from the evidence that the
deceased was the son of a respectable hat-manufacturer, of
No. 6, Finsbury-square. For some time past the deceased
had been in a low and desponding state of mind. He was
subject to repeated bleeding at the nose, which appeared to
alarm him and prey on his spirits. He was very absent in
conversation, and there was no doubt his mind had become
affected by his infirmity, which he concealed from his
family. On Sunday morning the deceased's brother, Mr.
Arthur Hall, left him in bed awake. Shortly afterwards a
noise was heard in the room by one of the servants as she
was passing the door. Mr. Hall immediately proceeded to his
brother's apartment and found him lying on the bed in a
state of great exhaustion and pain. Medical assistance was
sent for directly, and Dr. Pervia was soon in attendance. He
found the deceased vomiting and in a state of collapse. He
prescribed for the deceased, and when he was restored to con-
sciousness Dr. Pervia asked him what he had taken. The
deceased replied he had taken arsenic The- deceased also
informed Dr. Pervia that he had obtained the arsenic six
months ago from the warehouse of his brother, who is a
wholesale druggist, and that he had come to the determina-
tion of committing suicide, as there was no object worth living
for. The deceased expired at one o'clock ori Sunday, three
hours after he had taken the arsenic. On a post mortem ex-
amination of the body, Dr. Pervia found a large quantity of
arsenic in the deceased's stomach. The jury returned a ver-
dict "That the deceased committed suicide while in a state
of mental derangement."
FARRINGDON GENERAL DISPENSARY AND LYING-IN
Clint-inv.—The annual dinner of this institution was held
yesterday evening at Anderton's Hotel, Fleet-street. Mr.
Alderman Copeland, M.P., who had consented to preside,
being by reason of a family affliction prevented from attend-
ing, Sir James Duke, M.P., the Alderman of the ward, took
the chair. About thirty gentlemen sat down to an excel-
lent dinner provided by Mr. Clemow, which, with the wines,
gave great satisfaction. Mr. J. Galsworthy, the secretary,
read the report, from which it appeared that the number of
patients relieved during the last year was 3,133. The corn
mittee announced the removal of the dispensary to much
more commodious premises in Bartlett's-buildings, Holborn,
an inspection of which they invited. It appears that the
limited income of the charity is by no means commensurate
with the calls upon it, and the greatest desire was expressed
to free the institution from the debt of 3001. which at present
hampers its efficiency. A donation of 30/. from the Presi-
dent, Lord Denman, was announced amid the cheers of the
meeting, and a list of further donations, amounting to 761.,
was read by the treasurer, Mr. Deputy Bedford. Arrange-
ments were made for bringing the claims of the charity and
the great amount of good effected by it under the notice of
the wealthier inhabitants of the ward by means of a deputa-
tion, and also for insuring more harmonious action between
the committee and medical officers, the latter of whom, it
appeared, claimed a vote in the proceedings of the com-
mittee. Since the establishment of the charity, in in 1828, up
to the commencement of the present year, relief has been
afforded to no less than 53,590 patients, of whom at least
one-fourth, inclusive of midwifery cases, have been attended
at home.
FATAL ACCIDENT ON BOARD HER MAJESTY'S SHIP
CALEDONIA.—PLymoum, JUNE 2.—On Sunday, the 31st
ult., at sunset, when lowering the maintopgallant mast on
board her Majesty's ship Caledonia, 120, Captain Sir Manly
H. Dixon, lying in Hamoaze, the lizard unfortunately gave
way, and the mast fell on the deck and killed three persons.
It appears that the top-gallant-yards of this ship—fore, main,
and mizen—are usually sent down at sunset; but, in conse-
quence of the Admiralty order for examining her spars and
rigging, instructions had been given on board to lower the
top-gallant-masts, in addition to the yards, so as to be the
more forward for commencing work the next day (Monday).
At the time of the accident, Captain Dixon, the three Lieu-
tenants (including Lieut. Jones, the officer of the watch),
and most of the crew, were on deck. The lizard, unfor-
tunately, in as not securely stopped, and when the man at the
mast-head found it slipping from the mast rope, he sung out,
I as usual, "Stand from under." There were from forty to
fifty hands underneath, who rushed forward out of danger.
The sufferers, who were more aft, and not in a dangerous
position, unhappily followed the others, and thus came right
under the mast. In falling from the mast-head the top-gallant-
mast caught in the rigging, canted, and fell horizontally
across the deck. Three persons were killed on the spot, viz.,
Mr. C. P. Lamb, assistant clerk, William Slaney, a marine,
leaving a widow and five children, and Thomas B. Herbert,
first-class boy. Charles Pomeroy, a boy, had his shoulder
dislocated, and was otherwise severely injured. The calamity
has deeply affected Captain Dixon and the officers, and they
have evinced their sympathy for the widow of the marine by
a subscription in her behalf. The Captain has given 21., Mr.
Bone, purser, 11., and the other officers in proportion. The
marines volunteered a day's pay each. The boy Pomeroy
was taken to the Boyal Naval Hospital, at Stonehouse, where
an inquest is to be held this evening on the remains of
those who were killed. The Caledonia is deficient of most
St.
of her best hands; 40 are lent to her Majesty's ship
Vincent, 120, Captain Sir Richard Grant; 40 to theßrElford
and others are on detached service. She is now
onlynea ly
dis-
mantled ; and fore, main, and mizena
lower
masts
stand-
ing, and they are almost stripped,n
thesroeies
oaf whichdocky ard
lighter alongside, taking away the rigging, m
is
very defective.
L4---Yanedsteßradtatyersmeaucih
nthat a leopard was
excitementEOP R
the common. A gravel digger observed what
DprilevuaNilTed AnTearßAWTaTnEcrskisrE-oAr
cran
lsaerqgueennecaerof its having become now.
he thought to be a dog, but on his approaching the animal
he found his mistake, and ran off for assistance to secure
the interloper, and information was given to some travelling
menap cries at the fair held near, when it was ascertained
that a young leopard had escaped from one of the vans, and
the owner of the missing animal set out in search of it. In a
very short time he was joined by a large number of persons,
wino went in pursuit of the fugitive. The,o,ufgutarnzsleueci;eahsss.bdeapTtrehone.,
wasmontheii
apprisedscou red,t
that
tt
tlreiirth
wererds some cottages near Battersea. The asports-
cahenuediAtetsdhmeteon:ma
sports-
men, the number of whom had considerably increased,
then came up, and the " view halloo" was given, but the
leopard was disinclined for further chase, and taking up
his abode in a cart-shed, quietly permitted his keeper to
secure him.
BIRMINGHAM TO BE ERECTED INTO A GREAT CEN-
TRAL MI, muty DEPOT.—It has been stated in Birmingham
this week, in quarters likely to be well-informed, that Go-
vernment intend to erect the military station there into a
grand central depot, aini to rez,love to it the greater part of
the troops now stationed at \Veedon. The central position
of Birmingham, communicating as it now does by railway
with all the principal ports in England, has, it is thought,
suggested the propriety and advantage of making it the seat
of a central depot, inasmuch as at a moment's notice troops
might thence bs dispatched and landed in, S few Imre in
AnY put at gi9t1414 Evikad,