The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-12 00:00:00

TIIE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVEN] NG, JANtiAllf l/, 1846:1

found the whole of the manufacturing and a large por-
tion of the commercial classes opposed to the corn-laws ;
a majority of the agriculturists are in favour of protec-
tion, but the more enlightened of them are as much op-
posed to it as any other portion of the community.—
(Applause.) There was another and more numerous
class— those who are not able exactly to make up their
minds on the question, and who are confused by looking
at the magnitude of the interests involved. To such he
would simplify the matter by supposing that the Mayor
and corporation had the power and will to levy protective
duties or to prohibit goods being brought from Monk-
wearmouth or Shields. Did any man think that would
conduce to the prosperity of the borough ? No : by
abolishing competition, it would destroy enterprise; and
although the maker of any article might gain an in-
creased price for it, he would hare to pay every other
tradesman in the same proportion, and would therefore
lose in the long run. The same principle applies to the
country generally.—(Applause.) The Gallant Colonel
then contended that protection is not beneficial even to
the landed interest, and adverted to the experience of
the pact as affording satisfactory evidence that trade and
manufactures prosper most without protection. As Pre-
sident of the North Durham Registration Society, he
concluded by calling upon the meeting to qualify for
North Durham, observing that any one calling at the
Registration-office, in the High-street, might purchase a
qualification which would be better as a speculation than
many dozens lately afloat in this neighbourhood.
Mr. Councillor CARLING seconded the motion in an
energetic speech.
This closed the proceedings, and a vote of thanks
having been given by acclamation to the Mayor for his
able and impartial conduct in the chair, the meeting se-
parated.

Lynn and Ely
Lynn and Dereham 5
Manchester and Leeds .. 82

------
Ditto % Shares
=Do. Quarters 2
Do. Fifths 12%
Do. Sixteenths ... 514
Manchester and Birmin. 40
Do Quarters 4 ...... 11 .
Do. New Quarters ... 2
Do. Continuation and
Welsh Junction
Manchester,Buxton,and
Matlock 42s. •.... 2 13% p l% p
Manchester, Birm., and
Mould Junction ..... — —
Manchester and Rugby
Direct
Alanchest. &Southampt. 2 ......
Midland 100 .....153 155 155
Do. Fifths 2
Do. New
Midland, Sinn., Derby...loo 122 128 123
Midld. & East. Counties 2%..,...
Midland Great Western
(Irish)
Do. Extens. to Sligo... 2% ...
Vewcastle and Darling-
ton 3 u nction 25 ..... 59 ...... ........ 59
Do. New Brandling
Newcastle and Berwick 10 ... .. 20 19%
Newcastle and Carlisle...100
Newport& Abergavenny 2%...... _
New Ross and Carlow.. 22s
-- •••• •••• .....
Newry and Enniskillen 2% —
...
Newark, Sheffield, and
Boston ... .. .. ......... 2%.. ... 3% 2%
Norfolk Extension 2 ....
North British
, 2 25%
Do. Half Shares ..... 3% 7
Do. Exten. to Carlisle 1% 3
Do. Ext. to Dalkeith 25
Ditto ditto
North Devon
North of Norfolk ..
Northern and Eastern... 50
Do. Scrip
Do. Quarter Shares... 12%
Do. New
N. Kent & Direct Dover 21A _ ...
..
.......
North Staffordshire 425.....•. 334 %% p.. ... 3% p
North Wales
North and South Wales
and Worcester —
Northern and Southern
Connecting - 2%
Norwich aria Brandon... 16
Ditto New 3
Northampton, Banbury,
and Cheltenham
Nottingham and Boston 1% ll4 % . ... 114
Not tingm., Erewsh.Val-
ley, and Manchester.. 1%
Nottingham and Mans-
field
Oxford., Gosport, Ports-
mouth,& Southamptu 425.
Oxford, Worcester, and
Wolverhampton
Oxford, Witney, and
Cheltenham.... -
Perth and Inverness ... 2%
Pilbrow Atmospheric ... 1 -"..
Portsmouth Direct 3% 5l 5 514
Preston and Wyre
Do. % Shares
Reading, Guildford, and
Reigate
Richmond 5 —
Rugby, Derby, and Man-
chester
Rugby and Huntingdon 2 —
Rugby, LeamingtonAnd

W;r-wick — 425.
Rugby, Warwick. and
Worcester....
Scottish Central
Scottish Midland
Do. Extension l%
Sheffield & Manchester 100

Do. Quarter Shares... 8
Shrewsbury and Birm... 2%..... 4%% 4l/2
Shropshire Mineral 425.......
Shropskire Union
Shrewsbury & Hereford 2%
Shrews., Wolverhamp ,
&S. Staffordob. June. 21/2
Sligo and Shannon l%
Somersetshire Midland 2% 2%%.• ..•
South Devon
South Midland 425.
South & Midlands June. 425......
South Staffordshire June. 21/2
South Eastern & Dover 33/ 2a 4d... 381/214 3B
De., No. 1
D0., No. 2.

Do., No. 3
Do., No. 4
Southampton, Manches-
ter. & Oxford Junction 425.......
St. Alban's, Hatfield, and
Hertford Junction ...
Staines and Richmond... 1
Staffordsh. & Shropshire 214
South Wales ..... -.... ... 2% 3l/ 3%
Taw Vale Extension ...
Teen and Dove Valley 1% ll4 l4
Trent Valley 5 ...... 2014 % 20%
Trent Valley and Holy-
head Junction
Tring, Reading, and
Basingstoke 51%
Ulverstone and Furness 2%......
Vale of Neath
Warwick & Cheltenham 1% ..... . —
Warwick and Worcester 425.
W aterford and Kilkenny 3
Waterford and Limerick 7% — •••
Waterfd,Wxfrd,Wicklw,
and Dublin
IV' aterford, Wexford, and
Valentia - -
Waveney Valley
Welch Midland
West Cornwall ..• •• 2 ... .. _
West Yorkshire .
West London,Old Shares 20
West End and Southern
Counties
.....
Wexford and Carlow
Wisbeach and St. Ives... 2
Wilts, Somerset, and
Southampton
Wilts, Somerset, & Tey-
mouth
Worcester,Hereford,Ross,
and Gloucester 42s. „,
Worcester, Tinbury, and
Ludlow
-
Worcester and S. Wales 425.
Worcester, Warwick, and
Rugby
Yarmouth and Norwich. 20
Ditto, New
York and Car1i51e......... 23/4 — .„...
....."
York and Lancaster 2%
York and North Midland 50
Ditto % Shares .. 25
Ditto Scarboro' Branch. 25
Do. Selby
Do. Extension
FOREIGN RAILWAYS.
Anglo-Belgian 4
Barbadoes 1 .....
Boulogne and A iniens... 10 ...... 12
Bordeaux & Mediterran. 2
Bordeaux, Toulouse, and
Cette (Mackenzie's)... 2 .. ...
Do. (Espelete's)
Calais, Dunkrk, andW est

Flanders
Callao, Lirria, and Pacific _

Coast 1 .. ... ..• ••.........
Central of Spain ... 2
~,X
Ceylon .. . - ss.
Demerara 21,4 .. .. —
Dendre Valley 2
Dijon and Mulhouse ... 2 ......
Dutch Rhenish . 5 ..... 7% 3/4
73/
Fast Indian ... ..... -.. ss.
Eastern Belgian Junctn. 2%
Fampoux & Hazebrouk 2
Great North. of France
Constituted .. .. 5
Great Indian Peninsular ss.
Great Paris and Lyons 2
Great Western Bengal... 55....•..
Great Western Canada... 314 ...... 8% 3%
Jamaica S.Mid.Junction 1
Jamaica North Midland 1
Do. Extension 1 ......
Jersey
Louvain and Jemeppe... 4 ... . 2%14 ..... .... 21/4
Lyons and Avignon 2
Luxembourg... ......... .. 4
Madrid and Valentia .... 2 ... .. 14 ll4
Mauritius 1
Namur and Liege
North Jamaica... ......
Orleans and Vierzon ... 10
Orleans and Bordeaux... 6 •••-•
Over Yssel 4l3s 4d
Paris &Lyons(Laffitte's) 2
Paris and Lyons (Gan-
neron's) a
Paris & Lyons, (Calon's) 2 ......
Paris & Lyons (Sud Est) 2
Paris and Strasbourg
(Ganneron's)
Do. (Comps de L'Est) 2
Do (Avmard's)
Paris and Orleans 2O
Paris and Rouen
Paris and St.Quontin ... 2
Rouen and Havre ...... 18
Royal North of Spain ... 2
Sambre and Meuse ...... 6 ••• •
Strasbourg and Bale ... 14
St. Laurence & Atlantic —. ......
Tournay, Jurbise, Lan-
den, and Hasselt....... 4 .... .. - ... OEM.
Tours and Nantes (Mac-
kenzie's) ... ...... ...... 4 ...... .. —
Do. do. (Lefebvre's \ 2 ...... ••••••
Ditto (O'Neill's) 2 ...... . ..
Trinidad
Verona and Ancona._ 3 ••••••
West Flanders
... 4 , s;ii .... 54

MINES.
Real del Monte Unregd. —.• 4•• ......,..... 4

NORTTIERN RAXLWAY OF
FRANCE.—(THL3 DAY.)
A general meeting of the shareholders in the Northern
Railway of France (Deccan and Lc beursUnited Company)
was held this afternoon at the City of London Tavern,
Bisghopsgate-street, for the purpcsatt of receiving a report
of the proceedings of the Managing Committee, and to
determine upon what measures slit Jibe adopted for closing
the affairs of the Company; Mr. F. Mowatt in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening Ch.. business of the meet-
ing, said they had expected a son 3ewhat more numerous
meeting of shareholders, but pe; r' baps the scanty attend-
ance was to be explained by I :he fact of the matter
having been almost as it were d sposed of already. He
might say, however that the :,lommittee of Manage-
ment had deemiasi it but r. fight and proper to
invite the sharklwiders to meet them today.
for the purpose of 13es,rfng them. ex plain what had taken
place with referee- pe to their Uri 17 and of having sub-

mitted to them a report .with a view of enabling them to
close the affairs of the Company altogether. He bad no
doubt it would be matter of notoriety to all present that
they had entered into a fusion of companies, which
took place in Paris some time ago. By virtue of the
treaty of fusion, that Company obtained a certain portion
of definitive stuck, or rather shares in the definitive
Company. A great portion of these shares had been
distributed amongst the original Shareholders, and
one of the main objects of their inviting them
there was to receive the instructions of the shareholders
as to the mode in which the residue of the shares should
be disposed of. He had before stated generally the na-
ture of the treaty of fusion, but he would now state more
specifically the exact conditions of that treaty. This Com-
pany, which originally represented 400,000 shares received
from the associated companies their proportion of
41,000 of definite shares, %N hich was at the rate of one for
ten original shares, including 1,000 over, but he should
explain that their French allies failed at the last moment
to raise their part of the capital, representing 200,000
shares, and they had to provide the deficiency, which
increased their proportion of definitive shares to 125,000
shares, while the French Company had raised a
sum which only entitled them to 195,000 shares.
The Committee had distributed their portion amongst
the original shareholders in the manner he had before
stated, namely, one share for every ten ; and after that
distribution there remained a balance in hand of 512
shares. He should, however, explain that they had not
that entire number at their disposal, owing to some little
confusion which took place in consequence of their
having to raise capital, as it were, under three dis-
tinct companies, that was to say, under the Northern
Railway of France, the Creil and St. Quentin, and
the Fampoux and llazebrouck Companies, and
they had committed an error in the office of
over-issuing a number of definitive shares amounting to
120. This confusion arose out of their French col-
leagues not being able to raise their proportion of the
capital, and they had only 392 shares at their actual
disposal. It was for the meeting to determine how they
should be disposed of. Before, however, inviting them
to express an opinion upon that point, he wished to ob-
serve that the committee had incurred some expense in
managing the affairs of the Company, and under the
circumstances he had already stated, they did, not hesi-
tate submitting these expenses to the meet-
ing as an ultimate question for their conside-
ration. It would be in the recollection of most
of his hearers that, in the event of there being
the Managing Committee guaranteed LU
return the deposit in full, without deducting any sum
whatever for expenses, it being customary for commit-
tees to rely upon the interest on the deposits for defray-
ing the immediate and ordinary expenses of the com-
pany. But he must remark that their having received
the deposits at the last moment, it was out of their power
to make use of them, and they obtained no interest
whatever on any portion of them. They deemed it
more prudent therefore to transfer the capital from their
own bankers to the Bank of England, where it remained
until they require it to send over to France. They
made some little money, however, by the exchanges with
France, about three-quarters of a franc per pound sterling.
Under these circumstances, and in consequence of their
having obtained what was considered in England some-
thing better than an adjudication, and their having a
surplusage of shares in hand, the committee had re-
solved upon recommending the shareholders to allow
them to sell some of the surplus shares to defray the
expenses which had been incurred, which would take
about 170 shares, and leave the remainder to be disposed
of as the shareholders thought proper. The expendi-
ture amoueted to 4,3381. 19s. 5d., and the receipts to
2,7381. 14s. 6d., but the shareholders would
be pleased to bear in mind that the sum of
11,0001., which was advanced by the Managing
Committee in the first onset of the under-
taking, appeared on both sides of the balance-sheet.
Before sitting down he felt it right to state that the
affairs of the Company might have been wound up long
ago had it not been for some minor disputes which had
taken place with the companies in France.
Mr. Deputy CORNEY wished to know who would be
entitled to participate in the surplus shares—the present
or the original shareholder—those who had purchased
in the market, or those who had their shares allotted to
them ?

The CHAIRMAN said he was not in a position to an-
swer that question.
Mr. LIGGINS said he intended to move a resolution
which he had no doubt would set the matter at rest. He
thought they owed a deep debt of gratitude to the
Managing Committee for the zealous and judicious
manner in which they had managed the affairs of the
Company, and he should move that the best thanks of
the shareholders be given to them, and that the surplus
shares be plaeed at their disposal.
The motion having been carried,
Mr. Deputy CORNEY moved an amendment to the
effect that the latter part of the resolution be reserved
for a future and a fuller meeting; but, on learning from
Captain Barlow that the shares, if divided amongst the
Shareholders, would not yield more than lid. per share,
he declined to press his amendment, and the original
resolution was carried unanimously.
Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, who briefly
acknowledged the compliment, and the meeting separated.

After several others had expressed themselves disap-
provingly of this conduct, and the meeting generally
having as much as intimated their opinion that they
could not pass Mr. Xewsam's motion, that gentleman,
to guard against any illegality in their procedure, pro-
tested for himself against accepting the resignation of
Messrs. Norman and Colvin. _ _

They then proceeded to fill up the vacancies by a new
election ; the voting being concluded, the Chairman de-
clared James Helme, Esq., Walthamstow, and Nathan
Atherton, Esq., the successful candidates on the occasion.
The CHAIRMAN then said, that this being ahalf-yearly
meeting only, they would have no accounts laid before
them, and if matters had been as usual his would have
been the easy duty of saying he would be happy to
answer any questions the proprietors thought proper to
propose; as it was, however, he had other disagreeable
business to lay before them. At their last meeting a
proprietor had advanced charges seriously affecting one
of their agents in the colonies, and the p roprietors then
present, not thinking they aught to be disregarded, at the
same time that they could not be investigated in a public
meeting, had referred it to the investigation of a select
committee. Attention bad been given to these charges ;
two of them had been completely refuted, and others of
them much impaired by such documents as the Direc-
tors had had in their possession, but it was thought ad-
visable to refer the whole to those in the colonies, and they
hoped that all the Hon. Proprietors would have suspended
their judgment till a decision had been returned. But
they were aware that a pamphlet bad been issued and
circulated, reflecting severely upon that Director in the
Colonies. On account of that pamphlet he thought that
a statement of the affairs of the bank, which had been
offered them at their last meeting by the Directors,
should be heard to-day, for though it might do them
injury, yet refraining from making it public might
injure them much more. He then stated that
at the last meetin4 they had been told that
though there was a residue of 15,000/. on the
fund for bad debts, they were also told that the pro-
bable losses would more than absorb that sum. He
was happy to state that since that time their affairs,
with one exception, were much improved; their loss had
been 79,132/. That sum had been stated as the
result of the correct estimates of their agents
and superintendents in the colonies. A security on one
individual had become better than they expected, which
would be likely to reduce that amount to 71,0001.
Mr. FARRER here said, that leaving out the suit
pending with the Bank of Australia, the capital was
eeteuened. fie biz.. Fro.acacd, at, ilia request of several
Proprietors, to give some details of the suit which had
been, instituted against the Bank of Australia. At
first they had been unsuccessful, and on the second trial,
which was on a point of law at bar, they had
the opinion of Chief Justice Dickenson in favour of
them, but that judge being in a minority,
a verdict was directed unfavourable t 3 them
and he added against the opinion as well of the Chief
Justice as of the jury on the trial.
An Hon. PROPRIETOR then moved that the body of
the Proprietors view the resignation of Messrs. Norman
and Colvin with displeasure at so critical a moment in
the affairs of the Company.
This was seconded and carried unanimously.
The thanks of the meeting having been warmly voted
to the Directors, it broke up.

IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL
IMPROVEMENTS.

On Saturday afternoon a number of gentlemen inte-
rested in agricultural and gardening pursuits, met by
invitation, with Mr. Francis Henry Bickes, of Mayence,
on the Rhine, at the offices of Mr. Croucher, 3, Tra-
falgar-square, to examine several specimens of agricul-
tural produce raised by a new process invented by the
first-named gentleman. The nature of the discovery, as
stated by Mr. Bickes, is to lessen exceedingly that
heavy item of cost manure ; to bring lands hitherto
considered not worth the trouble and expense of culti-
vation into a highly productive state, and grow crops
that even in the most fertile land would be deemed a
valuable compensation to the agriculturists. Further,
that land now in high cultivation may be made to pro-
duce better crops of all kinds, in quality and quantity,
without exhausting its strength ; its fertilizing power
being fully sustained from year to year. These asto-
nishing results are produceable by preparing the seed
in a peculiar manner (the process Mr. Blokes keeps a
secret), by which the powers of attracting and absorb-
ing in a high degree the elements of nutrition is given
to the plant. For sixteen years the gentleman in ques-
tion has been engaged in agricultural pursuits in his
native country, and has but lately arrived in this coun•
try ; his object being, if possible, to get the Govern-
ment convinced of the truth and value of his discovery,
so as to purchase it for the benefit of the nation at
large. It was stated by Mr. Wickes that the value of
his discovery was fully attested by practice ; in proof of
which he could refer to testimonials from various parts
of the Continent as well as England, which he now sub-
mitted to the public. The gentlemen present were here
supplied with a copy of the testimonials referred to, con-
taining attestations from the Imperial Garden at Der
Burg, several magistrates and leading agriculturists,
of Vienna ; agricultural judges appointed to examine
into the discovery at Offenbach, the garden of the Count
of Isenbourg, several landed proprietors of Castel, the ar-
bitrator of the Agricultural Society of Mayence, and
several members of the Society of Naturalists there, an
agricultural committee at Manbach, several landed pro-
prietors of Belgium, in addition to testimonials from
Colonel Blagrove, Calcot-park, Berks, and other gentle.
men in that county, who had tried the prepared seed; all
declaring the results produced by the seed prepared by
Mr. Bickes' process, to be most astonishing, both in deve-
lopment of fibre, and in size, quantity, and ripeness of fruit.
It was further stated thatpotatoes,grown by the prepared
process, had in no case been subjected to the prevailing
disease. A great number of specimens were handed
round the room, consisting of wheat, barley, oats, and
maze or Indian corn, and various kinds of shrubs and
plants. The cerealian products, especially, were of the
most gigantic dimensions, and the ears were beautifully
filled ; yet, it was stated, these were grown on inferior
land, without manure, the seed being simply prepared,
notwithstanding which they had arrived at maturity
much earlier than the best favoured grain, under the
ordinary system of cultivation. A very fine rose tree
plant was shown, grown from a prepared seed, which in
one year had become as large as the plant ordinarily
does in eight. Altogether the specimens, taking for
granted the data of Mr. Bickes, are the most astonish-
ing we ever saw, and the theory, it proved true—if Mr.
Bickes really possesses a secret that can cause fertility
amidst barren wilds, and doubly enhance the value of
even the most fruitful soils—he will prove himself the
greatest benefactor the world ever saw. The English,
however, are a practical people, and he must demonstrate
his powers in an unambiguous manner on their own land,
and under such circumstances as cannot admit of doubt,
before he can expect the patronage and reward he seeks.
Mr. Bickes, and the gentlemen whom he had invited,
dined together afterwards, at the Exeter Hall Hotel,
Mr. Croucher in the chair, where, after an excellent
dinner, a very delightful evening was spent, and several
excellent speeches delivered.

MR. BURKE'S PEERAGE AND BARONETAGE, FOR
1846.—We are requested to state that Mr. Colburn, of
Great Marlborough-street, has this day published " Mr.
Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, for 1846," a new edi-
tion, corrected throughout from the personal communi-
tions of the nobility, &c., and containing all the new
creations, in one volume (comprising as much matter as
twenty ordinary volumes), with upwards of 1,500 en-
gravings of arms, &c., price 38s. bound, which can now
be had of all booksellers. Mr. Colburn has also lately
published the first three parts, price 10s. 6d. each, o 4
Mr. Burke's " History of the Landed Gentry," a genea-
logical and heraldic dictionary of the whole of the un-
titled aristocracy of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The
fourth, and concluding part, is in the press.
BRISTOL SUGAR .MARKET, JAN. 2.—The offices
having been closed for the Christmas recess since the
24th ult., were re-opened on Wednesday last, and there
has been a fair demand for raw sugars on the two market
days this week, the sales reaching 500 hhds. and-tierces,
and a few hundred mats Mauritius, at prices not obtain-
able previously to the holidays. Refined goods are in
demand, and prices have an upward tendency.—BriTtol
Mercury.
An arrangement, it is said,:has been entered into
among the Conservatives of the eastern division of the
county, by which Mr. Darby will retain his seat during
the ensuing session, but with the understanding he will
vote, on all Ministerial questions, with Sir R. Peel. The
appointment, therefore, held by Mr. Darby does not ren-
der it necessary that he should go before his constitu-
ents to be re• elected, and the retention of his seat whilst
holding de facto a place under the Government is another
evasion of the Bill of Rights—long since become, to all
useful purposes, a dead letter. But Mr. Darby seems to be
acting candidly towards his monopolist friends. He tells
them that, if he remain in Parliament, he shall vote with
the Premier, and they, rather than incur the expense of
an election, with another election in the immediate rear,
consent to allow Mr. Darby to retain his seat (for they
could call upon him to resign—not because he is a place-
man, but because he avows his intention to support the
Minister in his free-trade projects) till the present Par-
liament dies a natural death. One vote, at least, will
therefore be lost to the monopolists of the eastern divi-
sion in the coming conflict.—Briyhton Herald.
Mass A. ROSIER, THE VOCALIST.—We were very
much pleased with the debut of this young lady at the
Concert-hall, on Wednesday evening, She has been
educated, we understand, at the Royal Academy, Lon-
don, and has returned to the place of her birth an ac-
complished vocalist. We have seldom witnessed so pro-
mising a first appearance, and predict her speedy rise to
eminence in the arduous profession which she has chosen.
Her figure is slender, and rather petite, her face expres-
sive, her voice of exceedingly melodious character, her
knowledge of musical science erudite for her years, and
.her style in the highest degree neat and finished, remind-
ing us very much of the manner and capabilities of Miss
Delcy, who is now delighting the musical world on the
other side of the Atlantic. Many of our leading profes-
sionals were present, and one and all accorded to her
their utmost meed of admiration. To this were added
the warm commendations of an enthusiastic authority,
who was always ready to greet indigenous merit, and
well capable of applying a strict test for its discovery.
The performances were announced by Mr. Joseph Robin-
son, who presided at the pianoforte, and who was also
ablynu
nh
assistede id e r
—Liverpool Whltnall, Mr. Reeves, and Herr
BrMail.
MORTALITY IN THE 87TH FUSILIERS.—We have
been much concerned to observe the unusual number of
deaths which have lately taken place in the garrison of
this city. The gallant 87th have been the chief sufferers.
Since their arrival here fever and pulmonary complaints,
we understand, have carried off about 14 or 15 of them.
Indeed, for the last two months, few days have passed
without the solemn and affecting spectacle of a soldier's
funeral. It is truly melancholy to see so many of these
gallant fellows dropping, "in life's morning march," into
the silent grave. A finer or a better behaved body of
men we have not had in ,this city for many a day.—
Abadan Jona.