The Sun.
London, England, 1851-02-28 00:00:00

YORK AND NORTH MIDLAND.

The half yearly meeting of the proprietors of this
company was held yesterday, at the De Grey Rooms,
in the city, of York. H. S. Thomson, Esq., in the chair.
The usual preliminaries having been gone through,
and the seal affixed to the registered list of shareholders,
The two retiring directors, Mr. Williamson and Mr.
Jowett, were unanimously re-elected, on the motion of
Mr. Bull.

The Csernsrate said the company, although not pros-
perous, was in an improved condition. The sharehol-
ders might have expected an increased dividend but for
circumstances which the report developed, and which he
would explain. He rticalled their attention to the state
of their affairs when they undertook the. management of
the company, and the improved poeitiOn which it now
occupied. One object they had in view was the main-
tenance (f the credit of the compr.ne, vA hich they had
placed in a very good position, enab ing them to borrow
money on fair and rea►onable terms. The next point
was to ket p their traffie, which they f, and threatened
in every direction—by the Leeds and 1-hir,sk, the
' Great Northern, the Manchester and Stiffield, and
tither rival lines, and the Aire and Celder Navi-
gation. Some arrangements bad been eff cted, and
he hoped before long that amicable agreements relat-
ing to traffic would be made with all f them.
Another object they bad in view was to work their
traffic efficiently. By transferring their Leeds traffic
to the Marsh-lane station they were saving 2,0001.
a year, besides securing other advantages arising trom
the management of their own afrars. The proposed out-
lay on this station he defended as being prudent and ad-
viable. With respect to the Milford junction station, he
beltevki that itt erection would be filly pa;.d for by the
rent of refreshment rooms which are attached, v% Het
the truffle would be more easily worked. The Chairman
next proceeded to enter upon the details of the accounts,
which showed an increase of receipts of 13,4401., and of
payments the increase was 6,4091. A great portion of the
outlay was in increased mileage, consequent on competi-
tion, but he hoped that eventually their work would be
done with a less mil. age, whereby a decrease of expense
would be effected. He concluded by moving the adop-
tion of the report.
Mr. SEYMOUR, Vice-Chairman, seconded the motion.

On the motion of Mr. KENNEDY, an amendment was
moved to the effect, " That no reserve or depreciation
fund should be permitted in that company."
The motion was seconded by Mr. t-MIPSON, of Leeds,
and after a long discussion, in the course of which no new
light wit, thrown on the subject of depreciation funds, the
amendment was lust by au overwhklwing mojurity, two
bands jug held up for it.
Mr. RAMSEY it,quired if anything had been received
from Mr. H

The CHAIRMAN said Yes. A sum (,f 10.7001. had
been rec••tved from that gentleman, being is balance of a
much larger account. This item had arisen from some de-
b,,ntures taken op by Mr. Hudson on b►half of the com-
pany. The money had been paid to his private amount,
and repaid from it for the purposes of the railway as re-
quired. He wai no friend or defender of Mr. Hudson,
but he honestly believed that this matter was purely one
of mistake. and on its detection Mr. Hudson paid the
sum-9.000/, with 5 per cent. interest, amounting alto-
gether to 10.700/.

It reply to other inquiries, it was said the Chancery
suits against Mr. Hudso❑ mere progressing at Chancery
pace, and that the arbitration between the company and
Mr. Crawsha), the contractor, was still pending.
The resolution declaring the dividend wis then passed.
After a good deal of discussion, in reference to the
negotiations with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway,
A resolution was proposed, authorising the directors
to talcp immediate proceedings against the Lancashire
and Yorkshire Company, to force that company to take
a joint lease of the Hull and Selby Railway, according
to the original agreement.
After some discussion on the subject, in which a great
rcluctance to resort to hostile proceedings was evinced so
long as the least hope of an amicable arrangement re-
mained, it was finally agreed to authorise the directors
to take legal proceedings.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman and directors ter-
minated the meeting.

BRISTOL AND EXETER.
..
The usual half-yearly meeting of this company waa
held yesterday, at the White Hart Hotel, Bristol; Mr.
Buller, M.P., in the chair.
receipts upon
to
ad-
The SECRETARY (Sir. Badhans) having read the
the meeting, the following report
.:iitwheaygrzsatlrtaiffiieclrsetc(e)fi
vertisemeto convfoing
was submitted to the proprietors:—
upon
theTterirs
the 31st of December, 1850, amount to 117,7911, 6s. 8d ,
and the working exp,uses during the same
etoploarntdstEatle:
P'riOd tO
49,217/. 149. 5d., being about 41.78 per cent., or 5711.
mile for the half year on 86 miles of line, Tae •
tetrhaßt
per
therefore, 11,591/. 189. more than receipts
are,during the cor-
responding half of the year 1849, and thi .s increase of
traffic is di-frit:ired as follows;-8,9081. 3s
sd. on pas-
sengers; 2 4161. 17s. Bd. on gk oils anti.
coats; and 2661.
16s. 11d. on pqr cds. The numfe•r of
con-
veyed is 339,358, travelling
-,717 57, passengers 11number of tons of goods, including r - miles, and the
u,al4* is 74,283 tons,
1 cwt., 3 qrs., 91bs., conveyed 2,646,210. *
posable balance of the revenue account, evenue account, including 3651.
13r. 114. brought , over from the previous ha lf -year, is
43,847/. 7s. 7d. This would enable you to declare a dividend
o our 2.000
of 4 per cent per annum n • of
y,OOOI. stock, and
leave a surplus of 3,8471. 7e. 7d.; but your directors are
decidedly of opinion that it is desirable to carry forward
n larger amount to he next half-year, $1.11,1 tbsy w""id
thcrr f ,re reetuninend to you rot 10 declare a, dividend of
In'lr''' lba" 3i Nr cent. p,r annum, or 11 per cent. for
the half ye,,-. This would leorvc $, hul,-,cco-,of 8.8471.7, 7j.
t , be earl Ai d ovsx. The expiciatton expiew-ti " 0,1 et
your last half yearly ni,etii,g, llitv. the nego:is,tiona for
working the Ex.fer and Cmditon line on the broad
gauge might be revived, and might lead to a favourable
issue, has been realised. A provisional agreement has
been entered into for a lease to this company for seven
years, determinable, at the opts:l of either party, when
the Taw Vale line shall be open for traffic; two-thirds of
the gross receipts to be retained by this company for
working expanses, sad one-third to be paid to the Exeter
and Crediton Railway Company for rent. A special
general merAing will be convened for the purpose of sub-
towing the lease for your approval
and confirmation.
Tyra ,rrergement with tlr,..s I‘...xmer and CrQditon Cvm
pany is the more important, as, %lila it secure. all /0
Cifile Of trall On lour WIN?, it pastas • pros psi

of some return upon the capital invested in shares in that
undertaking, and promotes the formation of the TAW
Vale Railway by an independent company, whereby the
nosh of Devon will be supplied with railway accommo-
dation in immediate connexion with your main line.
Your directors have received memorials from
several parties, calling upon this company to
proceed with the construction of the Durston
and Yeovil branch ; and though it is not at present
easy to foretel the exact period when such a step
may be absolutely necessary, yet it cannot be denied that
there are various elements in the question which point
to an early decision, or at least to the desirableness of
your directors being authorised to ascertain with preci-
sion what the construction of the remaining thirteen
miles would cost. The magnitude of the sum already
expended, and the certainty that by incurring a com-
paratively moderate outlay it may he made in some de-
gree productive, would, even if there were no other sub-
stantial reasons, render this subject deserving of your
most serious consideration; and if you concur in these
views, your directors would suggest the propriety of
your passing a resolution expressive of your approval of
their taking measures for completing this branch, when-
ever the interests of the compary may require it. The
balances now in the bankers' hands, which, including
the amount received for deposits . and anticipations on
account of Perpetual Four per Cent. Preference Shares,
amount to 78,6331. Bs. 4d., will be required for paying
off the loan notes falling due on the 21st of March, ~tor
discharging other liabilities, and to provide for the divi-
dend. Th greater part of this sum is bearing interest.
The arrears on all shares. including those belonging to
this company, and the for;eited shares, are now reduced
to about 26,4001., nearly 10,0001. having been paid up
since August last; and there is reason to expect that
a further considerable reduction will shortly take place."
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
said he had been frequently called upon to address the
shareholders of that company, but he had never addressed
them with greater pleasure than upon that occasion,
They had never on any previous halt-year seen so large
an amount of return, and although a considerable por-
tion of that sum he must acknowledge was derived from
the meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society of last
year, still the receipts were very satisfactory, and he ,
might also affirm that the prospects of the future were
most gratifying. Probably some objections might be
raised as to the reserve fund which the directors pro-
posed to set aside. For his own part he thought the
sum extremely moderate, for, in fact, there existed no
necessity for a reserve fund at all.—(Sear, hear.) The
directors would be too happy to give the proprietors a
dividend of a little higher rate, but it would be absurd
in any body of gentlemen to do so, if by proposing such
a resolution they endangered the welfare of a large
company. In reference to the dividend, he was of the
same opinion as Mr. Glyn, of the London and North-
Western Company, that a reserve of adequate amount
was the best security of an average dividend being main-
tained. After some further observations the chairman
moved the usual formal resolution adopting the report
and accounts.

The resolution having been seconded,
Major GODFREY. in a speech of some length, moved
an amendment to the effect that a dividend of 2/. instead
of 1/. 15s. be declared, his avowed object being to abolish
the reserve fund.
Mr. 1413XMORE seconded the amendment, which was
put, and lost by a large nvijority; and
The original resolution was carried almost unani-
mously.
In answer to questions,
The CHAIRMAN said that the estimated expense of
completing the Yeovil and Dorchester line was about
100,000/. In explanation of that paragraph in the re-
port which refers to the payment of the loan•notes and
debentures, and other liabilities of the company, the
Chairman stated that for this purpose a sum of 60,0001.
represented by 16,000 shares, would be issued, of which
he was at liberty to state that 21,0001. had been already

paid.
The resolutions authorising these arrangements were
then put and carried, and the meeting was then made
special, and a resolution for the purpose of securing Par-
liamentary sanction to the financial arrangements deter-
mined upon by the recent special meeting was put and
carried unanimously.
A. vote of thanks to the Chairman and directors closed
the business of the day.

THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.
Leases and Manager, Mr. James Andel son.
THIS EVENING,
Will be presented by her Majesty's S Teats
The Petite Comedy entitled
THE LADY AND THE DEVIL.

Wl'dove, Mr. J. Anderson ; Jeremy, Mr. Walter Lacy : Signor
affiel,Mr. J. W. Ray; Claudian, Mr. R. Butler; Zephyrina, Mrs.
iabett; Negombo, Mrs. Griffiths.
After which, a new grand Operatic Spectacle, entitled AZ %EL,
THE PRODIGAL. Reuaen, Mr. Vanfienhoff ; iizael, Mr. J. Ander.
son; Amenophis, Mr. Emery ; Bucharis, Mr. Cooper ; Sethos. Mr.
Rafter; Jephtele, Miss F. Vining; Nefte, Mrs. Walter Lacy; Lia,
Madlle. Victorine Legrain (Premier Sujet du Opera de Paris), who
has been expressly engaged for the occasion, and will make her
appearance every evening.
SYNOPSIS OF SCENERY, INCIDENTS, &c.
ACT I.
INTERIOR of REUBEN'S TEN!',
Opening at the Back to the Distant Des ~rt —Sunset.
The Travellers—the Evening Repast--the Gift—Departure of Azael

with the Oara;an for Memphis.
Camels of the Desert.
AcT 11.
The GREAT SQUARE of MEMPHIS.
Arrival of Azael.
Sacred Procession of Apis. The Offerings.
Lia, and Troop of Almees.
Grand Pas de t* ascination by Madile. Victorine Legrain.
ne ensemble by Madame Louise, Maddles. Palser, Julie, and
Coryphees.
he Gamester—False Diee—Azaet'e Prodigality—the Love Token

VIEW near ME-KMIS.
Reuben In search of his son—the False Friend.
Interior of the TEMPLE of ISIS.
Orgie.
•
Grand Pa 3 de Poignards by the Coryphecs.
Azael recovers the stolen Scarf- the Secret Spring—Azael surprised
in the Sacred Temple—the "Human Victim."
The Doom of the Prodigal.
AcT 111.
TEN of NEMROUD, the Camel Driver.
rrival of Travellers —Degradation of the Prodigal—the Slave—the
False Friend—the Gilt Restored—Despair of the Prodigal.
'fhe Dream.
The VALE of AZAEL'S BIRTH.
_ .

The Harvest Festival--Az— a'el mourned as Dead—Return of the

Prodt: al.
Appearance the Spirit of the Desert.
To conclude with THE INNKEEPER'S DAUG.ITER.

A tiAA lit.. MUYAL, iiAYMris.e.' e.
Jar. B. Webster. Sole Lessee and MaLager, Old Brotnpton.
THIS F.VENINO,

Will be performed a new and original Comedy, called PRE-
SENTED AT COURT. Charles the Second, Mr. Stuart ; Captain
Montague, Mr Howe; Rochester, Mr. Davenport; marquis de Fla-
mer, Mr. Selby; Geoffrey, Mr. Buckst. ne ; Anne Franklyn, Miss
Reynolds Miss Middleton, Miss A. Vining.
To be followed by a new and original comic drama, called GOOD
FOR NoTHING. Tom Dibbles, Mr. Buckstone ; Harr:✓ Collier,
Mr. Howe ; Young Mr. Simpson, Mr. Clark ; Nan, Mrs. Fitzwilliarn.
To conclude with the Nautical Drama of BLACK-EYED SUSAN.
William, Mr. Davenport ; Admiral, Mr. Rogers; Ca, taro Crosstree,
Mr. Pa: sells ; Gnatbrain, Mr. Buckstone; Jacob Twig, Mr. 11. Bed
ford ; Susan, Miss A. Vining.

tLitA., ADELeill.
Under the direction of Madame Celeste.
THIS EVENING,
Will be performed an entirely new grand Drama, 3 acts, entitled
RELPLIEGOR THE MOUNTEBANK; or, The Pride of Birth.
Duke de Montbazon, Mr. Hughes ; Count de St. Cyr, Mr. Boyce ;
the Chevalier de Rolac, Mr. 0. Smith ; Guillaume, surnamed Bel.
phegor, Mr. B. Webster; Ajax, alias Mr. Merryman, Mr. Wright ;
Captain Pufferes, Mr. Worrell ; Madellene, Madame Celeste ; Nini
Flora Aphrodite Stitz, Miss Wooigar.
After which a new Fgree called THE SCHOOL FOR TIGERS ;
or, The Shilling flop. Captain Kitztlyer, Mr. Boyce; Major SUIT,
Mr. Freeborn ; Mr. Panels, Mr. Wrl4ht ; Alexander Panels, Miss
Chaplin ; Mr. Firkins, Mr. C. J. Smith ; Tom drop, Miss Woolgar.

ROYAL. PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
'Under the Management of Mr. C. Kean and Mr. Reeky.
THIe4 EVENING.

Will be performed TILE MERCIIANT OF Shylock,
Mr. C. Kean Portia, Miss Phillips.
After which a new Comic Christrnal Pantomime, called ALONZO
THE BRAVE AND TIM FAIR. IMOGENE ; or, Harlequin and the
Baron all covered with Jewels and Gold. Clown, 31r. Flexmore ;
ar lequin, 3i.. Connack ; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo ; and Columbine,
Miss Carlotta Le Clercq.

.1101..kL LYCEUM THEATRE.
under the Management of Madame Veetzts,
6010 Lessee, Mr. Charles Mathew%
THIS EVENING.
Will be performed

A ROMANTIC IDEA.
After which an entirely new and or!gfnal Fairy Extravaganza,
to be called KING CHARMING ; or, the Blue -Bird of Paradise.
Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, Horncastle, Suter,
Bellingham, and llonner ; Madame Vestris, Mrs. Frank Matthews,
Miss Ellis, Mrs. C. Horn, Miss St. George, and Miss Martindale.

To conclude with
THE RL.NGDOVES, In which Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews,
Basil Baker. Mrs. F. Matthews, and Miss 2,1. Oliver will appear.

ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Farren.
Great hit of the historical Romance of Sextus the Fifth.
THIS EVENING,
Will be performed SEXTUS THE FIFTH; or, The Broken Vow,
After which THAT ODIOUS CAPTAIN CUTTER.
To conclude with CHAMBER PRACTICE.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.
Under the Patronage of her Majesty arid his Royal mem=
Prince Albert.
Proprietor and Manager, Mr, W. Batty.
Extraordinary series of attractive novelties.
THIS EVEING
The Grand new Spectacle of JOAN OF ARC ; or the Mali of Or-
lear.s. with new and costly costumes,

Together with Batty's Splendid Scenes of the Circle.
To conclude with an entirely new and original grand Eques-
trian Drama, entitled THE HORSE AND THE OASrLER ; or,
The Black Legend of Rotherhithe.
Box-etlice open from Eleven till Four.
Stage Manager, Mr. T. Thompson.

ALLEGED STARVATION OF A WIFE BY HER Hue-
IISA111).—A rumour was extensively spread in Bath on Tues-
day afternoon, that a woman named Harriet Sparing, living
in Same's-courr, Bathwick, had died of starvation from the
neglect
of her husband. Inspector Goldsworthy, of the
police force, immediately proceeded to investigate into the
truth of the report, and found that she had been left for
days together without any food or fuel. The husband, Wm.
Sparing, was a groom in the service of a gentleman resident
in the city, but since his wife's death and his conduct be-
came known, he has n,,t been found. A coroner's inquest
was held upon the body yesterday, when from the medical
evidence it appeared that the unfortunate woman had long
suffered from destitution and neglect. The inquiry was ad-
journed.

.
On the 2cl instant,
ATTACEUMENT OF TUB DOG
Kibrlccudbright, went
a shepherd, who resides a few miles from
to the parish church, his dog following
rilatit.tmaster; next
congregation went away the animal miedi Nrl, hen the
hiraaViied friend,
morning the latter set out in search of his
beside
and on looking into the burial ground. saw
the church door, having remained there aboithineegrighteen
hours. It is no wonder that, many persons, she
.and
flashers in particalar, highly prize their faithful comp:
who forsake their kind, and in numerous instances assist and
protect the life and property of their masters.—Dumfri,-;
Courier.
[ADVEILTISEMENT.3—A gratuitous stamped twenty.
column supplement will be published with the Observer on
Sunday. The conductors of the Observer purpose giving
occasionally gratuitous supplements, in order to give all de-
KTiptive particulars that ma be worth recording connected
with the Grand Exhibition! The- extensive publication of
the Observer commences (at 170, Strand) at 4 o'clock on
Sunday ruornin„,.B, in t• - e for the Sunday morning railways.
obspiTei,
6incsi
Price of the Monday's Observer, best for the
country and abrtad, is published at 4 on Monday afternoon.
--- -

The consecration of the Rev. Robert Eden, Bishop
(elect) or Moray and Rows, is fixed to take place on the first
tiunday in Lent, in St. Paul's Chapel, in Edinburgh. We
NTat to state that we have received intelligence that the
Bishop of Brachia, dangeronsly ill of typhus War,
caught ih the b,l,oPitrsi Puadee...auardian,

THE

- Now ready at all the Libraries, in 2 vols., post gm. -
S I L W _O 0 D.
A NOVEL.
The author, we are convinced. is young, otherwise we could
hardly see displayed such fresh and enthusiastic sympathy in be-
half of his heroes and heroines. Ile is a w ricer of genius, inspired
by a high standard of morality and religion, an 4 by a laudable love
of the purest sort of fame. We gather this from the glowing lan-
guage a which he expresses his feelings, sentiments, and opinions
on the subjects just mentioned. There are several chapters, in
which links of the story are dropped, containing most eloquent essays
an matters that are the prima mobilia of the actions which cha-
racterise nature's nobility. The writer evidently belongs, though he
has marked per se peculiarities, to the school of the Disraells, 3iftn.

senses, and Smythes."—Observer.
"‘ Silwood' is no ordinary work ; it contains passages of exceed-
ing beauty, and is written in pure and forcible language, with great
good taste and power. It is one of the most interesting and en
gaging novels which the present season has produced. Ot the cha-
racter of Amelia Ross we have already spoken, and the extract we
have given above is the surest voucher of the truth of what we have
said. The other ladies who play conspicuons parts in the tale are
Florence Howard, an intellectual beauty; Jessie Gordon, a wild and
impulsive genius, passionately fond of music and poetry ; and Julia
litaitland, the noblest and best of them all."—Morning Post.
Richard Bentley, New Burlington-street.

FASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY COM-
A PANY. At the TWENTY-NINTH HALF-YEARLY
MEETING of the Shareholders of the Company, held at the
London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, on THURSDAY, the 27th of
February, 1851, pursuant to Act of incorporation—
JOSEPH GLYNN, Esq., in the chair ;
the advertisement convening the meeting having been read, it was
resolved :

That the common seal of the Company be affixed to the register
of shareholders now rroduced.
It was moved by Mr. GLYNN. and seconded by Mr. Ems :
That the report of the Directors now read, together with the ac-
counts affixed thereto, be received and adopted.
The following amendment was then moved by Mr. flows, and se-
conded by Mr. Box:

That this general meeting of shareholders hereby declare that, to
carry over the surplus of revenue statei in the half•yearly account
as 24,6361. 12s. 2d., is inconsistent with the principles of equity, inas-
much as all shareholders selling out before another half-yearly
meeting, will thus be deprived of their fair share of the half-year's
profit; and they therefore declare a dividend of Is. per share for
the half-year ending Jan. 4, 1851, which will still leave a balance of
6,0001. in hand.

The amendment having been put, was declared to be lost.
The original motion having then been put, the following amend.
ment was moved by Mr. WADDINGTON and seconded by Mr,
NORRIS :

That the committee of shareholders appointed on the 13th instant
be requested to consider the policy of including in any working
agreement that may be made the Newmarket and Chest erford
and East Anglian Lines of railway; and, if so considered by them
at advisable, to report thereon at the adjourned meeting on
the 18th of March next, and that this meeting do adjourn to
that date.

The amendment was put and lost.
The original motion having been again put, the following amend-
ment was moved by Mr. Sergeant GAZELEE, and seconded by Mr.
MARGRAVZ

That this meeting do adjourn to the 18th March.
The amendment was than put and declared to be carried. Where-
upon a poll was demanded, which poll was ordered to commence at
a quarter past Five P.M.. and remain open until Seven p.m., to be re-
sumed this morning at Ten o'cl ck, and finally to close at Four P.M,,
when, if the adjournment be not carried, the business of the meeting
will be p ocetded with.

By order
Blshopagate Station, Feb. 28, 1851.

C. P. RONEY, Secretary.