The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-01 00:00:00

MANSION-HOUSE.

DARING SHOP ROBBERY.—Tames Brien alias Thomp•
son, was chargedi with stealing three coats value 61.,
the property of Mr. Grosgean, tailor, &c., 59, Cornhill.
It appeared from the evidence of the prosecutors er-
rand boy, that yesterday afternoon about 2 o'clock, the
prisoner, who was respectably dressed, entered the pro-
secutors' shop with a large double hand basket in his
hand, and deliberately took from the counter three coats
of the value of 61, and put them into it. An officer was
sent for, who came before the prisoner could get away,
and apprehended him.

Police-constable 35 deposed that when he apprehend-
ed the prisoner he took the three coats from the bas-
ket. Prisoner said he was very sorry for what he had
done, and hoped the prosecutor would not press the
charge. _ .

Partridge, the gaoler, said the prisoner was tried at
the Old Bailey a short time since.
The prisoner pleaded guilty to the charge, and, in
answer to a question from the Lord Mayor, said he
wished the charge to be then disposed of instead of its

being sent to the Old Bailey. He hoped his lordship '
would be lenient to him.

The Lord Mayor having cautioned the prisoner as to
his future conduct, sentenced him to six months' hard
labour in the house of correction.

POT STEALING.—Johan IVAite was committed to the
House of Correction for six weeks, for stealing pots from
Mr. George Clarke, of the Bell Inn, Bush-lane.

ELECTRIC AND INT KRNATIONAL TELE-

GRAPH COMPANY.

The twenty-first half-yearly general meeting of the
proprietors of this company was held yesterday at the
offices of the company, Founder's•court, Lothbury ;
Major-General Wylde in the chair.

From the balance-sheet for the half year ending 30th
June, it appeared that the capital of the company Was
854,4801. ls. 9d., which has been expended, except
32,2261. 2s. 3d., the balance at the bankers ; 29,0501.
the value of stores, and 2,1851. securities in hand. The
revenue account showed a total receipt for messages,
subscriptions, and maintenance of 78,5161. le. Bd., and
the expenses including 2,0741. for interest on debenture
debt, amounted to 53,606/, 14s. 2d., leaving a balance In
hand of 24,9091. 7s. 6d. A dividend of 6 per cent.
would take 22,6321. 163., leaving a balance in hand of
8,6771. Os. 7d.

The CHAIRMAN said he had very few observations to
make. The balance-sheet spoke for itself. He considered
it very satisfactory ; it showed the continued prosperity of
the company. The item of spare stores showed an apparent
increase since last year of 9,0001., which was caused by an
amalgamation with the accounts of the International
Company which had been effected. The whole property
of that company had been put down as the cost of con'
struction, which was stated at 11,0001., but this was, in
point of fact, the spare stores left after the construction
was finished, and they were now placed under their pro-
per head, and, in point of fact, there was a reduction of
nearly 2,0001. since last year in the amount of spare
stores. The increasa of these items arose from laying 0
considerable portion of the telegraphic line with new raw
terial, and also from their having thoroughly repaired the
cable to Holland, which had been injured by anchors.
He had no reason, with regard to their future prospects,
to suppose that the expenses of the next half-year would
exceed those of the last, unless the requirements of the
public necessitated the extension of the line, or an in'
crease in the stations, which might induce them to make
a profitable outlay of capital. The receipts were increas•
in, those of thelast half-year considerably exceeded those
of the half-year before. The second half was always the
best, and if they wenton in the way they had commenced
this halt year, they would have every reason to congra-
tulate themselves on the prosperity of the concern. From
the engineer's report it appeared that during the half"
year the electric telegraph bad been extended over 76t
miles of entirely new line. The length of wire erected
was 459 miles, of which 274 miles were for railway,
and 185 for commercial purposes. The mileage at the
present time was as follows :—Mileage of line, 5,303 ;
wire, 28,3524 ; number of instruments, 2,042 ; bells,
641. Telegraphs had been constructed on the following
I railways :—Perth and Dunkeld, Nayland Extension
(South Wales), Alton and Andover branches (south
Western), Salisbury branch (Wilts and Somerset). gi"
nor works had been done for other railway companies,
principally for the purpose of signalling. The only corn'
mercial work of any importance bad been the construe'
tion of a direct wire from London to Hull, via Great
Grimsby, including a submarine cable two miles in length
across the Humber. Telegraphs were in course of ere&
tion on the Forth and Clyde Railway, and Wilts and
Somerset branch. A communication was also being
establi-hel between the East and West India Docks and
the London office. With the exception of the exten-
sion of the wires to Nayland, the commercial works it
progress were quite unimportant. Three of the Du"
submarine cables were repaired and now in use, and the
fourth had been picked up and was now being coiled on
beard at Lowestoft, and would in aJew days be 3011
submerged. Judging from their appearance, their du'
rability was likely to be very considerable. One of the
Irish cables was still out of repair, as also one of the
Isle of Wight wires. In conclusion, the chairman moved
that the statement of accounts be received and adopted'
Mr. RAWSON asked for some explanation of an item ,
24,1251. Bs. 6d. for salaries and wages. He thought it
ought to be given somewhat more in detail.
Mr. CHADWICK, a director, said there were 577 eta.
tions, and the salaries and %ages of the clerks and other.
were comprised in this item.
After some discussion, in the course of which there
was a pretty general expression of opinion that the ne"
counts should contain some further particulars with re'
gard to this item, and also with regard to another item
of 9,4141., for maintenance, the motion was put and Or'
ried.

The CRAIRHAN then moved that a dividend be do*
Glared, at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum.
Mr. RAWSON moved an amendment, that the divl'
dend be 7 per cent., which he said could be declared,
they did not maintain so large a reserved fund.
Mr. BIDDER, a director, said it was necessary they
should have a working capital of 9,0001. or 10,000/.,
for no other purpose, in order to transact the business °'
the company in money orders, which was much increase
ing
M.
r. G. WILSON spoke at some length in support of
the amendment.

On a show of hands the amendment was lost, and 00
original motion carried ; and the meeting wound uP
with the usual vote of thanks to the chairman.

MARKET NEWS.—;This Day.)