The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-15 00:00:00

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tonnage from 1,297,124 tons in the former year, to
1,9713,405 tons in the latter year, the increase being up-
wards of 52 per cent. during Lord Dalhonsie's administra-
tion. As for the pressure of taxation, the whole taxation'
of India, regarded as a capitation tax, was 4s. 7d. per
head per annum, including the opium revenue, which was
:not prOperly a tax upon India, but was paid by foreigners.
The taxation varied very little 'under the different govern-
ments, except in Bombay, where it was Bs. 7d. per head,
including all the taxes ; but the average land tax was
only 2s. sid. per head annually, and it was almost identi-
cal la the north-west provinces, the most flourishing go-
vern tirent of India, and in the Madras presidency. This,
considering the extreme cheapness of the means of sub-
sistence amongst the people of India, was not a pressure of
taxation by **eh they could be pauperised, as had been
asserted. Such /0 been the labours of Lord Dalhousie,
through a period. unusually protracted, at the request of
the home authorities, and they were enough to entitle him
to the gratitude and admiration of the public and of the
Last India, Company. Broken down in health, he had
takema touching farewell of the inhabitants of Calcutta,
and returned to this country. In his tempos ary repose,
let him have the solace of an unreserved approval of his
conduct, on :AM part of the company, as expressed in the
resolution submittel to the meeting. The
0/aim-an, in concluik moved the approval and confir-
mation of his grant of the p.nsion of 5,000/, a-year to Lord
Dalhoneie.
Mr. Ross D._ MANGLES seconded the resolution.
Mr. ti initspelie`at some length against the *posed
grant, saying-J..4i: he considered the salary which Lord
Dalhouse had reoW. for eight years 25,0001. a-year, toge•
Cher with a palace to reside in, allowance for household ex-
Peistes;and other 110140811 of emolument, were ample rerun-
ubrieLion; Jhoneagethel tliat Lord' Palhousie'e civil

services had deaereudthetommendation of the whole world.
He'kneW it iraslgnito in accordance with Oriental ens.
Mitts and with" the habits of that court to worship the
rising Sun, and at Present. Lord Dalbonsie's name was a
tower of strength.. He will; looked to as a future Prime
Minister ; and it might be thought that, if he obtained
this pension, the comPitly'would haiC a certain lien upon
him. 'lle,(Mr.lewin) entirely disapproved of the annexa-
tion policy which Lord Dalhousie had adopted, and which,
he believed, had excited inch a feeling against us, that it
would altithateli cause a great risk of the loss of our In-
dian Empire. IlVeaforced this view by several instances,
and_ criticised the viaduct of the Indian Qovtrnment in re-
gard to the native psinces,enkaristocracy of the country.
Mr. S$ Tort KARR replied, in justification' Of the policy
which had been pursued by the late Governor-General, and
in praise of the great improvementa effected during his ad-
ministration..
Mr. JosrEs then addressed the cbnrt at some length in
opposition to the motion. 'He censured the Indian Go-
vernment ia many particulars, and, contended that great
injustice had been done in the case of Nagpore, and in
other oases of annexation, to the rights 'of the native fami-
lies concerned: Re moved as an amendment, "That this
court would not be justified in awarding the mousy Which
belongs to the people of India for a pension such as is now
proposed:" -

Mr. S _rgeant GASIELRIE seconded the amendment.
Dr. BEATTII spoke in support of the recommendation of
;he Court of Directors.

Major RATIIBONE opposed the pension, going into de•
tails as to the measures of Lord Dalitousie's adtninistra.

Sir .T. W. HOGG then replied on behalf of the directors
and cf Lord Dalhousie. He strongly repudiated the sug-
gestion of Mr. Lewin, that any sordid expectation of future
advantage had induced them to grant this pension, or that
Lord Dalhousie could be supposed capable of ever being
influenced by such a consideration. He justified the policy
of the Indian Government in the eaveral instances of an-
nexation, and urged that the high claims of the late illus-
trious Governor-Gbneral demanded: the grateful recogni-
tion of his countrymen.

Mr. Serjeant GABEL= briefly spoke against the grant,
observing that he had nothing to say against Lord Di-
house, but that thef dame and exaggerated praise baste wed
on the noble lord was very injudicious on the part of his
friends. He only protested, as a trustee for the people of
India, against the exorbitant salaies and pensiots which
were paid out of their hard earnings.
The original resolution and the amendment were then
put to the vote, when the former was carried with only
eight dissentients, and the court then adjotuned.
The resolution must be submitted to the approval of a
second general meeting of proprietors, whichis to be held
next Wednesday,

BAIL INTELLIGENCE.

METROPOLITAN.

The a,ljeurned half-yearly meeting of this company was
held yesterday at the offices, Great George-street, West-
minister ; \lr. A. S. Ayrton in the chair.
The Cualeussr said they had met to consider the pro-
ork.ty of adopting the report submitted at the meeting in
Feb. last. Tne directors were not prepared with any new
report, and therefore would ask them to acquiesce in that
already presented. He then adverted to the past history
of the company, and its connection with Mr. Pearson's
project fcr a city terminus, which was amalgamated with
that of the Metropolitan Compauy.They had obtained pe-
cuniary assistance from members of the corporation, and
also from the Great Western Company. The war
came, and absorbed all the surplus cash in the coun-
try ; the consequence was the capitalists on whom
they relied for support to carry out the undertaking
were not prepared to supply the funds for the purpose.
The directors had given a pledge that they would not
make a call or proceed with the works until they had
the assent of the shareholders Their undertaking dif-
fered in some respects from that of other railway com-
panies, inasmuch as when the works were commenced it
would be necessary to carry them on as rapidly as possi-
ble with a view to complete tbem as soon as they could,
otherwise delay with the works would involve enormous
expense on the company, which it was desirable to
avoid. They were at present proceeding with negotia-
tions which they hoped wend lead to a favourable ter.
mination in carrying out the project. They bad lately
been in negotiation with the Great Northern Company
on the subject of forming a junction with that com-
pany's railway, and it was believed the directors of that
company would recommend their shareholders to sub-
scribe 175,000/. towards the undertaking. The proprie-
tors would see they were not at. present in a condition
to commence the works, particularly as it was necessary
they should first come to an understanding with the
authorities of the city of London in respect to certain
property through which the line was intended to pass.
It was necessary that they should have power to take
land on each side of the railway, and to snake arrange-
ments with the city of London for that purpose. Until
those points were settled it would not be desirable to
commence the works. The shareholders would soon be
called together again to consider the bill now before
Parliament, in compliance with the Wharncliffe stand-
ing order. Considering the public events that had taken
place since they applied for power to construct the rail-
way, the course adopted by the directors could not be
deemed unsatisfactory to the shareholders. He would
be glad to see the works commenced, but he was not
alarmed at tho delay, for he thoug'it much good would
result from it ; and, if the undertaking be really sound,
the delay of five or six months would be of no conse-
quence. It would not do to commence the works pre-
cipitately and then find themselves in difficulty ; the
directors were desirous of making all the necessary ar-
rangements before they commenced operations. He
concluded by moving the adoption of the report.
Mr. JONES complained of the obscurity in which their
affairs appeared to be placed. He was not aware before
that they were indebted to the Great Western for a
loan ; he considered they were shareholders to the'ex-
tent of their subscription. He considered that the corn-
pany had been spending from 3,000/. to 4,0001. a.year
since they had obtained their bill, which was too much
to take out of the small sum they had in band. He
thought the best d do would be to wind
up the affairs of He had no confidence in
the statement of particularly objected to
. _ _

the suspense am,
and he had some.
Mr. WATTS was
h3l not the mop,
He wished to kni

Id the loan of-16 0001.,
balance of 14,0001.
,ear that the compney
lha,e 14nd in the city.
lat their chairman wag

about to leave t
Mr. MALINS c to resic,ning the chair,
he had intimated ,eatiog in consequence
of his connection with the Railway Reform Association,
and would now also resign his seat at the board.
The CHAIRMAN replied to the observations of Mr.
Jones, which, he said, were totally unfounded, and in
doing so said the past proceedings of the company would
bear the fullest inquiry. It was well known that the
Great Western bai subscribed for 175,0001. of the capi-
tal, and paid their deposit of 17,5001., but in order to
complete the deposit" in Parliament they had advanced
them a further sum 12,500/., which they now had the
means to return wen requires!. With regard to the
calls, some parties had paid them up in full, while sums
rec-ived from others who had subscribed were in dis-
pute, and these sums were placed in a suspense account
anti; the matter in dispute was settled. Since the last
meeting 500/. of that sum had been paid, and the sus-
pense account was reduced by tbat amount, and as the
other disputed sums were settled they would be deducted
until the whole was extinguished. The accounts bad been
audited by Mr. Armstrong mid Mr. Copeetock, and there
e')ui'lbo "° doubt as to the correctness of the items. Par-
liament had refused to allow the 71,000/. deposited in
Chancery to be withdrawn for the works until the speci-
fied time, but they agreed to extend the time for corn.
mencing the works one year from the let August next.
After some angry observations on the affairs of the
company,

r. l'AlALrzs begged to assure the meeting. that the
,lirectors• had not received one farthing for their expenses
~tit of pocket nor for their servics. The cost of the
first application to Parliament was limited to 3,0001. ;
but the second application was opposed by Alderman

st thing they could'
,f the company. FL
)f accounts, and pa
:count of 5,000/. am
le doubts as to ese
was surprWed •to 11,
tat powers to puroh
now how',...t was tlu
them ?
said, wititreference
:d that al the last nu