The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-23 00:00:00

en t r 92bittton

SUN OFFICE Six o'Clock.

SPAIN.

Our accounts from Madrid are of the 18th inst.

An officer of the staff had arrived the day before
at Madrid, who was said to be the bearer of im-
portant despatches from the Captain -General of
Barcelona. Catalonia was perfectly tranquil.
The Clamor Publico states that, before the close
of the month, the Government will have come to
an understanding on all the questions connected
with the political re-organisation of the country.
The Madrid Gazette publishes the following,
dated Lisbon, 12th inst.:--

"During the recent riot, a great affluence of coun-
try people was observed in the capital. Emissaries had
been sent to different points, and it is now well known
that a•revolutiocary movement was contemplated. The
rioters having announced that they would be joined by
the labourers employed on the railways an d in the
manufactories, the Governor bad caused certain posi
tions to be occupied by the troops. The attitude of the
latter deterred many from joining the groups. The
Captain-General deserves the greatest praise ; by his
prudence and coup Sail he defeated the designs of the
seditious. The re-organisation of the Municipal Guard
and the dismissal of its Commander-in-chief were con
sidered indispensable. That corps costs the State
4,347,826 reals per annum, and might be replaced by
the troops of the garrison by granting the men a trifling
additional pay. The King is of opinion that regiments
should not remain more than one year in the same town.
All the corps of the army would accordingly in their
turn benefit by the measure."

GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY.

(This Day.)

The half-yearly meeting of this company was held this
morning at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street—
Mr. E. Dennison in the chair.

The report of the directors, with the accounts, which
have already appeared in The Sun, were taken as read.
The CHAIRMAN, in addressing the shareholders, con-
gratulated them on the satisfactory position of the com-
pany, which he said he considered was exemplified in
the fact that the original shareholders stuck by the ship
and did not sell her—during the past half-year they had
added but 30 shares to the list. (Hear.) The directors
had been very careful over the shareholder's money,
not one payment of 1001. or 1501. being made by them
without the greatest scrutiny by the board. The secu-
rities in cash held by the board up to the 30th of June
amounted to 262,2621. Os. 6d., and the preference capi-
tal not called up amounted to 400,0001., and the board
hoped to be able to do without calling up that amount
for a considerable time. (Hear, hear.) After alluding
to the gross receipts and expenditure of the line for the
past half-year, which have already been published, he said
the directors proposed a dividend of 3i per cent., which
would leave a balance of 1551. 14s. Bd. to be carried to
the next half-year. He moved the reception and adop-
tion of the report and accounts.

Mr. PACKE seconded the motion.
After some remarks from Mr. V. Knight, relative to
matters of finance,

Mr. HUGHES expressed his opinion that if strict eco-
nomy were observed in the management of the line,
there would be a larger dividend for the shareholders.
He thought it would be much better for all were the
number of directors lessened, and expressed an opinion
that it was not advisable for the company to subscribe
towards the proposed metropolitan line. He also called
attention to the disparity in the rates of payments to
the officials, which required attention, and concluded by
expressing an opinion that, on the whole, the report
was satisfactory.

Mr. GIESAR called attention to the working expenses
of the line, amounting to 49.77 per cent., whilst the Lon-
don and North-Western was only 40 per cent., and the
London and South-Western much less. If the working
expenses had been reduced to the working expenses of
the latter line their dividend would have been at the
rate of 51 per cent. (Hear, hear.) Since the appoint.
ment of a committee by the London and North-
Western to investigate the affairs of the company
a sum of 70,0001. had been saved. After adverting
to the sum of 1,600,0001. on stock, he proposed the
appointment of a committee of 12 shareholders, not di-
rectors of t'.►e company, to investigate into the affairs
of the company and report thereon.
A PaormETon seconded the motion.

Mr. PLIMSOLL attempted to address the meeting, but
as he was not a registered shareholder the meeting re-
fu:sed to hear him.

The CHAIRMAN said the working expenses of the line
were not greater than those of a number of other lines
that appeared to be less. It was the practice of the
Great Northern to charge everything to the working ex-
penses that legitimately belonged to them. Until a uni-
versal system was adopted for working railways, it would
be impossible to come to a clear understanding in the
matter. He could bear testimony to the desire of all
connected with the line to keep down expenses.

The report and accounts were then received and
adopted.

The following resolutions were then agreed to :
" That a dividend be declared for the half-year ended
30th June, 1856, as follows, payable •to the proprietors on
the Register of the Company on the 26th July, 1856 :
At the rate of 51. per cent, per annum upon the Perpetual
Preference Stock of the Company; at the rate of 51. per
cent. per annum upon the 5 per cent. Preference Stock of
the Company, redeemable at a premium of 101. per cent. ;
at the rate of 41. 10s. per cent, per annum upon the 46 per
cent. Preference Stock of the Company, :redeemable at a
premium of 101. per cent. ; at the rate of .5/. per cent. per
annum upon the 5 per cent. Preference Stuck of the Com-
pany, redeemable at a premium of Si. iser cent. ; at the
rate of 31. 103. per cent, per annum on the Origina Undi-
vided Stock of the Company, being for the half-year 1/.155.
per cent. ; and at the rate of 31. 10s. per cc T t. for the half-
year upon B Stock, towards 6 per cent. per annum, as
guaranteed by A Stock."
"That the directors b© and hereby an f, authorised to
convert into Great Northern Railway De benture Stock,'
any portion or the whole amount of the r aortgage debt of
the company, from time to time, and upon such terms as
they may consider advisable, in accordanoe with the pro-
visions of `The Great Northern Company's Increase of
Capital Act, 18532"
The Chairman next moved :

" That the directors be, and hereby am, authorised to
expend a sum not exceeding 7001. for tla erection of a
school-room at New England, Peterborough, for the chil-
dren of the mechanics and labourers in the company's
employ there."

lie said it was necessary, for the convenience of the
men, that cottages should be erected at New England,
and it was desirable 4 school should be erected for
the 200 children belionging to them.
Agreed to.

MMr. Giesar's motion for a c)mmittee was negatived,
and a vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the,
business.

TIM 'RUSSIAN SOLDIERS AT INKERMAN. Captain
llocir.sevich, late in the Russian service, in a work by
him recently published, Voice from within the
Walls of Sebastopol," says —" Close to me (at the at.
tack on Liken:nal) heights) stood a young
ensign of the
name of I'rotopoff, and, se' Ang that he looked dull, I
asked what was the matter. Ah !' said he, tell my
uncle to write home, and .say that I was killed at the
battle of Inkerman.' His uncle was in our regiment. I
told him that he ougl it not to joke like that, for don't
you see the day is or.rs ? I had hardly time to pronounce
these words before 'ae was struck in the left side by a
rifle ball, and died aim oat immediately. Shortly
after this I received a 'plow on the left shoulder
from a small stone, and I heard from all sides cries
that the Ekatberiußnbur gers are killing Us !' 1 asked
what was the rn: tter, and at the same instant a
man fell dead be& de me. I ordered the men who were
near me to see. -where he was shot. They said in the
back of the '.teal, so there could be no longer any doubt.
Taking wi'„h me men of any company, I went down
to the regiment of Ekat herinen burg, which I found about
half-way down the hill i n a disorganised mass, and firing.
On my asking them w' bat they were firing at, they said
they were firing over our heads. Hew can you be
firing over our heads when you are killing our army ?'
I tried to reason with them, and persuade them if they
would not advance a' least to cease firing, when a man
stepped out and fire d close to me. I could contain my •
self no longer, but Ng an to belabour bim with the flat
of my sword, whey A I E aw a major coming up to me and
I rushed to meet Jiro. What on earth are you about I
Why don't you I .00k t o your men ? Why don't you ad-
vance ? If you won't advance, at least order your men
to cease firing, for the y are killing le r The major said,
in a plaintive What can I do when they have
killed more 'Alen f' of us ?' Thinking he meant the
enemy, I s•aid, It dis that a reason why you should
kill your oven pe ri 'le No,' said he, it is they,'
pointing to the 1.0 ,n, ' who have shot us ; I am the
only field officer lel t, and what can Ido with such rut.
flans 'lt is a , shame, Mr. Major,' said I, to fear
your own men ! • I,lre were joined by an officer from
the regiment ( Borodino, who added his remonstrances
to mine, but witho at effect. The major left us, and
went farther ( Lown the bill cut of the way. I returned
again to the battery', but here reigned such confusion
that it was i.• npossif le to distinguish the men of my own
regiment. t iudde& y a cry was raised that we were
out flao),ced J I shot ited for the men of my company,
but it vvp
.s of lac) use, and the sergeant-major said they
.ied up with the others, and that it would be
iraPce, ,ible to tepara to them."