The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-12 00:00:00

•

would be strange indeed if such a people should
remain insensible to the achievements of their
countrymen in the late war, and should neglect
that recognition of devoted valour, or refuse that
tribute of admiration to surpassing gallautryalready
accorded in this country. In our impression of
Tuesday last we published the proceedings at a
public meeting held in Dublin the day previously,
for the purpose of promoting a national banquet to
all the troops now serving in Ireland who are
wearers of the Crimean medal. Whether we look
to the character and position of those who signed
the requisition and took part in the meeting, or to
the resolutions and the speeches in support of
them, we cannot doubt that it is a national under-
taking, intended to express a national feeling, to
convey the heartfelt feelings of Irishmen to those
who have added lustre to the Irish name while up-
holding the honour of England in the field. The
Irish aristocracy was fitly represented in the person
of an estimable nobleman—Lord Talbot de Mala-
hide. The hero of Chillianwallali was there, and
in his effective and soldier-like speech bore the
testimony of an eye-witness to the difficulties so
nobly overcome by the Crimean army. Colonel
Browne, commissioner of the Dublin police, re-
fereed to his own Peninsular experiences, and told
the meeting how Irishmen behaved in the passes
of the Pyrenees and on the bloody plain of Sala.
manca. The members for Youghal and for the
King's County were also present ; indeed, from
the first, Mr. Butt's name has been identified with
this undertaking, and, as we doubt not, the ovation
will fully realise the anticipations of its projectors,
much will be due to the unassuming exertions of
that honourable and learned gentleman. We find
such names as La Touche and O'Dwyer, as repre-
senting the Irish gentry, and William Dargan, ss
the representative of Irish enterprise. The com-
position of the. meeting, therefore, was very perfect,
and the character of the proceedings left nothing
to be desired. _ _

The manifestation of feeling which followed the
disclosure of the object of the meeting, and the
allusions of the various speakers to deeds of Irish
and British chivalry, were worthy of the occasion.
The Crimean campaign closes a long record of the
brilliant services, more especially of the gallant re-
giments raised and recruited at the other side of
the water. "I felt proud," exclaimed the member
for Youghal, in the course of his eloquent speech,
" that down to the latest moment—down to this
hour—wherever the arms of England have bees
engaged—whether it was at the Crimea, whether
in storming Sebastopol, or whether it was on the
glorious plains of Chillianwallah, Irishmen have
given proof of their courage, and still we may in-
scribe the names of Irishmen amongst the most
honoured of the heroes of the United Kingdom."
The hon. gentleman is right. It was an Irish re-
giment which led the way through the terrible
breaches of Badajos ; and, if we remember aright,
that first planted the British colours on the walls of
Ciudad Rodrigo. It was the Irish regiments that
bore the brunt at Talavera and Vittoria. Conspi-
cuous on the field of Waterloo were those Irish re-
giments which Pictou never could restrain in the
presence of an enemy. Conspicuous, also, on that
great day, and in that superb charge which over-
threw the flower of the Frenclichivalry, aud struck
terror even to the heart of Napoleon, were those
Irish cavalry that "fell like a thunderbolt on the
foe !" and in the recent wruggle, they were Irish
regiments which so nobly supported the move-
ment against the Russian batteries of the Alma,
that sustained for hours the hand-to-hand fight
at Inkerman ; and that watched day and night
in the trenches, and it was a party of
the 18th Royal Irish who, on the memorable
Bth of September, first set foot within the walls of
Sebastopol : no marvel, then, that in Ireland the
soldier is had in honour, and that the appeal of
Monday last should find a response in the heart of
the Irish nation.

Another gratifying feature in the proceedings to
which we have referred is the total absence of
party spirit by which they are distinguished. Irish-
men, it is clear, can meet for a great national ob-
ject, and forget the miserable rivalries and eternal
dissensions which have hitherto prevented the
growth of anything like public opinion amongst
them, and arrested their progress as a people. We
accept the meeting of last Monday, with its ex-
pression of generous and manly sentiment and its
tumultuous heartiness, as a happy omen of the
future peace and prosperity of Ireland—as an in-
dication that the time has come for entering upon
a new path, in which Irishmen will feel that they
have a community of interests and a national re-
putation to support—if not to create. Nor should
it be forgotten that, desirous as they are to do
honour to their countrymen who have taken part
in the late campaigns, there is as hearty an 'appre-
ciation of the distinguished valour of the British
troops who fought beside them, and as warm a
welcome for them at the approaching banquet—au
ovation which we trust may be in no way inferior
to the recent expression of admiration in this me-
tropolis for the gallant Brigade of Guards.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

NORTH BRITISH.

The ordinary half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of
the North British Railway was held yesterday at the
London Tavern ; Mr. R. Hodgson, chairman of the
board of directors, in the chair.

The report, which has already been published; was
taken a 3 read.

The chairman said he had great pleasure in meeting
the shareholders in London under circumstances much
more encouraging than when he last addressed them.
This clay 12 months it was his duty to tell them that
the revenue of the half year must be applied to the
purposes of the permanent way and the liquidation of
old debts pressing heavily on their capital ; and the
shareholders, having fall confidence in the direction, con-
sented to forego a dividend. He had to thank them in
the name of the direction for that confidence, and to
sho-v that it had not been misplaced be could assure
them that the exertions of the directors had succeeded
in placing the finances of the company upon a most
satisfactory footing. The measures which the share.
holders sanctioned last year had placed their property
urn a sound and substantial foundation, and their
future prospects were most cheering. Too com-
pany were in possession of an undisputed territory, with.
out having any competing interest to contend against,
and no long as they continued to serve the district to the
best of their power consistently with the claims of the
shareholders, they need entertain no ftars about their
future success. The plant and permanent way were in
a first rate condition, and with ordinary prudence and
timely repairs both might be kept so. They had a larri
and continually increasing traffic—not increasing by his
and and starts, but gradually and steadily. This half-year
it had increased 3401. per week, or 9,000/. for the half-
year, as compared with the corresponding period of last
year, while the opening up of new branches and tribu-
taries promised to bring in c inflections with other rail-
ways that could not do otherwise than add to their re-
ceipts. Well, then, considering that the line, plant, and
rolling stock were in good sound working order ; con-
sidering that their debts bad been placed on a liquidation
footing, that their capitil bad been remodelled and.
equalised ; and, considering, lastly, that the traffic of
their railway was yet far from fully developed, ho thought
the shareholders had every reason to congratulate them-
selves upon their present position and future prospects.
Nevertheless, it was only right that he should state that
two or three shareholders had written to complain that
the dividend was too high ; they thought it ought to be
reduced, with the view of establishing a renewal fund,
but the directors thought the more legitimate and
prudent course was to meet their renewals every half-
year, as renewals became necessary. That course
they had followed, and intended to continue, and
the ordinary shareholders might very fairly and
safely divide 24 per cent.: The line could ,not be ren-
dered more complete or efficient than it was at pre-
sent, while, since 1852, the passenger traffic had in-
creased 27 per cent., and the goods traffic 53 per cent.
Nor had this increase involved an increase of expendi-
ture ; on the contrary, the engines daily in steam since
1852 bad been reduced by 30 per cent., and the expenses
of other departn.ents had been economised as far as was
possible consistent with the proper working of the line.
Under these circumstances, ho had much pleasure in
moving the adoption of the report.
The report was then unanimously adopted, after which
a dividend was declared at the rate of 5 per cent. urn
the preferential stock, and 24 per cent, upon the ordi-
nary stock, leaving upwards of 1,1001. to be carried for-
ward to the next account.
A resolution was then passed, empowering the direc-
tors to lay down the electric telegraph upon such por-
tions of the railway as required it.
Mr. Kinlock, a director, took the opportunity of as-
suring the meeting that the line was in perfectcondi-
tion, and most economically managed. Soruethin b g ad
been said out of doors of the claim of the Edinburgh and
Glasgow upon this companylt bad been put forth as
amounting to 65,0001., but in point of fact it was no.
thing of the rort. The Edinburgh and Glasgow had
already received a sum of 10,0001., and workrepresent-
ing 10,000/c.otun
could
e bringo
Lire balancenaccolun t o f theirwithin
claim,a fair and r wlihmeint,-
e‘er they d
the North British would be quite ready to pay it.
A shareholder ask& d when the next call would be
made upon the new 71. preferential shares ?
The Chairman hoped not for some time to come yet ;
but no further call would be made without the consent
of a special meeting convened fur the purpose.
A vote of thanks was then passed to the chairman
and directors, and it Laylng been agreed that. the next
half-yearly meeting should be held ia Edinburgh, the
proceedings terminated.