The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-25 00:00:00

NORFOLK.

-- --- -
The report of the directors of this company states that the
amount credited by the Eastern Counties Railway Com-
pany, and assumed by them as the proportion of the joint
earnings due to the Norfolk Railway Company, is £42,743,
which, after deducting the interest on guaranteed stocks
and loans, leaves a balance of £13,728, and enables the
directors to propose a dividend of £1 7s. 6d. per cent. upon
the ordinary stock of the company for the last half-
year. The revenue account of the associated com-
panies has been prepared by the Eastern Counties Rail-
way Company, and is therefore based on their view of the
agreement of 1854, but this and the previous half-yearly 1
accounts so furnished have not been adopted by the di-
rectors, who claim a considerable addition tkereto. The
directors regret that the various questions in dispute be-
tween this company, the Eastern Union Railway Company,
and the Eastern Counties Railway Company, as to' their
respective rights under the agreement of 1854, remain un-
adjusted. The solicitors of the Norfolk and Eastern Union
Companies, acting under the advice of counsel, have
jointly given notice to the Eastern Counties Company
to render accounts in accordance with the agreement,
including all traffic receipts properly belonging to
the common fund, and to discontinue the deduc-
tions unauthorised thereby. They have jointly com-
menced the necessary legal proceedings for ascertaining
their rights, and for defining the duties and functions of the
joint committee. The capital account shows that £2,229,905
had been received, and £2,223,395 expended, leaving a
balance of EON).

RESIGNATION OF COL. BROWNE•
It is announced this morning that Col. Browne, Commis
.
sioner of the Dublin Metropolitan Police, has resigned,
He is to be succeeded by Col. IL Lake (of Kars), C. 8.,
unattached, aide-de-camp to the Queen. At the time of the
late prosecution against Col. Browne and certain members
of the Dublin police, it was generally known that he bad
decided on retiring when a fitting opportunity occurred.
It is proper to add that he is widely respected, and that his
resignation will be regretted by all the subordinate officers
of the force. Col. Lake's appointment will, it is to be hoped,
be accompanied by certain much needed reforms in the body.
CHARLES DICKENS IN DUBLIN.
Mr. Dickens has been enthusiastically received in Dublin.
He gave his first reading last evening. Upon making his
first appearance on the platform of the Rotundo, he expe-
rienced a reception which is rarely accorded elsewhere than
in Ireland, and even here but to very prime favourites.
When silence had been restored, he said :
" Ladies and gentlemen, let the first words I have spoken
on Irish soil be those of gratitude for your generous wel-
come—l return you thanks with all my heart." Having
explained the nature and scope of the evening's lecture, he
proceeded to express a hope that his auditors would give
full vent at any portions of the story they thought proper to
any feelings by which they might be animated. The sub-
ject for the evening, " The Christmas Carol," can hardly
he considered one of the most successful productions of
thewriter;
high standard, and according to the fastidious taste which
Mr. Dickens has himself created. The story, which is more
legithnately suited for the fireside than the platform, abounds
with passages that in any other age and country
.would be
considered marvels of wit and happy thought, enriching the
book aml establishing the fame of its author • yet the plot,
stripped of its ennobling accessories and amplitude of detail,
presents liitie more than the case of a naturally goodhearted
man recalled through the memory of vivid dreams, and the
thoughts which' they give rise to, from the mists of avarice
and sordid worldliness in which be had for years become
enshrouded. Still what a wonderful structure has been
built on such a slen dor foundation ; and who, having read
this ghost story with .attention to its deeper meaning, had
not derived both please: and advantage, as must be the
case from any other of the works that the same gifted band
has produced. Mr. Dickens's rendering was admirably
calculated to develop the points of the narrative. Omitting
all but the dialogues of the leading characters, with those
portions of descriptive matter indispensable to a right ap-
preciation of their meaning, the four staves into which DUBLIN AND WICKLOW.
the Carol is divided were easily and agreeably compressed ---
into the period of two bestirs, which was judiciously
fixed by the programme as the limit of the recital, The report of the directors of this company states that the
with a view to avoid all danger of wearying the audi- earlier part of the half-year was still marked by the late
ence. Mr. Dickens possesses naturally a good voice, commercial pressure, and the consequent general depres-
marked at intervals with a slight Provincial accent ; sion. Nevertheless the accounts exhibit an increase of
traffic as compared with the corresponding half of last year.
and to an easy manner he has appmently. added the
The receipts on the Kingstown line for the year ending the
careful study of tone and gesture so essential to an
actor in every sphere. In parts, moreover, where such a 30th of June last amounted to £59,331, and for the year
course is sanctioned by the sense of the his delivery ending 30th of June, 1857, to £56,981, showing an increase
is rendered additionally pleasing by the fact of passage,is address- of £2,350. The gross receipts having exceeded £55,000,
ing his hearers across the table, merely as if relating the Kingstown Company became entitled to the contin-
an agreeable after-dinner anecdote. The changes of voice gent rent upon such excess, in addition to the ordinary
which he introduces as appertaining to different individuals fixed rent. The revised fares on the Kingstown line
are likewise attended for the most part with good effect ; produced £,2,686 of that increase. The total traffic receipts
but the endless variety of characters, and the constantly for the hatf-year on the Wicklow line amounted to
shifting nature of the scenes, render t too great a task for £13,916, ten d for the corresponding half of 1857 to £13,499,
any single power to sustain throughout this polyphonic em- Showing an increase of £417. The general summary shows
bellishment. On a point of such general interest it may be that the total receipts on both lines for the past half-year
permissible to state, that in person Mr. Dickens is what may amounted to £40,587, and the working expenses to
be called a fine-looking man ; but the traces of literary toil £17,201, leaving £23,386, of which £17,649 hail
I are visible upon his countenance, and are rendered some- been paid to the Kingstown Company and their
1 what prominently apparent by his peculiar method of wear- late officer..., leaving £4,737. To this is addad £9,269 from
ing his beard. Flexibility of face, however, is not the less the PreVioles half-year, making £15,006. Deducting £8,642
one of his principal characteristics, and adding itself with for interest, rents, rates, and taxes during the half-year,
effect to his vocal powers, is of incalculable assistance in his and £4,77`2. for the February dividend, there remains a net
more dramatic passages. At the close as well as at the com- balance of £1,591. The interest to be paid in future
mencement of the reading Mr. Dickens was most warmly by the con ipany on the Government loan has been reduced
applauded by the audience. from 5 per cent. to 4 per cent. per annum. In the last
The foregoing excerpt is from Saunders' ; but the other half-yearly report it was shown that the debts of the com-
morning journals are not less warm in their Praise of Mr. pany had been reduced by £91,147 since the issue of pre-
Dickens's wonderful ability. The -ExPneee, for instance, says : ference shares. The debts (exclusive of the Government
" Such clearness and flexibility of voiee—such exhaustless loan and thebentures) remaining at the close of that half-year
mobility of feature —such Power of eye—such naturalness of amounted to £117,139. These were reduced at 30th June
gesture (wherever gesture becomes at all requisite, and last to va,e92, showing a further reduction of £44,047.
only there)—and, to crown all, a manner so exquisitely un- At the senile time the new terminal station bas been in
affected, and easy, and gracefully familiar ! What can one active progress, and other works have been completed, all
do more than say what has been already said, that Charles of which have been paid for as they proceeded. Out of the
Dickens read his Christmas' Carol' gloriously. He brought balance en' £1,591, the directors propose that a dividend at
to our ears the mumbling tones of old scrooge the shrill the rate of 6 per cent. per annum, be declared on the cells
squeak of poor Tiny, Tim, and the silvery counter-tenor of paid on the preference shares, amounting to abut £674,
that plump sister of Scrooge's niece by marriage upon leaving a balance of £Bl6 to be carried f ard. The
whom Topper bad cast an eye, and in respect of wh'om his capital ace oust of the Wicklow showed
l vin a balance of
that £934529 had
out of which £4,730
conduct was so flagrantly suspicious during the game of been received, and £932,454 expended, ea g.
' Blind Maa's Buff,' on that happy Christmas evening. He £2,075. The• revenue account for the half-year ending
did this and everything else which could add point, and June 30 showed that £14,165 had been received, and £8,852
force, and expression to his story, and when he had con- expended, leaving a balance of /MO,.
eluded was greeted with a shower of plaudits not less en- was dedunted for interest, leaving a balance of £583.
thusiastie than that which welcomed him at the beginning."
ARRIVAL OF CARDINAL WISEMAN IN IRELAND. NEW BRANCH OF THE CALEDONIAN TO
GRANTON.
The Freeman gives an account of the landing of this dig- ,
nitary at Kingstown. His arrival was quiet. Tharrnal As the works on the new branch line from the Caledonian
says :—', Yesterday his Eminence the Cardinal Arc bishop Railway to Grantou have new made very
foraconsidble pro-
of Westminster arrived in Kingstown from Holyhead at nine gress, a fern, facts in connection with the objects which it
o'clock. He was accompanied by the Hon. and Rev. Mon- was projected and the course it will describe may not be un-
signor Clifford and Mr. Wiseman. On landingtat the pier interesting.
he was received by Capt. Bellew, Mr. Burke, Inouhrea Some ten or eleven years ago an application was made to
with the
market Branch, which
and the Rev. Mr. Derry P.P.I EYrecmirt) wh° offered his Parliament for powers to construct a line almost identical
eminence, on the part of the Irish clergy and the people, with the one now maki ingi,thbut these powers expired four or
forms a conneion betsgveen. the CuaTedonian and the Edin-
their heartfelt congratulatfons on his visit ten Ireland, an five years stequceunttayn w
of
the
bieling acted upon,
assurance which was repeated by all the gtlemen who exception of the
which access
h and lasesow Railwa s
len gained' for th trellis on btyhe former rail-
were present on the occasion. ,His eminence wore the ordi-
..gaiethSetlalgtiloin.erfTeclitils line has been
nary clerical dress of a bishop. The passage leading burg t
from the steamer to the terminus wets occupied by hundreds
to the Waverle bride,
sl some yea?s,-and
of persons, who were waiting in antiejpation of the arrival wmaigyb
of his eminence. He was met at the ternninus by his Grace comp l
station accommodation, been made use of upy to workable,tiie present Las
the Lord Archbishop of Dublin. The Hone and Rev. Mon- scare y, through disputes between') the companies as to
time. The Haymarket branch diverges from the Edinburgh
signor Talbot accompanied him to town."
' examined and Glasgow line a little to the west of the Haymarket sta-
ACALAMITOUS STORM.
Jest :yeek by twin and joins the Caledonian letter in a Belfast paper says :—" I this day • e
that portion of Ballinderry which was visited an line about half a mile on this
s everal side of SI It
ll Oen- tinuatio.es of
nlacYli
the hail-shower that totally destroyed the crops of e
mate ‘ll- point on thattbberal
1 eford. The line now in progress is so far a con-
mnaerakretthber
tenants. A more saddening spectacle best we
iaracyhm talri
ka te
ti ta
tcaotmi 0 mn
(formerly a t a
ceived—it must be seen in order to form a j census
cl-tlii n k an
the nature and extent of the damage;
.one w
°uthe blast the only Edinburgh station on the Glasgow line), and pro-
angel of destruction hid spread his wings on . . ,so needing Crosses the Edinburgh and Glasgowline by a viaduct,
of wheat in about ne
complete is the destruction. Not a stalk L. highroad by a bridge between Coltbridge and Donald-
headless one. Th
120 acres is left standing, except an
andoddd
rendered entirely.e soet's Hospital, and strikes off to the west of Craigleith
wheat is beaten into the very earth,
wife!
useless for any purpose, except some littleare i
.itneh ay h
ee been slightly modified. As formerly contemplated, the
used for feeding pigs, Sze.; . but the oats
—they seem to have vanished completely, ld atni 4 to have its course at present running from near Craigleith to the
been carrieel off by the flood whlc e_his et eie thaw, or western breakwater of Granton Harbour. The Duke of
to have been pelted under the soil. T pietare of destrne- Buccleucili—who, it is perhaps necessary to mention, is per-
lion will not be considcfed overdrawn, when we remember sonally i nterestne in the line—has already commenced pre-
that must of the hail vvhich fell was literally large pieces of
paratiouo on a slazje scale, by erecting cranes, &c., the
that on
ice. One of the sufferers tole me, from a measurement he breakwarenewith a view to facilitate the seipment of minerals,
made at the time, that the aveeege size of each hailstone i gas coal, ironstoue, &c., for exportation, and the convey-
wasseveral
era inch in diameter, and of , shapes. M(st of I ance of i mports, which for the most part will consist of flax
theta were shaped like a double cone, and others in the form and hemp from the Baltic. The exports will be mostly from
of a flat turnip, armed round the rim wtth spikes, which Lanark and Ayrshire. The construction of the line is
were very destructive. The shower was accompanied with adapted for goods traffic; but should the directors commence
great thunder and lightning. Altogether, the storm has the cony eyance of passengers, this would not necessitate any
been unprecedented in violence, and in the rapt.dity with important alterations.
which it accomplished its works of ruin. It traversed a die- The works, now being pushed on by a staff of nearly two
tanceofthreemileslong and half-hemilebroad,leav ing netbing hundred labourers, extend to a good distance beyond
but desolation behind. Fortunately the greater porion • fit Craiglentle though commenced only so recently as the
passed over. Looglis eg and Neagh, or ; consequences 17th of ler ay. The excavations In Lord Murray'e
sands o
must have been fearful. Mr. Moore, a yellsy large farmer, Murray-Reed are the deepest on the line—namely, ationt 35
cannel be said to have a single acre rf cereal crop wo; th one feet ; t het !embankments on the lands of Blinkbonny loathe
shilling. Nor is this an; turnips,
.30tat„es, clover, pea,, property el Trinity Hospital) are being.enercetieally for,
fruit, &c., are all equally destroyed. The 1. uit trees staati ,k arded; and ilavtii:S are likewise busy upou the ereunds of
u

GREAT WESTERN AND BRENTFORD.
The construction account of this company shows that
£115,515 had been received to the 30th June last, and
£114,451 expended, leaving a balance of £1,064. In addi-
tion to this, the sum of £17,630 is in course of receipt on
shares, including calls on contractors' shares, which are
paid as the works proceed, and shares agreed to be taken in
payment for land.