The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-31 00:00:00

ROYAL PRIN. OEBB'5 THEATRE.
Under the Management of Mr. Charles Kenn.

Last Melt but Three of the Present Season, which will conclude on

Friday next, Sept. 3.
THIS EVENING will be presented Shakspere's Play of THE
MERCHANT OF VENICE: Shylock, by Mr. C. Kean; Portia, by
Mrs. C. Kean. Preceded by the Farce of LIVING TOO FAST.

ROYAL LYCEUM. THEATRE.
Manager, Mr. Edmund Falconer.
THIS EVENING and during the week, the highly successful
Comedy of EXTREMES ; or Men of the Day, supported by Messrs.
Emery, Falconer, Rogers, Barrett, Mrs. Charles Young, Mrs. Weston,
and Miss Kate Saxon. To conclude with the DANCING BARBER.
pOors open at half-past 6, to commence at 7. Box-3flice open daily
from 11 to 5.

CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.
OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The following company of Vo-
calists are engaged for the performance of Selections from all the
popular OPERAS, MADRIGALS, CHORUSES, GLEES, DUETS, &c.,
viz.:—Miss Russell, Mrs. Badsey, Miss Brunell, Miss Ray, Madame
ilartoletti, Miss Montague, Mrs. Lawrence, and Mrs. Anderson ;
Herr F. Jonghtnans, Mr. Henshaw, S. Jones, J. Barker, W. Melling,
enor Antonio, E. L. Rime, Mr. Badzey, Senor Tiroli, Mr. Cozeils,
Mr. Bell, Mr. Barnard, and Mr. St. Albyn. Mr. John G. Forde,
and E. W. Mackney. Pianoforte, Mr. Cecil Hicks ; harmonium,
Mr. Courtnay ; Director, Herr F. Jonglimans. Commence at seven
'clock precisely. Suppers, &c., until twelve o'clock.

THE WEATHER—Sux OFFICE, AuausT 31.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
66—highest since noon yesterday.
go—lowest this morning and daring the night.
85—this day at noon.
BAROMETER, 29.97.
WIND, S.W.; light and lowering.

A Special General Meeting of the Court of Pro-
prietors of the East India Company was yesterday for
the lost time, held in Leadenhall-street. They might
well exclaim " Ichabod," for the glory had indeed
departed from their house. To-morrow their
governing powers will finally cease and determine,
and thenceforward be exercised by the CROWN alone.
But although no longer a ruling power, exercising
authority over 150,000,000 of human beings, the
company may still subsist as a company, although
politically paralysed. The functions of the directors
will probably be limited to receiving the sum gua-
ranteed to be paid by way of dividend, and distribut-
ing it between the parties justly entitled thereto.
Other matters may also be brought under their
notice interesting to the proprietors, although not
very important to the community at large.
It was very naturally deemed advisable to obtain
the highest opinions as to the future rights and pro-
ceedings of the Company. Accordingly certain
queries were submitted for the consideration of the
Attorney and Solicitor-General, of Sir R. BETHELL
and Mr. WIGRAM. On many points these learned gen-
tlemen have fullyconcurred,and therefore these matters
may be considered as settled; but there are others in
which they differ materially, and on which a goodly
crop of future litigation may arise, unless means be
taken to avert the danger, by a declaratory act at the
commencement of next session. This would be a
judicious and prudent course, although it might de-
prive the gentlemen of the long robe of handsome
fees in respect of these vexed questions.

On the first interrogatory, all the learned gentle-
men were of opinion " that the 13th sec. of the 3d
and 4th Wm. IV., cap. 85, constitutes a Parliamen-
tary contract with the East India Company, and that,
should the East India Company demand the redemp-
tion of its dividend under that section, Parliament
would be bound to make provision for its redemp-
tion without reference to the sufficiency of the In-
dian revenges." We have always taken that view
of the case, and have, therefore, on many occasions,
urged the propriety of saving a considerable propor-
tion of the per-tentage on the loans recently effected
by the East India Company, which would be accom-
plished by the addition of an imperial guarantee.
That interest must, under any circumstances, be
satisfied by the State, and surely it would be for the
benefit of the State to arrange the matter on the
cheapest possible terms. That view, however, did
not suit the political quidnuncs, who take upon
themselves to pronounce ex cathedra on every ques-
tion of the day. _

It now appears that—if called on—Parlia-
ment is bound to make provision for the re-
demption of the dividend without reference to the
sufficiency of the Indian revenues; but there is
wonderful virtue in an " if." The redemption
must be demanded within one year from the time of
its being deprived of the possession and government
of the British territories in India, otherwise it will for
ever forfeit the right, and the dividend will become irre-
deemable until 1874, and then will only be redeem-
able at the option of Parliament. Whatever course
may be taken by the Company must be adopted
before the Ist September, 1859. At present they
receive 101. 10s. per cent. in the shape of dividend,
which is distributed without deduction or drawback
of anykind (save income-tax)amongst the proprietors.
All other charges have hitherto been liquidated out
of the revenues of India. The proprietors have re-
ceived their full amount ; and they have the cer-

tainty of receiving £2OO for every £lOO of stock when \
the period of redemption shall actually arrive. So
good is their position, that the £lOO stock at present
is quoted in the market at from £215 to £217; and
as there is also a guarantee fund amounting to some
£4,000,000 sterling, which, upon the requisition of
the Court of Directors, may be applied to make good
any deficiency in the remittances on account of divi-
dend, it is scarcely probable that there will be any
inclination to call for the capital, unless some other
monetary panic should follow rapidly on that of
1857, and completely upset all confidence between
man and man. This is, however, by no means pro-
bable, and it may safely be eliminated from the
calculation.
It was also unanimously decided by these high
authorities that the provision that all payments under
the Act of last session should be made out of the
revenues of India alone, did not in any way affect
the question of redemption ; and also that the East
India Company will, under the 17th sec. of 3d and 4th
Wm. IV., cap. 85, continue to be entitled to its dividends

out of all revenues of the East Indian territories
remitted to Great Britain, in preference to all other
charges payable thereout in Great Britain, including
the particular charges specified in question 7, assum-
ing that all of those charges are charges payable in
Great Britain. With this certainly of obtaining
.£2OO for every £lOO stock, and of receipting
£lO los.. per cent. in the interim, in preference
to " all otLer charges payable in Great Britain,'
the proprietors may be well satisfied with
their position. Few will share the apprehensions of
General BRIGGS, or join in them to the extent of
demanding the guaranteed £2OO for the £lOO East
India Stock. There are some points on which there
was a difference of opinion bet weep the Right Hon.
and Learned Gentleman, to whiell we shall take an
early opportunity of referring.

There is no point on which.M. DE PERAIGNY in his
late speech has spoken more cleverly, yet with less
conclusiveness, than on the liberty of the press. He
has evidently seen enough of England to recognise
the advantage to the Government itself of free dis-
cussion ; he confesses that the greatest of all fran-
chises is seriously modified by the new system of
warnings, and that not only in consequence does the
press fail to enlighten the public as it might, and
ought to do, but that the Government itself is a
loser. He saw in England that the Government was
aided by the knowledge which a perfectly free press
gave it of public opinion ; and he must have felt the
vast superiority of such information to that furnished
to their masters by Government officers all over the
country. Lours NAfOLEON and his Ministers must
continually have found, that between the desire of
their nominees all over the country to suppress un-
-welcome facts, and their wis!l to show themselves
vigilant in detecting disaffection, they often knew
=thing of what was most imp,:,lrtant to know ;
v vhile, on the other hand, they were'
as often led
in ray in search of what we designate by oak' somewhat
hu m ble but expressive slang, a "mare's nest." In Eng-
lam oil ;he contrary, the Count saw plainly 'enough

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THE SUN.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1858.