The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-19 00:00:00

fHE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, OCFOBER, 19, 1807.

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London, Chatham, and Dover Railway.

MEETING THIS DAY.

This morning a general meeting of the share-
holders of the London, Chatham, and Dover Rail-
way was held at the board-room of the Victoria
Station—Mr. Hodgkinson, M.P., in the chair—for
the purpose of electing a share director, pursuant to
the provisions of the London, Chatham, and Dover
Railway (Arrangement Act, 1867).
The CIIAIRMAN said that the meeting of to-day,
as they all knew, would be under different auspices
from the previous ones, and that they now met in
compliance with the dames of an Act of Parliament
for arranging the affairs of the company.

The CHAIRMAN then went into a narrative of the
arrangements which had been made since they were
obliged by the bad position of their company to
take some radical steps to preserve their very
valuable property, reminding them that a committee
of investigation was appointed, which committee
went into an elaborate scrutiny into the precise
position of the company ; and on October 1 a report
was prepared, and in that report it was deemed ad-
visable to ask the whole of the directors to retire,
with the exception of Lord Harris, the chairman ;
and although his lordship had since retired, it
was only just to say that further examina-
tion justified this recommendation. They would
also recollect that the committee of investigation
was appointed in the place of the others, and that
there was a debenture committee, with Mr. Hodg-
son as chairman, and these several bodies brought
their bills before Parliament, and it was under the
authority of this Act that they met to-day to carry
out that clause, which says they should elect a
fourth director within two months.
Mr. HARTRIDGE said that the directors were not
now directors, but trustees. They (the share-
holders) could not do anything without resorting
to the courts of law. The new Act had placed
them in this position.

A SHAREHOLDER wished to know whether the
officials of the company were to remain, for the
shareholders had heard a great deal with regard to
them, such as free tickets being given to their
friends to travel up and down the line with, &c.
The CHAIRMAN, in reply, said that the accounts
had been prepared in compliance with the advice
of the Investment Committee. With regard to
the consolidated bill of the company the share-
holders had approved of it. Lie knew nothing
about the free tickets, but they would inquire
into it.

Mr. BUCHANAN then proposed Mr. George
Cavendish Taylor, and said that he was one of a
smellfungus committee who had looked into all
the minutiae of the company's affairs, and his con-
duct had been much approved of.
Mr. HoTHAx seconded this nomination.
He was unanimously elected, and this terminated
the meeting after a vote of thanks to the chairman.

THE FINANCIAL STATE OF FRANCE.

M. Forcade, in the Semaine Financiers, speaking
of the financial state of France, proceeds to say :

From the economic point of view there are first
of all the facts specially connected with the finan-
cial market. How could a revelation such as that
which occurred last month, as to the position of the
Credit Mobilier and the Immobiliere, be made
without affecting numerous interests and exciting
serious distrust? That incident proved that a
considerable capital, represented by scripin the
hands of shareholders, was menaced in its integrity
and condemned to remain without revenue for an
indefinite period. To the securities without pro-
duce which encumber the market, and .which
represent enormous sums either entirely lost or
compromised ; to shares and bonds of the Spanish
and Italian railways; to the Mexican Bonds left in
depreciation, notwithstanding the governmental
patronage which so ostensibly encouraged their
emission, were going to be added the scrip of two
companies which had of late years taken and exer-
cised the high and active initiative in speculation,
both in moveable and landed property. Such an
event should inevitably give a profound shock to
public confidence. Besides, this sad surprise
surged up in the midst of economic circumstances
which raised perspective ditlidultieS for the ensuing
winter. We have this year two bad crops—in
corn and wine—and we are subjected to dearness
of provisions; manufacturers are suffering and
restrict their operations. As to the French funds
they could not help being affected by the known
amount of the floating debt and by the extraor-
dinary expenses entailed by the reorganisation of
the army. On the other hand political circum-
stances are not calculated to counterbalance the
unfavourable elements of the financial situation.
We do not wish here to allude to incidents of the
kind of those which have appeared to affect the
Bourse during the past week, and which have been
denied by the Government. We speak only of the
political situation `from a general point of view.
What characterises this state of things is the incer-
titude and ignorant perplexity which it inflicts
upon public opinion. Are affairs marching towardss
war or peace ? No really decisive answer has yet
been given to settle the dilemma with sufficient
evidence and authority for the reestablishment of
public confidence on a solid basis. The " dark
spots" of which the Emperor spoke a month since
have not yet been effaced by a new governmental
declaration. The Illonitenr announced a few days
ago that the service of the contingent of the last
reserve would last this year five months instead
of three. This precaution of military instruction
evidently does not correspond with an ordinary
state of things. General Fleury is going from
Vienna to Berlin. Is it not permissable to attribute
a political object to that journey? The principal
Ministers are at Biarritz, and it is allowable to
think that they are going to deliberate with the
Emperor on the measures which -will express what
the unity of direction in the governmental views
really is—what the concerted action of the different
Ministers aims at. How can the confidence of the
public be restored before the results of the councils
at Biarritz are announced? The presence at the
same place of the Italian Minister, M. Nigra, is
also an indication of important negotiations pre-
pared in connection with the Italian crisis ; on
that point also, in order to see clearly, information
is required as the decisions which will be taken,
and doubt must be submitted to until the final
word is pronounced. Therefore, in no reasonable
manner can the disquietude and the agitation of
the financial market be attributed to the inexact
rumours spread as to the details of daily facts.

THE CASE OF JoHN CROSS.—At the Wimborne
County Court, on Wednesday, John Cross, the "Dorset
labourer," was brought up for his final examination as
bankrupt. He has been imprisoned two months in Dor-
chester Gaol under a fi. fit. Cross stated that he had no
effects, and that of the money subscribed on his behalf ho
hid received from the Roy. C. Onslow £2O and one 410.
lie had applied to Mr. Coventry, in whose name the money
subscribed had been invested, but he refused to give him
any. The judge ordered the immediate discharge of the
bankrupt, and, on the application of Mr. Carker, directed
summonses to be issued against St. John Coventry, Esq.,
the Rev. Mr. Plumptre, the Rec. Mr. Kemp, and the Rev.
Mr. Onslow, returnable at a special court on the 14th of
November, to give an account how the money had been
invested.

[ADVSRTlSEMPANT.]—Dyspepsia(lndigestion), Constipation, De-
bility, Consumption, and all nervous, bilious, stomach, and liver
complaints in every stage, are only aggravated and accelerated
by thugs of every description, but perfectly curable by Da
Barry's health-restoring Rovalenta Arabica Food, as proved by
thousands of cases which had been considered hopeless, such
as—cough, asthma, also diarhcoa, luomerrhoids, liver com-
plaint; flatulency, nervousness, biliousness, fevers, sore throats,
diphtheria, catarrhs, colds, iafluenza, noises in the head and
ears, rheumatism, gout, impurities, eruptions, hysteria, neuralgia,
irritability, sleeplessness, aeldity, palpitation, heartburn, head-
ache, dobility, dropsy, cramps, spasms, nausea and sickness,
even in pregnancy or at sea, sinking fits, bronchitis, scrofula,
tightness of the chest, pains at the pit of the stomach and
between the shoulders, &c. We quote a few :—The Pope's health
restored by Du Barry's Food. Cure No. 03,413.—" Rome, July
21, 1866,—The health of the holy Father is excellent, especially
sines, abandoning all other remedies, he has cenftned himself
entirely to Du Barry's Revalenta Arabica Food, of which he
consumes a plateful at every meal. It has produced a sur-
prisingly beneficial effect ou his health, and his Holiness cannot
praise this excellent food too highly."—From the " Gazette du
Midi, July 25 Cure No. 46,270 Mr James Roberts, Umbel
merchant, of Frimley Surrey, of hirti years' diseased hangs,
spitting of blood, liver derangement, and partia deafness.
Cure No. 1,771. Lord Stuart de Decies, Lord Lieut. of
Waterford, of many years' dyspepsia.—No. 49,832. "Fifty
years indescribable agony from dyspepsia, nervousness,
asthma, cough, constipation, flatulency, spasms, sickness and
vomiting.—MariaJoly." Important Caution.—Beware of the many
unsavoury and more than sloppy imitations to which, without
authority, Baron Liebig's name is most audaciously attached.—
In tins at Is. lid.; 1 lb., 2s 9d. 2 lbs., 45. 61; 5 lbs., lls. ;
12 lbs., 22e.; 24 lbs., 40s.—BARRY Do BARRY and Co., No. 77,
Regent-street, London; also Fortnam and Mason, 182, Piccadilly;
and at 61, Gracechurch-street; 4, Cheapside; 63, 160, and, 459,
07.19111tagt §trpd old pal Vittatitat

THE PRICE OF FOOD.

The rise in the price of wheat is exciting interest,
not unmixed with astonishment. The harvest in
England was considered fair, and in America abun-
dant. It is now asserted that the promise given by
the well-developed ears has Leen deceptive, the yield
when threshed not equalling the expectation. The
French crop is 1;;;s than an average. Poland, Bel-
gium, Spain will be comp,•lled to import, while
Southern Russia and Hungary have enormous sup-
plies. The harvest in Egypt is good ; and in Tur-
key, both in E.:rope and Asia, the crops are fair.
Large as the yield this year has been throughout the
United States, prices keep up, for it is known that
both in England and throughout America the
surplus supplies have been heavily drawn on. In-
deed the United States was approaching a famine
when the bxantiful harvests of this year came to the
rescue. California will export largely, for her gr.,-
naries have of late years been full, except when she
sent away her surplus stores. It is not then that
the average yield of the present year has been
deficient that the rise is due so much as to the ne-
cessity for making good the deficiency of former
years, more especially in the United States.. Two
or three large harvests on the great prairies will fill
up the exhausted barns of the world, but the United
States cannot redeem in one year the waste of half a'
decade. Some allegea combination of Greek specula-
tors on is gigantic scale as the cause. But what most
surprises is the fact that, while the loaf rises, meat,
especially mutton, which is known to be more abun-
dant than ever, should not fall. The public may rest
assured that it is easier to raise than to reduce prices.
The energy of the few will beat the grumbling of
the many, each of whom is not materially interested.
People erroneously imagine they have established
Free Trade, and that prices will find their true level;
but a careful inquiry will show that they are victims
of monopolists, who plunder them right and left,
even in their great commercial metropolis of Lon-
don. What is the difference between the buying
and selling price of a fishmonger in a fashionable
district ? Let the customer buy in Billingsgate,
and even then he will obtain an imperfect idea.
France has been entertaining the world, having
attracted, by her warm invitations, hungry thou-
sands, whO have helped to empty her larder and to
fill her purse. Sho has made a good thing out of
her generous invitation, and now her agents are
everywhere employed in purchasing the grain of
Europe. What with the deficient harvest and the
unusual strain on her supplies she has much to
make good ; and her factors compete with those of
England in all the grain markets and help to raise
the price. We extract from the Springfield Repub-
lican of Oct. 5 the following report on the harvest
in the United States :

TIIE ABUNDANT HARVE STS OF 1867.—The crop
reports of the department of agriculture for August
and September have just been issued. The August
reports give the general average for the several
States, from the approximate estimates of corres-
pondents, of the crops then harvested as compared
with those of 1866, together with the current con-
dition of the growing crops, while the September
tables pertain chiefly to the state of the fall crops. The
August returns show a uniform reduction in thegene-
ral average of wheat as compared with the July
figures, and in the September estimates the wheat
harvested as compared with the crop of 1866 drops
the figures somewhat lower in a number of the
States. This is attributable to bad weather while
harvesting, and in some sections the grain is found
to be shrivelled and threshed out less to the acre
than anticipated. The leading wheat-growing
States report the following percentage of increase
at the close of the harvest :—Ohio 130, Indiana 50,
Michigan 33, Wisconsin 17, Minnesota 25, Illinois
11, lowa 20, Missouri 40, Kentucky 34, West
Virginia 60, Virginia 50, Tennessee 40, Georgia 80,
Arkansas 45, New York 14, Pennsylvania 40.
Only Kansas and Texas sbow a falling off from last
year. The amount of these crops for the current
year will be more accurately shown by the reports
due October 1.

" The prospects of the corn crop continue to im-
prove, and if the frost holds off the general crop
may be a fair one. While a number of States re-
turn a low estimate, others, particularly the
Southern States, show a marked improvement
over last year. The cotton crop promised well
up to September first, when the worms were ap-
pearing, and much apprehension is felt in various
sections for its safety. Of the cotton-growing
States, extracts from the correspondence show
that Georgia promised to yield 53 per cent.
beyond the crop of 18G6, South Carolina 50, Ala-
bama 42, Mississippi 24, Arkansas 18, and Ten-
nessee 9 ; while Louisiana and Texas show a con-
siderable failing off from last year. Rye, barley,
and oats exhibit no material change from the pre-
vious reports, though oats are seriously injured in
some sections by the extreme wet weather during
the harvest, but generally the crop appears superior
to that of last year. Buckwheat shows an average
acreage, with prospects of a fair crop. Potatoes
are rotting badly in many large potato-growing
States, and the crop will probably fall below the
yield of last year. The leading sugar-producing
States show a fair increase over the crops of last
year. Sorghum is evidently on the decline in most
of the States without sufficient reason. The crop
now growing is in good condition.

" Ina few States the apple crop promises well, but
in a majority the crop will b 3 from 10 to 40 per
cent. below the crop of last year. Hay shows an
increase in almost every State, and quite a large
one in many, Pennsylvania returning an increase of
50 per cent., New York 24, Michigan, Wisconsin,
and Illinois 28, Indiana 26. The average will reach
from 25 to 30 per cent. above the crop of 1866. The
wool clip will probably fall from 5 to 10 per cent.
short of that of last year, which is attributable to
the severe weather of last winter, and the conse-
quent exposure and destruction of a 'Argo number
of sheep."

THE ALLEGED DANGER OF BOAT-RACING.—SO far
as we are able to gauge medical opinion amongst those who
have the best opportunities of judgment, and who are
special authorities on the subject, Mr. Skoy's caution as
to the evils of boat racing finds but a feeble echo in their
experience, or in the suggestions which spring from it.
Several of the most eminent physicians in London who
have communicated to us their experience aro unable to
recall a sirglo case of heart-disease which could be
traced to it; and, while ono or two isolated instances
of mischief to the vessels of the lung dwell in
their memory as exceptional, they are disposed to
believe that the risks of over-exertion are fully ap-
preciated by boating men, and that the weak who
suffer in training most usually take early and timely
warning. The evidence of Professor Ilumphry, who care-
fully discusses this subject in a letter which wo print to-
day, goes entirely in the same direction. With an experi-
ence of a quarter of a century in large Cambridge practice,
constantly in contact with the boating mon, he believes that
tho ill-effects of boat-racing aro rare, and can quote no
striking instance of thorn. On the other hand, he lays a
great stress on the. enormous value of the exercise as a
physical training, which can ill bo spared for our rising
youth, and as a pastime which forms the man and pre-
pares him for after struggles in, life; while it is free from
vicious associations.—British Medical Journal.

A GOLD-DIGGER'S FORTUNES.—One day at
Ballarat a man rushed up to the police magistrate, his
fa'.lo livid, and speechless with excitement, so that the
magistrate began to think he had just committed or
witnessed a murder. At last ho found words to ox-
press himself. lie had some upon a nugget so big
ho could scarcely carry it, and dared not bring it in alone.
Two or three of the police went back with him to help
him, and ho brought it in in triumph, followed by a
procession of diggers. And indeed it was a nugget. it
was about as big as a leg of mutton, and much the same
shape, white lumps of quartz sticking to it like so much
fat. It weighed 135 pounds, and he was offered
.£5,000 for it on the spot. He refused to sell it, and take
it home to England, to exhibit it. But it proved to bo a
nugget of expensive habits, and at last was sold to pay for
its keep and lodging, and the finder ended, as so many
finders of great nuggets ended, in poverty and wretched-
ness, and even madness.

POLLUTION OF RIVERS.—The Royal Commission,
over whioh Mr. R. Rawlinson presides, has held meetings
this week at their offices, Victoria-street, Westminster, for
the purpose of arranging for the prosecution of inquiries
into the condition of rivers in the South of England and in
Wales.

The well-known actress, Miss Kate Terry, was
on Thursday.marriod to Mr. Lewis, of taw firm of Lewis
and Allobh Regat-§toct.