The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-21 00:00:00

VIII., his son, the ititader of Italy, was succeeded,
by his cousin, Louis XII., the " Father of his
people." The brilliant reign of Frangig I„ his suc-
cessor, brings us into the eventful sixteenth cen-
tury, wheti the reign of Henry 11. and the days
of Catherine de ltiedicis are succeeded by the
happier epoch of Henri Qtiatre, A line of four
Louis's brings the monarchy to a dismal eclipse in
the gloomy chambers of the Temple. After which,
down to our modern days, every page is a ronisnee,
Thcre is, therefore, scarcely a dull passage in our
thor's future task, which is one he is fully qualitit3t
to fulfil. It is one of the most vivid and exciting
narratives that the volume of history can show us,
and most fitted to evoke the sympathies of a great
and free:nation for their neighbours and rivals, great
also, brave and intellectual, but not free. Yet the
record of their past should teach them wisdom It
should show them how, in grasping at the shadow,
they have flung away the substance ; how the wild
tumult of excited popular feeling has made them
blind to their best interests, deaf to their wisest
councillors ; how passion, and not principle, has
been their guide in too many of those popular
struggles, which have bought an hour of triumph
and exultation, dearly paid for by years of restric-
tion and defeat. It should teach their rulers a
lesson as well. It should show them how tyranny
has crushed the people for a time, but has been
inevitably overthrown in the rebound; that a quick
feeling, excitable nation, is never more dangerous
than in enforced calm, and that the voice of history
ceaselessly repeats the solemn warning, that
Tyranny and Anarchy must alternate, until Free-
dom sits on the throne, and bids Reason curb the
passions of the people.

Struggles in Falling. By Henry John Lester.
Bentley.
This is a peculiar story, which cannot be called
pleasing. It is difficult to find the exact aim Of
the -writer in introducing us to so many strange
scenes of mesmerism and clairvoyance. The morbid
sentimentality which indulges in such descriptions
may be gratified by dwelling on the extraordinary
capabilities of Douglas, but the general reader will
regret that the talent, so unmistakeably evident in
these pages, should not have been employed in the
construction of a work more desirable in its perusal,
and more instructive in its tendencies. The only
character possessed of interest in this sketch Is
Gerard O'More. He is
,thus described :—" He
wore God's own writing on his brow, and the
bright, sunny, truthful expression of his face was
like a holy spell." He was soon removed from the
sphere of his usefulness by an early death, which
was unfortunate for the welfare of Charles Vescy,
over whom he exercised a most beneficial influence.
Some of the scenes are depicted with great skill,
especially the adventure which betel Vescy and
Agnes on the rocks ; and it is to be hoped that, on
a future occasion, the author's production may be
free from the drawbacks of this work.

EAST INDIA COMPANY.

Yesterday morning a general Court of the com-
pany was held at the house in Leadenhall-street, to
receive the report of the committee of proprietors
appointed at the general Court of the 30th of
August last, " for the purpose of consulting with
the directors in reference to the measures to be
taken for the future management of the company's.
affairs," and for the discussion of the said report,
and on other general business. Colonel Sykes,
M.P. (the chairman), presided.
The minutes of previous meetings having been
read, it was announced that Colonel Sykes, M.P.,
had been elected chairman of the company.
(Cheers.)
Dr. BEATTIE inquired whether a deputy chair-
man had been appointed ?
The CHAIRMAN said that the election would be
reserved for the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN then announced that the capital
stock of the company would be payable on the 6th
of January next.
Mr. CRAWSHAY, the chairman of the committee, •
read the report of the committee appointed in August
last, to take measures with reference to the future
management of the company's affairs. It contained
a recital of previous proceedings, and a correspond•
ence with Lord Stanley in reference to the subject.
In the last letter from his lordship it was stated that
his lordship was unable to decide upon the amount
to be paid annually to the East India Company, con-
sequent on the duties and responsibilities devolving
upon them, until he was aware of sthe arrange-
ments which the East India Company proposed to
make for the execution of the duties referred to.
His lordship therefore requested to be informed
whether it was the wish of the proprietors of East
India Stock that the entire control and distribution
of the fund set apart for the payment of their divi-
dends should be committed to their directors, or
whether the arrangements under which these divi-
dends have hitherto been issued from the house
should be continued. The committee came to the
following resolutions :—With reference to the offer
of the Secretary of State for India in Council, ad-
dressed to the chairman of this committee,. dated
Sept. 16, 1858, to make his establishment available
for the purpose of transfer and audit in the business
connected with the capital stock and dividends of
the East India Campany, this committee is pre-,
pared to recommend to the Court of Proprietors
the acceptance of such an arrangement upon the fol-
lowing conditions : that in accordance with ss. 2,
3,4, Wm. 4, c. 85, there shall be paid to the corn-
paxy to their own use, that is to say, to the account
of the East India Company with the Bank of Eng'
land, the yearly dividend, after the rate of £lO. 105.
per annum on the present amount of their capital
stock, and that such dividend be so paid by equal
half-yearly payments on or before the 6th of Jan.
and the 6th day of July in every year, and further
that together with the first half-yearly dividend so
paid, the amount of all unclaimed dividends up to
that day be paid to the above-mentioned amount
with the Bank of Englund. That all dividend
warrants be signed by two directors and the secre-
tary of the East India Company. That accom-
modation be provided in the East India House for
the directors and proprietors—namely, that the
proprietors' room remain devoted to its former use;
that at least one room be assigned to the directors
for their regular use. That a room be provided for
the secretary of the company. That the general
courts of the East India Company be held in the
East India House. That with reference to the
sections 69 and 72 of the late Act, 21 and 22 Vic.,
cap. 106, by the power of which the number of the
directors of the East India Company is for the pre-
sent to be maintained at 12, and finally to be re-
duced to six, provision be made by the Secretary
of State in Council for India for the payment of
salaries to such directors, and of a salary to the li
secretary of the company, and also for defraying
other expenses incidental to the legal management
of the company's affairs not otherwise provided for
by this arrangement. That the Secretary of State
in Council and the East India Company respec-
tively be at liberty to terminate this arrangement
on giving six months notice. That the above re'
solutions be sent by the chairman to the officiating
secretary of the Court of Directors, with a request
that they may be forwarded by them to the Secre-
tary of State in Council for India.
It was stated that since the report was prepared
another communication had been received from Lord
Stanley, and signed by Mr. Melville, containing
the following passage :—" I am instructed to in-
form you that, in proposing to leave the signing of
the warrants for the payment of the dividends on
East India Stock to the directors after the war-
rants had been prepared in the usual menner, it was
the intention of Lord Stadejto transfer to the cre-
dit of the East India Company, at the Bank of Eng-
land, half-yearly, the aggregate amount of the
dividends, viz. £315,000, it being understood that
the amount of any unclaimed dividends are to be
retransferred to the Secretary of State in Council
for India at the expiration of 12 months after the/
become due."
Mr. CRAWSHAY then moved the reception of the
report. The East India Company had been eon'
demned to live—the question was how were the/
to live ? (Hear, hear.) It was, at all events, their
duty to watch carefully what rights they had left,
and carefully to maintain them. They had a right
to require from the Secretary of State in Council:
the requisite amount of money for the management
of their stock and the payment of their dividends.
They had a right to the independent management
of their stock, their dividends being untouched.
They had, moreover, a right to have their affairs
managed in that house.
Capt. SHEA seconded the motion for the reception
of the report, which was unanimously adopted.
Mr. CRAWSHAY move a resolution claiming, On
the part of the company, the current and unclaimed
dividends.
Mr. ARBUTHNOT moved an amendment, that Lord
Stanley's offer, that the business should continue t°
.
be transacted on the establishment, and to transfer
to the account of the company the gross amount °,
all recurring dividends, leaving the responsibilities
attached to the unclaimed dividends to be attached
to the Government, should be accepted.
pot
Mr. Sergeant GASELEE moved the adjournni-,,,,
of the debate, a proposition -which was fiereou
resisted by the directors.
On a division there were—
For the adjournment l9
Against it
Majority
The motion for the adjournttlent was then d!r;
dared to be carried, and the meeting broke up
disorder, it being understood, however, that the
discussion should be resumed at twelve u'clooP'
this day.