The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-15 00:00:00

ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH CO3IPANY.

A meeting of the shareholders of the Atlantic Telegraph
Company has been held to-day—J. S. Wortley, Esq.,
M.P., in the chair—when a report was read, from which it
recounted the various difficulties met with since the first
successful laying of the cable. The whole of the capital
raised had been almost expended, the balance in hand
being £7,996. It appeared from the accounts that
the total capital received was £379,029. Seeing the im-
possibility of bringing this great undertaking to a satis-
factory issue, the directors had made an application
to her Majesty's Government, with a view to a
guarantee being afforded to the company on the balance of
the capital—namely, £537,140, the same advantages having
already been conceded to the Red Sea Telegraph Company.
As no direct promise had yet been given, the directors ad-
vised the adjournment of the meeting, in order that the defi-
nite intentions of the Government might become known
prior to any further proceedings being taken.
The CHAIRMAN alluded with much regret to the financial

position of the company, but said that, in addition to the
profit to be gained, they ought also to look upon this under-
taking as a great effort made for the advancement of science
and the spread of civilisation. He was convinced that the
company would be ultimately successful if supported by the
shareholders, as he had received the highest scientific
opinions on the subject of the cable being made practically
useful, and commercially profitable to the shareholders.
The feeling of the meeting seemed to be quite in accordance
with the views of the directors. The adjournment was
agreed to.

The Earl and Countess of Cork will leave town
in a few days, for Marston House, Somersetshire.
The Earl and Countess of Lanesborough have
arrived at Swithland Hall, Leicestershire, from Ireland.
The Countess Dowager of Meath has arrived at
Claridge's Hotel, from Sennicotts, near Chichester.
Lady Margaret Beaumont arrived in town on
Monday, from Bretton Hall, near Wakefield, where her
ladyship has been receiving a succession of visitors for some
weeks past.
Lord Ossulstone has arrived at Claridge's Hotel,
from Chillingham Castle, Northumberland.
Mr. and Lady Mary Craven are staying at Wim-
pole Hall, on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Hardwicke.
They will leave on Saturday for Ashdown-park, to join the
family circle about to meet at that place for Christmas.
Sir Benjamin and Lady Hall will leave town in
a few days for their seat, Llanover, in South Wales.
The Post•office authorities announce that the
next mail for Australia via Marseilles will not be despatched
from London until the evening of the' 17th instant, thus
allowing merchants an opportunity of replying to the Aus-
tralian letters which will come to hand to-morrow.
THE EXPLOSION AT TYLDESLEY COLLIERY.—
All the bodies of the men killed by the explosion in this
colliery have been discovered, and the number of lives lost
is now ascertained to be 24. It was at first supposed that
another, making 25, had been killed, but this is not the
case ; and the error arose from the shattered state in which
some of the bodies were found. One of the •men's thighs,
discovered underneath some of the debris, was mistaken for
the trunk of a boy ; but the boy's body was afterwards re-
covered and identified. Mr. Dickinson, the government
inspector yesterday went down the mine in order to inspect
the workings. A subscription is being made to provide
funds for the widows and families of the deceased. The
Rev. G. Richards, the incumbent. of Tyldesley, is taking an
active part in this benevolent object.
PRICE OF GOLD.—The quotation of gold at
Paris is about at par, and the short exchange on London is
25.121 per LI sterling. On comparing these rates with the
English Mint price of £3 17s. 101-d. per ounce for standard
gold, it appears that.gold is nearly 2-10ths per cent. dearer
in Paris than in London.—By advices from Hamburg the
price of gold is 4241 per mark, and the short exchange on
London is 13.51 per £1 sterling. Standard gold at the
English Mint price is therefore nearly 5-lOths
per cent.
dearer in London than in Hamburg.—The course of ex-
change at New York on London for bills at 60 days' sight
is 1091 to 1091 per cent., which, when compared with the
Mint par between the two countries, shows that the ex-
change is slightly against England. After making allow-
ance for charges of transport and difference of interest, the
present rate leaves no proloon the importation of gold
from the United States.
THE FOG AT SOUTHAMPTON.—The fog which
overspread Southampton Water on Monday still continues.
It cleared away a little yesterday forenoon. The Channel
Island mail, which was due at Southampton at 6 p.m. on
Monday, did not arrive until yesterday forenoon. The
Havre packet arrived also considerably after time. The
outward Channel Island and Havre packets, which ought
to have started at midnight on Monday, did not attempt to
leave until yesterday forenoon. The Isle of Wight mail
was obliged to be taken to Southampton in a rowing boat,
as the mail steam-packet could not find its way. The Isle
of Wight steam-packet Ruby, on its way from Ryde to
Portsmouth on Monday, went ashore near Haslar Hospital
in the fog. The delay in the departure of the Channel
Island mail packet was telegraphed to Jersey and Guernsey
to prevent any anxiety from being felt in those islands.
MR. SPURGEON'S NEW TABERNACLE TEA MEET-
ING.—On Monday evening last about 1,000 of Mr. Spur-
geon's friends held a monster tea-meeting at Park-street
Chapel. After tea there was a public meeting to aid the
funds for the erection of a new tabernacle. The meeting
was addressed by the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, the Rev. H.
Allen,. the Rev. Mr. Davies, and other gentlemen—Mr.
Low m the chair. The liberality of those present to the
pleading of the different speakers will be seen by the fact
that upwards of £BOO was collected and promised. The
chapel was crowded, and hundreds were unable to gain ad-
mittance.