The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-02 00:00:00

REGENT'S CANAL.

The half-yearly meeting of this company was held
on Wednesday, at the offices, City-road-basin—Mr.
W. Parker in the chair.

Mr. Abbott, the secretary, read the report, which
stated that the traffic upon the canal during the six
months ending Sept. 30 had amounted to 849,524
tons. The gross receipts from tolls amounted to
£32,653, and the net profit to £19,386; including
balance, £405, remaining from March 31, the sum
available at the credit of profit and loss was £19,791.
After appropriating £657 for interest on calls re-
ceived on account of new shares, and £969 (being 5
per cent. on the net profit) to the reserve fund, the
directors recommended a dividend of 13s. per share
(free of income tax), which would absorb £17,562,
and leave a balance of £603 to be carried forward.
The amount received to Sept. 30 on account of the
new shares allotted in November last was £39,754,
and the expenditure there against £39,321. Consi-
derable property had yet to be acquired before the
important works for the improvement of the com-
pany's dock could be commenced. The directors
recommended that the 4,318 new shares not yet
taken up be offered to the proprietors gene-
rally, and that the interest upon calls payable in re-
spect of such shares be 5 per cent.

The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report, referred to the highly satisfactory position of
the undertaking ; its progress was steady and re-
munerative.

Col. WILSON seconded the motion, which was agreed
to, and a dividend of 13s. per share was declared,
payable on Nov. 5.

The directors were authorised to issue the 4,318
new shares not yet taken up at 5 per cent. interest.
Mr. G. Wharton was elected an auditor, and the
proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the
chairman.

A HORSE-RACE IN EGYPT.—Next morning we
were all up at four, sleep having been nearly impossible,
and started for the Tomb of the Sheik, but, as it was filled
with women, could not go in. M. Guichard had given 30
napoleons to be run for by the Bedouins. Two miles had
been staked out by flags, and about 35 wished to start. Mrs.
Ross was to start them; M. Guichard stood by the whining-
post and started them back again. "Shaitan," or the devil
as Mrs. Ross's horse was called, was so violent that, as soon
as the Bedouins were off, she let him go and arrived second,
and coming back third. The same horse won both times,
and had the prize; he was ridden without a saddle, and
with a bit of rope for a bridle and bit, by a boy of 14, who
deliberately stripped, and when told that this was not
allowed, put an old rag round his middle. Directly after
the race the winner disappeared in the desert, as his
owners were afraid of the evil eye for him. On our way
back to the camp, old Sheik Mohamed Hassan came up and
made an amende honorable to Mrs. Ross, and after a long
conversation he made her a formal proposal. "0 lady,
when thou art tired of thy white husband and needest
change, come to Mohamed Hassan. By Allah, thou ridest
like ten Bedawees, and thy conversation is such that thy
husband need never go to a coffee-shop for entertainment
or knowledge. I will stand before thee, 0 lady, and serve
thee like thy mameluke if thou wilt come to me." The old
Sheik was much thanked for his flattering offer, and when
we got under cover of our tent he insisted on serving his
"sitt" (lady) himself with coffee.—Dickens's " All the fear
Round."