The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-29 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 29, 1866.

THE SUN

ELECTION COMMITTEES—This Day.

NOTTINGHAM.

This committee resumed sitting a the usual hour this
morning.
The Chairman said that in addition to the returns
already produced the committee required the production
of the register containing the names of all the parties who
were entitled to vote, and who did not vote in 1859 and
1861 at the elections at Nottingham.
Alexander Watson Lyall said that he was sub-editor
and reporter of the Nottingham Daily Guardian, and that
he had reported several of Sir Robert Clifton's speeches
before the election. Ho was not aware whether he had
not destroyed his notes, and he bad no notice to produce
them, nor had he been asked for them. Most certainly he
had never told Mr. Richards that he had them in his pos-
session after the election, and there would have been no
objection on his part to produce them, if they were re-
quired, and were in existence.
Counsel for Sir Robert Clifton having waived his right
to have the manuscript notes produced, several passages
in the Guardian, in speeches of Sir Robert Clifton,
were identified by the witness as having been reported by
him, and to the accuracy of which he deposed. These
passages contained nothing particular to the allegations
against Sir Robert Clifton, although some of them were of
a personal character. The hon. baronet denied in Coto that
either he or any of his friends were instrumental in pro-
moting the riots that took place before the polling day.
The witness was cross-examined by Mr. Rodwell, but
nothing material was elicited.
Charles Butler Duran said that he was assistant editor
and reporter of the Nottingham Daily Guardian, and
had reported several speeches of Sir Robert Clifton, and
amongst others one delivered on the 28th June last at the
Spread Eagle, Nottingham. On that occasion Sir Robert
,pointed to Mr. James Sweet, who was going up
the street. Mr. Sweet was opposed to Sir Robert
Clifton, and for some time antecedent to the elec-
tion had been in the habit of using offensive lan-
guage towards him and his supporters. He attended a
meeting held at the " Salutation" on the 7th of July last,
which ho reported. Sir Robert Clifton spoke on that
occasion, and strongly denounced the Sheriff's selection of
the Exchange for the purposes of nomination. He said
that selection was an insult to the respectable voters of
Nottingham, and his language on that occasion was very
strong, but it was loudly cheered. The witness then
identified certain portions of Sir Robert Clifton's speeches,
in one of which occurred the term " damnation to
the magistrates." In the speeches reported by this wanes!
`there was also a distinct denial of any instigation directly
or indirectly on the part of Sir Robert Clifton of any acts
whatever leading to riots or the intimidation of the voters.
Reporters from other local journals gave similar evi-
dence. _ _ _

The committee will reassemble on Saturday shortly
after the.usual hour.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

Punch on the Reform Bill.

PUDDING BEFORE MEAT.
Earl Gr-v-n-r—" WHY, JOHN ! BEEF BEFORE PUDDING !"
Dizzy—" HA ! HA ! 'WHAT AN ABSURD IDEA !"

LITTLE BILL (born A.D. 1866), and
BIG Brix (born A.D. 1831).
A Dialogue.
Little say, big brother !
Big Bill—Brother? how now, Sir? Keep your distance.
What Hop-o'-my-Thumb is this, that comes no higher
than my shoe ?
Little Bill—l'm Little Bill, the child of Russell's age,—l
want assistance.
So I thought 'twas only natural I should apply to you.
Big Bill I doubt a blood relationship, so boldly though
you claim one :
Look at my thews and sinews, my proportions, and my
size :

You've but one leg to stand on, and that leg is a lame one,
And you've but half allowance of arms and ears and eyes.
In short, to judge you frankly by limbs, looks, and propor-

tion,
I must decline all brotherhood with such a mere abortion.
Little Bill —Oh, cruel brother ! what I want is cheering
and not chaff of you!
Big Bill—Then go back to where you came from, and
fetch the other half of you :
NV hen you're all there—two legs, two arms, a whole head
on your shoulders—
I dotztt object to talk to you, in sight of all beholders ;
But in your present half-and-half condition of existence
I must decline to acknowledge you, much more to give
assistance.
Little Bill (plaintively)-011, this is hard—it's very hard
—and in my heavy need, too !
When I so want an adviser, and a guiding hand to lead,
too !

To raise a mere puff of fair wind, like that which filled
your sails full,
To win a sprinkle of the praise that was showered on you
by pails full !
When I ask aid from a brother, so much bigger, wiser,
older,
Instead of a warm helping hand, to be treated to cold
shoulder
Big Bill (contemptuously)—And what right, I should
like to know, have you to more from me, Sir ?
If you would thrive as I have thriven, what I was you
must be, Sir:
Sprung,like Minerva armed at point, from the great brains
that bore me.
Child of true needs, and furnished for the work that lay

before me.
What question might be made of me I stood four-square
to answer,
A. brawny babe, full-limbed and fair, the makings of a
man, Sir !

So I was welcomed by the shouts of those who long had

waited,

With joy proportioned to their hate who my appearance
hated ;
And in the balanced joy and hate that raged about my cot,
Grim Revolution hovered outside, but entered not.
As that ride storm my cradle shook serene I lay and
smiled,
And storm and smile alike foretoldl was no common child.
Since then my life has well fulfilled the promise of my
birth,
Till hate and joy have shaken hands, and all proclaim my
worth.
But you, who crept into the world at a Royal Speech's
tail,—
As four had done before you, abortions born to fail—
Where was the joy or fear thathailed your coming into life?
What storm-wind wrapt your cradle in elemental strife ?
When they stript off the swaddling clothes that kept you
dark and still,
What was the cry ? " What this ? why this is only half a
Bill !
Be your baby big or little, give us at least a whole one!
As for half Bills, it isn't worth the trouble to unroll one."
,4 Half a loaf" may be " better than no bread," if you will,
But certainly the proverb doesn't hold of half a Bill.
You may be, as you say you are, poor little Bill, my brother,
But I cant't take one half's word for that until I see the
other.
So, go back to those who sent you, and ere you ask my aid,
Beg them to make your other half, and come when that is
made.

Atlantic and Great Western Railway.

ANNUAL MEETING THIS DAY.

The annual meeting of the bondholders of this
railway resident in England was held this day, at
the London Tavern—Sir M. Peto, chairman of the
Board of Control in London, presided.
The report having been taken as read,

The CHAIRMAN said he felt much pleasure in
meeting the bondholders, because the great under-
taking in which they had so great an interest
was in a highly satisfactory condition. He
commenced his comments upon the report by refer-
ring to the accounts and to the accurate and clear
manner in which they were kept. The directors in
London, having felt that it would be of the
greatest use to have a ready means of reference
to the accounts, had given directions to have a
duplicate set prepared for England which would
be kept closely posted and open to the inspection
of bondholders whenever they felt disposed. Ile
had determined that on taking the post of chairman
of the board of control in England, it should not be
a mere nominal appointment ; and, in order to ex-
ercise his powers, he had directed a second exami-
nation of those accounts to be made, in order to
satisfy some bondholders who were anxious to know
the dividends had been duly earned. The ac-
counts showed most clearly that with 490 miles of
line open they had earned more than sufficient to pay
the expenses of the bonded debt. (Hear, hear.)
When he was in America he found that the means
for carrying the traffic were very insufficient, and
the great addition of sidings and trucks he had
taken the responsibility of ordering were in
course of rapid construction and supply, and
the best results would follow the completion of the
contract, because they would then have adequate
means of carrying on their enormous traffic. The
revenue derived now was very large, yet they had
not yet commenced carrying either corn or cattle.
A means of communication had been opened up to
Pittsburg, the Birmingham of America, and this
would add greatly to their income. The Interna-

tional Bridge, when completed, the arrangements
for which were highly satisfactory and profitable for
the company, would be commenced in the autumn ;
and, altogether, the prospects from that arrange-
ment were peculiarly satisfactory. He had been
asked about the certificates of debentures. All he
had to say was that the amount in the Bank of
England was quite sufficient to meet the expenses
on that head. (Hear, hear.) The road to Buffalo
would be completed within the estimate, and leave
Mr. M'Henry a profit, which none would grudge.
He should have the greatest pleasure in answering
the questions of any gentleman present.
A variety of questions were then put with respect
to various items in the accounts, the answers given
being highly satisfactory. One bondholder went
the length of saying the results were perfectly
amazing.

The proceedings then terminated with a vote of
hanks to the chairman.

Cotton Supply Association.

At the usual meeting of the executive committee,
held on Tuesday, a letter was read from her Ma-
jesty's consul (a son of the martyred missionary
Williams) at Apia, Upolu, South Seas, acknowledg-
ing the receipt of a gin and seed granted to him by
the association, and stating that more cleaning
machines are needed, which he is prepared to pur-
chase. He has been urging the natives to plant
cotton, and though at first they evinced reluctance,
under the apprehension that the produce would not
meet with a ready sale, yet now, having been dis-
abused of that misconception, they have turned to
with a will, and instead of 400 or 500 acres, it is
expected that this year 2,000 acres will be' planted.
The country is well suited for cotton, which grows
with little trouble, and produces two crops in the
year. The first crop of the writer's plantation of
40 acres yielded 55,7991 b. of cotton in the seed
(this is low-land). A twenty-seven acre plantation
yielded 31,1051 b. The second crop, it was feared,
might be injured by the rains of the wet season.
The price given by merchants and traders was from
3c. to 4c. per lb. in the seed. The writer has shipped
fourteen bales of cleaned cotton to Sydney, with
instructions to forward them to the association for
sale should it be found difficult to obtain a good
price in Sydney. The Brazilian seed is chiefly
planted in the Samoan group, but there aro four or
five varieties ; a sample of each is now on the way
for the inspection of the association. A despatch
was received from his Excellency the Governor of
Queensland, acknowledging the receipt of a com-
munication from the association, recommending that
the bonus in land orders should be continued for a
further period, with a view to encourage the culti-
vation of cotton in the colony, and stating in reply
that the Queensland Parliament has sanctioned the
continuation of a moderate bounty (that is of £5)
iu land orders for every bale of good cleaned
cotton exported to Great Britain until the end of
the year 1869, when the question will be again
taken into consideration. His excellency, after
quoting from Mr. J. Stuart Mill's work on "Political
Economy" in support of the expediency of offering
premiums or bounties during a short period, with
the sole object of naturalising an important foreign

industry in a new country admirably suited for it,
asserts that it is upon such grounds that the Go-
vernment and Parliament of Queensland have de-
termined to continue the bonus in land orders for a
limited period, with the object of encouraging the

'urther cultivation of cotton in that colony. During

the six years of his administration the Governor
has frequently directed attention to the remarkable
adaptation of Queensland for the growth of cotton.
The exceptional inclemency of three successive sea-
sons—the long drought of 1862—the heavy floods of
1863, and of the first months of 1864, occasioned
great disappointment and discouragement. In 1864
the export of cotton from Queensland amounted to
38,7301 b., valued at £4,186. The returns for
1865, though not completed, will, it is expected,
exhibit a considerable increase. The Government
and Legislature of the colony have done all in
their power to encourage enterprising men to per-
severe, in spite of difficulties, in the cultivation of
cotton. The greater proportion of the capital in
Queensland is invested in the production of wool,
and the capitalists of England must apply some
part of their own skill, industry, and money, if cot-
ton is also to be produced rapidly, or on an exten-
sive scale. A letter was received, containing de-

tails of a proposal to establish an agency for dis-
posing of and developing the cotton fields of South
Australia. An extract from the New Orleans Times,
forwarded by her Majesty's consul at that port, was
received from the Foreign Office, relative to the
growth of cotton in the Southern States of America.
The writer considers that as much of the rich cot-
ton lands along the Mississippi are not yet redeemed
from overflew by the rebuilding of broken levees,
the dependence for a crop must rest chiefly on the
highland farms, which are less productive than
those of the lowlands. After deducting the labour
which must necessarily be devoted to other crops—
sugar, tobacco, and rice, for instance, and which
will be absorbed by other employments, the writer
thinks the cotton crop will not be more than one
million and a half of bales. A copy of the peti-
tion for the decimalisation of weights, measures,
and moneys, adopted by the Liverpool Chamber
of Commerce, was received, which concluded the
business.

We understand that Mr. Goschen, M.P., will be
one of the guests at the banquet to be given in Liverpool
to the Chancellor cf the Exchequer.
Notice has been given that the application list of
the London and Suburban Land and Building Com-
pany will be closed on the 9th April for London,
and on the 10th for the country.
At a meeting, held to-day, of the Credit Foncier
of Mauritius, the report of the directors stated
that there was a surplus of profit amounting to
£13,001 ; and a dividend was declared of 7i per
cent., of which 21 has been already paid, and the
balance of preliminary expenses written off amount-
ing to £5,051.
M. FLOTOW has been giving, at Vienna, a now
ballad, "Die Libelle," which is said to contain some of his
best and most characteristic music.
Out of 200,031 emigrants who landed at New
York last year, 4,591 went into the southern states and
2,435 went into Canada.