The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-12 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 12, 1867.

BA I LWAY T ,YLLIGES CE.

GREAT WESTERN.
The report of the directors of this company has just been
s'oied. It states that the accounts of railway revenue to
the 31st December last (an abstract of which appeared in
The Sun of Monday) comprise the receipts and expen-
diture in respect of the following
new lines, being two
portions of the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railway,
and the Uxbridge Branch, in addition to those previously
completed, viz., between Warminster and Salisbury, opened
on the 30th of June last, 20 miles ; from Frorne to Yeovil,
opened on the let of September,
nboer,o 2150" i strhuiloefs,saenptdemWbeesrt,
Drayton and Uxbridge, opened
2.-f miles—together, 43 miles ; and 14 additional stations.
With that additional mileage, the comparison of net reve-
nue during the corresponding period of 1.55 may be stated
as follows :—lncrease on the Great Western Railway—in
passengers, 29,0181. ; in goods, minerals, &c., 19,105/. ; in
parcels, 3,605 ; and in other sources of revenue, 8,8421. ;
together, 60,600/ ; from which is deducted 12,9241. for
additional working charges, leaving the total increase of
net earnings for the half-year, 47,6761. The increase in the
Shrewsbury Railway, hi passengers, &c., was 3,058/. ; and
in goods and minerals, 14;783/. ; together, 17,811/. ; from
which is deducted 6501. decrease in other sources of
t raffic, leaving 17,1911., deducting proportion due according
to mileage of goods for working them to and from
Birkenhead, &c., 5,2751. leaving 11;916/. The additional
working charges amounted to 5,5661., leaving 6,3501. as the
total increase of net earnings on the Shrewsbury lines. The
total increase in the receipts on the Great 'Western and
Shrewsbury lines was 77,7911., less 5,275/,, and in addi-
tional working charges 18,493., leaving the total increase
of net earnings, for the half-year 54,0261. With respect to
the Kennet and Avon Canal account the auditors advise
the reduction of the capital account or purchase cost of the
canal, by placing the excess sum between certain items to
that account, and they recommend provision to be made
out of the Great Western revenue for the balance against
the canal, resulting from five years' working, of 9,3801.,
course to which the directors, under the circumstances of the
case, have given their assent. This deficiency does not pro-
perly become a charge altogether to the revenue, for a con-
siderable portion of it is admitted to be due to the cost of
construction of the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Rail-
way, the works of which have caused frequent stoppages of
the canal itself, and consequent loss of freight. The
mode approved by the auditors for meeting it is to charge
the whole balance to the revenue account within 5 years,
by placing 1,3801. to the credit of the Kennet and Avon
Canal in the last six months, and writing off in each sub-
sequeat year 2,0001. until the whole sum shall have been

liquidated. After defraying all charges which have priority
out of the revenues of the Great Western Company, the
sum of 140,8221. remains available for a dividend on the
consolidated stock; and the directors have much satisfac-
tion in recommending, under the improved condition of
this undertaking, that the dividend for the last half-year
be increased from 2i to 3 per cent. per annum, which will
allow a balance of 17,27 e/. to be carried to the next account.
Added to this, the board advert to a claim for a consider-
able amount on the Postmaster-General in excess of the
sum credited for mail services, which is likely soon to be
decided by arbitration. From the peculiar nature of those
services, for which there are already two years of arrear to
be received from the Post-office, the directors entertaen no
doubt that the balance in aid of the accounts of the cur-
rent half-year will be much increased upon the award being
mede. The fund for "accidents," established. in 1819, has
now reached the agreed balance of 20,e00/. in reserve, over
and above all payments for compensation under that head.
The capital accounts embrace the further expenditure dur-
ing the half year for all the lines then -under construction,
of a bich about 37 miles have been since opened for pas-
senger traffic—viz., between Yeovil and Weymouth, and
between Bradford and Bath. The only portions of railway
which are still in course of construction consist of the De-
vizes and Henley branches (about 13 miles), both of
which lines will be completed in the spring. All
the Parliamentary obligations for new railways belong-
ing to this company will thus be fulfilled, and the
directors have steadily adhered to the principle of not
entering into further engagements of the same descrip
tion. Two branch railways connected with the Great
Western system have been undertaken exclusively by
local subscriptions, viz., the Abingdon Railway and the
Bridpor t Railway ; and a third branch from Hatton, near
Warwick, to Stratford-upon-Avon, is promoted under simi-
lar circumstances without any pecuniary assistance from
this company, an t is now before Parliament for the sanc-
tion of the Legislature. The -directors have thought it
right in all those cases to enter into agreements for finding
the plant and working those lines in connection with the
traffic of the main line, during a limited period, without
undertaking any guarantee or liability for their capital
but without exacting any profit over and above the ex-
penses actually incurred in working them. Application
bas also been made to the directors by local subscribers
projecting a line between Hungerford and Devizes for a
permanent working arrangement of such line, when con-
structed, on conditions similar to that of the lease of the
Hereford, Ross, and Gloucester Railway, and they recom-
mend authority to be given to enter into an agreement for
that purpose. The directors least report that some modi-
fications in the subsisting agreements between the Corn-
wall Railway Company and the Great Western, Bristol
and Exeter, and South Devon Arifeeciated Companies hive
become indispensable, in 0r.45- to secure out of the*
sources of the Cornwall Company the completion of that
portion of their line which is lelsectto the three companies,
due regard being had to the interests of all the parties to
those agreements. Applicatic2e,i therefore been made to
Parliament for the requisite petters. The main purposes in
view are to enable the Cornwalkßailway Company to raise
the additional capital necessar/for completing the line be-
tween Plymouth and Truro by disposal of their preference
shares, with the assistance of the credit of the associated
companies, but such preference charge to be provided out
of the revenues of the Cornwall Railway, who are also to
defray every expense incidental to-it. The increased lia-
bility of this company is limited to two ninth parts of the
amount, and under the modified arrangements will not
exceed 2,0001. per annum. The directors consider it a
desirable arrangement, which ought to be completed with
as little delay as possible. The question of rates for
the conveyance of coals over the Great Western lines
having been raised by an advertisement and circular
letters which tend to mislead the proprietors and to impute
to the board preferential dealing, the directors think the
best answer to such misrepresentations, industriously pro-
pagated to serve a particular object at this moment, will
be to publish an authorised scale of the rates, as well as the
particulars of the system which is in operation, equally and
impartially with every freighter who may be willing to
transmit coals over this railway. It is perfectly true that
a retail dealer who may send single trucks of coals, or coals
in small quantities, whenever he pleases, without engage-
ment or obligation of any description to the company, pays
more for the single truck than the freighter who engages
to provide full train-loads, adapted to the power of the en-
gine, sent at all seasons of the year, and for a stipulated
annual amount of freight payable to the company. The
question really is whether such rates are really dispropor-
tionate or otherwise, and the publication of the scale will
be the best mode of testing it. The directors can say with
confidence that their sole object has been to secure to the '
lines the utmost amount of freight from coals, carried in
the manner most economical and remunerative to the pro-
prietors, and upon one uniform principle, applicable alike
to all,6and recognised as just. It was sanctioned by the
highest opinion of counsel immediately after the last Fe-
bruary meeting, and the system hassince been confirmed as ,
legal by a recent decision in the Court of Common Pleas.
To this principle the directors feel it their duty to adhere,
and they will rejoice to find that it is extensively adopted
by the Somersetshire, Forest of Dean, and all
,other col-
lieries, whether large or small, under arrangements with
this company, similar to that which is now in force with
the Ruabon Coal Company. It will probably be a satis-
faction to the proprietors to learn that immediate mea-
sures wore taken by the directors at the instant of the dis-
covery of frauds which had been committed in certain
other companies by the transfer of stock or shares, to have
ell the registers of this company carefully examined; and
a most elaborate report was drawn up and delivered by the
accountant, after such investigation, to the directors
and auditors, verifying the accuracy of the registers
and the correctness of the system upon which they have
been kept. It is due to the principal registrar of the com-
pany to say that he was the first person to suggest this
course, and that the result reflects great credit upon him
and all who have'been engaged in that department. It is
intended for the future to transmit notice, by letter, to
every proprietor transferring stock to acquaint him that
the deed has been presented for entry, in order that he may
warn the directors, without delay, of irregularity or fraud,
if any should exist. Every proprietor wishing, by way of
precaution, to ascertain at any time the amount of stock
registered in his name shall, upon inquiry, receive imme-
diate information thereof from this office. Appended to
the report is a statement of the total charge per ton for
coals over the Great Western lines referred to in the fore-
going report. From the tabular statement it appears the
contract charge, in full train loads for distances exceeding
100 miles, the total freight being 5,000/, and upwards per
annum for a term is 7-16ths of a penny, and for use of
waggons 1-16th of a penny per ton. Retail charge, in
single trucks for distances exceeding 50 miles, without any
engagement for quantity or time, 8-16tlas of a penny, and
for use of waggons 2-16ths of a penny per ton. The addi-
tional charge, in each case for terminal and other expenses
in contract cases where the freights exceed 4),0001. per
annum, X. per ton; 30,000/. per annum, 6d. per ton ;
20,00Q4 per annual, Od,, per ton ; 15,000/. per annual, la,

per ton ; 10,0001. per annum, is. 3d. per ton ; and 5.0001.
per annum, 19. 61, pe'r ton; and the retail charge, including
freiglit, waggon hire, terminal, and other expenses, is for
Somersetehire coal, 121 miles from Radstock to Paddington,
ss. sd. per ton, the freight exceeding 40,0001. per annum ;
Forest of Dean coal, 128 miles from Ballspill to Paddington,
ss. 70. per ton, freight exceeding 10,00 e/. -per annum ; and
for North Wales coal, 108 miles from Rnabon to Paddington,
Sc. 60. per ton, the freight exceeding 40,0007.
per annum,
and in the above proportion for smaller amounts of freight
per annum, the retail charge, as before mentioned, for
2.41
those distanced, being respectively Sc., Bs. ~ and Us.
10d. per ton.
The report of Mr. Brunel, the engineer, states that dur-
ing the last half-year nearly all the principal works in
which the company was engaged have been brought to a
state of completion. The Wilts and Somerset Railway was
completed and opened from Frome to Yeovil, a distance of
26 miles, on the Ist Sept., and from Yeovil to the terminus
at Weymouth, a further distance of about 28 miles, on the
20th of last month. The Bathampton Branch from near
Trowbridge by Bradford to the main line near Bath, a dis-
tance of about nine miles, was completed and opened for
traffic on the 2d inst., there remaining only the Devizes
branch, upon which the works, with few exceptions, are
completed, and the rails are now being delivered for the
permanent way, so that in a few weeks this branch of the
Wilts and Somerset Railway may also be opened. The Ux-
bridge branch was completed and opened in Sept. last ; and
the Henley branch, the only work of extension now in
hand, connected with the main line of the Great 'Western
Railway, is fast approaching to pefifriPtion. Eke xetid
gauge from Birmingham to Basingstoke, together with the
avoiding line at Dideot, and the janction curve near Read-
ing, commonly called the Reading Fork, have been com-
pleted, and the entire line opened for public traffic on th°
narrow gauge in Dec. last. The whole of the new arrange_
ments at Paddington station are now approaching comple.
tion. Tho goods shad and warehouse, constituting the se
cond portion of the merchandise arrangements, completing
the whole of the original design, are now finished ; the
rails are being laid into the platforms, and the roadways
being paved ; the cranes and other hydraulic power ar-
rangements in the shed and warehouses are fixed. Several
important additions and improvements have been made at
the several stations on the lines northward and also at Swin-
don and Bristol, for affording increased accommodation to
the goods traffic. With few exceptions, every part of the
permanent way and works has been thoroughly main-
tained, and is in an improved condition.

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FEE. 11,
JUDGMENTS EXECUTION, &C., BILL.

Order for Second Reading read ; Motion made, and Question
proposed, " That the Bill be now read a seconnime :"
Amendment proposed, to leave out the word " now," and
at the end of the question to add the words " upon this
day six months :" Question put, "That the word ' now
stand part of the Question :—The house divided ; Ayes,
56 ; Noes, 46.

211 E PERSIAN WAR.

ciaaoin of
o pThe Teheran Gazette of the 26th Raby-el-tharly
(24th
thelt
nfr
ec
elms tb oe publishes. a. n
spalya
sn_ a: t_
In
thid ory reply
to the English declaration of war issued from Cal-
N
odfetehlaerlarteioantiosf, awvahirletheheCobeleoic-nkoaid.-eGseonure
xal of the Indies accuses us of bad faith and of the
ports with 30- vessels« of-war. The English Con-ul
at Bender-Bushire, in communicating that declara-
tion to the local authorities, adde i, that the arrival
of the naval forces is simply the explanation of the
Contents of that declaration. .
"Thus we are obliged to unveil the h and to
make all men understand that our accusare are
themselves guilty of want of faith, breach of treaties,
of injustice, and have created difficulties with a
view to invade our territory.
"In explaining our rights and the r: al facts we
wish that the justice of our cause may be appre-
ciated by every one. It will be seen that the ag-
gression was not on our side ; that never did our
Government endeavour to infringe a treaty exist-
ing between the two Governments ; men will be
convinced that, not satisfied with fulfilling the
terms of the treaties, we did more th an we were called
upon to do. The proof will be given that the Eng-
lish agents have repeatedly violated the treaties,
created embarrasments, and infringed upon the
authority of the Persian Government.
that the rupture with .Mr. Murray
VitiS cause' etbarttitisiwta tOtiduet'attcl -by the viola-
tion of our rights. As if it was not °slough to have,
attacked the authority of the Governthent, the
Minister of England wished to claim as a British
subject a paid servant 'and real subject of his Ma-
jesty the Shah, Marza Hashem-Khan, who has
.given up English protection and returned to the
service of his Sovereign. Moreover, Mr. Murray
mixed himself up with the intrigues relating to
Affghanistan in general, and to Herat in particular.
And yet, according to all the treaties concluded
between the two Cabinets :-Ist, in 1809, with Sir
Harford Jones ; 2d, in 1812, with Mr. Crosley ;
and 3d, in 1814, with Mr. Ellis. In all those
existing treaties it was stipulated thee, the English
Government should not interfere in Persian and
Affghan affairs except as a mediator with the con-
sent of both parties.
" The first infraction of treaties by British agents
took place in the reign of the late King Moham-
med Shah, at the siege of Herat. The English
Government sent vessels of war into the Persian
Gulf, which act compelled the King to raise the
siege. His Majesty, not wishing to break off
friendly intercourse with England, renounced at
that time the capture of Herat, At a later period
Mr. Sheil assumed a cold and threatening manner ;
but the Court of Teheran, always appreciating the
friendship of England, contracted, relative to
Herat, a new arrangement, based upon the inter-
nal relations of the country, such as they existed
in the days of Kamran and of..Yar-MiThainmed
Khan. It was said then that the English should
not interfere in any ewe, or in anasmanuer, in the
affairs of Herat, and that they should not have
any relations with the chiefs of the said town. It
is to be observed that that treaty must be null and
void according to all international law, which sti-
pulates that a treaty between two Powers shall be
ratified, -and the ratifications exchanged—these
conditions, were not, fulfilled.
"Moreover, Mr. Sheil himself annulled that
arrangement, and his successors have imitated his
example ; this is proved by official documents that
have been communicated to us. It was by acts
that Mr. Sheil infringed the arrangement agreed
upon ; he sent one of his confidants, Sultan-Khan,
to Herat, and he commenced relations that he had
no buSiness to enter into, for it had been expressly
stipulated that a copy of the arrangement agreed
bpon should be sent to the Government of Herat.
To.the observations made then by the Teheran
Cabinet to Mr. Sheil that his conduct was cbntrary
to stipulations, he replied officially that he did not
regard himself bound not to hold communication
with Herat, and that he should communicate with
that town' whenever and as often as he pleased
without informing the Persian Government. In
fact, these communications were entertained
without interruption. After Mr. Shell, the,
Charge d'Affaires, Mr. Thompson, even took ad-
vantage- of the departure of Molla-Akram, the
Secretary of the Governor of.Herat, to enter-
tain him outside the town, and to nviie him money
and a letter fOr Seid,-Mohammed-Khiii.
"In that letter it.is said, trutt- aceittding to c on-
ventions agreed upon with the saidAtretary, Sad
Mohammed Khan whose intelligenefalnd capacities
are appreciated, willieceive from the agent of Eng-
land, at Herat, the .necessary arms and-ammuni-
tion and two kourours of money -.(49t.),0091.), ou
condition that the English agents shall rit* be ex-
cluded from the affairs Affghanistan, andthat all
who speak the Affghati tongue shall be' stftect to
it ; that advice is given-toSeid Mohammed-Khan
to send one of his sons to £he Governor-Gefitral of
India, and that he will thus obtain all that he' de-
sires.' That letter is actually in the archives of the
Persian Government.
" Although we ore informed of all the steps of
the Englisli assents we tolerated them out of respect
to the-English alliance. But the agents of England
put no limits to their compromising conduct. After
the death of Kohendil Khan, Dost Mohammed
Khan seized upon the town of Candahar, in defi-
ance of the prohibition for any Government in these
parts to invade a neighbouring State. Dost
hammed was even resolved to sei2e•upon Herat. ,!
"While thee 'events were tekihg' place in Aff-
ghanistan the representatives ofEnglAdmaintained
a strict silence on these questions„.ond caused us
embarrassments on other matters. Bit hissoon as
Dost Mohammed Khan had seized Qandaliar (on
the 4th of Reby-el-aouel) Mr. Murray,' on the 9th
of the same month, broke oft his interconrA with
the Persian Government. On the other hand; the
chief personages of Herat, as Shahzadeh-Mohani-
med-Youssouf, General Ica-Kb an, the Sirdar
med.-Khan the Governor Mole 1 rmed-Husgbine
Khan, HaClji-Koulmoun-Klian, Abbas-Khan, and
all the chief persons of that town, addressed a peti-
tion to the Persian Government concluded in the
following terms
" We, the most devoted servants and faithful
subjects of your Majesty, feel it our duty to inform
you that Dost Mohammed-Khan has Just seized
Caudahar by order of the English Government,
and that he has resolved to capture our town also.
But as he was not aware of the changes that have
taken place here* and only heard of them at Ghuz-
nee he did not wish to remain at Caudahar, but he
at once gave orders for the preparations of the ex-
pedition against us ; his sojourn at Candahar will
not exceed seven days.
" According to letters which we have received
from merchants and other persons ho openly de-
clared his projects against our city. •
" But, doubtless, you are not acquainted with
the follies and treachery of Seid-Mohammed-Khan,
neither with the state of disorder and want in
which he has left the army and the population. It
is quite impossible for us to hold out without your
support. Although we have never been honoured
with your kindness or your gifts (khal'al), we have
always been your faithful and devoted servants.
We, therefore, beg of you to give us succour and
to take us under !your protection now that Post
Mohammed declares himself the aggressor and the
enemy of your Government, by placing himself in
open rebellion against you.
You have but to signify your orders to him
by prescribing to him his duties, and by telling
him that you have taken us under your protection.
If he persists in his designs, tell him you will send
us the money and the troops requisite to defeat
him. But, at the same time, succour must be sent
to us with Sa,m.Khan-el-Khani. For, shOuld our
town be captured and destroyed, great evils would
ensue and reprisals would lead to nothings'
" The Persian Government simply sent Sam-
Khan, without troops, to the succour of Herat ;
Prince Nissan-ul-Mulk was at Djam, with some
troops. But we were not aware that Dost Mo-
hammed had already gained and corrupted by
bribery various personages inside Herat, such as
the General Ica-Khan, and that 'he had induced
them to revolt against Shahzadeli-Mohammed-
Youssouf, to drive out Sam Khan, sent to their
aid, and Mohammed-Youssouf Khan himself,
should he oppose the expulson of Sam Khan. After
a sanguinary struggle, Sam Khan was compelled to
take flight to Bagschah without troops ; he was
compelled to go on to Malak, where his death bad
been resolved upon. Informed of the conspiracy,
Sam Khan sent a courier to the Prince Sultan
Murad Mirza, and through a thousand dangers he
escaped to Fort Chibika, where be found refuge.
On receiving the news Prince Sultan Murad-Mirza
sent Pasha Khan to the aid of the fugitive. What
is still worse is, that while Sam Khan and Pasha
Khan were returning from Fort Chibika to Ken-

* The Chiefs of Herat here alluded to the sanguinary
tragedy when Seid-Mohammed Khan, Chief of Herat, was
assassinated and replaced by Mohammed Yussouf, who
defended Herat at the commencement of the siege, but
was compelled to escape from the city, and fell into the
hand of Murad-Mirza, who sent him to Teheran, where the
Shah generottaly granted him a pardon,