The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-10 00:00:00

THIS _DAI'S SHIPPING.

LONDON, Feb. 10.--Wind this day at noon S.S.W. ;
light breeze and cloudy at times.
PLYMOUTH, Feb. 9.—Wind W.S.W., strong gale—Ar-
rived—North Star, from Buenos Ayres ; Iteine du Monde,
from Havre, for Rio Janeiro, with loss of forotopma.st
Prometheus, from London, for Rio Janeiro.
CLYDE, Feb. 10.—Arrived—Lady Matheson from Suri-
nam. Put back.—City of Glasgow, for Calcutta—crew
refusing to proceed.
PORTSMOUTH, Feb. O.—Wind S.S.W.—It has blown a
gale all day from S. to S.S.W., and at 7 p.m. continues.
COWES, Feb. 9.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Fulton (s.),
from Havre, for New York.
Brazils.
SOUTHAMPTON, Feb. 9.—Wind S.—Sailed—Tyne, for
t
14msGATE, Feb. O.—Arrived—Merlin, from Antwerp,
forllavannah.
froliniAtmouTH, Feb. 9.—Arrived—Sir John Rae Reed,
ndon, for St. Kitt's.

Bedford and Bletehley!
Buckinghamshire
Clydesdale.Junctlon..!
Colchester, Stour Val.!
E.Lincolnshireg.6p.c.
E Union,TrarwichShs.

Do. IVoodbridg.e.::
Gls.Barr.&tieils,Dret.

Do. New
Gloster& Dean Forest
Hartlpool.Dck.&Rail
Hull and Selby

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH
SOUTHAMPTON, Thursday Morning.
Wind W.S.W.
Arrived—Isabella Croil, steamer, from Cardiff; Alliance,
stean?.er from Havre ; Wonder, steamer, from Jersey.
Sailed—Coq, for Cherbourg ; Havre, steamer, for Havre ;
Courier steamer, for Jersey ; Argyll, steamer, for Caren-
ton. '

Do. Sharei
Do. Shares
London&G reenwich
Do. Preference
L on ~ Til by.& Soutend
Do. Barking Shares
Lowestoft, gua. 4 p. ct
Do. 6 per cent
Manc.,lluxtn.&Matk
Midsb. & g. 6.
P.c.
Mid.BradfordPrf. Stk.
Newmarkt.,Buryllx I
guaranteed 5 p. c. j
Nortlin.& Eastn. 5 p.c.
Do. do. 6 per cent. •
Do. Fixed 5 per cent.
Preston and Wyre. I
Do. Shares A.
Rovstn,llitch.,& Shep
Shrewsbry& Hereford
South Staffordshire..
Wear Valley, g. 6 p. c.
Do. do.
Wilts and Somerset
Wimbledon& Croydn

LIVERPOOL, Thursday Morning.
Wind S.W.
Arrived, Feb. 9—Her Majesty's ship Conway (26), from
,°rtsmouth, towed round by her Majesty's steamer Virago;
-tlla Constance, screw steamer, from Palermo ; Evangeliste,
fl,:coln Coquimbo ; George, from Monte Video ; Bellona,
from Alexandria; Tiber, screw steamer, from Palermo.

(13Y SUBMARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH.)
GRAVESEND, Thursday Morning.
Wind, S.W. ; tide, four hours' ebb ; weather, foggy.
Sailed Feb 10.—Elizabeth Lewis, for Algoa Bay; Trave,
for Adelaide.
.

PACKET INTELLIGENCE.—The Thames, nonosyQ°l-11'13, expected with the heavy portion of the Australian
'nails, will be immediately eoaled to proceed, so it is under-
stood, in search of the Brazilian packet Avon, and assist her
In reaching Southampton. Vanderbilt's Bremen line has
again commenced running-' so that there will be departures
from Southampton on the 22d inst. the 9th and 22d pros.,
and the 6th of April. The departu'res from New York for
Bremen or Havre, callingat Southampton, will be the sth
and 19th of February and March, and the 2d, 16th, and
theof April. The weather at Southampton was excessively
theormy yesterday, and a couple of boats were swamped on
tile Wail atom.

DOCKS.

Paid Closing Business
Price. Done.

THE SUN LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 10, 1859.

THIS Dal Y.)

SOUTH-WESTERN _RAILWAY.

HALF-YEARLY MEETING—(THIS DAY).
The usual half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors
in this company was held this day at the Waterloo Bridge
Station. Charles Castlemain, Esq., occupied the chair.
The Secretary having read the notice calling the meeting,
and the report of the directors, which has already appeared
in The Sim,
___

The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
said the satisfactory state of their affairs would happily
only require him to occupy a very short period of
time. (Hear, hear.) Before, however, proceeding with
the ordinary business of the company, he thought it due
to their late chairman to notice his retirement. He was
sure no person connected with the company could but have
observed his great ability, his kindness, and his immovable
good temper—(hear, hear)—or but must regret that the
state of his health should havamade it imperative upon him
to retire from the chair at the board. Although his health
had been so bad as to compel him to retire from
the board, it was a great happiness to know that
the company would not be precluded from receiving his ad-
vice, as his state of health would yet enable him to hold his
seat in the direction. (Hear, hear.) The directors had
recorded a special notice of their regret at the circum-
stance, but he thought it would be but a graceful act if tlie
proprietors generally were to take some notice of the► sub-
ject. (Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Castlemaine) oeczpied the
chair but temporarily ; he was not a candidate for the post,
as the state of his health totally prevented him from ful-
filling the office. He would now formally move the recep-
tion and adoption of the report, and in doing so he could
inform the proprietors that had there beeline monetary panic
the directors would have been able to declare a dividend
of 6 per cent. (Hear, hear.) The receipts set down in the
report showed the steady progress of the company's affairs,
and justified the greatest confidence in the prosperity of the
undertaking. The Exeter line, he had great satisfaction in
stating, would be opened in the present year. (Hear, hear.)
And another source of congratulation was the great im-
provements that had been effected in the Southampton
docks—(hear, hear)—as the directors had taken steps to lay
out about £40,000 on the works ; and the company was now
in a position to supply a much larger amount of accommo-
dation then they had hitherto been. (Hear, hear.) It
was with great pleasure that he informed the directors that
the taking up of their 4 per cent. debentures stock was
gradually increasing. It was a capital investment, and
he thought that when it became more generally
known a great deal more of it would be taken up. (Hear.)
He now came to a subject that all present felt the greatest
interest in, he meant their relations with the Brighton
Railway— (hear, hear)—and he had the greatest satisfac-
tion in informing the proprietors that within the last few
days the Brighton Company had again opened negotiations
with them—(hear, hear, and cheers)—and he assured the
proprietors that while nothing would be demanded that was
unreasonable, the interests of this company would not be
sacrificed. With respect to past proceedings on the subject,
the proprietors, he thought; would agree with him that it
would be unwise to enter into the reasons that had led to
the breaking off of our negotiations, as by so doing nothing
would arise to retard an amicable settlement of the question.
A resolution would be submitted to the present meeting,
giving the final sanction of the proprietors to the lease of the
Salisbury and Yeovil Railway. The new line from Wim-
bledon to Epsom, which this company had agreed to work,
would be opened on the Ist of March ; and the directors
have also agreed to take the railway recently constructed by
an independent company between Epsom and Leatherhead
at the annual rent of £2,000, with further conditions upon
its being incorporated with the company. The Parlia-
mentary schemes projected in the South-Western district,
and the application for further powers by existing com-
panies, more or less affecting the interests of the company
were a great deal more numerous than usual, but the
proprietors might rest assured that their interests would
be narrowly watched and resolutely protected. The directors,
acting upon a resolution passed at the special general meeting,
in October last they had concluded a special arrangement
with the Porthmouth Company for a lease of the railway,
and the rental agreed upon was £lB,OOO a year, subject to
such incidental conditions as the directors in their discre-
tion may consider necessary, and a bill has been prepared
for the assent of Parliament to such an arrrngement ; and
the measure had been so framed, that an absolute amalga-
mation of the two companies might, in the event of its being
found beneficial, be effected. The chairman then alluded to
the recent combination amongst the different bodies of rail-
way proprietors, which he had advocated in August last.
He was sorry to say that he thought from what
had taken place at the Railway Conference, that there was
little hope of obtaining assistance from Government in sub-
duing the injurious competition which had lately been so
fatal to the value of railway property, and that there was
in consequence the greater necessity for increased energy
amongst the shareholders. He then thanked the meeting
for their attention, and concluded by moving that the
report be received and and adopted. (Cheers.)
A SHAREHOLDER, in seconding the motion, passed a
glowing eulogium upon the abilities of Mr. Chaplin.
There was no one, he thought, who had not observed his
wonderful courtesy. (Hear, hear.) He had also been
a warm supporter of the company in both bad
times and good times—(hear, hear)—and it was his
opinion that he had worn himself out in the service
of the company. (Hear, hear.) The South-Western Rail-
way Company, in conjunction with the name of Mr. Chap-
lin, had become household words, and he was glad some
special notice had been taken of the retirement of that gen-
tleman from the chair. He should have very great plea-
sure in moving a vote of thanks at the present moment—
(loud cheers)—but it was considered that it would be ad-
visable not to interfere with the reading of the report.
After they had agreed to the report, he should only be too
happy to make such a proposition.
A discussion then arose upon the various topics men-
tioned in the report, the several speakers urging the direc-
tors to avoid, as much as possible, law proceedings, which
had for so many years swallowed up such vast sums of
railway capital. At the termination of which the report was
adopted unanimously with the following rider :

" That the shareholders beg to tender a cordial vote of
thanks to W. Chaplin, Esq., their late chairman, for his
long and valuable services, and an expression of their hope
that hcmay be long spared to enjoy many yeari of health
and happiness."
A resolution was also agreed to, approving the payment
of the dividend recorded by the directors, at the rate of
£5 15s. per cent. per annum.
The four retiring directors—Charles Castlemain, Esq.,
Captain Charles Edward Mangles, M.P., Charles Smith
Mortimer, Esq., and William Philip Snell, Esq.—were then
re-elected without opposition.
Mr. TITE, M.P., moved that the sum allowed to the
directors be for the future £3,000 per annum in place of
£2,000.
Mr. PUNCHER seconded the motion.
Mr. JESSEL regretted that the increase of the directors'
allowance had not been doubled.. He thought that the
directors well deserved that sum, and ho should therefore
move that the sum be increased to £4,000. (Cheers.)
Mr. CLARKSON had great pleasure in seconding such a
proposition.

A PROPRIETOR thought that the best way to increase
the remuneration to directors was to reduce their number.
He thought the meeting should vote them £3,000, and that
the four next vacancies, should not be filled up. (Hear,
hear, and cries of "./co, no.")
The CHAIRMAN said the directors had no power to reduce
the board of directors. If it was intended to do so such a
clause must be inserted in their next act of Parliament.
He considered that it was impossible that the business
could be properly conducted with less than the usual
number.

A PROPRIETOR thought that the amount to be voted a
the present time we vl affd ' • •••
,Lien tney co consider e propriety of In-
Creasing the directors remuneration.

Mr. iIOWARD thought they ought to vote £3,000 now,
and £4,000 after they had declared a dividend of 6 per cent.
for two years. (Laughter and cheers.)
Mr. TITE said if the amendment was put he should vote
in favour of it, although he had moved the original pro-
position of £3,000.

The CHAIRMAN then put the amendment that the sum
of £4,000 be voted to the directors.
The proposition was lost.

The original motion, that the sum be £3,000, was then
put and agreed to unanimously.
Resolutions approving of the lease of the Salisbury and
Yeovil Railway, and for tranferring of the Portsmouth
Railway to this company, were then agreed to.
A veto of thanks to the Chairman terminated the pro-
ceedings.

LOVE IN A CONVENT.--An advocate of Rouen,
M. Raoul de Malherbe, who died in 1851, left a widow, an
Italian lady, and two children. Some time after, a Count
d'O-, much hor senior, fell violently in love with hor,
and, though at first she did not accept his advances, and
even retired into a convent at Mantes to avoid him, she
ended by responding to his passion. The result was, that
whilst still in the convent she gave him several meetings,
and that an intimate connexion was established between
them. But after a while her conduct
i became known to
the superior of the convent and she was obliged to leave.
Wrung by remorse, she confessed her ntrigue to her hus-
band's mother. The mother, being greatly shocked, sent her
to her family at Rome ; the count followed her there, and
a marriage, according to the forms of the Roman Catholic
Church, was celebrated between them. Subsequently, the
fact of her having had an intrigue before the marriage be-
came known, by the opening of some confidential letters, to
several other persons. The consequence was, that a family
council, consisting of members of the de Malherbe
assembled, and decided that for her misconduct she should
be deprived of the guardianship of her two children. The
Civil Tribunal of Evereux being applied to, sanctioned the
decision. On Friday the lady appealed to the Imperial
Court of Rouen, and the court decided that the fault which
she had committed having been extenuated by a religious
marriage, did not constitute that "notorious misconduct,"
for which Art. 444 of the Code Napoleon says. that a mother
may be deprived of the guardianship of her children. It
therefore quashed the decision of the family council.

THE ELASTIC EGG.—Take a good and sound egg,
place it in strong vinegar, and allow it to remain 12 hours;
it will then become soft and elastic. In this state it can be
squeezed into a tolerably wide. mouthed bottle, when in it
must be covered with water having some soda in it. In a
few hours this preparation will restore the egg nearly to its
original solidity, after which the liquid should be poured off
and the bottle dried. Keep it for a curiosity to puzzleone's
friends for an explanation how the egg was laid in it,

THIRD EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock.

READING RACES.

(THIS DAY).
[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.]
£2O HANDICAP PLATE.

Miss Somerville
Topsy
... .. 2

• Seven ran.
THE BERKSHIRE OPEN STEEPLECHASE.
Tamworth
Alfred the Great

Fifteen ran.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS--(THIS EVENING).
The LORD CRINCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

NEW PEER.
The Earl of RIPON (late Viscount Goderich) took the
oaths and his seat.

INDIA.
The LORD CHANCELLOR stated that he had re-
ceived letters from the Governor-General of India, from
Lord Harris, Governor of the Presidency of Madras, Lord
Elphinstone, Governor of the Presidency of Bombay, Lord
Clyde, and Mr. H. B. Frere, acknowledging the vote of
thanks passed by their lordships last session.

THE DANUBIAN PRINCIPALITIES.
The Earl of ST. GERMANS wished to ask the noble
earl the Secretary for Foreign Affairs if it was consistent
with the convention signed on the 19th of August last, that
only one person should be elected to fill the office of Hos-
podar in the Danubian Principalities instead of two.
Their lordships had been informed in her Majesty's Speech
that the Roumain provinces were about to establish a form
of Government under the provisions of that treaty. He
thought it would be satisfactory to their lordships if they
were made acquainted with the views of the Government
upon the subject.
The Earl of MALMESBURY said he had already in-
formed his noble friend in private that it would be inconve •
nient to the interests of the public service to answer
the question. It would be so for this reason—it
was more than probable, looking at the events
which had taken place in the Danubian Princi-
palities—indeed it was nearly certain, that the Conference
would again assemble, or at all events all the parties
who had signed the convention would have to
consider and determine the interpretation to be placed upon
various clauses contained in it. He was certain his noble
friend would agree with him that it would not be desirable
to anticipate, by any declaration of opinion on the part of
her Majesty's Government, the discussion which must take
place elsewhere.
LAW OF PROPERTY AND TRUSTEES RELIEF