The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-28 00:00:00

Cttrb btftert

CALEDONIAN RAILWAY.
(THIS DAY.)
The usual half-yearly general meeting of the pro-
prietors of the: Caledonian Railway was held this day
in the Freemasons'-hall; tha Honourablej•Captain E.
Plunkett,U.N., chairman of the board of directors, in
the chair.
The advertisement convening the meeting having
been sea I, and the minutes of previous meetings con-
firmed, the report of the directors, which has already
appeared'in The Sun, was submitted to the proprietor,.
The CHAIRMAN moved the adoption of the report and
accounts, but before he made any observations upon
them he called upon
The SECRETARY to read the following note of the au-
ditors, which had only befit received this morning:—
"The time allowed by the statute will only permit of
a very superficial examination of these voluminous ac-
counts, but the b dance•sLeetitruly represents the whole
of the ledger balances, both capital and revenue. In the
course of auditing the accounts my attention was at-
tr,,cted by the large sums paid by the treasurer to the
share-office for stamps, the vouchers if which are very
imperfect. The periodical movements in the purchase
end division of stuck, as recorded in the share transfer-
book, for the purpose of voting in the meeting, would
also appear to dernsnd the attention of the shareholders,
and the adoption if some resolution to omit the votes for
stock only, which has been in the hands of the possessors
three months."
The CHAIRMAN then proceeded to observe that it was
due to the reputation of the board to state what really
did happen with reference to the amalgamation of the
Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, which hat recently
formed the subject of a discussion in the House of Com
mons. The overture for an amalgamation came from
the chairman of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Company,
in a letter addressed to the chairman of the late London
committe, and! when this board came into office, it saw
fit to adopt the principle of the proposed amalgamation,
which was that the gurantee stock of this
concern should be so reduced, as to place
the company in a solvent condition. He should mention,
however, that the board were in perfect ignorance of the
provision! of the Amalgamation Bill, so far as they re-
lated to the manner of dealing with the preferential
shares. They could not have approved of these provi-
sions any more than they could sanction a manifest fraud,
but though it was not right to force the holders of, pre-
ferential stock to abandon some of their claims, that end
might be attained by negotiation, and it was to be re-
gretted that the doors of Parliament had not been left open
to the company. In the language of a celebrated French
diplomatist, bad the board agreed to that Bill as it stood
they would have committed something worse than a
crime—they would have committed a blunder; bat that
Bill, if it had been'oarried to a further stage, might have
paved the way to a settlement of this much vexed ques-
tion of preference shares. Many of the remarks of
Honourable Members upon that occasion were most un-
just as reflecting upon the existing boarkand in penis
cuter the speech of an Honourable-Meniber who was
attached to the defunct board displayed very bad taste,
knowing as he must have done that many of his
former colleagues had not only :advocated but practised re-
pudiation. With regard to the question of amalgama-
tion, the directors were decidedly of opinion that it was
. .

or the interest of this concern that they should be on
good terms with the Edinburgh and Glasgow Company,
and, accordingly, in a single hour's good-humoured chat
with that board, they had attained more then their pre-
decessors had done after long and tedious contests, and
an expenditure of a million of money. An agreement
bad been made with the Edinburgh and Glasgow Com-
pany, by which the passenger traffic was to be divided
fairly between the two lines, the one takingtho north and
south, end the other the east and west traffic. They were
still, however, to compete for the goods traffic, but upon
equal terms, and he need not assure the meeting that
everything wefuld be done on the part of the directors to
sewe the faithful and effectual carrying out of that
agreement. Now, with reference to the existing state
of the company, he was rather afraid the report would
be considered as too candid, but he was one of those who
thought that there ought to be -no concealment. between
the shareholders ' and the directors. The position
of affairs, then, was realty very serious, and Muck
caution 'would •be required to get the company
out of its difficulties., The pressing debts of the com-
pany were estimated at 800,0001., of which 137,000/. was
represented by debentures, .and it was greatly to be
regretted that the only. remedy which creditors of rail-
way companies had for the nonpayment of their debts
was that ruinous one of killing the goose which laid the
golden eggs. An interview bad therefore been sought
and obtained with the Board of Trade, on the subject of
placing 'the debenture holders upon a more equitable
footing than they were at present, and from the manner
in which they were received ho had no doubt that
something. would be done for the relief of railway
companies in that respect. The invested capital in
railways. amounted to 300,000,0001., of which the deben-
tures covered a third, or 100,000,0001., and it was clear
from these figures that it was of the utmost importance
that the interest of the debenture holder should be
more assimilated to that of the ordinary shareholder.
Nevertheless, the directors had made such arrangement
as RIC empty treasury would admit of for meeting
the debentures as they became due, upon terms that
would be advantageous to the company and pres.erve
good faith with the creditor. He came next to guaran-
teed, flaps, and at once he had no hesitation in telling
/he inetiing that all the guarantees could not be main-
t ;Ina- ITirdtel Worerewneseeesayeettat sepadiaticalicau,l4lo_,
the order of the dsy, because there was a ditTerence-be-
tweee terming a Man the money or property he had
surrendered nett denying to him any partieipstion in it.
benefits or any right to reclaim it. The holder of Pen-
slyvauian bonds would not consider it au act a re-
pudiation to have his money flung back into his
face, analyet that was precisely what this board pro-
posed to do with regard to several of their guaranteed
lines. They proposed to restore them into the safe keep-
ing t f their original holders, and when they looked at
the manner in which the transfer had been made to this
company, the original holders ought to feel themselves
lucky that they could recover possession of their
property' on' such terms. Many of tbo leases
and guarantees were carried by the creation of
shares one day to be cancelled the next, and seeing that
these guaranteed lines must sink or fall with the Caledo-
nian line it was clear the best policy for them to adopt
was to fall in with the ideas and terms proposed by the
Caledonian Board. Most of the guarantees were grossly
exorbitant; and whatever parties might say about the
threats of litigation which the Caledonian Board held
out to these guarantees, there was no blinking the mat-
ter, paradoxical as it might seem, that it was their duty to
resist just and undeniable claims. They could not give one
creditor a preference over another, and if any one of them
attempted to enforce his claims with the machinery of
the law, the attempt must be resisted, in order to secure
a fair and equitable distribution of the assets of the
company. To come, then, to a practical solution of their
difficulties, it appeared to him to be hardly likely that
an arrangement satisfactory to all parties could be
entered into by those who were personally in-
terested in arty of the lines, and ho would
suggest that some disinterested party of influence and
station, and having no interest whatever in the dispute,
should be called in to act as an arbitrator between all the
parties. If this plan did not succeed, then the matter
would become a very proper one for legislative inter-
ference, and indeed there would be nu other alter-
native but to institute a Parliamentary investigation.
It was ridiculous for debenture holders or guarantee
proprietors to think of enforcing their extreme rights, as
such a course of proceeding could only result in further
loss to themselves, and utter ruin to the Caledonion
Railway, while, if the matter were fairly and tempe-
rately treated, elements could be found which would ul-
titnately yield a return to all parties. He sat down by
stating the simple fact that the Caledonian line pos-
sessed elements of a far greater traffic than it
already possessed, and all that was wanted was
increased accommodation for developing it, but, if some
of the threats of litigation which had been held out to
them wet e carried into effect, he very much feared that
the working stock would bo so reduced that the traffic
must be abandoned altogether instead of increased.
Mr. COLQUIIOUN entered the following protest against
the proposal for dealing with the guaranteed stock:—
" We, the undersigned members of the London com-
mittee of holders of ' Caledonian Railway (Clydesdale
Junction) guaranteed shares,' for ourselves, and those
whom we represent, as well as for all those who may
adhere to us, hereby declare—
" Ist.. That with reference to the directors' report we
hypo means acquiesce in, but, on the contrary, strongly
protest against, the adoption by the meeting of the
statements contained in it respecting the Clydesdale
Junction lino and Clydesdale Junction guaranteed stock,
as well as the adoption of the leading principles on which
such report is founded. •
" 2d. 'With reterence to the resolution in which it is
proposed •To empower the board of directors to negoe
tiate and Enter into interim arrangements for such modi-
fication and reduction of the preferential and guaranteed
dividends as shall bring them within the limits of the
company's annual free revenue, pending application to
Parliament,' we do hereby protest against the basis
on which that negotiation is proposed, and although we
do not object to the directors being empowered to nego-
tiate, it must not be understood that we thereby assent,
either directly or impliedly, to any modification or re-
duction of the dividends deliberately guaranteed by the
Caledonian Company and sanctioned by Act of Parlia-
ment, nor to any application to Parliament for such mo-
dification or la duction.
" 3d. With reference to the resolution in which it is
proppsed, ' That the expenses incurred by the London
committee of Caledonian shareholders be defrayed out
of the company's funds,' we hereby protest ageinst
the application of the company's funds in payment of
expenses not being debts of the company, and especially
at a time when the Clydesdale dividends and other un,
doubted claims are due and undischarged.
" London, March 28, 1850."
(This protest was received with derisive cheers.) The
lion. Gentleman as<ured the meeting that Parlia-
ment would never sanction the abandonment of the
guarantees upon a basis of force, but if the Caledonian
proprietary were rrepared to make an amicable arrange-
ment, which should secure the interest of ell parties, he
for one was not opposed to it. In that state of things
let the. matter be refred to the Board of Trade, to
settle the principle and decide the basis upon which that
arraegeinent should be made. Betore, how ever, they
could be in a position to go to the Board of Trade the
directors must reduce the working expense?, and intro-
duce economy ioto every department of the company.
Mr. Dame insisted that the principle which ought to
actuate all parties interested in this concern was that of
co-operation.

Mr. Splint doubted whether the pressing liabilities
amounted to as much as 800,000/.

Mr. 110IIQU, 0 prefvreetiel ehareholder, thought the

1850

best plan to go upon, now that the facts were bofore the
world, was that a deputation from all parties should be• p-
pointed to confer with the directors on the present diffi-
culties of the concern.
Mr. WILLIAMS understood that the defunct direction
had purchased shares for 359,0001 which were now not
worth 10,000/., and he called for some explanation on
that subject. He was for enforcing the parties to
refund.

Mr. Deputy CORNEY was ready to join any other
shareholders in trying the right to recover. It was
quite clear that a good deal of the money borrowed on
the preference shares was raised by fraud; the late di-
rectors knew at the time that they never could fulfil the
terms of the contract, and he therefore maintained that
the contract was invalid.
Mr. lima reminded the meeting that the Chairman
had told them that the books of the company contained
preofs of the guarantees having b. en carried by means
of fictitious shares. Fraud, therefore, had been
practised by the late directors, and they ought to he
made amenable for their malpractices. Morally sad
legally their shareholders were entitled to a thorough
investigation into these preferential and guarantee con-
tracts, and he called upon the meeting to support him in
demanding it.
Mr. MaczeratAri gave the following results of the
earnings of the guaranteed lines:—The Glasgow, tiarn-
kirk, and Coatbridge line earned 51. 14.. 2d. per cent. per
annum; the Parliamentary guarantee was 8 per cent.
The Wisbaw and Cohness exrued 31. 13s. 7d. per cent.;
the Parliamentary guarantee was lei per cent. The
Clydesdale Junction earned 3 Bths per cent. without
making any allowance for the use of the rolling stock
of the Caledonian Company; the Parliamentary guarantee
was 6 per cent.

In reply to a question,
The CHAIRMAN stated, that since the present board
had come into office they had reduced the salaries by
3,0001. pct. annum. The contract for maintenance of
way was for 12,0001. a year, and it had to run six years
yet. The directors were not at all responsible for the
present accounts, as they wero made up by the late
directors to the:3lst of December last.

The resohlticn for the adoption of the report was then
put and carriedN4animously.
A resolution,, confirming the forfeiture of 275 shares
upon which cells'.were in arrear, was then agreed to.
A resolution empowering the directors to negotiate
and conclude with parties or companies holding or
claiming guarantees any arrangements for a modifica-
tion or a reduction of their preferential or guaranteed
dividends, was next proposed from the chair.
Mr. ALSTER moved as an amendment that three
shareholders be selected from the three companies
named by Mr. Mackmickan, and a similar number from
the pri ference holders, to confer with the directors on
the subject of a reduction of their guarantees, with the
view et reducible them.
The CHAIRMAN had no objection to incorporate the
amendment with the original resolution.
'Mr. Munn suggested that the Barrhead line ought to
be included in the list.

Mr. DURNFORD protested against any reduction of the
71. per cent. in the 101, preferential shares, which were
issued at a time when the company was hard up for
money.

Several. preferential shareholders, one of whom com-
plained that b had been duped into purchasing his
shares, dissented from this protest, and agreed to the
appointment of a committee to negotiate a compromise.
The CHAIRMAN stated that legal advice had been
taken on the•aubject of the preferential shares, and they
appeared to be perfectly legal.
A PROPRIZTOR asked in what position the guarantees
stood as to priority.
_ The Casinavert replied that they stood thus:—The
Garnkirk, the Clydesdale, the Greenock, the Preferential
Stock, the Whiten, and the Barrhead.

Ultimately the resolution, modified as proposed by the
amendment, wee put to the rote, and carried unani-
mously; after which, a resolution was passed, authorising
the directors to increase their number to ten, and Mr.
James Grey; of Portland-place, Clapton, was elected to
fill the office so created.

On the motion of Mr. DEAN, the directors were au-
thorised to defray the expenses to the extent of 4004 in-
curred by the London Central Committee of Caledonian
shareholders out of the funds of the company.

Mr. MIME, of Glasgow, was then elected auditor by
a show of bands, in opposition to Mr. C. Borthwick, of
Glsigow, promed by Mr. Dean, and recommended by
the cbstirtnao.

After some squabbling, a poll was demanded by Mr.
Dean, but Mr. blure baying, in deference to the opinion
of 'the "board, declined to terve, the election was left open
till the next meeting.
A short discussion then took place on the motion to
the effect,

" That the existing arrangements by which third-class
passengers are carried from Edinburgh and Glasgow to
London by the mail train .on Saturday evenings be die-
continued, and that no systematic or predetermined
work be done on the Sabbath-day on the Caledonian
Rail way."
The motion, however, was negatived, and thanks
having been voted to the Chairmen, the meeting tenni-

noted actor a sitting of upwards of four hours and a half.

BOW-STREET.-(THIS DAY.)

A WIFE KILLED BY HER HUSBAND.

Alexander Moir, who carries on the business of a
baker at 24. Brydges-street, Covent-garden, was placed
at the bar before Mr. Hall, charged with having mast d

the death of his 'wife, Susan

F The court was crowded with visitors.
It wilt be renollected• that a verdict of manslanithter
rourrek-"vgalirres-waiss priadmaf coroner's j up,
which sat upon the body.
The prisoner is a man of thin stature and very
meagre appearance.
John Johnson was the first witness called—He said I
em a journeyman baker, in the employ of the prisoner.
On Friday night my master called me at eleven o'clock
to go to work, and shortly afterwards I heard my
mistress screaming, and my master speaking in a very
loud and angry manner. I did not hear any
blows, but I heard a " tusselling" on the floor.
The noise lasted more than half an hour.
The noise was similar to that of ono person drag-
ging another across the room, and it continued up
to three o'clock. I listened on the stairs to the noise,
but did not 'bear anything distinctly, At that hour I
knocked on the ceiling to call my master down to the
bakehouse. The occurrence I speak of took place in the
parlour above me. On Saturday morning I saw the
deceased and the prisoner together in the parlour, but
I did not hear her make any charge against him in my
presence. At six o'clock in the evening of the same day
she was taking some bread out of the window, and while
doing so fell down in a fit, and I and her niece helped to
pick her up. The prisoner was present, and he said,
" Let her wait there and be d—d, until she recovers
herselt;" or " Let the d—d b— lie and bed—d."

I saw my maser next day, Sunday, and I asked him how
Mrs. Moir ens, and he said he was astonished it had
not happened before now. That was all that passed. I
was examined before the Corouer, and this is all I
know of the transaction. When I saw the deceased in
the morning her eyes were black and cut, and her head
very much swollen.
Cross-examined by Mr. J. Robinson, 'oho appeared
for the prisoner—l never saw iss) mistress drunk but
once. I cannot say whether she was tipsey when she
fell down on Friday. She spoke very sensibly to me,
and to the best of my belief she was sober. I had been
in the service of the prisoner about a week, and
when I first went I noticed that she had
a black eye, but no cuts such as I saw in the morning in
the pat lour.
By the MAGISTRATE—I did not say before the coroner
that I saw the prisoner strike her on Saturday afternoon,
Mary Anne Bryant, wife of Charles Bryant, of
Middlesex-street, Suniers Town, called on the deceased
on Saturday from ono to halt-past in the afternoon. I
was her second cousin. I saw Mrs. Moir in the parlour,
and shortly after I entered the prisoner came in. She
appeared to be very poorly, mad asked me to request the
prisoner, whom I call uncle, to let her lie down, adding
she bad not been to bed all night, and if she had an
hour's sleep she would bo better and lit for the shop. I
asked the prisoner, but I did not say that she told me to
do so. and he said " This is Saturday, and she must mind
the shop." She remained about the place after that
and did not lay down, and I left her about half-past
three. I saw the prisoner box her ears; he said the
reason he did soovas because he found a bottle containing
about half a pint of gin under the pianoforte, which he
knew had been hid from him. lie then said, addressing
himself to me, that his wife said to him the night pre-
viously that she was glad he had come ie, as she bad
got some soles for his supper, and immediately after-
wards he discovered the bottle, and asked her where she
had got it from, and she replied the " Cheshire Cheese."
He then said be asked her why she had not shut up the
shop as he had requested her, to which she replied she
had tried but could not. He also added that he had
been out two hours, and was very vexed at finding the
shop not shut up and the goods in the window. This was
said in the presence of the deceased, and she denied having
got the gin from the Cheshire Cheese, but said she got
it from Middle-row,:tlolborn. I said, "You could not
have gone there for it, therefore you had better admit
who did bring' it to you." She said she was positive
she had got it from there. I said my opinion war, that
a Mrs. Dow had brought it in with the soles. The
prisoner was in a passion at the time. and I saw
him box her ears. He then pushed her and
kicked her behind. It was not done in a
gentle manner, as ho was very angry. (Wit-
ness was here cautioned by the magistrate to speak
the truth.) After that she went into her room to dress
herself, and I went with her, and saw several bruises on
her head and face. She was black and blue, and sore all
over, and bait' her bead was very painful. She asked me
to wash her head, and 'called the man to bring up a quart
of water for the purpose; I gave her the water, and said
I could not wash it, as I could not bear to see such a
sight, and I asked her to do it herself. I then went to
the prisoner and told him of the wounds, and he said,
Ott, go and look at her, for I am afraid I have hurt
her." I said to her you ought to let her lie down, but
I don't recollect if he gave me any answer. When
I was going away she raid " Oh, don't leave me." I
re turned between 5 and 6. and found her, as I supposed,
moat dreadfully tipsey. I saw the prisoner go in about
a minute or two before me. lie said to her, " Here's a
dreadful thing—a lot of bread hss been brought up, and
none (lit has been put in the window or sent to the cus-
tomers." I saw him then box her ears:two or three times
with his open hand, and tell her to put the bread in the shop
window, but in attempting to do so she fell down. As
she fell she cut her eye. against some brass in the window,
and the blood gushed out dreadfully. I asked the pri-
sqner to pick her up, and he said he would not, and that
she might lay there. She recovered for a few momenta,
and said, am in a fit, and a very bad fit too, and far
God's sake do not leave me Marianne." I then left her
in the parlour, and did not see her again until a short
time afterwards .wheu she wee 'tending by the sink. I

I saw her fall gently down by the side of it, and rest her
head on the ledge. She remained in that position 'about
two hours. It struck me that bed wonld be the
best place for her, but I did not say so to
the husband, as they lived so .. unhappily
and I did not think it advisable to interfere betweem
them. Sbe was then placed in bed in the kitchettiltist
Ido not know who assisted her to it. I remained till
near one o'clock on Sunday morning, and she remained
insensible during the whole time. I saw her the next
morning about eight o'clock. I was sent for, and I
found her in the same insensible state. I asked the priso-
ner if any medical man had :been to her, and he said ne.
A Mr. Watkins or a Mr. 'Wilson was afterwards sent
for, and he came and looked at her and then went away.
I. remained all Sandey with her, and called again on
Monday morning about eleven, when she was dead. The
prisoner seemed very much cut up, but he did no; elivak
to me about her. The &ceased was 39' years of age.
Cross-examined—l called at the shop for the last idol
weeks by the request of the prisoner, as Ms if, was
very much given to drink. At the time she fell in the
shop my it-pinion is that the cut her eye by failing on an
upright brass rod.

Elizabeth Mendes—l am a cousin of the prisoner,
and lodged in his house. My husband is a general
dealer. I was near the parlour door, becweea
three and ,five o'clock on Saturday morning, and in
consequence of something I heard, I was induced to stop
there and listen. I heard Mr. bud Mrs. Moir Making a
nqise, she wee screaming and saying, •• Ohl ymen.,kiii
me!" and I heard him say, " Yes, I will murder you be-
fore I have done with you." I heard one of the children
scream out, "Father, father, you'll kill my mOther."
I did not strike at the door, or give any 'alarm,
because I had heard similar noises frequently before.
I have had no communication with the prisoner about
the death of his wile. I heard no blows, but I did hest
some scuffling in the room.
Cross-examiued—l can't say that she was a sober
woman. I have been in the house two months, but I
never saw her intoxicuted during that time.
Thomas John Moir, aged seven, and son of the pH.
soner, said—l remember being in the room with my fatter
and mother on Saturday. They quart elled, and be took
hold of her with the one hand, and with the other
thumped her on the back and face, and kicked her be.
hind. Before he commenced to beat my mother, be said
wicked words—one of them was " D— you." My mo-
ther, on being beat, screamed out " Ob." I cried when
I saw her beat. My mother did not strike him, hut
kept crying. Before they went to bed he beat her again.
Cross-examined—I never saw my mother drank.
When a medical man was sent for, my father assisted
my cousin to put some leeches on any mother's head.
Mary Ann Bryant (re-called)—Said the last witness
and his little brother were present when the priaaier
was beating his wife on Saturday afternoon.
Mr. Joshua Watkins, surgeon—I live at No. 14 Ches.
dos-street. I was called in to see the deceased on
Sunday morning, when I found her in an insensible
state in bed. Her head, face, and neck were greatly
swollen, and her features were very much distorted. The
prisoner was looking on when I examined her, and I told
him her case was a very serious one, and I feared it
would terminate fatally. I applied the neceesari reme-
dies, but death supervened. I afterwards opened- the
body, and it was perfectly healthy with the exception
of the contusions on the neck and back, at .the lowest
part of which there were marks, as if blows and kicks
had been used. They did not appear to have been pro-
duced by a fall. On opening the head, sad removing
the skull-cap, I found considerable extrayssation
of blood, and on the outer covering of the
brain, and on the right hemisphere of it, there
were five or six ounces of coagulated blood. Ibtre
was not the slightest smell of spirits in the stomach.
The lungs were highly congested, but otherwise free'
from disease. I do not think she could have been. a
drunkard. The immediate cause of death was compres-
sion of the brain. The brain itself was perfectly healthy.
The compression of the brain must no doubt have been
produced by external injuries.
Cross-examined—I think the compression would not
have been produced by a fall.
Police-constable F 17 said, be 'apprehended the pri-
sm:et. at his own house about half-past four-on Monday
last, but he said nothing.
This closed the evidence.
After the use caution was given to the prisoner by
the Magistrate, he said—All I have to say is, that the
whole of the evidence is false. •
An application was made to allow the prisoner to
give bail for his appearance, but Mr. Hall preremptorily
refused the application.
He was then fully committed to take his trial at the
next Old Bailey sessions for murder. Throughout-the
proceedings he evinced the utmost coolness, and did not
appear at all affected by his perilous situation.
[We regret to state that owing to the manner
in which the evidence was taken it was impossible for
the reporters to hear it with any degree of accuracy. Ia
a case of so much importance we should have thought
that the too-frequent custom of examining the witnesses
in a low, conversational tone, intelligible only to the ma-
gistrate and clerk, would have been dispensed with, not
only for the aid of the reporters, but for the satisfaction
of the public who thronged the court.]

TATTERSALL'S-THIS EVENING.

SIX O'CWOIL

NORTHADIPTONIMIRE STAKES.
3 0 1 agst Osterley
5 to 1 agst Mounseer
9 to 1 agst Mabratta
10 to 1 agst Chantrey
12 to 1 agst Bolus
-18 telstat Halo
ALTHORP PARK tiTAXIDS.
5 to 2 agst Prestige
5 to 2 apt Buckhound

DII:THOPOLITAN HANDICAP.

No change.

CREFTER CUP.
15 to 1 sgst Miss Ann
20 to 1 apt Fogleman
25 to 1 agst Roland

TWO TROUSAND GUINEAS.
6 to 4 apt Bee Hunter
DERBY.
6 to 1 agst Bolingbroke
15 to 1 egst Voltigeur
16 to 1 agst Clincher
22 to 1 agst Mayors
25 to 1 agst Cyprus

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
BRISTOL, M►aca 27.
STOCK EXCHANGE. —There was no business whaterer dou
to-day.

LIVERPOOL, MAscrt 27.
STOCK EXCHANGB.--The share market Was extrensely
dull today, the amount of business done was limited, and
prices had a declining tendency. The transactions were as
follow :—London and North-Western, 1044—Ditto, New
Quarters, Bs. 9d.—Lancashire and Yorkshire, Coml., 84%...
Ditto, Fifths, 9% c. dis.—Ditto, Preference, 124—Ditto
(West Riding Union), BL,s c. dis. - Leeds and Bradford, 99
—Midland, 883iq—Ditto, Halves, 25%—South-Eastern and
Dover (No. 4), Registered, 41. 11a. 13d. c.—Ditto, Thirds, 47
—Dutch Rhenish, 61 Is. 3d.

MANCHESTER, Manot 27.
STOCK EXCHAIROIL—The market to-day was very fiat,
and there was not much business done; prices, however,
are almost stationary. The transactions were as follow:
Lancashire and Yorkshire, 341 A—Ditto, Fifths. 94 die.—
Ditto, 32/. (late Extension), 12 b-16 dis.—Ditto ( West Riding
Union), 81,E dis.—Londen and North-Western. Mastche■ter
and Birmingham (C), Quarters, 9-16 c.—North Staffordshire,
lON—South-Eastern and Dover, 14—Ditto, Thirds (No. 4),
4 11-16 - Ditto, Scrip, 4%- Caledonian, 8%--Ditty, Pre•
ference, s%—Great Northern, 14% c. die.
BIRMINGHAM, Alsacrt 27.

Srocx Excumeox.—The share market was extremely
quiet to-day. Little business was done, and onl♦ trifling de-
viations from last quotation& North Staffordshires were done
at ICII dis. The rumoured arrangement between that CM..
pany and the London and North-Western has had a favour-
able influence, small though it may be, upon the price of its
shares.

IRISH SOUTH-EAsTBRN RAILWAY. DUBLIN,
MAusii 27.—The half-yearly meeting of this company was
held yesterday in their office, Kildare-street. The chair was
occupied by 111 r. J. E. Redmond. The directors' report
stated that stringent measures had been adopted for the reco-
very of calls in arrear, and a sum of 28,9371. (including.the
calls paid by the Great Southern and Western Company)
has bees received on that ace.;unt during the last six months.
The directors have subsequently used their best endeavours
to procure from Government an advance of 35,0001. to aid
the completion of the line, and have every reason to believe
that their application will be successful. In this event a it.
miler amount of the capital of the company will be required
to be called up, but which the directors will regulate with as
little inconvenience to the proprietary as possible. The re-
port recommended that interest to the Ist March inst., at the
rate of 4 per cent. per annum, be paid en all shares not then
in arrear, and-warrants prepared and forwarded accordingly.
The engineer's report stated there can be no doubt what-
ever but the line may be opened for traffic throughont by
the month of September next. The report having been
adopted, and the retiring directors re-elected, the meeting
broke up.

NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY.—On the last arch of
the Roxburgh viaduct being completed in a few days, there
will be a passage across the I'eviot, at a height, it is etated,
" hitherto only attainable by the feathered tribe."
Laws are like grapes, that being too much pressed
yield a hard and unwholesome wine. —Ethic: Cook's Journal,
PROFESSIONAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY.--Thel annual meeting of this company took place yesterday at the
offices in Cheapside, Major atones in the chair. The report
stated in the year 1547 the deed of settlement was signed
by 73 parties, and 7,450 shares Allotted ; in 1848, the respec-
tive figures were 140 and 4,035 ; in 1849, 1,036 and 94,5501
and since the Ist of January this 3,-ear, 272 parties had signed
the deed, and had 2,515 shares allotted to them; en that the
40,000 shares of the company were nearly all absorbed. In
1147, the number of policies issued was 69; in 1848, 161 • in
18 39, '293 ; and since the Ist of January this year, 82. 'he
total income of the company at the present time derivable
from premiums, after deducting assurances lapsed by death,
and other causes, amounted to upwards of 5.3004 the numb
her of policies issued was £0.3. and the amount assured
178,3801. Owing to the prevailing epidemic last year, the
losses by death had far exceeded the usual average; the total
losses by death, since the c,ommelicement of the company,
was 3,9721. 19s. 11d. The report was adopted, and a series
of complimentary and formal resolutions having,been passed,
the meeting separated.
GREAT LUXEMBOURG COMPARY.—The fourth an•
nual meeting was held at Brussels, on the 16th instant, The
report stated that the directors were in treaty with the Go..
verument as regards the questions at issue between it and
the company, and, it was hoped, on advantageous terms. Al-
together the directors looked forward with confidence to the
renewed support of the shareholders. Resolutions Were
passed giving the directors full and ample powerS.
NEWPORT, MARCH 27.—Wind N.E.-81d. Imperial
Alexendrio, United {Gates; Wisbesob, Weak -

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
'COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, March 27.
. • (Before Mr. Commissioner FONBIALIQUE.)

IN RE T. GILL.

The bankrupt was a comtnission agent and beer-
house keeper, in Castle-street, Leicester-square, and
Geriiid-'street, Soho. He had been seventeen years
colleCtOr. to Messrs. Thorne and Co., brewers, at a
oonimisSionof 111 per cent. His debts are now about
1,200/.„tbe assets available for the liquidation of which
_are less than 2001. Messrs. Thorne and Co. era cre-
ditors for 8001.
Mr.- Cooke . opposed ; Mr. Bagley supported the
bankrupt's application for his certificate.
ht appeared that he-left Messrs. Thorne and Hawes's
house upon an attempt being made to reduce the rate
of his commission, and transferred his services to
Messrs. Wood, brewers. Whilst collector for Messrs.
Wood he had not kept any cash or other proper books,
but h?.l. made memorandums from day to day upon
pieces'of paper, which had been destroyed. He had
had u loss of aboUt two hundred sovereigns by being
thcOwn,oUt of his gig, when the sovereigns flew about
the streets. lie was stunned by the fill, and had
several witnesses present to prove that. the event had
occurred. The bankrupt was being examined respect-
ink the quality of the articles in which he had dealt,
when

The Learned COMMISSIONVIt stopped the inquiry by
jocosely remarking that he feared they were not as-
sembled to try the beer.
Mr. BAGLEYafidressed the Court, and

His Hormuz gave judgment. He said that against
the conduct of the bankrupt as a collecting clerk
there was no imputation. With respect to the man-
ner in which he had kept hi 3 accounts, although
licensed victuallers and beer-sellers might habitually
neglect to keep accounts, the fault was very much
owing to the brewers and distillers. If they insisted
upon the point, it would very generally be done. It
Was to the bankrupt's credit that he had kept a till-

book, although he had not kept a cash-book. A. cash-
book was the key of a bankrupt's accounts, and the
importance of keepihg one could not be too f.gcibly
impressed upon traders. In no, instance would he
grant an immediate certificate where a cask-book had
not been kept. The bankrupt's travelling expenses,
51. ss. per week, had been too large, but considering
the peculiarity of his occupation, and the disburse-
ments incidental thereto, not so excessive as to call for
any suspension of the certificate on that ground. He
should suspend the certificate for the shortest period—
three months from the date of the examination meeting,
on the ground of imperfect books, and would repeat
that when large houses brought these charges against
small traders, of not keeping regular accounts, they
should bear in mind that the fault very much rested
with themselves. If they were to refuse credit un -
less books were thus kept, they would soon succeed
in correcting the evil. Protection would, in this ease,
be granted; but the certificate would be only of the
third class.

IR RE EATINDIRS.

The bankrupt was an engineer at Brixton.
Mr. Wri.xtx now applied that the trade assignee
might be removed.

Mr. DUNCAN, who appeared on behalf of the as-
signee, Mr. Hoskins, said be would offer no opposition
to the proposal.
His liolsouu made an order accordingly.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, March 27.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Law.)
His Honour sat to-day to clear the paper of the
arrears, and, on rising, his Court adjourned with the
other Cottrts for the holidays.