The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-24 00:00:00

SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.
The meeting of the South-Western Railway Propric.
tors yesterday was very numerously attended. 4 very
lengthy report was laid before the Proprietors. It showed
a progressive increase in the traffic. The total earnings
during the first six months of 1843 were 142,9731. 10s. 3d.,
while those for the six months ending 30th Julie lust,
amounted to 150,469/. 4s. Bd., exhibiting an increase of
7,4951. 14s. sd. The aggregate expenditure during the
latter period is 84,076/. 16s. 5d., and the amount avail-
able for division amongst the Proprietors, 75,174/. Os. 2d.,
out of which the Directors recommended the payment of
a dividend greater by 2s. 6d. a share that' that pa'
September last, making the present dividend at the
of 325. 6d. a share, subject to the income-tax. - -
dividend absorbs 74,6071., leaving a balance of 5671.05.2 d.
The Directors have recently completed a revision of the
rates for carriage of goods. The chief object of this
would appear to be to render the classification of the
various descriptions of merchandise more simple and
more convenient to individuals sending or receiving goods
by the railway, combined also with a reduction of charge
amounting on the average to 20 per cent. The rejec-
tion of the Epsom, and the passing of the Salisbury line,
is to result in the amalgamation into 6,000 shares, of 401.
each, of the Scrip Eighths, created in pursuance of the
resolution of the special meeting of the 30th December
last. This Scrip will be ',forthwith called in. The
Directors intend immediately to act upon the powers
of the Bill recently passed for improving the Nine-
elms station, and possess themselves of the neces-
sary land for this purpose. To effect this they in-
tend to create and dispose of 250 shares of 501. each, that
number and amount of shares being eunivalent to the 2,000
Scrip Eighths reserved for issue by the Directors at
their discretion. The Directors were empowered 'to
take the necessary steps for procuring Parliamentary
power for the Company, solely or jointly to construct a
branch railway to Epsom, and to establish a connection
between the South-Western, the Brighton, and South -
Eastern lines ; to borrow on mortgage or bond 20,0001.,
under the powers of the Salisbury Branch Act ; to take
the necessary steps to obtain Parliamentary authority
to make a railway:from Basingstoke to Newbury,!and to
effect a connection between the South-Western and
Great Western lines ; and to obtain further Parlia;
mentary power for the Company solely or jointly to ex-
tend the Gosport line from Fareham to Portsmouth and
Chichester. The Directors were also authorised to take
into consideration the projected Dorsetshire lines, to
adopt such measures in reference thereto as they might
deem expedient, and to examine whether a terminus near
Waterloo-bridge would not be advantageous, and to
carry out such a measure if their examination should be
favourable. The report of the Directors was very fa-
vourably received by the Proprietors.
The Directors have entered into an agreement with
Messrs. Cooke and Wheatstone, the patentees of the
electric telegraph, for working it on this line. The pa-
tentees are to receive 1,5001. a-year from Government
for working it between Portsmouth and the Admiralty.
The agreement between the patentees and the Directors
binds down the former to throw in their patent,right,
and to divide both the 1,500/. a-year and the profits
arising from working the patent with the Directors, who
are to grant the use of the line. The Directors propose,
besides the. Admiralty line of telegraph, to work one
for the use of the Company, and another for commercial
purposes.

TRADE WITH PORTUGAL.
60, Mark-lane, London, Aug. 14, 1844.
My Lord,—We are induced to take the liberty of ad-
dressing your Lordship on the following subject .
The wine trade, in which we are engaged as Oporto
merchants, has but recently recovered from a long and
severe:depression, caused by the protracted negotiations
with Portugal respecting a mutual reduction of duties,
and your Lordship will be aware that the revenue sus-
tained considerable injury in consequence of that de-
pression.
We are now threatened with a return of this inju-
rious suspension of our trade, and apparently without
that valid reason for it which existed in the former
instance.

For some time past, the Lisbon correspondents of
the press have weekly assured their readers, that a re-
duction of duties between Great Britain and Portugal
may now be looked on as certain. We cannot but feel
the injury which has been, and may again be inflicted on
our trade, by statements of this nature, and we, there-
fore, request your Lordship to excuse our taking the li-
berty of inquiring, whether or not a renewal of the com-
mercial negotiations with Portugal may be considered
probable.
We have the honour to be, my Lord, your Lordship's
most obedient servants,
(Signed) COCKBURN BROTBERS and CO.
The Right lion. the Earl of Aberdeen,
Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs.

Foreign-office, Aug. 22, 1844.
Gentlemen,—l am directed by the Earl of Aberdeen
to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th
inst., in which you request to be informed whether
commercial negotiations are likely to be re-opened with
Portugal, and I am to state to you in reply, that his
Lordship is not aware that there are any grounds for
supposing that such negotiations will be renewed.
um, gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,
(Signed) CANNING.
To Messrs. Cockburn Brothers and Co.

EXTRAORDINARY SERIES OF CALAMITIES.—MT.
Higgs, yesterday, held an inquest at the George, George-
court, Strand, on the body of Joseph Marshman, tailor,
of George-court, Strand, aged 53, who hanged himself
on Thursday, while in a state of insanity produced by
calamities that rarely fall to the lot of one man. It was
stated that he had been affected in his mind ever since
the decease of his wife, who was accidentally burnt to
death in St. Martin's workhouse about nine months ago.
The day after that one of his sons, who was on board
the Marine School ship, at Blackwall, fell from the
mast head, and was killed on the spot. But a week or
two following he sent another son with some work to
Regent-street, and while he was on his way there he
was run over by a cab, and carried home dead. A third
child fell down the steps in George-court, and fractured
its skull, from the effects of which it ultimately expired.
There are seven children now living, several of whom
have lately been suffering from rheumatic fever, caused
by the dampness of the house in which they live. The
unfortunate deceased, borne down by this accumulation
of heavy afflictions, would wander fur miles about the
country, he knew not where nor why. On Friday he
left home, and walked all that day and Saturday, and
at night made a bed of some hay at Barnet. He then
got into the town of Hertford, where he slept, and then
walked home. He could give no reason for this, but
said he knew he was out of his mind. It was said he
had not eaten three pounds of meat since his Ale's
death. The jury said there could be no doubt in the
case, and returned a verdict of " Insanity."
MURDER OF A WIFE AT RicamoND.—Yester-
day morning information was received at the different
metropolitan police-stations that a man, named William
New, a shoemaker, residing in the Marsh-gate-road,
Richmond, had murdered his wife, by stabbing her in
the side with a carving knife. It appeared that, about
seven on Thursday night, they quarrelled, when the
husband seized a carving knife and plunged it into his
wife's side, and immediately made his escape. She was
found by tho neighbours insensible from loss of blood,
and died about half an hour afterwards. No trace of the
wretched husband has as yet been discovered beyond the
following fact :—About eight o'clock the same evening,
as Mr. G. Morris, blacksmith, of Shepherd's-bush, was
proceeding along the Uxbridge-road, at Notting-hill, on
his return home, he met a man who asked him what time
it was; and on Mr. Morris telling nim it was eight
o'clock, he said he had then come from Richmond in an
hour; that the police had entered the house by the front
door as he had left it by a back window; and that if he
was found he should be transported. Mr. Morris thought
the man was mad, and permitted him to pursue his course
towards Paddington. The following is a copy of the
description of William New, which has been circulated
by the police:—He is about 27 years of age, sft. sin. or
6in. high, dark brown hair, fair complexion, grey
eyes, stout in person, dressed in cord trousers, old shoes,
v
an old brown cloth waistcoat, brown cloth cap withoutbaypetarakde
peak, a.nd
'rho
ed npoelcieoeat
aorrejameakkeiteog aceete is a
exertions shoemaker
by t o
n h
mak
er
secure him.

BY THE AUTHOR Or
PPEATRESRONrSRIAGNGDINsW.,, WIDOW. BY
VOLS.—Those who have
read the former publications of the author of " Parsons
and Widows," will be
prepared
rf,..or theTh
er i
delineationsch treat whicho
f
is supplied by his pre
character with which it nabounds, and the incidents, evi-
dheisntotlyrieds derived
heart as these do—
re
clergymen, who are n d facts—fiction
narrativescould noto f speaktilc tSeveralnthe
supposed to give the strange eventful
their progress
otthbroeugrehadlifweithroeuptlectreeaNtvith
varied interest. They
.isympathy for " the cares, the fears, the pains, the- joys,"'ng
which are experienced by the clergy of the National
Church. Certain downy doctors and rubicund rectors
also come in for a fair share of ridicule, and occasionally
still severer reproof. There is a sufficiency of love pas-
sages to interest the fair sex; enough of caustic humour
to gratify bachelors; and of prudential maxims to please
mamas and papas. The " widows" are hit off to perfec-
tion, and are sure to please every ona.— Globe.
ACCIDENT TO THE BATAVIER STEAM-S[ITP.-- The
Dutch steam-vessel Batavier,
Captain Dunlop, which
was due from Rotterdam at the St. Katherine Steam-
packet-wharf at four o'clock on Wednesday afternoon,
did not arrive, and no intelligence had been received of
her up to Thursday evening. Information has since
reached the wharf that, shortly after the departure of
the vessel from R, tterdam, she by some accident got
aground off the Dutch coast, and it was ultimately found
to be necessary to land the whole of her passengers and
cargo, which comprised a considerable number of horned
cattle, in addition to a quantity of fruit and vegetables,
of which articles a considerable quantity has been
brought by her from Holland for Several weeks past. The
immediate cause of the accident is at present unknown.
The col-lin:tinder of the Batavier, Captain Dunlop, has
been engaged in the Rotterdam trade for a considerable
period, and the vessel has hitherto performed the voyage
with groat regularity and safety.

, ,
_ ,_
----.` --.=..Z..`,_:__" ___:_-_:: ._-.7"-M"..- - - ......... . .... _---mi..,.........5...--....„.,,,..„....,......._,..,_,.„.....„.........,.......,„..„
td, ,
.
• ''''-
,_
.., v:.,,,)
..4
~ . more precarious—the few rich becoming richer, and
~Ali.ii - ' • )4. 'l, ,
4.
~ , • 411
•,,!"t:..'l ,-- a. g..*),-, v, cl.trr • the many poor becoming poorer.
' A .•---4-
~ r i
---.- It is probable, however, that evils as they now
14.0-, -- W ° ICIN. 114-401/41L- ----I / '''
4 , ',
AL , r ~, • , , „ ,_
. ,/,Z ' ' , * :r. 4
At V -
4, ' C9F Pr ~,,, ... * •
AV.,•, \l, :.
,- :1" '-
' 4 ,Z4lllg.._' ? .8----$ t'' (' il. +0 54 litnitilik \ \ !:f . / ---'
'''' are will si)on be felt unendurable, and the trading
and mercantile people will rouse themselyeg all over
Niii 4 rst,t,„_"hr, ,11, • .:4 1.011 24 1 ,1,1 r) ' ' 1 sN'.. . '
i:,t: , ''
(4 W S - ' +
ill',,t , DIV' •4` \,., IN, r.,*i.q:,14 1` sii ?at._,.5-__. ZtO Tt the nation. An association, with' corresponding
members in all the provincial towns, should be forth-
with formed, and, by the collection of facts, and espe-
cially of statistical tables, establish the true principles
SUi 7 AUGUST 24) 1844. tof insolvent legislation, by which the wilful insolvent
may undergo a due amount of punishment, and the
PRICE sd,
really unfortunate insolvent be relieved from any
punishment, to which none but a cruel and vindictive
Time for the EARLY TRAINS and TOWN DELIVERY ; a SECOND EDITION (Evening Sun) is PuldiSied fn Time for the AFTERNOON TRAINS man would desire to impose upon him.