The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-17 00:00:00

FRIDAY. EVENING, MAT. 17, 1850.

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tre4t,urtr, or ins p4st acid itioveLl
that he till the same office for the ensuing year; which
motion was seconded by Mr. TnomrsoN, and unani-
mously passed.
The committee and other officers having been re-
elected,

Mr. GILBERT moved the thanks of the meeting to
their Chairman, for the manner in which he had so
efficiently conducted their proceedings, and for his
great exertions and liberality in supporting the insti-
tution which they had met to promote.
Mr. WILD seconded the motion, which was passed
unanimously.

JAMES HAUMEE, Esq., responded, and the meeting
separated.

THE BRITISH ELECTRIC TELE-
GRAPH COMPANY.

Yesterday this company's Bill, for the establish-
ment of a new Electric Telegraph Company, came on
in Committee, consisting of the Hon. Cornwall Legh,
chairman, Marquis of Worcester, Viscount Anson,
Mr. Manners Sutton, and Mr. Bagge. Mr. Sergeant
Wrangham, Q.C., and Mr. Webster, appeared for
the promoters of the Bill, and Mr. Talbot, Q.C., and
Mr. Hope for the Electric Telegraph Company.
Mr. Sergeant Wrangham, at considerable length,
opened the case for the promoters by stating that
they were desirous of supplying the public with
electric telegraphs on a more economical scale, and on
a more improved plan than obtained at the present
moment. Arrangements for this purpose had been
made by the company with Messrs. Highton, the pa-
tentees of improved electric telegraphs. At the pre-
sent moment there were in the United Kingdom
about 6,000 miles of railway open, of which little
more than 2,000 miles were supplied with tele-
graphs, leaving 4,000 miles without that facility.
In addition to this, a great many important
cities and towns were without the advantage of
electric telegraphs. By the proposed measure those
already supplied would be supplied at a lower rate,
while on the public generally there would be con-
ferred the additional advantage of competition.
There were nearly 2,000 miles of railway now con-
structing, besides 5,000 miles for which Acts had been
obtained, which at present were in abeyance, but
which might with a single way and the electric tele-
graph, be constructed at from one-half to two-thirds
of their present estimated cost. The instruments and
apparatus of the British Electric Telegraph Company
were much superior in principle, cheapness, expedi-
tion, and certainty, to those used by the existing
company, and the promoters of the new company
sought to extend their operations by obtaining an Act
of Parliament to enable more than twelve persons to
be owners of the patents, and to work them for the
benefit of the public. Powers were intended to be
taken to place the wires underground, so as to be
out of the reach of damage, and from the
effects of atmospheric electricity—a great drawback
under the present system. The telegraphs under the
plans proposed by the new company could be erected
at less than one-half the cost of the existing telegraph
company, and the public would consequently be be-
nefited in that ratio. The only petitioners against
the Bill were the present Electric Telegraph Com-
pany, who, of course, sought to retain their monopoly.
Their petitions stated that the wires of the new com-
pany would interfere with theirs, that they could not
be laid down without their consent, and that their
interests as a public company were to be protected by
Parliament. Mr. Talbot, Q.C., for the Electric
Telegraph Company, contended, at length, that the
plans of the British Telegraph Company were
infringements on some of the patents which the
Electric Telegraph Company already had in their
possession ; and that the breaking up of the
streets to lay down new wires would be attended
with inconvenience. On the room being cleared on
the question of the locus standi of the Electric Tele-
graph Company, and on the parties being re-admitted
the Hon. Chairman said—The Committee cannot give
any decision to-day, the Speaker being at prayers ;
but it may be convenient to tell you what would be
their decision to-morrow. The Committee have de-
cided that they do not think the petitioners against
the promoters of the Bill have any locus standi
against the preamble of the Bill; but I am desired by
the Committee to say that in our progress through
the Bill we shall be extremely glad to hear any ob-
jections that can be brought forward by the peti-
tioners against any of the clauses. We will give our
consideration to any of the clauses that may be intro-
duced, and that they may think will affect their in-
terest in any way. The Committee then adjourned
to this day at twelve o'clock.

CAPT. AUSTIN'S ARCTIC EXPE-

DITION.

We 'have private correspondence from Captain
Austin's Arctic expedition, from Stromness, dated
May 13. The Resolute, Captain Austin, C. 8., ar-
rived at the Long Hope, Orkneys, on the 11th, with
the Dasher and African steamers. The Intrepid,
screw-schooner, Lieutenant Commander B. Cator
arrived on the 10th ; Pioneer, screw-schooner, Lieut
Commander Osborn, arrived on the 11th; and the
Emma Eugenia, freight-ship, in tow of the Light-
ning, steam-tender, Master Commander Petley, ar-
rived on the 12th. They were to start again in a
day or two; and we may next expect to hear from
the expedition from the Whale-fish Islands. The
following are extracts from our letters :
" Her Majesty's ship --, off Pentland Frith,
Friday.
" We have been knocking about the North Sea ever
since my last, with very unpleasant weather, and have
at last arrived at the entrance of the Pentland Frith.
Both tenders have parted company, and I fear there
will be some difficulty in keeping together. We
had a strong gale a few days since, and the
screw-tender appeared to labour frightfully. As
for the sailing vessels they are as easy and as handy
as can be wished. Our crews appear well satisfied,
and we are now beginning to find out what they are made
of; there is lots of good stuff in them; and, as far as
health is concerned, no one has been sick as yet, al-
though the weather has been rather trying. I think we
are in very good time, and will be able to afford a few
days for shooting at Whale-fish Islands.
" Saturday.

" We have just got an Orkney pilot on board, and we
are about to send the steamer to Stromness, and anchor
at the Hope. We are now in sight of 'John o'Groat's
House.' I can hardly believe this dismal-looking coast
to be part of Great Britain.
"9 r.m. We are now at anchor at the Long Hope.
The ca ,twin goes to Stromness to-morrow, and i believe
we sail on Monday."
An accident, which might have been attended with
fatal consequences to one of the best petty officers in
the squadron, took place on board the Intrepid screw-
tender.
George Murray, ice-quartermaster, being in charge
of the watch at seven, P.M., all hands being employed
securing the boats, and close-reefing the s tits, the
commander remarked to Murray that the lee-boom
topping-lift was unhooked. Not liking to send a
tnan to a place rather dangerous at the time, Murray
went himself. He had no sooner got on the boom-
end than the man at the helm inadvertently let the
vessels come up in the wind, thereby jibing the main-
boom. All hands immediately ran to the mainsheet,
to shorten it in, so as to steady the boom ; when, in
the confusion, they let go of it. The boom then
swung seven or eight times across the deck and over
the quarter-deck, from rigging to rigging with fear-
ful velocity. Murray still held on by the topping-
lift until he saw he must either have his brains
knocked out by falling on desk, or be precipitated
into the sea. He thereupon chose rather to run the
risk of a watery grave than to break his neck ; so be
sprang from the boom while it was over the quarters,
and dropped some twenty feet from the ship. It was
blowing a fresh gale at the time, and a heavy cross
sea on, so that the ship had little way, and, being
able to swim well, he soon regained her side. Every
effort was made to save him, but the boats were all
lashed for sea service. The captain threw a cork
life-buoy, with a line fast to it, which he got hold of,
and was hauled in by it.