The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-18 00:00:00

SPANISH BONDHOLDERS.

A meeting of Spanish bondholders was held yes-
terday at the London Tavern, Mr. J. Capel in .the
chair. The Chairman said that circumstances ren-
dered it probable that some proposals would be
shortly made by the Spanish Government fur effect-
ing a settlement of the claims of the bondholders,.
and the meeting was convened for the purpose of
appointing a committee to act on their behalf. The
Prime Minister of Spain, the Duke of Valencia,
had given an engagement, in his own hand-
writing, that he would take the demands of the bond-
holders into consideration, with a view to their final
settlement. The recommendation of the chairman was
adopted, and the following gentlemen appointed to
serve on the committee :—Baron L. Rothschild, Mr.
D. Milne, Mr. L. Samson, Mr. V. Eyre, Mr. J.
Tasker, and Mr. J. Capel. Mr. Croker, supported
by Mr. Henderson, suggested that a petition
should be presented to Parliament, setting
forth the claims of the bondholders, and asking for
the interference of the Legislature and of the Go-
vernment in support of their claims. This proposi-
tion was resisted by the Chairman, who said that the
Government looked with an unfavourable eye on the
investment of British capital in foreign loans,
and that the number of foreign loans lately
negotiated would be an argument with Ministers
not to interest themselves in the cause of the bond-
holders. Baron Rothschild, also, said that he accepted
a place on the committee on the distinct under-
standing that they were to act only in the most friendly
concert with the Spanish Government, which at no
former period had shown a greater disposition to
discharge the claims of its creditors. In the House
of Commons he would feel himself bound to vote
against any measure for a forcible recovery of their
claims, and he felt certain that any agitation on the
subject would he useless and injurious to their in-
terests. The committee were empowered to incur all
necessary expenses,to be repaid out of their first dividend
received from Spain. A resolution was passed, ex-
pressing the grateful thanks of the meeting to the
public press for its assistance and co-operation in the
and also to the Spanish
houldseers of o
who, in presenting a
memorial of their own grievances to the Legislature,
cafth 4 e
anbdonsdh perold bondholders,
cents.,
made generous allusion to the misfortunes entailed on
other sufferers in English, French, and Dutch loans,
by the non-payment of their dividends. A vote of
thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.

TRIAL OF DR. WEBSTBR.—PLIILIDELPHIA, APRIL
2.—On Saturday night last, and after a trial which lasted
for twelve days, thejury, having deliberated only three hours,
returned into court with a verdict of " Guilty of murder,"
against Dr. Webster, of the Medical College, Boston, for having
slain Dr. Parknian, the founder of that college; and you will
remember that the murderer afterwards attempted to barn
and otherwise conceal or destroy the body piecemeal. Thou-
sands are of opinion that the evidence was not sufficiently
strong to produce this conviction; but Dr. Webster could not
or did not show how he became possessed of the money which
he alleged that he paid to Dr. Parkman; and two of the wit-
nesses who swore that they saw Dr. Parkman after the
time of the murder, as charged, subsequently retracted their
evidence, having discovered that they were mistaken in the
day. The more direct evidence was very strong, though only
circumstantial. This hes been the most painfully interesting
trial that has ever occurred in the United States.
CALEDONIAN RA ILWAT.-1t appears that in accord-
ance with a resolution passed at the last half-yearly meeting
of this company, the directors held a conference, with depu-
tations from the several guaranteed and preference share-
holders, on the subject of reducing the amount of the gua-
rantees, and they have agreed to submit to the consideratio❑
of their constituents the following alteration in the terms of
the dividend : —The Garnkirk, from 8 per cent. to 5 per
cent. ; the Clydesdale Junction, from 6 per cent. to 4 per
cent. ; the Wishaw and Coltness, from 10 to 51i per cent.;
the Barrhead, from 6 per cent. to 2), per cent. ; and the Ca-
ledonia❑ preference shares, from 6 per cent. to 3 per cent.
This arrangement, if agreed to by the guaranteed companies,
will have the effect of reducing the present annual charge on
the Caledonian Company in respect of the above from 125,9001.
to 1'9,150/.

THE MILITARY KNIGHTS OF WINDSOR.— A va-
cancy has occurred in this foundation by the almost sudden
death of Lieutenant John Alien, one of the Military
Knights of Windsor, who died on Monday last, after two
hours' illness. This veteran officer entered the army as en-
sign in the Ist Royals, and afterwards served in the 84th
Foot ill the Peninsula udder the Puke of