The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-10 00:00:00

RAILWAY RETURNS.

We extract from the Raziway Magazine the sums re-
Geived on the principal Railways of Great Britain
for the week ending on the day of the month prefixed
to each. The return includes the money received fur
passengers, parcels, carriages, horses, mails, and mar.
chandize :
Week Total.
Name of Railway.
ended s.. d.
Feb. 3 Birmingham and Derby Junction 1,246 6 10
2 Birmingham and Gloucester
3 Brandling Junction
2 Chester and Birkenhead 312 14 4
4 Dundee and Arbroath ... 231 18 111
3 Edinburgh and Glasg0w...
4 Eastern Counties.
3 Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr....... 1,134 2 6
3 Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock...... 648 4 2
3 Grand Junction, and Chester & Crewe 6,8138 10 6
3 Great North of England
4 Great Western ...... 11,801 2 8
2 Liverpool and Manchester . 3,965 7 8
2 London and Birmingham 14,585 13 7
8 London and Blackwall 536 19 3
3 London and Brighton
6 London and Croydon l9O 10 81
8 London and Greenwich 568 12 1
4 London and South Western 4,654 17 111
1 Manchester, Bolton, and Bury 7OO 10 2
• Manchester and Birmingham
3 Manchester & Leeds & Hull& Selby 5,405 10 8
5 Midland Counties
3 Newcastle and Carlisle
4 Newcastle and North Shields.... 289 12 8
Northern and Eastern
3 North Midland
North Union....
Jan. 30 Paris and Orleans 3,125 6 6
Feb. 5 Paris and Rouen ... 2,566 0 0.
3 Preston and Wyre 207 6 0
3 Sheffield and Manchester 477' 13 8
8 South Eastern.. 2,281 11 6
4 Taff Vale..
8 Ulster 550 18 6
3 York and North Midland 1,371 0 5

COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT.
(FROM ODR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
MARINE RESIDENCE FOR THE PRINCE OF
WALES AND THE PRINCESS ROYAL.

Her Majesty has not yet settled on a summer residence for
the Royal infants ; the treaty for the purchase of Norris
Castle is off; and surveyors were down on Tuesday to Eagle
Hurst, to inspect and report on its capabilities and value ;
there are nearly 300 acres of land; the house stands on a
great deal of ground, but it is on one floor ; the situation and
views are good ; there is also a lofty tower attached, called
" Lutrel's Folly ;" it is in the New Forest, near the entrance
of Southampton River, and directly opposite Cowes; the
amount demanded for it is the principal objection—the dif-
ference is, however, only about 8,0001. Should it be pur-
chased her Majesty intends lying in her yacht off Cowes, the
nursery establishment only being at Eagle Hurst.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—That dashing style of
treatment which made last year's opera so delightful to the
public and so prosperous to the management, will character-
ise the present season. Mr. Lumley exhibits even an increase
of vigour in his present programme, instead of finding in
past success a moral Capua. The arrangements for his ballet
present an unprecedented accumulation of strength. Four
such artistes as Carlotta Grisi, Fanny Cerito, Mary Taglioni,
and Fanny Elssler, never before appeared in any theatre dur-
ing a single season ; and, in addition to these, we have Stephan,
Planquet, and Scheffre,with Frasi,whosebeauty bestows a four-
fold charm upon her art. Perrot is wielding his sceptre as here-
tofore, and is busily at work upon a new ballet, to be en-
titled La Esmeralda, which will follow Herold's master-
piece, the Zampa, upon the opening night. This is to re-
store us " the" Carlotta, anxious to expatiate the guilt of a
more easterly sojourn by her re-appearance on more aris-
tocratic boards. We may also announce a grand heroic
ballet, called Jeanne d' Are, for Fanny Elssler's first appear-
ance. In opera, our old favourites and friends, the glorious
Lablache, those admirable artists Fornasari and Mario, the
divine Grisi, and that nightingale Persiani, come back to us ;
while the Signora Favanti, whom report describes as a star
of the first magnitude, and that excellent tenor,
Corelli, make their first appearance before an English
audience. Costa's opera, Don Carlos, which is composed
expressly for the company, will be produced ; and Ricci's
Corrado el' Almatura, with the Fantasma of Persiani, will be
added to the old repertoire. Such unprecedented attractions
ought to secure a splendid subscription, and will, we doubt
not, when coupled with the intended visit of the King of the
French to these shores, produce a season whose brilliancy will
efface that of all its predecessors. We cannot close this
notice without a word for our own compatriote, Favanti, who
comes to us crowned with unfaded laurels, won in the land
of song. We hail the advent of this native syren with feel-
ings of mingled pride and pleasure, and feel convinced she
will receive the same warm welcome which has attended her
progress through foreign lands.
THE LATE FATAL OCCURRENCE AT BARCLAY AND
CO.'S BREWERY.—Mr. Carter, Coroner for the Clink Liberty,
and a jury of the inhabitants, met at the Anchor Inn, Bank-
side, Southwark, yesterday afternoon, to investigate the cir-
cumstances attending the death of Henry Roberts, aged 39,
and John Steadman, aged 22. Thomas Harris, a labourer in
No. 16 store, deposed that, on Wednesday last, the deceased,
Mr. Roberts, wbo was foreman, gave instructions to Stead-
man and witness to get a ladder into the vat No. 71, in order
to descend and clear away the hops and sediment at the bot-
tom. While the ladder was being procured, Mr. Roberts was
supposed to have tried the safety of the vat by the usual
test—namely, by lowering a candle, as witness saw him with
a candle attached to a line. Mr. Roberts directed the de-
ceased (Steadman) to go down. The poor fellow descended
about three yards, when he returned. On reaching within
three feet of the top of the ladder, witness tried to reach
him, suppoiing he was affected by the gas, but before he
could get hold of him Steadman fell over backwards.
Witness was about to descend to the rescue of his fel-
low-workman,
when Mr. Roberts placed him on one
side, saying, " Let me go myself, Tom." He accord-
ingly went down and raised Steadman with his
right arm, and with his left hand appeared to be
loosening the handkerohief round his neck, when he sud •
denly fell backwards with his arms extended, and Steadman
fell upon his legs. Witness raised an alarm, and several men
came, and one, named Peter Hicks, was lowered with a rope
round his body. Before, however, had been let down two
feet, he showed signs of exhaustion, and was taken up again.
As it was not thought prudent for any one to make another
attempt to descend, drags were procured, and the body of
Steadman was got up in a quarter of an hour after the alarm
was given. He appeared to be quite dead. After the lapse
of another quarter of an hour, Roberts was got out, also dead.
Mr. Callaway, the surgeon, was sent for, and resuscitation
was attempted, but in vain. Witness had no doubt they
were suffocated by the carbonic acid gas that was generated
in the vat. William George Mountain, another labourer,
stated that he was the person who generally opened the vats
preparatory to cleaning them. The vat No. 71, in which the
two lives were lost, was opened about ten o'clock in the
morning of the day on which the accident occurred, and had
only been open about three hours. The vat had contained
East India ale, and it was unsafe to go into such a vat until
it had been open some two or three days, but in a mild beer
vat a man would take no harm directly it was emptied.
• After the accident a candle was tried, and it would not burn
within six feet of the bottom. The jury returned a verdict
of " Accidental death."

LETTERS TO INDIA AND HONG-KONG.--The fol-
lowing important notice was issued yesterday at the General
Post-office, St. Martin's-le-Grand :—" General Post-office,
Feb. 1844.—0 n and from the 15th inst., the postage on let-
ters posted in the United Kingdom and addressed to India,
marked to be forwarded aid Southampton, may be paid in
advance or not at the option of the sender. This regulation
applies only to letters from places within the territories of
the Hon. East India Company conveyed by packet, via South-
ampton, the postage on all other letters addressed to India,
via France, as well as on all letters addressed to countries
beyond India (the colony of, Hong-Kong excepted), by
whatever route they may be forwarded, must be paid in ad-
vance as at present, or the letters cannot be forwarded.—By
command, W. L. MABERLY, Secretary."
THE WILL OF AN ECCENTRIC AND WEALTHY BEG-
-0&11.—In the garish church of Rotherhithe a tablet has been
erected to the memory of James Smith, who is designated Esq.
The career of this man has been a very extraordinary one, and it
shows how wealth is amassed by strict economy. He was a beggar
of no usual description, and though advanced in years, was one of
the most active of his class. His continued round of employment
was through two hundred and ten parishes, and his industry was
well rewarded. He left an immense deal of property, the chief
part for charitable purposes. None of the two hundred and ten
parishes have been forgotten, where he was kindly treated. To al-
most all he has left funds, but has carefully excluded from his will
all parochial authorities, in whose district he fancied he had been
neglected. To the parish of Rotherhithe, which was always a fa.
vourite resting place of his, he has left property whieh produces
401. a year, and the interest of the money is thus disposed of:—
Upon each Sunday, after the sermon in the church, 120 loaves, of
the value of 6d. each, are distributed among the poor old people of
the parish, who thus profit by a beggar's wealth and gratitude; for
no doubt many of the recipients of his bounty have often given
their mite to the real and eccentric mendicant.
THE ITALIAN OFERA.—The programme of the
engagements for the forthcoming season'has just been issued by
Mr. Lumley. It contains the names of Grisi, Favanti, and Per.
siani, Mario, Fornasari, Lablache; and in the ballet department,
Carlotta Grisi, Adelaide Frad, Fanny Ellsler, Cerito, and
Taglioni. The Opera will open in the first week in March, with
Fornasari and Persiani, in Herold's opera of Zampa. A brilliant
season is expected.
DEATH FROM DESTITUTION.—Yesterday., Mr.
Baker, the Coroner, held an inquest at the Black Horse, Kingsland-
road, on the body of Johann Kuhulein, aged 40. John Smith,
gate-keeper at the Shoreditch workhouse, stated, that at eight
o'clock on Tuesday night last the deceased was found sitting on the
step of a door, in Hoxton, by police constable Dean, No. 205. De-
ceased was then in an insensible state, and the policeman had him
taken to the workhouse. Witness had him placed in one of the
wards, and sent for the parish surgeon. On the following day he
recovered a little, but not sufficiently to be able to speak. In the
night he grew worse, and at six o'clock the next morning died.
Witness found in his pockets a pawnbroker's duplicate for a pair
of shoes and a pistol, pledged at Dover, on January 15, 1844,
in the name of Henry Curling, of Limekiln-street. There was
also a book partly written and partly printed, and which contained
a description of Johann Kuhulein. The description agreed with
deceased's appearance, and it was supposed from some writing in
the book that he (deceased) had been a miller, and had travelled on
business through Dresden, Hamburgh; and many other places on
the Continent. Deceased was very poorly dressed in an old blue
coat, canvas trousers, and old cotton socks. From a passport in
his possession, and some entries in the book. witness thought the
last place he was at was Rotterdam. Mr. James Clark, the parish
surgeon, said that deceased was scarcely able to breathe when he
saw him. He died next morning, and witness had no doubt that
his death was caused by the want of food. Upon an examination
of the body nothing whatever was found in the intestines. Ver.
diet, " Natural death, accelerated by want and destitution."
LONDON FEVER HOSPlTAL.—Yesterday afternoon
the annual meeting of the Governors and supporters of this charity
was held at the Freemasons Tavern, the Earl of Devon in the
chair. Dr. Southwood lead the report, which proved the exist.
ence in the metropolis of an awful amount of fever. The admis-
sions into the hospital were 1,462 during the year ; being an excess
of 418 over the preceding year. In March fever was at its height,
and the admissions were 179. In the East-end there was little
fever compared with the central, southern, and northern districts,
where, in some instances, there was not a house exempt from it,
which was attributable to the undrained, filthy, and closely built
condition of these localities. A large proportion of the patients
Consisted of agricultural labourers and provincial mechanics who
cams to London in search of employment, and whose illness was
occasioned by want of food and clothing, and being obliged to sleep
in the open fields. Relapses frequently occurred twice
.ne nurses
and thrice.
The ;Tess mortality was about 15i per Cent. Twenty-nine
and some facers of the hospital were aitkekPd With fever, of whom
T.
six died. The number restored to health during the year was
1,224. The receipts were 2,5561. 3s. 7d., AO the disbnrsetnepts
2,980/. 14s. lOd., leaving a debt of 400/. After the adoption of
the report, it was resolved to petition the Government, the Corpo-
ration of London, and other public bodies, in aid of the hospital.
The Earl of Devon was re-elected president, and the other officers
for the year were appointed. After which thanks were voted to the
Noble Chairman.

LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM

RAILWAY.

Yesterday the half-yearly meeting of the Proprietors
of the above Company was held at the Euston-square
Terminus, Mr. George Carr Glyn, the Chairman of
the Board of Directors, presiding.
The Secretary having read the minutes of the last
half-yearly meeting, on the 11th of August, at Queen's
Hotel, Birmingham, the Chairman attached the seal of
the Company-to the Report of Shares, and the business
of the day was proceeded with.
The following Report was next read and adopted
unanimously:—
The Statements of Account which are now before the
meeting, afford conclusive evidence of a progressive improve-
ment in the net returns of the Company. Compared with
the corresponding half-year of 1842, the Revenue Account
shows an increase in the ordinary traffic of 11,398/, and a
decrease of 6,221/, in the working charges.
Taking the principal heads of receipt and expenditure of
the two statements in detail, the following are the differ-
ences between the December, 1842, and 1843 Accounts :
In General Traffic the receipt is more by .. £11,398
Rents ditto ditto 1,039
In 'Working Charges the expense is less by
Interest on Loans ditto , 8,488

[nterests on Calls in arrear, and Bankers'
lalances, the receipt is less by £2,255
Parish Rates the expense is more by 1,832
Passenger duty ditto ... 288
Depreciation of Stock ditto 1,655

27,146

6,030

Making an increase of net Profit in favour of De-
cember, 1843, of £21,116
With reference to the increasing charge for parish rates,
which have been successively raised from 15,3141. in 1840, to
18,351/. in 1843, the Directors',have the assurance of their
legal advisers that the present excessive rating of the Rail-
way is at variance with the law. Reluctant to enter on a
course of litigation with the various parishes on the line,
the Directors submitted to the injustice so long as the charge
was stationary; but the evil has assumed so general and
oppressive a character, that they shall most readily support
and co-operate in any measures which may be calculated to
substitute a fair and uniform system of rating for the present
arbitrary and vexatious proceedings of parochial authorities.
As respects the increased charge for depreciation of stock,
the Directors, in the full conviction of the importance of pro-
viding for the deterioration of the. Works of the Railway, by
a timely reserve from the Company's profits, and satisfied of
the advantage of the system by their experience of the ne-
cessity for such a fund, in the case of their carrying stock,
have appropriated 3,000/. per annum to a " Depreciation
Fund for Works," and arranged that one-third shall be
charged on the profits of the June half, and two-thirds on
the December half of each year.

Reverting to the progressive decrease in those charges
which immediately appertain to the working of the Railway,
and to its beneficial effect on. the Company's profits, the
Directors have to invite attention to the Abstract appended
to the Accounts, from which it appears that,' whilst the
traffic of the year 1843 only exceeds by 27,8981. the average
traffic of the three preceding years, the charges referred to
are 36,8051. below the same average, making a difference, in
favour of 1843, of 64,703/.
The Directors have to report, that the net
profits for the year 1843, being ... £502,484 0 5
and the Dividend declared at the last half-
yearly meeting

here remains a disposable balance of

from which they recommend that a dividend be declared at
the same rate as the last, leaving 17,0061. 18s. sd. to the
credit of the current half-year.

The Directors have the pleasure to state, that the progress
made towards the construction of the Warwick and Leaming-
ton, and Northampton and Peterborough Branch Railways
is in all respects satisfactory, and that in both cases the con-
tracts for works of the road, rails, and other materials, for
the permanent way, have been taken by competent parties,
on terms which secure the Company from any excess in their
contemplated expenditure. The liquidation of the claims of
landowners on the Northampton and Peterborough line is
rapidly advancing to completion, at prices which are in ac-
cord with the Parliamentary estimate.
Amongst the many notices which have been given
of intended applications to Parliament, in the present ses-
sion, for powers to make new lines, that which is of

greatest importance to this Company is the line from
Chester to Holyhead. Founded as this measure is on the
.declared intention of Government to construct a new harbour

the port of Holyhead, and to make it not only the great
iedium of intercourse with Ireland, but a harbour of refuge

and general trade, it becomes an object for this Company to
secure, as early as possible, that connexion with the manage-
ment of the affairs which the interest of the London and
Birmingham Railway, in the traffic, appears to demand. The
Directors having in consequence given their careful conside-
ration to the subject, have no hesitation in applying to the
Proprietors for those powers which, in their unanimous
opinion, the occasion calls for.
In thus laying their views before the Proprietors, the
Directors feel satisfied that there is much in the present posi-
tion of the Company favourable to the further developement
of that prosperity which has hitherto distinguished the Lon-
don and Birmingham Railway; and they declare their con-
viction, as stated at a former meeting, in August, 1841—
" That this !object can in no way be more effectually pro-
moted than by a due and. considerate regard to the accoln-
modation of the public."
Acting on these views, they have given to all passengers
going and returning by the railway on the same day, the
benefit of a. reduction of one-third in their fares; and they
allow passengers to compound for two months' fares at half-
price. _ _

They have also modified their rates to first-class passengers
riding in the Company's coaches, but travelling with their
own carriages on the train, by charging only second class
fares ; and as respects the comfort of the working classes, the
Directors provided coverings in the early part of the winter,
and protectiipn from the weather for their third-class carriages.
The following Directors go out of office at the present
meeting, and are re-eligible :—Mr. Cropper, Mr. Glyn, Mr.
Rathbone, Air. Tooke, and Mr. Young.
- The dividend will be payable on the 15th instant, to the
Proprietors whose shares were registered on the books of the
Company when closed, provided all calls on such shares are
paid.

The proportion of the dividend, which arises from the profit
on Sunday travelling, is at the rate of 4s. 9d. per 100/. of ca-
pital stock 3 and 10d. per new 32/. share.
The CHAIRMAN congratulated the Shareholders on
this, their first meeting in their new room, to have a
dividend og five per cent. on each share from the clear
profits.—(Cheers.) Formerly they used to allow ten
per cent., but that arose from premiums upon the sale of
shares, which the Company considered it prudent to
appropriate to the purpose. The Proprietors had the
accounts in their own hands, and would see that a part
of the advantages which they derived during the laet
half-year were not only from an increase in the sources of
revenue, but also from the diminished expenditure. The
consolidation of the London establishment led also to
reductions in the expenses, and would enable them to
let the buildings at Camden-town which had been origi-
nally intended for a terminus, The arrangments of the
station at Wolverton had likewise been such as to be
most advantageous to the Company. He had always
looked with extreme satisfaction to the expenditure
which had taken place at this station, because at that
spot a population had been collected from all parts of
England, and there were, consequently, no ties or asso-
ciations to bind them to the spot. They were a most
orderly and well-conducted people, which was evidenced
by the fact that there was always a good attendance at
the church which had been built by the Company at
that place. There had also been schools founded, in
which the children received a sound, moral, and religious
education. Benefit societies and lending libraries
were also founded, and had been well supported.—
(Cheers.) He invited the attention of the Proprietors
to the condition of the population at that station, when-
ever they went so far, and he was sure that they would
agree with him that the money had been well expended.
—(Hear, hear.) Even abstractedly from the benefit re-
sulting to the Company's servants from this expendi-
ture it was attended with a further beneficial result Ito
the Company itself, by insuring greater safety to the
public, and consequently increased the number of persons
willing to travel by the railway.—(Hear, hear.) He
would now direct the attention of the Shareholders to

the number of railway lines which it was proposed to
construct during this session of Parliament, which he
trusted would not be equally memorable with another
from the reckless and chimerical projects which hadbeen
brought forward in consequence of the state of the
money market at that period. He need not remind
them of the serious loss, and, in many cases, the total
ruin of many families, which was the consequence of
those mad speculations. He was happy to be able to
state that the London and Birmingham Railway Com-
pany did not in any way apply to Parliament, but they
were individually connected with two projects or un-
dertakings now before the House of Commons, the first
of which was the projected line from Lancaster to Car-
lisle, on which two years ago they entered into an
agreement, at the request of the other connecting Rail-
way Companies, that they would contribute a portion of
the capital required for completing the undertaking,
the traffic on the proposed line to merge into the line
from Rugby to London. That pledge they were now
called on to fulfil, and the Directors asked the Proprie-
tors that they should be allowed to subscribe to the
undertaking to the amount of 100,000/. ; and he thought
the traffic that would be brought into the line at Bir-
mingham by this undertaking, would afford a very fair
though not a very large dividend. The second under-
taking was one of infinitely greater importance. He at
luded to the proposed line of railway between Chester
and Holyhead, at which latter port the Company intend
constructing a harbour of refuge, not only for Channel
vessels, but also for the purposes of general trade ; and
in furtherance of this object the Government proposed
a certain sum, but had not as yet stated the amount.
However much or little the Government might advance
for the completion of this project, they should soon de-
clare their intentions ; otherwise private individua:s
would be found to invest their capital in the speculation.
The Chairman next alluded at some length to the sub-
ject of local taxation, to which the line was subjected in
several other parishes through which it passed, and said
the meeting would perceive that the parish rates had
been raised from 15,314/., in 1840, to 18,351/., in 1843.
The Direction had upon this subject the assurance of
their legal advisers, that the present excessive rating of
the railway was at variance with the law ; but that, being
reluctant to enter upon a course of litigation with the
various parishes on the line, the Directors submitted to
the charge so long as it was stationary ; but the evil
had assumed so general and oppressive a character, that
they should most cordially support andco-operate in any
measures which might substitute a fair and uniform sys-
tem of rating for the present arbitrary and vexatious
proceedings of parochial authorities. All the Company
wanted was to be placed upon the same footing as-other
establishments, and he trusted that measures would be
adopted by Parliament to effect this object, as the Com-
pany wished, above all things, to avoid any litigation.
A Pitoenivron wished to know what amount of money
would be required to defray the expenses of the proposed
new line, as he understood that a sum of 2,100,000/.
would be required for the purpose ; and it was currently
reported, in many parts of Lancashire, that the Govern-
ment had refused to have anything to do with the un-
dertliking-
The CHAIRMAN denied that there was the slightest
foundation for any qich Tumour,
Mr. CAPEL begged to ask, when the branch line- be-
tween Northampton and Peterborough, would be likely
to be open for transit.