The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-30 00:00:00

DUTCH AND GERMAN MAIL.

THE HAGUE, MAY 25.—Though the Belgian
journals deny the fact, we know for certain that the
Cabinet of London has sent an energetic note to that
of Brussels respecting the system of differential duties
contemplated at Brussels.
The Government has presented to the Chamber a
project of law for the repayment in the exchange of a
part of the national debt. The principal object in the
amelioration of the finance of the State is at the time
to regulate the employment of the sums due to Hol-
land by Belgium. The capital of 80 millions of flo-
rins at 2} per cent., invested to the credit of Holland
in the great book of the national debt of Belgium,
will be exchanged, either wholly or in part, for a capi-
tal of the same amount in the public debt of Holland
at 2i per cent., or this capital will be invested, either
wholly or in part, at a price which cannot exceed 59f
per cent. of the nominal capital.
We learn that the ex-Regent of Spain, General
Espartero, and General Van Helen arrived at Rot-
terdam yesterday, by a steamer from Cologne.
We learn by a private letter from Paris that the
Governments of France and Austria have resolved
not to interfere in the affairs of Switzerland.—Dutch
Papers, May 28.
Tuaxisa FRONTIERS, MAY 13.—We have received
to-dav letters from Constantinople of the Bth of May.
The -Grand Duke of Mscklenburgh Schwerin and
the Hereditary Prince Lippe arrived there on the 4th.
The most dreadful persecution of the Christians was
again going on at Konich.
Letters from Alexandria of the 6th of May, state
that the Viceroy had arrived there, but have no other
news of importance.—Allgemeine Zeitung, May 23.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
(YESTERDAY.)
CLERKENWELL.

Messrs. Dossett and Pulley, the overseer and clerk to
the guardians of St. John's parish, hackney, were yes-
terday summoned before Mr. Greenwood, to answer the
complaint of Mr. Hicks, relieving officer of St. Mary's,
Islington, for refusing to pay the sum of 6/. 4s. 2d., being
the sum expended by the authorities of Islington, for
clothing and maintaining eight paupers in Islington
workhouse. whilst under order of removal to Hackney,
their native place.
Mr. Hicks deposed to the fact of the paupers having
been in the Islington workhouse for three weeks, and
to their having been clad and fed—two adult paupers
named Cox and Weakly, and six children.
Mr. Dossett urged as a reason for disputing the claim,
that the Islington parochial authorities had been served
with notice to transmit the paupers to Hackney at an
earlier period, but the notice was informal, and the ob-
jection was overruled. _ _

Mr. Dossett then objected that the charges for the
clothing and maintenance of the paupers were excessive.
Mr. GREENWOOD—What are the charges ? Mr.
Hicks—There is first 103. for a coat for Cog.

--------- - -
Mr. Dossett—What 1 10s. for a pauper's coat 2—Mr.
Hicks—Yes.

Mr. Dossett—Then how much did it cost you ? Mr.
Hicks-10s.

Mr. GREENWOOD—DO you intend making any profit
out of these things ? Mr. Hicks—Certainly not.
Mr. Dossett—Well really I can't see what a pauper
wants with so fine a coat. _ _

Mr. GREENWOOD—WeII, I must say I do not think
lOs. for a new coat for a full grown person a large sum.
Mr. Dossett—But I don't think Cox wanted this coat
at all.
Mr. Hicks—lndeed he did : all the paupers were in a
most disgraceful state of destitution, and the parish
authorities of Hackney know it.
The next item was 10s. 6d. for a coat for Weakly.
Mr. Dossett-10s. 6d.! Why, this is 6d. more
Mr. GREENWOOD—I suppose the coat was larger. Mr.
Hicks—lt was.
Mr. Dossett—l beg your pardon, Cox was the bigger
man. Mr. Hicks—No, Weakly was the bigger.—
Allowed.

Mr. Dossett—l see there are four shillings a week
charged for the maintenance of the adult paupers—how
comes that ? Mr. Hicks—Why, it is the usual charge.
Mr. Dossett—Four shillings a week for maintaining a
pauper! Do you swear that? Mr. Hicks—l do. You
must know there are other little expenses included.
Mr. Dossett—lt certainly is a large sum.
It was, however, allowed.
A fresh discussion arose about a six and sixpenny
pair of shoes, an expenditure which seemed to alarm
Mr. Dossett very much. Mr. Hicks, however, perse-
vered, and that and all the other items were allowed,
and the full sum claimed was reluctantly paid.

MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS.

CITY, WEDNESDAY EVENING.
SUN.—Consols close rather flatly at 991 f for Money,
and 991 -1 for Time. Bank Stock has risen again to 199
and 1991, and India Stock has been marked 289.
Spanish Bonds were as in the morning, the Three per
Cents. being 341 to s. Colombian were heavy at 131
to 14,and Brazilian New firm at 771 to 78. Belgian
were 1031. Portuguese Converted were steady at 46 to
The a ditional :transactions in Railway shares have
been these :—Birmingham and Gloucester were 9 ;
Eastern Counties, 11 to i : Brighton, 31to ; Green-
wich, 51 to 5 ; North Midland, 11 ; and Thames and
Medway, 9 discount. Bristol and Gloucester have been
15 ; Chester and Holyhead, -1 ; Edinburgh and Glasgow,
15fr to 16} ; Great Western, 42 ; Croydon, 51 ; Ditto
Scrip, 81 ;,:Manchester and Birmingham, 16 ; Northern
and Eastern, 121 ; North Midland, Thirds, 71 ; Nor-
wich and Brandon, 51 4 ; South-Eastern, 21 ; Trent
Valley, 71 to 7 ; West London first class Preferred, 21
to 3 ; and Paris and Rouen, 181 premium.
TIMES.—The premium on gold at Paris is 111 per
mille, which, at the English Mint price of 3/. 17s. 101 d.
per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 25
44 ; and the exchange at Paris on London at short
being 25 521, it follows that gold is 0.34 per cent.
dearer in London than in Paris.

By advices from Hamburgh the price of gold is 435}
per mark, which, at the English Mint price of 31.175. lOid.
per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 13 101;
and the exchange at Hamburgh on London at short
being 13 10, it follows that gold is 0.12 per cent.
dearer in Hamburgh than in London.

•
DETERMINED SUICIDE, BY AN AMERICAN.-At an
early. hour on Tuesday morning, a most determined act
of suicide was committed at the house of Mr. Huens,
Prince's-street, Spitalfields, by a man of colour, a na-
tive of America, named John Moore, 28 years of age.
It appears that he had lately arrived in this country,
and having squandered away the whole of his money, he
had made application to the American Consul to
be sent back to his own country. He was
accordingly placed by the Consul in the establishment of
Mr. Huens, where persons in his situation are boarded
and lodged at the expense of the American Government,
until an opportunity offers to be sent out by the first ship.
He had been in the house but three days. After being
out the whole of the day, he returned home on the previous
night, about ten o'clock, and went up to his sleeping
apartment, which was on the third floor, at the back of
the house. He had not been up stairs above three hours,
when a heavy fall was heard in the back yard, and upon
Mr. Huens going out to ascertain the cause, he found
the deceased lying on the flag-stones, surrounded by a
pool of blood, and quite insensible. He was immediately
taken in doors, and Mr. Meeres, a surgeon sent for, who,
upon examinition, pronounced him to be quite dead. He
bad pitched upon his head,
and had dislocated the verte-
brae of the neck. Death must have been instantaneous.
The window of the bed-room was found wide open, and
the unfortunate man had evidently precipitated himself
therefrom. Not the slightest reason can be assigned for
the committal of the rash act.

DESERTION PROM THE FrIFTY-EIGHTH FOOT.—A
great number of cases of desertion are reported to have
lately occurred in this regiment, the heard-quarters
of which embarked last week for New South Wales,
whither the remainder is soon to follow. On Mon-
day morning, a young man, named George Duke was
brought before the bench of magistrates at Roches-
ter, in the custody of a constable and a sergeant of
the 58th, charged with being a deserter under the
following circumstances:—The constable stated that on
Friday afternoon, the 24th instant, he x'ent into a low
public-house, on the Brook, at Chatham, and saw
the prisoner there, dressed in sailor's clothes. Sus-
pected he was a soldier, and asked him the question,
but he denied it. However, he took the prisoner into
custody, and conveyed him to the barracks, where he
was recognised. Although only nineteen, this is his
third attempt at desertion. The prisoner denied he
had any intention to desert, and asserted that he
had at once told the constable what regiment he be-
longed to. The sergeant said that the prisoner had
only been absent that morning, and was under punish-
ment at the time. The magistrates asked whether the
colonel would not take the prisoner back, as a straggler,
as he had only been absent a few hours, and was found
within a mile of the barracks ; but the sergeant said,
" No, he was found in plain. cothes, and the colonel
would try him as a deserter." The magistrates convicted
the prisoner, and gave him up to his depot.
EXTRAORDINARY INSTANCE or INCUBATION.
A fine female swan, in the Surrey Zoological Gardens,
has sat upon her nest during the whole time of the erec-
tion of the model of " London in the Olden Time," a
part of the buildings of which constitute a portion of
the picture, actually surrounding the nest of the bird, yet
she did not seem at all disturbed by the noise and con•
fusion attendant on such a place ; and to add to the sin-
gularity of the event, during the first exhibition of the
Fire of London on Monday night, three young swans
made their appearance, and the mother has anxiously
tended them since, never quitting the nest during the
fire, smoke, and fireworks of the scene, and seems per-
fectly contented• with the :ingular place she has chosen
to rear her young brood.
ROCHDALE FLANNEL MARKET, MAY 27.—Not SO
many buyers attended to-day as usual, and the county
election almost put a stop to business. Considering the
bustle necessarily occasioned by such an event, there
has been a good demand for goods at former prices.--
Manchester Guardian.
STATE OF TRADE.—At Manchester, owing to the
county election, and the holidays, there was little busi-
ness done yesterday, and there was no change in prices.
—Manchester Guardian.
HAYDIV'S " CREATION."—The Sacred Harmonic
Society will perform this work at Exeter Hall en Friday
next. The vocal performers are Madame Caradori Al-
lan, Braham, and Herr Staudigl, a combination of talent
rarely presented on the same occasion.

THE PENINSULAR and ORIENTAL
STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY.

This Company held their half-yearly meeting yes-
terday, at their offices, 51, St. Mary-Axe. The
meeting was numerously attended, and the proceed-
ings were distinguished by perfect unanimity.
The following report was presented by the Direc-
.

:ors :

" The period having arrived, when, in conformity
with the terms of the deed of settlement, the half-
yearly general meeting of the Proprietors is appointed
to be held, the Directors have much pleasure in meet-
ing you to submit their report on the state of the
concern, and to declare a dividend out of the profits
for the half-year ending 31st March, 1844.
" The Proprietors are generally aware that the deed
of the Company regulates that the statement of
accouuts is to be made annually only, an arrange-
ment consequent upon part of the operations of the
Company being carried on at such distant points as
to create a considerable difficulty in procuring, with
accuracy, sufficiently detailed information to enable
the Directors to submit half-yearly statements to the
Proprietors. The Directors are, however, enabled to
state that the receipts for the past half-year have con-
tinued steadily to increase with the extended opera-
tions of the Company, and have been sufficient to
enable them, not only to meet every arrangement of
the Company affecting the trading profits, but also to
provide, by anticipation, for the repairs of the Com-
pany's vessels ; and to recommend the usual dividend
of 3i per cent. for the six months ending 31st March
last.

" The Company's vessels are insured for 292,0001.,
and one half-year's premium thereon has been appro-
priated out of the profits of the last half-year.
" The undivided profits of the concern will amount
to about 581., after providing 18,0001. for the divi•
Bend now recommended, and also reserving 8,0001.
for anticipated repairs.
" The Directors are enabled to state that the Com-
pany's vessels are in a satisfactory condition, and effi-
cient for the respective services in which they are en-
gaged ;—by continuing to act upon the principle,
when the vessels are under periodical repair of the
hulls and machinery, of adopting every improvement
which has stood the test of experience, which the Di-
rectors consider the wisest economy in the end, they
expect that the establishment of the Company afloat
will continue to give to the Government the same
satisfaction in the performance of the Mail Service
which has hitherto obtained for it the approval of this
high authority.
"In the last report made to the Proprietors, 29th
Nov., 1843, the Directors communicated to them
that they had tendered to her Majesty's Government,
and the East India Company, for an improved plan of
operation in the Indian Seas, in order to expedite the
conveyance of the mails and public dispatches. A
lengthened negotiation has since been carried on by
the Managing Directors on this subject, and it is still
under the consideration of her Majesty's Government
land the Court of Directors of the Honourable East
India Company.
" It is understood that her Majesty's Government
have it in contemplation, not only to increase the
facilities of mail communication by the establshment
under contract of a monthly line to and from Madras,
Ceylon, and Calcutta, but also that other extensions
will ultimately be adopted by the Government in the
Eastern Hemisphere.
" The arrangements alluded to are calculated to be
beneficial to this establishment, and the Directors
have reason to hope that the Company's vessels will
be employed under contract by her Majesty's Go-
vernment for the contemplated service.
" In order that the Directors should be in a posi-
tion to give an unquestionable pledge on behalf of this
Company, of their ability to carry out the services
referred to, or any portion of them, with satisfaction
to her Majesty's Government and the East India
Company, they recommended an issue to the Pro-
prietors in England and Ireland, of 3,000 Scrip Cer-
titficates, to represent 3,000 Shares, of 50/. each, being
an additional subscription of 150,0001. The Pro-
prietors responded to this call by applying for 5,671
Shares, representing 283,550/. but it not having been
considered necessary to extend the issue of Shares
beyond the number proposed in their circular of the
20th February, 1844, namely 3,000, the Directors
were obliged to decline receiving the additional sub-
scriptions thus tendered.
" One thousand Scrip Certificates for the same ob-
ject were also appropriated for such of the Proprie-
tors in India as might desire to avail of the privi-
lege of subscribing at par for the proposed additional
capital ; but the result cannot be known until the ar-
rival of the July mail.
" With the view of providing the additional vessels
which this contemplated extension of the Company's
operations will call for, the Directors considered it de-
sirable to treat for the purchase of the "Precursor"
steam-ship, of 1,800 tons, and 520 horse power, which
vessel has been purchased, subject to the examination
and approval of the Surveyors of the Admiralty, and
other competent parties, as to her hull and machinery.
" The well-known steam-ship the " Great
Western," of 1,320 tons, N. M., and 400 horses'
power, being also offered for sale, the Directors
thought it advisable to purchase that vessel, as she
was offered on moderate terms, completely refitted
with new boilers, &c. &c. This vessel will undergo
the same rigid examination of the hull and michinery,
and when approved of as efficient for the mail contract
service, will become the property of this Company.
" It having been intimated to the agent of this
Company in Egypt that, in the event of proper fa-
cilities being provided by the Directors for the con-
veyance of her Majesty's mails and dispatches on the
Nile, this service would be transferred to the Com-
pany; no time was lost in contracting for a very
superior iron steam-vessel for the purpose referred to,
and it is expected she will be sent out in the course of
next Autumn ; this measure was the more called for,
as, in addition to the foregoing reason, the extension
t of the passengers' intercourse between England and
• India demanded an increase of facilities for the river
Nile transit, the existing means being insufficient for

the purpose.
" Several complaints, some of them well founded,
have reached the Directors, from Indian passengers,
who have expressed themselves dissatisfied with the
arrangement of the Egyptian Transit CoMpany; for
travellers. The managers of that Company, who have
the exclusive charge of the transit across the desert,
have promised to remedy the evils complained of, and
there is reason to believe they are proceeding to do so
satisfactorily ; the Directors are, however, determined
not to relax their exertions in endeavouring to obtain
better arrangements for the convenience of the public
on this portion of the route to India, than have hi-
therto been provided for them.
"The Directors cannot conclude without stating an
additional circumstance calculated to increase the
confidence of the Proprietors in the undertaking,
namely, that they have lately been enabled to reduce
the rates of insurance on the Company's floating pro-
perty in Europe, from 6/. to five guineas per cent.
" The points now submitted to the Proprietors
embrace the principal objects of interest connected
with the Company's operations for the last half-year,
and the Directors hope that the feeling of gratifica-
tion which they experience in being enabled to make
this satisfactory report will be participated in by the
Proprietory at large.
" By order of the Court of Directors,
" JAMES ALLAN, Secretary."
It was moved, seconded, and unanimously car-

ried—
" Ist. That the Report:now read be received,
adopted, and circulated amongst the Proprietors.
" 2d. That a dividend of 3i per cent. for the six
months ending 3d March, 1844, recommended in the
Report now read, he payable on and after the 20th
June, 1844, between the hours of twelve and three
o'clock on each day, to such Proprietors as are duly
qualified to receive the same."
A vote of thanks and confidence was then moved
to the Chairman and Directors, which was carried
unanimously, and the meeting adjourned.