The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-11 00:00:00

GRAND COUNCIL OF STATE.

At a meeting of the Grand Council of State, held at
Lucerne on the 4th, the instructions to be given to the
deputies at the Extraordinary Diet were resolved on,
and relate to the following points:-
1. The disarming of the free corps._

2. The withdrawal of the refuges from the frontiers.

3. The indemnity to be demanded from the cantons
who have favoured the operations of the Free Corps ;
via.:—Argan, Bale country, Berne, &c.
It was proposed that there should be excluded from
the benefit of the amnesty—
• 1. The principal chiefs and instigators of the move-
ment. _ _ _

2. Those who had assembled on the Bth of December
at the Place des Mouline.

3. Those who were found at the inn with arms, for
criminal intentions.

4. Those who were defeated at the Bridge of Emme.
5. All public functionaries, professors, officers, sub-
officers, who took part in the attempt.

6. All foreign volunteers.
This proposition was not adopted, but another more
moderate brought forward, whereby the amnesty was to
extend to all but the authors and chiefs in the movement.
The Grand Council decided that the trial of the offenders
should take place immediately.

SANGUINARY PROCEEDINGS OF THE GO-

VERNMENT OF LUCERNE.
(From the journal des Debuts.)
An account Wai received yesterday from Switzer-
land, affirming that Dr. Steiger, one of the chiefs of
the refugees of Lucerne, who was made prisoner at the
late battle, was tried and condemned on Thursday, and
immediately shot. We would willingly doubt the
truth of this news. This merciless ac-t of vengeance
would not do honour to the victory of the Government
of Lucerne, and it cannot be by such sanguinary acts
of reprisal that the Government and the friends of the
Jesuits will strengthen their causP, or gain for it sympathy
and support. The number of the victims of this deplo-
rable civil war is already sufficiently great. The exact
amount of the killed cannot yet be ascertained ; but it is
said that out of the 600 men who marched from the half
canton of Bale-country, only 100 have returned, and that
a single man alone has got back to Liestal.

NEW BRUNSWICK AND NOVA
SCO PIA LAND COMPANY.
The adjourned half-yearly General Meeting of
Shareholders in the New Brunswick and Nova the
Land Company was held yesterday at the George and
Scotia
ge a
Vulture Tavern, Cornhill ; Mr. John Moxon in thechair.
The Directors had to wait some time before there was.
a suffizient number of Proprietors in attendance to con-
stitute a meeting. The non-attendance, however, was
not attributed to the little interest the great body of the
Shareholders took in the affairs of the Company, but to
the fact that there were several other commercial meetings
of an important nature, convened in the City, for the
same hour and the same day.
The report stated that the surplus sum which
had been expended for the purposes of the Company
was gradually diminishing. From 1839 to 1844 it had
been reduced from 1,622/. 153. 9d. to 900/. 19s. Bd. The
last balance-sheet exhibited a balance in the Companies
favour amounting to 8071. 10s. sd. The total receipts at
Stanley, the settlement of the Company for 1841, was
1,7601. 3s. 10d. and the, expenditure 1,9981. 2s. I Id.
The total number of acres sold by the Company was
22,020, leaving yet unsold 538,397. The number sold in
1844, was 3,760. The inmigration of British and other
settlers into the province during the last year appeared
to have been less considerable than in former years.
The number of purchasers of the Company's lands in
1844, was 36. The whole number of families settled
amounted to 145. In the year 1844 the pro-
vince had produced 1,289 bushels of wheat,
2,083 ditto buck-whea,t, 11,506 ditto oats, 178 ditto
lasrloy, 10$ ditto rye, 103 ditto Indian corn and peas,
31,714 ditto potatoes, 3,021 ditto beet and turnips,

437 tons of hay, 330 cattle, 65 horses, 297 sheep, and
245 pigs. The new land cleared amounted in 1844
to 462 acres, and in 1845 to 518 acres. The quan-
tity of land stumped and ploughed was 180 acres.
With regard to operations for the present year,
the Directors had authorised their agent to make
good the road from Stanley to Tay mouth, nine miles to
the point of junction with the province road to Frede-
ricton ; and the Directors expected that a post-office
would be opened this year at Stanley, and a stage con-
veyance for passengers and parcels established to run
between Stanley and Fredericton twice or three times a
week. From her Majesty's Colonial Department the
Company had hitherto received no encouragement.
The report having been adopted, the follow-
ing gentlemen were re-elected Directors—Messrs.Moxon,
Hallett, Morgan, Ogle, Potts, and Mr. Henry Bruce,
auditor. Mr. Godson, from Kidderminster, was then
elected a Dire3tor, in the room of Mr. Palmer, deceased ;
and Mr. Gowan, in the room of Mr. Blanchard, who had
resigned. Mr. Godson was elected Governor, and Mr.
Moron Deputy-Governor.
The meeting terminated with the usual vote of thanks
to the Chairman and the Directors.

EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY
COMPANY. _

A special General Meeting of the shareholders of this
Company was held yesterday at the London Tavern, in
compliance with the advertisement, for the purpose
of augmenting the capital stock of the Company,
by the creation of 4,800 new shares, upon which not
more than 1-11. 16s. per share is to be paid in the propor-
tions proposed. The meeting was numerously and re-
spectably attended.
Mr. BOSANQUET was called to the chair at one
o'clock, and
Mr. DUNCAN read the report of the Directors, and the
resolutions to be proposed.
Mr. DANIEL WHITTLE lIARVEY congratulated the
Shareholders on the prosperous condition of their affairs,
as evinced by the report ; but there were one or two
matters to which he wished to call their attention. He had
heard, in reference to their financial position, that they
had been borrowing money to the amount of 710,0001.,
at various rates of interest, from five to six per cent.,
i and that in a few years the lenders would enforce the
of the principal. Now, in reference to this question,
he should say that the Company would derive two ad-
vantages by the adoption of this report ; one was that
they should repay this money, and for that purpose pro-
vide the necessary funds by the time they should be de-
mended ; and the other was that they should raise
whatever money they wanted in future amongst
themselves.—(Hear.) Let the Company recollect that
the interest of 700,000/.. at 5 per cent., was 35,0001. per
annum; while, if they had raised the money amongst
themselves, or, in other words, had become
their own creditors, they could have had the
money at four per cent., which would be
only 28,0001. a year, thereby creating a saving of 7,000/.
a year to themselves on such portions of the loan as
they paid 5 per cent. for, and of course of a still greater
saving upon such sums as they paid 6 per cent. for the
loan of.—(Hear, hear.) He would now beg to call the
attention of the meeting to the position in which the
Company was placed in reference to another proceed-
ing. He did not mean to enter upon a review of the
course the Directors had taken in the management of
the Company's affairs ; that would do for the great meet-
ing in August next, by which time Parliament would, in all
probability. have to a certain extent declared their des-
tiny—(Hear, hear)—and when the Company would be
in a position to pronounce their disapprobation or the
contrary, as the case might be, of the progress
the Legislature might have made in regard to them.
—(hear, hear.) But as to the present position
of the Company, he supposed they were all aware that
the Board of Trade had made a report respecting them
that could not be too highly extolled.—(Hear, hear.)
That report declared in the most unequivocal terms
that they had given their sanction to the extension
of the trunk line, by which the Eistern Counties line
would become the great trunk line from Shoreditch to
the extremity of Scotland.—(Cheers.) But the Cam-
bridge and Lincoln Company had got another line
in contemplation, which the Board of Trade
had reported in favour of, namely the line
from Tottenham to Farringdon-street. Now, if
the Eastern Counties Company made an appeal to
the Board of Trade on the subject, he did think they
had such paramount claims upon the attention of the
Board that they would be heard with attention, and some
importance would be attached to their remonstrances in
favour of the extension of any line they should pro.
pose.—(Hear.) Now, he had no hesitation in saying that
the line from Tottenham to Farringdon-street would be
a most costly line.—(Hear, hear.) It was a distance of
only seven miles, but it would run through seven miles
of garden and brickwork, and would cost, even according
to the Company's own cetimate, 800,000/.—(oh, oh.)
The Board of Trade, in giving their sanction to this
line, did not consider that seven miles could be travelled
in a very few minutes ; all they thought of was, that
this great line ought to have a terminus in the
metropolis. On the other hand, there was a proposition
before them for continuing the line from Shoreditch to
Finsbury-square, which it was said could be done for
about 200,0001., because it would pass through property
which would be comparatively valueless. With regard to
the Farringdon-street terminus proposition, all he would
say was, that in his opinion, of all the superabundant and
extravagant propositions that had been heard of during
the present railway mania, this would be entitled
to take pi ecedence.—(Cheeee ,ed is.ls..^•''.--s x5_... ee-
eest. eau or money, taking the difficulties itieo account ;
while if the line were made by Shoreditch, and the ter-
minus at Finsbury-square, then Farringdon-street
might be reached at a c. imperatively trAng cost—aed
therefore he did think that this subject required the best
attention of the Board of Trade. However, if the Cam-
bridge Company persevered, then it would be for this
Company to consider what steps they should take
to protect themselves.—(Hear, hear.) A. propo-
sition had been before the Board of Trade
for making a line by Blackwell, Stratford, Epping, and
Fenchurch-street ; and though the Board had not given
this proposition their sanction, they had not disapproved
of it ; they merely recommended its postponement.
He had no reason to suppose that the Cam-
bridge Company were not well disposed towards
this Company, or that they would not co-
operate with them; but if they were resolved to follow
up the Farringdon-street prs)position, then it would be
for this Company to consider whether or not
they would take up the Blackwell proposition.
—(Bear, hear.) With these few observations
he would conclude by saying he felt obliged for the kind
attention with which he had been heard.—(Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN said he had suffered the Hon. Gentle-
man to continue his observations without interruption,
because they were of great importance and value to the
Company; but at the same time he should say it would be
absolutely necessary to keep strictly to the subject of
finance, which was the only one they could discuss at
this meeting, according to the Act of Parliament.
Mr. PATTISON, in answer to a question from Mr.
Gurdon assured the meeting that the best possible feel-
ing existed on the part of the Cambridge Company to-
wards this Company.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. GURDoN was proceeding to make some other ob•
servations, when
ntilny heinstance,
a nrce
eg
speaker;rht
et regretted The.
esdoCtipon a..itlnhete,s,
eruptt.tN s
presentaaibutne exceedingly
emfeelall
nit! :csgtl.rmye
remarks
beingket-sl
otoblAgo
being irrelevant to the question' before the meeting. He
then put the question, when the resolutions were una-
nimously adopted, and the meeting separated.

THE ROYAL MAIL STEAM-
PACK ET COMPANY.

The General Meeting of the Proprietors of this Com-
pany was held yesterday, at the London Tavern, for the
purpose of receiving the report of the Directors on the
affairs of the Company, for the year ending the 31st of
December last ; and also for the purpose of electing two
Directors and one Auditor, in the room of Andrew Col-
ville, Esq., and of Russell Ellice, Esq., Directors, and
Abraham G, Robarts, Esq., who went out by rotation.
J. IRVING, Esq., ➢I.P., took the chair at one o'clock.
Upon taking the chair, the Hon. Gentleman said he had
great satisfaction in informing the meeting, that the
statements the Directors would have to submit to the
meeting were of a most gratifying description. The
Directors felt warranted in expressing their just hope in
the expectation of a successful future.--(Cheers.) The
Hon. Gentleman then called upon the secretary,
Mr. CHAPPELL, to read the report, which he did as
follows :

After the difficulties encountered by the Royal Mail
Steam•paßket Company at the commencement of its
career, many of which were unavoidable upon the for
mation -of a steam enterprise more complicated and
gigantic than had been undertaken by any Government,
far less by 'a mercantile association ; and after having
surmounted the forebodings of those who naturally
doubted the possibility of placing the concern upon a
regular and secure basis, it is with sincere gratification
the Court of Directors submits, upon the present occa-
sion, a statement of the accounts for 1844, nut only
realising, but exceeding. the expectations entertaihe I by
the Directors, at a period wheu the Company's affairs
had an appearaNce of very serious depr, ssion.
How far these anticipations (founded upom the intro-
duction of a modified plan of picket service, in 1843)
have been verifie.i, will appear evi•lent, by coutrasting
the results shown by the accounts for the 3 ears 1843 and
1844; as follows

1843. 1844.
Receipts..,
Expenditure X322)71:538 1
61 .C236146:866101
Surplus 94,219 ... 147,749
Looking at the probable results of the plan of service
then coming into operation, the Directors also ventured
to predict, in October, 1843, that the surplus upon the
working account for 1814, as compared with the surplus
for 1843, would be increased to a total of 120,0001.,
whereas it proves to be 147,749/.
The profit and loss account now presented will also
show that, after liquidating the loss of 32,057 L, exhibited,
on closing the accounts of 1843, the balance of profit up
to the end of 1844 is 50,107 L, exhibiting a difference
between profit and loss accounts of 1843 and 1844 of no
less than 82,1641
4 While the results upon the monetary affairs of the
Company are of so encouraging a description, it is an
additional gratification to add, that the present plan of
packet service has worked for the last two years with a
regularity alike satisfactory to her Majesty's Govern-
ment and the public in general ; and in proof that the
Company's interests have al. o been benefited, it will be
sufficient to state that the receipts from freight and
passage money for 1844 have considerably exceeded
what they were in 184:3.
Although the unexpected and inexcusable loss of the
Actor :n deprived the Company of a vessel well calcu-
lated for intercolonial service, yet the Directors have
been able to replace her by the _purchase of the Rein-
deer, a vessel in excellent condition, of nearly equal ton•
naga and greater proportionate power.

Since the end of the year 1843 the loan of 50,0001. has
been paid off, and the Company is consequently entirely
out of debt to the present moment.—(Loud cheers.)
This statement, however, being applicable to the present
time, is no doubt in some degree anticipatory of the cur •
rent half year's transactions.
After much negotiation the Hon. Board of Customs,
during the last year, made arrangements to enable the
Company's steam ships to load, embark, and tranship mer-
chandise in the British colonies, under regulations suited
to the peculiar nature of the service ; and although only
a limited space can be appropriated on board each ship
to this purpose, yet the Directors trust sufficient may be
carried to augment the future receipts of the Company.
During the year 1844 six of the Company's steam
ships were docked, caulked, and recoppered, being one
more than was stipulated for in the Company's contract
with Mr. Pitcher : five others will be similarly refitted
during the present year ; and the whole are therefote
maintained in the highest state of efficiency.
Taking into consideration all the circumstances of the
Company, the Directors, notwithstanding tie amount of
loss during the two first years of the service was con-
siderable, are of opinion that it will be more acceptable
to the proprietors to receive a portion of the profit on
the last year, in the shape of dividend, in preference to
applying the whole amount to a fund for the replace-
ment of capital ; and they therefore recommend the
payment of 11. 10s. per share as a dividend for the half
year ending December 31,1844 ; and that such dividend
be made payable at the of of the Company on and
after the 28th instant, en all shares then registered.
This dividend will require 21,0151., leaving 29,0921.
applicable to the fund in question, or to other purposes.
The CHAIRMAN then put the question that the report
be received, which was unanimously agreed to.
Mr. POYNDER was highly gratified at the report that
had been just carried.—(Hear, hear.) Ile believed that
there was not a more wholesome school in which to teach
wisdom than adversity—(Cheers)—and to that, and that
alone, it was that it was to be attributed that the pre-
sent great undertaking had been accomplished. 7 he)
had formerly to meet with shoals and quicksands, but
he trusted that they had escaped from them, anti
that they were now in deep water, with plenty of sail-
ing room.—(Hear, hear.) He could not think that the
Court of Proprietors would do their duty unless they
marked in some substantial manner the respect a hich
they entertained for the course that the Directors had
pursued. He should propose that the sum of 2,0001. be
appropriated out of the balance of the recount that day
laid before the Proprietors, and paid to the Directors as
a remuneration for their services during the past and
present years, and that in future an annual sum of
2,000/. be appropriated for the like purpose.
Mr. MILLS :econded the motion. He thought they
ought no longer to accept the gratuitous services of the
Directors.
The CHAIRMAN then rose and said—Gentlemen, as
one of the Board of Directors, I feel called upon to re
turn our grateful thanks to the Hon. Proprietor who
made the last motion, and, especially to this large and
respectable meeting, for the manner in which they have
received the proposition made by the Hon. Proprietor.
He has not done the Court of Directors more than justice
in stating the great anxieties which they have expe-
rienced in encountering the difficulties, and in endea
vouring to overcome them. During the long period in
which unsuccess attended their exertions, the Directors
were never dismayed.—(Cheers.) They never swerved
from that course which at first they pointed out for
themselves. They had been ever actuated by the prin-
ciple of being unchecked, unbiassed, and uninfluenced by
the opinions of the public out of doors —(Cheers)—and
without looking at the circumstances that attended
great operations, I believe that the present Company
have exerted themselves in a degree unparalleled by any
individuals, and even by Government itself.—(Cheers.)
I believe that notwithstanding the crisis of our affairs
we have now passed the rubicun, and that in future there
is nothing but pleasing anticipations in view.
Captain SWEENEY bore testimony to the conduct pur-
saed by the Directors. He was perfectly willing, indeed
he felt it a pleasure, to support the proposition, but, at
the same time, he felt bound to censure the captain of
the Acteon.—(Hear.)
Mr. CoLvflax, the Deputy-Chairman, said the Direc-
tors had done all they could on that subject, for they had
discharged all the parties connected with the transaction.
Captain Winn', R.N., said that the proceedings of
the Company had met with the greatest satisfaction in
India.

The motion was then unanimously agreed to.
The Directors that retired by rotation were re-elected.
Mr. ROBARTS was then re-elected auditor, and upon
being so, he declined receiving any remuneration—
(Cheers)—his duties being so trivial.
The meeting then adjourned.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

OLD COURT.

(Before Mr. Justice COLERIDGE and Mr. Justice COLTMAN.)
James Herbert, aged 24, a'shoemaker, was indicted for
feloniously cutting and wounding William Girhng, with
intent to murder him.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
The jury found the prisoner Not Guilty on the remaining
counts of the indictment, and the prisoner was discharged.
ROBBERY.—Joseph Bradshaw, aged 20, was indicted for
having on, or about, the 28th of February last, stolen two
and a half yards of t seed, two pieces of doeskin, and other
articles, value 21., the property of Messrs. Mills and Hill,
drapers, of St. Martin's-lane, his employers.
Mr. Hill appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Clarkson
defended the prisoner.
From the p‘A.1,,,,-,-, .A. 1.......? :4--..,,,,,,.. Awit, -Lite prisoner's
oox was searched, and in it was found the various articles
described in the indictment. A portion of these articles the
prosecutors spoke to as closely resembling their missing pro-
perty, but could not swear as to their exact identity.
Oa the part of the defence, it was set up that the articles
in question had been give.. to the prisoner by his brother—a
draper, carrying on business in Marylebone-street, Piccadilly,
in whose service he previously had been—in lieu of wages.
After Mr. Clarkson had addressed the jury for the defence,
Mr. Justice Coledrige summed up, and the Jury returned a
verdict of Not Guilty.
Another case was raised against the prisoner, for having
pawned a piece of blue cloth—the duplicate of which was
found in his box on its being searched—which cloth a shop-
man of Messrs. Mills and Hill spoke to as closely resembling
a similar piece which they had missed a short time before the
prisoner was given into custody.
On the part of / he defence, the brother of the prisoner swore
to his having given him the piece of cloth in question more
than a year and a half ago, for the purpose of sending it to
his father, but afterwards the prisoner asked his brother's
permission to send another piece instead, which he accord-
ingly did.
After Mr. Justice Coleridge had summed up, the jury re
turned a verdict of Not Guilty, and the prisoner was dis-
charged.
The grand jury came into Court about three o'clock, and
returned a trae bill against Joseph Connor for the St. Giles's
murder.

Anne Pendry. 30, was charged upon the coroner's inquisi-
tion with the wilful murder of her illegitimate child.
A bill for the same offence had been preferred before the
grand jury, but it was ignored.
Mr. Hurry defended the prisoner.
The circumstances under which the charge was made will
be fresh in the recollection of our readers, as they have been
recently detailed very fully in the report of the proceedings
before the coroner. The prisoner was servant at the Crown
public-house, Isleworth, and, on the 28th February, she was
seen to go to the water-closet, and, after remaining there for
some time, she came out apparently in a very weak and ex-
hausted state, and shortly afterwards the dead body of an
infant was found in the soil. There was a slight bruise upon
the head ; but it appeared very probable that this was occa-
sioned by the instrument with which the child was taken
from the privy, and there was no evidence to show that the
child was born alive. When the prisoner was questioned,
she said that she had been sudelerrly seized with the pains of
labour, and that she was delivered before she could obtain
any assistance.
Mr. Justice CoLEfunGE, at the close of the case for the
prosecution, expressed his opinion that the evidence was in-
sufficient, and, under his direction, the jury returned a ver-
dict of Not Guilty.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
CLERKEN WELL.

TIIREA.TENING TO POISON.—Ann Murphy, a big, fero-
cious-looking woman, wai charged with threatening to
poison her husband.

The husband, a quirt, poor fellow, living at No. 9,
Peter's-lane, St. Sepulchre's, swore that he was in con-
tinual fear of his life from his wife's violence. A month
ago she threatened to stab him, and he brought her be-
fore this Court. She was sent to prison for a fortnight
in default of bail. At the expiration of the sentence she
returned home, but had not been long in the house when
she attempted to burn it by pouring a quantity of tur-
pentine on the fire. He extinguished the fire, and she,
ithout any provocation, threw a bottle at his head, and
swore she would poison him and their eldest daughter ;
so that they were in continual fear of their lives from
her violence. On Tuesday night she renewed her threat
of poisoning, and he feared she would carry it into effect.
Mr. Gat.FNwoon—What have you to say to this, pri-
soner? Prisoner—Oh, the wicked wretch, he'd swear
anything.
The daughter, a modest, decent-looking girl, was
called, and.stre, with tears in her eyes, corroborated her
father's testimony.
Prisoner—(to the daughter)-oh, you are a nice
youth, ain't 3 ou?
In default of bait. she was committed for ten days.

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.
PROTECTION TO TRADE AT ICIIABOE.

The Committee of Lloyd's have addressed a letter of
thanks to Captain Sir John Marshall, R.N., for the
great attention paid to their interest, and the mercan-
tile community generally, by him during the period of
his command -.on the Cape of Good Hope station, by ar-
rangements made at Ichaboe for the preservation of the
peace, and for the furtherance of trade otherwise on that
island.

Sir John Marshall, in reply, concluded with, "Long
experience in the public service has taught me duly to
appreciate the importance, as well as to respect and ad
mire the intelligence and honourable bearing of our
shipowners and merchants."

CART ACCIDENT.—On Tuesday afternoon, between
three and four o'clock, a little girl, in crossing Compton-
street, Soho, at the corner of Dean-street, was knocked down
by a horse and cart. So rapid was the accident that it was
truly wonderful how the driver managed to pull up in
time to save the child, as it was the wheel rested on her
arm. On being removed from under the wheel the girl was
found to have received some severe contusions from the
horse's feet, but she is likely to recover. No blame was at-
tached to the driver.
STOCKHOLM, MAucii 28.—We have just received
Finland,
a n has,
ordinance, att he instdaantceed
by the Finland snail the news that the Emperor, in
order to promote education among the inhabitants of
of
fththee surateionfstaln'itnland,
issued
which all Swedish books a.
re allowed h
to be importebd
into Finland, on payment of 20 ar.oen of
p:
t the selling
price. On one side the Estates have lately abolished
the impost dues on all swodi.,all
books printed •
land.--Dutch paper, April 9. - - I- lin