The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-13 00:00:00

lvbich had led to that change ; he would only say that
'the prejudice existing throughout France against the
exercise of that right was unconquerable, and was daily
increasing.
I might, therefore, he continued, form some judgment
of the degree of satisfaction with which he had received
the communication which I had just made to him, an-
nouncing the acquiescence of her Majesty's Government
in the proposal of that of France for the appointment of
joint Commission for the purpose of inquiring whe-
ther means as effectual as the mutual right of search
might not. be resorted to for the suppression of the
slave-trade.
He was fully aware of the feelings of the people of
England on the subject of this odious traffic, and of the
jealousy with which the proceedings of the proposed
Commission would be watched; and I might therefore
be assured that the compliance of her Majesty's Go-
vernment in the proposed inquiry would be justly appre-
ciated by the Government, the Legislature, and the
people of France.
His Excellency then informed me that the Duke de
Broglie would be charged with this important commis-
sion, and I am certain your Lordship will be of opinion
that a better selection for that purpose could not have
been made.

The Duke de Broglie has for many years been a
strenuous advocate for the abolition of the slave-trade,
and it is under his auspicep, as Minister for Foreign Af-
fairs, that the supplementary convention of 1833 was
c7ncluded.' It is not likely, therefore, that he will pro-
pose, or will himself be satisfied with, any measures for
the suppression of the traffic in slaves less efficacious
than those at present in force under the treaties.
I have, &c. COWLEY.
The Earl of Aberdeen. K.T., &c.

LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM
RAIL WAY.

• The half yearly general meeting of the Proprietors
of the above railway was held yesterday, at the
Euston-square Station. G. C. Glynn, Esq., Chairman of
the Directors. occupied the chair. There was a very
large attendance of Shareholders, and the proceedings
although short, were of very great importance. The
Chairman, in his opening address, stated that terms had
been agreed upon between the London and Birmingham
Company, the Birmingham and Manchest or Company, the
Trent Valley Company. and the ChurnetValley Company,
that an amalgamation of three of these Companies, and
a perpetual lease of the other should take place.
It was proposed to take a perpetual lease of the Trent
Valley Company by the London and Birmingham Com-
pany, who would guarantee a dividend, equal to that on
the London and Birmingham Company, to the Trent
Valley Shareholders. The amalgamation with the
Churnet Valley Company was to be effected upon terms
to be governed by the amount of dividend and the ex-
penditure in fiv-. year: from the present time. The
amalgamation with the Manchester and Birmingham Com-
pany was to he effected by the Shareholders in that
Company receiving 25/. 10s. London and Birmingham
stock for each of their own full shares, and 61. 7s. 6d.
upon the small shares. These propositions were re-
ceived with the uttnes.t unanimity, and the sanction of
the Proprietors as awarded amidst much applause. A
dividend of 51. per cent. for the half-year was then
declared, and power having been given to the Directcrs
to carry out the various projects which they have in
hand at present, thanks were voted to the Chairman, and
the- meeting separated.

LONDON AND GREENWICH
RAILWAY.

The half-yearly general meeting of the Shareholders
of this Company was held yesterday, at the London Tavern.
S Mr. nAunoLT, Chairman of the Board of Directors,
took the chair shortly after one o'clock, and called upon
Mr. Wilson, the Deputy-Chairman, to read the report,
which was as fellows--
. " Your Directors have great pleasure in submitting to
the Shareholders their proceedings, and the annexed
statement of the accounts of the Company, for the half-
year ending the 31st December last. Your Directors
have given the most careful and anxious consideration to
the clauses and prortSions proper to be inserted in the
articles of a:reement, for. le using the railway, and all
-the works and conveniences connected therewith (in-
cluding the land on either side of the railway reserved
f:ar widening the line, and varying from 241 feet, more
or less, to 30 feet), to the South-Eastern (Dover)
Company, rendered the more difficult and important by
the circumstance of the term being for 999 years, and
therefore partaking of the nature of a purchase as well
as of a demise, and by the magnitude of the rent, viz.:-
36,000/. fur the first year, to be increased 1,000/. yearly
until it shall reach 45,000/. per annum, such rent to he
payable quarterly, c'esr of all taxes and deductions, ex-
cept the property-tax. Having, however, been met by the
Directors of the South-Eastern Company, on the terms of
the agreement, and all points of "doubt or difficulty arising
out of the prel:minary contract, in-the most friendly and
liberal spirit, your Directors have the satisfaction to
state that Tues-day. the Ilth instant, has been appointed !
for affixing- the -seals of both Companies to the articles
of nreement. Your Directors have contracted to sell
to the South-Eastern Company the land and
buildings belonging to this Company not in-
cluded in such demise, at the sum of 18,000/.
The engines, carriages, stores, and working-plant, have
been taken bey the South-Eastern Company, at the sum
of 22,8081. 17s. Bd. The term in the lease commenced
pafthe Ist of January last, and the business of the rail-
way has since that day, been conducted on the account,
and at the risk, of the South-Eastern Company. Anxious
to perfect all the arrangements with as little delay
as possible, a our Directors have instructed your
solicitor, in conjunction with the solicitor of the
South-Eastern Company, to prepare the draft
of a Bill to be submitted to Parliament, and the
clauses and provisions are under the consideration of
your Directors. By the annexed accounts, as examined
and certified by the auditors, it will be seen that, after!
paying all expenses, together with interest on the mort-
gage debt and on the preference shares, there remains
to the credit of the profit and loss account, including
former balances, the sum of 2.528/. 195. 2d. In
order to carry into effect the recommendation
of the Committee of Shareholders in refer• nce
to compensation to oh and faithful officers of the Com-
pany. your Directors propose the grant of the following
gratuities, viz.:—Mr. Akermann, the Secretary, 5001 ;
Mr. Adron, the Accountant and Superintendent of the
line, 250/. ; Mr. Watkins, the Transfer Clerk, 1251;
and Mr. Laurie, the Collecting Clark, 1251. So soon as the
matters in progress shall have been finally adjusted, and
' the precise state of the affairs of the Company ascertained,
your Directors will call a Special General Meeting of the
Shareholders, and submit the results, when they confi-
dently anticipate that they shall be able to submit a plan
whereby a considerable diminution may be effected in
the rate of interests now payable on the bonded debt of
the Company—an expectation warranted by the im-
proved and ascertained nature of the security. The
Directors going out of office by rotation are Wm. Shad-
bolt, Esq., and Henry Wheeler, Esq., who, being eligi-
ble, offer themselves fur re-election."
The report was unanimouily approved, received, and
ad ,pted, with two amendments, to the effect that Mr.
Watkins, the transfer clerk, should receive a gratuity of
2001 instead of 125/, as proposed by the Directors ; and
that a pension of 151. per annum for life should be paid
out of the assets of the Company to one of their servants.
named Nash, who had broken his leg by an accident in
the discharge of his duty.
gratuity of NU was also toted to Mr. George
Walters, the late superintendent, for his zeal and ser-
In answer to a piestion from a Proprietor, the Chair-1
man stated that the deed of assignment to the South-
Eastern Railway 'ompany, and the Bill to be presented
to Parliament, would be submitted to a special general
meeting of the Subscribers, which meeting would be
their last.
Thanks having been voted to the Chairman, Direeters,
and Auditors, the meeting separated in exceeding good
humour.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE at CHATHAM
DOCKYARD.
OUTRAN, FEL M.... This morning, a few minutes before two
o'clock, a destructive fire broke out in Chatham dockyard. A
smell of fire had been for Horne time previously very strong, causing
the sergeants of the police on duty to examine every place
minutely. They at length perceived a light between the palings of
the gate which encloses the joiners' pound, filled with all sorts of
timber. The ponnd is situated between the joiners' workshop and
the storehouse for the reception of trunnails, in which stores there
WAS deposited about forty thousand. An alarm was immediately
given, and the dockyard hells sounded for assistance. Before any
engines could be brought into play, the fire burst:fearfully forth, and
owing to the combustible materials on the premises the flames spread
with such fearful rapidity that they extended themselves from one
end of the buildings to the other, nearly two hundred feet lengthways,
and about four hundred in depth. The whole of the dockyard
engines, twelve in number, were soon manned by three divisions
of police, consisting of three inspectors, three sergeants, and
forty-six men, under the ditections of the Director, Lieutenant
Wise, R.N. The Royal Marines, under the command of Colonel
Charles Menzies, K.H., with their engines, were quickly on the
spot, and was soon followed by the whole of the troops of the
garrison, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Kelly. The
Royal Engineers, with their engine, under the command of Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Sir Frederick Smith, K.H., closely followed; also
the Kent and the Sun engine, and notwithstanding the whole of
these engines were throwing tons of water into the blazing mass of
fire, the destructive element seemed to bid them defiance, and
burnt itself out. The baddings which are brick, are three stories
high,in and are completely gutted, nothing but the bare walls stand-
g• For nearly one hour and a half the interior of the place had
all the appearance of a burning furnace, and as the flames extended
to a considerable height, the heavens appeared illuminated for miles
round. The wind I • strongly from the north-east, carrying
large flakes of fireefall;
to7er the dockyard, and the extensive shed
The ship Queen,
in dock, being so close to the scene
totf) 0
rdestruction,itiat i fearsstationed
ergeu ns'tertained for her safety, and the au.
engines pouring copiously streams of water.
The jeiners' shop, which ls entirely consumed, contained three
hundred said fitly cliff-Feet frames, which had been made for the
, Bulldog steam -frigate. ships Raleigh, Active
Janus. There were upsvart.s of one gate, Eclipse, and
hundred chests of tools, the
tva,eluedalreaotunets/r.aneacbhe,
private property of the carpenters, which
are totally consumed. At preset;
hole the fire originated. The workmen given
five o'clock in the evening, and as neithereay: the dockyard at
lowed, it is somewhat surprising that the fire shouldreor candle is al.
'mouldering so many hours undiscoved. The Water
whahich ve remained
the dockyard is from a reservoir at Brompton ; and it is supplies
that, during the fire, the engines poured 14,000 tons of water en
calculated
the flames. The dockyard school, with other small building
destroyed; about 40/. of books, belonging to the school, are are
The total extent of the loss of property is estimated from 13,0001.
to 20,0001. Colonel Sir Thomas Willshere, K.C.8., Bart., Ns ith
Brigade Major O'Brien, of the garrison, was on the spot ;
also the Captain Superintendent, Captain W. H. Sher.
tilt: Great praise is due to the officers and troops under
their command for their strenuous exertions during the conflagra-
tion. The fire was subdued about four o'clock, but is still burning,
and the engines are working. An express was sent this morning
away from the dockyard, at six o'clock, to the Board of Admiralty.
During the time of the drums beating to arms the officer command.
tog, Sir Michael Creigh, K.H.G., officer of the 110 Regiment,
was at a grand entertainment given by the officers of the regiment,
at which there were upwards of one hundred efficeri attending,
nary of whom upend frcm the ballroom to the :,:ene of dcenc-
tient la *Cr till dress.