The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-21 00:00:00

ORNING SUN-

templated in the estimates laid before them, and it was

for Them to determine, first, whether it was necessary
to erect these buildings at all, and, if so, what amount
of money should be expended upon them. It was pos-
sible they might not have to commence them immedi-
ately—that would be a matter of consideration. With
respect to the London-bridge station expenses, they
bad power, by the Act of Parliament obtained by the
Croydon Company, to raise the sum of 120,000/. ; but
they would not require for these expenses more than
85,0001., therefore they would want, altogether,
371,318/. He was willing to admit this sum was a
very large amount, but they must bear in mind that
186,318/. was for the railway itself. Now, one word
as to the manner in which they proposed to raise this
money. They recommended that loan notes shoud be
issued, payable, at the end of five years. at 5 per cent.
interest, with an option to the holders of such notes, at
the expiration of three years, to convert them into
quarter shares of that Company, at 10/. per quarter
share, under the power of an Act to be obtained for
that purpose, for which application would be made to
Parliament at the earliest possible period, the present
Shareholders to have the preference of tendering
for such loan notes, and such tenders to be
made on or before the Ist of February, 1842,
when the said allotment would take place ;
51. upon each remaining sum of 2/. 10s. per quarter
share, on or before 15th July next, and interest to
commence from the time of the respective payments.
This subject had had a :g►eat deal of discussion and
consideration, and it appeared to them (the Directors)
to be the best mode of raising the money ; he would, at
the same time, say that if they (the Proprietors) could
suggest any other or more reasonable mode, they (the
Directors) would gladly follow it, but they must bear in
mind, that although the Directors were asking for a sum
of nearly 400,0001., yet they had to expect nearly that
amount from the South Eastern Railway Company.
The Directors had bean in communication with these

gentlemen, and they had given notice of their intention
to purchase a moiety of the line, and they were anxious
about it, so that if this were completed, it would destroy
the effect of the present grant. He did not know if
there was any other point he could particularly allude
to, unless he mentioned the recent Chancery suit be-
tween the Company and Sir 1. L. Goldsmid. Sir Isaac
had amended his bill, and he (the Chairman) had seen
it ; and he was prepared to say that the Company had
nothing to fear from it. The only other point he had
to remark upon was the fact of their Secretary having ab-
sconded. They were certainly taken very much by sur-
prise on the morning of discovery, when, on going to the
office they found a letter from the Secretary, which stated
that from various circumstances he was obliged to leave
the place. They (the Proprietors) might naturally ex-
pect that they would be at considerable loss, but they
Would not be great sufferers from it, for he was exceed-

ingly happy to say the whole amount of his delinquen-
cies would not exceed 566/. 14s. 10d. They had arisen
in this way. He was entrusted with a cheque for
274/. 12s. Id. to pay the Government duty ; this he ap-
propriated to himself. A cheque for Si. Os. Bd. for the
office ; another cheque for 491. Us. 6d. for the office
of the agent at Liverpool ; and several other cheques
given for the payment of bills, all of which had come in
against them, and which amounted to the sum of
566/. 14s. 10d., which he had appropriated to himself.
They had no reason to believe there was anything else
against him, except that he took with him a cheque for
195/., but of this he paid himself his quarter's salary,
leaving a balance behind him of 171.—(Loud laughter.)
He (the Chairman) was quite sure that if the business
brought before them that day led to discussion, their
interest would teach them to conduct that discussion
with calmness and temper, as the only way they could
expect to arrive at a good and honourable end.—
(Hear, hear.) He begged to conclude with a motion,
in order that the question might come fairly before them,
which was, .4 that the Report and accounts now read
be received and adopted, and entered upon the mi-
nutes, and a copy sent to each Proprietor."
A PROPRIETOR wished to know the amount the Di-
rectors expected to receive for the portion of the line,
from the South Eastern Railway Company ?
The CHAIRMAN said they could not say exactly, but
it would be between 350,000/, and 400,000/.
A PROPRIETOR—When arc they bound to pay that
money ?
The CHAIRMAN said that, fortunately for them, they
had given notice to take the line, and be should sup-
pose they would require but a reasonable time, because
if they did not act upon the notice, he thought that any
Court would give the amount. But he was safe in
saying that tho South Eastern Railway Company was
using and making every exertion, and were exceedingly
anxious to pay the amount.

A PROPRIETOR said he thought it a rather promo-
:ure proceeding, on the part of the Directors, to call
for this money, especially as they so soon expected it
from the South Eastern Company, and having been
told by their Chairman that the works and buildings
would be delayed. If they found that the money was
not forthcoming from the South Eastern Company, then
they could call a special meeting for the purpose of
raising it, if the money was necessary. He was ex-
tremely sorry that they had come forward to ask for this
money, when in their last Report they expressed such
sanguine expectations, and which Report was in such
unequivocal words. In .that Report the Directors
said that no more money would be required, and it gave
him severe regret to see them come forward then for such
a sum of money as 400,000/.
Mr. HENDERSON objected to the shortness of time
between that meeting and the allotment of the Loan
notes. That time was only twelve days.
Mr. PARSONS said that if it was a convenient time
to bring forward a motion he would do so. It was an
amendment to the motion made by the Chairman.
He had taken the liberty of sending a letter to the Di-
rectors, suggesting to them the propriety of sending
the Report to each Proprietor a week previous to the
meeting ; and he had done so because he found it in-
convenient to examine the accounts at their General
Meeting. In fact they could pass no opinion upon
them at all without a previous examination.—(Hear,
hear.) If it was thought that they could not do so,
as the meeting was too close at hand, then they might
have postponed it to enable them to do so. He was
therefore under the disagreeable necessity of proposing
that the consideration of the Report be adjourned to a
future day. No man could have fairly examined it, and
that was his only object in moving the amendment.
A PROPRIETOR rose to second the amendment, and
did so because he thought the Report itself was of so
important a nature that it would be unwise to give an
opinion upon it at. once.
The CHAIRMAN said that before the motion was
put he felt it his duty to make a few observations ; and
in doing so he felt the great weight of the observations
of the gentleman who bad addressed them.—(Hear,
hear.) He thought they were entitled to every
information they required, but in the present
instance, they had taken quite a different view of the
position in which the Directors were placed from the
reality. They seemed to feel that they (the Directors)
bad not any immediate want for money ; and the fact
was, they had immediate want of it. Then they (the
Proprietors) would say, So much to your shame ; if
you knew that these expenses were coming, you ought
to have provided for them. He would ask any one of
them whether, situated as they had lately been, hoping
for weeks that circumstances would change, whether
it was necessary to call a meeting at an earlier period,
to state what ? To state that, in consequence of the
extraordinary season, certain damage had been done.
But they were in hopes, as they all were, that the
season would not be more productive of damage to
their railway than others. In consequence of the con-
tinued bad season, they had incurred a responsibility of
184,379/. He did not think that any one in that room
would go out of it. leaving the Directors this responsi-
b,lity upon themselves, without taking_ some means such
as they suggested to them to do. The other amount
alluded to of 100,0001., as he had said before, if they
were anxious that it should be submitted to another
general meeting, they could have no objectiou. They
must recollect, that, if they raised the money, as they
were empowered to do by law, it must be by 5/. shares,
and this would have the effect of depreciating the value
of the shares, which would be, 'by this course of
proceeding, brought down to 30 or 35.--(Hear.)
Now it did appear to him that by the course they
were pursuing in moving an adjournment, they were
damnifying the undertaking, and it would appear to all
the world, something like a stigma upon the Direc-
tors, that they (the Proprietors) wanted confidence in
them. This sum was all required for the purposes of
the Railway.—(Hear, hear.) If the Directors found
any difficulty in raising this sum, they wore empowered
to make 5/. calls, and they must recollect that if they
(the Proprietors) took such steps as would place the
Directors in a responsibilty of 185,000/. that they the
D:rectors) must adopt that course. Unfortunate cit.-
cumstanees over which they had no control had
occurred, and he did think that no set
of Directors had incurred such great responsibility ;
and if they (the Proprietors) meant now to turn
round upon the Directors for having done their duty
on the part of the Company, he should advise the Di-
rectors, although he had as yet said nothing on the
subject, to make a 51. call and relieve themselves from
responsibility.—( Disapprobation.) Ho was aware he
was propounding that which was unpalatable to their
cars. The Directors had had care, trouble, and anxiety
come upon them from week to week ; and now, when
they came for money to clear their liabilities, they were
told to adjourn that meeting, for there had not been
time i, look into the accounts ; and thus they (the Pro-
prietors) would leave the Directors with responsibi-
lities to the amount of 184,000/., to provide for them
in the best way they could.—( Hear.) He did not
make this obviclatio,n in a bad spirit, or anything like
it ; he merely toM fht:m truths not to be contravened.
position—they had these
The Directors were in this
liabilities to pay, and if ‘the Proprietors did not provide
for them the Directors
st. He was not saying that
nrt:
in any shape or way
offensi.z..ely—he would be exceed-
ingly sorry to do so ; but sal: it was exceedingly painful
' to see the Proprietors expresth,"l a want of confidence
tit wrong to raise the
in th lairpegma If they thoug::
100 000iii*t
A let that be adjourap-4 ; he had no ob,
: ~,

jection
; and leaving out this amount it would leave the
sum required 271,000/. One word in answer to what
had fallen with respect to the power the Directors had
for making that call. He believed that every gentle-
man in that room would agree with him, that the plan
they proposed had been adopted on almost all railway?,
and he did not know that in any one instance the least
difficulty had arisen relative to the Act of Parliament.
He was quite prepared to say that the time was short,
and he was quite prepared, on the part of the Direc-
tors, to state that there was no objection to lengthen
that period. But he would wish to impress upon them
the position in which they (the Directors) were
placed, not by any mismanagement or fault of theirs,
but placed in that situation by circumstances
over which they had no control. If he had ex-
' pressed anything offensive to any gentleman he was
sorry for it ; it was his duty to go into the matter as
fully as he had done, that no one might leave the room
with a false impression. He would tell them that parties
who had assisted them were looking to this meeting,
and the issue of that meeting would decide whether
they went on with their traffic or not ; and if they (the
Proprietors) came to the resolution of refusing to adopt
the Report, the consequence would be, the works must
stop. If he had taken a wrong view of the case,
he should he most proud to be set right ; but

he did hope, that before they left that room,
they would empower the Direction to raise 160,0001.
to 185,000/. He would not lay further stress on the
matter, but if they refused this, it would be the means

of damnifying the Company ; and it only required them
to held together to be successful in the undertaking.
If he had taken a wrong view of the case, still the
course proposed by the Directors was a safe one ; and
he had no doubt on earth that when the time came for
their again assembling, they would say to him—Mr.
Harman, the advice you gave us was good, and although
we then took a different view of it, yet we are now
convinced it. was the best you could give.—(Cheers.)
A PROPRIETOR said he thought there was no reason
to adopt a different course to that suggested by the
Direction, and he saw no reason to adjourn the meeting.
He thought the meeting would support the executive
in their report, and he thought the amendment would
not be supported by a dozen Proprietors. The mode
proposed for raising the money was reasonable enough,
and most probable. And with respect to the Ad of
Parliament, there could not be a doubt but that that
would be obtained without any difficulty at once.
The CHAIRMAN was quite sure that the gentleman
who had moved the adjournment did it from no want of
courtesy to the Directors. That gentleman had written
to the Directors about getting out their Report, but
what, lie would ask, would be the result of such a step ?
Why, others got nut their Report a week before the
meeting ; gentlemen who were contented would not at-
tend, and those who were not would ; and the result
might be the greate. t inconvenience. All that the Di-
rectors were desirous of was, that their accounts should
be fully gone into, and they would be happy to give any
and every' Proprietor who would call at their offices the
fullest information.

Sir Isaac L. GOLDSMID had abstained hitherto most
carefully from entering into this question. He had been
now a Director of two other Companies—one for 32
and the other for 39 Sears—and he must confess.Abitt
during all that time he had never heard such an
extraordinary threat as had come from the Chairman
that day. He had told them that unless the Proprie-
tors waited for the accounts of the Directors, he would
put in force the power he held by the Act of Parlia-
ment, and would call upon the Company for the pay-
ment of the 51. Shares to pay expenses which had been
incurred by the Directors without the authority of the
Company.—(Hear, hear.) It certainly was his inten-
tion to support the motion for the adjournment. He
had 200 shares in the Company, and bad never sold
one, and such being the case, he thought he might con-
fidently say that be had a greater interest at stake in
the Company than any other Proprietor present.—
(Hear, hear.) He had entered the Direction upon the
faith that the line was to be completed for 1,200,000/.
Now, what was asked by the Dir7ectors that day ? Why,
that the Company should agree to their raising
300,000/. or 400,0001., without inquiring into the
causes that had already increased the outlay to
2,800,000/. The Chairman had complained, and
threatened, and used most extraordinary language ; he
had stated that the Directors could not foresee things. He
did not blame him for what he had done that day, but he
did blame him for carrying them on step by step to in-
crease the charges.—(Hear, hear.) In defiance of all
the assertions of the Chairman, the gentleman who had
moved the adjournment asked for delay in order to in-
vestigate the accounts of the Directors, and the Chair-
man upon that had told them, as if in defiance, that if
they adopted such a course, he would call upon them
for the 5/. shares. This was a threat which he (Sir
i. L. Goldsmid) thought ought not to have come from a -
person situated as the Chairman was.—( Hear, hear.)
With respect to what had been stated about not giving
giving notice of proposing the adjournment, the Act
said that fourteen days should be allowed to parties
who wished to see the accounts; and, if be understood
the gentleman rightly, he had applied at the office tor
the accounts. With the little knowledge he had of
accounts, he would defy any one present to look at those
now produced, and say that they could place confidence
in the Directors. .With respect to himself, he mutt be
allowed to say one word. It bad been said by the
Chairman that I,e had filed an amended bill. Now
what was the real fact ? Why, he had already offered
rs reler the question as to whether he was entitled to
have the clause he contended for in the agreement to
two uninterested gentlemen ; and that if they were of
opinion he was not, that he would abide by their deci-
sion. It was said that he might take the land away.
Now, he could assure the Proprietors he had no such.;
intention. He would ask, then, was it fair to give an
improper impression with respect to the conduct of a
man who was willing to place his cause in the hands of
any two honourable gentlemen ? He had, as he had
said before, a large interest in the Company. He
had a largo sum of money to receive from them
for land ; and he had, therefore, strong tempta-
tions to go into the Direction, which he did, but
which he resigned, because he saw that what
had occurred that day must take place. He
applied to the Chairman as a man of honour to allow
the accounts to be investigated, in order that it might
be seen whether or not all that had been hid out had
been properly expended.— (Hoar, hear.) If he agreed
to this, he should have his support, but if he refused
inquiry, he would oppose him to his latest breath.—
( Hear, hear.) If the engineer in the est;rnate of the
expenses had been mistaken, well and good, but if not
he ought to be dismissed.—(Hear, hear.) In conclu-
sion, he called upon the Chairman to recal what he had
said, and assist them in investigating the whole :le-
i counts of the Company.

The CHAIRMAN WdS exceedingly sorry again to oc-
cupy a moment of the time of the meeting, but after
the vindictive address of Sir Isaac L. Goldsmid—
(Cries of " No, no.") He said yes ;he had had to
fight the battle of the Company with him—(Cheers)—
and he was not to he put down ; and he
was sure the meeting would not be led away by
any vindictive speech.—(Cries of "Hear, hear.") Sir
Isaac Goldsmid had said that he (the Chairman) had

.hreatenect to make the 5/. call now ; he had done no
such thing.—(Cries of "_Yes, yes.") Well, if be had, ho
did not mean it.—(Hear, hear.) Sir Isaac Goldsmid
knew the law with respect to the Company, as well as
he did ; and that law was, that any creditor of the
Company, who had not had his claims provided for at
the general meeting, might obtain a mandamus from
the Court of Queen's Bench, to compel payment. H•
was sorry that Sir Isaac Goldsmid should have made
statements that he was obliged to give a direct .negative,"
to, but the Directors had given way to him, till they
could give way no more.—( Hear, hear.) He would
not say more upon this subject, as another tribunal
would determine who was correct and who in error. Ile
admitted that he held a responsible situation, and he did
not shrink from that responsibility—(Hear, hear)—
and he would say boldly that he had never, in any in.
stance, made use of the power given him as Chairman,
to further the views of any friend.—( Hear, hear.) Was
such the course pursued by Sir I. Goldsmid, when he
was a Director ? Had he not made it a sine qua non
that he was to make his son Standing Counsel ?
( Hear, hear.) Had the Directors visited their spleen
upon him for that ? No, they believed Sir Isaac's son
to be an " honourable man," and he was nose the Stand-
ing Counsel of the Company.—(Hear, hear.) As to
adjourning the meeting, that was entirely out of the
question, because if they did so they would prevent the
Directors from raising the capital they required, and
put them in this position, that the creditors of the Corn
parry might, tomorrow morning, serve them with a man
compeling the Directors to enforce the Si. call.
He trusted the meeting would not separate without making
provision for the two sums he had referred to, if not
for the 300,000/. Since he had been a Director of the
Company, he had never lost sight of its interests. He
had never done any act of which he was ashamed, and,
as he had said before, if any gentleman wished further
inquiry, he wished them to attend at the Company's
offices, and if they were net satisfied with the course he
had pursued, he would at once resign the trust reposed
in him into the hands of the Proprietors, as nothing
would afford him greater pleasure than to see that trust
in the hands of those who were better qualified than
himself to carry it fully out.—(Cheers.)
Mr. L. Mortl.Er, of Liverpool, had attended the
meeting for the purpose of hearing the Report read.
He came there from the Proprietors of Shares, in Ll.e
cashire, who were anxious to know what was
the
cause of the.grcat expenditure that had taken p4,tcce--..1
( Hear, hear.) As to the personal altercations b
eta
the
the Directors and Sir 1. L. Goldsmid, thouo }
less of law they had the better. II e thought,
that if the
could not agree, the better way would be matter.
in dispute should be settled tleough the medium o
some
hear
,disinterested gentlemen.—
ht (
election of Directors, be
he thoug ' hear.) As to the
e the Board, in case of
t power of filling up as
a vacancy, ought to ay.
appoustmett should be subject toe
P
void, but that that
the approbation of the next general meeting,--(Heat,
bear.) As to thedeficiences of their late Secretary, be
thought if proper care -had- been taken in calling upon

bins to give security to the amount of one year's salary
it would never have taken place. With respect to tbe,
!great outlay that had taken placer however it bad arisen,
st was an awful thing for the Proprietors to look at. he
thought the Proprietors ought not to be placed in the
situation they were that day, namely, that of being
called on for more money, and told if they did not fur-
nish it the concern must be broken up.—(Hear, hear.)
He thought they ought to have the fullest information
on the subject.—(Hear, hear.) If ever there was a
case that called for inquiry—not an inqniry tainted with
suspicion--it was the present.—(Hear, hear.) Under
these circumstances he coincided with the Hon. Pro-
prietor who bad moved the adjournment of the meeting
for the purpose of that inquiry taking place. He be-
lieved the Directors had made the best Report they
could, but he thought the Proprietors were bound to
inquire into it.—(Hear, hear.) His only object in
making the observations he had done, was to keep the
Ra lway welt with the public. Property to the amount
of millions depended upon the mode in which the Di-
rectors acted that day.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. PARSONS could assure the meeting, that be had
not made the motion he had done from any vindictive
feeling.
The CHAIRMAN felt sure of that. He begged to
assure the Proprietors that in what he bad stated be
bad only the interest of the Company at heart. If it
would meet their views he would say for himself and
the other Directors, that they bad no objection to a
Committee of four or five Proprietors being appointed
to examine the accounts, to whom every facility should
be given ; and if, after that examination, it was consi-
dered necessary to call a special meeting, such a step
could be taken ; but be was afraid. if they adjourned
the present meeting without making provision for
the two sums that he had named, it would throw
suoh a damper upon their proceedings as would
render it impossible for them to go on.—(Hear, hear.)
He wished every Proprietor to be made acquainted
with the whole concerns of the Company, and be
thought the course he had pointed out would put them
in possession of all they required. He trusted that the
meeting would come to a vote enabling the Directors
to raise the two sums he had mentioned.

Sir Is.s.Ac- GOLDSMID denied that he was actuated by
any vindictive feelings in the course he had pursued.
He could assure the meeting he meant no offence to any
obe of the Directors. All be was anxious for was, hav-
ing so large a property at stake, that the fullest inquiry
shou'd take place.

The CNAIRMAN would propose that Mr. Mozeley
and four other Proprietors should be appointed a Com-
mittee.

Mr. L. MOZELET would have been most happy to
have been one of the Committee, but his residence at
Liverpool, and his avocation, there, would prevent him
from performing the duties of the office in person, and
he never did an3tbing Ey deputy.—(A laugh.) He
thought the Proprietors had too good an opinion of the
Directory, notwithstanding any apparent neglect on
their part, to deprive them of the mean; of paying their
debts.--(Hear, bear.) But he must disapprove of con-
firming an act of which every Proprietor did not know
the particulars.—( Hear, bear.) He thought they ought
to consider that day what was the smallest amount that
would be necessary, and he would at once agree to giving
the Directors that.

--------
The CHAIRMAN said that the Directors, in asking
the meeting to provide for the two sums he had men-
tioned, did not ask more than they required. Those
two sums together would amount to 270,0001.

Mr. MozELEY—Would 200,0001. be enough ?
The CHAIRMAN—It would not.

Sir I. GOLDSMID wished to know whether it would
not be better at once to raise the 185,000/. by calling
for the 51. shares ; or were the Proprietors to have a
pledge from the Directors, if they enabled them to
raise the amount they required, that they would not call
for the .5/.?

The CHAIRMAN had no hesitation in saying, that, if
the meeting gave the Directors the means of procuring
the two sums he had mentioned, they would not call
upon them for the 51. shares.
Sir I. GOLDSMID—Never ?

The CHAlRMAN—Certainly, never.
Mr. PARSONS had no idea, in bringieg the motion
forward, of placing the Directors in any difficulty as
to present payments. 'With respect to passing the ac-
counts, he thought it would be far better to raise the
money for the London-bridge terminus, provider' by the
Act of Parliament, and the 185,0001. on the Si.
sharer, than to pass those accounts, because they would
then be acting upon Parliamentary grounds. He did
not mean to say the accounts were inaccurate, but he
wanted inquiry into them, in order that fair data '
might be formed for their future outlay. He would
rather adopt any course than pass those accounts.
The CHAIRMAN said, it was for the meeting to de-
termine as to the means by which the money was to
be raised. All that he wished was, that it should not
be said hereafter that it was the Directors who had
made the 5/. call. It was essential, for the interests of
the Company that the money should be raised ; and
be thought that it would be found that the mode sug-
gested by the Directors would be easiest to the
Proprietors.
S:r I. GOLDSMID thought it would be much better to
take the .5/. at once than use any debenture notes.

Mr. WALEY thought the Proprietors ought to
think deeply before they adopted a measure that might
tend to destroy their property. He thought the better
course would be to adopt the course proposed by the
Chairman.

The CHAIRMAN said be had just been informed that
the result of adjourning the meeting would be to close
the transfer books ; it was therefore desirable that such
a step should not be taken. What, therefore, be
would propose, was to withdraw his motion for the
adoption of the Report. that subject being adjourned to
a future day, and that if it was found necessary by the
Committee to be appointed to examine the accounts, to
have a. meeting on u future day, that such meeting
should be called within a month. If the meeting agreed
to that proposition, they would then proceed to consider
the best means to be adopted to raise the money re-
quired.
Sir 1., GOLDSMID would not oppose the motion for
raising the money, as it was clear the Company must
pay their debts.—( Cheers.)
It was then moved by Mr. WALE Y, seconded by Mr.
Paesoris, and carried unanimously, that the Directors
should have the power to raise 300,000/. upon loan
notes, with the option of shares. (For the rest:antic:ins,
see our advertising columns.)
Mr. Parsons, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Brown, Mr. Shuttle-
worth, and Mr. Thompson, were appointed a Com-
mittee to examine the accounts of the Company. They
were to have the assistance of an accountant, if neces-
sary, and it was agreed that they should meet this morn-
ing, at twelve o'clock at the Company's offices.
A resolution was then carried, declaring certain
shares forfeited.

The Directors who went out by rotation were re-
ele,:ted, and after .a vote of thanks had been carried to
the Chairman, the meeting separated.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 19.—The following ships are in
preparation at this port for commissioning :—Sanut-
rang, 26, Tyne, 26, Orestes, 18, Ringdove, 10, and Sa-
tellite, 18, at Plymouth ; Canopus, 84, America 50, and
Wolf, 18, also the Scylla, 16, and cutter Bramble.
Alls The Powerful, 84, is ordered for commission, it is ru-
moured by Captain Locker ; and the Ganges, 84, on
arrival, will be paid off for the like purpose.
Rear-Admiral the Hon. Jocelyn Percy, C. 8., (ap-
pointed successor to Sir Edward King) will hoist his
flag in the Winchester, 50, which ship is to be paid off
at Chatham, and re-commissioned by Captain Eden, to
relieve the Southampton, 50.
Those two powerful frigates, Warspite, 50, and Vin-
dictive, 50, have left Spithead for the Downs, to await
the orris al of the. Formidable, 84, from Chatham, when
%ay will proceed t.o Ostend, to escort the King of Prussia
to Woolwich. •
The brig Rapid, 10, Lieutenant Earle, is under orders
to proceed to the Cape and African station, and will take
out despatches for the Madagascar, 46, senior officer's
ship, and disposable boys. Commander Barker ap-
pointed to the Lily, 18, vice Allen, promoted, will also
go out in the Rapid, among other supernumeraries.
The Nautilus, 10, Lieutenant Thomas, fitting as a ten-
der brig to the Queen's yacht, Royal George, will pro-
ceed, when ready, to the Irish ports for volunteer seamen.
Letters from the Fair Rosamond schooner, of the 3d
November, report her in Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes, with
the Sappho, 15. Both vessels had been suffering in a
mitigated degree from fever, but there were no fatal
cases. The former was about to sail for Antiema, and
the latter for Jamaica and England, to be paid off. The
Island was very unhealthy, some severe cases having oc-
curred in the 47th regiment, chiefly among the officers.
The Wasp, 18, Commander the Hon. H. Murray, was
at Malta on the 22d December, daily expecting to be or-
dered home. She has been nearly five years in commis-
sion, and has changed all her officers.
The Atholl troop ship, Mr. Bellamy, master, last from
Cork, has been spoken with, all well, bound to Barba-
does and Jamaica.
The corvette Dido, Hon. Captain Keppel, was detained
in the Sound, awaiting Admiralty orders, on the 15th
instant, reported destination the Mediterranean.
The Termagant brigantine, Lieut. Seagrim, is ordered
}lime from the West Coast of Africa, and may shortly
looked for ; also the Vestal, 26, from the West Indies.
'
The Curacoa, 24, Captain Jones, was at Callao on the
.27t,n of July, prparing to sail for San Bias, afterwards
to
go to the Falkland Islands, and thence to theSo
dety Islands. She is expected .to be in England h
October, 1842.
At. Spithead.—Queen, 110.
In Ilarb.)ur.- St. Vincent, Victory, Powerful, Excel-
lest, Royal George yacht, Caryskort, Rapid, and Nautilus.
---Brighton Gazette.

INQUEST AT BRIGHTON —On the 6th•inst.
an inquest was held, at Westburton, on the body of
Henry Flint. Deceased was bailiffin the service of Mr.
Bisshopp, and went with two other men into Houghton
forest to collect leaves for their master's pine pits ; and
arcing
c a dead beech tree standing, the men began to cut
own for their own use, and fixed a rope round the
top of the tree anal. all three pulled, when the tree sud-
IlinerlijurYjae-611499e4treceivAr'"fk deceased, who died from the
dict—Woaccidentay shout :Ituarter of -an ,hour. Ver-

MEETING at WOLVERHAMPTON.
At the conclusion of the meeting held at the above
place on Tuesday, Mr. GEORGE WYNN moved the fol-
lowing resolution, which was carried unanimously :
" That in order that this meeting may not be guilty
of neglecting to pursue any measure calculated to assist
the design for which it is assembled—i. e. to improve the
condition of the hungry and unemployed—it is desirable
that it should adopt the following petition to the House
of Commons ; and that the Chairman be authorised to
sign the same in behalf of the meeting:—
" To the Honourable the Commons of the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament as-
sembled.
" The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the-
Township of Wolverhampton, in the County of
Stafford, in public meeting assembled,
" Sheweth,—
" That your petitioners have met together (in com-
pliance with the order of the Constables of the township),
on this 18th day of January, 1842, for the purpose of
considering the necessity of entering into subscriptions
towards alleviating the distress of the poor during the
present inclement season.

" That your petitioners, having been assembled toge-
ther for a similar purpose last year, as well as in other
previous years, cannot in this instance approach the con-
sideration of the starving condition of a large multitude
of their fellow-townsmen, withot feeling that their pe-
cuniary contributions are insufficient to afford perma-
nent relief, and inadequate to supply the immediate and
pressing wants of the poor to the necessary extent ; and
also, that it is a great hardship to your petitioners, and
to those for whose aid they are assembled, that the
latter should be reduced to the necessity of requiring
support by alms, and the former compelled to maintain
them by alms.
" Your petitioners feel deeply sensible that such a
state of things is calculated to operate most banefully
upon the community, by destroying among the recipi-
ents of these alms that honest spirit of pride which ani-
mates men living by their own industry, and by depriving
those who are yet able to maintain themselves by their
labour, of the prospect of appropriating the fruits
thereof to their own personal necessities.
" Your petitioners, therefore, earnestly desire that
your Honourable House should adopt some measure cal-
culated to remove the evil from which the impoverished
condition of their fellow-countrymen arises, and to re-
store the commercial prosperity of this kingdom to that
pitch which shall enable every man to live according
to the decree of Almighty Providence—by the sweat
of his brow.

" This object your petitioners, who have well and at-
tentively considered the subject, believe can only be
accomplished by the immediate and total repeal of the
law which unjustly imposes a grievous tax upon the
people's bread, and which unfairly limits the demand
for the produce of the people's industry.
" Your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray that your
Honourable House will immediately and utterly abolish
the law called the Corn-law, and take such other steps
as may be necessary to establish a perfect system of
unfettered trade.

" And your petitioners will ever pray, &e.
" Signed (by order of the meeting),
64 g Chairman."

PRESENTATION OF TWO GOLD
MEDALS BY HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF
THE FRENCH TO TWO CAPTAINS OF BRI-
TISH VESSELS.

The following letters have been received at Lloyd's :
Admiralty, Jan. 17, 1842.
SIR,—My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty
having received through her Majesty's Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs two Gold Medals which have been
conferred by his Majesty the King of the French upon
Captain Sharp and Captain Ward, Masters of the Bri-
tish merchant vessels the Clifford and the Mysore, in tes-
timony of the services rendered by them to the French
frigate Magicienne, which was wrecked in the China
sea on the 29th November, 1840, I am commanded by
their Lordships to transmit to you herewith the said
medals, and to request that the Committee for managing
the affairs of Lloyd's will cause them to be forwarded
to Captains Sharp and Ward respectively, and the re-
ceipt of them acknowledged. It is stated that Captain
Sharp's address may be found at Messrs. Pirie and Co.,
71, Cornhill, but that of Captain Ward is not known`.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
To the Secretary, Lloyd's. SIDNEY HERBERT.
Admiralty, Jan 14, 1842.
Sta,—l am commanded by my Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty, to transmit to you a copy of a note
from the Minister of the United States of America, re-
ceived from her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs, expressing the sense entertained by the American
Government of the services of Captain Stamp of
of the English brig Rover, in rescuing eleven of the
crew of the Nfary Anne, of New York, on the 25th of
August last, when she foundered off Sardinia. And
their Lordships request that the Committee for managing
the affairs of Lloyd's, will cause the same to be for-
warded to Captain Stamp of the Rover.—l am, Sir,
your most obedient servant, SIDNEY HERBERT.
To the Secretary at Lloyd's.
(Copy.)
The undersigned Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of the United States of America has the
honour to inform the Earl of 'Aberdeen, &c., that a letter
has been received at this Legation, through the Ameri-
can Legation at Madrid, from the Consul of the United
States at Malaga, containing information of the rescue
from imminent death of eleven persons of the ship's
company of the American vessel Mary Anne, of
New York, foundered off Sardinia on the 25th
of August. This noble act was performed by
Capt. Stamp, of the English brig Rover, bound from
Smyrna to Cork, with imminent danger to his own vessel
at the time, and great subsequent inconvenience. A re-
bresentation of Captain Stamp's generous act has already
een made to the Government of the United States by
the Consul at Malaga, and the American citizens at that
place-have endeavoured to convey to Captain Stamp, in a
proper way, their sense of his humanity. The under-
signed feels it not the less his duty to seize this opportu-
nity, on behalf of his Government and country, to ex-
press the feelings of admiration and gratitude with which
he contemplates, the behaviour of Captain Stamp, and to
bring it, in the most favourable manner, to the knowledge
of her ..Majesty's Government.
(Signed) EDWARD EVERETT.
Legation of the United States, Dec. 21, 1841.