The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 17, 184

HUNG ERFORD AND LAMBETH
SUSPENSION FOOT-BRIDGE COMPANY.
A meeting of the Directors of this Compery was yes-
terday held at the office in Villiers-street, Win. Haste-s,
Esq., in the chair. The minutes of the last meeting, held
on the 12th December, were read and confirmed.
The CHAIRMAN stated that the object of the present
meeting was simply to confirm the resolutions agreed to
upon the last occasion, which went to empower the Com-
pany to raise an additional capital of 10,0001. The Act
of Parliament required that when any matter of this kind
was brought before the Proprietors, a subsequent meet-
ing should be held to confirm the proceedings of the
former court. He had nothing to state beyond what he
had stated before—namely, that they were obliged to go
to Parliament to obtain an Act to complete their under-
taking. The Messrs. Tillett, acting under the advice of
Mr. Whithall, the solicitor, had been induced to with-
draw from the friendly offers which had been made on
the part of the Company. This, however, was a matter
of comparatively little moment. Had the gentlemen
agreed to the terms which had been made to them, the
Company would have had to pay perhaps 5001., or
above, which would have been more than the property
was actually worth. To carry out the objects which
they had in view, it would cost the Company some eight
or nice hundred pounds ; but it was to be remembered
that, under an Act of Parliament, no more than the
actual value of property required would be given in the
way of compensation. He should be very glad if the
Company could have saved this outlay of money, but
they had very difficult people to deal with. Gentlemen
were aware that the Board of Trade were favourable to
the extension of the South •Western Railway to the York-
road, and also to the Richmond line, which would join
that railway at Battersea-fields. The Company had
abandoced their intention of carrying on a branch from
the York-road to Waterloo Bridge. Had that project
been carried into effect, it must have been prejudicial to
the interests of the proprietors of the Lambeth and
Hungerford Suspension Bridge. The resolutions were
put and confirmed, and were as follow :
Rsolutions of the Board of Directors, held the 16th
day of January, 1845, for raising the additional capi-
tal of 10,0001., in pursuance of the authority in that
behalf vested in them, by two special meetings of the
Proprietors.
" 1. That there shall be created 3,200 shares of a
2s. 6d. each, to be called eighth shares.
" 2. That on on before the 16th day of Ft bruary next
an instalment of 12s. 6d. shall be paid upon each such
eighth share, to the account of the Company, at the Lon-
don and County Bank, 71, Lombard street.
"3.'t hat the remaining instalments to be called for upon
such eighth shares shall be paid by the holders thereof
at such times as shall be appointed by the Board of
Directors, so that no such instalments shall exceed the
sum of 10s. for each eighth share, nor shall be called for
at a less interval than two calendar months after the then
preceding e4d.
inTghacat suchli.: eighth shares shall be offered to the
present Shareholders in the proportion of one for every
existing share this day held by them respectively.
" 5. That a copy of these resolutions shall forthwith
be sent by post to each such Shareholder, to vk horn the
secretary shall at the same time offer a number of eighth
shares equal to the number of original shares this day
held by such Shareholder.
" 6. That in the event of any Shareholder failing for
one month after such offer of such new shares to accept
the same, and also to pay the said instalment of 12s. 6d.
apon each such eighth share to the account of the Com-
pany, at the London and County Bank, 71, Lombard-
street, the same shall be disposed of by the Company to
any parties wishing to become the purchasers thereof;
for such sum or sums as the Directors shall be able to
obtain for the same, as and when they shall deem it ex-
pedient so to do."
Mr. BUCHMASTER wished to know whether any ar-
rangement had been made with regard to the opening of
the suspension bridge ?
The CHAIRMAN said that the question which had been
put was one which it was difficult to answer, but the
Directors saw no reason why it should not be opened to
the public in the month of March. They were, how-
ever, much worried with the details of the work,
which involved a variety of scientific and mechanical
difficulties. He hoped the bridge would be opened in
March.
A PROPRIETOR—I hope you will not make it the Ist
of April !—(A laugh.) He hoped there was a rea-
sonable prospect of the bridge being opened in the spring?
The CHAIRMAN said he must speak with great cau-
tion, as he had been misled on former occasions ; but he
repeated he saw no reason why the bridge should not be
opened by the time he had named.
A PROPRIETOR regretted the absence of the engineer,
as he wished to impress upon him the propriety of
finishing one end of the work.
The CHAIRMAN would not attempt to conceal the
fact that the Directors had been disappointed in respect
to the progress made in the work ; but gentlemen must
recollect that they had no money till November, and
that up to October they were largely in debt with their
contractor.
A PROPRIETOR suggested that more men should be
put to work.
The CHAIRMAN observed that they could not employ
above a certain number of men at one time. There were
now 100 men at work.
Capt. ENGLISH wished to know whether the Directors
had taken into consideration the question of the amount
of toll to be levied on foot passengers ? For his own
part, he was of opinion that they should exact Id. from
foot passengers ; at any rate, this might be tried for a
time, whilst the bridge was a novelty.
The CHAIRMAN said, with regard to the question of
toll, that was a matter which had not yet been decided
upon, and it could enly be done by a resolution of the
Board of Directors, to be afterwards confirmed by a
meeting to be held previous to the general annual meet-
ing. At that meeting the Directors would be bound to
state their opinion. He would only observe that he dif
fered from Mr. English as to the propriety of making
the toll Id. instead of a id.
The meeting then broke up.

•
AYLESBURY RAILWAY.
Yesterday a special general meeting of the Proprietors
in the Aylesbury Railway was held at Aylesbury, for
the purpose of taking into consideration what effect the
projected Tring,Wolverhampton, and Worcester Railway
would have upon their interests. Mr. W. Rickford oc-
cupied Vie chair.

THE ADMIRALTY AND THE EAST
INDIA and CHINA ASSOCIATION.

_ - -
Admiralty, Jan. 3, 1845.
Sir,—ln reply to your letter of the 31st of October
last, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of
the Admiralty to ccquaint you that a contract has been
entered into by their Lordships for the conveyance of
the mails between Suez and Calcutta and China, and
that the particulars will be promulgated by the Post-
office department.—l am, &c.,

The CHAIR:SIAX stated that an offer had been made to
the new Company to sell their line for the cost price—
namely, 60,0001., but their provisional committee had
neglected to return a reply. It would, therefore, be for
the meeting to say whether the project should be opposed
in Parliament or not. Notice had been given to make
use of four miles of their line, but as the new Company
would take most of their traffic, they could not consent
to this, unless the whole were purchased.
The meeting appearing to concur in the view taken by
the Chairman, a resolution authorising the Directors to
take steps to oppose the new line was agreed to, on the
motion of Mr. Tindal, seconded by Dr. Lee.

JOHN BARROW.
John Stikeman, Esq., East India and
China Association.
East India and China Association,
2, Cowper's-court, Jan. 11.
Sir,—On the 4th inst. I had the honour to receive
your letter of the previous day's date, acquainting me
that their Lordships had entered into a contract for the
conveyance of the mails between Suez and Calcutta and
China, and that the particulars would be promulgated by
the Post-office. Finding no intimation had been gtven
on the subject up to the 7th in the Post-office Packet
List, or in any other way, I wrote to Colonel Maberly,
inquiring how soon the information the merchants are
so anxious to possess in respect to the mail which is to
leave for Suez on the 20th inst. would be made known,
and to my great surprise and regret I have this morning
received an answer from Colonel Maberly, dated the
10th, stating that no official communication has been
made to that department.—I am, &e.,
JOHN STIKEMAN, Secretary.
Sir John Barrow, Bart., Admiralty.
Admiralty, Jan. 11, 1845.
Gentlemen,---With reference to your Secretary's letter
of this day's date, I am commanded by my Lords Com-
missioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, that ar-
rangements have not yet b*.en completed for the convey-
ance of the mails between Alexandria and England, but
that her Majesty's Government are pledged to the per-
formance of this service either by vessels belonging to
the Royal Navy or by contract, and that when this point
is determined, no delay will take place in the announce-
ment for public information by the proper office.
I am, &c, JOHN BARROW.
The East India and China Association,
Cowper's-court, Cornhill.
East India and China Association, Jan. 13.
Sir,—l have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter, addressed to this Association, of the 11th
inst., informing them that arrangements have not yet
been completed for the conveyance of the mails between
Alexandria and England, but that her Majesty's Go-
vernment are pledged to the performance of the service
either by vessels belonging to the Royal Navy or by
contract.
As the public have been led to think that, under a
contract with the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navi-
gation Company, one of their vessels (the Hindosten,
from Calcutta, on the 10th inst.) would be at Suez on or
about the 6th of next month, to receive a mail for Cal-
cutta and intermediate ports, and as the same Company
have by public advertisement stated that their vessel,
the Great Liverpool, will depart from Southampton on
the 20th inst. for Alexandria, I am directed respectfully
to request you will have the goodness to inform me
whether it is intended that a mail shall be forwarded to
Alexandria, either by the steamer Great Liverpool,
or by a vessel of the Royal Navy (on the 20th),
or via Marseilles on the 23d or 24th of this month,
so that the mercantile community and others may be
able to avail themselves of the first opportunity that
will present itself for having their letters sent on direct
from Suez to Calcutta by the contract steamer on that
side of Egypt.
It will also be satisfactory to ascertain how letters
brought by that steamer from Calcutta, Madras, and
Ceylon, will be forwarded from Alexandria to this
country.—l have the honour to be, &c.,
GEORGE LARPENT, Chairman.
Sir John Barrow, Bart.

Admiralty, Jan. 14, 1845.
Gentlemen,--Having laid before my Lords Commis-
sioners of the Admiralty your Chairman's letter of
yesterday's date, requesting information as to the details
of the arrangement for the mail communication about to
be opened between this country, Calcutta, and China, I
sin commanded by their Lordships to acquaint you that
the moment the arrangement is concluded notice will be
given by the Post-office department.—I am, &c.,
JOHN BARROW.
The East India and China Association.

.I.M. THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA.
The most careful inquiries that we have been able to
institute lead us to the belief that the rumour of the
Emperor's death is not deserving of credit. From the
nature of the case, it is true, we can have none but nega-
tive evidence; still that evidence is very strong. We
know that up to the hour of our paper going to press, no
official accounts of the event have reached this country
from St. Petersburgh. The report originates with the
Brussels journals published on the 14th instant, and they
profess to have received it from Berlin via Amsterdam.
Now we find from the Frankfort papers of the 11th, that
a rumour of the Emperor's " serious illness" was cur-
rent in that city on the previous day, the 10th, but that
it was not believed, because the Prussian corre-
spondence that arrived in regular course of post,
made no mention of it. Moreover, the Universal
Prussian Gazette of the 12th is altogether silent on
the subject. Our correspondent at Paris, writing on
Wednesday afternoon, says—" A rumour of the death
of the Emperor of Russia has been afloat, and the
news is said to have come via Holland. It, however,
obtains very little credence"—and these circumstances,
taken together, appears to us a full justification for dis-
believing the story. It would be exceedingly difficult,
on political grounds, to offer a reasonable conjecture as
to the motive of the fabrication, if such it should prove
to be. However deeply we should lament the demise of
the Emperor of Russia, as a man estimable alike in his
public capacity and his domestic relations, it is highly
improbable that the event would create any sensation
in his dominions but one of general grief. There is no
risk of a disputed succession, and no room for antici-
pating that a new course of policy would compromise
the peace of Europe. But, while we seek in vain for the
origin of the rumour in the position of Russia, domestic
or foreign, we think the papers to which we have al-
luded afford some clue to the solution of the mystery.
The Independent Belga says " the funds fell on the 13th
at Amsterdam," in consequence of the report ; and
the Handelsblad accounts for this by the fact that " a
considerable amount of Russian stock has been sold."
We confess that, under all the circumstances, we
think the story may fairly be attributed, as far as
we see at present, to the persons engaged in those
great games of hazard which, in the delicate periphrasis
of the Bourse, are designated as " financial operations."
It would not be the first time that such a thing has hap-
pened, and we fear it will not be the last. Our suspicion
is somewhat confirmed by the manner in which the in-
telligence reached ourselves so early as half-past six
yesterday morning. We received it apparently authen-
ticated by a signature that we could not recognise, and
by a route the most circuitous for anything coming from
Holland or Belgium. We, therefore, declined to print
the communication ; but, finding that the Times soon
published several details, we copied them, and in half an
hour afterwards issued a third edition, with the result of
our own inquiries. We repeat both these statements in
our present impression, and our readers will now have
before them the whole history of the case, as a means of
enabling them to judge how far we are borne out in the
opinion we have hazarded during the absence of authen,
tic information.—Post.

RAILWAY IN TELLIGENCE.
BRISTOL AND EXETER RAILWAY.
BRISTOL, THIIRSDAY.—This day a special general
meeting of the Bristol and Exeter Railway Company
was held at the White Lion Hotel, in this city, for the
dispatch of important bie-iness.
The large room was completely filled with Sharehol-
ders, the chair being taken by Frederick Ricketts, Esq.,
the Chairman of the Board of Directors, at one o'clock.
J. B. BARHAM, Esq., the Secretary, read the report,
which stated that the Dire ctors had taken measures, in
conformity with the resolution of the half-yearly .xeneral
meeting, held on the 22d of August last, for obtaining
surveys, and for making an application to Parliament
for a Bill for constructing a railway from the Bristol and
Exeter main line between Bridgewater and Taunton to
Bridport, Dorchester, and Weymouth, with a branch to
Yeovil and Sherborne. But subsequent proceedings on
the part of other companies rendered it expedient to act
in more perfect unison with the Great Western Com-
pany, and to combine with them in an enlarged system
of railway accommodation for the counties of Somerset
and Dorset, so as to secure the communication between
those two lines and Dorchester, Bridport, and Wey-
mouth. The result was that the Directors, subject to
the approbation of the Shareholders at the meeting, had
taken measures for applying to Parliament for authority
to construct a branch from a point in the main line about
five miles distant from Bridgewater, through Langport,
and South Petherton, to Yeovil.
The CHAIRMAN then laid before the meeting several
facts and data showing the advantages to be derived
from the proposed extension, and concluded by propos-
ing the following resolutions, which were seconded by E.
Divett, Esq., M.P. for Exeter, Mr. Cross, and other gen-
tlemexi, and carried unanimously :
" 1. That it is expedient that this Company should
obtain powers for the formation of the following lines of
railway, namely, a railway from Durston, between
Bridgewater and Taunton, to Yeovil, in the county of
Somerset.

- -
THE GORGON STEAM-SLOOP.
The following letter has been addressed to the Editor
of a Morning Contemporary :
Sir,—l have this morning received a letter from an
officer on board her Majesty's steam-vessel Gorgon,
Captain C. Hotham, and you and your numerous readers
will be glad to learn that, on the 13th October, that ship
was hove from off the beach of Monte Video, and during
the following week was dragged through the mud a dis-
tance of halt' a mile, in seven feet of water. The perse-
verance and exertions of the officers and crew in this
trial of seamanship and nautical skill, appear to have
been truly surprising ; during five months their work
was continual, by night as well as by day, not only
forming a complete wet dock, but also in excavating a
channel, 100 fathoms in length, through which to haul
the ship clear of the sand into the mud.
It appears the Gorgon was left, after the gale of the
10th May, nearly dry ; at a very high tide there were
eight inches water round the bows, and four feet on each
quarter, she being buried in the sand to the depth of
thirteen feet on the starboard, and nine feet on the port
side. To extricate an 1,100-ton ship from this situation,
and perfectly to fit her fur active service, was an under-
taking which reflects the highest credit on all connected
with her, and will prove to the numerous foreign officers
who were spectators of the undertaking, that thirty years
of peace have not deprived the British navy of that
energy and spirit for which it has always been distin-
guished.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant,
36, Strand, Jan. 16. GEORGE GILLOT.
expect we shall hear of her arrival home some
time in April.

" A railway from the Clevedon-road station to Cleve-
don, in the same county, and an .improved junction with
the Great Western Railway at the Bristol terminus.
"2. That it is expedient that this Company do take
1,500 shares of 501. each in the Cornwall Railway from
Plymouth to Falmouth (in continuation of the South
Devon Railway), and that the Directors of this Company
be authorised to subscribe for the same accordingly, and
to procure all necessary
.Parliamentary powers fur that
purpose.

"3. That an additional capital of 500,0001. be raised
by the creation of 15,000 third shares, at 331. 6s. Bd.
per share.

" 4. That every Proprietor of original shares shall be
entitled to one such third share in respect of each
original share, for which he may stand registered on
the 16th of January, 1845, on condition of his notifying
his intention to avail himself of it by letter to the Secre-
tary, and by paving before the 31st of January a deposit
of 2/. per share."
Mr. MORTIMER inquired whether the new branches
would be on the atmospheric principle, or the same as
the trunk line ?

Mr. BRUNEL, the engineer, answered that the Tiverton
branch, from its being so peculiarly fitted for the pur-
pose, would be worked on the atmospheric principle ;
the Clevedon branch like the trunk line ; while the
Yeovil was not yet fixed.
Thanks to the Chairman closed the meeting.

MYSTERIOUS CASE OF POISONING AT SHEERNESS.
—Within the last few days, a painful degree of sensa-
tion has been felt by all parties in and about Sheerness,
arising from the affecting circumstances of an accom-
plished and very handsome young Jewess, named Esther
Russell, the daughter of a respectable tradesman in that
town, haring died from the poisonous effects of arsenic,
in rather a mysterious manner, after giving birth to a
female illegitimate infant, since dead. The inquest on
the bodies of the young mother and child was held on
Tuesday, before Mr. llinde, one of the Coroners for
Kent, and the principal facts connected with the deplora-
ble affair, as given in evidence, have already appeared.
The jury returned, after a lengthened deliberation, the
f;,llowing verdict :—" That the deceased Esther Russell
died from the efftets of arsenic, but bow administered
there was no evidence to show, and the jury were unani-
mously of opinion that a great want of attention towards
the deceased had been shown by her parents and family.
Respecting the infant, they were of opinion that it had
died from excessive hemoirrhage caused by the navel-
string. not being tied."
A FEMALE PIIEA CHER.—Y esterday Mrs. Lydia
finder, a middle-aged and rather respectable-looking
female was charged at the Lambeth Police-court with
creating a great disturbance, in the Westminster-road, on
that morning. Police .constable, L 31, deposed that about
three o'clock, in the morning lie heard a disturbance in
the Westminster-road, and on going to see what was the
matter, he found the prisoner in the midst of a crowd of
night walkers and others preaching a sermon, partly re-
ligious and partly blasphemous. lie endeavoured to got
her one way or the other, but she refused, and kept
abusing him, so that he was compelled to take her to the
station-house. In reply to the charge the prisoner said
she had been up a number of hours with her daughter,
who was in a dying state, and having taken a glass of
rum it affected her head very much. She was discharged
with an admonition to abstain from rum for the future,

LANCASTER AND CARLISLE RAILWAY.
On Wednesday the half-yearly general meeting of the
Proprietors of this Company was held at the Town-hall,
Lancaster, Mr. D. W. Ilassells in the chair. The Di-
rectors' report announced that the whole of the works
from Lancaster to Carlisle, with a single line only, had
been let to Messrs. Brassey, Mackenzie, and Stephenson,
the contractors, within the engineering estimate. The
works had since progressed satisfactorily, and the con-
tractors had possession of sixty or seventy miles of land,
without having recourse to a jury, although the total
number of landowners dealt with had exceeded three
hundred. At the Lancaster end of the line the works
had not yet been commenced, owing to an alteration de-
sired by the inhabitants in crossing the line, to effect
which an appli ation to Parliament would he made.
Another deviation was proposed to be made at Kendal.
'1 he Directors now propose to lay down a double instead
of a single line, and within the authorised capital. To
complete the great chain of railway communication be-
tween England and Scotland, they have resolved on sup-
porting the proposed Caledonian line. The construction of
the proposed Kendal and Windermere Railway would in-
crease the traffic of the Lancaster and Carlisle, and the
Directors had entered into a conditional contract with the
ncaster and Preston Company to lease their line of
twenty
miles in length. The accounts showed that the
receipts bad amounted to 174,6951., leaving, after dis-
bursements, a balance of 85,829/ The Chairman con-
gratulated the meeting on the state of the Company's
affairs, and after a discussion, in which Mr. Erringtun,
civil engineer, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Head, and others en-
gaged, the report was received, and the agreement with
the Lancaster and Preston ratified.