Star.
London, England, 1828-01-05 00:00:00

LONDON DOCK COMPANY.

Yesterday a Half-yearly General Court of Praprie-
tom was held at the Dock House, in Prinees-Ateet,
Bank. H. J. JOLLY, Esq. in the Chair.
The CHAIRMAN informed the Proprietors that the
Meeting was convened for the purpose of presenting to
them the usual half-yearly Report, and on other affairs.
The Secretary, after the minutes of the last Meeting
were confirmed, read the financial state of the Company's
concerns. The balance in favour of the Company,
brought down after the payment of the last half•yearly
dividend, was 21,9221. 14s. 3d. The Dock returns
in the half-year justended had been 119,3671. 2s. 9d.
which, added to interest in Exchequer Bills, rent of
premises, &c. made a total of receipts in the last half
year of 158,9211. 6s. 10d. The Dock expenses in the
same period had been 7,0231. 18s. sd. ; wages and la-
bour 29.9361. 14s. 2d. ; Management, Directors' salaries,
&c. 4,7041. 7s. 9d.; to which were added other minor
items of expenditure, making a total of payments in
the half year of 63,6361. ss. 2d. leaving a balance to be
carried down in the Company's favour of 95,285/. ls. Bd.
The CHAIRMAN observed, that by the account it
could be seen that the wages and labour had exceeded
those of last year; but it would also be seen, that thel
income of the Company was within a trifle of 4 000/.1
atove the receipts of the last half year. The Docks
were at present more occupied than at any period since
they were opened. Looking, therefore, to the state of
the Company's funds, the Directors had resolved to de-
e a dividend of 21..55. per cent.—Agreed to.
A Proprietor remarked upon the increase of wages
and labour, and said, he had understood that that
branch of expenditure was to have been reduced.
The CHAIRMAN replied, that the warehouses were
now full or nearly so. The wages paid for warehousing
were brought into account, while the Company's earn-
ings could not be carried to the credit of the Company
until received.

A Proprietor wished to know something relative to
the progress and expense of the new works. This ought
not to be kept back.
The CHAIRMAN replied, that a report would be pre-
sented, and that there was no wish to conceal any thing.
The New Docks would be ready in about three months,
the vaults would hold 9,000 pipes of wine, and contracts
had been entered into for erecting warehouses, which
would hold 10,000 tons of merchandize. These were
expected to be opened in three months. The total ripen•
diture for making theNewDocks,erecting sheds, and pur-
chasing property contiguous, would amount to 352,5091.
The accommodation thus offered to the mercantile and
shipping interests, would be equal to one-fourth of the
accommodation of the Old Docks. lie had now to
inlotm the. Proprietors, that a new entrance was pro.
posed to be made to the New Docks, near Shad% ell.
For this purpose, it'‘vas intended to apply to Pailia-
merit for the power to raise 30,000/. to carry this plan
into effect. This new entrance would give great faci.
lives to the shipping, and must tend to increase the
value of the Company's property.
Some discussion arose on this point, at ultitnately a
Resolution was passed, authorizing the Directors to
apply to Parliament for the powers required, it being
understood that a Special Meeting should be called to
. consider how the money was to be raised, &c.
The CHAIRMAN read a paper, ,hewing the decre ire
made in the rates charged for warehousing goods, &c.
which had amounted generally to from 16 to 20 per
cent.—The Meeting then adjourned.

Lord TENTRRDEN on Monday will resume his sittings
at Guildhall, London, and try Special Jury causes.
• One A'isi Prius day, Chief Justice CARLETON came
into Court looking unusually gloomy. Ile apologized
to the liar for being necessitated to adjourn the Court
and dismiss the Jury for that day," though," proceeded
his Lordship, "I am aware that an important issue
stands for trial; but the fact is, I have met with a do-
mestic misfortune, which has altogether deranged my
nerves ! Poor Lady Carleton (in a low tone to the Bar)
has most unfortunately miscarried, and—" "Oh,
then, my Lord," exclaimed CURRAN, "there was no ne-
cessity for your Lordship to make any apology, since it
now appears that your Lordship has no issue to try."
The last Resolutions passed by the Court of Common
Council, for requiring wholesale dealers within the City
to take up their freedom, are beginning to be acted, on,
and are making no small stir in the d.fferent wards
In the course of this week all the merchants in Walbrook
Ward, who come under that description, have received
notices to attend the inquest of the Ward, and to bring
with them the copy of their freedom. The report made
to the Common Council by the Committee appointed
for that purpose, states the privilege of excluding persons
not flee of the City, from dealing by wholesale, is good
by way of custom, which custom is pointed out by sta-
tutes made in the seign of Richard ILand that the breach
of the custom is punishable by seizure and forfeiture of
the goods. The merchants seem disposed to resist the
pi ivilege thus cla:med by the Corporation, which will
therefore be brought to the test of a legal decision.
Since the dissolution of the Levant Company the
merchants connected with the Mediterranean trade have
found great inconvenience from the nonexistence of any
body to whom individual application for redress or as-
sistance could be made, and which has been rendered
doubly necessary by the interruptions commerce has
sustained from the pirates, &c. In consequence of this
we have just heard, from the best authority, that an
association, styled "The Association of Merchants and
others trading to the Mediterranean and Levant Seas,"
is on the eve of being established.
GREaT FALL 07 RAIN AT BOMBAY.—an a letter
from Mr. SCOTT, jun. of Bombay, he says, that during
the first twelve days of the rainy season, 32 inches of
rain fell, and that then all.the roads became like rivers.
In England the average fall for the whole year is 32
inches—the quantity which fell at Bombay in the course
of twelve days.—Edinburgh Mao Philosophical Journal.
Thursday evening, about five o'clock, a Gentleman
left bis horse and gig, without any protection, while he
called at a house in Arundel-street, Strand. During
his absence the spirited animal took fright, and ran with
the greatest speed until its arrival in the Strand, when
it gallopped along to the imminent danger of the pas-
sengers, who narrowly escaped with their lives. On
arriving near Somerset-house, the wheel came in contact
with the .wheel of another gig containing a Lady and
Gentleman, who were nearly upset. The animal still
proceeded along the Strand, clearing all before it, and
threatening much damage, until its arrival near the
Adelphi Theatre, when it was stopped by a young man
who seized hold of the reins at his personal risk, and
delivered the property over to the owner. •
Elms Laws.—This day, the sth instant, an Act of
Parliament, passed last Session, came into operation, by
which it is enacted, that parties convicted of offences
against the Excise Laws, will possess the right to appeal
to the Sessions, on depositing the amount of the convic-
tion; and not as hitherto, by entering into recognizan-
ces to prosecute the appeal. Any person not attending
as a witness in Excise cases, when summoned, will be
liable to a penalty of 501.