The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-03-13 00:00:00

BRISTOL AND EXETER RAILWAY HALF-
YEARLY. MEETING.

The half-yearly meeting of the proprietors in this company
was held in Bristol on Tuesday week ; F. Ricketts, Esq., in
the chair. J. B. Badham, Esq., the secretary, read the re-
port, which, after noticing the causes which had operated to
prevent the more rapid progress of the undertaking, stated
that a revised estimate had been made of the cost of com-
pleting the railway to Bridgewater, which, including land and
all other expenses, would be, for the thirty-four miles, from
£720,000 to £730,000, for a single line of rails, and between
£BOO,OOO and £820,000 with a double line ; but although this
amount might appear large, the directors had every confi-
dence that the returns calculated on the present coach traffic
would fully compensate for the outlay. The directors had,
it appeared, been placed in considerable difficulties by a large
number of shares having got into the hands of irresponsible
parties, and they impressed upon the bonii.de shareholders
the importance of supporting them in their present emer-
gency, by which means the line would becompleted to Bridge-
water within the present year; after which, as soon as the
finances of the company would justify them in doing so, it
would be carried forward to Taunton, and thence westward.
The report next referred to the project of leasing their line to
the Great Western Railway, as soon as a portion of it should
be finished and ready for working. The interests of both
undertakings being identical, the directors anticipated much
mutual benefit from such a measure, should the meeting in-
vest them with powers to conclude the arrangement. The
directors in concluding their report, expressed their unabated
confidence in the productiveness and ultimate success of this
line of railway. The report of the engineer, describing the
state of the works, was then read ; as also the statement of
accounts to the end of December, 1839. The total receipts
had amounted to £406,000 9s ld, and' the expenditure to
£397,561 5s 6d, leaving a balance in hand of £8,439 3s 7d.
It appeared that 1,055 out of the 15,000 shares had been de-
clared forfeited, and that on the eight calls, amounting alto-
gether to £4O per share, the arrears were £165,555. In the
course of the proceedings, it was announced, that of this
sum more than £30,000 had been received since the end of
December. The report, considering the peculiar difficulties
in which the directors were placed, appeared to give general
satisfaction, and was unanimously adopted. It was then
resolved, after some discussion, that the directors should pro-
ceed with the negotiation for leasing the line to the Great
Western Company, and when a decision has been come to,
to submit the terms of such agreement to the shareholders,
for their sanction or otherwise. The retiring directors hav-
ing been re-elected, and the other business disposed of, votes
of thanks were passed to the chairman and directors, and
the meeting separated. The resolutions adopted by the
meeting appear in another column.—Midland Counties'
Herald.

A WOMAN SHOT.-PLEA OF SOMNAMBULISM

On Sunday morning week, Catherine Demanist, a young
woman about 23 years of age, a cap maker, in the employ of
Mr. Turner, St. George's Road, was shot in the temple by
the person at whose house she lodged, under circumstances
of considerable mystery ; and the injury she received was
such as to cause her death, which took place at the Infirmary,
about ten o'clock yesterday morning. From the inquiries
we have been able to make upon the subject, we believe the
following is the account of the circumstances connected with
this very curious affair, given by the woman herself previous
to her death. She lodged at the house of Nicholas Fleming,
a law-stationer's clerk, living at 72, Thompson-street, St.
George's Road. Between five and six o'clock on the Sunday
morning in question, she was awakened by a noise in her
bed-room, and saw Fleming in his shirt and trowsers beside
the window, stooping down beside a bag which contained
some money belonging to her. She asked him what he was
doing there, and without speaking, he approached her, and
immediately shot her with a pistol. She called out, " Oh,
Fleming, you've shot me." He still did not speak, but put
his hand on her mouth, threw her back in bed, and tried to
strangle her. She tried to put his hand away, and called
out " Hannah," that being the name of his wife, who came,
and said, " Oh, Catherine, he must like you, or he would
not have done that." The poor woman then said, " Oh,
Fleming, take me to the Infirmary, you've shot me ;" and
he replied, " I will if you will not tell who it is, and say it is
a man with a white coat." One of them then threw her cloak
over her head, and Fleming went with her to the Infirmary.
she walking there, and having only, besides her cloak, her
chemise and nightgown on, and one stocking. We believe
that, when they arrived there, neither she nor Fleming
stated how the injury was received; but when he was
gone, she told a nurse that he had shot her, but no informa-
tion was sent to the police. On Tuesday she sent for Ann
Shore, her washerwoman, related to her the circumstances
under which she had been shot, a given above, and requested
that Fleming might be taken into custody. This woman
gave information to the police, and Acting-Inspector Austin,
we believe, went to the house where Fleming lived at the
time the circumstance occurred, but he had removed, and no
one knew whither. On Thursday, however, Inspector Lip-
sett, by employing a person to trace his sister from the In-
firmary, found him in lodgings in Fetter-lane, near Portland-
street, and he and Superior Sergeant Burton took him into
custody. On Thursday night, when they went to apprehend
him, the people of the house denied him, but they found him
up stairs ; and when asked if his name was Nicholas Fleming,
he said his christian name was John. On Friday he was
brought up at the Borough Court, when Lipsett stated the
circumstances above related; and the prisoner, on being
asked what he had to urge in his defence, stated that on Sa-
turday night he went to bed with his wife and went to sleep
as usual, and he recollected no more till he found himself by
her (Demanist's) bedside, and that he had fired a pistol,
upon which he said, " Oh ! 'Catherine," lifted her out of
bed, and said, " Come to the infirmary." He did not re-
collect what he had done, nor did he know any thing about
it till the report of the pistol awoke him. She said at that
time that she did not think he was in his senses. He added
that they had lived together like brother and sister, and never
had a word in their lives. The prisoner was remanded till
Monday, when he was again brought up, and further re-
manded for a week. We believe an inquest will be held upon
the body to-day. We understand that, in consequence of
the deceased dying more suddenly than was expected, Mr.
Maude has not taken her deposition, as he expressed an in-
tention of doing on Monday last ; and, of course, the only
evidence that can be procured is the statement of those who
have heard the deceased relate the circumstances under which
she received the fatal shot, if any of those declarations should
turn out to have been made when the deceased. believed her
death to be certain.-111anchuier Guardian.

NOVEL PAPER MONEY.—These stamps will, moreover, be
a very convenient and novel paper currency for sums of small
amount. Indeed for any sums whatever under a pound ster-
ling. A sheet of the adhesive stamps, minus two cut off, will
be good paper for 18s 10c1 ; a sheet minus five will be good
for 18s 7d, and so on. Correspondents will pay small debts
of pence through the medium of these penny stamps. You
wish to order a twopenny pamphlet or a fiyepenny newspaper;
by transmitting in an envelope the required number of stamps
you effect the payment, which, for such sums, there are no
ready means of doing atjpresent,.... Westminster Review.

FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 13, 1840.

By the transient ship Hibernia, Captain Cobb, and
the packet-ship George Washington, Captain Burrows,
both of which vessels arrived here on Tuesday last, we
have received New York papers to the 7th ultimo, in-
clusive. We briefly acknowledged the receipt of these
papers in our second edition of Tuesday. The George
Washington brought £20,000 in specie, and about 20
cabin passengers.
The monetary and commercial intelligence from all
parts of the state is of a chequered character. The
Courier and Inquirer states that, on the sth ultimo,
there was a decided improvement in the stock market
at New York, and that prices had generally advanced.
United States Bank closed at 77, being an advance of
nearly 2 per cent. A few purchases were made in
sterling bills, principally at 81. The amount of good
bills offering was very trifling. In domestic exchanges
little was doing, at nominal rates. Uncurrent money
was becoming scarce. The prices of flour remained
nominal. About 500 bales of cotton were taken at

previous rates..
On the 6th ultimo the transactions in stock were to
a considerable extent, and at advanced rates. North
American Trust, Delaware and Hudson, Harlem, and
Stonington, advanced from 1 to 1/ per cent, and
United States Bank 3 per cent. There were no heavy
transactions in foreign exchange, and not many first-
rate bills offering. The sales were principally at 84 for
sterling, though, in a few instances, 9 was obtained.
Domestic exchanges were dull, at the following rates :
Philadelphia 61 to 6, Baltimore 6 to 61, Richmond 7
to 71, Charleston 34 to 3t Savannah 6 to 8, Augusta
81 to 9, Mobile 7 to 74, New Orleans 4 to 44, North
Carolina 7to 74. Good paper, and no other was
looked at, and this was scarce, and readilrbought at 1
per cent per month discount. No transactions had
taken place in flour, except for city use. Holders
were, however, more firm. The sales of cotton
amounted to about 500 or 600 bales. The lower qua-
lities had declined about 4 per cent per lb., whilst the
finer descriptions remained firm. The quotations
were—Upland at 71 to 94, New Orleans at 71 to 101,
Florida at 8 to 94, and Mobile at 84 to 104.
Rumours were prevalent at New York, relating to
difficulties which had occurred in the Manhattan Bank.
It is said that the cashier of the institution had ad-
vanced money on the hypothecation of a large amount
of shares in Kentucky bank stock—it is stated 500,000
dollars—on which there was a heavy deficiency. The
cashier alleged that he made the loan for the hank, but
the directors refused to recognise it as such, they hav-
ing had no knowledge of the transaction. This tran-
saction would not affect the solvency of the bank, as
it possessed a surplus fund more than adequate to meet
the deficiency.

The Legislature of Illinois having refused to legalise
the suspension of specie payments by the State Bank,
it was presumed that that institution would be com-
pelled to wind up its affairs.
Arrangements were in train in Philadelphia for pay-
ing the holders of Pennsylvania State stock the defi-
ciency in their dividends, arising from their payment
in the actual currency of the state.
At Philadelphia, on the 6th ultimo, stocks continued
to advance in price, with a degree of confidence and
good feeling quite foreign to the state of the market
during the month of January.
The New York Morning Herald. while remarking on
the progress of the great revulsion in monetary affairs,
says that in the State of New York, the vast reduction
of bank loans, equal to twenty million dollars in a year,
he caused a reduction in prices, rents, real estate, pro-
duce, and every thing. The City Bank of Buffalo was
shut up, and many more banks would follow. The
legislature at Albany was deliberating on the best
means of making bank money par over the State,
which would only aid the progress of events. In Pen-
sylvania they were in a worse condition. The banks
had all suspended, and "he who talked of honesty
and good faith in that state was stigmatised as a scoun-
drel." In Maryland, and throughout the south and
west, " the same financial conflict was going on—the
same effort to sustain extravagance and continue fraud
and speculation, by borrowing to-day to pay the debt
of yesterday." The Herald proceeds to say that " the
system of negociating fresh loans to pay the interest of
past debts, can only end in utter and final explosion."
It predicts, as the result of the present system, " a
more decided civil revolution in half the states of the
Union than ever has been experienced in the bank-
rupt states of South America." The debt of the
United States to European capitalists alone is estimated
at about _-E25,000,000 sterling, most of which has been
dissipated in ruinous speculations.
The House of Representatives at Harrisburg had
unanimously passed a resolution, authorising the pro-
per authorities to issue certificates of stock (bearing
an interest of five per cent.) for the interest falling due
upon the state loans. The resolution was expected to
meet with strong opposition in the Senate, but would
undoubtedly pass.

The President had transmitted to the House of Re-
presentatives a message relating to the imposts upon
the importation of articles composed of silk, cotton,
and wool.

The brig Atalanta had arrived at Philadelphia, from
Tampico with 112,000 dollars in specie, mostly on
New York account.
The bills of .the Chelsea Bank were redeemed in
Albany, at par, under the direction of the comptroller.
The Bank of Pennsylvania was to hold a meeting of
its shareholders on the 13th, to devise measures for its
safety. There was no doubt that the Pennsylvania
suspension would continue. At the south, beyond
the jurisdiction of the United States Bank, public
opinion was strongly in favour of resumption.

The news from Canada is very meagre. An Ame-
rican, named Livingston Palmer, had been arrested

and imprisoned at Toronto, for distributing commis-
sions in the " patriot service." The Toronto Patriot
saYs, that a party of four privates and a sergeant of
the United States army, from Fort Gratiot, crossed
over to Point Edward, in pursuit of a deserter. Find-
ing him in a fishing shanty they seized him, and were
about taking him back to the fort, when they were
arrested by the guard stationed at the Point, who took
them to Port Sarnia, whence they were sent off as
prisoners to head quarters. The officer commanding
at Fort Gratiot sent to demand them, but before his
messenger arrived, they were already on their march.
The expenses of trying and confining the Prescott
prisoners amounted to 10,000 dollars. The House of
Assembly had appropriated £40,000 to indemnify those
who had suffered by the late Outbreaks and invasions.
Letters from Vera Cruz to the 4th of January state,

hat the Mexican government was determined to carry

the war into Texas. Bustamente was to head the
expedition. To pay expenses, a duty of fifteen per
cent. had been imposed upon all goods carried into the

interior.

By a late arrival at Norfolk, from Rio Janeiro, it

was understood that two French bomb vessels had
arrived, and that three thousand French troops were
hourly expected at the latter place. Information had
reached Rio from Buenos Ayres that General Lavalle
was pressing General Rosas in the rear.

By the transient ship Scotland, Captain Robinson,
which arrived here yesterday, we have received intel-
ligence from New York to the 15th ultimo inclusive.
We have been politely favoured by the consignees with
a file of the New York Morning Herald, to the above
date, from which we derive the following summary of
the news.

The Morning Herald of Feb. 10 gives the following
intelligence from the frontier of Maine :—"The British
have a large building at Madawaska for the reception
of their soldiers, and have a few men there to take
care of it. It is one link in their chain of communi-
cation. They have about 300 men at the lake. They
are determined to hold on to that part of the territory.
Every movement of theirs declares such a determi-
nation. They are building a strong fort on the St.
Lawrence,which is another link in the chain." Another
paragraph states that Col. Golddin had been ordered
to take the command of the British troops within the
disputed territory, and 250 additional soldiers had been
sent thither.

By the arrival of the United States brig Boxer from
Rio Janeiro, news had been received from that port to
the 12th of December. An arrival at that place from
St. Catherine's reported that Laguna had been taken
by the Government forces, commanded by Marsha
Andrea. The rebels, previous to retreating, assassi-
nated their prisoner, Lieut.-Colonel Tavares, by pluck-
ing out his eyes, and then ending his life by repeated
stabs. They also set fire to the schooner Itaparico, in
which they had confined a number of prisoners, who
consequently perished. It is said that the rebels lost
200 men, among whom were the commanders. On
the part of the Government troops only 53 were killed
or wounded.

News had been received from Mexico, confirmatory
of the fact that Metamoras had not been taken. On
the 18th of December, the federal army, amounting to
1,400 strong, encamped within two miles of Metamo-
ras. After ten days' stay before the city, they put off
for Monterez, where there were only 400 Centralists.
A report had reached the federal army, on the 18th of
December, that Santa Anna had declared for federalism,
and had raised 3,000 men.

Emigrants were pouring into Texas from all direc-
tions, and in very great numbers.
The Governor-General of Upper Canada, on the
subject of the estates of convicted traitors, is said to
have announced that the estates of such as had incurred
this penalty were now vested in her Majesty.
The Morning Herald of the 18th ultimo says that Sir
John Harvey's speech, on the opening of the New
Brunswick Parliament, had been received. He says
that measures were in progress for a canal to connect
the Bay of Fundy and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Some
of the frontier battalions of militia had received a cer-
tain degree of training, with a view to future contin-
gencies. He expresses a hope that the recent explora-
tion of certain parts of the disputed territory would
enable her Majesty's Government to advance such
propositions to that of the United States, as the basis
of the settlement of the momentous question involved,
as must lead to its early, amicable, and final adjustment.
In the mean time, he hopes that sentiments of modera-
tion and fiirbearance might prevail on either side.

The number of stores and houses to let at New
York is said to be truly astonishing. A great number
of merchants and tradesmen had given up business,
and an immense number of private families had given
up housekeeping, and had either removed to the coun-
try or taken up their residence in boarding-houses.

From the Morning Herald of Feb. 13, we learn that
the number of persons who had perished through
steam-boat accidents, during this year, in the whole of
the States, amounted to one hundred and fifty—an ap-
palling sacrifice of human life in so short a period. ,
The New Orleans correspondent of the Morning
Herald states that that city was in a state of excitement
on the 29th of January, in consequence of the failure
of several of the supposed wealthiest merchants, among
whom were Mr. James Irwin, Mr. W. M. Beale,
Messrs. Pope, Powers, and Co., Messrs. Taylor, Gar-
diner, and Co., and Messrs. E. and J, Andrews. Trade
is described as exceedingly dull, money being scarce,
and credit having gone.

The monetary and commercial intelligence brought
by the Scotland is highly important. On the Bth of
February, the stock market was dull, and prices re-
sumed their downward tendency. United States Bank
declined one per cent. There was a growing anxiety

for accounts from Liverpool. In the meantime there
was very little business doing, Specie to the amount

of 64,000 dollars had reached New Orleans. The
Governor-General had sent a message to the Legisla-
ture of Upper Canada, stating, that the act passed last
session, affixing a certain value to British gold and sil-
ver would not be allowed by her Majesty's Govern-
ment. It was stated that heavy orders for wheat and
flour had been received at the West from Canada, in
consequence of which the Bank of Upper Canada had
raised its rates on New York at ten days' sight to five
per cent. The low prices to which produce had fallen,
were beginning to exercise their natural effect, that of
drawing money into the country. A bill had passed
the Mississippi Senate making it felony to issue post
notes.

On the 10th ult. the stock market at New York was
dull, and the change of prices trivial, with the exception
of the United States Bank, which had declined two per
cent.

On the 11th ult. there was but little done in stocks.
In sterling exchange there was but little business, but
the rates were advancing : there was, consequently,
no disposition to ship specie.
On the 12th ult. there was a little more. buoyancy in
the stock market, and prices had generally improved.
The affairs of the Manhattan Bank continued to be the
subject of conversation.
On the 13th ult. there was a better feeling in the
market. United States Bank Stock sold at 751, being
an improvement on previous rates.
On the 14th ult. foreign and domestic exchanges re-
mained as before. The state of the markets had un-
dergone no material change. There were some trans-
actions in bills on England, at prices varying from 8
to 9 per cent. The barque Ann Eliza had brought
126,000 dollars in specie from Vera Cruz.

The aggressions of the Prench Papist Government,
in all parts of the world, are becoming increasingly
impudent and intolerable. It was only the other day
that intelligence reached this country from the Sand-
wich Islands, stating that the French had coerced the
Government of those islands into submission to their
exorbitant demands, and insisted upon permission for
the introduction of Popish missionaries and the erection
of Popish chapels, contrary to the wishes of the popu-
lation. The last arrivals from Sydney put us in pos-
session of the particulars relating to a similar instance
of tyrannical interference on the part of the French.
It appears that L' Artemise, French frigate, was com-
pelled to make a call of necessity at the Island of
Tahiti, in order to repair damages occasioned by the
ship striking on a sunken reef of rocks, which had so
disabled her that it was with the greatest difficulty she
was kept from sinking, even after she had floated into
Papieti harbour, when about 200 of the natives were

employed at the pumps. After having received every
assistance in the power of Queen Pomare's Government
and her subjects, to repair the damaged vessel, which
occupied about two months, Captain La Place suddenly
changed his hitherto respectful conduct towards the
Queen, and authoritively, and not less insolently, de-
manded her Majesty instantly to repeal the law then in
force, which prohibited religious instruction according
to the doctrines of the Church of Rome, and to cause,
at once, a church to be built in the capital for worship
in that religion, and others wherever in the island there
might he a Protestant church. A non-compliance with
this request, or rather demand, it was further stated by
this French Captain, would cause her Majesty's palace,
together with the Protestant Church, to vanish like
smoke before the thunder of his nation's cannon, which
had been made to gape, for this particular occasion,
upon the comparatively defenceless city. To give force
to these threats he gave Queen Pomare to understand
that, unless his orders were obeyed, he would depose
her, and place the Tahitian crown upon the brow of a
Roman Catholic ! The Queen, of course, had no al-

:ernative left but to comply with this outrageous

demand.

The employment of men of war for the propagation
of Popery is a somewhat novel and startling expedient.
It clearly proves that Popery is server eadem : if fair
means and coaxing will not do, intimidation and per-
secution must be resorted to, as instruments of con-