The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-02-16 00:00:00

•
the poor law, provided it be a rate actually paid infifitin years
previous at the least ; but, considering how the poor law va-
luators and guardians have been in some places appointed,
your petitioners have no confidence that fraudulent collision
may not take place, and a scale of rating such as ought to be
paid perhaps, but seldom is paid, or a scale inclusive of per-
sons who ought not to be rated, pass the guardians for elec-
tioneering pnrposes.

" But Yo'ur'petitioners are compelled to dissent entire]
from the alteration in the franchise proposed in the nob]
secretary's bill.

`8 Their dissent is grounded, not upon the assumption tha
the proposed alteration amounts to universal sufli•age ; thi!
they deem a needless exaggeration ; but upon a convictim
that such a lowering of the qualification will open a fresi-
door for corrupt and fraudulent practices, such as other pro-
visions of a bill are designed to prevent ; changing the natur•t
without diminishing the amount of the demoralising opera.
tions of the present law.
" Your petitioners therefore pray your honourable house
to reject the principle of the bill proposed by the noble
secretary for Ireland, and to read a second time and go into

committee, with the bill proposed by the noble lord, the
member for North Lancashire, and not to tolerate a repetition
of the factious opposition made to it in committee last ses-
sion, but speedily to pass it to a third reading.
" And your petitioners will ever pray."
The rev, gentleman concluded by reminding the mer
that Wednesday week was fixed for the second readi.._
Lord Stanley's bill ; " and," said he, "on that day let our
noble representative, Lord Sandon, have such a petition sent
to him as shall oblige him to do what he had to do last ses-
sion, that was to ask Mr. Cresswell to help him to carry it
into the house." (Tremendous cheering.)
The Rev. Mr. BROWNE then moved the first resolution,
to the effect that the petition just read by the rev. chairman
should be adopted and signed by the meeting.
The Rev. B. MARSHALL, in a speech of considerable hu-
mour, seconded the motion ; and on its being put, the peti-
tion was unanimously adopted.
The CHAIRMAN suggested that it would be advisable to
hold an adjourned meeting at an early day in the course of
the week, to send the petition for presentation in time for
the second reading of Lord Morpeth's bill. He recom-
mended the adjourned meeting to be held in the Amphi-
theatre in the forenoon, as the Music Hall was obviously
too small to accommodate the numbers whose interest in the
question led them to seek admission. He then congratu-
lated the meeting on the success of Protestantism and Con-
servatism at Walsall, Canterbury, and East Surrey, and
trusted that St. Albans would soon be added to the numbers:
The Rev. Mr. FALLOON then addressed the meet'.--
The CHAIRMAN next addressed the meeting in
eloquent manner, on the general question ; and at the con-
clusion of his speech the proceedings were adjourned till
Wednesday, Thursday, or any day in the week when the
Amphitheatre can be had. The meeting separated about ten
o'clock.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE,

STAFFORD AND RUGBY RALLWAY, LATE MANCHESTLR

AND BIRMINGHAM EXTENSION

The petition of the promoters of this bill was presented to
the House of Commons on Friday (which was the last day
for receiving petitions for private bills), the necessary docu-
ments having been previously lodged in the Private Bill
Office.

It may probably be within the knowledge of most of our
readers, that a similar (although not identical) line was in

agitation last session, under the title of " the Man(
and Birmingham Extension Railway." This company, hov
ever, was dissolved about three weeks ago ; and it is not a
little creditable to the spirit and energy by which the pro-
inoters of the present measure have been actuated, to find
that within that short interval the new company has been
formed, the usual parliamentary deeds signed for upwards of
three-fourths of the capital (as required by the standing or-
ders of the House of Commons), and the deposit of ten per
cent. upon this amount paid down by the shareholders.
We are given to understand that the undertaking will now
come before parliament relieved from a great proportion of
the opposition which was offered to the former company, and
that there is every reason for the confidence entertained by
its promoters, that it will receive the sanction of the legisla-
ture during the present session. By the formation of the
line a considerable saving will be effected to the people of
Manchester and of Liverpool, in the distance between these
towns and the metropolis, by enabling them to proceed direct
from the Grand Junction Railway, at Stafford, to join the
London and Birmingham at Rugby, avoiding the present
circuitous route by Birmingham ; and by a branch line pro-
posed, a considerable saving of distance will also be effected
in the journey from Liverpool or Manchester to Leicester,
Nottingham, Derby, &c.

!hester

PRESTON AND LANCASTER RAILWAY COMPANY.—OR
Wednesday last a meeting of the above company was held in
the Town-hall, Lancaster, being the first half-yearly meeting
since the opening of the line. It is exactly a year ago, the
10th February, 1840, that the foundation-stone was laid ; and
the grand ceremonial opening took place the 25th of June in
the same year.

George Barrow, Esq., the chairman, said the directors
considered themselves in a situation to make a dividend of
2ry per cent. Much advantage would arise to Lancaster on
the price of coals being rendered cheaper by transit on the
railway. The company saved a considerable sum by working
their locomotive power in conjunction with the North Union.
One thing, however, had been proved by their half-year's
traffic, that the expenditure in the first instance for good
gradients was amply compensated for in the great saving is
the expense of working the line. After some observations
the chairman said, in answer to a question by a shareholder,
that he doubted not but that, as he had said at their first
meeting, the first year would pay 5 per cent., the second
per cent., and the third 10 per cent.

LONDON AND GREENWICH RAILWAY.—The accounts
for the year show an increase in the total receipts of
£1,858 is. Bd. over the yeat 1839, principally Arising from
the toll paid by the Croyden Railway, which was not open in
the early part of 1839 ; but though the traffic on this railway
has produced a less gross receipt than in 1839, the expendi-
ture has been reduced to a greater-extent than this deficiency,
and that in almost every department, except the rates and
passenger charges. There being uow, however, a larger
amount of preference shares than last year, the nett profit
for the original shareholders is £6,942 17s, against £6,296 2d,
in 1839. Adding this profit to the balance of the reserved
fund, there remains a surplus of £7,744 7s. 2d., out of
which a dividend of 7s. on each original share was recom-
mended, which will leave a reserved fund of £752 ls. 2d.,
applicable to the expenses of the current year.
STOCKTON AND HARTLEPOOL BA I LWAY.—ThiS very use-
ful and important enterprise was opened on Tuesday last for
the conveyance of passengers and merchandise. The event
was celebrated by a grand procession on the line, and by a
public entertainment at the Vane Arms, Stockton. Two
trains, consisting of three coaches each, drawn by powerful
and .splendid engines, conveyed the directors and a large
party of their friends to Hartlepool, stopping for a short time
at the viaduct at Greatham Valley, to allow the passengers
an opportunity of inspecting this remarkably fine piece of
masonry, consisting of ninety-two arches, built and finished
in a very superior style.
LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY .—The half-yearly

,
meeting of this company was held yesterday at Birmingham,
and we have, without assistance from the company, made
extraordinary exertions to give the report to our readers.
The traffic is £61,130 more than for the same period last
year, while the charge, according to the report, has not in-
creased in a corresponding degree. The gross charge on the
traffic, exclusive of taxes and rates, is £3O ss. id per cent.,

instead of £34 16s. The dividend declared is £4 per £lOO
share, and £1 per £25 share.—Railway Magazine, Saturday.
BRISTOL AND EXETER RAILWAY.---WO have a budget of
good tidings this week respecting the Bristol and Exeter
Railway. First, all the forfeited shares have been disposed
of at good prices ; secondly, upwards of £lBO,OOO. have been
paid by the shareholders since last general meeting ; and,
thirdly, the paid up capital now exceeds £700,000., which

. . . .
?laces the Company in a position to avail themselves of the
power given them by the Act to raise £500,000. by way of
ban, which will obviate for some time the necessity of mak-
ing further calls on the shareholders, " With the security,"

says the Bristol Gazette, " they have to offer—(having the
guarantee of the rental to be paid by the Great Western
Company, besides their own responsibility) the Directors
will be enabled to take a commanding position in the money-
market; so that, with this resource, with a large balance in
hand, with about £30,000. or £60,000. on account of the al-
lottei shares, which will be forthcoming in a month from the
present date, there will be no lack of means for prosecuting
the works with vigour during the ensuing summer, while the
probability is that the shareholders will not be again called
upon until after the lapse of many months—perhaps a year
or more. We understand that not the slightest doubt exists
of the line being completed to Bridgewater by June next, it
not before. The wooden bearers are now in course of being
laid."—Railway Times.

THEATRE ROYAL.--This theatre opened last night. The
house was well filled. The new drama of " Mungo Park"
went off admirably. The whole of the scenery is new and
very beautiful—the dresses also are new. Van Amburgh's
performances are extraordinary. We regret we must defer to
our next publication a lengthened notice of this very attrac-
tive piece. The evening went off without interruption, ex-
cept from the loud applause frequently indulged in by the
audience.

THE BRINDAL LODGE PROPERTY.—Lord Abinger gave
judgment in this case on Saturday. After stating the na-

.•,.
tire of the application, and taking a review of the arguments
his lordship said, " He should, under all the circumstances,
direct an issue to try the validity of the will, and the last co-
dicil. The issue to be tried at the next assizes at Liverpool.
He was the more satisfied with this direction, because Dr.
Sherburne, being a man of education (whatever his origin),
must feel it was due to the other parties that the question
should be tried before the expiration of the twelve months,
within which their confirmation of the devise was limited by
the last codicil. The plaintiffs in equity his lordship directed
should be the plaintiffs at law." It will be remembered that
the question arises out of a will of Mr. Heatley, who devised
the bulk of his real estates to a Roman Catholic Priest.
It is stated that the Prebendal Stall at Durham, vacated
by the death of the late Dr. Smith, will yield to the Ecclsi-
astical Commissioners a revenue of nearly £3OOO. per annum.

- -
RUMOURED DISSOLUTION.—Rumours of an approaching
dissolution of the parliament called together by Lord
Melbourne's government in the year 1837, at the com-
mencement of a new reign, and with all the advantages
which an unprecedented exercise of palace influence was
likely to command, continue to be circulated. The ground
for these ti.niours is the very general belief that the
Ministry will be defeated upon the question of the registra-
tion of voters in Ireland, as that question has been raised
upon the two bills of Lord Stanley and Lord Morpeth.—
Times of yesterday.
DARING BURGLARY NEAR CHESTER.—On Tuesday
night, so early as ten o'clock, a most daring robbery was.
committed and gross outrage perpetrated at the residence of
Mr. Tracy, clerk to the Birkenhead and Chester Railway.
About the hour in question, Mrs. Tracy was sitting b
the kitchen fire, waiting o Mr. Tracy
at
servant having gone to bed, when she heard somebody,_o
was
the back door. She opened it, in order to see h
her,
there, when she saw three men, two of whomseizednd tied her
coming home, the
pushed her back into the kitchen, pinioned her, a
arms to the back of the chair. One of the
before her with a knife, whilst the outrage was
he would
threatening that, if she stirred or made was ruttians
going stood
000nd,
roceeded up
took out a bunch of keys, and immediately
Mr.
murder her. The other then put 11isb
Tracy was in the
stairs, and unlocked a drai.ve . that andiiitop her pocket,
c nd .a, in gold and silver. He
in his bed-room, ar.d secured
habit abbaigt
containingo f keeping
and money down stairs, when he took out
brought the bag Ibiaistwmonne.ysina,
in 1
the latter, and left the fc4,rlineeirilalnaidasa
treaalldineecammorpaetylwmiltiblltriet
was l't on the floor. as they had come in, leaving Mrs.
money, the
men were unknown to Mrs. Tracy ;
Tracy bound tosa "'thee chair,b
Mr. i nT
rwhichacy a
bd a positionfriensd'hew
bvib'asbfaodu natel:
but ac-
companied
YsPls'iahn°ieerndtti Yehriatmaftienr:Tt the impression,
took the keys from her receiving money from Mr. Tracy,
ay
Ches(er Chronicle.fent of wages to the men engaged in
waking
hietred therau Payment