The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-01-30 00:00:00

DEATH OF SIR FRANCIS BURDETT.

enamenuch of the
worse
This melancholy event took place on Tuesday last, at
the residence of Sir Francis, in London. The death of
Lady Burdett we announced some days ago, and her re-
mains were removed only on Monday morning for inter-
mentgth
in the family vault in Wilts. Soon after her lady-
ship's death it became evident that a very serious impres-
sionbbeaernonmeta.de
ou pnoAni
ot hned
afeyehl ien gasp
pad relltr
and on the morning of Tuesday, as already stated. he
breathed his last, in the presence of his son and the other
members of his family. He would, had he lived 48 h
deceased had
ours
longer, have completed his 74th year. He was a man of
very ancient descent, the possessor of an old baronetcy,
the owner of a splendid fortune, the representative of a
great county, the head of an honourable family ; a man
most carefully educated, of considerable attainments, of
great natural endowments, of very popular talents, of gene-
rous feelings, whatever may be thought of his wisdom and
discretion, of dignified manners, of winning address, in-
vested with almost every personal advantage and prompted
by the most benevolent impulses; it can occasion there-
fore no surprise that be should have enjoyed a remarkable
degree of popularity. Sir Francis Burdett was born in
1770, and was educated at Westminster School. In 1793
he married Sophia, youngest daughter of Mr. Coutts, the
well known banker. In 1796 Sir Francis entered Parlia-
ment, being elected for Boroughbridge. In the following
year he succeeded his grandfather in the baronetcy.
About this period Sir Francis became au earnest reformer.
He contested Middlesex three times, but failed, or was
unseated. In 1807, Sir Francis first became a candidate
for Westminster, and was returned without one shilling
expense to himself. His popularity was immense. In
1810, Sir Francis was committed to the Tower, by a vote
of the House of Commons, for addressing a printed letter
to his constituents on the commitment of Mr. Gale Jones.
The vote was taken after a long and stormy debate, in the
course of which Mr. W. Wynn's celebrated defence of
the privileges of the House of Commons was delivered.
The ' Manchester massacre," in 1819, again brought Sir
F. Burdett before his constituents, to whom he addressed
a very strongly expressed letter on that unhappy affair.
For this he was prosecuted by the government, tried in
the King's Bench, found guilty, sentenced to pay a fine of
£2,000, and to be imprisoned for three months. In 1837
he ceased to be member for Westminster, and took his
place for North Wilts. The circumstances connected with
the loss of his seat for the former must be fresh in recol-
lection. He supported reform up to a certain point, and
said he would there take his stand. To proceed beyond
that would be revolution—not reform. On his return for
North Wiltshire he joined the conservative party, and
continued to support them till the close of last session.
REPRESENTATION OF NORTH WILTS.—The death of
Sir F. Burdett occasions a vacancy in the representation
of North Wilts ; and a general hope is expressed through.
out the division that Mr. Sotheron will allow himself to
be put in nomination. A requisition will then be presented
to Mr. Ludlow Bruges, to offer himself for Devizes. We
do not expect there would be any opposition either in
town or county. But whether there be opposition or not,
the conservatives hold both town and countysecure.—
Devizes Gazette.

THE DOWAGER COUNTESS OF CLARE.--The death of
the Dowager Lady Clare took place under the most awful
and distressing circumstances. On Tuesday afternoon,
her ladyship and her daughter, Lady Isabella Fitzgibbon,
were sitting by fire light, when the latter retired to dress
for dinner, and was absent about half an hour. On re-
turning to the drawing-room, her ladyship found that
lights had not been brought; as she entered she observed,
" Mamma, I have put on your favourite gown," and,
receiving no answer, again repeated it, adding, " Mam-
ma, why don't you answer me ?" Alas on approach-
ing the fire-place the unhappy daughter found her mother
extended on the hearthrug perfectly lifeless. Her lady-.
ship's grief and amazement are indescribable—indeed,
the whole family are weighed down by this sad event.

Jan. 80, IS4i.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

:NarsarA

LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER RAILWAY•

On Wednesday last, the half-yearly meeting of the
proprietors in the above railway, was held at the Cotton
Sales Room, Exchange-huildings. The chair was occu-
pied by Charles Lawrence, Esq., Chairman of the Board
of Directors. The report was read by Mr. Henry Booth,
the treasurer. It appeared that a considerable increase
had taken place in the general traffic on the railway during
the last half year, owing to a revival of trade and com-
merce, though its beneficial effects had been in some de-
gree neutralized by one of those unfortunate contests be-
tween the Railway Company and the Canal navigation,
causing a pecuniary loss to both parties; that hostile and
unprofitable rivalry had, however, been brought to a close
The extension line of railway at Hunt's Bank, will, itis
expected, be open in April next, and the directors contem-
plate charging such advanced rates as will afford them a
reasonable return on the capital expended ; they also felt
the importance of resting their chief claim for public
support on ample accommodation provided at a moderate
charge, and in the revisal of fares, on the completion of
the extension line, intended to keep that principle in
view. The opening of the new railway between Preston
and Bolton, in connection with the existing railway from
Bolton to Manchester, as stated in the last report, was
followed by a severe contest for three months between the
competing companies, which terminated in an arrange-
ment on a principle of mutual concession, such as the
circumstances of the case appeared to warrant. The re-
port also stated, that though the rates on merchandise
had been reduced, owing to the opposition of rival con-
cerns, the increase of traffic, on the general revival of
trade, had, in some measure, compensated for that reduc-
tion. It appeared from the statement of accounts that
the receipts were ; coaching department, £69,467 2s. 4d.,
merchandise ditto, £48,412 2s. 11d. ' • coal ditto, £3,211.
19s. 3d. ; total £121,031 4s. 6d. The total expenses
were £57.642 10s. 2., leaving a balance or net profit of
£63,388 14s. 4d. for the half year ending December 31,
1843, out of which amount the directors recommended a
dividend of £5 per £lOO share, which, on 12,090 shares,
amounted to £60,450, leav•ng a balance of £2,938 14s.
4d., to be carried to the account for the next half year,
the dividend, however, being chargeable with the income
tax.

The CHAIR:SIAN said he hoped the report met with their
approbation, and if any gentleman present wished to ask
any questions, be should be happy to answer them.
Mr. ARNAUD remarked, that with respect to the in-
crease of the rates on the opening of the extension line,
they ought to be as moderate as possible.
The CHAIRMAN wished it to be understood that they
were not going to make an exorbitant charge, but simply
to get a moderate remuneration for their outlay, which
would be to the amount of £200,000.

The report was then adopted, and it was agreed that
powers be given to the directors to carry into effect such
arrangements as may be necessary with the company of
proprietors of the Manchester, Bolton, and Bury Canal
Navigation and Railway, and that they (the directors) be
authorized to affix the seal of the company to such instru-
ments as might be necessary to carry that object into
effect.

The four retiring directors—Mr. Chas. Lawrence, Mr.
Hardman Earle, Mr. Thos. Sands, and Mr. John Crop-
per were then proposed for re-elec ion.
Mr. ALSTON thought that the number of directors
might be reduced to twelve, which would be a saving of
expense to the shareholders. There were larger under-
takings with a smaller number of directors.
The CHAIRMAN conceived they had no power to alter
the number of directors, which was in accordance with
the act of Parliament; and if they had, it was hardly
worth while, the expense being only trifling. He thought
the number not too great, as there was no line of railway,
when the amount of traffic was considered, that required
more looking after.

After some further remarks from Mr. D. ...T-ToriGsoN,
Mr. BLAIN, and one or two other gentlemen, the four
retiring directors were re-elected. _

Thanks having been voted to the Chairman, the meet-
ing separated.

MANCHESTER AND BOLTON RAILWAY COMPANY.—
On Friday, a special general meeting of the company of
proprietors of the Manchester, Bolton, and Bury Canal
Navigation and Railway Company was held at the Cla-
rendon-rooms, in this town. James Brancker, Esq.,
presided. The 11th half-yearly report was read, and also
the receipts and disbursements on the railway and the
canal, for the half-year ending the 31st of December,
from which it appeared that the railway receipts had
amounted to £21,042 lls., and the disbursements to
£8,084 10s. ld., leaving the railway surplus £12,957 Os.
11d. The canal receipts had been £6,987 Os. 64-d., and
the disbursements £2,957 Bs. 101 d. leaving the canal
surplus £4,029 lls. Bd., which, added to the railway sur-
plus, and deducting £554 4s. 3d. for interest, rents, and
commission, left a net profit for the half-year of £11,432
Bs. 4d. To this was added £1,736 6s. 4d. for half-year's
dividend, and the balance from 30th June, making the
disposable net proceeds £13,168 14s. Bd. A dividend of
£2
hnegldonbhyanthde,
per
including a
trhe
ew ou
dividendl
e£1122,04052h,
alreeasv i
company, a surplus of £1,006 14s. Bd. ; and the commit-
tee had accordingly directed a dividend of £2 per share
to be paid to the proprietors on the Ist of February. In
the course of the proceedings, the Chairman stated inci-
dentally that the committee had that morning borrowed
£20,000 at; per cent. The agreement of the company
with the Liverpool and Manchester Railway Company,
giving the latter an interest in the line of the former, was
approved and confirmed ; as was the agreement with the
Manchester, Bury, and Rossendale Railway Company;
and the committee of management were authorised to
carry it into effect, and, for that purpose, to obtain par-
liamentary powers to raise any sum not exceeding
£lOO,OOO. Thanks were then voted to the directors and
the chairman, and the meeting separated.
RAILWAY TO HUDDERSFIELD.—At a large and influ-
ential meeting of the inhabitants of Huddersfield, it was
resolved unanimously, " that the proposed branch line
from the Manchester and Leeds Railway, as laid dowr:
by that company, is not calculated to benefit the town of
Huddersfield, but will be to its decided disadvantage."
ltArLwAy ACTS.—The applications to parliament in
the approaching session for railway acts will be more
numerous than in any previous year since 1835. These
applications relate to lines extending six hundred miles in
length ; and so confident are the projectors of obtaining
their bills, that they have been eager to make contracts,
even before the bills are passed, and many of such con-
tracts have been entered into for the formation of rail-
ways, at an expense, including stations, of £lO,OOO per
mile. A large demand for iron and other railway mate-
rials must ensue.

STATISTICS OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC IN 1833.—An in-
teresting table, prepared from the returns of the past year,
appears in the Railteag Magazine of Saturday. We have
not room for the table, but quote the following results "The number of passengers was 17,255,085 during the
past year, upon thirty railways : the total traffic receipts
upon forty-four railways for the year, being £4,827,655;
making an average earning of £3,076 per mile per annum,
which is at the late of £59 per mile per week. If we de-
duct 40 per cent., £1,931,062, from the total receipts, as
working expenses, we shall have, less the passenger duty
government (5 per cent. on passenger receipts), £179,662,
and income tax, £81,509, leaving the clear sum of
£2,635,462 to pay an average dividend per cent. of
£4 13s. 104 d. upon the actual amount of capital already'
expended as per last reports, namely, £56,135,104 ; which,
of course, entirely excludes nominal eapital and preference
advantages. The traffic receipts for 1843 exceed those of
1842 by at least £470.000, showing an increased average
traffic of more than £9,000 per week in favour of 1843,
which is, perhaps, a promising argument of railway pro-
sperity, and may in some measure account for the great
desire the public have shown lately for railway invest-
ments, in consequence of which, and the state of the
money market, railway shares have risen to an astonish-
ing price."

RAILWAY ACClDENT.—Yesterday evening week, a mart
named William Beaumont WAS killed on the Manchester
and Sheffield Railway, near Dukenfield. He was walking
on the tram-way, when he was knocked down by the
engine.

NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY.—SHICe the Midland rail-
ways, headed by Mr. Hudson, have decided on supporting
the North British line, the share list has been rapidly
filled up. The proprietors and inhabitants of Hadding-
ton, who had determined on opposing the passing of a
bill for incorporating the company, have agreed to with-
draw their opposition, an amicable arrangement having
been come to to that effect, on the assurance of the pro-
visional committee of the company to form a branch line
to Haddiugton, simultaneously with the main line. At
the meeting of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce,
last week, a petition to parliament in favour of the line
was agreed to unanimously.
EDINBURGH. LEITH, AND NEWHAVEN RAILWAY.—"
The general half-yearly meeting of the proprietors took
place in Edinburgh, yesterday week, when the bill for the
branch lines to Granton and Leith was read and approved;
and the subscription to the preference shares being more
than sufficient to enable the directors to proceed to par-
liament for both lines, the same was unanimously agreed
to. The traffic of goods and passengers on the present
line is daily increasing; but, when the Edinburgh and
Glasgow and the North British Railways form their junc-
tion at the North-bridge, the terminus of the Edinburgh,
Leith, and Newhaven, and its branches, there is every
reason to expect that this railway will become a very
profitable undertaking.

INCUMBENTS AND CTIRATES.—ShortIy before the last
prorogation abstracts of the number and classes of non-
resident and resident incumbents, according to the dio-
cesan returns for the year 1841, were presented to the
House of Commons.'The document relates to resident
and non-resident incumbents, to the value of benefices of
non-residents, to curates of non-residents, and to assist-
ant curates of residents. It appears that in the dioceses
comprised in the abstract there are 10,987 benefices.
The total number of resident incumbents is stated to be
6,699. In the non-resident list the number of exceptions
is 1,831, of which 401 are stated to be doing duty ; there
arc licen,tes to 965 of which 191 were doing duty, making
the non-resident list amount to 3,736. The number of
non-resident incumbents doing duty is stated to be 1,059.
In the second abstract, showing the net value of the bene-
fices on which the incumbents were non-resident, it seems
that returns were made to 3,757, and no return was made
as to 1,157. The amounts are set forth in various co-
lumns. In the third abstract of the number of curates
to non-resident incumbents, it is stated that there are 2,711, of which 1077 reside in glebe-houses, and 503 in
the parishes; the different stipends are given. A further
return is made of the number and amount received by
curates to incumbents who reside on their benefices;
the number of curates is 2,032, of which 1.493 were li-
censed.