Aberdeen for China.
An English Ambassador is needed for Canton. We beg to propose the Earl or Aberdeen. Such a selection would be a great compliment to the Chinese,—the noble Earl being very like a tea-chest; namely, varnish without, and lead within.
MODEL RAILWAY MEETING.
SATURDAY last a General Annual Special Quarterly Meeting of the London and South-Northern Railway Company was held at the Company's Offices. The meeting had been convened to hear a report on the propriety of amalgamating the undertaking with that of the Great East And By Eastern Railway, for which junction, negotiations have been for some time in progress. The Hon. Rolling Stock, M.P., Chairman of the former Company, presided. The room was crowded with shareholders, and eleven fights took place before business was commenced.
The Chairman briefly explained the object of the meeting, and reminded those before him that they were men of business come to discuss a question of business, and he expressed a hope that nothing but business would be talked, as the riotous displays which had now become common on such occasions were not only degrading in themselves, but tended to shake the public confidence in a body which could so conduct itself. (Applause, and an old hat flung at the Chairman.)
The Secretary then rose to read the report, but not one word was audible, shouts of "We know!" "Shut up!" "All humbug!" "Gammon and spinach!" drowning his voice. He persevered in dumb show, however, until a volley of baked taturs, nearly all hot, supplied by a vendor who had been smuggled into the room by a shareholder, made him not only desist, but come round with an offer to fight the parties who were thus emphatically protesting.
Mr. Buffer then moved that the report be adopted. (Hideous yells.) Well, if it were objected to, let the reasons be advanced, and don't let fellows stand there, he added, with some irritation, howling like fools. (Renewed yelling.)