29 FEBRUARY 1868, Page 2

Lord Cranborne has made his first speech as Chairman of

the Great Eastern Railway. It differs from other such speeches in only two aspects ; it is true, and everybody believes it to be true, and consequently even the shareholders feel as if hope had not deserted the world. A good deal seems to have been done already, and more may be done if the finance of the Company can be put right. The charge for dividend on unused capital, 50,0001., has been debited against revenue, which was not the case before, and still the Company is enabled to pay its preference and other engagements, shareholders, of course, not included. They, poor people! have to be content with the privilege of governing the line, in which they are not substantially interested.