The Express.
London, England, 1852-08-28 00:00:00

DIRECT LONDON AND PORTSMOUTH.

The 13th ordinary (annual) meeting of the share-
holders in this company wu advertised to be held yester-
day, at the London Tavern • and nineteen or twenty gen-
tlemen, inclusive of the cb'airman and two director., did
make their appearance; but this number being legally in-
sufficient, did not constitute a meeting ; and though the
chairman took the chair, and inquiries were made and
answered, what passed was informal and merely conver-
sational.

The following is the report which was distributed :
" Situated as the company is, the directors cannot have
anything to communicate to the proprietors which would
render a long report necessary. The preparations for the
final abandonment of the undertaking are progressing sa-
tisfactorily, though slowly. The suit referred to in the last
report as then about to be heard, was adjudicated upon by
the Lords Justices in March last, in the ronipany's favour,
and the directors trust that this decree will materially fa•
ciliate the dissolution of the company. There are, how-
ever, other proceedings still pending, which render any
decided step in that direction at present unailvisable. The
directors, however, anticipate effecting arrangements
which they hope will enable them to make an immediate
payment to the shareholden,lof ten shillings per share.
During the last half-year, a number of shares on which the
calls are in arrest has been reduced by 740, and the num-
ber on which payment bar still to be enforced by the soli-
citors, is now only 2,710."
In answer to a question it was stated that after Novem-
ber vigorous measures would be taken to compel the
payment of calls in arrest.
In the course of conversation Sir IL. Carden (one of tho
directors) expressed himself decidedly opposed to the return
of the 10. per share in the manner referred to by the
chairman. According to legal advice there was a risk in
this; and he was not prepared to run the risk.

AMBERGATE, NOTTDIGHAM, AND BOSTON.
Tho thirteenth half-yearly meeting of this com-
p's. y was held yesterday, at the Town-hall, Grantham,
being removed from Nottingham to allow the distant share-
holders to avail themselves of the Great Northern route,
the Midland being the one hitherto used. Mr. Ftv.rcii Ea
NORTON, of Elton Manor, chairman of the company, com-
nenced proceedings by calling upon Mr. Gough, the secre-
tary, to read the directors' report, an abstract of whiek
appeared in the E.rpreu on Saturday last. The at-
tendance of shareholders was rather more numerous than
was expected, owing probably to the interest excited by the
amalgamation agitation.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
remarked that but few observations were required from him,
the report itself giving so full an exposition of the company's
slain. The traffic of the line had been increasing
ever since it was opened, and though some of it had re.
Deady been diverted, they bad received new accessions
which more than compensated them for the loss they had
sustained. (Applause.) Unfortenately the company was
involved in law transactions, respecting which it would be
impossible for the directors to give any explanations at
present, but in a short time he hoped these proceedings
would be amicably settled, and all would end in harmony
and peace.
Mr. Wlthr.s, deputy chairman, briefly seconded the
adoption of the report.
Mr. RONIT wished to ask the directors to give the share-
holders some information as to the nature of the agree-
ment at present existing between that company and the
Great Northern.

The CHAIRMAN replied that the matter was in the Court
of Chaneery—(laughter)—and this was the only explanation
he could give.
Mr. RONZT proposed the appoinsment of n committee of
shareholders, who, in conjunction with the directory; should
be empowered to devise some middle course, and settle the
matter amicably.
This was objected to by Mr. W. V. Stephens, of London,
and ether shareholders. Other similar propositions were
made by various shareholders, but all of them were with-
drawn, Mr. Wyles stating that were they persisted in, he
and his brother directors would be obliged to retire.
This Chairman (Mr. Norton) was re-elected, as also were
Messrs. Wyles and Beasley (the retiring directors), Mr.
Samuel Newham was appointed one of the auditors, in room
of Mr. John Swann, resigned.
On the motion of the chairman a dividend of ls. 6d. per
share was declared, and the proceedings terminated.