The Express.
London, England, 1852-06-23 00:00:00

THE BRIGHTON RAILWAY AND TIIE
CRYSTAL PALACE.

Yesterday a special general meeting of this coin- !
piny was held at the Bridge-house 1 fide], London-bridge,
for the purpose of considering the propriety of entering into
an arrangement with the Crystal-palace Company. SARCEI,
Lsino, Esq., took the chair.
A Puerta Kinn moved that none but proprietors be pre-
sent at this meeting.
The CHAIRMAN requested that all who were net such
would retire from the meeting.
The advertisement culling the meeting having been read,
the fidlowing circular was laid before the meeting ,
."fhe removal of the Crystal Palace from llydt -park ap•
peering certain, it was purchased by parties interested in its
preservation with a view to forming a public company for
its re.erection on true of the metropolitan lines of railway.
After a careful examination of serious proposed sites the
vicinity of Syllettliam was preferred, ae combining the ad-
vantages of easy access fn the MAst of the populatam of
London, with those of pure sir and beautiful ICttlery. This
led to a negotiation with the directors of the London,
Brighton, and South Coast Railway Company fur such an
arrungiment with the Crystal Palace Company as sheuld
secure the proposed advatitagee of cheap and convenient
acres+ for a bow I rnffic. In the mratiiime great compe-
tition had sprung up for the peasession of the Crystal
Palace, other parties and railway companies offer-
ing great ititruniages to the purchasers if they
would alettichei the site at Sydenhani and erect
the bellditer evewhere. tinder tht tie circumstances, the
directors had to deride between making an immediate lir-
ranged...sit, or vaenticing all the advantages likely to accrue
from the establishment of the New Crystal l'elace adjutant
to their line. They did not hesitate to incur the responsi-
bility of concluding what they cousulered to be a fair and
equitable arr.ingrment, upon terms highly ad teutugeoue for
this company. An extruerdinery gent nil meeting of the
proprietors was immediately convened by advertisement, in
the usual manner, for the purpose of explaining this ar-
rangement ; and this meeting being very thinly attended—
only 97 proprietors out of about 4,260 being present, end
soner dittl•rence of opinion being expressed—it was resolved,
in accordance with the suggestion of the chairman, that
another meeting should be summoned forthwith, and that,
in the meantime, a statement should be sent to each share-
holder, with u copy of the memorandum of udri,iiient, so
as to Ofottl them an opportunity of expres.ing their deli-
berate opinion upon it question of eu much importance far
the interests of the company. In neeortlance with this reso-
lution, a copy of the memorandum of agreement is sub-
joined. In explanation of this agreement, the directors will
only shortly observe :
I. That it is based on the principle of involving no gua-
rantee from this canpany, and no participation in the prulit
or loss of the Crystal Palace Company—being, in fact, an
ordinary traffic arr-ngement.
2. The, traffic arrangement is confined to the bookings of
London pass, tigers only; the whole proceeds arisiug from
all incidental traffic from other ports of the line, and from
London visitor; who hook to other stations' or go by the
road and return by the roil, being retained by this com-
pany.
3. That, as regards the joint traffic, the minimum that
can be received by the railway company, under any circum-
stances, would give Is. 64. per train per mile for each special
train run; the average receipt of the whole of the trains
running on the Brighton Railway being 7s. 6d., and the
average expense 2s. 9d. per mile. Assuming the average
charge, incleeling railway conveyance and admission, to be
the same us the average rate of admission to the Great
Exhibition of 1851, exclusive of conveyance, viz., Is. 61 per
head, the average receipt from each train would be atleast
12s. 941. per mile.
4. This minimum rate would only continue in force until
the total number of passengers in twelve months reached
600,000 (being the number of visitors who in fourteen days
entered the Great Exhibition); fur any racer, above that
number this company would receive its full fares.
5. The outlay undertaken by this company, which is
estimated at about 75,0001., is principally fur objects which
could not, under any circumstances, be long postrined ;
namely, a fourth line from the Bricklayer,' Arms Junction
to the Croydon Junction, and an improvement of the
approach to the London-bridge Terminus. There are
already two separate lines for the up traffic; but the
whole down traffic of the Brighton and South Eastern
main lines, a+ well as that of the Croydon and Epsom line
(the latter of which, from the rapid increase of building
and population, is fast assuming the character of a suburban
omnibus traffic), is at present conducted • ver the same line
of rails as far as the Croydon Junction. The main line trains
run over this distance wi bout stopping, while the Croydon
trains necessarily stopat Pourer five stations, and the resources
of the line are already strained to the utmost to accommo-
date the existing traffic. It is, therefore,absolutely indispen-
sable to incur th,s additional outlay at once, if it is wished to
secure the erection of the Crystal Palace in the vicinity of
the line. This outlay involves no additional charge on the
railway company, the interest on it being made a first
charge on a fund which no conceivable extent of failure
could render insufficient to meet it; a traffic in twelve
months equal to one day's average traffic to the Great Exhi-
bition, being more than adequate fur the purpose. The
outlay, thus guaranteed, need not involve any re-opening
of the capital account, as it may be treated, in accord-
ance with the principle adopted at the last half-yearly
meeting, as a temporary excess, to be extinguished by
a sinking fund, towards which a portion of the profits
resulting from the Crystal Palace traffic may be applied.
6. The arrangement for a junction with the London
and South Western Railway is altogether independent of
the Crystal Palace, and results from a parliamentary agree-
ment entered into in conjunction with the London and
South Western Company to get rid of a projected railway
from Wandsworth to Croydon, which seriously menaced
the interest+ of this company. The only liability which
will be entailed on this company is the leasing for H2Ol.
per annum of a lino of 21 miles in length, from Croy-
don to Mitcham, to which place there is already consider-
able traffic.

The CRAIRM.iN, in moving a resolution for the approval
of the agreement with the Crystal Palace Company, was
happy to find that he needed nut to trespass long on their
patience on the present occasion. Ile had already bad an
opportunity of explaining to them the views of the directors
regarding this agreement, which were further elucidated
by the circular lately sent round to the proprietory, in con-
sequence of a suggestion at the last meeting. In addition
to this a circular letter bad been sent to every proprietor,
asking them to return a statement " yes or no," or in other
words, whether they approved or not of the agreement
entered into. This was to obtain the real feelings of the
bulk of their proprietors; and should it have turned out
adverse to the views of the directors, instead of being
largely in their favour, the directors would not have felt it
their duty to remain any longer in their present position.
(Hear, hear.) The directors, however, being unwilling to
intimidate the proprietors, but to kayo their choice
open and unbiassed, had made no allusion in
this circular to their resigning, but reserved it
for this meeting. (Applause.) They were anxious that
the opinion of the proprietors should be declared by a satis-
factory majority, so as to set the question at rest, and save
this great company from falling under a weak admiuis-
tration, which could not but prejudice the whole under-
taking. He was happy to say that the number of replica
received to that circular were very much larger than he had
ventured to anticipate. (Hear, hear.) Looking at their
history, be found the largest number of proprietors who
recorded their opinions was on the steam-boat:question,
when, on the division being taken, 1,300 proprietors, repre-
senting 2,094,1181., gave it their support. On the present
occasion, the total number of proprietors who voted was
2,312, representing 3,242,7511. (Applause.) Of this num-
ber, 1,763 proprietors approved of the arrangement, repre-
sentMg 2,427,9701., whilst the dissentients were 579
proprietors, representing 84,7811. (" Hear, hear," and ap-
plause.) Now, the effect of carrying out this
arrangement would not involve a great addition to the
120,0001., the further expenditure sanctioned at the last
meeting; as from the most accurate estimates, they found
that 75,000/. would be suffic'ent to serve their purposes,
making together about 200,0001. (Ileat, hear.) He hoped
what had been stated had convinced the real Brighton
proprietors of the advisability of agreeing to the resolution
before the meeting. As to convincing those who were not
proprietors, but " wolves in sheep's clothing"—(laughter)
—and who had raised the outcry against this agreement, he
had but little confidence, for they had an interest adverse
to that of the Brighton proprietors. (Applause.) If the
advice of this party had been carried out, they
would have been dancing attendance on the great,
with a view to obtaining their sanction to remove
the Crystal Palace elsewhere, and get the government
to grant a plot of land for its destination. All that would
not have preserved the building, after all. (Applause.)
The directors of this company were desirous that the palace
should be removed to that locality where it might be of easy
access to the toiling millions on their days of reereatien ;
had it been taken to Wimbledon or elsewhere that facility
' would not have been given to those who most needed a
change of scene as well as of atmosphere. (Applause.) He
was convinced that the Crystal Palace would still be sup-
ported by the nobility, and in proof of it he could congratu-
late the proprietors on the fact of his Grace the Duke of
Devonshire having signed his natal to that subscription
deed. (Applause.) The chairman concluded by moving
that the agreement be confirmed, and thanked the preprie-
tors for deciding the question by so large a majority in its
favour, which ho bad no doubt would not only turn out for
the advantage of the Brighton proprietors, but would also
redound to the cr dit of a great commercial undertaking.
(Applause.)
Mr. Bcti estate, deputy chairman, seconded the motion.
Mr. BELL objected to the arrangement before the meeting,
and having entered at some length into the details of
the project, concluded by moving, "That the conside•
ration of the question relative to the Crystal Palace Com-
pany be adjourned sine die. (Laughter.)
Mr. HEHAPATH seconded the motion.

After some discussion, the original motion, empowering
the directors to enter into en arrangement with the Crystal
Palace Company, was carried by an immense majority.
The meeting then separated.

DOVER AND DEAL AND CINQUE PORTS RAILWAY.
The call required to discharge the debts of this abortive
undertaking is two guineas per share.
RAILWAY COM I'ETITION.—The competition be-
tween the Leeds Northern Railway on the ono hand, and
the York and North Midland and the York, Newcastle, and
Berwick on the other, has become within the past few days
unprecedentedly severe for the Leeds traffic. As an
instances we may state that by both lines persons were yes.
terday (Tuesday) conveyed from Leeds to Newcastle and
back torts. in second class carriages. The distance is 240
miles, including the return, and consequently beats hollow
the di. third class fares from Leeds to London and back
during the Great Exhibition.