The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-02 00:00:00

SHREWSBURY AND CHESTER RAILWAY.

A itectiog of sharehoitinni in thin railway, eon-
pelted by advertisement, and stated to be on " important
buskins'," was held yesterday at Fendall's Hotel, Palace.

yard-
Among the proprietor' present were, General Winces,
Mr. Whalley, M.P., Mr. Charles East, Mr. W. Gordon
Thomson, Mr. Herbert Ingram, Mr. H. V. East, Dr.
Kennedy, Mr. David Robinson, Mr. Taunton, Mr. Cohen,
as.
General M'lmass tooke the chair, and said they were of
Mem all aware of the manner in which thefpresent memo
kabob odiloated. The proceedings of the iihrewelimey
aidChsMse Raftway Company were too well knows to
ffiffeln explanation. In consequence of what bad happreall
eilambato a Meeting of Shrewsbury and Chester 'bow
Mama had Nora held last week, at which a deputation
MN ell= make inquiries into the matter referred to
by Kr.
Mr. H. V. Roar, a member of the deputation, said that
be bad accepted the duty imposed upon him by the resolu-
tion dela teems satins of abart6oldua, and, with Dr.
lassathi sal Mr. llobbalai, bad moiled am Mr. Williams.
noir kwormoliros mon to "atOoee ea aiosely as wealth!e
to the eeseie adopted to this Illisawsboxy and Birmingham
br
Mr. (Mach, and it woo bspoil that the acting chairman
(Mr. Williams) would feel that he would not be justified in
affording less protection to the shareholders than was at
once given by Mr. Clive. In pursuance of these in-
structions the deputation proceeded to Chester, aad tolled
on Mr. Williams. For the sake of accuracy he had made a
note of whet bad occurred, which be would now read to
the meeting. The deputation "called on Mr. Williams
shortly after ten o'clock on Saturday morning,
and, after full explanations had been given, Mr.
East read to Mr. Williams the letter of General
M'lnnee, as chairman of the meeting held on Friday
afternoon, communicating to the deputation the resolution

unanimously passed at this meeting and instructions for the
performance of their duty. The deputation then urged upon
Mr. Williams a prompt compliance with the request con-
veyed in the resolution. Mr. Williams replied—' I must
know specifically what you riquire.' The deputationurged
that Mr. Williams ought to act towards the Shrewsbury
and Chester shareholders as Mr. Clive had acted towards
the proprietors of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham rail-
way. Mr. Williams then asked ' What description of
books, documents, &c., are wanted ?' The deputation
then banded in the following list: the share register of
ordinary, preference, and guaranteed stocks, the share
ledger, the tran►fer books and transfers for the last three
years, the proxies in conoexion with the mee logs
of the last three year, ; all books in which any
entries of moneys received for the sale of shares belonging
to the company, whether forfeited, preference, or gueran-
teed ; and the dividend warrant-book. An appointment
was then made for half-pest 11 o'clock at the offices. Mr.
Williams met the members of the deputation at the ap-
pointed time, but on inquiry being made for the secretary,
or any of the clerks who could give information on the sub-
ject required, one and all were declared to be absent.
After waiting an hour, a clerk arrived, who assisted Mr.
Williams in procuring the books and papers required. The
deputation now asked whether Mr. Williams would allow
the books and papers to be placed in safe custody
at once by banding , them over, under seal, to
a magistrate, or placing them in a safe under his own
seal, and that of the deputation. Mr. Williams re-
plied by ordering the clerk to place the hooks
and papers in a cupboard up stairs. He then bored a hole
in the panel of each door, and after locking the door con-
nected the two panels with a piece of tape, which he
sealed with his own seal, and then placed the latter in the
hands of Dr. Kennedy. Honing completed this Mr.
Williams said, " That is all 1 intend doing." The deputa-
tion severally protested against this proceeding, urging that
the books might easily be abstracted without the possibility
of detection, and suggesting that • large iron safe which
stood below would be better for the purpose. Mr. Williams
positively declined to secede to this request, and the depu-
tation withdrew. It should be added that Mr. Williams
declined promiaing to produce the books, ite., to any one
without an order from the board, saying he should hold
himself responsible to produce the books in their integrity
as soon as be b►d instructions, and that he would commu-
nicate with Mr. East as speedily as possible."
Upon this report of the deputation several gentlemen ad-
dressed the meeting. It was resolved to call the attention
of the directors to what had taken place among the share-
holders of the Birmingham and Shrewsbury Company, aid
submit to the director, that it is due to their own character,
that an independeat investigation of the books, accounts,
and documents of this company should at once take place ;
that the report of the deputation now read be approved ;
and that the acting directors be urged to permit a com-
mittee to be appointed by this meeting to make immediate
investigations, similar to those now being eonda.'•ted by the
Shrewsbury and Birmingham committee.
It was further resolved, to request the directors to call a
meeting of the proprietors, at an early period, and so call
upon proprietors to entrust their proxies to the committee,
of which Mr. Thompson is chairman.
Finally, the following gentlemen were appointed a com-
mittee, to carry out the foregoing resolutions :—Me. Whal-
ley, M.P., Mr. Gordon Thomson, Mr. H. V. East, Mr. B.
Reblesoo, Mr. S. P. Robinson, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Monroe,
Mr. Campbell, and Me. Taoston.
A vote of thanks was then proposed to the Chairman, and
the business terrotosted.