The Express.
London, England, 1849-12-14 00:00:00

GOAT DS EDUCATIONAL MEETING, FREE-
T HALL, MANCHESTER

MANCHESTER. Dzo. 13.
Legogisiro Public School AnweintioB hold •
swig hot Wit in favour of its objects. in the Free-
Sell, • few lease Meer the close of the conference in
Witiodisaim• lostitetien,be reported in the Daily News of
*gel, sedithee numring from 6.000 to 6,000 persoos,
og Nos perthentsf the building best adapted for hearing the
..okees were w wowded that the earlier speaker' were ins
by the esefwisa arising oat of struggles among
tfrceltsd ei re amthieg them. At a later period a female
gilled thaw the heat and mews width resulted from the
goats et the hall where she had obtained a plow. In
sit el etelern, therefore, es well se is other tweets, the
web( was • met succeeful see for shoving the lively
melee taken is the quietism la this
Ale.. nines
of the weestry.
tu. Aar wee takes bey
13111. T , Esq., M.P. for
or serithera division of Lasewhire. Among the teestlemen
ormadligiste, es the platform, were the Eight Hoe.
Thome Gibe's, M.P. W. J. Fox Eel M.P.,
mos gimme.(Edin(Edinburgh), Samuel Lew:. Req.,
Than', B.alry, Esq., George Wilson, Ls' q , the Rev. W.
iii.Kae row, Nth moot of tlui Remitter's from various parts of
ties country who had attended the conference of the
Met ins.
Linen apologising for inability to attend were read.
ea &wr them the following fro haw Ewart, and
These Caelyle, Esq. A letter ho rend frem Lord
Solguad regretting he could not be weient.
" Elstend Lodge, Godaleung, Surrey, Dee. 1.
*Deer Sir,—ln consequence of extreme susceptibility of
Mil, Weeded with considerable pale, I fear I must forego
Me Weser of attending the meeting on the 12:11. I am only
wit moveoleg from an attack, and wish to avoid its renewal.
perceive that you are e" well supplied with 'apportion at
the wedsg that the absence of one will be unimportant.
Bat 1 sin Y
en to declare the strong conviction which
bits Ion: tertained, that • system of education, ear
&aged by means of local committee', and sustain d by local
ate, would be the best means of combining the friends of
educe. ion, and giving to education itself a national and pa:-
mum character.-1 sm, dear sir. your faithful servant,
" Wm. BRAILT.
E.pinesse, Esq."
" Chelsea, 3rd December, 1849.

BRIGHTON AND ITS PAVILION.

(From the Deily Nita.)
The good people of Brighton, having reprinted, for
their more deliberate perusal and more general con-
sideration the observations which recently appeared
in the Daily News on their ecclesiastical affairs, the
compliment thus paid to this journal induces us to
turn our attention to some of their more mundane con-
cerns. Not, howe ter, to promote irritation ; bat, it
possible, to compose strife.
As at Athens, and amongst the Gentiles, so at
Brighton; "evil c mtmunicattons corrupt good man-
ners" The Vicar having levied on the town a mino-
rity church rate, the parish officers appear resolved
to follow his bad example, and to faros
on the town a minority purchase. The
principle in either case is identical; it consists in
those having some little authority substituting their
determination for that of the public. And this sub-
stitution is rather more ofieusive and intolerable when
practised by the officers titan when resorted to by the
vicar of a parish; for, whilst the latter is responsible
to Heaven knows who, the former are the represents.
tierce of the rate-payers; and tor churchwardens and
oteraeers to fly in tee faces of their constituents is
enough to disturb the equanimity of a saint, much
more to rouse the wrath of parish patriots and vestry
orators.
But to the facts of the case without further preface.
There is, all the world knows, in the very heart of
Brighton, a great, ugly, indescribable, nondescript
building called the Pavilion; which is at once a mo-
nument of the vices and detestable taste of the Fourth
GEORGE, and of the good sense and correct artistic
feeling of the First Vic-rotate. Around it has grown
the modern town of Brighton ; which has sprung
from a village containing 3,000 inhabitants in 1794 to
a great city of pleasure containing 80,000 souls
in 1849. Modern Brighton is, then, a place
of royal origin ; and, in the plenitude of
his self-complacency, its regal founder ima-
gined that without royalty it would sink into the
insignificance from which he had rescued it. So he
lett his private palace of ugliness there, and its plea-
taut grounds, to the crown he did not adorn. In the
kindness of his generous heart, his royal successor
adopted this opinion; accepted the gift, and fulfilled
the obligation of occasional residence which it in-
volved. Not even her fondness for our national
element, or her consideration for all classes of her
I subjects, could, however, reconcile our presert most
gracious Sovereign to residence, however occasional,
in such a royal dog-kennel. So, taking advantage of,
and turning to account, the rude curiosity ar.d intru-
sive interest which, not perhaps unnaturally, in the
commencement of a reign which has revived loyalty,
sod saved monarchy in this country, but still not
the less inconveniently impeded royal walks, and ob-
structed royal drives at Brighton, Queen 'ICTORIA
made her bow to the Pavilion, and handed her royal
uncle's devise over to the unsafe keeping of the Woods
and Forests; and they, thrifty souls, have since spent
a small fortune on an empty house.
The retreat of royalty from Brighton exploded the
Georgian theory that its prosperity was founded on
royalty ; it proved that Nature had in reality at-
tracted royalty, and was quite sufficient to maintain
and extend prosperity ; for sincethe QUEER bought and
found at Osborne the enjoyments, the comforts, the
advantages, and the privacy, which the Pavilion
could not furnish, the population of Brighton has in-
creased by fully 20,000 souls ; and Brighton ceased
to be royal, only to become mote popular.
There, however, royalty having left it, stood the
unsightly, unoccupied, but though tenantless, the
still costly Pavilion. Year after year its repairs, its
maintenarce, its gardens, figured off in those sad
realities of national life—the estimates. Session after
session Mr. Huss complained of the folly, the stu-
pidity, the wickedness of throwing good money after
bad money on such a kaleidoscope collection of lath
and plaster; until, at last, even those hardened
spendthrifts, the Chancellors of the Exchequer, be-
came ashamed of the useless, profitless extravagance.
But what to do with it puzzled the Woods and
Forests. Sell it, exclaimed the great economist of
the House of Commons. The thought fell on the
idea-less Woods and Forests like a mighty discovery,
and forthwith they whipped through parliament a bill
to vend the Pavilion, wholesale or retail. 'rho very
hair stood on end on the heads of such of the surviv-
ing Georgian courtiers as were uncovered with
wigs! Yes; the Pavilion was for sale! Great fact!
But who on earth would buy the ricketty place?
True, the Pavilion itself was worth something as old
materials ; but few are the dealers in rubbish at
Brighton. True, it and the gardens occupied a con-
siderable space of land: bat who was going to enter
on a great building speculation in a town already
overbuilt, and in a quarter whence the sea was in-
visible ? No one. Though for sale, the Pavilion re-
mained unsold.
At last, in an unlucky hour of the past summer,
some of the tradesmen of Brighton who act as town
commi, sien re either got or Lad put into their heads,
the notion that the town should buy the palatial abo-
mination and regal enormity. The Woods and
Forests, anxious to shuffle it off their hands, en-
couraged the idea; it was ventilated ; strange to say
the fully took; town commissioners' meetings and
vestry meetings were held ; the vicar patronised the
scheme; the town clerk rubbed his hands with glee ;
the vestry clerk smiled ; the lawyers chuckled ; the
orators spouted; and the objectors were pooh
poohed. Tne piece could be had cheap, it would
only cost the town 53,0001. ; and out of that sum the
Woods and Forests, generous creatures, would "pay
for the stamps." Joint committees of town com-
missioner' and vestrymen were formed ; in the com-
mittee the astute and highly franchised commis-
sioners juggled the unsuspicious but more popular
vestrymen; the contract for purchase was signed;
notice of a bill to authorise the purchase was given,
and all was going on smoothly, when people began
to inquire how tic Pavilion was to be paid for, and,
when paid for, what was to be done with it—points,
oddly enough, overlooked in the first burst of the
affair.
Now, the more people considered these points the
more doubtful they became, and the less advanta-
geous did the purchase appear. 53,0001. is in itteif al
large BUM for a town to raise which is already
140,0001. in debt, which, on a rental of 200,0001., I
pays 15,800/. a year for poor rates, and nearly 30,0001.
in the shape of town rates, coal duties, and market I
tolls, and which is about to expend 100,0001. on sa-
nitary improvements. But, great a sum as 53,0001.
is, that is the mere purchase money of the
Pavilion ; it paid, and the seizin had of
the tumbling down place, it will, of course,
require thousands to turn it to account. How
much no one knows; for no one apparently can, or,
at all events, will, tell what is proposed to be done
with the Pavilion when bought. Every man may
have his scheme of appropriation ; but if so, they are
all kept in profound secrecy. More, far more, is
known of cabinet consultations, than plans for the
Pavilion. It has, of course, to be a Palace foe
the Million that all the advocates of the purchase
protest ; but how their majesties, the people, are to
inhabit and feast in it is not disclosed.
The certainty of its large original cost; the uncer-
tainty of its probable larger future cost; doubt as to
its application; apprehension that an unpopular town
clique mean to get it into their own hands; the weight
of 45,000/. a year present taxes, and of 140,000/.
present debt ; the approaching cost of the Health of
Towne Act, and the folly of a town plunging into
a commercial speculation—all these considerations
have lately produced a great revulsion of feeling in
Brighton as to the purchase, and many who, some
months ago, were eager to buy, are now anxious to
have nothing to do with the Pavilion. So last week
a requisition signed by Mr. CONINGHAM and 160 of
the meat respectable of the townspeople was pre-
seated to the parish officers to call a parish meeting
to reconsider the question. But those functionaries
have refused to comply with this requisition, and ap-
pear resolved to nail the town down to a minority
purchase, just as the vicar nailed it to a minority
church rate. Hence, at present, confusion is worse
confounded at Brighton,i and a town meeting is
called, without the aid of the parish officers, for
Monday next.
Now, in this state of things it is to be observed, that
the question of the purchase of the Pavilion is entirely
one for a majority of the ratepayers to decide. And
at present the shape it takes is, whether the rate-
payers will sanction the promotion of a bill to enable
them to enter into a contract to purchase the Pavilion ?
This is peculiarly a matter far popular consideration
and decision. And for any parisu officers to insist on
promoting a bill to fix such a purchase on the town
is sheer impertinence, and—something worse.

RAILWAY MEETING.

MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, AND LINCOLN-
SHIRE.
On Wednesday afternoon, at the Town Hall,
Sheffield, a meeting of shareholders in this undertaking
was held in mammon of an advertisement worded thus:—
"At a rreliminary meeting of certain of the shareholders,
held at the Royal Hotel, Maniffiester, on the 2Stk day of
November last, a ressolutios, of which the following is a copy,
was passed:—' That In the opinion of this meeting the pre-
sent position of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire
Railway Company requires the adoption of measures for
effecting a thorough and unrestricted inquiry into the strain
and management thereof.' Those shareholders who approve
eor requested uavve se dte
dead: eet desirous
ay
next,
to
moos :o
he r;
tat
ht thtfidkee
yfTe rooewfl nei resolution,
e December,i in et•
ice',
are
Sheffield,
itit
three
three o'clock in the afternoon precisely." The notice was
signed by seven shareholders.
Mr. W. P. BRADSHAW, of Barton, was called to the
chair. He stated the object of the meeting, and then read
extracts from several letters from shareholders not present.
One writer said, that being very much disgusted with the
present state of the mansgement, he should be happy to
assist in removing the present directors. Ile considered
Hudson's lines prooperous compared with this.—The next
letter was from Mr. Woodliead, of Old Hall, Muttram. He
strongly condemned the present management along the
whole hoe, and expressed approval of the int, utions of the
committee appointed at the alsnelocster meeting. He was
o?posed to the intended application to parliament by the
directors for powers to raise 600,0001. by preference snares
instead of exercising their borrowilar powers, because it
would d:preMate the value of the existing stock of all sorts,
and would render the non-preference stock for ever worth-
less. He would rather the railway and dock works should
bo stopped than that should happen.
Mr. CHARLES MORTON, of Wakefield, then moved
the following resolution, which was one of those agreed to at
the Manchester meeting—" That in the opinion of this meet-
ing the Disastrous position of the Manchester, Sheffield, and
Lincolnshire Railway Company imperatively requires that a
thorough and unrestricted invorieation should be forthwith
made into the finances, affairs, anal past and present policy,
and into the management thereof:* •
Mr. HOYLAND, druggist, Sheffield, seconded the
motion. •
Mr. WILES, of Sheffield, expressed an opinion that the
public would be ready to take up the 500,01.101. preference
stock at 6 percent. it the shareholders would not. (No, no.)
The question was, whether it was desirable to finish the
docks. Every one thought that indispensable at any rate.
(A Voice : Nay, not by the iuoing et preference scares.")
Mr. BENJAMIN SKIDMORE, of Sheffieli, cold he had
come with an extensive knowledge of the affairs of the corm
pony ; and he was prepared to say that for some time they
hut not been =caged in a proper and tradesmanlike man-
ner. There ought to be a committee appointed, composed
of shareholders residing at Sheffield and at Manchester, to.
investigate thoroughly and make known the real state ot af-
fairs. A more inefficient body than the late committee of
investigation he never knew. Their report contained nothing
new. He had a very strong impression that the present di-
rectors ought to be removed. (Loud applause.)
Mr. MORTON contended that aoo,ouol. could not be
raised on the terms Mr. Wiles had named.
The CHAIRMAN then put the motion to the meeting,
and it was adopted.
Mr. J. GREEN then proposed " That the unexpected
proposition of the directors to apply for an act to enable them
to create new stock to the amount of 600,0001., in the next
session of parliament, when by the present acts they are
pusissedot borrowing mowers still unexhausted, is. in the
opinion of this meeting, inexpedient, and should not be fur-
ther prosecuted until ttae investiaatan referred to in the
foregoing emulation shall have been made." The more
thoroughly they investigated the more astonished they would
be, and would find that they had placed greatly too
much confidence in the management. Spin:nog
of the great depreciation of the debentures, he said
that a gentleman Morena him last Saturday that de-
bentures to the amount of 1001. were not now worth more
than Mss. It had been said that the directors did cot
intend to give more than 6 per cent. interest for the Foposed
new prettrecce stock ; but unless they would give i Per .
Cent. Awes no use going to parliament. If they had power ,
Ito raise 500,0001., exclusive of borrowing powers, with •
guarantee o. 71 per in order to
cent. it was evident that
lame other money 71 per cent. would not suffice.
Mr. WITHERS seconded the motion, and it was carried
unanimously.
Mr. G. ROBERTS, of Sheffield, prcposcd that blesses.
Woodhead, of blottram Old Hall ; Samuel Lees, ci Man-
chester ; Charles Morton, of Waketiold ; W. I'. 13; whitlow,
of Barton ; H. Cadman, of Sheiii Id ; Charles Comer,
of folanchestor ; Harrison Blair, d Manchester; John,
Green, J. 11. N 1 inder, and John Spencer, of Sheffield; and
William Wilkinson, of Reified, with power to add to their
number, be appointed a committee for taking such steps as
they may deem requisite for carrying into team the moth-
Mom of this meeting.
Mr. MILNER, of Leek, seconded the proposition, which
was adeptcd nem. con.
Mr. HARRISON BLAIR Mated that three days after the
recent meeting of shareholders at Manchester a circular was
issued by the secretary to the company, to the o fleet the: the
directors', feeling it desirable to canter with the principal
shareholders on the present and future management, re-
quested the 'reties to whom the circular was addressed to
attend • meeting at the Queen's Hotel, Manchester, on
Saturday, the 15th inst. He thought it advisable that they
should have the express instructions of the shareholder.; to
attend the meetiog in question, with invitations or without.
Re therefore legged to propose a motion to that edict
Mr. GEO. DAWSON seconded the motion, but it was not
put to the meeting.
Mr. BLAIR then said the committee would probably
appoint a deputation of two or three ut thair body to attend
the meet rig, and that they would select those who would
not be obtrotious to the directors, because their object would
be to open a free discussion.
Mr. W. WILKINSON, of East Rctford, said be had
come to tho meeting deputed by an intlueutisl hotly of
shareholders, including Mr. Fisher, the mayor, all of whom
were decidedly of opinion that under the present manage.
ment they wore nut likely to get a dividend. After muse
further rennaks Mr. Wilkinson moved that a shilling per
1001. on the amount of shares held by each proprietor
should be contributed towards the committee's exienses.
The proposition was seconded by Mr. EYRE, of Chester-
field, and unanimous y adopted.
A YOU of thanks having been passed to the Chairman the
meeting separated.

DIRECT MANCHESTER, LEEDS, AND YORK.—The petition
for winding up this company's 'flair, before the Master in
Chancery, Brougham, is from Mr. 11. Dawson, of Curaan-
street, May-fair, barrister, and states that it was stinted in
September, 1545, with a proposed capital of bOO,OOO/,
in
43,000 shares of 201 each, many of which were allotted, but
the deposits not b-ing paid, liabilities for preliminary ex-
penses were incurred by the provisional committee, of whom
petitioner was one, and who are liable for a liquidation of
the same, unless the 'Wettest are called upon, under the
Joint Stock Companies' Winding:up Act, to a pro rata con-
tribution for their discharge. An official manager has to be
appointed for this purpose.
YORK, NEWCASTLE, AND BERWICK.—The new directors
have adopted the principle of public competition in tilling
up the appsintmenta on the line. They intimate their in-
tention to receive applications fur three general managers—
one for the passenger traffic, at 5001. per annum ; a second,
for the mineral traffic, at 1031. ; and a third, for the mer-
chandise, at 4001., each manager's salary to be increased pare
plasm with the company's profits.
CALEDONIAN AND DUMBAILTONSIIIRE.—This line has
been lined for six years to a firm of contractors. The amount
required to complete the line ia 200,0001.
MALTON AND DRIFFIELD.—A final call of 51 per share,
making 201. on the whole, has been made on the company's
stock. The directors, in calling up the remaining portion of
the capital, state that they are actit.g on the defensive, in
order to avoid a system which has come to their knowledge,
as prevailing to a great extent in several companies, of
pe-
malady' shareholder making fictitious transfers of their
shares to irresponsible parties, to the injury of bona
~ids
holders.

Sinrwitrels.—On Friday morning a 'large ship,
said to be from Moulmein, having a local pilot on board, was
off the Cornish ccast, near Polp:era. When the captain at-
tempted is hears her in stays, after making the hod, the
head-yards locked, and both anchors Were let go; but she
drifted ashore at ten o'clock, and was expected to go to
pieces. She had, including men of colour. twenty-five
hands, one or two of whom were drowned. She was laden
with teak timber, and is reported to have been bound to
Plymouth for cr.ers. She was the property of the master
and his uncle' and the captain's wife, who was on Vard,
landed ssfely from the ship. About the time of the above
wreck the smack Caroline, of eighty tons, Captain Jabez
Petherick, belonging to Messrs. Freeman, of Plymouth,
laden with stone from Alderney, was driven ashore on the
Reunite, in Whit:end Bay, near Lose Island. Her deck
and topsides were brcken up, and her boat, with part of a
bottle of wine in it, and the painter severed, was picked up
near Looe, but there were no tidings of the crew, consisting
of three or four men, who are supposed to have been lost.—
Liverpool Courier.
DANGEROUS CONDITION OF THE WALL OF THE
Naw STATION OF THE LANCASHIRE AND EORILSHIRE AND
EAST LANCASHIRE RAILWATS.—On Wednesday morning
it was discovered that the weight of the immense wall of the
new railway station. which runs parallel to and bounds Key-
street on one side, had sprang some of the arches by which
the line is carried our the streets in that neighbourhood,
and the c risequence was that fractures in the wall hub be-
came visible, and furs for its safety were entertained. The
narrowness of Key-street, and the towering height of the
wall, would have rendered its toptling a matter of serious
moment, fur not only would the thoroughfare oe altogether
impeded for days and days, but the damage might
be very serious both to life and property at the
opposite side of the street; hence, as might
naturally be expected, a good deal of excitement and dreal
prevailed iu the locality, and crowds were grouped about
viewing the huge mass of masonry that iO/111i the outward
wall of the 'tailor, busily speculating as to the probability of
its fall. That the danger was imminent may be gathered
from the fact that prompt measures were taken by the rail-
way withorilies to have the arches and
employedpy sup-
ported. A grcat number of men were during the
afternoon in placing lirge pieces of balk timber, cut ti a pro-
per length, as centres under the raver,: arches, and as but-
tresses to the wall, where fractures had become visible, and
where it was likely to ba affected by the springing of the
archer. Its present safety is thus secured; but whether the
slight cracks that have appeared will neceuitate the demoli-
tion and re-erection of the wall and atchee, we cannot pretend
to say.—Lirerpool Ts acs.