The Express.
London, England, 1849-12-22 00:00:00

THE 11t PRESS. SATURDAY EVENING. DECEMBER 22, 1849.

TO MS Qrslut'll Moir
portc.LOT freeholders and
of the county of Devon to County Cost
goao gesso your Msjesty,—We, your Mejesty's most
nen datita subjects, are suffering the greatest distress
)the impart gun a tore isn prudsae, which. it continued,
sdaltigiately Slog hopeless ruin on ail the industrious
skins, mat kambly pray y. ter Majesty to take such imms.
bale swum mirth instate to the county at large such tut.
Ibie protection se sha.l restore them to the state of pros
parity they enjoyed before the dieerrous impertinent of
ice Vera. (Una hooting anti cheers )
Mr. BALDWIN ruaoau, in a. coedits the address,
id that it would la vegetation...a in 0110, in the presence
. fumes, to attempt to meow at what ass they cultivate
ibeir brow, and he had no doubt but that the principal
Cause wss that they did nut, in cone yea nce ot tree trade obtam
rerasseratiag prices tor tetra prixiiace, nor could they ew
Feet to noon any n tor toter industry or capita.
elder tie present spites. It might be said mat
although the agricultorOts were suffertug the people at
lugs were brained, and that the toiletry at large were
reaping the benelltaarisisg frau the talli.steut a the Ire aside
seams. ttereat inteerupuon.) At a meeting habitat.), at
iinythagi, Mr. Mania, whom they would sot ecrowd
be a piantionist, spoke el tie Mares. that pervaded el,
dens, but sore espeaelly the workmen ia diresiegns
sod Shedield—lor distress first and moat severelyou tee
labouring c men. (Nola.)The best way to test thetas,
was to see it crime was it.ereasina. L-t them look at the
criminal returns, aid they would butt that not 1846,
1140, cheap coon. crime cad increased 48 per amt.
look at the poor rates under cheap prime—tbey were
promaised that the poor should be in comparative beauty, and
that the rates should b• demean. In 1845, the poor rates
Lunt to 7,373 000 i. with free trade, notwithetradiag all
the promisee held forth the poor rates in 1849, amounted to
-,817,001/1., beteg a larger sum than they ever had to pay
bet Ore. In Scotland. since 1845, the rates had teens...it
from 186 0001. to, in 1846, 360.1,001. In 1849, the gr atest
trading town or S otl.ud, Gmegoe, the sates had increased
teens 39 0001. to 20(1,0001. In Ireland things were, as they
well knew, tan worse. Could th- y say, then, Oat the
people were the better for it? Were the traders gainers by
pe
it ? Asi the shopkeeper* of Enter, Lot. did he think the
manufacturers would he ultset eta). gainen, since the home
trade amounted to 300,000,0001., which was far more
than the 'saga trade. They would lea effects of
these means when their eustenara took but 200,000.0001.
worth. 01 the 6,400,00 M. varied as income tin, 3,200,0001.
were paid by the land, whilet the whole sum paid by the
manstacturet. am tented to little more thaa 1,000.000/. If
they felt stub Arrow is this manufacturina and commercial
whiny, how rand they manage to get on at all in Ireland,
which mussel purely suseisicursil, in lull competition with
the whole word ? Fur his own part, he aid not see bow
they were to go en at all.
tubeTte wee told the measure had
bon peeved, end ought not alter. d ; he, however, did
oat think that a measure which was niiitioi all classes ought
tr be like the laws of the Medea sod Persians, which
changed not. The mating that gay would decide that they
ought to be altered. They were setting an it:ample to
England, In having the fin: aud open meeting.
(Hest, heat.)
Sir B. WRAY (who up ho wads! a storm of uproar, 90 as
to be amply mad 'ibis), earl that he bad an aniesdnient to
propea, which he sidled to be samittcouned to he calmest
been be cone
sederetwa. (Great imandon.) The try bad
traced by Sir R. Peel. who had deserted his colours. (Greet
contain, lighting, ike ) He declared himself for reptiles&
lion of tasatira. ( gore fighting.) There was another ratoe.
'
rest arising in the country the was the aristocracy f
wealth, and they should be made to bear their share.
Something should be dose for agriculture; under present
prices, it was Shane' impoeible for the twiner to pay general
sad local tazes. It tithes, as had been stated, were vested
on property, they were vested lot the original rupee, the
Lippert it the poor, and ant solely to be demoted to the
support if the neaten. (The Stant hers arose to Me a
psi, that It was quite inspoesiide to hes the rat el the
speake'r's ohaertatr.a.) His amendment was to the follow.
tag effect : —That this meeting views with alarm the depassod
eoaditi a agriculture. Teat ten property is eschicaely
battened with the payment„ local razes under the head et
tetra*, ascii-rata, poor s. highway rates, a large pot-
ties of oranty raus and lanAtaz, to the sweat of upwards
N 14 million, that this meeting humbly sleben their case
to the erased sad issandiate essideratioa el parlimant,
that WI timetiooot whatever nature say be remodelled, and
so *frogged as to comprise am equal and jut assesseseat for
tuitional, geseral, sad heal purposes, trios ever) species of
prop, sty, whether the sane may corselet
of piteous( or real
property ; Id that money, trade land, bout s, and all other
property may be compelled to bear its fair and just props
Ina el anima and local Undies."
Mr HUGH moos in the ameadsrat.
Mr. DIYETT, M.P. eta antis forward wee received
with hissing sad beniseg, and essayed in vain to anis a
hearing. He amid he understood trots the sheriff that the
maim' kat beta conversed for diseseden. (Upton and
fighting ) They were Send to hear. (Hisses.) He wend
oat lava the hostage until he timid's a besting. (Great
he, tad ?Ave groans lor Given.) It Was the first tins
e bad set the bourse yeomen of Deals, and he wee Pony
to find they were afraid to hear preventrea nether.) He
would use the Merman not their respected regrew a-
nue Sir J. Y. Basile
The lamas ban been gulled,
and were asking to be gulled again." He objected to bale
maim aad amendment. He did cot see much dill, reach
in either ; therefore he opposed them both. You come and
talk and ask for what you call full and ffectual pr %twine,
mid
fulloolish enough to I :pact you will get it. Yon hare
had but not effectual protection. The amendment
says fall and fair protection, but he contegde,no
protection could be fair. The farmers ofd Eng
land
bad ever been the victims of protection. It was a landlord's
question. and no one else's. In coasequence of the great
noise which bid been kept op behind him, beene platform,
he had not been able to hear what had said on the
other side, but, WOW what he could gather, it appeared to
bey m ere like election than protection speeches. Bet that
seatteeed little, a they bad had toe mush of the humbug
of prot,.!tion They had said in 1816 they could rot grow
eau ‘,.ed,,,r 80s. per quarts, sad all the corn laws
Were te; keep up the pries of bread. It was oily
within a few Nee as that they had had free trait ; and whet
a miserable eat ;.seey mast be to be ruined in that time.
Th abate the eg,:enfacturers ; but could they do without
them? What weekl .11" do with their surplus popolatiou ?
—what with your mice, it
labourers,•With WI Of seven
n, now half-starved, 0 it was not for the manila&
eeaten of the country ? He ii.`" that, in cossequene of the
raise that itja matiamd, ~ould not hear his own voice.
an he rah
move as an amend:anst that dm meeting be
Awaited.
Lord EBRINGTON, aaaaa,led the amendment in
a few °barratries, which were Spite
The HIGH SHERIFF refwed to put dm last amend-
ment. put the second, whisk was rejected, only ahou'
60 p noes voting in favour of it, lie then pet th a original
11"tinn, which was carried by a very
DtVolllarg P. e 'majosaritidy.
000-
Lord EnitINGTOW and Mr. r, DI the'
duet of the High Sheriff was unfair, and protested siebh:t
Trin sonar, they said, had been celled tit diso ,an.
wn, id
the question had been put before any dismission tea p

Mr PORI ER (a raid free trade Led not
be a g• idol by the voice of the people, tat by the treachery
o, thee. 11110 •net. returned 13 prat. at item. lle moved
that the pi-tiro he eitculated throughout the cowry.
Mr. GEORGE 1 URGER (smother Logo: farmer) es-
• telled the resolution.
The HIGH SHERIFF put the motion, which waecarriera.
Mr. lU f USK, tenant wren. r, owe. d that the sheriff be
re grated to present the petition to her Raj, sty, that the
Duke of Richmond and Lord Clinton present it to the
H use of Lords, and the county m saber to the Howe
of Ceasiania, sad that they be requested to support the
pros.
r. BUTLER said, as it was the lint time he had
emus beton toe public, he felt te was tomato' in whines.
tag that they had been about to give their cassias a jolly
good Saltine, and he might say good bye to ties Wide
test country.
The rewlatina was put sad carried.
Sir J. Y. BULLER, hi P., felt it was right to attend
thou that (lay. although he did so at great inrnnve. isnce.
He was delighted to °twang the spirit displayed there that
. ay, sad that actuated the present assembly in the eas-In
yard (Cheers.) It ought always to be as agreeable duty
t r a county member to attend • meeting convened by the
High Sheriff; te Lim it was most particularly pleasing.
They bad dune him the honour of plating in his bends a pe-
tition to the Commons' house of peritonea% and he should
do el, in his prose to furoard their prayer, sines he could 00
so conscientious'y ; as he tnlieved,.if the country cootthaed
much luoger to import foreign promise we await lose the
pierce of employing the people. During the ton =oaths of
toe present year they had imported immure quantities of
Gneiss provision*, and be must lay that the introduction
of that amount of foreign food displaced their own produce
rad their own labour to that extent. (Cheers) We bad
imported seven millions of quarters of corn, which must have
beta produced by much labour, end they wire therefore
compeller,* to pey wages to the foreign producer instead of
'heir own lab AMID. It was entirely a question for the
labourers, tor what was the use of having bread at a penny
a pound it they had not a penny to purchase it with, lilts
the Irishman who said that in hie country egas were a peony
the dozen, but seimitud that he was obliged to come to
linglthrt te get the penny.
Sir T. D. ACLAND sail he attended there, although
obliged, by so doss, to neglect a sacred duty w • noble and
lamented Inead. He felt it was due to them and Morel,
to attend there that day. He envied their representative,
and his colleague, Sir John Yards Boller, the p-sizion he
would be in of being able to rmiport the prayer ot their pati-
nae. (Greet rioting) It was their simple duty to pay due
respect to the wishes of their constitnents. (Catalina in, cad
cries of " Why don't you do yours.") He weld lialtlfe them
that be had not an interest oininct frogs theirs. (Gnat
fighting and rimiog.) They had not put the question to
their inee-otarin• as to what amount of support they
capes ettpe from them. (lairs cued dirtirbance. tie had
gives his opinion on that point an months sinceothen he
bail b, ea invited to attend a meeting noosed- ng_the sition
of the agricultural body. (Great elaswins.) Els had act
then h•bitstsd to .spree" his opinion, sad be very much re-
potted he could not Sala with their other repro, mauve.,
but at the same time sympathised as deeply with tne °novas
which he admitted at present existed as any 0110 could; but
tie recalls. ted drones a, deep, and suff. ring great, as that
complained of at present. (This olisserestias wsa r,estsed with I,
fe 'fel yells and rioting, ia which the physica e
were nut forgotten.) He supposed it was by the younger
awe that the distr.,' he alluded to was disputed, an they
seem by their rid station to assert that the ogrie.ltunst
bad never before , xperienoed distress like the preeent.
II
recollected equal, if not greater, distress when prices le tel
just alter the weir. But it wee Impossible for Will to
nap* to 111111 bark to that GOWN of pe.,14.11116 which stabs
men after stelosinars, and parliament altar parliament, hart
bees seise on, roe Intry years, with a view of °pealed ill
trades. It wos tinnily impossible for each aseetings—ate,
thirty -a* eseetin. s--te obtain a return of protection, which
ease 'for elan, statesman alter statesmen. and parliament
after parliament, had bast loggia la abolishiog.

ROCHESTER GRAMMAR SCHOOL.—On Thursday,
be 20th rest., the pup). of the Rev. R. Whiston, Head-
Muter of the Catheurel Grammar. oehool, olierter, pre-
sented him with a richly-worked and valuable too-envies,
as
a token of their sincere gratitude for his pas. kindness and
gamin es, unit of their best wishes for the future. Too 01
lowing is the inscription thereon " Vire Reverend • R dont.
Whist's, Coll. SS. Trim. Apud Cantab. Soeio Reruns.
Iletsokn, Reg. Apu'l Roffensea. Archidarealo D.D. Di even
Pteatinta Orate lino/Janne Feasts. in Futuna, Pre ante.,
Die. XV. Ante Ksl Jan.. An' ce Salutis 1649." C ming at
mach a time. an from • d melt e * quarter, this tea im rani
evelem tail to he it itifyina to the supporien of Mr. Wei.-
ten agai- et hie ezpitular persecutors; at ail event., it -how,
that, in the op no'th oe weist inter. st-rt. that learned
gentleman i. not " unfit to Maumee the school. "
EXTRAORDINARY OCCURRENCE AT WANDSWORTH.
—Tester y movong, ono. half past seven, one of Sir
d t Burnete's, the eminent distiller's, wagilons was panne
Gilder the railway bridge, Liner North-street,Wandetworth,
and which i. el a' to the station, when are empty. pipe CAW
in emtact wok the arm of the arch, the collision causint
ask'
three note, containing beandy. rum, and gin to be h.The cute were sone in by the lutes of the fall. and the
valuable content. instantly fl ioded the road way. No none,
had the tact become known that • large quantity of spirit.
had ben •oilt than droves of men and boys flocked to the
spot and lapped up she spirits. The corm quinces were such
as might b tepee... 4. Some men employed in tin scij
gas works IF tame &cheek's, others were wade drunk,dune and
with great difficulty were prevented doing injury to them-
selves The Ives is metiouoy stated at from 701 to 10111
fire bridge s said not to be the height required by the act
of Parliament. and it would not admit of an omnibus with
pan meters ..n it Weillg under it
ROYAL NAVAL. BCHOHL.—The half yearly distri-
bution 'if prizes of this ionisation took place page-may at the
establiahnunt, New-cr n Admiral B tone, C.B ' was in
the stair Admiral the Hon. E. Knox, Admiral Falcon,
Sir J. Liddell. IVII•Tfl naval ciaptaii.s, and also several
ladies w. re pr. cent. T e mildest having opened the pro-
n. gs ty • brief address to the students of the mho I, the
report of the Rev. Dr. Crumbing, the head muter, was read
lby Mr. Bunn, the secretor,. It was of a highly satisfac•ory
chateau. Priz aof riot ly b .und and valuable wsirke were
then distributed to the billowing young gentlemen :
Acheson, It bias n, Morris, Welch, Stephetee„ Aii her,
Dieken, C irowell, jut.., D nham, Dawkins, II on !field.
/loaders, and riper. Several others were then honourably
mentioned. The or dical attendant's report was then reed.
It • d that even during the prevalence of cholera not a
cam of th et diora-e or even diorama occurred is the school ;
tree pupi • of which continued to re joy their lions:eon d
bealn. The president having again addressed them in Gen-
gratutitory inn.• the once dings terminated.
Pbl Z ET.—THE STYX. —Not et is given in last
alike* Ga,:ett, that the ace iant sales of the peers eta erste./
from the colour, ot the *lave-vessel (lent
Cud', il At lea b
n., y he!
Maj• sty's etvam-v. awl 8 yx, Bury Eq , mina-
invade- (i.er Itl.jesty's ship Miswrote in conipany 1. on
18th F b 1818, will be rest -treed in the High Court
A.mitAtti, ou or after the 2Sth J. WOODHIAD
Asent.
FRAUDS ARISING OUT OF TILE TRUCK SYSTEM.—
Oar readers will collect that Nottinghamee. Aureole), were the
ems revers for the meting the ono Mansfield
line rai.way, w,ich has recently been completed. As is
send villa person.. engaged in extensive undertak nos, they
kayo been in the habit of giving the men in their employ
Mabee, of tickets for 3.. and 55. each, in part payment of
obi wars. These ickeee, which were signed by the con
feasigr. .gent, John S toter, the men have token to cliff r-
elit Leadsmen au the town, and have obtained go at'
ast
for ,
them. This se .ettee has ben tarried ea
for tom- tim• p
Uses lielpts have. this last week, been called in. for the
of paying the amount of them (s me where &boa,
27;1s cash to their holden. On this bel'.g dose, it was
efiseovered that shoat 1001. worth were f rged ; and, all s he
contractors will not pay them, the lose in some case• wi b
very severe. N.. 1 else can be had as to who the forgers are.
We cannot coat in too strong larguege armrest a sy-tem
like this, wherebs the poor mat, because te
er cent.•tor wants • small
*trance of m..r eye i made topay nearly 20 p it.
—Noring/inen J own/
Oarßtett RYBRITS.—The trade in Ostend rabbits
has iecressed --ithin the last tour years to a very .nrinieing
extent, There are two laTiTalll avers week, th• General
II cam Navigation C unsay's vcrels f ailing from o.tssi on
Wedeor-dav and Seterdey with piles of cases, containing
elbow 120 rabbits oast esee, earplug hoes Slhe. to 6 be each
rabbit. OA Saturday evenings in particular, Lead•
shall
market presents the a puniest" of an extensive ton; it is
densely crowded with *hotted* buyers from all parts of the
gasteepoli• , and by lar ie number. of artist• a and michanim
with their wine to provide for their Sand .y`o ditser. It
is eel enough that the Comm Women of Customs should
have ruled that rabbi's should pay • duty of five per cent
Ali, ough proeid o:s in genteel are tree, they have clamed
rdabits under the head of game, but they anent con. nred
go by any one elec. Whilst the sucking pig is imported .1
as en animal du y tree, the rabbit is Mused Ili der the
heed of poultry, nutwithranding that the terms "fish, fleas, i
sad fowl" clearly demonstrated to our mind that the is-
porters of rabtrt. are no more liab'e to the
sett the
importer. of sucking tip. But the trade were ,o much
inconvenient. d by the Imposiios, as the delay and incon-
venience they were subjected to in Ye cleaner at the
Ccotorn-hemse, consequently a salesman of Lsadenhall.
market, Mr. George finding all remonctruce wish
the subordinates of the customs useless, at once determined
to mernorialiso the b sir& Be represented the great l
• frm delay in an article o such • perishable nature
as the Ostend rebhit. He called attention to the incon-
venience Peke, fern the detention of hundr.d.
o of
their
r
individuals who Ihilt r the supply to put n
Sunday table ; he terribly brought under the notice
of the enomi-oioners that the delay canoed a deuces
tion of the Sabha'. by turning the bueiness of Saturday y
night into •rtf•-•1. y morning ; and happy are we t
that the Board of C 400121,1 gave a ready ear to the enema
violist; we ate aloe glad to bear witness tote present
annuity of the of under the board's direction..
Com-
Mr.
Brooke also waited on the Geriersl Steam Navi,vation
pany, and wee ourrationly rewired by the secretary ond
animism whet not only promisod, bat have actually afforded
every facility which wiud, weather, steam, and good Neuman-I
ship can afford to Witt the " good vessel " to her destined
port in the proper time for market ; and thus the praise.
worthy manic. mint or the C immiriurrs of CultolDS, the !
energy of the General Steam Navigation Company, sod Moe a
exertions o' the 6.1 swan rouble the poor man to porches.
whole animal tor hie Sunday's dinner at • cost of la., mad
afford" to his more weaithy neighbour the opportunity of a
"dainty dish," Be th • vigilance of all pouts Kenn
of
a
in that delicacy of Blmar, and which delay, its aseemat
its perishable nature, would otherwise reader Weethlaiso
Plemeirein• Daiip List.

OXFORD, WORCESTER, AND WOLVER-
HAMPTON RAILWAY.
DECISION OF THE RAILWAY COl-
it 1 SS lON ERS.
This line, th 3 construction of which has been
ales .‘t brought to a standetid, most now, it will be seen by
the following notice, mint to the Great VIA stem Company
by
th • Itoilw.y Onnonseioaen, be imasedia•ely actively pro-
ceeded with. Subjoined is a copy of the letter referred to :
"Oni.e of Commissioners of Railways,
Whitehall, Dee. 15, 1849
" em directed by the Commisaiosers of Railways
in'orm you that they have careuly considers the 1
memorials that have been presented to the heard, complain-
log of the inconvenience sustained by the public, and indivi•
dually, in costs quence of the non-completion of the Ozford,
Worcester. and Wolverlitaaps w Railway, and calling
upon the Commissioners ra. Railways to exercise the powers
vested in them by the 8& 9 %ie., c. 184, te e. 131. That the
commissioners have also hat ands' c,nsederation the state.
menta, written and verbal, of the Osfor t, Worcester, and
Wtoverliampton Railway Company exyreesiag their inability
ender eating circumstances to prom, d wi h the completion
of the lioe. and the espial:rations written and verbal of the
Great Western Railway C ompany, in answer to the applies-
demi made to the board calling on thGt company to complete
the railway. lam directed to state that the °commissioners
are sashar d, after a careful inquiry and report made by else
of their own officers, and by the admis-ion ma le by the
Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhamnton C anoany *ha: the
company is neglecting to proceel with the construction of
their hoe, and that tnere is no returnable security that it
will be completed withia the time limited by the arr.
" Under these circumstances the commissioner', after
we ighing well the provisions of the statute in c-ran. cion with
the statements made by the Great Western Company in
relation thorax,. are of opialdi that it is incumbent upon
them, in exercise of the discretion eaten in them by the
legislature, to tall upon the Great Went. ra C riopsny to pro-
ceed with the construction of the lice ; and I am cirected
to state, that unless within one month fr m the dist, of this
letter the commissioners of railways have some satisttctory
grounds for believing that efficient arm gemente will be
made for unstring the completion of the line within the
time limit. d by law, they e ill feel it their duty formally to
require the Oreat Western Railway Company to enter upon
the Oxford, WOTOMPIIf, and Wulverbampton 11silway to
proceed with the construction thereof, anct to kltiC.S. all the
powers of the Oif. rd, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Rail.
way Act in relation thereto.
" I am also to inform yon that a copy of this communica-
tion will be fowarded to -the Oxford, Worcester, and W ol-
verhampton Railway Company.
" I have the honour to be, sir, y3VIT obedient servant,
" H. D. HARNESS, Capt. Royal Eneineen.

MR. CHAPLOUTH-WES TERN IN AND THE
RALON WAY.DO AND
SILN
Mr. Chaplin has addressed the following letter to
the proprietors ot this railway :
London. Dee. 16.
Fellow-Shareholders,—It it with regret that I feel myself
call. d upon to address you on mature seating my indi-
vidual position, but I em assured that you nut
.give me
your indulgent attention.
The board of directors el this company have, until lately,
enjoyed your unlimited confidence. I believe they have
been 'eland to it ; hat recently, the depression ot our pro-
perty appears to have caused a general soreness and vissatis-
tattoo, and has led some at least r. f your body into unittat
auspicton and distrust, until, at last, we lind open chsrges,
or hull more objectionable insinuation• of dishonourable and
c:rrupt conduct, made against men who, at must, have only
been guiay of co-operating with the shareholders at large in
' the furtherance of p 'kitty and of measures which the ex-
perience we hues purcbased bee shown to be erroneous.
1 hag that I ma. ir.t be considered as era Vag any of
there charge", it, as regards these a high apply -,o the board
4enera ly, I utter no re mark ; but the board having, with
my 1.11 concurrence, challenged an inquiry into vur conduct,
I p.stpone espial's:iota on pinta affecting them as well as
coysP.
articular I he complaint, in my pticular ass, is that I hats been,
and c,ntinue to be, in arrest in reap, et of calls ; and that,
uevertheless, matters have been so costrit,d, that I have re•
WWI d.vidend on calls in arrest at a higher rate than the
interest • Ws which 1 have been surged.
The latter charge is woolly 'without foundation. I have
never received ur been credited with a divitl.nd at a nigher
.a'sf than the interest with which 1 have been charged.
Tne banter charms I admit ; and although I do an in the
c Miler ce that the explanation 1 am about to sive wit
.Icus, me with all bur .nd impartial men, I snou.o
' do myself injestice it I tailed to its,' that to have been in
any arrest, *Mist acting as your chairman has occasioned me

pain.
I joined the direction of this company in 1837, and be
earns your chairman iu 1843.
Previously to my connexion with it I had been eneatted in
the largest coaching business in the world, and was induced to
transfer my cap.tal ions the London and South sSi estern
Raillery, beceess 1 foresaw the great change which must
take place it, the means tli public communication ; and !run
the first moment of my connesien with this cowpony it wes
m. inteuti.m to transier, as circumstances should allow, a
large proportion of my roperty into it.
Wneiht r, in 1843, when 1 wss ceded to your chair, I was.
a whether I nave since that time been, vie most proper
venom toocsupy so prsminent a positim in the undertsking,
you wall permit me to say was a question for yourselves
rather then tor me ; hut having limn honou vat by your
seleaion, I clams to her. dev3ko to your service the best
part of the time, mind, and mmey et my disposer ; sod if I
have not wdhdrawn my property from every other Mem:-
mint, I have at least concentrated it in your undertaking,
sod Moos immedititely connected with it, sufficiently to
synce my costidence, anu to make my interests and your
own identical.
I speak of this as no merit. In my opinion, the man who
may happen to hold the chair in this or any other railway
company should be one who bas such a pecuniary stake in it
astir guarautee the unity of his duty and his interest, and
.ho, alter maturing, according to his own best judgment,
and fairly discussing with his coproprietor* the measures
deemed advairegeous to the company, is prepared to
1 tam-eit, time, mind, and pro/crty into the promo.ionthrow 01

them.
teseweing your assent to this proposition, I shall take oc-
casion presently to state to you the extent to which I have
embarked in our undertaking. In the meantime I wouli
odterve treat this has been done to the sacluelun of every.
other Enghsh Railway Investment (except Lett no single
prof or silted with the South Western Railway has received
your sanction and approval without also receiving my aid
in time and mosey) ; that in le4o, oa a deputation fr 01
France attendant; a meeting of the directors, and sum. quint' y
of the propel tors of this company, inviting aid in the forma-
tion of the Pan, and 11, neen ltaiiway, I embarked largely in
that coecerii, with the sole view, in the first instance, or
opening a line e: communication between Paris and the coas
opposite to 8 utbacep:on ; that I subwieue tiny took a aim:-
lag line of e o..duct respecting the Rom n and li 4 ere :in, *, lied
lastly, that our much-abused steam-packet. have, on like
considerations, beta supported by me until my motives have
be. n there alitoeuepect.d, although those who have watehe
my stake in the tweet concern migot have men, if they
would, that it was impose:hie I could profit by any urinal
meat with such an adjunct if it was in fact prejadie,il to the
origival undertaking Neither, fellow* hareuolde
orre, have
I,r
iii weed times or bad, demoted my co.pprietors, my p
Gad opinions, by withdrawing my iuvestmetit or tin .king
in sheers, but I have had en with steadiuess and coneeney
I reed not reamed you that when I joined your under-
Weal, and whi a, . a 1843, I was c tied to the chair, the
London and South Western Railway was comparatively
at el.. din t.s estent I wish your attention to the additions
ethic u le ye sate. gaently been made to ix capital, and COLO.
14111110,iy to my holding in it.
I will only carry you back to the autumn of 1844.
Wisely or not, it was then thought tees cheat, and you
luny epproved it, that our extension to Weter.oo biidee,
ant line. to Yeuve, Newbury, Di lcott, and Sevin 0, , should
b. proj•c•rd, and that sapi, al sbould be raised for thee pur-
pees. New shares win' ae: °rawly agreed to oe create, are t
wire offered rateably to the proprietors, They were ,t a large
premium ; I teak my rateable proportion, not a elan mere,
not a share less, and m stock in your concern wee by the
ooe ration double.ly The schemes which h d thus I ess i de.
caned were, in toe beginning of 1845, to . c..nsiderable
*sent abandoned, and an aerengement come to. under the
sane ion of the B end of Trade, of a different tr.aracter. It
its details it was very us al .able to myself, teat I i epezielly
el-proved it e n oust ground, vie , that it premised a
se Alement of the railway c•nemunice io e of the
du rice to ',hien it referred, and taste ed to us
a in :deride, but, es I maim( d, a secure share'
in them. It is immaterial to my present puree le
pint out how, by the current of public opinion, and the I
e .ndact of parliament, these expectations were blew* to the I
I
w ads.
Menntiese, the struggle in the Psetemouth district Landon t vele 1
suited in the uncti in by parl smut ot the Deect Lo
o:raund P,
scre;sewohiutenh Line, but
obuir.dtherefohredrabstetan: wadi coatis
amornihon.ngesalt,‘Ottuhtriinte
perialiesplot'llhdneeelfeue::Besehlagainsting PanttahP"depiDeimree.
ibutymPt,h.teiht:natsubllittirel
Line wool I be greatly improved.therefore dte-
mined to execute those portions, and for that purp.ee Revers
ni cemary, in Clamber, 180, to create and is•On Tinos, of
generally taken up, "'though some were left on band, and
some remain ad at this moment. I ag-in took my rateable
proportion—sot a share more, not a share less.
Having . send m le eapiel in 1845 than was reciesary for
the more limited regions for which parliament then a n
sided you powers, I will only remind you, that this surplus
was almorbed by schemes which with your sanction wire
be uakt be ,re puha cent in 1848, so that wnen in the
autumn of the' year it was determined to snake applicati di
for extensions to Raster and the Land's End, a. well as f r
tattoo othsr objets nearer home, it was Wand necessary to
raise as entirely new capital for those p opuses. In the
meantime, so tar from parting with any of the shares which
I had hitherto held Li your undertakinr, and realising
thereb the large premiums of those days, I had increased
my baldirg, and in /4 ivember, 1848, was a proprieter of
'2,948 £4O s - arts and 420 I:40 shares, including my propor-
tion of Ten-h•, which then or immediately afterwards were
is course of consolidate an.
IA N eiember, 1848 you were called together for the doable
pried. of considering what applications should be made
necessary
parli• " to
cement in the next sessiou, and of making the
tie:Auto.* ot capita, The result was one of the largest
ermine erheh I remember . o hays seen sines my connezion
• lames:ill eased the largest eropeietort In sash of those under.
......s e sweetreenticenot
tai,thertlnotibewlthstanding the pirealna:enwLnommitheeelbaread;
Lamy"
IX
trapcommaiguites by thc
that rot not kosetanolythesonmer.elinephal slosould
was mercecleaed by tbe kefee 10 pedlar flrother party.

with the Sou,h Western ; and a errermination (not carried
by a bare majority or with a cold consent, but sanctioned
with snanitniey and with the moat warmth and cordiality)
in embark is, measures laValVatif the expenditure, supposing
all of them had te 'reapproved by pa: Lenient, of newly awn
and a had mil.ons of money. It is difficult, in the present
times of depression, to wane. the feelings of those dale of
excitement; but I must not have it inferred that these grave
subjects bat bean under the discussion of the proprietary al
the meeting of November, 1846, alms. On the contrary,
for two years previously the directors had bees
taunted by many of your body with their slags
giso policy ; and at the three general meetings
which preceded that of November, 1844, their gradual Aga-
donment of a quieter line et conduct, and their adhesion to
the clernes of extension which then so mach occupied the
public mint, bad been received with acclamation.
This determination rendered unwary • farther lime of
capital, doubling the then meant amount of your stock, and
the scheme of raising such c.pital was submitted to you in
full. Woe this occasion the sew stock bore a slight pre.
mium only. Following say former c liras upon similar oc-
casions, 1 at awe declared my option to treks my rateable
proportion —not a share more, not a share lees.
By the middle of December the applicatiems by
the proprietors were seen so far to fall short of
the amount deemed necessary to be allotted, that my °ol-
ivine' and myself thought it expedient to provide for an
absorption of a further amount of the new stock, and to do
so upon such terms as should prevent injury to the previous
'Hotta's. Oa the part which, jointly with others, I there-
upon took as to such further subeeriptione, I purposely omit
any remark; but, as regards myself, finding that the measure
which was deemed expedient for the interests of the com-
pany couli only proceed on my taking • largeshwe in Garry -
iog it out, T acted accordingly, and the consequence was the
addition of 3,000 new shares to my then alreseiy sufficient
investment in the company. Had I declined this subs:rip.
tiers, as 1 most assuredly should have done if I had felt at
liberty to follow my own inclination alone, I might have
been spared the present explanation •
By these additional takings, voluntary and involuntary, I
had become a holder of stock in your concern in January,
1847, to the following extent
800 Original 501. Shares
203 Eigtiths 40
2,052 New fkl. Shares (1845).
178 40 „ „
3M Tenths 50 „ „
39 ditto 40 „
5,672 6° " (144 } Now Thirds.
381 40
It may be objected that my holding and subscriptions were
beyond my means; but I trust my assailants will share the
satisfaction I have in stating, that there need, even in the
present time of distrust, not be the remotest apprehension of
my inablity to pay my arrears at a short nonce, whenever
the money is really wanted toryour purposes. At the 'Me
time, as regards my second subscription, is December, 1846,
I doubtless then telt, as I now feel, that, should it be neces-
sary, the circumstances under which I so subscribed would
be favourably considered by my co-proprietove, and that I
should not be driven to undue sacrifices for tne purpose of
meeting an engagement which I entered upon to serve the
general interest, and not my own individually.
Of course, if I could, in 1846, have foreseen the course
wl-ith events were about to take in 1847, 48, and 49, it
would have been easy to dispose of a poreion of my shares at
high prices ; but, as a feeling of extreme confidence induced
me to invest to largely in your undertaking, so also I was
strongly disinclined, as the market value ot our property
fell, to , o soy act which should appear to evince any distrust
in its soundness. Thus I permitted the year 1847 to pew.
and I admit that at the close of it there was an undue aaaaaa
of calls standing against my name, although. I beg it to be
observed, that. early in 1847 I had securities deposited with
your treasurer consismrably more than equal in value to the
amount of my anear.
I have already denied in foto the charge that I have at any
time received dividend on calls in ; but b, fore passing
to matter subsequent in point et date, I must, in order to
displace that charge more completely, state that in 1845 1
advanced the company 43,0001 , without teenri.y, and at a
ow rate of interest. This loan was either absorbed in calls
which fell due from me in the year 1846, or by cash pig-
ments by the company, and I only refer to it because it was
the means of opening a ledger account between mewl( sad
the company, on the credit side of which will be found my
loans, and on the debtor side my calls, with the ermpasp
repayments in cash. When, therefore, in the latter part of
1846, and during the year 1847, further calls anl de positsl
on new stock became papal le by me, they were debited I
against my same in the ate• ve.mentioned ledger account, and'
I no luger stood in the list of sharehol .ers in arrear of call t
It has been awaited that this was eons fur the purpose of
enabling me to receive dividend tat the higher rate which
the company were then plying on the dividend bearing part
of their stick) upon amounts I had never re .By paid. eibilst
I was only charged interest thereon ; or that at least such a
contequence rewired from it. This neither was nor could
be the case. Th- shares on which I was then in inter bore
no dividend, and the rate of inter, at on tho • bearing interest
wea at 4 per cent. oat, whilst I was on my wear rightly
Outgo& with 5 per cent.
This explanation mutt convince you that the carrying of
my arrears to my debit in the I. dger, and thus apparently
relieving me of them as arrears in no way affected the rate or
smount ot
should receive
should pay on the ens side, or of the
dividend 1 should receive on the other.
In the court., of the year 1048, the before-mentioned
ledger balance or arrear was coosiderably reduced, and in
February, 1849, entirely discharged eith interest at live per
cent. The pressure for mons y which came upon the com-
pany is the autumn of 1847, although o' course it pressed
equally upon my resources, ca led on me to make more than
ordinary sacrifices in this respect ; anti although I still de-
n-rosined to retain my South- Western shares, and had by the
French revolution been prevent, d realesi, g the particular
pronerf): which 1 had invaded to bring home f.r perma-
nent investment in the South-W, stern eine, I paid during the
sieteen months egisning October 1847, upwards of
100,0001. into your each, goer in sitiefaction of calls and
interest, in addition to previous payments to about the same

amount,
In December, 1647, came the creation of preference stock.
On th.s . cession, at conaders,le inconvenience, I took up
my mumble proportion—sot a chary sn re —not a >hare less;
and I ptid my deposit of upwards of 9,0001, en- irely 'Rein
sire of the above-mentioned arnoun.e. I hold these share-
still, and, with them, the further amount of shares making
the total holdiug mentioned at foot §
It has then bent through n.y de ermsnation not to turn
my bark on the South-Western itedway, or to depreciate
the property of my co proprietors b. large sales of their
-.tack, and by my inability, on the other hand, to testis
without inordinate sacr.fice, toe other property to white I
have rel. rred, that I hive been, end .t II em, in setter of
calls, although I am no' aware t- at the comaeny'a interests
nave really suffered thereby, MI I believe that much sour,
mischief would have been don.. had I et • time when our
shares were in a state of undue depression been found
a considerable seller ,1 And I feel the 'trotted
confidence that I shall receive from all such of you
as will exercise an eoprejudice 1 judgment in t e melee
so indulgent coosideraiian of the einueptanceit which have
occasioned my &mare; it meet he eoreeded that those cir
cum•eances comprise • d -votion to S u- h- Western interests,
ace riling to my Indents. ding of them, ot no ordinary
cearacter, and also a series ce poloie.l aod commercial
events beyond parallel le mod. en trines.
To my own personal lows from these cause" I am un-
willing to make any allusion : V.ey are sufficiently oteviou.,
but much of them lam cont• at to hear, be it only for the
eake of the irrefragable proofs which your own recordb" ofad
my large and steady holding, through d times and ,
afford that I leave acted with sincerii and honesty, and have
not sought to inspire in others a confidence wuich I have not
myself entertained.
It mg uerhsys be observed, teat in this long address I
have attempted no vindication of the past management and I
of
your undertaking. It is beside my resod purpose
am free to admit that, with the expel- nee of 1849, there is
much that we must wish usdone in fns acts of p mous years
All of us may be wise after the event, hut it is for fools or
knaves to pretend that theynni have ha
such such alter
acquired
wisdom wisdom from the beg' g.
I make n
We are all large sufferers, an 4 I am mast the pr.-stest;
bit if we make the proper use of our resent depression, and,
instead of quarrelling among ourselves, and making charge!.
or casting imputations, which have no justification in fact or
faitnes., we devote ourselves to the careful winking
tore
and
development of our property, there is yet prospery
for us.
At all events, if peace and confi4ene• can le restored
in our camp, I am not ahout to change my investment
made.
;
but with regard to suggestions which have been
that the management requires modification, I will
at once state, and 1 do it neith-r under excitement or alarm,
that I have on several occasions lore I held my present posi-
tion endeavoured to procure a successor more capable of ad-
vauciog the general interests ef the c nap thy ; and, so soon
as the coming meeting sha:l have paeued over, and the com-
mittee, which will be then appoin ed, shall hive acquitted
us of the corrupt conduct and motives which have been im-
puted, I, for one, shall be perfectly ready to accede to
measures for iefusiog 'due admixture of new blood into the

direction.
I am, fellow ebareholdere, your 'althfig
W. J. CHAPLIN.

• It will, perhaps, be observed that at the period to which I am
now referring the es rip in our" Io° bate • small prew Wm. It did
so ; but my further aulrerlption was made upon terms which disa-
bled me ;had I been so inclined) to teepee th.,t premium
not be , inasmucplaced
h
as it was part of the anniggesent that the scrip should
tbe pof those wb took It for some months afterwards ;
and from oresston
the latter period down to the present hoopportunity
(bad there here • desire to Inure case) Sas existed for selling other-
wise thin at a comiderable diesuant
4, Nevertheless the sum ma cif interest ern charged against my
secount se against all War madders in wear.
t Parts and Rosen shares 101.)„ of whisk I thee held and tr,w hat
upwards of 1,000, were, in December, leiT. worth MOT* than 401. per
share. The revolution brought them down at once to 'Ol. per share.
Bourn and Havre shares fell in • 'Smiler or greater ratio.
Viz. Stock .............................. C 19,130 0 PAID.
New fitie;ree, 1943
£3O 40. 3,103 . 99,348 10
40 „ DI ........... 7,046 0
Thirds, 1046._ „ 11,441 ............... 38,015 0
Predwenee, 1848 „ 2,207 .............. 11,033 0
Total paid .. . ... ... Z 194,374 10
The arrears. excluding opti calls, amount to 48,145/. 6s. fel.,
and consist of two calls of N. on the New Iberia of 1043, and two
calla of If. 13s. kt. each on the Tanis of leak 1847.
My latter arreersp, eat been written off, or Unmarred to a
ledger amount, but stand simply ageing my name as aniare, bearing
internist Ere seat. •

RAILWAY ACCIDENT,—A little girl named Fawcett,
daughter of a pate layer, ernuioyed on the Leeds and Brad-
ford railway, was accidentally run over on Tuesday last, and
instantly crashed to death. The accident occurred mar
Bolton Bridge. The child trainngaged in taking her lather's
withindier, and seeing an up-approaching, the girl stood
the rail on the opposite side of the way, and ran e
I doing so down train pasta ever her.—Ztradford Observer