The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-22 00:00:00

SHREWSBURY AND BIRMINGHAJI RAILIVAI.

A special meeting of the shareholders of this com-
pany was held yesterday at the Lion Hotel, at Shrewsbury,
the Hon. R. H. Ctirt, M.P., in the chair. 'there was a
very large attendance of influential shareholders from
London, Liverpool, Bristol, and the north. Amongst the
notables we observed Lord Forester, Mr. Ormsby Gore,
M.P., Mr. Geaoh, M.P., Mr. Saunders, and Capt. Balkeley,
of the Great Western Company, &c.
The meeting was called in consequence of a requisition
presented to the board some time since for the purpose of
confirming certain acts done by the committee appointed at
the meeting held at Wolverhampton on the 28th of July,
and to order payment of expenses incurred out of the com-
pany's funds.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the business of the day, said
that his first duty.would be to ask the requisitionists whether
they had anything to propose, and, in the next place,
to apologise to the shareholders for his unavoidable
absence from their meeting on the 14th inst., but it hap-
pened that at that time his duties in the yeomanry, which
he had commanded for more than 20 years, without having
I once been absent, required his presence. He felt that to be
I a sufficient excuse for his absence at their meeting on the
occasien to which he had alluded. For what took place at
that meeting he offered the shareholders his sincere congra-
tulations—that what they had all looked for so long was
now very likely to come to pass. For his own part he could
truly say that his great anxiety had always been that good
feeling, peace, and prosperity might be the characteristic
of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway Company.
Ile could not now help offering his humble thanks to the
Great Western Company for the handsome and liberal offer
they had made—an offer made in terms so distinct, explicit,
and clear by Mr. Saunders, that no mistake could possibly
arise. On that point every one must feel secure. (Hear.)
This was a matter of so much the more satisfaction to
bias not merely because of his being a Shroisabury and Bir-
Imingham shareholder and their chairman, but because of
the position he occupied as the representative of this im-
portant district—stanuing there, too, in the midst of his
constituency, with whom it was of so much importance
that he should stand well. (Hear.) Serious chargers had
been made apinat him, which he had considered it unbc-
rooming in him to reply to, until he stood before those who
had known him long, and who would be best able to judge
whether he had done anything calculated to dishonour him
as an English gentleman. Any and every statement be had
made he was prepared at all times to substantiate ; but
from what had recently taken place, he felt it unnecessary
to say more in relereuee to himself at that time; he hoped
in future that the company would be a united company.
For himself, he could truly gay that he had accepted the
office of their chairman with reluctance on the retirement
of his hon. friend in October, 1831, in the hope that his
services might be useful to the company in parliament;
since that period he had spent much labs, r, time, and
anxiety in the promotion of the interests of the company.
He felt and believed that the day had at last come when
there would exist but one fooling amongst them—that a
new era in their affairs was dawning upon them, and that
it would be the forerunner of beneficial results not merely
to themselves, but to the public. (Applause.)
Mr. Runner Soon. said, I feel that it would not be
proper on the present occasion to enter into soy discussion
whatever on the subject of past transactions. 1 admit that
the effer which has been made by the Great Western Com-
pany is generally acceptable to the proprietors; in consi-
deration of this it is our duty to put an cad to discussion,
and to close a contest which bas already been virtually
concluded by the offer now made to us. (Applause.) The
proprietors are all aware that I have pursued a particular
coarse in relation to your affairs—that is now brought to a
close, and I have no doubt that the offer made by. the Great
Western Company will be carried out in the spirit of can-
dour in which it has been made; therefore it is unneces•
eery to enter upon a discussion of the objects for which this
meeting was convened. 1 move "'That, inasmuch as the
shareholders of this company hate approved of the offer of
the Great Western Company, including the election of six
new directors in the place of the retiring directors who do
not offer themselves for re-election, it is inexpedient to pro-
ceed with any business at this meeting, and that this meet-
ing be adjourned sine die."
Mr. Ozoaoa Small, of Birmingham, seconded the reso-
lution.

Mr. ()EACH, M.P., said it is not my intention to do any-
thing to disturb the harmony of the meeting, at the same
time I must say a few words to put myself right with the
shareholders, especially in consideration of the active part
I have taken in your affairs. I admit, with Mr. Scott, that
the terms now offered are generally acceptable to the share-
holders. I have always said that, whatever my own opinion
might be, I would take part in a factious opposition
to the will of the majority of the shareholders whenever
their opinion was fairly expressed; but, having concurred
with a majority of the shareholder, (for there undoubtedly
was a majority) in entering into ea agreement with the
London and North Western Company, I do not feel myself
at liberty—it would be inconsistent with my personal honour
—to take part in any other arrangement whilst there is a
probability of the first agreement being carried out. But
a majority of the shareholders having now thought fit to
accept terms offered by the Great Western Company, I
shall not offer opposition myself to the carrying out of
those terms, neither shall lin any way aid others in op-
posing the full and fair carrying out of the ar-
rangement now contemplated. (Applause.) At the
same time I must say that I never in my
life had a duty cast upon me of such unmitigated
annoyance as I have had in connexion with the affairs of
this company ; but when I was elected by you u one of
your directors, I regarded your interests as a sacred trust,
from the faithful keeping of which no considerations what-
ever have ever tempted me to swerve—(applause)—and in
withdrawing from the contest, I hops we are coming to
that long-wished-for consummation in your athsin—that the
shareholders in this unfortunate company will have some
return for the capital they have Invested. (Cheers.)
Mr. Timm's, of Wellington, objected to such important
matters as were refined to in the requisition being suffered
to remain undispond of; but the chairman explained that
by the terms of Mr. Scott's motion the matter was really
done with altogether.
The resolution was carried unaalmously.
Mr. BLANEY (late M.P. for Shrewsbury), then moved,
and Mr. ORNEBY GOES, 2.1.P.i seconded a vote of thanks to
the hon. chairman, Mr. Gore, jocosely reminding the share-
holders of the memorable occasion when he himself presided
at one of their meetings in his nightcap, and congratulating
them on the fact that appearances were such as to indicate
that the shareholders would have neither strife nor night-
caps again to contend with—at least in the Shrewsbury and
Birmingham Railway Company.