The Express.
London, England, 1849-05-18 00:00:00

YORK AND NORTH MIDLAND,

RESIGNATION OF MR. HUDSON.
Yesterday a wetting of the atartholdere in this
line reddest in London and its vicinity was held at the
London Tavern, in compliance with an advertisement issued
by Mr. Crewshay, telling upon them to =warble, in order
to appoint certain persons as a deputation to the general
meeting to be held at York on the 24th inst. The meeting
wee largely attended, and, as will be seen, the utmost una-
nimity marked this prooeedisgs.
Mr. CRAWSHAY, having been called to the chair,
said I have taken the liberty of calling this meeting,
at the request of several friends, shareholders in the
York and North Midland Railway; and in order to give the
longest notice in my power, I did not await the obtaining of
other signatures to the notice. The object of this meeting is
defined in the advertisement, and I trust that I shall be per-
mitted to remind gentlemen who may address the meeting,
that at present we have nothing to discuss but
the object named. I trust, therefore, that then
will be no digression during the discussion. (Hear, hear.)
This object is, in the words of the advertisement, "to ap-
point such parties as may be willing to go to York, to repre-
sent at the special general meeting, to be held there on the
24th inst., the views and wishes of the London shareholders
inatalard to mitten to be then " am
so deeplthe y interested in this railway considered. ,
that II shall
net fell to attend the meeting in person, and vote for the
committee ; and I shall consider it quite indispen-
=emi that a committee be appointed, wholly un•
emeaseted with the Board of Directors, and that
sash committee shall be authorised and instructed
to employ a first-rate London acceetatant to assist them in
their work of investigation. (Hear, hear.) Ido not believe
that any attempt will be made to influence the shareholders
in the choice of their committee ; but there are gentlemen
in this room who have espies ed an opinion that it will be
better to be fully prepared to carry the measly* of appoint-
ing the committee, by arming with prozies some peed=
from this place, who may be willing to attend it York, nod
for this purpose we are now met. (Cheers.) I should
state that I have had an interview with sue late
chairman, and I call him our " late chairman " because I
hold in my hands hie resignatioe. His resignation is a ritea-
sure that I advised. It was acquiesced in most readily, and
I think that if the whole board wets to tender their resigna-
tion also, it would be no more than is due from them as the
trustees of parties whom they have certainly deceived in the
ezeattlen of their trust. (Cheers.) Imy that the least they
can do is to tender their resignation all at one*, and I hops
that that le a step which they will adopt. At
the same time I must say that there are gentlemen
in that direction with whom you will be quite
'safe in future. I hope therefore that you will not to-day
censure the whole body of directors. You know very well
how frequently the domination of one person is allowed to
oontrol the affairs of a body, and believe that the great
fault of Mr. Hudson has been a considerable degree of 6hat
and self-will, and self-control. (Hear, hear.)
hat has besithe bane under which he has suffered
warather
thou from any
actual misdeeds of his own. He sane.
domed ia the peccadilloes he committed until they grew upon
him, and now he suffers from it. I have the satisfaction of
Meting that, on asking Mr. Hudson if our last halt year's
estionnt was a fair and just one, he replied that it was; and
that when I ask= him again if I might so far compromise
my Meow to my brother shareholders as to say that it was a
wren aeeouat, he distinctly said that I might. (Hear,
hear.) I hope, therefore, that the committee of investiga-
tion which is to be appointed may not find that our little
oesseern, which has hitherto been so prosperous, is in the
same disadvantageous state as many others lave been
head. In conclusion, I will only add that I trust
this meeting will confine itself to the business
of the day, without entering into invectives or
=lidos which will in no way wads= either to the
of the business before us, or to the advancement of
war interest. (Chem.) This is Mr. Hudson's letter, ten.
desieg his resignation. The handwriting is hardly iatelli
(Me ; bat, of course, you must be aware that, under present
dienaseences, he is most awfullydepressed :
„Newby Park.
"I have to convey to you my resignation of the aloe of
dissise, which I have so lons tad the honour to hold, la
yew asinpany. The position In whirls I have felt =mine
be placed has been to me so painful as to incapacitate me is,
the discharge of those active duties which you have a r4lit
M =pest from whoever may be entrusted with the ondroos
stymie affairs. It becomes VW, therefore, to retire from
diet
service. In doing so, I weld empress my anxious bops diet
I the depression which now exists, aggravated in your mai by
earn of • temporary character, may pass away, and it miry
lassie be my good fortune to witness the renewed prosperity
era line in which I retain so deep an interest."
The CHAIRMAN further stated that he had received an
semirance from Mr. Hudson that in everything in which he
scald assist them he would. There e mid be no doubt about
Mr. Hudson's knowledge of railway mutant, and he was
glad, therefore, that they should have the advantage of his
amerlon*. (Hear,
ap how.) He would now submit 631 their
rovisl • declaratory resolution setting forth the =amity
ed-an investigadon in the present state of the company's
affairs. It was in the following terms:
" That the present depreciated value of the stock and
shares in this railway, and the apparently very deers
receipts published in the weekly reports, as compared with
in
the corresponding weeks of last year, warrant this meeting
requiring an investigation of the amounts and general ma-
wartement of the affairs of the ampaay."
General applause followed the readieg of this resolution,
sad it kali= been seconded by Mr. Smog flautist, it was
at ones Weed to'
The CHAIRMAN then submitted the rubjeined, and it
belie amended by Mr. OULU.= WOoDWAID, also was at
sees creed to:
"That the opportunity of appointing such committee
of investigation wbieh has been give* to the share.
holders by their directors at a epeeist general nest-
les of the proprietor', to be held at York on
the 34th inst., be taken, and that Masts. ------
be requested. and they are hereby requested, to attend the
meeting in York to represent the London shareholders, and
to urge that such committee of investigation be appointed,
sad with power to engage a London accountant to assist the
essmeittire in the object of appointment."
!be question then arose as to the gentlemen to be deputed
is steed at York.
Mr. Crawshay consulted to form one, and after a slight
delay, Captain Henderson and Mr. Woodward were deputed
to accompany him.
The CHAIRMAN said that mew, having rimed a resole:
lion recommending the apprlalmswist Load.' wwwwWw•to
he must frankly tell Wes that be bed a gsademsa dm
as an acsountent in whom he *eel the utmost
and when he told them OM Ms slake is Oda low
meted 300,0001. paid up mosey, be was sere *ay weld
see that he wmeld not seedily reemastead an esesesesat of
whew talent, &arum, spd gashkate be was lare=
seeded. (Hear.) He hal gessoes Sr
aocountants who bed boss guard k ef
railway matter", Sr be MI eiellourialini k
*me immense drabs, sesseage seell be Mk Ss It 11:1:
single halfpenny, as they bad begs le *Mks et Vas