The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-08-04 00:00:00

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ARIVNA IRON AND COAL COMPAN i
Veseerday, the Hal-yearly tleneral Meeting of the Proprietors
of this Company took place at the tondo+) T
inavtheern.
Chair.
JAMES BROODEW, Esq. M.P.
This was just as extraordsnaty a scene as any of the former Meet.
tap resented.
Strpeit of the Directs, who had been turned out of the
direction, and their Mends, were ranged along the benches, and
animosity begin to show itself at the very commencement of the
proceeding*.
The Report, after a reference to some of the former transactions,
stated that the Committee hail, since it obtained t
ent complete
unction of the Proprietor., pursued the inredigation rusted to
its charge with great zeal and application, and that Joseph Clarke,
Henry Clarke, John Duiiman, Timothy Francis Power, and A. A.
tuners, having been, by the unanimous votes of the Proprietors
Present, removed from their office es Directots, it became requisite
to fill up these vacancies, as well as those *that had occurred from
other causes
(The names of canitulates were then read). The Re-
port stated that the works in question had been reduced to a com-
paratively trifling amoom, and will not exceed trig. a week for
tor tuture, until the funds requisite ter better regulated operations
be raised, and applied under ii Board of Director*. As to the finan-
cial affairs, there being no auditors at present. no statement certified
in the proper form could be laid before the Meeting. The tunds of I
the Company consisted, however, it appeared. ot a sum of about
11,041. Three per t enr. Conant*. together with the last dividend
tnereon. Applications had been made to thenriginal trustees to
transfer the stock to the gentlemen now:moving as Directors, but
the transfer having been refused, leg ace had been served upon
the Broth of England, its order to t he
possibility of a tuts-
*
application of it, per.ding the :Irmo ents makitig to procure the
transfer. to trustees appointed tinder the new Direction.
Mr. JOSEPH CLARKE asked whether the Report had been
signed by three Dittman in office.
This was answered in the negative, and a long and tumusistedltuous
turd of assertions and contradictions took pe. lt was
upon the put to the ex•Diteetors, that the Report was not worth a
farthing. as the names of three Directors were not attached.
Mr. Breeden. in order to settle the matter, took a pen and
signed the Repot; and Mr. !Revolt and Captain Cater, oho had
ban appointed temporary Directors by the Committee, in the
emergency followed his example.
Sr. CostearoaD, the Z‘otictter for the majority of the slime.
heid.n. stated that, in the opinion of Mr. Brodriek, the banister,
thecircumrances justified the measures resorted to.
A discussion took place upon the propriety of having the opinion
nod. but it was dropped upon the declaratiol of 31r. Comerford
than had been delivered in confidence, and that he had net in his
peonsion any document upon the subject.
Mr. lase Max, when Mr. Brogden put the question, whether the
R:port should be received, rest to protest, witch he Mil in the
leedest tone, against proceeding to the election of Directors upon a
kteron got up under such circumstances. lie said, the contrsat
between the resent state of the Company, and its condition under
the former 'Armour, was most lamentable. When the ex-Direc-
tors werellest arranged, they offered to take all the shares at par;
and they were now not worth 10e. a share. (Applause and laughter.)
Mr.Coideneoen said the shares had suffered a depreciation
wrist the former Direction of the most injurious nature. It must
be manifest to ese,y one that the bad effects could only be obviated
by renewing in a course of quite a different kind. Mr. Al`Lean
• and Mr William Congieve hail consented to trat:sfer the stock, bat
Mr. Joseph Clarke had refus.d. It was to be hoped that such re-
load would not be pets-vend in.
Mr. J. C ttttt said hi. property in the Company, which was.
obit It e was is etaDirrt. tonortirth upwards of 5,000/., was reduced
so the 1,1:U! of 201. by the conduct of the •gentlemen who now took
it opth Maisano to act as El' 'rectors.
Hire erases scene of coatuaien and noise, several persons ad.
thermal the Chapman, who was plumply accused of partiality ; but
by which grieve cool I not steer lain, easy more than we could per.
ceive to whom lte had acted partially.
Mr. C AAAAA said he hod received a better from 31r. Comerford.
requestieg that he would transit:l the stock into the hands of Mr.
Beat, Mr. Bromic!). and Me. Morgan. He certainly had refused
so or do, and foe very good reasons he thought. in the first place,
if be transferred the 10,110IM , and the three gentlemen `..lad thought
roper to minim!), it, thsy.would not be mponsible to the share.
I.ohlors Me the tau. In the
and telt dispooed to protect his
own property as well if theirs. be did not choose to accept Mr.
Itrogden as a trustee. (A laugh.)
Mr. DEWMAY —This is no meeting at all. Every thing done
lore is null and void. IPe had better adjourn at once.
31r. ROSERT HITCHES. moved that the Report be received.
The Directors could not do impossibilities. The details had not
been audited, because there were no auditors. Every thing that
coma be done under the circumstances, had been done for the pro-
perry. ana if any harm tied been done, it was done to the requtai.
Ito .ins. as the expense was, theirs alone.
Mr. It !Leta* Cams it said that of this he was sure, that the
property of the Shareholders, so far from being depreciated by the
edicts of the Committee, would net now be worth ten farthing*, if
the former Directors had been permitted to remain in power—(Ap.
p awe.) The fall in those shares we the consequence of misnia.
nutement and abuse, which it was the business of. the present
traction, to osevotal and there could be no greater proof of tors.
mtnagement than the late expulsion. ht this opinion there was not
an hineat man in the country who did not agree.
(tens from a distant part uf the room, -Itis a lie—a d--el

MLA.. CLARK said that no language could speak more strongly
than the acts of the Directors, sad the deteruiination of the nhare-
holder* to expel them.
Mr. POWEK tan old Di-ttetor)—" You he!"
Mr. W. CLARK assured the Proprietors, without taking notice
of the most rte eetable line of argument, that lie we* sure no man
ki be more zealous or active than those whom they were called
to elect.
Jere some conversation took place in different parts of the
rn m. The lie was repeatedly given, and parties strutted up to
e tee o:her, as if they meditated come very ternble breaches of the
peee.c.l
Mr. BR OW:MN—This is really horrible, Gentlemen.
tt,:isretioleters—lt is your business, Mr. Chairman, to put a stop
to I:. Why don't you do so?
Mr. BROEDEN—The language is so different from that which I
base Ever been in the habit of hearing—and I have been connected
sett several Joint-stock Companies—that I do not know how
tJ act.
shareholder—l am the nephew of Mr. Power, and I went to
Mr. Comerford and Mr. Poker, and said that I would not all w
any one to calumniate my uncle, or Mr. Surteee. They asau d
me that they had nothing to allege against either; and am I now
to listen to those calumnies ?
This gave rise to further confusion, and it was asserted that AIL
Brogdei had described all the Gentlemen in the former Direction
es the ino.t realoue men he had ever met in his life.
Mr. linocestw—Certainly I did, until I discovered what they
mete.
Mr. JOlre HINDE said that he had been grossly caluinniated
in a speech made by 31r.Bent, in hie absence. It was with respect
to a corver.tation with Mt. Fluttery, out of whose pocket the sum
of 13 OWN. that had been divided had come, instead of out of the
pockets of the Shareholders.
Mr. FLATTERY—It never came out of my pocket, fur it never
go: in. (Laughter.)
Scene opposition wan then made to Mr. Hinde's preeeediug with
what he called his vindieati ~,, , as it had no reterence to the
proceedings. lie, very properly, persevered, and was hestd out,
rotwitinttnnding Sir. Brogden's argument, that the statement made
by Mr. Bent did not go to criminate Mr. Hinge, but was merely
LE historical fact.
Mr. Ilix net dieted that die Report in the.,Tinter newspaper of
Mr. Bent's speech, made that gentleman say that Mr. Flattery told
him that Mr. hind, said he knew that the 15.000/. was divided be-
tween the Directors, and that he (NT. Made) afterwanls admitted
that feet to Mr. Bent. Now this was not the fact ; he had said
nolting of the kind to either. (Here Mr. Hindle gave a eery un-
interesting version of what was spoke in praise of the ex-Dire:tors,
and in participation of the efforts of .Me. Joseph and Mr. Henry
larke to put money in their pockets, in consideration of the trouble
to which they were put, and the obloquy to which they might be
exposed.)
Mr. FLATTERY—The Clarke, get the money ; they know it.
I sak you diet they not make 341,000/. by the sale of shares ? If I
had &Pato to put moot, in my pockets, could I not have sold my
shares ?

A SHAIttIIOLDER—We hut better join Roger Flattery, Esq.
to the new Director•. (A laugh.)
Mr. FLATTERY—DO you bold your tongue, Isaac. You are
always tang such tl—ti lies no along and aczottut fur the 40,0001.
you got out of the lloinbitsh
A Stlaarllol.lll.lt—YOU lie.
Another—You lie, you rascal.
31r. FLATTERY—You know, Isaac, you are an mild liar.
Mr. Powzu—Why, Mr. Flattery, you act with great assurance.
It isnot long since you were a beggar.
Mr. FLATTERY—You are the cut of an cold brggar—look at

tr.
Mr. HINDE-1 must say that Mr. Bent told remost impudent
fidaehood, in saying that I made the acknowledgment to him about
ti e Ia,INMN. division. I never did. Ile ramie to me, and spoke to
me:about the Arline?, but I never replied. I always said to Mr.
Rent that be was to receive 3 bonus, and if the clerks have not
made a ♦food thing of it, I am very sorry Pir it.
Mr. FLAT TERT—Oh, this is pretty humbugging! This is a
nice way to be plundered.
An adjournment was moved and withdrawn. After a great deal
of angry discussion, in the midst of which Mr. Bregtlen mid, he
really believed that be should be obliged to tail in the assistance of
the police,
The Report was at length received, and the following gentlemen
were elected.
Directors-11r. Brogrlen, Mr. Bent, Mr. Morgan, Captain
f ater, Mr. Moson, Mr. R. Ilichens, Mr. Frampton, Mr. lux,
Mr. Barrow, Mr. Hills, and Mr. Henley.
Auditurit—Mr. Gooch and Mr. Prichett.
Mr. Josh's' CLARKE entered his protest against the proceed-
ings, I"illwital t and was borne out in his opinion by Mr. Wilke,
wbo attended on tile part of ti ex-Directors.
Brncd.n must hove felt ri sly humiliated. Msny of the
hitarebohiers treated him with the must rude scorn. tlis request
was upon every occasion disregarded, and he had the charge of
Participation repeatedly thrown in his teeth.

The metropolis was visited last night with a tremendous
slonn of thunder and lightning, accompanied by torrents
of rain,