The Sun.
London, England, 1839-02-02 00:00:00

TEE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1839.

GRAND JUNCTION RAILWAY.

On Wednesday last, at one o'clock, a meeting of the proprietors of the
Grand Junction Railway was hell at the Cotton Sales-room, Exchange.
buihlings, John Moss, Esq., Chairman of the Board of Directors, in the
Chair.

From the Report of the half-year, which was read by Mr. CIIORLEY,
the Secretary, it appeared that the total receipts for coaching. arc., were
161,410/. Os. 3d., an increase of 44,6691. 16s. Bd. over the year of 1837,
and a great inc ease over that of 1838. This, added to the, receipts
in other departments, gave a total of 178,0391. 9s, 10d. A por-
tion of the increase in passengers was attributed to. the opening of
the London and Birmingham Railway, and this was likely
to, go on in an increasing ratio. There had also been a gradual
increase in the merchandise department, which was likewise
expected to be progressive: Many additional engines had
been provided, and in this department much improvement had been
effected. Complaints had been made, Of delays, and the Directors had
done all in their power to insure' iegularity. It was explained in the
report, that numerous delays had resulted from having to wait for other
tiains. From this species of delay ne'rlescription of travelling could be
exempt, where there was' a necessity of Waitiiiifor arrivals frora other
quarters. The report mentioned instance, of tfie- of this descrip-
tion that were most frequent. Sever,l advrait,geous arrar;gyments
were mentioned WhiCh had been made since the last meeting, amongst
others, that of providing that travellers should obtain refreshments, had
given great satisfaction. Tif e complaints that had been made respecting
the charge on
parcels were alluded to. The chrirge for conveiing par_
cels not exceeding ltilbs. weight, along the whole line, was only Is. 6d.,
with smaller and very
.moderate charges for shorter intermediate di,
tances. The Directors were anxious to be apprised of any neglect
or deviation from their rules in this or any other respect. The
expenses had averaged 33 per cent., which included those for the re.
pairs as well as all other charges: The Proprietors, it was hoped, would
be satisfied, net only with the increase of income, but with the dividend
of 61. per share, which Was to be declared. The charge for the mainte.
nance of the way was, for the six months ending Dec. 31, 1838,
14,5701. The:Directors had, however, contracted with a gentleman
every way competent, to do it yearly at a considerable saving. The re-
port announeed the abandonment of the project for carrying a line over
the Fiddler's Ferry,
and set forth that they had determined,.as a sub.
stitute, to carry a line from I-fifyton to Warrington, vhich would be al-
most equally. advantageous, and considerably less in cost. They, there-
tore, requested from the Proprietors the necessary powers to enable
them to apply to Parliament.

The CHAIRMAN. after eongratulatiug the shareholders on the fa.
vourable Report, said he was proud to inform them that the test possi-
ble feeling existed betAveen them and those who directed the other lines.
They had the lowest charges, and travelled farther than any Railway in.
the kingdom, and hoped they would continue to be what they were—
the best, cheapest, and fastest road in the kingdom.—(Cheers.)
Mr. H. EARLE had heard the very handsome manner in which the
Chairman had alluded to the proceedings at the Board, and he begged
to confirm what he had said respecting the unanimity which existed
amongst the Directors.
The accounts were next read by the Secretary. It appeared that the
grand total of receipts, including 9341. 14s. 80, for interest, and a ba-
!mice of 2811. 9s. 110„ was 179,275/. I4s. ed. The expenses were
93,971/. 10s. 70. The capital was stated to be 1,200,980/. The total
outlay had bred 1,786,079/. 103 4d. The stock and materials were
valued at 149,104/. I Is. 4d.
Mr. L. HEYWORTII described the concern as the best managed in the
kingdom, and an example to all others, and asked what would be the
probable cost of the branch from Iluyton to Warrington ?
The CHAIRMAN replied, about 150,0001.
Mr. HEvwort-rn concluded by moving that the report be adopted, and
printed for the use of the proprietors.
Mr. MAXWELL congratulated the meeting on the restoration of una-
nimity amongst the Directors;and seconded the motion.—Carried.

It was stated that 250 new waggcns, for the conveyanee of pigs and
other live stock, had been ordered. '

Mr. BICKERSTETN, seconded by Mr. lIAssAL:r., moved that a dividend
of six per cent. be paid to the proprietors, payable on and after the Gth
February.—Carried.

Thanks were voted to the Chairman, and the meeting separated.

CHURCH-RATE ABOLITION

SOCIETY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

I.3ungay, February 1, 1839.

Si a,—Your paper of yesterday contained an Address from the Chair.
scan and necretary of the Church rate Abolition Society, to the people
of England, upon which you made remarks with. your accustomed Wm-
rality, touching the subject of religious freedom, for which The Sun has
long been esteeemed far abovesome papers, which affect to attach-them-
selves exclusively to nonconforming principles.
lt was The Sun, single-handed and alone, which in 'IF3S moved the
people, when the Church authorities of this town, took the well-rernem-
biled, illegal, and oppressive proceedings against me.

The excitement thus roused, continued unabated through 1535, and
Ism and towards the autumn of the latter year, a party of gentlemen
established a Society in London called the,Church-rate Abolition Society.

The affairs of this Society seem to have been conducted with be-
c;ming energy, until the motion of Mr. Spting Rice was disposed of in
March,lB37, when apathy, and the quiet do-nothing policy became so
apparent, that Dissenters in the country instantly felt there was some-
thing wrong, while the Accredited Organ of the Committee urged the
propriety of waiting in patience the• division of a Committee of the
.House of Commons, which bad been appointed to inquire into the mode
,:f renewing and granting Church leases ; ar• if the religious ground on
which conscientious men object to pay' the compulsory demands of a
State Church could be postponed, till a COmmittee of that House should
have come to a decision. This state of things, whys deceived nobody,
at once led many excellent men; deeply impressed with the idea that the
Church-rate Abolition Society was tot in earnest for good, to take the
afFairs of their own locality into their own management; and hence the
simultaneous agitation which arose, and at present prevails all over the
land with increasing force.
You are not aware perhaps that the Church-rate Abolition Committee,
which has been in the receipt of large sums of money, have never up to
the present moment published any account of its receipts and disburse-
ments, although from various circumstances, it has long been obvious
Oat those who subscribe.l the money have been anxious for an account
in detail—and this ha' been another reason why many Dissenters have
determined not to put their interests as Christian citizens under the con-
trol of such Committees for the time to come.

During the last week a Newspaper, usually considered a rival cf
the Church.rate Abolition Committee's organ, has come to the rescue of
this Committee, and I would ask that champion of public right and
private judgment, what its proceedings have been for the past two years ?
who the parties were who attended its meetings ? what the resolutions
which have been proposed, negatived, or passed ? and what the amount
of subscription and expense /has been ? and when its tale shall have
been told, I would ask my friends in the country to judge for themselves.
To the Editor of that Paper I would remark with all humility, that he
is the wisest and holiest "Christian Advocate," who not only urges
cheerful and voluntary contribution towards the purposes by which
the principles of the Gospel can be brought into action, hut who also
urges upon those who undertake the responsibility of funds, that
they arc bound to render a voluntary and ready account of their
stewardship.
The sums which are collected from congregations in the country
consist mostly of the voluntary offerings of worthy poor persons, who
would often be glad of the bread which the penny they give would
purchase, but believing the money will be faithfully applied to the
cause of Him, " whose they are and whom they serve"—they give
their mite cheerfully, and without grudging; while this view of the
subject, at a time when bread is at a starving price, makes
Christian men think and feel deeply, and believe they are
right in withdrawing their confidence from societies which have been
conducted, as there is reason to believe the affairs of this Society have
been conducted.

Let the Society publish an acoount of its doings, the money re-
ceiver', 'the money expended, the communications it has had with Go-
vernment, instead of such paragraphs as that which it lately promul-
gated, " that the Church.rate Abolition Society had had an interview

with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which was satilfactory." Satis-
factory to whom ? What was stated to the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer, and what did he say ? ft is not pretended that the Chancellor of

the Exchequer intends to abolish the impost, and if he does not, to
whom was the interview satisfactory, and upon what ground ? Thesis
men, to whom the do-nothing system of policy is " satisfactory" are the
men seeking to establish another Society, to obtain " Religious Equa-
lity," while they do not come to the light as to the past—they do not
make public their sayings to the Chancellor of the Exchequer—we find
they make no progress, and they are satisfied ;—that they have confer-
ence with the head of the do-nothing Ministry, and are satisfied—but
they do net allow us to participate in their satisfaction.
We should rejoice to find, and be able to prove, the Committee to be
as fine gold, and that they should demonstrate it by publishing their sa-
tisfactory interviews with the Ministry, and, until this is done, I advise
all Dissenters in the country to keep their money, to defray the expenses
of the persecution in their own localities.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
.TOHN CHILDS.