The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-10 00:00:00

CRYSTAL PALACE COMPANY.

GENERAL MEETING—(THIS DAY).
The fourteenth ordinary general meeting of the directors
and shareholders in this company was held this day at the
London Tavern, for the purpose of receiving the directors'
report, and re-election of the retiring officers.
Mr. Farquhar, chairman of the board, presided.

The report, which has already appeared in The Sun,
having been taken as read,
The CHAIRMAN rose to move its adoption. He said the
directors had thought it would be unwise to attempt to get
up a ecrunter attraction to the Industrial Exhibition, the
expense of which had, ho thought, been wisely laid out in
putting their own building into the most thorough repair,
intending to rely on the attraction it presented. The great

number of foreigners expected to visit this country in the
autumn would, he had no doubt, visit the Crystal Palace at
Sydenham. Yesterday, notwithstanding the attraction at

Kensington, the number of visitors was greater than those
of the corresponding day of last year. The Handel Festival,
it was confidently expected, would result in a great success,
and at the end of the financial year the directors confidently ex-

pected they would be able to declare a good and increased divi-
dend. Before he formally moved the adoption of the report,
he would allude to one portion of it, which was of a very
disagreeable nature, viz., the determination of the directors
to remove ono of their body on account of certain allega-
tions made against him. The charges were founded on a
case in which Mr. England was concerned, and which was
reported in the papers in April last. The Times and other
newspapers had called attention to the subject, but the
matter referred solely to the domestic character and per-
sonal conduct of Mr. England, and had nothing whatever
to do with him in his office of director in this or any other
company. If the shareholders did not confirm the decision
of the board, he and the other eight directors who were
associated with him in repudiating Mr. England's conduct
must part company, becau-e if such conduct was tolerated
in a public company it would give a stamp of genuineness
to the rumour that anything was go xl enough for a public
company.

- .
Mr. ANDERSON seconded the motion for the adoption of
the report.
Mr. ENGLAND said there was no connection between his
private affairs and his duties as a director of this company.
He had effected great reforms in the company, and had
brought about the payment of a dividend. He had thus,
he had no doubt, made many enemies, who were now seek-
ing to remove him from his seat at the board. If this had
been a genuine expression of opinion on the part of his col-
leagues, he should bow to it at once. He had got rid of
several superintendents out of the company, and the chair-
man said that it he succeeded in getting rid of Mt. Bowley
or Mr. Grove, he, would get rid of him (the chairman). He
did not wish to interfere with any active officers, but there
were maty drones in the hive who ought to be got rid of,
and hence the opposition to him. There was a jealousy on
the part of the directors that he was obtaining too much
influence in the company. He went at great length into
the matters connected with his office of director, showing
in detail the expenditure he had saved.
Mr. JENKINS moved an amendment to the effect that
that portion of the report relating to Mr. England be struck
out as being neither necessary or advisable. He said that
Mr. England had been the Joseph Hume of the company,
as he had swept away all the cobwebs of the company.

Mr. PUNCHER seconded the amendment.
Mr. HARVEY GEORGE wished to move another amend.
ment.

The UIIAIRMAN explained that that could not be done
until the first amendment had been disposed of.
Mr. JENKINS withdrew his amendment, when
Mr. GEORGE moved the following :—" That the words
in the report, ' The prospects of the company are encour-
aging,' be struck out, and that the words be substituted,
Tho prospects of the company not being encouraging, it is
expedient that a committee of general inquiry into the
general management of the business of this company be
appointed, and that the meeting be adjourned pending that
report.' "

Mr. ANTHONY seconded the motion.
After a long discussion the CHAIRMAN put the amend-
ment. The hands held up being nearly equal, the Chair-
man called for a division, when the numbers were—For the
amendment, 96 ; against it, 90; the amendment was there-
fore carried against the directors.
A long and angry discussion having taken place, a ballot
was demanded and granted.
Mr. Er GLAND said, after the victory that had been
achieved, he would resign his seat at the board, and the
shareholders could re-elect him if they should think fit.
The meeting was then adjourned until Friday, the 20th,
at two o'clock, to receive the result of the ballot.

R ,
F -
IRE AT MESSRS. PICKFORD'S, WOOD s
C HEir SIDE,— (TH IS DAY.)—This morning a firebi:EET
°k
in the immense range of premises belonging to Messrs. Peiocukt
ford, the well-known carriers, situate in Wood-street
'
Cheapsid e. The flames when discovered were raging in the
store-rooms connected with the stables, and the fire quickly
extended to two lofts over, threatening at one time very
serious consequences. The alarm having been promptly
given, in a very few minutes Capt. Shaw attended with the
land steam engine by Shand and Mason, and several ma-
nual power engines. A good supply of bater having been
procured, the engines were set to work, the fire could
not be extinguished until the storeroom was burned out,
the two lofts over and their contents consumed. The roof
was also destroyed. The goods stores sustained not the

least injury.
LEECHES —Dr. Ebrard observes that an adult
leech gorged with blood requires nearly eighteen months,
in a state of captivity, for the process of digestion. Young
and free specimens accomplish the same task in six weeks
or two months.