The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-07 00:00:00

mETRaPoLtr 4N AND GR,VERAL FREE
BOLD LAND SuCIATY.

Last evening a meeting of the shareholders and sup-
porters of the Metropolitan and General Freehold Land
Society was lied at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street,
for the purpose of balloting for forty rights to choose land
on the attractive estates at present held by the society.
Twenty of the rights were to be taken from the rotation
list, unit twenty from the ballot division.
The chair was taken, on the motion of Mr. Richmond,
seconded by Mr. Hind, by James Miller, Esq., of Leyton-
stone.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, said that it
was a mistaken kindness on the past of those gentlemen who
ha 1 called on him to -preside at this meeting, as be was
labouring under indisposition so severe as to entirely dis,
enable him to officiate in the manner as he would desire,
and as the event deinanded ; and it was only the earnest
interest he felt, in coin.uon with the many present, in all
that concerned the interests of the Metropolitan Freehold
Lank' Society, that hid induced him to attend that even-
ing. He would ask of them, then, indulgence from making
further remarks; but there were a few matters of business
detail which hd would ask his friend; Mr. Hind, to explain
to th 3 meeting.

Mr. BRUCE HIND (well known as an ardent supporter of
the cause), said hisfriend Dlr. Miller had given him a cha-
racter as one well versed in matters relating to the free-
'noid movement to which he did not feel himself entitled.
Still, in the fact of the Chairman's in,;isposition, he would
undertake to go into what little of business detr.il
would I,e of interest to the shareholders present He
was glad to see an attendance of the society's supporters,
He always looked with anxiety for faces he had been used
to recognise since first he had been connected with .the
society. - He was glad to see that neither public excitement
without their homes, nor hart times within them, pre-
vented their still appealing at the society's meetings as
usual, to give, by their presence, that encouragement which
was all they asked in recempense for their exertions.
(Cheers.) There was a time when a full attendance at a
meeting of a freehold land society was a matter to be ex-
pected and never doubted, but since then fresh institutions,
professing the same objects, had been established, and so
numereusly, that ne town, no parish, not even in the city
of London, scarcely a street was without one. The ques-
tion of r• What is a freehold land society ';" used
once to be asked, but now it was " Who is not a member?"
The singularity was to find a member of one society only
—not as was the case of six or seven. lie would not de-
tain them further than to say, as the only business com-
munication he should have to make (unless some member
had inquiries to make, Which the committee were always
happy to receive and respond to), that some tn.-glib,' had
mentioned it as objectionable the society's apportioning an
equal number of the right to choose to the Rotation list as
to the Ballot Section. The committee bad given the matter
their serious consideration, but bad been so convinced that
the division of interest consequent on the existence of the
two systems, was so generally unsatisfactory to the mem-
, hers as a body, that it would be better to t ontinue the
present system by which the rotation list was being
reduced, that by a postponement of the proceedings to
prolong the cause of annoyance. He thanked them
for the polite attention they had given him, and
earnestly re fretted the plea Sure of addressing them bail
not fallen into other hands. As far as an earnest desire for
the progression and success of the 342teopo:ittin Freehold
Land Society, and of the cause generally, went ; and as far
as his humble exertions could assist that advance, he was
ever happy to render them, and he trusted many future
opportunities of doing so under auspices as brilliant and
encouraging as those of the present would frequently
occur. (Cheers.)
Scrutineers having been appointed, the ballot wheel was
placed in their charge, and the following numbers were
drawn :-2,411, 1,042. 2,783, 1,159, 2,742, 3,505, 2,730,
1,134, 2,547, I,lilB, :',937. 2.454, 3,352, 3,455, 2,440, 3,572,
999, 1,232, 1,043, 1,162, 998, 2,202, 1,231, 1,161, 3,261,
1,163, 1,044, 1,015, 1,4222, 1,160, 2,612, 1,220, 1,21.', 3, .60,
3,043, 3,420, 1,''34, 2,769, 1,233, 1235.
The CIIAIRM AN then rose and said the committee would
now feel great pleasure in answering questions, if any gen-
tleman had any to put.
None having been asked,
Mr. HIND said, as none of the gentleman present felt
disposed to ask any questions he took it for granted that
their proceedings were conducted in such a manner as to
give universal satisfaction. (Cheers.) He had great
pleasure in moving a cordial vote of thanks to the Chair-
man.

The motion having been seconded, was put to the meet-
ing. and carried unanimou
The Cu bIBMAN briefly acknowledged the compliment.
Thanks baying been voted to the scrutineers, the prO-
ceeilingi terminated, after an intimation had bee.; given,
that the purch•ise of the Reading estate had been completed,
and that it would soon be ready fur allotment.

SHIPPING IN PELLIGENCE.

CUSTOM EIOUSE, APRIL 6,