The Sun.
London, England, 1836-02-19 00:00:00

h.„).,,e,

PARLIAMENTARY PAPEVEII.I

A BILL FOR THE COMMUTATION OF
TITHES IN ENGLAND.
The following furnishes a short Abstract of the 54 Clauses
contained in the New Bill, brought on the 99th instant
by Lord John Russell
Clause 1. Appoints three Commissioners--two by one of
his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of St4te`l:4ind one
'lty, the
Archbishop of Canterbury, under his hand anaVplSeopal seal_
2, They are to be styled, " The Tithe Commissioners for
England and Wales ;" and, by summons under their hands,
may require the attendance of all such persons as they may
think fit to call before them upon any matter brought before
them as hereinafter mentioned relating to the tithes ; or, in
lieu, may require any person to make and subscribe a declara-
tion. No person to travel more than fen miles from the place
of his abode.
3. The Board to have a common seal, grid its awards to bo
received as evidence.
4. The Commissioners to report to the Secr;tary of State,
and the annual report to be laid before Parliametit.
5. The said Commissioners may appoint and remove As-
sistant Commissioners ; not to appoint more than nine such
Assistant-Commissioners to act at any one time, unless the
Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury shall consent
to the appointment of a greater number.
6. No Commissioner' or Assistant-Commissioner, to sit in
Parliament.

7. Commissioners to appoctit Secretary, Assistant-Secre-
tary, Clerks, and other officers.
8. No Commissioner or Assistant-Commissioner, Secretary,
or other officer or person so to be appoin:ed, shall hold his of-
fice for a longer period than five years.
9. Every Commissioner and Assistant- Comn: issioner to make
declaration before one of the Judges, and the notification of the
appointment to be sent to the Clerks of the Peace.
10. The Commissioners may delegate to their Assistant-
Commissioners, or to any of them, the powers given to the
said Commissioners (except the power to do such acts as are
required to be under the seal of the said Board).
11. Reasonable expenses of witnesses are to be paid.
12. The owner of any lands and owner of any tithe may
contract with each other, in manner hereinafter mentioned, for
the commutation of tithe for an annual rent charge to be
agreed upon between the contracting parties, in full satisfac-
tion for such tithe.
13. Defines the meaning of the words " land," " tithes,"
and "rack-rent."
14. When the same person is owner of lands and owner of
tithes, he may be dealt with in both characters.
15. When ownership of lands or tithes or patronage is ves-
ted the Crown, the Lord High Treasurer, or First Lord
Comini:sioner of the Treasury for the time being, where the
value of ,ouch benefice is of the yearly value of twenty pounds
or upwards the King's books, and where such value is be-
low the value Of twenty pounds in the King's books, the Lord
Chancellor or Lord Keeper, or First Lord Commissioner of
the Great Seal for the rime being, shall be substituted in-
stead of the patron.
16. In case the patron or o;vner of land is a minor, the
guardian or Committee to act.
17. 'To every contract which shall L-e entered into for the
commutation of tithe there shall be parties as well as the
owners of the lands whereof the tithe is proposed to be com-
muted, as also every owner of any tithe arising from or upon
such lands, or any part thereof; and in case at. the time of
entering into any such contract, the said leads or any part
thereof shall have been demised and let to farm, or agreed
to be demised and let to farm to any person, such farmer may,
with the consent of the other parties to the said contract, join
in and be a party thereto, &c., with c.arious provisos.
18. Different owners may concur one contract, if the
lands of every owner be sufficiently distingtzished.
19. Enacts the forms of contracts.
20. Lands to be discharged from tithe, at a clay to be set-
tled in Committee, and rent charge paid in lieu thereof.
21. Rent charge to be liablo to parochial and coui;ty rates.
22. Parochial meetings may be called, at which owners of
three-fourths of the uncommuted tithes may agree to bind the
whole parish, if not appealed from.
Assistant-Commissioners may attend to advise terms of
agreeni;nt.
24. All k; jreements to be made known to the patron, Bishop,
and Commissioners;_ and consent of Bishop and patron to be
made known to the commissioners and published.
25. Appeals from parochial agreement may be made to
Commissioners within one month ; costs of appeal to be paid
according to the decision of the Commissioners.
26. If no agreement, land-ovvric.r or tithe-owner may call
on Commissioners for an award ; and ale Commissioners shall
thereupon proceed to make and confirm ,such award, and to
assess and certify the costs thereof, and by wllom payable, and
in what proportions.

27. The award shall be binding on all persons and for ever,
as if an agreement of the same tenour bad been made between
the parties in manner hereinbefore mentioned, with the consent
of the patron of the benefice or ordinary of the diocese, such
consent not being necessary.

28. Value of tithes to be calculated according to the average
rate and clear value of the tithe during the seven years ending
at Michaelmas next preceding the making of the said valuation.
Tithe taken in kind, according to the clear value thereof, after
making all just deductions on account of the expenses of col-
lection or otherwise. Composition tithe according to the
amount of composition or rent agreed to be paid for the said
tithe, whether such composition or rent has or has not been
actually paid. All these tithes to be valued as chargeable to
parochial and county rates.
29. Provides for extreme cases, and the way in which they
are to be modified.

30. The tithe of hops, fruit, and garden produce is to be
valued according to the average rate of composition for the
tithe of hops, fruit, and garden produce respectively during
seven years, ending at Illiehaelmizs next before such valuation.
31. Over and above the rent charge, 15s. per acre shall
be charged on land afterwards changed into hop culture.
32. Commissioners may employ surveyors, and enter on
lands for the purpose of valuing tithes.
33. As soon as admeasurement, plan, and valuation shall
have been rtiade, the Commissioners to deposit the same at
some convenient place within the said benefice, they are also
to attend to hear objections thereto, and determine any objec-
tions which may be made, &c.
34. Old plans and surveys may be used if the Commission-
ers think proper.
35. The Commissioners to determine all disputes, subject
to appeal by any issue at law, or by taking the opinion of a
Court of Law or Equity theren, and disputed rights may be
compounded or referred.
36. Owners of particular estates, less than fee simple, may
charge the costs on the estate for 20 yearo.
37. The determination of the said Commissioners touching
any difference, concerning which no power of bringing an action
or of stating a case, is given, or which shall not be over-ruled
by the event of the trial, shall be final and conclusive on all
persons concerned.
38. Proceedings not to abate by death of parties.
39. In case of deaths of parties before actions brought, &c.,
the same to be carried on and defended in-their names.
40. Re!ates to the Award of the Commissioners.
41. Rent cLarge may be apportioned on separate fields and
closes. _ _ _

42. The Comptroller of Corn Returns is to publish the
average price thereof.
43. Every contract for the commutation of tithe is to be
deemed as entered into according to the average price of corn.
44. All parties entitled to any such varied rent charge shall
have the same powers for enforcing payment thereof as are
herein contained concerning the original rent charge.
45. When rent charge is in arrear for twenty-ore days after
quarterly days of payment, the person entitled thereto may
distrain. with various provisos.
46. When rent. charges arc in arrear for forty days after
half-yearly days of payment, the person interested may enter
into possession of the lands.
47. Powers of distress and entry to extend to all lands
within the benefice occupied by the owner, or under the same
landlord or holding.
46. Spiritual persons vacatitio; benefices may recover arrears
of rent charge.
49. Advertisements, contracts, aticl awards, not to be lia-
ble to stamp duty.
50. Contracts for the composition of tithes subsisting, and
tithes due, before this Act, riot to be affected.
51. Act not to extend to Easter offerings, &c., or to pay-
ments instead of tithes, in London, or to permanent rent
charges, by custom or Act of Parliament.
53. False evidence to be deemed perjury; withholding evi-
dence a misdemeanor.
53. Costs of ecclesiastical tithe owners may be charged on
the benefice for 2Q years.
54. And be it enacted that this Act shall extend only to
England.

1
CRINIES OF RULERS IN GERMANY.—The Ger-
mans are c!aracteristically honest as a nation, and justice is
fairly administer."J
between subject and subject; but there
are many elCCptignif. When the case is between Prince and
subject, it Is understooL! that . the inquiries of the administra-
tors of justide Must not ascend :ivend a et?rtain point. Mur-
ders have been committed wwithimiinitY in several
Duke
States.
Duk the
States. It is well known, for instance, that :114'1
Gand
.Duke
Constantine, when travelling in the States of the i..
of Saxe Weimar, shot a postillion dead, becalm; he j:d not
d
I`.
drive so fast as he wished him to do; but no notice was takert
of the matter. A murder has recently been committed by a
Sovereign Prince of Germany, whose name for the present we
will not divulge. A mechanic employed about a theatre, one
of the actresses of which lives on an intimate footing with the
Prince in question, having made his appearance on the stage
Poor
Law
Amendments petition
to do some work at a time when the Priixe wished no one to
be admitted, he drew his sabre and killed him. Though the
fact is well known, no German paper dare allude to it.
Dr. Johnson's " food for men in Scotland and
horses in England" has risen of late 2d, per stone, not in one,
but in every town in Scotland. —Duny'ri
,e
os Courier.
The Lewes Bundle of Sticks Society
against 1 certain clauses of the New
Act, of which we gave an analysis in our lasto
been transmitted toT. R. Kemp, Esq. M.
p.publication, lass
—Brighton Paper.
On Tuesday last a most extraordinaryear Arundel. As Mr. Stephen
accident oc-
curred in the parish of Poling, n
Blundel was shooting at a mark with a rifle gun, which had
friend, recently been given him by a f •
d, he selected his father's
granary door as the safest
place to try it, knowing the ball would
have to pass through f our boarded partitions before it got
through the granary ; but, very much to his surprise, the ball
did so, and at thedistance ' of fifty yards beyond glanced from
a tree, and passed through a boy, working in a barn near, and
then struck a post and stopped. The ball passed through the
boy between the hip and ribs, but fortunately did not touch any
vital part. The lad has had every attentioiipaid to hi •m, and
is doing remarkably well.—Sussex Advertiser.

Peassw—

LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM

RAILWAY.

(From ote• last night's Second Edition.)
'This morning a G.eicral Half-yearly Meeting of the Pro-
prietors of the above P.ailway, was held in the City of London
'Tavern.
I ear SOLLY, Esq., took the Chair at Twelve o'clock. He
observed that the proprietors had been counted, and it was
found that there were more:than 40 present, so that the meet-
ing was constituted.
The SECRETARY here read the Report for the half-year
just passed. He then read the general Report of the Direc-
tors,_ which stated that the 21 miles next to London woe! be
be
opened in the ensuing spring. Ten miles more would be
ready in the summer, and according to the contracts, and the
report of the engiAteer, the whole line Noulll be completed in
the summer of 1838. The Report then referred to the raising
the :year, and the call of 10 per
a loan for the expences of
cent. upo'a the-shares, which is referred to after.
The 'CHAIRMAN said the meeting had now been put in pos-
sessie,a of the actual state of the affairs of the Company up
to 31st of December last. The Directors were happy to
SP.y that, so far as they weie aware, everything was going
tin as satisfactorily as they could desire. It was evident that
the public were pleased with the manner in which the work
was proceeding, as was abundantly proved by a look at the
Stock Market. It was in fact a work of the grandest de-
scription; and although the London and Birmingham Com-
pany were only followers of the Manchester Company, they
were now setting a useful example to the country. They
had heard by the Report which had just been read, that it
was necessary to adopt measures for the purpose of raising
a sufficient sum of money, to meet the current expenses for
the year, By the Act of Parliament, the Company were em-
powered to raise money by way of loan, whenever 50 per
cent, had been paid up. That had now been done, and of course
they now had the power of raising a loan—this, how-
eNer, was for the consideration of the proprietors. The Direc-
tors, at the same time, had thought it necessary to make a ca.II
of ten per cent. upon the shares. He hoped the Report would
meet the approbation of the meeting, and he begged leave to
subalit it for their approval.
The Report was thee agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed the next resolution, viz.—
"That the Directors have power to take up certain sums of
money by way of loan, in conformity with the provisions of
the Act of Parliament." The resolution was unanimously
agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN.—The next point to which I must call the
attention of the meeting is the selection of six Directors, to
fill up the vacancy occasioned by the six Directors retiring. be_
cording to the Act of Parliament.
Mr. IIAYWORTH would take that opportunity t' avail himself
of the privilege given by the Act of Parliame'et. The matter
had been much discussed in Lancashire, a:ad they thought it
right to avail themselves of this opport:aeity nt moving that in
lieu of the six Directors balloted °ea, the following gentlemen
should be elected to fill the situation of Directors of the
Company. The names he 'eroposed were Mr. Edward Bilston,
of Liverpool, Mr. Hull, of Liverpool, Mr. Berry, of London,
Mr. James Pierson__. of Birmingham, Mr. Joseph Walker, of
Birmingham, and, Mr. Rathbone, of Liverpool.
Mr. ARMSTRONG—In risiag to second the resolution, said
he did so after giving it the most serious attention. Placed
on the deputation from Liverpool, and being a large shareholder, '
his interest would naturally induce him to support any resolu-
tion which he knew to be for the mutual benefit of the con-
cern. He telt great pleasure in seconding the resolution.
Mr. ROLLS did not know what might be the opinion of the
gentlemen of Liverpool, but hc knew the custom of London,
and in the whole course of his life, in all Directions in which he
had been engaged, he had never known such a proposal made
as the present. where the Directors had conducted themselves
property, weal, and to the utmost of their power for the advan-
tage of o..te affairs committed to their care—it had not been
the 9e!tom at any time that he had ever heard of, Without seine
spee'aic charge that they had neglected that duty, or from
so%ne other unfortunate cause which should place them in a
position in which they could not respectively carry forward
their affairs, and perform their duty. It was only fair to state
whakwere the grounds of removing the present gentlemen—
( Hear, hear)—or what misconduct on their part :iintified the
step proposed to be taken ? He could only sty that he did
believe such a step would be extremely detrimental to the
interests of the proprietors at large_,and for this reason, that
it would have the effect of retarding the execution of this
great work. It would also have the effect of creating divi-
sions among those who were hereafter to have the con-
ducting
.of the work, and bring it to an early conclusion.—
(Hear, hear.) With that view he now hoped that the
proprietors would think it right to return those Directors
against whom there was not the slightest charge.
Mr. Booenee said the change which it was proposed to make
in the direction was not directed invidiously against any one
of these who, by the regulations of the Act, went out
of erfice. They went out by ballot, and were not selected by
the Directors. The proprietors in Lancashire were four-fifths
of the entire--he might say five-sixths. They have at present
but three in the Direction. The Court in London consisted of
eleven members, having but 110 shares, an amount not equal
to the influence they possess in the Board. That was, he
thought, not a sufficient sum to ensure that zeal in carrying on
the affairs of the Company which was necessary to the success
of the undertaking. He repeated, it was not intended to make
any invidious objection to the Directors going out ; but the pro-
-prietors in Lancashire wished to be properly represented in the
Board. It was some time ago intimated to the London Board that
such was the desire of the proprietors in Lancashire, and that
they wished it to be acted upon when occasional opportunities
would arise. The London Board consisted of eleven mem-
' bers—not of ten, as was authorized by the Act; and the
shareholders in Lancashire had no other cause than that now
proposed to protect their interests, and to forward the success
of the undertaking.
Mr. RATIIRONE of Liverpool beard with regret the proposi.
tion now made. The proprietors, he believed, did not desire
any change in the Direction; and with respect to one of the
gentlemen named by the mover of the resolution, he thought
he was not disposed.to act as a Director. He believed some •
difficulty existed in the way of making the election at present,
and until those difficulties were removed, it Would not be well to
proceed with the proposition. He was sure the Board of Directors
would not fail, whenever an opportunity might occur, to take
the wishes of the Lancashire proprietors into consideration.
For the gentlemen proposed he had the highest opinion ; for
three of them he possessed the warmest friendship. He hoped
Mr. Hayworth would not persevere in his resolution ; for its
effect would only be to create division in a company which,
under the present management, had progressed so rapidly in
public estimation, and the affairs of which had been so very ,
prosperous. _
•

Nfr. Ron Ear iI:IARNETT, of Manchester, filling as he did the
office of Director, did not intend to have taken any part in the
present proceedings. He confessed, however, he was not pre-
pared for the sweeping proposition just made. He thought
that some slight change might be necessary, but he should
certainly feel it his duty to oppose a measure like the present,
because he believed it was fraught with the worst consequences
to the Corporation.
Mr. EDWARD CROPPER, of Liverpool, thought it would be
most prejudicial to the prosperity of the Corporation if this
measure should be adopted. He was free to admit that the
shareholders of Manchester ought to I:Je better represented ;
but the course adopted by the gentlemen from Lancashire was
anything but calculated to proc.ote the interests of the pro-
prietors of the undertaking..
Mr. Was. GARNETT said that the proposition before the
Meeting was one of a very serious nature, and involved a
principle whieh in his judgment would be dangerous to the
success of the undertaking. He fully concurred in the
opinion of the Chairman, that the estimation in which this
Corporation was held on the Stock Exchange was the best
test of public opinion in favour of the manner in which its
affai..s were conducted. He should indeed deeply lament that
any thing should occur to sow dissension amongst themselves,
:and thereby diminish public confidence in the undertaking ;
and it was because he believed that the present proposition
would have this effect that be now opposed it. He trusted the
gentlemen from Lancashire would not interrupt the harmony
which had hitherto prevailed amongst the proprietary, but would
by withdrawing the resolution, cement that union which was
so essential to the prosperity and success of the undertaking.
lie had heard that morning, that some change was -to take
place, and that tine of the old Directors would retire ; but he
confessed ho did not expect any such proposition as had been
submitted to them.
A PROPRIETOR expressed hisconfidence in the old Directors,
and helieved the opinion of the majority of the proprietors was
in favour of their continuance.

Mr. S. WARRING, of Bristol, expressed his conviction of
the necessity which existed for a strong resident directory in
London. It had not been insinuated that the directors
had not discharged their duty, and he could not see
upon what ground their removal was sought for. He trusted
that the mover of the resolution would have the good taste and
good feeling to withdraw it. •
Mr. JONES YEATES, as a very humble proprietor. 'begged to
ask for information upon one or two point°. Had the Liver-
pool gentlemen given their assistance to thb Directors either
by their correspondence or by the:;. attendance ? He would
also be glad to kilow the ef.ent of the interest which the new
list of Directors held, In the shares of the Company as cont-
pared with tha
.•••• of the old Directors ? He bad the pleasure
of knowirig some of the gentlemen, and he entertained a high
opiniSn of their integrity and ability ; but unless he heard
same better reason than had been advanced for the removal
of the old Directors, and the substitution of those proposed,
he for one would vote against the proposition---( Hear, hear.)
Mr. HATWORTH begged to know if any other gentleman had
an obser;atiort to offer, othErwise he should reply to the oppo-
sers tf his proposition.
'The LORD MAYQ.;t, rig a Director, begged, before the mover
of the resolution replied, to make a few observations. It ap-
peared to him,
from what had fallen from the supporters of the
present proposition,
that the chief objection raised against the
old Directors, whom it was never sought to remove, was the
smallness of the interest they possessed. Now, really it ap-
peared to him that gentlemen who had devoted so large a por-
tiohof
of
r tire
e, and anxious attention, to promote the
interests the Company,urged, and against whom not the slightest
charge could be
o uld be set aside on the ground that
had been urged.—( Hear, hear.) If this course. wcr; to be
adopted, and if such a principle was to be sanctioned, it would
strike the axe at the root of that great institution,-and inflict a
serious injury on the interests of the Proprietors. For his part
be would say, in the whole course of his experience, lie never
witnessed so uncalled for, or uncourteous a proceeding. No
objection had been made to the Report ; it was received and
approved of by the meeting, and yet the gentlemen who had
conducted the affairs of the Company with so much success,
and with so much satisfaction to the shareholders, were now to
be displaced I He did not mean to cast any imputation
on the gentlemen who had been proposed to succeed them.
He believed them to be most respectable gentlemen, and for

aught he knew, might possess a larger interest is the Corri-
aim), than the old Directors ; hut of ;Lis he Was certain; that
'a point of zeal, atteeticra and anxiety to patthote the pro-
?erns- of the Company, the old Directors could not be el-
eeeded. As far as Its a the Lord asia.)or) was asseeesnaal, he
',egged to Fay, that from the imroataaae of Isis official and
private eccupations, he faaetla it necessary to retire from that
direction of tba Company ; all it WM ft`a't !late:idol) at
this meeting to place his eat sat lee aispoaal of the body of
nt be supposed that he was iadueed
poprictors, and let ;t it MAt
to take this etka‘. irons any want of confidence in hid hienhet Directreas, he hadl further to add, that within the last feW hours
i'as had made a very considerable addition to his steek.--a.
(Hear, hear.) This was the best proof he could give of his
confidence in the gentlemen with whom he had beers hitherto
associated in managing the affairs of tar: Company.—( Hear.)
He would put it broadly to the meeting—did they suppose
that the Gentleinen on the Direction were at all influenced by
the. paltry stun o 1001. a vear which they received? Were
they, then, to he turned out, aterely because they were pre.
prietors of only ten or twenty shares, and without:tba
ast imputstion on their conduct ? If Way were to be turned
Om in thia way without nottca, It would be the greatest bloa
the. undertaking had Over got. He had the honour to be con-
nected with many of the Corporations of London, and he un-
dertook to say that there never was such a course taken in any
one of them. In feet, at the Bank of England it was not
wished that a Director should hold more than his qualification,
so that the Mover of the resolution had no ground to stand on:
He most earnestly called upon the meeting to reject the prop-
aldose and re-elect the three gentlemen who were now ballotted
out. If gentlemen were to be cast away ha this way, they
would deprive the other Directors of that zeal with which they
were now actuated. l'here was no precedent lf' turning out
gentlemen, against nhom no imputatin' as cast.
Mr. GLYNe (Director) wiehed to put the meeting in poss.es-
sion of one fact, before the reply was made. He would say,
without fear of contra :fiction, that had it not been for the London
Direction, they would not then have met in that room. Had it not
been for the London Direction, the Bills would never have been
got—(Cheers)—and the deputation from Lancashire would
not have had the honour of addressing them to-day. He did
not mean to deny the assistance they had had from Birming-
ham, but he was sure that no one could contradict what he had
said. He knew the gentlemen had come from 'Lancashire
with instructions in their pockets; but he hoped they were so
far left unfettered as to be able now to withdraw the motion.
Mr. P. GnaNIELL (Director) did not take the matter per-
sonal to himself; but he would put it to the meeting whether,
if they removed him from the Direction, it would tend to en.
tourage these who were left behind ?—(Cheers.) He had
attended at every Board, and had even devoted his leisure
hours to inspecting the works.—( Hear, hear.) He had never
before sat at any Board; but he was certain that no men with
more zeal for the undertaking could be put on the Direction
than those now there; and they were always most anxious to
do all in their power to meet the wishes of the Lancashire
proprietors.
Mr. Coox most cordially agreed with the mover of this re-
solution. He thought that the Lancashire proprietors ought
to have a stronger voice than they possessed in the Director-
ship. He regretted thrt there was not a greater number of
Lancashire proprietors here, and they would have heard a
greater number of voices in favour of this proposition. He
hoped that, notwithstanding what they had heard, the Mover
would not withdraw his motion. He should be exceedingly
sorry to go to Lancashire to report such a proceeding. In
conclusion, he would only say that it would meet his support.
Mr. Wm. GARNETT was also a Lancashire proprietor, yet
had never heard of such a proposal as this.--( Loud cries of
" Bravo.") He would take upon himself to say this—that
the Lancashire proprietary would regret to hear of such a
proposition.—(Renewed cries of " Bravo.")
Mr. RATIMONE complained that the resolution was con-
trary to the understanding that had been come to at the pre-
vious meeting.
Mr. HAYWORTII rose to reply. Instead of the'shares falling
by reason of this resolution, he was quite sure that if carried
it would raise ten per cent. the actual value of stock imme-
diately.—( Cries of " Oh.") Why slid he say so ? Because it
would place the Directorship upon a sure and certain basis of
profit and success to the Company on which they ought to
stand. He had given the Directors credit for industry and
honesty by proposing a vote of thanks ; but he felt that they
were wanting in one particular, viz., that they were not the
representatives of ti.e great proprietorship of the undertaking.
It was utterly impossibile—it was contradictory to the prin-
ciples cf nature, that those who had not a large stake in the
business, should be able to meet all the contingencies of so
large an undertaking.--( Hear.) An individual who possessed
only ten shares could not feel that deep interest which
a man who possessed one thousand shares would naturally
feel. A delay of a single month would cause a loss of 2001. in
interest alone. It was said that the success of this undertaking
was the result of the management of the Directors. Now, he
denied this, and would assert, that it was owing to the merits
of the undertaking itself.—( Hear, hear.) The undertaking
was certain to produce an immense revenue.—( Hear, hear.)
There was proof of this in the state of the rail-road between
Manchester and Liverpool, and whoever the Directors might
have been, unless they were totally devoid of principle, the re-
sult would have been the same. They had not come to a de-
cision in the way that was represented—it was only upon the
reflexion of weeks, months, and years, they had done so. It
had been taken into consideration for a great length of time,
and after fully considering the advantages and disadvantages
'on both sides, they had come to this decision. He, therefore,
would not withdraw his motion.—( Hear, hear, hear.) It
was very far from his intention to cast any reflexion on the
Gentleman who had been balloted out. They had been fairly
balloted
.out, and the Legislature had provided that if any
advantage resulted from the re-election or non-election of the
Directors they were to act for the good of the undertaking,
and were not to consult the feelings of individuals. He did
not wish to hurt the feelings of individuals whom he respected
sincerely, but if advantages resulted from other appointments,
be could not expect that they would oppose so good a measure.
Mr. GARNETT, of Manchester, said he and his family held
eleven hundred shares. He was a Director in Manchester,
and he could say, had it been known there that such a proposi-
tion would be made, he would have come armed with proxies of
at least nine-tenths of the Manchester proprietors, to be
used in opposition to it. The Gentleman who moved the
resolution might have a number of proxies at his disposal, by
which the present Meeting might be overwhelmed ; but he
(Mr. Garnett) could Lay that the proposal came upon the pro-
prietors by surprise—he would not call it by the name of decep-
tion. He hoped the Mover and the deputation from Lancashire
would pause before they pressed the resolution. Upon the
principle of justice he suggested such a course, because, to the
great bulk of the Lancashire proprietors the proposition was
alto- gether unknown.
The Lotto Mayon regretted that the Mover of the resolution
had not favoured the Meeting in his opening speech with those
arguments which he used in his reply, because they could then
deal with them, while now they could not do so in the
regular form of debate. But he was sure the meeting would
not think him trespassing on their attention by remarking upon
the gentleman's arguments. He doubted the sincerity of his
assertion, when he said that the Lancashire proprietors had
no hostility to the outgoing Directors. Mr. Hayworth had
not condescended to tell them what were the benefits he pro-
posed by a change in the Direction. He spoke of a saving in
he expenditure of the Company ; but he has not found any
fault on that head with the present Directors, and he jumped
to the conclusion that the gentlemen whom he proposed,
with their new lights, would bring about a considerable
reduction in the expenditure.--( Hear, hear.) Upon that
principle they might do without any Directors at all.
He said that the shares would, if his proposition were agreed
to, be raised fully ten per cent. Now, he would give the gen-
tleman his shares for five per cent., nay, for the amount at
which he bought them yesterday. He hoped the deputation
would pause and reflect upon the consequences of their propo-
sition being carried into effect.
Mr. Tooxe had in many instances assisted in forming the
constitution of public Companies; and from his experience,
he was enabled to state, that great injury resulted to the inte-
rests of the Societies when the qualification of Directors was
too high, because the men who possessed the most wealth and
the laraest interest were not necessarily the most attentive to
the duties of their office, while it often happened that men of
great activity, talent, and ability, whose habits of business
eminently calculated them to manage the affairs of public
bodies, wee excluded by reason of the disqualification to
which he had alluded.— ( Hear, hear.) Now the proposition
of the Lancashire gentlemen was founded upon this erroneous
principle, that the man who possessed the largest interest
must of necessity be the best qualified. To this reasoning he
could never subscribe.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) There
was yet another point to which he felt it necessary to
advert. It so happened that there was not, he believed,
Le might gay a single one of theaaald Directors who had not
been solicited to accept the office, because it was found neces-
sary In seeder to carry the Bill through Parliament, to place
on the directa u men whose names would be a guarantee
against bribery ; and from the smallness of the shares which
the gentlemen who had been chosen possessed, no such sus-
picion could attach to them. But he believed, notwithstand-
ieg the importance which was attached to gentlemen filling
the office of Directors possessing a large interest, it did so
happen that the gentlemen nominated to displace the old
Directors are not very large proprietors.
Mr.eflaywoaan did not mean to convey the idea that the
possession of a large-number of shares was the only qualifica-
tion for a Director. The gentlemen whom he had the honour
to propose had great practical experience in the management
of railwas, and, in his opinion, their appointment would
greatly tend to advance the interests of the Company.
Mr. JOHN STraoE, of Birmingham, put it to the mover of
the Resolution if he
,could, after what he had heard, in point of
fairness, persevere in pressing his proposition ?
A PROPRIETOR, though residing in the neighbourhood, of
Liverpool, had never until that day heard that it was intended
to propose such a measure as the present. He believed if it
was generally known, it would be strongly opposed by the
Proprietors of Lancashire.— (Hear, hear, hear.) In his
opinion that meeting ought not to come to any decision on the
subject, until the feeling of the proprietors could be fairly
ascertained. He would therefore propose an adjournment for a
fortnight.

Mr: C. MILLs (we understoood) seconded the motion for ad-
journment. The proposition of Mr. Hayworth was a novel one,
and one which was not sanctioned in any public company.
In the East India Company, of which he had the hc.nour to be
a director, no such principle was recognised.
Mr. JOHN LEWIS, as a director, begged to say, that if he
possessed 1,000 shares in the Company, he could riot :have paid
greater attent'on to its interests than be had done. _He con-
fessed he was anxious to continue in the Direction w:th the
view to pronvite the prosperity of the Company.
Mr. Coot( disclaimed, on the part of the Lancashire pro-
prietors, any personal feeling towards the old directors in pro -
posing the new Directors. They only acted in conformity; w4ll
a practice which had long prevailed in Lancashire.

The enAlkmAN said the Directors had devoted the whole
of their attention—th,rref a matter if surprise to
them wheil 01,1 found that there. vi-ere or theM tlietight
to be unworthy or a scat at the Boma. The Dire teri vvosulti
be piaced in a very
:ittilr,n if the Meeting came to
a delern'hittti° to contrary to what had been the uniform.

-eraetice.
A PlIOP;IIETOR to 1317pit:10.1-4n fl-edu
pool, -whAher P. 40. 414 iltAliMl'6,.,o.llc
w1.14A 111.• ii Untie-Li He had hearu insta'netions
f4iyen to the ttepittatimr, Which were only to insist upon the
placing of one Directar of their Oivn nonilaatiou en the list.:
He therefore asked the question, which he eOntended he had a.
right to put under the eireuMstanCes...,
• Mr. HAVY/oriYit did re_Tl crilleti upon to antwer the
ves'lion% Le reit convinced he was acting for alb benefit of
tne whole Corporatioti..,
Mr. GARN'ETT ittiliiiion he had sp,,ken of n'as
,=‘,, called. by public advertisement. There
o%c iii-ector to be changed. Any other rittetlng
ha:e been a private coo. •
The cp.tettion ni the adjournment of the election Or tile N.:
r,:ctors ‘t: Is then put, and carried by a very large majority.
Mr. Rotins (Director) moved that any proxies tendered on
the question of adjournment be verified.
The LORD MAYOR seconded the motion. They had seen
the disingenuous way in which the question had been met,
and they had a right to take any measures in their power to
obtain the sense of the full proprietary.
Mr. Harvroarn then tendered the proxies which he held.
The CHAIRUAN Was placed in a situation in which no Chair-
man was ever placed before., He heid in his hand a motion
proposing that all proxies should be examined, for the purpose
of verifying the signatures. In the mean time he had been
urged, in a manner which said that he must not put the ques-
tion, to receive proxies. He was not aware what was his duty
under theze circumstances. The common sense of the thing
wan that the proprietors at large should have such an opportu-
nity as the motion proposed, viz., that the proxies presented
should be verified. He could not see that the object of either
party could be counteracted by such a proposition—it would
not prevent proxies horn having the effect they ought to have,
Mr. Minus would persist in moving the adjournment if the
other gentlemen persisted in deciding this question by proxies.
It would be better fur the interests of the concern not to enter-
tain any such squabbles.

BOOTIIBY, of Liverpool, said, that if such a
course were pursued they must again apply to Parlia-
ment. If the proprietors in Lancashire, who possessed
from 18,000 to 20,000 shares, were to be controlled
by the proprietors of 1,000 shares in London—if they were
compelled to attend from day to day—he would assure them
that the proprietors of Lancashire would not allow them-
selves to be borne down by one-twentieth part of the pro-
prietorship. If such proceedings were tolerated, the pro-
prietors must take the ca„ duct of the concern into their own
hands.

Mr. GLYNN supported the motion for an adjournment.
The LORD MAYOR would meet the thing in this way. It
was asserted that the resolution of the proprietors of Liverpool
was to select one gentleman to go out, and that the proxies
were granted for that purpose ; he would ask, were those
proxies to be used for another purpose ?—( Hear; hear.) Then
the Hon. Gentleman talked of the 20,000 shares of Lance-
share, and the 1,000 held in London : he could tell him, that if
he referred to the list of proprietors he would find himself
mistaken.—( Hear, hear. ) _

A PROPRIETOR expressed his wish that the great body of the
shareholders should be consulted on the subject, which could
only be done by an adjournment of the question.

One of the out-going Directors was about expressing his
sentiments when—

Mr. BOOTHBY said to save time, and seeing that a perse-
verance on -the part of the Deputation would be useless,
he on their part would consent to the adjourment.
Mr. HAYWORTH withdrew for the present the proxies which
he had tendered.

Mr. Boonanr begged to ask whether the Resolution passed
by a body of the Manchester and Liverpool Proprietors, re-
specting the junction of the Western Railway with the Bir-
mingham and London line near London, had received the
sanction of the Court of Directors ? And whether it was
intended to continue for a longer period than two years, which
was then contemplated ? He should move that the Resolution
of the Directors be then read.

The CHAIRMAN read the resolution of the Directors on this
subject,

kr. BOOTHBY read a resolution, signed by a large body of
proprietors, expressive of their wish not to disturb at present
the arrangement subsisting ; but hoping, when its term shall
have expired, that the Company will receive a greater amount
of remuneration than that agreed upon between the respective
Companies.
_ _

After a desultory conversation, the Secretary read the pro-
position made by the Western Railway respecting the station
at Euston Grove.

The CHAIRMAN said that there was not the slightest appre-
hension that any quantity of business that was likely to arise
would encumber them.

The LORD MAYOR protested against any resolution of the
proprietors of Liverpool being taken as a resolution of the pro-
prietorship in general.
The subjest then dropped.
Mr. ARMSTRONG proposed the next resolution, viz., that Mr.
Stevenson, the engineer, be requested to withdraw from all
other engagements, and give up the whole of his time to the
London and Birmingham Institution.
Mr. BOOTHBY seconded the resolution.

Mr. STEVENSON had no objection to the resolution. He was
anxious not to enter into any thing pcompatible with the suc-
cess of the undertaking.
Mr. BOOTHBY had no objection to allow Mr. Stevenson an
additional sum of 1,0001. a-year on condition that he should
give up his uninterrupted time to the business of the railroad.
The resolution was agreed to be left to the Board.
Mr. BOOTHBY suggested the propriety of appointing a
Committee to watch the progress of the various plans before
Parliament, such as were likey to be beneficial to encourage,
and such as were likely to be injurious to oppose.
The CHAIRMAN said that the Directors had always attended
to this suggestion, and would continue to do so.
After a vote of thanks to the Chairman and the Directors,
the Meeting adjourned to this day fortnight.