The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-14 00:00:00

S N 9 MAY 14, 1849.

The CHAIRMAN (who sat on Mr. Meek's left)—The
gentleman on your right.
Mr. MEEK—The gentleman on my right (Mr. East),
who is also a member of the committee of investigation.
I don't think, for my part, that you have deputed to us
the investigation of that question, and I hope you will
not. My notion about remuneration is this—that so soon
as eight gentlemen are proposed. to you, and after the
duties those gantlemen are to -perfortn are defined, you
should then be called upon to set your value upon the
men and the services that are offered to yon.—(Hear,
hear.) I do, therefore, hope that you will not sanc-
tion that portion of the recommendation which has re•
ference to the question of remuneration.—(Bear, hear.)
To every other part of the advertisement, though I think
it might have been a little more precisely worded, I make
no objection.

The regular current of thn precoediugs was here for
a while obstructed by the following statements in expla-

nation:--

3IEEK'S STATEMENT.
Mr. MEEK—While I am on my legs, I shall take the
liberty of adverting to another matter, having reference
to gentlemen lately your directors—l allude to the
allotment of the shares of the Wisbeach Company. In
allotting these shares, a certain number, I believe not
more than 500 shares, were offered to each of our direc-
tors, all of whom, or most of whom, availed themselves
of the privilege, some taking the whole 500, others a lower
number-
A SHAREHOLDER—Go on.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. MEEK—A conclusion has been drawn from that
in the public papers of this morning that is unwarrant-
able, and as it bears upon the character of the gentle-
men the matter should be put fairly before the public.—
(Hear, hear.) In a leading article of the Morning
Chronicle I read the following statement:—" By this
operation every director who availed himself of this pri-
vilege of course netted 1,0001." Now, after those mem-
bers of the committee took the allotment--

A SHAREH OneLADsafEett
epadrt—iestmchDooblusere: Cr
.t :dOlaiBTrnS4edcsy:toohurti
hss me
tookseEa ans.
the—tt e
rhp (ernHe
allotmentce saer.)
Counties
state
ot hf eM
the r.
sharechia
s Ese E.
we—lr
Company agreed to subscribe for one-third of the shares
of the Wisbeach Company, and take a lease at four per
cent., with one-half profits, and it was arranged that Mr.
Anderson, Mr. Lee, and Mr. Crosbie (three of the
Eastern Counties directors) should be mcmbers:of the
provisional committee. In the same month of September,
1845, the directors of the Wisbeach and Sr,. Ives Company
allotted 1,500 shares to Mr. Anderson, Mr. Crosbie, and
Mr. Lee, and 1,000 shares were agreed to be allotted for
division amongst the remaining directors of the Eastern
Counties Company. Those latter 1,000 shares were
offered for division amongst the directors (this was prior
to Mr. Waddington and Mr. Hudson joining the direc-
tion), and were taken and paid for at the time in this
way-100 to Mr. l3agshawe, 150 to Mr. Fisher, 100 to
Mr. Kennard, 100 to Mr. Mills, 150 to Mr. Paterson, 200
to Mr. Routh, and 100 to Mr. Ward, besides 100 to Mr.
Meather, not paid upon, and not taken. This is all the
explanation I need offer.—(Hear, hear.)

MR. GIBBS'S STATEMENT.
Mr. GIBBS —I, gentlemen, was one of the directors
who declined to take shares, and as it it said we all
netted 1,000/, I wish you to understand that I myself,
and seven or eight other directors, declined to have any-
thing to do with them.—(Hear, bear.) Instead of being
at premium when offered, they were at par, and went to
or 2 discount. Indeed, it was not probable that the
Wisbeach and St. Ives Company would allow us to re-
ceive 1,000 of their shares if we could net 1,0001. by
them.—(Hear, hear.) While lamon my legs, I would
wish to correct a misstatement that has gone abroad on
the committee's finance account. In the evidence given
by Mr. Davis, the accountant, there is a paragraph
at the latter end in which he states that the transter of

75,000 L from the traffic account to the capital account
was made in the half-year of July, 1848, by order of
the directors.

Mr. MEEK—With the permission of the Chairman,
must say that I think it would be unadvissble to go
into the report.

Mr. Grim —I only want to correct an inaccuracy.
Mr. MEEK—If we bad any intimation from the Hon.
Gentleman that he was going to bring this question be-
fore us, which I think in common courtesy we ought to
have bad, we would provide means to answer him, which
we have not at present.
Mr. Ginns—Thera is no necessity for an answer. As
I intimated to the gentleman on your right, it is merely
an explanation.
CHAIRMAN—I understand it is a very short expla-
nation.

Mr. GIBBS—Mr. Davis is reported to have said that
he received instructions to transfer this large sum of
revenue to the capital account. I held the office of
chairman of the finance committee, and if Mr. Davis or
any other officer of the company put such a proposal be-
fore me to receive my sanction, I would have indignantly
scouted it.—(Hear, hear.) I would rather have my
right hand chopped off than sign the minute book in
which such a proposal was made.—(Hear, bear.) I
don's dony that the accountant received such directions,
but they did not come through the proper channel.—
(Hear.) The proper channel was the individual now
addressing you, and who was never acquainted with it.
A SHAREHOLDER here expressed a wish for explana-
tion with respect to the sum of 4,0001., the amount of
two cheques, which was referred to at the last meeting.
It would appear that the amount of gain to, the parties—
if gain it was—was either 1,0001. or 2,0001, and he de-
sired to know which was correct?

CHAIRMAN—You allude now, I suppose, to the chair-
man and deputy-chairman.
SHAREHOLDER—Yes.
CHAIRMAN—Each was paid 1,0001.
A SHAREHOLDER—Is there a gain of 1,0001. to Mr.
Waddington, and 1,0001. to Mr. Hudson, or was it 2,000/.
to each?
CHAIRMAN-I,oool.—(Hear, hear.)
MR. BAGSHAWE'S STATEMENT.
Mr. BAosHAwE—I came hero for no other purpose
than to beg you would receive from me much of the ex-
planation which you have already received from the gen-
tleman who sits on the right of the chair, and I have
not much to add to what he has stated. So far as we
directors were concerned, we bought the shares, and
reluctantly bought them, to perform a public duty;
and I did not get the benefit by them that other gen-
tlemen got.—(Hear, hear.) I see gentlemen in this
room who bad my shares when they got at a little
bit of premium, and I was glad to wash my hands of
them.—(Hear, hear.) All this it is necessary for you to
know, in exculpation of the charge of receiving undue
profits which has been so much emblazoned before the
world.—(Hear, hear.) I will say one word in regard
to the report. I can safely say for myself, and for many
of my brother directors, that we ought. to be obliged to
those gentlemen who took all the trains to investigate
the matter ; for I pledge my word and honour that I
know more of the affairs of the Eaf.tern Counties Com-
pany from this report than I ever knew, or should ever
otherwise have known.—(Cries of " Shame, shame.")
Let me have ono word more. Don't take it that lam
so much to blame. If you thought fit to appoint a per-
son contrary to our wishes, and to pass a resolution to
this effect, how could you expect but that gentlemen
like myself would leave it to others to look after your
affairs.—(Hear, hear ?) Here is the resolution you
passed the very first time Mr. Hudson made his appear-
ance in this room—" That the grateful acknowiedg-
ments"—(A simultaneous burst of disapprobation here
burst forth from the meeing which rendered perfectly
inaudible the words of the speaker)—what, gentlemen!
not hear me—(Silence being restored, the speaker con-
tinued to read)—" that the grateful acknowledgments of
this meeting be offered to George Hudson for his hand-
some compliance with the requisition of the share-
holders, lately presented to him to undertake the direc-
tion of the company, and the expressio❑ of their entire
confidence in him, and the assurance of their support in
carrying out measures for the good of the company."
Gentlemen, there is your idol—take him.—(ltenewed
expressions of disapprobation.)
Mr. MEEK—You placed your confidence in the gen-
tleman in connexion with the whole railway world—you
sent that gentleman into the direction to promote your
interests—you did not know how he acted; this gentle-
man did, and I cannot permit the Hon. Gentleman to
screen himself under your ignorance, while he knew that
that gentleman was abusing the confidence you placed i❑
him.—(Hear, hear.)
Nit. KENNARD'S STATEMENT.

Mr. KENNAIID—I should not have risen but for the
remarks of my friend on the right, who stated that he
did not know so much of the affairs of the Eastern Coun-
ties Company before the report as he now does. He was
one of the directors of the Northern and Eastern pretty
nearly from the commencement. I was one from its
commencement—at its cradle—and I believe there is no
ono who knows more of the Eastern Counties Railway
than I do.—(llear, hear.) With respect to the late ma-
nagement—the management of the books and so on—l
know nothing. Very good care was taken that we should
know nothing. We attended the board meetings, and I
am surprised to find in the testimony of the officers of
the company, that the accounts were laid before the
board, and altered by the board, and that, as servants,
they had no control over them. I deny that they were
ever laid before the board until they were in a shape
that they might be seen by, you or any one else.. The
alterations were made previously, without any director
knowing anything about it, but from the evidence that
comes out in your report it would appear that Mr. Wad
dington knew something about it, when he talked of the
" cooking " of the accounts, but with that exception 1
believe no other director knew anything about it,. and
we had a right to believe they were place faith-
fully before us and honestly stated.—(Heard , hear.)
The committee does the board of directors a certain
amount of justice. They state that while the railwa:
was under ale control of Mr. Bosanquet, they
the had no
fault to find with the book-keeping aceounts,or mode
in which the books were kept, and nearly every director
now existing was a member of that board at that time,
—(hear.) But when Mr. Hudson came, with the un-
deratandiug he should have the absolute contro
l. and
which he took pretty good care to keep—we knew
nothing about them.—(hear, hear.) . A letter was read
by Mr. 'Waddington about a depreciation account, and
there
was a message sent about Mr. Hunter attending
more to his engines, and not to writing reports: the di-
rectors knew nothing about it. The directors, before
giving up the reins to Mr. Hudson, insisted upon a de-
-1
preciation account being made out, but when Mr II
son came here with an overwhelming' majority ofpur(cl:.

[PRICE SD•

prietors, it was thought respectful by the directors to
bow to that majority. I stand here not as an Eastern
Counties director proper, but as one representing
the Northern and Eastern Company. It is stated
in the report that, we are not responsible to you,
but I should be sorry to shield myself under such
a supposition. I believe myself to be a director
of the Eastern Counties Company, and believing myself
to he ,kie responsible in that capacity to you, I think you
have a right to ask for an explanation.—(Elear.) I feel
myself grossly injured by the way the affairs have been
carried on, and that we were not able to find them out;
but month after month we had not met, and :he minutes
were so meagre that it was impossible for the eirece)rs
to know anything about them. But it is said—why d d
you permit those things to take place? That is a
question you have a right to ask, and that is a question
1 have a right to answer. Mr. Hudson is, no doubt, a
man of great talent, and the success that seemed to at-
tend him on all occasions was such that there was an
unbounded confidence placed in him; but when, fur the
first time, he proposed a 9s. dividend (we having on the
previous occasion declared only a as. dividend), a Mr.
Love stood up and asked a question about that 9s. divi-
dend, and he Wes almost hissed out of the room;
_and
there was a cry from some parts of the room of •• Turn
him out!" Well, now, with respect to that 9s. dividend.
You are all men of business, and how do you think we
could (having in the previous half-year only given a 3s.
dividend) find out, in the coursteof six months that a
dividend of 9s. a share could be given? It was im-
possible—we must have either bagged the- extra six
shillings before, or we must be then giving more than
we were entitled to give. Then it might be said—
why did you permit it to be given? I will tell you why
I did. In the first place, Mr. Hudson told us he could
reduce the expenses enormously, and increase the
traffic astonishingly.— (Hear, hear.) The traffic cer-
tainly did increase; from what source that traffic was
got we did not know, but we found it out a little time
afterwards. Then came the second 'half-year, and then
there was another dividend declared, and we of the
Northern and Eastern Company went back to our own
board, and told them (to whom in the first place we
were responsible) what we thought. On discussion we
said that Mr. Hudson was so compromised by this divi-
dend, that be having the power over the whole of the
North of England must send all his traffic over our line.
—(Hear, hear.) We could net account for the delay of
the opening of the Syston and Peterborough Railway,
but when that railway was opened we were disappointed,
and when we found there was a reduction of traffic, we
struck.—(Hear, hear.) It is impossible to make gene!
rally known what occurs in board rooms, and the same
difficulty sometimes happens elsewhere. It is possible
that the present committee may not altogether be unani-
mous, for people will clash; but as soon as we found
there was no remedy, we were determined to make our
stand. And then the share account of the York and
Berwick came before the country, and the result is known
to you all.—(Hear, bear.) Ido not mean to justify our
conduct. I believe that which is really wrong can never
be justified.—(Hear, hear.) We bowed to expediency
because we thought it was for the interest of the com-
pany; but when we thought it was wrong we should
have made a stand--(Hear, hear)—and I appear before
you ashamed of myself—(Hear, hear)—and I will always
think it was a blot on my escutcheon that we did not
make a stand before, and I regret it.—(Hear.)
The episodical matters having been disposed of, atten-
tion was called to the fact that there was no motion
before the chair.

APPOINTMENT OF A COMMITTEE TO NOMINATE
DIRECTORS.

The CHAIRMAN—I have now a resolution to proposer
My friend at my right hand (Mr. Meek), says it was not
agreed to by the committee, but I UM sure you will not
be surprised to hear, after the meeting we bad the day
before yesterday, that we should break up before making
an appointment for a regular meeting next day. Some
of us went to the Eastern Counties Railway, and some of
us thought that an advertisement should go into the
papers to show the period fixed for the meeting in the
regular way, and we drew up a paper similar to that we
are about to read to you. When the paper was drawn
up, we came down to the London Tavern, expecting to
find some of our colleagues that would make up a
quorum, the number being five. When we arrived, Mr.
Meek, who took an active part in this business, wits not
here. We waited an hour for him. We saw no ob-
jection to the notice, and we directed it to he put
in the papers. Before it was put in the papers,
this gentleman came and objected to the last clause,
but as the majority of the committee approved of
it, it was requisite, I believe, to advertise it. We
are not wedded to that resolution, or any other,
but we desired to put it in such shape that we would have
something to discuss to-day. We know what confusi,n
often occurs in public meetings before they come to a
conclusion as to their directors. We thought, there-
fore, that thirty-eight shareholders should be chosen,
not to appoint directors, but merely to suggest the names
of persons to be appointed. Probably we have done
wrong, but lam of opinion that it was a regular and
safe course to take. In conclusion, the chairman pro-
posed $ resolution for the adoption of the proposition
contained in the notice read by the secretary.
Mr. Box proposed the following amendment That
a committee, consisting of twelve independent proprie-
tors, be now appointed, who shall have free access to
the register of proprietors, to select twenty-five gentle-
men out of the proprietary, whom they shall consider
duly qualified to elect the new directors." He thought
that the qualification proposed by Mr. Cash was too
high, and therefore it was that he brought forward his
resolution—as the large majority of the shareholders
did not hold a qualification of 1,0001. stock, and all had
an equal right to be represented on the committee, the
more especially as the qualification for a director was
only twenty shares, or 4001. stock.
The amendment having been seconded,
Mr. MEEK begged likewise to move an amendment, to
the effect that all that portion of the motion referring
to the future remuneration of the directors be omitted.
He believed the time had arrived when those gentlemen
whom they wanted to be directors of this company must
be sought after, and must not be men who would offer
themselves.—(Hear, hear.) Before any gentleman be-
came a candidate for a seat in the direction, he should
carefully ascertain what be was about to undertake.
Before doing so, he should know something of the con-
dition in which the company was' placed. If he offered
himself as a candidate before he knew something of the
responsibility he was going to take upon him, he dis-
qualified himself in his (Mr. Meek's) humble estimation,
from taking upon himself those duties.—(Hear, hear.)
As his friend on his left had said, he (Mr. Meek) had
taken an active part in this investigation, and it'might
be thought that he had some object in view in reference
to a seat in the direction afterwards.—(Hear, hear.)
Of course, that first of all must depend on whether
he should become a candidate, and then it would
depend upon the opinion that might be formed of
that offer. For himself, he would say that he would
never offer himself as a candidate until he knew who
the gentlemen were with whom he was to share this re-
sponsibility.—(Hear, hear.) He thought it almost im-
possible that circumstances could occur that would induce
him to offer to them his services; but while the com-
mittee of investigation lasted, he would perform the
duty they had imposed upon him. If he were one of the
thirty-eight, if the motion were carried; or 'of the
twelve, if Mr. Box's amendment were adopted, he
would do all in his power to procure the nomination of
fit and proper men. But, for the sake of the company,
they should see that the men nominated were men of
character and talent, and that they would have time to
attend to the business. His notion of the duties of
directors differed very much from the opinion that
seemed to be entertained on the subject by the last di-
rectors.—(Hear, hear.) It was impossible for any
gentleman to, offer his services who was engaged in any
active pursuit of his own.—(Hear, hear.) He believed
if any gentleman offered his services who had been long
disused to business he was in some measure disqualified.
There were qualifications necessary for a director, and
those who looked beyond the surface of the platter
must know they were qualifications that must be sought
after; and if gentlemen were too ready to offer their
services. it ought to excite suspicions of their capacity.
Mr. EAST seconded Mr. Meek's amendment.
The amendment of Mr. Meek was carried; the amend-
ment of Mr. Box was negatived ; and the original reso-
lution, as altered by Mr.Meek's amendment, was adopted.
Some conversation here ensued with respect to the
sum expended by the Sise-lane Committee.
Mr. BRowNE (to the Chairman)—Yon gave certain
items, and I ask whether you were yOurselves satisfied
that those items were carrect ?
CHAIRMAN—We never had the vouchers or bills, or
until the morning of the meeting we had not the }terns.Mr. BROWNE—Did the Bills ever come before you ?
CHAIRMAN—Never.
Mr. BROWNE—Where did you get the information that
enabled you to make the statement? ,
Cnaramars---From John Duncan, ho brought them to
my counting-house.
Mr. MEEK suggested that a list of tlreindiuvtidlueaaslst
nominated should be furnished to the proprietors
one week before tee meeting.
Cnarnarars--Move it as a resolution.
Mr. Msex—Not as a resolution, but as a suggestion.
CHAIRMAN—Let those who think this should tie done
signify their assent in the usual way.
The proposition was agreed to.
A vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman, and the
meeting separated.
It was understood (though not formally announced)
that the next meeting will be held on the 31st instant.
Considering the mass of discontent that must have
been called together on the occasion, the meeting of
Saturday passed off with calmness and regularity.

CONSIGNMENT TO lIER MAJESTY.—A. package
containing dresses for her Majesty the Queen, and ad-
dressed to the care of the Viscountess Canning, has ar-
rived at the port of Southampton, by the Euxine
steamer, from Constantinople, which was immediately
forwarded to London by the authorities at that place for
delivery at Buckingham Palace.
DEPARTURE OE TILE CALEDONIA. —The Royal
Mail steam-ship Caledonia, Captain Leitch, sal; ed from
Liverpool on Saturday afternoon for Boston via Halifax.
She carries out the usual American mails, a c on:id. r-
able number of passengers, and specie :to the at count of
55,4501. The in-coming steamer Europa, Capta'n Lott,
which was to sail from New York on the 2d, may. be ex-

pected early this day, May 14.

DOVER BAY AND BREAKWATER.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
have reed " Alpaa's- letter in The Sun
of the 9th instant, and am at no loss to discover the
author, the initial of whose real name is much nearer
Omega." But my business is not with individuals,
much less with anonymous writers, and I should not
have noticed this very impotent- atteaript to reply to
my strictures, were it not for the startling announce-
ment that the Dover Breakwater "is distinct, com-
plete, and independent in itself," and that "it is not
the intention of the existing race of men to complete
the gigantic scheme originally projected."
" Alpha" makes use of authoritative language, and
doubtless spirtles ink ex cathedra, but the public will
learn with no little degree 0/ astunislimentahat ." this
beautiful monument of engineering skill and a na-
tion's resources" is to be constructed for the tole, and
now avowed, purpose of "giving those facilities so
earnestly required at that port, in landing passengers
at all sta•es of the tide."
These declarations, stripped of pompous verbiage,
simply mean that the Dover Break water is to be
constructed to ward off the shingle from the entrance
to the tidal harbour; to do that by a nation's, re-
sources which private or corporate funds should long
ago have accomplished; to cover the glaring faults
which have been committed by those in charge of
Dover Harbour ; and by the perpetration of a " gi-
gantic" job to secure what a moderate outlay would,
under scientific management, have achieved in a work
adapted to the difficulties to be overcome.
The Refuge Harbour Commission was appointed
expressly "to inquire into the most eligible situations
for choosing a harbour or harbours of refuge in the
Channel." See Treasury Minute. The report of the
Commissioners, the evidence taken before them, their
recommendations and estimate of expenditure, were
all prepared in conformity to those instructions, and
the money granted by Parliament has been voted on
account of the harbour of refuge recommended by
the Commissioners. Any departure, therefore,
without the express sanction of Parliament, from the
great national object and intention of establishing a
harbour of refuge at Dover, will, I apprehend, be a
deviation from the course sanctioned by Parliament
and the country, and will involve a palpable misap-
plication of the funds voted for a specific purpose.
Is not "Alpha's"avowal a further strong ground for
the immediate intervention of Parliament ? Surely,
the House of Commons will have the matter sifted,
and will cause the vote for Dover, Breakwater to
stand on clear and intelligible grounds.' If the design
of a harbour of refuge there is abandoned, let it be
publicly so stated, and the money for Dover asked in
Iplain terms for the real purpose to which it is to
be applied, namely to keep open the tidal harbour.
Bur, Sir, I am one of those who think a harbour of
refuge in Dover Bay is imperatively called for, and
that the recommendation of the Commission to
that effect, approved by Parliament, should be carried
out. My aim is to point out the defects of the pro-
posed formation, and to obtain such an inquiry as will
honestly elucidate the question.
"Alpha" has been led into misrepresentation in say-
ing that I " hastily condemn that which is being
done, without ever suggesting a more proper mode of
action." That assertion is directly opposed to facts,
and should not have been so inconsiderately put
forth. I expressly stated, in my letter to you of the
17th April, " that any refuge harbour in Dover Bay
should be formed upon the principle of the break-
water in Plymouth Sound, so as to afford shelter to
vessels anchoring within it, or running for the tidal
harbour, but leaving free and ample space for the
action of the waves to drift the shingle along the
shore," and the same opinion had been given in the
early letters to the Admiralty. If "Alpha" will refer
to Plates D and E, and the letter-press of pages 14
to 18, inclusive, of my pamphlet, published in 1839,
he will also see the improvements I proposed to make
in the piers of the tidal harbour, based upon the
principles and reasoning previously laid down.
But those alterations were directly the reverse in
principle of pulling down Cheeseman's Head, which
ought to have been extended by an elbow trenching
to the eastward, and however " erudite ",-upon other
matters these persons might have been who denounced
Cheeseman's Head, they certainly knew nothing what-
ever of the principles which should govern the erec-
tion of any pier or harbour on that coast.
The present pier heads of Dover are monuments of
the sad want of knowledge, upon shingle movement,
that prevailed when they were constructed—the
mouth of the harbour is literally a shingle trap; and I
cannot refrain from saying that I consider it very
deplorable that no effort has been made to improve the
entrance, although the malformation was so clearly
shown ten years ago and since, the consequences of
pulling down Cheeseman's Head should have con-
vinced any intelligent mind of the truth of the oppo•
site theory. But prejudice is blind to truth, and too
often succeeds in stifling it for a time.
All that " Alpha " has said of the deposit at the foot
of Round Down Cliff I pointed out within a week of
' the time at which the explosion took place, and again
fully explained in my letter to you of the Ist
January last. My predictions have hitherto been
fully verified, and from the natural causes uniformly
in operation, must continue to be so ; but whether "the
accumulation approaching the end of the pier will not
be realised before a century of years have rolled away,
must depend upon the extent of disintegration of the
various cliffs to the westward, and the greater or less
prevalence of south-west gales and winds. What I
contend for is that the shingle will, that it must,
' ultimately reach the end of the pier; it is only a
question of time ; but I ask whether it is wise, with
a certainty of the fact before us, to expend a very
large sum of public money for a temporary purpose,
having no higher object than to keep open the navi-
gation of the tidal harbour of Dover. The Refuge
Harbour Commission made no such recommendation,
neither has Parliament voted money for any such
' purpose. A breakwater of 800 feet may be a local
benefit—a great prize for a deserted seaport to clutch,
but has no pretension to be called a national work, and
therefore it will be the duty of every guardian of the
public purse to demand investigation, and to oppose all
further votes of money until a satisfactory explanation
shall have been given.
" Alpha " has proved more than he intended ; be
has disproved nothing ; and again I repeat that I fun
perfectly prepared to prove before a competent
tribunal all I have asserted, and nothing will or shall
put this matter to rest but inquiry.
I beg of you to accept my best thanks and my
apologies for troubling you at such length.
I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient
servant, S. H. WILLIAMS,
Lieut.-Colonel late Royal Engineers.
Ramsgate, May 12, 1849.

ROBBERY AND TRANSFER OF THE PLUNDER TO
AN INNOCENT PERSON.-A young man named Charles
Mackenzie, a jeweller, of Broad-street, Birmingham,
was charged with stealing 5/. in silver, contained in s
packet, from the person of Mr. Thomas Tonks, mer-
.

. ..
chant, of Regent-parade, Caroline-street, of that town,
under the following circumstances :—On Saturday
morning Mr. Tonks went to the Birmingham Bank, and
got a 51. cheque cashed, receiving 5/. in silver wrapped
up in a packet, which he put into his coat-pocket behind.
Atter this he went to Spooner and Attwood's bank, for
the purpose of getting another cheque cashed. On the
way to the latter establishment he passed the pri-
soner, who had a Scotch plaid on hie arm, and who
repassed him. While he (Mr. Tonks) was stand-
ing at the counter at Spooner and Attwood's bank,
which was about a minute after he got there, he felt
a movement behind him at his coat pocket, and that
it became lighter : he immediately turned round, and
saw the prisoner opening the bault-door for .the
purpose of going out, He immediately chased
him into Worcester-street, to the corner of Philip-
street, where he cried out " stop thief," and as Mr.
Thomas Berks, landlord of the White Horse, Great
Colmore-street, was coming out of the Market-hall, he
caught the prisoner and held him until Mr. Teaks came
up. Mr. T. then told the prisoner to hand out that 5/.
of which he had robbed him, but the prisoner denied
the charge, on which he was taken to a fruit-shop and
searched, but the money was not found upon h
o._
W hpi love
ki in
ttsh ern fureuhi th-sela:rpte,r At
his,lhra.7,l3heerkesousilidddaecenolju-
nfetlftor°,Daendr
tbeindt.o N
Lis o one
pocket,bu t the
on putting his hand into it, pulled out the. mousy-packet
and
prisoner could of which Mridlh'
it was supposed to have been placed there during the
°anviesphuatdthbeeepnacrlot eb
struggle between him and the prisoner in Philip-street.
The prisoner was committed for trial.
LEAMINGTON SPA, MAY 12.—The summer season
has commenced brilliantly. The arrival lists contain
the names ot the Marquis and Marchioness of Queens-
bery, the Ladies Browne, Baron Dimseiale, Lord John
Scott, Admiral Sir George and Lady Cockburn, Sir John
Grant, Bart, the lion. Lads' Hay, the lion. Mr. and
M. r, Tul Dire. 'lino, Sir 'l'homs
Thompson, Major General
Hunter Blair, Btc., &c. The Tyler family are engaged
lor the promenade concerts, and their quintette per-
formances daily are a source of much attraction. Nt xt
week the cricket amusements commence for the season.
under the direction of Nlessrs. Parr and Wisden, tat o of
" the eleven" el England. Visitors are attracted by. the
±orihcoming inauguration of llellies's statue ot Dr.
Jephson, which will be placed in the ornamental temple
erected for its reception in the Jephson Gardens, on the
2Sth inst.; the ceremonial will be conducted by Mt.
Sergeant Adams, who will also preside at a public dinner
on the occasion. In the course of the same week the first
of a series of floricultural exhibitions, upon a si iendid
scale, and open to all England, will bring to the Sp% the
best growers from all parts; the prizes are most liberal,
and unparalleled competition is anticipated.
FORTUNATE EsCAPE.—WooLwicii, MAT 12fi.e--_d
:
Mtijor I)esbrisay, Royal Artillery, when actingtl as l
of the barrack grounds at W oolwich,
and it being eery
of
the night
officer of the day, had to proceed to the sou.t • west gate
dark between twelve and one o'clock on
e
Thursday last his horse went too much to tne left, and,
before the Major was aware, came on the ha-ha, tt
separation between the barmlt-told and the common;
the horse in attempting to jump over the dry ditch of
the ba-ba fell short end broke his melt; the concussion
the Major sustained by the fall was severe„ but forth-
' natelv not to such an extent as might have been ex-
pected, and he is now convalescent.