The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-11 00:00:00

RAIL WAY COMPANIES.

We extract from the Sheffield Independent the fol-
lowing account of the proceedings of the General Meet-
ing of Proprietors of the London arid Birmingham Rail-
way Cemparry, lately held at Birmingham, relative to
the attempt to vote money from the funds to build a
Church
_ _

" The .circumstances of the case, so far as we could
learn, were these :—The .London and Birmingham
Railway Company have collected together, at their
station at Wolverton, a very large body of workmen,
for the purpose of conducting the goods department of
the Company's traffic, and for the repair of their en-
gines. Being at; an inconvenient distance from a place
of worship, the trustees of land adjoining offered to give
the site for a church, if the Company would give 1,0001.
to build one, for the use of their own workmen. This
liberal offer induced a Shareholder, without any pre-
vious notice, to move, at the General Meeting in Au-
gust last, that 1,0001. of the Company's money be ap-
plied to this purpose. Not a few of the Shareholders
were taken by surprise, and the resolution was almost
unanimously carried. It was not long, however, before
the true bearing of the resolution became apparent. If
a meeting.had power to do this, they might also, if the
parties could obtain a majority, make another grant for
a Wesleyan chapel, or Independents' or Friends' meet-
ing-house, or Jews' synagogue. They might build an
hospital for any of their men who had been injured in
their service, to say nothing of mechanics' institutes and
news'-rooms, to keep their men from the public-houses.
" But even those who would not agree to all this,
might consider a chapel at every station, proportioned
to the wants of their workmen, as quite reasonable.
And after so good an example from that railway, which,
we admit, does take the lead in the extent of its traffic,
and the excellence of its arrangements, few of the
smaller concerns would be long without so desirable an
addition to their' establishments. We understand that
a number of the Shareholders, who are members of the
Society of Friends, first took up the matter, and pre-
sented a pretty strong memorial to the Directors, pro-
test:ng against this application of their money as illegal,
uf:warranted by the Company's Acts, and foreign to the
purpose for which it was established. They also ob-
jected to the grant, that it was highly inexpedient to
introduce questions involving religious opinions, amongst
a body of Shareholders of various Christian denomina
tions, as likely to create dissension, and interfere with
the proper management of the concern. And they
urged that it was an infringement upon their Christian
privileges, to be compelled to contribute towards the
erection of a building to be applied to a form of wor-
ship from which they conscientiously dissented. The
justice of these views was admitted even by many who
were most anxious for the religious instruction of the
workmen. _ .

" The illegality of this appropriation of the common
property of the Company was supported by the opinion
of the Attorney-General, who declared that however
audable the object of the resolution in question may be,
and however desirable that it should be carried into
effect,' he was bound to say, that in his opinion, such
an appropriation of the funds of the Company is not
authorised by the Company's Acts.'
" It was accordingl:, moved at the meeting that the
grant be rescinded. It was suggested that the sum be
raised at once by vcl•intary contribution, to which seve-
ral Proprietors were ready to contribute liberally. The
discussion, although very animated, was conducted with-
out asperity on either side. The movers of the resolu-
tion for rescinding the grant expressed the greatest
anxiety for the moral and religious instruction of the
Company's servants, but thought that this ought to be
carried out without the injustice of making individuals
of every religious belief contribute to the propagation
of tenets to a hich they might he conscientiously op.
posed. They urged too, that it was with them purely
a question of principle. The whole pecuniary question
at issue would only amount to about sixpence upon every
IGO/. share.
" At length, an amendment was moved, and carried
by a majority of eight, that, instead of rescinding the
grant, a rateable proportion of it should be retained,
and paid back to every one who should object, and
apply for his quota within a month ; the deficiency to
be made up by voluntary subscription ; thus, as a
Proprietor remarked, making the whole vote volun-

tary.
" So terminated a discussion of very great import-
ance to public companies generally. The right cf a
majority to be liberal at the cost of others, and even
against their consent, was we hope, practically set at
rest. The decision had been waited for with no ordi-
nary anxiety, and we confess that, as Dissenters, we
hail, with no little satisfaction, a conclusion which,
we hope, will close the door to one means of very
great abuse.
" We can conceive that, in bands less considerate
and less honourable than the gentlemen who met that
day, not only might such assumed power be made one
of the most powerful engines of Church Extension,
but applied to objects which would prove the theme of
endless dissension and rancour amongst those who had,
in perfect good faith and simplicity, embarked their
capital in such undertakings.
" For the sake of the principle involved, we trust the
Shareholders generally will apply for their quotas,
whether large or small, of the 1,000/. whatever they
may conclude to contribute voluntarily towards the
church at Wolverton."

;OURT Ot.SEWERS FOR WEST-
MINSTER AND PART OF MIDDLESEX.

A Court of Sewers for the City and Liberty of
Westminster and Part of the County of Middlesex,
will be holden at the Sewers' Office in Greek.street,
Soho-square, to-morrow, March 12, at Twelve o'Clock
at Noon precisely,
To audit the Accounts of the Commissions for the
year 1840.
To receive a Statement of the Accounts of the seve-
ral Districts for the year 1840, with an Estimate
of the Moneys required in the years 1841 and 1842.

SEWERS IN PROGRESS
PUBLIC.
Hornton-street, Kensington.
PRIVATE.

Uxbridge-road, by Shea- Eaton Mews West, Pimlico.
herd's-bush Bridge. Gresford street, ditto.
Ditto, by Kensington Gravel- Maida-hill West,Paddington.
pits. Harriet Mews, Lowndes'-sq.
Norland•square. Thurioe-square, Brompten.