The Sun.
London, England, 1840-02-29 00:00:00

THEfSUN, LONDON, SATURDAY, FEERUARY 29, 1840.

SOUTHAMPTON DOCKS.

pane's reach, and of reimbursing him, at a very early I
period, for his present outlay.
The Directors with pleasu:c report, that the great ma-
jority of their Fellow-Shareholders testify their sense of
this necessity, and their continued confidence in the un-
dertaking, by a ready fulfilment of their engagements.
The rctual state of the Share-List is a point which has
occupied the Directors' attention. With all the circum-
spection which the original Directors could employ—and
it has been more than once objected to them that they
were over-circumspect—some parties have in this, as in all
ether Companies, failed to pay upon their shares. A few
a e ascertained to have become unable to perform their en-
gagements, whilst others arc deceased, or insolvent, or not
to be found. There are 170 shares so circumstanced, in
respect of which the usual notice of forfeiture 11,13 been
served on their respective owners, or representatives, in
conformity with the provisions of the Company's Act ;
and such declaration of forfeiture will be proposed for con-
firmation this clay. The deposit of 21. 103. per share,
which has been paid on the whole 170 shares, will there-
upon become forfeit to the Company.
A second class of shares--and with these alone the Di-
rectors feel any difficulty as to relieving the Company of
them by forfeiture—consists of a certain number on which
no instalment has ever been received. One Subscriber,
to the number of 100 shares, is included in this class :
he was permitted to sign the deed in the country, on a
positive promise of immediate payment thereon in Lon-
don ; he failed to do so, and subsequently became insol-
vent. The whole number of such shares, inclusive of these
which the parties who applied for them have omitted to
take up, is 392.
These arc evils from which no joint-stock undertaking
of late years has been exempt ; and the Directors believe
they are warranted in adding, that in very few has the evil
been so small in amount. The remedy is obvious : it is
only requisite that those of the Proprietors who are of a
sound and right-minded description—fortunately, the large
majority—should continue promptly to meet their engage-
ments, and others of the same eligible class will come
forward to take the place of every defaulter. Such has
been conspicuously the case for several weeks past, during
which repeated instances have occurred of shares passing
out of unwilling or incapable hands into those of opulent
individuals purchasing for permanent investment.
There are, in fact, at the present moment more than
enough of shares held by Proprietors of the most substan-
tial character, to furnish the me ef constructing the
first Dock during the present year, and that by instalments
strictly confined within the limits prescribed •by the Com-
pany's Act, 201. per share will accomplish it, and thereby
put the Company into a position at • cc to realize an in-
come.

The seventh half-yearly meeting of the Directors
and Proprietors of the Southampton Dock Company
took place yesterday at the Company's offices, Bishops-
gate-!trett.
'the SECRETARY having read the requisition con-
vening the meeting,
The CHAIRMAN (Joseph Liggins, E,.q.) said it was
often the practice on such occasions to commence by
reading the minutes of the last meeting, but as there
happened to be a great deal of business before them,
it might be as well, perhaps, if that were now dispensed
with.

The resolutions of the last meeting were, however,
ultimately read.
The CHAIRMAN then said, Gentlemen, your Direc-
tors have the honour to present themselves before
you to-day for the purpose of rendering an ac-
count of their stewardship since the last meet-
ing, and they come before you with mingled
feelings of pleasure and of Pleasure at having
it in our power to report to you, that since the com-
mencement of your interesting, your important, your
noble works, they have proceeded, in the most satisfac-
tory manner; pleasure, too, at having it in our power to
state, that among those who, by their scientific know-
ledge and practical skill, are fully com2etent to form a
correct and sound lodgment on works of this descrip-
tion, the opinion is that your works have been well de-
vised—that they 1 ave been well conducted, in a
skilful and proper manner, and that the portion of them
completed, has been done well ; and they have the further
gratification of stating, that those views which your
Directors have heretofore entertained—that the predic-
tions they have put forth as to the eligibility of the site
selected, and the prospect of a future remuneration to
the shareholders—have been fully realized. And the
advantages which must necessarily arise from the for-
mation of commercial docks at Southampton are such
that the system is now being adopted by other parties
who are industriously employed in endeavouring to es-
tablish another Company, whose business it will
be to construct other docks within the short distance
of three-quarters of a mile from our works. Thes,4
parties appear to be delighted with your
plans, and are so enamoured of what you
have done, that they have copied your plans as far as
they can, in order to adapt them to their position. I
can conceive no more gratifying circumstance than that.
It is deiightful to us to find, that our views have been
so readily adopted by others, who are just as well able
to judge of the merit. of our works as ourselves. But
as we feel perfectly satisfied that the only means they
have of obtaining business for their docks, is to receive

There is yet another class of shares, which the Direc-
tors have placed also under declaration of forfeiture. They
arc the 344 shares held by :qr. T. S. Richards, and those
who act with him. The circumstances of this case have

so recently come befoee the Proprietors by means of a
communication signed by the Chairman of the Company,
that it will suffice to say the Directors are prepared with
ample evidence, satisfactorily to explain much of Mr. T. S.
Richards's recent circular, and to disprove the remainder.
These parties are presumed to be able to perform their
engagements ; and the meeting will decide whether they
have any claim to be released from them. Whilst the
Directors have, after much forbearance, found it impera-
tive on them to resort to process of law to enforce pay-
ment from parties of this description, they arc nevertheless
happy that it has been found in so few cases requisite to
put in force the extremity of that power which imposes on
them the duty of taking care that parties who have entered
into liabilities which are mutual, shall not with impunity
leave their liability to be borne by others.
The actions already tried have both resulted, as the
Proprietors are aware, in verdicts for the Company, sub-
ject to the opinion of the Court of Common Pleas upon
certain technical objections, which it is expected will be
disposed of early in the next terra. The Directors are
advised by Counsel, that the sole effect of this delay will
be to add to the heavy amount of costs which the defen-
dants have already brought upon themselves.
The prospects of the Company are on all sides improv- '
ing. The completion of the Southampton Railway, so,
essential to the prosperity of the Docks, and so inevitably
conducive to their success, is now not only placed beyond
a doubt, but within three months from the present day the
line will be in ac ire and uninterrupted traffic throughout
its entire length—its one terminus the Thames, its other
the Dock premises.
To this cheering fact may be added another, of consi-
derable interest to the Proprietors. Whilst one class of
ohjec•ors pronounced that the Railway would never be
completed, another predicted that docks at Southampton
would never attract shipping enough to make them pay.
It is true, that while time and vigorous management have
disposed of the one prediction, experience alone can decide
the other. But it is no small corroboration of the belief
that Ducks at Southampton will pay, that a party has re-
cently been found confident enough in that impression ac-
tually to propose the erection of a rival establishment there.
In the face, however, of the active and rapid progress
which the Company's works have now been for some
months steadily making, the scheme is (at all events fur
the present Session) abandoned, sad though the very
attempt is, as the Directors have said, strong confirmation
of the soundness of their own views, the relinquishment of
such threatened competition is a circumstance on which
the Directors must naturally congratulate the Company.
The Directors cannot close this report, without record-
ing their approbation of the conduct of the large body of
labourers now employed on the Company's works ; and at
the same time redeeming their promise to recommend to
the Proprietors to grant a small SUM in aid of the impor-
tant duty of affording them spiritual care and instruction
An earnest appeal has been made to the Directors, to this
effect, not only on die ground of religious obligation, but
of regard to the peace and welfare of the town of South-
ampton itself, into which so large a class of hardy nevi-
feature and °there, 'nee been introduced epec7ally for the
'Company's advantage. A religious body (The Psetorel
Aid Society), has promised to grant a salary of 100/. to a
clergyman to undertake the duty, comprising service on
the afternoon and evening of each Sunday, and personal
visits among the men ; Queen's College, Oxford, has
granted the use and undertaken the external repairs of the
ancient Chancl of " God's house," adjoining the Deck
land, for this spacial purpose ; and the internal repairs
and alterations are estimated at the sum of 160/. Towards
this the Trustees of the French congregation at Southamp-
ton have promised :351. ; and subscriptions are raising in
the town for the same object. " If," says the Rev. Dr.
Wilson, Ma-ter of the Cnapcl, and Vicar of Holy Rood,
Southampton, " the Dock Company will kindly consider
the case, and render us help in this plan, we shall feel par-
ticularly obliged ; and I need not attempt to show how
important the purpose ie, or how desirable to r*ive them
(the Dock labourers) a place they may attend' as their
own, and so not have the plea that they have not clothes
suitable to mix with another congregation."
It is the inc:inat'on of the Directors cordially to re-
spond to this appeal ; and with that view they recommend
it to the Proprietors to grant a sum, not exceeding Oa, in
aid of so laudable an object —(Cheers.)
The Directors have to announce that, owing to conside-
rations of a purely private nature, their valued cotleague,
Captain Ward, hiss vacated his seat in the Direction ;
their regret at which retirement would have been in-
creased, but for the accession to their number of George
Burnand, Esq., a gentleman so eminently fitted to benefit
the Company, that the Directors were happy to exercise
the power given to them by the Act, by forthwith electing
him to the vacant scat.
It only remains to state, that, in conformity with the
Company's Act of Perliament, four Directors now go out
of office ; the gentlemen so retiring are Mr. Ede and Mr.
Witt, of Southampton; and Mr. Rigmaiden and Mr.
Burnand, of London : all of whom are eligible to be
re-elected. JOSEPH LIGGINS, Chairman.
2eth February, 1840.

that portion of the trade which we cannot accommo-
date, we can have no objection to their being prepared
to receive the surplus trade of the port. Gentlemen, it
is cheering to your Directors to find, that the opinion
of the merits of your works is not confined to your Di-
rectors, and, I am happy to add, to a large proportion
of the Proprietors ; but that the merits of the under-
taking are now exciting in other quarters, where here-
tofore they met with nothing but indifference, the great-
est attention. That the public at large are now being
attracted to the merits of the undertaking, and that
there is a growing demand for our shares, so that we
may be perfectly sure the time is now at hand when the
demand for them will be equal to the supply. But I
have now to turn to the other side of the picture ; and
I beg of you to believe me when I state that it has
been a most painful state of things to the
Directors, to find that in the performance of the duties
which by your grace and favour have been delegated to
them, they have been constrained to put in force the
operation of the more stringent portions of the Act of
Parliament. This is a duty which they would gladly
have avoided, but hitherto they have been lett without
any alternative ; they have found to their extreme re-
gret that where they had a legal and a moral right to
expect active co-operation and cordial support, they have
met with opposition as unwarrantable as it is unprece-
dented, and, I conscientiously believe, undeserved. But,
Gentlemen, the questions arising out of these matters
hare been taken to another Court, and issue is joined
upon them in another place ; and it is my wish to touch
as lightly as possible on matters of so uninviting a cha-
raeer. If it should be the opinion of any gentleman
in this assembly, that he might be warranted in ad-
verting to these circumstances, I do hope that he will
do so, not in any vindictive spirit, but in terms of cour-
tesy. I hope he will have some consideration for the
position in which he himself has placed the Directors,
and that we shall not have to listen, us on former occa-
sions, to personal attacks, occasioned too much by the
proceedings of himself and his friends. As it will de-
volve upon me, perhaps, to address you again and again
in the course of these proceedings, I will not further
trespass on your attention than to call upon the Secre-
tary to read the Report, to which I doubt not you will
give your full approbation.
The Secretary then read the Report of the Directors
as follows :

The following statement of the Receipts and Disburse-
ments of the Company has been prep +red, a; directed by
the Act, t..+ the 31st December last; and shows that the
Receipts at that time amounted to 41,884/. 15s. Id., and
the D;sbursements to 36.046/ 16s. 6d. ; leaving an avail-
ab,e balance of 5,t38/. 161. 7d.
The CHAIRMAN said the question which be bad now
the honour to submit to them was, that the Report be
adopted, printed, and circulated, but it WAS the wish of
himself and his colleagues that every gentleman in that
assem'ily should hare an opportunity of asking such
que,tions as he thought fit, and Ile would feel much
pleasure in replying to them.
Mr. HEATIIFIELD thought there was one point in
the Report which ought to be amended—it stated that
the embankment was to form the Western Dock, but he
presumed that it would answer the purposes of both.
Mr. GII.Es, the engineer, said it would form a road
to the Tid,d Dock as well as to the Western Dock.
Mr. M‘LaitEs wished to know whether the sum of
20/. a share seculd complete the works.
The CHAIRMAN said it would.
Mr. M‘LAREN—How much tvill that amount to?
The CuarastaN said it was easy to calculate ; but
the estimate was made upon the presumption that the
calls would be pad up upon all the shares.
Mr. M‘LauEs thought a contrary statement had been
made.
The CHAIRMAN said the Directors would sthke
their credit upon the correctness of their est:-
ma•es. Unless some unforeseen circumstance should
arise, of which they had at present no knowledge, he
believed they would be able to complete the Dock for
the estimated suar.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. RICHARDS—Has any positive contract been
entered into ?
The CHAIRMAN—There is a provisional contract.
Mr. RICHARDS—That is, if the money be not forth-
coming, the contract is at an end.
The CHAIRMAN apprehended that if they had not
funds, they could not go on with the works.
Mr. RR:Harms apprehended that if the proprietors
were of opinion that it would be injudicious to proceed
with the works, the contract must be at an end. Within
the last forty eight hours he had been at Southampton,
and although they had heard a great deal of this " in-
ttrinT(eisetrisr:3gnad nd noble" work in the Report, he could see
little or nothing that LA beer done. He could not
hutwhyhe a new dock was to be established nt
Gosport,
presumed it was to he done out of
their surplus capital.
The CHAIRMAN said the meeting would bear him
out, that that construction could not be put upon his
statement. What he said was, that the only portion of
business the new Dock could expect to rcceive was
that for which their Dock could not provide accommo-
dation.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. Ricirattos v:ould urge upon the Proprietors
present to take into consideration, before they psssed
the Report, the difference between a Report in writing
and that which they could ace with their own eyes, if
they went down to the town of Southampton. They
would see a certain number of piles driven, but as to
any thing approaching the shape of a Dock. he certainly
could not see it. If there was a Dock about to be esta-
blished at Gosport, with a railroad to it joining the South-

anipton railetay,why should not the people of Gosport be i sonscience that there was some mistake.' When the pro-
sharers in the great advantages which their Chairman j °sit:on was merle by him that the two actions should
helld out to them ? He believed he was addressing men be determined by one issue, that appeared to him a
of business, and he called upon them to do what they reasonable, proper, and just application, and it was eer-
would do in their own private affairs—viz., to go and 1 tainly the wish of the Directors that that request should
juke with their own eyes. When they had returned from be complied with. Ile understood, however, that there
Soneliampton, let them go and examine the share list, were some legal and technical forms with which he, as
and ascertain how many of them were likely to be a commercial man, was wholly unacquainted, which
paid up. The argument of the Directors was, that rendered it necessary to issue two writs. The Solicitor
because so many shares had been paid upon up to the of the Company would, however, explain that.
present time, that they would be paid upon in future. The SOLICITOR said he would state very shortly the
The Direc :ors had given them the state of the balance reason why the two writs were issued. He had consi-
s'aeet up to the 31st of December, but he (Mr. R.) tiered it necessary to do so, although he had represented
could givse it them lip to three data ago, and he could through his clerk, to the defendant's solicitor, that if he
tell them, that although very considerable sums had been agreed to abide by the result of one action, the other
received since that Report the balance in hand did should be withdrawn ; ho', as the Solicitor of the Com-
not exceed 4,0001. With respect to what he had pang, he felt that he was not authorised in issuing only
said of the state of the works it appeared to one writ, as, from the absence of a single witness, or any
him, although he admitted that he was net a other nice point of law, they might be defeated in the
scientific: man, that nothing approaching the shape first action.—( Hear, hear.)
of aDc ck had yet been marked out, and, he would Captain WARD said it appeared to him that the
add, that the opinion of the people of Southampton was, amendment was absolutely impracticable. How were the
that it Wi mid require An enormous sum to complete the Proprietors to ascertain the capahilityof the Shareholders
works. He understood further, that had the original to pey up their arrears. They had a right to suppose
plan besea adhered to, instead of 350,0001. being re- that every individual who had signed the list was per-
quired, persons who had a knowledge of the matter fectly capable of paying up his calls. If they allowed par-
stated t o him that if the immense quantity of mud land tics to retreat, from their merely 3 tying they were not
which I.sad been taken was to be covered with build- able to pay, their share list would soon be very considera-
ings and! docks, the sum would be really enormous, and bly reduced.
far execs !ding any thing which they could raise. Piles Mr. HEATHFIELD trusted that the Hon Proprietor
had orieinally been driven out in the mud at such a dis- would withdraw his amendment, as he was sure the
tance th at it was dangerous for the shipping, and an suggestions it contained would receive the attention of
accident bad occurred in consequence ; however, these the Directors. He wished it to be left to the Dime-
piles had been removed, and the Docks were now being tors to decide what parties should have their shares for-
made on a much smaller scale. He had befote cau- teited, and let it then be seen what the amount of bona
tioncd them to look well to the share list before they fide Proprietors was. He had a resolution to propose
placed credit on the statement that the calls would be to the effect "that the Directors be requested to trans-
regularl v paid up. He held in his hand a letter from a mit a copy of the Report read that day to every Pro
shareholisler in Liverpool, showing that a very strong prietor of the South Wtsurn Railway Company,
feeling an the subject existed in that town. The writer drawing the attention of such Proprietors, at the same
had had communications with other shareholders there, time, to the reciprocal bearing of the Railway and
who wee eof the same opinion as himself. (Mr. Rich- Southampton Dock interests, and the important conse-
ards was proceeding to read a paragraph in the letter, quencesof promoting the Dock undertaking." He believed
when he was met by loud cries of" Order, order," and that it would give vigour and energy to their under-
" Chair., chair.") taking. He admitted with the Hun. Member that a
AP. &OPRIETOR thought it. was quite out of order to very large sum would be required to cover the 280
give et atements of that sort in evidence at a public acres of ground which they had purchased at Southamp-
mectinee ton. So far as his experience and knowledge extended,
Mr. HEATHFIELD said it was most absurd and un- no bargain equally profitable and valuable had been
preced,nted.—(Cheers.) made its the 'kingdom as that under which the Proprie-
The ,CHAIRMAN trusted that his having abstained tors had obtained the 280 acres of dock-land at that
from int erfering till the present time, would meet with port. At the same time he protested against its being
their ap probation.—( Hear, hear.) He stood there as supposed—and he knew that he was speaking in the
the orgt nof the Company, and it was with the greatest hearing of an Hon. Corporator of Southampton—that
relucta :cc he interfered. He felt, however, that the the Town Council of Southampton had not done its duty.
momen t was arrived when it was strictly within the 'l'he consequence of the transfer of that land would be
line of 'tiis duty to ask whether a Proprietor, standing in to bring an enormous revenue to the town, and benefit it
the position of Mr. Richards, would be permitted to to an incalculably greater extent than if they had
proceed in such a strain.--(Loud cheers.) Mr. Rich- exacted a large price for their land. As it would rr-
ards liad complained of the little work that quire a very large sum to cover all that dock-land, great
had been done (although he would observe that vigour and energy were required on the part of the Pro-
they .had hundreds of men employed,) but he prietors, and he did hope the attention of the Directors
did not pay his fair proportion of the expenses to would not be diverted from it by other matters.
which he was legally liable.—(Loud cries of " Hear, Mr. FOSTER thought they could have no good classi-
hear.) He would observe further, that Mr. Richards fication of the defaulters unless the names were stated : they
was mu: of the originators of the Company, his name could not otherwise judge who they ought to proceed
being a mbodied in the Act of Incorporation, and not- against, and who they should release from their obligations
withstnnding that fact, Mr. Richards had himself to pay. It was stated that some who had originally sub-
coolly gone into a Court of Law, and stated in his scribed to the undertaking had been let off, and it was due
affiday.it that he had reason to believe (he being one of to theProprietorstoshow that those statements were un-
onnelypfiarvtey. whose name was
the on ginators of the Company) that such Company was founded.He down for a hundred sharess that
o
a bubble Company, and that the Act was obtained understood
The Solicitor said that was not the case.
by grot,s fraud and misrepresentation, and that there
Mr. FOSTER hoped the sense of the meeting would be
never c xisted any fair or reasonable intention of carry- taken upon his amendment. A circular which had
ing the projected object to any useful purpose, or for been issued to the Shareholders mentioned that a very
the benefit of the Subscribers.—(Loud cries of " Hear, influential Proprietor, who had been a dissentient, had
hear.") Now Mr. Richards was a party to the appli- paid up his calls. He was informed that the
cation 'to Parliament for the Act of Incorporation, and who'e of these shares were not paid upon, but
it was to be presumed that lie was well acquainted with that a compromise had been effected. He thought
all that had taken place, and it would he for them to t ought to be stated under what circumstances the
determine whether they would receive these statements
1
from an individual who had gone into a Court of Law,
swearing that to be true which he well knew to be false.
—( Hit ar, hear.) rrangement had been made, and endeavour crget rid of
the unpleasant feeling that existed the minds of some
of the Proprietors.—( Hear.)
The SOLICITOR stated that at an early stage of their un-
dertaking his house had awed to take 100 shares, but it
Mr.. RICHARDS said if he bad made any statement of was subsequently felt that a'difficulty might arise in prose-
that so rt the Chairman would have been the first to outing the Bill before the House of Lords ; and Mr. Al-
stop him. It was stated there that lie believed there liston had been requested to take the shares in their names.
was fraud—that he admitted to be a strong term, but After the Act of Parliament had been obtained, those 100
he did. not wish to be personal in the slightest degree. shares were divided among the different members of his
It wars stated that he was privy to all the introductory (Mr. Smith's) family, and they held them at that moment.
arram;ements, but that he must beg leave to deny ; he —(Loud Cheers. )
was merely asked in the street to become a subscriber. Mr. Rictieens said he did not find it so,—(Cries of
The, CHAIRMAN said they had nothing to do with " Order")
The CHAIRMAN said Mr. Smith, their solicitor, was well
what took place between Mr. Richards and his friend
entitled to be believed by the Proprietors.—(Cheers.)
in the streets. They must take the facts as they stood,
Mr. RICHARDS would not hesitate to apologise for having
and to use a legal phrase, he must say that Mr. Richards made an improper assertion, but as that was disposed of,
was otit of court. he would put another question on the tapir.—(Cries of
Mr.. RICHARDS held in his hand a list of Subscribers " Order," and " Question.") It was perfectly prepos-
to this undertaking, in which the name of John Allison terous to call that a public meeting, if he was not allowed
appeared for 100 shares, and he understood he was only to make his statement.—(Loud cries of " Order," anti
a holder of five shares.—(Cries of " Question," and " Sit down.")
4' Order.") The CHAIRMAN said he had much pleasure in answering
Mr. HEATHFIELD—It was not to be endured that a question that had been asked by Mr. Foster. A circular
they seere to be called there from day to day to listen had been distributed under the sanction of his name, with
to stat.emen6 which have nothing whatever to do with reference to an influential individual who had withdrawn
the qi testion before them.—(Loud cheers.)
from the combination against 'the Directors, having
paid up his calls, and the while of the costs. Now that
Mr . FOSTER said when he paid the first call he was was strictly the case, so far as they were acquainted
informed that the whole of the shares had been sub- with It.—(Cheers.) The compromise was simply thus—
scrib,:.d for, whereas now it appeared that 392 remained that gentleman was originally a Proprietor of twenty-five
wisp preprinted. He rea!ly thought that they had not shame& and ho Fubi,cquently made opplieation for twantT-
been 1.1.,r1y dedt with in that ititfmant. time other share,, 7-hich '4-ere, appror heed to him by the
The CHAIRMAN said all the share,' had been sub- Provisional Committee. rlat arrangement was entered
scribe'd for, but they had not been paid for. into before the Act of Parliament was procured, and
Mr. FOSTER thought it was the duty of the Directors nothing, he believed, was paid upon them. He subse-
to set: that the first instalment was paid before they al- quently signed the Parliamentary deed for fifty shares, and
at that time he, the Chairman, was not even a Proprietor
lowed the names to remain on the list. His object was
of the Company, the arrangement havingte case came
been made
not to continue a discussion, but to put those works in a by
fair and proper way for being carried out, or to abandon the Provisional Committee. When ta
before the House of Lords' Committee, it turned
them altogether. He thought the Directors should come out that the subscription deed was not signed to the
to some clear understanding with the Proprietors as to full extent required by the Standing Orders, and
whether the undertaking was to be carried' on by five, some parties requested Mr. Harman Hill, the gentleman to
or tie, or seven thousand subscribers. He was present whom reference had been made, to sign the deed. When
on a former occasion in the April of last year, when a the Act of Parliament was obtained, application was made
proposition was made that the works should be prose- to him for the deposit on those fifty shares, and then he
cuted: with great vigour. There was not one word then stated that he was not a Proprietor of fifty but twenty-five
stated wilt regard to any person not having paid his de- shares. The Directors knew nothing
posit. At present it appeared that only about 4,000 c rep an cy arose, but a statement was
ma
subscribers had paid up their calls— which led them to believe that some de
understanding had
MT. Lu A 1113-4 841.—(Cheers.)
been come to between Mr. Harman Hill and the
,
eentlemen composing the Provisional Commit-
Mr. FOSTER thought that the defaulters should be tee. The Directors were certainly disposed to hold
summarily dealt with, so as either to get rid of them him to his fifty shares; but an intimation having beer,
or compel them to pay. Two actions had been taken made to them privatey and confidentially, and which
against him as the executor of his deceased brother, and he must not therefore allude to further, the Court of Di-
the Solicitor of the Company refused to allow the issue rectors acting in a kindly and friendly feeling, felt it right
of one action to decide both. He begged to add that to relieve him from those 25 shares. Mr. Hill subsequently
he had paid up his calls that morning, in order to enable finding that there was a verdict against thepartLt inifthhee
him to move a resolution, the object of which would be Courtpt CominonPleiaast;ilsiatid,thro h through
didfriend,ugi anot acknow-
t
to defer the consideration of the Report to a future
ledge,was relieved
on the fromsccon his liability,
',5. shayre's, which
he was willing to pay up
day. Mr. Foster concluded by moving as an amend-
, the calls on the remaining 25. with all the costs. That
ment—" That. the meeting do adjourn to the 6th of aerreement was entered into for those reasons, and he hoped
March, and that the Directors do then present to the the explanation would be satisfactory to the Proprietors.—
Proprietors a list of the Shareholders, with the names ( Hear, and cheers.)
attached who bad not paid up their first or second calls ; Mr. FOSTER said that this explanation was not satisfac-
;and that applications should be made to all defaulters, tory at all.
to ascertain whether they would abide by the decision The Oseiiiitee—Tfee-eleeel ~, however, is done, and it is
of- the case then pending in the Court of Common for the meeting to , censure the Directors if they think
Pleas." . . proper. ' : - t' ' •
Mr. II EAT {MELO thought it would be exceedingly k 1 'ii
r 41EATIIFIELD would say, as a member of the Novi-
: sional Direction, that he considered Mr. Hill's fifty shares
imprudent to expose flag names of the Shareholders.
Mr: FOSTER saidte thought it was desirable to know ' as hone fide shares; but the'e Directors having expressed a
who was able to pay, and who was not.
, doubt, hid ', very.properly given Mr. Hill the benefit of
.. that'
dut.
Mr. HEATHFIELD said his objection did not apply to The CHAIRMAN hoped the Hon. Proprietor would have
the classification, but to the names being given. He rug- some consideration for the position in which the Directors
geated whether it would not be more prudent to receive were placed, and that he would be good enough to with-
the Report of the Directors as to the state of the share draw his amendment. The Directors would feel it their
list, and recommend the adoption of more decisive mea- duty to give his suggestion the fullest consideration. One
sures. reason why he should do so was, that an intimation had
Mr. FO3TER was most anxious that the names should been given to him that there was a Proprietor present who
was about to move a substantive resolution to carry out
be given, in order to ascertain whether these proceed-
ings had been properly enforced, and whether those Pro- 1 those views. If this amendment was carried it paralyzed
prietors who refused to pay could not be brought to the exertions of the Directors altog ether. They felt them-
terms. selves pledged to carry out the contracts into which they
had entered, and with their assistance he was satisfied they
would he enabled to do so, as well as to carry out to the
fullest extent every object they had originally contemplated.
Mr. FOSTER was always anxious to accede to the wish
of the Directors, but he felt so strongly on this subject
that he could not accede to it. He was anxious that all
legal proceedings should be stayed until after the ad-
journed meeting.
A PROPRIETOR thought it very important that this
amendment should be carried, because many of those who
had signed the Proprietary Deed had not yet paid any of
their calls.
The CHAIRMAN said if this amendment were persisted
in it mast take its chance, but it was one which the Di-
rectors would give their most strenuous opposition to.
Mr. L CARD said the same object would be attained by
the resolution which was about to be submitted to the
meeting, without bringing before their view the private
circumstances of the different individuals who were at pre-
sent defaulters.
Mr. FOSTER thought they could not with propriety go
on forfeiting shares, until they knew who the parties were.
Mr. LCARD would take upon himself to state, from a
particular acquaintance with matters of that sort, that the
names were never submitted to a meeting of the Propric-
tors.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. FOSTER would ask were there not some who had
not paid up their first calls, who had not been proceeded
against ?
The CHAIRMAN would give a reason why they had not
been proceeded against. They had received the written
and verbal promises of a great number of persons that they
would pay up their calls.--( Heer, bear.)
Mr. FOSTER was ready to pay up his shares if the under.
taking had been carried on with, the number of Share-
holders originally stated. Put if the Directors did not
prosecute those men who were able to pay, they were not
acting justly.
The Hon Mr. MELVILLE said that his object in rising
was to save the time of the meeting, and to induce the Hon.
Gentleman to withdraw his amendment. He wu.s not in the
room when the amendment was read, but he had been able
to collect the sense of it. It was his intention at a future
period to bring forward a resolution regarding the forfei-
ture of shares, and the payment of calls, which he thought
would obviate the necessity of that amendment. He would
endeavour to make his resolution as stringent as possible,
in order to prevent shareholders who were anxious to retire,
from leaving others in the lurch. He was as unwilling as
any other man to pay, if he thought the undertaking was
not likely to succeed. He had at the present moment a
a-ger number of shares than he would be induced to hold
under other circumstances ; but he certainly did not wish
to give up shares unless he put another responsible person
in his place.—(Hear, hear.) The lion. Gentleman could
not wish for greater security than he (Mr. Melville) did.

Mr. IIEATUFIELD said it would be quite competent
to a meeting like the present to call for the names, but
it was for the Directors to decide whether Choy would
adopt the proposition of making those names public.
He did not think it would answer any good purpose to
do so.
Mr. Lunar), a Director, was anxious to address a few
words in answer to the observations of the Hon. Pro-
prietor. He would advert, in the first instance to the
mistake he had committed in supposing that the Direc-
tors had taken upon themselves any undue authority
in entering into a contract which they were not justified
in doing. He believed his colleagues would bear him
out when he stated that a resolution had been come to
at the last special meeting of the Company, which reso-
lution was advocated by all the principal share-
holders, to the effect that the works should be
stopped until five-sixths of the number of shares
had been paid upon, the number at that time being
(i,422. Some little delay occurred, but with great per-
sonal exertion the Directors had procured the payment
of more than five-sixths of the shares ; and he believed
he was correct in stating that the contract was not given
out until 5,426 shares, exceeding five-sixths by 16
shares, had been paid upon.—(Hear, hear.) /t ap-
peared to him that the amendment of the Hon. Pro-
prietor went completely to vitiate the powers of the
Directors ; and if he would look at the Report pre-
sented that day, he would find that the very classifica-
tion which he suggested was embodied in the Report.
The Shareholders were divided into four classes ; the
forfeiture of two classes was recommended. The third
class were bow: fide Shareholders ; and with respect to
the fourth class, it was considered doubtful whether the
forfei ure of those shares should he recommended, as
the Directors believed that the parties were fully com-
petent to fulfil their engagements. L.ecould not see any
good that would result fiom the Proprietors taking upon
themselves that whi h was the duty of the Directors.
He was anxious, before he sat down, to state that
lifie d
Mr.
Richards had on a former occaion given an unqua
statement that their undLrtaking would bring a large
amount of trade anti commerce to the port of South-
ampton, and that it would be a successful speculation.
He might,however, have private reasons for now depart-
ing from that opinion.—( Hear, hear, and cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN was anxious to make an observation
with respect to a matter of complaint made by the Hon.
Proprietor, and if that complaint was well founded,
then he was ready fully and honestly to admit that just
cause of complaint existed. But he believed in his

EVENING EDITION..

.

He was anxiout to secure as mood aProprietary to carry r

the undertakirg. as poAsihie. • It was hopeless to ¢o at, alt
with the undertaking. unleis it was done actively and

quickly, as other parties would very probably soon be in
the field.—( Hear, hear, and cries of Question.")
The question was then put, Lut the only hands held up
in favour of the amendment were those of the mover and se-
conder.

The CHAIRMAN was about to put tie original question,
when

Mr. TILLEY, of the lllackfriars-road, wished to say a
few words. rn the first instance he would congratulate the
meeting on the Report of the Directors, which seemed to

be as favourable a Report as could possibly he made, an
if it were all true, be ought to consider himself fortunate in

being a Proprietor. He thought, however, there was some-
thing inconsistent in the statement of a rival Company
being about to start and the difficulty which arose from the
di posal of their unappropriatcc shares. He had joined the
concern from a wish to lay out his money to the best ad-
vantage ; but from the statements he had heard in other
quarters he confessed he was anxious to avoid paying any
further calls. In his opinion it was the interest of the
Company to get rid of those gentlemen who were not dis-
posed to go hand in hand with them, because a house di-
vided against itself could not stand. He thought, therefore,
there could be no objection to call upon those parties to
pay up the first instalments,and then allow them to go out.
Cries of " No, no.") When he joined the undertaking
he was told that Mr. Alliston had taken 100 shares, that
Admiral Fleming was a Proprietor, and several influential
persons were named.—( Hear, hear, and " Question.")
The CIIAIRMAN having been called upon was reluctantly

ol4liged to interfere. If the Hon. Proprietor would only
repose his negative confidence in the Directors a little
longer, they would do all that he could wiih them. As
the name of Admiral Fiemirg- had been mentioned, he
must observe that he had never signed the deed.
Mr. TILLEY—I never signed the deed.
- The CLERK said he had.--( Hear, hear.)
Mr. TILLEY had never cv:n seen the deed.
The deed was then produced, and Mr. Tilley's name
pointed out, which created great laughter.
Mr. TILLEY could only say that it escaped his memory.

The CHAIRMAN said application had been made to ACi-
roiral Fleming, and his reply was that he had never au-
thorised any person to take shares in his name.
The question that the Report be received and adopted
was then put, and agreed to unanimously•

Mr. HEATIIFIRLD then moved the resolution which was
read at a previous period of the meeting.
Mr. Ricitanos hoped the appeal would be better re-
sponded to than their former one. Had the railway
people joined them the concern would have been in a
vigorotss and prosperous state.
The CHAIRMAN said if their appeal had been only re-
sponded to in a small degree on a former occasion, that
was the most potent reason why they should make a
second appeal, and he would remind the Hon. Gentleman
that it was 1:c and his party who had prevented the Rail-
way Proprietors from joining the undertaking.—( Hear.)
The resolution was then put and carried unanimously.
Mr. HEATIIFIELD wished to know the circumstances
under which Mr. Burnand had been elected a Director.

The CHAIRMAN said he had been recently elected upon
the resignation of an Hon. Proprietor resident at South-
ampton. The name of that Gentleman could never be
mentioned by the Directors but in terms of the highest re-
spect and of the warmest kindness. Ceptain Ward, of the
Royal Navy, who was for some time Deputy Chairman of
the Company, had, for reasons totally unconnected with
the Company itself, found it necessary to retire. The elec-
tion of Mr. Burnand followed as a natural consequence.
Captain WARD said his reasons for retiring from the
Direction were entirely of a private nature; but the un-
dertaking should have his warmest support in every way
he could give it.—(Cheers.) He felt much obliged for
the manner in which his late colleagues had spoken of him,
and which was far beyond his deserts.
The resolution for the re-election of the Directors who
went out by rotation was then put and carried unanimously,
as was also a resolution for confirming the forfeiture of cer.
tain shares.
The Hon. Mr. MELVILLE moved a resolution to the
effect that the meeting disapproving of the forfeiture of
shares in any case where the parties were able to pay,
called upon the Directors not to proceed with the for-
feiture except under such special circumstances as they
deemed it advisable for the interests of the Company, and
that when such a special case arose, a general meeting
should be called to confirm such forfeiture ; and that they
recommended the Directors to follow up the legal proceed-
ings which they had commenced for the recovery of the
calls. His desire was to go no with the concern
Provided it could be done so fairly and pro-
perly. If any delay took place they would lose the
chance of gaining the valuable acquisition of the
business of the Steam-packet Company ; and they
would inflict an injury on themselves which they would
never be able to repair. Looking at it in that view, he
thought the Directors were wise in making calls for so
large a proportion of their capital as 201. per share in the
course of the present year : but it was their duty to see
that those calls were well paid up, and that no chance of
escape would be given to any party. If a loop-hole were
left, it would enable gentlemen who thought the concern a
bad one, to get out of it. His own belief was, that if the
calls were properly responded to, the undertaking would
be carried to a prosperous termination, but everything
depended upon their executing it vigorously, and without
loss of time. --(Cheers.)
Mr. RICHARDS thought the resolution with regard to for.
feiture of shares was one of the most unjust that had ever
emanated from any public body. He, and the gentlemen
who acted with him had merely received a formal letter,
signed by Mr. Saintsbury, the Secretary, stating that the
Directors had declared their shares to be forfeited, never-
theless, without prejudice to the right of the Directors to
enforce payment of the calls. He then referred to the
85th section of the Act of Incorporation, and contended
from it that in the event of the call being paid, the
shares were forfeited, and that they had a right to retire.
—(Cries of " No, no.") It would appear that the Di-
rectors hal rescinded their own act, for they now declared
those shares were not forfeited, and that they intended to
enforce the call. He considered that as one of the most
uncalled for acts that could possibly emanate from them.
The C II AMMAN said it was clear they could never come
to the same conclusion as to the construction of that clause.
Mr. RICHARDS said he had been led into that affair by
his solicitor, his private friend, knowing nothing of its
merits—(A laugh)—and now he was to be dragged on to
the tune of 2,0001.
The CHAIRMAN said they had acted strictly in conformity
with the Act of Parliament, but they could riot submit a
resolution for the confirmation of the meeting, until the
Directors had first declared the shares to be forfeited, and
an interval of three months must elapse before that could
he done. It was quite clear that the Directors and Mr.
Richards differed as to the construction of the Act. be-
cause upon that they had joined issue in the Court of Com-
mon Pleas. He believed the object of that party was pro-
crastination and delay. If that were not the case, he would
be happy to hear Mr. Richards get up and say that he
would agree to have that question determined at the earliest
possible period.—( Cheers.) He now invited him in the
most cordial and friendly spirit to answer that question.
Mr. Riciienoe—When you have forfeited my shares
I will then tell you.—(Great laughter.)
Mr. Foseek thought an application should be made to
all the defaulters to abide by the decision of the question
then pending. If their consent could be obtained it would
put an end to all litigation at once. He understood that
Admiral Fleming had not signed the deed, or paid a de-
posit, and had been afterwards allowed to withdraw from
the concern.
The SoeyitTosee-Admiral Fleming
.denietl that any
authority had been given'by him to the agent.
Mr. HEATtIFIELD would explain the matter in a few
words. Captain Stevens, the late Secretary of the Com-
pany, had applied to Admiral Fleming to join the under-
taking, and both he and the other member, Mre Hoy, said
they would be happy to do,so, but Some difficulty arose in
the House about Members who had taken shares in those
Companies, and they both then declared 'they would have
nothing to do with it. The promise, however, remained
with Captain Stevens, who put down Admiral Fleming's
name.—(Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN said his objection to the suggestion of
Mr. Fester was, that many Proprietors who were now
ready to pay their calls, would hold back until the decision
of the case iii the Court of Common Pleas. Their Se-
cretary had letters from a large number of them, stating
that if the result of that day's proceedings would warrant
them, they would pay up their instalments. He hoped,
thetefore, it would not be pressed. He would call their
attention to the gratifying fact that since the resolution
moved by the Hon. Mr. Melville, a cheque had been placed
in his hands for the payment of fifty shares, which were
not due until the 7th of March next, and payment upon
thirty-one other shares, making altogether eighty-one
which had been received within the last few minutes.--
( Loud cheers.)
Mr. LUARD would add that the result of that day's pro-
ceeding, was looked to with much greater interest 81'd
anxiety than any meeting- they had yet held, and be would
mention that during the greater part of their proceedings,
the Superintendent of the East India Steam Navigation
Company had been in the rem.
Mr. GREGORY had come there to he guided by the result
of that day's proceedings also, and from what had passed
he felt great pleasure in stating that he was now ready to
pay up his calls.—( Renewed cheering.) Not only that, but
he had a cheque in his pocket which had been intrusted to
him by a friend, who left it to his discretion to pay it in or
not, and he was very glad that it was in his power to do
TO. Hear.)
Mr. TILLEY said, what be had to complain of was, that
only 17 out of all the defaulters had been selected for pl.();
sccution. If the present step had been taken long age or
proceeding without distinction against all those defaulter%
it would have kept him from supposing that the Directors
had been acting with partiality.
The CHAIRMAN regretted that it should be suppossd that
the Directors, who were men of some standing and chit,
rector in the city of London, should be deemed capable 9°:
acting from such motives. He could give the reason why thro
17 gentlemen had been selected. They had declare at
themselves opposed to the Company. —They had made a al°!t
,
determined stand—they had held meetings of their vi
and they had put forth advertisements calling t,h°,o
meetings of which Mr. Richards had declared himsein
he the Chairman. He thought the Directors had hc.t.ca,
most unwarrantably and unprecedentedly treated by t".,„
party. It was a fact which the meeting could scar eog-y.
deem to be possible in the city of London, that on one,:_.
casion, when a meeting was convened by public advert !,ar
ment in the house of Mr. Richards, just opposite, that
ment in the house of Mr. Richarsis, just oppOsltdt
lot
meeting was presided over by Mr. Toulmin, who sca_ao,„e
a proprietor of the Sou'hampton Dock Company for
considerable period previously. His shares had Doenly
some time previously sold to a party who was not ds
willing but able to pay for them, for all the calls had be
to.
paid up on them. Those 17 gentlemen had comblo
e ,
ClOff
gether to resist and oppose the authority of the Directors
in every possible manner. For these reasons the Din' take
had proceeded against those gentlemen, and he evoula fact
that opportunity of stating to this meeting a
thee-,
which had been kept most carefay from r
vigg
and he had no difficulty in doing so,
now the subject of legal proceedings inag Courta tt
tice. The defendants received notice from the
jos_

fer; that it was their wish that the whole of the seventeen
actions should be decided by one issue, because expense
' would thereby be saved. Now it had been made matter
of complaint against the Directors that this p •oposition
came Irvin the defendants' solicitor, and that it w is refused
by them. He was happy, therefore, to have an oportuni!)
of throwing off the stigma which had been so improperly
laid upon them.—(Cheers.)
Mr. RICHARDS said it was very important that an answer
should be given to that statement, if it wer. correct
that an application had been made to their solici-
ter: if that were the case, he had never known
of
it, nor would he ever have put his name to any docu-
ment setting forth the fact, if he had not believed it to be
So. He was authorised by his solicitor to call for the pro.
ductiou of such a letter, if any had ever been written to
him' He ( Mr. Richards) asserted that he had never
'peen any such communication from the solicitors of the
Company, nor had he ever been informed of it by his soli
ci,tor, 1 Mr. Gibbs had told him that the only occasion or
which the subject had been introduced was one day at
meeting before the Judges, when a certain point had been
decided in favour of Mr. Allison, which the clerk di I not
think himself authorised to agree to. It referred merely to
trifling matter about summonses. His solicitor stated,
h. t to the Lest of his knowledge no such communication
d ever been received by him.—(Cries of "Oh !") He
Protested that every communication thet bad been made to
iql had been submitted to the defendants, and he ( Mr.,
chards) never heard of that. He would leave it to the
Meeting to dee'de upon the question.
~i I:he CHAIRMAN said it rested with :heir solicitor to ex
rn at,u the matter, but he had made a statement, which was
and
true so far as it related to the. Court of Directors.
Directors
he would state one fact which would show that the
'rectors were sincere in that:proposition, viz., that they
had brought only one action—in the first instance, and
the defendants in the other sixteen, having refused to
abide by its issue, they had been compelled to go into
Court
with the remainder.
The SeLiceroe said Mr. Richards's statement was so far
correct that no letter had been written to Mr. Gibbs, but
onthree several occasions that
proposition had been made
to hits. On the Ist of July he sent his clerk, Mr. Wood.
rill), to make the proposition • and the reply of Mr. Gibbsh
as that he would consult his clients. On the sth of July
managing clerk
another clerk, who inquired of Mr. Gibbs's
aging clerk if the cefendants would consent to the
hl3,trcdPusal; and his reply was that they would not, as they
different defences in each action. Oil a subse-
quent °Pelication, which occurred when Mr. Gibbs's
Which itluf* out seventeen summonses, the expenses of
Smith 'se would venture to:say were about 11. each. His (Mr.
ex 's)
clerk remonstrated on the absurdity of such an
„Ze.nse, but it was persisted in, and Mr. Gibbs's clerk ap-
iLL,:`,lng to the Judges' clerk, said " Here is a pretty fellow
who wants to deprive you and u.s of all our fees "—( Hear,
:mnddgr.eat laughter.) Both his clerks were ready to make
solids 't to the fact. On the 17th of September he (the
wiluor) saw Mr. Gibbs, and asked him whether he was
ong to abide by the issue of one action, but Mr.
ibbs declined to do so. With respect to the proposal
remade by Mr. Gibbs, which was alluded to in Mr.
eh4rds's circular, that was not made until the records had
,been passed, and every expense gone to, and it was then
`°o late...—( Hear, hear.)
I, Mr. RPIIIARDS was about again to address the meeting,
"ut was tactwith loud cries of " Chair, chair," " Order,
order,. and .. Sit down."
The resolution of Mr. Melville was then put and carried
unanimously.
~ The CHAIRMAN said he now meant to propose a resolu-
`inn which he rejoiced to anticipate would not occasion any
difference of opinion, in consequence of the cheerful re.
sPense that had been given by the Proprietors when the
suggestion was alluded to in the Report. The resolution
from that the Court of Directors be authorised t® contribute
rn,rn the funds of the Company a sum of 501. in aid of the
r
enZious instruction of the Dock labourers.
, Captain WARD, in seconding the resolution, said, as a
4agistra
tL_ te of Southampton, be felt it his duty to state that
~ley had never heard a single complaint against any of the
e orken..._._
en (Cheers.)
h The resolution was then put and agreed to, only one
and being held up against it.
~ Mr. PEPYS had much pleasure in moving the cordial
oaolanits of the Proprietors to the Chairman and Directors
oa.the Company, for their arduous exertions and perseve.
r the
in carrying out the objects of the undertaking. Ho
Pegretted exceedingly that the misconception of a few Pro-
it'arittnrs as to the utility and ultimate profit of the under-
. King should have occasioned so much delay and annoy-
s.
1., The resolution having being put and seconded, was car-
ted unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN returned thanks on behalf of himself
"1 his colleagues for that mark of their confidence in the
unfavourable circumstances under which they laboured.
iPeY would ever' consider that mark of the favour of the ,
loprietors as the best encouragement that could be
offered them to follow out the same course of conduct.
The meeting then separated, and while the Proprietors
Were leaving the room, the Chairman said he had the plea
'",.re to inform them that he had just received another
„c",eek in payment of calls. This announcement was re-
'aired with loud cheers.

COMMON 14.0 AD STEAM CONVEY.-

ANCE COMPANY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
London, Feb. 28, 1840.
SIR—Having been requested by several large share-
holders in railways to examine the engines and plan of a
Proposed Corronen Road Steam Conveyance Company,
!t, may not be uninteresting to your readers to state that I
have had the opportunity of inspecting the plan and works
ofah engine now putting together for the said Company,
Messrs. Beale's manufactory, East Greenwich, under
the supetintendence of the able engineer, Alexander Gor_
don, Esq., and, as far as I can judge, I have not the least
doubt but that the plan will succeed rxost completely, and
that in the course of a few weeks the fact will be demon-
strated beyond the possibility of a doubt.
And I also confidently believe that very shortly the
Public will be accommodated on the common toed at mail-
roach speed for half the fares, or perhaps less, in much
More coMmOUious carriages, and with greater safety.
I am yours respectfully,
THOS. MOTLEY.
P. S.—At; all events, whatever may be the results of ex-
periments to be made in a few weeks, I cannot but think it
would be proper for the Directors of railways now in pro-
gress (when it may be done without detriment to the future
Progress) to suspend making double lines, or adopting the
wide guag ,e, saying in theformer one third and in the lat-
terone fif..ll on the first within.
[The publicans have by thiS tame seen the consequences
°f allowing so many coach roads to be destroyed by rail-
ri"ds, without taking any steps, as suggested in The Sun
Had ago, to encourage common road steam carriagts.
bons as
established companies, or even raised subscrip-
-°4 as premiums for the invention of the best steam car-
lilagoi many might have been saved from ruin. It is not,
81,°.wever, too late to mend. Mr. Motley, an engineer of
kill and experience, appears to have no doubt of the suc-
cess of the plan, and holds out the strongest hopes that in
4hn y lines the common road steam-carriage will supersede
t:e mails. and compete successfully with the railways.
other s9urces. we also learn that Mr. Alaceroni's un-
rtaking augurs well. It will have a fair trial in a week
or two, and we cordially wish it success.—Eo. SuN.l

MESSRS. BL A GROVE, GA TTIE,
DANDO, AND LUCAS'S QUARTETT CON,,,
CERTS, 11A0VER:SpLYARE400,11I
.. .-.
. ..._____:___.:......
NOORAMME Ok' SECOND CO-NCILKT, THURSDAY EVENING:.
FEBRUARY 27. '

PART r.
Quartett in D Minor; from Op. 76, for Two
Violins, Viola, and Violoncello, Messrs.
Blagrove, Gattie; Dando, and Lucas... 6: • Haydn.
The Blind Mari"--Madamo F
Lablaehe ' • Reiter.-
Quartett in F. Major, from Op. 85, for Two • '
Violins, Viola, and Violoncello; 'Messrs
Blajgrove, Gattie, Dando. and Lucas Arornm er.
Romania—" L' ombrosa Nottu"—Madame
P. Lablache (Matilda)
PART it.
Trio in E Flat Major. for Piano-forte, Cla-
rinet, and Viola, Messrs. Cipriani Potter,
Willman, arid Dando
Duct—" Shady Forests"—Miss Rainforth
end Madame F. Lablache
CA,z,net—" My mother bids we bind my
hair"—Miss Rainfortli Haydn.
Qiiintett in E Flat Major, Op. 4, for Two
Violins, Two Violas, and Violoncello,
Messrs. Blagrove, Gattie, Dando,W. Bla-
grove, and Lucas
A very large attendance of the subscribers to these intel-
lectual Concerts gave evidence of the public favour which
so deservedly patronizes the talented professors who are
now so celebrated in this department of the art.
Mcst of the leading amateurs were present, among
whom we were happy to see, looking remarkably well, his
Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, the Hon. Gene-
ral Upton, Sir John Rogers, Sir Giffin Wilson.
Where all is excellent, it is very difficult to se-
lect the more prominent beauties. The Quartett of
Haydn will live as long as true taste exists in
the country ; and the manner in which it was per-
formed left us nothing to desire. The Trio of Mozart is
one of those exquisite gems which is ever new, and when
!t is presented to the public, as it was last night, leaves an
impression which requires a length of time to efface: it is
as perfect a composition, and as beautiful as it is perfect,
as ever was written. The Quintett of Beethoven is well
known ; but its difficulties are so great that it can seldom
be heard in private society, and completely to appreciate
this masterly production requires the audience to be well
acquainted with the composition, and the more it is known
the more will the splendid manner in which it was last
night presented be understoo I.
The fair ladies who had the vocal department sung very
Well, and better than could have been expected under the
shilling influence of a strong east wind.
We are delighted to find that the public taste for Quar-
tett Playing is not only highly estimated in the metropolis,
but is also extended to the provinces. Our space would
not permit us to give an account of the triumphant success
which attends the Manchester Quartctt Concert, under
the leadership of Mr. C. A. Seymour. We heartily wish
that it may continue, being perfectly convinccd that pre-
senting to the public mind the highest order of classical
composition—the very quintessence of chamber music—
will do more to promote the real progress of music than
all the wish, washy trickery of the modern school (?) of
rope dancing on the piano forte.
The next Concert is on Thursday, March the 12th,
when we hope to hear one of those colossal works, the
Posthumous Quartetts of Beethoven.
Lad

y Cottenham will her soirees for
the season, in Bruton-street, .0 Saturday next. Her Lady-
ship's party, c-. 1 Wednesday evening, was confined to a family
circle.

Lord and Lady Wilton left Grosvenor-square,
on Thursday, on a visit to the Duke of Wellington to Strath.
fieldsay.

Never was there displayed such a thronging enthu-
siasm in the public concourse—never did crowds so
eagerly rush into an edifice ennobled by the visit of
Royalty—never did the loyal affections of assembled
thousands burst forth with more overwhelming energy.
The theatre was encircled by vast masses of people from
:1 very early period in the afternoon, and the moment
the doors were opened, all the entrances, boxes, as well
as pit, were so many inlets to crushing crowds, who
speedily filled the house in every part ; and anxious
expectation animated every breast till the usual hour,
when the Soverign arrived.
The Royal box was very tastefully decorated
with gold and crimson, with a cornice of gold, sur-
mounted by a crown. When her Majesty entered, on
the arm of her Illustrious Consort, the dense audience,
rising with instantaneous consent, burst into cheers of
ardent loyalty, which must have been heard far off
The curtain, elevated at the same moment, exhibited
the vast stage, covered with its mass of company. The
spectacle then was startlingly grand. On every side,
from the remotest corner of the stage to the summit of
the opposite gallery—from the floor to the roof—was
one immense body of spectators ; the boxes shining
in all the brilliancy and elegance of congregated
beauty, and picturesque with all the splendour
of varied costume. As soon as the tremen-
dous thunders of the enthusiastic thousands bad
subsided, the National Anthem rose, in its simple yet
sublime strains, upon the sweet music of such voices as
Miss Rainforth and the fair " Vestris"—the choruses,
as may well be imagined, sounding with prodigious
power and effect. Amidst renewed outbursts of cheer-
ing the Royal couple, at the close of the anthem, sat
down, after having repeatedly, from their first entrance,
acknowledged the hearty enthusiasm of their welcome,
in the most courteous and graceful manner. We should
not forget to nicritiOn that " Madame" had added to
the anthem a new verse, referring to Prince Albert
(hailed with immense applause), which his Serene High-
ness cordially responded to by bowing several times.
" Oh Lord, thy blessings shed
On royal Albert's head,
God save the Prince!
Hear, Lord, a nation's voice,
Long in their Sovereign's choice,
May England's sons rejoice,
God save the Prince I"
Her Majesty was closely engaged in a very animated
conversation with the Prince, and throughout appeared
to take delight in entering with him into the spirit of the
performances.
And what a delightful treat had her Majesty secured
by commanding Sheridan Knowles's " Lovu,!" No
theme does this master of nature more beautifully adorn
with the exquisite, and not less truthful pourtrayals of
his poetry. And of all the aspects under which he has
displayed, at once with skill most marvellous, and
beauty most charming, this clement of passion, so fine,
so delicate, so spiritual—perhaps there is none more in-
teresting, or more fascinating than this,- in which
he has unmasked that deepest and finest of
all secrets, the love which in proud and noble nature
is crushed into cold and haughty marbleness, when
thrown where inferiority of rank interposes its cruel
barrier, and is tortured into silent agony, where con-
sciousness of that inferiority precludes its utterance.
Oh, how exquisite the exhibition of the proud, yet pas-
sionate spirit of a high-born, haughty-souled lady,
suffering in heart the agonies of a love she cannot speak
—struggling to veil in studied calmness and affected
serenity—bursting forth in ail its warmth and tender-
ness with sudden and involuntary violence when startled
by the fatal peril of its object, and again concealing
under the pride of the Countess the affection of the
woman. How beautiful, when her loved Huon has
won for himself honour and rank, the noble avowal of
the love, which " on her girl's tongue and often thrilled
to speak," and the gushing forth of her long hidden affec-
tion, in all the pure transport and o'erflowing tender-
ness of " woman's love !" And how fascinating how
divining, the expression which all this beauty and truth-
fulness of poetry found in the musical tones—the ex-
quis!tely touching acting of Miss Helen Tree ! We
could not help thinking that the story of
the fond, yet haughty Countess, in some parts,
and those the brightest, excited feelings in harmony
with those which are created at the happy exercise by our
fdr and youthful Queen, of her heart's pure affections.
Nothing could exceed the charmed attention in which
the play kept the Royal party and the audience gene-
rally, who manifested their gratification by repeated
plaudits.

Another opportunity was afforded for displaying the
enthusiasm of the audienca (the singing of '• Rule Bri-
tannia,") which struck deeply, as it never fails to do, on
the chords of our national spirit ; it elicited tremendous
cheering, and was ardently encored.
The astonisliin,g diversity of Mathews' fun in the
farce made her Majesty and the Prince laugh heartily,
as indeed every one in the theatre ; and some of his
comic songs (which are inimitable) were encored. " God
Save the Queen" was again received with unabated en-
' tlinsiasm, and her Majesty retired, acknowledging the re-
newed cheering of the aulienee in her usualgracefullind
dignified manner. - • -

DREADFUL ACCIDENT FROM FIRE —Wed-
nesday afternoon, as a fine young woman, named Ellen Peter,
residing at No. ./6, Blandford-street, Manchester-square, was
standing by the parlour fire playing with two children, a por-
'non of her clothing, owing to a current of air,,was drawn
bitween the bars of the grate, and the whole was instantly
in a blaze. The poor creature,
.in a state of -frenzy, zushed
into the street, screaming in a most heart-rending manner,
and, notwithstanding the exertions of a gentleman who
alighted from his gig, and those of Shoveller, 155 D, the
flames were not extinguished until nearly every vestige of
her apparel was consumed. A coach was procured, in which
the sufferer was promptly conveyed to Middlesex Hospital ;
but from the serious injury, both externally and internally,
which she hail rcc2ived, there is scarcely any chance of her
ecovery.

SINGULAR ACCIDENT BY FlRE.—About four
o'clock on Saturday afternoon an accident of a singular and
melancholy character occurred to a man named Chapman, re-
siding at a lodging-house, No. 7, Bear-alley, Farring,don-street,
The man, who was subject to fits, was sitting by the fire smok-
ing a pipe of tobacco, when, feeling the premonitory sympto.ns,
he threw himself upon the bed, but forgot t i throw away his
lighted pipe. The tobacco ignited the sheets and set fire to
the apartment, burning the poor man in a frightful manner.
He was conveyed to St. Bhrtholomm's Hospital, where he
now lies. The engines from the Farringdon-street station were
on the spot, and prevented the destruction of the premises.

•
LOANS IN GERMANY.—" Frequent •
sacs a Vienna letter, " have been recently paid by Baron
Rothschild to Prince Metternich ; and it is supposed that the
new loan of 100 millions of florins (250 millions of francs) is
on the point of conclusion." The official journal of IViesbaden
publishes two ordonnances by the Duke of Nassau ; the first
concerning the establishment of a loan bank at four per cent.,
provided security call be given to double the amount of the sum
borrowed ; the second relating to the redemption of the tenths ;
which is left to the mutual agreement of the parties interested,
under superintendence or a commission, and with the accommo-
dation of loans to be advanced by the State upon property for
na purpose.

FRENCH AGGRESSION.—A private letter from
Lisbon contains a few particulars relative to the French en-
croachments on the Portuguese sovereignty of the Cazamanaz,
the African river that communicates with the Gambia. The
principal Portuguese settlement in that locality is a small fort,
with a factory a few miles north of the river, and called
Zinginchor. The French residents at Senegal and Goree,
having previouiy ursurped the possession of Abrida, on
the Gambia, erected a fort in 1829, on a small island
called Yr°, near the mouth of the Cazamanza. The Portu-
guese Government, in vain endeavoured to render the French
attempt unavailing. An armed expedition entered the Caza-
manza. in 1837, and established a fort at a place called Scjo by
the Portuguse, or an`
by the French. This was protested
against by the Portuguese, but the French, on the pretext
that they had purchased the territory of the blacks, continued
their occupation. It is considered perfectly evident that the
object of the French, in gradually obtaining all the Portuguese
territories on the river, is to secure a monopoly of the trade of
all that part of Africa.

CoRN-Laws.-----On Monday, at twelve o'clock
at noon, a public meeting crowded,, to excess, was called by the,
Mayor of Preston, in the I own Hall, to consider the propriety
of petitioning for the repeal of the Corn-laws. Resolutions
were unanimously passed condemnatory of those laws, and a
petition unanimously adopted in favour of an immediate and
total repeal. In the evening another ,fleeting was held in the
Cock-pit, by the Operatives, at which it was universally agreed
to orgad.ze a working mans association, to obtain a repeal of the
Corn-laws. All the leading Chartists spoke at the meeting, de-
claring that they should be ashamed of themselves to offer any
opposition to a movement so important, pledging their best
efforts and eo-otieration in favour of repea), yet asserting their
attachment to ttie charter.

LONDON:
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, MO.

Several-petitions were presented to the Peers; for a
better supply of water to the metropolis, against the
intrusion Of ministers, act.'.'
The Earl of siith -reference to .some obierva-
tions made the etrening before in the HaUse of, Com-
mons, asserted, in contradiction of Lord J. RIIB/3ELL
that Lord ALTHORP, when Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, had offered the place of Comptroller of the
Exchequer to Mr. ECUs, and that he, the Earl of
RIPON, then in office, had written to Mr. ECUs, to
congratulate him on his appointment.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY gave notice that, on
Tuesday, he would ask Viscount MELBOURNE, in
consequence of what occurred in the House of Com-
mons on Thursday, to give their Lordships some ex-
planatim s as to the principles on which he proposes to
keep the Cabinet together
Lord STBANGIOIIII presented a petition from the
merchants of London engaged in the Africa gum trade,
complaining of the injuries they had suffered from the
French. He asserted that they could get no redress
for the past, nor prevent the injuries being renewed in
a more extensive and objectionable manner. The re-
monstrances of an English Minister had failed to pro-
cure redress, and had not prevented the French iron-,
mak;ng fresh efforts to ruin our commerce and bumble
our flag. The Noble Viscount run over all the pos-
sessions the French had acquired in Africa, and what
they had done in Mexico and Minorca, and seemed to
take it for granted that everything done by France was
an insult and an injury to us. We never heard that
the French complained of our conquest in Asia, or that
our establishing ourselves in the Southern Ocean was
denounced in the French Chambers as insults, and
injuries to France. The Noble Viscount called for a
system -of retaliation on French commerce for their
conduct to our trade, and thought that if France might
chastise the Dey of ALGIERS, and expel him from his
dominions to satisfy her honour; England might todow
her example, and obtain satisfaction for her honour by
the strong hand. Perhaps it is to he regretted that
nations are not very rigid in following out their prin-
ciples, so that, somehow or other, the relative strength
or weakness of one State always has a great deal of
influence over the manner in which another seeks
redress or take vengeance. However readily, therefore.
we should imitate the conduct of France towards A'-
giers, if a Nabob of India were to insult us we should
look twice at the possibility of success before we a!,-
saulted our powerful neighbour. We say nothing to
depreciate the claims of our mcrcha"tts, who seem to
have been ill used, but to inform our readers that we
cannot exact satisfaction for such injuries from France
as we undoubtedly should from an Indian Cacique or
an African King.
Viscount MELBOURNE rather ridiculed the poetry
and fine sentiment of the other Noble Viscount's ore-
tion, and offended him by implying that the petition had
been drawn up by himself. He reminded the House
of the Spanish war into which the country was forced
by such complaints. With reference to the outrage of
Portendique, a M.xed Commission had been appointed
which would proceed to business. Before the debate
conduflcd Lord MELBOURNE withdrew the expression

The petition from Wolverhampton on the sub-
ject of the Corn-laws is well deserving of the atten-
tion of the Legislature. When we stated, the day
before yesterday, that nothing induces the people
to submit to the laws but prudential considera-
tion, and that they have lost all respect for the
laws, we had not seen that petition, which con-
tains the following passage:—
That your petitioners most humbly, yet firmly, declare
tnat they would willingly obey the laws for the sake of
law and order, and for the well-being of society f but con.
sidering the Corn-laws, as they do, a direct robbery of the
working classes, they can only submit to iticom phvsical
would of necessity submit to any other
force, as they
tyranny.
The petition of which this is a part was adopted
at the largest public meeting ever held within doors
at Wolverhampton ; and that large assembly de-
nounced class legislation and declared that they
submitted to a particular law because they cannot
immediately, by whatever means, get rid of it.
There is amongst them a proper appreciation of the
utility and justice of the law, and a determination
only to obey laws which are for the general good. 1
They will not obey class laws or laws to protect one
, interest or party at the expense of another. Such
a declaration is well calculated to make our selfish
legislatorS pause and ask themselves how their do-
minion, when they daily make it apparent that they
are influenced only by the lowest, most sordid, and
grovelling motives, can be preserved ?
The natural affections ale much stronger than
any political ties. Of the natural affections, those
which bind together parents and children are
amongst the strongest and most lasting. R eared,
clothed, fed, and cherished, by its parents, the in-
a large
stinctiv6 love of a child for them is part of
its own being. They are connected with all its
feelings, and mingle in all its thoughts. It loves
, them like itself. ire, if it tinily witness in them

We find some interesting intelligence from the East
in the Paris Journals of Wednesday. The steam-boat
from Trebisond brought an account to Constantinople
that DosT MOHAMMED KHAN again threatens Cahoot,
and that the English army had received orders to
return to that city to defend the throne of the
Shah Sooami-ooh-Moohk. Letters from Bag.
dad likewise stated that the Shah of PERSIA
was dangerously ill, and that revolts had broken
out in the Provinces of Shiraz and Ispahan, to suppress
which large bodies of troops had marched from Tehe-
ran. These statements were regarded as not worthy
of much credit. It was believed that the reported ill-
ness of the SHAH, and the provincial insurrections,
were feints fur sending an army to drive the English
out of the Persian Gulf. Russia had regained all her
influence at the Court of Teheran ; and a Tatar, who
reached Constantinople in fourteen days from that
capital, brought despatches to Lord PONSONBY,
which informed his Lordship that the Khivan
expedition was undertaken for the express pur-
pose of overthrowing British influence in Central Asia.
That a part of this expedition was to head the Persian
troops destined to drive the English out of the Gu:f, was
no secret to the obscurest of the inhabitants of Tehe-
ran.
The landing of the Russian troops at Asterabad,
within the Persian territory, had quite elated the Mi-
nisters of the SHAH, who saw with joy that they were
so posted as to embarrass the operations of the English
in the neighbourhood of. Herat. In addition to this
hews from Persia, which calls for the immediate atten-
Lion of the Government, we find the following curious
intelligence from Constantinople, in a letter of the 7th '
inst., addressed to the Journal des Debars. If the
statements it embodies be correct, MEHEmET ALL has
as yet but little to fear from the unanimity of the Great
Powers :

" Khrosrew Pacha is certainly not dead, but he is scarcely
alive; he is in the state naturally to be expected when a
man upwards of 80 years of age, corpulent, and replete
with blood, has bad an attack of apoplexy ; he is hourly
threatened with another. His intellectual faculties have
suffered much, his memory is gone, and it is clear that he
will never be able to resume the business of the state.
After demanding explanations from the Porte on the sub-
ject of the immense preparations making by the Russians
at Odessa and all the ports of the Blaek Sea, to which no
satisfactory answers were given, the French Ambassador,
the Count de Pontois, signified to the Divan that he
was aware of its intention to call in the aid of Russia,
but that be sh Juld, in the name of France, protest against
the landing of any of her troops on the territories of Turkey.
The Porte, it is said, has refused to receive this note.
Here the affair rests, but it has made a great deal of noise,
and as everything here is exaggerated, it is already posi-
tively stated that all intercourse has ceased between the
Porte and M. de Pontois, who has, it is added, demanded
his passports. Lord Ponsonby, for his part, is enraged
against the Ottoman Cabinet, but from a different cause.
It.is believed that England cares little whether the Rus-
sians gain a footing in Turkey or not ; but it appears that
it has been discovered that the Greek Patriarch at Con-
stantinople, who is a creature of Russia, has been med-
dling in a plot connected with that of Athens against the
English in the lonian Islands, and that, consequently, the
British Government has demanded his dismissal. The
Patriarch is supported by M. de Boutenieff, who considers
that his removal would be a severe blow to the influence of
Russia in this country. Lord Ponsonby accuses the Pa-
triarch of having circulate d a pastoral letter addressed to
the inhabitants of the lonian Islands, exciting them against
' the authorities, whom he has thought .proper to designate
in it as intruders and heretics. Reschid Pasha would will-
ingly side with the English in this affair, but he inclines
towards the Russians. No one can foretell how the ma.-
r‘r

. .
Hamburg_ I pers of the 25th instant were received
this morning. Agreat sc..!ris ',don was created in
Gottingen by the arrival there, on, the 19th, of the Mi-
nister VAN STRALENIIEI3I, .with on order fr3nl the
KING to the 'University, to pracced to the election of a
Deputy on the 21st. A similar order, but for a diffe-
rent day, was delivered to the M.,gistrates, directing the
citizens to elect a Representative, which it was expected
would be obeyed by them in this instance.
at:Ltil AN k UNDS—liauss44s, Fee,
Actual Delit,•244 per Ccnt.
Roth,child': Loan, 5 per C,nt loo4'
Loan of Thirty Millions, 4 per Cent. 94U
:1 per Cent. 7234
Loan of City, 1832, 4 per Cent th
Society of Commerce, 4 Nper Cent lO7
Bank of Belgiitin, 5 per Cent 114a4
National Society.
Exchange on London (short) -
-Brussels l'upcnt, Feb. 26.
AUSTRIAN FUNDS.—Vltxx*, FEB. IS
rive per Cents. Metalliques
Fesir per Cents Jul
Three per Cents.
Bank Shares S34
..Attgemone Zritung, Feb
.H AMBU RU BORSE N UAL LE, Fin. 'n.
Bills. Money.
Austrian 5 per Cents.
Rank Share. lxl3 152.1
An to-Russian Loan lO9 lON
wsitii 5 per Cent. Ist t•enes, o.lol4:ate
Inscription, Ist Serie, 10.;
Russian 5 per Cent. Hops and Lo. ad antl 4th

_
Sc.is q
Ditto iii Certificates
Dutch Actual Debt, 2i pe Cent L2
Ditto ') per Cen'
l'olich Bond. -11 143.4
Not, i ieket
Anglo-I:anisli Loan, 3 per Cent 741,4 71y,
Not wegiaii I ,ait, 1,3-i, 4 per Cent.... ..... . le2 101
Or ii;akish '':New .1 per Urnts, ..... 1,... ~ %P
~ i
~ : ii
ity(4l4-xf.;l:4._ ,That.po N.
111,fti, ~ Mat ,3 _ I:1; I ;!i .....•.• w 4 month:, 13 5
prmi{,Bl,ffun,-Fttn; 44,....:1'w0-inotiths, 4.01,34..penee- - --.----, -
Srocknotm, Ero/iB,-,Serontx,five days,l l 31,i, . • '
cii It IiTIAN.I A. F En, i 3 i hroc month..
VInNN A; FEn. 1,5.=-Three toOrqba,. 9. •lii, , , ~
-;

Supplies good, and prices higher. Beef, 351-io 3s. 10d;
Alulton, r)s. Iod. to 3s. 10d. ; Veal, 3s. Bd. to ss. ; and Pork,
3s. 2d. to ss. per stone of Blbs. Larks, 2s. per dozen ; Pin
Tail, Is. 6d. ; Pea Fowl, Bs. ; Surrey Capons, 4s. to 6s. ;
Turkey, 55. to 10s. ; Pigeons, Bd. to 10d. ; Gold Plover,
Is. 6d. ; Snipes, Is. 3d. to Is. 9d. ; Widgeon, ls. ; Teal,
Is. ; Wild Ducks, Is. 6d. to 2s. ; Ducklings, 3s. 6d. to 4s. 6d.;
Rabbits, 10d. to Is. 9d.; Fowls, 3s. to 4s. ; Guinea ditto, 3s. ;
Chickens, 25. 6d. to 3s. ; Hares, 3s. to 3s. 6d ; Goslings,
7s. to Bs.