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

RAILWAY COMPANIES.

We extract f►om the Sheffield Independent the fol-
lowing account of the proceedings of the Gcneral Meet-
ing of Proprietors of the London and Birmingham Rail-
way Company, lately held at Birmingham, rdative 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 1,000/.
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.
a meeting had power to do this, they might also, if the
parties could obtain a majority, snake another grant for
a Wesleyan chapel, or Indepeadents' or Friends' meet-
ing-house, or tie NS' 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
❑ews'-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 traffid,
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-
testhrg against this application of their money as illegal,
unwarranted 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
rions, 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
virect; 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 accordingly moved at the meeting that the
grant be rescinded. It was suggested that the sum be
raised at once by voluntary contribution, to which seve-
ral Proprietors were ready to contribute liberally. Tile
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 which they might be 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
100/. share.

" At length, an amendment was moved, and carried
by a mujority 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-
once to public companies generally. The right of a
majority to be liberal at the cost of others, and even
against their consent, was we hope, practically set at
rust. The decision had been waited for with no ordi-
nary anxiety, and we confess that, as Dissenters, we
Lad, with no little satisfaction, a conc:usion which,
we hope, will close the door to one means of very
great abuse.
" We can conceive. that, in hands less considerate
and less honourable than the gentlemen who snot 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 1,0001. whatever they
may conclude, to contribute voluntarily towards the
church at Wolverton."

COURT OF SEWERS FOR WEST-
AIINSTEU 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.

PROGRESS.
t, Kensington.
'ATE.

SEWERS IN
PUB
Hornton-street
PRIM.

Uxbridge road, by Shep- 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. Thurloe-square, Brompton.

The Commissioners of Woods and Forests have,
we understand, concluded an arrangement with Eton
Collcv, by which Primrose-hill will be preserved from
being- built
.upon. This place of healthful resort will
therefore remain to the inhabitants of the metropolis, as
one of the "lungs of London."
THE ENGAGEMENT.—The expectation ex-
ited.respecting this new novel, before its publication, has
been met by a more than answerable interest and attrac-
tion in the work itself, which is perhaps one of the
hghest productions of its class that our day has witnessed.
In the rarest and most important of all the features of a
work of this nature, an interesting-
,p,lot;l7The Engage-
ment," has scarcely a rival among-Inodern novels, while
e....bt5.-t
the brilliance of some of i taracters and the beauty
and delicacy of others speak a writer capable of high
achievements in thi style of composition. The writers
wham th s new novelist most resembles are Sir Edward
Bulwer and Mr. Plumer Ward. There is, perhaps, nothing
snore striking and brilliant is the works of the former than
the whole character of De Grey, in " The Engagement ;"
and the two heroines, the delicate and touching Horatia,
and the stately Eleanor, will bear comparison even with
those female creations in which the author of " Tremaine"
so eminently excels. If we do not greatly err, the name
(at present wholly unknown) of the writer of this novel is
destined to take a very high rank in the prose literature of
his country.
DEAF NESS.—At length this dreadful malady is
completely obviated, without torture and serious risk by medical
treatment. The Messrs. S. and B. Solomons, 39, Albemarle street,
Piccadilly, opposite the York Hotel, and 76, King William-street,
Bank of England, have constructed a Voice Conductor, the size of
a seven.shilling piece, which, when fixed into the cavity of the
ear, is soft, easy, and not more uncomfortable nor perceptible than
having a piece of wool in its place ; and that w • is deserving
the public attention and approbation is, th3f.-a individual in cons
piny may place it in the ear and remove-if unobserved. It pours
into the ear the general conversa 'vino such an extent that, in
severe cases, deafness is not th east perceptible, and sufferers are
enabled to hear the slight whisper at a public assembly. Their
-newly-invented Spectacle Lenses, immediately they are placed
before imperfect vision, bring it at once back to its youthful, ori.
ginal, and natural state, and the most minute particle is seen, either
by day or candle light, with exact distinctness. These valuable
improvements in the materials are secrets to themselves, and are
solely confined to their establishments, 39, Albemarle-street, oppo.
site the York Hotel, and 76, King William.street, City.
i