The Sun.
London, England, 1840-02-28 00:00:00

rttors done towards the purchase of land ? Why they did no- i
tsfaing until the time arrived when the power that was given
them by their Act was nearly gone. Now, fur his part he
thought the Board of Directors would have far better con-
sulted the interests of the Proprietors if, instead of being
under the necessity of asking for fresh powers, they exercise
those which they at present possessed, and purchase the
whole land required for purposes of the Railway. The
Report adverted also to the amount of capital required for
the purpose of making the Railway to Colchester,
which amounted to nearly the whole amount
of the capital at first proposed to be raised ;
namely, 2,120,0001. It was clear that the present capital
was not more than sufficient to carry the railway to Col-
chester ; that, however, did not relieve the Directors from
carrying out the projects they at first laid down, until it
lad been decided at law that they should not do so. If
what had been stated was true, 'there could be no doubt
that the return which had been made to the mandamus
was unsatisfactory, and would be quashed. He begged it
to be understood that he had no feeling adverse
to the Directors ; he deprecated any steps be-
ing taken to annoy them, and it was with regret
that be saw the other day a petition published in
a Weekly Journal. The object of those with whom he
had 'nad the honour of acting was to forward the interests
or the Company, and for that object, and that alone, he
'Jad protested against some parts of the report. The
amendment which he had to propose was, to strike out that
port of the Report which stated that the proceedings
which had been taken in the Courts of Law were vexa-
tious and discreditable.

Mr. Hores thought that :he words ought to be per-
mitted to stand, because he considered it highly disre-
putable for any set of men to conic forward and make
a road at the expense of other parties, which was the
real object of those who had instituted the proceedings in
the Courts of Law. He considered that the course
pursued by the Directors had been extremely proper, for
if the sums that nad been expended at the end of the line
near London, had been scattered over the whole line, they
would have been thrown away. It was for that meeting to
say whether the Directors had acted rightly. He was
sorry that the powers they had had been thrown away, but
there was no doubt they could be restored. He thought
no gentleman could point out a similar course having been
adopted with respect to the Direction of other Railways,
that had been pursued by the Directors of the Eastern
Counties' Railway.—(Cheers.)
There being no seconder to the amendment it fell to the
ground.
On the original question, that the Report be adopted,
being put,
Mr. ATKINSON wished to say a few words. He had in
rain listened to hear from Mr. Cobald how he justified
the opposition which had been made to the count:
the Directors had adopted, of laying out the capital
of the Company on that part of the line bete arn
London and Colchester. He thought the Directors
would best consult the interest of the Proprietors
by going on, uncompromisedly, and treating with
contempt the tricks and menaces of those who had at-
tempted to thwart the proceedings of the Directors. Mr.
Cobald had said that the Directors had not acted fairly to-
wards the different counties ; he thought he was mistaken in
that. He would suppose that the gentlemen who had
offered their opposition to the proceeding were acting
from the most honourable of motives, that they had
nothing in view but the interests of Norwich and Yar-
mouth ; but such being the case, he thought the course
pursued was calculated to destroy the object which
those gentlemen professed to have in view. Ho
hoped the Shareholders would consider that the Directors
had done their duty, and that they had considered the in-
terests of the Company in carrying on the line of railway
continuously. He was bound to consider that the opposi-
tion had proceeded from the best of motives, but he could
not help thinking that there was in it some selfishness and
self-aggrandisement, instead of that patriotic spirit which
they would have parties believe actuated them. In con-
clusion, he trusted that the Proprietors would throw
around the Directors that support to which they were
entitled.
Mr. Surrn, of Manchester, wished to know if Mr. Ste-
venson had been on the line before he made the estimates
that had been referred to in the Report.
Mr. BRAITHWAITE said that he had.
Mr. SMITH wished to know when the line to Brentwood
would be completed?
Mr. BRAITHWAITE said in about three months.

Mr. SMITH desired to know how long it would be before
the line from Brentwood to Chelmsford would be com-
pleted ?
Mr. BRAITHWAITE stated two years, provided be had the
funds.

A PROPRIETOR thought that that part of the Re-
port with respect to the accounts ought not to
be adopted, as the share account was very defective :
and no correct account had been given of the expenditure
at the last meeting. He hoped that at the next meeting
some better account would be produced.
The CHAIRMAN thought that the suggestion of the
Hon. Proprietor was an extremely proper one. A Com-
mittee had been appointed, and an accountant was at the
present moment investigating the matter with the greatest
attention.

Mr. Caossny observed that the accountant, who had
been employed by the Company, was doing all in his
power to render a full account ; but, not having possession
of certain documents, it was impassible for him at the
present moment to render an accurate account.
A PROPRIETOR stated that the manner in which the ac-
counts had been left by the late Secretary was a disgrace
to any gentleman.
Mr. COPELAND wished to know whether any estimate
had been made of the further expenditure that would be
required to carry the Railroad to Chelmsford.
Mr. BRAITHWAITE said that there had.
Mr. COPELAND was anxious to be informed how
much it would cost to complete the line to Chelmsford.
Mr. BRAITHWAITE-361,0004, exclusive of the land.
A PROPRIETOR (from Chelmsford) said that the Share-
holders in that part of the county were most anxious that
the line should be completed to that place, and were
willing to pay up the whole of their calls for that purpose.
He was sure that the completion of the line to Chelms-
ford would be a great benefit to the Propiietors.
The CHAIRMAN then put the original resolution, and
declared it to be carried unanimously.
On the motion of Mr. /lOUS, seconded by Mr. RtcanY,
the gentlemen who retired from the Direction by rotation
were re-elected, with the exception of Mr. Marriage, who
begged that his name might be withdrawn; and, on the
motion of Mr. BIGGS, George Chapman, Esq., of Hoo
Hall, *as elected in his room.

EDWARD BROWNS, Esq. then came forward to propose
a resolution approving of the course adopted by the Di-
rectors in completing the line continuously for the Lon-
don terminus. He was sorry to witness the apathy that
existed generally in the people of Norwich towards the
line of the Eastern Counties Railway, and could attribute
it to no other cause than the great ignorance the people
of Norwich and Yarmouth had of the good railroads would
effect.

Mr. ATxtNsoN seconded the resolution, which

The CHAIRMAN declared to be carried.

Mr. CODALD then proposed a resolution to the effect
that the Directors should be requested to take such mea-
sures
as might be necessary for securing the purchase of
land along the line before the powers of the existing Act
expired, if practicable, or for extending the time for the
purchase of such land.
Mr. HoTsa seconded the resolution, and he could not
approve of the act of the Directors in allowing their power
to expire.
Mr. HODGSON considered if the resolution was adopted
it would be, by a side wind, upsetting the whole course
under which the Directors had been acting.
Mr. ConaLD thought that contracts ought to be made
for the purchase of land along the whole line before the
power of the existing act terminated.
The CHAIRMAN thought the wisest course for the Pro-
prietors to pursue would be to pay their just debts before
they contracted others.—(Cheers.)
Mr. DUNCAN, the Solicitor to the Company, trusted
that the meeting would be cautious as to the course they
should adopt, because if they did any thing that appeared
inconsistent it would prejudice them before Parliament.
He thought the present resolution, if passed, would ap-
pear inconsistent, inasmuch as the Company had
not money enough to make purchases of land between
Colchester and Ipswich, before the Act expired, and it
would be impossible to obtain an Act in the next Session
to enlarge the time, in consequence of the standing orders
with respect to advertising ; the resolution would therefore
he useless, and he trusted it would be withdrawn.
Mr. COIIAI.D withdrew the resolution.
The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks, admitted the pro
priety of the statement of Mr. Browne, with respect to
the ignorance of the gentlemen of Norwich and Yarmouth,
as to the good that was likely to be effected by the Esstern
Counties Railway to those towns. It was wonderful to
find that where the gclden day first rose, there should be
last known the iron way which would lead to gold.—
( Cheers. )-1,906 shares were then declared forfeited.
Mr. Srarrit, of Manchester, hoped the Directors would
make all parties pay up their calls, for if they went on as
they had done, it would be four years More the railway
would he completed. It depended upon the Proprietors
whether so desirable a result as the completion of the
railway should he effected in two or four years.
The CHAIRMAN said that the Directors were determined,
in justice to those who had paid up their calls, to insist
; upon those who were in arrear paying theirs.—( Cheers.)
Thanks were then voted io the Directors, the Chair-
man, and the Engineer, and the meeting separated.