The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-11 00:00:00

11, POI.

---- ,
DEATH of GEORGE ROBINS, ESQ

Our obituary of yesterday announced the death of the
above eminent auctioneer, a gentleman who has ho-
nourably and successfully filled an exalt, d position in hi
profession for many years ; indeed, we are informed
that he began to wield the hammer before he had at-
tained the age of 19, for whilst attending a large sale in
Yorkshire, he was unexpectedly called upon to act for
his father, who, from indisposition, was unable to offi-
ciate. From that time to the present, during a
period of ;fifty years, he enjoyed the uninterrupted
good opinion of the public, and perhaps no man can
boast of a more extraordinary catalogue of business.
the most extensive estates in this country, and Scotland
and Ireland, as well as all parts of the globe, having
passed though his hands ; the wonderful skill and tact
with which every advantage connected with the property-
ha had to describe was seized upon and turned to profit
in his glowing descriptions, and his ready wit and re-
part6e in the rosttura, are too well known to require
comment from us. It may certainly be allowed
that, for his profession, no man possessed or exerted
greater capabilities, and he may be considered one oe
the most successful and persuasive advocates in seducing
his auditors to unloose their purse-strings that has ever
appeared at the auction mart. A foolish report wEe:
some years age circulated, when this gentleman first
struck out . into a different and more descriptive style of
advertisement, that his literary effusions were not hie
own production. That his announcements were unlike
those of any of his contemporaries there can be no
doubt ; that they were highly coloured, graphic, and
often excessively clever, has been constantly admitted ;
and that they were his own productions we have ample
reason to know. Indeed, when only a youth, and al-
lowed by his parents to make the tour of the lakes in
Cumberland, his lore of the picturesque was then evinced
by a publication of all that he had seen and been
delighted with. Iligliflown and indulging in fancy's
sketch as were Mr. Robins's advertisements and particu-
lars of the properties he had for sale, yet we have heard
him say, in no instance was a purchase repudiated on
the ground of misdescription, whilst in many cases
purchases, and to a heavy amount, have been made
by persons who had never seen or heard of the
estate when they entered the auction-room, and they
were overcome by his persuasive eloquence. We now
turn to what may be termed his private life. A love
of taking a prominent part in some of the events of
the day, and a desire to assist some well-known cha-
racter, whose prudence had not placed him above the
world, brought him before the public most frequently in
the cause of charity, and sometimes as the champion of
some oppressed individual, or to servo the fallen for-
tunes of some institution or other—indeed, it may be
said, he possessed more of the milk of human kindness
than generally falls to the lot of man ; politics he care-
fully eschewed, and deemed those mad who wasted their
time and substance upon them. His first unprofessional
effort was at Margate, where, in the cause of enmity,
no less than that of assisting the funds of the Margate
Sea-Bathing lufirmary by holding a plate fur contribu-
tions outside the church-gate, he, with several other
gentlemen, were taken into custody as rogues and
vagabonds for begging, and were afterwards compelled
to attend the Dover Sessions, where no evidence was
offered against him, and upon • the trial of an action
against the magistrates of Margate•at the Maidstone As-
sizes, damages were obtained, and to this day a tablet in
the walls of the institution at Margate record his victory
and the increase to the funds for the sick at the infirmary.
To his determined hostility, in conjunction with the late
Mr. Calcraft, to the sub-cennittee of Drury-lane Theatre,
in the years 1817 and 1818, and their exposition of the
mal-goyernmen t of the theatre, anew system was adopted,
by which this splendid place of amusement was nearly
released from a load of debt; and at a later period his
exertions were mainly instrumental in resuscitating the
rival establishment when all human hope of again afford-
ing amusement to the public within its walls seemed
past. Notwithstanding his numerous avocations, he
could spare time for the cause of charity, and
many were the successful claims to public benevo-
lence that he advocated—the most remarkable was
that for poor Emery's (the comedian) family, when,
by the greatest indefatigability, a sufficient sum
was obtained to provide a comfortable annuity for the
widow avid children. That exquisite songstress Mrs.
Bland, and many others, were equally indebted to him,
whilst his protection of James Brandon, the well-known
box-book-keeper of Covent-garden Theatre, against the
proprietors, is even now remembered by theatricals.
Perhaps no man in his station Was more courted
by his superiors, by whom his wanly, straightforward
conduct was appreciated, his advice often sought, and
amongst the men of his day he was always welcome.
The description of a dinner given by him to Lord Byron
is recorded in that nobleman's memoirs,:edited by Moore,
when Lord Kinnaird and his brother, Sheridan, Colman,
John Kemble; and other eminent mertwere present.
In his private life he was strictly a domestic man,
always ready to do good and succour the distressed.
He leaves a widow and seven young children, which his
exertions have enabled him to provide for in an ample
manner, and a large circle of frier-14s who will long mourn
his irreparable loss. The poor hare lost a kind friend,
society an excellent member, and the Queen a faithful
subject. He was an exemplary husband, a kind and
indulgent father, and a warm-hearted friend.

His extensive business as an auctioneer and valuer
will now be conducted by his two cousins, who have long
assisted him in carrying cut his novel and successful
method of effecting the transfer of property, and were
often large contributors to his fame.

CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD
RAILWAY.
The usual half. yearly general meeting of the proprietors of
this undertaking was held yesterday afternoon, at the offices
of the Cor.-.pany, in Moorgate-street ; Mr. W. Collett, chair-
man of the board of directors, in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN, in introducing the report, stated that
a few days ago he had personally inspected the works on the
line, and he s'-as glad to say they were proceeding
in a most satisfactory manner. Upwards of one mil-
lion of money had been expended in the works, and the
consequence was, there was not any point upon the line
where the works were not in progress. In a short time, he
confidently expected, the line would be opened to Fliut, in
August to Conway, at the close of the year to Bangor and
the whole of Anglesea, and by the close of 1848, or
the commencement Of 1849, the line would be
opened throughout. Government had let the con-
tract for the construction of Holyhead Harbour,
and from a conversation he had with the Secretary of the
Admiralty last night, he understood the works were to be
Proceeded with almost immediately. Negotiations were
pending between the company and Government for obtaining
better terms for carrying the public mails, while arrange-
ments were going forward with the London and North-
Western Company for working the line, by which it was
hoped that a considerable saving would be effected in the
working and maintaining the traffic. Their prospects were
exceedingly gratifying, and their could now be no doubt that
this undertaking would soon be one of the most flourishing in
the country, while the enormous amount of money it had
absorbed last year sufficiently indicated its great national im-
portance.
The report stated that every exertion had been made to
provide the means for the most rapid and complete execu-
tion of the works, the payments upon the road contracts
alone having amounted, on an average, to 71,7081. per month
since the Ist of July last. The average number of workmen
employed upon the several contracts has been 12,560; Con-
tracts had been made for the construction and erection of
bridges over the Conway and the Menai Straits, thus come
pleting the entire line, with the exception of the extension to
the new harbour at Holyhead, which had not yet received the
sanction of the Legislature. By a Bill now before Parliament.
the Company would take powers to raise an additional capital
of 500,000/. ; 200,0001. being required for the subscription to
the harbour, under the arrangement with her Majesty's Go-
vernment, and 300,000/. for the extension of the line to the
pier, and the proposed steam-packets. A line of railway to
the mineral district of Mold had ag.iin been brought forward :
it was to join this Company's line about three miles and a
quarter from Cheater, and the entire length of the line and
branches was about sixteen miles. The capital required was
180,0001., of which the Chester and Birkenhead Railway
Company undertake to subscribe 20,000/. ; the Birkenhead,
Lancashire and Cheshire Junction Railway Company,
20,000/.; and the directors recommend that this Company
should subscribe 30,0001.

The receipts from the commencement of the Company up
to the 31st December,lB46,• amounted to 1,793,418/.lls. 10d.,
while the total expended .amounted to 1,399,4901. 4s. 4d. ;
since the last. half-year '03,765/. 15s. 6d. had been spent,
and 880,910/. 17s. 9d. received: The cash in hand, after the
payment of everything up to the 31st of December, 1846, was
393,928/. 7s. 6d.
The report and accounts were unanimously adopted.
In reply to a question,
The CHAIRMAN stated that the original Bill authorised
them to raisB-2;100,6001.- by calls, and 700,0004 by.loans,
making their capital 2,800,000/. The works of the main line
woul be completed within that time. They were now going
tt
ho
ols'
ea rl
extensioni am en t fzr t
heexyt ensio
proposedns, a
tnod
rabi3s; tahne
additional Bill authorisi
capitalng
of 500,0001.

In reply to a question
estimated'e at 800,000!.
In reply to another
the Menai Straits was
question,
admitted that there were difficulties
The Cfr.trascAzr replied that the cost of the bridge over
Mr R. STEPIrENS:
bridge, but he saw or knew of none
ill, adid s
sote anticipatelery
step tcon-
nectedhe with the bridge, was novel and never attempted
h
connected
estimate
.w .buitiest
which could not t
totbebeexoveeerecaoen.dl
before, of course he could not be positive upon that point.
This closed the business of the half nearly meeting.
SPECIAL MEETING.
The shareholders then resolved themselves into a special
meeting for the purpose of considering a Bill "for extending
the line of the Chester and Holyhead Railway at Chester and
Holyhead respectively, for authorising certain alterations in
the levels of the said railway, and for empowering the Com-
pany to subscribe towards the construction of a harbour at
Holyhead, and to purchase, hire, and use steam-boats. And
also to approve of a Bill to be submitted to Parliament in
the ensuing session for making a rii!‘•,,,iv from Mold, in the
comity ,t Fint;. a the eliestor andifelylicad Railway in
the P'"i'h "f IT"warcio in the ri nio rminty, with brarb--
1..-:
The CHAIRMAN stated th.at the capital of the Bill would
be 500,000/., of that sum 200,000/. would be subscribed to•
wards building a harbour and pier at Holyhead, 150,0001.