The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-01 00:00:00

4,000 or 5,000 shareholders out of the 51,000. With regard
to the books of the company, they were in a mutilated state,
and the secretary of the company had been out of the way.tor
the last six months.

Mr. D. W. HARVEY entered into a lengthened statement
of the particulars of the meeting in July last, when the de-
putation of shareholders was appointed to confer with the
directors as to the affairs of the company, which exertions
were altogether abortive. He acquitted Mr. Bass, Mr. Brooks,
and a few other of the directors, but the great bulk of the
committeemen would make no sacrifice to meet the wishes of
the shareholders' deputation.
A PROPRIETOR asked Mr. Bass if, in the event of his
buying up the 5,000 share, at 7s. 6d. he would give his assist-
ance to get the affairs of the company into bankruptcy, with
a view of dissolving the company ?
Mr. BASS replied, that as an individual, he was qxite
agreeable to the shares being used in that way, and he was
ready to render every assistance is his power.
Scrutineers were then appointed, and after the lapse of
an hour, spent in examining the scrip, reported that there
were—

For the dissolution .
Against ditto 18,085 „
For bankruptcy
Against ditto ... 16,348 „
And thus ended one of the most noisy, angry, and irregular
meetings we have ever attended.

public journals with the name of Mr. Moseley attached
to it. I presume Moseley will siektiewledge the
letter.
Mr. MOSELEY—I do.
The CHAIRMAN then went into a statement of the
various circumstances alluded to in that letter. He
dwelt with much emphasis on the fact thet in October
last year, at a meeting of the shareholders, they unani-
mously, not even excepting Mr. Moseley, called on the
directors, indeed morally compelled them, to enter into
negotiations for the sale of the line, and even named the
Great Western as the only company with which they
were to negotiate.—(Hear, hear) This was not only
without the knowledge of the directors of the I3irming-
ham and Oxford Junction, but it was against their incli-
nation. They merely agreed to negotiate with the
Great Western, because they felt they were bound to
accede to the unanimous wishes of a meeting of the
shareholders. lie denied that the directors had shine
anything wrong They had but carried out the wishes
of the shareholders, and the agreement being made, they
would abide by it. He now moved that the report be
adopted.
Mr. CROSSWAITER, of Liverpool, seconded the motion
for the adoption of the report.
Captain CARNEGIE, M.P., wished to ask, before the
question was put, whether it was the intend° ; of the
four directers, who, according to the Act of Parliament,
were to retire at that meeting, to retire from the board ?
The CHAIRMAN—The point as to .whether they are
legally bound to retire at this time is one which we anti-
cipated might lead to some misunderstanding in that
room that day, and we have therefore taken the precau-
tion of getting the opinion of the Attorney-General, the
Solicitor-General, Mr. J. C. Talbot, and Mr. Godley,
and they are unanimous in the opinion that none of the
directors are bound to retire.
Captain CARNEGIE said that a body of shareholders
had also taken the opinion of the most eminent counsel
on the point, and that opinion was, that if the usual
number of directors did not retire, the directors would
occupy their places at the board illegally. (Loud cheers.)
As many of the shareholders had not had their attentoin
called to the matter, it would only be a matter of
courtesy on so important a point, that they should have
a fortnight to satisfy themselves on it. He would there-
fore move, as an amendment, the adjournment of the
meeting till that day fortnight.
Mr. MOSELEY wished, before the question of adjourn-
ment was put, to make some observations of an explana-
tory nature, in order that no misconception might exist
as to the facts of the case. (Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN.—I have no wish to stop Mr. Moseley.
The more he speaks the better for us; but Mr. Moseley
must be aware, that on a question of adjourning the
meeting it would be irregular to go into matters of the
nature which Mr. Moseley wished to bring before the
shareholders.
Mr. MOSELEY—I think it very extraordinary on the
part of the directors, that, having acted contrary to what
was believed to be the law of the case, and also in oppo-
sition to the interests of the shareholders, you should now
seek to shirk the question and get rid of the responsibility
you have incurred by availing yourselves of a mere ques-
tion of form.—(Loud cheers.) I should have thought you
would have been glad of an opportunity of giving an
explanation. It is well known, at least it is believed,
that you, the directors, have parted with the greater
part of your interest in the company.—(Loud cheers.)
If you will tell the meeting on what grounds you attempt
to justify your procedure, when the meeting thought
that procedure contrary to law, the meeting will now be
glad to hear what you have to say in your own justifica-
tion. If you have nothing but the interests of tho share-
holders at heart ; if having made all the profit you could
out of the property—(Loud cheers)—you are now de-
sirous of benefiting the shareholders by the course you
have determined to pursue, you surely can have no ob-
jections to state the grounds on which you have acted,
and still mean to act.
A SHAREHOLDER (with much vehemence)— Why do
you conceal anything ?—(Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN—That gentleman need not gesticulate
so violently.
A SHAREHOLDER—Give us the opiaions you have
received from counsel.
The CHAIRMAN—This is not the proper time for that,
when the question of adjournment is before the meeting
—(Cries of " Oh, oh.")
Mr. MOSELEY—You must he aware that there are
reports current in Birmingham and everywhere else,
which are not creditable to your character as directors
of this company. It is currently stated that you have
purposely sacrificed the interests of the shareholders to
purposes of your own, and that--
The CHAIRMAN—The statement you make is false.—
(Cries of " Order, order," and a great sensation among
Mr. Moseley's friends.) I do not mean that what Mr.
Moseley says is false, bat that the report to which he
alludes is so.
Mr. Moseeev--I am glad, Sir, that you have with-
drawn that word. If you had not I should have sat
down. It made the blood rush to my face. Though I
do not belong to a certain assembly, I have the spirit
and sense to resent any insult, by whomsoever offered --
(Hear.)
Lord lIATHERTON—It was not meant personally. I
did not so understand it.---(Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN—I did not mean anything of a per-
sonal nature to the Hon. proprietor. I merely referred
to a statement of others which he was quoting.
Mr. MosELY-I am glad to hear Lord Hatherton say
so, and also to receive a renewed disclaimer from you,
Sir. I will now forget the matter. I repeat that the
property has been sold much below its real value. It is
with the view of getting a fair price, and not getting the
line for the London and North Western, that I am pur-
suing the course lam now doing. If the Great Western
had given the full value for the property, you should
never have heard a word of complaint from me. It was
because the proper value is not given that I resolved on
adopting the course Ism now pursuing.—(Hear.) It is not
as a shareholder of the London and North-Western that
I stand here. I stand in this place as a shareholder
only of the Oxford and Birmingham Junction. I have
to complain of the chairman of the Great Western
(Mr. Russell) representing me as having said at a former
meeting that I was the mouthpiece of the London and
North-Western. I beg to deny that I ever said any-
thing of the kind. It was a personality to attribute such
words to me. I ask the chairman of the Great Western,
as a gentleman, is he prepared to substantiate the words
he has imputed to me ?
The CHAIRMAN—We are not here for the purpose of
going into matters of this nature. The words Mr.
Moseley complains of were not used at any meeting of
this company.
Mr. Mosseer —They were used by Mr. Russell, and
that gentleman is present. I should have supposed that,
as a gentleman, he would feel glad of an opportunity of
either substantiating oa retracting his words.—(Cheers.)
Mr. RUSSELL—I beg the chairman not to interfhre
between me and Mr. Mosely. When he has finished his
observations I will answer hime—(Hear.)
Mr. MoSELEY—It is the custom in the House of which
Mr. Russell is a Member, for gentlemen to make any
personal explanations which may be necessary whenever
appealed to for the purpose.
Mr. RUSSELL—The lion. Proprietor is quite wrong
as to the practice in the House of Commons. The
Speaker will not allow any such interruptions to the
usual proceedings to be made.
Mr. MOSELEY—Mr. Ruseell must be aware that such
is not the practice. Whenever a Member complains
that he has been misrepresented, the party of whom he
complains must get up and explain at once. The lion.
Gentleman refuses. This is only a continuation of what
has before taken place. The directors are to be every-
thing, and the shareholders nothing.—(Great cheering.)
I will not submit, so far as I am personally concerned.
to conduct of this nature. I demand a retractation or
substantiation of Mr. Russell's words.—(Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN—I cannot see what I have to do with
a quarrel of this nature, which arises from what appeared
in the newspapers.
Mr. MOSELY—I give you great credit. Sir, for your
anxious endeavours to serve your colleague.—(Loud
cheers, mixed with a few faint hisses.) I should have
expected that Mr. Russell, as a gentleman, would deny
the charge if not true. It is a matter in which all the
directors were interested, and they would have felt it so
unless the profits they had made by their shares had
blinded them to everything else.—(Loud applause with
laughter.) lam Mr. Russell's equal in every respect,
and will not tamely submit to be maligned by him. I
wish that there may be no mistake on that point. I
state in the boldest, broadest, and most distinct manner,
that I never used such language, and I defy any breath-
ing man to prove that I did.—(Applause.) I will not
be daunted nor diverted from pursuing the course
which 1 think proper in reference to this company. I
repeat what I before said, that the sale of the line
to the Great Western was made when the real share-
holders were not in a position to vote.—(Deafening
applause.) I say that it was disgraceful to act :in this
manner. You may " Jump Jim Crow' as you will,
but you shall not be allowed to have matters your own
way. I warned you that when the registration was com-
pleted, we would undo -what you have done. You have
acted illegally throughout, and that you will find out
before a long time has elapsed. You have sacrificed the
shareholders. The value of the line, as being confessed
by yourselves the battle-field of the broadguage question,
must have been apparent to you. You could not have
acted as you have done from ignorance ; but we have de-
termined riot to be deffeated. I have entered on my
course and will pursue it.—(lmmense cheering.) We
have at least seven-eights of the shareholders with us.
I shall not retire from this contest so long as there is
one inch of ground on 'which to battle with you. Mr.
Moseley then sat down amidst greet cheering.
Mr. RUSSELL, M.P.—__'j will now answer the question
of the Hon. Proprietor. I was not present at the meet-
I did,
Igi nuagacgtaeet
imputedchd oa i
nhf
oetrorwnhaai to have made use of the lan •
Icnommnamknitilegated thetsotainteembeyngt
tillentle-
bwehl
ioe
vsse-,erteh
at
present;,
dsenidte and they assured me, and they
-use the expression, that he was
not only authorised to make the Offer
of 1,5/ premium
on the shares
th,fiErnitingilatn
and Oxford
.
Junction Railway, bu t that he was the mouth-
piece of the London and North-Western Com-
Pany. I have no riglet to doubt that gentleman's
word, after the disclaimer he has made, hut it is right I
should say that the who lo circumstances connected with
the conduct of the London and North-Western Company
in reference to this company, must come before a higher
tribunal, in order tha t the whole matter may be
thoroughly sifted. It will then be for us to get what
proof we can of what was actually said on that occasion,
and it will be for Mr. Mosely to disprove, if he is able,
his having so expressed himself. But even supposing
the words had been erroneously imputed to him, I cannot
see what right he has to complain. It is no imputation
on him. Good God ! anti I to be prohibited from re-
peating language which I had been told by most respect-
able persons the Hon. GerAleman made use of at a public
meeting. This, gentlemen, is perfectly puerile.—(Cries
of "Name your authority.")
Mr. MOSELEY-Give us the name of your informant
at once.—(Uproar; and chNers.)

MARRIE. _n_vitae.
On the. 23th oh., at St. Nicholas ChD
urch, Novrcititle-U..pvmptill
George, eldest son of G. Craw.hity, Esq., of Colney
sex, to Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Sir John Fife. °I
upon-Tyne.

DIF;U.
On the 13th ult., at Kilt/lore, Monaghan, the ROI' tjacPrge ib'l
Schomberg, aged 79. _ vote'
On the 22d of December last 9t Jullundar, East Indies,
nanteorge Augustus Vallit;gs., Bengal Anilll'T,
On the Sth ult., at Pusev, Henry Algernonc: Herbert, se,°"
the Hon. E. Herbert, aged 8. aged 20. dso of
On the 22d ult.ult., at, at ItriAlfordxton,ekrnear C..G. Feld
astle, aged
rey, somer 89. setshire,
On the 24th , 6t,
Caroline Jane, youngest daughtei of the late Bev. Dr..Alilger _f ,
'''
Bee's, Cumberland. r°'
___-.......

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of the Savoy, iu the County of Middlesex, Mou#A,Y.
1, 1147.