The Sun.
London, England, 1849-09-08 00:00:00

MIDLAND.

DERBY, FRIDAY,--To• day the usual half-yearly
meeting of the above railw.iy company was held in the
large goods' shed at the station. There were a consi-
derable number of shareholders present. At one o'clock
John Ellis, Esq., M.P., took his seat as chairman.
The CHAIRMAN, in the course of his speech, stated
that in the half-year ending June 30, 1549, it appeared
there were 140,764 first class, 450,345 second class,
966,066 third class, and 329,648 fourth class; and in the
half-year ending June 30, 1849, there were 144,478 first
class, 470,422 second class, 965,283 third class, and
399,561 fourth class; exclusive of the Bristol and Bir-
mingham. From that statement it was clear the num-
ber of passengers for the six months alluded to in the
report bad considerably increased; but the falling off in
the amount was, he supposed, occasioned by the decrease
of through traffic. The internal traffic was greater than
usual, partly owing, he believed, to the number of plea-
sure trips which had run on their lines. He had great
pleasure in announcing to them that an arrangement
had been entered into with the London and North-
Western Railway Cotnpany, which he was sere would
prove advantageous to both. It was with respect to
traffic. They had ensured by the arrangement
traffic which other wise they would not have
had, at the same time giving the two companies a
community of interest. Relative to the Aeabergate
line, they had made a satisfactory agreement. He next
alluded to the Leeda and Bradford lease.—(Hear, hear.)
With regard to it, he would only say he was prepared to
take a fair share of any responsibility in the matter. lie
would not in the least shrink from it. Mr. Waddingham
was one of the best and most valuable men they had at
their board.—(Hear, hear.) He would read to them
Mr. Waddingham's letter of resignation. It was as

" TO THE CIIAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

THE MIDLAND RAILIVA.Y COMPANY.

" My dear Sir.—As the board have expressed th-Ar
willingness to take their full share of the responaibilit)
of the Leeds and Bradford lease, and exem rate me in
their report from individual blame, I em content to set
the judgment of my colleagues agaMst the gross impu-
tations of Mr. Wylie and others, who are comparatively
ignorant on the subject. At the same time I think it
my duty to bow to the strong, but mist.iken, feeling or a
section of the shareholders on the subject of the lease,
and to tender my resignation, which, owing to a change
of re3idenu,, would have been long ago placed in your
hands but for the wish of the board that I should remain.
The fact that for several years I devoted the greater
part of my time to the affairs of the Leeds and Bradford
Railway without remuneration, surely justifies me in
having held a large interest in it, and the objection now
taken for the first time that I ought not to have been a
member of both boards, comes witfa a very bad grace
after a silence of three years.—l have the honour to be
your faithful servant, " JOHN WADDINGHAM."
Since entering the room he had received the letters of
resignation of Mr. Murgatroyd nael Mr. Trees. With
respect to calls, exertions had been made to get them in,
but they had not been successful. Then, with regard to
auditting, whatever was done it should be accomplished
independent of Government. With reference to the
election of directors, he would recommend that they
should be divided into four commiatees; first, a traffic
committee, consisting of five; second, a locomotive com-
mittee, consisting of three; third, a permanent way and
station committee; and lastly, he 'would have an audit
committee.
Mr. WYLIE observed that the Wlgh rate of the interest
guaranteed to the Leeds and Bradford line was to be
regretted, as most unfortunate for the proprietors of the
Midland Company; but the circumstances attending
that lease were still more to be regretted, as they ex-
hibited the personal interest of s;om4, of the directors of
the company at variance with their position and duties
to this company, which was most deserving of high re-
prehension.
The other business was then gone through, when the
meeting separated.
RAILWAY S HARE=
inAftKETS.
BRISTOL, SEPT- 7.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—The share mat'Ket was rather firmer
to-dav , but little or no business doing . Bristol and Exeter,
New -Shares, were done at 10 die., and'. Great Western, Fifths,
at 12% die.

LIVERPOOL, Simi'. 7.
STOCK EXCHArram.—The share /market opened rather
firmly this morning; the business done was to a larger ex-
tent than for some days past, and the highest quotations of
yesterday were current to-day for both stock and shares.
MANCHESTER, SE! 'T. 7.
STOCK EKCIIANGE.—Tio tran93V ions to-day were as
follow : Manchester and Leeds, Fifa s, 5 5-16 d s.—North
Staffordshire, 7 1-!6 dis.—Manchester and Birmingham (C),
Quarters, 2 5 16 p.
BIRMINGHAM, SEP r. 7.
STOCK Excmixon.—The share marl :et was steady to-d6y,
there being little or no variation in pi -ices The sales are—
Birmingham, Wolverhamptql, and Dmic der (calls dilly paid),
4% —Shrewsbary and Birmingham (B), stAi dis.
YORK, SEPT. Cr.
STOCK EKCHANGE.—The transactif )n3 to-day were as
follow :—Great Northern, 71/2—Ditto, F reference, 51. Ils.
Ditto (New Issue), Is.—York, NewciA 9, and Berwick, 18—
Ditto (G. N. E. rurcluae),

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
PORTSIL)UTII F'tlD r • m ',?

kit a

h•art:

I 1•11. ;. - •,1 • Ctotton.
27th in iill6t euwztug she espied
a fine brigantine of suspicious rig, and gave chase; the
slsver, either through ar or mistaken policy, ran ashore
in a frightful surf, in which 200 out of 600 slaves were
drowned. The Rifleman saved 127 from the resilup,
and took them safely to Rio, and plac d thorn 011 board
the receiving ship Cresc,nt. It was ascertained that
two other slavers started at the same time ss the brigan-
tine, ea h full of slaves.

th€

The Scout, 14, Commander F. E. Johnson, is hourly
exptTted from China. Should she make this port, order:;
aro, awaiting her to proceed imme,fiately to Devonport
to he p lid off.

stera-frigate, Captain Hall, was removed
from the steam-ba:in this afternoon complete, in the
engineer refit.

The Ajax steam-,c,ruardship having returned all her
hAlast and got a clean swept hold, was taken into the
steam-basin to-day, out of the way of commission.
The Sprightly steam-tender was hAtiled oat of Eh?
steam-basiu today to be commi.sioned by Mr. Allen, of
the Fire Qusen, for port service in lieu of that vessel.