The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-29 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM AND OXFORD

RAILWAY.
FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)
An important, perhaps the most important meet-
ing that ever assembled, of the shareholders of this
line took place yesterday at Dee's Royal Hotel, Bir-
mingham, in consequence of a requisition signed by
no less than twenty-nine shareholders, possessing
more than one-tenth part of the capital of the com-
pany, for the purpose of considering the subject of
an action lately commenced against the company by
Samuel Morton Pete and William Eastted ; and also
the several actions which have been commenced in
the name of the company against various shareholders
therein, for enforcing payment of a call made, or
purporting to have been made, on the 12th of June,
1847 ; and for the purpose of considering and deter-
mining upon and giving such directions as may be
thought fit as to the course to be adopted by the said
company with reference to such actions respectively
and the subjects thereof respectively ; and of consi-
dering the propriety of appointing, and if so thought
fit of appointing under the common seal of the said
company or otherwise, and directing the employment
of an attorney and solicitor, or attorneys and solicitors
of the said company, to act on behalf of the said com-
pany generally, and in all matters or on such
particular matters, and for such period, and either ex-
clusively or otherwise, as the said meeting shall think
fit and resolve ; and also to consider the propriety of
removing, and if thought proper to remove or discon-
tinue the employment of any person or persons who
have or has acted as attorneys or solicitors, or as at-
torney or solicitor of the said company ; and giving
such directions and making such orders as the said
meeting may deem expedient in reference to or conse-
quential upon any such appointment, employment, or
removal, or other the matters aforesaid or any of them ;
and also to take into consideration and to determine
whether any, and, if any, what measures shall be taken
as to soliciting, prosecuting, supporting, or opposing
any Bills or Bill, or other proceedings or proceeding
before Parliament, on the behalf or in the name of the
said company, and as to taking, prosecuting, discon-
tinuing, withdrawing, or abandoning any notices or
other proceedings which have been or may be given
or taken with reference to any such Bills or Bill or
other proceedings in Parliament, and giving all such
directions as to such meeting may seem proper in
reference to any such matters.
Among the directors and shareholders present we
noticed Lord Hatherton, R. Spooner, Esq., M.P., and
several other gentlemen.
At half-past two o'clock P. H. Muntz, Esq., the
chairman of the company, took the chair,i.and the re-
quisition calling the meeting having been read,
The CHAIRMAN said that in compliance with the
requisition the directors had convened an extraordi-
nary meeting, and he was prepared to hear any
gentleman who wished to address them.
Mr. PEYTON, in the absence of Mr. Mozley, had
four or five resolutions to offer, but as it was intended
that a great portion of the business for which the
meeting was convened was to be deferred, he should
not trouble them with any lengthened observations,he,
therefore, begged leave at once to propose the follow-
ing resolution :—" That application to Parliament be
made by this company, in pursuance of the notice
inserted in the London Gazette of the 24th day of
November last, signed by Mr. A Dobie and Messrs.
Colemore and Beale, for a Bill to enable this com-
pany to make a deviation in the line of railway be-
tween Leamington, and Warwick, and to purchase
the Stratford-on-Avon Canal."
Mr. HUTCHINSON seconded the motion.
The CHAIRMAN observed that the Bill under which
the company was constituted required them to make
an application to Parliament, and that application
would be attended with expense, which could not be
incurred without the consent of the Great Western
Railway Company, in compliance with the agreement
of the 12th November. That agreement expressly
provided against such expenditure, and therefore he
must refuse to put the resolution, although very much
against his own will to pursue such a course.
Mr. PEYTON requested that the resolution might be
handed back to him, but the Chairman refused to
return it, observing that he would give Mr. Peyton
an exact copy.
Mr. Peyton, Mr. Colemore, and 'others, said the
Chairman ought to return the resolution.
After a few remarks from Mr. SPOONER, M.P., and
Mr. BEALE,
Mr. PEYTON put the resolution to the meeting, and
declared it carried. He then proposed the following
resolution :—" That the seal now produced be affixed
by Mr. Peyton, one of the directors of the company,
as the common seal of the company, to the petition to
Parliament, now also produced, for leave to introduce
a Bill for the before-mentioned purpo3es, and to the
declaration now produced, as to the means of defray-
ing the expense of the works to be authorised by such
Bill."
Mr. COLBMORE seconded the resolution.
The CHAIRMAN Lclined putting it to the meeting.
Mr. PEYTON then produced a seal, which he affixed
to the petition, and also declared the second resolution
carried. He then handed the chairman the next
resolution, which was to the effect that all the ex-
penses to be incurred in soliciting the said Bill, or
which have already been incurred, be paid and de-
frayed by the company.
This resolution the Chairman also refused to put
to the meeting, when it was proposed by Mr. Peyton,
seconded, and carried.
Mr. PEYTON then proposed a resolution of ad-
journment to the 14th of January next, upon which
Mr. BURLEY, of Liverpool, rose, and in strong
terms reflected upon the course which had been
pursued by the directors in making calls during the
monetary crisis, and the manner in which the writs
had been served by the solicitor upon 50Q share-
holders.
The CHAIRMAN and Mr. WHATLEY defended the
course which had been pursued, after which
The CHAIRMAN put the resolution of adjournment,
and the proceedings terminated.

BARBADOES RAILWAY.
The first general meeting of the shareholders in the
Barbadoes Railway Company was held yesterday after-
noon, at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street ;
Mr. James Heywood (in the absence, through ill-
ness, of Sir Robert Schoinburgh, president of the com-
pany), in the chair.
The report stated that the company was established
in June, 1845, when 8,682 shares were allotted in
this country, and about 1,514 in Barbadoes. Upon
7,902 of the 8,682, a deposit of 11. per share was paid,
and a similar deposit was paid upon 1,012 of the 1,514
shares distributed in Barbadoes. The total receipts
amounted to 9,0391. 12s. 9d., and the expenditure to
8,2161. 9s. 6d., of which was 1,585/. for engineering,
3731. for law expenses at home, and 3391. for law
expenses in Barbadoes. The directors had every
confidence in the value of the undertaking, which
could be carried out for 200,000/., being 100,0001.
less than the original estimate, but in the present
state of the money market the directors thought
it advisable to suspend their operations for a
few months, which they were entitled to do under
the provisions of their Act. It was, however, for the
shareholders to decide what course should be adopted,
and in order that the feeling of the general body
might be ascertained, it was proposed to call in the
scrip for registration immediately.
Eventually a committee of inquiry was appointed,
and the meeting adjourned until the 15th of February.

WYNDHAM.—We are glad to observe tha,
the charming novel of " Emilia Wyndham," the produc-
tion of decidedly one of the first novelists of the day, is
to form the next volume of " Colburn's Standard No-
vels," to be published with tho Magazines on the Ist of
January.
BELL'S LIFE IN LONDON, PRICE GD.—Derby,
Oaks, and Leger. On Sunday next, January 2, perfect
Lists of the Nominations, Names of Trainers, Changes
of Proprietors, Deaths &c. Steeple-chasing, Coursing.
Chronological Table of the Ring during the past year.
Persons desirous of preserving files of this Journal are
recommended to be particular in giving early orders to
their agents at the commencement of the new year.
Office of " Bell's Life," 170, Strand. The average sale
of " Bell's Life in London" during the year 1847 has
exceeded 27,000 each publication.
How TO BECOME A JUDGE OF PICTURES.—a Sposin'
its pictures that's on the carpet, wait till you hear the
name of the painter. If its Rubens, or any o' them old
boys, praise, for its agin the law to doubt them; but if
its a new man, and the company ain't most especial
judges, criticise. A leetle out o' keeping, says you, be
don't use his grays enough nor glaze down well; that
shadder wants depth; general effsot is good, though
parts ain't; those eyebrows are heavy enough for stucco,
says you, and other unmeaning terms like those. It
will pass, I tell you, your opinion will be thought great.
Them that judged the cartoons fat Westminster .11all
knew plaguy little more nor that. But if this is a por-
trait of the lady of the house hangin' up, or its at all like
enough to make it out, stop—gaze on it—walk back—
close your fingers like a spy glass, and look through
'em amazed like—enchanted--chained to the spot. Then
utter, unconscious like, That's a most beautiful pictur,
by heavens! that's a speakin' portrait. It's well painted
too; but whoever the artist is he is an unprincipled man.'
Good gracious!' she'll say, how so?' Cause, madam,
he has not done you justice.' "—Sam Slick.
SHEFFIELD NEW BARRACKS.—We understand that
the tender of Messrs. Harrison and Hoyle, of Chester,
for the building of the new barracks in this town, has
been accepted by the Board of Ordnance. It is rumoured
that the amount of their tender was about 19,0001. We
believe there were eleven tenders sent in, the lowest of
which was about 17,0001, whilst the highest was about
24,0001.—only a difference of 7,oool.—Sheflichl Timm
HENRY FIELDING.—A correspondent of Douglas
Jerrold's Newspaper says:—" It may not be generally
known to the public that, in an humble lodging in the
western suburbs of London, obscure and unknown, re-
sides the grandson and legitimate offspring of the author
of " Tom Jones." His present descendant is about fifty
years of age, and, albeit with the prestige of so great a
name, and not without talent, is, I believe, wholly un-
known to the literary world. He is, happily, provided
with a small independence."