The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY
_EVENING, JULT 24, 1846.

chsrge'against the Committee was that they had not used any
diligence in getting in those deposits which had not been paid.
But he asked what right, till the present hour, the Cuimuitee
had to go forward to those persons with an account of ex-
penses, and a calculation of the proportion fur which they
were liable, and demand payment? Now, however, it was
different, and the Committee pledged themselves to use every
means to make these persons pay up, which they could
do, he was sure, more efficiently new, even in law,
than they could before. He was of opinion that the
Company was in this respect in a more favourable
position than any other company which had hitherto
dissolved and its claims stronger ; for no promise
had been made at starting which had not been fulfilled,
nothing had been held out which was not afterwards made
good. Indeed, next week they were as ready as at first to
hold a meeting, and to tell the merits of the proposed line;
they wanted nothing but money to enable them to go
on. The only other objection which he would mention
arose from a mistake made in the report of the last meet-
ing by, he believed, the Railway Times, in stating the
number of shares written for to be but 400,000, instead of
1,400,000, which was the true number. The mistake, how-
ever, had been the occasion of his receiving several letters
from the country, altogether arising from a casual error of
the press. The proposal of the Committee, he said, was, that
they should nay over to the shareholders immediately the
balance in hind, about 265. a share, the Provisional Com-
mitteemen standing aside till they got in money from the
Provisional Committeemen who had not paid up, and the
allottees.

The Solicitor of the Company stated, in reply to a question
from one of the proprietors, that the number of committee-
men who had not paid upon their shares was thirty-three.
A PROPRIETOR asked to have a list of those thirty-three
persons, who he said had acted so unlike gentlemen, and re-
pudiated their just and legal debts.
The CHAIRMAN said, he and the committee thoroughly sym-
pathised with the indignation that had been expressed against
those who had connected themselves with an undertaking
while its prospects were fair, but had abandoned it so soon as
these had changed. He stated that they would use their en-
deavours in every way to recover the debts, as indeed they
had done already, having issued writs against several, and
holding over them the shame of exposure of their conduct.
A PROPRIETOR moved that a list of the names of those on
the provisional committee who had not. paid should be fur-
nished and published.
The CHAIRMAN said that it was not regular, according to
the Act of Parliament under which they were met, to intro-
duce other business at present. But what would answer the
same purpose, the Committee pledged themselves to intimate
to the persons in question that, unless they paid up, their
names should be printed and sent round to all the share-
holders.—(Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN, in reference to a remark which fell from a
person in the meeting, said the Committee still had the power
by law, and more power than before, to make these parties
pay up,

The scrutineers having completed their task,
The CHAIRMAN intimated that the votes for dissolution
were 3,785, neuters 10, against dissolution none, for bank-
ruptcy none, and in the room but did not register 100. The
number of those who voted at the previous meeting for dis-
solution, and whose votes must be reckoned in addition to
the numbers of that day was 2,985, being some hundreds more
than the Act requited of them.
The CHAIRMAN, after declaring the vote, expressed his
high gratification at the result.
Mr. BLEADEN moved a vote of thanks to Alderman Challis
for his conduct in the chair, and for the upright way in
which he had conducted himself throughout the whole pro-
ceedings.

Mr.I)EANE seconded the motion, which was carriel unani-
mously.
Mr. Alderman Crraws expressed his gratitude for the
kindness with which they had listened to him on this un-
fortunate affair.
The meeting then adjourned.

IMI'ERJAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS, July 23.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the Wool-
' sack at Five (Meek precisely.
MESSAGE FROM TIIE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Messengers from the House of Commons brought
down certain Bills.
MR. HUDSON AND THE BREAK OF GAUGE.
Lord HATHERTON said that their Lordships would
recollect that a discussion had taken place in their
Lordships' House on the subject of the gauge resolu-
ti,ns, and he wished to make an explanation upon the
subject. On that occasion he made some comments on
the break of gauge which happened at Gloucester.
He had been since informed that Mr. Hudson
had nothing whatever to do with that event,
and that he had nothing whatever to do with
the Birmingham to Bristol line, and had never
been to Gloucester but once. He had, therefore,
very great pleasure in making this retractation of
his observations with regard to Mr. Hudson, fur
whose pui.lic conduct he had a very great respect.
Mr. Hudson had even been characterised in his
public conduct by the utmost liberality and good
faith, but he did not mean to retract his obser-
vations to the effect that the inconvenience of the
break of gauge were very ereatly exaggerated.
THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY.
The Duke of WELLINGTON presented a petition
from Mr. Hartnell, complaining of the conduct of the
Great Western Railway Company, who had, in construct-
ing the Yeovil line, entered upon his property,
and refused to give him any satisfaction whatever.
He had received two notices to quit, but no notice what-
ever of the affixing a price upon his property, so that he
had been deprived not only of the . enjoyment of his
property, but of the money which ought to have been
paid for it. lit (the Duke of Wellington; thought that,
considering the great power which had been conferred
on these great companies, they ought at least to have
conducted themselves without such trespass as this. He
would not conclude without naming the company who
had committed what he could not but call this outrage—
it was the Great Western Company.
The Earl of CLARENI)ON felt anxious to put the
matter in its proper point of view, he having been chair-
man of the Committee when this line had been passed,
and he had cenceived it then to be a case of great
hardship, and he had provided for the evil, but he
was not at all aware of the trespass that had been
committed. He yet believed that if this poor ►wan were
advised aright in his neighbourhood, he would be able
to sustain an action for trespass, and would obtain
damages.
Lord BROUGHAM was very glad that his Noble
Friend had brought forward this case, for it really was
beyond all bearing that those great companies should
have the power to act as they chose. Last session,
in presenting the petition of a certai❑ noble lady, lie had
been very properly instructed to bring the case of this
poor man under their Lordships' notice, and it was one
of very great hardship. The fact was, my Lords, that
the railway speculators might come on the laud at any
time they chose, and the owner was prevented from
letting his land or improving it, or even using it in his
business as a nursery gardener. As for a tresspass, the
great probability is, that if this poor man were to bring
an action, all the jurors being railway prop. ietors, lie
would certainly not obtain even the costs out of pocket,
much less get any damages for the injury he had
suffered.
Lord VIVIAN had always felt that this long time
for the railway companies to come on the land was a
great evil, and in the London and York Committee,
after much discussion, ho had succeeded in obtaining a
reduction of the time specified in the Bill from seven
years to five years
The Duke of GRAFTON vite agreed in the neces
sity of curtailing the powers of the great companies
The petition was ordered to lie on the table.
SLAVE TRADE DISCUSSION.

Lord BROUGHAM begged to give notice to their
Lordships, that in consequence of observing that the
subject of the sugar duties was to be brought on in
another place to•morrow, he would beg to give notice
that he should postpone his motion respecting the slave
trade till tomorrow week.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE wished to know
whether his Noble Friend really intended to bring on
the matter th.-n ?
Lord BROUGHAM—Of course, it would much de-
pend upon the turn the matter took in another place,
but if he postponed it until the. Bill came up from the
other House, the probability was, that it would be at so
late a period of the session that there would be a very
thin attendance of their Lordships, and whether decided
or not, therefore, he should certainly bring on the sub-
ject to-morrow week.
POLISH CONFISCATIONS.

Lord LANSDO .V NE stated, in referents to a ques-
tion put by his Noble and Learned Friend (Lord
Brougham), in reference to the unfortunate circum-
stances which had occurred in Poland, that he
had informed himself on the subject of the
Learned Lord's question, and found that no in-
formation had been received from the Austrian
Government. But authentic information had been re
ceived by her Majesty's Government from time to time,
and from that information it appeared that the Austrian
Government had every disposition to leniency. lie
(Lord Lansdowne) could only say that if any one had
been involuntarily involved i❑ the unfortunate occur.
rences that had taken place in Poland, he had no doubt
that the Austrian Government would do them reason-
able justice.
Lord BROUGHAM expressed his gratification at the
information he had received, and strongly condemned
the Polish insurrection.
CATHOLIC RELIEF BILL.

Lord LYNDHURST intimated that he had met
with the Right Reverend Prelate who interposed
at a previous stage of this Bill, and they had agreed en
two amendments, and he now asked the House to go
into committee pro forma, that these amendments might
be incorporated with the others that had been made in
the House. He stated that he understood her
Majesty's present Ministers had intimated their
intention to adopt the measure as a Go-
vernment measure. If they adopted that mea-
sure in whole, and without change, he would go
on with it, hoping to have the support of the Go.
vernment.
Lord LANSDOWNE said that the Government
would open every facility for the progress of the measure.
The Bishop of LONDON said there were several
difficult points in the Bill, especially the supremacy of
the Crown, and the introduction of bulls into this coun-
try; and he begged, on behalf of his reverend brethren
and himself, that the Bill should be postponed to another
session.
Lord BEAUMONT could not help expressing his
surprise at the course pursued by the Right Rev. Prelate
and his brethren. The question had been before the
House now three years. The Right Rev. Prelate on
every occasion of its being introduced had spoken
on it, and had had opportunities of dividing the
House on it. The two questions, the supremacy of
the Crowa and the introduction of bulls, had been
discussed, and every objection met by the Learned Lord,
yet the Right Rev. Prelate wished to have it postponed
to another session.
The Bishop of LONDON explained, and said his
reason for wishing it postponed was the absence of
his brethren on official duties, the discharge of
which occupied the whole of their time.—(Hear.)
As it appeared to him it would affect the oath which the
clergy took, he did hope that they would postpone the
discussion, as it affected the interest of his right rev.
brethren.
Lord LYNDHURST said he had nothing to complain
of in the manner the discussion was carried on. He
desired that their Lordships would allow him to go
into Committee proforma, in order that he might have
an opportunity of printing those amendtnents which had
been agreed to by him end the Right Reverend Prelate,

and wick which he expressed himself quite satisfied,
he must say that he was quite unprepared now for any

opposition.
The House then went into Committee pro forml.
ST. ASAPH AND BANGOR BILL.

Earl PO WIS moved the third reading of this Bit
which was agreed to and passed.
LIVERPOOL, PRESTON, AND ORMSKIRK
RAILWAY.

Lord STANLEY said he had a petition from the in-
habitants of Ormskirk in favour of the Liverpool, Preston,
and Ormskirk Railway. Their case was one of peculiar
hardship. The Bill had been now before Parliament
for two years. The company had petitoned to brim* in
the Bill early in January ; they did so early in the
month of February. In June, the parties being all
ready to proceed, the House of Commons interfered,

and a delay of four months was thereby occasioned.
They went into Committee early in the month of June,

landearly in the month of July it was reported that
they had complied with all the standing orders. On
the 7th some communication was made which led to a
private inquiry, and the consideration of the report was
postponed until the 9th. On the 10th of the same
month the Bill was engrossed, but in consequence of
the neglect of the officers, the sheets were not stitched
together, and a considerable delay was occasioned.
Now had not any of these accidents happened, not one
of which were occasioned by the neglect of the parties,
the Bill would have already received their Lordships'
sanction. The post?onement of this Bill would involve
the parties in an expense of 60,0001. ; and if the same
accidents were to occur next session, they would be pre.
cisely in the same position next year as they were now.
He would rot ask his Noble Friend for an answer just
now, but he would ask him to inquire, and ascertain
how many Bills there might be which had passed the
third reading in the other House, and were stopped by
siloomueser Ludt isaere
h ow circumstancesmanyof them
tmh regulationsemigbt,without much
inconvenience, be committed,
and got through the
House, so as to have as few remnants left for next ses-

sion as possible.
Lord BROUGHAM conceived that some plan should
be devised, similar to that of the last session, and that
this frightful expense might be saved to the parties. A
suggestion had been made that three Peers should be
selected for Committees, but considering the great
powers which were delegated to those Committees, and
now unwilling the House were to set aside their deci-
sions, he thought there were important reasons why•the
number of five should be continued. Some provision
might be made to the effect which he had suggested.
The Earl of CLARENDON said that he had had
the honour of receiving :several parties connected with
(his Bid, and lisd certainly not given them much hope
that the House would depart from the resolutions which
it had adopted. But this was a case of very great hard-
ship, and if it could be overruled by any means, he
thought that course ought to be adopted. The Bill, in
tact, had been read a second time on Monday.
Lord BROUGHAM and Lord STANLEY explained that
the Bill only stood for a second reading.
Lord REDESDALE thought that their Lordships
ought not to commit the same error which they did last
year—that of preferring one line to another ; for it

should be recollected that they were all competing lines.
He said that the public suffered much from imperfect
systems, passed under particular favour. He said it not
with any disrespect t,f his Noble Friends, who had been
on the Committee ; but he did say that there were not
two less perfect schemes than those two which he had
enjoyed the honour of bringing up.—(Hear, hear.) These
schemes could not have been constructed on the Bills
which had been passed ; the Bills were being amended
and patched up, and indeed new Bills altogether would
have to be drawn up. He hoped the House would keep
strictly to the rules which had been laid down; and,
though it might be a hardship, their keeping strictly to
a day beyond when no Committee should be appointed
would only prevent greater hardship in a future year.
Lord BEAUMONT thought it would have been more
convenient if the Noble Lord had not entered into dis-
cussion on that occasion, as the Government had given
notice of their intention to lay these measures before
the House to• morrow. But he could not allow the
House to go away under the idea that the Government
agreed with all that fell from the Noble Lord. He
thought it would be a monstrous grievance, if in a case
which was purely voluntary, as the rising of the House
was, their Lordships inflicted on parties who came into
that House with private Bills the necessity of renewing
the whole progress.
Lord STANLEY thought that it would be convenient
if a list of private Bills, and the stages at which they had
arrived, were laid before the House.

Earl GREY assented.
GLASGOW TERMINI BILL.
On the motion of Lord HARDWICKE, this Bill was
read a third time and passed.
The MN on the table having been forwarded a stage,
their Lordships adjourned.