The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-10 00:00:00

IINING, JUNE 10,_ 1846.

SHEFFIELD, BUXTON, LEEK,
POTTERIES, AND CREWE RAILWAY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN:
SIR,-Believing that you would not through the medium
of your columns assail the character of individuals without
allowing them the privilege of reply, and feeling that the
remarks of your correspondent in your number of the 3d
instant, relative to the meeting of the above Company, im-
plicate each director, I beg to inclose you my name and
address as a pledge f the truth of the following statement,
and I request you will give the same publicity to it as to the
statement of your correspondent.
The first meeting of the provisional committee was held
on the 18th of last September, when the committee of ma-
nagement was appointed. The same meeting, not the com-
mittee of management, passed the following resolutions:-
Ist. That the Kovisional committee have appropriated
150 shares each, if applied for.
2d. That to the provisional directors shall not be allotted
more than 250 shares, but that they shall be entitled to dis•
pose of the unappropriated shares in such manner as they
(the provisional directors) may think proper.
You will observe these resolutions were passed by the
provisional committee, not by the committee of manage-
ment.
At a meeting of the committee of management, held 2d
October last, it was resolved—" That the capital to defray
the expenses of this undertaking be increased to 1,100,000/, inclusive of a branch from the main line to Congleton,.
deemed necessary in consequence of the formation of other
companies to establish a communication between Hull and
Holyhead, and that such a number of shares be allotted as
shall be deemed expedient."
In pursuance of the above resolution, 44,000 shares were
allotted, which, multiplied by 251., the amount of each share,
gives 1,100,0001., the capital required. No shares were then
allotted to the committee of management, in the belief that
the defaulters on so large a distribution would place a suffi-
cient number at theiridisposal. Of the 44,000 shares allotted
deposit was paid on 42,835, thus leaving only 1,165 shares
for landowners, the companies who sought to amalgamate
with this line, and the managing directors; how then could
the directors appropriate to themselves 250, 150, or even
100 shares?
It is a fact, proved by the advertisements at the time that
negotiations were pending with the Great Grimsby, Sheffield,
the Potteries, and Grand Junction Railway, and also other
companies, and In the instance of the former the basis of the
negotiation was that shares should be allotted to them. I
therefore leave it to the consideration of the shareholders
whether, had it been deemed advantageous to their interests
to have united with other companies, the directors would
have fulfilled their duty in taking to themselves all the few
shares not paid on?
It is true the capital of the Company has since been in-
creased to 1,200,0001., in consequence of a recommendation
from Mr. Vignoles, the engineer. This augmentation of the
capital took place on the 27th day of January last, and was
merely nominal, as no issue of scrip in accordance therewith
was made, or indeed could be, as the Speaker's certificate to
th. hatei brown .11.212111.11
for previously.
The shares were allotted on the 2d October—inclosed is a
list of railway prices for Saturday, October 11, 1845, in
which the Sheffield, Buxton, Leek, Potteries, and Crewe
Railway is quoted 1%, paid 31. 10s. per share, or 21. 2s. 6d.
premium. I trust, sir, you will see, when I assure you the
directors of this line have not sold a single share but have
purchased to a considerable extent, that they were not ac-
tuated by selfish motives in " luxuriously occupying their
seats at the board."
Your correspondent has indulged his sarcastic pen in de-
picting the events of the meeting; I can only assure him
it was evident to every unbiassed mind that the fears of the
traffickers of shares, who had bought at a low price for the
sake of a wind-up, that their object would not be obtained
induced them to give a tone to the meeting, not in accord-
ance with a dispassionate consideration of such a measure.
Notwithstanding the sneer of your correspondent at the
" obscure town of Leek," I assure you that not only the
shareholders resident there almost to a man voted for the
carrying out of the project, but daily express their regret
that it is to be abandoned. I think theiropinion both as to the
merits of the line and the conduct of the directors is entitled
to as much respect as that of your correspondent. Whilst
convinced of the general merits of the line, surely it
cannot be a crime to endeavour to relieve the " obscure
town of Leek," containing a population of 10,000, and ac-
tively engaged in manufactures which are distributed over
all parts of the country, from the disadvantages it labeurs
under, and I cannot deem this line such a " scheme of ab-
surdity" when I consider that by forming a junction with
the North Staffordshire and the Manchester, Matlock, and
Ambergate (almost the only scrip lines now at a premium) it
will shorten the distance, to a very considerable extent in-
deed, between the eastern and western parts of the kingdom
and Ireland.
In conclusion, as I state nothing but what are facts, I
have no objection to your furnishing your correspondent
with my name and address, in case he will favour me through
you with his.—l am, sir, yours respectfully,
A DIRECTOR.

Leek, June 6.

IMPORTANT ALTERATIONS IN
THE MUTINY ACT, AND RETURN TO EN-
LISTMENT FOR LIMITED PERIODS.
It appears from the Mutiny Act for 18.16, that instead
of 100,011 men, the Act directs that the number of the
forces shall consist of 108,608 men. Tho Act to extend
to Jersey, Guernsey, &c.
ENLISTMENT AND SWEARING OF RECRUITS.—And
when any person shall be enlisted as a soldier in her Ma-
jesty's land service, he shall within four days (any inter-
vening Sunday not included), but not sooner than
twenty-four hours after such enlisting, appear, toge-
ther with some person employed in the recruiting ser •
vice of the party with which he shall have en-
listed, before any justice or other magistrate in
the vicinity of the place where such person shall have
enlisted, or before any justice, or other magistrate acting
for the division, district, or place where such recruit
shall have enlisted, and not being an officer in the army,
&c. In Scotland any baillie of a royal burgh residing
within the vicinity of the place, and acting for the divi-
sion or district. And the said justice is hereby
required forthwith to read over, to such recruit the
first and second articles of the second section of the
articles of war against mutiny and desertion, and to ad-
minister to such recruit the oath in the schedule to this
Act annexed for limited or unlimited service, or for ser-
vire in the forces of the East India Company, as may be
applicable to the case of the recruit, and no other oaths,
anything in any acts to the contrary notwithstanding,
and the fee for administering such oaths shall be one
shilling and no more, &c.
Questions in the schedule to be put to the recruit
enlisting for unlimited service.
9. At what place, on what day, and what hour of the
day, and by whom were you enlisted?
11. Have you any objections to make to the manner of
your enlistment ?
12. Do you now belong to the militia ?
NOTE.—The justice is directed, in putting the twelfth
question to the recruit, and before he receives his answer,
distinctly to apprise the recruit that if he belongs to the
militia and denies the fact, he is liable to six months'
imprisonment.
ENLISTING FOR LIMITED SERVICE.-8. Are you will-
ing to be attested to serve in the regiment of
for the period of -- [This blank to be filled up by the
justice with seven, fourteen, or twenty-one years, as
the case may be ; ten, sixteen, or twenty-four for cavalry ;
and twelve, sixteen, or twenty-one, for artillery, if the
person is of the age of eighteen or upwards; but if
under the age of eighteen years, then the deficiency be-
tween his age and eighteen to be added such seven,
ten, twelve, fourteen, sixteen, twenty-one, twenty-
four (as the case may be) years], provided her Majesty
should so long require your service, and also for such
fui ther term, not exceeding twelve months, as shall be
directed by commanding officers on any foreign sta-
tion, and not exceeding three years, as shall be directed
by any proclamation of her Majesty ; such additional
period in the latter case to determine whenever six
months' continuance in peace, to be reckoned from the
ratification of any definite treaty, shall have elapsed
subsequent to the expiration of the said (seven, ten,
twelve, fourteen, sixteen, twenty-one, twenty-four as
the case may be) years.
Provision for the removal of the doubts as to attesta-
tion of soldiers :
And whereas certain soldiers who have heretofore
been duly enlisted, and who have voluntarily taken the
oath of allegiance and fidelity, and are now receiving
her Majesty's pay, have been sworn and attested, bat
doubts having arisen whether the justices were duly
qualified to administer to such soldiers the oath pre-
scribed by the several acts passed for the prevention of
mutiny and desertion, and for the better payment of the
army and their quarters, be it enacted, that in every
case where any such soldiers having been duly enlisted,
shall have been so attested and sworn, and shall not
have claimed to be discharged on or before the 17th
March, 1546, he shall not be entitled to his discharge
by reason of such informality, but he shall be liable to
the provisions of this act, and of the act passed during
last session of Parliament for the punishing mutiny and
desertion, and for the better payment of the army and
their quarters, where in force, and shall be entitled to
the full benefit of his past services, and to all pay and
pension in respect thereof, to all intents and purposes,
and in like manner as if he had been duly attested and
sworn.

THE TIPPERARY CONVICTS.--A correspondent at
Mountrath assures us that nothing can equal the excitement
prevalent throughout the country where the prisoners Rice,
Hayes, and Fogarty have been passing on their way from
Dublin to Nenagh. Crowds everywhere press around the
vehicle on which they are drawn. The unfortunate men
were expected in Nenagh gaol last (Friday) night.---Tippe-
rary Vindicator.
The Plymouth Journal of Thursday says :—" Yes-
terday the intensity of heat was six degrees greater than has
been known for the last twenty years. This was ascertained
by the dockyard gauge."
MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE AT A LUNATIC ASYLUM.
e
—On Saturday night at eight o'clock, a jury was julpan panelled
before Mr. Wm. Baker, deputy coroner, at Dir.lirar blirton a
Lunatic Asylum, Bethnal-green, to investigate the circum-
stances attending the death of Robert East, aged 52, a lunatic,
which took place at the above institution, in consequence of
injuries inflicted on him by another unfortunate lunatic
named George Pearson. The Coroner, at the conclusion of
the evidence, observed, that the humanity of the English
law, when homicide was committed by a lunatic, it was ex-
pressed to be in the Act " excusable homicide." The fore-
man observed that Pearson came under the law by which
lunatics are confined during her Majesty's pleasure. Had the
case keen tried at the Old Bailey, the man would have been
sent to Rethlem Hospital. He wanted to know what course
would be taken, supposing the man should recover? He
and his brother jurors, as there was no blame attached to
any one in the establishment, wished to relieve the super-
intendent from all responsibility. The Coroner said that he
would write to the visiting Commissioners and inform them
of the circumstances, when he had no doubt that they would
take the proper steps to have him removed. The question,
however, was still open to a police magistrate. Verdict,
" That George Pearson, not being of sound mind, did kick
the deceased about the head, but not feloniously nor of malice
aforethought, giving him a mortal wound, of which be
died." The jury unanimously agreed that no blame attached
to any one.

BIRMINGHAM DAY MAILS.—An important improve-
ment with respect to the morning delivery of letters,
and the day
London mail, came into operation in this town on Monday last. Pre-
viously it was impossible to answer the same day a letter received in
Birmingham in the morning, owing to the day mail being dispatched
immediately after the delivery of the London letters had commenced.
The London letters will, however, in future be ready for delivery. at
seven in the morning, and the le, tter-box for the day mail will not
close until half-past eight, thus allowing an hour and a ball fur all-
awerlug correspondence.-_-4irminghiffn Ocare*