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

JU LY 24, 1846.

NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN
CONNECTING RAILWAY.
A special meeting of the shareholders in this line took
place yesterday at the London Tavern, under the provisions
of Lord Dalhousie's Dissolution Act, in order to determine
upon the propriety of winding up the affairs of the Company.
There was rather a numerous attendance of the proprietary
present.
The chair was taken, at half-past one o'clock, by Mr. E.
Scard.

The SECRETARY read the advertisement convening the
meeting.
The Cs AISMAN said he had received a letter from Mr.
De Burgh regretting that he was unable to attend the meet-
ing of the Company. in consequence of a domestic affliction.
It did not behove hint to state very much to the meeting;
he would merely observe that they were all aware of the
rejection of the Bill in the House of Commons, and
likewise of the action in the Court of Chancery
commenced against the directors. He was happy to say that
the plaintiffs, Messrs. Castendeeck, Perring, and Swinton,
had consented that the money be withdrawn from the Ac-
countant-General's hands, and placed in the hands of two of
the directors, Mr. Edward Scard and Mr. Johnston, and two
of the plaintiffs, Mr. Castendeeck and Mr. Swinton. He would
conclude by observing that they would do their utmost to
discharge their liabilities in a manner satisfactory to the pro-
prietary at large.
Mr. FRANCIS begged to move that the Company be dis-
solved.

Mr. COLBET seconded the resolution.
Mr. CLARKE desired to have a statement of the accounts
before he would proceed to act as a scrutineer.
Some very disorderly and irregular conversation here en-
sued, and Mr. Daniel, one of the scrutineers, refused to act
with Mr. Clarke. After some further noisy discussion, the
resolution was carried for a dissolution of the Company, the
number votine, being 456 Cares, assenting to a dissolution
without bankruptcy, and 510 remain neutral.
The meeting then separated.

DIRECT WESTERN RAILWAY
COMPANY.

The adjourned meeting of the shareholders, for the purpose
of determining, on the dissolution of the Company, was held
yesterday at the King's Head Tavern, Poultry, at two o'clock.
Mr. Alderman CHALIS having taken the chair, apologised for
not being present at the appointed hour, having been detained
by magi:terial duties, and then read the clause of the Act under
which the adjourned meeting was held.
The SECRETARY read the advertisement convening the
meeting.
The CHAIRMAN then said, the gentlemen present would
recollect from what occurred at the last meeting that the whole
question was simply whether they should go on, or whether
they gould dissolve the Company ? and, if so, whether they
would declare a bankruptcy, or consult, perhaps, their inte-
rests, more efficiently, by leaving it in the hands of the com-
mittee. He had told them at the last meeting that the effect of
going into a Court of Bankruptcy would be that the concern
would be referred over to a Master in Chancery, and
it might not be settled in the course of two or
three years. He said, however, if the Company could be
referred to any official tribunal in the country, with a pros-
pect of ready settlement, the Committee would be very glad
to get rid of it. He made these remarks because he took
the chair that day, as he hadidone before, only with a view
to yield to every proprietor every reasonable satisfaction on
any matter connected with the present failure—for failure it
had been; and just because it was so, the suspicions of
proprietors would be most naturally excited against
the Provisional Committeemen. For his part, he
had actually sought for objections among his friends, and
the amount of these, he would be candid enough to tell
them, was that the committee had spent a large amount
of money on engineering, when they knew that the pub-
lic would not take up their shares. But this objection
arose out of ignorance of what actually occurred. It
was only in the month of October that the shares were
issued, and they were all issued at the same time.
Now if it was considered that by the month of Feb-
ruary following the committee had to place the Company
in a fit position to make their deposits, so that between
October and February they had to originate a working com-
mittee, get up surveys, and prepare sections for 150 miles of
railway, within the space of six or seven weeks—if this was
taken into account, it must appear that the Provisional Com-
mittee had only done what they would have been most
culpable, indeed criminal, if they had neglected. Another
charge 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 Committee
had to go forward to those persons with an account of ex-
penses and a calculation of the proportion for 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. Ile 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 pay over to the shareholders immediately the
balance in hand, about 268. 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. lie 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.
➢ir. DEANE seconded the motion, which was carried unani-
mously.
Mr. Alderman CHALLIS expressed his gratitude for the
kindness with which they had listened to him on this un-
fortunate affair.
The meeting then adjourned.

OPENING OF THE RICHMOND

RAILWAY.

Wednesday being the day appointed for the formal open-
ing of this line of railway, at two o'clock:a special train of 16
carriages was in readiness to convey those who had been in-
vited to the picturesque village which is the terminus of the
line, there to partake the pleasures of a grand fete pre-
pared for them by the directors in commemoration of this
auspicious occasion. At a few minutes after the hour
named the train started, and moved slowly along the main
line of the South-Western for two miles; it then turned off
to the right, and proceeded at a more rapid rate along the
newly-constructed portion to Richmond. The pace though
not great, yet was sufficiently fast, and, from the very slight
motion experienced, there is no doubt when it has been
longer used all unpleasant motion will entirely cease. The
distance from the junction with the South-Western to its
terminus at Richmond is six miles, and a dead level the
entire distance. The works are comparatively trifling, as
regards engineering difficulties, and, with the exception of a
somewhat long viaduct at Wandsworth, the line presents no
peculiar feature. The country it traverses, as must be well
known, is about the most beautiful in the vicinity of London.
Exclusive of the Nine-elms' station, there are to be five
others, viz., one at Wandsworth, one at Putney, one at
Barnes, one at Mortlake, and one forming the terminus at
Richmond. These stations are not yet quite finished, but
will be ready for the reception of passengers on the 27th
instant, the time named for opening the line to the public.
In its course the railway crosses four roads on the level, but
these are so guarded as to prevent the possibility of an
accident.
On arriving at Richmond the station presented a gay ap-
pearance decked out in flags with "'Welcome," in large
characters, over its approaches ; while the ringing of bells
and the strains of music ushered in the first train. A second '
train followed at four o'clock, and excursion trains were run-
ring throughout the day for the benefit of the inhabitants of
Richmond. By five o'clock a large party of ladies and gen-
tlemen bad assembled at the Castle, where a very grand en-
tertainment, in the shape of a cold collation, accompanied by
all the delicacies of the season, was prepared to do honour to
the occasion. At six o'clock about 400 sat down to this im-
posing banquet, and did ample justice to the good things pro-
vided for them by Mr. Ellis.
Among those present were—Dr. Bowring, M.P., Sir J. W.
Reeve, Alderman Humphery, Alderman Sir W. Magnay,
Alderman Challis, Mr. A. Spottiswoode, Mr. W. Hawes,
Alderman Farebrother, Alderman H. Hughes, Sir J. Mac-
adam, Mr. F. Kemble, Mr. B. Cohen, Mr. W. T. Leader, the
Hon. 11. Browne, the Hon. and Rev. R. Eden, Alderman
Farncomb, Mr. Sheriff Laurie, Mr. W. H. Bodkin, the Lord
Mayor, Admiral Ross, Sir C. Wade, Mr. Sheriff Chaplin, Mr.
W. Chadwick, Sir P. Laurie, Sir J. Duke, Sir Chapman
Marshall, Mr. Ralph Etwall, M.P., &c.
After the banquet the usual toasts on such occasions were
pledged in bumpers, and among them "Success to the Rich-
mond Railway," which was drunk with the greatest en-
thusiasm. A splendid ball, to which the beauty and fashion
of the neighbourhood were invited, concluded the day's
amusement, and dancing was continued to a late hour. The
proprietors of this company may congratulate themselves on
a most successful commencement.

THE ENGLISH CHOLERA.—Within the last few days
there has been an enormous increase at the various metro-
politan hospitals and dispensaries of English cholera ina
very acute form. It is attributable more to atmospheric
influences than tke ase of fruit, to which it is generally
aaoribet

PRICE SD.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.

BRISTOL, JULY 22.
STOCK EXCIIANGE.—The sales are—Bristol and South Wales Junc-
tion, 4—Caledonian, .%—Midland, New, 3878—Newcastle and Ber-
wick, 26i—Norfolk Extension, 2 3-16.

MANCHESTER, JULY 22.
Sroca ExCnaNax.-The sales are-Ambergate, Nottingham,
Boston, &c., 1 3i dis.-Bideford and Tavistock, 21e. dis.- Birken-
head and Holyhead Junction, 1% c. dis.-Birmingham and Oxford
Junction, 234 p.-Blackburn, Chorley, and Liverpool, 1% dis.-
Blackburn and Preston, 531 p.-Cambridge and Oxford, 1 Ws.-
Derby and Crewe, 3 15-16 c. p.-Direct Northern, 1% dis.-East-
ern Counties, 204-Ditto, York Extension, I% p.-East Lanca-
shire, 6 p.-East Lincolnshire, 188. 6d. dis.-Exeter and Exmouth,
% dis.-Fleetwood, Preston, and West Riding, 16s. dis.-Glasgow and
Dumfries, 15-16 dis.- Grand Union, 15s. 9d. dis.-Huddersfield and
Manchester Railway and Canal, 1 dis.-Lancashire and North York-
shire, 1 5-16 dis.- Leicester and Bedford, 5-16 dis.-Liverpool, Orms-
kirk, and Preston, 1% p.-Liverpool, Preston, Manchester, and
Southport, 13-16 dis.-Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midland,
p.-Manchester and Birmingham, Quarters (B), 10% p.-Ditto
(C), 9% p.-Manchester and Leeds, Extension, 2 5-16 p.-North
British, Carlisle Branch, I p.-North Eastern, 2►4 dis.-North Staf-
fordshire, 3 3-16 p.-North 'Western, 5-16 dis.-Oldham Districts, 21s.
dis.-Preston and Wyre, Halves (B), % p.- Preston and Wyre
Extension, % dis.-Sheffield, Leek, and Crewe, % dis.-Sheffield
and Lincolnshire Junction, 7-16 dis.-Shropshire Unionßailway and
Canal, 111-16 dis.-South-Eastern and Dover, Halves, No. 4, % p.-
South Midland, 14 dis. -Whitehaven and Furness, 3% die.
LEEDS, JULY 22.
STOCK EXCIIANGE.-The sales are-Eastern Counties, 2434-Ditto,
York Extension, 335. p.-East Lancashire, 5% p.-Huddersfield and
Manchester, 245. dis.-Huddersfield and Sheffield, 744 p.-Leeds and
Bradford, 4131 p.-Leeds and Thirsk, dis.-London and Brighton,
65%-Manchester and Leeds, Fifth Shares, 84 p.-Ditto, Exten-
sions, 21. Bs. p.-Newcastle and Berwick, North Shields, 10% p.-
Newcastle and Darlington Junction Extensions, 111. is. 6d. p.-
North British, 9% p.-Ditto, Carlisle Branch, 265. 6d. p.-York and
North Midland, East and West Riding, 13 p.-Clitheroe Junction,
17s. 6d. dls. -Direct Northern, 345. dis.-Great Eastern and West-
ern, 30s. dis.-Lancashire and North Yorkshire, 255. dis.-Lanca-
shire, Yorkshire, and North Eastern, 455. dis.-Lincoln, York, and
Leeds, 225. dis.-Liverpool, Ormskirk, and Preston, 325. p.-London
and York, 355. dis.-Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midland, ss.
p.-Northumberland and Lancashire Junction, 14s. dis.-North Staf-
fordshire, 31. 4s. 7.-North Western, 41. dis.- South Midland, Is.
dis.-Welsh Midlands, 28s. dis.-West Riding Union, 41. 71.-York-
shire and Glasgow Union, 38s. dia.
HULL, JULY 22.

STOCK Excnsalcx.—The sales are—Eastern Counties, Tork Ex-
tension, 425. 6d.—North British, 32%—Ditto, Half Shares, 13%
Ditto, Carlisle, 535. 9d.—Blackburn, Darwen, and Bolton, 6—Amber-
gate, Nottingham, and Boston' 16s.—Leicester and Bedford, 12s. 3d.
—Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle Junction, %-3falton and
Drifileld Junction, 455. 9d.—Manchester, Buxton, and Matlock, 475.
—North Staffordshire, 5/. 7s.—South Midland, 2s. dis.—Shetheld,
Potteries, and Crewe, I 6s. —Trent Valley Continuation, 395.--West
Riding Union, 41. I is.
SIIEFFIELD, JULY 22.
STOCK EICAANGE.—The sales are Grimsby and Sheffield, 4/. dis.
—Ditto, Extension, 275. dis. scrip.—Ditto, Quarter Shares, 15s. 6d.
dis.—Huddersfield and Manchester Extension, I Is. dis.—Rudders-
field and Sheffield, 74 p.—Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland, 18s. id.
dis.—Manchester, Midland, and Great Grimsby, 21s. dis.—North
Western, 75.6 d. dis.—Sheftleld and Lincolnshire, 105. 6d. dis.—Shef-
field, Buxton, Leek, Potteries, and Crewe, lls. dis.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, JULY 21.
1 _

STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Caledonian Extension, 17s. dis.
—lpswich and Bury Extension, 15s. dis.—Liverpool, Manchester,
and Newcastle Junction, 1% dis.—North British, Halves, Carlisle,
23s.—North Staffordshire, 31i p.—Newcastle and Darlington, New
(Branding), 22 p.—South-Eastern and Dover, (iss. at 151.) No. 4, %
p.—South Midland, par—Yorkshire and Glasgow Union, 2N dis.
YORK, JULY 22.

STOCK ExcaANuE.—The sales are.—Eastern Counties, York Ex-
tension, 21. Is. —East Lancashire, No. 1 and 2, 20—Ipswich and Bury
(Norwich), 1 —London and York, 19s.—Malton and Driftleld Junc-
tion, 21. 7s.—Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midland, 21. 9s. 6d.
—Newcastle and Berwick, 26k—Newcastle and Darlington, New,
121i—North British, Carlisle Extension, 21. 14s.—North Stafford-
shire, 51. 9s.—North Western, 17s.—York and North Midland, East
and West Riding Extension, 141. Ss.