The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-09 00:00:00

Ctirti '°o2 itio n
bUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock.

IMPORTANT NEWS

FROM PARIS•

FOLKESTONE, MARCH 9.—A telegraphic dispatch
from Folkestone, states that the French Government
:iad stopped the payment of the Treasury Bonds
which they have hitherto been in the habit of dis-
counting. Several most serious failures and other
mercantile embarrassments are hourly expected.

TATTERSALL'S-THIS EVENING

Six o'CLocic.

LEAMINGTON STEEPLECHASE.
8 to 1 on the field
15 to 1 agst Alexander
METROPOLITAN HANDICAP.
8 to 1 on the field
10 to 1 agst Jericho
12:to 1 agst Rat-trap
NORTHAMPTON HANDICAP.
12 to 1 agst Thistledown
15 to 1 agst Joe Lovell
2,000 GUINEAS STAKES.
7 to 2 on the field
CHESTER CUP.
25 to 1 agst Jonathan Wild
40 to 1 agst Lady Hylda
40 to 1 agst Glen Saddel
50 to 1 agst Ballinafad
DERBY.
13 to 1 agst Glendower
13 to 1 agst Springy Jack
Betting very fiat.

WEST LONDON RAILWAY.
(THIS' DAY.)
The half-yearly meeting of this company was held
to-day, at one o'clock, at the London Tavern; Mr. H.
H. Grounds in the chair.
The report expressed the regret of the directors that
the company still continues in the same unproductive
state as at the last meeting, no steps having been
taken by the lessees to bring it more fully
into operation, which they attributed to the recent
commercial depression, but on its complete removal they
entertained a confident anticipation, and that the
works would be actively commenced. They regretted
that the North Western and Great Western Companies had
given notice of their intention to apply to the Commis-
sioners of Relways for an extension of time
for two years. One reason put forward by the lessees
for not at once proceeding with the works was, that they
could not do so with advantage to themselves, until it
had been extended to the Thames. It had been found
necessary to expend a mall sum in making some per-
manent repairs to the Kensington canal, in the traffic of
which there bad been a trifling increase. '1 he following
directors went out of office .—Mr. Stephen Birch, and Mr.
William Cubitt, M.P.
The balance sheet, made up to the end of the year,
presented the following results:—Receipts (including
274,5711. 16s. 9id., as per statement laid before the last
meeting), 2,2961. 4s. to-}d.; disbursements (including
274,4621. 14s. 9id. carried over from the last statement),
1,8571. 1 ls. 11d., leaving a balance of 5471. 14s. nil
The CHAIRMAN briefly addressed the meeting. He
attributed the non-completion of the line entirely to the
commercial pressure adverted to in the report, but anti-
cipated that the time was not far distant when the works
would be resumed. Ho appeared before them on
this occasion with more regret than on any
previous occasion, but they could not fail to bear
in mind that the pressure had not only affected
them, but the great railway companies. The directors
held a large stake in the concern, and it was unlikely,
having so great a stake, that they would leave anything
undone to press on the completion of the works at the
earliest possible moment. He then moved the adoption
of the report.
Mr. WHITE complained of the supineness of the direc-
tors, and urged upon them to submit to no further delay.
The report was most unsatisfactory, and with a view to
see what could be done, he begged to propose the ad-
journment of the meeting for a week.
Mr. HENLEY seconded the motion, and said, if a pri-
vate person bought land, and agreed to pay a certain
sum for it, by a given time, and at length declared that
the state of the money market would prevent him from
doing so, such a proceeding would not be tolerated.—
(Hear hear.) They had had meetings after meetings,
years had passed by, and, notwithstanding, they under-
stood, at the last meeting, that no time would be lost in
completing the works, yet they were just as far from
that consummation as they were two years ago.
Mr. RIGBY characterised the conduct of the two
companies as gross in the extreme. They had committed
a wanton breach of contract, and had deceived and
humbugged the shareholders.—(Hear, hear.) They
had been kept out of the capital—principal and interest—
for ten years. Why he never heard of such monstrous
conduct. He suggested that the directors should me-
moralise the Commit Avonei a not to accede to the applica-
tion of the North-Western and Great Western. Their
conduct towards this company seemed to imply that they
had entered into an arrangement which they could not
carry out and that they had done so merely for the pur-
pose of deluding them. These companies had recentlyvoted
themselves dividends of 8 and 10 per cent. He was
justified in calling them " brutes "—(Laughter)—for he
culled that man a " brute " who did not feel for the
sufferings of another. Widows and orphans, who had
had property left them in the company, looked eagerly
from time to time for their dividend, but they looked in
for meeting after -meeting took place without re-
ceiving a farthing —(Hear, hear.)—All conciliatory in-
tercourse with these companies he considered at an
end (they had not even replied to some of
the complaisant letters of the Secretary), and
the directors should now be authorised to
take legal measures to recover compensation for the
injury they had sustained.—(Hear, hear.) The share
holders should bear in mind that they had surrendered
up their property to them, and that their business had
long been in abeyance in consequence.—(Hcar.)
Mr. GUNTER said the two great companies had
always deceived them, and treated them with evasion ;
and they ought now to be compelled to fulfil their con-
tract and to give them compensation for the injury they
had sustained in consequence of the delay that had taken
plane. If necessary, he hoped the shareholders would
enter into a subscription according to their stake in the
undertaking, to bring the matter before a legal tribunal. 1
The voluminous correspondence between this company
and the North-Western and Great Western was then
read by the Secretary (Mr. Thompson), at the request of
some of the shareholders. It was commenced in 1846,
and certainly contained many assurances that no time
would be lost in completing the work.
Mr. THOMPSON said that Mr. Parker, the solicitor to
the North-Western Company, had stated to him that he
did not think the company he represented would consent
to do anything of the kind.
Mr. CUBITT, M.P , said it would be useless to oppose
the Extension Bill sought by the two great companies,
because that would be a suicidal course, inasmuch as
they could not touch the new line before December; and
it was impossible they could complete it within the time
prescribed.—(Hear.) The panic had come upon these
companies, and other bodies] and persons unexpectedly,
end had prevented them from doing what they had
honourably bound themselves to do. No one could have
foreseen what had taken place. These companies did
not deserve the aspersions that had been cast upon them.
A SHAREHOLDER said they must not infpr from the
fact that these companies had sought more time, that
they would require the whole of it. It was unlikely a
great and honourable company like the North-Western
would break faith with them.

The Sol ci.or said they could undoubtedly bring:an ac-
tion at that time zglinst the North-WesternCompany for
compensation, but he advised them not to do so ; first,
because a hostile feeling would be created; and, secondly,
because they could not well estimate the amount of
damage they had sustained.
After much discussion the report was adopted, the
retirinedirectors elected, and the best mode of protecting
the interests of the I,hareholders left in the hands of the
directors.

ELECTION COMMITTEES.
(THIS DAY.)
LINCOLN.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition.)
Robert Fotherty, who represented himself to be so un-
well as to render it difficult for him to speak, but Mr.
Wordsworth, by a little cross questioning, got out the
fact that he had been drinking wine and water the whole
of the morning, while the tone of voice in which he gave
his evidence showed that he was not so bad as he would
have it supposed. Re voted for Seeley and Sibthorp at
the last election, and for eight or nine months preceding
he was furnished once a week with bread at the expense
of Mr. Seeley. His four sons voted the same way, but
after the election the bread was stopped,
John Johnson, the proprietor of the Plough, at Lin-
coln, proved, that, some time
before the election a Fre-
und- easy was establisned at his house, which was always
attended by an immense numper of voters. On the night
before the election there whs a larger attendance than
ever—every room in the , house was full, and,
during the night, Mr. Seely was there, in
company with Alderman Graham and others. His
bill for
.the drink amounted to 201., but he had never
received any of it. His wife, however, had; although
Mr. Seely and his friends repudiated the orders that
were given.
Soma other witnesses gave similar testimony; after
which

Mr. WOLDSWORTII summed up on the part of the pe-
titioner.

The Committee then adjourned till to morrow, at
eleven o'clyclr.

BE WDLEY.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition.)
Robert Carke, messenger to the committee of Mr.
Ireland that sat at Stourport, proved that nine voters
were " bottled up" at the Swan Inn on the night of the
nomination day. They were plentifully provided with
drink and eatables, and at night they were accommo-
dated with a comfortable bed, all free of
.expense. The
following morning they were carried to Bewdley in a
body, and polled for Mr. Ireland.
Two other witnesses gave similar testimony, and evi-
dence for. the petitioners closed.
Mr. Sergeant lintoLaxia then summed up at great
length for the petitioners, after which
The Committee adjourned till 11 o'clock to-morrow.

HARWICH.
Three witnesses haying been called to prove a con-