The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-17 00:00:00

AYLESBURY.

The Aylesbury Election Committee re-assembled at
the usual hour yesterday morning; Mr. R. Palmer in the
chair.

James Franklin, a cordwainer of Aylesbury, proved
that for several days before the election an extensive
system of treating was carried on by Mr. Deering's
committee.

Henry Impey, • csrrier, of Aylesbury, gave sim-ihr
evidence.

Christopher Williamson, a clerk to Mr. Tindal, the
petitioner, and who acted as one of the poll-clerks at the
Aylesbury election, was called to prove that on the day
of the election he saw Mr. Bull, one of Mr. Deering's
committeemen, and agent to the Duke of Buckingham,
bring up the Aston Clinton voters to poll, and afterwards
taise them to the George Inn. Subsequently the Rev.
Mr. Owen, an active friend of Mr. Deering s, brought
up a number of voters to poll who were iu a state of
beastly intoxication.
A lengthened discussion then arose as to whether the
agency of Mr. Bull and Mr. Owen had been proved, and
the Committee having cleared the room, and consulted
together, in a short while decided that it had.
A witness was called to prove that, before the
election, a meeting of the electors of Aylesbury
was convened, to hear Mr. Owen deliver a
speech on the suE ject of the Maynooth grant.
The witness attended the meeting, and saw a large
number of voters there who were liberally supplied with
drink and refreshments.

The Committee adjourned at four till eleven o'clock
to-morrow morning.

BEWDLEY.

The Bewdley Election Committee re-assembled at the
usual hour yesterday morning ; Mr. Wrightson in the
chair.
Mr. Sergeant WILL:1011AX, having addressed the Com-
mittee on behalf of Sir Thomas Winnington, proposed to
call Mr. Elgie to rebut the case made out against the
Hon. Baronet, but

Mr. ALEXANDER submitted that Mr. Elgie was one of
the recognizances for promoting the petition presented
against the return of Mr. Ireland, and, therefore, his
evidence could not be received.

Mr. Sergeant WRANGUAM replied, after which the
room was cleared, and, the Committee having consulted
for a few minutes, strangers were re-admitted, and the
Chairman announced that the Committee were of opinion
that Mr. Elgie's evidence could be received.
Mr. Frederick Thomas Elgie, a solicitor, of Wor-
cester, was then examined, and certainly his evidence
exited the astonishment of the Committee, as no doubt
it will our readers. Having explained the evidence of
the witness Bennett, he proceeded to state that, in
the year 1841, he was the agent of Sir Thomas
Winnington, and conducted the Bewdley election of
that year. During the election he discovered that
a practice prevailed on the Conservative side
of kidnapping voters who were inclined to support Sir
Thomas ‘Vinnington OR the Whig interest; and in order
to prevent the losses which Sir Thomas sustained in this
way at the election of 1841, he took the precaution of
engagi+ g a number of navigators (between 300 and 400)
who were engaged on the Oxford, Worcester, and Wol-
verhampton Railway, at Worcester, to go over to Bewd-
ley, and Stourport, to protect Sir T. Winnington's voters
from the attacks of the other side. These men were, of
ei urse, engaged in this way several days, and the ex-
penses d by the other side to have been incurred
for treating the voters were, in fact, for maintaining these
men during the time they were acting under his direc-
tions. Several public. houses were open for their accom-
modation both in Bewdley and Stourport, and the bills of
the publicans amounted to 7001. or 8001.
In answer to a question from the Committee,
Mr. Elgie stated that, in consequence of representa-
tions made to him by the Conservatives, that if these
men remained in BeNdley or Stourport during the poll-
ing, it might endanger the peace of those places,
he consented to withdraw them. He did not
believe there was a public-house in Bewdley
or Stourport which was not engaged during the
election on one side or the other. The precautions
he had mentioned were absolutely necessary, for at the
former election an attack was made upon one of Sir
Thomas Winnington's friends, and a number of voters
forcibly carried otf.
Other witnesses were called to confirm Mr. Elgie's
statement, after which the Committee adjourned till
to morrow, at eleven o'clock.

LOUVAIN A LA SAMBRE RAILWAY
A special general meeting of the shareholders of this
undertaking was held yesterday afternoon, at the London
THvurn.
JOHN BARNES, Esq., President, took the chair,
and called upon the Secretary to read the report, which
was a most voluminous document. It stated, amongst
other things, that nothing had come to the knowledge of
the directors which prevented their conscientiously
affirming :hat the Louvain I Is Sambre Railroad would,
if brought into operation as contemplated, be as certain
as nny such undertaking of yielding a good and even a
great return for the capital required for carrying it out.
That the committee of shareholders, which had been
appointed to co-operate with the directors, stated that
the line was one of the best, if not the best in Belgium,
and was capable of yielding great profit to the share-
holders, and recommended that a resident managing
director should be appointed—that the works at Louvain
and its immediate neighbourhood should be stopped, and
those comprised in the section thence to Gastache
(Wavre) diminished in extent and delayed in execution
as far as circumstances would permit—that in any case
the heavy engineering expenses incurred upon those
works should be put an end to by the discontinuance of
the English staff, and the substitution of Belgian em-
ployes; a measure which other considerations seemed to
combine with the above to make most desirable; and they
also recommended that the whole of any means at the
disposal of the directors, be devoted to the completion
and opening for traffic of the sections from Charleroy
to Fleurus, they forming, from local causes, the peculiar
portion of the concession to which a very considerable
and remunerative profit is insured so soon as it is
opened; and the directors had acted upon the report so
far as it laid in their power. The course, or track
of the line for its entire length has been approved, with
the exception of the portion between Wavre and Gem-
bloux, which, on account of the negotiations i•o long
pending with regard to a partial fusion of this company
with that of the Great Luxemburg, and from other
causes, is not yet definitively se! tied. The balance-
sheet showed an amount in the hands of the company
up to the 31st of December, 1847, including " caution "
money, of 46,122/. ss.
The CHAIRMAN moved that the report be received
and adopted, and stated that it was in the contemplation
of the directors to nominate to the direction Mr. Wil-
kinson and Mr. Fisher, who were two of the committee
of shareholders appointed at the last meeting.
Mr. SHEPHERD wished to know whether, in case of a
dissolution, the company could dispose of the sleepers,
tails, &c., upon which nearly 21,0001. had been ex-
pended, end devote the proceeds for the benefit of the
shareholders ?
The CHAIRMAN said, he believed the Government
would not consent to their being sold.
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The motion having been seconded,
Mr.be
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the shares were now selling for 10d. each, and he should
therefore move an amendment, every proprietor being
anxious to get as much as possible out of this unfortunate
undertaking. The amendment was, " That it was advi-
sable to suspend all operations, and that the directors be
requested to realise every available asset, and endeavour
to obtain forthwith from the Government the return of
all or a portion of the ' caution' money, and that the
money so obtained be divided among the shareholders."
The CHAIRMAN said the amendment, if passed, could
not be carried into effect, as a meeting, in order to be
legally constituted, ought to be held at Brussels, but the
directors were extremely anxious to come to any arrange-
ment by which the money invested could be got back
again.
In reply to another question, the CHAIRMAN stated
that the Government had a claim to their expending 30
per cent. of the subscribed capital in carrying out the
works, and when their outlay exceeded that 30 per cent.,
and they had finished one or two sections, they might
with some probability of success apply to the Govern-
ment for assistance.
Mr. SHEPHERD wished to know what sum would be
required to open a portion of the line?
The CHAIRMAN said it would take about 40,000/. to
complete the line from Charleroy to Rensart, and they
anticipated a return of 151. per cent. upon the money
laid out on that portion when opened.
Mr. SHERMAN said, in reply to a shareholder, that the
original concession was obtained for 72,0001., but was
not worth half that money now. When it was granted,
however, it was worth a great deal more, persons being
mad to get concessions for any money. It was agreed
that 30,0001. should be paid when granted, 22,000/.
when the line was finished and open for traffic, and
20,000/. more if the line paid on au average 51. per cent.
for three years.
It was stated by the Chairman that if, in the present
position of the company, the line was abandoned, there
would be no assets to return to the shareholders. He
also stated that it was not likely that the Government
would guarantee a certain rate of interest upon the calls
paid up.
After a rather desultory discussion the amendment
was withdrawn, and the report received.
A resolution was then passed confirming the proposed
call of 21, which it was agreed should be divided into
three instalments, viz., 1/. to be paid on the Ist of May,
10i. on the Ist July, and 10s. on the Ist August.
A vote of thanks having been passed to the• Chairman
anddirectors, the meeting separated.

Cntnicit EXTENSION IN BRADPORD.—The Rev.
J. Cooper took occasion at a meeting of the Propaga-
tion of the Jospel Society, on Tuesday, to state that a
gentleman, not now resident in Bradford, but connected
by property with the parish, had contributed 6,0001. to-
wards the increase of the church accommodation in the
parish ; towards the endowment of two churches he
had given 2,5001. each, and 500/. each towards their
erection. The plans of one of these churches were now
in the room. These statements were received by the
meeting with loud cheers.—Halifax Guardian.