The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-15 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING Ny DECEMBER 15, 1846.

No. 16,923.

LAST THREE NIGHTS.
WILSON'S SCOTTISH ENTERTAIN
MENTS.
AT CROSBY HALL, BISHOPSGATE-STREE
THIS EVENING, Dec. 15, at Eight o'clock,
Mr. WILSON will giro an Entertainment on
HIGHLAND MELODY AND SONG.
Pianoforte—Mr. LAND.
-

Part I.—My Heart's in the Highlands—The Maid that tends the
Goats—The Bard's Legacy—Lizzie Lindsay—Ochoin octal, oh]--
The ➢l`Gregor's Gathering—Rob Roy's Lament- Rob M'Gregor's
come again.
Part IL—Farewell to Lochaber—Come under any plaldie—Pbroo,
pbroo, my bonnie cow—Pibroch o'Dunuil Dhulbh—Row wee], my
boatie, row weel—The reel of Tulloebiorum

WAVENEY VALLEY and GREAT YAR-
MOUTH RAILWAY.
Notice is hereby given, that the Scripholders who hare neglected to
exchange their Scrip for the Norfolk Extension Shares, will be per-
mitted to do so until MONDAY, tha 21st day of December Instant,
after which they will he considered as electing to withdraw from the
Company, and the Scrip cancelled accordingly.
W. WILSHERE, Chairman.
Offices, 28, St. Swithin's-lane, London, Dec. 10, 1846.

BLAENAVON IRON and COAL COMPANY.
Notice is hereby given, that, in pursuance of a resolution
passed this day by the Board of Directors, a DIVIDEND of 20s.
per share upon the Old Shares of this Company will he PAID on and
after the Ist d ty of February nex.t, on account of the profits of the
present year. By order of the Board.
JAMES BOOTH, Secretary.
Offices, 4, Pancras-lane, Dec. 11, 1846.
N. 13. The Transfer Books will be closed from the 10th January to
the Ist February.

Now ready, with ten Portraits, a Plan of the Movements of the Army
of the Sutlej, coloured, and a Map of the Bist Jalindhur, lately
ceded to Britain, In two trolimes Bvo.
THE WAR between the SIKHS and the BRI-
TISH in 1845-1846. By Dr. W. L. M'GREGOR, Surgeon of
the Honourable Company's Ist European Light Infantry.
James Madden, 8, Leadenhall-street ; Charles Smith, Edinburgh,
Cumming and Ferguson, Dublin ; Thomas Murray, Glasgow.

ELECT ADVERTISEMENTS will be ad-
kJ milted into the LONDON and PROVINCIAL MEDICAL DI-
RECTORY, which will be ready early in January. If sent on or be-
fore SATURDAY, 19th instant, they will also appear in the LONDON
MEDICAL DIRECTORY, without extra charge.
ScALE.—Per Page, 31.35. ; Half-page, 21. 2s. ; Quarter-page, 11, ss. ;
per line, Is. Gd.
These important publications have a circulation of many thou-
sands, and it is confidentially submitted that such media for address-
ing the medical profession cannot elsewhere be found. To prevent
a most scandalous imposition which has been attempted, please no-
tice the title of the work, and the Publisher's name :—" The LON-
DON and PROVINCIAL MEDICAL DIRECTORY'" published for
the proprietors by John Churchill, Princes-street, Soho, to which
address all Advertisements should be sent, or to the Proprietors'
Agent, Mr. Banks, 11, Wellingtm-street North, Strand.

EYEBROWS, MOUSTACHIOS, and WHIS-
KERS produced in a few weeks, and Baldness removed and
prevented by the use of GRIMSTONE'S AROMATIC REGENE-
RATOR, an essential spirit, drawn from aromatic herbs and flowers,
a few drops of which cure headache in a few minutes ; it is also a
most delightful, fragrant toilet perfume. Sold only in triangular
bottles, protected by the Government stamp, at 4s. ; double the size,
7s. ; and double this size, I is. each ; enclosed in a Pamphlet, con,
taining testimonials of undoubted authority, entitled " Three Minutes'
Advice on the Growth and Preservation of the Human Hair, &C."
By post, 4s. 6d. 7s. 8d„ and 125., for money orders only.
Sold wholesale only at Orimstone's Herbary, Highgate, near
London ; and by Messrs. Barclay and Son. Farringdon-street ; Sanger'
Oxford-street; Messrs. Butler and Co., Cheapside ; Fisher and Taller,
Conduit-street ; Mr. Johnston, medicine warehouse, 68, Cornhill •
and by all i:ikemists. Perfumers, and others For Edinburgh, J. and
R. Rairnes, Leith-walk ; for Manchester, eresche and Son, Adver-
tiser-office.

" The bed occupied by the unfortunate deceased had
been constantly used for some time, with the exception
of one night preceding her admission. I have visited
the inmates every other day, sometimes daily, sincf.
commencement of term, and in no one instance have I
observed, or heard complained of, damp beds.
" ' The deceased left the house on the morning of the
7th; she came under medical treatment for rheumatic
fever on the 18th. How was the interval of eleven
days occupied? If the fever commenced the day after
she left the house, and was permitted to take its course
for ten days, driving her to a fatal termination, without
appeal to the skill of her medical attendant, it matter,
little how or when she caught it. She died in conse-
quence of ber own neglect or the neglect of those about
her. If, on the other hand, the urgent symptoms
showed themselves when she sent for medical relief, the
probability is that the fever was contracted at a period
subsequent to her leaving the Spinning-house.
"' Medical men will duly appreciate this observation,
though it has escaped the notice of a non-medical
coroner and the jury. I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
" R. M. FAWCETT.
" Cambridge, Dec. 10, 1846.' "

LORD ASHLEY AND THE DIS-
TRESSED NEEDLE WOMEN'S SOCIETY.
Yesterday a public meeting of the friends and subscri-
bers of the Distressed Needlewemen's Society was held
at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, Strand, in compliance
with the suggestion of Mr. Alderman Farebrother, Pre.
sident, to take into consideration all the circumstances
connected with the withdrawal from the committee of
Lord Ashley, the Hon. Mr. Cowper, Mr. Shaw, and Mr.
Jeffreys, and to hear detailed the correspondence which
took place on the subject between the Noble Lord
and Mr. Alderman Farebrother. There was a. very
full attendance, and among those present we ob-
served the Right Honourable Lord Ashley, the
Honourable Mr. Cowper, Mr. Labouchere, Mr.
Alderman Farebrother, Mr. Alderman Johnson, ex-
Lord Mayor, the Rev. Mr. Dale, the Rev. Joseph Browne,
Mr. Shaw, Mr. Jeffreys, Mr. Luke J. Hansard, and a
number of ladies interested in the welfare of the insti-
tution.
On the motion of Mr. Alderman FARBBROTHER Mr.
Luke J. Hansard was called to the chair.
Mr. Alderman FAREBROTHER opened the business of
the meeting by observing, that before he called upon
Lord Ashley to prove certain statements which he had
made respecting the management of the Distressed
Needlewomen's Society, he would read a circular letter
which the Noble Lord had caused to be distributed,
not among all the subscribers to the institution, but
among as many as he considered might answer his
purpose.
Mr. SHAW—That is entirely false.—(" Hear, hear,"
and great confusion.)
Mr. Alderman FAREBROTHER requested that an in-
terruption conveyed in so abrupt and ungentlemanlike a
manner would not be again repeated. Mr. Shaw was
now in the society of gentlemen, and it was to be hoped
would moderate his language.—(Hear, hear.) He (Mr.
Alderman Farebrother) contended that the circular was
sent to only a portion of the subscribers, and not to the
general body. The document he alluded to, and which
he purposed commenting on, stated, that "Lord Ashley,
Mr. Shaw, Mr. Jeffreys, and the Hon. Mr. Cowper,
had deemed it to be their duty to notify to the sub-
scribers to the Society for the Aid of Distressed Needle-
women, their withdrawal from the society in July last.
They did so in consequence of a speech re-
ported in the Times of the 28th of October,
and attributed to the President, Mr. Alderman
Farebrother. The chairman was reported to have
said, he begged to express his regret at the loss that
the institution had sustained from the retirement of
Lord Ashley from its management; but, at the same
time, he believed that the Noble Lord continued to
have the best wishes for its success, and he believed the
reason of his Lordship's retirement was, that he did not
wish to be the chairman of two societies of a similar
kind at the same time." This erroneous statement re-
quired correction. The reason of the retirement of Lord
Ashley, and of the three other gentlemen, was set forth
in the following letter from Lord Ashley to the Presi-
dent, the decision in which was supported by letters from
each of them :

"July 6, 1846.
" Sir,—The remit of the meeting of the committee
for conducting the affairs of the Needlewomen's Society
was so unsatisfactory, the accounts appeared to be in
such disorder, and the registration so imperfect, that I
can have no hope of any benefits to arise to the objects
of the institution or of credit to ourselves as patrons or
vice-presidents.
" I must, therefore, request you, as president, to with-
draw my name from the list of the officebearers of the
society. "I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

" ASHLEY.

"Mr. Alderman Farebrother."
That document (continued Mr. Alderman Farebrother)
bore date " November 18, 1846," but where it came from,
or whether it came direct from the house of the Noble
Lord, he could not say. However, he was quite prepared
to prove that the facts were not as stated in the printed
circular. In the first place, the Hon. Mr. Cowper wrote
him a letter, on the 2d of August, 1646, consenting to at-
tend a meeting of the committee whenever it might be sum-
moned, for it was, in his opinion, due to the subscribers
that there should be a public meeting, previous to which
an assemblage of the committee would be most desirable,
on the 16th of the same month. The Hon. Mr. Cowper
did attend a meeting of the committee, therefore it could
not be correct, as stated in the printed circular, that the
lion. Mr. Cowper withdrew in July. Again, Lord Ashley
stated that the result of the meeting of the committee
for conducting the affairs of the society was unsatisfac-
tory—that the accounts appeared in disorder, and that
the registration was imperfect. On referring, however,
to the minutes of that meeting, held on the 16th of
June, he found enterel, in Lord Ashley's own hand.
writing, resolutions to the effect, " That the account be
submitted forthwith to the auditors—that a sub-commit-
tee be appointed to confer with the committee of the
Milliners' Association, for the purpose of ascertaining
how far a combination of the two societies was practicable
and desirable—that Mr. Alderman Farebrother, Mr.
Jeffreys, and the Hon. Mr. Cowper, be appointed a sub-
committee for the purpose—that, in any event, it was
desirable the affairs of the society should be conducted
by a paid clerk or secretary—and that tho thanks of
the committee be tendered to Mr. Roper, the honorary
secretary, for the zeal and activity he had manifested in
the service of the association." He understood that
every suggestion made by Lord Ashley in these resolu-
tions had from that moment, to the fullest extent, been
carried out, and yet the Noble Lord ventured to prefer
the charges affecting the proper management of the in-
stitution. Mr. Hunt was appointed a paid clerk, and
the regulation book provided was a fac-simile of that
ordered by Lord Ashley for the Milliners' Society. The
accounts bad been regularly and carefully audited by the
auditors appointed for the purpose, to whom the ac-
counts were referred. Such was the answer to the
charges conveyed in Lord Ashley's letter, and he asked
whether it was consistent with the character of a gen-
tleman of high standing and position, or in accordance
with the usages of society, that a letter containing re-
flections which seriously affected the character of an
individual should be printed and extensively circulated,
while the answer forwarded to that letter was sup-
pressed? Mr. Alderman Farebrother proceeded to read
his reply to Lord Ashley's communication of the 6th of
July:— "July 7, 1846.
My Lord,—Your Lordship's most extraordinary
letter has caused me mush surprise. When- the com-
mittee met at my chambers I saw no account, except a
banker's book and a paper produced by Mr. Shaw. The
a e here yes-
terdaywere with the auditors, and . p
that the accounts were
audited. As
meeting was informed that themarccßouentesr, aeslllludnderstand,
and stated .
imperfect, I cannot, on this
to the registrationtbbeermg
remark, except calling to your
Lordship's recollectionointe
subject, make any o
mode of registrationdto keep
abetehladt
keep such register and the accounts,
with the ladies' committee ; and
your Lordship m
beit wasadopted,
atgerde, ed
anthda a t
p a
proper
w
clerk app er
but not to interfere oed a
vote of thanks to Mr. Roper for
edeems ier ea
st o
vriee tea- ipna, t cr
eo nn r aar
eydt oI
your Lordship's wish,
to omit it ; but, knowing as I do,
will desire Mr. Roper the society has already rendered
the great benefit which
good that has been effectd
the g
to the poor needlewomen,
his services. I can
by giving
1 y resolved not to let the charity
ha
yr eo
unro
of crime, I am /II
and I cannot conceal from
fail for the want of exertion,
that some person has wan-
tonlyyour Lordship my opinion
d that had your Lordship
away clothese to the needy, and the diminu-
tion
poisoned your mind, an
waited the production of the accounts,
your opinion would have been different, and I think it
far from candid towards Mr. Roper, who has lent his
1
house and given his time, and bcenm properly audited,m
y instrumental ahe in collecting subscriptions, thus, without seeing I,
ac-
counts, to condemn them.
"I have the honour to be, my Lora,
" Your obedient servant,
" C. FAREBROTHER•
" The Right HOB. Lord Ashley."
Mr. Alderman Farebrother then proceeded to censure
the course taken by Lord Ashley and his colleagues in
withdrawing from the society before they had attended
the recent public meeting and openly expressed their
reasons for adopting such a course. He submitted that
the proper step would have been for the dissentient gen-
tleman to have attended the meeting, and moved that
the accounts, if unsatisfactory in their nature, should be
referred back to the auditors for the purpose of being
carefully examined and investigated. He had the high-
est possible respect for the qualities which distinguished
the character of Lord Ashley, but he would not permit
that nobleman, or any other person, no matter how
elevated his situation might be, to impugn his character
as a public or a private individual, or to circulate or
cause to be circulated any statement which could have
the effect of alienating from him any share of that confi-
dence which, as a servant of her Majesty and an alder-
man of the city of Landon, might be reposed in him by
his fellow- citizens. Having read a voluminous corre-
spondence which took place between himself, Lord
' Ashley, the Hon. Mr. Cowper, Mr. Shaw, and other gen-
tlemen on the subject of the secessions, Mr. Alderman
Farebrother concluded an address which occupied more
than two hours in delivering, by expressing his convic-
t tion that the intention of Lord Ashley was to destroy
the society, having failed in the object he desired,
namely, to unite it with that of the Milliners' Society,
of which the Noble Lord was already the president.

Lord ASHLEY proceeded to reply to the statement
made by Mr. Alderman Farebrother, which he charac-
terised as being destitute of facts, reasoning, or con-
clusion. He confessed that he had at one time, though
but a moment, hesitated whether he should respond to
the worthy Alderman's citation to appear there to answer
to certain high crimes and miedemeanours, but when he
recollected that he had officiated as vice-president, that
by so doing he had incurred a responsibility to the com•
mittee and to the subscribers, and that the president had
declared he had a correspondence to read which affected
his character, and reflected upon his (Lord Ashley's)
reputation, and that he was determined to expose him,
he felt that he could not do less, out of respect to the
meeting, than attend and hear the allegations which
were to be made against him. It was not in his power to
state precisely the period when he first joined the so-
ciety, but he had been induced to do so from a sincere
desire to ameliorate the condition of the distressed
needlewomen of the metropolis. After having joined
the society he canvassed his friends in its behalf, and
was successful in obtaining a great number of sub
scribers. After his connexion had lasted some time,
various complaints reached his ears that the management
was not well conducted, and that as it h-ad not answered
the purposes for which it was intended an investigation
was required. Under these circumstances he deemed it his
duty to request the attendance of Mr. Roper, the Hono-
rary Secretary, in order to set an investigation on foot,
which subsequently took place, and resulted in the ap-
pointment of Mr. Shaw as sub-treasurer and
comptroller of accounts. Mr. Shaw undertook
the office, but repeatedly stated that he was
not satisfied with the information he received. A
meeting was then determined upon, which was held
on the 16th of June, at Mr. Alderman Farebrother's
chambers. Previously to that meeting, Mr. Cowper,
Mr. Shaw, and Mr. Jeffreys met at his (Lord Ashley's)
house, and discussed the position of affairs, and arrived
at the conclusion that nothing could put matters to
rights but the appointment of a paid secretary, who
would devote all his energies to the interests of the
society. Feeling convinced that the services of a paid
officer were indispensable, and having superseded Mr.
Roper, they passed a vote of thanks to him for the zeal
and activity which he had displayed in the cause of the
ofhts
eopo col
int
nti
honesty.
sot
ee)tnsya
we t
oah
rsle
expressions,'ynhey
the
owt were
qualifiedrpwereerobp
borne
rr ne
etpropriety particular
because,fo oourftthhbiby
in
situation
thteuhcneaooetnuwri
ofitaonlnr
impugningit
e ng
;hoyanntdAhduel
conduct,
ne, themselves
bhvaeaei:ssty
himself, who lamented his deficiency of education to
discharge the duties of secretary efficiently. Mr. Roper
had exhibited, however, great zeal and activity ; he had
visited workhouses and prisons without receiving any
remuneration, and the society thanked him for his
services. It was afterwards resolved to appoint a
, deputation to wait upon the committee of the Milli-
ners' Society, in order to consider the propriety of
uniting the two societies, inasmuch as separately they
could not afford the expenses attendant upon paid
officers. A day was fixed for the interview, and
after the subject had been discussed, the Milliners'
Society' refused to unite. Such being the case,
and knowing the Distressed Needlewomen's Society
had been ill-managed, and that its affairs were getting
into a state of confusion, from which it would be ex-
tremely difficult to extricate them, he was unwilling to
bear further responsibility, and felt it his duty to tender
his resignation as vice-president, and to withdraw from
any interference in its society. He then wrote the letter
bearing date the 6th of July, which the worthy Alder-
man had already read to the meeting. On the following
day he went to the continent, and remained away six
weeks; but on his return he found the letter of Alder-
man Farebrother, dated the 7th of July, viz., the very
day after he left town. His surprise was, of course, very
great, for he had supposed that, having, in conjunction
with Mr. Cowper, Mr. Shaw, and Mr. Jeffreys, tendered
his resignation, that the president would have announced
the circumstance at the next meeting. Indeed, so cer-
tain was he that such would be the case, that he did not
think it necessary to write to him to that effect. His
surprise, therefore, was very considerable when he read
the report of Mr. Alderman Farebrother's speech, in the
Times of the 29th of October. He could not have sup-
posed that the president of a society, when performing
his functions at a meeting of that society, could have re-
trained from announcing the withdrawal of four gen-
tlemen from its committee. Mr. Farebrother had not, 1
however done so, and so far from assigning the true mo-
tive for the secession, gave a reason which, as far as he I
(Lord Ashley) was concerned, was a true one. lie sub-
mitted that his letter of resignation ought to have been
laid before the public meeting, but it was not, and its
suppression, if other means had not been adopted to
circulate it, would have left nineteen-twentieths of the I
public ignorant of the true motives which had caused
the resignation of himself and his colleagues. After ,
some other observations in defence of the course he had
pursued, the Noble Lord concluded by stating that his
reason for seceeing was not that he objected, as alleged
by Mr. Alderman Farebrother, to act as chairman of
two societies similar in character, but that as the Dis-
tressed Needlewomen's Society was mismanaged, an 1
its affairs fast merging into inextricable confusion, he con-
sidered it due to his own character, and to the confidence
which the subscribers had reposed in him, to withdraw
when he could be no longer useful.

The Hon. Mr. Cowper, Mr. Jeffreys, and Mr. Shaw,
explained their reasons for leaving she society, and gave
expression to their regret, that while on the committee
they found such unlimited power and control over the
disposal of the funds of the institution exercised by the
Honorary Secretary, Mr. Roper who, in fact, acted as
president, committee, treasurer, and everything else.
They fully approved of the course which his Lordship
had taken, and they saw no; eason to regret at having
participated
rinaint.
FAREBROTIIER replied. And
After a vast deal of conversation respecting the ma-
nagement of the society, the alleged irresponsibility
of the Honorary Secretary, and the appropriation of the
funds, n vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman, on
the motion of Lord Ashley, and the meeting separated.

About a fortnight back, a banker at the head of
the finance of Paris, received an anonymous letter
threatening him with death unless he deposited in a
certain spot a sum of 16,000 f. The letter stated that
there were four persons bound together by the strictest
friendship, who having lost large sums of money by
railway shares, required the above-named sum to save
them from dishonour. " If," said the letter, " you
consent to lend us this sum, we shall for ever bless your
name, but if not, you
pronounce your own sen-
tence of death !" The communication concluded by
recommending the banker to bring on a certain day,
in propriet persona, the sum demanded in thirteen
notes of 1,000 francs each, and 3,000 francs in gold,
and place it at the foot of the third lamp-post on the
Place de la Bourse, on leaving the Rue des Filles Saint
Thomas, opposite the Restaurant Champeaux. The
banker handed the letter to the Commissary of Police
of the district, and measures were immediately taken to
arrest whatever person might come to take away the
money ; but no person appeared.- The whole matter
appeared to be a hoax, when a few days after the direc-
tor-general of one of the most important public admi-
nistrations received a letter of a similar description, and
evidently written by the same person :—" If you con-
sent to our demand," said the letter, " you have only to
lower the flag of your hotel on such a day, between six
and seven in the evening, in token of your acquiescence,
and a second letter will designate the place where you
are to deposit the money. If you refuse our request, pre-
pare to die." The high functionary merely showed the let-
ter to his principal secretary, and did not send it to the
police until some days had elapsed. Two days after this
the celebrated banker received a second letter, of the same
nature as the liras, but demanding 17,000 f. in place of
16,000 f. The money was to be placed at the foot of the
third lamp post on the Place do la Bourse, opposite the
Vaudeville theatre. This letter was also handed to the
Commissary of Police, and measures being taken to
arrest any person that might come, about eight in the
evening a young man was taken prisoner, just as he bad
stopped under the lamp as if to read a letter, and after
feeling with his foot below, had picked up a bag of
money that had been left there. Being interrogated, he
declared himself to be a student of the University of
Lluge, and said that he had deen employed by two per-
sons, whom he did not know, for a reward of 20f., to go
to the lamppost already mentioned, and bring to them
iafou lodgingsnd being searched, a
quantity there, evidently written
at the café Villetto, Rue Montmartre, the bag that he
should find o
finfdpaperswe
there. His
by the same hand as the letters, a pistol, a dagger, and
a paper containing arsenic. Finding this proof against
him to be considered conclusive, he acknowledged that
it was he, and he alone, who had devised the whole
scheme, having been urged to it by want. He has, in con-
sequence, been delivered over to the authorities to take
his trial. The prisoner is a man of 30 years of age,
whose father was director of the extensive printing-
office founded by M. Cockerill, at Liege. On the death
of the father. the son and his mother suffered great pri-
vation, and this is supposed to have troubled his reason.
—Galignani.
AS A PATRON ri
LORD TRERLOW • •--wn one occasion
a considerable living fell vacant in the Chancellor's gift,
which was solicited by Queen Charlotte and promised
to her protégé. The curate,
whop
had served in the
Parish some years, hearing , was likely to succeed,
r the Chancellors,
applied fointercession, that,
modestly
•
of his largefamily, h e might be continued
on account
The expectant rector calling to return
in the curacy.
introduced the -
thanks, Thurlow case of the curate,
represented with great strength andpathos •
which ho "I should be much pleased ,
but the anse er was, eased to oblige
your
but unfortunately I have
your Lordship, .
" Sir I cannot promised. itt
Thurlow. make this gentle-
mana friend."
it is true ; but I can make him the '
your curate,
,the l' •
ng, as he
rector ; and, by ---- be shall have living,
cannot have the curacy."
He instantly called in hissecretary, and or
ordered the presentation to be made out
te who scamws ' d d
in acted, and enjoyed
the favour of the cura , _
L d
orp
'ears.--bell's Lives tge the
the living many Y
Chancellors.
AT THE QUEEN'
SERIOUS ACCIDENT 8
THEATRE,
ToTTENHAIII-STR• EET•—At the close of the performance
man, about twenty years of last evening, a young age,
from the gallery into the pit, and was
named Sharpe, fell
dead, the
to Middlesex Hos-
pital;removed, to all appearance
audience were leaving the theatre,
fortunately the _
so that the unfortunate young man fell on the seats of
the pit, and no ono else was injured.

PROPOSED REMOVAL OF WEST-
MINSTER-BRIDGE.
A numerous and respectable public meeting of the
owners of property, and other inhabitants of Lambeth,
Westminster, and other parts in the vicinity of West-
minster-bridge, was held last evening at seven o'clock, at
the New Inn, in the Westminster-road, to take measures
for watching and opposing a project, of which notice has
been given, for erecting a new bridge from Charing-
cross to the York-road, instead of the present structure.
BENJAMIN HAWES, Esq., M.P., was unanimously
called to the chair.
Mr. MILLER, the secretary to the committee, appointed
at a late meeting to watch the matter, read letters from
Sir De Lacy Evans, M.P., stating that he would be most
ready to co-operate with Mr. Hawes in whatever
course might be resolved upon by the meeting ; and
from Mr. Trotter, M.P. for West Surrey ; Mr. Kemble,
M.P., and Mr. T. D'Eyncourt, M.P., regretting their in-
ability to attend, from various reasons.
Mr. Hawes, M.P., who was received with loud ap-
plause, proceeded to address the meeting. lie said he
thought it would be hardly necessary for him to attempt
to explain to the meeting, numerous and crowded as it
was, the object which had brought them together; but
as there might be soaie present who had not attended to
the matter as much as he and many of those
around him had, it might be desirable to offer some
distinct reason for the adoption of the course they had
met to consider the propriety of taking, namely, to op-
pose the proposed new bridge from some point on this
side of the river to Charing Cross. If he had had any
doubt at all upon the matter it would have been removed
by the mode of conduct which the promoters of the
new bridge had adopted. Now, when one heard
the proposition for constructing a new bridge across the
Thames ; the first question which naturally occurred
to the mind was—had the public in any way expressed
a desire to have a new bridge erected some distance
from the site of the old one—(Cheers)—but another,
and not less necessary question, also presented itself—
who was to pay for the new structure?—(Loud cheers.)
He took leave to reply to the first question—that there
had been no manifestation of public feeling at all in
favour of it—none in the least.—(Loud cheers.) Had
any public meetings been held on the subject?—had
any subscription list been framed ?—and had any engi-
neering plans been published to show any absolute ne-
cessity for so serious a change? There had not—and
they had no security that even if the bridge were built
that it would receive the support of the public.
Well, but who was to pay for it? The money,
of course, would have to come out of the public
funds—out of the public taxation ; and he must say, in
the present state of affairs, they had pretty nearly as
many claims upon the revenue as they could afford to
meet. They had to afford relief to the famishing people
of Ireland at the present moment, and at that time
were consequently not in a condition to incur an enor-
mous sum for the construction of a new bridge which the
public necessities did not call for.—(Hear.) The bridge
appeared to be put forth with the sanction and patronage
of the Government. Now he had every reason to believe
that this was not so—(Loud cheers)—and that all that
had been done was this :—That a public department
had consented to the publication of certain notices for
the introduction of the Bill, but beyond that no sort
of sanction _ had been given—(Loud cheers)—and
that the Government was perfectly free to oppose the
project ; and he for one, should join his friends about
him in giving the measure the most determined opposi-
tion.—(Hear, hear.) It appeared so objectionable, that
he hardly thought any Member of Parliament fel:Lam-
beth, Westminster, Middlesex, or Surrey, would be
found to back the Bill ; and it would be very strange if
a great metropolitan measure should be introduced into
Parliament without the support of some local Member
of Parliament who possessed a knowledge of the affairs
of those whom he represented. But, supposing the Bill
introduced, he asked this question of those who advo-
cated the measure, and he should ask the same question
on the floor of the House of Commons—What neces-
sity is there to build a bridge which no one desires—and
what public reasons are assigned for it ? He was told
that the architect of the new Houses of Parliament
thought the bridge an " eyesore" to that great
public work. He (Mr. Hawes) admitted that
the bridge was an " eyesore" as it stood, but it could
either be repaired or rebuilt on its present site, and in
harmony with the new Houses of Parliament, so that
there was no reason for removing the bridge on
that score. But a great many reasons might be -
advanced in favour of retaining the bridge in its pre-
sent position. He took it for granted that even some
repairs were necessary to render the present bridge suit-
able for the traffic; or that if it were necessary to re-
build it, that the erection should take place on the pre-
sent site—that he took it was admitted on all sides. If
a new bridge was necessary, he was prepared to show
clearly that the present site was one on which it could
be made with the greatest. economy, and with the
greatest advantage.—(Loud cheering.) And the first
reason was, that the approaches to the bridge were the
property of the Commissioners, and that it would there-
tore be unnecessary to expend one shilling in making ap-
proaches to it if it 'remained in its present position.—
(Cheers.) And therefore, if the public money was to
be spent on Westminster bridge (and he said as a Mem-
ber of Parliament, quite independent of Lambeth or
Westminster, and he had a right to say it, that this was
not a time to squander public money unless it was abso-
lutely necessary) it should be spent in improving or
building a new bridge in the place of the old one, in
order, if there were no other reason, to effcct the alter-
ation without the enormous expense of making en.
tirely new approaches. Well, then, suppose for a mo-
ment that the site of the bridge was changed, and a new
bridge built lower down the river, it would, in the first
place, be much larger, and consequently more
expensive, and, secondly, new approaches would
have to be purchased on both sides of the river.
But was that all ? Was it quite just to
build it where it was proposed ? Were there no
reasons against the plan. The magnificent gentlemen
who projected it seemed quite indifferent to the fact that
two bridges existed closely adjoining each other; two
bridges• built by two companies at enormous expense ;
one of them (Waterloo-bridge) almost ruinous to the
company which invested its money in it, and the other
(Charing Cross-bridge) hardly paying. . Both were built
by private companies, but if a free bridge were built
within two hundred yards of them she effect would be
utter ruin to both.—(Hear, hear.) Why; such a propo-
sition could not stand for a moment, and did not deserve
to stand.—(Loud cheers.) The Hon. Member hero pro-
duced a plan of the proposed and existing bridges, which
he exhibited to the meeting. To any one standing at
the foot ofCharing-cross bridge, the proposed bridge with
the existing ones would appear like the letter " V;"
the proposed bridge forming the second line of the
letter, in consequence of its contiguity with the Charing-
cross-bridge, and which, besides, would not be more than
200 yards from the commencement of both Waterloo and
Charing-cross bridges. Would anybody tell him that
such a bridge was required 2—(Cries of " No, no," and
ridiculous.) They took away Westminster-bridge, and
left the public without any accommodation between
Vauxhall-bridge and the proposed one. Who advocated
it ? He was told that no one did so but the architect
of the Houses of. Parliament (Mr. Barry), for whose
works of art no one had more admiration than he
had ; but he would not consent to allow Mr. Barry
to carry out a fancy of this sort, which, if done at all,
would have:to be done undoubtedly at the. expense of
private individuals ; but aided by his determined body
of coadjutors, he would not consent to let
this Bill pass through the Parliamentary ordeal
without its encountering from him the most for-
midable opposition.—(Loud cheers.) When it came
into the House of Commons no single stage of its pro-
gress should escape without opposition from him—
(Hear, hear)—and if he was not present in the Commit-
tee appointed to discuss its merits, he was sure those
who were would do so ; for he could not believe that five
gentleman would sanction such an uncalled-for expendi-
ture of public money, and which, if carried out, would
cause the utter ruin of the other bridges to which he had
referred. When Westminster-bridge was first built the
site was just as much an object of discussion as the site
of the projected bridge ; but, after the most careful and
able consideration of the various points at which the
river should be crossed, the present point was selected
as most beneficial to the public at large, even at that
period.—(Hear, and applause.) It was urged in fa-
vour of the new bridge, that it would reach to
Charing-eross,andeveryone would hare to go to the cor-
ner of the York-road; but whether they went by the present
bridge or the new one, would not make a difference of
more than 20 yards ; and for this every shopkeeper and
owner of property in the neighbourhood of the present
bridge, was to be ruined.—(Hear.) The proposition was
so perfectly absurd, that it was an intolerable nuisance to
have occasion to meet there to oppose it. But he had
no doubt, if they set themselves vigorously to the work
of opposition, that their object would be obtained, and he
knew little of his friends on that side of the water, if the 3
did not organise a formidable opposition. They said
the bridge was not wanted, and the onus lay 'on the pro-
jectors of the new bridge to show that it was.
But he defied them to do so.—(Applause.). A very
large proportion of the present traffic went to the western
part of the metropolis, which the projectors of' the
scheme wished to diyert to Piccadilly. He wished some-
body was there to speak for it, because he was perfectly
ready to convince him off.hand.—(Laughter.) lie con-
sidered that it was necessaryto have a bridge near to the
Houses of Parliament, and for the accommodation of the
traffic from the south. Mr. Barry and his friends stated
that a bridge on the present site would ruin the view of
the new Houses of Parliament ; but he (Mr. Hawes)
wished to know where they could have a better view
than from the present bridge, which would not cost two
millions of money like the new one. Nov he
thought ho had stated reasons enough why they
should oppose the Bill.—(Hear, hear.) The matter
however, was in tbeir hands, and he trusted they would
vigorously follow up the opposition they had already
commenced ; and if they continued as zealous, as the
numbers in which they had attended there that evening
te:tified them to be, they could not fail to succeed ; and
he hoped when he again met them in that room, he
should have to congratulate them on the successful issue
of the contest. The honourable gentleman resumed his
seat amidst loud and general cheering.
Mr. EDWARDS wished to ask Mr. Hawes one single
question. He believed he was one of the committee
who recommended the removal of the old bridge ?
Mr. ILiwzs should have thought that every one in

PRICE SD.

that room knew that InemLers were put up, n
committees whose reports might not coincide %dill
their individual opinions, but of the majority
composing it ; he did not find his name in tl:e
majority of the committee who voted for the removal cf
the bridge.—(Cheers.) Many measures had been pro-
posed by the Legislature for which it would be absurd to
make him responsible.
A VOICE—But you signed the report.
Mr. EnwAnns—Did you agree to this report or did
you not ?
Mr. Awns—No.—(Cheers).
Mr. EHDIVARDS Stop a bit.—(Laughter.) He was

about to read the report when he Was called to order b)
A GENTLEMAN, who exproased his anxiety to. know
whether Mr. Edwards represented property in the bo-
rough or not ?
Mr. EDWARDS—I am an elector of the borough, and
that is enough.—(Hear.) I oppose the removal of the
present bridge. The question is, why did the Hon.
Gentleman sign a report in favour of the removal of the
?—(Cries of "No, no," and much confusion.)
Mr. HAwns inquired if the report to which he re-
ferred was the third one.
Mr. EDWARDS said it was.
Mr. HAIN-Es said the third report did not make any
recommendation of the kind. He read an extract from
it which stated: —" We do not pronounce any opinion on
the site of the new bridge, but considerations might be
adduced in favour of the present bridge, or cne in juxta-
position with it."—(Cheers.)
Mr. EDWARDS intimated that there were a sufficient
number of men of business present, to bear in mind that
they were on the eve of a general election.—(Hisses.)
Mr. AncnnuTT proposed the first resolution, which
was to the following effect:—
" That this meeting has received with deep regret and
alarm the announcement of an intended application to
Parliament for the construction of a new bridge at
Charing-cross. That such a project, involving, as it
must do, the destruction of Westminster-bridge, will be
ruinous to existing interests, and cause the most serious
loss and inconvenience to the inhabitants of Westmin-
ster and Lambeth. That while it destroys the only
direct line of thoroughfare between the rapidly increas-
ing districts of Westminster and the Surrey-roads, it
will cause an inconvenient increase and concentration of

traffic to the already overcrowded thoroughfare between
Charing cross, the West-end, and City, and will only
supply on additional unnecessary accommodation to a
district already amply prodded for by the existint,
bridges."

Ile ;said, the remarks of the Chairman could be amply
confirmed. He, and others in the vicinity of the present
bridge, were alarmed, lest the surveys of a life time should
be placed in jeopardy by the construction of a bridge not
justified by any public necessity at all commensurate
with the injury which it would inflict.—(Hear.) he had
lived in the Westminster road for the last forty years,
and he had never heard that it did not offer the most
ample accommodation required by the public ; and he
and others had purchased property in the neighbourhood,
believing that the bridge would not be removed ; and,
consequently, they effected a safe investment of their
capital. No alteration could be effectually made for the
benefit of the public. Those who had seen the bridge,
since the cumbersome balustrade had been removed,
could not fail to be convinced that no better spot on the
river could be selected for obtaining an excellent view
of the new houses of Parliament ; but the beautiful
effect of the view would be destroyed if the bridge were
removed.

Mr. PAGE WOOD seconded the proposition. lie said
he held the lease of a house in Great George-street,
and, therefore, his loss would not be so great as those
who had invested the whole of their capital in the
neighbourhood. He agreed with the Chairman that the
public had not declared in favour of the proposed
bridge, that no meeting had been held on the subject,
and that they might reasonably believe that public feel-
ing pointed the other way. He had looked into the
history of the bridge, and had found that as early
as the reign of George 11., not a time remarkable for
furnishing the public with the facilities of communica-
tion compared with the present. Several projects were
laid before a committee which was appointed at that
time, as well as petitions ; and the result was that- the
present site was chosen as likely to be most beneficial to all.
The bridge ought not now to be removed except at the
representations of those who lived in its vicinity. The
expanse of the approaches would be much greater than
the bridge itself. He knew this from experience in the
building of London-bridge. That bridge cost 500,0001.
but the approaches cost l,000,0001.—(Hear.) But by
continuing the bridge in its present position this large
sum would be saved. Then the question of convenience
arose. No one, it seemed, would be benefited by
throwing a bridge over to Charing-cross, and the pro-
prietors of the existing bridges, with the parties resid-
ing in the Westminster-road and St. George's-street
wound be inj at ed without the slightest public itdiFihtag,e,
—(Hear, hear ) Then the Woods and Forests had been

intrusted with -the expenditure of 70,0001. for the Cjen
s,truction of a new street, running to Shaftesbury-terrace,
keeping the palace to its right, and running towards
; and if the bridge were made, all the
traffic requiring to cross the river would have to gn
round to Ulz 3ring-cross to e 0 ar, hear.) It was
also urged that this bridge would be a convenierce a, the
railway termini would be at the Charinr-cross-grid;;,,
bat he believed the very reverse would be the case. The.
result would be, that a crowd would be there from morn-
ing until i i Tht, which would block up the thoroughfares
which led to the Hewes of Legislature and the western
part of the metropolis. The commissioners of West
minster-bridge was also commissioners for witThning
Cochspur-street, because it was the avenue whie!l led to
the Houses of Parliament, and yet they were asked to con-
centrate the trafficin that particular spot. He trusted that
a meeting would be held in Westminster, and that if
they allowed .Mr. Barry the free use of Westminster-
hall, that they could not extend the same courtesy to
him with respect to the bridge.—(Hear.)
Mr. CorE said he was in a position to give a disinte•
rested opinion as he was entirely unconnected with the
borough. He considered that the present bridge was
a proper outlet from Lambeth to the Houses of Parlia-
ment, the courts of law, and St. James's park, in which
they could recreate themselves by simply crossing the
bridge ; but it would be placed at the distance of a
quarter of a mile if the proposed bridge were made.
He considered, however, that if there was any public
money to be spared for the purpose, that it ought not to
be devoted to making a new bridge, and certainly not
for making new approaches, but for purchasing and
opening free to the public Vauxhall, Waterloo,
Southwark, and other bridges.—(Cries of "Hear, hear.")
The new bridge would not cost less that a million, the
bridge itself 350,000/. ; but as the property belonging
to the bridge would not yield more than 100,000/, there
would be a deficiency of 250,000/. A million would pur-
chase the three bridges, Waterloo,4oo,oool. to 450,0001.
Southwark, 100,0001., and Vauxhall 200,0001. The
new bridge was, therefore, not required by the wants of
the public, and he believed that Mr. Baru was the prime
mover of the removal of the bridge, because he seemed
to entertain the erroneous notion that his building
would be seen to better advantage.
Mr. GRISSELL felt bound to set Mr. Cope right in the
observations he had just made. Ile asserted, and he
believed.ali present were aware of his connexion with
Mr. Barry, that that gentleman had no more to do with
the movement for the removal of the bridge than any
person present.—(Hear, hear.) For his own, part he
believed that if Mr. Barry was consulted he would be
found to he in favour of the present site of the bridge.
After a few further observations from Mr. CorE,
The COI an:ter put the resolution to the meeting, and
declaredr.E LiTtatooTTb ecarriedmoved
the
emsaenciomnod
u sresolution,lj' which was
to the following effect :—" That the owners of pro-
perty, lessees, and inhabitants of the parts adjacent,
to Westminster-bridge have taken premises and laid out
their capital in confidence that no interference would be
permitted with the ancient thoroughfare of Westmin-
ster-bridge, which is already adequate to the public
wants, and because, by immemorial usage, the recog-
nised means of access from Surrey to Westminster and
. .

--- -
its vicinity." - -
He moved the resolution as an inhabitant of Lambeth
of upwards of 40 years' standing; and as such, he must
confess that he had viewed with great alarm the absurd
proposition to remove the bridge to Charing-cross—
(hear, hear)—because if such a project was carried into
effect, ho would venture to predict it would ruin half the
inhabitants of that neighbourhood and Westminster
also.—(llear, hear.) They were not to be silenced by the
talk of compensation, because there was little doubt they
papsropos bringingio n
it that
forward
been would be treated with as much of that commodity as the
scout
tie
ther it inhabitants of Fish-street• hill received on the removal
of London-bridge.—(Hear, hear.) He had no doubt
thatbrid g Parliament ral
and
dmwenotul d
place the would
been brought forward for the removal of Westminster-
in the situation they deserved.—(Hear, hear.) The in-
habitants of that neighbourhood had already bad a tasat
of the effects of stopping up the bridge, and there could
be no doubt, if it was removed altogether, ruin would
stare them in the face. He trusted the Commissioners
of Westminster-bridge Estates would protect their
tenants, and not allow them to be ruined by the fancies
or suggestions of interested parties.—(Hear.) An arti-
cle in the Builder of last week, taken from the Civil
Engineers' Journal, so completely embodied his thoughts
upon the subject that he would lead it to the meeting:—
" We fear tha construction of this new bridge will he
most detrimental to existing interests, and cause the
greatest inconvenience to the inhabitants of West-
minster. It will not only destroy the direct line of
. .

thoroughfare from Pimlijo, through the Park end Great
George-street, over Westminster-bridge, to the Elephant
and Castle and the Surrey. roads, but it will be the cause
of increasing the traffic through the already over •
crowded thoroughfares from Charing-creiss to the City,
as it is now far nearer and quicker, to go from the
Law Courts and Parliament-street over Westminster-
bridge to the City, the Brighton and Dover Railways,
and ultimately to the new station of the South-
Western Railway ; and consequently this traffic,
if this new bridge be constructed, will be directed along
the Strand ; and besides, there will be a distance of a
mile through Westminster from Vauxhall-bridge to the
site of tho proposed new bridge, that will be entirely
cut off from the Surrey side, excepting by the circuitous
route over those two bridws. By a reference to the
map of London, it will bo seen that if this new bridge
be carried over the river at right angles to the shore at
right angles to the shore at Whitehall-place, the end on