The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-22 00:00:00

emanate from the Government (Hear, hear)—
but that it was the project of a commission, no doubt,
anxious to do something for the public, but at the same
time extr, Trudy nekles4s with respect to what property
belonging to the othlie they injured.—(Cheers.)
Mr. FOWLER that a committee of the pro-
prietors out4ht to be appointed to act with the dire;qors in
opposing the measure ; he also thought they ought to
be informed whether the Chancellor of her Majesty's
Exchequer was prepared, on the part of the public, to
find the funds for building the new bridge? lie was
surprised that a measure that had for its object the
annihilation of public property should not only be con-
templated but recommended by a public beard.—(Hear.)
The CHAIRMAN thought that the appointment of a
committee of shareholders to act with them would be
tantamount to a vote of want of confidence in the direc-
tors. The only wish of the directors was to act for the
interests of the company—(Hear, hear)—and he sias
sure that every gentleman present would cordially give
them credit for such intentions.—(Hear. hear,)
With respect to the other statement of Mr. Thomas,
he could assure hint that her Majesty's Chancellor of the
Exchequer was not per pared to find money for the erec-
tion of the proposed bridge.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. CILRERT—WhiIe he thought that the number of
gentlemen, to assia the directors, should be increased to
four or five, begged to disclaim any notion on his part,
of a want of confidence in those gentlemen.—(Hear.)
Mr. 14;w, seri., said that there could be no objection to
the resolution containing a direction to the directors to
appoint four or five of th directors to act with them.
Captain KELLY deprecated the adoption of any other
course than that proposed by the chairman.—(Hear.) He
thought forcing any of the proprietors upon the direc-
tors to assist them would be most injudicious.—(fiear,
hear.) He believed that there was not a single party,
from John o' Groat's house to the Land's end, but
what would oppose the erection of the proposed bridge
out of the public money.—(Hear, hear.) He thought
the property of the Charing cross-bridge was exceed-
ingly safe, and that they had nothing to tear.
A PROPRIETOR thought after what had been stated in
the early part of the meeting by Mr. Stutely, that it
would be desirable to know whether or not that gentle •
man would act.

The CHAIRMAN felt a delicacy in putting such a ques-
tion to Mr. Stutely after the observations he had made.
He thought the proper course would be, for the request
to that gentleman to come from the Charing-cross-hridp e
Company, and he was sure Mr. Stutley, upon considera-
tion, would respond to their call.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. STUTELY would repeat what he had stated at
the opening of the meeting, that the request came by
surprise upon him.—(Hear, hear.) He begged to
withhold his decided consent at present as
Deputy Chairman of the Hungerford Market Com-
pany, to accept the honour proposed to be conferred
upon him, thinking that he ought to consult with his
board before he did so.—(Hear, hear.) He could,
however, assure the meeting that if his joining with
them to oppose the erection of the proposed
new bridge would lead to putting an end to
the unhappy differences that had existed between
them it would give him great pleasure.—(Hear, hear.)
After some further discussion the following resolutions
were unanimously agreed to :
" That this meeting has heard with extreme surprise
of the intended application to Parliament for powers to
erect a new free bridge from Charing-cross, at a dis
tance at the latter place of thirty yards only from the
bridge so recently constructed by the Company under
the express sanction of Parliament.
" That the projected measure, while it is altogether
uncalled for by the public, would be most ruinous to
the property of this Company.
" That the Directors be, and they are hereby, autho-
rised, by every means in their power, to oppose the in-
tended application to Parliament, and to adopt such
measures for the protection of the proprietors as they
may deem expedient."
Thanks were then proposed, and unanimously carried,
to the Chairman and Directors, especially to the Chair-
man, and the meeting broke up.

DIRECT LINCOLN, EAST RET-
FORD, AND SHEFFIELD JUNCTION RAIL-
WAY.

A meeting of the directors and shareholders of this
company was held yesterday, at the George and Vulture
Tavern, George-) ard, Lombard-street, pursuant to an
advertisement which appeared in the Gazette of the 11th
D, cember last, to consider the propriety of dissolving
the Company, and to carry out a resolution to that effect
which was adopted at a meeting held on the 9th inst.
J. B. Shuttleworth, Esq., took the chair. Scrutineers
having been appointed,

The CHAIRAAN stated that the meeting had now to
decide whether the company should bo dissolved, and
whether with or without a bankruptcy?
Mr. GRIPPER proposed, and Mr. PRICE seconded, a
motion that the company be dissolved, and that without
a bankruptcy.
The scrutineers having made the investigation of the
shares, reported that 3,575 shares had been paid upon
before the 31st March last, and of these 2,140 had been
presented to them for voting, and which were given for
the dissolution of the company.
A SHAREHOLDER inquired why his shares were rejected
in the voting paper, and was informed by the solicitor
that his shares were only excluded because they were
issued after the 31st of March, the clause of the Act re-
quiring that no shares should be admitted but those issued
before that date.
Mr. BEVAN (the late Secretary) inquired what had
been done with the box taken from his office ?

Mr. TUCKER denied any knowledge of the box, cr
that at any time he had been near Mr. Bevan's office.
Several Shareholders inquired whether it was intended
to repudiate the shares which had been issued after the
31st of March?
The CHAIRMAN declared that there was no intention
to repudiate those shares, but the clause of the Act of
Parliament excluded them from voting.
Mr. J. BROWN proposed, and Mr. R. EKYN seconded,
a resolution to the effect, that the dissolution shall not
be considered an act of bankruptcy.
The resolution was carried by a large majority, and
after much violent language, and a great dial of alterc..-
lion, the meeting was dissolved.

WATERFORD, WEXFORD, WICK-
LOW, AND DUBLIN RAILWAY.
The first ordinary gt neral meeting of the proprietors
of the Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow, and Dublin Rail-
way was held yesterday at the offices of the cumpany,
West Strand; Lord Courtown in the chair.
The meeting was made special for the purpose of
authorising the directors to apply to Parliament in the
ensuing session for powers to deviate from the existing
line.

The CHAIRMAN stated that a report had been pre-
pared to be submitted to the shareholders, but the
directors had since had a communication with two gen-
tlemen from Dublin, and they therefore did not intend
to take any vote upon the document.
The report stated that as soon as practicable after the
company had obtained its Act the directors proceeded to
the consideration of the best manner in which it could
be carried out, and the plan the directors now desired
the proprietors to adopt was, first, that the extension
from Kingstown to Bray be forthwith carried out—dis-
tance, seven miles—and thence continued from Bray to
Wicklow—distance, seventeen miles ; secondly, from
the junction with the Wexford, Carlow, and Dublin
line at or near Enniscorthy to Wexford, and to the
proposed packet stat ion in the south bay, a
distance of twenty-six miles ; and, thirdly, that
the purchase of land should be made with reference to
this arrangement of the works, and the payment of calla
should be so regulated that no part of the capital should
be demanded before it was actually required. The
directors estimated that a call of 1/. 10s. per share
ought to be made forthwith, and a second call of 1/. per
share, payable in November, would be adequate to the
outlay consequent on such an arrangement of the
Ncadutot7vhhopfsoui
evo, rsvvlnankBlntwsi
ye6ocnoaerferlkool
shares,korbs:
syf t.
asAh havinge
cpaatTl
Wicklow,•
al
iiesd ntta.
goerullB47 . It had been resolved to allow
interest at the rate of 4/. per cent. per annum,
s
t
)n
advance
deahi
cvhadoaeanee:in.dpacßt
ceespsoaa,r2cmrceohpeose, ne:norynsoafitoomscaorltt.
oifinnoutatNgnoir
towards
fueowoadnfrirc
dndal )tessoart
splYtuelrhmp,
depositsol
epe2mi in
7ort the
county
and the payments to 39,8531. 16s. 4d., leaving a balance
of 72,925/. 3s. Bd. in hand.
Mr. Alderman BOYCE, a member of the deputation sent
from Ireland to advise the company upon the present
position and future prospects of the line, stated that he
and the other members of the deputation waited upon
the directors on Saturday, and pointed out to them the
impropriety of attempting to carry out the line in the
present state of Ireland.—(Hear, hear.) The directors
received them with the utmost courtesy, and lis-
tened attentively to what they had to say. At
the conclusion of the interview the directors ap-
pointed another interview for that morning, and
this latter interview had just been brought to a close,
and the result was, the directors were prepared to con-
cede to the deputation an adjournment of the meeting
till the 17th of February, 1847, when proper and well-
digested measures would be submitted to the share-
holders for their future guidance. He, therefore, begged
to move the adjournment accordingly.
Mr. GEoRaE seconded the motion.
Mr. DicxsoN found fault with the ccnduct of the di-
rectors in leasing the Dublin and Kingstown at an extra-
vagant rate of interest, while they had taken powers to
improve the port of Wexford, with which the share-
hol lers had nothing at all to do, and in issuing shares
since the month of August. The directors promised
that the line should be leased to the Great Western
Company, hut they had broken faith with the share-
holders. He also complained that they had withheld the
share regis' er wantonly from the proprietors.
Mr. BOSWELL said he understood the directors, upon
the advice of Mr. Lloyd and other eminent counsel, had
detertnined to held the original allottees responsible to
which they had subscribed ; and, acting
the xtent for
uthey had confiscated some tens of
t
• • I allottees themselves. All railways in Ire-
laa i were at ruinous discount, arid he could assure the
. a thousands stinds that
rwdo.irntehiPolfe'
from () property, which bad been purchased
wino.
were not at all exaggerated.
wished to know who would be entitled to
Mr. PEIRCE
meeting that the accounts of the awful state of Ireland
vote at the adjourned meeting?
Toe CHAIRMAN replied that those whose names were
theon e 'G ulro:d1 beupon
the directors to make propo-
sals to
r. u
entitled to vote.
the
Esi's:r N t
Great Western Company to lease the line.
Their only t
hope was in a
lease to that company.
Sir T. ASMONDE said this company had no connexion
r whatever with the company for improving the harbour
of Wexfor.l
Mr. D. W. HARVEY suggested, that if before the ad-
journment no offer came from or was accepted by the
Great Western Company, it should be one of the ques-
tions for them to consider whether they could not dig..

pense with the services of those gentlemen on the direc-
tion who were connected with the Great Western Com-
pany. Ile approved of the agreement for leasing the
Dublin and Kingstown Railway, because the receipts
already derivab'e from that line exceeded the rent they
were to pay for it ; and he had reason to believe
that the Dublin and Kingstown Railway Com-
pany were prepared to nullify that agreement,
and to take their line off their hands, reimbursing them
all the money they had expended up to that moment.
He hoped, when they met again, the deputation, or the
director s, would have some (I( finite preposition to sub-
mit to them by which the shareholders could either have
the option of withdrawing from the undertaking, or
going on with it.
Mr. PERRY, another member of the deputation from
Ireland, stated that it was understood, and indeed agreed
upon by the directors, that the deputation should have
access to all such information as a committee of inquiry
would have been entitled to. _ . _

The resolution was then put and carried unanimously,
and a vote of thanks having been passed to the Chair-
man, the meeting terminated.

DISTRESS IN SKIBBEREEN.

The following letter has been addressed by Sir George
Grey, in reply to the statement of the Poor-law Union
of Sltibbereen _ _

" Whitehall, Dec. 9, 1846.

" Gentlemen,— I have given a careful and attentive
consideration to the statement which, on behalf of the
Poor-law Union cf Skibbereen, you placed in my hands,
and to the r,quest which you have addressed to her
Majesty's Government, that a Queen's letter may be
issued, for the purpose of making a collection throughout
England for the relief of the distress in Ireland.
" The painful details which are annexed to your
written statement, and the information you have com-
municated to me in personal interviews, afford suffi dent
proof, if indeed such were wanting, of the severity
of the distress in your district, and it is impossible
not to feel deep sympathy for the sufferings which you
describe.

" I have no reason to believe that you entertain a
doubt of the desire of the Government to adopt all
practicable measures for the mitigation of the distress
unhappily so prevalent in Ireland. It is, therefore, un-
necessary that I should here enumerate the measures
which have been taken by the Government with this
object, or that I should advert in detail to the extent of
relief-works now carried on under the superintendence
of the Government, by which about 300,000 men are at
present employed. I am, however, desirous of stating
distinctly the conviction of the Government, that they
cannot, by any measures within their power, meet all
the cases of severe privation and distress a hich are to
be found under existing circumstances in Ireland.

" Much must remain to be done by individuals, owners
of property, and by private charity. Her Majesty's
Government, at the same time feel that a Queen's letter
is not, at the present moment, the most appropriate
mode of raising funds for the relief of these cases of
distress. A Queen's letter is usually issued for the
purpose of making a collection in aid of funds already
raised by public subscription. I should therefore ven-
ture to suggest that, instead of looking to this in the
first instance, means should be taken for raising among
the wealthier classes in Ireland, as well as in England,
contributions for the relief of extreme cases of want and
destitution, not capable of being met by the existing
Poor-law, or by the works in progress or to be here-
after sanctioned ; and I entertain no doubt, that if due
precautions were taken for securing the proper applica-
tion of such contributions to the relief of urgent and
severe distress through the local agency, which can
alone be competent to their duty, liberal aid would be
afforded by private benevolence in this country.
" In suggesting contributions in Ireland, I do not
overlook the fact, that much is being already done
there by individual charity, and that presentments for
public works will impose a heavy burden on the estates
of the landed proprietors ; but it must also be borne in
mind, that the maintenance of the destitute is in Eng-
land charged by law on the land and other fixed property
of the country, and that in Scotland, where in extensive
districts, the failure of the potato crop has been as
complete, and the consequent pressure on the people as
great as in Ireland, the landed proprietors are at the
present moment making great sacrifices and exertions
for the relief and support of their people. There are
also parts of Ireland in which the pressure is much less
severe than in others, and there is much property on
which the burden of the presentments for the relief of
distress has fallen lightly, if at all.
" I shall only add that, with reference to some of the
particulars contained in your statement, inquiries have
been instituted and directions given, which, I trust, will
have the effect of mitigating the severity of the suffering
in your neighbourhood.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) " G. GREY.
" Rev. C. Caulfield, Rev. C. Townsend."

MYSTERIOUS CASE OF POISON-
ING AT LUTON, IN BEDFORDSHIRE.
LUTON, Saturday Night.—The inhabitants of this
place and neighbourhood have been very much excited
during the past month, owing to the death, under vet.)
mysterious circumstances, of a young lady, named Allen.
niece of Mr. Edward Woakes, a surgeon, practising here,
under whose roof the deceased had lived for twelve
months previous to her death.
The deceased was found dead in her bed on the morn-
ing of the 231 of November last, under circumstances
which could not fail to call for inquiry, and, the facts having
been reported to Ezra Eagles, Esq., her Majesty's c ,ro
tier for Bedfordshire, that gentleman issued his warrant
for holding an inquest on the remains. A jury accord-
ingly met on the 24th ultimo, at the George Inn, in this
place, and, af.er a long and patient investigation, during
which it was elicited from the medical men examined that
the death of the deceased had been occasioned by prussic
acid, in the absence of any positive testimony as to how
or by whom the poison was administered, they returned
an open verdict.
The case, however,' has continued to excite a great
deal of interest ever since ; and very strong opinion,
having been expressed on th subject, Mr. Woakes, the
ut;cle of the teceased, addressed a communication to the
churchwardens of Luton,. requesting that they would
send a requisition to the coroner to re-open the investi-
gation. Mr. Woakes's application was backed by the
signatures of 22 of the most influential inhabitants of
the parish. On its receipt the churchwardens at once
acceded to the request, and enclosed the document to the
coroner. Upon receipt of it, Mr. Eagles at once directed
the exhumation of the body, and gave directions to the
proper officer to impannel a fresh jury, it being consi-
dered advisable by the coroner to avoid, as far as pos
sible all reference to the former inquiry.
This second investigation took place on Saturday.
Frederick Hawkins, M.D., of Ilitchin, proved having,
on the previous day, made an examination of parts of
deceased's body with a view to test whether she was
pregnant. The examination was made in the presence
of Mr. Benson and Mr. Heale. Witness found no indi-
cations of pregnancy.
Mr. Edward Baildon, superintendent of the Luton di-
vision of the Bedfordshire police, proved having exa-
mined deceased's bed room on the morning of her death.
He found nothing bearing the marks of having contained
poison. A letter, the seal of which was broken, was
lying under deceased's pillow. Mr. Woakes took it and
said it was of no consequence. He said it came from a
young lady named Cant. Witness asked Mr. Woakes
what prussic acid he had in his possession ? He replied,
that he did not use it. He afterwards said, all he had was
contained in a small bottle, and was so weak that it would I
not cause death. He said he had purchased it to poison a
dog. The witness here produced a letter from Messrs.
Evans, Lisder, and Evans, wholesale druggists. The object
of its production was understood to be to show that Mr.
Woakes had purchased of that firm a quantity of prussic
acid. [The letter was objected to, and not put in.]
Witness observed that the window of deceased's room
was fastened on the morning of her death. Mr. Woakes
did not speak to witness on the subject of deceased's
state of mind in November last, but he had done so two
days since.
George Woakes, nephew and apprentice to Mr.
Woakes, was next called.—This witness was examined
at great length. The chief points in his evidence were
his having missed the bottle of prussic acid from its
usual place on the morning of the 23d ult. The bottle
was afterwards found by witness, but not in the presence
of his uncle. The witness further stated, that on the
Sunday before deceased's death he had missed a lauda-
num bottle from its usual place, but found it directly
afterwards. None of the drug appeared to be gone.
Witness had fetched prussic acid for his uncle from a
chemist's in the town.
Fanny Plummer, a Mend of the deceased, was next
called.—She proved that after a " Dorcas meeting" in
August last (the deceased and all her connexions appeaa
to have been Methodists) deceased showed witness a
small bottle, which she stated contained prussic acid.
Deceased at that time expressed a wish to die ; and sub-
sequently witness received from her a letter, in which
she threatened to destroy herself. Witness had not told
any one of this circumstance, and now very much re-
gretted not having done so.
The jury consulted for about half an hour, and at the
expiration of that time recorded a verdict exactly similar
to that returned by the former jury, viz.—That the de-
ceased died from the effects of prussic acid, but how or
by whom administered there was no evidence to show.
The inquiry lasted from ten o'clock in the morning
til eight at night.

BURKE'S HISTORY OF THE LANDED GENTRY.—
This important work, it appears, is to be issued by Mr.
Colburn, in ten monthly parts, price ss. each, commenc-
ing with the Magazines on the Ist of January. The
Landed Gentry of England are so closely connected with
the stirring records of its eventful history, that some ac-
quaintance with them is a matter of necessity with the
legislator, the lawyer, the historical student, the specu-
lator in politics, and the curious in topographical and
antiquarian Icre. This work furnishes such a mass of
authentic information in regard to all the principal
families in the kingdom as has never before been brought
together. It relates to the untitled families of rank, as
the " Peerage and Baronetage " does to the titled ; and
forms, in fact, a peerage of the untitled aristocracy. It
embraces the whole of the landed interest, and is indis-
pensable to the library of every gentleman.
The following announcement appeared among the
marriages in the papers last week:—" On the 2d of
August last, at the British Embassy, Paris, by the late
Bishop Luseombe, Dr. Larduer, to Airy, only daughter
rimeot Co '
havinglonel
b Spicer,een late of
previouslythe
solemnised 1h
io
t h
et the United
States."
TS
the
UNFOUNDED REPORT Or PRINCE l‘
ILLNESS.—It appears by a letter from
Sth, that the statement made so positively
ill was
paper of Prince Metternich being
dangerouslywastogive a grand
dmner to Lord Ponsonby and
entirely unfounded. The Prince
diplomatic corps at Vienna on
SOCIETY.— an e d rs "Messiah"
VribEe: a Cologne
Vienna,
nEa, RN
OIfC I
will be performed at Exeter,
-ball on Wednesday next.ttehheee
9th.
other
SACRED HARMONIC S members of the