The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-16 00:00:00

AYLESBURY.

The Aylesbury Election Committee reassembled at
the usual hour this morning; Mr. R. Palmer in the
cheat..
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, a carrier, of Aylesbury, gave similar
eridence.
Christopher Williamson, a clerk to Mr. Tindal, the
wititioner, 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
take them to the George Inn. Subsequentl7 the Rev.
Mr. Owen, an active friend of Mr. Deering s, brought
ap a number of voters to poll who were in 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 sulject 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.

BE W DLEY.

The, Bewdley Election Committee re-assembled at the
ttsue.l hour this morning ; Mr. Wrightson in the chair.
Mr. Sergeant WRINGHAM, having addressed the Com-
mittee on behalf of Sir Thomas Winnington,lproposed to
call Mr. Elgie to rebut the case made out against the
lion. 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 WRANGNAM 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. Elgio's evidence could be received.
Mr. Frederick Thomas Elgie, a solicitor, of Wor-
cester, was then examined, and certainly his evidence
excited the astonishment of the Committee, as no doubt
it will our readers. Having explained the evidencee 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 heldiscovered that
a praetice prevailed on the Conservative side
of kidnapping voters who wore inclined to support Sir
Thomas Winnington on 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
engaging a number of navigators (between 300 and 400)
who wore engaged on the Oxford, Worcester, and Wol-
.-verhampton Railway, at Worcester, to go over to Bewd-
ley, and Stourport, to protect Sir T. Winningtou's voters
from the attacks of the other side. These men were, of
course, engaged in this way several days, and the ex-
penses alleged 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
She 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 Bewdley or Stourport during the poll-
ing, it might endanger the peace of those places,
ho consented to withdraw them. Ho did did
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 off.
Other witnesses were called to confirm Mr. Elgio's
statement, after which the Committee adjourned till
to-morrow, at eleven o'clock.

LOU-VAIN A LA SAMBRE RAIL-

WAY.—(THIS DAY.)
A special general misting of the bhareholders of this
undertaking was held this afternoon, at the London
Tavern.

JOHN BARNES, Esq , President, took the chair,
and called upon the Secretary to read the report, which
was a most ♦oluminous document. It stated, amongst
other things, that nothing had come to the knowledge of
the directors which prevented their conscientiously
affirming that the Louvain I la Sambre Railroad would,
if brought into operation as contemplated, be as certain
as any 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 Gastuche
(Wavre) diminished in extent and delayed in execution
as far as circunsstaaces would permit—that in any case
the heavy engineering expenses incurred upon those
works should be put an end to by the discontinuance i.f
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 funning, from local causes, the peculiar
portion of the concession to which a v. ry considerable
and remunerative profit is insured so soon as it is
opened; and the directors had acted upon the report s,,
far as it laid in their power. The coarse, or trap e,
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 to long
pending with regard to a partial fu-ion of this company
with that of the Great Luxemburg, and from other
causes, is not yet definitively settled. The balance-
sheet showed an amount in the hands of the company
up to the 31st of December, 1847, including `• caution "
money, of 48,122/ ss.
The CHAIRMAN moved that the 'report be received
and adopted, and stated that it was in the contemplatior
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 21,000/. had been ex-
?ended, and devote the proceeds fur the benefit of the
shareholders ?

The CHAIRMAN said, he believed the Government
would not consent to their being sold.
Tho motion having been seconded,
Mr. SHEPHERD stated that the cull of IL per share
about to be made was not likely to be responded to, as
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 unfcrtunate
vandertaking. 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
eeu could arty
gotal'r a backngP
ment by which the moneyinvested
again.
In reply to another qu..stion, the CHAIRMAN stated
that the Government bad a claim t.o. their expending an
per cent. of the subscribed capital in
that 30 per cent.,
carrying out the
works, and when their outlay exceeded
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 40,0001. to
complete the line from Charleroy to lieusart, and they
anticipated a return of 15/. per cent. upon
laid out on that portion when opened. the money
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 groat deal more, persons being
mad to get concessions fur any money. It was agreed
that 30,000/. should be paid when granted. 22,000 i.
when the line was finished and open for traffic, and
20,0001. more if the line paid on an average 51. per cent.
for three years.
It was stated by the Chairman that ife.in the present
position of the company, the line was abandoned, there
would be no assets to return to the shareholders. He
ale° 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,
10s. on the Ist July, and 10s. on the Ist August.
A vote of thanks having been passed to the Chairman
end directors, the meeting separated.