The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-03 00:00:00

Wititton

OFFICE, Seven o'Clock.

XCIIEQUE It-(T HIS DAY.)

TEE ATTORNEY-GENERAL V. WARD•
(Continued fromonr Afternoon Edition.)

Evidence having been adduced to prove the case,
tir. WounswcP.TH addressed the jury for the defence, de-
claring that the tobacco was deposited in the shed without
the defendant's knowledge, and that no ono was more sur-
prised when it was discovered there than the defendant
himself.
The Soucrron-GENErtm, replied, ridiculing the idea that
so large a bulk of tobacco could be placed upon the defend-
ant's premises without his knowledge or consent. There
could, he contended, be no reasonable doubt that the contra-
bands goods were placed in the shed with the guilty know-
ledge of the Oefendant, and therefore the verdict of the jury
ought to be for the Crown.
Mr. Baron PLArr then summed up; and the jury, after a
short consultation, found a verdict for the defendant.

WORCESTER, TENBURY, AND
LUDLOW RAILWAY.—(THIS DAY.)
A meeting of the directors and shareholders of this Com-
pany was held at the London Tavern this day, at one o'clock,
for the purpose of considering the proceedings necessary to
be hereafter adopted with respect to the undertaking.
_Wil-
liam Richardson, Esq., occupied the chair.
A very small number of shareholders were present.
The CHAIRMAN said he had much pleasure in meeting
the shareholders on that occasion. They had fulfilled the
trust reposed in them as far as was practicable, as they had
complied with the standing orders and lodged the neces-
sary deposits with the Accountant-General, and were
ready to enter Parliament. They were, however, of opinion
that, in order to obviate unnecessary expense and a con-
test in which he feared they would not be successful, that
it would be advisable, if possible, to enter into an amalga-
mation with the Great Western, or some other company, but
they did not feel themselves at liberty to take such a course
without the consent of the shareholders, and had therefore
sailed them together to hear a statement read respecting
e proceedings and a balance-sheet of the receipts and
~Ilsbureements.
Pak. PINSVORD then read the statement referred to, which
set forth that the Company was registered in May last, that
tee capital was proposed to be 400,0001., in 800 shares of
itA. each, deposit 21. 15s. per share, and was intended to com-
mence at Worcester, and to be carried near Tenbury, to its
termivatioa at Ludlow. Leaving the vale of the Severn, it
would reach with an easy sweep the Terne Valley,
and, running up the course of the Terne, would
pnrsue throughout the greater portion of its course a
water level, and would form a portion of that great chain of
communication between the metropolis and Porthdynllaen.
2,245 shares were issued in the first instance, and
realised 6,173/. 158. In June the Great Western
Company obtained their Bill to make an extension
from 'Worcester to Porthdynllaen,"the road proposed to be
traversed by this Company. A second allotment of 4,665
shares was shortly after made, and realised 12,828/., leaving
1,230 shares still to be allotted, which, at 2/. 15s. per share,
would make a further capital of 3,382/. 103. Communica-
tions were then entered into with the Great Western with a
view to effect an arrangement with them for the sale of the
Company. They sought to obtain 10,000/., then 7,0001., but
the Great Western refused to give more than 5,000/., which
was refused, and the negotiations were broken off. They
anticipated, however, that as an independent scheme they
would meet with success in the House of Com-
mons, in which case they would have to call on the
shareholders for an additional deposit of 2/. 10s. per share, in
order to comply with the standing orders of the Lords. The
balance showed that they had received 19,022!. 17s. Bd., out
of which they had paid 11,300/. to the Accountant-General,
and 6,485/. 1 Is. 10d. of the various expenses of the Company,
including 1,933/., 155., which had been paid to the engineer
and traffic-taker. All their liabilities consisted of the re-
mainder of the engineers and the solicitors and Parliamentary
agents' bills. Toe balance at their bankers' amounted to
1,237/. ss. 10d.
The CHAIRMAN said he should feel happy to give env ex-
planations that might be required with respect to the affairs
of the Company.
A SHAREHOLDER. inquired the amount which the engineer
claimed in addition to the suns he had received.
The CHAIRMAN replied, that he had already received
1,5001., but he had cot supplied them with a bill, setting
forth the whole sum ho claimed, although requested to do so.
His demands and estimates were very extravagant, so much
so, that the directors felt it their duly to dismiss him,
and they had now a working man, who would do
all that was necessary at far less expence. Mr. Gar-
vitt, who was the engineer, had behaved towards the board
in a very unsatisfactory manner. If they found his bill ex-
orbitant, he: would suggest that it should be submitted to a
jury of their countrymen.
A SHAREHOLDER said he was anxious to know the whole
amount of their liabilities.
The CHAIRMAN said they had already expended
6,485/. lls. 10d. 10,000/. he considered would meet the
whole of the expenses, including the liabilities to which al-
lusion had been made.
Mr. Kxox inquired if the provisional committee had taken
up their shares 7
The CHAIRMAN said that all the directors had paid
up the whole of the shares allotted to them—in fact, they
held nearly one-fourth of the whole number issued. The
provisional:committee had no shares alloted to them, because
they did not apply for them.
A SHAREHODER considered that the names ought to be
published.
Mr. KNox said it was important to know that the original
shareholders had taken no interest in the Company.
The CHAIRMAN said he had only been connected with the
Company for a few months, and had been requested to join
it by Mr. Bryden, the Parliamentary agent. He took 20
shares, in order to qualify himself for the office of director,
out subsequently he had taken 100 more, on all of which he
:led paid. The directors had taken great pains to bring the
s'empany to the state it was then in.
Several shareholders regretted that the directors had not
opted the terms offered by the Great Western Company.
Mr. STEI'IIe.NSON (one of the directors) said none of the
original Company sat on the board. 'When the present di-
sectors became connected with the Company they found that
it had been greatly mismanaged, and by their united exer-
tioas nearly the whole of the shares were allotted and paid
7ipir. The directors had not trafficed in the shares which
they had taken up, but had continued to hold them up to
the present time, and if the deposits had not been sufficient
to comply with the standing orders, they would have raised
the necessary capital amongst themselves.
The SECRETARY, in reply to a question, stated that the
directors had rcuraed deposits to the amount of 3851. to the
parties who wished to withdraw from the Company, on ac-
count of the shares not being considered good.
In reply to other questions, the Cliainatassi and some of the
directors stated that thefeeling,in the locality:through which
the Nine was proposed Co traverse was as much infer our of
their project as of the one projected by the Great Western
Company. They believed that that Company was prepared
to enter Parliament, but they could not ascertain the fact
until Friday, which was the last day for petitions. They an-
ticipated that the expenses incurred would amount to be-
tween 10'. and 12s. 6d. per share.
A DIRECTOR said he feared the feeling of the locality was
in favour of the Great Western project, on account of its-bring
an established Company, and no doubt they were prepared to
give them the most determined opposition, and to sweep
them off the line if possible.
After some discussion,
Mr. Kaox suggested that they should endeavour to amal-
gamate with the Great Western, as they would realise more
by that arrangement, from the premium to which the shares
of an unopposed project could not fail to attain.
The CHAIRMAN—The directors were of the same opinion.
Mr. Keiox then moved, " That the directors be authorised
to effect an amalgamation with the Great Western or some
other company, and to take such measures as may appear to
them to be conducive to the interests of the Company."
The CHAIRMAN said he had reason to believe that the
Great Western would not object to amalgamate with them.
A vote of thanks was then passed to the Chairman and
committee for their exertions, which was acknowledged by
the Chairman, and the meeting separated, on the under-
standing that another meeting should be held, but that the
directors should inform them, in the event of an amalgama-
tion bein; effected, where they might obtain the necessary
scrip,
or, In the event of a dissolution of the Company, where
they might obtain the return of their deposits, less the ex-
penS69 incurred.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

(THIS EVENING.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Their Lordships met to-day at Five o'clock.
The Duke of ROXBURGHE presented apetitionfrom
Seacome, in favour of agricultural protection, and
against any interference with the existing corn-laws.
Lord FEVERSHAM presented :a petition from the
landowners, farmers, tradesmen and others, of Melton,
in the county of York, against any alteration in the
corn-laws. He also presented a number of petitions
from other places to the same effect.
Lord MONTEAGLE moved for a copy of certain re-
turns from the Secretary of the Treasury, relating to
local taxation.—Agreed to.
RELIGIOUS DISABILITIES BILL.
The LORD CHANCELLOR obtained leave to bring
ioa Bill for relieving her Majesty's subjects from cer-
tain. penalties and disabilities respecting their religious
opinions, and moved that it be read a first time.
Lord CAMPBELL asked if the present Bill was in
oufo.rmity with the recommendation of the Commission
Theto consider the subject last year ?
The LORD CHANCELLOR, in answer to his Noble
rriend, had only to state that he had advised Sir Ed-
. ard Ryan to divide the Bill into two Bills, and this
-45,a,9 one of the Bills: the other Bill related to, the Acts
-)f Allegiance and Supremacy.
The Bill was then read a first time, and their Lord-
ships adjourned till Thursday.