The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-21 00:00:00

proposed for Common Councilmen for the year ensu-
ing :—Messrs, Curling, Old, jun., Bower, Knill, John-
ston, Roberts, Phillip, Williams.
PORTSOKEN WARD.
A vert strong contest expected in this ward, the
electors of the Jewish persulsion being determined to
oppose every person who voted against Mr. Sa!oman
when he stood for Alderman of the ward.

THE PROPOSED NEW BRIDGE.
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHARING CROSS
BRIDGE COMPANY.—(TiIIS I)AY.)
A special general meeting of the shareholders in this
company was held at one o'clock this clay, at the offices,
No. 9, Villiers-street, Strand, `• to take into considera-
tion the notice advertised i❑ the London Gazette of 4th
November last, of an intended application to Parliament
for powers to erect a bridge across the Thames, from or
near 'Whitehall-place to the opposite side of the Thames,
with approaches thereto from York-road and elsewhere,
as in such notice particularised : and further, to take
into consideration and to determine the course to be pur-
sued, and the steps to be taken in reference to such in-
tended application to Parliament and the proposed new
bridge, and to pass such resolutions as in the Opinion of
such meeting shall be expedient for the better protection
and advancement of the property and interests of the
shareholders, or otherwise to give effect to the deter-
mination of the meeting."
William Hawes, Esq., the deputy-chairman of the
company, presided. There was a numerous attendance
of proprietors.
Mr. Lawrence, the secretary, having read the adver-
tisement convening the meeting,
The CHAIRMAN proceeded to address the meeting.
He said it was scarcely necessary for him to say that the
reason the directors had called the proprietors together
was for the purpose of laying before them what
they (the directors) had already done with respect
to the project now before the public, for erecting a new
bridge across the Thames, to state their views with
regard to it, and for the purpose of submitting to the
shareholders the plans which they had devised for the
purpose of protecting the interests of the company as
much as possible. The directors thought, as soon as
they saw the plans, or rather read the advertisement,
that it would be best not to take any public steps in the
matter until the plans were deposited ; and they ac-
cordingly waited until the 30th of November had ex-
pired, when the plans had to be deposited, in order
that they might have an opportunity of examin-
ing them. When they had procured them, they
immediately waited on Lord Morpeth, the Chief
Commissioner of the Woods and Forests, from whose
office the plans apparently were furnished, and explained
to him the extreme hardship which would be imposed
upon this company, if the Government stepped forward
and erected a new bridge in direct opposition, and in
juxta-positiou with the one which they had so recently
erected under the powers of an Act of Parliament, which
specified that " the company were to erect a bridge,
which- would be of great public advantage." That
the public had derived advantage from the bridge
was sufficiently proved by the large amount of
traffic that daily passed over it. The utility of the
bridge, as set forth in the preamble of the Bill, had,
therefore, been amply demonstrated. They urged upon
Lord Morpeth that the bridge appeared to be a proposi-
tion which had emanated from the Government, but he
made no reply whatever to this observation ; but, after
considering the subject for some time, the deputation
asked his Lordship where the funds requisite for the
erection of a new bridge were to come from ? Lord
Morpeth said, "We have no funds--I have nothing to
do with the funds," adding that the plan was put
before the public by the Commissioners of Metropolitan
Improvements; he did not, however, say that it was not
a Government measure beyond that it had emanated
from these Commissioners. He likewise added that he had
no funds whatever at his command, either to erect a
bridge or to give compensation to any parties whom the
erection of such a structure might injure. Having dis-
covered, then, that the Government did not intend to
oppose the Charing Cross- bridge Company, and that
that company should not have to oppose them,
the directors added a postscript to a circular which
they issued a short time ago to the shareholders,
asking them to attend a meeting which was to be held in
the Westminster-road, in order to concert what mea-

cures should be taken to oppose the project. That
meeting, as they were no doubt aware, ‘N as most fully
attende by all the influential persons residing in the
neighbourhood. From that meeting a committee ema-
nated for the purpose of devising the necessary means
to carry into effect the object for which the meeting was
called, and that committee was now in active operation.
A meeting would be held this afternoon on the Westminster
side of the bridge, in order to take steps for the holding
of a public meeting, at which Sir De Lacy Evans would
occupy the chair, and at which there would be, he
believed, a strong expression of public feeling against
what he was justified in terming an almost useless pro-
ject.—(Cheers.) The directors had been endeavouring
to ascertain by whom the bridge was put forward. Mr.
Barry had been aimed at, but he saw a gentleman there
(Mr. Grissell) who was intimate with Mr. Barry, and
who stated, at the meeting in the Westminster-road,
that the project was not Mr. Barry's, and that he did
not approve of it as it was laid before the
public, as he spoke from an intimate knowledge
of the views of Mr. Barry. They were, therefore, not
justified in saying that it had emanated from a gentle-
man of the power and position of Mr. Barry. Then
from whom did it emanate ? It had been intimated that

the South-Western Railway were its promoters ; but he
(the Chairman) declared that he could not believe it,
because they had Westminster-bridge on one hand, and
Waterloo and Hungerford-bridge on the other, and
would necessarily be anxious to avoid the confusion
which the new bridge could not fail to create in the im-
mediate vicinity of their proposed terminus in
the York-road. He believed, then, that it was
a suggestion of the under officials of the Im-
provement Commission, who had done nothing yet—
it was a crude, unconsidered proposition, emanating
from them ; at least, that appeared to him the only way
to account for it, because no one on the face of the earth
would derive any benefit from it.—(Cheers.) Why, if
it were mark, the very converse of the conduct of the
Government would take place. For some years they
had been doing all they could to afford the people the
benefit of large open areas like the parks, but if
the bridge were made, those who resided on
the other side of the water would have to go
half a mile further than at present in order to
reach St. James's and Hyde Parks. Besides, the Go-
vernment had sanctioned a new street running towards
Westminster-bridge, and the parties in whose hands it
was placed are bound to complete it under the pain of
heavy penalties. Could they believe that the Government,
after bringing responsible men into an undertaking like
that new street, would render the improvement perfectly
useless, by placing a bridge at some distance from, and
compelling the traffic wishing to cross the river to go a
considerable distance round? He did think then that he
was justified in saying that the project was one which
was calculated to injure every body who had property in
the neighbourhood of the present site, and do no puolic
service whatever.—(Hear, hear.) Believing that they
would agree with him in these sentiments, he would
proceed to read a series of resolutions which the
directors had framed, with a view of opposing the pro-
position in the ensuing session of Parliament. Three
bridges with so many piers would be a serious
interruption to the navigation of the river. It
was a subject, however, of which he hoped the
City would take cognizance. It had always been
a great point with them not to have too many
arches on account of the navigation. Judging by
the plans of the new bridge, he thought it would have
seven or eight piers, and that the arches would
be low, and this was proposed to be done at a short
distance from their own and Waterloo bridge. The
directors thought that as this was a matter of the
greatest importance to the shareholders of the bridge,
and to the market company, that it would be
most desirable that a Parliamentary Committee,
the appointment of which the directors proposed,
hreigsphelyct
etoonnthecetendewwitbhridtghee, hMarketcconotmaipnans3o,
to watch whatever proceedings might be taken with
ould
.meTloienye•
therefore proposed that it should consist, it addi-
tion to several of the directors of the Bridge
Company, of one of the largest shareholders and
proprietors, and the deputy-chairman of the Market
Company, if he would do them the favour to accept a
seat in the committee.--(Hear, hear.) The directors
thought that by the adoption of this plan
they should have the aid of the Market Com
pany, which they considered very important, and
also that the friendly intercourse which would thus be
engendered would tend to the amicable settlement of
matters which hitherto they had not been able satisfac-
torily to adjust. The chairman concluded by submitting
the first proposition.
Mr. FEW suggested the addition " of Charing-cross-
bridge, so recently sanctioned by Parliament," and the
expulsion of the word " alarm."
might justly use the
word,
thought
more
than
surprised by the an.
they
nouncement of the new bridge.
The
as CHAIRMANthe vc'er e

Mr. FEW thought they had no cause for alarm, as the
Legislature would never sanction the project.
Another SHAREHOLDER considered that as the Le-
gislature had sanctioned the construction of Charing-
cross- bridge, they would not be so unjust as to utterly
destroy their property.
Mr. SrUTELY, the deputy chairman of the Market
Company, said that as that was the first time he had
heard of the proposition of adding him to the committee,
he must have time for consideration.
Mr. FEW considered that a greater number of pro-
prietors ought to be in the committee, as the labour
would be excessive.

The CHAIRMAN said they would act in concert with
the Westminster Committee, and would, consequently,
derive great aid from them.
Ca4;taill KELLY though that the two gentlemen that
had been named. Mr. Robert Few and Mr. Stutley, one
the recent solicitor of the company, and the other the
deputy chairman of the Hungerford-market Company,
amply sufficient for all purposes.—(Hear, bear) He
would, therefore, strongly recommend that the number
should not be increased. I, a further addition was re-
quired it might be easily obtained at a future period.
The Criatniumi said that he had considered the sub-
ject to be discussed at the present meeting of such
vital importance, both to the Bridge and the
Few,
Market Company, that he wrote on Satur-
day lastto
that he would forget all past differeexnpereessing a hope
, and heartily
join with thedirectors Mr. Robert
o t
tli
Company in their endeavours to annihilate their common
enemy—(Hear, hear)—and, ho was happy to say that
e Charing Cross-bridge
he had received from that gentleman a letter, fully
s
bearing out the high opinion he had ever held of him,
and expressing the happiness he felt at its reception, and
stating his determination to co-?perate with the Charing
Cross-bridge Company in putting an end to a scheme
that, if carried out, would be alike fatal to the interests
of the company and theniselves;(llear.)
Mr. STA.T.NTON wished to knout from the chairman