The Sun.
London, England, 1851-05-22 00:00:00

rHABLVG•CRQ,SS BRIDGE COMPANY.

"." X special meeting of the shareholders in this com•
pany was held on Tuesday at their office, 9, Villiers-
street, Strands.; Mr. Coles Child, chairman of the
directors, in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN read a report, which stated that the
meeting had been convened for the purpose of laying
before the proprietors the draft of a Bill, which the
directors, acting upon the power conferred upon
them at a previous meeting, had thought it advisable
to introduce into Parliament. That Bill, after having
passed the House of Commons, was now opposed by
Mr. Few, a large shareholder in the company, whose
objection, however, had been taken more with a view
of obtaining a right to be heard in support of a
clause for altering the mode of voting, than with the
serious intention of opposing the Bill. The financial
condition of the company had occasioned much
anxiety to the directors, and they saw no other way
out of their difficulties than by raising capital in the •
manner provided for by the Bill. The directors
thought it right to say that they did not approve of
the alteration of the voting clause, as proposed by Mr.
Few, and hoped they would be authorised to procaed
with the Bill in its present state.
The SECRETARY then read a draft of the Bill,
which empowered the directors to raise additional
capital to the amount of 40,0001., the guaranteed in-
terest not to exceed 6 per cent.
In reply to some observations by Mr. ADAMS,
The CHAIRMAN said no one could regret more than
the directors thec
Act o
ircuinstant.cpesarwhh4imchencto.mpTehlleednathoetmt.
to apply for another
gage and bond debts of the company amounted to
44,4701., and the sum in question was reqeired to pay
part of that debt and to discharge other liabilities
already existing. The directors had endeavoured in
vain to raise money upon bonds and mortgages, and
the proprietors had themselves compelled them to take
the present course, instead of resorting to preference
shares. He concluded by moving that the Bill be ap-
proved of, and that the directors be authorised to take
the necessaryme. measures with a view to the passing of
the same.
Mr. ROBERT FEW moved as an amendment the in-
sertion of an additional clause. He observed that the
company's Act of incorporation provided that no per-
son or corporation should have more than five votes,
but that the Hungerford Market Company had
evaded that provision, and by spliting their votes (a
coursel
by
y s
f procedureirF. belly and the
elwhichhaodbr eminenteendecl a
lawyers)red to be
ihlalega obtained an undue preponderance over other
d
in-
terests in controlling the affairs of the Bridge Com-
htehicslaeuvisle,
by beperhofpoorcseindgtomionrseerattrwinags
einnttleyndthede
arrangement, and thus preventing the
ptoareym.
originale dTy
Market Company from assuming, under any circum-
stances, more than five votes.
Mr. STUTELEY (chairman of the Market Company)
said the introduction of such a clause would jeopar-
dise the whole Bill, since it would necessarily excite
much opposition on the part of theth now possessed,
directors
cbtaodrs
dearly
farthlye
Market Company, who would not lightly forego the
and privileges
which
they
and advantages
considered
th theyat
purchased by the sacrifices which they had made in
favour of the Bridge Company. They had consented
to take 900 new shares upon the express understand-
ing that they should have such an influence in the
management of the company as was warranted by the
large stake which they had in the property ; and the
dispute which had taken place on the subject had al-
ready been decided in their favour by the late chair-
man, the Earl of Devon. He thought it was dis-
honourable for the Bridge Company, because they
no longer required the service of the Market Com-
pany, to attempt to repudiate their votes.
Mr. HAWES (late deputy-chairman of the Bridge
Company) controverted some of the statements of Mr.
Stuteley, and a very warm discussion ensued, which,
after continuing some time, was terminated by the
interference of the Chairman.

The amendment was then put and rejected by a
large majority. Mr. Few demanded a poll, which
was taken, when the amendment was negatived by 39
to 19. The original motion was then put and carried,
aildsthe proceedings terminated.

IRELAND.
DIPLOMATIC REVELATIONS.
DUBLIN, WEDNESDAY.-It would appear from the
following very singular.account of an interview had
within the precincts of the Viceregal-lodge, which ap-
pears in the Packet of last night, that we are on the
evelof a great legal " crisis" here, which may or may
not terminate to the satisfaction f the indignant juror
who means to figure as plaintiff in the case of "Burke
v. the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland :"

"Yesterday Mr. Burke's solicitor waited upon his
Excellency at the Phoenix-park, and was favoured by
an interview with the Honourable Gerald Ponsonby,
who throughout the affair acted with becoming cour-
tesy. Mr. Burke's solicitor informed that gentleman
that he had written twice to the Earl of Clarendon with
reference to the publication of the libel on his client in
the Tablet newspaper, but had been favoured with no
reply. Mr. Ponsonby, on the part of his Excellency,
acknowledged the receipt of the letters, but added that
he had received no instructions to return any answer.
Mr. Burke's solicitor then said he had called therefore on
that occasion, accompanied by his clerk, in order to have
the writ served in the usual way; that ho was desirous
of performing this necessary duty in the moat courteous
manner possible; that the ordinary mode of service was
the delivery of the writ personally to the defendant; but
that, as in the present case, this course might not be
convenient, he desired to know if Mr. Ponsonby would
accept service for the Earl of Clarendon? Mr. Pon-
sonby promptly acquiesced, and having accompanied Mr.
Burke's solicitor to the room where his clerk was in
waiting, accepted the customary service. He was then
advised, that within eight days the Earl of Clarendon
should enter an appearance, and that it was presumed
ho would instruct his solicitor to that effe3t. Mr. Pon-
sonby replied he supposed so, but remarked that until
he had consulted with his Excellency he could not state
anything. further."

SALES OF INCUMBERED ESTATES.

A bitch of six estates was set up yesterday for
sale before a more than usually crowded court—a
great number of speculators being present. The
biddiugs throughout the day were generally spirited,
and altogether the tone of the market was more ani-
mated than it had been for several weeks past. Of
the six properties, four were situated in the county
e
of Kerry, and with the exception of four lotsonon
of the estates the whole found ready buyers at
.3,
remu-
nerative rates of purchase to the sellers—,,hateThle
considering the present depressed land.vaeluethrfee
lots, the
estate of Mr. Collis was offered
wasz
but 175/. per
aggregate profit rent of whichh sum of 3,5301. The
annum, and which realised
P
years.
the first four were withr
rate of purchase for each lot twase about 18, 34, and 15
in six
two, producing a profit
Tlheets, esbtautte of Mr. Hickson was put u
drawn, and the other
were
sold for '1,060/ ,or
was sold in the
15 years' p
rent of 140e/r.
chaasrrThe estate of Mr. Richard
pro
of Mr. William Scaly,
bLeelyknfee,rw3it,shoaol.
Thefit rentest a
toef
the rental of which was estimated at 4431., subject
to an annuity and other charges, which reduced it
by more than 501. a year, produced 6,6001. The
ng properties were all situated in the county of
Berry. An estate in the county and town of Sligo,
thef foregoing eg
pro i 0
property of Charles Martin, and consisting, for
the most part, of building ground and premises in
the county, yielding a rental of about 450/. annually,
was sold in four lots, which Monaghan
6,7001. The
concluding sale was of the Monaghan estates of Mr.
Henry Mitchell. The profit rental was a little over
4001. a year, which was disposed of in three lots for
the sum of 5,810/. The entire amount realized by
the day's sales amounted to 28,4401.

ANOTHER SERIOUS CONFLAGRATION
IN THE CITY.
Last night, about a quarter-past ten o'cloc, k, a, firs
that for upwards of an hour caused orelit aiarm
rarringdon-
amongst the residents of Shoe-
street, and the surrounding localities, broke
Pontifex
premises belonging to Messrs.
dlic.oppersmitbs. The
isa,:ber'do k_e
W.
in the
and J. Wood, lead merchants
Farringdon-street. It
and
of vast extent, the
premises belonging to the
itreatcvhiientgimaltmo almost as far
front being in Shoe-lane
backwards as the Angel
imagines' that the greater portion
was at one period
of the neighbourhood would
of the flames. Such, we are happy to say, proved
groundless.
Mr. Lamplough, chemist,
that It appears - of No. Ii 8,
one of his bedroom
perceive a . unusual glare of light in
looking
dpremn ipremises, accompanied
o f
rolling towards the roof of the mar-
ket.accompanied by a dense
Snow-13,
osi
,Ifl ,smoke
He immediately proceeded to the spot, calling,
as he went along, the engines in Farringdon-street.
Forthwith the various engines of the Brigade, West
of England Company, and the parish were dispatched
volume
Messrs.3ndo" I'o nt i whilsti i" s
to the scene of danger. The firemen then found that
the conflagration was raging in the premises used SS
the lead casting shop and the brass casting depart-
mTnts.

A plentiful supply of water having. been procured
from the New River mains, the engines were called
into operation, and under the direction of Mr. Braid-
Wood, the superintendent of the London establish-
ment, Mr. Colf the foreman of the B district, and Mr.
Connorton, the chief officer of the West of England
brigade, powerful streams of water were scattered
over the blazing pile, but, notwithstanding, it was
nearly midnight before the flames could be conquered,
and not until the lead and brass casting shops were
ebpu otrttehrattthhaet a
costly
nearly burned out, and the contents destroyed. One
o
of the firm informdees
f
moulds had bean
assort-
ment of patterns bad escaped the least injury.
Respecting the origin of the fire nothing that could
informed the reporter
be depended upon could be learned during the confu-
sion and excitement which prevailed when this report
was Written. Fortunately the firm was insured.