The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-22 00:00:00

TO LIEUTENANT GENERAL RR W. NAPIER.

Sir,—Having seen your letter in the Times of the
11th inst. on the assertion of Captain Brialmont, I
feel bound, as an eye witness, to answer your call
and to corroborate your statement, and at the same
time to deny most emphatically the assertion of
Captain Brialmont.
'have not had the pleasure of reading your His-
tory of the War, but I had. the honour.of serving
in the Light Division all through the campaign,
from Vimiera to Waterloo, for which I received the
war medal with 13 clasps and the Waterloo medal.
I well remember on the day -in question, at
Fuentes d'Onoro, our cavalry retiring through the
intervals of the three squares of the Light Division,
and immediately on their being clear of the squares
and our being seen by the enemy's cavalry, they
halted and reined up, not admiring the prospect
before them, and we retired slowly in order across
the plain to the position assigned us, but no charge.
No, no,, Sir ! the acquaintance of the French
cavalry and the Light Division had been made be-
fore that day, and they well knew the material
they had to deal -with. So little were we molested
by them on that day that I believe we did notleave
a man behind, either killed, wounded, or taken
prisoner. So much for the captain's vaunted
charge !
Net so the first day's march, after the memorable
battle of Salamanca, when I saw a square of the
French infantry completely broken by our heavy
dragoons after a severe struggle ; and believe not
man escaped. being either killed, wounded, or
taken prisoner. So great was the number of pri-
soners taken that they filled a church in a neigh-
pour.uig voyage.

I am, Sirs your obedient, humble servant,
THOS. GOULD,
Sergeant, late 52d Light Infantry.

Chester.

THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.

ROYAL SURREY' GARPENS COMPANY

Yesterday evening a meeting of the shareholders
in this undertaking was held at the Duke of Cla-
rence Tavern, Penton-street, Walworth, fur the
purpose of taking into consideration the unfortunate
position in which this company is at present placed.
The chair was taken by Mr. Coombe.

The CHAIRMAN said his feelings and opinions re-
lative to this company had been well known for
the last six months. He hoped every one who ad-
dressed the meeting would be heard, and upon this
understanding he should undertake the duties of
the chair. They were assembled as shareholders of
a great public undertaking, and he should be happy
if any one present could vindicate thb conduct of
the directors in the course they had pursued.
Mr. FLEMING said when he addressed the share-
holders on a former occasion he had gone at some
length into the accounts of the company. He
believed there were few who did not feel astonished
when the announcement was • made that the com-
pany was bankrupt. He did not mean to cast any
reflection upon individuals, but he did mean to
say that their affairs had been greatly mismanaged.
It appeared that the whole capital of the company
had been quite lost, and the petition for the wind-
ing up of the company was from the architect of
the,Music-hall. By reference to the deed of 'set-
tlement, they would find that 14,0001. had been
stated to be paid to Mr. Tyler, as the purchase-
money of the gardens. There were then 14 years
of the lease unexpired, the rental being a 461.
a-year. Any man, he contended, would know that
in the state in which the gardens then were, the
lease was not worth a farthing. The lease was
under the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury, and in
addition to the rent, the property was subjer.:t to a
septennial fine of a year and a half of the annual
estimated value. Now, they wanted to know,
first, why such a sum should have been laid
out on a speculation without consulting a com-
mittee of the shareholders, but simply arranged
and concocted by the promoters of the company.
The question would arise, who received that 14,0001.
—into whose hands it went in the first instance, and
how it was disposed of ? Mr. Tyler appeared to be
,the party, but it would be found he did not receive
it. He would not mention names, but he would
state this was a gross fraud, and no court would say
that auy director had a right to expend 14,0001. in
the purchase of property which was .not worth a
' farthing. The sum of 18,000/. was Int down as
expended on the building. There was n item of
3,1751. for preliminary expenses, but no stw-ement
was given what ,these expenses were for, ata he
was of opinion that the matter would not bear eza-
mination. The petition to have the company wound
up was from the architect of the building.
A SHAREHOLDER said the architect had not re-
ceived one farthing.
Mr. FLEMING said he was sorry to hear that, for
he had designed a beautiful building. Their loss mall
had been 58,5601. and they had 11,0001. odd to pay,
making a total of nearly 70,0001. (Hear.) Why
the British Bank seemed a fool to this. The direc-
tors would be put into the witness-box and would
be examined as to these matters. It might be said
that they should have looked into the accounts ;
but the accounts they could not get. Six months
ago they had been told by Mr. Coppock that there
had been no liabilities but the current expence of
the gardens ; and not only was a vote of thanks
moved at that meeting to the directors, but a
vote of indemnity also. He (Mr. Fleming) did
not understand the latter vote, and moved as an

amendment that it should be omitted ; but on the

question being put he was told by ihe secretary
that the amendment was lost. He might also state
that in consequence of advertisements put into the
newspapers stating that the company was flourish-
ing and paying 10 per cent., a large number of
'persons came forward and took shares, and from
source., there had been received 1,2001. There
were a great number of tradesmen and others
who would lose their accounts, and he wished it
to go forth that they had no knowledge of such
things, c.s they could not - obtain the accounts.
(Hear, hear.) He had a resolution to propose to
the meeting, but, before doingso, a document would
be read by the chairman.
Mr. NICHOL said he made an application to see
the books, as he was dissatisfied with the statement
which had been made to the shareholders. He was
refused, however, any access to the books by Mr.
Coppock. As the auditor was now present, he
should like to know why they were debited with
18,0001. for the building, when it seemed the money
was not paid. _ _

Mr.. WESTON said the whole of that money was
paid to the builders, but not to the architect.
Mr. CHAPPEL said he felt bound to say, as the
salary of M. Jullien had been referred to, that M.
'Jullien. had paid 4001. on account of his shares. He
had received nothing whatever on account of his
salary, and, in addition to that loss, he had made
himself liable to several tradesmen, which liability
he was afraid would fall upon him. (Shame.)
The CHAIRMAN then read a petition, which he
said with the consent of the meeting would he pm-
senteu te.•-worrow ktnts day) to the Court of Bank-
ruptcy. The petition was of conierable length,
and set forth a number of allegations wheel, it was
submitted should be searchingly inquired hate by
the shareholders, at the meeting which stands con-
vened by the directors for Tuesday next, the 25th
inst., and it prayed the Court not,to go into the
affairs of the bankruptcy—to-morrow (this day)
being appointed for that purpose—till after the
meeting to be held on Tuesday. The chairmansaid
if any one had any statement to make on behalf of
the directors he would be ready to hear it. .Be-
lieving, as he did, the document which he had read
to be a correct statement of facts he should be the
first to sign it, and should do so at once. (Hear.)
M. JULLIEN said that Mr. Beale at the first
meeting of the committee retired in disgust from
the direction, and Mr. Chappel soon after did the
same. Of the remaining directors (three we be-
lieve), one was the entire manager for the last six
months. He (M 'Jullien) had never received any-
thing for his salary, though lie had been working
hard for the last twelve months. He had engaged
all the artists for the Festtval, and after all the ex-
penses there was a-prefit of 1 • 000/ The receipts
were taken away every evening. The affair would
cost him about 6,0001., besides the loss of his
salary, and all he had got was a dishonoured bill
and a dishonoured cheque.
Mr. VINING doubted that the proposed petition
would be received. It would seem from the state
of the company that the affairs must be wound up,
and delay would not be advisable. The mortgage,
the purchase, and other matters could not be in-
quired into by a more competent court than the
Court of Bankruptey. There was such a thing as a
fraudulent preference, and a clause in the late act
would apply to the directors. He would advise
that they should immediately ascertain the rights
of the parties and things might be set right.
Mr. OLIvER asked whether the meeting on the
25th would take place, as it was reported it would
not be held ?
The CHAIRMAN said it was in the power of the
shareholders to hold the meeting if they decided to
do so.
Mr. FLEMING said that much as he had been
surprised before, he had been still more surprised
at what he , had heard at the meeting from M.
Jullien. That gentleman bad been the mainstay of
the concern, and he had been most shamefully
treated. (Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN said it appeared a deep fraud
had been committed, and they should sift it to the
bottom. (Hear,' hear )
Mr. NELSON LEE said he agreed with M. Jullien,
that if the gardens had 'been full every evening
they could ,not have paid in consequence of the
shameful management: Ho had been for many
years a caterer for public amusement, and he felt
sure that, if properly managed, there was no better
property in London than the Surrey Gardens.
(Hear.)
Mr. JULLIEN—A mine of wealth.
After some desultory discu,sion, the following
resolution was agreed to :
" Thai the petition, read by the Chairman, be
approved of and signed by the shareholders, and
be presented to the Court of Bankruptcy, to-mor-
row (this day) ; and it was further resolved that
Mr. Fleming be requested-to present, the petition."
The meeting terminated with a cordial vote of
thanks to the chairman.

DEATH FROM ADULTERATED SOAP.—The Rev. Mr
Lockhart, of the parish church, Kilmaurs, died very
suddenly at his manse on Wednesday evening last. It
appears that a few days before, while in the act of
supposed to have been in the soap, passed
Some poisonous sub-
he slightly cut his face.
shaving,athtarnoeueg his whole body, from the effects of which he
died. The rev. gentleman was much and deservedly
esteemed.—Ayr6kire Express.
SEVERE HAIL STORM. —During the thunderstorm on
Friday (August 14), the bail fell so heavily at Paulton,
Wil shire, that most of the windows in the village
were smashed to pieces, the crops of corn in the neigh-
-I),urhood were cur. to pieces, and a great number of
rabbits, laPrez, and tother animals were killed. Oar in-
formant picked up seven brace, and his farm•servant
raid he could, an Saturday morning, pick up in the
cornfields young partridges "by the bushel."
CONVICTION OF THE LATE GRAND MASTER OF THE
ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.--SOUTHAMPTON, Friday.—
J. C. Cos, late grand master of the order of Odd Fellows
(Aaricheater Unity), was placed at the bar before the
mayor and magistrates, charged on remand with not
giving up the funds committed to his keeping as corre-
sponding secretary of the order. The Bench declared
the charge proven, and ordered the defendant to pay
the amount of 1211.14. 10d. to the society, or in default
to be imprisoned for two calendar months, with hard
labour. The money was not forthcoming, and the
prisoner was committed to gaol.