The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-09 00:00:00

LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN

RAILWAY.

SPECIAL MEETING (THIS DAY).-POSTAL
COMMUNICATION WITH DUBLIN.

A special meeting of the proprietors of the London
and North-Western Railway was held this afternoon, at
the Euston Station, for the purpose of authorising agree-
ments with the Shropshire Union Railways and Canal
Company, or with all or any of the shareholders in such
last-mentioned company, with respect to the conversion
of all or any of the shares, or all o: any part of the stock,
of the Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company
into ordinary stock of the London and North-Western

Railway Company ; for authorising the London and

North-Western Railway Company to subscribe towards,
and
.to acquire and take shares in, the Buxton Extension
Capital of the Stockport, Dialey, and Whaleybridge
Railway Company, to an extent to be authorised by the
meeting, not exceeding in the whole 105,0001. ; to re-
ceive the heads of a contract, approved by the Govern-
ment, to be entered into between her Mlj-sty's Post-
master-General and the London and North-Western and
Chester and Holyhead Railway Company, and the City
of Dublin Steam-packet Company, for the conveyance
of the mails between London and Kingston ; and also to
submit to the proprietors an agreement for the purchase
by the London and North-Western Railway Company

of the Euston and Victoria hotels, situate respectively
in and adjoining to Easton-square, under the powers
conferred upon the company by Act of Parliament. The
Marquis of Chandos, chairman of the Board of Directors,
in the chair.

Toe CHAIRMAN, on rising, said that during last session

parliamentary sanction was obtained for the conversion

of the shares or stock of the Shropshire Union Company
into shares or stock of the London and North.
Western Company, which was merely carrying out
a previous arrangement ; and that the conversion
of the shares or stock authorised by the powers
referred to would not involve any additional pay-
ment or liability on the part of this company.
The extension authorised last session of the Stoci port
Disley and Whaley Bridge Railway will bring the town
of Buxton into immediate connection with the lines of
this company. The directors, for the same reasons
which induced them to take a❑ interest in the original
line, and which led the consultation committee to the
conclusion (stated in their report) "that the board,
under the circumstances then existing, acted prudently
in making arrangements to work the line, and for taeing
the portion of capital subsequently authorised by Parlia-
ment," recommend that the capital for the extension
line be taken to the extent authorised by Parliament,
105,0001., and that, when completed, the line be worked
on the same terms as the Stockport and Disley line.
As intimated by the directors in the last half-yearly
report, they were now enabled to state that the long
pending negotiation with the Government for the im-
provement of the Irish passenger and postal communi-
cation had resulted in an agreement as to the conditions
of a contract between the Postmaster-General and
the united companies (London and North-Western,
Chester and Holyhead, and City of Dublin),
under the act of 1855, fer a new postal and
passenger service between London and Kingstown.
the contract was for 14 years subject to a power of the
Government at any time after five years to put an end
t ) the contract, if they have reason to be die atiefiod with
the manner in which it was generally performed; in
which event the Government would purchase the
packets at a price to reimburse the net cost, to be deter-
mined by arbitration. The existing contract with the
City of Dublin Steam Packet Company was to terminate
when the new contract took effect. There
were to be provided four packets, each being
not less than 300 feet long, 1,700 tons measurement,
and of such c instruction as would be approved by the
Government as being suitable for this improved service,
and for the accommodation of the public. Ther© are to
be four communications—two each way daily—between
Loudon and Kingstown in eleven hours, subject to penal.
ties for delay, except in certain case., when arising from
causes beyond the control of the companies. Nothing
contained in the contract was to be interpreted to inter
tare with the rights of the Postmaster-General, or of the
companies under the existing agreements or contracts
with the Chester and Holyhead Railway Company, and
with the London and North Western Railway Corn.
parry, excepting so far as the establishment of these
new trains would render the service under such
contracts or agreements unnecessary. The new service
was to commence within twoyears from the execution of
the contract. By agreement between the companies,
the necessary capital, estimated at 300,000/e was to be
provided equally by the London and North Western
and City of Dublin Steam packet Companies. Tnis
company had the option of being halt-owners and
managers of the steam packets to be provided under
this contract. The directors, howevei, deemed it more
expedient, to arrange with the City of Dublin Company
for the performance of the sea portion of the service—
this company being relieved in respect thereof—
the vessels being available and at the disposal of
this company for the development of pansenger
traffic, as fully as if they were its own property.
Under this arrangement, the proportion of the capital
to be provided fur the construction of the steamboats by
the London and North-Western Company would be ad.
vanced as a loan, bearing interest at 5 per cent., on the
security of the four packets (costing double the amount
or the advance), and of•the receipts for traffic earned by
the steanavessels. The capital so advanced would be
repaid by annual instalments. For the land service,
there was to be paid annually the sum of 20,0001., inde-
pendent of and in addition to the amount now paid to the
London and North-Western company under their present
general contract, and the sum of 30,0001. now paid an-
nually to the Chester and Holyhead Company under
the existing arrangement between that Company and
the Government would continue to be so paid; which
sum of 30,0001. would, during the existence of this con-
tract, include, in addition to the service now performed
in respect to it, the service herein provided for.
By a recent Act of Parliament, the company
were empowered to provide hotel accommodation
in the vicinity of their London terminus. The
Easton and Victoria Hotels, built, in 1839, by
an hotel company, composed principally of shareholders
in the then London and Birmingham Railway, are now
let on lease, which expires in 1861. In view of this
event, and in order to insure the hotels being managed
under regulations and arrangements generals', so as to
afford the greatest possible accommodation to travellers
using the lines of this company, the directors have
deemed it expedient to purchase the buildings (the com-
pany already possessing the freehold) for 55,0001. The
rent payable under the existing lease suffices to pay a
full interest upon the amount of the purchase money.
They were let at 3,500/. per annum.
In answer to a question

The noble CriAiitmax said that the Disley extension
would be nine miles, and the estimated cost of construe-
from 170,0001. to 180,000/. The company was to take.
up shares in the extension to the extent of 105,0001.
Atter a short discussion resolutions for carrying out
the objects of the meeting were agreed to, after taking
a pod on the resolution relative to the Disley branch.
In answer to a question
The ❑oble CHAIRMAN said that the company were not
borrowing money, and any fluctuations in the shares
could only be attributed to stock jobbing. The company
was very easy in respect of money matters.
The meeting then terminated.

LONDON AND MIDDLESEX ARCHALOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
—The members and friends of this society met on Mon-
day to the number of several hundreds at Hampton
Court Palace, for the purpose of inspecting the various
objects of interest which abound in that favourite loca-
lity. They assembled at half-past 12 o'clock in the great
hall, where they were addressed by the Rev. T. Hugo,
who afterwards conducted them over the building, and
pointed out to their notice the objects which needed or
deserved remark. The palace stood on what was in the
first instance a domain b -longing to the Knights Hospi-
tailors of St. John of Jerusalem. Cardinal Wolsoy suc-
ceeded in obtaining a grant of it, and in the year 1515
commenced the erection of an edifice, which he designed
on a scale of almost unparalleled magnificence. After his
fall, however, Henry VIII., with a view, no doubt, to
remove from the palace some portion of its founder's
prestige, demolished the great hall and chapel, and re-
placed them with erections of his own. The popular
belief which attributes to the Cardinal the erection of the
present hall is therefore incorrect. The present hall was
the work of Henry, and was in all probability in no way
superior, but rather the contrary, to that of the Cardi-
nal, whose taste and architectural skill were notorious.
In the withdrawing-room, as in the hall itself, attention
was specially called to the tapestry, which is among the
finest in England. The fireplace is frequently considered
of the time of Elizabeth, but was pronounced by the
reverend cicerone to be principally, if not entirely, of that
of William and Mary. The portrait of Wolsey, which is
usually said to be the only authentic likeness of him in
existence, Mr. Hugo did not temple to stigmatise as a
copy, which he did not believe to be 150 years old. The
next part of the building which was noticed was the
chapel. The walla and roof of this edifice are of the time
of Henry VIII , but the interior has been entirely re-
twaintdhed Splendid M
modelled by Sir Christopher Wren, who lined the apart-
!neat with Palladian carpenter's work, enthusiastically
r.earvfo
Hugo,gs andby G
ornamentedprroinfluisnelyGlbbous.
Theit
Godwin, to tli:teli
ill effect of polychromed ceiling was owing,
acdOrding to
p a supplementalaac:e s.ot
cob.s,be re vaa tmi oonset of. IMr.
leavisoencehof stained glass from the win-
Ilracketa-Fiel
dows. After
the company throug u
tMor.eslic
offices, the
hceo conducted
tthec"
court, kitchen-court
eareerdected andby SthirelCicieiriosvtoer-
the newer portion of the
ahveoawpepd a preference forptahlaaotzeaofus
apdla
renri
reNr.V.r e nit) od fe
Indeed,
oho,:
sham
c3toouofretyheea ries;aralgi
earlier
archi-
tect's work over many portions of the older
in the last years (1 Henry VIII. Gothic architecture had
haodr
pf i ef miserable
ar bto ,
abonodt,
like sham Gothic r,o4v) `”4 a it
anNsdvui
a mere sham, and
become
thing. At the same timefi was only fair to say
work were no longer i.gn erieg,
drat in ail proba I, i 1 1 tyn the
existence. nest
rr portionsbopi
the private gardens, the
ovfittihe,e
timeand tohfe
lit le known, iron railings
Mary, between the bowling-green and the park, were
daly visited and commented on. After a vote of cor-
dial thanks to the rev,
leader and the other members
of council Any separated,
tg the comp
an
who had attended the meeting and made the
anticipatory arrangemen
high), delighted with the intellectual treat which had
been afforded to them.