The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-31 00:00:00

DON!, MoND % ENING, AUGUST 3l, 1-67

been concluded when a body of mutineers ap
peared, and called on the defenders to open t}
gates. On their refusal, scaling ladders furhigre
by the_King of Delhi were brought up, and thk
rebels got on the 'walls and poured on to the a—
senal. The guns now opened and took effect wit
immense precision on the ranks of the enemy. Four
rounds were fired from each of the guns, Conduc
tors Buckley Mid Scully distinguished themselve
in serving the pieces rapidly, the mutineers being
by this time some hundreds in number, increasing
in force and keeping up a quick discharge of mus-
ketry. A train had been hid by Lieutenant 1
loughby to the magazine ; and the decisivE.momeir
soon approached, Lieut. Forrest being woundt-d is
the baud, and one of the conductors shot through
the arm. The signal was given to fire the train,
which was done coolly by Conductor Scully. The
effect was terrific ; the magazine blow up with a
tremendous crash, the wall being blown out flat to
the ground. The explosion killed upwards of a
thousand of the mutineers, and enabled Lieuts.
Willoughby, Forrest, and more than half the Euro-
pean defenders of the place, to fly together, black-
ened and singed, to tire Lahore gate, from wheriee
Lieut. Forrest escaped iu safety to Meerut. Lieut.
Willoughby was less fortunate, and is now said to
have been killed on his way to Umballa.

From Lucknow we hear that previous to th
death of Sir John Lawrence that gallant and un-
rtunate officer headed a sortie with all his native
troops, 200 Europeans, and artillery. The sepoys
fraternised at once with the rebels, and the Euro-
peans in their retreat to the city lost 40 officers
and men.

-ooking and hear them talking, yet it was too dark
h,r them to see us. The forts at. this place extend
about 14 miles down the river. Just as we hadigot
iist the moon rose. While passing we came within
ive fifth ota boat, but our toatmen happened to
:now those of the other boat,- so they asked where
each other were going, and never saw us at the
bottom of the boat. Capt. Gord--,n's servant was
dinost frightened to death, and 1. had the greatest
ifficulty in keeping him quiet. A nigger is a great
oward when danger is near. As soon as the day
began to break ..we had to lie by a sandbank, for
there w,re some forts, and we were within two rules.
of the first fort. We bad nothing to eat the whole
.f the day before, any] now our food was flour and
,eater bakel in a fire wi-h dried cows' dung, and
muddy water to drink. We remained there until
4 p.m., when we saw about 50 villagers running
with all their might towards us—some with guns,
thers with swords; and the remainder with clubs ;
we immediately put into the stream and cockedour
pistol-8, saw the .rascals• run into the water breast
high, when they stopped and fired a volley at us,
-put fortunately without effect. It was too evident
the whole country had risen, and that escape across
the country was impossible. After pulling a short
way down the river the natives, seeing they could
net get at us, ceased their pursuit. We then h dyed
until dark to enable us to pass the forts ; often the
boatincn told us not to whisper, but to kee down
ready for an attack, for we had often to go close in
shore, and were determined to fight through if
possible. Next morning we had to stay in a creek
(dose Iy a village called Gola ; but before arriving
there we were made to put in shoie at a large vil-
lage, where we paid 10 rupees to a policeman to !et
us off. The boatmen said it was no use firing, rupees
would answer bet Before the policeman put his
head in the boat the men told him it was a yanna,'
but as soon as -he got into the boat and saw five
fellows armed to the teeth he was well pleased to
take the ' dibs,' and shouted for us to proceed im-

mediately. Tile people on shore slnuted out for
him to rob the boat, but he know better. -At Gola
we were so tired that we all fell a-tleep, and upon
my awaking I discovered that all the boatmen and
our only servant had run away, taking with them
the, few rupees we had. However, there was a
large village close by, where a native prince and an
indigo planter (a Frenchman) resided, so we set cff
to walk in a blazing hot sun. The prince happened
to be one of the few remaining faithful -to the
British, and the planter seeing the wh,,le country

up around him agreed to start, with his wife a:11
farniT, along with us the following rooming. We
vot the first meal there that we had had f:r thtee
days, and from that place our diet was spare and

bad,. and the water extremtly dirty. lire hid a
guard of 30 Sepoys from the Rajah to take us to
Dinapore, for we had to pass a very strong fort
about 10 wiles below Qola, and it was on account
of this place, no dOubt; that our boatmen deserted
us on the previous day. However, we got on all
right after this, and arrived here on the wonting
of the 17th, when we heard that many officers who
lett Fyz +bad on the moriing of the 9111 had been
murdered and droWned. jUpon our arrival here we
were received most heartily by the officers of the
Bth Native Infantry, who do their ulmost to make
us comfortabl4. All the ladies were left at Fyzabad
under the charge of Raj .:Ii Mann Singh, who pro-
mised to protect them, but, as he was our prisoner
within two days of the mutiny, I doubted his
fidelity. I was to have remained with the ladies at
Fyzabad, but as my regiment promised to fight I
was kept with it, and then sent off with the other
officers. Almost all the ladies arrived here last
night from Fyzabad in a pitiful condition. They
had been -rubbed of everything at Gorrickpore, and
only escaped with their lives. They were kept tri-
soners in a fort on the river for a week, and were
almast starvel to deat'i. I cannot describe half the
miseries they have endured.
" I have lost nearly everything I have, but Ad-
.

ju'ant Grant, of ae Bth Nativa Infantry, with
whom Gordon and myself are staying, has given us
abundance of shirts, fininels &c., and he is a noble
specimen of a Scotch man. We seem to have escaped
by Providence, as almost every man who started
with us from Fyzabad has been either murdered or
drowned. To give you an account of men coming
up the country and the way in which Europeans
are murdered and natives hung in return would
occupy too much lime, but every day brings us
some fresh account of bloodshed."

GREAT NORTHERN.
[The following appeared in our late edition of Saturday
evening :—]
Tuonalf-yearly meeting of the shareholders of this
company was held this morning, at the London Tavern,
Bishopzate-Areet, W.• E. benison, chairman of the
board, in the chair. Then, was a very full attendance
of shareholders. The chairman and direct3rs, on enter-
ing the room, were received with a volley of hisses and
cheers, and the meeting throughout was of a very stormy
character.

The SECRETARY having read the notice convening the
meeting,
The CHAIRMAN said that the act of Parliament made it
eampulrory on the chairman, the first thing at the half
yearly meeting, to affix the seal of the company to the
register of shareholders. He had no option in the matter,
and he therefore affixed the seal and signed his name to
the register of stoc's, amounting to 8,414,0f21. 108., and
the number of shareholders 6,130, as reported by Mr.
Grindling.

Mr, J. WiLsoN—Can you do it without the authority
of the meeting? . _

Mr. LEECH (solicitor to the company)—Yes, the act
requires that it should be first done.
Mr. WILSON said the act only stated that the seal
should be affixed at each ordinary half-yearly meeting.
Nothing whatever was said about the chairman, and
he maintained that the consent of the meeting was ne-
cessary first to be obtained before the seal was affixed.
(The Chairman in the meantime affixed the seal to
the register.) The Chairman having affixed the seal to
the register, Mr. Wilson protested, and called on the
professional gentlemen present to state to the meet-
ing- if the act gave the chairman power to affix the
seal against the consent of the shareholders. (Rear.)
The CHAIRMAN said he saw no use in consuming their,
time in a discussion of that nature. He had put the seal

to the register, and they'could not reject it. (Uproar.)
He had acted in what he bad done under professional
advice, and he shoal .stand by it whether right or
wrong. (Oh, ob.) The act stated that at every bail-
yearly meeting the seal should be affixed, and he had
been informed that it was a ministerial act only, and
necessary to constitute-the meeting. (Hear, hear, and
No, ao ) It was waste of time to discuss it, and those
who objected to it could protest and welcome. (Uproar )
Mr. WILSON protested against the proceeding, and
appealed to he meeting to express their opinion on that
point, when nearly every one in the room hell up their
bands in approval of Mr. Wilson's pr...itest.

Mr. HUGHES said that it it was,a ministerial act the
chairman was right in doing it.
A SHAREHOLDER. —What is the effect of yuur affixing
the seal ? -

Tue CHAIRMAN.—That's a legal question I can't an-
swer (Upr, ar.)
A SHAREHOLDER said the chairman ought to be in
possession of that opinion. The act involved an im-
portant question affecting the interestof the shareholders.
Mr. MzTeaLis.—How are we to know that the regis-
ter is cum ct ? (Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN—I have stated to yon M. Grindling's
report.. (Oh, oh.)
Mr. METCALFE.— W hat do we care for that. Will
you vouch fur the truta of Mr. Grindling's statement ?
The CHAIRMAN. —I don't know. (Confusion.)
Mr. M ETCALFE —And you don't care. (Laughter.)
Mr. BILLINGS asked the chairman if he caul.) give
the meeting the details of tee various stuck to which he
had affixed the seal.
The CHAIRMAN—NO.
Mr. BILLINGS asked how it was possible, without
that information, the shareholders could know whether
all the stock was legal, or that the creation of fraudu-
lent stock was not going on. (Hear, hear.) He c -n-
-tended that the shareholders should have the information
he asked for. (Hear, bear, and confusion.)
The CHAIRMAN said he was ready to proceed.
A SHAREHOLDER—On what. Hear, hear.)
Mr. BILLINGS—Answer my question. (Elear, hear,
and cheers )
The CHAIRMAN—I shall answer no more questions
about the r gister to which I have put the seal. (Ob,
oh, and cheers.)
The greatest confusion prevailed during the above dis-
cussion, or rather continual questioning, three or four
shareholders speaking at a time.
Mr. STAINSBORY said it was not a waste of time in

one sense in discussing this question of affixing the seal
to the regi tsr, because it sho wed the chairman that he
had ta'rly lost the confidence of the shareholders. (Heap.)
There was a time when the Chairman could have affixsd
the stal to the register or ail other document, the c.m-
fidence of the proprietors being with hiin ; but what had
occurred within the last five months ought to have shown
him that that confidence was now entirely gone. (Loud
cheers.) No time could be considered as wasted that
might tend to relieve them of their present Chairman,
and to redeem, save, and rescue this vast property from
the present disastrous management. (Renewed cheers.)
He did not charge the Chairman with personal culpabi-
lity in connection with the frauds, but he considered him
guilty of the grossest moral dereliction of duty it was
possitle. for any man to be guilty of. (Cheers )
111 r. HUGHES said that as there was nothing before the
meeting he was prepared to move a vote of censure
He bad heard it was the intention of the Chairman to
move the adjournment of the meeting, and he asked if
that was true.

The CHAIRMAN—Yei. I have 'virtually-done so.
Mr. HUGEIES said he would advise the chairman not
to propose the adjournment of the meeting because it
would prevent any shareholder from moving an amend-
ment on it—(hear, hear)—although notice of two or
three bad been given to impugn the character of the
chairman. (Hear, hear.) He asked the•chairman if he
would venture out of respect to his own character to put
a motion for adjournment to the meeting which would'
prevent the shareholders from expressing their opinion
on his conduct. (Hear, bear.) It would be better to
adjourn the consideration of the dividend, and let them
take the other part of the report into consideration,
but for God's sake don't adjourn the meeting. (Cheers.)
Mr. J. WILSON—For Gyd's sake let him. (Hear, and
laud laughter.)
Mr. MALINS expressed a hope that the chairman would
not propose the adjournment of the meeting. (Hear.)
He hoped they would go on and discuss the report, be-
cause although they had met with a heavy loss. the pro-
perty was sound. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. HUGHES suggested that he should be allowed to
move a vote of censure, and the directors move the, ad-
journment of the meeting thereon.
The CHAIRMAN said he was asked by Mr. Hughes if
he intended to move the adjournment of the tneetieg,
and he answered that he did, and if Mr. Hughes had
been content with a plain simple answer to a plain
question, and had sat down, he (the Chairman) should
have made such observations thereon as occurred to him,
and then it would have been competent fur/Mr. Hughes
to have replied to them, but that gentleman having got
an answer to his question from him—(the Chairinan)—
as a matter of courtesy, had thought proper to make
some remarks thereon. The practical question for
their consideration would, be the adjournment of the
meeting as he ad given notice. In that he intended to
persevere, and would,give his reasons for so doing when
it would be for the shareholders to resist the tuix.ion or
not, just as they liked. (Hear.) Mr. Hughes was right
in his statement that an amendment could not be moved
on the motion for adjournment. (Hear.)
Mr. HUGEIES—I rise to order.
The Cifeenuer —You are out of order in rising to
order, because I think I am in order
Mr. HUGHES said it was an universal thing to
tell a person that he was out of order in rising
to a point of order. He wanted to ask the legal adviser
of the company this question. (C infusion.)
The CHAIRMAN--I shan't allow him to answer any
question. (Renewed uproar.)
Mr. HUGHES—Then I ask you
The CHAIRMAN—I shall not, nor will I allow -.Mai to
anseer questions likely to interrupt the proceedings, if
I can help it. (Hear, hear, and uproar.)
Mr. HUGHES—If it is legal now to move an amend-
ment for the adjournment, of the meeting, I appeal to
the meeting if the amendments should not be taken in
their order of notice., (Hear, hear.) If so the motion
of censure should betaken first. (Hear, and uproar.)
The CHAlRMAN—Certainly not, and I will anticipate
the answer to your question by now moving the adjourn-
ment. I will now do it without making any observa-
tions, but I will not be stopped in moving it. (Uproar.)
Mr. HEATH objected to the chairman moving the ad-
journment of the meeting. Mr. Malins was iu the pos-
session of the chair, and was about to move a resolu-
tion, when he was interrupted by some hon. pri prie•
tor introducit g some observations.
The CHAIRMAN said such was not the case. So long
as he was chairman uothtng should deter-him from doing
his duty. (Uprear, and cries of " You shan't be long.')
Hon. proprietors, would not make him quail by the 'ob-
servations they had made. He bail not the honour of
knowing that gentleman (Mr. Steinsbury).
Mr. STAINSBURv—I am thankful for it. (Laughter.)
The CHAIRMAN said he could not say he was very
sorry for it. (Laughter.)
Mr.WreisoeT—He.knows Mr. Josiah Wilson very well.
(Hear, and laughter )
The CHAIRMAN—Yes, be knows more of him than he
approves. Mr. Wilson had been driven to the painful
necessity of taking him (the chairman) into a court of
justice to admit that he did not slander his character. It
was the chairman's duty to open the proceedings, and
,by it he would stand and not give.way on the point.
Mr. BILLINGS—You have opened the proceedings, and
now you want to abruptly close them. (Uproar.)
Mr. WlLSON—Suppose we show the chairman that we
will not pass the adjournment for the present. (Uproar.)
The CHAIRMAN said be had one other proposition to
make to the meeting; viz., that ho would either move
the adjournment at once without observations, divide
the meeting. and go to the poll at once—(oh, oh)—or
preface it with some observations that had occurred to,
him.

Several shareholders rose and addressed the chairman
in an excited and energetic manner. As soon as silence
was obtained,
' The CHAIRMAN said that he was not to be driven from
his intention, if he remained there for a month, tOb,
oh, and hisses.) He contended that, notwlth4tandibg
the difference of opinion that prevailed with reference
to the right of the-preference shareholders, he was cer-
tain that everybody in the room must rejoice at the
progressive prosperity of the railway. (Hear, hear, and
cries of " No, no,") Why they could not dispute the
fact—(cries of "Yes, we can")—that the traffic on the
line increased, and bet for those unfortunate frauds a
better dividend would haNe been offered than had even
been paid at this period of the year. He asserted, and
in that he was confirmed by Mr. Malin's, that the rail-
way was in a healthy and sound condition, and if they
would endeavour to avoid such unfortunate squabbles
as they now witnessed, ho was certain their property
would rise in value in the market, as he was sure they
ought to stand higher than they unfortunately now did.
With reppeot to the parties who had had money lodged

in this railway for a 'considerable number of years, and
who did not intend to sell out, it would not make a
great difference in the end except the loss of a portion
of their dividend ; but as the value of the property re-
mained just as good as ever, he hoped they woad firmly
stand by it, because he was sure it was very nearly, tf
not quite, the best railway property in the kingdom.
(Hear, hear.) The parties for whom he and the directors
felt the greatest sympathy 'sere ttose woo relied prin-
cipally on the dividends in which their property was
embarked,- viz., widows, and many persons wliso were
depending for money on trustees, who could not sell out
the stock, and bail no means of raising money for them.
(Rear, hear.) He seriously coinrniserated their unfor-
tunate positisn, hut he confessed he could not help it.
(Cries of " You could have helped it.") He begged
and entreated every person connected with the raiisvay
to look calmly, and, if they cmild, di.nassionately on
this painful subject. After referring to the remarks that
had been made on the directors both at meetings that
had been held in connection with the company, and by
the press, though he admitted they had a right to coin'
ment on the conduct of the directors, and he found no
fault with hon. gentlemen who gratified themselves by
pitching into him, (Hear.) They were welcome to do
it for a month, and he should stand just a, unmoved as
he was at present, and he told the meeting that as soon
as a majority of the shareholders wished it he would re-
tire, but not before that. (Lieu.) The hon. gentleman
then entered into a detailed statement of the Itedpath
frauds, the meeting. that had been held in consequence,
and the proceedings in Parliament, and in reference to the
decision of Sir W. Page Wood, said it was the intention
of the directors to appe%l against it, and _he moved the
adj liniment of the meeting to such time, but nut more
than 10 days after the decision of the appeal in Chancery.
Mr. WILSON—That will be for seven years. (Hear.)
Mr. PACKS (director) seconded the motion.
A lengthened discussion, in which much personal feel-
ing was manifested, then took place, having reference
to the proceedings in Parliament and in the Vine-
Chancellor's Court. Some amusement was created
in consequence of Mr. Valentine Knight calling
Mr. Denison, Q.C. (the chairman's son) the "Young
May Moon„" in reply to which, Mr. Denison, in his
speech, charged Mr. Knight with "squirting out venous-
ous observations." The meeting called upon the learned
gentleman to withdraw his offensive observations, and
amidst much confusion and laughter we understood both
hon. gentlemen withdre v any offensive expressions
they might have used to each other.

In the discussion that ensued it was urged that the
directors onght not to use proxies given in favour of the
report in support of the adjournment, because many did ,
not receive the notice of adjournment till it was too late
to send or cancel their proxies, and Mr. Malints sug'
geated a kind of u)mprotnise, by the shareholders taking
a dividend of 1/ in-toad iif 2f., which would enable the
directors to p iy the preference shareholders in full.
The CHAIRMAN, in reply, read the terms of the
proxies, which he said gave the directors authority to
use them for an adjournment.
When the chairman was about to put the motion se'
veral shareholders attempted to address the meeting, one
of them, Mr. Heath, protested against the law proceed"
ings, and asked if the decision in the Vice-Chancellor g
Court had been in favour of the directors, they would
have appealed, on which the chairman, who was much
excited, exclaimed "Do you think I'm such a d—d fool
as to answer such a question." This was met with
loud cries of order, and that a religious man
and a magistrate ought to be ashamed of using such eV
pressions, and he was cabled on to retract. The utmost
confusion prevailed, amidst whish the Chairman put the
question, when the amendment for the adjournment was
lo't on a show of hands ; but this result was reversed 00
a p ill, in which the directors used their proxies.
A report from a committee of investigation, appointed
in March last, was presented, but its consideration was
deferred.
The meeting shortly after separated.