The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-01 00:00:00

MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Yesterday a special meeting of the proprietors of this
company resident in Liverpool was held at the Clarendon
Rooms in that town, in reference to the proposition
(for the conversion of the 501. shares) agreed to at the
general meeting at Derby. About thirty gentlemen
were present.
Mr. J. H. BRANCKER was called to the chair. He
stated that the object of the meeting was to organize
an opposition to the measure which the directors had
carried at the late meeting, and which was so adverse
to the wishes and interests of a large minority. The di-
rectors, to carry out the plan, would have to bring a Bill
into Parliament, but he felt satisfied that if duly met so
inequitable a measure would never pass the Legislature;
but, if necessary, those who dissented must be pre-
pared to carry their opposition even to the House of
Lords.—(Applause.) It appeared, ho said, that the
directors had adopted the objectionable change pro-
posed, in consequence of a bill in Chancery having been
filed; and in order to escape from the persOnal re-
sponsibility which would otherwise attach. The Chair-
man stated that he intended most strenuously to carry
out the opposition ; the solicitations which he received
from parties in London would warrant him in doing
so, even were he not so well supported in Liver-
pool. He contended that no class of shareholders could
illegally acquire any inequitable lien on another class
of shareholders; and if the directors had done illegal
acts on them the responsibility should rest, not on
the proprietary. If the directors were to be acted
upon only by their fears, and if one section of the
company could force them into a concession of advan-
tages injurious to the others, then the other shareholders
must also go into Chancery, and see what they could do.
He for one would recommend that they should com-
mence as soon as possible to take proceedings against
the directors to restrain them from carrying out
the inequitable proceedings which they intended.
The chairman proceeded to analyse the speeches
of Mr. Ellis, and of Mr. Carbutt, at the
late meeting, and concluded by moving, " That
in the opinion of this meeting it is essential for the in-
terests of the proprietors of the Midland Railway, and
for the maintenance of good faith amongst all classes of
stock and shareholders, that the personal and sectional
pretension of the 501. shareholders should be opposed by
ull legal and Parliamentary measures."
Mr. PENNY seconded the motion, in which ho stated
that he cordially concurred; and after some words also of
approval and condemnation of the directors, from Mr.
Driffield and from Mr. Wills, the resolution was put to
the meeting, and unanimously carried.
The CHAIRMAN moved the next resolution—" That
to organize and further such opposition, a subscription
should be entered into, no one to be responsible for a
further sum than that he should subscribe ; and request-
ing all shareholders to join in resistance to pay meat of
any further preferential or guaranteed dividends"
Mr. A. H. WYLIE seconded the 'motion, which was
also carried nem. dis.

A resolution was then carried that a petition contain-
ing the foregoing recitals should be presented at the re-
opening of Parliament, and the meeting terminated.

HEALTH of LONDON DURING the WEEK.
(From the Registrar-General's Return.)
This return, in connexion with the two previous, in-
dicates a continuous increase in the mortality of the
metropolitan districts. The deaths which in the two
preceding weeks were successively 781, 863, rose list
week to 898. In the corresponding weeks of nine years
(1840-8) the lowest number occurred in 1843, and was
749; the highest in 1848, when it was 1,201; but last
year in the same week the deaths rose to 1,931, when
pestilence rapidly multiplied its victims. The average
of the corresponding weeks of ten years (1840-9) is
1,022, which, with a correction fir increase of popula-
riot, becomes 1,115. The 898 deaths of last week,
therefore, show a decrease on the latter number, amount-
ing to 217; but it will be observed that the average is
in part founded on the aggravated mortality of last
year. The deaths from phthsis or consumption are still
less numerous than usual, having last week been 121;
in corresponding weeks they fluctuated between 120 and
156. In the class which comprises other diseases of the
respiratory organs, the deaths, amounting to 74, also fail
below the average. The zyrnotic or epidemic class
numbers 272 deaths; and though this mortality is not
yet excessive as compared with that of the same week in
some previous years, it shows a tendency tp increase as
the autumnal season approaches. Small-pox, measles,
scarlatina, hooping-cough, and typhus, show less than
the usual fatality or differ little from the average; but
diarrhoea exhibits a rapid increase on the previous weeks,
and has now risen above the average. The numbers
from diarrhoea in the last four weeks have been succes-
sively 40, 37, 51, and 104. Of the 104 persons who died
of it last week, 84 were infant; under 1 year, 14 were 1
year old and under 60, and 6 were 60 years of age and
upwards. Last week 13 deaths were ascribed to cholera,
showing an increase, when compared with those of the
previous returns; but an investigation of the cases as
detailed in the registers proves that in a certain propor-
tion of them it was the common English form of the
complaint. In the Rectory sub-district, Marylebone, on
the 24th July. at 11, Orchard-place, the son of a la-
bourer,years, " cholera (24 hours)". " This
(says M agedr.J 3
osephs) is a small house in the rear ti a
densely crowded place, well known in Marylehone,
which, though in a much better condition than formerly,
is still imperfectly cleansed and ventilated." Also in
the Rectory sub-district, at 2, Paradise-row, on 23 t
July, the son of a smith, 3 yrs, "cholera (3 days)."
"The child had diarrhoea for a week previous. Its pa-
rents lived in a small front parlour, with five other
children. The locality is crowded." In St. John's,
Marylebone, at 14, Henry-street, on the 25th July, the
son of a shoemaker, aged 1 year, " English cholera (5
days)." In the same sub-district, at 16, Towashend-
cottages, on the 24th July, the son of a labourer, aged
three months, "cholera." In Islington East, at 48,
King•street- terrace, on the 20th July, st working wo-
man, spinster, aged 38 years, "cholera (12 hours), bad
diarrhoea 2 days." In West Hackney, at 13, Tottenham-
square, on 23d July, the son of a contractor, aged 3
months, " English cholera (3 days)." In the same
neighbourhood, at 11, Tottenham-road. on 25th July.
the daughter of a draper, aged 1 year, " English cholera
(5 days), convulsions (12 hours)" In North St. Giles's-
in-the Field, at 12, Great White Lion-street, on 23d
July, the daughter of a printer, aged 7 months, "Eng-
lish cholera (7 days)." In Pentonville, at 9, Penton-
grove, on 23d July, the son of a police-constable, aged
6 months, "infantile cholera." In Whitechape!-church
sub-district, at 17, Colchester-street, on 24th July, the
daughter of a shoemaker, aged 4 nasaths, "Asiatic
cholera (2 days)." Mr. Hems, the registrar, states that
the child was suckled by the mother for a fortnight,
was afterwards brought up by hand, and never thrived.
It was attacked with vii lent vomiting and purging on
Sunday, recovered, and grew worse on Monday, when
the medical attendant first saw the case, and pronounced
it hope:ess. The house is well aired." In Lambeth, at
39, Wotton-street, on 24th July, the wile of a printer,
aged 25 years, "cholera (2 days), peritonitis (3 weeks)."
Mr. Mears states that " the house is clean and tolerably
airy. It has a cesspool." Also in Lambeth, at 8, Vine-
terrace, Waterloo-road, on 21st July, the wife of a stone-
mason, aged 24 years, " cholera (10 hours)." " This
person (says Mr, Daws) had been in delicate health for
some months, and had only come the day before from
Somersetshire." The medical attendant adds on his cer-
tificate that there " was no purging, all the other symp-
toms were urgent, the secretion of urine sal,pended, the
catheter was passed, but no urine in the bladder." The
house is in an airy situation and well drained. In
Lambeth, at 7, High-street, en the 19th July, a carpen-
ter, aged 36, " Asiatic cholera (44 hours)." Mr. Har-
wood states that " the deceased retired to rest about
eleven o'clock in his usual state of health, but in about
two hours awoke with violent cramp, which was fol-
lowed by sickness and diarrhoea: these continued till
death." In comparison with the, above thirteen deaths
from cholera, registered last week, it is proper to men-
tion that in the corresponding week
of 1846 there were
in that of 1849. the deaths from cbelerts rose to 783.
26 from the same disease ; also 26 in that of 1848; and

SINGULAR FULFILMENT OF A DREAM.—On Friday
evening last a young man, named Joseph Piston, aged '2'.),
was bathing in the rivir Collin, near to Ashley-mill, when Ile
was unhappily drowned. It appears that the deceased had
been working in a hay-field throughout the day, and, being
hot, determined to bathe, although. particularly cautioned
not to do so by his relations at the mill, with whom he lived.
Their reason for so cautioning him was that on the three
previous nights he had dreamed that he was drowning in
the river. Each morning he had related his dream to the
family, and in joke told them who should have his clothing,
&c., if it happened, and mentioned a young woman who was
i
to have his watch. On the night n question he had been
swimming down the river. He left the water, and told the
parties who were with him that he would have a dive in a
deep part of the river. So saving he ran on the bank, sprang
in headforemost, and never was seen afterwards. An alarm
was given, and Mr. Davenport, who is upwards of sixty
years of age, but an excellent swimmer, jumped into the
river, dived several times, and tried all he could to find him
but,svithout success. It was an hour anti a half before Pix-
ton !body could be found.—Manchester Guardian.
Sir Harry Verney transacted business yesterday
with the Commis,ioners of Railways, at their office
in the Board of Trade.
BOSTON, JULY 16.—The Myrtle, New York to Rah-
ax, United States, went on shore on Smith Point, Nan-
tucket, 14th July;f cargo esp;;cted to be saved.