The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-14 00:00:00

are now kept off the books for many years longer.
(Hear, hear.) Well then, there was the assertion that
the persons thus relieved ,yveuld use the time thus
allowed badly. Such, however; was not the case, for
he had letters and reports from clergymen, school-
masters, and other persons in similar capacities in great
numbers, aed the whole of them concurred in stating
that the leisure time was most usefully employed.—
(Hear, hear.) The young women were known to go to
the evening schools in order to learn reading, writing,
and needle-work, and they who were formerly unable to
darn a'.; stocking or mend a petticoat, were now enablt d
not only to trend, but to make their own and their
children's clothes ; so that the expense which had for-
merly been incurred for this object, and which was a serious
draw upon the resources of the family was now all
saved.—(Hear, hear.) By the report of Mr. Horner,
who was engaged in one of the most important of the
manufacturing districts, he found that the subscriptions
to the burial clubs had very greatly decreased in his
neighbourhood, and that chiefly in consequence of
the reduction of the deaths of children
under five years of age.—(Hear, hear.) And this
he ascribed solely to the opportunity of the women
being able to attend to their domestic duties,
and fulfil the duties of wives and mothers.
The Noble Lord then proceeded to read a letter from
the Vicar of Leeds, expressing his full approbation of the
Ten Hours' Act, and stating that since the
passing of that Act, fifty night schools, which
would all be closed if the relay system were
permitted to remain in force. He (Lord Ashley)
contended that if the House, after receiving
favourably the proposition of the lion. Member for
Oldham solely on account of the principle that some
additional education was needed, were to render this
Ten Hours' Act to be made null and void, it would
hereafter be chargeable with hypocrisy when it
began to talk of the necessity of education
The Ten Hours' Bill also had given greater facility to
the manufacturer's labourer to cultivate patches of land
for himself. Sanguine as he had been of the
measure, it had done more than he expected ;
and no one could say that the people in the factory
districts were not in the highway to social !cul-
tivation and improvement. The Noble Lord then read
statements from different parties, both lay and clergy,
in the factory districts, all of whom bore testimony to
the good effects of the Ten Hours Act, and stated their
belief that the relay system would undo all the good that
had been hitherto effected in the factory districts.
by the Ten Hours Bill, and would reduce the people to
that state of semi-barbarism in which they were before
that beneficent measure passed. He had now put
before the House the state of the poor, the benefits of
the Legislature that had taken place, and the
effect that was likely to be produced by a mistake that
had been made, and which he was anxious to rectify
by the measure he sought now to introduce
Tee Noble Lord concluded by moving for leave to bring
'n the Bill of which he had given notice.
Mr. EDWARDS rose to second the motion, and was
(LEFT SPEAMING

CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAIL-
WAY.—(THIS DAY.)
The usual half-yearly general meeting of the pro-
prietors of the Chester and Holyhead Railway was held
this day at the Eastern Station ; Captain Moorsom in
the chair. The meeting was very numerously attended.
The advertisement convening the meeting, and the
minutes of the former meeting having been read, the
common seal was affixed to the register of shareholders,
after which the following report was read by the
secretary .
" The Tubular Bridge over the Menai Straits having
been completed for a single
line, the directors have
taken measures to avail themselves of it with the least
possible delay. Lis understood that the Inspector on
behalf of the Government will visit the Bridge to-mor-
row, and on his report, it will be immediately opened
for public use. For full particulars in respect to this
great work the directors beg to refer ou to Mr. Ste-
phenson's report.
"Referring to the statement in the last half-yeealy
report, the directors ave not prepared to recommend the
creation of any shares in liquidation of arrears of interest
on original shares.
"The statement of the revenue account shows a net
receipt of 42,9201. 13s. 7d. since the opening of the line,
and the amount c f dividend paid to the preference share-
holders having been 39,997/. 4s. 10d., it appears that
(exclusive of some further amount that may be due for
mail service and Chester and Shrewsbury Railway toll,
under arbitration) there is a surplus, of 2,923/. Bs. 9d.
The directors propose that from and after the Ist
January, 1850, all payments on account of interest and
dividend out of capital should cease, and that a separate
revenue account should be opened.
" Tho directors are making the necessary prepara-
tions for the closing of the capital account immediately
upon the completion of the works, and they refer with
satisfaction to the statement of the probable cost, fur-
nished under the attestation of Mr. Coleman, which
proves the general accuracy of the estimates submitted
to the shareholders on the 16th March, 1849. The
statement of accounts, which is already in possession of
the shareholders, has been drawn up by the same emi-
nent accountant.
" The directors, believing that it would be for the in-
terest of the company, as well as greatly for the public
benefit, that the entire communication between Chester
and Kingstown should be managed by them, tendered to
her Majesty's iGovernment for the performance of the
mail service across the Channel, at the lowest rate
which they believed would cover the working
charges, even when taking into account the
peculiar advrntages which they possess in the
railway traffic to and froin the port of embarkat: on.
That tender has t een declined; and the directors have
therefore to regret dr, this service may be placed in
the hands of other parties, a proceeding so entirely at
variance with the strong opinion repeatedly expressed
in and acted upon by Parliament to the effect • that a
continuous management was necessary to the proper
working of the traffic between this country and Ireland;'
and which must result in serious public inconvenience.
" The Bill now before Parliament will be submitted
fir the approval of the shareholders at this meeting,
which has been special far the purpose. It will be ob-
served that the powers conferred by this Bill are merely
permissive, and the directors do not propose to
take any steps under it without bringing the
whole matter again before the shareholders. They
are at present engaged ;in communication with her
Majesty's Government (the course of which bas
been delayed by the illness of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer), having for their object such assistance as
co,rking of the line,
will enable the company to complete the undertaking
at the earliest period; but while a correspondence on
this important subject is actually in progress, and the
directors are also in communication with other parties,
twhiethreference and
it would obviously be in-
jurious to the interests of the company prematurely to
give publicity to the particulars of the negotiations. As
they have reason to believe that these negotiations will
shortly be brought to a close, they purpose then to call
development otofthtehetraffilv
a special general meeting, to which they will submit the
result, together with measures which the directors may
be prepared to recommend.
" The arrears of calls duo at the last half-yearly
meeting amounted to 44,5951., since which 3,928/. 10e.
have teen realised, leaving a balance of 40,666/. 10s.
The directors have used every endeavour to recover pay-
ment of the balance, and have been compelled to resort
in some cases to legal proceedings, which, as anticipated
in the last report, have only been partially successful. In
consequence, your confirmation is required to a declara-
tion ;made by the directors of the forfeiture of certain
shares (475 in number), the holders of which are in-
solvent. The directors further request your authority
to dispose of these shares in such manner as may be
found advisable."
" The arbitration upon the amount due for the Mail
Service is not yet completed, but the directors have re-
ceived a payment of 25,000/. on account, and anticipate
that the award will very shortly be made.
"It was anticipated that the line would have been
opened throughout previously to this meeting, in which
case an election of directors would have been necessary,
but as this has been unavoidably delayed, the present
directors will continue in office until the next half-
yearly meeting-, according to the terms of the Act.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
was at a loss whether to congratulate or condole with
the meeting on this occasion. Their line had resulted
in a saving to the public of some 60,0001., while commu-
nication between London and Dublin had been shortened
by four or six hours. Now what bad the shareholders
gained together ? why, absolutely nothing—worse than
nothing, indeed, for they had not even the credit whisk
usually attached to the performance of great acts of pub-
lic usefclness. He could not, therefore, congratulate
them upon this aspect of their affairs, but there were
some persons who loved a grievance, and if the Chester
and Holyhead proprietors belonged to that class he
could congratulate them upon having a grievance which
gave them a strong claim to Parliamentary relief. They
bad been forced to coutrihute 200,0004 to the Harbour
of Refuge at Holyhead, and to carry the mails for 30,0004
per annum; and whatever difference of opinion might be
entertained upon the past policy of the company, there
could be no doubt that they had a strong claim upon
Parliament for immediate relief from some of their dif6-
culties.—(Hear.)
Mr. HENLEY then took exception to the language of
the chairman, and accused the directors of having
tricked, cheated, and robbed the shareholders of their
money. Originally
the capital was estimated at
2,000,0001., and yet tho expenditure had exceeded
4,000,0001. He, therefore. moved the following amend-
ment—" That a committee of five persons be appointed
from the general body of shareholders, to inquire into
and report upon all matters and things touching and
concerning the accounts, contracts, and expenditure since
the formation of the company, and especially to inquire
and report upon the state of the relations with the Mold
Company, and the legality of the proceedings of the
directors in relation thereto; and also to inquire into
and report upon the expenditure of the money raised
from the shareholders of the company under the 10th
and 11th Viet., chap. 2:38; also to inquire into and re-
port upon the Bill for leasing the line to the London
and North-Western Company, with power to enter
into negoaations with that company in regard
thereto ; and that a especial meeting be held on
Thursday, the 18th of April, to !receive the
report of such committee, and that the consideration of
the directors' report be deferred until snch special
meeting.
This amendment gave rise to considerable discussion,
but it was eventually negatived by a large majority.
The resolution for the adoption of the report was then
agreed to, and the forfeiture of 480 shares upon the calls
now in arrear was confirmed.
The meeting was then made special, when
The CHAIRMAN moved a resolution approving of a
Bill for leaving the line to the London and North-
Western Company. The Bill was merely of a permis-
sive character, and before the lease would be entered into