The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-22 00:00:00

TO THE SECRETARY OF THE

BRADFORD REFORM ASSOCIATION.

Sir,—On Wedneiday the 17th, the Copyhold En-
franchisement Bill, and Landlord and Tenant (Ire-
land) Bill, " dragged their slow length along"
through a few contortions towards whatever may be
their end. The Smoke Prohibition Bill puffed out,
and vanished for the present.
On Thursday, the Mercantile Marine Bill was fur-
ther considered in Committee ; a Bill which must be
watched with considerable interest in the maritime
quarter of your town, which is at Hull. It is very
probable there is a good deal which wants mending,
and the Bill may mend it. But it would be much im-
proved by more demonstration of holding the balance
fairly between the contending parties of shipowner
and seaman. When some insertions were proposed
in this direction, objection was made from official
quarters, that the object of the Bill was to improve
the discipline of the seamen ; and yet the very, part
where the additions were proposed, was one giving a
remedy against masters and mates in case of miscon-
duct extending to endangering life or limb. Man or
boy may be seriously injured, and perpetually have
been, without either life or limb being found absent
on the inquest. All this is ill-devised; for no better
way could be discovered of exciting resistance to a
law, than giving it the appearance of being directed
all to one side, and leaving the other side to get
remedy where they can find it.
Some important but considerably intricate pro-
ceedings took place on the subject of a Royal Com-
mission of Inquiry into the state of the Universities
and Colleges of Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin.
The " boys that don't like to be washed" of course
mustered strong, and dwelt vigorously on all the
arguments which can be supposed to proceed from
people in their unhappy condition. There must be a
great deal of dirt, where there is such terrible appre-
hension of soap and water. How earnest this appre-
hension is, may be collected from the fact that many
of the particular Colleges' administer an oath to their
members, that they will divulge nothing they can
help. The wording of it may be different in different
places, but this is the spirit of the bond. Of course
the House was pathetically implored to reflect upon
the cruelty, of trying to make inquiry where men
were sworn not to divulge. It would be interesting
to know, what would be the inferences drawn, and
what the conduct of the law, if this case of conscience
was set up in other places where inquiry was by
public opinion called for. If men will put them-
selves into questionable positions by binding them-
selves by suspicious-looking oaths, there is no stop-
ping the tide of human inferences, or quarrelling with
the results.

After the debate had been continued for a long
time on the motion of the original proposer, for an
Address praying that a Commission might be issued,
a motion for adjournment was made and withdrawn,
and then an Amendment proposed, to the effect that
the issuing of such a Commission would " tend to a
violation of the Laws and Constitution of the King-
dom, and of the rights and liberties of her Majesty's
subjects." So that it is plain the unwashed take
high ground. This Amendment being also finally,
withdrawn, motion was made for adjournifig the de-
bate ; which was carried by 160 against 138.
The explanation of all this for the benefit of the
unlearned, appears to be that the Government means
to act on what it maintains to be the ascertained
right of the Crown, without waiting for an Address
from Parliament at all ; and therefore wanted the
motion out of the way.
The sticklers against inquiry, stand much on the
resistance made to certain inquiries with totally op-
posite purposes, attempted in the time of James the
Second of unhappy memory. Entirely overlooking
the fact, that on that occasion public opinion was
against the purposes, and now it is with. Samson
with or without his locks, is but an imperfect type of
the difference between the cases. _

The Attorneys stoutly hold their ground, though on
one point they had only a majority of 105 against
103, so that a single vote given the other way would
have floored them. The thing is a good in one way
if no other ; which is, in its being a step towards
forcing the finance department of the Government
into laying the taxes upon property as they ought
to be. _ _ _ _

On Priday at twelve o'clock, more of the Mercan-
tile Marine Bill. At five the motion for a grant to
the Duke of Cambridge. The Amendment for re-
ducing the grant from twelve thousand to eight, was
supported by 53 against 205 ; and the subsequent
motion for making the grant ten thousand, by 55
against 177. It is not impossible that a proposal for
ten thousand might have been carried without a divi-
sion, if the two parties had previously communicated.
A long and lively debate on a vote for the Coast of
Africa, including ten thousand pounds for the pur-
chase of the Danish forts and settlements there, was
concluded by a division in favour of the proposal of
the Government, of 138 against 42

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
AN OLD REFORMER.
London, July 22, 1850.

REASONS IN SUPPORT OF SIR W. VERNER'S

MOTIONS

RELATIVE TO THE PETITIONS AND PRINTED PAPERS :-
WATERFORD, WEX., WICK, AND DUB. RAILWAY.
These motions are unaffected by, and do not affect, any
Chancery suits or other litigation, which relate only to the
payment of calls, and not to the abuse and defeat of Parlia-
mentary powers—the public interests—the privilege and
dignity of the House and its Members—gross and. un-
paralleled impositions on Parliament—complained of, and
sought to be inquired into.
The motions are unaffected by any private " resolutions"
of the parties complained of to " wind up the company," but
which are not enforceable, nor satisfactory— or other than
delusive.

~...........
The directors have, pending these notices of motion,
withdrawn their Bill" from Parliament, but expressly

" without prejudice to these motions ;" they thereby de-
prived the petitioners of the power to establish their
grievances before the usual Committee, after delaying them
nearly the whole session.
First. The petitions presented on the sth and 9th July, on
behalf of nearly all the genuine shareholders, are signed by
men of the highest respectability and position—they pray
for an investigation, and remedies, for very gross practices
and abuses by persons who are at the same time directors of
the three W.'s., the South Wales, and the Great Western
Railways, and Members of the House.
The allegations in these petitions are distinct from those in
the printed petitions Nos. 777 and 903, and the printed papers
No. 297. They call for the special interposition of Parlia-
ment, with reference,
(1.) To the public interests involved, and the defeat of a
public measure sanctioned by Parliament.
(2.) To the character and dignity of the House and its
privileges.
(3.) To the impositions on Parliament and the public, and
the abuse of Parliamentary power and trust fraudulently.
obtained, and under which gross iniquities have been perpe-
trated.
(4.) The abstraction of documents (material against the
not
ete s ,tabhneelslBi
aree4 sv6eann saee
directors) from the offices of this House.
(5.) To the proceedings of the "Commissioners of Rail-
ways."
(6.) To the necessity for remedial measures for the better
protection of public interests.
ABUSE OF POWERS, &c.
The line was projected in 1845-100 miles-150,0001. has
been collected and all expended—not three miles of line are
half-finished, and now abandoned altogether. The share-
holders are reduced from 100,000 shares to less than 20,000
in responsible hands—not 50 out of 1,300 holders support the
directors—thus a public project defeated by the directors'
acts.—( Vide P. Papers 297, page 34.)
Ifto
forit tshheo should
pa
opepee appear
defeated,b
by
A illegal
eve rayvn
voters—by
half-yearly
shareholders'ea
yrl y
breaking
e meetingak ing powersthe
ti p Acts
hcaet
and
domfePetai meetings
controllgi as mwenitt
hao
destroyedruet
transacting all the business, &c.
• The petitions charge systematic oppression—fraud—abuse
aiToninheaetnlbtceaaobrimynu
intention
inquirytttoi committees en s
oo
fr directors
Parliament tr a traffic i t ibn
respect shares.
of powers, &c., for which there is no remedy but by Parlia-
srhtiaereehwolildlerbse at any
Parlia-
mentary interference.
orderraiSirlmeeting;w railway
R. Peel
Fi
ioel
fl evsl,e
unduerp (Debates,
ewe be
namr
Parliamentarye censure ; anredguitla:iiellnbae
and
duty of Parliament and the press to expose their transactions
ftrhoasnt: counteractingcppornoavdrliprovisional
and lay them before the world."
powers, and defeat of a public measure authorised by Parlia-
ment—by the conduct of the parties carrying out its resolu-
tions and Parliamentary powers—by fraudulent and fictitious
" Registers of Shareholders"—in violation of Parliamentary
faith—by buying up, and hiring, shareholders to attend and
overpower the genuine shareholders—contrary to the Statutes
of Parliament—misapplication of capital, whereby not a
mile of a line of 160 miles authorised in 1..46 has been made
—by putting upon Parliament in 1848 a fictitious "subscrip-
tion contract," - a fictitious " deposit" for shares - and pre-
tended agreement of the South Wales Co. to take 12,500
shares—and obtaining an Act of Parliament for a "future
subscription by the South \Vales Co."—and their appoint-
ment of a " permanent majority of the directors of the
3 W.'s Co."—whereas the whole was illusory and fraudulent
—the funds of the South Wales Co. being in 1846, illegally
and fraudulently, taken to buy up votes and shares, and to
defeat the shareholders—and no future subscription has ever
been made.
A similar course of concocted signers to the deeds- ficti-
tious deposits—and packed meetings—was pursued to defeat
the Parliamentary "resolutions," impose on Parliament, and
obtain incorporation.
Third. The absence of documents from the Journal Office
demands a fair investigation—those documents are material
to the shareholders against the directors, and were in use
against them.
It appears from printed papers 297 (ques. 112 and 175),
that
search for them was made by Mr. Dickenson 1 A copy had,
however, been secured before the lots. An attemptt was
s
made (Papers page 19) to impeach that copy; yetllast iof the
been proved fur the last four months before the faster d
Rolls—and no attempt by the company to impeach or eny
was offered.
its existence there, though the opportunity
d to the loss •
Inquiry was made at the bar of the Lor
°ofas '
but it is due to the parties—to the officers this House—
; and to the better protection of the public intereate—to have
resortedu said—"cc ohf parties
a

The Papers (pages 32, &c.) show them in weekly commu-
nication with the party of whom they afterwards com-
plained, calling upon him " for written statements of facts
preparatory to an interview " with the cornmitteee of share-
holders—that they had the " Return " (which was ques-
tioned in the Lords), with other statements—well knew he
represented opposing shareholders—and , retainedthat Return,
for seven weeks, during which they were in communication
with him—never asked any explanation of said Return—nor
complained thereof to him—but after communication with
his opponents who made a " Return " to them—the Com-
missioners, with his opponents, went to the House of Lords
and complained of said " Returns " as " calculated " to mis-
lead them "as to who it emanated from," &c. The Papers
and Letters (pages 32-5) amply show, that this was most
unjust—that the Commissioners were not misled—that the
directors used them to injure the petitioners, and to forward
their views and schemes of injustice. The Commissioners
have never granted or offered the sought-for interview for
which the papers were celled.
These allegations in the papers call specially for interfer-
ence, inquiry, and relief.

COURT CIRCULAR.
The Queen and Prince, accompanied by their illus-
trious visitors, walked early this morning in Osborne
Park.

The Prince of Wales and younger members of the
Royal Family rode and walked as usual.
There was no addition yesterday to the royal dinner
party.

SUNDAY.
Z
Th! Qieen and Prince walked early this morning, in
Osborne Park, accOdiptinied by-his Royal Highness the
Prince of Wslei and the younger members of the Royal
Her Majesty_ and his' Royal Highness, the Princess
Royal, and thelpdies and Gentlem in Waiting, attended
Divine service in the forenoon, at Whippiugham Church.
The Rev. J. Protheroe officiated.
Their Gratis die Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch
and Sir ZniiaistVlisvk had the honour of dining at Os-
borne yeaterdliy: Sir James Clark returned to London
this afternoon.

Herr Due had the honour yesterday evening of dis-
playing his wonderful calculating powers before her
Majesty the Queen, his Royal Highness Prince Albert,
and the royal,party.

Her Roial highness the Duchess of Gtouoester visited
their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge, and
the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg Strelitz,
on Saturday, at Cambridge House.
The Earl of Harewood had an interview with Sir
George Grey, on. Saturday, at the Home office.
The Building Committee of the Royal Commission for
the Exhibition of 1851 had a meeting on Saturday, in
the new Palace of Westminster. There were present
Mr. Cubitt (chairman), Mr. Barry, Mr. Brunel, and
Mr. T. L. Donaldson.

Colonel Reid was present as the chairman of the Exe-
cutive Committee. Mr. Scott Russell, secretary to the
Royal Commission, attended. Mr. Digby Wyatt was
present.
Dispatches from the Governors of the West India
Colonies were received on Saturday at the Colonial-
office.

The Duke of Wellington attended the early service
yesterday in the Chapel Royal, St. James's. The Rey.
Dr. Wesley officiated—at the daily service the Rev. Dr.
Wesley preached the sermon. The anthem was, " Let
me know mine end" (Greene).