The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-18 00:00:00

trZr Mittion

SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock.

LONDON, BRIGHTON, and SOUTH
COAST RAILWAY.—(THIS DAY.)
A special general meeting of the proprietors of the
London, Brighton, and South Coat Railway was held
this afternoon, at the Bridge-house Hotel, for ele pur-
pose of considering the question of audit ; Mr. Laing,
chairman of the board of directors in in the chair.:
The CHAIRXIA.N said the shareholders had been applied
to f,r their opinions on the subject of audit, but only 24
had thought tit to reply, and of that number 9 were f.)r
a Government audit, and 15 azainst it The general re-,
stilt, however, was that the majority of the shareholders
were willing to leave the matter in the hands of the di-
rectors, or to chance. No audit could be devised he ter
than teat of working with a closed capital account, but
all railway companies were not like this company, in
that fortunate position, and as railway property vi as
daily becoming depreciated in value something
must be done by way of an improved audit to satisfy the
public as to the integrity of accounts submitted to them
by railway directors. Only two modes had been sug-
gested for accomplishing that object, namely, by esta-
blishing a Government board of control, or by the
shareholders taking the matter into their own hands.
He was was averse to the first on public grounds, but if
the shareholders declared in favour of it, the directors
would interpose no obstacles in the way of accomplishing
it. At the same time ho thought it would ultimately turn
out that the shareholders would dell with the question
thems!lves without reference to the Government. He pre-
posed, there fore, that this meeting should appoint a
committee to co-orerate with the committees c f ether
companies on the general question, and to fix upon some
system of audit for the current half-year.
On the motion of Mr. FLOOD, seconded. by Alderman
WILSON, it was resolved that the matter should be re-
f.rred to a committee of five sha-eholder', with
power to call fur accounts and documents, and to audit
the accounts in such manner as they should think best
till the question had been finally disposed of.
The committee was then nominate after which
thanks were voted to the Chairman, aid the meeting
terminated.

MEETING OF SPANISH AMERI-
CAN BONDHOLDERS.—(THIS DAY.)
A meeting of the Spanish American bondholders was
held at the London Tavern this day, to consider the
proceedings of the meeting of the holders of :Mexican
Bonds. The chair was taken by W. Marshall, Esq.,
M P , at two o'clock.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, com-
mented at some length on the conduct cf the Mexican
hondholdere, who, after consenting to the appointment
cf the Spanish American Bondholders' Committee,
had, without communication with that committee, at a
meeting held on the 23d of January, by a resolution
voted themselves ready to dissolve any and every com-
mittee then existing. He complained that the Mexican
bondholders had never found any fault with the prc-
ceedings of the Spanish American Bondholders' Commit-
tee, nor expressed in the least degree any desire that any
particular course should be pursued, but had taken
that step without the slightest intimation of their
intention. After stating the desire of the-committee to
do the best for the interest of all the bondholders, the
Chairman concluded by explaining that the meeting had
been called with a view to enable the bondholders to
settle any course which they wished to pursue.
Mr. W HALEY moved a resolution, that this meeting
having taken into consideration recent proceedings with
regard to the proceedings of the Mexican bondholders,
are ef opin'on that in order to ensure unanimity
in the proceedings of the bondholders, the management
of the Mexican debt should be entrusted to the com-
mittee f the Spanish Americaulbondholders, with such
addition as this meeting may think fit."
Mr. SIIEPHARD seconded the resolution, which was
received with loud cries of disapprobation from all parts
of the meeting.
Mr. Mit:ROUGH called the attention of the meeting to
a resolution of Cie 23d of January regarding the holding
back information from the Stock Exchange.
Mr. CAPEL indignantly denied this assertion.
Mr. STEEL thought that there ought to be a set arate
committee for each separate section of bondholders.
Mr. MORIATE supported this view. He did not wish
to undervalue the exertions of the present committee,
though he thought any other set of gentlemen could have
done as much; yet he could not sea why they should not
have a special committee for a special purpose.
The CHAIRMAN said that it was very easy to say
when the battle was over, any other general or any
other army could have done as well.
Baron GOLDSMID said it was his object to effect a re•
conciliation between the two sections of the bondholders,
and to do away with the ill-blood that existed. Ile
should propose that the fsur gentlemen of the old com-
mittee should be added to the Lew committee.—(Cries
of " No, no.")
Mr. Lacs, amidst great confusion, rose to charge the
committee with refusing to afford information to the
bondholders. He himself had written to the commit-
tee for information, and had never received any answer.
Mr. CAPEL supported the proposition of Baron Gold-
amid. He exhorted the meeting to refrain from a di.play
of itl-fe4ling, which would by no means better the posi-
tion of the bondholders.
Mr. RICHMOND paw much to blame in the constitution
of the committee of Spanish American bondholders. He was
a Mexican bondholder to some large amount. He thought
that there was a much better chance of obtaining a set•
tlement of their claims by a separate committee, chosen
by the bondholders; themselves. There were also many
circumstances in the conduct of the committee which
laid them open to fault. He should only instance the
Peruvian compromise which took place lest year. On
the 7th December the Peruvian Minister had an interview
with the chairman and deputy-chairman of the commit-
tee, and on several succeeding da.)s with the deputy
chairman, until the 21st, when the rest of the committ
were communicated with, and on the 31st Dec. the terms
were published in the Standard. Now on the
.7th the
Pe: avian Stock stood at 36 37, a mere nominal quota-
tion, and on the 22d it stood at 514. Now there might
be coincidences, but a great many persons might draw
their own conclusions from those circumstance.. The
Hon. Gentleman concluded by moving an amendmeet:—
" That the business of the Mexican bondholders remain
in the hands of the committee appointed by the meeting
of the 23d of January last."
Here a scene of great confusion arose, in the midst of
which the Chairman rose to put the two amendments
proposed by Baron Goldsmid and Mr. Richmond.
I i the mid t of great noise and d sorder, the amend-
ment of Mr. Richmond was ultimately carried.

TATTERSALL'S-THIS EVENING

Six O'CLOCK.

LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE.
15 to 1 agst Meath
15 to 1 agst Farnham
30 to 1 apt Maria Day
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE UTAK ES.
8 to 1 agst Osterley—taken
10 to 1 agst ilarriott
25 to 1 agst Bastinado
IIETROPOLITAN HANDICAP.
5 to 1 agst elle(11(11
25 to 1 agst Sir Gilbert
CHESTER CUP.
16 to 1 agst Miss Ann
20 to 1 agst Fogleman
20 to 1 agst Roland
20 to 1 agst Peep-o'-Day Boy
25 to 1 agst Ellordale
33 to 1 apt Lady Evelyn
DERBY.
8 to 1 agst Ghillie Callum
10 to 1 agst Bolingbroke
11 to 1 agst Knight of Avenel
14 to 1 agst The Nigger
22 to 1 agst Clincher
35 to 1 agst Mayors—taken
50 to 1 agst Hardinge—taken
LINCOLN STEEPLECHASE.
5 to 1 agst Trust-me-not

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

(THIS EVENING.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took hie seat ur on the Wool-
sck at Five o'clock.
The Duke of Richmond presented a petition frcm
Rochdale against tie relay system in factories, and
praying that the principle of the Ten Hours' Act should
be carried out.

Lord BROUGHAM moved for certain returns re-
lating t.. the Bankrupt Acts Consolidation Bill of last
aeseion.— Agreed to.
The Marquis a LANSDOWNE presented certain
returns relating to the Poor-Law Unions in Ireland ;
also returns from the Commissioners of Encumbered Es-
tates in Ireland.

unmeaning processions, which tended to exasperate
and renew political animosities, to promote breaches of
the pease, and sometimes, as in this instance, to occa-
sion loss of life. As a proof of his detestation of these
processions, he would remind their Lordships that
he was himself the person who had introduced
the Processions Act which had expired in 1844.
He hoped he would not be considered as holding any
undue bias in favour of Orangemen. He believed them
to be brave, religious, and loyal, and thought that,
although there might be unworthy members, as a body
they deserved the character he had given them, and he
believed that the Crown mightalways rely upon them for
the defence of the province of Ulster against all enemies,
foreign and domestic, and he admitted that this organ-
izetion might tend to foster religious and political ani-
mosities. He would now rapidly relate the facts of' the
ease to which he wished to draw their Lord-
skips attention. It was well understood that on
the 12th of last July it was intended to make a
largo Orange demonstration in the province of Ulster,
Notice was given to the Government, and two stipendiary
magistrates, and a small body cf troops were sent down to
Ca t ewellar ,from whenceit was known that alarge Orange
procession would set off to go over Dolly's Brae to the
park of his Noble Friend near him (the Earl of Roken).
The pass of Dolly's Brae might have been guarded by,
a small body of men against a larger number of per-
sons. There was another road passing round by
Dolly's Brae by which the procession might have
gone. Before the Orange procession appeared, a small
body of troops occupied the pass of Dolly 's Brae, and
sooe after a large body of men, armed with scythes and
gnus, appeared, and finding Dolly's Brae occu-
pied by troops, emerged in the vicinity.
The Orange procession headed by the police and
accompanied by women and children passed in proces-
sion, and by the exertions of the authorities, of the
Orangemen, and of two Roman Catholic priests the pro-
cession passed without a collision. ;The procession having
passed without interruption it became a question whether
they should return by Dolly's Brae. It was determined
that they should. The cavalry unfortunately had been
compelled to leave the pass in search of forage.
The Ribbonmen continued in occupation, and
the two Catholic priests furnished them with
bread to keep them together, and also gave
them a blessing. About an hour before the time fixed
fur a e return of the Orange procession, the Ribbon men
took up a position which commanded both the pass
of Dolly's Brae, and the other read by
which they might have returned. After having
had refreshment in Tollymore-park, and having
been addressed by his Noble Friend the Orange
procession returned by the pass of Dolly's Brae, where
the Ribbonmen had taken up a formidable po-
sition. After the Orange procession had nearly
passed a squib was let off. This was followed
by two shots, and then there came a tremendous
fire upon Orangemen, policemen, and military. The
fire was principally directed against the pclice, who
with great gallantry charged the Ribboemen, and
cleared the hill ; and it was the opinion of several
officers, that had not the Orangemen taken the
Ribbon rebel band in flank, the position would
not have been claimed. He called it the rebel band
because it fired upon her Majesty's troops. He admitted
that afterwards some of the Orange party were guilty of
atrocities which he deeply regretted. Houses were fired,
some inoffensive person was put to death, and he was sure
that if the perpetrators of those atrocities could be dis-
covered no one would be more rejoiced at fhe circum-
stance than hls Noble Friend.) Shortly afterwards
informations were exhibited at the Castlewellen Sessions
against certain persons for attending an illegal proces-
sion, which were refused by the magistrates, and there-
upon the Government demanded for the commission his
Noble Friends (the Earl of Roden and Messrs.
Francis and William Bete) he thought there
was a prima facia case to fortify the
dismissal cf Mr. W. Bere, but Mr. Francis Bere bad in-
terfered during the conflict to preserve peace, and ac-
tually, in one instance, saved a Ribbonman's life. The
only offence aleged against him was that he did, in Lord
Roden's park, put on an orange ribbon, which he took off
bet): e he left the Park ; this, together with the fact that
he was present in the procession, was the charge against
him. The charge against his Noble Friend was
that he had received, the procession in his park,
had addressed them, and had refused to re-
ceive the information tendered at Castlewellan.
This, he contended, was not sufficient to justify their
dismissal. The dismissed magistrates had no rea-
son to know that the procession was an illegal
procession, and they had every reason to be-
lieve that they had the permission of the
Government. He said that the evidence presented to
the Lord-Lieutenant by Mr. Berwick had been garbled,
and that the Castlewellan magistrates would not have
been justified in receiving the information on such evi
deuce.