The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-25 00:00:00

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trb 011

SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock.

WATERFORD, WEXFORD, WICK-
LOW, AND DUBLIN RAILWAY.—(THIS DAY.)
A half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors was
held this day at the offices of the company, 449, West
Strand, for the purpose of receiving a report and a
statement of the accounts from the directors.
Lord COURTOWN, the chairman of the company, pre.

sided.
Mr. Ness requested to be allowed to examine the re-
gister of shareholders.
The CHAIRMAN—We cannot permit you do so.
Mr. NASH— Then I protest against the register being
sealed.
The sealing of the document was, however, proceeded
with, and formal protests both against this proceeding
and the legality of the meeting were handed in by
Mr. Nash.
The SECRETARY then read the report of the directors,
which stated that in pursuance of the resolution adopted
at the last meeting they had caused a Bill to be
prepared, which had passed the standing orders and
had been read tile first time in the House of Commons.
They regretted to find that there still existed among
a portion of the shareholders a disposition to thwart and
embarrass the board in their prosecution of measures
which had been corm, ived and adopted with a conscien-
tious desire to benefit all concerned. They were quite
willing to believe that suet opposition or obstruction
proceeded mainly from a misunderstanding of the exi-
gency of the case, and of the poshien in which the share
holders were placed. With the aid and support of the
proprietors, the directors had a confident hope that
the affairs cf the company might be, if not alto-
ge:her retrieved, at all events materially improved.
The object which the directors had in views was to ask
the sanction of Parliament for limiting the line to that
portion which might be confi,Loatly expected to prove
remunerative; and, in so doing, greatly to reduce the
burden and liability which now pressed on the share-
holders. The opposition to this course, if successful,
would greatly augment the diffieulties cf the board,
without ultimate relief to the proprietors; and if, unhep-
pity, the efforts of the directors should thereby
be rendered abortive, they would have no alternative
but to proceed, in the strict discharge a their duty,
to execute the !voiles as originally contemplated;
and to enforce the payment of the subscriptions in full.
nv severely this would press upon the shareholders, it
was unnecessary to suggest; and the directors entreat
those upon whom the pressure would fall, not to suffer
themselves to be deluded into a bell' f that there was
any °scare from their legal liability to the payment of
calls. When the proper time arrived the details of the
Bill a ooid be submitted to a general meeting, specially
convened for the purpose, when the sense cf the pro-
prietors would be regularly taken upon it. The directors
deemed it almost unnecessary to warn the shareholders
against statemeats occasionally inserted in newspaper:,
or embodied in circulars, issued without authority, re-
specting the affairs of the company. Those were ob-
viously miscl:ievcus and unfounded.
F.-am the s'atement cf accounts, it appeared that the
total receipts am anted to 144,393/. 161., and the
expenditure to 140,4001. 18s. 3d., leaNing a balance cf
3,995/. 17-. 91 in the bands of the company.
A noisy discussion f dlowed upon the motion
for the reception cf the raper!, in the course
of which it was insisted that the directors
were bound to produce the balance-:beet of the
debts anl liabilities. After some little hesitation on the
part of the directors, the document was brought forward
and read, and, ac far as we could uuderstand the state-
ments, the debts and liabilities amounted to 34,000/.
The SECRETARY, in reply to some questions, said the
calls upon the 11,200 shares, held by the South
Wales Company', had been paid up, and he
believed tf ej we: e liable to pay more calls;
but thin was a legal queetien, which he could
net take upon himself to decide. tinder the present Act
they (the directors) were hound to carry the lire feom
liaatin to Wexford, but they proposed now t ) limit
it to Wicklow. This proposition would, of course, be
submitted to a special meeting, at which the South Wale;
Company would stand in no better position, as far as he
was aware, than the other shareholders.
The discussion terminated in an amendment, to the
effect that a committee of inquiry should be appointed to
investigate the affairs of the company, and to report
upon the most desirable plan which c-;uld be adopted to
rescue the shareholders from their present difficulty.

- This proposition led to a de-u:tOry and rather angry
discussion, but no definite milt hal bc,en arrived at
when our report lert.

COMMON PLEAS.—(TIIIS DAY.
(Sittings in Baneo at Westminster.)
CROLL V. EDGE.

This was an action on the case for an infringement of
a patent for improvements in making gas, and in the ap-
paratus used in transmitting and measuring, and was
vied before the Lard Chiet Justice, when a verdict was
found for - the -clsfendant. A motion for a new
trial was substquently obtained, and argued at con-
siderable length in the course of Hilary Term last
yetr. The objection taken to the plaintiff's patent, and
this involved the only important question in the case,
was•that the t'tle of the patent had the effect of exclud-
ing thc public fcom rights which the specification, de-
scribing the mil nature of the invention, did not appear
to claim. The patent was granted for "improvements in
making gas, and•in the apparatus used in transmitting
and metsuring," but in the title of the patent the in-
vention was stated to be one " for improvements in
rn4liing gas, and in the apra-atus used ;her;in, and in
transmitting and measuriDg."
Mr. Justice MAULE now delivered the judgment of
O, Court, stating that although the insertion was slight
as regarded the number of wards, it wholly altered the
meaning, and extended substantially the grant of the
C' own. It was not intended that the patent should
comprehend any improvements in the apparatus used in
'raking gas. The Court, on that ground, thought that
the direction of the Lord Chief Justice was correct, and
that the cl,fmdar:t was entitled to a verdict. The rule
must, therafo-e, be discharged.
Discharged accordingly.

EXCHEQUER.-(THIS DAY.)
(Sittings in Banco)
IN RE BIRMINGHAM, CHESTER, AND BIRKENHEAD
RAILWAY.
In this can, which was an action to recover calls upon
180 bi h 37. es, and in which the defendant pleaded infancy,
Mr. Baron PAratE delivered the judgment of the
Court, making the rule to enter the verdict for the defen-
dant absolute.

CHAPLIN V. MILVAIN.

This was au action by the Sutherland and Newcastle
Union Joint-St)ck Pink to recover calls from the de-
fendant, who was a shareholder in the company, and the
principal question involved in it ww, whether the cove-
nant entered into by the defendant was sne'l as gave
power to the plaintiff, as public officer of tin bank, to
sue for the arrear of calls.

Mr. Baron PARKS now delivered the jnd.gment of the
Court in favour of the defendant, whose liability it was
considered t; ai not bran sufficiently established.

TAT TERS A LAIS-THIS EVENING
Sur. O'CLOCK.

LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE.
8 to 1 agst Sir John
10 to 1 ag,!it Peter Simple
10 to 1 agst Victim
12 t) 1 apt Itat-tmp
12 to 1 agst Meath
13 to 1 ag3t Vain Hope
14 to 1 Columbine

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES.
6 to 1 agst Osterley
9 to 1 agst Harriott
12 to 1 agst Ftrnhill.
20 to 1 agst Puffy

CHESTER CUP.
14 to 1 agst Glau-a
20 to 1 agst Roland
40 to 1 agst Woodlark

DERBY.
8 to 1 agst Ghillie Callum
9 to 1 agst Bolingbroke
11 to 1 agst Knight of Avanel
13 to 1 agst The Nigger
15 to 1 agst Voltigeur
15 to 1 agst The Italian
20 to 1 agst Mayors

DIPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
(THIS EVENING.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat upon the Wool-
sack at Five o'clock.
The Earl of LANESBOROUGH presented pcitiors
from :everal places in Ireland against the system of na-
tional edueation.
The Earl of GRANVILLE presented a petition from
Derby in favour of the Bill legalising marriages with a
deceased wife's sist,,r.
The Bishop of CHICHESTER gave natio° that he
should to-morrow present a petition from a meeting
bold at Willie's Rooms against the management clauses
cf the Committee of Privy Council on National Edu-
c4tion.

COMMANDER PITMAN.
Lord BROUGHAM said that circumstances had
cane to his knowledge since he bad last mentioned the
subject of the differences between Commander Pitman
and Messrs. Graham and Elliott, which had induced him
to alter his opinion with regard to Commander Pitman.
The evidence he had received with regard to Messrs.
Graham and Elliott was so discrepant that ho could only
account for it by believing that the evidence must refer
to d;fferent parts of their career. He had heard from an
aflmiral a high account of their conduct, and from other
authoritiei a totally different account. He was of opinion
that Mr. ritrean did act deserve the cpprobium heaped
upon him. The sentence of the court-martial upon Mr.
Pitman bad been merely dismissal, and he believed that
the court-martial had felt sorry to be obliged to pass the
sentence. It was to be regretted that Mr. Pitman had
not asked to have his trial po,iponed.
The Earl of MIN'FO would be sorry to say anything
which should all to a e pain which lies rs, Graham and
E'liott must feel, while suffering under the pain of a very
severe and very well-merited punishment, tut he truit say
that the officers g on board that ship were of opinion
that this evidence assured Mr. Pitmls..n was not worthy
of atter tlon, and it was to be rcgrc tted that Mr. Pitman
ha I not callel cactilpatory evidenc:.. It was to be
refire ted that the Noble and Learned Lord
had drawn the attention of their Lordships to the subject
Lord BROUGHAM had only done that which it was
his duty to do on the representations which had been

made to him by an Admiral of high character in the
service.
The Earl of MINT° explained, and the subject
dropped.

PETITIONS.
Lord STANLEY presented several petitions com-
plaining of agricultural distrels, and praying for pro-
tection.
The Bishop of EXETER presented a petition from
the clergy of Exeter against a cert sin clause in the
Ecclesiastical Commissions' Bill, which gave to dears
more than 1,0001. a year.
ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION BILL.
On the motion of the Bishop of LONDON the House
resolved itself into Committee on this Bill.
Clauses up to 12 were agreed to with some verbal
alterations.
Earl POWIS moved an amendment in clausq 12,
which as it stood would prevent the foundation of
new bishoprics, for t'ee want cf funds to support
the new bishops; the present clause went to
amalgamate the Episcopal fund for the sup-
port of new bishops with the common fund
for the support of additional curates. The object of his
amendment was to keep the Episcopal Fund perfictly
distinct from the common fund, so as to maintain
the Episcopal Fund interest until the time should
arrive when Parliament should see fit to increase
the number of bishops. If that fund were once united
to the common fund it would be at once swallowed up
by the augmen.ations to small livings, and the ap-
pointment and maintenance of now bishops would be
impossible. If they passed the clause as it now
stood they would b' for ever precluded from entertain-
ing the question of appointing additional bishops. He
begged to move the intertion of words which would keep
the epi- copal distinct from the common fund.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that one cf the
great objections to the Commission had been the im-
impassable line which it had been said had been at-
tempted to be drawn between the Episc.)pal and
the common fund. He denied that the amal-
gamation of the funds would prevent that appointment
of new bishops in any case in which Parliament should
be minded to an'horise their appointment, and that was
a matter that ought to be left entirely to the decision of
Parliament. He should therefore oppose the amend-
ment.
The Bishop of LONDON apprehended that it was
essential to the efficiency of the Church that thee
should be a sufficient number of Bishops, and if the pre-
sent number was not too large three hundred years
ago, it was clear that the number was insuffi-
cient at pretent. The loss to the episcopal fund by
arrangement proposed in the Bill would be very great,
and the gain to the common fund wculd be very small.
He believed that the large rnejority of the clergy would
be found to be in favour of maintaining a separation of
he two funds.

(LEFT SITTING.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took the Chair Four o'clock.
NEW WRIT.

Mr. HODGES moved for a new writ for the city of
Canterbury in tLe place of Lord Albert Denison who
had accepted the Chiltern hundreds.
SECOND READINGS.
Thy following Bills were then read a second time:—
Bridge across the River Clyde opposite to South Port-
land-street, Laurieston, G-la=gow.
Cairnwell, Braemar, and Strath Dee Turnpike Roads.
Cardiff Waterworks.
Dublin, Dundrum, and Rathiarnham Railway (Exten-
sion or Revival i.f Powers I,r the Purchase of Lands
and Completion of Work, Amendment or Repeal a
Acts).
Eastern Union Railway.
Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrcssan Railway (No. 1).
Killarney JuncLinn Railway.
LiYarningtr.m Prior: Paving.
Liverpool Corporation Wftterwork (Abandonment of

Works, &c.)
Liverpool Corpration Waterworks (Extension of Time
for Purchase of Land, &c.)
London (City) Improveffients.
Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland.
North Staffordshire and Manchester, Sheffield aad Lin.
co!nshire Railways Junctior.
Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton, Birmingham
and Oxford Junction, and Great Western Railway
Compani2s.
Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway.
Peterborough Improvement, Police, and Cemetery, &c.
Pontypridd Gas Light and Coke Company.
River Dee Conservan7 and Improvement.
Timber Preserving Company.
West Cornwall Railway
Westminster Improvements.
PETITIONS.

Mr. GRAINGER presented a petition from the soli
cf Durham praying for the repeal of the certifi
cate duty.

TEN HOURS BILL.

Colonel THOMPSON pres,,nted a petition from
Bradford in f tvour of the Ten hours Bill.
MARRIAGE WITH DECEASED WIFE'S
SISTER. _ _

Mr. H. BERKELEY presented a petition from the
city of Bristol praying for a revision of the law relating
to the marriage of a deceased wife's sister.
STAMP DUTY.

An lloN. IlEmuEst prestnted a petition praying f)r
a repeal of the stamp duty and tax upon paper.

AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.

Mr. W. MILES presented a petition from forty-seven
agricultural pariilics of Somersetshire, complainining of
the depressed state of agriculture, and praying the House
to take this into their consideration; also a petition from
the same county against the annual certificate tax for
solicitors.