The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-13 00:00:00

CALEDONIAN RAILWAY.
A special general meeting of the proprietors of the
Caledonian 'Railway was held yesterday et the Free-
masons' Hall, for the purpose of electing a new board of
directors, Mr. J. J. 1.1. Johnstone, chairman of the old
board, in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the business of the day,
observed that it was now time for the shareholders to
name the gentlemen whom they wished to elect as
directors; but as there appeared to be no difference of
opinion about the re-election of Mr. Copling, he would
suggest that that gentleman should not be called upon
to resign.
Mr. Daax said he understood that shares to the ex-
tent of 170,0901. had been created, and were registered
In the naafis of men of straw, who had not paid one
shilling upon them. Now he wished to know whether
those parties would be entitled to vote with the other
proprietors.
- The CHAstistart was understood to reply in the
affirmative.
Mr. Dian had no hesitation in declaring, then, that
if these parties voted it would be a scandalous fraud
upon the meeting, and he should institute legal proceed-
ingsin the matter.
Mr. HenasoN HINDS thought that would be the
proper course for the Honourable Proprietor to take.
Captain PLuNxarr said the railway was now in
so deplorable a position, produced by the past acts of its
manager, that it was absolutely necessary for Parliament
to institute an inquiry with the view of ascertaining how
far the bona fide shareholders had been imposed upon by
fictitious votes.
The directors proposed by the London Central Com-
mittee wire as follows:—The Hon. Edward Plunkett,
Captain, R.N.; John Copling, jun.. Esq., Hackney;
James Baird, Esq., Gartaherrie, Glasgow ; Thomas
Thornborrow Fawcett, Esq., London; Thomas M'Mick-
ing, Esq., Edinburgh; Douglas Campbell, Esq., Edin-
burgh; Richard Potter, Esq., London; William John-
stone, Esq., Commercial Bank, Glasgow; John Duncan,
Esq., Aberdeen.
A rival list had been got up, substituting the names
of Alderman Thompson, M.P., J. A. Campbell, Esq., of
Inverawe, Joseph Locke, Esq , M.P., T. T. Fawcett,
Esq., Thomas M'Micking, Esq., and Richard Potter,
Esq. This list had been issued by parties interested in
the guaranteed lines, and it was for the shareholders to
elect between the two.
Mr. H. HINDE intimated that Mr. Alderman Thomp-
son declined to serve, and his name must, therefore, be
withdrawn.
Mr. PALLISTER thought the interest of the preference
stockholders ought to be represented at the board, and
he would, therefore, suggest that some other name
should be put in the place of Alderman Thompson.
Mr. LOCKE was ready to become a director if it would
restore harmony to the board, but if it were to create
discord, he must withdraw. Nothing but a strong and
unanimous board of directors could retrieve the railway
from its depressed condition.
.alfr. CAMPBELL was only willing to serve upon the
same understanding.
After some lengthened discussion, the original list was
put to a show of hands and declared to be carriesi. A
poll was then demanded, and it was understood that the
contest should be between Messrs. M•Micking and Faw-
cett and Messrs. Locke and Campbell. The other names
appeared to be unanimously assented tc., and those gen-
tlemen were accordingly elected as directors.
Mr. LOCKE, however, as the meeting had declared
against him, would not allow his name to go to the poll,
while

Mr. CAIIPBELL could not consent to act without Mr.
Locke, and he therefore hoped no pull would be taken in
his name. _

The demands for the poll were accordingly with-
drawn, and

The CHAIRMXN aunounced that the list proposed by
the London Central Committee had been carried.
Thanks rx-fre then Toted t 3 thr) Chr',rrnfm, and the
rti:Pti;l;z oruk,- uv.

:11 (fit DE Atj _X ND C EVIT E.
NND .tYP.;NON

AND

A meeting of the shareholders in these companies was
held yesterday, at the London Tavern, to receive a
report on the memorial which bad lately been presented
to the' French Government, in order to obtain a return
of the caution money.
Mr. Alderman SALOMONS, chairman of the late Bor-
deaux and Cette Railway Company, presided, and reported
to the meeting the result of his recent visit to Paris to pre-
►ent the memorial. He said that a more respectable docu-
ment than this memorial never emanated from any body
of shareholders, as it was signed by upwards of 100 in-
dividuals, some of whom were persons of considerable
wealth ; and the reasons for adopting it were
these : after the events of the revolution, the
Minister of Public Works presented to the
Chamber of Representatives a plan for making
a railway from Paris to Avignon, by which it was
arranged that any company who would undertake to pro-
vide capital for its construction should have made over
to them gratuitously:all the works on the Paris and Lyons
Railway, which had been aimndoned, and sold at
a great depression to the Government. This
railway, which had cost six millions sterling,
was now open and at work, and he believed the
average produce was estimated at 4,0001. per week. The
Government besides offered to give a guarantee of 51.
per cent. upon the capital to be raised. The proposi-
tion was ultimately referred to a Committee of the
Chanber, but here there was such a collision of inte-
rest th..t tLe decision of the Committee was delayed,
and a ehr.nge of Ministers having in the meantime taken
place, i: was, at last, thought that the plan of the Cabi-
net «5s altogether abandoned. He (Mr. Salotnons) lost
no time i❑ going over to Paris, and be was happy to
learn, when there, that instead (f the measure being
withdi a ve, it was the opinion of the Government that it
would be better for such a largo undertaking ID be con-
structed by private capital than the funds of the nation. He
had an interview with the President of the Republic, who
express of himself anxious that English and French
capitalists should combine togetler for th 3 construction
of great public works,—as well a; interviews with the
Minister of Public Works and the Ministor of Finance,
and all of them agreed is saying that they knew
no other body of shareholders than those who composed
this meeting who had any claim to the caution money, and
to the unfinished works. The committee bad since made
their report to the Chamber, and in a very few days it
would be put forward for discussion, and the only question
to be settled was, whether the Government should make
the Paris and Avignon line themselves, or offer it to
some private company on fair terms. The committee
had proposed that any profit beyond 5 per cent. should
be the property of the shareholders for a limited
period of five or ten T ears, and that afterwards
any profit above 81. per cent. should be divided
with the propriet us and the Government. Now
he wished the meeting to determine upon some resolu-
tions, expressing their willingness to take a part in this
undertaking, on condition that their caution money was
added to the capital, which would be required for it, as
he thought they would only by some arrangement of this
kind be enabled to get some equivalent for what they
had lest.

After s desultory discussion, during which the
general opinion appeared to be that the terms
offered by the French Government were of a very
favourable nature, it was resolved that immediate
meatures be adopted to obtain a return of the
caution money invested by the Bordeaux and Cette,
and Lyons and Avignon Railways, or to have it brought
into account as part of the capital of the proposed rail-
way from Paris to Avignon.
It was then agreed that the chairman should ba re-
quested to take the necessary steps to carry the resolu-
tion into effect.

A 'rote of thanks having been passed to the Chairman,
the meeting separated.

FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE
OF TUESDAY.
FOREIGN-OFFICE, FEB. 9, 1830.

The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. Elie
Beatty Graff as Consul at Nassau, New Providence, for
the United States of America.
WHITEHALL, FEB. 11.

The Queen has been pleased to appoint the under-
mentioned gentlemen to be officers in the Artillery
Company of London:—
To be Captains, with the following seniority—James
Goodsell Middleton, Esq., John White Welch, Esq.,
Frederick Edward Horneman, Erq , Peter Morrison,
Esq., William Thomas Robinson, Esq., Richard Bell,
Esq., John Bidet], Esq., Edward. Ellis, E,q , William
Bokenham, Esq., Thomas Hall, Esq., William Chickall
Jay, Esq.
To be Supernumerary Captains—John James Iselin,
Esq., John Parker, Esq.
To be Adjutant, with the rank of Captain—William
Henry Snell, Esq.
To be Lieutenants, with the following seniority—
Adolphus John Lewis, Gent.' rt
John Richard Lambe
Walmisley, Gent, Joseph Moreland, Gene., William
Jecemiah Jordan, °rot., George Baldwin Waugh, Gent,
'Lomas Mogan Smith, Gent., John Pitt Bontein, Gent.
To be Quartermaster—George Bailin, Gent.
To be Physician—HPnrY Jeaffreson, M.D.
To be Surgeons—William White Cooper, Esq.; John
aw, Esq.
CROWN OFFICE, FEB. 11.