The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-05 00:00:00

ESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT QUEBEC.

MEETING AT THE LONDON TAVERN.
,-•&. numerous meeting was held yesterday of the trier-
ollPints and bankers of the city of Lordon, at the Lordon
a Bishopsgate•street to originete subscriptions
,1/!ie the relief of the sufferers in Quebec from the late cala-
L__t43ll, fire. The Lord Mayor took the chair at two
ilr''ck• On the platform we noticed Mr. Fex Mule.
Pattison, Mr. Baring, Sir J. Pirie, Mr. R. C.
Plan, and Mr. G. R. Robinson.
to•rihe Loan MAYOR said that he had been requested to
szellvene a meeting this day, for the purpose of con-
ITs7sering the Propriety of relieving the sufferers from
, destruction, at Quebec, whereby 12,000 human
OTegis, this!td b4en driven from their.. homes without food
destr and nearly a million of property was
41(11'. 4 and several lives lest. He hoped that the
B,nds ef these sufferers would be met by the gene-
t ef the meeting.—(Hear, hear.)
%air'. A. GILLESPIE moved the first resolution. He said
at there was very little necesssity for his alluding
lto
'alre -
the f.
ataliTty of this awful occurrence, as it had been
ady beforehereh te public through the rints and oth
sources' had been e diffi p culty in ascertaining tier
number of lives lost, but upwards of forty bodies had
alleadY been found, and there wss little doubt that a
great
" Inany others had perished. He then read
erZctructs from a letter from the corresponding
'aretiaittee, which has already been published, and
'which set forth the deplorable losses occasioned by this
Those who suffered were nearly all French
tansdlans, with some Irish amongst them. He thought
"rt could not be a more powerful appeal to their
prierosity than this calamity. The inhabitants of
Quebec came forward most nobly, and, in a very short
:11a•ee of time, collected subscriptions of upwards of 7,0001.
I'4 alleviate the existing distress. The Governor-General
immediately sent the sum of 2,000/. for the relief of the
aufferers. Messrs. James Gibb and Joseph Masson sub-
,t,?ribed the sum of 1,100/. They were both French
Canadians. The houses of all the neighbours were open
!is those who escaped from the ruins. Mr. Gillespie
then read the resolution, expressive of the regret felt by
the
kluta
11-y .eeting on hearing that nearly one-third of the
_lnts were by this calemity deprived iu a few hours
shelter and the means of subsistence. Air. THOMAS BARING seconded the resolution, and it
Was unanimously carried.
, The night
IT Hoe. Fox MAITI.E moved the second reso-
-se was sure that on this occasion the appeal
ollade to the generosity of the citizens and merchants
ItLondon would not be made in vain. If ever
ere was a time when the streams of benevolence
1
r)tild now unimpeded, it was on the present occasion, an( there was anything in this calamity for which they
?light to thank God, it was, that it had not visited them
10 the midst of winter. Winter would come on in four Inontlis, but that was a short time to house 12,0000
I:urnan bein.gs.
ate the majesty They were call, d tipon at once to vindie
of the land in that country, and let them
Low-stretch forth thel-lan:1 of benevolesees the more readily.
son
Subscriptions were proposed by Messrs. James Paul-
:ey, R. Gillespie, G. B. Glynn, S. Gurney, jun., and
.irral other gentlemen, who appropriately and briefly
ad c 1 essed the meeting.
InThe SECRETARY then went through the list of sub-
iltrlicd'tiQolis already received, containing the names of
bouehertaenleY, the Lord Mayor, the Right Hon. H. La-
and;Messrs Glynn, Halifax,' and Co. ; Baring
prinelliproaithheLs,;eGiliespie, Moffatt,
several
ietk rs of London. and Co. ; and all the
leo/. elareahl. of the subscriptions amounted to 2001. and
A. vete
sided 0 of thanks to the Lord Mayor for having pre-
6Pondedver tile meeting having been proposed and re-
to, the inswing d separate .

TRE CANADA.
-IARIO AND HURON JUNCTION RAIL-
This c WAY COMPANY.
read from -e,lany, formed 'or constructing a line of rail-
Lakeloronto, on Lake Ontario, to Goderich, on
stren Huron, has lately obtained an acce,sion to its
gth in the cooperation of the wealthy and influen-
tai3sp,tefwrshoieh
forming the Directory of the Canada Corn-
will place the stock in this undertaking on a
in
-c ) security not surpassed by any of a similar nature
.ngland.
prolizhe national importance of this work, and the fair
it 1s e an ample return which it presents, entitle
to
pros the attention of those who justly feel that in the
oc,,Pcrity of our colonies the chief wealth and security
e is to be found.
tit.•"e province through which tit's communication is
muuzuit to be made has for some years looked with an
in ..eus eye for the completion of the work which will,
important manner, develop its resources, and
place it in a pasition of successful competition with, in-
•.a of dependence upon, the United States. We an-
Wtleeillate in the employment of British capital in colonial
of whethis nature the commencement of a new era.,
n the people of Canada will he more united to Eng-
iqed by ties of interest and affection, and, therefore,
earehesasthilysaatisfaction, that British capitalists have been
taken u,appealed to, and that the subject has been
apnpational pirit, and with a view to British
and Colonial interests.
value
lance at the map of Canada will show the vast
jj and importance of connecting Lakes Ontario and
uron at the termini prop ised ; they present the only
rue and natural points of communication between Lake
Ontario and the extensive territories west of Lake
Huron.
The line possesses all the advantages which, in a
Young colony, should be regarded as essential in the
choice of a route of railroad communication.
Ist. It is the shortest and most direct route between
Lake Ontario and the Western States, and will, conse-
quently, be constructed at the least outlay of capital,
and will form the cheapest and most expeditious route
for the current of the vast tide of emigration annually
proceeding westward, and for the transit of all the pro-
duce of the west to the eastern markets.
2nd. It will form the only available trunk line, from
which future extensions to important places may be con-
structed by the shortest new lines of road, which exten-
sions will also consequently be made at the least outlay of
capital.
3d. It is the only line which can effectually open
to emigration and settlement that extensive portion
of fertile country lying between Lakes Ontario, Erie,
and Huron ; and
4th. It is a line which, by continuation at a future
period through Canada, will secure to the greatest
possible extent the continuous transit of goods and pas-
shengers entering upon the road at either extremity
colony
tr,
--ugnout the extent to the other extremity of the
.Such a continuation, it may confidently be anticipated,
will be made at no very distant day, whereby a direct
the
through Canada between Lake Huron and
Atlantic will be opened.
pecuniary point of view it is important to observe,
of of late years the rapid strides made by the citizens
n "wean and Rochester, on the southern shore of Lake
tvr"ar
On
jo, have attracted, in a great measure, the western
P:•-e Passing through the State of New York, from the
rid canal and Buffalo, to the route by Lake Ontario.
eeedll the completion of the proposed line, goods pro-
on ea-tward and westward will reach the markets
the Atlantic and Lake Huron in less than half the
E", at present occupied, and at less than half the cost
rTerrea upon the present circuitous route by Lake
With' We have the assurance of parties well acquainted
ratish
Canada, that a field for the profitable investment
tine
world .
capital can be found in it inferior to none in the
nue , and infinitely superior in point of profit and se-
e itY to those investments in which our capitalists are
i,sver so ready to embark in foreign countries; but parties
" cases of this kind must judge for themselves.
tn—NDON and CROYDON RAILWAY
mct,Peciai general meeting of the Proprietors of the London
„ don Railway Company met yesterday at one o'clock, at
te`e London terminus, to take into consideration the drafts of
e,,s7r.al Bills at present before Parliament for the widening
ilnprovement of their own line, and a portion of the London
hues
• Ureenivich Railway, as well as the formation of branch
in connexion with their own.
Mr. W. Wilkinson took the chair.
The
ECRITARY having read the circular calling the
The CHAIRMAN said that the course which the Company
!h.
at
old follow in the present state (4. their affairs was so clear,
teh _o
it would be unnecessary for him to enter into any length-
ne
d hservations. The object of calling the present meeting
Was to obtain t
e
he approbation of th Company to the two Bills
which had
at not yet been decided upon by Parliament, and which
were present pending the decision of the Select Committee,
namely, " A Bill to enable the Lond,n and Croydon Railway
Company to widen and improve the London and Croydon
Railway, and also a portion of the London and Greenwich
Railway ;" and "A Bill to enable the London and Croydon
adway Company to make a certain line of railway to Maid-
stone and Ashford, with a branch to Tonbridge."
WThe first resolution was then read," That the draft of the pro-
'sed Bill to widen and improve the London and Croydon
bailway, and also a portion of the London and Greenwich
ilway, be now approved, and that the seals of the Company
affixed thereto."
Alr. CASH seconded the resolution.
Previously to putting it to the vote the clauses of the Bill were
read to the meeting.
On the clause being read, limiting the directors to six instead
of eight, the number in the present direction,
FLoOD asked if it Was. desirable to limit the number of
iirectora, seeing that the business of the Company was increas-
ng se Much, and likely to increase Oa far greater extent ? He
hopped to see the Compaay having a line of 100 miles yet in-
ad
of 16.
The CHAIRMAN said that he could speak from experiencet
that the present system of railway management required grea
correction. He considered that limiting the number of Direhce-
tors
b., was a prudent step. In point of fact, even at present, the
zi,agement became ultimately vested in two or three in i-
'"nals, and he thought that the business of railway companies
itr,' general would be better managed if the responsibility was
erewn on one or two individuals as was the case in all other
public companies. He traced the mismanagement which at
Present existed in some lines to the absence of that restriction.
Mr. FLOOD expressed himself satisfied with the explanations,
!•nd said that if the board considered that the business could be
eetter managed by limiting the number of Directors they were
]mil better was
to form an accurate judgment on the sub-
than he was, and he would not press his objection.
The resolution was then put and carried.
th The second resolution was then proposed, " That the draft of
t e Rill to.enable the London and Croydon Railway Company
andW make a certain line of railway to Maidstone and Ashford,
„It,e a branch to Tonbri tge, be approved of by this meeting;
that the seal ef the Comp be affixed thereto."
The clauses were then readan asy with the former Bill, and the
resolution was then put and carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN then said that the business for which the
Z:tiug was
called was now at an end, but he would enter
kith y into a statement of the present prospects of the Company
vrespect to the lines which they had in projection. He then
ent at considerable length into the state of the following Bills,
at
ha of which had been thrown out by the Select Committees, and
''nad been considered advisable to postpone the others till next
Cn'n°n A Bill to enable the London and Croydon Railway
to rnPany to make a branch railway to Orpington." " A Bill
6:aake a new line of railway, and branch to communicate with
railetharn and Gravesend." " A Bill to make a new line of
to Chilhara with a branch to Fowersham Creek," all
poi, c?Lunof Kent. " A Bill to make a railway in eaten-
" Croydon and Epson% Railway to Dorking, in the