The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-10 00:00:00

Public mischief. He proposed that the Bill, after being
read a Aecond time, should be referred to a Select
.ommittee ; and that it should undergo the considera-
tionu of his Noble and Learned Friend on the Wool-
,
ack, the Noble and Learned Lord beside him (Lord
brougham) the Judges generally, and such Mem-
bers of the House as it might be desirable to consult
ou the subject.
Lora BROUGHAM entirely approved of the
course proposed to be taken by his Noble and
Learned Friend.
, The LORD CHANCELLOR said the Bill had
better be referred to the Committee of last session.
The Bill was then read a first time.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

ROUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 9.
adThe SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'Clock, but as
,e were only thirty-five Members present the House
PUrnea until to-morrow.

LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM
RAILWAY.
• Ye-
t. sterday the. half-yearly meeting of the Proprietors
the above Company was held at the Euston-square
the:Ribllta? Mr. George Carr Glyn, the Chairman of
Board of Directors, presiding.
Ohe Secretary having read the minutes of the last
11Yearly meeting, on the 11th of August, at Queen's
Birtningham, the Chairman attached the seal of
of theellaP,ally to the Report of Shares, and the business
The following
was proceeded with.
„tun! following Report was next read and adopted
ineebt.e Statements of Account which are now before the
4neiltit.ig, afford conclusive evidence of a progressive improye-
,the m the net returns of the Company. Compared with
soe°rresponding half-year of 1842, the Revenue Account
deer" an increase in the ordinary traffic of 11,398/., and a
TTe of 6,221/, in the working charges.
the at
log the principal heads of receipt and expenditure of
two statements in detail, the following are the differ-
between the December, 1842, and 1843 Accounts :
,eaeral Traffic the receipt t is more by .. £11,398
ttents
In AV • ditto. ditto 1,039
In °dung Charges:the expense is less by
Interest on Loans - ditto .. 8,488

.14 Interests on Calls in arrear, and Bankers' 27,146
Bair
. £2,255
7 dnee the receipt is leas by
.4 . -,
" 1,832
1 arish Rates the expense is more by
PasSenger duty ditto ... 288
bepreciation of Stock ditto 1,655 _

reluctant to enter upon a course of litigation with the
various parishes on the line, the Directors submitted to
the charge so long as it was stationary •, but the evil
had assumed so general and oppressive a eliara.,t,r, ~hat
they should most cordially support and eo-opera ~1 any
measures which might substitute a fair and uniforni :„I-
ter 'Of rating for the present arbitrqry and vexation,
proceedings of parochial authorities. 'All the Company
wanted was to be placed upon the same footing as °thee
establishments, and he trusted that measures would ue
adopted by Parliament to effect this object, as the '!ol,i-
pany wished, above all things, to avoid any litig duk.
A PROPRIETOR wished to know what amount of money
would be required to defray the expenses of the proposed
new line, as he understood that a sum of 2,10%0004
would be required for the purpose ; and it was currently.
reported, in many parts of Lancashire, that the Govern-
ment had refused to have anything to do with the un-
dertaking.
The CHAIRMAN denied that there was the slightest
foundation for any such rumour.
Mr. CAPEL begged to ask, when the branch line be-
tween Northampton and Peterborough, would be likely
to be open for transit.
Tho CHAIRMAN said, that the line between Warwick
and Leamington would be open in the spring of 1845 ;
and that alluded to by the Hon. Proprietor in the
autumn of the same year.
A motion was proposed and carried unanimously,
declaring a dividend of five per cent. on the 100/. shares,
and of 17s. in the pound upon the 321. shares for the
half-year.
The next resolution proposed was, one granting power
to the Directors to appropriate such a portion of the
available capital of the Company for the completion of
the Chester and Holyhead line of railway, not exceeding
One million sterling, and to take such steps as might be
required for the interests of the body of the Share-
holders.

The fourth resolution empowered the Directors, in
nearly similar words, to expend a sum of 100,0001. in
finishing the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway.
The following gentlemen having fulfilled the term of
their office as Directors of the Company, were re-elected :
—Mr. Cropper, Mr. Carr Glyn, Mr. Theodore William
Rathbone, Mr. Young, and Al r. Tooke.
Mr. Ramsden proposed, Mr. Holecombe seconded, and
Mr. Baxendale supported a motion, declaratory of the
high opinion entertained by the Shareholders and
Directors of the eminent services rendered by Mr.
Creed, as Secretary of the London and Birmingham
Railway, to the Company, and appaiting a Committee
to afford to him some testimonial from the Company
that would indicate their high sense and appreciat.on of
those services, after which,
A vote of thanks was was passed to the Chairmin for
his courteous demeanour on the present and all former
occasions, when he came in contact n ith the Share-
holders. After which the meeting separated.