The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-25 00:00:00

GEORGE HUDSON, Chairman.

C. I'. RONEY, Secretary.

• lihorediteh, Dec. 17. 1645.
AL?UDLEY, MADELEY, BROSELEY, AND
IRONBRIDGE RAILWAY, WITH EXTENSION TO
ZWBBURY.
At
;meeting of the Managing Committee of this Company, held
him.* Stork Hotel, Birmingham, on Thursday, the 10th of Discern-
tads,
is, WILLIAM COLLINS, Esq., M.P., in the Chair,
"s! following Report of the Committee was read :
Irpa.Managing Committee of the Dudley, Madeley, Broseley, and
het Railway Company, with extension to Shrewsbury, feel
tilt" Is due to themselves and to the Shareholders, to lay before
1144, et the earliest possible period consistent with due inquiry, their
l'sll)„i't Position, consequent upon the circumstances which will be
Ott detailed in the following Report :
Illsti*trancis Giles became the engineer of the Company on its for-
,llo and the Committee were induced to place confidence in him
thia`de fact of his having been employed by Mr. Robert Stephenson,
4bsence to lay out several iportant lines in the vicinity of
1, de of railway projected by this Company.
e,,,,Tr• Giles attended a meeting of the Committee at Birmingham,
in October. when he gave positive assurances that he was ra-
llywith his work, and had made such arrangements
a, , Proceeding
wtJuld enable him to complete it in good time; and from that pa-
till the end of November he constantly rei • erated those assu-
rances to the Committee, to the respective solicitors, and to the se-
tretary, both orally and in writing. Every assistance was rendered
Which be required, and extracts from the correspondence will abun-
dantly testify that alt was done by the Committee and the officers of
the Company to citable him to complete his work by she 29th of No-
lerdber. aptqications fur money were, in every cue, complied
"'tn, and the stun of 4,0 01. was at various periods advanced to him,
nrl account of his own and the surveyors' charges ; the last payment
71,0001. having been made, at his own solicitation (though nokwith-
-li considerable hesitation on the part of the Committee), in oruer to
.:241 the possibility of his operations being retarded for want of
or to afford any possible pretext for their being inefficien.ly
s,`,..orTned. Of this sum, Mr. Dugdale Houghton, the Company's
(Mr. Giles's brother-in-law), has accepted his (Mr. Giles's)
esd"itY to him for 2,0001., and Mr. has paid Mr. John Brettell,
O User surveyor, 30111., thus leaving lum (Mr. Giles) the sum
' 11sle anxiety expressed that all should be ready in time was only
sni
s,,`,Clecl by Mr. Giles's assurances that there were no grounds for
ti;,'rehension, as the billowing extracts flom the correspondence on
subject will show
the 17th of October, Mr. Collis, one of the Company's solici-
're, thus addressed Mr.
Giles—
r Great anxiety is entertained as to the sections and surveys being
e Ild3' in time. Ido hope you will use every exertion to get them
done, and well done."
;'ll the 28th October, Mr. Collis writes to Mr. Giles—
: I trust you will get the sections of the Dudley and Madeley line
I,,in"44Pleteti without dela, as time runs on. I am glad to tell you
11 all goes on favourably, and everything now rests with you. You
of course, made proper arrangements as to the engraving."
un the 31st, Mr. Collis says in a letter to Mr. Giles—
" I assure you most unpleasant rumours are abroad amongst our
r iPrieters that cur sections and plans will not be properly done or
t▪
rIY as Dugdale Houghton will have told you. Now I have done
in my power to put a stop to these reports. I entreat of you to
Shrewsbury,
the sections of the whole line from Dudley to Ironbridge and to
t",,rewsbory, as well as the surveys, most carefully done. You have,
„Lcourse, made due arrangements as to the engraving of the sec-
"'unit"
in a letter to Mr. Collis, on the 9th of November, respecting the
4a:wry branch, Mr. Giles says, in reference to the plans which he
d .-eceived—
T.he plaits are, as I consider, in good condition."
Dir tis,e 10th of November, Mr. Collis thus writes to Mr. Giles—
thing being' done in due time, particularly that we may have the Sec-
°nl and surveye finished, as the middle of November Is nearly
,h,...,
Three days afterwards, viz., on the 13th, Mr. Collis says—
‘. I hope you will use every means to complete the sections with
t._
least possible delay. I assure you we all feel extreme anxiety on
`% subject. Should you want me, or if I can do anything to fbr-
"
,ard you, pray send for me, or let me know immediately."
b The next day, the 14th, Mr. Collis again urges Mr. Giles onward,
laying—
. " We quite rely upon your having all ready, and that the sections
'to in the hands of the lithographer. Belt' in mind that the 29th is
ZnlY twelve days off, and that the sections must be sent before then
", and bet eady to deposit. I trust you will excuse my most
oarnestly beseeching you to use every possible exertion to complete
l'erYthing as quickly as practicable. The general impression is, that
0 shall not be ready. We must not spare exertion of any kind; in
tact, we must keep faith with the public."
Oil the 19th, Jt r. ('ollis writes—
" 1 have just heard that Houghton thinks there is some misunder-
qa.nding between you and the lithographer. If there be the slightest
rellu dation for this, I beg and pray of you not to lose an instant in
'letting this matter right. Excuse my personally entreating you to use
*rerY oixertion, as I am daily pressed on the subject."
To this Mr. Giles replies on the 20th—
" I know of no misunderstanding between me and the lithographer.
Don't give credit to such nonsense."
The same day, the 20th, Mr. Collis writes to Mr. Giles as follows—
" I am desired by the Committee to beg and entreat you to see that
the
sections are completed, and placed in the lithographer's hands as
IPeedily as possible. I do hope you will excuse my writing se ur-
lently to you. Ido seriously assure you that we all feel that our
honour and characters are at stake, to say nothing of the large sum
~
Itlolley that would be sacrificed if our plans and sections are not
'WY deposited."
On the 21st, Mr. Giles replied as follows—
"I beg that you will not be in any anxiety about lithographing the
Ikelions. Mr. Houghton will get some done in Birmingham. I will
set all the rest done, and have provided for it. You shall deposit on
t4l 2s,th. I come to Birmingham to-morrow night, by express train,
,
rneet. my troops, who are all to assemble at Dee's to-morrow
night
Mr. Collie's next letter to Mr. Giles is dated November 21st, in
Width. he says—
"l know you will not like my troubling you with these repeated
Urgent letters, but I confess I am so strongly pressed by numbers of
Ple daily, that I feel painfully anxious that we should not fail in
keeping good faith with our shareholders."
lir. Giles replies on the 22d—
" If you come tome to-morrow, in order to be nade certain of my
being done, I will even show you my plan and arrangements
for it—otherwise be assured of it."
Thy committee, feeling that the foregoing extracts abundantly
eunern; the assertion with which they set out, will now refer to the
htutentents made to them by Mr. Joseph King and Mr. Heath, two
active members of the Committee, who were in Birmingham, watch-
ing the later proceedings.
Mr. King states that he went to Birmingham, at the urgent re-
quest oe sir. Collis, in company with him and Mr. Heath, on Thurs.
111 Y, the 27th of November, and that he remained there till Satur•
'ay night, with the exception of a few hours on Friday, during which
'Period he had every reason to believe that the business was pro-
seeding satisfactorily.
Mr. Heath reports that he accompanied Mr. Collis to Birmingham
On the 16th of November, at his request, to have an interview with
Mr. Giles, who had stated that he should be there that night. They
and Mr Wainwright saw Mr. Gilts ,fter midnight.. at the Royal
/loud, when he gave them the most positive assurances that every-
thing would be ready in time. The following Monday, the 24th, Mr.
heath again went to Birmingham with Mr. Collis, when Mr. Giles
repeated hid former assertions that everything would be ready.
Three days afterwards, Thursday, the 27th, Mr. Heath, at Mr.
Collie's request, once more went to Birmingham, accompanied by
Mr. Collis and Mr Joseph King, and remained there until he had
teen the various gentlemen start on Sunday night to make their re-
spective deposit,.
About five o',clock on Sunday afternoon Mr. Heath saw Mr.
'"dughton deliver. the plans to the several solicitors, in doing which
he (Mr. Houghton; expressed his obligations to them and the other
gentlemen connected with the Company, for the assistance they had
rendered him, adding that the sections would be ready in half an
hour. .

After this interview with Mr. Ihughton, the party left to prepare
for starting, and returned to Mr. Houghton's office about half-past
the o'clock in the afternoon, where they remained until twenty
minutes to nine in the evening, and during this period, fasts of such
importance are spoken to, that the Committee feel bound, not-
withstanding its length and the reluctance of Mr. Heath,
t give a la, ge portion of his report in detail. After stating that they
round Mr. Joshua John Peele, of Shrewsbury (solicitor to the Wor-
ceder and Crewe, and also to the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Rail,
way Companies), and Mr. Hood (a relative of Mr. Rey, the other so-
licitor to the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Company), in Mr. Hough-
ton's waiting room, ready to convey the Worcester and Crews plans
for deposit, Mr. Hes.th thus proceeds :
" Between seven and eight o'clock Mr. Peels was sent for by Mr.
Boughton, and he remained in Mr. Houghton's room until after the
delivery of the sections by Mr. lloustou to the TooPecUTO Solicitors.

that attempts have been made to Impute blame to the solicitors, in
reference to their conduct on Sunday, the 30th of November, and
preceding days, and particularly that a scene of gross confusion and
disorder occurred in the surveyor room, in which they aro Impliedly
charged as participators, I feel that though I have shown they were
rigidly denied access to Mr. Houghton's room, I owe it to the Com-
pany, to these gentlemen, and to myself, as a member of the Manag-
ing Committee, to declare that a more unfounded calumny could not
have been uttered. I was with these gentlemen during the whole of
Sunday; I had many oppertunities of observing their unremitting
exertions on the preceding days—l may say nights also ; and I have
great pleasure in stating that, with whomsoever the blame of this
failure may rest, it was in no way attributable to any want of ar-
rangement or zeal, or activity, on the part of the solicitors, or of the
secretary, their conduct throughout, and especially during the most
critical period, having been praiseworthy in the highest degree."
The Committee have also received reports from the solicitors, re
Testing to the circumstances detailed by Mr. Heath, and speaking
in the highest terms of the exertions made by Mr. Houghton to com-
plete his portion of the work in good time, up to the period of the
delivery of the plans ; but they do not think it necessary, after quot-
ing at so great a length front Mr. Heath's statement, to allude to
them further at present.
Notwithstanding the foregoing facts show it was next to an impos-
sibility to make the deposits in time at Shrewsbury and London, the
Committee think it no more than justice to state, that the most
strenuous exertions were made to do so, Mr. Anstice posting to the
former place, a distance of forty-five miles, in three hours and twenty-
seven minutes, and Mr. Wainwright arriving at the Board of Trade,
in London, upwards of one hundred and fourteen miles, by the aid of
a special engine, in three hours and forty-six minutes, both gentle-
men having been retarded on their way by accidents en the road.
The journey to Stafford, twenty-six miles, might have been readily
accomplished by Mr. Collis, but he was detained a long time on the
road between Birmingham and Walsall, in consequence of the great
misconduct of his postboys, which was such as to induce suspicion
that unfair means had been employed to retard his journey. By
great exertion Mr. Collis ultimately reached Stafford in due time.
Mr. Houghton made the deposit at Woy caster also in good time.
As soon as the failure in the deposits was known, a meeting of the
Committee was hastily summoned at Dudley, when Mr. Giles and
Mr. Houghton attended. The former off ,red no excuse for his con-
duct, further than that he had been disappointed, adding that no
parties could have behaved better or acted more handsomely, than
the Committee and the officers of the Company had behaved towards
him; and he at once admitted, that even if the lateness of the de-
posits could be got over, his sections were in some instances so de-
fective, that they would not bear a searching examination. In an-
swer to questions which were pressed upon him, he said " That the
sections of the cross line from Stourbridge to Wolverhampton were
strictly correct ; in fact, he believed the sections of the whole scheme
were complete, with the single exception of the branch to Wolver-
hampton." Mr. Houghton expressed his sorrow at the failure to de-
posit, and his regret at the mis-statement made by him to Mr. Collis
on Sunday evening ; justifying himself, nowever, by saying that he
was greatly excited at the time, from his previous exertions,
and that he corrected himself immediately. This, the
Committee may remark, is opposed to Mr. Heath's statement, by
which it appears that some ttme elapsed before Mr. Houghton re-
called his previous answer, and this gentleman is confirmed by the
several solicitors. Mr. Giles, after informing the Committee that he
had known amended sections deposited after the 30th of November
to be received in Parliament, where notice of such emendations had
been given to the landowners, offered to make correct sections at his
own expense, to enable the Committee to apply for their Bill ; and
Mr. Houghton also offered his personal services, free of charge, in
the event of their determining, to proceed, and the application proving
unsuccesrful. Under these circumstances, taking into consideration
the fact that the cross line from Stourbridge to Wolverhampton
formed a very important, and to a certain extent independent por-
tion of the projected railway, and that it was probable, ftom what
Mr. Giles had stated, that they should be in a position to apply for a
Bill for it in the ensuing session with a reasonable prospect of suc-
cess, the Committee agreed that the solicitors should forthwith take
the opinion of the Parliamentary agents, Messrs. Dyson, Hall, and
Company, as to the course the Committee should pursue ; and also
send competent persons to ascertain what sections had really been
deposited. Mr. Giles had stated that he should at once proceed to
make entire new sections of the whole line.

The deliberate written opiniott of the Parliamentary agents has
li,en obtained, to the effect that it was " a very reasonable and
proper case to bring before the Standing Orders Committee, with a
view of obtaining a decision In favour of the Bill proceeding." But
information was afterwards received from the parties sent to search
at the offices of the Clerks of the Peace, that the sections of the im-
portant cross line from Stourbridge to Wolvehampton had not been
deposited, that sections of several miles: of the main line had also
not been deposited (despite the decisive statements of Mr. Giles and
Mr. Houghton, the latter of whom delivered out the sections), and
that those which had been lodged were extremely incorrect in detail.
In the altered circumstances of their affairs, the Committee were
at once convinced that their only course was to advise the share-
holders to abandon all thoughts of an application to Parliament• for
a Bill in the ensuing session, and to consider what steps should be
taken to protect the shareholders from the consequences of the con-
duct which it has been their painful duty to detail.
With this object, as well as with respect to the fhture operations of
the Company, the Committee have called Mr. Sergeant Allen and
their Parliamentary agents to their aid, and they will meet anxiously
and carefully consider the propriety of taking such steps in reference
to competing lines In the next session as they may be advised.
One course which the Committee propose to adopt, is forthwith to
return to the Proprietors the sums of 21. per share, on such condi-
tions as counsel may deem necessary for the purpose of enabling the
Committee to prosecute the undertaking in the session of 1847,
should it be found expedient to do so. . .

The liabilities of the Company will be forthwith ascertained and
discharged ; and the Committee beg to inform the Shareholders that
every regard has been paid to economy consistent with the progress
of the scheme ; and further, that no expenditure has taken place
since the 30th of November, saving such as was actually necessary
for ascertaining their real position.
The Committee desire to record their unabated confidence In, the
intrinsic excellence of the line, and to express their regret that a
scheme, supported by such an array of noblemen, Members of Par-
liament, landowners. ironmasters, and other gentlemen, whose in-
terests demand its construction, together with a large proprietary of
unexampled respectability, full one-half being local, should have
been frustrated by the circumstances which they have set forth.
They are consoled, however, by the conviction that a railway so im
pe. atively demanded by the locany, possessing gradients superior to
any other line in the district, accommodating South Staffordshire
and Shropshire in a manner that no other scheme can do, bringing
the respective places in its course much nearer to each other than
any other project does, and gaining, as it has, so great an amount of
public favour by its undoubted merits, must shortly be carried out.
It now only remains for the Committee to say that they should
fail in fully discharging their duty, if they did not express their per-
fect satisfaction with the conduct of the solicitors and she secretary,
all of whom have paid the most unremitting attention to their re-
spective duties, and hay used their utmost exertions to advance the
interests of the Company.

The report having been read, the following resolutions were
unanimously carried:—

1. That the report now read to the Committee be adopted and
published, at the discretion of the Committee, in the local and daily
newspapers.
2. That the further services of Mr. Francis Giles, as engineer to
this Company, be at once dispensed with.
3. That the Committee of Management take such proceedings
against Mr. Giles, their late engineer, as counsel may advise.
4. That the warmest thanks of the Committee are eminently due

to Richard Heath and Joseph Ring, Esqs , for remaining in Birming-
ham during the eventfhl period ending with the 30th of November,
and lending their valuable assistance to secure the deposit of the
plans and sections.

WILLIAM COLLINS.
5. That the thanks of the Committee be presented to Mr. Collins,
M.P., for his able and impartial conduct in the chair.
WILLIAM CHANCE.
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Kitchen Candles (six months old), 5)44. Yellow Soap, 395. 485.,
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BRANDY AND CAPSULES.-Mr. BETTS
(the late firm of J. T. BETTS and CO.), Patent Brandy
Distiller, 7, Smithfield Bars, feels it due to himself and the public to
state, that the Manufacture of the PATENT BRANDY was not,
and never has been known to any person• except to himself and one
of his sons. And that he wee succeeded in the business of
athnd e Dis-
tillery, 7, Smithfield Bars, by his sons, J. T. BETTS, jun., CO.,
on his retiring therefrom, lit 1843.
Mr. BETTS further states, that he is the sole Patentee, manufac-
turer, and vendor of the Metallic Capsule, (or solid metal covering
for the mouths of bottles), that no other Brandy in Ergiand, except
BETTS'S PATENT BRANDY, is thereby protected; the Patent
Metallic Capsule if, therefore, applied to any other Brandy, must
have been surreptitiously obtained.
Metallic Capsule Manufactury, 1, Wharf-road, City-road.

BETTS'S PA TENT BRAN DY, certified by the
Faculty of England to be the purest spirit, and g,aranteed
by the Patent Sfetaillc Capsules, embossed " Betts's Patent Brandy,
7, Smithfield-bars," is sold at 3s. 6d., bottle included, by the most
respectable dealers, lists of whom may be obtained at the Distillery,
where quantities ef not less than two gallons, in bulk or bottles, are
supplied. Address. 7. Smithfield-bars.

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* * •,,

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Ask for FItAMPTON'S PILL OF fIRALTH, and observe the
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_NATIONAL LOAN FUND LIFE ASSUK•
AIME SOCIETY,
26, CORN-HILL, LONDON.
Capital £400,000.
EmTowered by Act if Parliament.
This institutieu offers Important and substantial advan
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The ass fired has, on all occasions, the power to borryw, without ex-
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DIVISION OF PROFIT:.
The silicas and increasing prosperity of the SoCety has enahlec
the o:rectors, at the last annual investigation, to declare a third
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each Policy effected on the Profit scale.
EXAMPLES.

.4• .
▪ to
. 1-

Premium. *E4 B°"'
added

I A A 1837 £,91 13 s
GO 1009 74 d. 3 4 1838 1" 13 •
1839 138 13 6
.1
1140 89 0 o,

IA la 17 fi
11 S 6
9 2 10
6 0 0

!..4:395 II 1
346 9
296 13 1
247 4 8