The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-11 00:00:00

THE SVN,_ LONDON, MONPAY EVENING AUGUST 1,16434

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

REPORT 01' THE SELECT COMMITTEE
ON THE LONDON AND YORE, RAIL-
WAY BILL.

The following is a copy of the report ef the Select
Committee appotnted by the House of Lords " to inquire
into the allegations of the petition of Henry Bruce, of
Mincing lane, merchant, and two petitions of George
Pryme, of Cambridge, Esq. ; also a petition of certain
subscribers of the London and York Railway," which
was on Saturday presented to the House of Lords, after the
Lord Chancellor had taken his seat on the woolsack,
and before her Majesty arrived.
The report commences in these terms :—" The Com-
mittee have proceeded to inquire into the circumstances
referred to in the petitions referred to them, and have
examined several witnesses, and they are of opinion
that the evidence taken before them is sufficient to in
duce them to recommend to the House that the Bill
should not be allowed to be read a second time, until
a further investigation has taken place ; but,' as their
inquiries cannot be brought to a close during the present
session of Parliament, they do not propose to report the
evidence taken before them to the House.
" That in the petition of Henry Bruce, presented to this
House on the Ist instant, and referred to this Committee,
are included two lists: the first contains thirty-five names
subscribed, objected to ' in respect to notices or descrip-
tions or places of abode as fictitious or false ;' the second
list contains thirty names of persons who are alleged,
from their circumstances or station of life, to be utterly
irresponsible and unable to pay the several sums sub-
scribed by them.'
"In the second petition, presented to this House on
the sth ef August, twenty-one persons, whose names
appear on the lists already alluded to, have explicitly
denied the allegations made against them, and have re-
quested that, if the House think fit to direst an investi-
gation of the allegations of the petition of Henry Bruce,
the same may be made without delay; but the fullest in-
quiry into the circumstances the Committee felt ought
o take place into this branch of the subject, so as to
allow these last-named petitioners an immediate oppor-
tunity of exonerating themselves from the charges
brought against them. The agents on both sides were
informed of this determination of the Committee, and
were allowed to produce evidence on the subject, but
some of the parties did not appear. The Committee
have, however, been enabled to investigate the following
cases, in which the allegations contained in the said pe-
tition have not been sustained."
The names of the parties are then inserted, to the
number of thirteen.

The report then proceeds to state, " That the opposers
of the bill have withdrawn all imputation against the
following parties."
This list comprises the names of twenty subscribers, of
whom we may mention Messrs. Porter and Meredith of
the Royal Navy, as well as Messrs. Vickers, Elliot,
Roberts, Turner, and Jones.
In conclusion the report proceeds in these terms—
" The committee cannot conclude without expressing
their disapprobation of the hasty and inconsiderate man-
ner in which personal abuse has been brought forward
against parties who appear, in several cases, from the
admission of the opposers of the Bill themselves, and in
others, upon investigation, to be free from all imputa-
tion."

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

LONDON AND YORK RAILWAY SUBSCRIP-

TION CONTRACT.

The Select Committee on the petition of Mr. Bruce
assembled at half-past ten o'clock precisely; Present—
Mr. Hawes (chairman), Mr. Warburton, Mr. Bingham
Baring, Mr. T. S. Duncombe, Mr. B. Escott, Mr.
Christie, and Mr. B. Denison.

Mr. Mowatt was the first party called in, after which
Mr. Humphrey and Mr. Bruce (the petitioner), under-
went an examination.

Mr. B. Denison was also, we understand, examined
at some length. The nature of these examinations did
not transpire.
The Committee remained in deliberation until shortly
after one o'clock, when they broke up.
Mr. HAWES then proceeded to the House of Com-
mons to pr, sent the report, which was, we understand,
in effect as follows :—That the petition of Mr. Bruce al-
leged charges against parties named, which were classed
under two heads; the first class of charges applied to
p?raons who were a'leged to have given false and fic-
titious names and placs of abode when they signed
the Parliamentary contract. Under the second class, it
was alleged that the parties were unable to pay the sums
for which they had subscribed the deed. There was also
a third class, which had reference to a general allegation,
false and fictitious descriptions, and inability to pay the
deposits for which the parties made themselves re-
sponsible.
Previous to the Committee inquiring into the two first
classes of allegations, Mr. Bruce withdrew a large num-
ber of names, and expressed his sorrow for havine. intro
duced them into his petition, but said he had been in-
duced to do so in accordance with the advice given to
him by his solicitor and agents.
The Committee then proceeded to inquire into the
two first classes of allegations, and, as it is stated,
came to the conclusion that, in some of the cases the
charges made, both as respects the incorrectness of the
names of the parties, and of the descriptions given of
their places of abode, and, also, of the inability of certain
parties to pay the deposits for which they had subscribed
their names, were proved.
The Committee, likewise, reported that in the case of
several other parties against whom similar allegations
like those just referred to were made, the charges were
not sustained.

They also reported that several cases were postponed
in consequence of absence of witnesses, and the non-
attendance of parties.
The Committee did not go into the third head of
charges contained in the petition, that which related to
the general allegation of fraud, &c.
The Committee then stated that, considering the case
as it stood before them' they were of opinion that " Mr.
Bruce had abused the right of petition," inasmuch as he
had made charges against parties which were not
founded in fact. _

The Committee came to no resolution as to resuming
the inquiry next session.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN

RAILWAY.

The half-yearly general meeting of the Directors and
Shareholders inl this Company was held on Saturday
at one o'clock, in the Board-room, at the Nine Elms
Terminus, Mr. Chaplin, Chairman of the Directors,
presided.
The SECRETARY having read the advertisement call-
ing the meeting then read the report, of which the fol-
lowing is an abstract :
The total balance available for distribution is 86,7331. lBs.
Id , out of which the Directors recommended a dividend of
375. 6d. per shire, subject to income-tax, being an advance of
ss. a share, or 14 per cent. on the dividend declared in
August last.
The Guildford Junction Railway, which has now become the
property of this Company (subject to its future probable amal-
gamation with the intended line from Guildford to Chichester
and Portsmouth), has been in working since the beginning of
May last, and the traffic upon it has realised the expecta-
tions of the Board.

The Act fer extending this railway to the Waterloo and
Hungerford Bridges, and for improving its river-side accom-
modation at Nine-elms, had received the royal assent. In

connexion with it, the Directors cannot omit to congratulate
the Proprietors on the passing of the Act for making a railway
to Richmond. Friendly relations have been established be-
tween this Company and the Richmond Railway Company,
and arrangements have been already made for working the
Richmond line by this Company, upon mutually satisfactory
terms. The Bill introduced into Parliament by the Brighton
Company for establishing a junction between the Brighton and
South-Western lines was rejected by the Committee in the
House of Commons ; but the Directors have reason to believe
that the application will be renewed in the next session, and
with more success.

An Act has also been passed, authorising the construction
of the Southampton and Dorchester line, towards which, under
the powers delegated by the Proprietors at the last half-yearly
meeting, the Directors have subscribed 325,0001. Four mem-
bers of this board have become Directors of that Company,
and the terms on which this Company are to become perpetual
lessees of the line, have been already discussed and adju,ted.
By a clause in this Act the Board of Trade are empowered to
enforce proper provisions for the passage between Dorchester
and Weymouth, of engines and carriages constructed on the
national gauge, and thus the traffic of Weymouth, eastward,
and with London, will be considerably facilitated.
The Directors regret that a successful result has not attended
the application to Parliament for making the Guildford, Chi-
chester, Portsmouth, and Fareham line. The Committee in
the House of Commons decided, it is true, after a lengthened
inquiry (but by a majority of one only), against the greater
part of the scheme, but even this Committee could nut resist
the justice of this Company's claim to an independent access
to Portsmouth, nor deny the imperfection of any new line to
Portsmouth, which failed to secure the advantage of this Corn-
peny's access to the Thames at Vauxhall, and to the centre of
London at Waterloo-bridge. In the House of Lords, the pro-
moters of the line by Guildford deemed it their duty to appeal
from the decision of the Lower House against them ; but it
pleased the Noble Lords who formed the Committee to reject
their claim to be heard, a proceeding (be it said with perfect
respect for the right intentions of those Noble Lords) alike
widely at variance with the principles of justice and with the
practice of Parliament. The House of Lords have net per•
nutted this injustice to remain uncorrected, but have ordered
the whole subject to be investigated by a fresh Committee in
the ensuing session, when your Directors confide that the
strength of the case presented by the promoters of the Guild-
ford line must ensure its adoption. In the meantime, the Act
proposed by the Brighton and Chichester Company, for ex-
tending their line to Portsmouth, has been passed ; and your
Directors have reason to believe that the adoption of that mea-
sure will not be without a favourable effect on the completion
of the line to Portsmouth, by Guildford and Chichester, whilst
the construction of the coast line between Fareham and Chi-
chester cannot fail greatly to increase the traffic passing east
and west over the lines now or about to be worked by this
Company.
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oe
own works
t raot
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dn
for on
satisfactorypk st o e and
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great
Branchprogress
ahasv
been made in their execution, and there is no cause to
doubt the opening of that line in the early part of the ensuing
summer.

The Directors intend to recommend the execution by this
Company of lines from Basingstoke to Salisbury—from the
Salisbury Branch at Romsey to the Southampton and Dor-
chester line at Redbridge—a Branch for the accommodation
of Alton and the neighbouring district, and also a further ex-
tension of the railway from Waterloo-bridge to London-bridge.
The three first of these undertakings your Directors are pre-
pared to recommend for adoption, and with reference to the
last they are of opinion that the execution of such an extension
will be highly desirable, should the closer examination which
they
have ordered to be made as to the plan and the properties
to be affected justify the favourable impressions which the Di.
rectors at present entertain.
That the attention of the Directors had been invited to the
project for constructing a central railway terminus on the north
bank of the Thames near Charing-cross, and they have deemed
the subject worthy of mature deliberation. That they have

therefore agreed, subject to the matured approval of Me. Locke,
and to the scheme receiving support from othee leading in-
terests, that this Company should subscribe towards it. Upon
these conditions your Directors anticipate the ready concur-
rence of the Proprietors.
The Directors propose to provide the fuuds for the above
several suroposes out of the new shares' capital created pur-
suant to the resolutions of this Board, and of the Proprietors
in December last. It is necessary that the scrip certificates
now al,lost should be at once called in, and the holders registered
as shareholders. Advertisements have been already issued to
this effect, and the Proprietors will bear in mind that, until re-
gistration, they become entitled to no " dividend, interest, or
other privilege " in respect of their scrip.
The CHAIRMAN then rose and said, that in submit-
ting this report to them, it was with some degree of
partial satisfaction only at the progressive nature of the
improvement in their traffic, but their Directors contem•
plated the being enabled to come before them in a
loftier position. They had flattered themselves that by
securing the Guildford, Chichester, and' Portsmouth
Branches, which they assumed some right to claim from
the intimation given by the Board of Traci,., and by
their friendly relations with the Great Western Com-
pany on the one hand, and with the Brighton on the
ether, they would be placing the affairs of the Company
on a more stable footing than had hitherto been the
case ; but in railway matters, as in the course of human
life, they were subjected to vicissitudes, and among the
adventitious circumstances of the times, arising from an
abundance of capital. might be reckoned the numerous
railway schemes which had in the past session come
before Parliament. It was very evident that the Legis-
lature desired to encourage competition, for the scheme
brought forward by the Croydon Railway, called the
Direct Portsmouth, had nearly succeeded against them
(the South-Western Company), showing that the
schemes of least pretensions to usefulness had very
nearly defeated those which had a legitimate eaim
upon the country. The Portsmouth Direct Railway had
very nigh succeeded, but for their mistaken zeal in
the Committee of the House of Lords. There they, to
use a sporting phrase, had over-rode the hounds.—
(Hear, hear.) Were it not for this mistaken zeal, he
repeated, they should most assuredly have been beaten
in their attempt to secure the legitimate line through
Chichester to Portsmouth. One feels a little sore from
the bumps and knocks received during the progress of
these matters ; but one could not look with any degree
of satisfaction to the imperfect nature of the tribunals to
which their cause had been referred. It appeared that
the legislative measures of last session had left them
with all these inferior tribunals, instead of the one, to
whose opmions, it appeared, they paid no attention ;
and he himself did not disguise the truth, that he had
calculated, with much satisfaction, on the probable effect
upon the Committee of the decision of the Board of
Trade ; and although a gentleman on the last occasion
twitted him with too great a submission to the Board of
Trade—(and he must confess that that gentleman was
more correct in his prophecy of the result than he (the '
Chairman) was—he was prepared now to assert that
such a controlling power as the Board of Trade was ab-
solutely necessary to the preservation of railway inte-
rests. Without such a controlling power, the general
interests of established Companies would be subjected to
undue competition, which the imperfect tribunals esta-
blished last session would not do away with. Yet one
would suppose that five able gentlemen would have
conducted matters with more judgment than a Commit-
tee of fifteen would, but the five should be acquainted
with the general necessities of railways, and with the
particular locality to which the line before them had re-
ference. But in Parliament the reverse was the fact.
The members of Committees were chosen because they
had no interest in railways, and because they knew
nothing of the particular part of the country that they
were to decide upon. In such a case, if an active-minded
man got into the chair, ten to one that (even supposing
him to be prejudiced in a particular way) the whole affair
would be decided by him. But those decisions were now
made, and it was of no use to revert to them. Such a ere
the contingencies of appealing to the present tribunals
established by the House of Commons, that he would
leave any one in that room to judge whether any men,
unless indeed they were raised above the failings of
human stature, could give a satisfactory deci-
sion, considering the many conflicting interests that
were involved. It seemed as if Providence had intended
their defeat as a lesson, lest they should get puffed up,
and be too vain in future. He did not mean to say a
word against the Chairman of the Committee, for from
all he could learn he was a high-minded and honourable
man; but he believed Viscount Canterbury had been
elected by the House of Lords to act as chair-
man, but unfortunately his decease took place a
little before the Committee met, and they were,
therefore, left in the hands of Lord Hardwieke.
He would repeat that be did not mean to impugn the
conduct of that Noble Lord, but he went in advance of
justice from a desire to get the business finished, and
they (the South-Western Company) did not therefore
overtake that quality, until they had passed his ordeal,
and got within the House of Lords.--(Hear, hear.) But
he was perfectly convinced, from what had taken place
there, that the) should get on better in the next session
of Parliament. But he could not leave these Committees
without one other word. On one or two occasions they
spoke of putting down monopolies.
,They said that that
Company was unpopular at Portsmouth, and they would
therefore take care to throw the traffic open to other
companies. He would, for the benefit of those members
who were at a distanda, as also for the sake of their new
members explain the cause of this unpopularity. At
first starting, it was the general opinion that it would be
impossible t..) carry on this Conapany, and part of its
capital was raised at 50 per cent. discount. They had
had a maximum rate of carriage established, which had
however never been reached to, and on two trains they

had reduced the rates twenty per cent„ and what were
they doing ? They had got a Bill for the extension of
the railway from Nine- elms to Hungerford-bridge, and
then they calculated on carrying it on to London-
bridge. The whole of this extension could be effected
for a million of money, and their charges to these points
would be somewhat under that which was now charged
from Nine- elms to Southampton. Then, again, they had
reduced the goods' -charges to 10s., and this, too,
included loading and unloading ; he had not
yet heard of any railway carrying at lower rates than
these. Now when they contemplated these reductions,
when they contemplated a million of money laid out to
accommodate the public, he hoped and trusted that the
public would give them credit for making a tender use
of their monopoly. They frankly admitted that some
irregularity had taken place in the times of running the
trains, but in the three months that the fares had been
reduced tney had increased their passenger trade by
52,105 persons; and they had also increased their goods
traffic, it consequence of the reduction, by 15,179 tons.
Then they had worked the Guildford Junction, which
that Company were anxious to dispose of to them, and
if the Sharehol lers but considered this, and the increase
on their goods and passengers, they would believe that
it had pressed very hard on their working stock, for
owing to the increased demand not only in this country
but abroad, it was scarcely possible to get engines at
their command as they would wish to have. Then with
respect to the station at this end, it was self-evident
that it was too small, and if they expended any money
upon it, it would only be sheer wastefulness, 1:e-cause
they wanted an extension to the Thames. As it was at
present the marshalling of the trains took up a con-
siderable time, and this affected in some degree the time
and regularity of starting them. But with . all this the
Directors were entitled to some credit, for with
one exception they had never had an accident upon the
line. But another remark upon their monopoly. It
was fit that the Proprietors should know the effect the
reduction of the charges had upon their funds. The in-
crease in passengers then had been 5'!,105 persons, and
they had only netted 5,3751, and from the increase of
15,179 tons in goods, they bad only netted 1,76..
which would hardly pay for the loading and un-
loading at either end. Thej real cause of the outcry
which had been raised against the Compare
arose out of the jealousy existing between the towns of
Portsmouth and Southampton. The first of these places
complained that they were ruined for want of railway's.
And the last said exactly the reverse, for they com-
plained that they were ruined by the facility of railway
communication.—(Laughter.) They said that the rail-
way did no good to the hotels and other places, because.
passengers a ere at once whisked through the town with-
out stopping ; and such was the feeling that pervade,
them that they proposed, in a line projected into Dor-
setsiiii e, to have a separate terminus in order that they
might make something by the transfer of the passengers'
luggage from one point to another. He could assure
them that their Directors were as anxious as any set of
men could possibly be to promote the public convenience,
and with this view they had lately effected some little
change in their executive, Mr. Stovell having been ap-
pointed to the superintendence of the traffic department,
thus allowing Mr. Martin to be released from details, in
order that he might exercise a necessary surveillance
over the whole thing. It was also their intention forth-
with to publish ti the world their time bill, and that the
whole of the -host traffic, including the Guildford trains,
should be independent of the long trains, thus obviating
the necessity of all the passengers, to whatever place.
being subjected to the inconvenience of stopping at the
several stations between Woking and London. There
was a railway spoken of between Manchester and
Southampton; but not being yet acquainted with their
surveys, he would say nothing of them until their en-
gineer, Mr. Locke, had an opportunity of seeing their
plans to, judge what they might be. It was very clear
that the trade from south to north was much over-rated,
because of that-traffic very little returned south again;
and when they saw the lines projected by the Great
Western Company, he almost doubted if this line would
repay the projectors. He had nothing more to add,
but would be most happy, as far as in his power, to
answer any question put by the Proprietors present.
Mr. UPCROFT thought that the report was a very satis-
factory
one, inasmuch as their passenger traffic was
steadily increasing, and he for one was glad to see it. He
would second the adoptionC of the report.
A PROPRIETOR was of opinion that it would be desi-
rable to hold out friendly terms to the Manchester and
Southampton Company. He thought that some sort of
coalition would be of service to both companies.
Mr.SNow said that if the proposed railway ran directly
into the town of Southampton, they (the South-Western)
could have nothing to do with it, but if they proposon
to use their station, he thought that feelings of a friendly
character ought to be cultivated between them. He
thought, however, that this meeting was not called for
the mere purpose of receiving that report, and his own
opinion was, that a retrospective view of their struggles
in the last session would be useful as a guide to their
conduct in the time to come. But nothing had been said
by the chairman of their treaty with the Great Western
Company. They had heard, indeed, that the Company
was unpopular in the towns of Portsmouth and South•
ampton. In :ais opinion, of all the inconsistent people
in the world, those of Southampton were the most in-
consistent. He held in his hand a report of the pro-
ceedings in the Southampton Docks Bill, and he found
that the town council opposed, at last, all to which at
first they bad given a ready sanction. He (Mr. snow)
thought that the increase in the goods' traffic, and in

the amount received fur the Isaft-year—nanmiy. 2804/.,
and 41.—bore no proporion to the reduction
hid been made in the charges, and he thought that if
they were farther redueit,g il“;se charges to lcl. a mile,
they would, in his opine ii, *.lte Lratlio o -op-,
doub;e. He would recoinni,,j t!:e whole tal);e of
fares be revised for the purpose or rcfotailog it, Tiuy
might at least try a reduced scale for six rn:nths, aunt if
it did nut pay, they could at that period resort to the old
charges.
The CHAIRMAN said that, as regarded the agreement
with the Great Western Company he should say a few
words. They had made an arrangement of a friendly
character with that Company, with the Board of Trade,
for a referee; but in that arrangement they had not sacri-
ficed in any degree the interests of the South-Western.
They had entered into relations with respect to each other's
district; they had not broken that agreement hitherto. The
South-Western Company had got a Bill to make a rail-
way from Basingstoke,to Salisbury; the scheme was, in
the first instance, opposed by the Great Western Com-
pany, who ultimately withdrew their opposition. There
was a Company started, with a capital of 50,0001, to
make a line from Salisbury to Yeovil, and another Com-
pany to carry it on to Exeter. Then if the narrow
gauge were recommended by the Commission appointed
to examine into its operations, as compared with the
broad gauge, a most extensive field would be opened up
to their enterprise, because, while they held strictly to
the letter of the agreement, they were not precluded from
taking advantage of such circumstances as might arise
at an after period. With respect to the Manchester and
Southampton, although the scheme was before the world,
the ground had not yet been surveyed, and he doubted
much if capital could ne raised for the purpose. Again,
in relation to the fares, the Direct,rs had consulted on
the subject whether they should all be reduced to the
level of those trains which had already been reduced
twenty per cent. Those trains, it would be recollected,
had been lowered because they were so very inconvenient,
stopping at every station. He thought, however, that the
Proprietors might calculate upon the future reduction of
prices. I suppose I may now move that the report be
adopted by the meeting.
Mr. GLYN wished to know, before that was put to the
meeting, whether one million would include all the ex-
penses of the proposed extension to London-bridge ?
The CHAIRMAN said it would.

Mr. Sergeant GAZELEE thought the chairman's ex-
planation as regarded the agreement very far from satis-
factory ; and ne th night the question might be with
great propriety asked, whether the Directors of the
South-Western had rot been outwitted by the Great
Western ? Neither did he think the report satisfactory
in respect of the increase of passengers. The Directory
in his opinion would be none the worse for having some
new blood infused into it, as energy seemed a virtue
greatly wanting. And now that they had lost their
vice-chairman, the late Mr. Humphrys, it behoved them
to select for the vacant office a gentleman of ability and
experience, who could efficiently assist the chairman in
his arduous duties. He thought also with others of the
proprietors, that a further reduction of fares and it--
creased accommodation to the public would add mate-
rially to their resources. He understood that the ex-
press train had waited 10 minutes for the Duke of
Richmond, who did not come after all. Was this right
to the public ?
Mr. SANGSTER thought the project of going to Lon-
don-bridge deserved to be more fully considered. He
was certain the estimates were not sufficient for the
purpose.
Mr. TAMLYN would move a resolution, after the report
should hare been adopted, recommending the Directors
to reduce their fares. He would not wish to bind them

to a particular course ; but he would with great respect
suggest that 2d. for the first class; lid. per mile for the
second, and id. for the third, be considered amply suffi.
cient. _ _ .

The CHAIRMAN said tha: the reduction of fares was
under consideration ; and with respect to the Duke of
Richmond, he could only say that they were under very
great obligations to that nobleman, who had lately left
his seat at Goodwood, where covers were laid fur 50
guests, in order to serve the purposes of that Company.
The Company's officer had said that the train did wait
10 minutes, but that it still arrived in London 3 minutes
before its time.—(Cheers.)
The report was then adopted.
The following resolutions were read seriatim by the
Secretary, and tinaniqiously adopted by the meeting :-
1. That a dividend of 1/. 17:i. 6d. be declared upon all
the registered 501. shares in the Company, except such
of those created under the authority of the Gosport
Branch Railway Act,in respect of which the Proprietors
have elected to receive interest instead of dividend ; and
that the same be payable on the 22d inst.
2. That the discretionary powers delegated to the
Directors by the special general meeting of the 7th
December last, and the haltl•yearly meeting of the 13th
February, with reference to the several projected lines
of railway therein mentioned, so far as the same remain
applicable to existing circumstances, be, and they are,
hereby continued and confirmed, with power to the
Directors to make or consent to such modifications 01
the said projects as they may deem proper, or expedient.
3. That the Directors be authorised and requested to
take on behalf of this Company solely, or to concur with
other parties in taking such steps respecting the pro-
jected new lines of railway mentioned in their report of
this day, as to them shall seem most conducive to the
interests of this Company, and to make, or concur in
making, such application to Parliament, with reference
thereto respectively, as shall in their judgment be expe-
dient.

4. That the Directors be authorised and requested to
subscribe on behalf of this Company towards the pro-
jected central railway terminus near Charing-cross,
or to take such other measures with reference thereto,
with the object of obtaining for this Company an ade-
quate share in the use and management of the same, as to
tnem shall seem most advisable.
Mr. TITS (the architect) and Mr. CHADWICK spoke
to the estimate of 1,000,000/. sterling as being amply
sufficient for the London-bridge extension.
The CHAIRMAN advocated the establishment of a
steam-boat company at Portsmouth and Southampton,
in connexion with the South-Western Railway.
Mr. TITE proposed a committee for the purpose of
considering the Chairman's suggestions, and reporting
accordingly.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
A committee was also formed for the purpose of con-
sidering and adopting the beat moans of founding a fund
for the benefit of the workmen and children connected
with the railway.
Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, and the
meeting broke up.

LONDON AND MANCHESTER DIRECT INDE-
PENDENT RAILWAY.—REMINGTON'S LINE.I
MANCHESTER, FRIDAY MORNINC.-.-Yeslerclay a public
meeting of the merchants, manufacturers, tradesmen, and
others, inhabitants of Manchester, and the surrounding dis-
trict, was held in the large room of the Town-hall, King-
street, to meet a deputation from the London and Manchester
Direct Independent Railway. At the time appointed there
were about ISO gentlemen present, amongst whom we noticed
the following :—David Ainsworth, H. Marsden, R. S. Saw-
ler, barrister ; James Consterdine, James Taylor, M. Norris,
Thomas Deane, J. S. Stubbs, Captain Gibson, D. Wadding-
ton, Mr. Braddock, J. Collier, H. Newberry, Mr. Grundy,
Mr. Bingon, Mr. Bowker, Mr. Robinson, Mr. T. Hopkins,
Mr. Worley, Mr. Royle, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Ormrod, Mr.
Davis, Mr. Hyle, Mr. Winsor, surgeon, &c. The following
gentlemen, composing the deputation, were also on the plat-
form :—The Hon. Colonel Stanhope, G. P. Livius, Esq., Bed-
ford; W. King, Esq., London; Horace Meteyard, Esq., Lon-
don; John Joseph Keane, Esq., London ; Richard Johnson,
Esq., London ; Sir George Stephen, London Sir John Ren-
nie, engineer ; George Remington, Esq., engineer ; Jere-
miah Clarke, Esq., London and Macclesfield ; John Burgess,
Esq., boroughreeve ; John Holford, Esq., Manchester ; Henry
Wardle, Esq., Macclesfield; Robert Hine, Esq., Macclesfield;
R. H. Wilson, Esq., Manchester; R. B. B. Cobbett, Esq.,
Manchester.

Mr. John Brooks was called to the chair.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, observed that
during the summer of last year a deputation of gentlemen from
London had called upon him to solicit his support in favour of
a direct line of railway between London and Manchester.
They brought with them letters of introduction from several
of his friends in the metropolis with whom he had been doing
nusiness for upwards of thirty years. The introduction was
so respectable that he at once put down his name, and con-
sented to act as one of the Provisional Committee, and at the
same time offered to put down his money for a number of
shares. He heard no more of the scheme till the present year,
.vhen it was again brought before him. He was always of opi-
nion that a direct line of railway to London was indispensable,
and he believed Sir Robert Peel was of the same opinion,
having pledged himself to support it ; and believing it was pro-
gressing he was very much surprised in a few days after to
learn that another scheme of the same sort was projected.
Under those circumstances he thought the value of the scheme
enhanced, as it appeared of such importance as to ensure a
competing company,f, and therefore when they came before
Parliament he presumed there could be little or no opposition
to the principle of direct communication between Manchester
and London. The two Companies might, however, expend
much money in useless litigation, and therefore it oc-
curred to him that they had better amalgamate
in promoting the undertaking. He had no doubt
upon his mind but that their (Remington's) line was by far
the best, but if the other 'arty could make any improvement
he was sure they would be liberally met. He had called upon
them when in London, and told them this, but they appeared
to possess little or no information upon the comparative merits
of the two schemes. The scheme, he believed, would be fairly
brought before the meeting, and having heard all that the de-
putation had to say in its favour, it would be for the people of
Manchester to give or withhold their support from the resolu-
tions that would be submitted for their adoption. He would
not say more at present, but call on the members of the depu-
tation to explain the object of their mission.
Sir GEORGE STEPHEN, as one of the deputation, complained
of the course adopted by Mr. Ashes, the attorney to the com-
peting line, and then explained the nature of the proceedings
of the Committee. Immediately on hearing that an opposi-
tion line was projected he applied at their office for a plan of
their intended line, but could not procure ene, nor any infor-
mation whatever. He was told that in a few days the required
information would be afforded, but it was delayed, and, indeed,
never yet satisfactorily laid before the public until Remington's
line was before the public, and then came out their prospec-
tuses and plans of the very same line of railway proposed by
that gentleman—a proceeding which he (the speaker) consi-
dered a most convincing proof of the eligibility of the scheme.
The engineer they employed was a man of some eminence in
his profession, and yet he could not discover a better route
than the one laid down by Mr. Remington. When he
( Sir George) was on the point of leaving London he met
Mr. Sudlow, a gentleman who took a prominent part in the
opposing scheme. He told him that it was unfair in the
Company to take advantage of Mr. Remingten's survey,
and was answered by Mr. Sudlow, that they thought
themselves perfectlf justified in taking it up, because Mr.
Remington had abandoned the project. Surely the gentlemen
of Manchester would not allow Mr. Remington to be thus
plundered of the fruits of his labours. In the advertisement
put forth by the opposing line, the names of many gentlemen
supporting Mr. Remington were inserted, and letters and
other communications had been circulated, denying :he right
of our publishing names upon our list of subscribers. The day
before leaving London he saw a letter in the mornir.g paper',
signed by a Mr. Ogle, recalling the names of Messrs. Jones
Loyd, as bankers to this line. Nothing could be more unfair
than the adoption of sueh a course. Their connexion with
Messrs. Jones Loyd was this. Some time ago he (Sir G.
Stephen) called at the bank in London to open an account
with them; he saw one of the partners, to whom he commit.