The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-02 00:00:00

...„. _
under advice, they are now taking the necessary legal measures
to establish their claim to their full mileage share of the traffic.
In the mean time, and till the question is decided, the differ-
ence, amounting to about 3001. a week, is not included in the
published statement of receipts.
In the Trent Valley Railway (now leased to the London
Company, at a dividend equal to that paid to their own Share-
holders), the Grand Junction Company holds stock to the
amount of 277,7801., and the Directors' attention was limited
to obtaining a clause in the Bill to secure to themselves the
power of u-ing the line on reasonable terms. In this they suc-
ceeded. The Churnet Valley project was lost, ,-Numerous,
schemes have since made their appearance to-supplyits :place;
whether any one of them may ultimately succeed is not so se-
rious a question to the Grand Junction Company as might be
supposed. The trade between Manchester and the South has
Always been greatly over-estimated ; and in order to relieve
the minds of any proprietors who may have apprehensions on
the subject, it may be mentioned, that the total sum received
by the Grand Junction Company during the last half-year, for
traffic of all descriptions passing between any part of the Man-
chester and Birmingham line and London and Birmingham
line, including London and Manchester, falls short of 17,0001.,
or less than 8 per cent, of the income.
In order, however, to protect themselves as far as possible
against the threatened attack on the East, it became necessary
for the Directors to seek an alliance in the South ; and the Com-
mittee of the House of Commons in their report on the Oxford,
Rugby, and Wolverhampton Railways, distinctly alludes to the
necessity of affording to the Grand Junction Company a' fresh
inlet to London; and securing them against ant qrced alAtrae-
tion of their traffic.

Upon the whole, therefore, on contrasting the position of
the Company at the commencement of the session with its pre-
sent prospects, the Directors consider that there is cause for
congratulation.
Having thus briefly reviewed the past, the Directors 'must
now allude to their future intentions, so far as they are already
determined on.
One of the most important is the shortening of distance be-
tween Liverpool and Birmingham. Arrangements are com-
pleted with the Duke of Bridgewater's trustees, the Admi-
ralty, and the Conservators of the River, for crossing the
;Hersey at Runcorn. A branch from this new line will pro-
ceed to Warrington, ao as to place that town on the direct hoe
to Liverpool. A junction will also be made with the St.
Helen's Railway. In connexion with this extension, the
Directors have agreed to become interested in ttie:.tormation of
a railway from )yarringl on to Stockport. It appeared to them
that these important towns were entitled to railway communi-
cation, and that,the through traffic could be more efficiently
worked by means of a friendly alliance with the Grand Junc-
tion Company, than with any other party.
The proprietors are aware that the Potteries Branch Bill was
thrown out after passing the ordeal of the Committee of the
House of Commons. It is not the intention of the Directors to
renew the application, because the line, on a more extended.
scale, has been merged in that of the Derby and Crewe Com-
pany. This scheme appears in every respect most eligible for
the district, and the Directors finding it warmly supported by
local influence, did not hesitate to contribute a portion of the
capital.
The " South Staffordshire" project, extending from a point
on the Midland Line, near Alrewas, passing through Lichfield,
crossing the Grand Junction Railway at Walsall, and proceed-
ing thence to Dudley, has recently been brought forward, sup-
ported by an unusually strpng local interest. It will open new
sources of traffie..uthe Grand Junction, wi„tilot4 da.sbingisith
its interests; and :Waving been invited to jeiliit
have agreed to embark in it to the extent of one-fourth of the
proposed capital.
The aggregate of the above engagements is 600,000/.
With respect to the Shrewsbury and Grand Junction Rail-

way, the Directors are not at the present moment in a position
to speak ; but a communication will be made on the subject
shortly.
The Directors have observed with pleasure the rapid progress
made in the works of the Lancaster and Catlisle Railway, and
the probability of its being opened for traffic in the sumrner.of
next year. 13y virtue of their interest in this Company, the
Grand Junction Company became entitled to an allotment of
2,500 shares in the York and Carlisle Company, and under the
circumstances deemed it their duty to accept the same.
They are also happy to remark, that the Caledonian Rai'

way, in which, as the 1 roprietors may remember, the Grand
Junction Company holds 2,000 shares, has obtained a Bill.
The opening of this line, together with its various extensions
towards the north of Scotland, cannot fail to be productive of
essential benefit to the through traffic of the Grand Junction line.
It was intended to have proposed at the present meeting na
issue of new quarter shares ; but the terms of creation of the
stock cannot be determined upon until the Amalgamation Bill
is decided. Under these circumstances, a special meeting will
be called for the purpose, so soon as the session is over.
The Proprietors have to elect three Directors, to supply the
places of Messrs. Gladstone and Sandbach, who retire by ro-
tation, and Mr. Roskell, who has resigned.
A vacancy having occurred during the half-year, by the re-
signation of Mr. John Cropper, it has been filled by the elec-
tion of Mr. P. 1. Stewart, M.P. for Renfrewshire.
The CHAIRMAN then addressed the Proprietors, and said,
the report of the Grand Junction Directors' which has just
been read, places you so fully in possession of what has passed
during the last six months, so eventful to railway interests,
that on the present occasion I shall forbear troubling you with
further detail. This is the more desirable, because each suc-
ceeding month makes such extraordinary changes, that I feel
our Directors should be left freely to watch the interests com-
mitted to their charge, so as to be enabled to take such mea-
sures from time to time as the necessity of the case in their
judgment demands. If any Proprietor calls for information,
I will, as I have. always done, endeavour to satisfy him. It
now becomes a duty I owe to you to inform you, that with
the close of the proceedings of this day, when my office of
Chairman of this Company ceases, I propose retiring
from that most honourable and important posi-
tion. The state of my health has compelled me
to announce to my colleagues that I can no hanger sustain
the mental and bodily exertion which the office of your chair-
man demands. I wished to have retired earlier, but remained
until now at their request. It is not my intention to vacate
my seat at the Board; and after having received so many acts
of kindness from my colleagues on trying occasions, whoever
succeeds me may rely upon my desire to support him.—
( Cheers.) As a matter of record, I beg to state that we have
expended the sum of 2,600,000/., including calls on the rail-
ways, we leave shares in our property valued at the market
price of the day's,Worth ; 13,b89 shares in the Trent Valley,
250,0001. ; 5,000 shares in the Lancaster and Carlisle Com-
pany, 275,0001.; 2,010 shares in the. Caledonian, 10,0001.
Our land, works, and machinery at Crewe, have cost 130,3401. ;
our surplus capital, undivided, is 64,0001. ; our stock of
engines, carriages, and waggons, is worth 250,0001, leaving
for stations, and a road of 104 miles, unincumbered with debts,
1,620,6601.—(Cheer5.) We were able to place 34,0001. the
last year to increase our reserved fund. Ido not shrink from
a comparison wi;h any other railway. Your confidence has
always been most gratifying to me. The post of work-
ing Director must now, as it ought to do, devolve upon a
younger man ; but no one, I assure you, can be mors sincerely
or more anxiously alive to whatever promotes the interests of
our Grand Junction Railway. The Hon. Gentleman sat down
amidst loud cheers.
The report was then received and adopted, and a dividend
declared.
Messrs. Gilbert Winter, Charles Turner, and Charles Law-
rence, were elected Directors.
Mr. L. MOSELY then, in a very feeling speech, proposed a
vote of thanks to the chairman, who briefly replied, and the
meeting separated.

In our wiverti,log columns it will b 2. seen Mr.
George Robins is about to transmogrify Brandeston Hall (near to'
Woodbridge) into its original state—that is, to renovate and
restore its original beauty in the style of our Queen Elizabeth,
and thus render this mansion what it claimed to be in days of
yore—meaning thereby to render it worthy the occupation of the
M.P. for the county, or for the town of Ipswi;h. This is to be
done by tender, and, as Mr. R 's name is " ready mone✓," there
will be no lack of applicants to lave the first preference. It is to
be got ready so that a tenant may partake, in September, of the
advantages of the manors, which are very extensive, lots of game
strictly preserved, and the right of fishing In the river Deben,
Which extends two miles through Mr. Robins's estate. Mr. Adair's
park and woods are in close alliance with the park of Brandeston
Ha11.7.-/pswieh Express.

The Directors of the Bank of England have
trihuted 100!. to the testimonial to Mr. Rowland Hill.
YOUNG ENGLAND.—Lord John Manners and the
members of this spirited and well intending party will be de-
lighted to find their views carried out by the liberal proprietor
of the Surrey Zoological Gardens, who, we see, proposes to
give fetes on the 4th and sth of August, illustrative of old
English games and sports, when the rising gen ?ration will have
an opportunity of witnessing many of those pastimes which
procured for this country the title of « Merrie England." '