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

elated his object, but was inflamed that the houses at INiso,
cheater roust first be consulted. In a day or trio after he taw
Messrs. Jones Loyd and Co., of Manchester, attached to the
Company, and believing therefore that they consented through
some other parties, he took no further step. in the matter.
The project was, he said, objected to on account of the extent
of the undertaking ; but that very circumstance he believed to
be one of its best recommendations; and he could with con-
fidence affirm that it was the determination of tirt? Committee
to persevere, and at the opening of the next session brtog the
line before Parliament. They did not come to ask the people
of Manchester for money, of that they had already sufficient,
and were resolved to prosecute the undertaking ; but in order
to secure success, it was necessary to have the influence of
the people of Manchester when before Parliament. It was
absurd to object to the line on account of its extensiveness ;
on the contrary, that was one of its best recommendations.
Parliament had already given direct trunk lines to Bristol,
Exeter, Birmingham, York, and other places, and yet,
Manchester, the most extensive town in the kingdom, is
still without a direct communication with the metropolis,
by which a heavy tax was imposed on the transmission of
its manufactures. It had been said that the opposition to the
line would be so great that they never could succeed, but this
was an idle fear.

Mr. G. P. Lis,ltts was the next speaker. He observed
that there could not be any difference of opinion as to the
propriety of a direct line of railway between Manchester
and London. That being conceded, the question arose who
were the most fitting persons to carry out the scheme. Mr.
Remington and Sir John Rennie having been engaged
in the undertaking from the year 1836 appeared to him to
be best informed as to the best route of railway. If, how-
ever, another company have discovered a more direct and
easily constructed line, then they were entitled to its advan-
tages; but up to the time he was addressing the meeting
no map or plan of the proposed competing line was laid
before the public. True, it was set torth in the
prospectus that they would find accommodation to
certain towns, but whether by branches or other-
wise did not appear. In reference to the line of
country through which the line was intended to pass, he
would say a few words. Meetings had been held in almost
every town on the proposed line, and they (the promoters)
had received universal support. At all those meetings the
greatest unanimity prevailed, and the resolutions adopted were
of the most decisive character. He believed it would, when
completed, be the most important line in the kingdom, and
the Committee had received the most warm support from
nearly the whole of the landowners through whose property it
was intended to pass. In conclusion, he begged to inform the
meeting that the Directors were resolved to bring the matter
before Parliament next session, and leave it to the great tri-
bunal of the country to decide upon the comparative merits
of the two lines.

Mr. DAVID WADDINGTON, deputy-chairman of the Man-
chester and Birmingham Company, wished to ask whether the
gentlemen promoting the competing line had had notice of the
meeting then holding, that they plight be present to hear what
had been said of them ?
Colonel STANHOPE said that no formal notice had been
given. The meeting was publicly advertised, and he hoped
Mr. Ashes or some other gentleman was present to discuss the
comparative merits of the two lines.
Sir Joni.; RENNIE said that in the year 1836 Mr. Reming-
ton consulted him as to the propriety of a direct line to Man-
chester, and he (Sir John) then gave it as his opinion that it
was a most important undertaking; and ought to be carried
out. He had, in conjunction with Mr. Remington, received
instructions from the Committee to proceed with the survey,
and had no doubt but they would be prepared with the whole
of the plans and gradients by the 30th of November next. He
or Mr. Remington would ba most happy to answer any ques-
tions that might be put to them.
Mr. JOHN BURGESS, boroughreeve of Manchester, proposed
the first resolution—" That the feeling of this meeting is
strongly in favour of a direct and independent line of railway
between London and Manchester, as being the only mode of
obtaining the cheapest and shortest route for carrying the
large passenger and goods traffic between these two important
termini."
Mr. R. S. LAWLER, editor of the Manchester Courier,
supported the resolution. Hitherto. he had taken no part in
promoting any railway schemes, but as an inhabitant of Man-
chester, he considered it his duty to assist in the promotion of
direct communication with London. He then read an extract
of a speech delivered by Sir R. Peel in favour of short and
direct communication between large and important towns. He
was of opinion that the whole railway system was a blunder,
and would never be complete until direct trunk lines were
universally adopted. The question for them to consider was
whether they (the people of .Manchester) would take from
Mr. Remington the merit he justly deserved, and hand it over
to a person,who had fraudulently taken advantage of his labours
and scientific skill.
The resolution was then put and carried with one dissentient. '
Mr. DAVID AINSWORTH moved the second resolution, and
said that hitherto he had taken no active part in the
scheme, because he was not satisfied with the line ; but, since
the arrival of the deputation in Manchester, he had received
such information as convinced him of the merits of the
undertaking. He was, therefore, resolved to support the
prosecution of a work which was of such importance to the
town of Manchester. The only gentleman who had held up
his hand against the first resolution was one of the gentlemen
who had signed in favour of the line at the same time he (Mr.
Ainsworth) signed that document. He concluded by moving
—" That this meeting, having heard the full and explicit
statements of the acting Committee of Remington's line, and
feeling assured of their determination to proceed into Parlia-
ment in the ensuing session, are of opinion that the said line is
the most convenient for the town of Manchester, and the most
worthy of its support."
Mr. Alderman BURD said that he opposed the resolution be-
cause he thought it was pledging the people of Manchester to
a railway scheme which was not fully understood.
Mr. Cooxx, of Macclesfield, supported the resolution, and
in the course of his speech complained of the want of railway
accommodation for that town.
Mr. J. P. WESTHEAD, Chairman of the Manchester and
Birmingham line, said he felt it to be his duty to offer a few
observations, more in the way of explanation than of opposition.
It was but that morning that his attention was directed to the
meeting, and, therefore, he came unprepared to say much on
the subject of a direct railway to London. He might, however,
just observe that much distance could not be saved by the
proposed line. The old coach road, which was, of course, the
nearest that could be well made, was 186 miles, and when
the 'frent Valley is completed, the distance by railway will
be only 1881 miles, and by the Churnet Valley
the distance would be reduced to 181 miles, or five miles
less than the coach road, whilst the proposed direct line will, ac-
cording to the statement of its promoters, be 177 miles. He did
not, therefore, think that the saving of so short a distance justi-
fied the expenditure required for the making of the proposed
line. He would, therefore, caution the people of Manchester
against coming to a hasty conclusion, by adopting any resolu-
tion which pledged them to support the undertaking then be-
fore the meeting.
Mr. METEVARD, of London, next addressed the meeting,
and said that Mr. Westhead appeared to be perfectly ac-
quainted not only with the meeting, but also with the merits of
competing railways, and, therefore, ought not to complain of
the shortness of notice. He thought that Mr. Westhead had
very much injured his case; for he showed that the opening
of the new lines, to which he directed attention, would leave
the passengers and traffic to be carried by four companies be-
tween Manchester and London.
Mr. DAVID WADDINGTON said that having seen the adver-
tisement calling the meeting yesterday, he called on Mr. West-
head and requested that he would accompany him to the meet-
ing, that they might give such information as might be required
in reference to the lines now in progress, which he hoped they
had done. He suggested the propriety of the meeting with-
holding its decision until the latter end of the year, when the
plans would be deposited with the Board of Trade.
Mr. JOHN WHYATT supported the establishment of com-
peting and direct lir.es, on the ground that the inhabitants of
Manchester and London would receive at the hands of the
railway servants a little more civility than they were accus-
tomed to. He was so satisfied with the scheme of Mr.
Remington that he felt justified in calling on his fellow-towns-
men to give it their support.
Sir GEORGE STEPHEN thought the town of Manchester
was fairly represented by the 180 gentlemen, who constituted
the meeting.
Mr. NEWBERY, one of the Directors of the Manchester and
Birmingham Railway, protested against the statement made by
the last speaker, that the meeting was a fair represenation of
the town of Manchester. If Sir George Stephen knew as
much of the town of Manchester as he (Mr. Newbery) did, he
would not have ventured such an opinion. He did not see any
gentlemen on the platform who were known to take an active
part in the promotion of railways for the accommodation of the
town, except a few gentlemen who simply moved and se-
conded resolutions without remark. He did think that the
Chairman ought to pause before he gave his support to such
an undertaking. That gentleman had already lost so much
money by the Manchester and Crewe speculation that he at
all events should pause before lie again embarked in such
undertakings.
The CHAIRMAN said that, having been personally alluded to,
he thought it tight to admit that he had lost large sums of
money in a previous scheme ; hut he thought a direct line of
railway was necessary for the trade of Manchester, and, there-
fore, instead of taking up 50 shares, as he originally intended,
he would now take 200, if he could get them.
The resolution was put and carried with four dissentients.
The thanks of the meeting were then voted to the Mayor
for granting the use of the room, and also to the Chairman ;
after which the meeting separated, having occupied upwards
of three hours.