The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-01-29 00:00:00

the government a sufficient supply of labour; and he had
authorised him (Mr. Brown) to say, that if the:chamber
had the least wish to hear his statements, he would visit
them at any convenient time, and explain his views.—
(Hear, hear.) The governor of Fernando Po would also
wait upon them, if they desired it. From the channels
which he had enumerated, it was most probable they
would get something which would make them less depen-
dent on the United States than they were at present."—
(Cheers.)
We are sincerely thankful for the admission here
made by Mr. Brown that "he is afraid the govern-
WE had occasion last week to find some little ment will not give the colonists the necessary supply
fault with the committee appointed to conduct, on of labour." It is, at all events, an acknowledg-
behalf of the parishioners, the enquiry as to the ' ment that they have been cruelly injured by the
local sources of water supply, before the arbitrator, mock sentimentalism of the Colonial-office, and the
Mr. Robert Stephenson. They were certainly We cannot conclude without remarking upon liberal party in Parliament. With an adequate
somewhat unprepared with their evidence; or, at the very changed tone and hearing of the Pike supply of labour, what might not these noble
all events, had not sufficiently determined upon the party since this inquiry has been fairly gone into. possessions have accomplished in supplying the
shape in which they were to place it before him. In endeavouring to account for their present very British market with sugar itself ? We might at
We can now, however, in a great measure account subdued attitude, we can only, in charity, presume this moment have been independent of the Brazi-
for their position. They laboured under ember- that they cannot have believed the advocates of Tian cultivator. With an ample number of free
rassment caused by the abundance of the facts and home supply to be able to produce a tithe of the labourers tilling the fertile soil of our West Indian
vouchers within their reach, as must be evident to facts which they have thus far put forward in evi- possessions, under the protection of British laws,
every one who has attended the past week's pro- dence. Another conclusion is very clear, viz., that there ought not to have been at this moment a
ceedings. Most heartily we congratulate our fel- had the same facts been as strongly placed before slaver on the seas, or a human being working in
low-townsmen upon the result of the committee's the commissioners who conducted the local inquiry bondage. But the Thompsons and Fowell
exertions. Never was an array of evidence more insisted upon by parliament, we should never have Buxtons of the day stood in the way of such a
complete and telling brought before any tribunal, heard of the Rivington project : Mr. Hawksley's consummation. We were told that immigration
in the absence of forensic aid to impart to it conse- bubble would have burst in his own hands, and of free labourers was to be a new slave trade in
cutiveness, and to fill up those little blanks which some thousands of pounds been saved to the peo- disguise; and that the great object of the planter,
alone remain for their opponents to seize upon, to pie of Liverpool. in asking for it, was to lower the wages of our
raise a cavil or a doubt.
emancipated black pets. We legislated, in fact,
Let us briefly review the evidence of the two days, FROM a report which will he found elsewhere in to protect the African in our colonies from that
in order to arrive at the facts which have been thus our columns it will be seen that the agriculturists very competition, to whose crushing weight we
far established. We have first the professional of South Lancashire are not likely to be much were submitting the sons of toil in our own land.
opinion of Mr. Newiands, the borough engineer, behind their fellow-sufferers throughout the king- The result is before the world, in the failure of one
based upon much experience and knowledge of the dom in entering their protest against that free- of the most disinterested and munificent experi-
district and the yield of the present wells, that an trade policy which is rapidly hurrying the most ments ever made by a Christian country. We
almost unlimited supply can he got, at a compara- important interests of the community to the brink have expended twenty millions sterling, and beg-
tively inconsiderable expenditure, from the red of inevitable ruin. We refer to the report of the gared hundreds of our planters, under the plea of
sandstone beneath our feet. Of course Mr. New- proceedings at a meeting of the Protectionists of a resolve to banish slavery from the earth ; yet all
lands does not bind us, or the arbitrator, to an ap- South Lancashire, held in the Town-hall at Orms- we have to show for it is a treble amount of man-
proval of his, or any, particular mode of making that kirk on Thursday last. Nothing can be more stealing, enriching the foreigner, and our own fine
supply available. It is sufficient to be enabled to cheering than to see the British landowners and colonies rapidly falling into jungle and desolation.
receive his assurance that it is within our reach. farmers at length throwing away the apathy which It cannot, however, have escaped so acute a man
We have also the evidence of the various parties alone has thus far enabled a selfish faction to over- of business as Mr. William Brown, that there are
connected with the existing waterworks that water ride and insult them, unless we point to the fact cases and conditions of affairs under which no
can always be had by applying for to its source— exhibited at Ormskirk, that the really sound portion government can be allowed to indulge in flimsy
the rock below us. For years past, with an increas- of the trading and operative clasess are prepared to pretences and dreamy sentimentality, to the injury
ing population, we have had it within our power to stand by their side in the coming struggle. It is of the people whom they are called upon to rule.
keep up with the requirements of that population; significant, too, that at this meeting, held in the Surely this is such a case. We are, at the present
and, if we have not done so, it has been because the heart of a populous manufacturing district, not a
moment, at the mercy of America ; and actually
companies, in whose hands the privilege of giving single leading member of the Free-trade party could and slavishly dependent upon her for the means of
the supply was placed, have not been pressed to be coaxed (and this, it will be seen, was sedulously employment for the hundreds of thousands of our
increase its quantity by making the required outlay. attempted) to show his face in opposition. Inter- people, who are engaged in our staple manufac-
It has been proved that the present wells possess ruption, indeed, of a most disgraceful character, ture. A mock philanthropy, based upon idle
each an independent source of supply. By exhaust- during the speech of one gentleman present, there fancies, must not be set up to bar an effort in our
ing any one we do not affect the other; and this is was, arising, we are informed, from personal hos- own colonies to raise, with free labour, a supply of
capable of being accounted for without adopting tility; but when we state that the parties so inter- cotton to replace that which is now raised by the
the fanciful theory of some of our geologists, that rupting were composed principally of the lowest slave population of the American republic. We
the strata beneath our feet consist of a number of and most idle characters in the town, brought there are at a loss to know what plea can be urged—
boxes, rendered impervious by the intervention of evidently for the purpose, the value of their most what awful danger to the interests of humanity
clay sides. Nothing could have been more clear sweet voices may be fairly set down at very little. can be painted—to deter a really wise government
upon this point than the excellent evidence of Mr. We regret much that the space at our disposal and a common-sense people, from making use of the
Gage. It is perfectly reconcilable with the know- does not permit of our giving anything like a full
means, which Mr. Booker and Mr. Brown have
ledge which we possess of the strata, bearing in report of one of the speeches on the occasion, that shewn to be within their reach, for conferring a
mind that their water yield is forced upwards, in of Mr. Stoner, which embraced nearly the whole great boon upon mankind, and at the same time
accordance with well-known hydraulic principles, marrow of the question at issue, and contained an warding off danger from the institutions of this
that we might have not four or five, but any num- array of facts and figures of unanswerable force and country. Many powerful arguments may be
ber of public wells, at reasonable distances from pertinence, delivered with great effect and eloquence ' urged, however, in behalf of immigration on a
each other, tapping different sources of supply, of language. Its great length (we may state that large scale to our West Indian colonies. We have
without in the slightest degree, affecting the yield it occupied upwards of two hours in delivery) has there hundreds of thousands of acres of land, the
of each other, placed it out of our power to give more than the most fertile in the world, and eminently suited to
We shall not comment upon that portion of Mr. summary which will be found elsewhere. Mr. this very cotton cultivation; and we have there,
Gage's evidence in which he explained the cause of Stoner has evidently studied the subject tho- too, all the materials and institutions for the erec-
the alleged saltness of a few of the wells in the roughly; and few could possibly have left the tion of a great and happy country, to be inhabited
town ; but proceed to offer a few remarks upon the meeting without carrying with them home matter by the African race living by the free exercise of
evidence given by the well-sinkers and the owners to ponder over—the effect of false representations industry. In the existing coloured population of
of the private wells within the town, from which, corrected and the wrecks of sophisms exploded these colonies and their British institutions, we
without some little explanation, which will doubt- beneath the grasp of truth. The addresses of the have, as it were, the framework of a vast social
less be supplied, an incorrect inference may possibly other gentlemen who took part in the proceedings edifice. All that is required to complete it is the
be drawn by Mr. Stephenson. All these witnesses were more brief, but admirably to the point; and introduction of more hands to till the soil, under
have shewn—and, we believe, have satisfied him of that of the Chairman, Mr. Boyer, most telling and the direction of the existing supply of skilled
the fact—that water may be had by sinking, or effective. We may also compliment this gentleman labourers and small proprietors, aided by British
boring for, in any part of Liverpool, or the dis- upon the ability, and firmness combined, with which capital and enterprise. Do we purpose to drag the
trict. Occasionally one well may tap the supply he conducted the proceedings, and restrained the people to supply this want from happy homes—to
of another; but the remedy is simply for the owner few unruly spirits who sought to mar their other-
entrap them with deceitful promises to toil under
of the well deprived of its supply to sink a little wise unanimous character. an iron tyranny ? No. We ask for our West
deeper. It was elicited by Mr. Stephenson, in his Indian planters to be allowed to transport them
examination of these witnesses, that such deepen- Our neighbours in Manchester are at length from debasing superstition and barbarism, to
ing of the existing private wells had been going on perfectly alive to the fact that, with our present dwell within the light of civilization and Chris-
for years past; and we could see that the admission policy, an increased and certain supply of the raw tianity, under the benign sway of British institu-
was regarded by the advocates of the Rivington 1 material of their manufacture is indispensable ; tions. We offer every guarantee, short of the
same harassing restrictions which have heretofore
scheme as strongly favouring their assumption that aud, very properly, they are directing their attention
the water under the district was receding, and be- to these countries, from which they suppose that rendered immigration impracticable, that their
coming gradually exhausted. A little further en- such an increase can be obtained. At the present service shall be a purely votuntary and a perfectly
quiry, however, would enable a dispassionate man moment we are confessedly at the mercy of the
protected one. No man can for a moment doubt
like Mr. Stephenson to arrive at a more correct American growers, who deal with us almost as they that the condition of such imported labourers
conclusion. In the first place, it must be borne in please. If it suits them better to grow maize or would be improved by the change. No man can
mind that we have been rapidly increasing our wheat upon their lands, they are converted to that doubt that they would be eagerly welcomed by the
population, and increasing our demands for water purpose, utterly regardless of the plainings of Man- existing coloured population of our colonies, many of
supply. This will, at all events, account for the chester or Stockport. Should the American go-
whom are now in a position to become themselves
the necessity, under which we have laboured, of vernment ever feel disposed to push its people's
employers of labour, and most of whom are now
deepening, or making fresh bore holes in, our jealousy of us to a quarrel, the most severe punish-
feeling as deeply as the planters themselves the
public wells. In increasing the number of our meat it could deal us would be to withhold from
ruin which they share in common with them, and
private wells, the sources of some may have been us our necessary supply of cotton. A famine in which has been wrought by the crotchetty mea-
tapped; and hence the deepening required. Many grain may be supplied from a hundred sources. It sures devised, under the guise of philanthropy, for
of these wells are for the supply of manufactories, is only the pressure of advanced prices, that we their protection. We appeal to the spinners and
whose requirements for steam-power and other have to deal with. But a famine in cotton would manufacturers of Manchester and the cotton trade
purposes have increased. These considerations will throw the whole of the manufacturing districts of generally, instead of bewailing the effects of specu-
not have escaped the notice of such a man as Mr. Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Cheshire out of em-
lation in the raw material, and agitating for
Stephenson ; but we would direct his attention, ployment ; and might be made available, by any Indian railways and African settlements, to take
and that of the parochial committee, to another demagogue who chose, to bring about a social up this question. Their voice upon such a sub-
mode of accounting for the fact. In the evidence convulsion. ject cannot but be listened to. Pity it is that
of Mr. Duncan, the deputy borough engineer, it It is too late now to discuss the auestion whether it was not raised years ago, and the incon-
was stated that of the bore-holes sunk in one of our present dependent and helpless state, with venience and danger of their present condition and
the public wells—we forget precisely which, and respect to this raw material, has not been in a great that of the country would have been averted !
... ,
have not full notes before us—the whole had parti- measure caused by that policy of which the Man-
ally filled up, one of them, which bad been origin. chester school have been for years past the most ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PROPRIETORS OF
ally 45 feet from the bottom of the lodge, being prominent supporters. There was a time when, THE EXCHANGE._
when sounded only 9 feet. Obviously the effect even with high protective duties upon sugar, we The annual meeting of the proprietors of the Exchange
would be to interpose a resisting power against the were largely supplied with excellent cotton from Rooms slooLp Ile yesterday.cßA E the chair• man of the committee,
pressure upwards of the springs, and to decrease our West Indian colonies. The maudlin semi- presided, and briefly stated thatrrenreoceipts for the last
the yield. The same action is doubtless going on mentality of the liberal party interfered, however, year were larger than those of the preceding year. The
in the private wells of the town, the sides of which and thelcultivation of cotton in these possessions expenditure, likewise, had increased, owing to enlarged
having been carried out.
are not, in engineering phrase, "tubbed up," or ceased, from the want of labour. We hedged the accommodation for subscribers
lined, to prevent the small springs bringing down planter round with restrictions which forbade him to maTninleer in which Mr.
Committee expressed
Banner,
highaeee approvalaccountant,
i
had of thes
the loose portions of the strata. Mr. Duncan procure, with any hope of a profitable result, that charged the duties of his office ; they also repeated the.
stated that it had been found cheaper to drive industry which we told him was only cheap when commendation last year pronounced by their body on their
down new bore-holes than to clean out the old and it was free. We harassed him at every step in his secretary, Mr. Younghusband.
failing ones, a fact in which every practical man efforts to protect himself, under the new state of The treasurer's accounts were read, from which it ap-
will bear him out. It accounts, however, for the things in which legislation had placed him, and he riaredcofthttsthxelt9otal balance amounted to £6,999 Ils.
necessity, under which we continually find our- retired at length from the contest, disgusted or fund, and £6,800 w9alSlasiloldtedwaassdicavirdreinetttgoivtihneg
xresseirovse
selves, of resorting to new sinkings. There are ruined. We went even further than this. Having per share, and £3 3s. upon each share to non-attending
undoubtedly means within the reach of engineer- handed over a monopoly to the American grower, proprietors in lieu of their, right of nomination to the
ing science for preventing such casualties; and we virtually said to him, by our admission of his news'-room for the current year. The dividend will be
insuring uninterrupted access to the deep springs, grain into our markets, "we will give you such an paid on Monday next, the 4th of February.A series of resolutions of a routine character were then
which are generally the most abundant in yield. additional occupation for your soil as will enable
roposed and carri. five g connected
Another important fact was elicited in the evi- you to grow cotton, or not, as you choose, and to with the committeeedwh o goThe out by rotationettlernen are Messrs.
deuce of Mr. Cruikshank. The well of that gen- extort from our necessities as much for a short as Bateson, Dickinson, Tinne, Henderson, and Macrae ;
man, at the Castle Brewery in Scotland-road, had for an abundant crop." We repeat, however, that their places will be filled by Messrs. Bolton, Melly, Ban-
been closed for forty years at the time when he it is too late now to discuss the past. The all.
ner, C. W. Newman, jun., and W. Titherington. Mr.
Jacques Myers was nominated in the room of Mr. Read,
P deceased.
entered upon the premises. The borings, of which important inquiry is, how are we to imrove our
there are four, were closed up, and the sides of the unfortunate position ? _
lodges were crusted over, the pores of the rock being Some important remarks upon the subject fell
thus hermetically sealed. Mr. Cruikshank informs from Mr. William Brown, the respected member
us that "when these lodges were cleaned out, and for South Lancashire, at a recent meeting held in
the rock picked over, the water began to flow very Manchester. Referring to the whole question, he
copiously." It was not, therefore, the want of said—
water which dried this well, after closing the bore- ‘• He did not think that they should confine their views
holes, but the absence of cleansing and keeping to the
.supply of cotton from Indi. True, they were in a
open the channels through which it had been I precarious
States. d
In dangerousl2s t the positionstat ei rt.i
affairs relation
was to 1 n theest
accustomed to be forced by hydraulic pressure. alarming, the whole stock of cotton then in Liverpool be-
There can be little doubt of the same cause operating 4118 bags ; and let another war break out—which,
ing to decrease the supply from many of the other however, he was far from apprehending—but let the sea-
private
.wells of the town. It may be remarked, sons not favour the cotton crop, or should an anti-com-
too, that the admitted fact of water being found in mfeaerrecdialwaspsisrhit jorwiseedwfoitrhtihninthtteStates, which,hi lantted, he
every 'part "_of the district, at a depth much less sent secretary, Meredith, had messagel cwongress,ettreese
than that of the wells assumed to be exhausted and circumstances would materially interfere with our com-
requiring additional boring, is directly in the teeth mercial relations, inasmuch as we were dependent solely
of the assertion made that the supply is gradually for our cotton upon the United States. To obviate these
retreating frcea us. difficulties, then, he thought that attention ought to be
We have dwelt upon this part of the subject be- directed to Africa."
And after explaining the sources from which he
cause we believe that a very important influence, in
determining the decision of Mr. Stephenson, will anticipated a successful issue in this quarter, he
proceeded to glance at the opportunity afforded
be exercised by its being proved to him satisfacto-
rily that the supply from the red sandstone is not for" cHoettoonulcdunletxht-ation int ohr owncolonies :
likely to become exhausted. That gentleman, it probably,w in extendingdraw
ti
st
remarksattention to thethus coloniesgen e
ra;ltyhoutgehy,
must be borne in mind, is not altogether uncom- were becoming rather irrelevant to the question.—(Hear.)
mitted upon the subject. We have from him the Mr. Booker, a friend of his, who had been a good deal in
following opinion as to the best mode of procuring Demerara, had informed him that a large sum of money
bad been there expended, and that the country was in
a supply for the metropolis, as quoted by Mr. J.
every respect fitted for the growth of cotton. So long as
B. West, C.E., in his pamphlet upon the question they had a protective duty upon sugar, it had been to the
of the Liverpool supply, published in 1848. The interest of the Demerarians to abandon the growth of
extract is part of a report which appeared in the cotton, and supply us with sugar ; but now that this pro-
pages of the Civil Engineers and Architects' Journal tecting duty was about to cease, it would be to their in-
of January, 1841 :
thousand acres of rich and inexhaustible soil, in every terest to supply us with cotton. They had one hundred
" It is indeed surprising that, with the exception of the
respect suitable. to the growth of the plant; but there was
proposal to obtain the water by perforating the London one obstacle in the way—they had no hands; and he was
clay, every project, including Mr. Telford's, should have afraid government was not willing to give them the neces-
contemplated using the water of streams, which are all nary labour. Mr. Booker had been in London, and had
subject to be affected by the surface drainage of a more heldit an interview with the Board :of Trade, as well as
or less extensive tract of countr and consequently. only the foreign secretary ; and he had suggested that, if
a very few degrees better than that alread in use, whilst, 11:
the government would permit those negroes who were
at the same time, all the difficulties conseyent on' the in-
with the
o go fr.ora Africa to cultivate the soil in Demerara,
jury to existing interests, as navigation,mills,
&c., have with the security for their being sent back, it would add
to be encountered."
to she prosperity of the colony, and would benefit this
With respect to his own proposition he • •
says : country also, by the provision of that most n ss
Brown)
ar
"It would be Premature.to give, in the present stage of article of manufacture—an article which he (Mr.
the proceedings, a detailed account of the arrangements I would say was even more necessary to us than foo.d itself;
propose making for augmenting the quantity to an ado- for food we could buy in other markets, while with cotton
(plate extent ; and it may be sufficient to state here, that it was the reverse. Mr. Booker was very desirous of him.
1 have not the slightest doubt that, by sinking a well, and self stating to the chamber the advantages which he
extending tunnels, or drifts, in the proper direction from thought would arise from the obtaining at the hands of
.........................._____ .

FATAL AccIDENT.—On Saturday a working man
named James Cumming, while employed at a goods
warehouse in Ellenborough-street, which was being
altered into a sugar house, accidentally fell from a great
height, and was severely injured. He was taken to the
Northern Hospital, and assiduously attended to ; but died
on Sunday morning.
ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S DISTRICT, BIRMINGHAM.—We
beg to direct the attention of the Churchmen of Liverpool
to some statistics, published in our paper this day, con-
nected with the existing condition of a district in Bir-
mingham, for which an increase of spiritual provision is
sought to be raised by its excellent pastor, the Rev. Wm.
Duncan Long, a few years ago minister of St. Matthew's,
and subsequently of Trinity Church, in th's town, and
St. Anne's, Aigburth. The facts brought forward are the
result of a laborious personal enquiry, undertaken by the
rev. gentleman himself in 1848, and subsequently revised
last year, and certainly disclose the existence of a state of
things which every Christian man must deplore. We
trust that the subject will attract the notice of some of
those in Liverpool to whom the rev. gentleman was known
when in the ministry here, and that a few contributions in
aid of the estimable object which he has at heart may re-
sult from the publication in our columns of his distressing
statistics.

LIVERPOOL GOVERNESSES' INSTITUTION.—We con-
sider the opening of the Governesses' Institution no
Monday last as one of the most interesting events which
we have for long been called upon to witness. From first to
last everything appears to us to have been done well.
Clear judgment, combined with genuine and generous
feeling, has prevailed throughout. The objects of the
institution are too well known for us to enlarge upon
them here. To the governess, in the intervals between
her engagements, and to the governess whose occupation
is daily, without being resident, it offers all the advan-
tages of a superior, a happy, and even an elegant home.
Instead of the hours of her leisure being only endured,
she may here enjoy them in the cheering atmosphere of
social exhilaration and domestic cheerfulness. The de-
pressing care for the necessary provision of daily suste-
nance may be exchanged for the appointment of a superior
house, and the mind, thus spared from the harassment of
anticipating bodily wants, will be at liberty to devote
itself to the cultivation of its own noble faculties. The
society must necessarily be select, and we notice with
pieasure the nomination of Mrs. Linnington as the pre-
siding superintendent. This lady appears to have entered
upon her task with all that zealous ardour and interest in
the duties of her responsible office so well calculated to
secure the comfort and happiness of all who may como
within the sphere of her influence. We can only add,
that if those for whom this institution is designed show
the same zeal and interest in its support and prosperity
which its founders have displayed, it will soon become
one of the most important of our national institutions.

~:

JOSEPH C. EWART, Esq., was called to the chair. He
said he regretted some other gentleman had not been
chosen for the post—indeed, did he not consider that the
large interest which his family held in the company in
some degree justified his presiding on the occasion, he
would not have complied with the call which placed him
there. Mr. Ewart then briefly dwelt on the importance
of devising some efficient mode of auditing railway
accounts in order to avoid having them made more
" pleasant" than circumstances would admit, and hoped
that some end would be arrived at by the meeting. The
draft of a bill was upon the table for inspection, by any
gentleman who might desire to inspect it.
Mr. D. MATHER objected to the manner in which the
meeting had been convened; he considered that many
holders of shares had not attended, from ignorance of the
fact of such a meeting being called ; he had seen no ad-
vertisement announcing it, and he moreover objected to
the wording of the circular, which seemed only to invite
the " influential" shareholders ; he wanted to know why
the general body was not called together. (Hear hear.)
Especially as, he believed, it was the intention of some
gentleman to bring forward an amendment to the resolu-
tion to be proposed.
The CHAIRMAN knew nothing of the manner in which
the meeting had been called together, but he considered
the usual course was to consult the list of shareholders,
and make a selection with some reference to the amount
of stock held by individuals.
Mr, MATHER persisted in his opposition, and wished
to know whether the clauses which had been framed, and
which were to he embraced in the proposed bill, had not
been submitted to the chairman of the Board of Directors,
Mr. Glyn, and, indeed, whether :they had not been
drawn up by the eminent solicitor to the London and
North Western Company, whose talents were well known
in reference to such documents. (Cries of " No," and
counter cries of " Yes.")
Mr. RYLEY begged to state how that meeting origi-
nated. Twenty gentlemen, a short time ago, addressed a
letter to the chairman of the London and North Western
Railway Company, stating that they were not satisfied
with the nresent position of the audit question, and ask-
ing him whether the directors were taking steps to intro-
duce any measure for the more efficient audit of the
aceounts. Upon the receipt of the reply from this gen-
tleman, that the directors considered that the question
should be taken up by the proprietors themselves, it was
agreed that the movement ought to be considered bond
fide as a shareholders' movement ; and then a committee
of five gentlemen was deputed to call together a larger
meeting.—ln answer to a question, Mr. Ryley said nearly
300 circulars had been printed. He distinctly assured them
that he should have been ashamed of himself if he could
for a moment have thought of directing the issuing of these
circulars in a partial manner, it was his intention that it
should be purely a meeting f shareholders of the London
and North-Western stock. He did not propose to that
meeting that it should pledge itself to that identical bill.
(Hear, bear.) But he believed, however, they might differ
in matters of detail, all would be unanimous in the prin-
ciple of an independent audit being the desideratum, by
which he meant to exclude governmental interference.
(Hear, hear.) They were quite competent to the manage-
ment of their own affairs, and he contended that besides
the control over their finances, it was due to them to ex-
ercise such a control over the directors as was consistent
with their vast interests. He might state that from per-
sonal communication with many of the shareholders he
knew that there was a general impression in favour of the
auditors being nominated by the general body. He con-
ceived the object of that meeting was to take such steps
as might be deemed desirable to protect their property and
to prevent governmental interference of any kind.
(Hear, hear.) The solicitor to the company had
declined to attend on the ground that he was in the
service of the directors ; but in his absence they
had the assistance of Mr. Wagstaffe, in case any questions
involving points of law should arise. Mr. Ryley here read
the resolutions, which will be found in our advertising
columns.
Mr. RICHARD MooN was about to second the resolu-
tion, when Mr. MATHER again wished to put the ques-
tion, whether some of the clauses before referred to had
not been submitted to Mr. Glyn or the solicitor to the
company. He contended that they carried evidence of
this on the face. He wished to draw attention to clause
9, and to place it in juxta-position with clause 14, his ob-
ject being to show that indulgence was extended to the
directors which was withheld from shareholders simply.
Mr. T. F. BENNETT agreed that it was right with their
knowledge of railway matters to come to a meeting like
the present with something like jealousy and suspicion ;
but after what they had heard from the chairman and
Mr. Ryley, he considered it would be unjust not to with-
draw that suspicion. Their system had been bad ; and it
was their business to renew their arrangements, and put
on such guards and checks as the case demanded. He
felt sure the plan propounded by Mr. Ryley was an honest
one ; but whilst they provided against the interference
unduly of directors, they should guard against interfer-
ence on the part of other bodies. It was disgraceful to
let it be supposed they were incompetent to manage their
affairs without the assistance of Government. Such in-
terference had already injured them; and it should be
their object in future to keep Government from meddling
in their affairs. He hoped Mr. Mather would be satis-
fied that the plan was a good one ; and he hoped his (Mr.
Mather's) name would be placed on the committee.
Mr. SYDNEY spoke at considerable length, the purport
of which seemed to be, to give a preference to govern-
mental interference. He finally proposed the following
amendment :
"That in the opinion of this meeting, it is highly desi-
rable that a more correct supervision of railway accounts
should be adopted, by the appointment of independent
auditors. And to render such an audit efficient and enti-
tled to public confidence, it must be freed from all partial
influences, or even the suspicion of any indirect motive,
and more particularly should it be rendered independent
of those persons whose accounts are submitted to its
inspection ; and to accomplish these objects, this meeting
does not consider the clauses submitted for their approval
sufficiently embraced."
The almost unanimous opinion was, that Mr. Sydney's
amendment was useless, as it was in purport similar to
the resolution. He then added the last clause, which was
not a part of the original amendment.
Mr. EYRE EVANS asked what was meant by an "inde-
pendent audit." The shareholders had no control ; they
were everywhere, like a flock of sheep.
Mr. MATHER remarked, that the resolution was not
stringent enough.
Mr. E. MOZLEY supported the resolution, and repro-
bated the idea of governmental management, the bad effect
of which he instanced in the recent savings' bank exposes ;
everybody thought until latterly that property invested in
those banks was secure, owing to their connexion with
government, when all of a sudden they were disabused of
the opinion, and discovered the unfitness of government
to perform what they had undertaken. If their property
was placed under the management of government, he
would predict that for a time there would probably be an
efficient discharge of the duties of the auditor ; but, ulti-
mately, like all other government employes, the gentleman
assigned to that post would become merely a person to
sign the accounts as they came before him, without caring
to examine into their authority. He would not think so
ill of the middle class of society in this country, as to sup-
pose that competent and honourable men could not readily
be selected to discharge the office of auditors. Mr. Moz-
ley continued at some length to shew the evils likely to
result from governmental interference.
Mr. MATHER wished to be heard more fully, but was
told by the Chairman that except in explanation of what
he had already stated, he could not be heard again.
A good deal of discussion took place between the sup-
porters of the-resolutions, and the Messrs. Mather, who
with Mr. Sydney and one or two others, were the only
dissentients. They were about to leave the room, pro-
testing that the meeting was, as they termed it, "illegal,"
and objected that the bill referred to would be proposed
and carried without the sanction or the knowledge of the
shareholders at large, when
Mr. RYLEY took considerable pains to explain that
nothing of an ultimate character would be ,decided on
at that meeting; matters of detail could be rectified by
the committee; and, further, that it was intended to
confer with delegates from shareholders resident in the
different parts of the kingdom ; and finally the bill would
be submitted to the general meeting in London, to be
held on Friday. He (Mr. Ryley) held letters in his
hand suggesting alterations of clauses, &c., and he him-
self desired alterations in that respect, but he was aware
every person could not have his own way in the matter,
and lie was therefore willing to concede immaterial points ;
he wished it to be understood that nothing would be
finally done at that meeting. He should be glad to add
the name of Mr. Mather to those of the committee.
Mr. R. MATHER would only consent to this on condi-
tion of the following amendment being complied with :
"That the Committee report to a public meeting of the
Shareholders, called by advertisement, the Bill as prepared by
them, for the approval of such meeting."
He was told that no such condition could be complied
with, as it would, in fact, prevent the committee
from ascertaining, and acting upon, the views of the
shareholders in other localities ; but that in committee
he would have an opportunity to make any suggestion he
thought fit

Mi. SYDNEY'S and Mr. MATIIER'S amendments were
then respectively put from the chair, and lost by an over-
whelming majority.
The original resolution was then put and carried.
Mr. EARLE wished :to have his name withdrawn from
the committee, as his brother was a director. It appeared
to him that as long the dividends were favourable every
body was satisfied ; but when that was no longer the case,
they sought to attain that desirable state of things by
this means. He agreed with Mr. Eyre Evans that the
shareholders had been like a flock of sheep.
Mr. SYDNEY proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Ryley
and Mr. Urosfield for their courage in originating the
meeting.

A voie of thanks was then proposed for the chairman.
Mr. EWART briefly responded, and thus the proceedings
concluded.

Mr. Vandenhoff recently dislocated his shoulder by an
accidental fall at Drury-lane Theatre.

There is an article- in the Colonial Standard on the
possibility of growing cotton in Jamaica. It seems that
the cotton tree is indigenous in that island, and that nu-
merous specimens of it may be seen growing wild.