The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-01-28 00:00:00

ill to LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER RAILWAY
Ina! I COMPANY.

Tltz NEW hunGu.—The spointment of Mr. Cres
the Bench has given general satisfaction both to the
and political world.'
Mr. Ducrow, we regret to say had a paralytic attack, at The general annual meeting of the shareholders in the
his house in the York-road, that has partly deprived him of Liverpool and Manchester Railway Company was held on
speech and taken away the use of one side. On inquiry Wednesday, in the Cotton Sales-rooms, Exchange-buildings,
on Monday the answer was that MJ. Ducrow was in a most for the purpose of receiving a statement of the receipts and
dangerous state, forbidding all hope of his ultimate recovery. disbursements for the half-year ending December 31, 1841,
The beauty of the teeth is certainly a subject of high con- the election of five directors in the place of that number re-
tiring by rotation, and the declaration of a dividend out of
sideration. Teeming as is the present age with useful and the profits of the undertaking. The meeting was numerously
elegant discoveries, there has not emanated from scientific attended, and the proceedings excited great interest, from
research a more important auxiliary of manly grace and fe- the circumstance of certain charges being alleged against a
male beauty than ROWLAND'S ODONTO, or PEARL DENTI- part of the board of directors, in a pamphlet circulated
PRICE. This valuable and elegant appendage of the toilet among the proprietors by Captain Laws, the principal ma-
is a preparation from exotics of the most balsamic nature:
and as a purifier, embellisher, and preserver of the teeth and nager of the Manchester and Leeds Railway. Soon after
one o'clock the proceedings commenced by the chairman of
gums, is unequalled by any dentifrice of the age. It is pa- the board of directors, CHARLES LAWRENCE, Esq., taking
tronized by royalty and the nobility, and is strongly recom- the chair.
mended by the most eminent of the faculty.—See advt. Mr. CLAY, clerk to the company, having read the adver-
The Bristol wool sale took place yesterday, and we were tisement convening the meeting,
pleased to see so large and respectable an attendance of buy- The CuAtamAN announced that, according to the usual
ers, not only from the numerous establishments which sur- custom, the proceedings of the day would be commenced by
round this city, but from Leeds, Rochdale, Huddersfield, reading the report.
"

and other parts of 'Y orkshire, and also from Scotland. The Mr.-Bocrrd, the- secretary, read the report, which core-
biddings Fere spirited and-good prices were obtained, looking menced by alluding to the existing distress and embarrass-
at the state, of trade, Some manufacturers retired without ment, and to the influence which it had on the concern.
purchasing a 'single bale, declaring that they were selling too The report included a statement of the accounts, from which
dear ; and we learn that from ld. to lid. per lb. was obtained it appeared that the receipts were, for the past half year, in
above the prices current at the late Liverpool sale of the Bth the coaching department, £80,549 14s. 7d.; merchandise
instant. Complaints were made of the condition of the wool department, £53,974 19s. lid. ; coal department, £3006 3s.
generally, and of the moits and burrs in it, which evidently 4d. ; total, £137,530 17s. 10d. The gross expenditure for
injure its value; the growers' interest suffers thereby, and it the same period was £70,080 ss. id., leaving a nett profit
would be well for them to keep this fact in mind. This se- for the halt.year ending 31st December, 1841, of £67,450
cond site proves that Bristol is advantageously situated, and 12s. 3d. Add to the profit the surplus from the half-year
that buyers will support a market in so central a point, and ending June, 1841, and the disposable fund is £74,182 9s. 7d.
we look fora and to considerable imports into Bristol. We The number of shares entitled to a dividend is 12,090 £lOO
remember the time when this was the principal wool port of shares. The directors recommend a dividend of £5 per
the kingdom ; and the wonder to us is that this branch of share, amounting to £60,450. Also the payment of a third
trade has remained' so long neglected.—Bristol Standard of instalment of the reserved interest on 5100 original £lOO
yesterday. shares, £1 per share, £5,100; and in the 5100 first quarter
CHRISTENING OF THE PRINCE Or WALES.—SII. ANNE'S. shares 2s. per share, £5lO. Total, £66,060 ; which being
WARD.—The committee-for conducting the charity funds of deducted from _the available fund as above stated, will leave
St. Anne's Ward, took the opportunity of this auspicious a balance of £8,122 9s. 7d. to be carried to the next half-
event of distributing the amount of fifty pounds in bread, year's accourit.::
potatoes, soup, and coal to several hundreds of poor families, .The report then went at exceeding great length into the
who are in &state of the most deplorable distress. The sub- history of the negotiation with the Manchester and Leeds
scribers to this fund *ill be gratified to learn the thankfulness Company touching the junction of the two railways in Man-
with which this timely relief has been received; and the chester. The proceedings on the proposal of the Manchester
great amount of- distrrss that their bounty has allowed the and Leeds Company relativeto a junction over the Manehes-
committee to alleviate. The relief distributed up to Wednes- ter and Bolton Railway at Hunt's Bank were adverted to ;
day night.arriounted to £lO5. The amount subscribed has, and it was stated that the terms-of. the Manchester and 801-.
we learn, been contributed almost entirely by conservatives, ton Railway Company were such that the company could
as the radicals, with one or two honourable exceptions, have not accede to them without a certainty of very great traffic.
kept aloof from the committee. The reasons- why -the directors disapproved of the junction-
' FIRES.—About six o'clock, on Wednesday evenin , 0 by way of Hunt's Bank were set forth, and those which had
after the commencement of a gale, an alarm of gfirse° ill induced them to give preference to a connection •line
Tenterden-street, Kirkdale-road, reached the fire-police via Store-st: eet were given. They appealed to the share-
holders to give the subject their calm consideration—to dived
station, and two engines, and four water carts, under Mr. themselves of every preconceived opinion, and to form their
Hewitt, were immediately dispatched. A stack of seven or own judgment of the comparative merits of Hunt's Bank and
eight chimneys was found to be in a blaze that created con-
Store-street as a central station. Store-street, they con-
siderable alarm.- The fire was, however, suppressed without served from the attention which they had been enabled to
the engines being required.—A few minutes before, nine
give to the subject was likely to go on continually improving
o'clock, the same night, a fire broke out in the tailor and in importance, while Hunt's Bank, they were of opinion,
draper's shop in Scotland-road, occupied by Mr. Williams.
would get worse and worse. The report proceeded to show
Engines, &c., were again despatched, but the fire was sub-
that the-estimates of the Manchester and Leeds Company
clued by the police-officers and others before they reached,
were erroneous in several particulars. After adverting to
the groued,—though not until stock, &c., was consumed fo
the amount of about £lOO. The stock was, we learn, in- of the 14anc
this subject at great length, the directors alluded to the offer
eared at the Union Fire-office.—About one o'clock, yesterday nester. and• Leeds Company to work the Liverpool
and Manchester line, and guarantee the shareholders 10 per
morning, a stack of chimneys in Scotland-road took fire.
The engines and carts were speedily present, and the fire was. Thisproposal the Law-clerk advised
cent. on their capital.
it .
extinguished without material damage.—As the engines were Id not be carried out, as whether was intended that the
rca°i7way should-be taken on lease or worked by any other me-
on their way homeward, another alarm was given of a fire in
thod the
_proceeding would be illegal. If, however, there
a cotton drying kiln, in Pall-mall, and they proceeded thither were no illegal objection, the difficulty of carrying out such
immediately. All the cotton in the kiln was destroyed,lut t a project would- be insuperable. The directors advised the
damage was prevented to the adjoining property.—About
refection of the offer altogether, as from their experience in
half-past two the Vauxhall fire-bell was rung, but it was -
found that this was the return of the alarm of the last- railways they knew that it would be possible for a party to
larger dividends for a few years, and then leave the rail-
mentioned fire, which had gone through the town and been pay
like an exhausted farm, incapacitated for future the
back by mistake.—Mr. Whitty, Mr.-Hewitt, and a
sacaworkin.,. (Applause.)
large body of firemen, were on the alert at these fires, and
Mr. CREN-VDSON said he was sorry to perceive a particu-
during the whole night, the weather being so boisterous that
laclause inserted in. the report, because, as it seemed to
if any fire had gained a considerable head, it would have been r
difficult to extinguish it. him, it amounted to a complete rejection of the proposal.
The CHAIRMAN begged to be permitted to say a few
words, in the first instance, which would, he believed, be an
answer to what had just fallen from one of the shareholders.
(Hear, hear.) He then spoke as follows :
The report just read by the treasurer, except upon the iin-
poi tent subject of the junction at .Hunt's-bank, contains so
little but routine business, that it requires no comment upon
my part. It is so full upon the first point that it would be a
waste of your time to enlarge. I am, however, particularly
instructed by the directors to state to you, that, though they
do recommend the abandonment of the Hunt's Bank junction,
they request the report may be received, with an understanding
that an early special meeting shall be called to receive your
ultimatum on this subject, and to lay before you such infor-
mation as they mar be enabled to procure respecting the
south line. Their object is evident—namely, to give you
time to consider their report, and only to decide after due
consideration. (Hear, hear.)
A SHAREHOLDER.—But do we not, by the adoption of
the report, sanction the rejection of the proposal?
The CHAIRMAN.—No; the report does not commit you
to anything of the kind. The directors merely tell you what
their recommendations are, and when the next meeting is
convened you will be called upon to decide. (Hear, hear.)
I hope this will satisfy you.
A SUAREHOLDER.—I was merely desirous of saying that
before we came to the conclusion that it is illegal to form a
leasing of the line, some other legal opinion should be taken.
For my own part, Ido not think it illegal. It has been done
the large before, and may be done again.
The CHAIRMAN.—Before requesting you to proceed to the
business for which you have been convened, I am under the
necessity of calling your attention to a publication entitled,
range of ware- " The Report of the Special Meeting of the Manchester and
-de spaco be- Leeds Railway 'Company," which has been very generally
'---street on circulated amongst the proprietors by one of their number, for
-,aluable the professed object of advocating the junction at Hunt's-
fire bank, now under consideration. (Hear.) It is a matter of
-,I much regret to me that the author, Captain Laws, has not
contented himself with supporting the cause of his employ-
ers without condescending to libel the directors of this com-
pany ; for, if the arguments in favour of the junction are so
conclusive, supported also by all the practical information of
-- of the Leeds Railway, they can require no aid

STORM ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT.—On Wednesdy, we ex-
perienced a gale, or rather a continuation of gales, through-
out the day, accompanied by rain and sleet. Towards
evening the wind increased in violence, particularly from
five to seven o'clock,—one great gust, about seven o'clock,
carrying away a considerable number of slates, &c., from
house-tops. The storm was so extremely violent on the
river that few of the ferry steamers could land their
passengers for some hours ; and several parties, who had
embarked from Cheshire to attend the licensed victuallers'
ball, at the Town-hall, were carried back, the attempt to
touch terra firma on this side being found more dangerous
than discreet. We have not beard of any accident either in
the Mersey or the outer channel, though there is reason
to fear some casualties may have occurred. The vessels at
anchor hell well on ; the previous threatening state of
the weather having induced extraordinary precautions.
A number of small craft took shelter in the dock basins.
The ship Isaac Allerton, from New Orleans, got on shore in
the night near Egremont, but was got off yesterday morning,
at half-past ten o'clock. The Emily, from Maceio, grounded
at the entrance of the Clarence Dock, but was got off with
loss of figure head, cutwater, &c., and is now in dock. The
ship Ann Bradson, from Luna, is on shore near the land-
marks, in Bootle Bay, with loss of rudder. It is intended
to lighten her so that she may float off before she is neaped.
ALARMING FIRE LAST NIGIIT PROMPTLY SUBDUED.
—Last night, about a quarter past seven o'clock, smoke
was seen to issue from one of the windows of
pile of warehouses in Frederick-street, the north front of
which faces St. Thomas's Church-yard, and the alarm was
conveyed, through the police, to the fire-station in Temple-
court. There is a double and conjoint range of ware-
houses, occupying, from end to end, the whole spaco be-
tween Mersey-street on the west, and Frederick-street on
the east. The whole range is closely stowed with valuable
goods ; and the immediate warehouse in which the fire
broke out—the second or back range of these, known
as " Thomas's," contained, we were informed, property to the
valne of upwards of £so,ooo—the premises, besides, being
valued at £lO,OOO. Two engines and a number of water-
carts were speedily on the ground, with a large body of po-
llee_ hendPri by . • " • -

Mr. Whitty, chief constable, was also promptly in attend-
ance. The fire had originated in the second large room from
the ground, or (if the cellars be included) the third floor ;
and when it is stated that the pile is one of the largest and
highest in the town, covering a large area, and being thringh-

out nine stories in iieight, and that the streets, occupied as
dwelling-houses, on the east and west, are narrow, besides
piles of contiguous buildings on the south, the sacrifice
of property that would have resulted, had the fire gained a
considerable head may be conceived. The smoke burst forth
in the first instance from one of the windows, and also from
a loop-hole or oval opening near it, admitting light to one of
the stairs. The lower door being opened,- Mr. Hewitt and a
few of his men proceeded up the stairs in a dense smoke,
with a view to grapple the enemy at once. Tne casing
of the staircase; opposite the second story, Was found to be
on fire, and the door and part of the boarding were broken
in as speedily as possible. The thickness of the smoke was
for some time suffocating. and some of the men were
overpowered, and had to retreat. Mr. Hewitt and others,
however, continued their exertions manfully, and soon

effected an entrance. They found the casing of the stair en-
tirely in a blaze, as well as a quantity of cotton piled against

it in a-corner. One of the pipes was brought 4, and there
being a plentiful supply of water from the carts, each car-

ruing a butt, it was copiously supplied, and the flames were
happily subsided in from twenty to thirty minutes. Before
the fire was effectually got under, five small bags of cotton,

in a state of burnini, and a quantity of loose -cotton, were
thrown down from one of the windows into the street, where
it was soon put out. The floor of the ware-room was about 2
inches deep in water ; when, no further danger being appre-
hended, the engines—one of which only it was necessary to
work—were withdrawn. A large tank cart, carrying 15
to 16 tons of water, was brought np some time before,
but this supply was not require& About ten bales in all

were much 'damaged or bizrnt, but a great number of
others were, pattially saturated by the necessary operation
of extinguishment. On -the whole, the fire-polibe force and
their leaders deserve the utmost credit for their prompt
and effective exertions, but for which the fire would have
become one of the greatest and most destructive that has
yet occurred in the town. A vast crowd of persons col-
lated in Frederick-street, and the police had much trouble in
keeping them back. The warehouse was filled with cot-
ton, in bond, and corn. The cotton burnt belonged to Mr.
Reid Irving, of Water-street. Messrs. Moon Brothers are
large proprietors of the same articles in the premises.

THE REV. ARCHIBALD BOYD.—A feeling of the deepest
regret was excited, during the last ten days, in the minds of
the members of the Church of England in this community,
by the ruthour that this zealous and able clergyman was
about to remove from Derry ; but we are happy to be able
to announce that his services are not to be lost to us. We
understand that Mr. Boyd has declined the flattering—and,
in a personal point of view, valuable offer, of Christ Church,
Cheltenham, and that he has done so at the urgent desire of
his Bishop and Rector, that he would not make any perma-
nent arrangement elsewhere. Mr. Boyd, having obtained
leave of absence for three months, will, we hear, proceed to
Cheltenham, to discharge the ministerial duty which was
offered to him during that period. The Bishop and Dean,
with praiseworthy good feeling, would not hear of a substi-
tute being appointed to the cathedral in the interval ; and we
further learn that his lordship wishes it to be generally un-
derstood that it is his firm determination to retain this gifted
clergyman in his diocese, arid that the first vacant preferment
shall be his : and we have heard that his lordship further re-
marked that he only thought any patronage he held to be far
inferior to Mr. Boyd's merits and deserts.—Derry Sentinel.

PROSECUTION OF A SON BY HIS FATHER FOR FELONY
—Robert Walsh was charged on Saturday last, before
William Henry Hornby, Esq., by his father with having, on
the 17th instant, stolen two yards of woollen cloth, three
yards of fustian, and a hat. It was sworn by Henry Walsh,
brother of the prisoner, that he was addicted to stealing and
drunkenness. It was proved by several persons that the
prisoner offered the things stolen for sale. Committed to
take his trial at the next Preston sessions.
EARL FITZHARDINGE AND THE ABDUCTION CASE.—
The Clergyman against whom the Earl has procured a rule
nisi, is Rector of Barkston, near Grantham, in Lincolnshire.
The living is worth £7OO a year, and is in the gift of the
Rev. Wm. Potchett, as Prebend of North Grantham, in the
Cathedral Church of Salisbury. Much curiosity is excited
as to the nature of the defence which will be set up when the
motion for making the rule absolute comes to be urged.
Some persons are of opinion that Earl Fitzhardinge would
have acted more judiciously had he preserved a dignified
silence under the circumstance.
LADY THIEF IN PARIS.—It will be remembered that,

about two months ago, an elegant female, named Villars,
aged 23, and her servant, aged 17, were taken into custody
on a charge of stealing a silver spoon and fork at a restaurant
in the rue Vivienne, where they had been dining. They have
just been brought to trial before the Correctional Tribunal.
It appeared from the evidence that Mine. Villars, who has
a very limited income, but was living in an expensive style,
had been in the habit for a long time past of adding to her
means by thefts,of plate from the restaurateurs, many of
whom appeared against her. She endeavoured on her trial
to exculpate hersef by attributing the thefts to her servant
but the Tribunal came to a conclusion that the girl was

cent, and had been made to accompany her mistress merely
to prevent the suspicion which would have been entertained
if Mme. Villars had gone to the restauraets unattended.
The servant was, therefore, aquitted, but her mistress;was
found guilty, and sentenced to three years' imprisonment.
Every one has heard the anecdote of the great projector of
water communication, who affirmed that rivers had beet
formed by nature expressly as feeders for canals. A New
York orator, at a late railway meeting, improved upon this
notion. Canals, he said, were very well at the time when
they were first introduced, but tow-boats, and sloops, :and
barges, were too slow for the spirit of the present day 4
water communication would no longer answer the purpose.
It evaporated in the summer, and congealed in the wiuter ;
indeed it was a rude material, fit only to be converted Into
steam, to propel locomotives.—Railway Times.
BIBLICAL CRITICISM, versus TRADITION. Bishop
Maltby, in his recent charge to the clergy of Durham, says :
A thorough knowledge of the original languages, (of one of
which—that in which the Old Testament is written—tlm Fa-
thers, be it remembered, were almost all ignorant), a study
of the works of the best critical expounders, with the careful
weighing of different opinions and arguments, will, by
help, implored in fervent but humble supplication, lead the
mind to a clearer perception of the truth as it is in Jesus,
than all the writings of the Fathers ; and will also puttin a
striking point of view the little dependence that can be placed
on tile fallacies or sophistries of Tradition."

proxies, I had intimated my desire to retire altogether at
this time from the direction of your concern, and not to
offer myself for re-election ; but, publicly accused, along
with my colleagues, to my constituents, as I am in that pam-
phlet, I feel that I am no longer a free agent, but am bound,
before I resign the trust with which I have been honoured
from the very earliest days of this undertaking, not to
deny the charges brought against me and my colleagues—
for that we should none of us think it necessary, or conde-
scend to do--but to claim the judgment of the proprietors upon
the imputations publicly cast upon us by one of their body.
I may add, that my first wish and determination upon re-
ceiving the proxies sent to me, was to return them at once,
not knowing why they should be sent to me ; but, upon fur-
ther consideration, I thought I should best show my deep
sense of the confidence placed in me by using them in sup-
port of the motion with which I have stated my intention to
conclude. As to the important subject brought forward in
Mr. Laws' pamphlet, I am now only prepared to say, for
myself, and in my individual capacity, that I think it must
be admitted by all impel tial persons that a continuous line of
railway from the Irish Channel to the German Ocean, and
connecting Liverpool with all the great manufacturing towns
in Lancashire, Cheshire, Yorkshire, and Derbyshire, would
be a great public convenience ; and that if it can be effected
without a loss of income to this company, we ought heartily
to concur iu the immediate formation of it, without con-
sidering its possible operation upon other means of commu-
nication between those important districts. These are my ge-
neral views, and I avow that I am not yet prepared, any more
than some of my colleagues, to commit myself to any definite
plan,' involving necessarily most important consequences, in
various ways, both to ourselves and to others. I am inclined
to think that the best thing, under the present circumstances,
would be to let the whole matter be discussed and decided upon
at the adjourned general meeting, both proprietors and direc-
tors in the meantime giving the subject the serious consider-
ation which it is really entitled to, and some friendly COMMII,
nication being opened with the other companies interested,
with a view to -our adoption (when we meet again) of that
plan which shall be in the mean time found to be most advi-
sable for all. • (Hear.) Having stated thu's generally my
opinion on the subject, I beg to say that, as to the proxies
which I now hold in my hands, it is my intention to return
them all immediately, as I feel that to be due to those who have
honoured me with their confidence without knowing my sen-
timents. Allow me, Mr. Chairman, to do that which is not
customary—namely, to ask you to second the resolution for
inquiry. You and I filled the office .Of chairman and deputy-
chairman of both the companies at the time when the agree-
ment between this company and the Grand Junction was
made (so improperly as Capt. LawS states), and I am sure
therefore, that we have no other course to follow but to soli-
cit an inquiry into our official conduct. With these remarks,
I beg leave to conclude by moviugithe resolution which I
previously read. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN seconded the resolution.
Captain LAws inquired whether the Grand Junction Com-
pany would be prepared to produce such documents as the
committee might think proper to call for in the progress of
the investigation?
The CHAIRMAN said certainly ; and he added that he un-
derstood trom the law-clerk that there was no legal objec-
tion to the election of directors taking place at an adjourned
meeting.
Mr. E. F. JO-NES was perfectly satisfied with the conduct
of the directors. He believed their conduct had been ho-
nourable•throughout, and that everything they had done was
right and proper. He suggested therefore that the election
of directors should be proceeded with at once. Unless that
was done, he apprehended that the fact of the non-election
would lead the public to think that there was some truth in
the charges advanced by Captain Laws.
The CHAIRMAN thought not, and added that Mr. Moss
would not be satisfied without an inquiry. Indeed with 260
in
proxieshis possession he could carry the question himself.
31r. JONES repeated his opinion that the meeting ought to
proceed at once to the re-election. He thought a committee
might be formed for the purpose of investigating the truth
or falsehood of the charges, and that the re-election of the
directors might be proceeded with immediately. (Hear,
hear.)
The CHAIRMAN asked whether, by the adoption of such
a course, the meeting would not be acquitting the directors
before their trial ? •
• Mr. GILL, thought the next meeting of the.company should
be convened on an earlier day than the ,23rd .of February,
because the meeting was not perhaps aware that the com-
pulsory powers of the act, would cease in June next, and that
they were, therefore, late in the day at present for putting
those powers into execution. He designated a map of the
several proposed junction lines of railway passing through
Manchester, which had been banded about for inspection at
'the commencent of the proceedings, a.caricature.
The CHAIRMAN said that the map had been brought to the
meeting by some gentleman, and that it had not originated
with the directors.
Mr. BENSON said the plan bad been taken from the map
of Manchester, and that it was quite correct.
Mr. GILL said that as it was not official he had nothing
more to say on the subject. He was glad to learn that it had
not originated with the board. He begged that a letter which
had been received from the Manchester and Leeds company
might be read to the meeting. •
Mr. BOOTH read the letter accordingly. It had been re-
ceived from the secretary of the company in question, and
enclosed a proposition to ensure to the Liverpool and °Man-
chester line a dividend of 10 per cent., provided they would
execute the Hunt's Bank junction in Manchester with the
Leeds line.
Mr. GILL said there was a clause in the second act, page
40, which empowered the Liverpool and Manchester Com-
pany to make negociations with any other company.
Mr. CLAY having read the clause in question,
Mr. SANDERS asked whether it had any relation whatever
to the granting of a certain rate of interest to the Liverpool
and Manchester Company ?
Mr. CLAY was about to reply, when
Mr. ROBINSON moved that the meeting, entertaining the
most unbounded confidence in the directors, and convinced
of the groundless nature of the charges advanced against
them in Captain Laws' pamphlet, proceeded at once to their
re-election.
Mr. MAXWELL seconded the motion.
The CHAIRMAN thought the meeting had previously
adopted the motion made by I'ir. Moss for the appointment
of a committee to investigate the charges. He said the high
character of the gentleman who had advanced them rendered
it impossible to pass the subject over without investigation.
Could any greater proof be given to the meeting of the
weight which had been attached to the name of the author of
the pamphlet than that, from the mere word of Capt. Laws,
no fewer than 250 proxies should have been sent to Mr.
Moss? Under these circumstances, he expressed a confi-
dent hope that the meeting would adopt the original motion
and appoint a committee.
Mr. ROBINSON said he moved his resolution in the form
of an amendment.
Mr. CLAY observed that although five of the directors
should retire at the meeting, it was in the power of the share-
holders to adjourn part of the proceedings, specifying at the
same time that particular part. They might, for instance,
adjourn the election of the directors, if they pleased.
Mr. HARDMAN EARLE intimated that if the election of
the directors were postponed some inconvenience might be
felt in carrying on the general business.
The CHAIRMAN said, that if it was the pleasure of the
meeting the outgoing directors might be re-elected, with an
understanding that the report should come before the next
meeting, and that they be then continued in office or dis-
placed, as to the shareholders might seem advisable.
Mr. ROBINSON said hewas determined to press his amend-

of invectives. (Hear, hear.) If, on the contrary, they are
weak and inconclusive, they will gain little strength by the
use of them. Captain Laws is, however, of a different
opinion, and has made a direct attack upon myself and col-
leagues, for what object it is not for me to express an opinion.
I will, however, take the liberty of reading the extract I
complain of from one of his letters. It is as follows :
" Firstly, the cause of obtaining an act by the Liverpool
company to form a junction. The general feeling is, that
that act was obtained with an optional clause, for no other
reason than to prevent the power falling into other hands,
and a perfect understanding with the Duke of Bridgewater's
trustees that it should never be acted on. A person less
familiar than yourself with the trade between Liverpool
and the district above alluded to, might naturally ask,
what possible influence could the rival carriers of the Liver-
pool and Manchester company exercise over their proceed-
ings in a matter so importantly involving their interest? To
such a question, a correct answer would be that with the ex-
ception of the representatives of the Duke of Sutherland,
there is not an individual either in the Liverpool and Man-
chester board, or among their law, or other officers, who has
NOW a personal interest in that undertaking, to make it an
object with them whether this important means of extending
the interest of the shareholders be made or not ; and as the
identical individuals had, shortly after the question of the
junction was first agitated, (in the session of parliament,
1836, and the arrangement between the Liverpool and Grand
Junction companies was announced in the Grand Junction
half yearly report of Aug of the same year,) made an
arrangement, as joint directors of the Liverpool and Man-
chester and Grand Junction railways, (in the latter of which
they are known to hold very large investments,) by which
the latter company has ever since divided 13 per cent. of the
profits of the former, it is not out of the pale of possibility
that the one arrangement was contingent on the other; as it
is hardly to be conceived that the clear head to which the
management of the Duke of Sutherland's property on the
one hand, and the Dnke of Bridgewater's Trust on the
other, is intrusted; would have submitted to the arrange-
ment that exists between the same parties governing the two
railways, giving to the one in which they hold a large stake,
so large a portion of the profits of the other, in which some
of them hold barely sufficient to retain their seats at the
board (small as that is,) without some guarantee that ap-
peared likely to protect, to a certain extent, the important
interest intrusted to his charge."
Now, gentlemen, I have read and re-read this paragraph
until I became weary, but it is in plain English this:—That
those of your directors who are chosen by the proprietors,
not only sacrifice your interests, but actually apply the funds
of this company to increase the dividends of the Grand
Junction—(hear, bear)—whilst Mr. Loch, the director of the
Duke of Sutherland, whose influence could have prevented
this juggle, is induced to connive at it, having been guaran-
teed something for the Duke's Trust, to make it worth his
while. It is not my intention to go further into this publica-
thion, nor to comment on its inconsistencies in lauding Mr.
Loch's integrity, and recommending your deputy-chairman
as the person of all others most worthy the confidence of the
proprietors; but I will read Captain Law's finishing post-
script:—
" If, in discussing this purely public question, I should in
any way have implied individual feeling that might be thought
disrespectful to either of the noblemen, or to any of the
gentlemen who are named or alluded to, I sincerely regret
it; and beg to disclaim any such intention in commenting
upon what they have done under very conflicting circum-
stances, in their official capacity."
Now, gentlemen, the few civil expressions contained in
this postscript do not alter the main charge in the slightest
degree. The substantial parts, the fraudulent conduct of
your directors, remains. (Hear, hear.) The assertion of
their innocence against Captain Law's assertions of their
misconduct would prove nothing. It therefore becomes a
duty you, gentlemen, owe to us, as well as your absent
proprietors, to take immediate measures to satisfy your-
selves that the charges are totally unfounded, or to fill our
places with better men. It is not for me to point out what
course you ought to follow to obtain this object. But as my
colleague, Mr. Moss, wishes to make some suggestion, per-
mit me to caution you against delay, or adopting the com-
mon idea of many persons—that " Nobody believes the
charges of Captain Laws." The rank in society in which
that gentleman holds, as an officer in the British navy, must
and ought to give weight to any assertion that he makes, and
the hundreds of proxies which have been transmitted at his
call proves the fact, and makes your iuvestigation of his
charges the more imperative. Whilst, on the other hand,
Captain Laws, as a British officer, will feel the necessity of
satisfying you, or whomever you depute, that he had full and
clear evidence, to justify that unqualified attack upon the
honour and honesty of your directors, which I have had the
painful duty of laying before you. (Cheers.)
Mr. Moss then rose and said-1 trust I may be excused
for thus early calling the attention of the meeting to the very
extraordinary position in which 1 feel myself placed as one of
your directors. (Hear, bear.) Without any application
from myself, either directly or indirectly, no less than 261
shareholders have sent me their proxies, and of this large
number, only nine love stated to me how they wish me to
act on their behalf. These proxies appear to have been sent
to me in consequence of a letter from Captain Laws accom-
panying a pamphlet of his, censuring, in no measured terms,
myself and the other directors of this company, whilst it is
only fair to Captain Laws to state that, in the postscript of
his pamphlet, he declares that his observations on the direc-
tors apply to their " official capacity," yet I am of opinion
that if we, as directors, have acted as is represented by Cap-
tain Laws in his letter of 31st October page 2), it is high
time that we should be removed from the direction, for such
conduct could not be excused on the ground of error in judg-
ment. If all the shareholders in this concern resided in Li-
verpool, I dare say all we directors should be perfectly satis-
fied to let our character and station in life answer the charge
brought against us in Captain Laws' pamphlet; but the 261
persons whose proxies I hold are almost all distant share-
holders, and they are entitled to be satisfied as well as our
neighbours. In order, therefore, to their satisfaction, as
well as my own, I shall, before 1 sit down, beg leave to
move—" That a committee of five persons, not shareholders in
the Grand Junction Railway, be now appointed, of which
Captain Laws be one, to make deliberated
Octoberinvestig 31,ati 18
investigation into
the charges made by him in his letter*te
ae
lgeaei
tnisetn t
oh
fe partiesdree t e
rwi
too
eo r me
palde ee e themy s agreement ;tbaunrdcolleagues
who this day go out of office by rotation, be deferred until
that committee have reported—such report to be made to an
adjourneFeb.'d
uamqen- to be held in this place on Wednesday, the
With this motion it is my intention to
close the few remarks I have yet to trouble you with. (Hear.)
Previous to receiving Capt. Laws' pamphlet, or any of the

meat.
The CHAIRMAN said he had no objection to the passing of
the amendment, provided it embodied a clause authorising
the investigation to be proceeded with.
Mr. MAXWELL believed there was no opposition on the
part of the meeting to the appointment of a committee to in-
vestigate.
The CHAIRMAN here read the original motion and the
amendment, and was about to take the sense of the meeting
on the latter, when
Mr. THEODORE RATHBONE rose and said he thought he
could state certain facts which would induce Captain Laws
to admit that he had been in error. (Hear.) He had been
one of three directors, who were appointed by the hoard, to
enter into the arrangement in question with the Grand Junc-
tion Company. The three of them were deeply interested in
the success of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, and
had no interest in the Grand Junction. (Hear.) Mr. Currie,
Mr. Benson, and himself constituted the three. He never
had a share in the Grand Junction himself, and he believed
he might say the same for Mr. Currie and Mr. Benson; at
all events he knew that the three of them considered the un-
dertaking then made a good one, because their deliberate
judgment was that it was a judicious arrangement. He be-
lieved the board had placed reliance upon himself and his
colleagues upon that occasion ; and he was willing to take
fairly on himself the whole responsibility of going into the
arrangement which had been then effected. (Hear, hear:)
It was an arrangement terminable upon notice. No indi-
vidual belonging to the company ever yet thought it desirable'
to bring it to a termination, but on the contrary, many were
disposed to let the agreement continue. If any better terms
could be proposed, he thought they ought to be obtained ;
but at all events, the question had been deliberately con-
sidered at the time, and was thought to be desirable. Under
those circumstances, he thought Captain Laws would ste
that he had made a statement for which there could be no
possible foundation. (Cheers.)
Mr. Moss said that six persons had been appointed
draw up the agreement, three on each side. The Gra d'
Junction chose three persons who were directors of the Li-
verpool and Manchester Railway, and the Liverpool and
Manchester chose three persons, none of whom were dires-
- of the Grand Junction. (Hear.) He begged to ask the
meeting whether, under such circumstances, anything inju-
rious to the Liverpool and Manchester concern could have
been contemplated or effected. The preponderance of inter-
est, was, moreover, ten to one, so far as shares went, in fa-
vour of the Liverpool and Manchester company ; and ,if
Captain Laws had looked into the share list he would hak,e
seen immediately that this statement was substantially cor-
rect. Mr. Benson was appointed upon the occasion because
he represented all the quaker interest ; Mr. Currie was ap-
pointed in preference to the chairman, the latter having been
a shareholder in the Grand Junction; and Mr. Theodore
Rathbone, who, upon his own confession a few minutes be-
fore, never held a share in the Grand Junction, was also ap-
pointed ; so that to suppose the directors of the Liverpool
and Manchester company were disposed to do anything un-
fair, was to suppose what the circumstances of the else
utterly repudiated. (Hear, and loud cheers.)
Captain LAWS said, that nothing could be more satisfic-
tory to his feelings than to explain away any charge which
he had felt it his duty to advance ; but no course was so cyir
to him as •to have the investigation. If that investigation
were carried on with proper feelings it would set the dirSc-
tors in a much better light than any discussion which might
take place at the present meeting. If four impartial per-
sons, who had no stake in the Grand Junction, were Ap-
pointed upon the committee, and if his charges should turn
out to be unjust, nothing would afford him greater pleasure
than to say that they were unjust.
Several voices—And to retract.
Captain LAws—Most certainly, to retract. But though
the directors were as pure as Caesar's wife, his was not the
only opinion which prevailed against them. It was the opi-
nion of others also. The public had never known what the
compact between the two companies was; he ventured to 'say
that few of the proxies which had come to Mr. Moss were
acquainted with the nature of it ; and, therefore, what could
be more gratifying to the directors than to have an opportu-
nity of shewing that it was a right and proper contract, to
continue ? It surely ought, to be fully understood. t
Mr. Moss hoped the inquiry would extend not only to :the
contract, but to those who made the contract. (Hear, heir.)
Captain LAws said his charge was not against those who
made the contract.
Mr. Moss said his motion would hare the effect of extend-
ing the inquiry to the persons who made the contract, anq be
was most anxious that such an inquiry should be instituted.
(Hear, hear.)
Captain LAws was proceeding to state the substance of
his charge, when
Mr. SANDERS observed that there was a distinct char* of
the directors turning over the property to the Grand JAnc-
tion. (Hear.)
Captain LAWS expressed a hope that the proprietors would
consider the consequences which had resulted from the con-
tract in question.
Mr. T. RATHBONE presumed, from the last observations
which had fallen from Captain Laws, that that gentleman re-
tracted the charge of motives which he had advanced.
Captain LAWS said that he did not attribute infallibility
to Mr. Rathbone, or to any other man.
Mr. RATHBONE repeated his question—namely, whether
the captain withdrew his charge?
Captain LAWS said he wanted the-investigation, andhen
he would retract, if his charges should turn out to have been
unjust.