Punch: Punch (17.1849)

Manner and . CvSTohs. of-^ ENGLYSHE-in .1849- N° 19

>ARAYLWAVE- MEETYN&E. EMOTYoN-OF >f yS^AHEnOLDERES AT y« ANNOVNCEME/^TE OFA-DlVI DENDE or. 2^ 'A

Mr. Pips

Monday, July 2, 1849. Comes Mb,. Stagge to take me to the great
Railway Meeting at the London Tavern; and we up the Backstairs to the
Platform among the Directors, and glad of so good a Place; but fearing
to be taken for one of my Company, did get behind a fat Man to hide
myself. The Shareholders below met to hear their Affairs debated, and
what a Collection of wry and doleful Paces! Methought the poor
anxious Parsons and eager Half-pay Officers among them was a pitiful
Sight. Looked hard about for the Railway King, but Mb. Stagge
did say in my Bar he was not likely to show his Pace. The Secretary
reading Bills to be brought into the Parliament to join other Railways
with this, and all the while interrupted by the Shareholders with
Noise and Outcries; but at last got through. Then the Chairman
did propose that the Bills be approved of; but an Amendment moved
with much Clapping of Hands that the Meeting do adjourn for one
Month to examine the Company's Accounts; which they do say have
been cooked. Upon this a long Speech from a Director, denying that
it was so, and One made answer to him in a bouncing, ranting
Harangue; but to hear how the Shareholders did shout and cheer
whenever he accused the Board of a Piece of Roguery! He com-
plained that Proxy Papers had been sent out by some for Votes,
whereby to gain their own Ends at £900 Expense to the Company ;
whereat more Uproar, in the midst whereof he moved another Amend:'

his Diary.

ment; when the Noise greater than ever, with Groans and calling for
Dividends ; and several in the Meeting strove to speak, but could only
wag their Jaws and shake their Pists at the Chairman, and he imploring
Quiet in dumb Show. Howbeit, one old Gentleman got Attention for a
Moment, and in great Wrath and Choler did declare that the Directors'
Statement was all Humbug. Then Another with much ado to get a
Hearing, did move a third Amendment: and after that, more Wrangling
and Jangling, until the only Man of any Brains I had yet heard, up
and showed the folly of moving Amendment on Amendment. So
the first and last Amendment withdrawn, and the second put to the
Vote, and lost, and then the Chairman's Resolution put and lost also,
and the Shareholders hooting and hissing, and shouting " Shame ! " and
crying that they could not understand the Question. So the Amend-
ment and former Resolution both put over again, and both again lost;
whereupon the Shareholders stark mad, and rushed in a Mob on the
Platform, raving at the Chairman, who jumped up in his Chair, throwing
his Arms abroad, and shrieking for Silence; till at last a Poll determined
on to decide whether for Adjournment or not; and so the Meeting
brought to an End in as great a Hurly-Burly as I ever heard; and a
pretty Chairman methinks' they have to keep Order, and brave Directors
to cook their Accounts, and their Meetings do seem as confuaed as their
Affairs; and thank my Stars, I have not sunk my Money in a Railway