Comes MR. STAGGE to take me to the great Railway Meeting at a London
Tavern; and we up the Back Stairs 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 Faces! Methought the poor anxious Parsons and eager Half-pay
Officers among them was a pitiful Sight. Looked hard about for the
Railway King, but MR. STAGGE did say in my Ear he was not likely to show
his Face. 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 complained that Proxy Papers had been sent out
by some for Votes, whereby to gain their own Ends, at L900 Expense to
the Company; whereat more Uproar, in the midst whereof he moved another
Amendment; 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 Fists 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withdrawn, and the second put to the Vote, and lost, and then the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 Amendment 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
confused as their Affairs; and thank my Stars, I have not sunk my Money
in a Railway.
[Illustration: _A PROSPECT OF YE THAMES ITS REGATTA._