that eventually, by some happy
inspiration, a "committee of investigation" was appointed to examine "the
affairs, position and financial state of the Company." The Rev. C. T. C.
Luxmoore was elected to preside at this inquiry with Mr. Peploe
Cartwright of Oswestry as his deputy, and they issued a voluminous report
containing a series of recommendations, of which one of the most
interesting is that, to reduce expenditure, the earthworks should be
limited to a single line, "in all other respects making preparations for
a double line." That, as travellers over the Cambrian to-day are aware,
save for the length between Oswestry and Llanymynech, and between
Buttington and Welshpool on the Oswestry and Newtown section, was
eventually the course adopted. Bridges, including those over the Vyrnwy
at Llanymynech, and the Severn at Pool Quay, were built with an extra
span for a second pair of rails, but the girders still remain without
further completion. The directors did not escape pointed reference to
their "heavy responsibilities," but there was at least the "consolitary
fact" that, despite enormous expenditure already incurred, "provided the
arrears of deposit, calls and interest are paid up, a sum of 60,000
pounds over and above the Parliamentary deposit of 18,000 pounds invested
in the hands of the Accountant-General, will be at once available for the
works, an amount little short of sufficient to form half the line," and
the shareholders are urged, "manfully confronting the difficulties that
present themselves" to "merge all local jealousies and differences of
opinion, in a hearty and unanimous effort to carry out the works."

It is a long and tortuous story and well may a journalist of those days,
bemoan the perplexity of the local historian "when he turns over the
files of the various newspapers, to see in one number the praises of
certain gentlemen sung by admiring editors and enthusiastic
correspondents, and in the next frantic outbursts from distracted
shareholders against the devoted heads of the same gentlemen, who, but
one short week before were the admired of all the shareholding admirers.
One week he would find a noble lord wafted to the skies on the breath of
a public meeting, but in the next 'the breath thus vainly spent' would
blow his lordship up in a very different fashion, and those whose cheers
had wafted my lord to that elevated position, would fain keep him there,
so that sublunary affairs as far as r