The gentlemen, however, who had so long and laboriously exerted themselves to effect this great national improvement, did not lose sight of the subject, and in a short time after the dissolution of the old Company one of the most influential meetings ever assembled in Worcester was convened to prosecute the matter afresh. At this meeting, held on the 11th October, 1840, the Right Hon. Lord Ward, who was called to the chair, made his _debût_ in public life, and advocated the cause of the Severn Navigation Improvement in a speech of remarkable ability. Lord Hatherton, Mr. Blakemore, M.P., the members for the city of Worcester, and others took part in the proceedings, and the result was that a large subscription was entered into, to which Lord Ward contributed £500, Mr. Bailey £300, Messrs. Dent £300, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of another application to Parliament. On this occasion the proposal was to place the undertaking under a Commission, so that no private parties might gain any benefit from it. No works were proposed at or near Gloucester, yet the usual opposition was improvised in that city and by the Worcester and Birmingham Canal Company. The bill now introduced was allowed to pass the second reading unopposed, but on its going into committee an attempt was made to add the Monmouthshire and Birmingham members to the committee, but this was opposed by Government as a most inconvenient infringement of the standing orders, and was defeated by 117 to 33. The committee consisted, therefore, of what was called “The Worcestershire List,” which included eleven members from adjoining counties, as well as those for this county and its boroughs, and six selected members. E. W. W. Pendarves, Esq., was chosen chairman.