The Express.
London, England, 1851-04-26 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

BANBURY AND MORETON RAILWAY.

A meeting of influential persons interested in the
districts between Banbury, Shipston, and Moreton was held
at Banbury on Monday, Lord Duncan in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN said it was hoped that a cordial tin-
dentanding would be brought about between the promoters
of the railway and the owners and occupiers of land through
oddolt ale proposed line was intended to pass. The interests
of beet punts were identical, and unless the landowners
owl orieupiers in the district supported the scheme, the pro-
posed line would not be carried out. The length of' the line
would be about 19 miles, and the object was to connect the
Buckinghamshire Railway at Banbury with the Oxford,
Worcester, and Wolverhampton line at Moreton. It would
give facilities to the farmers in the Valley of the Stour to
ono to the Banbury market. He felt the inconvenience of
Ihig at Bhipston, from which place all railway communica-
Men essend to be cutoff. Ile believed that the London mails
readied idinburgh sooner or quite as 10011 as they reached
=T; ho hoped, therefore, the promoters of the line
ose the cordial co-operation of all persons in the
dbarke. ((Hear, hear.) The price of coals in the neighbour-
hood of S • was very high, 1111 d there was no doubt the
Ole es be much reduced by means of railway
ceameakedea. Ile might mention that since the
Bnidiansbeneldre Railway was opened to Oxford the prico
el ode *we bad been reduced from 245. to 16s. per ton
garbs sa nasal saving of 21,0001. a year to that city ;
eel the odabbeerhood of Banbury the price of coal had
hoes Mesa from 20s. to 14s. Gd. per ton, causing a saving
to the inhabitants of more than 8,0001. per annum.
After some observations from the Rev. F. Litchfield, and
explanations from Mr. E. Watkin and the Hon. P. S.
Pierrepont, resolutions were passed to the effect that as the
interests of the landowners would be especially promoted
by the proposed railway, every facility ought to he given to
its promoters by the wile of land at very moderate prices,
and appointing a committee to wait upon th.s landowners
with a view to obtain their support and assistance.
The proceedings concluded by a vote of thanks to the
chairman.
NORTHAMPTON AND BANBURY RAILWAY.

It appears that landowners and others interested in the
construction of this line are endeavouring to induce the
company to make the railway, which at present remains in
abeyance. At the last meeting of the company it was pro-
posed to wind up its affairs as soon as possible, and divide
the funds in hand among the shareholders.

GLOUCESTER AND DEAN FOREST RAILWAY.
The works of this line, which form an integral portion of
the South Wales line from Chepstow to Gloucester, are in a
forward state, and are being pushed on with vigour, in order
to have the line ready for opening by the ISth of June next,
which is at present announced as the day on which the South
Wales lines from Chepstow to Gloucester is to be opened, tho
chief work remaining to be done being one of the bridges
over the Severii nt Gloucester, and which must be crossed in
order to form a junction with the Great Western and Mid-
land lines at the joint station at Gloucester. Should there
be any delay in the completion of the works by the 18th of
June, it will arise from the difficulty of finishing the bridge
over the Wye, at Chepstow, and one of the two bridges
over the Severn at Gloucester. It is necessary to explain
here that the river Severn, as it approaches the city of
Gloucester divides into two channels, called respectively
the :tiaisemore and the Gloucester CNinnels, the principal
part of the titer traffic passing along the latter channel.
There are of course two bridges, called the Glo:?cester end
the Over bridges, and the railway crosses the MaLZ•tnore
channel below the Over bridge and above the Gloucestei-
bridge. The bridge over Moisemore channel has been com- '
pleted for many months. The line, after crossing the Severn,
passes over several streets of the city to the station of the
Great Western and Midland (Bristol and Birmingham)
Companies, and only a small portion of the terminus re-
mains at present untouched. The works from Gloucester
up to the Junction of the South Wales line at Grange-court
are is nub a state of forwardness (with the exception of the
bridge over the Severn) that they could be opened in •
month from this time.
THE ALEXANDRIA AND SUEZ RAILWAY. The

Piedesotatese Casette of the 21st announces that it has re-
ceived by express the intelligence that the Viceroy of
Thas definitively sanctioned the construction of the
endrils, Cairo, and Suez Railway.

Mr. WALTER, M.P. FOR NOTTINGHAM, some time
ago gave a general invitation to his constituents to visit his
town residence, 68, Russell-square, any day during the
period the Great Exhibition continues open. This kindly
intimation of extended hospitality is not limited to electors
merely, but is intended to include every well-conducted
resident in the borough.—NottinghanuAire Guardian.
HEALTH OF SIR EDWARD CODRINOTON.—It was
rumoured that this gallant and distinguished admiral had
died last night, but, upon making inquiries at his house in
Raton-square this morning, we were informed that Sir
Edward still lives, but in an extremely feeble and hopeless
state. The medical attendants of the gallant admiral gave
up all hopes of his recovery two or three days ago, and his
death is hourly expected.-Globs.

A MONTGOLFIER BALLOON ON FIRE.-
DISTURBANCE AT BRADFORD.

The Bradford Cricket Ground was the centre of
extraordinary attraction on Monday last. In consequencel
of the day being a general holiday, and dill further on
account of the weather being remarkably fine, the crowds
of sight-seers and lovers of the marvellous and perilous
were swollen to en extent altogether unprecedented. By
advertisement, and placard, and still more by oral commu-
nication, it had been made known to the entire population
of the town and neighbourhood that Mr. C. H. Brown, a
young man from the establishment of Messrs. Thornton,
Firth, Itamsden. and Co., intended to hazard the danger
of the most fickle of all elements, and to travel whitherso-
ever the winds might carry him, in a Moritgolfier balloon.
It was announced that the ascent would take place at four
o'clock ; but long before that time anxious crowds of per-
sons might be seen wending their way from every quarter to
the appointed place. It has been said that 30,000 persons
Were assembled on the occasion. The balloon, was com-
posed of strong unbleached cloth, or light canvas, lined
throughout with a tough and light paper, intended to pre-
vent the escape of the rarefied air through the outer mate-
rial. Two poles had been fixed in the earth at opposite
points of a circle made of ropes extended on
posts; and from the tops of the two poles a cord went
across, from the centre of which the balloon was suspended.
About five o'clock Mr. Brown and another person or two
crept under the balloon, the side of which touched the
ground, entirely secluding the car, the stove, and biding
from public view the entire operations going ou inside. It
was a long time before the machine began to swell, and,
meanwhile, disappointed hopes found plaintive utterance,
mingled with boastful self-gratulations on the part of those
who had previously predicted failure. In a few minutes,
clouds of dense black smoke issued from the rolling mon-
ster. These cleared away, and hearts again beat light!
Alas ! more smoke, thicker, blacker, longer continued ;
then a blaze; and, instead of a tire ialloon in the clouds,
with one man in it, there was a balloon on fire, driven by
the winds across the field, amidst loud peals of laughter,
and some thousands of men after it
When the balloon was fairly in a blaze, the crowds of
persons outside the cricket-ground, excited beyond restraint,
could no longer be kept in order. En masse they forced
the doors, scaled the walls' and in a very few minutes not a
blade of green grass could be seen for the swarming mass of
men and women, but chiefly men, who crowded the scene
of destruction. The balloon was drifted by the winds,
blazing magnificently; and in the course of its destruction
was divided into Bev eral pieces, around which eager throngs
might be seen striving to extinguish the flames, that they
might bear away relics of the prize. A very rough,
though harmless struggle, took place for these half-
consumed fragments. But the debris of the balloon very
far from contented the relic-mongers ; and in a few
moments the posts, ropes, hoop (the cur was burnt), scaffold
poles, and whatsoever else pertained to the matter, were
in the hands of the mob. The excitement grew more
intense ; parties of men and boys seizing and extending a
rope or a pole, swept the crowded field before them, many
of its occupants being now more anxious to get out than
they were before to get in. The means of exit were alto-
gether inadequate, whilst the number of persons endea-
venting to escape and to enter at the same time resulted in
a general melee. The police then interfered, and took a I
considerable number of persons into custody who were
engaged in the disturbance. These persons were brought
before the Mayor and other magistrates on Tuesday, and
were tined in various sums, according to their participation

in the riot.
Mr. Brown (who was present at the request of Mr. Lest,-
ratt), then stated, in reply to the interrogatories of the
Mayor, that he had never tried any experiment of this kind
before on a smaller scale • but observed that the experiment
had been made in the usual manner ; the tint balloon
voyage ever made was in a balloon of this description, and
hundreds of such balloons had ascended in France with
perfect safety; that the balloon was made of linen and
paper; that he had a serious intention of ascending if he
could have gut off; that the brother of a young man who
had intended to accompany him had ascended iu such bal-
loons nine times ; that he had heard many parties bad made
wagers that the balloon would not go off, and he was told
that some person, perhaps interested in the betting, had cut
a large hole in the balloon, which was a principal cause of
the failure. lie further said that the receipts at the door
were 311. 12s. 7d., that the cyst of the balloon itself was 201.,
and that he was 3/. or 41. out of pocket.
The Mayor would not say it was a decided hoax, but there
did not seem anything like a serious intentiou of going
through the air. He would recommend Mr. Brown to try
experiments on a limited scale before he tried them on a
larger scale, because the failure in this instance had led to a
great disturliance, lie hoped, also, that those who occupied
the Cricket-ground would not let it for such purposes here-
after, inasmuch as it was stated to be a nuisance to the
whole neighbourhood on such occasions.

THE VACANT

flows.—ln accord.

once with a practice which prevails in the City, the senior
member of the Court of Aldermen will succeed to Bridge
Without, rendered vacant by the death of Sir Claudius
Hunter, the office being a sinecure. The oldest living
alderman is William Thompson Esq., M.P' . who will con-
sequently resign the ward of Cheap, which he now repre-
sents. In the vacancy thus created several candidates are
spoken of. It was currently stated yesterday afternoon that
a requisition would be presented to Mr. 'Ambrose Moore,
of Milk-street, offering thesupport of the electors to him in
the event of his coming forward for the vacancy. Amongst
others spoken of are Mr. Donald Nicoll, of Cornhill, the late
sheriff, and Mr. J. Pitcher.
APOTHECARIES' llALL.—Namea of gentlemen who
passed their examination in the silence and practice of me-
dicine, and received certificates to practise, nn Thursday,
April 24 —Edmund Thomas lliggins, Gloucester; John
'Sunbelt Peren, South Petherton ; Sydney Alder, Wake-
field, Yorkshire; John Williams, Cardiff; John Page
Burke, Royal Navy; George Forster Bunter, Clifton,
Gloucestersh;re ; Cornelius Clark Rutherford, Doncaster;
David Thomas Morris, Carmarthen; James Spark, New-
castle-under-Lyne.
WILTS, SOMERSET, AND WEYMOUTH RAILWAY.—
A special general meetiordof the proprietor, of this company
took place yesterday at the White Lion Hotel, Bath, fur the
purpose of submitting for the consideration and approval
of the shareholders, a bill for enabling arrangements with
reference to the purchase, lease, or other use, by the Great
Western Railway Company, of the Wilts, Somerset, and
Weymouth; the Gloucester and Forest of Dean railway;
and the South Wales railway, respectively to be effected,
and for other purposes, Sir J. W. Awdry in the chair. The
secretary having read the advertistment convening the
meeting, and the preamble and sections of the bill having
also been read and explained by the solicitor, the chairman
said he had little to add to the information afforded them
by the reading of the bill, but he wished them to know
that the directors had been advised by their legal advisee
that the bill secured every advantage to this eausgalay
to which they were entitled. Ile hoped, therefore, wader
these circumstances, they would give it their sanction. It

was not probable that any amendment would be introduced ;
but, in such case, ho trusted the proprietors would authorise
the board to sanction any amendment which might be made
in furthering the progresa of such bill. In answer to a
question from a shareholder, the chairman said the present
direction of this company would cease, and instead of being
an independent company they would become preference
shareholders of the Great Western Railway Company, and
they would come in as creditors, that company not being
to divide ono farthing until they had paid them ;in
fact, they would cease to exist as a company. He would
beg to move that the bill now pending in parliament, the
draft of which had been read to them, and for the purposes
above mentioned, be approved of, and that the directors be
authorised to concur in any amendment or alterations
which might be made in furthering the progress of such
bill.—This resolution having been carried unanimously, a
vote of thanks was paned to the chairman, and the meeting
separated.
ATTEMPTED BIGAMY AND SUICIDE.—Last evening
Mr. Langham held a lengthened inquest in St. George's
Hospital, Hyde-park, on William Porter, a journey-
man baker, aged twenty-six. Jane Howard, is pretty
interesting girl, eighteen years of age, said that she
lived servant at Bayswater with Mr. M'Grath, solicitor.
Deceased, who served the family with bread, paid his ad-
dresses to her, which she received, as she considered him a
single man, until his cousin asked him in her presence how
his wife and family were ? When witness questioned him
upon the subject he denied he was married, as did also his
sister-in-law. Her master made inquiries about him mad
found that he was married, and she ascertained that he had
a wife and four children in Baker-street, Lambeth. After
which she refused having anything to say to him. On
Saturday night be came to her master's gate and asked
her to shake hands with him, declared that he
was not married, and begged she would go out
arid walk with him, which she refused doing. On
Monday afternoon she received the following letter,
which bore the Lambeth post mark: "My dear Jane.—
'ris is to tell you that when you read this I shall be no
more. Irf you inquire at Gravesend or Greenwich you will
find the lit.e::4S hardy
of, your affectionate, William Porter.
I wish you well :!trough life," In the evening of that day
he called at her meter's gate when be looked pale and
faint. He asked her if sN had received a letter. She said
yes. He shook hands with her, bid her good bye, and put-
ting a bottle to his lips, drank off its contents, and then
walked off, after she had in vain attempted to seize the bob
tle, which he flung from him. He thou staggered away,
and she opened the gate and followed him, when she found
him about eleven yards off, supported by some persons who
put him in a cab, and conveyed him to the hospital.—Ver-
diet, " Temporary insanity."
ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO MURDER.—Yeaterday mom
ing a seaman named Samuel Harper was brought befog
the magistrates at Manchester, charged with attempting to
pour vitriol into the mouth of a woman in Shudehill-mar.l
ket. The name of the woman is Agnes Gordon, and As
i had formerly lived with the prisoner, but they wen
: never married. About three months since a clothes dealer
in the market had offered her marriage, and she bad de-
serted the prisoner to become his wife. The prisoner had
since threatened to take her life. He met her on Thursday
1 morning near the cathedral church and repeated this threat,
and a few hours later he went to her at her husband's stall,
1 ient. ilitueideelbil. lireareeket, with a.can in one hand containing oil
her with one hand by the hack of the
ineck, whilst he placed the can to her lips with the other
head; but she struggled, and the vitriol went upon her
face, and much disfigured it. He was committed to Kirk-
dale Gaol for trial at the next Liverpool Raises.