The Express.
London, England, 1867-06-24 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, JUNE 24, 1867.

all sorts of aggressions. A new branch, perhaps,
was devised, which, unless in the company's
hands, would injure their traffic. The proposed
line must be absorbed in the general undertaking
at a considerable expense, or opposed in Parlia-
ment at very much more. It somehow or other
happened that the promotes of these extensions
were more or less connected with the Brighton
Company either as solicitors, er4,,ineers, contrac-
tors, or the like. According to the directors of
the Brighton this little fact appeared either un-
known or of no particular consequence. The
outside public, who are apt to be a tride less be-
lieving than even the wariest board, will, we fear,
entertain the uncharitable suspicion that these
lines were practically good for nothing except to
sell—to the London and Brighton. They were
purchased, and the shareholders of the latter com-
pany have at least the satisfaction of possessing
certain properties which have cost a groat deal,
but for the moment are absolutely valueless. It
may be hoped, however, that in time these
branches may pay the working expenses, and—
but this is a sanguine view—a moderate rate of
interest ou the cost of their construction.

Before quitting the subject of the Brighton
Company in particular, it is only just to advert to
some of the recommendations of the Committee of
Investigation. They exempt one gentleman (Mr.
STEW ART) from the responsibility cast upon the old
board, for the unanswerable reason that he hes
been a director for hardly three months. The
Committee also think that some allowance may be
justly made for Colonel Baarrszor, M.P., who
took the chair at a time when " Mr. Ben usrsa and
" Mr. LAURIE so suddenly deserted their posts,"
and was " consequently placed fah& position of great
" difficulty." As regards Colonel BARTTELOT the
Committee might perhaps have been less rigorous
than to make merely "someallovrance." He appears
to have acted simply as a gentleman and a man of
honour. Whilst thrown into office at a sudden and
embarrassing period he has endeavoured to do his
best by steady attention to business. To say that
his chairmanship has been faultless would be
absurd, but at least it has been honest, with all
its faults. ft is to be regretted that his name did
not appear on tho list of new directors recom-
mended by the Committee. Another omission also
may be mentioned. Mr. R. A. Goss, a member of
the Committee, whose especial fitness for the ex-
amination of accounts and general knowledge
of railway affairs are particularly specified, is
not recommended for the board. According to
the report of the Committee, this conclusion seems
to have been adopted because he is exactly fitted
for the pest of a director. We can see no other
reason. On the other hand, they offer an auditor-
ahip, which Mr. GOEZ very properly declines, since
under the present system on no known occasion
have railway auditors been of the least good
whatever.

It is not difficult to be wise after the event, but
it is clear that the difficulties into which our rail-
way companies have fallen are simply due to the
permission of Parliament to issue preference stocks
or debentures. If it had been said from the outset
that any branches, extensions, or junctions would
be allowed, provided always that the money was
raised by creations of ordinary stock at par, we
should have heard nothing of these troubles, nor
could any one have a right to complain. Con-
tractors' lines would never have been projected,
save in those rare instances when the shareholders
would have benefited by them. Thus far, how-
ever, the mischief has been done ; all that can be
accomplished is to prevent it from extending. The
remedy is easy. Parliament has but to make a
standing order that neither preference nor loan
stocks shall hereafter be issued ; and although this
will not cure the injury done in the past, it will at
least obviate any in the future.

either of these subjects. With regard to meetings on
other subjects, absolute prohibition was certainly leas hu-
ndliating than the mistrust which this alleged concession
breathes from every one of its clauses. In the pursuit of
ambitious schemes, in the furtherance of personal and
dynastic interests, Napoleon 111. can show uncommon
daring and unflinching tenacity of purpose. Why should
hesitation and misgiving characterise only those of his
acts which tend to the restitution of popular liberties ?
The Post reminds its readers that this evening will be
devoted by the House of Lords to the consideration of a
topic which is perhaps' second in importance to none
which could at the present time be brought under the
notice of the Imperial Parliament. That topic is the
Church Establislunent in Ireland. That a grievance so
transparent as that applied to four-fifths of the Irish nation
by their protestant Church Establishment should so long
have remained unredressed will probably puzzle future
historians.
The Times comments on the increased number of cases
of brutal assaults which are heard in our police-courts, and
the many instances of injudicious lenity on the part of
some of the magistrates. Larceny is punished as a mole
far more severely than acts which if a fatal result ensued,
it might be difficult to distinguish from murder. The out-
rages in question spring simply from an inhuman spirit of
mischief, and their purpose is, not to benefit the aggressor,
but to hurt the victim. There is but one way to deal with
them effectually, and that is to employ physical pain as •
deterrent. The lash has proved signally efficacious in
counteracting the taste for garotting, and the Times sees
no reason to doubt that, if sanctioned by the legislature, it
would counteract the taste for beating and kicking harm-
less people within an inch of their lives. In the meantime
it would be well that our London magistrates should con-
cert measures for securing greater uniformity of decision.
so that a savage ruffian should not get off with a fine in
one court, while his fellow, no worse than himself, is being
committed for trial at another.

The Po.t says that the government, after reconsideration
of the matter, will propose that a third member shall be
given to three of the six boroughs included in Mr. Laing's
unsuccessful amendment. The three selected aro Liver-
pool, Manchester, and Birmingham, each of which has a
population of over 300,000, while Leeds, Sheffield, and
Bristol, with populations varying from 150,000 to 200,000,
will still return two members only.

THE LATE ACCIDENT TO THE ATLANTIC

t,'ABLi:

It seems that throughout the spring the Atlantic
Ocean on the American shore was beset with an unusual
amount of ice disengaged from the Arctic regions by a
singularly stormy weather, yet so well had the Atlantic
cable. been carried along the deep trough of Trinity Bay
that both remained intact, except in one case. In a heavy
storm an iceberg drifted into the bay, and grounded about
two miles and a half from the station at Heart's Content,
resting, doubtless, on the ISCAcable and eventually crushing
it. The Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company
were requested to test the point at which the injury hail
occurred, and to undertake the repair as quickly as
possible. Mr. Latimer Clarke and Mr. Willoughby Smith,
the electrical engineers, decided that the injury had oc-
curred only at the point above indicated. The steamer
Chiltern was prepared and despatched on the :;th inst.
under the command of Captain Edington, who assisted in
the Atlantic cable-laying expedition of last year, with a
proper staff of competent persons under the superintend-
ence of Mr. Clifford. The Chiltern, as the following tele-
grams show, went to the spot indicated, and within a few
hours effected the necessary repairs at a very trivial charge
to the revenue of the cables :
" No. 1. June 17.
. _

" From Heart's Content:ril; to Managing Director.
"Chiltern arrived at 11 fait night, all well, good voy-
age. Clifford says to you that Kerr (the Naval Sur-
veyor) is not here, but he has lett the chart and necessary

" No. 2. " June 17,1867.
" From Willoughby Smith, Esq., Valentin, to Captain
Osborn, London.
" May make+ limit two miles from Heart's Content, and
Clifford commences at once to repair.
" No. 3. " June 18, 1867.
" From Willoughby Smith, Emq., Valentin, to Captain
Osborn, Lonon.
" Insulation of '66 cable perfect from where they buoyed
it last night ; distance about two miles from hind (Heart's
Content). They commenced again at this morning, and
are working with two boats just off the harbour.
" No. 4. "June 19, 1867.
" From Willoughby Smith, Esq., Valencia, to Captain
Osborn, Landon.
" Weather fine in Trinity Ray yesterday and last night.
Spoke with May on board (Chiltern) through the '66 cable
about 12 last night ; said they bad just made splice to deep
sea end, and were paying out. towards shore end, and they
hoped to complete it early this morning. They are not at
the office yet. Mr. Clark is perfectly satisfied with the
present arrangement of the shore end of the '66 cable,
therefore I shall not alter it.
"No. 5. "June 19. 1867.

" From Willoughby Smith, Ifaq., \'alentia to Captain
Osborn, London.
"Cable perfect to shore (in Newfoundland). They are
making a splice on beach. Mr. Clark will then make an
official test, and will write you the result.
"No. 6. "June 19,1867.
"From Willoughby Smith, Esq., Valentia, to Captain
Osborn, London.
" The '66 cable is all right ; Mr. Clarke has given me cer-
tificate. Shall I send it by post, or keep it until I return?
They are now working through '66 cable.
"No. 7. "June 19, 1867.
" From Willoughby Smith, Faq., Valeutia, to Captain
Osborne, London.
"The insulation of both cables has improved immensely ;
they both give fully double the gutta-percha resistance
they did when tested last year, and both give the same
results."

Mem.—No. 7 telegram refers to the improvement of the
cables during the past twelve months.
The ice is now gone for this season.

WEATHER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.)

3losokT, JUN U, SILL

Zama& , fift,
B. IT.I W. ' ! W. AL i$
L. , 9.
Nairn 30.07 67 NAL 1 1 N.W. de QO7 1
Aberdeen WOO te R. I 1 ' I 8.8. W. Ibo —I 1
Leith 30.1162 &N.L 2 2 IL o 0.02
Arduous's 30.21 fa W.N.W. 3 N. b,— 12
Otaencmtle 30.11 66 W. , 3 W.&W. rc OW 1
Yalentla 30.20 63 N. 3I 4 N. bo 2
Cape Clem 30.2 a 67 N.N.W. 4 4 N.Y. b. 4
Ilverpool 30.0760 W. 1 2 I W. Do I 1
Holyhead 110.07 66 N.N.W. 2 1 1 W.R.W. co 1—
3tuace 10.15 60 N
06.6 30.12 69 •
N.N..Z. 2, 4 N.& be 2
laciest 30.04 57 N.N.W. W.O.W. eh I 2
Rochefort &M 66 N. 4 j N.& mb 0.04 3
Plymouth 30.08 60 N. 2i 2 I 8. b— 1
Weymouth 30.0660, N. 1 W.N.W. c 2
Portanoath 30.0061 N. 10 12 If W, c— 3
London 30.00 66 4 I N.R. Do -
Yarmouth U. 67 60 N. N. 1L 3 4 R. c— 2
Scarivemigh 30.04 66 N. 1 E.E. IDo 0.11 2
Shields 30.13 faN.P.N. 2 I N.E. cr 2

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