The Express.
London, England, 1861-07-18 00:00:00

DUBLIN AND MEATH RAILWAY.

The directors of this railway made an inspection
of the line on Tueedey. The deputation appointed by the
board in London consisted of W. Allowed, Esq., the chair-
man, and Messrs. Baddicorn and Wright. They were
accompanied by Sir John Macueß, the engineer-in-chief,
the solicitors, and the contractor, and by S. Gurney Shep-
pard, Esq., of London. The Meath Railway is in
all 35 miles in length—namely, xi miles long on
the main line from Cloosilla to Haven, and 12 miles
on the branch :from Kilmanan to Athboy by Trim.
From the nature of the country through which the rail-
way passes there were no engineering difficulties to be
encountered, and the cost of constructions, therefore,
very reasonable. it is remarkably straight, having only
a few alight curves. There are no deep cuttings, or high
embankments ; the gradients are exceedingly moderate ;
and, moreover, the line has no tunnel, and does not crone
any road on a level. The Dublin and Meath Railway,
therefore, when completed, will be one of the safest and
best constructed limn in the empire. The works are now
being =tied on with the greatest activity and vigour.
The eminent contractors, the Messrs. Moore, by whom
the construction of the railway has been undertaken,
have at present over 1,200 men employed, and in a
short time the number of hands engaged will amount to
1,500. The whole of the land on the main line has
been urranged for, and the greater portion of it is actually
in poseesnon of the contractors. Considerable pro-
gress has been already made with the works along
the entire line. The rail' have been laid from Navan to
Knockmurk, • distance of about eleven miles, and the
earthworks are ready fur the laying of the rail. to within
four miles of Clonsilla, where the Dublin and Meath line
will join the Midland Great Western Railway. A good
deal of work his been done on the branch line to Athbov,
upon which nearly 30,0001. has been expended. Tim
directors intend to open the main line not later
than April next; and they have already contracted
fur the rolling stock to be delivered to them in
the month of February previous. The directors pro.
coaled to Navan by the half-past eight o'clock
train. Having first visited the machine erected by
Messrs. Moore for cutting the sleepers, they entered •
carriage prepared by the contractors, and went over the
line from Haven to Knockmurk, to which place the rails had
been laid. They stopped at various points along the route,
and made a minute inspection of the works, which they
found to be in perfect order and admirably executed. The
railway crosses the Boy oe near Bective. the seat of Mr.
Richard Bolton. one of the directors of the company. The
viaduct is a bold and massive structure, having six arches,
the span of the principal one being 35 feet. Lord Dunsany
joined the party about Kihnesan, and at the completion of
the tour of inspection entertained the directors and their
friends at Dummy Castle.— frressaa's Journal.

ILLNIFB OF THE BISHOP OF DURHAM. —Wo regret
to anuounos that the Bight Hon. and Bight Rev. Dr. H.
Montagu Villiers, Bishop of Durham, has been suffering
from so alarming illness, which has excited much appreben-
sioo his friends. His lordship's sufferings are de-
scribed as having been of the most agonising character. It
is believed that the worst has passed, but the right rev.
prelate is dill far from being out of danger.