The Express.
London, England, 1868-08-13 00:00:00

TSB lATORILLBB OP RAILWAY YALU&

An adjourned meeting
_ of the inhabitants of
Dulwich was held on Tuesday night at the Greyhound
Inn, "to discuss the unwarrantable advance in the fares
made by the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway.Oom-
pany, and to consider the advisability of supporting in op-
position a line of omnibuses to the City at reduced rates.-"
At the original meeting resolutions were passed express-
ing indignation at the conduct of the directors of the
London, Chatham, and Dover Railway in raising the
fares, and pledging the meeting to oppose it in every
possible way. A committee was formed for the pur-
pose of taking action. Dr. Webeter, who was
called to the chair, said that he considered the
raising of the fares a mark of oppression on the part
of the railway, company. He denied that it was a matter
of supply and demand, and argued that it was a mono-
poly, remarking that if there was any way of misting
that monopoly they would be perfectly justified in adopt-
ing it. From what he had seen upon the Brighton line
he felt that the addition to the fares would not result in
an increased return to the railway companies. If the rise
bad been small he felt that nobody would have had reason
to complain, but when it came to an increase of from 26
to 100 per cent. it could only be looked upon as the
greatest injustice. Mr. Griffin pointed out that the rise
in the fare from West Dulwich had been increased t 6 per
cent. upon the first class, 33 per cent. upon the second
class, and 68 per cent. upon the third class. That
he thought an injustice and an inequality which
ought never to have bean adopted by any board of
directors. A lengthy discussion folio in the course of
which one suggestion, which a to meet with
generalipprobation, was that first and second elms
passengers should, whilst the high rate of fares continued,
travel third clew. The following resolution was ulti-
mately, on the motion of Mr. Griffin, seconded by Mr.
Asnese.n2 carried unanimously—" That this meeting, while
g the oonoession made to public opinion by. the
Lon on Chatham, and Dover Railway Company in re-
ducing their fares from the recent unprecedented and extor-
tionate rates, pledges Reel! by every means in its power to
obtain a still further reduction, especially in the third
class." Mr. North considered it desirable that the in-
fluence of members of parliament should be brought to
bear upon the subject, and therefore proposed the next
resolution—" That in the opinion of this meeting in
the forthcoming parliamentary elections no support should
be given to any candidate who will not pledge himself to
advocate government control in the working of the railways
and regulation of fares, and oppose railway wresnon in
every form." The motion, having been seconded by Mr.
Dagnul, was carried unanimously. Mr. H. Pansy urged
the necessity of taking such steps as would alone affect
the railway receipts ; we should-then get the voice of the
shareholders when they found their property suffering
through the groin inconsistency of their directors. He
therefore proposed the next resolution—" That it iS de-
sirable to establish immediately conveyance by omnibus to
and from the City and West-and, and to combine in sup-
porting them." Mr. Pearse seconded, and the motion was
carried unanimously. A vote of thanks was then passed
to Lord Redesdale for his able advocacy of the rights of
the public ; and, with the usual compliment to the chair-
man, the meeting concluded.

POLICE NOTIONS OF DRITNKIENNESS. —Yesterday
Dr. Hardwicke, the deppuuty coroner for Central Middlesex,
held an inquiry in Paddington, on Moines Edward Mel-
ford, aged 24, alleged to have been killed by William
Wright The two men were fighting in the roadway
shortly after the public-konses closed on Saturday night,
and SheHord was unable to continue the fight on exeunt
of • blow on his head which he had received by e fall.
He was walked away between two men, and becoming
insensible was laid on the pavement, and then removed to
the area of an adjacent house, where be remained till
nearly nine o'clock the next morning. Witnesses proved
that several policemen saw the man lying in the area,
said he was drunk, and walkeda4 ie. The jury gave in
a verdict of " Manslaughter • William Wright,"
and added "That the police not comported them-
selves in • creditable manner in leaving deceased for so
many hours in the area without having medical assis-
tance." They also condemned the conduct of an allow who
directed • woman to throw cold water over him. The
coroner said he bad known downs of cases in which the
police had mietaketi ;sir:sing, fractures of the skull, and
epilepsy, for drunkenness.
A NEW ROAD RTZAWEIL —On Saturday after-
noon (says the Seervissee) • very remediable rigid was
' seen in this city.A train of kaav laden end
100 exactly like • la.ge bath, was observed
up the steep Incline leading into Ildliaburgk tram 1
Dakeilh. It was the of Mr. 8.. W. Tlicsesson's pabint
'road steamers, with indiarubber wheel tires, lia =
waggons
;huge loaded ons in tow. Each waggon
when empty, f tine, sad canted • lead of Si tens of
coals, makthiztheF weight of the waggons 32 tons. The
road steamier 8 tons. Thus a total of 40 tons was in
motion. The steamer had drawn. the train from Maw-
battle Ceillexieknt miles Irma Edinbsmkt OM I Vary
hilly road, with •
.gmthente of lin 18. nem can be
no doubt this invention of the application of vulcanised
indiarabber to the tires of rearthisamenfornis the treatise
step which has ever been made in the use of sham on
common roads. It completely removes the two fatal diffi-
culties which have hitherto barred the way to the use of
traction engines -air., the mutual destruction of the trac-
tion engine and the roads. The indiarubber tires inter-
posing a soft and elastic cushion between the two, effec-
tually protect them both from every jar and jolt—in fact,
as much so as if the engine were travelling over a tram-
way of indiarubber.
DUNVILLE end Co., Belfast, are the largest
Voider, of Whisky in the world. Their Old Irish Wldelry is recom-
mended by the medical prefernos In preferenen to French Brandy.
I. %mein din clubs and ours far hems see er sauertation. Quota-
tions on application to News. Renville and es. Belfast; or 4.
Beaufart-bialdings. flerand. Lc/odes. W.C.--Lidvenloosest.l

My dear Mr. President,—l beg to present to
you and the conference my very cordial thanks for the
kind letter I have just received,. bearing your signature
and that of the seerstary expressing regret at my absence
fern your assembly. iL is true that I am at present far
om Liverpool, but you will believe me when I say that,
Laving been accustomed for sixty years to attend the
naiad meetings of my brethren, my thoughts and gym-
tathies are with you day by day; and gladly would I
mingle with you and take part in your deliberations were]
it not that my strength is impaired by old age, and the
weather is so intensely hot ea to imperil the health of the
strongest men when sitting for several hours together is
a crowded place. My absence from the conference,
believe me, is to me • matter of regret, and
of self-denial. Yet, if I may address you by letter, I re-
quest that you will of your clemency hear from me a few
words. Allow me, then, to express to you, sir, my very
hearty congratulations on your election to the presidency,
a distinction which you have justly won by native talent,
and by many years of bard and faithful labour. Few
things have of late given ass greater pleasure than the
perusal of your inaugural address, as it appeared in the
public papers. I thank God, who ha, placed at the head
of the conference, and of the connexion, a man whose
head and heart could so promptly and energetically
bps • the noble sentiments which sell from your bpi on
taking the 001116“1100 chair. They will, I doubt not,
De carried Into practical effect dus,ng th.
months, commending themselves as they do to the
understanding and conscience of every genuine
methodist. I feel that in these days of political excite-
ment and of cheap newspapers, there is a danger led our
attention should ha diverted from our great work. For
one, I wish daily to have in my remembrance the weight,
and memorable saying of Mr. Wesley, addressed to his
',leachers, "You have nothing to do but to save souls."
Methodist preachers as well as methodist people will, of
course, entertain different views concerning public quer
lions and events—and Ist them differ, for in this country
thought is free ; but the organization of methodism wit
' I trust, always remain sacred to matters purely religious.
What is it to us which political party is uppermost in the
nate, if our sermons be trite and unimpressive ;
if the mass of our hearers remain unconverted ;
and if Christian godliness languish in our societies'?
With our ample chapel accommodation, the large number
of young people growing up among us, the &Alton of
methodist parents, our day and Sunda schools pervading
the country, our home missions, and other appliances,
with the general peace of our societies, and a ministry im-
proved by education, there ought to be, I think, great
searching" of heart why the increase in our body is not
larger. I ask myself the speedo); Do I prepare and
deliver my sermons for the ono object of saving souls ?
Do I describe the proems of conversion, and prove its
pressing necessity, as the old methodist preachers did f
Ido not as that the former days were better than these;
and yet I think we may learn something by asking
for the old
.paths. Methodism has now passed into
a new state in relation to the established church of
this country. Mr. Wesley, to the end of his life, declared
his attachment to it, and recommended to his preachers
and people to follow his example. We are now charged
with • departure from his principles, and are called upon
to become church people to preserve our consistency. The
truth of this charge I absolutely deny. Mr. Wesley was
a protestant to the backbone, and regarded the church
of England as a protestant establishment. For
.years after
his death the conference acknowledged a friendly relation
to it in that character, and called upon me some forty
years ago to publish in the form of a pamphlet
a speech which I addressed to them on that
subject. To the principles laid down in that
pamphlet I adhere at thug day, but they do not
apply to the existing state of things. The church of
L'Ogland is not now what Mr. Wesley understood it to be,
and what it bas been regarded for the last 300 years.
Many of the clergy declare their abhorrence of the very
name of protestant ; they revile the protestant
they affect Popish forms of worship; they preach the
tripes of Popery ; and declare theirs speathy with the
church of Rome. At the same time a and powerful
body of the clergy yield only a limi assent to the
teaching of Holy Scripture, and deny some of the
most important doctrines of the Gospel. A church
which offers no effectual renitence to these
enormous evils can expect no sympathy from
Wesleyan methodiem. On the contrary, against such
errors methodism is bound to raise the warning voice from
one and of the kingdom to the other. While so many of
the clergy are attempting to unsettle the mind, of the
people of Eaglasid, by the novelties of Rome end of seep-
tiessm, it becomes us to put forth efforts more strenuous
than ever to proclaim the truths of the Reformation, the
pure truths of New Testament Christianity, in every
town, village, and hamlet in the kingdom. Never was
true, earnest methodist preaching more needed than at
this day. I have been greatly cheered by the accounts
I have read of the displays of loyal and protestantfeeling made in the conference. "No peace with
Rome," I trust will ever be our motto : nor will
we, as John Wesley's sons in the Gospel, ever con-
sent that the power vested in the crown of England
shall be shared with an Italian priest. Excuse the length
of this letter. I did not intend to say so much when I
began; and yet if I were with you I should perhaps say
something more, especially on the subject of the
amalgamation of methixlism and churehmanship, of
which some people of late have had day drams. But
as the thing is legally, morally, and religiously im-
pandit*, it ss useless to argue the case. May God's
blessing be upon you and the Conference, and may
the year of your presidency be a year of great religious
prosperity and enlargement.—l am, my dear Mr. Pre-
sident, yours ever most sincerely,
August 7. TaoxAB Jiczeos.