The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-20 00:00:00

MILITIA.

The regiment of West York Rifles, now stationed at
Pontefract, notwithstanding the option allowed to many
of the men, under Lord Panmure's order, to return
home, is still in a gate of high efficiency. They are at
present about 620 strong. On the expiration of the 56
days' trainir4, this year, about 400 men took their passes,
but since that time about 270 have been re-attested, and
150 is the most that have left, and many of these of-
fered themselves for re-enrolment, but were refused.. It
is expected they will shortly be removed to Sheffield.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.

Yesterday, a special general meeting of the proprie-
tors- of this company was held at the Paddington Sin
two, for the purpose of considering the provisions of the
following bills now pending before Parl'ament :
"A bill' for constructing a railway' from Bridport to
Maiden Newton, on the Wilts, Somerset, and Wey-
mouth Railway, in the county cf Dorset.
"A bill for extending the time for the competition of
the Cornwall Railway and works, and for making fur-
ther provisions as to the share capital of the Cornwall
.Railway Company, and for other purposes.
" A bill for extending the powers of the Plymouth
Great Western Dock Company, and for other purposes.
" A bill to consolidate and amend the acts relating to
the South Wales Railway Company and to authorise the
construction of new works, and alteration of existing
works, and for other works.
"A :bill for making a railway from the Oxford branch
of the Great Western Railway to Abingdon.
" A bill for snaking a railway from the Great Western
Railway, at Southall, in the county of Middlesex, to
Brentford, in the same county, with docks at the last-
mentioned place, and for other purposes."
Lord BARRUIGTON presided, in the absence of Mr.
Missed, the chairman of the company, and after explain-
ing that the meeting was the formal one required under
the Wharncliffe order of the House of Lords, observed
that although the list comprised six bills, two only were
in that state of.forwardness in Parliaonent to require the
assent of the proprietorsunder the lords' standing orders.
The two bills in reference to which resolutions would be
proposed were the first and fifth, which authorised the
making of the line from Bridport to Maiden Newton,
and the branch to Abingdon.
On a resolution in favour of the Bridport and Maiden
Newton bill being put from the chair,
A PROPRIETOR inquired whether there was any inten.
:tion on the cart of the Great Western C.)mpany to lease
or rent the line when completed?
The SECRETARY (Mr. Saunders) replied that these lines
were promoted by independent ; an,l he was
authorised by the directors to as-use the proprietor 8 that
they had not only no intention but distinctly declined any
proposition to rent or lease the lines, or to give any gua-
rantee whatever. The only assistance they proposed to
give was to allow the Great Western carriages and en-
gines to run on these branch lines, so as to complete
the journey, receiving payment fish that aid in the usual
way. (Hear, hear.)
Another PROPRIETOR moved an amendment, dissent-
ing from the bill, but as it was not seconded it fell to
the ground, and the resolution was put and carried
nem. con.

The resolution affirming the Abingdon bill was then
proposed and also unanimously passed ; and after com-
plimenting the chairman, the meeting separated.

DISCOVERY OF THE BODY OF A MALE CHILD, WITH ITS
HEAD CUT OFF, IN LINCOLN'S-INN-FIELDS. —Yesterday
morning considerable sensation was; created in the neigh
bourhood of Lincoln's-inn-fields, in consequence of the
discovery of the body of a child with its head cut off.
It appears that as police-constable No. 30 F, and Ser-
jeant Gentry, No. 10 F, were proceeding on their beat,
they found a bundle on the step of -a door, tied tightly
up in a cloth and black apron. On examining it they
were horrified to find it contained the body of a male
child in a bloody cloth. They conveyed it to St. Giles's
workhouse, where Mr. William Bennett, surgeon, Las-
celles-place, was in immediate attendance, who found, on
examination, that it had been most brutally murdered
by the head being cut from the body. Mr. John Stone,
the summoning officer, has forwarded the information to
the coroner, but no day is fixed for. the* inquest,