The Sun.
London, England, 1852-08-18 00:00:00

injurious consequencn to the pecuniary interests
Ji the shareholders, and peace is desirable on almost
any honourable terms. Whether a permanent alliance
can be effected, or that a still more intimate union
is essential, remains to be proved, but something
should be fortwith carried into execution to prevent
further contests.
Yesterday the London and South-Western Com-
Y held
hmeeting, which
wasan subsequently 1Y
for the purpose of
their ordinary
special
considering the expediency of carrying out the pro-
posed central line from Salisbury to Exeter. Many
reasons were adduced in favour of the proposition.
The simple fact that the
Pi r
e haf
contemplated route would
pass through a country 53 miles wine,
which as yet is
totally devoid of railway communication, would alone be
sufficient to warrant its adoption. There is no dis-
trict in England which will continue to submit to a
deprivation so very prejudicial to all parties con-
cerned, but more especially to the agriculturists.
Landlords and tenants, proprietors and occupiers,
are alike agitating for the great desideratum, and

it appears tolerably certain, that if the company
will not undertake it, others less fastidious
will be found, who may prove formidable
rivals, and occasion a vast additional expenditure at
some future period. The journey to Exeter—the
capital of the West of England—will be shortened by
no less than twenty-six miles, the distance by the
present route being 197 miles, while by that under
consideration it will be only 171 miles. It was also
stated that responsible contractors were willing to
undertake the construction of the branch for 1,100,0001.,
less than one-half of the amount that had previously
been sanctioned for the formation of a similar line
not offering superior advantages. The calculations
from the estimated traffic showed that the receipts
would not only be sufficient to pay full interest on
the outlay, but to leave a margin towards the divi-
dend of the old lines, and this without taking into
account the addition of profits arising from so efficient

a feeder.
Under such circumstances, it is only surprising
that the project was not immediately sanctioned.
It was, however, after some discussion, decided that
it should be referred to a committee of directors and
shareholders to make the necessary arrangements,
and to report the result to a special meeting of the
shareholders to be held next month. This may be
looked upon as tantamount to its adoption.
No time will be lost, for the decision of the adjourned
meeting will be sufficiently early for the service of
the preliminary notices and the other proceedings
required by the standing , orders of both
Houses of Parliament. The directors, by
their ready assent to the investigation,
supplied
the best evidence of their unlimited confidence in the
soundness of the project. They did not deprecate the
inquiry, because they have nothing to fear from the
result. The more stringent and scrutinising it may
be, the better will they be satisfied.

ara
The death of Sir JAMES PARKER, one of the Vice-
Chancellors cfEng,land, places a valuable appointment
at the disposal of the Government. -Various specula-
dons are afloat as to the person who may b© selected
'or this post. If Lord DERBY follow the excellent
example of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, h 3 will make the
appointment only on the merits of the individual,
irrespective of nil party considerations. Sir GEORGE
TURNER and Sir JAMES PAEREIL were selected by
the late PREMIER, in despite of their politics, which
were Conservative. He wisely thought that profes-
sional ability should be the qualification for the
ermine. Lord DERBY cannot have mach difficulty in
finding a suitable successor to Vice-Chancellor PAR..
RER ; his dilemma will be whom to select out of many
well-qualified persons. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL,
we suspect, would find himself more at home at
Common Law than in Chancery. The SOLICITOR-
GENERAL, perhaps, may look higher than a Vice-
Chancellorship. Sir PAGE WOOD, if he would
accept the office, is eminently qualified, by ability,
knowledge, and experience. Mr. JOHN STUART (who
is an opponent of Law Reform) has been spoken of,
but though the learned gentleman has extensive
Chancery practice, neither the public nor the profes-
sion entertain any idea that he is eminently qualified
for the bench. It is whispered that he has been of-
fered and has rejQcted the Vice-Chancellorship,butwe
discredit the offer end the rejection. Mr. SWANSTON'S
name has been mentioned. Few legal gentlemen have
more substantial claims, on the score of merit. His
Reports are extremely valuable, and it may be noticed
as a curious fact, that the law-reporters have inva-
riably made admirable judges. Mr. BETHELL, Mr.
BOLT, and Mr. ROUNDELL PALMER have also been
spoken of. Another report states that the vacancy will
probably be filled by one of the Masters in Chancery,
placed hors de combat, on full salaries of 2,5001. a-year
each. The Masters who will thus retire, at the
commencement of next term, are Mr. FARBER,
Sir WILLIAM HORNE, Mr. NASSAU SENIOR,
p ro kenABK ou fR,
asOnl33de
Tti
jimumeEßagow,erwe beep!
pointed. By putting an ex-Master on the Bench
and Mr. WILLIAM BROUGHAM. The last-named
gentlemann
Vice-Chancellors was s
there would be an annual giving of 2,5001. ; but to
make a man a Viee-Chancellor for the mere purpose
of saving a few thousands every year would t cer amly
be absurd, ill-advised, and un-economical. Such a
saving as this would eventually be a moral loss.
We cannot quit this subject without ll d* a u ing to a
hint, in a Contemporary, that perhaps Mr. WALPOLE,
the Home Secretary, who is a distinguished equity
lawyer, might be induced to accept the vacant Vice-
Chancellorship. We believe that such an appoint-
ment would give ample satisfaction to the profession
and the public. The principal otjection to it would

arise, we fear, from Mr. WALPOLE'S own fastidious
feelings—he might think that his accepting this
permanent in exchange for his present uncertain
appointment, might be construed into a doubt, on his
part, of the stability of the Administration to which
he belongs. We should much regret if any idea of
this sort should deprive the public of the advantage of
Mr. WALPOLL'S assistance on the bench. He is a
first-rate lawyer, and in full vigour of mind and
body. Time was when senility of years was considered
a sine qua non in a judge and a bishop. That absurd
idea is very properly in process of becoming exploded.
Vice-Chancellor ,PAuxut. was only forty-eight when
appointed, and Mr. WALrorx is now of about the
same age. When Learned Glatlemen are placed upon
the Bench, at a time of life when men usually retire
from occupations, whether professional or otherwise,
requiring much head work, it sometimes happens that
they become captious, garrulous, and intolerant, so
that whatever their talent, they certainly do not up-
hold or advance the dignity of their lofty station.
Mr. WALPOLE is comparatively a young man, and
his antecedents are all in his favour.

THE VACANT VICE-CHANCELLORSHIP.—The few
stragglers of the Chancery bar still lingering in London are
occupying themselves in speculations on the vacancy in the
office of a Vice-Chancellor, caused by the death of Sir
James Parker. The political right to the recipiency of this
valuable and responsible judicial patronage is, of course, con-
sidered to belong to Mr. John Stuart, Q.C., the new Mem-
ber for Bury St. Edmunds, and who is said in his elec-
tioneering expenditure to have barely exceeded the legal
expenses in turning out Mr. Bunbary. Mr. Stuart, how-
ever, haughtily refused the offer of the Solicitor-Generalship
Toryism
on the formation of the present Government, and was re-
ever he
Pared to be highly indignant that he did not receive the
names were t
Gnoetat Seal of Ireland. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman may
that Mr.
opperiteisosuhtios
Celhaaimnceirny tßheefi,prrnels,enatnidnsthanisce.notCoreirotuasinul
yltrhais-
Home- reconcile acceptance
Gentleman's
might
render his appointment unpopular, how-
abandoned for the to himself. Other
Walpole
in the clubs yesterday. It was said
considerable and inuc
office
and
might not unadvisedly descend from the
practice
the judicial seat. The Right Hon.
ice at the bar, so recently and gallantly
of doors, and with the uncertain tenure of political office, was
aratively agreeable and popular out
bench and bar. Lord St. Leonard's
would doubtless be gasing ; and his elevation to the bench
is known also to be well
and whom he regards as sposed to Mr. wanston,t Q.C.,
the
Exchequer offer
Mr.
the day. Mr. Roundell the Pal most
eminent equity
the choice of the Peelites, butn' Palmer
would
a probably have been
lawyer of
are 'hors de combat. It
is expected that the lot will fall one-Walpole,iar
arrived
Irv, e icfl
at
t
must be made to
de-
clined by that gentleman, that
Mr. John Stuart.
The Chancellor of the
Grosvenor-gate, Park-lane, last evening,from
Pilanor, Backs. The Right lion. Gentleman Hughendon
s in office, attended and several of
his colleague ,
this by one of the clerks of the
town morning,
Council, leave by special train, for the
• where the Queen will
Isle of Wight,
and at which the new Parr
this afternoon,lament, which is
'
forma o n Friday next will be further
appointed tof
meet proo
prorogued.
YT` ItAcEs.—Many riders lI—
THE PARLIAME , ha_
been thrown during the recent election hea's, and have met
with various accidents; but for none•do we feel so deeply as
the noble Horsman who lost his seat at Cockermouth, just
as eve one made sure that he was going to win. The ac.
ry
cident is the more to be regretted, mite will not b
I' be able to
show at the next Parliamentary meet, where
,issabsence will
be severely felt, for there is not, another Horsman in the
country to be compared to him--wore especially for a good
steeple-chase.—Pulich.