The Sun.
London, England, 1852-11-02 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 2, 1552.

belonged to those now occupying the Pontifical terri-
tory. After a good deal of firing, which lasted some
minutes, two of the banditti were killed ; the two
others escaped. One Austrian was killed, and five
Tuscans wounded.

THE CANCER HOSPITAL.

CITY RAILWAY TERMINUS.

Yesterday the governors of the Free Cancer Hospital,
in Cannon-row, Westminster, opened a branch establish-
ment for the reception of in-patients afflicted with this
dreadful malady, at Holy wood Lodge, West Brompton.
The house, though smal►, is very commodious, and well
adapted for the benevolent purpose to which it is to be
applied. In point of eligibility of site it has also con-
siderable advantage, being enclosed in large ornamental
grounds, and situated in one of the most pleasant and
open parts of Brompton, the general air of which is
generally admitted to be beneficial to persons suffering
from disease. The building is capable of accomodating
20 or 25 patients, but the funds at present will not per-
mit the admission of more than a quarter, of that num-
ber. The necessity for an institution of this kind was
to be seen in the numnrous applicants for admission yes-
terday, some of the parties having cancer in its most
virulent form
A large party of ladies and gentlemen assembled yes-
terday, to witness the opening. Atter examining the
wards and other portions of the building, the arrange-
ments connected with which seemed to give general satis-
faction, they retired to the boardroom, where a brief
meeting was held, under the presidency of the Rev.
Thomas Pearson, incumbent of West Brompton.

A public meeting was held yesterday, at the London
Tavern, for the purpose of enabling the citizens of London
and others interested in obtaining railway accommoda-
tion for the metropolis to express their opinion upon
Mr. Charles Pearson's project for a central city railroad
terminus. The meeting, which was very numerously
attended, was presided over by Sir James Duke, M.P.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, said that
the more he considered this project the more he was
convinced that it was likely greatly to benefit the public
at large and the various interests of the metropolis.
Numerous as were its streets, traffic was often at a com-
plete stand-still in them. Mr. Pearson's plan would
facilitate traffic, would diminish the rates for tho repel.
of streets, and would benefit the working classes, whom

it would enable to remove from the districts in which
they were now huddled together.
Ur. PEARSON then came forward, remarking that
since the preliminary meeting which had been held at
the London Coffee-house on Friday night, he had re-
ceived so many promises of support from men of mark
in the City, that he was convinced it was only necessary
for the standard to be raised in order that numbers suf-
ficient to carry the improvement into effect should flock
to its support. The existing evils arising from th© over-
crowded state of the streets were notorious. During the
last ten years the number of vehicles traversing the
principal thoroughfares of the city had trebled, quad-
rupled, and even, in some cases, quintupled. Another
evil—the overcrowding of the population in some dis-
tricts—had been already alluded to by the chairman;
and it was of considerable importance to remark that
the inhabitants of such districts did not consist exclu-
sively, or even principally, of the vicious class; but
that artizans, mechanics, and even the humbler class
of clerks, were compelled at present to live in close
proximity with persons of the most degraded character.
He had no doubt that by his plan those persons would he
enabled, with profit to the company, and with the
greatest advantage to themselves, to remove into the
country every night; nor did he doubt that they would
avail themselves of the facilities which might be offered
to them for this purpose. It was shown by the census,
that while in the kingdom at large the number of houses
had increased, as compared with the population, during
the last forty years, that in the city of London, while
the houses had diminished by 1,500, the population had
increased by 4,000. There were, indeed, districts where
this overcrowding was such as to be revolting to decency,
injurious to morality, and destructive of health, and
even of life. The overcrowding of the streets had arisen
from the great growth of the metropolis, whose additional
population swelled the traffic of the central portion—
from the adoption of cheaper means of travelling, which
had led to the same result—and from a change in the
habits of the people, who were now constantly moving
about, instead of, as formerly, vegetating in one locality
—a change which manifested itself not merely in the
more frequent visits of the provincials to London, but in
the fact that a very large portion of the population of the
City left it every evening and returned to in the
morning. Now, the value of the property in the city of
London depended upon its being the centre of commer-
cial and monetary operations, and on its containing the
Bank of England and other great public establishments.
But if adequate means of intercommunication were not
provided for those who resorted to these establishments, it
could not be expected that the City could retain them ;
and the value of property, which was now in some parts
from 40,0001. to 300,0001. an acre, and which had been
sold in Cornhill at as high a rate as 400,0001. an acre,
must then fall off. Oa the other hand, the result of the
City improvements had shown that there was hardly any
sum of money which might not be expected to be
realized by the construction of new and wide streets.
If his plan were carried out, districts which were now
crowded with a wretched population would become the
sites of commercial and manufacturing establishments,
and the land would be raised to nearly the value of that
in what were at present the best districts. If they were
at present suffering from an overcrowded state of the
streets, the most obvious remedy was evidently to take
steps for diminishing that traffic; and he proposed to do
this by providing other means of transit for a portion of
the persons who now entered and left or traversed the
City by cabs or omnibuses, which made 12,000 jour-
neys, conveying 144,000 persons each day, and also by
removing Newgate and Leadenhall markets, which now
caused great impediments in the way of the traffic. Mr.
Pearson then briefly described his plan, which we have no-
ticed on previous occasions, remarking that he did not pro-
pose his new terminus as a substitute for the existing
railway termini (which he believed would bo altogether
chemerical), but as an addition; though it would be im-
possible to collect the goods trallio of the metropolis at a
single station, the parcels and light goods which were
taken from the receiving-houses in the City to the vari-
ous stations might be collected together at one enormous
station, with a great diminution of the traffic through
the streets, and with great advantage to the railway
companies. He did not deny that the proposed improve-
ment would cost an enormous amount of money, but it
was not more than would be reimbursed by the advan-
tages offered by his plan, in its combined character of
street improvement, and of an increase of railway accom-
modation. It was proposed to have four double lines
equal in accommodation to all the railways north
of the Thames, besides the domestic line for the
conveyance of the million, which was to be kept clear of
all other traffic. To effect this great improvement a
share capital of two millions sterling would be required.
After intimating that the Great Western and North-
Western Companys would not entertain the question, he
observed that the Great Northern Company consider
the project would h• a great publie impro%,;i4ent,
that they had declared their willingness to negociatc
with a company, if oue were formed, ou a fair and libe-
ral basis. That being so, ho had no doubt the other
railways would be driven into some arrangement. Ile
believed that the shareholders would derive a clear profit
of 7i per cent. from the time they entered on the project.
The present time was peculiarly favourable for entering
on the project, for within six months of the present time
the whole of the ground from Farringdon-street to the
Clerkenwell House of Correction would be cleared by
the corporation, and if this were once built upon the
improvement would be rendered impracticable for ever.
The Coldbath-fields prison, which was also on the line,
might he believed be bought; and of the remaining land
so much was held by Lord Calthorpe and the Great
Northern Railway Company, that two-thirds, or probably
three-fourths, of the required land was in four holdings,
a circumstance which would afford great facilities. lie
thought he had now said enough to make out a prinici
facie case in favour of his plan. (Loud cheers.) He
then proposed the appointment of a committee to inquire
into the coat of carrying the scheme into execution, and
to take measures to get the capital subscribed for going
to Parliament next session, provided that, on inquiry,
they should believe the outlay of capital would be remn.
nerated. Ile would himself advance all the cost of
giving the requisite notices and making the necessary
preparations for Parliament, without looking to be paid
should the company not proceed ; and he should pro-
pose that the deposits on the capital subscribed should
be paid into the Bank of England, to the order of these
trustees (probably the three commercial representatives
for the City), and that if three-fourths of the capital re-
quired were not subscribed by the 7th January next,
each shareholder should receive back his deposit without
deduction. Of course, if the company proceeded, he
and the other professional gentlemen engaged in prepar-
ing for Parliament would expect to be paid their
charges ; and for hie (Hr. Pearson's) seventeen years'
service in this matter, he would only ask that a clause
should be inserted in the Act, enabling the shareholders
to give him or his deacendants any sum they might
think fit, five years after the plan had been carried into
execution. Mr. Pearson then concluded amidst loud
applause, by moving the two following resolutions :
" That this meeting agrees with Mr. Pearson in the
general principles on which his project is founded, and
without pledging ourselves to our several details, we are
of opinion that it is a measure of great value to the
public, and that a company should be formed to carry it
into execution, provided that a capital can be obtained,
upon satisfactory proof that it will afford a reate.,nable
outlay for the capital required "
"That a committee be appointed to take the requisite
steps to effect this object, upon the distinct understanding
and agreement proposed by Mr. Pearson, that no com-
mittee-man, director, or subscriber, shall be made liable
for any past expenses, and that no person shall be em-
ployed or any disbursement incurred except with the
written undertaking that Mr. Pearson will defray the
charges of the requisite steps, and that the deposits shall
andbs
uo
bs
cpaidthatr ibiendi to o
beforett
hh
reee• Bankfo
juarnot fuh
asEn r
yo England dee
each
hpt hi capital
name
subscriber
l
requiredf
shall
hbalel trustees,no
re-
ceive back his deposit without deduction."
The resolutions were passed unanimously, and with
loud applause.
The committee, which included the names of the
chairman, Mr. Raikes Carrie, M.P., Mr. Wm. Williams,
M.P., and Mr. Sheriff Croll, was then appointed, and,
after a rote of thanks had been passed to the chairman,
and three cheers given for Mr. Pearson, the proceedings
terminated.

•
The Rev. Gentleman commenced the interesting pro-
ceedings by offering up prayers for the success of the
undertaking, which he followed by a most eloquent and
appropriate address, in which ho descanted upon the
necessity for the establishment of such a charity, and
the great advantages which were likely to result from it.
G. PAILNTIIER. I]sq., one of the managing committee,
gave a history of the rise and progress of the institution,
which he said had been established at Cannon-row,
Westminster, daring the eventful year of 1851, for the
purpose of relieving persons afilicted with cancer ; but
that institution extended its benefits to out-patients only.
The building which they had that day met to open was
nrrangedtorthe reception of in-patients, and had been
found necessary
in consequence of the great increase of
that dreadful disease, cancer, the mortality from which,
as was shown by the registrar's report, had been nearly
doubled during the past 11 years. No lees than 315
patients had been treated at the institution in Cannon-
row, since its establishment ; but the want of an appro-
priate receptacle for in-door patients had been so severely
felt, that by the aid of many benevolent individuals—
particularly Mrs. Wolrige, of Reading, the sum of nearly
2,5001. had been raised for that purpose, which had
caused the present interesting proceedings, and the ap-
propriation of such fund would be duly accounted for in
the next annual report.
Dr. CHAMBERS reminded the meeting, that they were
indebted for the origin of the Society to Dr. Marsden,
the senior surgeon, who was an old member of the me-
dical profession, and the founder of ono of the most use-
ful hospitals in the City of London. (Hear.) Ile need
owdhcmotaeonnit
unidhsyl ueds
smmc
mbonpaevet
made
discovered
medical
dans,
wl
fanioont
scarcely observe that, if a remedy could be found ,for
tooin
institutions,
effir
surgery,d h
dwe
cancer.weari sust
hn bndetaorhl N
neto
eddn stmuctihons, thtohe amopsetehamt'igbhyt
gshianenmwghe discoveriesntspoue etdch eieshsCa wta w
Cancer
t chi
ceehre
exertions
et erbntei
dni
Hospitalnendgs
Kingdom,L
oiadon, this
orinwEanar tnlapen, only institution in the
United
kindred labours in the department of consumption.
exclusively
(Hear.) With the exception of a ward, in a single hos-
pital
i'
cases of cancer. (Hear.)
Dr. MARSDEN said it was a great consolation
to
devoted h tom
to find that the objects he and those associated with him
had in view 18 months ago were now beginning to be
appreciated. Their eall had been amply responded to
by the public, and it was impossible that an institution
of this nature could be other than successful. They had
been obliged, it was true, to commence in a moderate
way. There were at present 12 beds, but they found
they would only bo justified in filling six. It should,
however, be recollected that there were a great many
out-door patients, whose treatment was necessarily very
expensive. Indeed they had been compelled to withhold
assistance from many applicants. Mr. Parnther had
alluded to the jealousies that had crept in among those
who belonged to, or wished to establish, rival institutions,
but he (Dr. Marsden) could not himself understand the
existence of a "rival institution," unless it were to rival
in doing good, and he sincerely trusted that such rivalry
would always exist. (Cheers.) He was convinced that
the greater the cry to put down the hospital, the more
unanimous would be the efforts of its friends and sup-
porters to raise it in public estimation. (Hear, hear.)
He had said so of another institution with which his
name had been connected, and which now gave relief to
1,000 persons in a week; and ho hoped the same might
bo verified in the case of this hospital—not of course to
the same extent, for he should be sorry if so many as
1,000 individuals should require its aid. As far as their
labours had gone, they had been highly satisfactory to
themselves. In almost every instance relief had been
afforded, and some 15 or 16 very doubtful cases—for he
must certainly admit that—had been discharged cured.
(Hear.) He did not hesitate to declare, that, every one
of those casss had been pronounced cancer by some
medical institution or other in the metropolis. (Hear.)
By the classification of a great number of cases, and by
concentrating their attention upon them, they might ere
long be able to pronounce something like hope of a cure
for this extraordinary malady. There were many
diseases which 100 or 50 years ago were considered
wholly incurable, which were now looked upon in a very
different light. He believed there was no aflalction for
which Providence had not provided a remedy, if only
men of skill and ability would direct their attention to
it; and if he lived much longer he hoped to be able to
declare a cure for cancers. (Cheers.) Until such a
euipununatiOn was attained, the officers of the institution
would not relax their exertions; and the great anxiety
would bo to assuage the sufferings of the patients.
(Cheers.)
After some interesting observations from Mr. W.
COOKE, the company separated.

NAVIGATION OF THE RIVER SEVERN.—AII important
special meeting of the Commissioners for the improve-
ment of the navigation of the Severn, incorporated by
the Act of sth Victoria, was held at Worcester on Thurs-
day afternoon, to determine on the propriety of imme-
diately applying to Parliament for powers to complete
the improvement of the navigation of the river between
Worcester and Gloucester. The chair was taken by Mr
W. P. Price, M.P., in the absence of the Right Hon. Sir
John S. Pakington, M.P., president of the commission.
The Severn Commission is vested with powers to improve
the navigation of the Severn from Gloucester, a present
shipping port, up to a point above Stourport, a distance
of aboutmt 46 miles, and between Stourport and Worcester
the river has been permanently improved by the con-
struction of fine locks and weirs, and the equalization of
the channel. The report of the committee appointed to
look into the matter set forth the present inadequacy of
of the accommodation, and recommended that Sir W.
Cubitt's plan of 1847 for the construction of another
lock and weir in the river at the Upper Lode, near
Tewkesbury, should be adopted, the river between
Tewkesbury and Gloucester tieing improved by embank-
ments, dredging, te..c. Mr. E. L. Williams, the resident
engineer, estimated the cost of the works at 35,0001,
and. it was proposed to raise other 20,000/. to pey off
existing and accruing liabilities. The meeting, which
had deputations from all the interests of the district,
unanimously resolved to apply to in the ensuing session
of Parliament for powers to construct the proposed works
and raise the 55,0001.
NEW COMMON LAW ORDERS.—The new rules and
orders under the Common Law Procedure Act will be
forthwith issued. The judges of the Common Law Courts
who are required by the new act to frame the rules, assem-
bled at their chambers in Roll's-gardens on Thursday to
settle the same. Already a good many writs have been
issued under the new act, and where they are " specially
endorsed," stating the amount and other particulars, judg-
ment can be obtained the writ alone in eases where there
is no plea. All rules to plead are abolished, and in default
o. f the defendant appearing to the writ of summons, final
judgment may be signed and execution issued at the expira-
tion of eight days from the last day of appearance. Under
the old system it was necessary to enter an appearance and
to plead declaration before judgment by default could be
obtained. The saving of time and money under the new
act will be beneficial ; and as there will be a considerable
reduction in the expense of the superior courts, it is ex-
pected that in the county courts a similar process will
be adopted.
SINGULAR CIRCUMSTANCE.—At daybreak, on Fri-
day, a female was discovered lying on the sand close to
a flat north of Woodside-slip, Cheshire. Her body was
quite cold, and she appeared to be lifeless. A police-
officer and another man removed her to the house of a
surgeon, who on examination pronounced the woman to
be living. Brandy and other restoratives were then
promptly administered to her, and in a short time she
had so far recovered as to be able to give an account of
herself. She gave the name of Alice Wilson, and stated
that she had been an inmate of Rainhill Lunatic Asylum
up to Tuesday last, when she was discharged as being of
sane mind. Since that day she had rambled about
Liverpool, and on Wednesday night she crossed the river
in the ten o'clock boat, with the intention of seeing her
daughter, who lived in Birkenhead. On reaching Wood-
side she wandered about for some time, when she became
sleepy, sat down upon some steps leading to the place
where she was found, and recollected. nothing further.
If this statement be correct, it is miraculous that the
woman was not drowned.
WELLINGTON'S FUNERAL.--Amongst various sug-
gestions forwarded to us in connexion with this event is
one that as the Government are evidently desirous that
all classes should have an opportunity of witnessing the
procession, the " Woods and Forests" should permit
some respectable contractors to erect covered tribunes
in the Green-park, next Piccadily-, with the stipulation
that only a small sum should be charged for each person
—say ss. the best scats, and ranging to Is.— Builder.
FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.-011 Friday an acci-
dent of a shocking nature occurred on the Reading and
Basingstoke branch lino of the Great Western Railway,
at Pinge-wood, Burghfield, to a poor old widow named
Elizabeth Withers, aged 70 years. The deceased, who
was very deaf and partially blind, lived at Arbor Farm,
close by the line,'
ever which there is a crossway. She got
on the lino with the intention of going to her daughter's,
a Mrs. Cooper, living near, and while in the act of cross-
ing it the 2 p.m. train from Reading was passing on the
down line, and, coming up at the moment, struck her,
killing her on the spot.
A RAILWAY TO THE SUN.—lmagine a railway
hence to the sun. How many hours is the sun from us ?
Why, if we were to send a baby in a railway train, going
incessantly 100 miles an hour without making any
stoppages, the baby would grow to be a boy—the boy
would grow to be a man—the man would grow old and
die—without seeing the sun, for it is distant more than
100 years from us. But what is this compared with
Neptune's distance ? Had Adam and Eve started by a
railway to go from Neptune to the sun, at the rate of
50 miles an hour, they would not have got there yet,
for Neptune is more than 6,000 years from the centre of
our system.

__—
The Liberal party in Herefordshire have by the recent
revision materially mended their position. In Ross and
Ledbury their increase amounts to 150. The Hereford
Times states that, were the electoral roll in the same
state at the last election as it is now, Mr Cornewall
at
Lewis would be in all probability one of the sitting
members.
CONVICTION OF A NOTORIOUS BURGLAR.--At the
Somersetehire sessions this week, William Mago, 4
notorious burglar, the head of a gang which has long in-
fested the neighbourhood of Frome, was found guilty of
stealing a quantity of milk, and sentenced to 15 years'
at rgaani snps ot r
mt a tat
go ng .8,
fTorhewrehicish ahlesowiall cbheatrrgieedo the neat
burglary
assizes. His accomplice in this burglary was convicted
at the last assizes, and sentenced to 10 years transpor-
tation, in addition to 15 years, to which he had been
previously sentenced at the sessions, making 25 years

in all
MURDER OP
MR, MANIFOLD.— The magistrates of
the southern division of the King's County met in Par-
sonstown, on Thursday, to consider measures to be taken
in reference to the recent murder of Mr. Manifold. The
Earl of Rosso presided, and 33 magistrates were in at-
tendance. A sum of upwards of 3004 was subscribed
by those present, in addition to the Government reward
of 100/., for any informatioa which would lead to the
conviction of the murderers.
THREATENING LETTER.—A few days since a threat-
ening letter was received through the post-office of Par-
sonstown, by William White, Esq., directing him to
leave that town, and give up his employment under the
Earl of Rosse, or otherwise he would meet the same
death as Mr. William R. Manifold. Government have
offered a reward of 201. for such information as will
lead to the arrest of the person or persona concerned in
writing or sending the letter.
THE LATE DUKE.--The citizens of
memor Norwich have
determined upon erecting a statue to t
he
JIM Duke of Wdliugton. of the

SUBMARINE 7'ELL3GRAPH COMPANY.

1 If I all the myths of the old poets were realie ad to-
morrow, not one of them would stand a chance w ith the
hard practical realities of the electric telegrapb s The
boldest story-teller of Rome or Greece never di eamt of
annihilating time and space, even for the expre as pur-
pose of making two lovers happy ; and the most extra_
vagant metamorphose ever imagined by Ovid migi it have
been readily believed a century ago by the st ernest
philosopher of the age, if he could first have been made
to swallow and accredit the prophecy, that his descen-
dants could walk down to Cornhill and receive a reply to
a message to Paris in a minute. The celebrated Hiber-
nian bird, which contrived to exist in the flesh in two
places at once, must have encountered difficulties to which
the magnetic current is a stranger ; and, except that
ornithological phenomenon, of which no specimens at
present exist, there is certainly in art or in nature no-
thing more wonderful shan this mastery, which man, by
the aid of a few plates of metal, some acid and wire, has
obtained over the subtle fluid, the effects of which are as
patent and striking as its source is mysterious. The
electric &fib—the type of all that is swift and destructive
in the elements—is here chained to the car of commerce,
or wielded by curiosity or caprice. The message flies
" ore one can say It lightens.'" The electric fire is
bottled up in little wooden cases with brass knockers and
screws, or is served out at will from oblong jars under
the counter, moulding itself into the inflections of every
language, and adapting itself to the exigencies of every
thought, and beating that old but remarkably fast person
—Old Time—hollow, whenever the race is long enough.
There are some dissatisfied people who wish they had
been born a little later—they want to see the full deve-
lopment, they say, of the twin giants steam and electri-
city—to listen to the first announcement of the great dis-
cover who shall pierce the darkness that hangs over the
birth-place of those family connections whose exact re-
lationship they as yet know not, and proclaim the parent..
age of Light and Heat, and lightning in its varied forms.
It is privilege enough for us to live in an age when,
science having ceased to be empirical and impious, de-
votes itself to the practical wants of man, and, astonished
at its success, confesses still how little it knows of its
future, without our grudging to those who may come
after the fruits of its more matured enterprise and ex-
periment. There were many persons present yesterday
at the opening of the direct telegraphic route between
Cornhill and Paris, and yet there were comparatively
few of them who could not remember the starting of the
first seagoing steamer—but some, perhaps, who could
not recollect the inauguration of the first railway, and
not one who might not be able to call to mind the
time when Faraday first compelled the sly spark to
twinkle forth from the reluctant magnet. The interest
attached to the proceedings yesterday arose from the
circumstance that, though a telegraphic communication
has existed for some time between London and Paris, by
means of the submarine electric telegraph in connexion
with the wires on the Dover line and those on the
Northern of France, yet that this was the first attempt
to speak direct to Paris from Cornhill by the wires of
the Submarine Telegraph Company, and the European
and American Telegraph Company, which have laid
down a line of wires along the mailcoach road from
London to Dover, where it is connected with the sub-
marine cable, and thence is brought into communication
with the French line to Paris. The Submarine Tele-
graph Company originated in a ooncession gained from
the French Government, chiefly through the exertions
of Mr. Brett, and which was granted in 1849, to last for
ten years, on condition that it was carried oat at
the end of October, 1852. It will be recollected
that an experimental insulated wire was laid down
across the Channel to test the practicability of
the scheme, which answered the purpose and
proved the thing was feasible, though destroyed
a few hours afterwards. Thereupon the company ap-
plied to the public for money, but without effect, and
several capitalists, who were asked for funds, also re-
fused. Mr. Crampton, the well-known engineer, whose
locomotive obtained the Council medal at the Great Ex-
hibition, then undertook to carry out the project, in do-
ing which he risked not only his professional reputation,
but incurred the chief pecuniary responsibility. The
line was successfully laid down in time to save the con-
cession. It has stood for a year, without the slightest
deterioration, the action of sea-water, the storms of the
Channel, the tides and currents, and even the purchase
of a ship's anchor dragged across it in a gale of wind.
Mr. Crampton was assisted in the undertaking by Mr.
Wollaston, the other engineer of the company, and the
triumphant success of this first attempt may be the more
readily appreciated, when it is remembered that three
distinct endeavours have since been made to lay down
wires across the Irish Channel, all of which have
failed. Two of these have been complete failures, and
the third project is still in so imperfect a state that its
ultimate efficiency is at least problematical. Mr. Brett
was the contractor for the line from London to Dover,
Mr. Crampton (with Mr. Wollaston) being the engi-
neer, and Mr. F. Edwards, one of the directors of the
company, and Messrs. Davis and Campbell, solicitors,
carried out all the business arrangements in counexion
with the undertaking. At 1 o'clock the offices of the
company, at 30, Cornhill, were thrown open to all who
took an interest in the proceedings. A great number of
persons looked in during the day, which was " close"
holyday on the Stock Exchange and on the Paris
Bourse. Among them were Lord de Manley, Mr. Mas-
terman, M.P., Mr. Samuel Laing, M.P., Earl Cadogan,
'An Chaplin, AT P.. C,otint do R rn Knbez,
Count Strelecki, C. 8., Mr. E. Bunsen, Mr. Samuel Gur-
ney, Sir James Weir Hogg, Bart. (Chairman of the East
India Company), the Astronomer Royal, the Hon. F.
Byng, the Hon. Colonel Dawson Darner, Chevalier Col-
quhoun. Sir J ames Carmichael, Bart.. the Hon. F. Cudo-
gan, Mr. John Greene, M.P., Mr. W. Gladstone, Sir
Claude Scott, Bart., Mr. J. Tuffnell, Mr. Charles
Knight, Chevalier Hebeler, Mr. Baring, Mr. C. Klin-
glerman, the Hon. E. Cunard (Member of the New
Brunswick Provincial Assembly), Colonel Morse Cooper
Captain Douglas Galen], R. E., Colonel Chauncey, Ma-
jor Carmichael Smith, Mr. Crampton (engineer), Mr.
Davies, Mr. Campbell, &c.
On going upstairs into the instrument-room, at one
o'clock, we found the French machine, invented by
Brequet, whose name is so well known here, at work, in
direct communication with Paris. The appearance of
the instrument is attractive; instead of the dials, with
double needles now so familiar to most of us in the or-
dinary" speaking" part of the electric telegraph, there
is a small black arm working in jerks from the centre of
a white dial, so as to describe angles of 46 and 96 deg.,
with a fixed vertical line passing through the centre,
performing, in fact, the action which any one walking
past the Admiralty might have seen in full play when
the semaphore on the top was at work. The motion of
the handle which governs the electric current, and the
motion of the arm are necessarily rotatory also, and the
little arm moves round very quickly, indicating the let-
ters by the various angles it forms with the centre line.
The reason why this system was employed reflects
some credit on the French Government. It is well
known that the semaphore system was very exten-
sively used in France, and, as the electric wires dis-
placed those comparatively slow means of communica-
tion, the Government, anxious that the employ& under
the old plan should not be thrown out of work, and that
their skill and experience should be made subservient to
the uses of the State, adopted this rotating arm on the
dials of the telegraphs, which perform in petto all the
motions of the old semaphores or signal-posts with arms.
The French Government had sent over this machine
under the care of MM. Guichon and Deshayes, being,
en doubt, pardonably jealous of the reputation of France
in such matters, and anxious that their own plan should
be adopted on the new line as it prevails from Calais to
Paris and all over France ; but whether it was from the
unfavourable character of the weather or some other
cause—the extreme delicacy of the apparatus, and the
difficulty of obtaining the proper balance of power for it
were suggested as a likely one—it did not seem very
successful. Indeed, the French gentleman in charge of
it said that the very perfect insulation of the submarine
cable was against them, for it returned the current
in the wire. It is also to be observed that this machine
was worked by a very large galvanic combination,
consisting, apparently, of 25 or 30 batteries of 12 plates
each. Several communications took place by this appa-
ratus ; but the working of it was said not to be so satis-
factory as that of Wheatstone's. A wire having been
secured for the ordinary double-needle telegraph, after
the exchange of some preliminary talk, the following
message was received almost instantaneously after the
announcement that the communication was completely
in working order, by means of the French machine, from
Paris to London :—" M. Foy (Director-General of
French Telegraphs) presents his compliments to the
Hon. F. Cadogan."
Shortly afterwards a message was received, "Foggy
in Paris.'
A message was transmitted from London to Paris,
" Strangers are visiting the London office. Please send
a few words.
The answer was " Wait."
After some further experiments, the following message
was received from Paris :—" This clay is very unfavour-
able for transmission between London and Paris. The
atmosphere is very damp. We are to try a double-
needle instrument in direct communication between
Paris and London." was
At 10 minutes past 2 (London time) the
asked of Paris, " What time is it ?" question
The answer was, "2.10 p.m."
An inquiry was then sent to Arras, 120 miles from
Calais, as to the state of the weather.
was, "Overcast
The answer, received immediately,
and shill."
Inquiry was made of the name of the transmitting
clerk. The reply
aent and answers received
Several other mesas
was, " Brassard."
during the day, and wgheesn:
on the wires seemed
Fjohneststone's telegraph was
brought into play the a
good
some what better. A
ural
idneasl
ucobf
acodnafyusioofn
ptroeolik.
place. as was very
.r.Titn
between the various ma_
urinary experinientali
sure if rho statement is
chines, and we are scarcely
correct, that Wheatst.one telegraph had a wire to
itself, while it is quite certain that a great deal of
speaking went on With Calais to obtain a separate wire,
e
not only for that telegraph, but for Br tt's printing tele-
tele-
graph, which was also in operation. Early in the day
the following message was sent to Paris. It will be seen
the directors of the company have been the first body in
this country to acknowledge the Empire
The directors of the Submarine Telegraph Company
beg leave to approach his Highness the Prince President
with the expression of their best thanks for the assist-
ance which he has uniformly given towards the estab-
lishment of this instantaneous means of communication
between France and Great Britain.
" May this wonderful invention serve under the Em-
pire to promote the peace and prosperity of the world.
" Dated Ist November, 1852, 30, Cornhill, London."
Up to midnight the President had not sent any reply.