The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-21 00:00:00

ABRIDGED PROSPECT US,

------- - -
This Corporation has been formed for the purpose of
uniting the ordinary business of a Finance Company with
toat of an Estate Agency--a want not yet supplied by any of
the existing Companies.
The business of the Corporation will consist of two distinct
branches—viz., Financial Transactions and Estate Agency
Business, and competent representatives will be appointei in
the principal towns.
The Financial Department will consist of advancing money
on real and personal estate, whether intended for sale or
otherwise, and on such other securities as the Directors may
approve. The Corporation will act also as agents between
Mortgagors and mortgagees, and will negotiate subscriptions
or loans for British and foreign undertakings, the bona fides
of which w'll be strictly investigated before they are sub-
mitted to the public.
The Estate Agency Department will embrace valuations ;
the Purchase end sale of estates, lands, and houses; the
Management of estates, and the carrying out of drainage and
Other essential improvements ; also the sales of agricultural
produce, farming stock, and every description of properties,
by private contract and public auction ; and it is intended to
hold periodical sales of freehold and leasehold properties.
Several lucrative transactions have already been secured
by the Corporation ; and although the Directors consider the
present nominal capital ample for all immediate purposes,
power has been taken to increase the same should it be
ultimately deemed desirable.
By the Articles of Association (which lie for inspection at
the Temporary Offices of the Company), each Director Is
required to hold 2JO snares; and more than 2,C00 shares
have already been subscribed for by the Directors and their
friends.
Prost ectuses and forms of applicati,in for shares may be
obtained from the Banters and Brokers, or at the Temporary
(Ann a of the Company.

THE GENERAL FINANCIAL and ESTATE
AGENCY CORPORATION (Limited).
_ The Directors are now prepared to receive APPLICA-
TIONS from Established Estate Agents in the country to act
AB Representatives for the Corporation.
By order of the Board,
F. SPRY, Secretary.

TEETH.—Mr. ESKELL'S INVENTION in
the construction of ARTIFICIAL TEETH has the
following advantages :—A set of teeth, of excellent work-
Manship and mechanism, can be made and fitted with the
Most perfect accuracy and success, in a few hours, without
Pain or extraction of stumps, and to answer all the purposes
of mastication and articulation. They are fitted without
Wires or fastenings, and adapt themselves so perfectly to the
gums, that they are quite immoveable, except at the option
of the wearer. Invalids or residents in the country can ad-
just these teeth to many changes of the mouth without the
aid of a dentist. They are not so liable to injury, are always
useful, and will last a lifetime. Comfort guaranteed. Trea-
tise explaining Mr. Eskell's Patent, &-c., free for 7 stamps.
Inspection of specimens and consultations ree.-B,Grosvenor-
street, Bond-street, W, ; and at 39, Bennett's-hill, Bir-
Mingham.

OYAL FREE HOSPITAL, Gray's-inn-road,
in the immediate vicinity of the Great Northern Rail-
Way Terminus, King's-cross.
Patron—Her Most Gracious Majesty the QUEEN.
Vio2-Patron—llis Royal Highness the Prince of WALE S,K.G
President—His Grace the Duke of BUCCLEUCH, K.G.
Treasurer—Edward Masterman, Esq.
The numerous and urgent appeals of the sick poor for ad-
raisslisn compel the Committee to entreat the bounty of the
affluent and humane, as the medical officers are daily obliged
t) treat as out-patients many distressing cases which. with
more adequate funds, they would gladly admit into the wards.
The premises of the Hospital are capable of containing 500
beds.
The Hospital is not endowed, but is wholly dependent on
Voluntary contributions and legacies, which are received by
the reasurer, Edward Masrerman, Esq., Nicholas-lane; also
y 7 Messrs. Coutts and Co. ; Drummond and Co. ; Herries and
Co.; Ransom and Co.;Prescott, Grote, and Co.; Smith,
a yne, and Co. ; G:yn '
and Co. ; Jones Loyd and Co. ; Barclay
anti Co. ; Denison and Co. ; W Riams, Deacon, and Co. ;
Overend, Gurney, and Co. ; Nisbet and Co., Berners-street ;
Afasterman and Co. ; I. Barned and Co., Liverpool ; and at
the Hospital, from 10 till 5.
STANFORD S. SMITH Secretary.

N°. 22,462.

LORD WILLIAM LENNOX'S NEW NOVEL.
Now ready at all the Libraries, in 3 vols.,
ADVENTURES of a MAN of FAMILY.
By Lord WILLIAM PITT LENNOX,
Author of " Fifty Years' Biographic 1 Reminiscences," &c.
Hurst and Blackett, 13, Great Marlborough. street.

Immediately, in 2 vole. post Bvo.,
MEMOIRS OF RICHARD WHATELY,
Archbishop of Dublin.

By IV. J. FITZPATRICK, Esq.
Richard Bentley, Publisher in Ordinary to her Majesty.

Price 65., and at all Libraries, with Portrait of Brother
IGNATIUS,

THREE MONTHS in an ENGLISH
MONASTERY. A Personal Narrative.

By CHARLES WALKER

"The attraction of Brother Ignatius as a preacher would
of itself soon fill any church with which he was connected."
—Church Review.

"The book is well written, and treats of matters interest-
ing in their details and most important in their general
bearing."—Observer.
Murray and Co., 13, Paterncster-row, E.C.

SECOND EDITION.—Now Ready, with Frontispiece by F.
Gilbert, toned paper, crown Bvo., price Gs.,

BEAUTIES OF TROPICAL SCENERY;
LYRICAL SKETCHES, and LOVE SONGS. With
Notes.

By R. N. DUNBAR.

9110 PERSONS SEEKING LANDED
ES.ATES, TOWN AND COUNTRY RESIDENCES,
FREEHOLD AND LEASEHOLD INVESTMENTS, AND
PROPER MIS GENERALLY—
To BE HAD GRATIS, at the principal Railway Bookstalls
throughout the kingdom, or at the Auction and Estate Offices,
No. 67, Chancery-lane, London, Messrs. E. and H. Lumley's
"FREE PROPERTY REGISTER," containing a varied selection
of landed and house properties now in the market, from
the nobleman's mansion, with its manorial domain, to the
cottage with its few acres.
OWNERS OF PROPERTIES wishing to Sell or Let can em-
brace the opportunity that the medium of this Register
affords,sending by the particulars of their properties to the
Estate Offices, 67, Chancery-lane, London, as the Messrs.
Lumley can in most cases introduce immediate castomers,
where the property is of an eligible character, thereby avoid-
ing the disadvantages of delay and its attendant incon-
veniences.

_LUCRE IS NO CHARGE incurred, unless a tenant or pur-
chaser is introduced throuzh Messrs. Lumley's Agency,
sad then only the usual moderate commission.
Auction and Land Offices, 67, Chancery-lane, London.

IL'iURNITURE, CARPETS, BEDDING, and
FLOORCLOTH, CARRIAGE-FREE to any house in
the kingdom, regardless of amount or distance. First-class
goods at second-class prices. Terms peculiarly liberal to
Clergymen and Gentlemen. An immense stock to select
from, displayed in Showrcoms occupying an acre of ground.
Every article warranted.
CLERGYMEN and GENTLEMEN ABOUT TO FUR-
NISH are respectfully informed that Messrs. Cobbett and
' • are publishing an entirely New Edition of their un-
equalled HOUSE FURNISHING GUIDE, illustrated by4lo
admi-able engravings of every description of Furniture and
Reasteads, with prices attached. A copy sent gratis and
post-free on application. This costly work also contains
complete estimates for furnishing on the following revised
tale !

"The glow, the grace, the colour of those glorious scenes
amongst which they were written, have been caught by the
author of these pleasant poems. . . The amatory passages
are worthy of Thomas Moore."—Critic.
"Even Thomas Moore did not avail himself as he might
have done of his trip across the Atlantic. The present author
has availed himself of the poetical treasures there in no scant
measure, and with much grace and power." —Morning Herald.
London: Robert Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly.

In a few days will be published, in a handsome volume,
gilt edges, price 215.,
EARLY PENCILLINGS FROM PUNCH
(chiefly Political), by JOHN LEECH.
London : Bradbury and Evans, 11, Bouverie-street, E.C.

A Six-roomed Parsonage £74 3 0
An Eight-roomed ditto
A Ten-roomed ditto ........
A Twelve-roomed ditto

Togethei with a Price List of purified Bedding, and a mass
of valnable informationto all requiring househ3ld furniture,
carpets, or bedding. References kindly permitted to Clergy-
men and gentlemen in or near Great Malvern, Southampton,
Chichester, Bury, Ely, Preston, Grimsby, Ryde, Plymouth,
Wells, Oxford, Brighton, Gainsborough, Margate. Kidder-
minster, Wellington, Croydon. Ca ridge. Staines, Dorking,
St. Alban's, Worcester, Ipcwich,"Peterborough, St. David's,
Wrexham, and above 500 other places in all parts of Great
Brita:u.

In a few days, price 10s. 61, Vol. 11. of
MR. CHARLES KNIGHT'S AUTOBIO.
GRAPHY. "Passages of a Working Life during
half a Century."
London : Bradbury and Evans, 11, Bouverie-street, E.C.

THE NEW NOVEL BY THE AUTHOR OF " LADY AUDLEY'S

SECRET," &C.
FOURTH EDITION.—This day, at every Library, in 3 vols.,
HENR Y DUNBAR.
Three Editions of this most popular Novel have been
exhausted in less than Three Weeks. The Fourth Edition
was ready on June 1. Beyond all Question, the New Novel,
"Henry Dunbar," has es cited more genuine public interest
than any other work issued this year.
Louden: John Maxwell and Co., 122, Fleet-street.

COBBETT and CO., General House Furnishers, Deptford-
bridge, London, S.E.

NEW NOVEL BY MR. C. J. COLLINS.
This day at all Libraries, in 3 vols.,
THE MAN IN CHAINS.
By the Author of " Sackville Chase," &c.
London : John Maxwell and Co., 122, Fleet-street.

SOllO ESTATE, HOUSE, AND GENERAL
BUSINESS AGENCY OFFICES.—Persons requiring
Freehold or Leasehold Property, or havinz Business and
Houses to be disposed of, should apply to Mr. CHARLES
MURRAY, Auctioneer and Valuer, 2G, Gerrard-street,
Soho, W.

MR. W. S. WOODIN' S
ELOPEMENT EXTRAORDINARY,

and
BACHELOR'S BOX,

an Entirely New Entertainment, at the Polygraphic Hall,
King William-street, Cnaring-cross, EVERY EVENING,
at eight (except Saturday); Saturday Mornings at three.—
Stalls, and box stalls, 3s. ; area, 2s. ; amphitheatre, ls. A
Plan of the Stalls may be seen, and Seits secured at the Hall
from eleven to five.
Next Morning Performance, Saturday, May 7, at three.

Valuations for Probate Administration, Fire Claims, Rail-
way Compensations, &c. Rents Collected.

MR. and Mrs. GERMAN REED, with Mr.
JOHN PARRY, TO-NIGHT, at Eight, in THE
PYRAMID. To be followed by THE BARD AND HIS
BIRTHDAY, by William Brougn, Esq., sustained by Mr. and
Mrs. German Reed; and, for the first time, THE SEASIDE,
or MRS. ROSELEAF OUT OF TOWN, by Mr. John Parry.
—ROYAL GALLERY of ILLUSTRATION, 14, Regent-
street. Unreserved seats, is., 25.; stalls, 35.; stall (spring)
chairs, 55.

THE 0 XFO R D,
6, OXFORD STREET, W.

THIS EVENING will be performed the new and success-
ful Opera, by M. Guonod, FAUST, with augmented band
and chorus, supported by the following talented princip3l
artistes :—Misses Russell, Fitz-Henry, Tyrrell, V 4 almsley ;
Messrs. Morley, Tivoli, Green ; and UN BALLO IN
MASCHERA.
Director. Mr. F. Jonzhmans.

To-morrow Evening, THE MERRY WIVES OF WIND-
SOR, by Otto Nicolai.
Comedy by UNSWORTH and EUGENE, Mr. T. Maclal...ran,
W. Randall, G. Hutchenson, G. W. Jester, Miss Nelly Powor
(the juvenile comedienne), &c., &o.

Admission—Area, 6d. ; stalls and balcony, le. ; private
boxes, 10s. 6d.

Open every Evening.

CAN.TERBURY HALL,
Westminster-road. London.

Mrs EVENING,
Will be produced, with alterations and improvements
in production, the New Illusion, surpassing anything yet
attempted, entitled THE TERCEN TENARY ; or,a NIGHT
WITH SIIAKSPERE, written express'y by W. F. Vander-
yell, Esq., in which Mr. W. Randall will re-appsar.

ALSO, PRINCE BLOSSOM;
OR, THE FAIRIES OF THE MAGIC FOUNTAIN AND THE
FOREST OF SHADOWS !

"The figure of Fame, winged and trumpeted, passing and
repassing through the Magic Fountain, i•s so complete an
Illusion that it wellnigh ceases to be illusory."--Morning
Star, Feb. 19.

Prince Blossom, Miss Townley.

In addition to the usual Entertainments of the establish-
ment, supported by the whole of the talented company, in-
cluding Arthur Lloyd, Miss Nelly Powcr, Mr. T. Maclagan,
G. W. Jester, itc. &o

A. ission—Area, ed.; Stalls and Balcony, ls.

MADAME TUSSAUD'S HISTORICAL
GALLERY; established 28 years at the Bazaar,
Baker-street.

NEW ADDITION. A full length portrait model of
DR. COUTY DE LA POMMERAIS, the Poisoner, taken
from the original photrgraph, by Mons. Trinquart, of Paris,
from life, is now added to the Chamber of Physiognomy.
Admittance, Is. ; Napoleon Rooms and Chamber of Horrors,
6d. extra.
Open from 11 in the morning till 10 at night.

ARGYLL ROOM S, Windmill-street,
Piccadilly,
ARE OPEN EVERY EVENING.
During this week a new Polka and two Waltzes including
" Absclaied Von Munchen," by Jos. Gung'l, played by com-
mand of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales at the State
Ball, will be performed.
Doors Open at Half-past 8, commence at 9.
Admission is.

GIVEN AWAY.—A Catalogue of the Wonders
contained in the LONDON ANATOMICAL
MUSEUM, to which is appended a Lecture on Marriag-e, Azc.,
Bvo., 200 pages, post free for two stamps.—Address, the
Secretary, 29, George-street, Hanover-square, London, W.

HARPER TWELVETREES' UNIVERSAL
CLOTHES WRINGER—Mrs. Beecher, laundress,
Queen Anne-road, Maidstone, says—" It will wring the finest
laces and pauslins, as well as full-sized counterpanes : and
does not press hooks or break buttons." Price 206, 3')8.,
carriage paid; or of ironmongers. City Depot. pi, Bishops-
gate-street, Within, E.C. ; Works, Bromleroy-Bow, Lon-
don, E.

MERCHANTS, MANUFACTURERS,
TRADERS, AND EXECUTORS.
ACCOUNTS arranged dnd adjusted, and Balance Sheets
prepared.—Financial operations organised and Banking fa-
cilities arranged -Cash Advances made on Trade Stock,
Dock Warrants, and other Securities, and Sales effected.—
The Agency of Provincial and Foreign Firms undertaken.
Address, Messrs. BANKES and Co., Accountants, 20,
Devereux-court, Strand, London, W.C.

PRIZE ME D A L.-INTERNATIONAL
EXHIBITION, 1862.
FRANCIS TUCKER & CO., Wax Chandlers, &0., &0.,
To the Queen and the Pt ince of Wales.
(Established 1720.)
The Jurors' Report on Wax and Church Candles, in 1882,
testifies to the excellence of the quality of Messrs. Tuckers'
manufacture.
A distinguished Dignitary, in a letter addressed to Franois
Tucker and Co., on the subject of
WAX CANDLES with PLATTED WICKS,

" full
have found them es
q to the recommendation-
say
which you gave them, and can sincerely, in my turn,
com-
mend them to the clergy for the use of the altar."
Finest quality, with latted Wicks, patented.. 2s. 2d. per lb.
Ordinary quality • • • •
.. Is. Od. per lb.
VEGETABLE CANDLES, with a Mixture of Wax.
Best quality • • • • • • • • • • • • 1 s. sd. per lb.
Second quality ls. 3d. per lb.
Third quality .. • • • • .• ls. id. per lb.
Carriage paid in London on Orders of Five Pounds in value.
FRANCIS TUCKER AND CO.,
8, South Molton-street, Grosvenor-square. Manufactory—
Kensington (Established 1730).
The largest Establishment in England for the Manufacture
of Wax Candles for the use of the Altar
------------

SHORTHAND.-PITMAN'S PHONOGRA-
PHIC TEACHER. 6d. ; free by post, 7d.

SHORTHAND.-PITMAN'S PHONOGRA-
PHIC MANUAL. Free by post, Is. 6d.

H OR THAN D.-"PITMAN'S PHONO-
GRAPHY forms an exceedingly efficient—probably
the MOST efficient—system of Shorthand that exists."—Sir
Rowland Hill.

giving way, caused a delay of 10 minutes in repairing, and
was very cleverly managed. At 5 33 Marina shifted balloon
r foresail for a smaller one, and at 540 shifted square-headed
for jib-headed topsail, and at 5 43 passed Volante to leeward.
They were soon beam and beam, and the South Foreland
was passed by Marina at 67, Volante, at 6 10. Blue Bell,
two miles astern to leeward, took in her topsail, Madcap
two miles astern of her, and the rest out of sight. At 6 25,
off Dover Castle, the main sheet strap of Marina's boom
gave way, and she lay to to repair. This considerably
threw her to leeward, and prevented her from raising the
mainsheet during the remainder of the race ; 30 minutes
lost. Volante enabled to make aboard to windward and
take second place, Blue Bell came up at 7 p.m , about 11
mile astern. Madcap now took the fourth place, Blue Bell
5, Vindex 6, 2 miles astern, wind and tide against them ;
and at 7 25 the position of the yachts was as follows :
Galatea first, 7 miles ahead, Volante 2, Madcap 3 (still with
two jib-headed topsails) going unmistakeably well, Marina
4, Blue Bell 5, Vindex 6, Medea 7, just in sight. Volante
now began to go ahead again,
and at 8 10 the positions of
the fleet were as follows :--Galatea 1, Volante 2, Madcap
3, Marina 4, Blue Bell 5, Vindex 6, wind W. and mode-
rate, cutters working under main and foresails, jib, jib-
headed topsails, and at 834 stood in for land. At 838
sighted Dungeness Light, bearing W,S.W. on starboard
bow, wind becoming light and sun down, Madcap
standing in, Volante 2, Vindex, two miles astern of Marina,
standing in on her lee quarter, Blue Bell ditto, a mile
astern, Medea and Night Thought out of sight. At 9 5
Manna was standing out off Sandgate, and Blue Bell stand-
hag in shore, miles astern—moonlight. At 11 10 Marina
came up to a fleet of about 200 vessels at anchor under the
Naas, waiting for a fair tide to the westward, and passed
Dungeness at 11 30 on starboard hand, wind W.N.W., and
an hour and a half flood left. Could discern by the bright
moonlight Volante half a mile ahead and standing out; Ga-
latea second, standing in ; Madcap third, having just made
a board inwards; Vindex five miles astern. It was now
midnight. Marina stood out, wind W.N.W., and at 12 5
stood in, wind freshening. Sounded lead 54 fathoms. At
12 14 Marina tacked again, Madcap and Galatea half a mile
ahead standing in to land; wind dead ahead and the Vo-
lante leading. At 143 the Marina (off Fairlight) passed the
Galatea to leeward. The lights of Hastings and St Leonard's
opened out in the distance. Fine topsail breeze, with bright
moon, At 155 Galatea stood in for land on the port tack,
Marina followed suit at 1 58, about 150 yards to windward.
A dashing rain and a heavy sea getting up. Ebb tide strong.
At 3 5 Marina on the port tack standing in for St Leonard's,
Volante two miles a head of her on the same tack ; Madcap
second, a mile and a half head, on the starboard tack; Ga-
latea fourth, a mile astern on port quarter. Beachy Head
was sighted at 3 30 a.m., hazy, and at 5 10 Volante stood in
on the port tack and looking splendid—clear blue sky, sun
shining brightly, and a heavy sea on—Marina half a mile
astern of her, Galatea astern of Marina, and Vindex behind
Galatea two miles ; Madcap further out in the Channel,
making a long board to the French coast, wind N.W. At
6 5 the Marina passed Beachy Head on the starboard tack,
Volante a mile ahead on the same tack, Madcap on her lee
bow, hull down; Galatea on her lee beam, three miles astern,
standing off on a long board towards the French coast; Yin-
dex two miles astern of the Galatea ; no others in sight.
Tide strong, two hours' flood. From 730t0 8 30 a,m. the
Marina and Volante were standing in and out, tack for tack,
Y Head Lighthouse, and
olante about a mile head,
awl
ho ne
ng
ot hff e t shore,h e
c n a spt
ga sus
ae
rdd t
sht ea
ti Beachnv
Wind and tide against them, with heavy rolling swell in
shore, the gutta percha vigorously at work on the canvas of
both yachts, the Vindex seven miles astern, and the schooner
somewhere to leeward out of sight. Splendid weather, with
a fair topsail breeze, At 9 a.m. the Marina passed Seaford,
and at 9 17 rounded the red buoy at the entrance to the port
of Newhaven, course W.N.W., wind due W., tide about
an hour to high water. At 918 Marina stood out on the
starboard tack, Volante ditto about a mile to windward, with
a tumbling sea, At 11 4 Brighton Pier was passed on the
port tack, Marina standing away past Shoreham, Volante
two miles ahead, and Vindex six miles astern. No others in
sight. After passing Shoreham Marina stood out for the
land on the starboard tack and took in a reef of the mainsail,
the wind increasing, with a lump of sea, Madcap leading,
Galatea second. At 1 p.m. passed Worthing, and stood
out on the starboard tack ; and 1 15 it appeared that the
topsail sheets of the Vindex had given way, and she took in
topsail. At 12 50 a schooner (the Albatross) hove in sight
five or six miles to windward, weather thick. At 150 Yin- i
dex set her topsail afresh. Volante now led by a mile and
a half, Marina second, Vindex third, four miles astern.
Wind had now veered to S. of W., course W.N.W. Bog-
nor sighted on starboard b2ara at 1 45. At 330 Volante
tacked for the Overs Channel and appeared to hold a good
wind. The Nat, I;slit and Doan T.;l }.any were
her at 5 40, by Marina at 6 6, wind and tide dead against
them, Vindex coming up four miles astern, steering N.W.
Volante passed the light ship at Warner a', 6 20 p.m.,
Marina at 6 45 p.m., and. both arrived, after a most excit.
ins, race, within a cable's length of Ryde Pier.
The yachts were timed as follows—

MADAME RACHEL'S CIRCASSIAN
BEAUTY WASH, Alabaster Powder, Royal Arabian
Soap, Alabaster Liquid, Circassian Bloom, Circassian Pre-
paration for the Eyes, Liquid Arab Bloom, Arab Bloom and
Arab Bloom Powder, Magnetic Rock Dew Water from
Sahara, Magnetic Cream, Circassian and Arabian Oils for the
Has-, Medicated and Preservative Balm, Enamel Powder for
he Teeth, 'Blanchinette Enamel Wash, Albanian Powder,
Albanian Cream Powder, Armenian Powder, pure Extracts
of the Lilies, pure Extracts of the China Rose. Alabaster
Cream, Favourite of the Harem's Pearl White, Sultana's
Cream, choicest Perfume of Arabia, Armenian Liquid for re-
moving Wrinkles. Madame Rachel's Circassian Golden Hair
Wash can only be obtained at 47A, New Bond-street.

Madcap .... Sunday 5h 53m 45s
Galatea .• • • » 6h Gm 25s

Volante .... .... 7h 13ia 20s
Marina ... • /, .... 8h 4m Os

Vindex
Blue Bell .. It .... 11h Om Os
Night Thought .......... not timed.
Medea ............ not 1 imed.
Thus ended one of the most exciting races that it has
been our lot to witness. The whole distance 170 miles, was
performed by the winner in a little more than 30 hours,
being the longest ocean or Channel race ever sailed.

„ and bore up for
9h 10m vs{ Southampton.

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•.. -.:.„,,, ,}2104:.,

THE SUN, LONDON, FU&DAy EVENING, JUNE 21, 1864.

The Railways ' and the Post-Office,

The Government has just bestowed on Sir Row-
land Hill a substantial acknowledgment of his ser-
vices in improving the ph ostal system of this country,
in the shape of a grant of £20,000, in addition to
his retiring pension. Whatever may be Sir Row-
land's title to be deemed an inventor, he has un-
doubtedly distinguished himself as a zealous and
enterprising administrator, an I no one will grudge
him the reward he has ree,,eived. At the same time
it is but fair to recollect .how much the postal ser-
vice has been dependent on the railways. The
penny post could never lat‘ve been carried out by
the old mail coach. It wao the locomotive which
made it possible, and it was Sir Rowland Hill's
good fortune that the commencement of the new
scheme and the development of the railway system
were contemporaneous. He started„ as it were, with
a rising tide, and it was to that as much as to any
skilful steering or tacking on his part that ho owed
his success. It might have been expected, there.
fore, that there would be a friendly feeling at St.
Martin's-le-Grand towards the railway companies,
and that they would be treated, if not with
favour, at any rate with justice and reason-
able consideration. Notoriously, however, the
very reverse has been, and, we regret to
say, is still the case. Whether it is that,
the managers have never ceased t o lament their for-
mer splendour, and cannot forgive the rival who
drove from the road the mail-coaches, with their
spanking steeds and royal liveried guard—" grand
and awful-looking in all the composure of a con-
scious superiority ;" or whether it; is only that they
have been eager to pinch and pare the expenditure
so that they may boast of a large revenue, we can.
not tell ; yet certain it is that from the very first the
Post Office has manifested a most illiberal spirit to.
wards the railways. At the outset it tried to ig-
nore them, and when at length compelled to accept
their aid, it took care to impose hard and ungracious
conditions. Last week, in speaking of the Irish
mails, we showed how shabbily the London and
North-Western, or perhaps we should r ether say the
Ciiester and Holyhead, were used; and that is only
one instance of the way in which the Post Office
deals generally with the companies whom it em-
ploys.

It is now some fifteen years since a committee of
the House of Commons was appoit tted to consider
how the services of the railway companies could be
secured to the Post Office. The result was a re-
commendation that commissioners should be ap-
pointed to arbitrate on this subject between the
department and the companies. In the debate which
followed the presentation of the report to the house,
Sir James Graham proposed that the arbitrators
should be instructed, in making their award,
to take into consideration the cost of the construc-
tion of the line in question. Lord Taunton, then
Mr Labouchere, and President of the Board of
Trade, insisted on the arbitrators being left wholly
free, but gave a pledge on behalf of the Govern..
ment that no attempt would be made to exclude the
cost of construction from consideration. Upon this
the amendment was withdrawn. There seems at
this time to have been, and perhaps there still
lingers, a feeling on the part of Parliament that the
railways have got their bills too cheaply, and that
more might have been squeezed out of them when
they were clients at the bar, and altogether at the
mercy of the two houses. " They ought to have
foreseen," said Sir R. Peel, " that if the railroads
were successful, other modes of internal communi-
cation would almost necessarily fall into disuse, and
they ought therefore to have stipulated, as it would
nave been perfcctly just and easy for them to have
done, that certain public services should be per.
formed at a reasooable rate." We admit the case,
but we question the justice with which such stipu-
lations could have been forced on the helpless appli-
cants for parliamentary powers. We see no more
reason shy railway cowponies should be compelled
to do work for next to nothing in order to swell the
revenue of a Government department, making a
large annual profit, than why shp'builders
should supply men-of-war, or ordnance mann •
facturers guns on similar terms. A railway com-
pany, it seems to us, has as good a right to make a
profit if it can out of the Government as out of any
other customer. The Duke of Argyle, however,
seems to have thought otherwise. In 1856 he in.
troduced
House
ntoret ahl
e wereof L
and
exclusivelyregulating the conveyance of the mails by railway,
h w
postal purposes : there were to be fines for every
little hitch in the working, and although a pre-
tence was made of making a" full allowance for
profit," it is clear that the principle laid down was
that the remuneration was to be " based on the
actual cost of running the trains," Parliament has
never had any scruples about " taking it out of"
the railway when it got a chance; but we are not
surprised that the duke's bill was found to be
ly a bill of painsrd
Lords
set penalties.
apart
measure forpa rt for
Certainhc trains as
rather too strong, and disappeared, never to be
renewed.

Mr. Lewins, in his very able and interesting work
on " Her Majesty's Mails," touches on this ques-
tion ; but he looks at it through official, and, there-
fore, discoloured glasses. He owns, of course, that
the gain to the Post-office through railways is
enormous, The mails are not only carried more
rapidly, but facilities are given for sorting them
on the journey. " But here," says Mr. Lewins,
" the gain ends ; and the cost of the service
really done is beyond all proportion. The cost of
carrying mails by coaches averaged 21d. per mile;
the average cost of railways is 10d. a mile, some
railways charging nearly five shillings per mile
for the service they render." We are not
quite sure of the accuracy of these figures; but even
accepting them, they involve a fallacy which we are
astonished so acute a writer did not perceive. Mr.
Lewins overlooks entirely the fact that a train
carries twenty, forty, nay, in some cases, even a
hundredfold more letters than one of the old mail-
coaches. On the main trunk lines, such as the North-
Western, in addition to the saloon carriage called
the travelling post-office, several vans are attached
to hold the bags. A quarter of a century since the
aggregate weight of the evening mails despatched
from London in twenty-eight mail coaches was only
4 tons 6cwt., or an average of 41 cwt. per coach.
Which is cheaper, a mail coach at 21d, per mile
carrying that insignificant burden, or a mail train
of our day carrying its ton upon ton of letters with
punctuality and despatch ? Why there is no com-
parison between the two things. Again, Mr Lewins
,o Batt ofl r; gdu.npnei
rn
mile,a tr a iann
dm
tayhubse
trheec kpo
onset!
said coustantly paying at the rate of from 60 to 300
d
use of a fraction of a train, may be
sopianffieyrniesceesn';otTr.ciahtnseheeecsxcess of the whole cost of the running."
Here lurks another fallacy. In business the loss on
any transaction must be measured not by the cost
price, but by the market value. Rails and plant
have a very limited life, which every journey
shortens; and, consequently, the loss on each mail
train must be calculated not by the cost of running,
but by the difference between the amount paid and
that which might be gained by a regular passenger
train. Fifteen pence per mile may be the ordinary
working expenses, but then it should be borne in
mind that the average sarning is over ss. per train
per mile. Mail trains, however, almost universally
far exceed the ordinary working cost. The speed at
which they travel involves a larger consumption of
tuel and much greater wear and tear. The limited
night mail between Euston-square and Perth,for ex-
ample, traverses the distance of 4M miles in 11 hours
and a half, or about forty miles an hour,
including stoppages. In that and other cases the
number of passenger carriages allowed to be at-
tached to the train is restricted. At present eight
mail trains are run on the main-line of the North
Western, each conveying post office carriages and
staff, and, of these, half are run specially, the num-
of passengers being limited. When these circum-

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PRICE...—...4d.
STAMPED'....Sd.

' stances are borne in mind, the grant of £82,416 to
that company for the conveyance of the mails ap-
pears by no means excessive, although, no doubt,
a large sum. The conditions under which a mail
train has to be run are usually so stringent and
exacting that they entail heavy outlay on the
company which runs it, and in arbitration not only
the working expenses but the cost of constructing
the line and the rate of its earnings ought to be
taken into account.

Another objectionable feature in the present sys-
tem is that while arbitration is pending the com-
pany has to do the work without receiving any■
thing on account. At this moment, we believe,
this is the case with several of the Scotch lines.
The grossest piece of injustice, however, is the direct
competition whieh the Post-office engages with the
railway companies in the transmission of parcels.
Of late years this branch of business has been gra-
dually extended, and is manifestly unfair, for the
railways are thus made to carry over and above the
legitimate objects of postal delivery, a description
of traffic intercepted from themselves without any
additional payment. We cannot help thinking
that the arrangement most equitable for both
parties, and most beneficial to the public, would be
to give the railways a pecuniary interest in the de•
velopment of the postal traffic.—. Railway News.