The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-26 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIMM

WISBECH, PETERBOROUGH, ANIj SUTTON.
O❑ Monday the formation of this lino wag com-
menced on the estate of the Duke 'of Bedford, at
Thorney, when the first sod was turned by Mr. R'
Young, of Wisbech, in the presence of a large num-
ber of persons. Immediately after the ceremony of
turning the first sod about 100 men were set to
work, and as the materials Will be rapidly supplied,
it was expected the works would be far advanced
by Christmas next. It appeared that Mr. Young
had made great exertions to obtain a direct line
from Wisbech to Peterborough, which via 3 now in
course of being accomplished.

CRYSTAL PALACE AND SOUTH LONDON
JUNCTION.

The works on this line are proceeding rapidly,
although they are very heavy. Of the 840 yards in
length of tunnels about three-fourths have been
completed. There is a very heavy cutting near the
Crystal Palace, of which rather more than one-
fourth has been removed, so as nearly to enable the
contractors, Messrs. Peto, Bets, and Crampton, to
commence tn foundation for the terminal station
close to the Crystal Palace at Sydenham. The en-
trance to the Palace from the station will be by
means of four distinct subways under the existing
road in front of it—two subways for visitors to the
Palace, and two for returning to the railway sta-

Lion. One of the subways leading from the station
to the Palace, and one from the Palace to the rail-
way, will be reserved exclusively for first-class pas-
sengers, which it is expected will prevent the crush
and confusion that usually occur on crowded days.
The new station is to be about 20 feet below the
level of the floor of the central transept of the Pa..
lace, and a distance of about 60 yards, which will
be a great improvement as compared with the en-
trance from the existing Crystal Palace station, the
ascent from which is 129 feet, and the distance
about 1,300 feet. It appears that every endeavour
will be made to open this new line to the Crystal
Palace by May 1, 1865, to which by means of the
metropolitan extensions of the London, Chatham,
and Dover Company there will be access from
Blackfriars-bridge, the Metropolitan, Great North-
ern, Great Western, and other lines of railway.

LAW INTELLIGENCE—May 25,

VICE-CHANCELLORS' COURT,
(Before Vice-Chancellor Sir John Stuart.)

THORNTON V. HAMSDEN.

The Vice-Chancellor gave judgment in this case, which
related to the right of the tenants of the defendant, Sir
John Ramsden, Bart., the member for the West Riding of
Yorkshire, to certain property claimed by them at Rudders
field. In 1837 it appeared that there existed a system of
granting, on very advantageous terms, leases by the then
Sir John Ramsden to his tenants, such lease being renew-
able every 20 years on payment of a fine. The present plain-
tiff became a tenant of a stone quarry and some land in that
year, which he improved and built a house upon, thus in-
creasing its value. Sir John Ramsdell died in 1839, at
which time the estates were vested in trustees until the
present defendant should attain his majority, which he did
in 18.52. The plaintiff, like many others, had, therefore, in
accordance with the custom of the estate, been let into pos-
session of this property by Sir John Ramsden's agent, with-
out any written agreement, the then agent (who had since
been discharged) undertaking to obtain one for 60 years on
mere nominal terms. In 1844 the trustees were empowered
by Act of Parliament to grant leases for 99 years at large
rents, and in 1857 an act was framed by the tenants
themselves, with the sanction of Sir John Ramsden ; but
after this act was passed disputes arose, and in order to
settle these disputes the present proceedings had been taken.
The plaintiff contended that he was entitled to a per-
petual right of renewal, which he called a tenant-right;
that he had been duly admitted by Sir John Ramsden's
agent on that understanding. This was, however, denied
by the defendant, who contended that he was only a tenant-
at-will,
The Vice• Chancellor delivered judgment, which occu-
pied about 20 minutes, the summary of which was that his
Honour had no power to disturb the plaintiff or any other
person in a position similar to that of the plaintiff as a
tenant of Sir John Ramsdon at Huddersfield. Accordingly
he must direct that plaintiff was entitled to a lease under
the Act of 1814, he paying double rent from the time (3,
granting the lease, and of course paying also the fees upon'
renewal, Ills Honour said the case must be considered as
that of a person who had entered upon a property under a
verbal agreement, with the agent of the landlord, that he
was to have a lease from the landlord on applying for it.
On the faith of that the plaintiff here had spent a large sum
of money upon the premises (£800), and the lease to be given
to him must be founded on the Act of 1844. Defendant to
pay all the costs of the suit.