The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-19 00:00:00

THE 817'N, LONDON, TUESDAY EVANING, JULY 191 1864.

of High-street, Camden Town, and its vicinity find I
that the only benefit which this much-talked-of
line is to confer upon them is to transport them
over (or under) a distance which they might very
easily walk. If they are to travel by the circumlo•
eution route of the London and North-Western line,
they may as well start from the station at the
Eagle and avoid the annoyance of a junction. It
is very plain that the company feel themselves
altogether in the wrong in this matter, for by an
ingenious piece of management that bill has been
hurried through the Lower House without giving
the opportunity of opposition on the part of the
discontents. It was hoped, perhaps, that the ad-
ditional expense of opposition in the House of
Lords would deter those who felt themselves
aggrieved from pursuiLg their resolution so far.
Happily such is not the case, for Sir JOHN
SHELLEY intimated that the parties interested
would carry their opposition to the Upper House.
On the assembling of the Commons last Wednes-
day for private business, Sir JOHN SHELLEY called
attention to what he very appropriately styled a
piece of sharp practice the day before. The com.
mittee on the North Western and Charing-cross

Railway Bill had, he said, come to a conclusion
greatly affecting the interests of many residents in
the northern part of London, and these persons

were prepared to take steps to oppose the bill. They
received, however, no notice that the bill was to be
brought on at the twelve o'clock sitting on Tues-
day until ten o'clock on the morning of
that day: Sir JOHN SHELLEY very justly said
this was no notice at all, and the consequence
was that increased expense and delay would be
inevitable. Other members supported this com-
plaint, and it was agreed that twenty-four hours'
notice, at the least, should be given in a matter of
this kind. It certainly does not improve the case
of the Company, who are evidently aware that
they have incensed the parties interested by their
breach of faith, and who had too much reason to
anticipate opposition to be willing to give dissents
tients a fair opportunity of stating their grievances.
This is not the way to conciliate the public, nor to
induce other districts to lend a willing assistance to
the schemes of new projectors. Already there is
some uneasiness felt respecting the manner in
which bills of this kind are hurried through Pars
liament, and only yesterday " A Citizen," writing to
a contemporary, complains of the haste with which
the Metropolitan Districts Bill is being passed
through the necessary stages. This bill, which
largely affects the City, and indeed the metropolis
generally, commences its operations at Tower-hill,
and passes to Blackfriars, where it joins the Thames
embankment, going from thence along Victoria-
street to Chelsea. It was approved by the Corpora-
tion of London, the Metropolitan Board, and others,
but the Select Committee have shown it consider.
able favour, granting the unusual indulgence of
seven years for its construction. This is somewhat
extraordinary, as it is admitted that none
of the necessary funds are yet subscribed,
and therefore the whole project bears
too much the appearance of a speculation,
to have much claim on public consideration. How-
ever, it is but just to add that when it was moved
in the House yesterday, that 'the bill be read a
third time, Lord STANLEY, the chairman of the
committee, and other members spoke strongly in its
favour. There are of course many arguments pro
and con, but the public are anxious that all matters
of this kind should be thoroughly sifted, and it is
not enough to tell them that measures of this kind
are only framed with a view to the general good.
They require ample and convincing proof that it
is so, and a metropolitan railway is a work of such
time, expense, and labour, involving so many
and • such various interests that full time
should be allowed for the consideration of
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can certainly make no great difference in a task of
such magnitude ; but it might be supposed, from
the haste with which such schemes are pressed
forward, that a day's delay might be fatal. Un-
questionably the public derive great and lasting
benefit from railways, but they had need watch
over their own interests in regard to them notwith-
standing.