The Sun.
London, England, 1852-10-23 00:00:00

satisfactory answer to the great majority, if not to all,
these paltry charges.
As we have already stated, Captain Limn di-
vides his subject into three parts or heads-Ist. " The
road, and the contingencies connected with it, embra-
cing the very important subject of the permanent way.
2dly. The locomotive—the accidents and all relating
to that " extraordinary invention which has already
changed and ameliorated the whole surface of society,
and which is destined to work still greater revolu-
tions in the social fabric of the world "—and idly,
the casualties relating to the inattention to signals and
the neglect of regulations—the most prolific of all
sources of danger on a railway. There is scarcely
any contingency but must fall under one or other of
these heads. And the responsibilities of Directors
may, therefore, be feirly escerZained in the due con-
sideration of these topics.
Oa the first point,.Captain Hann declares that—
"As the intervals between the trains become less
frequent, as the speed of travelling is accelerated, and as
the heavy merchandizs traffic, which promises to form,
ore long, the most important feature in the receipts of
many lines, increases, the repairs become greater,
and at the same time more difficult to carry on. His
experience leads him to the conclusion that even more
attention tha❑ has hitherto been given to this fun-
damental question must be devoted to it in future. Im-
provements are continually introduced for the purpose of
obtaining a sound continuous road, and there is no doubt
that the recognized evils will eventually point oat their
own remedy. Fishing the rails is now a popular, and,
as far as partial experience can determine, an efficient
mode of strengthening a railway for the i-:c...ased traffic
it has to bear. Other nacase:es, having the E.:7-0 object
in view, are in course of experiment, and stone blocks
are generally being rejected in favour of wooden sleepers.
Heavier rails, with she.t3r bearings, are gradually being
introduced, wh( :ever relaying has become necessary, and
engineers are fully sensible that a road constructed to
support moderate trains, drawn by light engines at
low speeds, is utterly inadequate to endure the crushing
effects of monster locomotives at express speeds. The
defects of lamination, deflection, and splitting of the
rails are rapidly increasing; whilst transverse fractures,
a species of failure almost unknown a few years ego, are
now of frequent occurrence; and the difficulty of main-
taining the gauge of the line, under the present weights,
not only increases, but much of the oscillating motion
which is so unpleasant to the traveller, and so de-
structive to the stock employed, must be attributed
to the same cause."
Every exertion is made to obtain a superior quality
of rails, but the manufacturers, although of the high-
est character and position, are unfortunately degene-
rating in the produetion of a really unexceptionable
article. Many of the rails recently supplied have
showed symptoms of failure at an unusually early
period, and are, in some instances, worse after two or
three years than others previously supplied, which
had been subjected to precisely the same duty from
twelve to sixteen years. Comparatively few accidents,
however, fall under this bead, although " obstructions
designedly placed on the line," , are unfortu-
nately more numerous and difficult to be guarded
against than could be anticipated.
As to the " self•acting switches" and other points
requiring constant supervision, Captain Iluisu de-
glares that—

enabled to speak in a similar strain, even yet
more feelingly. After vanquishing the Sikhs,
the Mahrattas, and the Beloochees, after annex-
ing to our possessions in Asia, the Punjaub, the
Sutlej, and the magnificent province of Scinde, we
discover that we have obtained, it is true, dependencies
producing somewhere about 5,000,0001. sterling, but
we find also that that accession of dependencies has
entailed upon us an additional outlay of considerably
more than 6,000,0001.—an outlay, remember, very
formidable of its kind, because—permanent Inso-
much have these disadvantages been incurred by our
course of victories in Hindostan, that we have thereby
ingeniously added a new deterioration of precisely
1,470,0021. added to the general deficit. Had we
equal facilities afforded us in regard to the result of
the French conquests in Algeria, as we have in refer-
ence to the results of the English conquests in the
Oriental Peninsula, we doubt not but that we could
as readily prove by numerals the evils flowing from a
similar source in that direction, and to an extent al-
most equivalent. Without searching after the de-
plorable statistics of the pecuniary losses incurred by
France in the seizure and maintenance of her African
dominions, we may content ourselves with remarking
that, the fruits of all the gold squandered, and of all
the blood shed by her in the southern continent, have
been sufficiently lamentable to deter her statesmen
from adventuring rashly upon any kindred acts of
aggression and spoliation. As England has done
among the Asiatics, France has learnt a severe, but,
let us believe also, a salutary lesson among the Afri-
cans. It has been rendered more than ever apparent
to the rulers established respectively at Paris and at
London, that wars, even when they are wars of con-
quest, are injurious to the finances of every mercan-
tile and agricultural population. If France has de-
tected this truth even in the very act of altogether
subduing the Arabians—England perceived the un-
welcome fact glaring upon her recognition at the
very period when she was totally and triumphantly
subjugating the might of the Beloochees. We have
had to pay dearly for our efforts in opposing the wiles
of GHOOLAB SING, while our neighbours have had to
disburse almost as lavishly in striving to circumvent
the councils of the long indomitable ABD-EL.KADER.
Victorious we have both been throughout, but the
upshot of all our victories has been a deficit. We
have reaped laurels, no doubt, but we have had to gild
those laurels by a really enormous expenditure.
BUGRAUD gained his baton, and GOUGH his coronet,
but France and England have been alike compelled
to " Pay the Piper" in each instance. Glory
has been acquired in one direction by BUGEAUD
and LAMORICIERE, and in the other by NAPIER
and ELLENBOROUGH : but the end of all has
been, both for the French and the English, a con-
siderably increased expenditure. Experience, there-
fore, we avow again, and yet again, has thrust upon
the conviction of our leading statesmen the impolicy
of warfare, to say nothing of its atrocity, unless abso-
lutely imperative, because simply defensive in its
character.
Enlightened by reflection, enlightened by experi-
ence, the legislators of France and England are about
to assemble for the resumption of their duties on the
4th of the ensuing month of November. Acquainted
as we are with the significant facts here briefly but
suggestively enumerated, we may surely count with
some degree of confidence upon the pacific tendency
of the deliberations which ere now inevitable, in Par is
on the one band, and on the other in Westminster.
Instead of struggling into wordy contentions that
might lead to some insensate quarrel, the rulers of the
two countries should employ their most sedulous en-
deavours to bring about some more rational and bene-
ficent rivalry between the two mc3t enlightened and
energetic races of Christendom. Rivalry in the arta
and in the sciences, in commerce and in agriculture,
would—the world knows well enough by this time,
ridiculous though the notion at one period seemed to
be—shed more lustre on the annals of either than that
conferred by a Trafalgar or en Austerlitz. England
has long since evidenced her recognition of this en-
nobling truth by the magnanimous policy which in-
duced her, in 1846, to repeal the laws which hail
previously closed her porta against foreign produce,
and in 1849 to abolish those enactments which im-
posed invidious restrictions upon navigation. Until
Free trade has been accepted as the predominating
principle in the commercial system of the rest of the
great Powers of the eastern and the western hemi-
sphere, the splendour of the magnificent truth esta-
blished by Sir ROBERT PEEL cannot to the full be
revealed throughout Christendom. Already, how-
ever, the seeds thrown broadcast to the rest of the
world by England are beginning very visibly and
appreciably to germinate. The leaven is already fer-
menting in the mercantile policy of Europe ; and
other States more important, but not more enlight-
ened, than the Duchy of Tuscany, will before long
display the wisdom of our initiatory enterprise by the
abundant fruits of a tardy but inevitable emulation.
The reduction of oetroi duties levied at the gates of
Paris, and at those of the various cities and towns
scattered among the French provinces—reductions,
some of which have already been effected, and others
of which are spoken of as likely very speedily to
prove by no means improbable—indicate a willing-
ness for change we may not unreasonably regard as
tending to the ultimate abandonment in France of
the erroneous, and, amongst ourselves, happily the
obsolete, principles of so-called Protection. A little
while longer, and we believe in our hearts that the more
intelligent Powers of Western Europe will perceive
the policy of those Free-trade measures which, even
when operating in a one-sided manner upon the re-
sources of the United Kingdom, have tended so
enormously to stabilitate our institutions, by diffusing
the comforts of life among the industrial ranks of the
population—they will discover that, in the benignant
policy preached by RICHARD CORDER, and incorpo-
rated with our system by ROBERT PEEL, are vi-
sible the firmest guarantees for the maintenance of
international tranquillity—they will see that here,
indeed, by the aid of such principles, by the aid of
the principles disclosed by ADAM SMITH, and advo-
cated by WILLIAM HUSICISSON, mankind may at last
realize one portion at any rate of the Divine promises
contained in the solemn words of Holy Writ : and, if
they cannot cause the lamb to lie down with the lion,
if they cannot bring the golden days when—
" The tender infant in its hand shall take
The crested basilisk and speckled snake,"
they can at least bend the spear into the sickle, and
beat the sword into the ploughshare.

COU)

;AR.

WINDSOR, OCT. 22.

The following 11:11 the honour of dining with her
Majesty yesterday :—The Duchess of Kent, the Prince
and Princess of llohenlehe Langenburg, the Princess
Adelaide, and the Prince Hermann of Hohenlohe, the
Chevalier Bunsen, the Lady in Waiting to the Duchess
of Kent, the Baroness do Spetb: Colonel the ion.
Charles and Mrs. Grey, and the Rev. the Provost of
Eton, and the Hon. Mrs. Hodgson.
The Queen and Prince walked in the Home park this
morning.
The Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, and the
Royal children took their usual walking and pony
exercise.
Chevalier Bunsen left the Castle tb is forenoon for
London.

Archdeacon Hale had an interview with the Earl of
Derby, yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-
street.
Dispatches for the Governor-General of Canada were
sent off lest night from the Colonial-office.

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday afternoon at
the Foreign-office. The Ministers present were, the
Earl of Derby, the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of
Saliabtry, Mr. Secretary Walpole, the Earl of M mimes-
bury, Sir John Pakington, the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer, the Duke of Northumberland, the Right Hon. J.
W. Henley, the Earl of Hardwicke, the Right Hon. J.
C. Herries, and Lord J. Manners. The council eat three
hours.

THE MILITIA.
CIRCULAR, MEMORANDUM.

_ .
Holum GUARDS, OCT. 20, 1852.—1 t having been re-
presented to the General Commanding-in-Chief that it
would be greatly for the advantage of the militia about
to be enrolled if facilities were afforded to the officers of
acquiring a knowledge of their duty by being tempora-
rily attached for instruction to regiments or depots of
the line, Viscount Hardinge desires that such instruction
may be readily. and without hesitation, afforded by all
commanding officers of infantry in England and Wales,
upon the application of colonels of militia ; and his lord-
ship hopes that the best understanding may prevail on
all such occasions between the services, and that during
the period that officers of militia may be thus attached is
particular corps for instruotion, they may be admitted
as honarary members of the regimental or depot mess.
—By command, G. BROWN, Adjutant-General.

" It may indeed be remarked as ageneral rule
that so far from machinery being a means of safety
(when used for superseding personal inspection and
manipulation), it is usually a source of increased
danger, and the numerous clever contrivances and
complicated arrangements which are so continually
submitted to the examination and opinion of railway
men, though evidencing the ingenutty and industry of
the projectors, are generally valueless as practical
moans of opration. The greatest simplicity in every-
thing connected with the road, and the signals upon it,
will provide the nearest
approach to security, and in
proportion as such simplicity is departed from, it is
probable that a practical good will be sacrificed, in
endeavouring to attain a theoretical excellence."
On the second point, that of the locomotives, he
asserts that—
" The carriage stock of railway companies is gene-
rally of so superior a kind, both as to design and
construction, that accidents arising from their failure
are very rare. The wheels and axle-boxes are the
most severely tested parts of the vehicle, but if originally
of a proper construction, give very little trouble in their
maintenance and repair. Experience seems to give the
superiority to the wooden wheels, of which there are
many kinds in use. A spring sometimes breaks, and
.a
i
tyre occasionally fails. in which case the wheel is in
danger of flying to pieces, but the instances are so in-
frequent that they are not sources of much anxiety to a
railway manager. Defective workmanship, where
either the carriage or the principal parts of it are sup-
plied by contract, has specially to be guarded against;
where those are sound and the carriage is daily exa•
mined, it may be relied on for a very long period. Dur-
ing the last four years only six wheels have failed, in
the very large stuik of the London and North-Western
Comp2ny. The heating of axles, however, is a source
of frequent annoyance and alarm to passengers. Since
the bearings were increased in size, and more care has
been exercised, to make the cover fit close, and to
preserve the grease free from dust, when not in use,
this cause of trouble has diminished, and the recent in-
troduction of the patent axle•box, which, under proper
management, will run many hundreds of miles without
being fed, bids fair to obviate the evil to a considerable
extent, if not to prevent it altogether; still, on a hot
summer's day, in a district with sandy ballast, it is, and
will always be, very difficult to keep the axles of a fast
train cool. The couplings of carriages are seldom bro-
ken even by sudden jerks."
The merchandise waggon, however, apparently
constitutes one exception to the general rule. The
axles have been of very "faulty models and materials,"
and the destruction of property arising from this
cause has been sufficient to have paid for vehicles of a
very superior description. The evils arising from this
defective construction is greatly aggravated by the
fact of the waggons of different companies and of to-
tally different appearance, proceeding by the same
train—there should, in fact, be a uniformity of wag-
gons as well as of gauge, if accidents are to be avoided.
The most fruitful cause is, however, the neglect of
signals. The importance of punctuality is not under-
valued, but, with a well-regulated system of signals,
and a well-disciplined staff, the greatest irregularity,
whatever inconvenience it may produce, ought not to
lead to danger. The intelligent writer even asserts,
that, " to a certain extent, the very uncertainty of
the passage of trains produces safety, by the con-
tinual vigilance it necessitates ;" and he evinces a
proof thereof in the fact that, " as few accidents occur
in the most crowded thoroughfare of London, so the
most crowded part of a railway exhibits the greatest
freedom from casualty." We now leave this interest-
ing document in the hands of our readers, certain that
it will receive the attention it so eminently merits.

THE DUKE or WELLINGTON'S FUNERAL. We
have reason to believe that the funeral procession of the lite
Duke will be marshalled on the Parade-ground at the back
of the Horse Guards, and thence pass along the Mall in St.
James's-park, up Constitution•hill, and along Piccadilly, St.
James's-street, Pall-mall, and the Strand, to SL Paul's. This
alteration has been made out of deference to the expressed
desire of the householders along the line of route.
PROROGATION OF CONVOCATION.—The Convoca-
tion of the clergy of the province of Canterbury was yester-
day duly prorogued by the Vicar-General of the Archbishop
of Canterbury until Friday, November 5, pursuant to the
Royal writ.
Very large policies of Insurance are, we hear, being
effected in the City on the life of the President of the French
Republic. Whether a clause is irserted providing for an in-
crease in the premiums on revival of the Empire is not stated,
but the proposals for these insurances, even at a liberal rate,
have been refused in more than one quarter.
THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.—Last year the ex-
penses on account of the Houses of Parliament amounted to
154,9871., of which 5,0001. was the Speaker's salary; 91,5901.
the salaries and expenses of the officers of the two Houses of
Parliament, and 53,3971. for printing.
THE NEW INCOME-TAX.—According to rumour,
Government will propose to give a vote to every man who
pays Income tax, and to reduce the amount of income charge-
able with the tax from 150/. to 50/. ; thus striving to capti-
vate those Reformers who desire to extend the suffrage, and
those who consider the present limitation of income far too
high.
APOTHECARIES'-HALL. The following are the
names of the gentlemen who passed their examination in
the science and practice of medicine, and received certificates
to practise, on Thursday, the 21st of October, 1852 :—Alfred
Harvey Blaker, Ware, Hertfordshire; Frederick Ashton
Heath, Manchester; James Whicker, Wiltshire.
THE WESTMINSTER AND WEST MIDDLESEX MI-
LITIA.--The recruits who have enlisted in the Royal West-
minster Middlesex Militia have received notice that they are
to assemble, for the purpose of being trained, at Hammer-
smith, on the '26th October, and they are to be at the rendez-
vous appointed at twelve o'clock, under the penalty, as pre-
scribed by Act of Parliament, of 20/. In this corps there are
about 60 men required to make up the full complement of
940. It is expected that before the day of training the num-
ber will be complete. The men who have enlisted in the
Royal West Middlesex Militia ate directed to meet at twelve
o'clock at noon, on the 29th October, at Uxbridge, under the
usual penalties. The majority of the recruits in this corps
consists of agricultural labourers.

We yesterday published, in e3tenso, the admirable
and very important paper presented by Captain Hoists
to his fellow-members of the Institution of Civil En-
gineers. The subject was one of peculiar interest in
such an assembly. The author was thoroughly con-
versant with it in all its details. Few, if any, in the
community possessed such extensive data on which
to found their reasoning, and a more critical audience,
or one better qualified to test the validity of that
reasoning, could not be selected than the enlightened
body to whose consideration it was submitted. It
may be asserted, that Captain Hoists was an inte-
rested witness—that he wrote less as an independent
member of the Society, than as a Railway Manager.
It is, however, for these very reasons, that we con-
sider bis evidence, and the arguments founded
thereon, as peculiarly valuable. " Audi olleram
partent," is an excellent rule. Innumerable
onslaughts have already been made on the di-
rectors of the different companies, and every
casualty, however trivial, has been converted into a
pretext for renewing these attacks in the most virulent
and unreasoning form. It could not for a moment be
supposed that distinct answers could be returned to
each and every of these frivolous complaints. If such
were the case, other and more iatportant matters
should be disregarded. The entire time of the various
boards would be absorbed in defvn ding themselves
against such accusations; and gentlemen of character
and respectability could scarcely be :Induced to retain
situations involving serious, and we add, " thank-
less" responsibility, and subjecting the holders to much
annoyanCe and vexation.
justwo
acci-
dents would, otiohnowoefvtehre, existingremove
manycau existing se: of these
preju-
dices,acci-
and induce a healthier state of public opinion.
The grouping of these causes, and
several remedies thereby
adopted,
by
.a duly
dnualtyu nature oa fl i
fit
ehde
person was therefore a great desid;endum, and that
has been supplied, and in a manner leaving little, if
anything, to be demanded on the pa rt of the commu-
nity ; the general statement affordin tg a c omplete and

LIB COMMON LAW PROCEDURE ACT.—By some
oversight peculiar to modern legi?lation, this act is made to
come into operation on a Sunday—namely, the 24th instant.
MUNIFICENT BEQUEST TO THE CITY OF LONDON
CMARITIF:S.—Miss Sarah Hardwicke, the daughter of a citi-
zen of London, died, in the 73d year of her age, on the 25th
of last July, bequeathing to the charitable institutions of the
city of London a sum of money exceeding 20,0001. The old
lady was possessed of freehold estates, and personal property
consisting principally of money in the funds, and, being a
person of very eccentric habits, had lived for several years in
a small house at Chesterfield, attended by one female servant.
Five nieces, who are her next of kin and heirs at law, survive
her • but some differences having arisen between them and
their' aunt, no intercourse had taken place for several years
calculated to 101119 TO the cause of separation.

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 23, 1862

rilL NEWS.

CITY, Two O'CLOCK.

Railways.