The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-04 00:00:00

Lord and Lady Palmerston at Towcester,

Yesterday the interesting ceremony of cutting the first
sod of a new line of railway, to which considerable local im-
portance attaches, was performed by Lady Palmerston in a
field lying within a short distance of Towcester, in North-
amptonshire. The line in question is to commence at the
Blisworth station of the London and North-Western Rail-
way, and running powers have been obtained by the pro-
moters over the Banbury line, as far as Towcester. Thence
it will branch off to Greensnorton, and proceed via Bradden
and Woodford to Fenny Compton, where a junction will be
effected with the Oxford and Birmingham system of the
Great Western Railway. From that point the intended
line proceeds via Kyneton to Stratford-on-Avon, and there
facilities will be gained for communication tither with
Worcester, Hereford, and South Wales, or, on the other
hand, with Glocester and Bristol. The total length of the
projected line is 32 miles and a few chains—the estimated
cost £300,000. The steepest gradient is 1 in 80, said to be
capable of reduction without adding materially to the ex-
pense, and in the whole of the line there will be no curve
under half a mile, and but a single viaduct. From these
particulars, it will appear that the contemplated work is of
a character naturally exciting interest in the district, apart
from the belief entertained in some quarters that it may
ultimately be found expedient to extend the line through
Northampton to Bedford, and thus form a junction with the
Midland Railway. In a public and general point of view,
the proceedings yesterday acquired their principal impor-
tance from the fact that Lady Palmerston, owning consider.
able property in the neighbourhood, was induced to give
them the eclat of her presence and participation. A special
train, consisting of 12 or 15 carriages, was in readiness at
the Euston-square terminus to conduct the distinguished
party as far as Blisworth, from which point the remaining
distance of five miles had to be traversed by road. A few
minutes before 12 Lord and Lady Palmerston arrived at
Euston-square. Sir C. P. Roney, chairman of the line, the
secretary, Mr Banks and other gentlemen were in attend-
ance, as wore also the parliamentary agentsto this company,
Messrs Manning and Walker, who by a curious coincidence
acted in a similar capacity in the case of the Andover and
Redbridge Railway, where Lord Palmerston on the 'eat ea-
mien that he took part in a ceremony of the kind showed
himself such an expert with the spade and wheelbarrow.
The run to Blisworth occupied an hour and a half. On
reaching that station the occupants of the special train, to
the number of about 40, took their places in the carriages
provided for their accommodation, and proceeded in the
direction of Towcaster. With the view of making ample
provision for the expected influx of newspaper representa-
tives, and apparently of insuring that as strangers they
should not suppose they had been overlooked, a large omni-
bus and an open fly were covered with labels of the election
placard size and type announcing that these were reserved
for "Gentlemen of the Press." This mark of attention, as
it was no doubt intended to be, altogether failed in its ob-
ject, for the vehicles were studiously avoided till nearly all
the rest had driven away, when a party mainly composed of
ladies boldly ignored the notification, took their seats in de-
fiance of it, and smiled back pleasantly upon those who at
various points of the route hailed their progress with cheers.
The district through which the cortege passed was purely
agricultural,but such efforts as the local resources permitted,
in flags and triumphal arches, were duly put forth, especi-
ally in the main street of Towcester, and Lord and Lady
Palmerston were loudly cheered. On arriving at the point
where the sod was to be turned the arrangements for the first
and only time during the day proved unequal to the ccca-
sioa. A space had been roped out for the performance of the
ceremony, and if this had been preserved every ono could
have seen what was going on to advantage. Unfortunately
the police was either too few in number to preserve this area,
or else some misconception of orders occurred, and the re-
sult was that something like a demonstration of physicsl
fires was necessary to gain admittance to the inner circle,
from which ladies were practically excluded. The local
volunteer corps, a ne body of mea, abandoning for the
moment their character of guard of honour, tried hard to
assist in keeping the line ; but on this point it is sufficient
to say that rifle barrels and rifle butts in the hands of
amateur policemen are uncouth substances, and that their
exertions, laudable in themselves, aro attended with draw-
backs, not to say bumps. When as many of the distin-
guished party as circumstances would permit had been
assembled within the enclosure, Lady Palmerston was con-
ducted by Sir C. P. Roney to the point where the first sod
of the East and West Junction Railway was to be raised.
This had already been inarlAd out, and Lady Palmerston,

lifting it with a silver spade, deposited it in a light wheel-
barrow, ornamented very tastefully with silver, and bearing
an inscription stating it to be the gift of Mr T. R. Cromp-
ton, the contractor to the line. It was suggested to her
ladyship that the ceremony could hardly be looked noon as
completed until the sod had been removed some distance,
whereupon Lady Palmerston took up the wheelbarrow and
propelled it steadily to the end of a long plank amid the warm
applause of the spectators. Having accomplished her tatdr,
Lady PALMERSTON said—l thank you very kindly for
the flattering manner in which you have received me to-day,
and I trust that the works now commenced will be found
useful. and for the advantage of Northampton and its neigh-
bourhood.
The three cheers given for Lady Palrneston were promptly
followed by three others for the noble lord himself.
Lord PALMERSTON, in returning his acknowledgmeros,
expressed the great pleasure which he and Lady Palmerston
felt in presiding at the commencement of a work which
promised to be of so beneficial a character. Irrespective of
other considerations it was, he said, a good social example
for ladies in high poeition to show that they could sometimes
take to digging the soil. He trusted that the crop in this
instance would be more permanent and mere solid in its
yield than agricultural operations occasionally were.
The proceedings in this quarter having terminated, the
distinguished visitors assembled at this point, and other
invited guests of the company adjourned to a large marquee,
where lunch was set for about 250. Sir C. P. Roney pre.
sided, Lady Palmerston sitting to the right of the chairman
and Lord Palmerston on his left. Lord Lyveden, the Earl
of Pomfret, Lord Fitzroy, M.P., and Mr Knightley, M.P.,
were also among those occupying seats at the principal table.
The usual loyal toasts having been given and cordially
responded to,
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing " Prosperity to the East
and West Junction Railway," described the course which
would be followed by the railway, and said it was a curious
fact that, although sanctioned in 1864, the line was origi-
nally conceived and warmly advocated by the late Robert
Stephenson. It would prove of the deepest importance to
Northamptonshire, the mineral wealth of which had only
been recently discovered. One of the first consequences
which might be expected to follow from it was the estab-
lishment of extensive ironworks, to be worked according to
the most improved and economical processes, regarding
which other counties had been compelled to buy their expe-
rience. In that county they possessed ironstone in abun•
dance, and with the facilities which this new line would
open up to them of procuring coal on moderate terms at the
same time that it procured their access to good markets, he
believed they ought to be able to make iron cheaper than
any other part of the empire. He invited the company to
couple with the toast the name of a lady deeply interested in
the welfare of the county, and who that day had so grace-
fully, and yet in so businesslike a manner, turned the first
sod of their undertaking. (Cheers.) Lady Palmerston,
moreover, in all their Parliamentary contests, and especially
at a moment of unexpected difficulty, had strengthened the
hands of the directors in every possible manner; to no one,
therefore, could their thanks be more justly due.
The toast having been received with the greatest en-
thusiasm,
Lord and Lady Palmerston both rose in acknowledgment
of the compliment, Lord Palmerston said—l, am requested
by Lady Palmerston to tell you how sensible she is of the
kindness you have displayed towards her. She has made
one speech to-day, and, like the celebrated orator, "Single
Speech Hamilton," who also made a very good speech—
(cheers and laughter)—she ought not to be called on for a
second the same day. But lam sure you may rely on the
sincerity of the interest which Lady Palmerston takes in
this railway, because her interests aro bound up and identi-
fied with yours. (Cheers.) She is a Northamptonshire
lady, and she came here to-day not as a stranger, to pro-
mote an undertaking upon general principles of material
advantage, but as one of yourselves, to help forward an
enterprise that has, for all a mutual interest. (Cheers).
Sir C. P. RONEY then proposed "The Health of Viscount
Palmerston," entering at some length into the many claims
which his Lordship possessed on the regard—ho might say
the affection—of Englishmen. As showing the magnitude
of the railway operations in which his Lordship that day
evinced so practical an interest, the chairman stated that
there were at present 12,000 miles of railway constructed
and running in the United Kingdom ; the capital employed
in these and their concomitants amounted to £100,000,000,
and the annual income derived from railways was some-
thing like £34,000,000, of which £16,000,000 only were
appropriated to working expenses. The debt of the State
was £SC0,000,0;,0, and the interest paid upon it was ,
£IS,COO,OOO, while its working expenses amounted to no
leis than L 16,000,000 yearly. The railways had to pay
something like £1,000,000 a year for rates and taxes, and
ea additional £500,000 to Government for the privilege of
carrying passengers. And even then they could not
proceed to divide their profits till those extremely polite
but yery firm gentlemen the Income-Tax Commissioners
saved them the trouble of making farther contributions
by deducting the amounts betorehand. (Laughter.) In-
dependently of the enormous number of persons deriving
incomes from railway profits, it was estimated that
they employed 100,000 men, which, at the usual propor-
tions of population, would give a total of 800,000 souls de-
pendent for their living upon the railway interest. Though
occasional faults might and did occur, he asserted confi-
dently that there was not a better organised, more obedient,
or more respectful class in the country than the railway ser-
vants. (Cheers.)
The health of the Premier having been drunk with all the
honours,

LordeiAreameroer, who on rising to respond was most
cordially received, said—l am really unable to find words
adequately to express my thankfulness for the kind manner
in which you have proposed my health, and the way it has
been received by the company. There cannot be a higher
reward or a greater satisfaction to men engaged in public
life than to find that they have acquired by the performance
of their duty the goodwill and esteem of their fellow coun-
trymen. (Hear.) You were pleased to say, sir, that on a re-
cent occasion I expressed the value which I attached to op-
portunities of mixing with the commercial classes of this
country; but on the present occasion that satisfaction is
doubled, because here I see arcund me not simply those
who represent the commercial, but also those who aro deeply
ident fled with the agricultural classes. (Hear, hear.) The
great Lord Bacon said that a bird cannot fly with one
wing; and in like manner a country cannot safely repose
upon cue interest. (Hear, hear.) The prosperity of the
country must depend on the combined exertions of those
engaged in manufactures, in commerce, and in agriculture.
(Applause.) I know that in the district in which I am now
speaking agriculture prospers to as great an extent as I
trust the instance of commercial industry with which we
are now concerned will also prosper. It is impossible
to overrate the importance of railways to any country,
I must, however, be permitted to say that our worthy
chairman dealt, I think, rather hardly:with the Government
in the enthusiasm by which he was excited in favour of rail-
ways—because when he contrasted the annual expenditure
of railways with that of the nation at large, he forgot to
compare the police of railway companies w ith that army and
navy—(much laughter and cheering)—of which this coun-
try can boast, of which you have just drunk the health so
enthusiastically, and without which expensive but highly
valuable safeguards—l cannot call them luxuries, for in
reality they are necessaries—this country could not enjoy
that internal security, wanting which the railway capital
would be of very little use. (C heers and laughter.) And there-
fore our worthy chairman, when he apt ears to grudge the
contributions which railways annually make to the public re-
venue, should remember it is the public revenue which pro-
duces that security at home through which the great develop-
ment of railway industry has been made profitable to the
undertakers and beneicial to the country at large. I
say that it is impossible to overrate the value of railway
establishments and the effect which they have exercised on
the prosperity of a manufacturing nation like this. The
prosperity of our manufactures depends on our being able
to command markets. Those markets can be only com-
manded by cheapness and quality. What is it that regu-
lates the price of commodities in the market? It is, first,
the cost of production; next, the cost of carriage to the
place where the articles are to be sold, and thirdly, the in.
terest of the capital employed. The cost of production has
of late years been immensely diminished by the great de-
velopment of mechanical contrivances—yet I am happy to
think that the wages of the men employed in working that
machinery have not diminished, but are as good as at any
former period, Their condition meanwhile has been im-
proved by the greater cheapness of all
,those articles which
in former ages never were within the reach of the working
classes. Therefore while the things they produce can be
supplied at a cheaper rate, the reward of their labour and
the means of indulgence which that reward will command
have increased by comparison within any former period.
(Hear.) And this great diminution in the market price
has not been unattended with a cheapening of transport.
Why, let any man take a goods train of the present day,
carrying, I will not say how many tons of commodities, at
a rapid pace from a seat of manufactures in one part of the
island to the nearest port of embarkation, and compare
that with the old broad-wheeled waggon---(tal7hter)—
with its six horsep, all wi,l2 docked tails, wincing in agony
at the bite of the flies, and in vain seeking relief from the
little bit of net that covered them, while the driver walked
beside them, sometimes taking the advantage of a pony.
The abolition of this lowest of all conveyances necessarily
exercised a great influence upon the price of commodities.
If any man will compare the present facilities for convey-
ing manufactures to market with those which existed be-
fore railways were invented, he will see what an enormous
stimulus they have given to the industrial prosperity of the
land. Neither ought we to forget the social advantages which
railways have conferred. They have rendered this island
as regards facilities of communication bawoen man and man
almost one great capital. In former times wany were born

49:14:q.
and lived and died in a country via ls age a:OranieVen.
ing whether London was not paved, as so le*VaSiiii
Now there is hardly a village within . reasc iidniiif
iza,
the metropolis which at some time .or otaaer,ftebaba
the occasion of some great national t nlibitiora has not con-
tributed sightseers from the province s , The difference be-
tween the two periods may be emerea plified in this way—
Formerly when a gentleman asked a. friend in London to
come down to him in the country, t he friend came with
things to last him for a fortnight or II reo weeks, and took
perhaps a week on the journey. Nov a if one gentleman
meets another, say in St. James's-stree t, he says " I shall
have some good shooting next we k. 17.111 you come to me
and spend a few days ?" His frit ral replies " Oh, by all
means. I shall be chest-mot. larnat is the station nearest
your house ?" The first speaker .rejoin, "'VI, liy, lam nut
very well cif at present in regard .to railway ct anmunication
—the nearest station is la miles from my house. But it is
a good road. You will get a nice 21y, end you can come
vary well." Upon this the invited guest says "Did you
say it was Tuesday you asked me for ?" (-tarsal laughter
and cheering.) "Yes," says the ccurctr y gentleman, " I
thick you told Inc you were free." " The :actin," answers
the friend, "I have e very bed memory, end now 1 tannic
of it I urn very sorry, but I hear) a particular engagement
fort hat dsy -- same other time I shall be happy:to go to you."
And so, away he goes, aad offers hinree..f aa a vsaiter to some
other friend, who Lee got a station witidn one or two miles
of his house, (L iughter.) The occasion seal ich rims called
us tegether to-, ay is ens which is highly interestieg. ,We
are assisting at the first step towards Lao construction of a
railway, which wo are told, and with truth, will be of great
advantage to the whole of this neighbourhood. There are
mineral resources in the district which only require develop-
ment, but which do require an easy mode of conveying the
commodity to market. I am convicted that, when this rail -
road is finished, every man in the district will have reason
to rejoice at the proceedings of tosday. Having again
thanked the company for the cordiality of their reception,
the noble lord resumed his seat amid general cheeping.
The CneatemaN neat proposed the healths of the county
members, Mr. Knightley and Colonel Cartwright, referring
to the valuable support which that' had given to the bill
while it was under the consideration of Parliament.
Mr KNIGHTLEY, M.P., be acknowledging the compli-
meat, felt that he was entitled to EI9DIO little credit for the
support which he had given the measure on public grounds ;
for as the line would not pass near his property he should
not derive a shilling benefit from it, and did not mind con•
fessing that a sportsman and enthusiastic follower of the
chase he regarded the projected railway as an unmitigated
nuisance. (Laughter.) He congratulated the company
upon the success with which the proceedings had passed
off, and particularly upon the presence of guests so distinct
guished as Lord and Lady Palmerston, whom they desired,
if possible, to see oftener in that part of the country. Some-
how or other the country always drew a great distinction
between Lord Palmerston and the rest of the Ministry.
(Hear, hear.) Whenever a good measure was brought
forward—and a great many good measures had been intro-
duced by the Government—it was always put down to the
credit of the noble lord. Whenever anything went
wrong, and in that establishment as well as in others
mishaps would from time to time occur, the particular
" kettle of fish "—(much laughter, in which Lord
Palmerston very heartily joined) was always attributed
to the cooking of one of his scullions. " Scullions" was
not the word he intended to use ; he meant to say one
of the noble lord's colleagues. A game of "chuck-farthing"
was perpetually going on, in which if "heads " came
down the noble viscount won, and if "tails" descended it
was his colleagues who lost. (Renewed laughter.) Not
that any unfair play could be charged against the noble
lord at the head cf the Government; on the contrary, he
invariably deprecated anything like a distinction being
made. The country, however, was not to be shaken in its
opinion. Somehow or other it always determined to give
Lord Palmerston all the halfpence, and to give his col-
leagues all the kicks. (Much laughter and cheering.)
The health of the contractor, Mr T. R. Crampton, by
whom telegraphic communication was first laid down be-
tween England and France; the healths of the visitors,

coupled with the names of the Mayors of Northampton
and Stratford-on-Avon, and the toa©t of " The Ladies,"
were next given and duly honoured; afier which Lord

Palmerston proposed in complimentary terms the health

of the Chairman, Sir C. P. Roney, and the company soon
afterwards separated, a large proportion of those present
returning to town by the spe3ial train.

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

Ex LTER, Wednesday.
The nomination of a candidate in the room of the
[ate lamented Mr Edwd, Divett took place this day
:n the Guildhall. The High Sheriff, Mr. R. T.

Head, presided. The hail was crowded to ereess,
and among those present worn Lady Rolle, Sir X.
T. Coleridge, Sir S.Northeote, M.P., Mr. li,:hewich,
111. P,, the lion. Mr. Trefusis, and Sir L.
P‘il, MY.

The utival formalities having I.r en g,0112 through,
Lord. Courtcn ay was proposed by 'Ai r.E. A. SANDEIiS,
banker, and u:eonded by Sir S. NOUTIICOTE, M.P.
The hon. baronet's speech was mainly devoted to a
criticism of Mr. Coleridge's former addresses, and
accused the Liberal party of haring a design
against the national Church. which it was the
special policy of the Conservatives to uphold.
Mr. Coleridge was proposed by Mr. MILFonD,
banker, and seconded by Mr. 11. NOII,IIINGTON,
merchant.

Lord COURTENAY addressed the assembly amid
great uproar and cheering from his friends. He said
he was proud to say that he was a Conservative,
after the fashion of Lord Derby and Mr. Disraeli,
and after the fashion of Sir Stafford Northcote. On
matters of foreign policy, and on points connected
with the Church, the policy of the Conservative
party met with his warmest approbation. (A voice.
•—ci And no progression.") His lordship then pro-
ceeded to criticize the policy of the present Govern-
ment with respect to Denmark, and said that the
result of the foreign policy of the Government had
been to leave the country without a singly ally in.
Europe. (Laughter.) It appeared to him that they
had bullied the weak and trucklled to the strong.
(Renewed laughter and cheers.) With respect to
church-rates, he was opposed to their unconditional
abolition, but in favour of a compromise, similar to
that which was indicated in the Lords' Report, to
the effect that if anybody conscientiously objected
to pay church-rates he should be exempted from
payment thereof. (Cheers.) He was totally opposed
to the ballot and to the Permissive Bill. With
reference to the latter, he had been threatened
with the loss of many votes, but he could not help
it, for he believed that if it were impossible to make
people religions by act of Parliament, so also was it
equally impossible to make men sober by the same
means. (Cheers.)
Mr COLERIDGE was enthusiastically cheered on rising,
and in some very pungent remarks alluded to the county
influence which was brought to boar against him. North
and South Devon were representeethere by the Hon. C. R.
Trefusis and by Sir L. Palk and Mr Kekewich. There
was also Sir S. Northcote, who tried to get in for South
Devon, but he could not, and he could quite understand
why the hon. baronet had come in from PS nes to take part
in the noble lord's election, seeing that he once sat for
Dudley at the nomination of a noble lord, and now sat for
Stamford at the nomination of a noble marquis. (Laughter
and cheers.) Having expressed similar views to those in
his address with reference to church rates, the hon. and
learned gentleman protested against the interests of the
national Church being made a question for party squabbles
instead of seeking to make that Church a broad and wide
Church. (Cheers.) He ventured to say that the Conser-
vative party would live to rue the day when they handed
over the Church to one party, and that the decadent party
in the Church. (Cheers.) He confessed his inability to
understand the views of Lord Courtenay on the subject of
church rates. As to the ballot he had previously wished it
to be tried, because he thought it would do no harm; but
' this election had convinced bon of the great necessity for
the ballot. (Cheers.) When he came among them to can..
vass the city he had no idea that in 1864 protection would
be necessary for the maintenance and delivery of a males
private opinions. (Hear.) lie should have thought it
impossible had not evidence come under his own eyes, and
11 therefore he now not only believed that the ballot would be
no harm, bat it would be a great good, (Cheers.) Many
electors had said that they would give their hearts to vote
for him, but could not. (Hear, hear.)
The hon. and
learned gentleman pointed to the obstructive policy of the
Tory party during the last 30 years, and to tho great mea-
sures of the Liberal party, which had tended so much to
promote the happiness, comfort, and prosperity of the
people. But now their opponents,
thethe r
reat political
great
Liberal
eprraoi g_praarrnt He called with characteristic gene-
rosity, when all these things were passed adopted them into
upontothvetnaritioamsuepft aoort
returningby him
the following cluv. (Cheers.)
The show of Bends was then taken, when about three to
one was held lip in favour of Mr Coleridge.
The limn SHERIFF declared the show of hands to be in
favour of Mr Coleridge, and the announcement was received
w:th entlyisiasi ic cheers.
Mr t'AND.Ins deziaz,eed a poll On boball of Lord Courte-
nay, whica N, ;As fixed for to-(l,ty (Tnur,il,:y.)

[ADVERTISEMENT.]-11olloway'S Ointment and Pills.--
Indi,outable Remedies for Bad Legs, Old Wounds, Sores,
and Ulcers.--It used according to the directions given with
them, there is no wound, bad leg, ulcerous sore, or bad
breast, however obstinate or long standing. but will yL2,,,d
to their healing and curative properties. Numbers of per-
sons who have been patients in several of the large hospi-
tals, and under the care of cmineni; surgeons, Without do.
riving the slightest benefit, have been thoroughly cured by
Holloway's ointment and pills. For glauckular swellings,tumours, scurvy, and diseases of the skin there is no medi-
cine that can bs used with so good au Eficet. In fact, in
the worst forms of disease dept:lident upon the conditiett
et the Wood these medicines are irresistible,

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.-
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining.
THIS EVENING, BORN TO GOOD LUCK. Paddy
O'ttafferty, Mr. Dominick Murray.
Alter which, THE sTREETS OF LONDON. Messrs.
-Vining, J. W. Ray, D. Fi her. D. Murray, J. Nelson, 11.
Forre-.tr. H. Mellon ; Mrs. Henry Maiston, Miss Emma
Barnette, and Miss F .nny Gwyne.

NEW THEA litE-R0 YAL, ADELPIII.
6ole Proorh,tor and Mataffer, Mr. B. Webster.
THIS EVENING, THE FLOWERS OF THE FOREST.
Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. bedf or Billington, Stuart,
rt, Stephenßil-
,Romer; Miss Woolgar, Miss K. Kelly. Mrs.
•
At V, ONE TOUCH OF NATURE. Penholder, Mr.
Benjamin Webster ; Ccnstance, byes H. Simms.
To colude with, by desire, I _I ON PARLE FRANCAIS :
Mr. nc
J. L. Toole, .Ir. Billinton, Mrs. Lewis, Miss Kedy,
and Miss zieaman,