The Sun.
London, England, 1837-05-23 00:00:00

RAILROADS IN BELGIUM.

.A. Nothomb, the Minister of Pubiie Works in Belgium,
tat just published a report respecting railroads in that
country, from which it appears that the roads adopted by
the Government to form the system of communication have
for their central point Mechlin, and their direction is east
towards Prussia, by Louvain, Liege, and Verviers ; to the
west by Ostend, Termonde, Ghent, and Bruges ; to the
south by Brussels, and from Brussds towards the frontier
of France by the Hainault. This forms an extent of 115
leagues. The works were commenced soon after the pro-
mulgation of the law of the Ist of March, 18:34, and three
sections have been opened to the public. This extent is
more than 14 leagues. These sections are from Mechlin to
Brussels, Mechlin to Antwerp, and Mechlin to Termonde.
The total cost of these three sections was 5,181.633 E, and
deducting 200,000 f. for property purchased, but which may
be hereafter sold, their cost may be estimated at 357,0001.
per league, To these expenses must be added the expense
of the transport of materials and the establishment of sta-
tions, amounting to 1,848,355 f. During the year, from
May 1835 to May 18:36, the section from Nlechlin to Brus-
sels produced 359,394 f. 15c., or an average of 29,9-19 f. 51c.
per month. The number of passengers was 563,210, or an
average of 46,934 passengers per month. Daring the eight
months, from May to December 1836, the two branches
from Mechlin to Brussels, and front Mechlinn to Antwerp,
produced 734,736 f. 20c., or 91.842 f: per month. The num-
ber of passengers was 729,545, or 91,193 per month. The
amount taken during the present year presents about the
same average, but M. Nothomb calculates that there will
be about the same number of passengers on each of the
three lines, so that the number of passengers annually by
each line will he 500,000. The annual axpenses of each
line are calculated at 745,000 f., and the whole expenses,
including repairs, interest, and sinking fund, at 1,069,0001.
Six millions of capital were raised in the first instance. In
order that there shall be no loss, the receipts of the three
sections must, therefore, amount to 1,069,000 f. The rates
of conveyance on the Belgian railroads are much lower than
on any of the others. There are places at only 10c. (about
a penny) the league. On the Liverpool railroad the lowest
price is 55c. On the railroad from Paris to St. Germain
the maximum price is 40c. Six new lines are in the course
of construction—from Louvain to Tirlemont, Tirlemont to
Waremme, Mechlin to Louvain, Termonde to Ghent, Was
remme to Ans, and Ghent to Bruges. The sum already
expended on these lines is 6,609,2.50 f. In addition to these
railroads constructed by the State, 37 are contemplated by
private individuals or companies. The most considerable
is that between the Sambre and Meuse, which, with its
branches, will be 25 leagues in extent.
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_ new Association is in progress, under the title of
The Metropolitan Society of Lecturers on Literature and
Science," which has, we are informed, been already joined by a
considerable number of individuals distinguished in scientific
and literary exertion. The objects of the Members are de-
clared to be, " To facilitate the intercourse between members
and the public institutions ; and to guarantee to institutions re-
quiring the services of lecturers efficient instruction, at a. rea-
sonable but sufficient scale of remuneration ;" to accomplish
which objects it is proposed to procure accurate information as
to the extent, objects, and means of the literary and scientific
institutions throughout the country ; and to continue such in-
formation by correspondence, at stated times, with the secre-
taries of provincial societies ; to promote correspondence
between the directors of institutions in one neighbourhood,
who may be disposed to receive the same courses of lectures, at
times so arranged, as to lessen travelling expenses, and conse-
quent charges to both parties ; to afford institutions com-
mencing their career under difficulties, such assistance as may
fall within the reasonable convenience of each member.
On Monday a young fellow was Charged before
Messrs. Hollous4 and Chadwick, at Rochdale, with having
stolen two ferrets, which he sold to another person for 28s.
Mr. Johnson, the deputy constable, in stating the charge, ex-
pressed a doubt 'whether ferrets, being vermin, came under the
legal designation of property. The magistrates thought they
did not, and dismissed the charge.--Kendal Mercury.
GREAT FIRE.—The village of Silverton, about six
miles from Exeter on the old Tiverton road, was visited by a
most dreadful calamity, similar to and almost simultaneous
with that of Exeter. During the progress of the conflagra-
tion in the latter place a messenger came with the news and a
demand for assistance. Two powerful engines then playing
in Paris-street were instantly dispatched by four horses. They
reached the village in twenty minutes, when the fire was found
to have made destructive progress, which coutinued unretarded
by all their exertions for some time, the wind being high, and
the roofs all thatch. Thirty-five dwellings, with a timber-
yard and all its contents, were destroyed in the space of two
hours. The fire broke out in the cottage of a poor man, at
the south-east end of the place, at ten o'clock in the morning.
The amount of property destroyed is not by any means so
great as at Exeter, and it is mostly insured in the West of
England Office; but that is no measure of the real injury in-
flicted—the consequent suffering. It ie, in fact, a much more
distressing accident_seventy poor families being deprived of
the shelter of house and home.—Devonport independent, of
Saturday.

On Thursday last, at Beaubray, two workmen,
one named Laine, aged 46, and the other I3lanvillian, aged
17, were working in a marl-pit, when suddenly the earth fell
and covered them in. Attempts were made to rescue them,
when a second mass of earth falling deprived the bystanders
of all hope, and completely buried the two sufferers. A num-
ber of labourers were set to work by the authorities, and
it is thought that a second pit, at least 120 feet in depth, roust
be dug in order to extricate the sufferers.
The K(l;cial Mercury contains tt gloomy and de-
spading account of the commereiskl distress in that locality.
At the Botley Friendly Society's anniversary on
Monday, the room was decorated with laurels, festoons of
flowers, to., resembling a bower. Over the president's seat a
tree was formed from the branches, in which was a bird's nest
(a coeltAncli's) with three eggs, on which the hers sat quite
docile arid did not offer to leave her nest; she was taken out
frequently and passed round tO the company, and restored to, her eggs. Such an oeonrrence probably was rtmA• before
witnes;o,....,.iiempshire Advertiser.
On Wednesday evening, about a quarter before ten,
the inhabitants of Paris,;t4vet, Southernhay, and all the eastern
part of the city (kNeter), were alarmed by a tire breaking out
to she workshops of Messrs. anti liGuper, builders, inPars-street. PariS-street. Five lici;i4es% hosAdes witrki,hups, were entirely
destroyA told several sathars partly injured. The damage is
estimated at 2u,000/. at
_the lowest. The prc.)perty was

d to two.thirdQ _

,s on