The Sun.
London, England, 1839-06-12 00:00:00

SOUTHAMPTON, TUESDAY MORNING.
The proceedings in connection with this interesting
event did not terminate until an early hour this morning;
and, perhaps, in the entire history of this county nothing
has heretofore occurred which has created an equal sense-
r tion, or drawn together so great a number of people.
Winchester, Portsmouth, Portsea, the adjacent towns,
and the Isle of Wight, poured forth their thousands to
hail the consummation of this portion of so great a na-
tional undertaking; and during the day the crowds that
lined almost the entire way from Southampton to Win-
' chester testified their feeling with shouts of gratulation,
which evinced that they appreciated the consequence at-
tached to what they saw, and fully understood that they
were individually concerned in the vast effort that was
making to open new and extensive sources of commercial
enterprise, and bring them speedily into active and gigantic
operation.
On Sunday all the accessible portions of the line were
densely crowded with the most respectable of all classes ;
and yesterday morning, at the hour at which the first train
was appointed to start for Winchester—namely, seven
o'clock—alb the approaches to the branch station-house
(the terminus not being yet completed) assumed the ap-
pearance of the neighbourhood of a popular fair. Booths
had been erected, with the double view of affording re-
freshment and a clear view of the departing and arriving
trains, and of such accommodation the multitude availed
themselves to the fullest possible extent.
At length the interesting period—the moment of start-
ing arrived,—but, 10, the stage coach, which had engaged
a place in the train, for the direct conveyance of passengers
to London, had not arrived ; and when it did arrive,
considerable time was lost in placing it on the vehicle '
constructed for the reception of such " luggage," and the
interim was filled up with " rides" to and from the station
and the cistern erected for the supply of water ; this de-
lay, however, brought a considerable accession of passen-
gers, and about eight o'clock the train, consisting of five
carriages, proceeded onward amidst the cheers of surround-
ing thousands, and soon accumulated astonishing speed.
The beautiful approach to Southampton, on the causeway
crossing an arm of the Jtchen, was passed with a rapidity
which called forth the admiration of those even who were
accustomed to railroad travelling, and the magnifi-
cent view of the Vale of the Itchen was at once deve-
loped. The several bridges, crowded with spectators,
were then successively passed under ; and the venerable
pile of Winchester, the celebrated cathedral, in which the
ashes of Egbert, Rufus, and many of our ancient kings and
nobles repose, together with the Hospital of St. Cross, and
the Palace, broke in upon the view, and the company found
themselves in Winchester I The journey was performed in
about twenty-five minutes. It was soon found that the
regular times for starting would not accommodate the num-
ber applying for places, and accordingly it was judiciously
resolved, not only to place more carriages on the line, but
to run the train as fast as it could be got ready from eithor
end; and, consequently, upwards of 1,200 passengers were
carried to and fro during the day. • This number will, no
doubt, increase during the week, taking the average, as the
demand for places on Sunday by the predominating classes
rho cannot make holiday when they please, will be im-
mense.

burne disappointment was experienced by the non-
attendance of the Directors;" but it seems they had made
arrangements to dine at Murrell Green, prior to
the invitation given to them by the gentlemen of
Southampton—a deputation, however, met the Directors at
Basingstoke, and a most animating scene was there exhi-
bited, by the number of carriages, the concourse of specta-
tors, and the hearty greetings which reciprocally passed.
The return train brought many of the parties to South-
ampton, where the dinner, prepared at the Audit House in
first rate style, by Mr. Fisk, of High-street, awaited them.
At six o'clock, about seventy gentlemen sat down to the
repast, and certainly we never saw or tasted of more sea-
sonable delicacies, nor a choicer selection of condiments
and wines. The latter, however, towards the close of the
entertainment, rather deteriorated in quality. J. Bernard,
Esq., the Mayor of Southampton was in the chair, sup.
ported on his right by Mr. Lobb, Mr. Henderson, Mr.
John Wakins Drew, Mr. William Reed, Secretary to the
Railroad Company, and Mr. Lock, Engineer. On the
immediate left of the Chairman were Mr. Parmiter,
the Mayor of Winchester, Colonel Henderson, John
Easthope, Jun., Esq., Mr. John King, &c. The Vice-
Chairs were filled by Mr. Charles Deacon and Mr.
Moberly. The Rev. Mr. Shapcott said grace, after
which the work of demolition commenced. On the re-
moval of the cloth Mr. Shapcott having returned thanks,
The CHAIRMAN requested the company to charge their
glasses to do honour to a toast which would require very
few words from him to induce the company to drink with
enthusiasm. In proposing the Queen he knew he was
treading upon neutral ground. British hearts would ever
desire the happiness, the personal happiness of their
Queen. He begged to propose—" The Queen," with
three times three. Drank with great enthusiasm.
The toast which followed was the health of the " Queen
Dowager, and the rest of the Royal Family," which was
honoured with all due observance.
The " Army and Navy" succeeded, and was acknow-
ledged by Colonel HENDERSON, who said that it was a
curious circumstance connected with the event which they
were met to celebrate, that Railroads were calculated to
work, both good and evil for the Army—good in time of
war, inasmuch as they would save the men many a weary-
ing march, and evil in time of peace, because the celerity
with which the Government could transport troops from
one part of the kingdom to another, would enable them to
do with less men. But, in time of war, the facility for
transporting troops to the coast, either for foreign service,
or for the defence of our own shores, would be great
indeed. He begged to return them his sincere thanks.
Mr. JOU-UTE returned thanks for the Navy.
MOBERL/ Esq. proposed the " Mayor and Corpora-
tion of the town and county of the town of Southampton.'
Drank with three times three, and again and again.
The MAYOR acknowledged the toast. Whenever a
measure had been proposed which really was calculated to
benefit the town, it bad always met their support. He
would instance the grant of land, or the marsh,
which had been made to the Railway Company,
without any charge, and when ever a like occasion might
happen, they would find the Corporation act with equal
liberality.
The CHAIRMAN said they had already received the first
fruits of the opening of the Railroad, in the person of Mr.
Parmiter, the Mayor of Winchester, whose health he
begged now to propose.
Mr. PAhMITER in returning thanks, said that Winches-
ter and Southampton were more closely connected than
sister towns, and they were within 15 minutes ride of each
other. He considered the effects of the railway likely to
make Southampton a second Liverpool, in which case
Winchester must receive advantage; he anticipated the
time, when by reason of the extended buildings between
the two towns, the passenger would not be able to tell
when he left Winchester, or when he arrived at
Southampton.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed " Success to the Lon-
don and Southampton Railway." He was convinced the
opening of the railway would fotrn a new era in the
history of Southampton--it would be a point from
which all subsequent events would be d:ltcd. He
had been informed—he hoped not correctly—that
the name of the Railway had been charged from
the Lor.d...n and Southampton to that of the Lon-
don and South Western.—(Ne, no.) Ile was happy
to find it was incorrect, for that name would convey
a merely general and not a local and specific idea. But
whatever the name, this was the terminus,—that was a
fact which would not be altered.—(Cheers.) This was an
undertaking not for the benefit of party, but for the general
good and prosperity of the town—not for any particular
class, but for the gentlemen as well as the tradesman, for
the landlord as well as the tenant. One result of the
railway had already shown itself; he had received a requi-
sition for a meeting to endeavour to procure the establish-
ment of this port as the Foreign Packet Station, in the
event of the removal of the station from Falmouth. He
would give " Success to the London and Southampton
Railway." Drank with tremendous applause.
The CHAIRMAN then gave the " Directors," which was
received with great cheering. In proposing this toast, the
Chairman referred particularly to the exertions of the
Railway Company, and Colonel Henderson the originator
and great promoter of the undertaking.
J. W. DREW, Esq., in acknowledging the toast, adver-
ted to the claims which the Directors had on the town for
the great exertions and ability they had displayed. They
would not be so silly as to suppose that there was not
something of self at the bottom, of 'the speculation. For
his own part, he would plead guilty to the charge, for he
had property in the town, and he expected to derive much
personal advantage from it ; to use a homely expression, he
expected it would bring grist to his mill. He thought
that the completion of the Southampton Railroad would
act as an example to be followed throughout Europe. They
had that day seen the advantages resulting from the open-
leg of communication between, two towns of comparatively
small note ; but when the line was completed to London,
and a direct communication opened with Birmingham and
other towns in the north, by which the most remote parts
of England might be brought within a twenty-four hours'
journey, the full advantage of the undertaking wculd be
manifested. He was happy in the reflection that he
had taken the smallest share in the advancement of so great
a work. They were principally indebted to Mr. E sthope
for its completion ; it was his indomitable zeal and industry
that had enabled them to surmount the difficulties by
which they had been opposed for four or five years. Like
all other Railway Companies, they had exceeded their
estimates ; but from the high character of the Directors

they had been able to raise money to carry them through.
JOHN KING, Esq., another Director, also returned
:banks.

Colonel HENDERSON' said he had maintained his confi-
dence in the success of the undertaking through good re-
port and through evil report. He had been once a Direc-
tor, but had withdrawn at the solicit:tion of the other

NDON AND SOUTHAMPTON
RAILWAY.

Directors, in order that he might take upon himself a more
active part in the management—that of Superintendent of
the works. It ill became Lim to say anything of his own
exertions, but his waking hours and his sleeping bows had
been devoted to this undertaking, and he had secluded him-

corn society in order to carry it forward. Colonel
endt.•rson then alluled to another stupendous sub-
ect which had been originally included with that
)f the railway, but wes separated because it was
'eared that they might not be able to obtain both, whereas
,f they once got the railway the docks would be sure to
7ollow. The subscriptions for the docks bad all been en-
tered into, and the tenders for immediately cummcncing'
heir construction, would be received on the 17th. He
concluded by again thanking the Company for the honour
they had shown him.
JutlN EAS ruoPE, jun., Esq., said, that although the last
toast had been so ably acknowledged, he could not allow
the allusion which had been made to the Chairman of the
railway to pass unnoticed. The reason that he was not
present on this occasion was, that several days previous to
receiving their kind invitation he and thi. other Directors
had plagued a little entertainment for their ladies at one
of the stations at the other end of the line, where he left
them very pleasantly engaged. One of the reasons which i

OPENING OF THE SOUTHAMP- had also influenced the Directors was, that it would not be
TON END OF THE LONDON AND SOUTH-
proper to indulge in festivities till their work was finished,
becauseit would be required as long as any por.
AMPTON RAILWAY. tion of railway remained unfinished that they
should not slumber over it. He confessed himself very
sanguine with regard to the probable increase in the pros-
perity of Southampton consequent on the completion of
the railway, and, he hoped, without any diminution of their
loyalty, that the inhabitants of Southampton would soon
have a sovereign of their own to reign amongst them—that
the " British Queen" would arrive as soon as the palace
was prepared for her reception.—( Cheers.) He congra-
tulated them on the success which would attend them, and
which he was sure had not been overrated, and he could
assure them that when the work was completed the Direc-
' tors would meet them in Southampton, when he trusted
they would be very happy together.
The CHAIRMAN then gave —" Success to the South-
ampton Docks." Drank with great applause.
Mr. LE FEUVRE returned thanks. He had hoped that
some Gentleman more closely connected with the Docks
would have done so. He did not think that the promo-
ters of the Docks were influenced entirely by selfish con-
siderations, for they had displayed also a great deal of
public spirit. He trusted that they were determined to go
forward for the public benefit as well as for private good. He
had little doubt that the work would conduce to the pri-
vate advantage of its supporters, and be had none whatever
that it would be for the benefit of the public,—( Cheers.)
Mr. PARMITER ( Mayor of Winchester) by permission of
the Chairman, rose to propose a toast ; it was —" The
Prosperity of the Trade of the Town of Southampton."
The toast was responded to with great applause.
Mr. E. RANDALL returned thanks.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed—" The Health of the Se-
cretary of the Company, W. Reed, Esq., who was the right
hand of the Directors, and who helped to carry into execu-
tion the measures that they had planned."—Drank with all
the honours.
Mr. REED acknowledged the toast. As the humble or-
gan of the Directors, it had been his duty to carry out to
a considerable extent their designs, the wisdom of which
was not in the hands that administered, but in the minds
that conceived them. This great undertaking would
bring Southampton within three hours of the Metropo-
lis.—( Hear, hear.) It was not complete yet—it was
any thing but complete, and he hoped that as far as it
had gone, it would yield to the inhabitants the greatest
possible amount of benefit. It was impossible but that an
undertaking of this magnitude must interfere with some
private interests, but the Directors had endeavoured to
make the change, if not absolutely agreeable, at least
gradual, to the parties affected. With that view they had
endeavoured to make such arrangements with the coach-
masters of the line as would secure to the
public the greatest facility for travelling, and shorten
as far as possible the distance to London. His friend Mr.
Lock had informed him that he hoped shortly to reduce
the journey within four hours. He was not connected with
the original promoters of the undertaking, but be could
assure the Shareholders present that the Directors were
deserving of the unbounded confidence which they had
always given them.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed the health of the Engi-
neer of the Company, Mr. Lock. He need not point out to
such talented gentlemen as he saw present, the difficulties
Mr. Lock had to surmount in making a road level from
Southampton to Winchester. It was now brought within
18 miles of completion, and if Mr. Lock displayed the
same energy he had in the former part of the work, the
whole would be complete in twelve months.
The toast was received with moth cheerincs.
Mr. Lome, in returning thanks, observed that he could
not have surmounted many of the difficulties which pre-
sented themselves in the formation of the line, had it not
been for the combination of skill by which he was seconded.
He had no doubt whatever that the whole line would be
completed in twelve months from the present time.
Mr. J. W. DREW proposed the health of the resident
engineer, Mr. Dickson. He alluded to the excellent manner
in which the rails were laid, and the arrangements made
between Southampton and Winchester. He had that
morning gone up in the first train in twenty-six minutes,
and returned in twenty-one minutes, many parts of the
journey being accomplished at the rate of thirty-five to
forty miles an hour. He had frequently travelled at the
other end of the line, but he had never found any travelling
so easy and pleasant as that from Southampton to Win.
chester.
[The writer of this report, who has travelled by most of
the railroads in the kingdom, and especially by the Liver-
pool and Manchester, which is pronounced to be the most
finished, can vouch for the truth of this statement, and
challenges contradiction.]
Mr. DICKSON acknowledged the compliment.
The " Trade of the City of Winchester," and other
toasts followed, and the Chairman left the room at about
half-past eleven, but a number of the company after ap-
pointing Mr. Charles Deacon to the Chair, kept up the
convi% iality until a very late hour.
A dinner on the occasion was given at the Yeoman Inn,
East-street, at which there was a very respectable at-
'endance, and several minor manifestations of the kind
ook place in various parts of the town and neighbourhood.

A distance of twenty miles addition of this railway was
yesterday opened to the public, viz., twelve miles from
Southampton to Winchester at the one end, and eight
miles from the Winchfield and Hartley-row station to Ba-
singstoke at the other. A party of the Directors anti their
friends left the terminus at Nine Elms, Vauxhall, at half-
past eleven, and arrived at the Winchfield station at about
five minutes to one, where a great crowd of the country
people awaited their coming, and greeted them with several
rounds of hearty cheers. After a 'bort delay. the train pro.
needed over the new groUnd to Baiingstoke, while upon
every height, and at every place;; where a view could be
obtained, groups of anxious and admiring spectators
were stationed to watch and applaud the progress of
; the engine and its bulky train upon its maiden excursion.
'I he distance was completed in about twenfy minutes,
great speed not being the object, with an case and
smoothness which seemed to us the very perfection of loco-
motion, The station at Basingstoke is very prettily situated
upon a long line of embankment, and commands on the
left a fine view of that ancient town, with its venerable
Gothic church peering up in modest grandeur from amid
surrounding houses; and on the right, of the picturesque
ruins of Holy Ghost chapel, built in the reign of Henry
VIII. The town itself presented the appearance of a
holiday : young and old, big and little, rich and poor,
gentle and simple, came out in droves to see the train,
that unusual visitor, but destined to be no more unusual
from that day forth, and promising an increase to their
prosperity, and that of the towns fortunate enough to be
near the line of that great undertaking. The party, in-
cluding many ladies, spent an hour very agreeably in look-
ing about them—many of them, no doubt, and ourselves
among the number, feeling half inclined to disbelieve even
the most positive evidence that we were in so short a time
so far from the smoke and turmoil of busy London. At
about half-past two the train started on its return to Winch-
field, accomplishing the distance without the slightest acci-
dent or annoyance to mar the pleasures of the day. An
elegant dejeuner a la fuurchette was provided at a cottage
in the immediate vicinity of the station, to which about 60
ladies and gentlemen sat down; including Mr. Easthope,
M P., the Chairman of the Company; Mr. T. Dun-
combo, M.P., Mr. Bainbridge, Mr. Spicer, Mr. R. Nor-
man, Mr. George Stone, Mr. Eyre, Mr. Wridit, Mr.
llumphrys, Mr. 'Ebben, Mr. Chaplin, Mr. M•Gillivray,
&c. &c. At seven o'clock the party broke up, and the
train finally reached Vauxhall at ten minutes past eight.
The railway, as we have already mentioned, was also
opened from Southampton to Winchester at the same time,
leaving only 18 miles, viz, the distance from Winchester to
Basingstoke, to complete the whole undertaking. These
remaining 18 miles are performed by coaches in about two
hours, so that passengers from London to Southampton can
complete the whole journey within five hours at a charge
of 13s. by the outside, or second class carriages, and 21s.
by the inside or first class. When the remaining 18 miles
of railway are completed, the fares will probably be re-
ductal to 12s. and 18s., and the time to three hours and
a half. The line to connect this railroad with Gos.
port and Portsmouth is just commencing. It is expected
that it will be finished early in the spring of 1841. The
Act of Parliament for its completion is obtained and the
works are under the vigilant superintendence of Mr. J
Locke.