The Sun.
London, England, 1830-11-01 00:00:00

SOUTHAMPTON, LONDON, AND
BRANCH RAILWAY COMPANY.

COM MITTE I.

Abel Rous Dottin, Esq. M.P.
Jas. Barlow llov, Esq. M.P.
John Fleming, Esq. M.P.
Hon. P. B. De B aquiere
William Fitzhugh, Esq.
Philip Le l'euvre, Esq.
Lieut.. Col. Henderson
Nathaniel Ogle, Esq

John King, Esq.
Win. ('olson Westlake, Esq.
R. Davidson Pritc,iard, Esq.
Samuel Le Fevre, Esq.
Dr Jones
It. Johnston, Esq.
Edward Loney Stephens, Esq.

The further civilized men advance towards that degree
of perfection of which their faculties are capable, the more
they learn of the great laws of nature, and the more zea-
loualy they subject them to their uses.
The uninformed and uncivilized man is satisfied with
little, and differs chiefly from his enlightened brother in
the number and quality of his occupations. In proportion
as information inerewes, the practical application of scien-
tific deductions fellows, which, while it adds to the power
and resources of man, elevates him to a higher intellectual
standard. and yields him superior means of happiness.
The oftener men associate, the more frequently opinions
are brought to the test of discussion, anal the sooner truth
is elicited. One method of accelerating the great ends
above referred to is that of giving to men flcility and ra-
pidity of communication. Forethought and science point
out the means; and we alrestly see how readily the way has
been entered upon, and what honour and profit have been
derived at Liverpool and Manchester by those who have
set the high example.
In every country there are districts particularly eaten-
lated for entrepots, and from which facilities for transport-
ing commodities should emanate. If we examine the
&dhere coast of our island, not one spot will be found so
well adapted for such an establishment as Southampton ;
it is well known to be situated at the head of one of the
fineet and most capacious rivers on the English met, na-
turally protected from all storms by the Isle of Wight, and
defended front all attempts of an enemy by the fortress and
naval force of Portsmouth. It has neither rock nor sand
to excite earth ; and its port is sufficiently extensive to
contain that portion of commerce to which from its geogra-
phical position it is entitled.
The district through which the Railway is intended to
pass, to unite Southampton with London, in no p art pre-
p MI difficulties which cannot easily be surmounted ; and
large" tracts of land, now uncultivated, will thereby become
productive and valuable to the Proprietors.
This great undertaking will give employment to thou-
sands of labourers. Every parish within range of the
work will be benefitted, the peasantry become more inde-
pendent, and, consequently, the poor rates diminished.
The enterprising merchant will be enabled to appreciate
the advantage that will be afforded of escaping the Good.
win Sands, the adverse winds which are known to pre-
vail in the Channel about nine months in the year, and
the heavy charges for pilotage, rights, &c.

It is a well-known fact that London merchants cannot
at present depend on their West India ships performing
more than one voyage during the year, but from South-
ampton they can always calculate on two such voyages ;
and while vessels arc discharging foreign produce here,
outward cargoes may be collected at a trifling charge for
carriage, thereby enabling such vessels to be re-freighted
immediately, and be despatched sooner than can possibly
be done from various other ports.
The advantage that the fruit trade will derive by the
landing of such cargoes at Southampton needs no com-
ment : the importers roust be frely sensible of the incalcu-
lable benefits to be derived therefrom. Other cargoes
from the Mediterranean, an well as from the wine districts
of France and Portugal, will also derive advantage from
terminating their voyage at 'Southampton.

The London nurlieimay, by this means, be abundantly
supplied with Fish from the English Channel, thus giving
encouragement to a large and meritorious class of men, as
well as keeping up a • nursery for the naval service, and
obviating ,►n objection which has been aerated to the intro-
duction of rail•roads, as tending to the injury of our coast-
ing trade.

The extensive shipments to the Islands of Guernsey
and Jertoi will be transmitted by the proposed Railway,
and the rapidity and cheapness with which the tnerchants
and traders of those islands will receive their commodities,
must ensure their entire support. The supplies of goods
to the Isle of Wight are also very considerable, and will
afford through the Southampton Railway a great source of
revenue.

In fine, the projected communication will open a means
for avoiding danger, delay, and expense; and goods landed
or shipped at Southampton may at once be despatched to
their respective destinations. Southampton is allowed to
be the place best adapted for communication by steam
conveyance with Havre de Grace, the first commercial
port us France. The traffic already established between
these places is very considerable; but when the con-
templated perfection of the Seine navigation, or the rail-
road from Paris to Havre, ►shall have been effected (and
there is every reason to believe one or the other will be
speedily realized), the advantages that must ensue ►will in-
deed be important.
The calculations already before the Committee, founded
upon careful investigation of the quantity of goods and
number of passengera now proceeding along the line of
the intended Railway, justify the conclusion that the capi-
talist who may embark in this undertaking will derive an
ample retina for his investment. No allusion is here made
to the great prospective advantages arising from the ex-
pected increase of traffic ; they are, however, deserving of
the very highest attention.
Prompted by the foregoing considerations, the Com-
mittee of Investigation have undertaken to superintend the
adoption of preliminary measures in the formation of the
proposed Company, have caused a survey to be made ;
and, from the assorinee of support received from the
highest commercial and other quarters, it cannot he doubted
that a sufficient capital will be promptly subscribed to en-
sure an early application to Parliament.
It is not intended to conceal, that objects like those in
view must, to a certain extent, interfere with existing in-
terests; but, if the perfection of science requires a depar-
ture from arrangements which eau no longer meet the
wants and demands of society, let it be fully understood that
a principle of mutual conciliation, acted on with the libe-
rality which should characterise every important change,
will ensure its being so made as .to afford general satisfae-
don. The experience already reaped from the Liverpool
Railway demonstrates that the hostility which was there so
strongly manifested has not only subsided, but is converted
into active and generous co-operation.
The Committee of Investigation invite a Public Meeting
(nf which due notice will he given) to take into considera-
tion the foregoing statements, with a view to establish a
Company to carry this great national object into imme-
diate effect.

1t is propoud that the intended capital of the Company
be,One sterling, divided into Shares of 1001. each.
Books are now open at the Banks of Messrs. iladdison
and Co., and Atherley and Co.* for receiving subscrip•
lions, which.subscriptions will be hereafter allowed in the
payment of shares in the proportion of 21, deposit for each
1001. share, in case the subscribers think proper to become
shareholders.

A List of Subscribers will shortly appear.
Southampton Railway Committee-room., 79,
High-street, Southarnmen, Oct. 21.