The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-20 00:00:00

the two or three that halve passed current in the
clubs that the accession of these gentlemen to the
peerage will add immensely to its consideration,
while we shall have to mourn over the sacrifice
which the House of Commons will sustain when they
quit it,? benches. And, first, Mr. M. Milnes; what
will become of the house without that well-known
pleasant countenance—well known, for each side 1
of the house has in turn seen it beaming upon
them P A more consistent (we were about to
write politician, but we ask Mr. Milnes' pardon)
—a more consistent follower and retainer no
Minister ever possessed. Seated on the topmost
back bench, he represents the cherub that aloft
watches over the Minister when ho drifts into
difficulties. Ever at his post, even Mr. William
sturdy
appearance cam rely on his cheer.
appearance and sturdy self-esteemin There
Mr.a Milnessy
which justifies his being placed on the peers' roll by
a grand-sounding old feudal title; Lord Monckton
rings magnificent—true metal—the
DNoerthaondceosn; itquestrecalled to us. Talk of Christmas
pantomimes and transformations! What extrava-
anza ever equalled this ? How the footmen at
Cambridge House will start with astonishment !
The author of "Palm Leaves" and some sonnets,the
May-fair poet, Mr. Monck ton Milnes, suddenly an-,
nounced as Lord Monckton De Rhodes. Shades of
tapestried warriors, companions of time-honoured
Lancaster, hail your new cousin ! If Palmerston can
do this, what, in the name of our fathers, can he not
do ? We have only space at present to devote to one
more of this noble, stately band. If Lord Monckton
De Rhodes is to head it -we presume Mackinnon of
that ilk is to bring up the rear. Here, again, idle
cavillers might find fault with this, and ask what
has Mr. Mackinnon done to merit this distinction.
We reply that, as Lord Russell is the great disco-
verer of abuses in the political constitution, so Mr.
Mackinnon is the great discoverer of nuisances that
affect the physical constitution. His name is im-
perishably associated with the Smoke Nuisance Bill,
the Dissection Bill, and the Churchyard Bill; and
it is astonishing with how great ingenuity the hon-
ourable gentleman ferretted out all the abominations
and scented out the nuisances connected with these
uninviting topics. This is his great merit, and
suffices without any other claims ior Mr. Mackin-
non to take his seat as an hereditary legislator,
Something will doubtless be extracted for him from
the history of the clan. Mackinnon, but except the
member for Rye we know of no one of that name
who has illustrated the family. There was an active
relative who in former days was able, like Hervio
Nano, to crawl along the ceiling. This crawling
propensity may in part explain the popular rumour.
Lord Mackinnon of that ilk is to take his seat next
Lord Monckton de Rhodes on the baron's bench of
the House of Lords. Of course we cannot vouch
for the truth of the rumours, but—
" In the sunset of life there is mystical lore,
And coming events cast their shadows before."
In the retiring time of the present Government it
may well be that the noble Premier has determined
to obey the cry of " Largess, largess !" with lavish
hand, and to oblige his followers, whatever preju-
dice might accrue to the House of Lords. For many
years this has been the result of Conservative self-
denial—the Whigs have made peers for both sides.
If it be true that from eighteen to twenty more
names are to be added to the Lords' roll, all we hope
is that in the august assembly, before it is too late
—indeed, the moment Parliament meets—such
questions will be put to Lord Granville as will make
the Premier pause before he trifles with the solemn
trust which the constitution has placed in the
hands of the Sovereign.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE,

MELBOURNE AND HOBSON'S BAY.

The half-yearly report of the directors of this company
states that the accounts show a considerable falling off in
the receipts as compared with the corresponding period of
the preceding year. The cause of this decrease are attri-
buted chiefly to certain fluctuations of commerce, which do
not permanently affect the general sources of revenue. A
large portion of this decrease has resulted from the imports
carried over the line being upwards of 8,000 tons less than
for the half-year ending OcL. 31, 1861, which has been
caused in a great degree by the necessity imposed upon
several of the Melbourne agents of havit g to discharge ge •
neral cargoes at Williamstown pier, in consequence of rail-
way plant being on board for the Government. The cargoes
of several vessels would have been discharged at the com-
pany's pier during the last half year but for this compulsory
arrangement. Another item of decrease had arisen from
the sudden withdrawal of the Brighton traffic, under the
influence of extraordinary inducements held out by another
company. Notwithstanding all those drawbacks, the balance
sheet shows a profit upon the past six months sufficient to
pay a dividend at the rate of 9} per cent. per annum, leav-
ing £l7 for the reserve fund. This result is in a great de-
11
gree attributable to the reductions in expenditure. The en-
gineer reports that the permanent way is in excellent repair,
and the rolling stock of the company in the highest state of
efficiency. It is proposed to connect the Hobson's Bay and
other suburban lines with the Victorian railways by a line
running along Flinders •street to Spencer-street, and car-
ried upon arches, so as not in any way to obstruct the river
traffic, and as it would pass the whole distance over what
is now unoccupied land, a handsome and capacious passen-
ger station could be erected, and the whole works completed
at an expenditure of less than £BO,OOO, being one-third of
the estimated cost of the El zabeth-street project. The
ground set apart by the Hobson's Bay Company for the
Government portion of the passenger traffic largely exceeds
the area of the Hobson's Bay portion, which is found amply
sufficient for the arrival and departure of 50 trains daily,
carrying on an average 30,000 passengers weekly, while the
Victorian lines only despatch 17 trains per day and convey
13,000 passengers weekly to and from Melbourne. The
capital account to the 31st of October, 1862, shows that
£500,416 had been received, and £501,115 expended, in-
cluding £113,769 on the St. Kilda branch. The revenue
account for the half s ear ending the 31st of October
shows that £35,747 had been received, and £13,005 or 36.38
per cent. expended, leaving a balance of £22,742. The re-
ceipts per train mile amounted to 10s. 7id., an 4 the work-
ing expenses to 3s. 1 'id., leaving the profit of working the
traffic Gs. 91c1. per train mile.