The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-27 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

LONDON AND MID-WESTERN.---An influential and
numerous meeting of landowners was held on Monday
at Thame ; the Earl of Macclesfield in the chair. Mr.
Voules, one of the directors, explained that the Mid-
Western line was designed purely
reference to the
urgent demand for railway accommodation in the dis-
trict through which it was intended to pass. Lord Car-
rington moved a resolution to the effect that the meet-
ing was deeply impressed with the necessity for obtaining
direct, distinct, immediate, and uninterrupted communi-
cation with the metropolis. He said there seemed perfect
unanimity in the southern districts in favour of the scheme.
He then pointed out at considerable length the great
advantages that would result to the district from the
establishment of railway communication. It would
bring them into direct communication with some of the
richest mineral districts, and they would have coal
abundant in supply and moderate in price. Their case
in Parliament might be simply defined as presenting an
overwhelming, uncontradicted, and pressing case of
public necessity on one side as against railway mono-
poly on the other. (Hear, hear.) He could not but
believe that the impartial and intelligent committee to
whom the question was referred must report in favour
of the line. Mr. Hammersley seconded the resolution,
which was carried unanimously, as were also other reso-
lutions which were embodied in petitions to both Houses
of Parliament, in favour of the undertaking. The pro-
ceedings concluded with a cordial vote of thanks to the
chairman.
LYONS AND GENEVA.--It appears that the French
Government has decided that this line shall commence
by a junction at Lyons, pass on to Arnb4rieux, thence
by a curve to Culoz, where it meets the Rhone, and is
then to pass along the right bank of the river to Geneva,
keeping within the French frontier. A branch line is
to be formed from the main line at Amberieux to Bourg
and Macon, where it is to join the Paris and Lyons
Railway. When this and other lines are completed,
Geneva will be placed in railway communication with
Marseilles, Bordeaux, Paris, Nantes, Havre, Holland,
Belgium, and other places in France, also with Ger-
many. The plans and sections have been completed by,
the State engineers in a manner satisfactory to all par-
ties, and it is stated that the authorities of Switzerland
have agreed to subscribe 2,000,000 T. (80,0001.) towards
the undertaking.

RISE IN THE WAGES OF SPITALFIELDS WEAVERS.-It
is notorious that during the last seven years the Spital-
fields weavers have been subjected to many reductions—
indeed so wretchedly low has been the price of their
labour that the poverty of that class of workpeople has
been proverbial. The weavers have, however, been
making an effort to share in the general improvement
in the silk trade. Several manufacturers have already
made a small advance, and are willing to advance a
trifle more on the Ist of June next, provided others in
the same branch of the trade will do the same. But
some manufacturers seem to consider that the favourable
turn in trade is wholly for their benefit, whilst on the
other hand the weavers seem determined to participate
in the Improvement in this generally-depressed branch
of industry, and the movement has the commiseration of
the clergy and other influential persons in the district.
The Rev. Allen T. Edwards, incumbent of St. Matthias,
.Bethnal-green, has on many occasions kindly lent the
school-room for their meetings, and has generously
allowed subscriptions to be received by Mr. Kelsey,
schoolmaster at St. Matthias's schools, St. John-street,
Brick-lane, Bethnal-green, for the purpose of aiding the
weavers in their present struggle, such aid being ren-
dered necessary by thu unwillingness "of some employers
to accede to the just demands of the operatives.