The Sun.
London, England, 1838-05-14 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE LONDON AND

SOUTHAMPTON RAILWAY.

The works upon this important undertaking have now been so far
completed as to permit its being opened to Woking-common, a distance
of 23 miles from London. The first experimental trip upon this ex-
tended line was made on Saturday last, when the Directors, accompanied
by their chief engineer, 3.1 r. Locke, by several Noblemen, and by many
Members of Parliament, paid a flying visit to the admiring rustics, who
had congregated in thousands at Woking. The arrangements for the
occasion were of a kind to command suceess, and did not fail to attain it.
The party invited to accompany the Directors assembled at the
handsome and conveniont terminus at Nine-elms, near Vauxhall-bridge,
soon after one o'clock.

The preparations for the jaunt having been completed, the party,
amongst whom were the Earl of Carnarvon, Lord Adolphus Fitsclarence,
Mr. Shaw Lefevre, M.P., Mr. Robert Gordon, M.P., Mr. Divett,
Mr. Thomas Duncombe, M.P., Sir Harry Verney, Bart., M.P., Sir
Matthew Wood, Bart., M.P., Mr. Ward, M.P., Mr. MildmaY, M.P.,
Mr. Hume, M.P., Mr. Easthope, M.P., and many other gentlemen who
have felt a deep interest in the undertaking, took their seats in the
different carriages, and in a few minutes Kingston with all its lovely
scenery, shewed itself in the distance. Advancing at the same faultless
and well.sustained pace, Kingston quickly fell into the rear, and not
very many minutes afterwards the station at Woking-common was
was gained. The whole distance, 23 miles was accomplished in 45
minutes, and yet to the passengers there was no appearance of extra-
ordinary speed. So smooth and easy was the transit, so utterly undis.
turbed by the slightest shake or jar, that if the eyes were closed it was
difficult to imagine oneself in motion at all.
After the Directors and their guests had partaken of the handsome
and liberal luncheon which had been provided for the occasion, the
steam was again put in requisition, the party returned to their seats,
and in 43 minutes (two minutes less than the time occupied in going
down) they were once more safely deposited at the terminus at Nine
Elms. Thus was the whole distance out and home (411 miles) accom-
plished without the slightest apparent effort, without one tingle diffi-
culty, without the semblance of an accident, in the wonderful short
time of one hour and twenty-eight minutes. It is needless to observe
that an experiment so well begun and so happily terminated, afforded
the highest satisfaction to all parties. Every one was anxious to ex-
press his gratification at the moment and upon the spot, but the Direc-
tors shaking their friends by the hand requested them to take a few
hours to consider of the matter, and to favour them with their delibe-
rate opinion in the evening at the Clarendon Hotel. The invitation
was as readily accepted as it was cordially given.

At dinner the Directors were joined by the Duke of Sussex, who had
expressed a wish to take part in the excursion of the morning, and was
only prevented from doing so by the delicate state of his health, and the
dread of an east wind. In other respects the party was much the same
as it had been upon the railway.
Mr. EASTHOPE, the Chairman of the Company, presided. On his
right sat the Duke of Sussex, and on his left the Earl of Carnarvon.
Mr. REND, the Secretary to the Company, occupied the Vice Chair.
After the cloth had been removed, and after the healths of " The
Queen" and " The Queen Dowager" had been drunk with warm de.
monstrations of loyalty,
The CHAIRMAN rose to propose the health of the illustrious individual
who had done them the honour to ♦isit them that day, and to whom they
felt themselves deeply indebted. He (the Chairman) was sure that his
Royal Highness had no higher pleasure, no greater gratification than
that which he gained from the promotion of great national improve-
ment, and when this was accompanied with great urbanity of manner
and great personal kindness, it was not a matter of surprise that he
should be the nation's delight.—(Cheers.)
" The health of his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex," was drunk
with much enthusiasm.

The Duke of Sussex, in returning thanks, begged to express his
warm acknowledgments for the kind manner in which the company
had received the toast, and likewise to his Hon. Friend, the Chairman,
for the handsome manner in which he had introduced it to their notice.
His Hon. Friend certainly did him justiee in stating his anxiety at all
times to promote, and with others to assist in the advancement of any
measure which he thought conducive to the improvement and advan.
tage of the country.—(Applause.) That would naturally be the object
of every individual, but more particularly of one placed in the situation
in which he stood, because he must feel that as the improvements of the
nation increased in value and importance, so must those who by Provi-
dence were placed in an exalted station in an equal ratio stand higher in
the estimation of the world in general. He believed it was one of the
principles of every well.regulated society that no part of it could advance
without the ether parts advancing in an equal degree. That was the
principle upon which the constitution of England was founded, and he
was sure that every body present would feel with him that it was to
that principle that they owed ell the security and prosperity they pos.
sessed.--(Applause.) He looked upon railways as one of the most im-
portant improvements of modern dabs, and although he was not so man.
guine as to expect that all which were in contemplation would succeed,
he confessed that that which run from London to Southampton was
one from which he anticipated immense success and immense benefit.
In case of war the immediate communication which the railway would
affird between London and Southampton would point out the latter as
the most convenient place for the establishment of a depot, and at ell
times, whether in peace or war, he should not be surprised to find that
much of the valuable produce of the East Indies would find its way into
the Southampton river, and thence by this new and rapid mode of tran-
sit to the metropolis.—(Hear, hear.) He might be wrong, but that
was a wrong impression upon his mind. The difficulty of getting round
in the Thames, the delays which frequently arose from contrary winds,
and the dangers which beset that part of our seas, were considerations
that he theueht would induea almost all who had valuable cargoes, either
from the soot or west, to seek a safe ens convenient harbour at Mouth-
ampton.—(Applause..) He merely threw out these remarks to show
that he had not been inattentive, or indifferent to the interests of the
Company.—(Loud applause.) He would now conclude by proposing—
if he were allowed to do so—" Prosperity to the London and Southalnl,
ton Railway."

The toast was drunk with much applause.
The CHAIRMAN next proposed the healths of the Earl of Carnarven,
Mr. Shaw Lefevre, Mr. M3l.lway, &c., who severally returned thanks ;
and th• party afterward• separated, highly delighted and pleased with
the day's entertainment.

MONEY and COMMERCIAL MARKET

(From the Morning Paperioethis day.)

Times —A series of petty reforms, it seems, has been commenced in
the Bank of England, which evince the determination to extend a prin-
ciple of the strictest economy into all the minor details of the establish-
ment. The Directors have curtailed the consunsption of pens to such
an extent, that none are allowed or to be found on the desks where the
public endorse their notes or sign for transfers or dividends, except such
as may chance to be left there by the Stockbrokers who accompany their
customers, carrying their pens with them from the Stock-Exchange.
A strict account is also ordered to be taken of the precise time
when the lamps are lighted and put out, in order to check waste.
The clerks, too, are no longer allowed for work after their usual
hours, and their salaries, which before, according to a certain scale,
were raised every two years, are in future to be advanced only
I every three years. Nor are these the only curtailment of their privi-
leges : they were allowed to make out the powers of attorney fot the sale
or transfer of stock, the stamp on which is We., and for which the pub-
lic were charged 2.15. 641., and ls. 6d. being the fee of the clerks for
their trouble. This gratuity, so far as the clerks are concerned, is abo-
lished, but the public are still subjected to the same charge. The Di-
rectors, it appears, have also adopted the' practice of re-issuing their
old notes, like country banks, instead of, as formerly, cancelling them
when paid in, and issuing only new notes. Complaints arc made that
under this system the numbers of the old notes so re-issued are no
longer taken as before, by which the difficulties of tracing then in case
of accident are likely to be materially enhanced Whether these re-
forms are meant only as a beginning, or are to extend into higher mat_
teas, remains to be seen.

Friday morning an act of suicide of a most deter-
mined character took place in Kensington-gardens, being the third
within the last fourteen days. About seven o'clock police-constable
Garton, A SS, while passing over the bridge which divides the gardens
from Hyde-park, had his attention attracted by the report of a pistol,
and conceiving it to have been occasioned by some boys firing at the
birds, he proceeded in the direction whence the sound emanated, for
the purpose of driving them away. After searching about for five
minutes without seeing any person, he entered one of the plantations
called the Middle Wood, which abuts on the round pond opposite Ken-
sington Palace, and about the middle discovered the body of a gentle-
man, evidently a foreigner, lying on the grass, extended at full length on
his back. On the left side of the body was lying a handsome walking
cane, and a few feet beyond the head was a hat. On examining the body
a pistol shot wound was discovered under the right ear, from which blood
was still flowing, though life was quite extinct. The unfortunate gen-
tleman, when committing the rash act, had evidently been in a standing
position, the pistol being found lying under his left shoulder, and on
searching his clothes his pockets were found to contain a green silk purse
containing two sovereigns, a sixpence, four penny pieces, and three half-
pence in copper. Also a very handsome massive silver snuff-box, and
a silver pencil-case, but no paper of any description from which his
name or connexions could be ascertained. On the lining of the hat,
which was made by Messrs. Shearman and Briggs, OS, Gracechurch.
street, was written " Jones Schmidt," from which it is inferred that
the unfortunate gentleman was a German. He was dressed in an olive
brown frock coat, dark striped Valentia waistcoat, Oxford mixture trou.
sers, high patent leather shoes, and leather gloves, which were still on
his hands. Friday night a respectable jury was empanelled before Mr.
Higgs, coroner for Westminster, to investigate the ease ; when the
only evidence adduced was that of a man named Murphy, a labourer la
the gardens, who was called to the spot by Garton, the policeman who
discovered the body. The purport of his evidence was as above. The
jury inquired why Garton was not present? The constable said he had
not been able to summon him. The coroner, in the absence of Garton,
suggested the propriety of an adjournment, as it was probable in the
meantime the body might be owned. The jury, after remarking that it
was evident from the deceased's fingers that he had not been engaged in
any employment, then adjourned until six o'clock on Monday (this day).
The wheat since our last has made great improve-
ment, and the eye of the farmer is now gladdened with the fresh green
colour, which is most pleasing to an agriculturist, where a fortnight ago
everything was brown, sickly, and stunted. Beans and peas have made
astonishing progress within the last week. Oats and barley, however,
were up and look thriving. In a week or two we shall be able to say
more about them. The prevalence of north-east winds might have been
expected to check the blossoms to a very great extent, but nearly every
blossom that has come out looks promising and well. Some of the wall
fruit, however, has slightlr suffered.—Maidstone Gazettee.
FRENCH STEAMER ON THE THAMES.—Hitilefto
all the steam-vessels frequenting the port of London have been virtually,
if not ostensibly, of British ownership and origin. The French, how.
ever, have at length resolved to enter the field, and " carry the war into
the enemy's quarters." A splendid new steamer, the Phenix, has been
built at Havre for this purpose, and has just commenced running be-
tween her native port and London-bridge, between which places she in.
tends to take up a regular station. She belong to a French Company,
who are determined, if possible, to reap some of the benefits of the im.
mense intercourse between the two capitals of England and France, by
water as well as by land.--Mechanics' Magazine.
GERMAN LITERATURE.--It 13 curious that the
second edition of a German work is generally much altered from the
first, and admits not only of variations of statements, but often direct
contradiction of its former self. Jacobi, no inconsiderable man, pub-
lished a book, turning much on a distinction, unknown in this country,
between the reason and the understanding; but the second edition had
appended to it this important erratum, for the benefit of those readers
who might still wish to make use of their original copies :—" Wherever
you find understanding read reason, and fur reason read understand-
ing."--Quarterly
Since the conviction of seyen captains of steamers
for navigating their vessels at a greater rate of speed than five miles an
hour in the pool, a manifest improvement has taken place with some of
the steam-vessels, and their speed is now confined within reasonable
limits as they pass up and down the pool; other steam-packets, however,
go as fast as ever, there is not the least abatement of their speed, and it is
exceedingly difficult for the boats and small craft to be navigated in the
swell which they raise. The Waterman's Company have directed their
officers to watch the progress of the steamers daily, and intend prosecut.
ing the masters of the vessels found offending against the regulations.
Under these circumstance,' the evil so long complained of is likely to be
entirely stopped.

There lives at present in Poros a Greek clergyman
named John Chaniotis, who was born on the 13th of January, 1718.
He married in 1748, and was priested in 1755. He has three sons, the
one 70, the other 65, and the third 55 years of age, and a daughter 68.
John chaniotis has the enjoyment of all his faculties, both intellectual
and physical.