The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-28 00:00:00

THE_StrNi,_LONDpIY, THIT,.RSDA.7,__V,y_ENING, APRIL 28, 1853.

J_O.URNALS.

recorded, therefore, their. votes` uron. Monday
night. This, too, is a fact, whatever be its value,
which rests upon the certainty of arithmetical de-
monstration. We do not, indeed, know with cer-
tainty what would have been the votes of the 200
absent peers had they been present upon Monday
night. Still a comparison with former divisions
justifies us in believing that the larger proportion
of the absentees were noble lords holding Conser-
vative opinions. It is enough, however, to observe,
that in truth the division of Monday night tested
the opinions of little more than one-half of the
House of Peers. That division, in fact, proved
eviept that a very dangerous apathy upon
political questions prevails at this moment among
the members of the tipper House.
Let us contrast the division of Monday with
some of those which have taken place upon great
contested questions within the last seven years,
since the unfortunate change of conduct of Sir
Robert Peel broke up the Conservative party.
On the third reading of the bill repealing the corn
duties on the 28th of May, 1846, the numbers
were :

miles from west to east, the gross surface being there-
fore 135,000 square miles. If one-half of it is occupied
by mountain ranges, sites of towns, beds of rivers, and
unsuitable soils, the other half contains 67,500 square
miles, or 43,200,000 acres, applicable to the growth of
cotton fit for English use. If one-fourth of this were
cropped every year, and the produce were equal to the
average of Guzerat and Candleish, or 1001bs. per acre,
the weight of the whole crop would be 1,080,000,0001b5.
per annum, or two and a quarter times the entire quan-
tity annually consumed by the manufacturers of Great
Britain on the average of the 13 years ending in 1846."
With regard to the district to be accommodated by Major
Kennedy, Mr. Chapman said the gross area did not
exceed 7,700 square miles, which, after making such-
deductions as before, left a cultivable service of 5,040
square miles, of which the annual cropping of cotton-
did not exceed one-fifth of 645,120 acres, the result of
which would be 70,963,200 lbs. He added, that as
the greater part of the cotton already exported from
India came from that district, and generally amounted
to from 60,000,000 lbs. to 70,000,000 lbs., they could
not expect much more from it. There were other pro-
ducts besides cotton to be found in the line of the com-
pany's projected communication. At a short distance
from Bombay had been found coal, which appeared from
experiments to be of the most valuable description.
Iron, too, existed ; and in 1830 a suspension-bridge
was built of it, 20 feet span by 12 feet broad, which was
said to be equal to any structure of the kind in Europe.
Timber also might be added to the natural products.
The total traffic of the interior amounted even at pre-
sent to about 180,000 per annum. The only real diffi-
culty bad been as to the point- they should cross the
mountains. Their engineer, Mr. Berkeley, had, how-
ever, actually accomplished a survey of 200 miles.
Though they confined their proposal at present to the
execution of about 52 or 53 miles, the survey had been
extended far beyond. Mr. Berkeley estimated that the
line from Callian to Shawpoor—the first fifty miles
of the project—could be executed for about 7,5001.
per mile ; and that the
,line thence to the fort
of the Ghaut incline, would cost about 10,9001.
per mile. The crossing of the mountains was,
of course, a very difficult operation; but it was
stated by Mr. Berkeley that if it were accomplished
the gradients would not be worse than some in this coun-
try, and that the expense of constructing about eight
miles would not exceed 34,9001. per mile. Then, from
the eastern foot of the mountains to' Nassick would be
29i miles more, which, partaking partly of a mountain-
ous character, would cost about 7,4001. per mile; while
the remainder of the line, running through the cotton
district, would fall down to 4,5001. per mile. This esti-
mate was, of course, in some degree conjectural ; but 'it
had been prepared with great care, and if it could
be relied upon, the result would be that these five
sections connecting Bombay with the great cotton dis-
trict of the interior, would be constructed at an ave-
rage cost of 88,000/. per mile ; and if the scheme were
carried out at that expense there could not be a mo-
ment's doubt that a most important object would have
have been achieved at a very moderate outlay. As had
been stated in the report, as soon as the necessary ar-
rangements were completed, the shareholders would be
summoned together to authorise the raising of the capi-
tal required to carry out that portion of the undertaking
more immediately contemplated.

Present
Proxies

For the bill. Against.
138 126
73 38

211 164
Making a total of 375 peers who on that occasion
recorded their votes. It is quite true that on Mon-
day proxies were not available, as the amendment
was moved in committee. Still, however, many
of those who avail themselves of the privilege of
voting by proxy when proxies are available, make
it a point to attend in committees when a personal
vote is indispensable. Taking, however, the num-
bers present on each occasion, we find that on the
Corn Law Bill there were actually present, 254 ;
on the Clergy Reserves but 195.
Pursuing "the analysis of the division of late
years; we' find the votes on the second reading of
the bill for repealing the navigation laws, May 8,
1849 •

For the bill
Against ~.

173
... 163

Total ... 336
Taking these divisions, we think we are justified
in saying, that, so far as the division of Monday
night goes, it establishes little more than this, that
there is now, on the part of the aristocracy of the
country, an indisposition to take their proper politi-
cal position in the nation.

We are very far from underrating the evil effects
of such a state of feeling. On the contrary, we
regard it as one of the most dangerous character-
istics of the crisis. All we ask is, that the true na-
ture of that characteristic should be understood.
When men boast of the majority of Monday, ..Let it
be clearly- understood that what they boast of is not
that they have won over a majority of the House
of Peers, but That too large a proportion of that
assembly have either been disgusted with, or ren-
dered indifferent to, the political contests that are
decided in the upper chamber.
We do not palliate the conduct of those noble
lords who, in this hour of their country's perils,
desert the post to which their duty imperatively
calls them. -We believe that they commit an error
as fatal, and if we must say it, as cowardly, as that
of the old French nobility, who fled from their
country when they ought at all risks to have stayed,
and resisted the course of revolution. We repeat,
that we only desire that the true nature of the evil
should be understood.

The motion having been seconded, was agreed to after
a desultory discussion. '
Formal resolutions were also passed in acc•rdance
with the recommendations in the report; and the meet-
ing terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN.

An important circular, from the directors of the
London and North Western Railway Company to their
constituents, was delivered yesterday. From this docu-
ment it appears that the North Western board has at
present bills before parliament for the construction of
164/ additional miles of railway ; and that their esti-
mated cost is 2,149,000/. The new lines, their separate
lengths and estimates, are follow :
New Lines. Length. Estimated Cos
1. St. Albans to Amersham
and Chesham lB miles ... £152,000
2. Oxford, Thame, and Tiing 31 „ ... 400,000
3. Northampton and Market
Harborough . 18 „
4. Oldbury and Stourbridge 8i „
5. Wellington and Coal-
brookdale lO ~
6. Shrewsbury to Newton 44 „
7. Crewe to Shrewsbury 33 „
8. Oxfordshire Branch 2

Two opportunities still present themselves upon
which the peers of
England may repair the almost
fatal error which they have committed. We may
not be sanguine enough to expect, that, upon the
third reading of-the Clergy Reserves Bill, the deci-
sion of the committee may be reversed ; but there
is another measure to be considered on Friday,
which will, we verily believe, test the House of
Lords in the opinion of the Conservative and reli-
gious people of England. Upon that evening the
bill for unchristianising, the Legislature stands for
a second reading in their lordship's house. The
issue here is fairly raised. Mr. Bright has told the
House of Peers that they dare not reject the mea-
sure. Lord John Russell as distinctly admitted
that there is 'no expression of public opinion which
ought to influence the upper house in departing
from their former decisions. It is our solemn duty
to warn that illustrious assembly, that if upon this
question they be content, as on the Canada re-
serves, to abdicate their functions and delegate to
a moiety of their body the decision of questions in
which the most sacred feelings of Englishmen are
involved, they may find too late that in deserting
the duties of • their high position, they will have
alienated from them unnecessarily the affections
of that people upon whom, in the hour of democratic
invasion, they must rely for the preservation of their
privileges and the upholding of their order.

... 250,000
... 300,000

... 160,000
... 500,000
... 350,000
... 37,000

1641 miles. £2,149,000
To meet this expenditure, the company has fresh stock
in other lines which at par cost it 3,292,6561., hut the
actual market value of which is now 2,905,9701. ; and
this stock the directors recommend the proprietary to
retain, on the grounds of general policy as strengthening
their influence over those lines, and of the heavy loss its
sale would inflict. Secondly, the company has 91. a
share to call up on the Manchester and Birmingham 101.
shares, and 81. a share on the London and Birmingham
201. shares. On these two descriptions of shares the
directors propose to make calls at an early date.
Of the capital required for these 1641 miles of new
lines here then is 1,000,0001. In addition the directors
seek for powers to create further ordinary share capital
to the extent of 3,054,600/. Thus then the paid up
capital of the North Western Railway has to be gradually
increased by, in round numbers, 4,000,0001. And as
borrowing powers to the extent of one-third the capital
will, as usual; follow its creation, the total sum the
North Western will, under this circular, be entitled to
raise, wilL be 5,000,0001.
The estimated cost of the new line is 2,149,0001.
This, however, is, it may fairly be presumed, irrespec-
tive of what will be needed to furnish their rolling stock.
That is usually an addition of one-third to the cost of
construction, say 700,0001. This brings the sum up to
2,849,000/. ; and as the bills promoted also contain
powers to make a deviation, to widen the old line in
some parts, and to enlarge some of the stations, it is the
additional cost of these works which, it may be sup-
posed, brings the sum total up to 3,05426001., the amount
of ordinary share capital proposed to be created. But
the expenditure of this amount of capital will still, we
see, leave the company power to raise other 2,000,000/. ;
for which, at present, they have no avowed objects of
expenditure.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

GREAT INDIAN PENINSULA RAILWAY.
Yesterday the seventh half-yearly meeting of pro-
prietors was held at the company's office, No. 3, New
Broad-street, City—Lord Wbarncliffe in the chair.
The SECRETARY having read the report,
The CHAIRMAN said, in moving the adoption of the
report, he must commence by congratulating the share-
holders on the opening of the first portion of their un-
dertaking—for there was no reason to doubt that it was
actually opened on the 4th of April. (Cheers.) The
completion of the first line of railway in our vast terri-
tories in India was a matter of imperial interest and of
universal moment to the civilised world. (Hear.) He
must also congratulate the meeting upon the board's hav-
ing been enabled to enter into an arrangement with the
Government for the extension of the line originally laid
down as the experimental line from Callian to Shawpoor,
a distance on the Thull Ghaut of 18 miles beyond Cal-
lian. They had no doubt of being enabled to complete
the first section within the estimates. It was natural
that any surplus remaining after paying the expenses of
completing the original experimental line, should be ap-
plied for its prolongation. Under the arrangement entered
into with the East India Company, the surplus which
existed was to be applied towards the completion of the
line from Callian, so as to bring upon their railway the
traffic from the Thull Ghaut, while the remainder of the
capital required was be raised on the same terms as the
original 500,0001. (Cheers.) In October last, he had
the pleasure of informing the shareholders that a report
had just been received from the engineer relative to the
best point for passing the Ghauts ; that this report had
been submitted to the East India Company and the
Board of Control, and that the board expected to be able
to make immediate arrangements for the extension of
the line. He was not then aware of any impediment in
the way of carrying out such a scheme. About that
time, however, a proposal was submitted to the Govern-
ment by a gentleman who, he was informed, had resided
long enough in Bombay to have become intimately
acquainted with the district, that a line should be made
along the coast, without approaching the G-hauts, towards
the Gulf of Surat, and branching off, prior to arriving at
the Gulf, towards the north-eastern portion of the coun-
try. That proposal was made by Major Kennedy, and
submitted to the authorities at home, who thought it
their duty to remit it to the Government in Bombay, for
their opinion. The board had the means of knowing
that the Government of Bombay took steps for the inves-
tigation of the comparative merits of the two proposals.
Crawford,tnohtew thosvtaernn
dmi
newhosegn tthoaf
trßeuponmof
ar
btvawoyua,rs a
tdbhel
ee-
The proposition of Major Kennedy was referred to their
,asdavneerstieo engineer,
nt
oCe
diatpbt ayNi
oc
pi
ne officialol
Government here thought it their duty to refer the ques-
tion to the Supreme Government of India ; and, that
step having been taken, it was of course indispensable to
wait for an answer. The Governor-General having a war
on his hands had written home to say that he had been
obliged to defer the consideration of the matter in con-
sequence of the pressure of other business, but that,
as soon as it was in his power to do so, he would turn
his attention to it. They had reason to expect an an-
swer by the next mail. That the result would be satis-
factory to the Company, he for one did not entertain a
moments doubt ; and they would then be in a position
to proceed with the most important part of their un-
dertaking. (Cheers.) Having thus referred to the pro-
posal of Major Kennedy, he must make a few remarks
on the actual elem6nts of the question at issue between
Major Kennedy and themselves. When they first placed
their undertaking before the world, their object was
partly with the view of imprOving the communication be-
tween-this country and the western side of India. It so
happened that on the western side there existed what
was to be found, he believed, at no other part of the ex-
tended coast of the Indian peninsula, namely, a good har-
bour. Such a harbour was found at Bombay, and there
was no other, he believed, from the mouth of the Indus
to that of the Ganges. It occurred to the promoters that
there could not be a more important object than that
of opening a communication between the nearest point
to our European territories and the interior of India, and
Bombay seemed admirably adapted to the accomplish-
ment of the object. In the next place, it must be ob-
served that Bombay lay immediately opposite to what
was universally known as the great valley for thegrowth
of cotton—the cotton field of India ; and what could be
more desirable than to establish easy and rapid commu-
nication with a district which could afford an unlimited
supply of that invaluable staple of our manufactures ?
(Hear.) What were the comparative merits of tho two
schemes, as regarded the article of cotton ? Bombay
was, as he had said, not far distant from the great cotton
district, and the obstacles to communication interposed
by nature were surmountable, It was believed, at a
moderate expense. On the other hand, Major Ken-
nedy's line passed northward, not pp a roaching the dis-
trict of which he had spoken, and this for the purpose
of reaching a small district, which, though it certainly
produced cotton, did • so to a much inferior ex-
tent. There was a very cheap water carriage, with
which such a line would have to compete ; the district
to be traversed was by no means thickly peopled or pro-
ductive ; and rivers would have to be crossed near their
mouths, and at points where it was impossible. to de-
pend on the stream. To show the relative importance
of the two districts he begged to refer to a work of Mr.
Chapiyn, who--might be considered an authority on
such a matter. Speaking of the district which that
company had had in view from the first, this gentleman
said : "The area may be taken at about 450 miles
from north to south, with an average breadth of 300

THE SMYTH WALES RAILWAY EXTENSION. - Mr.
Brunel, the engineer of the line, has been inspecting
the proposed site of the terminus at Neyland, on the
north side of the Haven at Milford. The works in that
direction from Haverfordwest are being prosecuted with
rapidity, and the owners of the required land have
referred their disputes to arbitration. It is, however,
expected that the excavators on the ground between
Haverfordwest and Neyland will be put on the main line
so as to ensure an early opening to the county town. This
large body, in addition to the heavy gang employed by
thC Messrs. Conder, will enable the contractor to
make great progress ; and it is confidently anticipated
that an early opening this summer will be effected.
The works have been advanced with great rapidity
during the late dry weather. The ShOalshook and Frolic
cuttings are a scene of the utmost activity. In
Carraarthenshire, the permanent way is being laid
down, and the embankment to the river Towey, in the
Rhydygors vicinity, has been completed ; the rails in the
neighbourhood of St. Clear's will shortly be laid, and
along the Towey operations are going on. The labour-
ers are- in full work at old prices, no advance having been
acceded to.

1