The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-07 00:00:00

"Shortly after the passage of the Amalgamation Bil

the St. Lacirence and Atlantic Railroad Company deputed
their president, Mr. Galt, to proceed to England to
negotiate for that company becoming united to the
Grand Trunk. That gentleman was also authorised to
treat on behalf of the American section of the same road,

from the province line to Portland, for the same pur-
pose, the object being to form a line through the pro-
vince, and, by the power of a united company, to secure
the constructiod of a bridge over the St. Lawrence, at
Montreal, an object rightly judged as of pre-eminent
importance.
"It was also then thought probable that the Great
Western would have proposed to enter into such alliance,
especially as it had obtained provincial aid, on the ground
of its being a link of the Canadian Government system.
" Mr. Galt was further charged—in connection with
Mr. Alexander Gillespie, of London—to act as agent of
the Toronto, Guelph, and Sarnia line, in endeavouring
to raise funds for the extension of that line, for which
that company had the promisJ of powerful aid in Lon-
don, including that of the Canada Company. ,
"He arrived in London in January ; and if evidence
be required to show that even then no idea existed of
amalgamating with the Grand Trunk, it may be found
in Mr. Gillespie and in Mr. Franks, the respected chair-
man of the Canada Company, who are both aware that,
for some time after Mr. Galt's arrival, his views were
eetirely directed to raising funds from sources quite inde-
pendent of any amalgamation.
"The whole statement.of the Great 'Western report,
relative to these transactions, is therefore shown to be
quite unfounded • and the charges brought against the
Government ipf Canada and its Legislature are really so
unsupported that it is difficult to conceive how they
could be offered to the British public.
"The causes that led to the amalgamation of the To-
ronto, Guelph, and Sarnia lines, are very apparent to
any one who looks dispassionately at the position of the
Grand Trunk as a mere private company. The promo-
ters of that company received no intimation whatever
of any desire for an alliance with the Great Western, al-
though ample time was afforded for it ; on the contrary,
they had reason to fear that much of their difficulties
was traceable to parties connected with that company ;
and they had, perhaps, no just reason to expect any cor-
dial alliance from the Great Western, because they knew
that- the American railroads in northern New York
(rival lines, be it remembered, to the Grand Trunk), con-
trolled 800,000 dollars of their stock, and were repre-
sented by several directors at that board.
"Under these circumstances, it need not cause sur-
prise, if the Grand Trunk, extending over no less than
942 miles east of Toronto, and anxious to secure a fair
share of the western trade of the American States west
of Lake Huron, should feel distrust at the attitude as-
sumed by the Great Western, which, from December to
April (when the Grand Trunk prospectus was published),
was one of at least doubtful friendship ; and receiving
no encouragement to hope for cordial co-operation from
this source, that the friends of the Grand Trunk Rail-
way Company should view with favour the construction
of a line which, leading direct from Toronto to Sarnia,
would secure them this most important object ; a line
that, it should be borne in mind, did not compete with
the Great Western line proper, but only interfered with
a branch from that line to Sarnia, a branch which the
Great Western had power to make for nearly 14 years,
but had done nothing, and was then actually under
agreement with the American companies not to make.
" Under these circumstances, and without any idea
of interfering with the Great Western line, the Grand
Trunk Railway Company received overtures from the
agents of the Toronto, Guelph, and Sarnia line for its
amalgamation, and the negotiation was finally com-
pleted, subject to the necessary legal power being ob-
tained. This arrangement was not only beneficial to
the Grand Trunk, as a means of securing an important
feeder, but also greatly aided it in undertaking the large
outlay for the St. Lawrence=bridge, which had thus an
additional mileage of 170 miles to support its costs and
yield it revenue.
" The promoters of the Grand Trunk Company, as
originally chartered, emphatically declare that they had
no connection with the Toronto, Guelph, and Sarnia
Company until they saw there was no probability of an
alliance with the Great Western ; that since that time
they have never regarded the Sarnia line as a competi- ,
for to the Great Western proper, because although for '
about 50 miles it may run within about 20 to 25 miles,
it strikes a point no less than 70 miles from the termi-
nus of the Great Western at Detroit, and opens an en-
tifely new line for American traffic ; and while they
admit the Sarnia line is a competitor with the Great
Western branch from London to Sarnia (50 miles), they
consider that this ground was perfectly open to them, as
having been unoccupied by the Great Western for 14
years, and thereafter deliberately granted by the Legis•
lature to the Toronto and Guelph Company.
"The board of the Grand Trunk Railway cannot pass
from the subject of the Great Western branch to Sarnia
without stating some further facts relating to it. The
Great Western Company being precluded by their Ame-
rican agreement from constructing the branch for a time,
though their friends applied (subsequently to the passing
of the Toronto and Guelph Company's Extension Act) for
a charter for an independent company from London- to
Sarnia, unmistakably to compete with the Toronto and
Guelph Company. This act passed in April, 1853 —five
months after the Toronto and Guelph Act—and its exe-
cution was intrusted to parties connected with the Great
Western Company ; its operation was postponed by them
from its first legal meeting in June to theist August,' then
for four months later. But on the sth August a majority of
these parties advertise all their proceedings as irregular
and void ; direct stock-books to be immediately opened ;
subscribe for a majority of the stock ; call a meeting
for the 2d Sept. ; then elect legal directors ; organise
the company ; and, as is now understood, on the same
day merge the whole affair in the Great Western Com-
pany ; while the day following (the 3d Sept.), the Great
Western directors write their first and last letter of com-
plaint to this company. How can that company ap-
proach the subject of competition and fair dealing with
clean hands after such a course ? Is not the Grand
Trunk Board now warranted in saying that the attempt
made by the Great Western Company to bring forward
their Sarnia branch, when the Grand Trunk is before
the public, in reality leaves the charge of reckless corn.
petition on the Great Western Company only ?
"In proof of the perfect fairness with which the Grand
Trunk has throughout acted, it will be seen that in the
prospectus the most friendly notice is taken of the Great
Western, and its claims to the Detroit traffic fairly con-
ceded. While in no respect is the Sarnia line held up
as a rival for their trade, the only ground for complaint

is the prospectus arising from the map attached to it,
which by a trivial error coloured the Great Western as
an American line, although a moment's inspection of the
map would have shown the mistake.
" Dismissing the allegations of the Great Western
report, prior to the amalgamation of the Toronto,
Guelph, and Sarnia line with the Grand Trunk, it is now
necessary to advert to the subsequent proceedings which
are introduced in the report, with a repetition of allega-
tions against the Government of Canada, couched in the
most objectionable terms, and which have been shown
to be utterly without foundation.
"On the appearance of the Grand Trunk Railway
prospectus in London, in April last, for the first time the
Great Western put themselves in communication with
the friends of the former, and, as further evidence of the
good disposition of the Grand Trunk Company, an agree-
ment was made with the Great Western by which it
will be seen how much was conceded to that company to
remove all feeling of irritation.
"Since that date, the board of the Grand Trunk Com-
pany have neither in word nor deed sought to depart
from that agreement, and it is with feelings of the most
painful astonishment that the Grand Trunk board see the
statements contained in the 16th and 17th, and 18th
pages of the• Great Western Report, which are made on
authority adopted without even an attempt at investiga-
tion.

" Nor is this all. The Great Western. Directors,
within a few weeks after the execution of the agreement
in London, and with all their professions of honourably
acting upon it, actually devoted a large amount of their
funds to the construction and maintenance of a line of
steam-boats from Hamilton to Oswego on the American
side of Lake Ontario—a distance of no less than 180
miles ; whereby, in breach of their agreement, they en-
deavour to divert traffic that otherwise would pass on the
Grand Trunk Railway line. If this be the first overt
act of the Great Western, and if it be followed, as it
now is, by a report of snch a nature as that published,
what may the Grand Trunk expect if its entire western
trade depend upon the good-will of such a company?
" There is but one solution to the course taken by the
Great Western, and it is to be found in the predomi-
nant American influence in that company, wielded by
directors at their board nominated by American railway
corporations, who no doubt fear that the Grand TrUnk
will attract much of their traffic. This influence re-
garding the Great Western as a link in their chain, thee
tompanies may be supposed to dread the effect of the
London agreement being honourably carried out, and
they may have now influenced the Great Western Com-
pany at all hazards to break it, casting, as far as language
will permit, the blame on that company which has
throughout been acting in good faith.
" The object may be still deeper : they know the effect
their assertions, ,if believed, will have on -the publie
mind in England, and they no doubt even hope, because
the money market is in a critical state, that they may
succeed in throwing such embarrassments in the way of
the Grand Trunk Railway as may seriously retard it,
" But they have not considered that their violence
may re-act on themselves, and that it will not be vain,
if the present discussion should elicit the fact, that the
Grand Trunk is really that great connected system
which must and will receive the traffic of the entire pro-
vince, as well as form one of the main links of the com-
merce; between the Eastern and Western States of the
Amirican

" The policy of the Grand Trunk is one that needs no
concealment ; it is that of promoting the welfare Of the
most important dependancy of the British Crown ; of
consolidating its internal relations ; of devolving the
resources of a vast region, and making it a home for
thousands now struggling for existence in Britain. In
these great objects they are proud to have the aid and
support of the Canadian government, and they know
that in attaining this they offer to British capital an in-
vestment second to no railway yet constructed.
"In conclusion, the directors of the Grand Trunk
Railway of Canada may state, that it is for the British
stockholders in the Great Western Company to decide
whether they will adopt the hostile attitude of their
American board, or whether they will prefer to carry
out such an understanding with the Grand Trunk Com-
pany as will permit of friendly co-operation. But what-
ever may be their decision, the Grand Trunk Company
will continue to take that course dictated by the in-
terests of its proprietors, and to study in so doing to
meet the intentions of the Legislature and of the people
of Canada to. secure Canadian traffic to Canadian
railways. "By order,
"Quebec, Sept. 29, 1853.

" C. P. RONEY."

T_HE CHOLERA.

(From the General Board of Health.)
DUNDEE.

Nov. 3.—Cholera (deaths)

The total number of cases already reported as having
occurred in the town and parish of Dundee has been' 76
(including 16 new cases on the 3d inst.). and the tota
deaths have amounted to 32. to the same date.
BERWICK-UPON-TWEED (CASTLEGATE).
Nov. 4.—Cholera (death)
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE
Nov. 3.—Cholera (death)
ROCHFORD (GREAT WAKERING).
Nov. 3.—Cholera (death)
DARLINGTON.
Nov. 4.—Diarrbcea (death)
STRATFORD (WEST HAM UNION)
Oct. 30 to Nov. 3.—Cholera (deaths)
BYE.
•

1

.... I

.... 3

In reference to the death from cholera in this place,
previously reported, it is stated by the local medical
authorities that the locality in which the case occurred is
surrounded by an open ditch, into which is poured the
refuse of several neighbouring houses.
BOUM (HOLLINGBOURN UNION).
Nov. 4.—Two fatal cases of cholera have occurred here
during the last week. Both persons died very suddenly
after attack.

THORNE UNION.
With respect to the three deaths from cholera lately
reported from this union, the medical officer states that
they occurred in a low and damp locality. He likewise
records a death from diarrhcea, in the same locality, and
states that the disease prevails there more decidedly than
usual. There is, he adds, " a public drain through the
town, as well as a stagnant pond, both of which might
and ought to be remedied, as I believe miasma are given
off from them, which have a tendency to give rise, at all
events to keep up, fever or other epidemics." There are
several very dirty and unwholesome cottages and yards,
which are invariable the seats of any epidemics which
may be prevailing.

METROPOLIS.
From returns made by the superintendents of the D,
G, H, and M divisions of police to the metropolitan
commissioners, it appears that between the 30th Octo-
ber and 3d instant, there have occurred in those districts
nine cases of cholera, three of which terminated fatally.
One of the cases is the second in the same house within
the last three days. In this house there are a man and
a wife, and four children, on the ground floor. A man,
wife, four children, and two single men, on the first
floor ; a man, his wife, and three children, in the top
floor, or garret, making a total of 19 in one small house.
It is added that "the smell from so many persons is
very noxious and oppressive. The privy and drain are
also close to the back door, with two other privies ad-
joining, all connected with one cesspool, which is full,
and overflows into a small yard, out of repair, and the
stench is most abominable."

The place to which the above remarks refer (Magdalen-
court, Tooley-street) was pointed out in the autumn of
last year at the head of the list of " localities chiefly
affected" in the St. Olave Union, when Dr.' SutherlAnd
visited and reported on the sanitary condition of the epi-
demic districts of that union. The deaths from cholera
in 1832 from the combined districts of St. Saviour and
Olave were 1 in 114 of the population, while in 1849 the
deaths, from the same cause, amounted to 349, or in the
extraordinary proportion of 1 in 55' of the population—
a proportional mortality about double that caused by the
epidemic of 1832. There were, moreover, 49 deaths
from diarrhcea in the same district. Of the 38 metro-
politan districts, St. Olave suffered the most severely,
with the single exception of Rotherhithe.
During last week four additional fatal cases of cholera
have occurred in that notorious plague spot in Old
Brentford, known by the name of " Poppett's Parlour."
The guardians of the union have given notice to the
owner of this wretched property, that legal proceedings
will be immediately taken against him if the houses are
again inhabited, as they are utterly unfit for human
dwellings.
Besides the above deaths from cholera, a child has
died recently from choleraic diarrhoea, near the
_gas.
works in the same town.

THE LORD RECTORSHIP OF GLASGOW

UNIVERSITY.

The Earl of Eglinton and Winton is not to be al-
lowed to retain possession of the rectorial chair in our
university without a struggle on the part of the Liberal
Association of Students to oust him before the expiration
of the usual term of office. On Wednesday placards were
issued by the committee, announcing that Alfred Tenny-
son, the Poet Laureate, has been selected as their candidate
for the Lord Rectorship, and soliciting the support of the
liberal section of the college in his favour. This is some-
what unusual, the lease of the rectorial honours invari-
ably extending over two years, when the noble earl
has only served since November last. The liberal asso-
' ciation, among many reasons for this departure from
established custom, eontend, in the first place, that per-
mission to hold office for two years is a mere courtesy ;
and, in the second place, that Lord Eglinton was only
elected last year by a majority of one nation and the
casting vote of the venerable principal. An insi-
nuation is also thrown out that his lordship owed
his victory over the Duke of Argyll by a cow,.? d'etat of
the Conservative Association. How the In tter body
may act in the novel position in which they now find
themselves placed we cannot pretend, in the absence of
any authoritative information, to say ; but the probability
is they will contest the election with the Liberals by
attempting to re-elect the present occupant of -the chair.
It is rumoured that they may nominate Job n Inglis,
Esq., Dean of Faculty, a distinguished alumnus of the
university, but this is exceedingly dubious.—A6rth Bri-
tish Mail.

STREET PAVING.—A specimen of the meta lic com-
pound paving, which appears to have give► so much
satisfaction in the United States, on account of its being
free from mud, dust, noise, or danger to horse s, is now
being laid down in Threadneedle-street, a trial t having.,
we understand, been already made at a coal m erchant's
wharf at Greenwich, where it has been exposed to heavy
traffic during the last summer, and where the re putation
it acquired in America has been fully sustained.