The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-29 00:00:00

GREAT WESTERN .(BERKS AND HANTS, &C.)

Mr. ADAIR reported from the sub committee that
the objects of the bill were—the construction of a new
branch railway to connect the Berks and Hants Railway
with the main line of the Great Western Railway, near
Reading ; the revival of the powers of certain of the
Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth ,Railway Acts, in re-
spect of the Bathampton and Devizes branches of the
Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railway, as thereby
authorised ; the extension of time for the construction
of the portions of the authorised railway between
Frome and Weymouth, and between Warminster and
Salisbury. The proposed additional capital in shares
to be raised by the company for the new line at Reading
and the Devizes branch is 85,0001., in addition to which

the company seek powerto raise 1,000,000/. for the general
purposes of the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Rail-
way. No power is sought by the bill to raise money on
loan. The length of the proposed new line is 4 furlongs
6 chains, and it is proposed to construct the same on a
gauge of 7 feet. The steepest gradient is lin 190. The
estimated cost of the new line of railway is 20,0001., and
the quantity of land required is 6 acres. An agreement
has been come to between the Great Western and South-
Western Companies, whereby the Great Western Rail-
way Company agree to lay down additional rails on the
narrow gauge between Dorchester ar.d Weymouth, and
to allow the London and South-Western Railway Com-
pany to use the same, and the intermediate stations, and
station at Weymouth, in consideration of the London
and South• Western Company laying down, on the broad
gauge, additional rails on eight miles of their railway
adjacent to Dorchester, and to give the Great Western
Company power to use the same, and the stations in csn-
nexion therewith ; and the committee have inserted
clauses in the bill for giving effect to such agreement,
and have added a clause making the laying down of such
rails and the use thereof, and of the stations, subject to
the approval and sanction of the Board of Trade. The
committee are satisfied of the fitness in an engineering
point of view of the proposed works.

A PRESENT FROM AN ENGLISH M.P. TO THE KING
OF DENMARK.-A most elaborate and beautifully de-
signed stained glass window is now on view on the pre-
mises of Messrs. Ballantine and Allan, at Edinburgh,
which has been designed by Mr. John Thomas, the
well-known sculptor of the new Palace at Westminster.
This magnificent work of decorative art will shortly he
presented by Mr. Peto, the honourable member for
Norwich, to his Majesty the King of Denmark,
and is intended for the altar window of the Chapel
Royal at Fredericksburg. The upper portion of
this window has fifteen upright compartments, _in
the centre of which is a figure of our Saviour
as the Good Shepherd. In the upper central com-
partment the dove is seen descending amid golden
rays surrounded by clouds, while the lower central
and the dexter and sinister lights contain exquisitely
coloured medallion heads of the apostles, with deep blue
back grounds, surmounted by their emblems and sur-
rounded with richly diapered and ornamental work in
various colours. The under portion of the window is
filled with heraldic, emblematic, and national devices.
The central light contains a likeness of the King of
Denmark in white enamel on a ruby ground, surmounted
with a laurel leaf. The royal arms of Denmark, envi-
roned with the ensigns of the order of Daneborg and of
the Elephant, are also introduced with excellent effect.
'The national motto of the Danes, with the state swor 1
and sceptre, are also most effectively given. While ap-
preciating this magnificent present as, no doubt, his
Majesty will do, we hope at the same time it will give
an impetus to the art of glass•staining in the States of
Denmark.