The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-12 00:00:00

court agreed with him in thinking the subject of im-
portance, and one which required immediate considera-
tion, he would suggest that they should authorise him,
by a resolution of the court, to lay the resolution to
which he had referred before the Court of Common
Council, in order that the subject might be considered
and disposed of without loss of time. (Hear, hear.)
Alderman LAWRENCE wished to correct the Lord
Mayor upon one point. His lordship had stated that
the matter was sent to that court by the casting vote of
the chairman of the committee. Such was not the fact.
He (Alderman Lawrence) was chairman of the police
committee, and it was with reference to a report of a
sub-committee, which was very numerous, and lasted a
good while that the casting vote was given.
The TOWN CLERK read the report of the sub-cons-
mittee, as follows :—" Wednesday, Nov. 28, 1853.
Sub-Police Committee.--The subcommittee, considered
the- reference of the 26th of October last, in the letter,
with the application of the constables of the force for an
increase of pay. The letter was read. The 14th clause
of the Police Act was read. A copy of the regulations
of the police force, with :ank and scale of pay of con-
stables, was examined. Resolved, that it appears to this
sub-committee the letter and memorial should have been
submitted to the Court of Aldermen, who, under the
terms of the 14th clause of the Police Act, settled the
rank, pay, &c., of the general police force, and therefore
the grand committee to forward the same to the Court of
Aldermen."--"Wednesday, Nov. 30, 1853. Police
Committee.—The proceedings of the sub-corrainitte since
last monthly meeting, not previously reported, were seve-
rally read and agreed, and it was resolved and ordered
accordingly. "MEREWETHER."
Alderman LAWRENCE said that the power of making
or altering rules in cases like the present rested with the
court, the Secretary of State, and the Police Commis-
sioner. A reference to the Court of Common Council
would rather increase the difficulty than tend to remove
it. (Hear, hear.) The lowest description of constables
were too badly paid, and if the court could raise their
pay they would do so, but such an act could. only be done
with great caution, as the City was surrounded with the
metropolitan police, who received no more than their
own constables. He was prepared to lay down a plan
by which the pay of the men might be increased without
altering either rules or regulations. If the City force
, were to be paid 10 or 15 per cent. more than the metro-
p
olitan, no Secretary of State could be expected to give
his sanction to the proceeding. If it could be arranged
that the constables who received a very low rate of pay,
say 16s. or 205., should have an addition of 2s. a week
from September last, as a temporary mode of dealing
with- the matter, the difficulty might be got over. (Hear.)
Alderman THOMPSON said, he did not see how any
possible good could arise from referring the matter
to the Court of Common Council. He thought
many evils might result from the adoption of such a
course of proceeding, the Court of Common Council
having referred the matter to that court. (Hear, hear.)
There was evidently something connected with their
mode of admitting men into the police different from
that which existed in other parts of the metropolis,
otherwise there would not be eighty vacancies at the
present moment. The Commissioners of Police at Scot-
land-yard had always-an immense number of candidates
on their list for the office'of policeman. He suggested
that the matter should be referred to the police com-
mittee, who should hear the proposition of Alderman
Lawrence, and if, after consideration, it should lead to
a change of opinion, it would no doubt be necessary to
have recourse to the Secretary of State, because, it
must be remembered, it was a very important question.
hearing upon the expenditure of the whole metropolis.
He apprehended that if the pay of the City constables
was increased, dissatisfaction would necessarily be
created amongst the police force in other parts of
the metropolis. It might be a question whether
it was not expedient to abandon the standard
which prevented a man from entering the force
unless of the height of 5 feet 8, and he knew no rea-
son why a man of 5 feet 7 or 5 feet 6, or 5 feet 6i,
should not be eligible for-employment, as it was not in
his opinion height that constituted the qualification of a
policeman, but it was his health, strength, activity, and
'integrity. (Hear. hear.) Formerly in the militia the
:standard was 5 feet 8 to 5 feet 81 ; but it was now
;lowered to 5 feet 6. It was quite clear that the police
;of the City could not be so well attended to, and the se-
:curity of the persons and property of the citizens duly
regarded with so great a deficiency as had been men-
itioned in the number -of constables, and he therefore
;hoped the committee would take so very important a
subject into their immediate consideration. Alderman
Thompson concluded by moving that the question be re-
ferred to the General Purposes Committee, to report as
early as possible to the court, and was sure the Lord
Mayor would be most willing to call a special court to
consider the decision arrived. (Hear, hear.)
The Lord MAYOR—Yes, I will do that. (Hear.)
Alderman WIRE, in seconding the motion, said he was
quite satisfied that the importance of the subject would
not only justify the Lord Mayor, but that the whole
bowl; would evince a ready acquiescence in the pro-
Priety of calling a special court for the consideration of
a question which had been too long delayed, the memo-
rial presented to the police committee being dated as
far back as October last. The difficulty experienced in
getting fresh constables was in no way to be attributed
to the standard of height, but had arisen from the
superabundance of other employment everywhere, and
men who could perform a more agreeable duty, and earn
More wages than were received by the police, were not
willing to enter that force. Although it was trne, as his
friend Alderman Thompson had said, that the Metropo-
litan Commissioners had a considerable number of can-
didates for employment on theit list, he would perhaps
be surprised to learn that that force was not full at the
present time, and there were districts over which the
men were scattered very sparingly. The ineu in the
metropolitan as in the City force were in the habit of re-
signing whenever they could get better pay and more
easy employment. (Hear, hear.)
Alderman LAWRENCE —lt is not true that the City
force is at this time 80 deficient in number. We are au-
thurise] to raise 567. I yesterday went to the office, to
aQcertain how many men were on duty, and found there
were 511 ; thus leaving a deficiency of 56, instead of 80.
attribute the deficiency entirely to the difficulty of get-
ting men of 5 feet 8, when men of 5 feet 7 would do just
as well, if not better. Men below 5 feet 8 are infinitely
better able to endure fatigue than those of that height.
Bonaparte declared that men of 5 feet 1 could bear more
fatigue than any other.
The matter was then referred to the General Purposes
Committee to examine and report.
The Lord MAYOR—I hope the committee to whom it
is referred will deem it their duty to meet immediately,
because the police one and all have signed a respectful
memorial praying for an increase of pay, and founding
their application: principally upon the fact of the high
rent of house-room in the City. (Hear.)

. ,
BROKER'S CASE.
Alderman 'WIRE said he understood that in the mat-
ter of Henry Richard Groom, a petitioner against the
conduct of a broker, an arranzement had been come to,
which would save the court the trouble of investigating
the complaint.

The petitioner was called, and having stated that he
was satisfied, further proceedings were ordered to be
stayed.

THE TREADMILL AT THE NEW CITY PRISON.
Alderman Wire said it was stated by the Lord
Nlayoe at the last court, according to the reports in
the newspapers, that the gaol committee had ex-
ceeded their authority in removing and re-erecting
the treadmill at Holloway. He was anxious to state
that that committee did not exceed their authority ;
they examined the matter referred to them, they
reported to the court, and their report, after being
agreed to by the court, wis referred back to the com-
mittee for execution. (Hear, hear.) The following was
the report in question :—" To the Right Hon. the Lord
Mayor and Court of Aldermen. In obedience to an
order of this honourable court of the 12th day of July
instant, to carry into execution our report for the re-
moval of the treadmill from the late Giltspur-street
Compter, to the new prison at Holloway, we, whose
names are hereunto subscribed, your committee in rela-
tion to gaols, do certify that this city's architect, having
applied to parties for tenders for executing the necessary
work in the removal and re-erection of the treadmill, we
have considered the same, and agreed to accept the
tender of Mr. Moreland for performing the work at the
sum of 2831. All which we submit to the judgment of
185th is honourable court.—Dated this 26th day of July,
3.

tc
D. W. WrEE,
W. CCRITT.
HENRY MUGGERIDGE, W. LAWRENCE."
The Lord MAYOR said he did not think the state of
the case very materially altered, as in reality the order
for the re-erection of the treadmill did not emanate from
that court, nor was the propriety of taking such a step
ever discussed in it. When reports were brought up it
very frequently happened that not a word was uttered
with respect to them, and sometimes they were not fully
read. When the subject of the removal of the tread-
mill was before the committee, it was distinctly under.
stood that the only question they had then in view was
the removal of the treadmill, and putting the word "re
erection " into the report was quite an aftpr-thought,
and was done at a meeting of the committee at which
he (the Lord Mayor) was not present.
Alderman LAWRENCE—Your lordship said that re-
ports were sometimes brought up and read short. I
must correct your lordship—they are always read at full
length. I do not recollect a single instance where a
contrary course has been pursued. (Hear.)
Alderman WIRE--I was most anxious to correct the
misstatement that the committee had ordered the re
erection of the treadmill without reporting to the court
and without the authority of the court. The committee
deliberately considered the whole matter ; they reported
to this court, and this court, after having heard the report
read in full, deliberately agreed to it. (Hear.)

PTO J 7

.*t
INVERNESS AND NAIRN RAILWAY.
(From the Inverness Courier.)
A very numerously attended meeting of the inhabi-
tants of Inverness, and of others favourable to the intro-
duction of the railway system in the north, by the for-
mation of a line from Inverness to Nairn was held in
the Castle Court-house, on Tuesday afternoon. Among
those present, we observed the following :.—Alexander
Matheson, Esq., of Ardross, M.P. for the Inverness
district of Burghs ; E. W. Mackintosh, Esq., of Raig-
more ; J. B. Fraser, Esq., of Reelick ; Captain Fraser-
Tytler of Aldourie-; W. H. Fraser-Tytler of Aldourie ;
W. H. Colquhoun, Esq., Sheriff-Substitute ; J. 0.
Luxford, Esq., Nairnside ; Keith Stewart Mackenzie,
Esq., of Seaforth ; H. W. White, Esq., of Monar and
Lentran ; J. B. Biscoe, Esq.. of Newton • Affieck
Fraser, Esq. ; Colonel Inglis of Kingsmills
and' Hilton ;
YEileas Mackintosh, Esq., of Dalmigavie ; the Right
Rev. the Bishop of Moray and Ross ; Mr. Weeks, Ness-
side House ; Colonel Macintosh of Farr; D. Forbes,
Esq., of Leanach ; J. Baillie, Esq., of Leys ; C. Water-
ston, Esq., Manager of the Caledonia Bank : Dr. Wil-
son ; A. Davidson, Esq., Town Clerk, Nairn ; James
Wilson, Esq., banker ; Thomas Falconer, Esq, ; John
Macbean, Esq., Seafield ; James Gordon, Esq. ; A.
Gosset, Esq., Comptroller of Customs ; Alex. Dallas,
Esq. ; A. A. Gregory,. Esq., corn merchant • Captain
Pirie ; Alexander Forbes, Esq., chemist ; Neil Maclean,
Eq., land surveyor ; J. Macpherson, Esq., solicitor ;
Colonel Findlay, Nairn ;A. Cameron, Esq., Fir-hall ;
Dr. R. Fraser ; Bailie A. Fraser ; Dean of Guild Ross ;
Baili3 Shaw ; Bailie Macbean • Bailie J. Fraser ; G. G.
Mackay, Esq., C.E. ; D. Rose, Esq., Viewmount ;
George France, Esq., Lovat ; P. J. A. Grant, Esq ,
Kerrowaird ; W. Murray, Esq., Kilcoy ; Andrew
Smith, Esq., solicitor, &c.
Mr. MATHESON, of Ardross, M.P., upon the motion
of Raigmore, took the chair. The hon. member said
that as they were all aware, the object for which they
were that day assembled was to express a favourable
opinion towards the introduction of the railway system
in the north. They had all seen the beneficial effects
which railways had produced in the south, and he
hoped, after the explanations which they should re-
ceive from those gentlemen around him, who had taken
so much trouble in obtaining information respecting
the details and prospects of this enterprise—he hoped
that they would all see that the proposed establishment
of a railway between Inverness and Nairn was likely to
prove a very successful undertaking, which would profit
all concerned, and in which all now present should not
only take an interest but take shares very freely.
Mr. SHAW, senior bailie, in the unavoidable absence,
which they must all regret, of the Provost, proposed the
first resolution, to the effect that railway communica-
tion was indispensable. Such of those present as were
acquainted with the energy, experience, tact, and talent
which the Provost would have brought into the discus-
sion of such matters, would deeply regret his absence,
and consider him (Blithe Shaw) as a poor substitute. It
was an old saying " least said soonest mended ;" but it
seemed to him that if he said much more than it was in
his power to do, in support of this resolution, he would
not say too much; for assuredly railway enterprise had
become indispensable to this county. He might mention
that at this time of day—namely, December eighteen
hundred hundred and fifty-three they had the wide ex-
perience of railway matters that their friends in 1845-46
wanted, and consequently they should take advantage of
it. He would say that if any speculation in the shape
of a railway were likely to succeed, it was this. It was
a common remark, when looking at the raw material
which was to be converted into some fabric, that it
would do very well if not spoiled in the making. This pro-
jected line, if not spoiled in the making, would also, they
might say, do very well. There was no tunnelling, no
excavating, no blasting to do—it was a plain bit of road
and he questioned whether they would see fifteen and
a-half miles in any part of the country which presented
the same economical facilities for constructing a railway
that this did. They were all aware that in 1845, dur-
ing a railway fever, there was excessive speculation in
railways in this country. At that time people hoped
everything and feared nothing. His decided opinion
was, that all the disastrous failures that took place in
the calculation of the results to be expected from rail-
ways which were then got into operation, arose not so
much from engineering or from traffic miscalculations as
from the enormous, unchecked, and uncontrolled ex-
penses incurred in railway construction. (Hear, hear.)
These events had a most damaging effect on the railways
carried out, or which obtained bills for their construc-
tion from Parliament. Now, they had at present the
great privilege of seeing what had been the cause of
failure in other operations ; and, looking at their defects,
they ought in the present case to be able to avoid them.
There were parties at that time who were not smit-
ten with the fever themselves, but who looked after
their own interests. From eminent engineers down
to the lowest man who carried a flag-staff, and from
the skilled barrister down to the man who stuck
notices on the church doors, all were paid at an exorbi-
tant, extravagant, and uncontrolled rate. Now, even
supposing that in the present undertaking their calcula-
tions should go a little "ajee," and turn out more than
was at present moderately anticipated, still the difference
would not be material ; but if parties were to go on reck-
lessly accumulating expenses to no purposes, they would
certainly create disadvantages against themselves which
no economy or foresight would ever afterwards get over.
At that time—he spoke generally and not with reference
to any line in particular—there were professional men
employed about railways who lined their own nests com-
fortably with feathers plucked from their intoxicated
neighbour's backs—who, acting like sensible poulterers,
plucked their geese while they were yet warm. (Laugh-
ter.) Under these circumstances, and with such land-
marks before them, they should be able in the present
day, and he hoped they were able, to take care of such
breakers a-head ; for though he brought no charge
against Invernessians, yet he supposed that what took
place so generally el-ievvhere, might also take place here.
With regard to the particular railway now in question,
he looked upon it as a sort of wedge driven in at one
end of the plank, and which must have the effect, if pro-
perly applied, of making a rent to the other end. The
result of it would be that the Great North of Scotland
Company, seeing that we are really in earnest at this
end, must now or never move on to meet us at Nairn,
or otherwise John Highlandman would immediately be
" o'er the hills and far away" with the northern tral'dc
to join the southern lines at Perth. (Hear, hear.) This
he thought would be a paying line of itself, even if it
went no farther than Nairn ; but they might depend
upon it, the Great North of Scotland Company would
find themselves obliged, as it was said in common lan-
guage, to " hand or draw" ; they would either have to
come on to meet us or leave us to carry our traffic as we
should see fit. Every one who knew the trade of this
district knew that there was much need of this railway
in many ways ; in facilities of communication we are
better off than our forefathers were, but much behind
the advanced age in which we are placed. He there.
fore begged to propose, as the opinion of the meeting,
the resolution which he had read. (Cheers.)
Colonel FINDLAY of Millbank seconded the motion,
which _was carried unanimously.
Mr. MAKINTOSH of Raigmore proposed the second reso-
lution, stating that the proposed line was the best com-
mencement of the railway system in the north. He said,
it was on account of the absence of the chairman of the
committee, Cluny Macpherson, which they must regret,
that it fell to him to propose this resolution. He had
much pleasure in doing so, and he was glad to see that
it was so worded as to bring into account the actual
traffic upon the line, and that which ultimately they
might legitimately expect from the development of the
resources of the country. He briefly referred to the
circumstances of their condition at the time when, in
1846, two competing lines were proposed for communi
cation between Inverness and the south. They were all
aware of the circumstances which interfered with the
carrying out of their intentions at that time. But a
great change had taken place since then in railway en-
terprise. Several short lines had been formed, which
depended entirely for their support upon their local
traffic, and it was shown that this was sufficient to secure
to the promoters a fair dividend. So far as he could
judge from considerable attention to these matters, he
did think that more had been done by the promoters of
such short lines as the Elgin and Lossiemouth, or the
Aberdeen and Deeside, by such men as Mr. Duncan of
Aberdeen and Provost Grant of Elgin, for the develop-
ment of the traffic of the country, than had been done
by the gentlemen who had carried out such splendid un-
dertakings as the Caledonian Railway ; but many of
these short lines were already paying a good dividend
upon the capital. The Elgin and Lossiemouth paid five
per cent. in the first year ; the Aberdeen and Deeside,
the Selkirk and G-alashiels, Edinburgh and Peebles, and
other small lines, will pay good dividends. These lines
bad also done this : they had altered the whole character
of investment in railway speculation. They had re-
moved shareholding from speculation, and made it, in-
stead, safe investment of money, under certain recog-
nised rules. He mentioned this, because he was aware
that the word "speculation" had been used carelessly,
and often as a screen by parties for their selfish inacti-
vity, timidity, or exaction. That only was a speculation
in which a man ventured money, upon grounds amount-
ing barely to probability, on the chance that an exag-
gerated return might reward him for the risk ; and, on
the other hand, that was asound investment when a man
invested it in drainage put out his money in certain tangible property, which,
aosroifduhcetivine. v
applied according to certain recognised laws, would be
whodidthniage
splawcoerdksh,
istrineilnheingas, or wellin hosed
ouse-buildin
did so g, and generally in such lines as the pro-
p, he with more advantage to the country at
large. One thing he would say, while the resources of
this country were so little developed at present, and
people so half-fed and poorly paid, any man who sneaked
Away in search of safe investments elsewhere, and did
not take upon himself the ordinary commercial risks of
a fair undertaking at home, was not a true-heared Scot-
tish gentleman, but was simply a snob. (Cheers.) He
could not but allude to a meeting which had been held
in the Court-house the day before, as having great sig-
nificance towards the extension of the railway system to
Inverness, and which called to his mind the large addi-
tional population that had been introduced into Perth
by the railway. At that meeting the sanitary condition
of Inverness was exposed by a gentleman singularly well
able to do so by experience, observation, and ability, and
he gave us a picture so ghastly, so horrible, and, he
reared, so true, of the state of the town of Inverness,
that no person who knew what would be the effect upon
the habits and thoughts of the people, of introducing
here a population of some five hundred steady, well-dis-
ciplined, and good workmen, could refuse to wish that
the railway works were commenced here. He would
back theta against any temperance society in producing
good. With regard to the special line which they were
assembled to consider,' some difference of opinion existed
with regard to. our assuming that we were to make the
line simply to Nairn. Those who would do nothing in
the matter gajd that . they shot4l4 have gone much fur-

.

Mr. FORBES of Leanack seconded the motion, and ex-
pressed his belief that Raigmore had not stated anything
more with respect to the projected line than would be
found eventually to be perfectly true.
The resolution was then put and carried.
Mr. MITCHELL, C.E., having been requested by the
committee to make a few observations on this project,
said—On a former occasion I pointed out in a humble
way how very suacessftil the railway enterprises in Ame-
rica were--in fact,.there was no mode of investment in
that country more profitable—the returns in general be-
ing from 6,8, to 10 per cent., and some higher. I
pointed out that the reason was obvious. Our trans-
atlantic brethren, with that practic d wisdom in com
mercial matters peculiar to themselves, adapted the
works of their lines to the traffic of the country, and
gradually, as that increased, did they extend and
construct more perfectly the lines they had opened.
I do not mean to say that the works on the Inverness
and Nairn will not be perfect, but we are not to have
a railway with the,expensive workland appurtenances
of the London and Birmingham line for carrying the
Nairn traffic. This has been the fatal error throughout
Scotland, and if it had not been for this mistake, there
is not a railway in this • country but would have been
remunerative. Our proposed line will be perfect in its
constructmn --a single line, but we shall have land and
bridges for a double line. We shall have 72 lb. rails,
which hi equal to carry about the heaviest traffic in Eng-
land, and our gradients will be remarkably easy ; they
will in no case exceed lin 212. I consider that we
have been exceedingly fortunate in the arrangement,,
hitherto made. We have secured a contractor of un-
doubted experience and capital to construct the works,
and to hand us over the line, with Stations complete, for
the comparatively small sum of about 4.2001. per mile—
the total expense being 65.0001, 20,0001. being set down
for the purchase of plant and other charges of land, &c. ;
but as most of the proprietors have agreed to accept of
feu rent--I will particularly mention our able deputy-
chairman,' and Culloden, Gollanfield, &c.—l anticipate
that the cost for land will be comparatively light. Now,
as to traffic, you all know how sanguine prsjectors of
works of this sort are, and how far beyond, in most
most cases, the calculation of sober people they are sup-
posed to run. But it is a singular fact that in regard to
railway traffic the actual results have exceeded even the
aerial views of the most sanguine supporters of railway
enterprise. You all know the success of the Lossiemouth
line. I recollect being with my friend Provost Grant at
the original concocting of that scheme, and after all the
traffic which his intimate knowledge of the county could
scrape together' he could not hold his face to the public
for more than from 1,50)t. to 1,600/. a year. Now
what is the actual fact ? The gross revenue for the first
year was no less than 3,4841. On the Caledonian Rail-
way, which everybody said would not pay, because it went
over a hilly and thinly peopled country, it was sneered
at, and the money would not have been subscribed ex-
cept during the madness of the railway mania, so credu-
lous were the public. The traffic returns on that line
were calculated at 226,0121.—the goods and minerals
being 140,3031., and the passengers at 85,7091. Every-
body said that this was as wild and fallacious a state-
ment as well could be put before the public. Now
what has been the result on that line ? Why, the goods
and mineral traffic for the year ending 31st January,
1853, amounted to 279,461/., and the passengers amounted
to 167, 7611.—total, 447,2221., being no less than 221,210/.
above the probable estimade made. On the Scottish
Central the same result would have occurred, bad not
the Fife line, which was not thought of when the Cen-
tral traffic was made out, carried off a large portion ; as
it is, the traffic tables framed before the line was made
amounted to 94,8521., and the actual returns last year
are 98,6961. But indeed there is scarcely a railway in
the kingdom the traffic of which does not show similar
or even still more extraordinary results. In framing tho
estimate of traffic for the Nairn line, 29,258 is the num-
ber of passengers (exclusive of horse and foot passengers),
which pass along the road in public and private con-
veyances, and by a modest rule this number has been
doubled. If Mr. Suter had quadrupled the number he
would have been nearer the mark. Surely if the Lossie-
mouth Railway, where previously there was only a buss
to carry bathers in summer, conveyed in its first year
no less than 71,000 passengers, we may fairly reckon on
at least 100,000 between Nairn and Inverness, between
which place we have six loaded public coaches daily.
100,000 passengers at ls. 6d. a head would give you at
once 7,5001. of your estimated traffic of 9,6001. You all
know the thousands of tourists that pour down upon us
in the summer months ; there is scarcely one of them
but, with the facilities of this railway, would visit Fort-
George, Cawdor Castle, and the beautiful scenery on-the
Findhorn ; and our citizens would go in hundreds, nay in
thousands, to enjoy the sea-breeze of Nairn and its salt-
water baths. In fact, I think you can have little doubt
but there will be ample traffic on this line, and that it
will, as in all other railways, exceed very much the cal-
culations that have been made. Now, with all these
advanlages, the rock on which most railways, particu-
larly Scotch, have split, has been the expense of construc-
tion ; and in regard to this the committee, as I have
said, have adopted the best means in their power of
putting a limit to that. They have arranged with Messrs.
Brassey and Faishaw, gentlemen of undoubted capital
and experience, who agree to hand over the line complete
fur the stipulated sum fixed on ; and if we carry the
traffic set down, our line (costing no more than 85,000/.)
will be a lucrative concern for the shareholders. You
ail recollect the valley of Strathmore, between Forfar
and Perth. It is traversed now by the Scottish Midland
Railway. Before that line was made, there was one
solitary coach passing through the district - -the south
Defiance from Aberdeen to Edinburgh and Glasgow;
and the passenger traffic was so poor (the commercial
portion of the travelling public going generally round
by Dundee) that the coach had to be withdrawn for
one or two years previous to the formation of the railway.
Surely you will admit that a district such as between
this and Nairn, which supports three loaded coaches
daily, ought to be as valuable as the valley of Strath-
more, with its one coach. Well, then, the railway
through this district has cost about 22,0001. per mile,
and the return to the shareholders last half-year was at
the rate of 24 per cent. If the line had been made, as
we propose to make the Inverness and Nairn line, viz.,
5,5001. per mile the return with the same traffic would be
nine per cent, to the Scot.ish Midland shareholders, and
more, for the maintenance of the line would be less ;
and thus you will perceive the secret by which I calcu•
late the Inverness and Nairn line will pay so well. I
trust, therefore, the inhabitants of this district will not
lose so favourable an opportunity of securing a valuable
investment. I know there is ample
.means in the coun-
try to make the line, and I should be sorry if one far-
thing of the stock was taken up out of the district, be-
cause I believe shares in this line will ultimately be of
great value. Another reason why I would urge this
scheme on the attention of Inverness at the present time
is, that I am anxious they should have the management
of their own lines of communication to and from Inver-
ness, as it is the first step for extending our commerce,
and, if successful, will stimulate our enterprise. You
have the chance now of securing the management of the
whole railway communication of the • north. If you
lose it this year you may never have such an oppor-
tunity again. I need only point out to you the fatal
error we committed in permitting our steam communi-
cation to be taken from our hands. You have seen
your error too late ; and hence the deadly struggle and
loss which has arisen to regain the Leith trade. On the
west coast you have permitted the Glasgow people to
benefit by your early enterprise ; and they, I believe; as
they justly deserve, from their good management, are
reaping their reward from a lucrative and important
trade. I trust, therefore, in this measure we may all
heartily unite and carry it successfully through ; as, be-
sides, as I have already explained, being a safe and lu-
crative investment in itself, I anticipate it will be the
forerunner of g; eat progress and improvement in the
capital of the Highlands.
Mr. WHITE of Monar and Lentran said that the re-
sulution which he was about to move had been put into
his hands only a few minutes before, so that he re-
gretted he could not say so much in favour of it as if he
had had a little longer notice. He had much pleasure in
adding his testimony to the truth of the statements
that had been made to the meeting that day, and
•in stating his belief that the railway between Nairn
and Inverness would ultimately prove to the benefit of
all parties engaged in promoting it. Experience has
taught us caution ; it has also taught us that wherever
railways have been introduced, that part of the kingdom
has been benefited. To landlords in this country rail-
ways are most important, as enhancing the value of their
lands ; to tenants railways are equally valuable, as tend-
ing to raise the price of farm produce ; to professional
or commercial men, as allowing them to carry on their
business arrangements with greater rapidity and cheap-
ness ; to tradesmen, as enabling them to introduce more
readily to their customers all the novelties and improve-
ments in their business which have been made, in the
south; to the artisan, as being, according to all past
experience, productive of labour. Under these circum-
stances; he had no doubt that all present would look
upon the scheme with favour and aid the committee in
carrying it out. It would seen be shown that the corn

pletiden of this scheme was but the commencement of a
system which was destined to embrace the whole of her
Majesty's northern dominions. He had heard withid
the last few weeks many and varied reasons for not
joining this scheme. The first of these was, that no
railway bad yet been sufficiently remunerative to recom-
pense the outlay and risk. He did not believe that this
was true ; but even if true, was that a reason for not
engaging in new enterprise ? They had heard that day
for what reasons railways bad not hitherto paid well ;
but if a merchant has been ruined, must his son not fol-,
low the same business ? If a farmer from mismanage-
ment, should be obliged to sell his stock and vacate his
farm, was no one to offer to take the farm and endea-
vour to make it pay ? (Hear, hear.) He hoped that all
would aid in promoting this scheme. At the same time
he would beg of their supporters to lay aside to a cer-
tain extent the wish merely to have a handsome return
on the outlay. Let them look upon this undertaking in
a higher light, as promoting not their own benefit
merely, but that of the town, of their neighbours, of
the district, and of the country.
Captain FRASER TYTLER of Aldourie seconded the
'notion. He assured the meeting that he was perfectly
convinced of the necessity of this work, and also of its
remunerative character. He would go from this meet-
ing, and he hoped every one else would do toe a time,
determined to use all his influence among his friends and
acquaintances to join in carrying out the enterprise.
The motion was carried unanimously.
Mr. COLQUHOUN said, that if this project embraced
merely a railway to Nairn, without any intended con-
nection with great southern lines, it would perhaps be
hardly worth while taking much trouble about the mat-
ter; for the merely local advantages were not, in his
opinion, of a nature to justify any great exertion. Ha
assumed as the basis of any remarks he had to make,
the position that it was intended distinctly to concert a
connection with these lines, and thus the scheme assumed
an importance which the most figurative language could
hardly exaggerate. As if by a natural law, the
,esta-
blishment of these iron roads, in every locality, resulted
in the development of local resources, in facilities for
traffic, and general commerce. These advantages were
so universally admitted, that it would be useless for him
to say a word on the subject. He had no wish to at-
tempt to generalise, but in support of the resolution
entrusted to him, it was necessary that he should
particularise the circumstances of this town and neigh-
bourhood, and then put it to the meeting whether
this scheme were not important to them in relation
to residence, and the interests of commerce and trade.
It was admitted that this was one of the most beautiful
Lnd healthy places in Scotland, and almost throughout
Europe it was celebrated as a country sport. Every
"utumn sportsmen came from the south, every hill was
shot over, and every river was fished by them, and they
paid for these privileges very considerably. Every sum-
ner and autumn brought tourists from the west, allured
by the beauty of the scenery or by the hereditary inte-
rest of the land. If this was the case now, what would
it be when a railway offered a quick and ea,y access ?
Might a very considerable influx not be anticipated, and
might it not further be anticipated, that this place might
be selected even as a place of permanent residence by a
portion of that very numerous class of person who aff,ct
Highland sport and scenery ? Inverness at present stood
stood in a very inaccessible position. It was a perfect la-
bour to travel along the Highland Road at any time ; 'and
unless when the swift boats plied on the canal during sum-
mer and autumn, the slow boats afforded a conveyance al-
most as fatiguing. The east coast was out of the question
during most part of the year, except for goods, and per-
sons who were not inconvenienced by the sea. Now, if
a railway could be had, which would take the travel-
ler from Inverness to. Aberdeen in three or four hours,
thence to London in fourteen or fifteen, the great bar in
freedom of approach to this country would be removed ;
and if people could find comfortable residences and
English comforts about them, as they would thus be
enabled to do, Inverness might become a fashionable, as
it assuredly would become a most desirable, place of re-
sidence. To the trade of the town, every shopkeeper
must see the advantage of such a resident population.
Our educational institutions must be improved by con-
tact with polite southern influences—the general tone
and character of society must be equally enlarged and
asneliorated. He could see no reason to doubt that the
resources of this most extensive and not very poor
country would be commercially opened up--even manu-
factures might be anticipated—an I this pl-mce might
ultimately become, what it seemed by nature intended to
be, a place of commercial importance, leaning as it does
upon an extensive country, supported by the Great
Caledonian Canal, and an open fertile sea rolling up to
its very gates. At present Inverness stood undr diffi-
culties which no other place of any character realised.
Whilst other people could travel with the speed of the
rail, we were condemned to be fastened up in stage-
coaches ; whilst other people availed themselves of the
electric 'telegraph, our information came to us at the
rate of nine miles an hour along, the Highland Road.
(Cheers.) He had somewhere read that an observer had
compared the inhabitants of the provinces of a country
to milestones, which bore upon their front their distances
more or less from the metropolis. This observer had
never found that observation to fail him, and he had
travelled a great deal--(laughter)—and if the inhabitants
of Inverness were anxious to assume anything like civi-
lisation, the sooner'they substituted railway stations for
milestones the better. (Cheers ) Feeling the force of
these considerations, he could have no hesitation in
submitting the resolution entrusted to him to the meet
ing. He considered it was the duty of all traders, of all
proprietors—whose lands must be advantaged by con-
nection with the southern markets—even of all mere
residents, to assist the scheme by every means in their
power ; and it must be recollected, that if not done now
the opportunity would ee lost, as other vise in all pro-
bability they would lose the northern traffic, and Inver-
ness would be left in a very awkward corner.
Mr. J. B. FRASER of Reelick said Mr. Colquhoun had
not in the slightest degree exaggerated the ad vantages that
were likely to result from the establishment of railway
communication to Inverness. He had seen populous
villages and valuable estates arise out of wastes, and
traffic spring up where there was none before, by means
of railways ; we have her a fertile country around us,
and a great quantity of produce was brought into Inver-
ness which we did not know what to do with. It was
impossible to exaggerate the importance of having rail-
way communication, and it seemed like urging a truism
to say so. Any one who had had intercourse with the
world, and had common reason, must see it. A railway
must increase the prosperity and add to the civilisation
of the town, and improve the tone of the people.
The resolution was put and carried unanimously.
Mr. FALCONER, solicitor, moved the fifth resolution,
relative to the favourable prospects of the line. He
said—After what had been so fully and eloquently stated
by previous speakers, it would be a waste of time to
prove the soundness of this proposition. He might be
allowed, however, to say that the want of success in
similar undertakings- -as had indeed been shown already
to the meeting—might be attributed chiefly to the extra-
vagant outlay expended in organising companies, in
making and msnaging railways, and in the exorbitant
price paid for land. In 1846, when speculation was in
the ascendant, and every scheme was represented as
holding out the prospect of a ten per cent. dividend,
there was no limit to the extravagance of railway direc-
tors. Now that this baneful period has passed, we find,
on looking at the railways already constructed, that their
average cost was 30,0001. a mile, and in one case the
price of the laud alone was upwards of 5,000/. a mile.
In those days economy was looked upou as a word of
reproach among railway promoters, and money as a
secondary object. These notions have now been ex-
ploded. We have gained wisdom from experience, and
at the present time it would be found to be hopeless to
ask people to invest their capital in a railway scheme
unless they were satisfied, and that upon sound and ra-
tional data, that the undertaking would returna good re-
muneration. Then the question came to be, could
they give this assurance, that the line they pro-
posed to construct would 'hold out to the capi-
talist a safe and remunerative investment ? He
had thought over the matter, and had examined
the statistics submitted to them by Mr. Ander-
son, and he believed that they could give such
an assurance. The country to be traversed was well
known to them all ; and he might say that no district
of Scotland presented fewer engineering difficulties. It
was so very level, and so well adapted to the construc-
tion of a railway, that little more was required to be
done than to turn the soil and lay the rails. One fact
came prominently before them. They had to deal with
liberal landlords, who appreciated the advantage of an
extension of the railway systern in the north, and were
prepared to accept reasonable terms for land. With re-
gard to the cost, they were informed by the prospectus,
that Mr. Brassey—a well-known railway contractor—
undertook to complete the works for 65,0001. The
same document informed them that the compensation
for land, the rolling stock,.and all the other expenses,
would not exceed 20,000/.—give a gross total of only
85,000/., or about 5,5001. a mile—not more than the
land alone cost to the projectors of some other lines,
and but one-sixth of the general cost of railways in
Scotland. With regard to the traffic, the average mile-
age traffic was about 1,8001. per annum. The returns
on the Inverness and Nairn line had been carefully col-
lected, well considered, and, be believed, moderately
stated. They were put at 6001. a mile. Let him for a
moment advert to this. They proposed to make a rail-
way at one-fifth or ,onessixth the average cost of lines in
Scotland, while they estimated the returns, on the other
hand, at one-third of the average mileage. It was cal-
culated on these data that 600/. a mile, on their cheaply-
constructed line, would yield a dividend of from six to
seven per cent. The traffie, he thought, was understated.
For instance, instead of doubling the present passenger
traffic on the road, he would say treble it. But they
erred on the safe side. The promoters were resolved to
carry into every department the utmost degree of eco-
nomy, and, by doing so, he had no fear of seeing the
line completed at the estimated cost. (Hear, and
cheers.)

Mr•. 'DALLAS, Secretary Ito the Inverness and Nairn-
shire Farmer Society, seconded the resolution, which
was carried unanimously. He had only to say in sup-
port of it, that it struck him forcibly that the question
now was, not whether they were to have a railway or
whether it would be a profitable investment, but whether
the inhabitants of the towns of Inverness• and Nairn,
and of the district between tbem, who should be most
immediately benefitted thereby, were to have it in their
own hands--whether they were to have the making
of the line, and to pocket those profits which it had been
shown the scheme would yield ? (Cheers.) It was the
duty of one and all of the inhabitants of these places to
prevent such profits and benefits from passing out of
their reach into the hands of southerns. If every one
present were to follow the spirited example of Captain
Fraser-Tytler, and promise to use his influence with all
his friends, he had no doubt the railway would go on,
that the shares would be taken up here, and that they
would prove highly remunerative. (Hear, hear.)
Mr, Roes, Dean of Guild and Convener of the Trades,

CUSTOM HOUSE, DEC. 10.
ENTERED INWARDS.—The New Union, from Gothen.
burg ; Margaretha, Moss ; Ophir, Cronstadt ; Ancona,
do. ; Victory, do. ; Aerial, do. ; Harbet, do. ; Egerton,
do. ; Perseverance, do. ; Ivanhoe, do. ; Abram, do. ,
Helen, do. ; Charlotte of Derby, do. ; Anne, do. ; Heath;
do.; Hercules, do.; Beacon, do. ; Empress, do. ; Halifax,
do. ; Diamond, do. ; Au.;uste Caroline, do. ; Rambler
do. ; Volund, do. ; Odessa, do. ; Ford Mill, do.; Volante,
Terceira; Fanny, St. Michael's; Agenoria, Altea ; Mabel,
Memel ; Amelia and Laura, Dantzic ; Gem, St. Peters-
, burgh ; Falcon, do. ; Thilda, Schien ; Sophia, Sonnesund ;
Adeona, Swartwech ; Gustave, Sundswall ;
Margaretha, do. ; Gloria Deo, St. Petersburgh ; Wilhel-
mina, Riga • Mary, Dram ; Tutor, Dantzic ; Maria, Riga ;
Welcome, Gothenburgh ; Sylphide, Subdswall ; Active,
Uliaberg ; P. J. Behrich, Christiansand ; Ceres, Riga ;
Thecla, do. ; Irene, Antwerp ; Cheerful, Dantzic ; Catha-
rina, Hooksell Vanshabet, Dram ; Morning Star, Co-
lombo_; Nicholas Smirk, Stettin ; Cragoys, do. ; Hops,
do. ; Helene, Odense ; Alli Peter, !emel ; Dove, Sun is-
wall ; Orneborg, Nykeobing ; Victoria, Gefle ; Etheblrid,
Dautzic ; Forester, Leghorn ; Jane and Esther, do. ; Ord,
Riga ; Nora, FroderickstadLaura,
; Demerara ; Deane
borg, Svindborg ; Atalante, Gothenburg; Her Majesty,
St. Petersburgh ; Lithuania, Mo •el ' • Norden, Swine-
sund ; Navigator, Smyrna ; Mary Ann Henderson, Dant .
zic ; Champion, do. ; Condor, do. ; Julius, do. ; Margaret,
Christiania ; Minerva, Booreoard ; Isis, St. Petersburgh ;
Vrouw Hauwina, Riga ; Wilhelmine, do. ; Aleda, Emden ;
Halkett, Pillau; Catherine Marie, Odense • Sep Sods-
kends, Aalborg ; Ornen; do. ; Knud, Nebe ; Orion, Riga ;
Grefoe Rehbiuder, Christiansted ; Juno, Gothenburg ;
Foreningen, Cal mar ; Brandt, Konigsberg ; Bellamy, Am.
sterdam ; JacoMena, Frederikstadt ; Hendlika, Jantina,
do. • James Brook, Petersburgh • Maria, Neuhaus ;
Johanna Gonzina, Petersburgh ; bhristine, Trellevoy ;
Gem, Charente; Annette Smith, Keoge ; Colonist, Drain ;
Mathilda, Frederickstadt ; Baron Padre, Ancona ; Den
Sodre Moodre, Herdekswall ; Emilie, Bjorneborg ; Apo-
lonia, do. ; Henriette, do. ; Nonpareil. St. Michael's;
Treeolor, Sarpsborg ; Johanna Maria, Anclam.
ENTERED OUTWARDS FOR LOADING.—The Pearl, for
Para ; Catharina, Harburg; Pensarulate, Lisbon ; Heath,
Algoa Bay and Colombo ; Morning Star, Colombo ;
Change, Port Philip ; Skjold, ,Rio' Janeiro; Maria, Ant-
werp ; Reindeer,
,Demerara; Watchword, Barbadoes ;
William, Naples.
CLEARED OUTWARDS WM Anjer, for
Java ; Fatima, Port Philip ;.. Ingeborg and Caroline,
Areudal ; Ottoman, Malta ;. Bezeda, Porsgrund ; Mead,
Gibraltar and Cadiz; Raketen, Gothenburg ; Hope, Ant-
werp; Hoop, Leghorn : Flora Mu r, Singapore; Elise,
Altona; Trientje, Hamburgh. .

LIVERPOOL, DEC. 10.
The Golden Fleece, arrived Dec. 8, encountered a severe
hurricane, Nov. 21, from W.N.W., which shattered the
foremast-head, and did other damage.
The Louise of Hainburgh," outward bound, was spoken,
Oct. 25, lat. 14 S., long. 28 W.
The Marion, hence to Savannah, was spoken, Nov. 17,
lat. 37 N., long. 38 W.
The screw-steamer Frankfort, hence, arrived at Le . horn.
The screw-steamer Livorno sailed from Leghorn. for
Marseilles on the 25th ult.
The John, from Bay Verte, has arrived at Crookhaven.
The British Queen, hence, has arrived off Falmouth.
The Seaman, from Newfoundland, and the Orleans,
from Riga, have arrived at Queenstown.
Arrived—The Isabella and Jane, from Pernambuco ;
Nettuno, Salonica ; Samolyet, Cron.stadt ; Vigilant, Os-
tend ; Prompt, Quebec.
Sailed—The America (s), for Boston ; John Howell,
New Orleans; Sverige, Africa; Liverpool, New York.
SUNDAY .
Arrived The Arabia (s), from New York ; AIpsEVENING(s),
Havre; Douro (s), Oporto.
Sailed—The Julius Csar, for Maranh..m ; Phoenix and
Seaflower, New Orleans; Industrie, Ostend; America,
Naples ; Columbus, Savannah ; Wasp, Mobile ; Maid of
Athens, Barcelona ; Maria, Antwerp.

VESSELS SPOKEN WITH.
The Patrick Henry, from London to New York, Dec.
3, lat. 49 N., long. 8 W.
The Akbar, of London, standing South, Oct. 7, lat. 11
N., long. 25 W.
The Asiatic, bound West, Nov. 29, lat. 46 N., long.
20 W.

(ADVERTISEMENT.J—DARB DAYS AA) LONG
NIGHTS.----The necessity of having the most perfect eye-
sight and •hearing.—Messrs. S. and B. Solomons, opticians
and oculists, 39, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly. Observe—
opposite the York Hotel. Newly-invented preserving
Spectacle Lenses. Immediately they are placed before
extremely imperfect vision, every object appears clear and
distinct ; the most aged, defective sight becames bright
and brilliant, is brought to its youthful, natural, and ori-
ginal state.—Royal Exhibitions, 1851. -A valuable, newly
invented, very small powerful waistcoat-pocket glass,
the size of a walnut, by which a person can be
seen and known one mile and a half distant ; they
answer every purpose on the race-course, at the opera-
houses, country scenery, and ships are clearly seer
at 12 to 14 miles. They are invaluable for shooting, deer
stalking, yachting, to sportsmen, gentlemen, gamekeepers,
and tourists. Telescopes—A new and most important
invention in telescopes, possessing such extraordinary
powers that some 31 inches, with an extra eye-piece, will
show distinctly el-niter's moons, Saturn's ring, and the
double stars ; with the same telescope, weighing only
ounces, 'can be seen a person's countenance three miles
and a half distant, and an object from 16 to 20 miles.
They supersede every other kind for the waistcoat-pocket.
and aro of larger and all sizes, with increasing powers
accordingly. Opera and race-course glasses, with wonderful
power; an object can be clearly seen, from 14 to 16 miles
distant. Deafness—New Discovery—The Organic Vi-
brator, an extraordinary powerful and newly-invented
instrument, for Deafness, entirely different from all
others, to surpass anything of the kind that has been,
or probably ever can be, produced. Being of the
same colour as the skin, it is not perceptible ; it enables
deaf persons to hear distinctly at church and at public as-
semblies ; the unpleasant sensation of singing noises in
the ears is entirely removed ; and it affords all the assist•
ance that possibly could be desired.--39, Albemarle-street,
Observe, opposite the York Hotel.
NOTTINGHAM, Dec. 8.--The usual want of business
during the month of December prevails as it has done
for a number of years past, but at this time to a greater
eztent than since the year 1848, both as regards hosiery
and lace.