The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-06 00:00:00

lished, —from end to end of tbeir country, a system
in harmony with itself. They could not prevent por-
tions of the country having their railways, but they
were so small as not to interfere with the great design.
It was the interest of the country that was involved, not
that of individuals, nor of particular localities. Canadians
ought to have a system which world work in all harmony.
What was to be gained by ruinous competition? If pas-
sions and interests were brought into play, nothing could
result but destruction of property and loss of life too. He
said he could not offer a better comparison between a sys-
tem judiciously designed and a wild competition, than the
steamboat which he was on board of the night before. He
found that the vessel was propelled by two engines, each
seperate from the other, and he would suppose that they
were under the command of two rival companies. These
would have their friends and opponents on board, and ho
would suppose that the engineers quarrelled what progress
would they have made? Would they have reached Three
Rivers ? At all events he would not have bad the honour
of enjoying the splendid hospitality of the gentlemen of
Montreal at that moment. He said he bad one word
more. He could not leave the city without saying
something on the all-important subject of the Midge.
There was here a most magnificent liver, and he
had received abundant information respecting it
from Mr. Alexander Ross, who had been here several
months ago, as to what the bridge was to be. It was a
starling project, and at the time he had no idea of having
anything to do with it. But having studied the admirable
report of Mr. T. C. Keefer, and the philosophical paper
drawn up by Mr. Logan, he could- undelstand from what
had been written the genera' cirenmstances to be con-
sidered. But if possible he would be in Canada again at
the breaking up of the ice. (Great applause.) Still they
might be anxious to learn his impressions about the bridge
and he would proceed to state them. According to his

I ideas there was no difficulty to be apprehended from the
ice. From calcrlations he had made since his arrival in
Montreal, he was satisfied that no shove that could come
against the piers would be sufficient to displace them. The
people here had no doubt seen the formation of the ice in
winter and its breaking up in the spring. He had himself
noticed those stupendous and beautiful phenomera, of
course, but ho had not seen them as they are at Montreal.
He won id say, however, that there were facts attending
the breaking up of ice which were susceptible of mathe-
matical demonstration, and the pressure of the shove was
also capable of being valued. It was therefore as easy as
the addition of 2 and 2 to estimate the pressure necessary
to retain the piers m their places. He bad been told that
the iee was piled 30 or 40 feet high
but its pressure could
be easily withstood. He had calculated that if ice were
piled twice the height it would not disturb a well con-
structed bridge. So far, therefore
ho would say for its
permanency. He would also perhaps be expected to say
something about its site. The minds of the citizens were
agitated on the question whether it should be below or
above the town. He thought it his duty not to conceal
his opinion upon this point, nor to permit the agitation to
to go on as if he hesitated on the point. It was a difficult
and important subject, but he had brought his best judg-
ment to bear upon it, and having no interest in it one way
or another, he was in a situation to make an indepen-
dent selection. Whether the place was to be that
laid out by Mr. Keefer or not, he was satisfied it
must be above the town, and not far below Nun's
Island. That was his disinterested judgment in the mat-
ter. He then thanked his entertainers for their kindness
on the present occasion, and he world remember it to the
latest day of his life. He would also reflect with pride
and satisfaction on his meeting with there wish whom he
had been called on to consult ; and he felt proud that his
name would in any way be connected with Canada, espe-
cially in so great a work.- -
In rising to propose the Gth toast, the CHAIRMAN said,
they had the pleasure to see among them members of the
Imperial Parliament as well as members of the Provincial,
and it was a somewhat curious circumstance—a curious
coincidence, that among the for arer they bad not only the
greatest man in the world for planning and superintending
the execution of great public works, but also the man of the
greatest repute for carrying those plans into effect, while
among-the latter they. had the Inspector-General and other
members of the kroalecial Gove:ament and Legislature,
who had been most prominent as promoters of railway en-
terprise in Canada. Indeed, they are indebted to the,
energy, said zeal displayed by the hon. Inspector-General
that our great railway enterprises were in so favourable a
condition. Without his exertions we should net now have
seen Mr. Stephenson and Mr. Jackson among us. With-
out further preface he would propo:e the health of " the
Members of the Imperial and Provincial Parliaments, and
the other guests who have hononaed us with their com-
pan."
Baynd—" Every land my Home."
W. JACKSON, Esq., M.P., responded on behalf of the
members of the Imperial Parliament. He was deeply
grateful for the honour now done him, and he was sure he
spoke the sentiments of the other members of the Imperial
Parliament present when he assured them that they par-
ticipated in his feelings of gratitude. For his own par
he must say, that from the time he first set foot on Cahn,-
dian land he bad been met with nothing but sincere kind-
ness. Although others had believed their interests pitted
coming as he
against his, and had, therefore, offered some opposition,
yet all had been done in a kind and honest moanwneevre,r,anadll
he hoped he now met all whom he met last year
with the best andleartiest feelings of good-will. He be-
lieved all, as well those who opposed as those who aided
him had but one desire, to serve the interest of their coun-
twdriyodu. They had
strangerhb
ea de
o suaanrvioignnhegte
d, toth
thatedmou tfHhhei
es
trusted,me
xoptei cv
expected however,
reap anys ,
ld
benefit from his connection with Canada, he was sincerely
desirous of conferring benefits in return, and it was his
aware,
i
earnest hope and belief, that while he furthered his own
interests by the construction of Canadian railways, he
should be promoting the most important interests of the
coun
people of Canada might be
f intur
toed he
atchother. He bad no doubt—
otyu, sal n
addvta hnutsag l iee mi
rrhoe oda
tuc
ego
tou:
00l dan lowof oh
ak i
c s uhy ps
etoaencmht
ohi
nfi sdri
avgi ril baatayl ce
woo ur
no numtl rduy
nr aca nap
td doubt theg on. When
from the in-
t
ag
so
oe dor t mov tha tt
ey wr e he
t eme it
to o their
they
a
all must be sensible that they would derive a benefit, and
eii
reachal menthe i
r they
destination, looked
that not a small one, from any means of communication
which should lessen that delay. He would not delaythem
at that late hour with any lengthened remarks, but he de-
sired to state some of the results of his expel ience in rail-
way matters, to follow up the staple observations which
had fa"en from Mr. Stephenson, by telling them what he
bad learned, not as one who had planned and overlooked
the construction, bat as one who had something to do in
constractirg them, and in managing their affairs after they
were in operation. He recollected having attended a ...seat
dinner in London 0nc..,, when a health was given ..eat
dinner which
he was called upon to respond. He then stated that in
consequence of the opening up of the coal-mi ses of Derby-
shire and Leicestershire by the railways constructed under
the superintendence of Mr. Stephenson, he had no doubt a
reduction in the price of coal would be effected equal to the
whole of the local rates of the metropos, an d benefit
thus conferred upon the inhabitants to that extent. He was
laughedat the time ; but what was the result ? Why, the
price of coals had actually fallen by reason of the greater
facilities of transport afforded from ::is. to 225. per
ton. When it was taken into consideration that the
consumption of coal in London amounted to 3,600,ary‘0 tons
per annum, they would see that a gain to the people of
12s. per chaldron upon that immense quantity did n
reality amount to as much as the local rates. Railways in
Britain too had produced a vast difference in the price of
fish. Franklin had said that every man who drew a fish
from the sea contributed a piece of
.silver to the riches of
his country. They could form some idea of how much was