The Sun.
London, England, 1838-11-02 00:00:00

MANCHESTER AND RUGBY RAIL-
WAY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE S UN.
Sta,—Your comments in this Evening's Sun, on the Man-
chester ExiensiGn Line from Stune to Rugby. will be read
with deep interest by the public, as well as by the parties more
immediately concerned in the project. The superiority of that
line, as a direct means of transport from Manchester to Lon-
don, is obvious to a casual reader, but you have omitted to
notice other points of immense importance, which are lest
known to the public, and to which I beg to call your attention.
In the first place it is quiteclear that nocommunity can be more
interested in averting a monopoly of their means of transport than
that of Liverpool, excepting always those members of it
who are proprietors of the Grand Junction Railway. This
advantage is presented to them by the Stone and Rugby line,
for it would save, at the lowest computation, in the direct tran-
sit from Liverpool to London, an equivalent for twenty miles
of ground, exclusive of the delay of half an hour at Birmingham.
Another opportunity is offered by the Berkenhead, Ches-
ter, and Crewe line crossing the Grand Junction at Crewe,
to get upon the Manchester and London line : but what is
most worthy of observation, as showing the deficiency of the
Grand Junction as a direct line to London, is the fact
that to go by Manchester and Rugby would be a better
and shorter line than the present Liverpool and
Birmingham line to London. Another leading feature in the
Manchester extension project was a branch from Stone
to unite with the Birmingham and Derby line at Alrewas, which
would give the only feasible railroad conveyance to Manches-
ter and Liverpool from Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, and
the eastern counties, and this is of itself an overruling
argument in favour of the projected line. There, Sir,
was a splendid prospect for the public benefit, and of
profit to the projecters ; but the competition it created
was not the least pleasing matter in the account. I grieve
to say, however, that the chance of competition in this
direction, if not already extinguished, is in the most immi-
nent danger. From the capabilities of the new line, it was
natural to expect every possible opposition from the Grand
Junction Company, and as their leading men are very able,
have had immense Parliamentary practice, and are the
most skilful tacticians, their opposition was likely to
prove very formidable. Accordingly, for- months past,
their ablest officers have been engaged in agitating along
the whole line, exciting by public meetings and every other
means the hostility of the landowners and residents on their
present line. It seems, however, that the merits of the Ex-
tension line are become too notorious for any chance of a
finally successful opposition, and the Grand Junction party,
despairing of conquest, have, like able Generals, entered into
an alliance offensive and defensive with their opponents—may
I not say, against the public itself. They have, it is believed,
obtained one-half the new line as the price of their friend-
ship. If this compact be realized, good bye to competition ;
what can we expect but a continuance of incivility, extrava-
gant charges, and freights of from 31. to Si. per ton, as were
exacted on heavy goods during the last frost ? How are these
evils to be averted ?

Nov. 1, 1836.

Sir, your obedient servant,
MANUFACTURER.

MEETING OF MIDDLESEX MAGIS-

TRATE S---TYURSDAY.

(Before Mr. Sergeant ADAMS.)
This being county day, and there being no less than 33 no-
tices for discussion on the paper, the attendance of the Ma-
gistrates was unusually numerous, amounting during the day
to nearly 100.
The Report of the visiting Justices as to the /louse of Cor•
rection (4th Geo. IV., cap. 64, sec. 23) was brought up and
read. The number of prisoners now confined in that prison
was 1,134; of whom 804 were males, and 330 females, who
were generally well conducted, healthy, and attentive to the
religious in►truction which was afforded them. The Report
was agreed to.
The Report of the visiting Justices of the New Prison was
brought up and read. There are now 205 prisoners confined
there, of whom 136 are males and 69 females, all healtLy,
and attentive to their religious duties. The Report stated
that two boys were now confined for steal;ng a turnip each.
Sir C. FORBES expressed the warmest indignation that any
Magistrate could be found to send any human being to prison
for stealing a turnip.
Mr. POWNALL said that in country districts Magistrates had
a very unpleasant duty to perform, and were often compelled,
in awarding punishment, not to regard the value of the thing
stolen.

DISTRICT SURVEYORS.
The scrutineers appointed to take the votes for the appoint-
ment of district surveyors, reported that the election for the
parish of St. Mary Matfelm, otherwise Whitechapel, had
fallen on Mr. Wrn. Grellier, and that for St. Mary-le-Strat-
ford, Bow, upon Mr. John Henry Good, jun.
It being now half. past five o'clock, several important mo-
tions were postponed.