The Sun.
London, England, 1838-08-18 00:00:00

PEDESTRIANISM.

MATCH EXTRAORDINARY.—MoIIoy, the celebrated pedes-
trian, who accomplished, a short time since, the Herculean
task of walking 1,250 miles in 1,000 successive hours, on
Bromley Common, commenced, on Wednesday night at ten
o'clock, his more Herculean match of walking 1,000 miles in
1,000 successive half-hours, for 500 guineas, in Hall's
Cricket-ground, Southampton-street, Camberwell. Molloy
is a slight built man, thin visage, and about thirty years of age.
He dresses in a white jean jacket, carelessly buttoned, white
trowers, black neckerchief, white hat, and Wellington boots,
and always carries in his right hand a small hooked stick. His
steps are short, but his action is rapid, giving full play to
both arms. At seven o'clock last night he had accomplished
ninety miles, and appeared as fresh as when he commenced
his undertaking. He performs two miles at a time—that is
to say, he begins at the quarter after each hour ; and as he
takes upon an average 13 minutes to every mile, he throws
himself upon two chairs for two minutes, and then starts upon
his second mile. These two miles being accomplished, he
rests for half an hour, which lie devotes to sleep and refresh.
mcnt ; the latter consists of tea, coffee, rump-steak, or an egg :
he avoids all spirituous liquours. He speaks confidently of
success, although odds are considerably against his winning.
Bets to a great amount depend upon the match, which has ex-
cited much interest among those who are fond of such sports.
Should Molloy accomplish his task it will surpass the
greatest pedestrian feat upon record.

PRICE OF SUGAR.

EFFECTS OF THE BOUNTY.

Table showing the ex-duty price of West India Sugar in Mincing.
lane, and comparing the same against the price of foreign sugars :
London, Aug. 17, 1838.
The Gazette this day quotes the average price of British Per cwt.

Plantation Muscovado Sugar, exclusive of duty, at 3ls. 74d.
Muscovado Sugars from the Manilla—which are frequently
bought by the Dutch to be refined, and then to be resold in
the River Thames—in competition with British refined
Sugars for exportation—may be bought at from 20s. to
:225. (id per cwt., being about Ps. per cwt. cheaper than
West India Sugars.
Refined Sugar, equal in quality to double refined (the manu.
facture of it costing ss. per cwt) has been sold this week
(free on board) at
Deducting shipping charges 25. 2d. 31s. 101.
which is 2id. per cwt dearer only than the Muscovado
sugar from which it Is made, being a loss to the sugar re.
finer of 4s. 10d. per cwt., which the bounty on exportation

reitnburics him.
British treacle is worth 9s. per cwt. in the foreign markets. The
same has been sold this week in London at, free of duty, t.)ss. 6d. per cwt.,
being an excess of pr:ce paid by the British consumer of 16s. 6d, per
cwt., in other words 16s. 6d. per cwt. on treacle paid by the poor man
towards hourly, and not, as it is supposed, towards revenue.
British Plantation Coffee commands about 565. p^r cwt. more than
Foreign of a similar quality : thus Jamaica Coffee sold at 98s. per cwt.
would, if the same had been the produce of St. Domingo, fetched 4‘2.5.
per cwt, only.

BIRMINGHAM AND DERBY JUNC-

TION RAILWAY.

The half-yearly general meeting of the Proprietors of the
Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway Company was held
at Dee's Royal Hotel, Birmingham, on Thursday last, to elect
Directors in the place of those who retired by ballot, to re-
ceive the half-yearly report, and to transact the general busi-
ness of the Company. At Twelve o'clock HENRY SMITH,
Esq., was called to the chair, and having briefly addressed the
meetinr, upon the prospects of the undertaking, he proceeded
to read the following report :
REPORT.

" In meeting the Proprietors at the usual half-yearly period,
the Directors have to refer to the report on the state of the
undertaking which they made on the 11th of June last, and
which was then forwarded to each Shareholder.
The time which has since elapsed is so short, that much can-
not be added to that report. The Directors have, however,
the satisfaction of stating that the works near Burton-upon-
Trent, which were then unlet, are now contracted for and in
operation, and will be completed within the time at which the
other contracts determine.

The whole of the works from Derby to Stonebridge,
therefore, are now in course of actual execution, and in the
opinion that they may be completed by the 30th of next
June, and that the line may be opened at that time, for the
conveyance of passengers and goods, the Directors are fully
confirmed.

That the grounds of that opinion may be understood by the
Proprietors generally, they have requested the resident en-
gineer to prepare a report on the state of the works, which is
subjoined.

If the general progress of the works should appear to have
been hitherto less than might have been expected, it should
he observed that this has arisen from the necessity of at first
confining the operations to those few points, the magnitude
of which far exceeds that of the works constituting the
principal part of the line. The operations are now become
general, and the rate of expenditure is already greatly in-
creased.

The Directors take this opportunity of adding that, since the
making of the report above alluded to, their attention has been
much given to a revisal of the statements which it contains as
to the prospects of this Company. They not only see no reason
to doubt the accuracy of any of those statements, but, on the
contrary, further consideration has satisfied them that they have
underrated the advantages of the undertaking. To realise
those advantages at the earliest period will still be the object of
the directors, and they will not cease to urge, by every means
in their power, the completion of the works.
The Act of Parliament for which the directors applied, at
the request of Lord Aylesford, to enable the company to devi-
ate the line across his Lordship's estate at Packington, has re-
ceived the Royal assent, and the formation of the new line is
rapidly proceeding. By this alteration there will be a saving
in time in the journey from Derby to London : for although
the total distance is increased by about a quarter of a mile, the
gradients are improved, and a considerable advantage, both in
time and expense, is obtained by joining the London and Bir-
mingham Railway at a point where its gradient is of a much
more favourable nature for a junction. A considerable saving
in the original outlay of the Company is also effected.
It appears that there are seventy-two shares on which the
payment of the second call is in arrear. The Directors have
declared them forfeited, and recommend the Proprietors to
confirm the forfeiture under the provisions of the Act.
In the last report the Directors stated their opinion that
the whole of the works might be completed within the amount
which the Act authorises the Company to raise, and they
are still of the same opinion. This sum includes 200,0001.
to be raised on mortgage of the tolls and property of the
Company. The rapidity with which it is proposed to com-
plete the works, and the necessity for the speedy provision of
engines and carriages, and the establishment of all the
branches of a carrying department (items not included in the
Parliamentary estimate) render it, in the opinion of the
Directors, desirable that the money authorised to be borrowed
on mortgage should be placed at the disposal of the Com-
pany. They recommend, therefore, that the sum of 200,000/.
should be so raised.

Since the last annual meeting, vacancies have been occa-
sioned in the Board of Directors, by the resignation of Mr.
Francis Lloyd, and the death of Mr. John Webb.
These vacancies have been filled by the election of Mr.
Archibald Kenrick, of West Bromwich, and Mr. Samuel
Smith, of Birmingham.
The Act of Incorporation requiring that" three of the Di-
rectors should annually go out of office, a ballot has taken
place, and Messrs. Walker, Lcdsam, and Moore, have retired
from the Board.

The receipts of the Company, to the 30th X. s. d.
of June, were 171,587 18 11
The disbursements 154,716 4 11
And the balance in the hands of the
bankers 22,871 14 0

The Engineer's Report was as follows:
ENGINEER'S REPORT.
Engineer's Office, Tamworth, August I, 1838.
Henry Smith, Esq.
DEAR Sin,—ln compliance with your wishes I have pre-
pared the following statement of the progress of the several
contracts, the whole of %shich are now in operation, com-
mencing at the Junction with the London and Birmingham
Railway.

STONEBRIDGE CONTRACT.
Length three miles and a quart, r.
This contract was let, together with the Maxstoke and
Kingsbury contracts, to Messrs. W. and J. Simmons. It
having been deemed advisable to deviate the line through
Lord Aylesford's estate, the works were of course suspended
until the result of the application to Parliament should be
known. The works on the deviation are considerably lighter
than on the original line, the crossings of the turnpike roads
are much improved, and the line is shortened about half a
mile. The original amount of this contract will, therefore, be
considerably reduced. The distance to London is increased
by the deviation about a quarter of a mile; but an actual
saving in time will be effected, as the gradients are very much
improved, and the junction with the London and Birmingham
Railway is made at a point where the loss of time that would
be occasioned by stopping heavy trains upon a long ascending
plane of sixteen feet per mile is avoided, and where the station
may be constructed most conveniently and at the least ex-
pense. The total quantity of excavation is 239,000 cubic
ards; 178,000 of which will be required for the embank-
ments on the line. A considerable portion of the surplus ex-
cavation is gravel and sand, and will be required for ballast.
ing the permanent way ; the remainder will be deposited in
spoil banks. The greatest quantity of earth to be moved in
one direction is 54,000 cubic yards, and as the whole of the
excavations are now in progress, they may easily be completed
by the end of February. Preparations are making to com-
:nonce all the bridges immediately.
MAXSTOKE CONTRACT.
Length Four Miles.
The works were commenced in April last ; the total quan-
tity of unfinished excavation is about 81,000 cubic yards ;
30,000 yards are required to finish the embankments, and the
greater part of the surplus will be used as ballast. Consi-
derable progress has been made with the bridges. About
two miles of the permanent way are ballasted, and the con-
tractors are preparing to lay down the rails.
KINGSBURY CONTRACT.
Length Three Miles Fifty-two Chains.
The works were begun in March last, since which time great
progress has been made with the earthwork. The only unfi-
nished embankment will require 106,000 cubic yards to com-
plete it, of which quantity 85,000 yards will be brought in one
direction. Assuming that little or nothing will be done in the
three winter months, we may fairly calculate upon the com-
pletion of the embankment by the end of April next, at the
average rate of progress which has hitherto been maintained.
The contractors have commenced laying the rails, and a con-
siderable length of single line is already ballasted.
TAMWORTII CONTRACT.
Length Five Miles Forty-five Chains.
The principal unfinished work on this contract is the exca-
vation near Tamworth; it still contains about 202,000 cubic
yards; of this quantity about 81,000 cubic yards will be re-
quired to:finish the Anker embankment; about 56,000 to finish
the Wiggonton embankment, and the remainder
i will be de-
posited in spoil banks. The anker embankment s advancing
rapidly, and may easily be finished by the end of January; the
smaller excavations and embankments present no difficulty.
Several of the most important bridges are completed; the
bridge over the Coventry canal is several feet above the level
of the water, and will be ready for the cast-iron work in a
few weeks. The contractor has commenced la) ing the per-
manent rails.

ANKER VIADUCT CONTRACT.
Length Thirteen Chains.
Theabutment and the whole of the piers on the south side
of the river havelbeen carried up to the springing of the arches,
and a part of the centres are fixed; all the piers in the river
arc above the level of the water, and the abutment and piers
on the north side are half-way up to the springing!
arches arc expected to be turned by the end of the Sear.
ELFORD CONTRACT. all the

Length Four Miles Thirty-four Chains. ,
The works were commenced in January, but the principal
embankment could not be commenced until the end of Apra,
since which time the progress of the earthwork has been very
satisfactory. The points of difficulty are the two unfinished
embankments. To finish the Haselour embankment will re-
quire 66,000 cubic yards to be brought in one direction ; from
the progress hitherto made we may expect its completion by
the end of November. The Oakley embankment will require
137,000 cubic yards to complete it ; of which quantity 87,000_
yards must be brought in one direction. The average rate of
that part of the work has been 4,100 yards per week, and sup-
posing nothing to be done in the three winter months, about
3,300 yards per week must be teemed at the south end of the
embankment to complete it by the end of April. The contractor
is prepared to make every exertion to expedite the progress
of the works, and no doubt need be entertained as to their
completion by the stipulated time. Two of the principal
road bridges are completed, and a considerable 1--nath
of
is ballasted, and nearly
of single line of railway is
laid down. .
a mil:

TAME AND TRENT CONTRACT.
Length One Mile Fifty-four Chains.
This contract was let in March last, and the works were
commenced in May. The principal work is the bridge over
the river Tame and Trent. The contractors are procecding,
vigorously with the piling at three different points, and there,
is every reason to expect that the bridge will be complete'
early in the Spring.
BARTON AND BURTON CONTRACT.
Length Five Miles Seven Chains.
This contract was let in March last. The earthwork is ver)'
light, and might he finished in two months, if necessary.,
The bridge at Branston is finished, and the other bridges are
in progress. A considerable length of line is ballasted for the