The Sun.
London, England, 1836-05-10 00:00:00

DUBLIN and DROGHEDA RAILWAY.

The Committee on this most important measure has been
sitting for the last few days, inquiring into the practicability
of a railway communication between Dublin and the rapidly
improving town of Drogheda. It is also in contemplation to
continue the line to Armagh where it will meet the Great Ul-
ster Railway, and thus connect the important town of Belfast
(the Liverpool of Ireland) with the metropolis. We are glad
to observe so full an attendance of Members connected with
Ireland on the Committee, convinced as we are that such un-
dertakings as these will effect incalculable benefit to the coun-
try, both by developing its powerful resources, and giving em-
ployment to its robust and industrious population. In the se-
veral towns in the north of Ireland, through which this rail-
way is to be established, several large manufactories
have been erected within the last three or four years.
In the towns of Drogheda, Newry, Armagh, Castle-
wellen, and Belfast, very extensive flax-spinning estab-
lishments are now in full work, besides a great many
new ones in progress of erection. So highly did the late
Mr. Sadler prove the advantages which Ireland possesses for
the establishment of manufactures, that he removed from
Leeds and embarked his entire capital in linen manufactures
in Belfast, and a short period before his death he had it in
contemplation to erect, on a most extensive scale, a spinning
factory in the vicinity of Armagh. Cotton spinning is also
making great progress in the north of Ireland, and the calico
printers are fully engaged, not only for the supply of home
consumption, but also for the great market of Manchester,
with which they carry on a very extensive trade. There are
now steamers plying between all the great ports of England,
Scotland, and Ireland, and the town of Drogheda alone, with
a population of 17,000, has four powerful steam vessels, the
property of its inhabitants. In Louth, Meath, Westmeath,
and other eastern counties, from the increased facility of trans-
porting live stock to Liverpool, Manchester, and Bristol, the
farmers are turning their attention to the feeding of cattle,
which for the last two or three years has paid them much
better than corn crops, and there can be no doubt, when those
facilities of communication are further increased by the
projected railway, the exports of both agricultural and
manufactured produce will be greatlly increased. Indeed the
best proof that can be given of the encreasing prosperity of
this portion of Ireland, is to be found in a fact to which our
attention has been called, namely, that the Downpatrick estate,
which was purchased some twelve months ago by David Kerr,
Esq., sold for 38 years' purchase ; and the Cooley estate, in
the county of Louth, was purchased by the late Sir Harry
Goodricke at 31 years' purchase. With all thesegacts before
us, we have no doubt but this railway will prove not only a
source of private emolument but a great national benefit.

LONDONand BRIGHTON RAILROADS

At the Meeting of the Committee, yesterday, it appeared
that Mr. Stephenson's party had purchased Mr. Gibbs's line,
and it was stated by Counsel that his examination would be
discontinued, and his line withdrawn ; and it was proposed by
Mr. Sergeant Merewether, Counsel for Mr. Stephenson's
line, that Mr. Gibb's evidence should not be printed. This
was opposed by Mr. Joy, and the Committee yesolved that it
should be printed.
After this Sergeant Lum.ow, Counsel for Mr. Gibbs, exa-
mined him, for the purpose of showing that a junction might, in
the next Session, be made between Stephenson's line and the
Croydon, and by that means lie might have the advantage of a
terminus at London-bridge.
Mr. SIDNEY TAYLOR, on behalf of the supporters of Sir
John Rennie's direct line, cross-examined Mr. Gibbs, with a
view to show the length of the proposed line, and also the
practicability of a junction being made between Sir John Ren-
nie's line and the Southampton, so as to give it the advantage
of two terminii; and the result proved that Mr. Stephenson
might, next year, get a terminus at London-bridge ; but the
distance from his northern terminus at Brighton would be 621
miles, his own line, to Nine Elms, being about 56 miles ; and
that Sr John Rennie's might form a junction with the South-
ampton, and the distance from Brighton to Nine Elms would
be fifty miles, the distance of his direct line from Brighton to
the City being somewhat less than 50 miles, giving him the
advantage of six miles as to the West-end terminus, and 12.1
miles as to that at London-bridge. The extra length of Ste-
phenson's lines would thereby: entail upon , passengers by the
Western road an extra charge of Is. a journey, and by the road
to London Bridge, 2s. a journey.