The Sun.
London, England, 1831-11-17 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 17, 1831:

COUNCIL OFFICE.

IVIIITF.HALL, Nov. 16, 1631.

In confirmation of the cautionary measures recommended
by the Central Beard of Health, ender date of the 14th
instant, with regard to the use of saline medicines during
the existence of epidemic diseases, we are authorised to
pablisli the following extract of a letter from Dr. Daun,
dated Sunderland, the 14th inst.:—
" One of the cases of malignant chalera which has
just occurred I was called in to see; the patient felt
slightly indisposed yesterday morning, about seven o'clock,
with slight uneasiness in her bowels. About ten a.m. she
took a dose of Epsom salts before she sent for any medical
man to see her ; in about an hour after taking the salts
she was seized with spasms, and began to sink. I was
asked to see her in the evening, which I did, but when I
arrived at her house she was inarticula mortis ; she
died in about an hour after I saw her. It is one of the
least malignant cases of malignant cholera which has oe•
curred since my arrival here. Having in India seen the dis-
ease in several instances supervene after the administra-
tion of a dose of Epsom salts, I have thought it might
be of use to caution the public against the use of saline
purgatives, and I have caused a notice to be circulated,
recommending in their stead rhubarb, magnesia, and
ginger,. or any other warm aromatic powder, during the
continuance of the epidemic."

SOUTHAMPTON and LONDON RAILWAY.

(From the ilamprldr; Advertiser and Salisbury Guardian.)
On Tuesday the landowners of Winchester aiid
s neighbourhood met to inepect the engineer's pro-

posed line of road. As early as nine o'clock in the
morning gentlemen commenced arriving at the
George Inn, where maps of the plan were spread

out on different tables, and the room appropriated to

_ .
the purpose was crowded till twelve o'clock, the
hour appointed for the meeting in the Grand Jury
Chamber. Among the gentlemen who attended the
George were noticed, Sir W. H atheote, Bart., Sir
Thomas Baring, Bart., Colonel Wall, and several
other of the principal landed proprietors of the

. .
county, in addition to several of the clergy con-
nected with the College awl other departments of
the Church, the Mayor and Magistrates of the city,

and many of its wealthy inhabitants. As the prin-
cipal object was to obtain the apurobation of the
city of Winchester, and the landowners in its neigh-
bourhood, to the proposed line, that subject was then
so far elucidated that there was less occasion after-
wards for lengthened details.
Sir Thos. BARING, Bart. being unanimously
called to the chair, said he would take it pro
forma. Having in another place expressed his opi-
nion on the selected line, he did not yet feel au-
thorised to go further, for beyond it he had indeed
very little information. It was only on the previous
evening he hail read a very able speech of Colonel
Henderson's, and a comprehensive report of Captain
Stephena's. Theae publications, though truly credit-
able to their composers, and perhaps satisfactory to
those who had the benefit of additional informa-
tion,—did not yet enable him to feel justified in re-
commending a work of such magnitude, and involving
so vast an expence, to the hasty adoption of the
gentlemen who had done him the honour to place
him in the chair. As a private individual connected
with the county, he should be ready, even if he
should ultimately disapprove of this measure, to al-
low theportion of his land, which it appeared would
be required; to be taken fur the purpose in the
event of its being generally adopted; but in the
position he then occupied it behoved him to recom-
, mend to the gentlemen around him fully to investi-
gate the merits of the case, to ascertain how the
mercantile interests felt on the occasion, as well as

the landed interests on other parts of the line. Per-
haps the managing directors present were prepared
to give satisfactory information. He should be glad
to receive it; but until he had, he felt it his duty
to abstain from offering anything that may be con-
strued into a pledge to support so vast an under-
taking. These manly sentiments of the Worthy
Baronet were loudly applauded.
Colonel HENDERSON stated that the Directors had
endeavoured, by every means in their power, to
spew the great advantages of carrying the proposed
work into execution, and for that purpose had pub-
lished several statements, which had been exten-
sively circulated. He would not, therefore, take up
their time in repeating arguments which had al-
ready been placed before them in another shape, but
would read a short statement which had been drawn
up under the inspection of the Directors, and which
would point out some of the leading features of the
undertaking, and would embrace some calculations
which it would have been impossible for him to have
committed to memory. lie stated that the subject
had now been before the county for upwards of a
year, and during that time every means have been
resorted to for giving publicity to the under aking,
and for courting that investigation without which no
work of this nature ought to proceed. Hitherto no
opposition has been offered; on the contrary, all
classes agree in acknowledging the great benefits
which must result from the measure. It has been
long a desideratum to obtain a direct coramunica-
tion between the metropolis and the BrritiestliteaCblainty-
nel for goods, and, as far back. as the year 1809,
Mr. Rennie, in his report upon the pa
of unit ug the Basingstoke Canal with the
Itchen navigation, adverts to a railway Ira a
means of passing a summit level between Win_
cheater and Basingstoke. There is no novelty,
therefore, in the present suggestion ; and tfie
Directors claim no merit on that head. Their
de-ire has been, by tie most effectual means, to
supply the deficiency of a communication so long
crated for ; and, after a loeg and laborious investiga-
tion, they have come to the conclu-ion that the line
of railway now proposed will not only eminently
conduce to the benefit of the country- and town,
near which it will pasq, but will yield to the sub-
scribers an ample return for their capital. The com-
pany, in their prospectus, state that no public work
can offer greater advantages than this promises to
yield to all classes of persons. It will afford certain
and increasing employment to thousands of the
labouring population—it will open markets for the
whole agricultural produce of the Southern and
Western parts of England—it will give increased
facillies to travelling and commerce—and, in realiz-
ing all these important national and local advantages,
it will secure to the shareholders an ample return on
their capital. On the first of these advantages, as
stated in the prospectus, namely, the employment of
the labouring classes, I shall beg leave to offer a few
words. There is not, perhaps, one person here
present who will not admit that to find employ merit
for the labouring classes is at all times, but more
particularly at the present, an object of the greatest
importance. We, every One of us, feel the heavy
pressure of the poor-rates—we know, end would
strive to alleviate, the diatresses of the poor. Now,
it is manifest that it a work, such as that now pro-
posed, were to be carried into effect, every iadas7
trious and able-bodied labourer in the parishes cone
tiguous to the line might find fulleand constant ens-
ployment. >f we can, therefore, urge forward
measure productive of such benefits, are we not
called upon, by every tie that can bind society togee
ther, to use our utmost exertions in such a cause ?
If we can carry content and plenty to those abodes
where poverty and want new p-evaii„ are we not
-timulated tp do so by the best feelings of our
hearts ? And if, in attaining such objects, we can
give a fresh' impulse to agriculture and commerce
Can open a cheap and rapid communication for un-
veiling and the transport of goods—can introduce
fuel end other atticleaat a comparatively low rata--

and can, at the same time, secure to the subscribers
an ample return on the capital which they may em•
bark; surely we are justified in saying, that no public
work can offer grewer advantages than this promises
to yield to all classes of persons ; and surely we may
anticipate the cordial support of the public in for-
warding the undertaking. The Directors have been
unremitting in their endeavours to obtain intelligence
on the subject of the proposed work, and they have
collected a body of information which will enable
them to bring the measure to a successful conclu-
sion. They ate now only waiting until a sufficiency
of funds shall have been subscribed to justify their
proceeding Gent
to obtain an Act of Parliament. They
have
deputations to different places, and,
amongst the rest, to Liverpool. With your per-
mission I shall read a few extracts from the minutes'
of the Liverpool deputation, as they may be inte-
resting to those who have not had an opportunity
of seeing a railway, or obtaining correct information
in respect to the Livevpool and Manchester line. 1
[Here Colonel Henderson read extracts from his
report, delivered at a meeting in Southampton,
which was published in our Paper of the 17th ofl
September last, and to which the reader -will .of-
course refer.]
The Directors have been most anxious to select
the best line for the 'proposed railway, and Mr.
Giles has surveyed no less than six lines in order
to ascertain this most desirable point. He now pro-
nounces this to be the one subject to the fewest ob-
jections. It passes chiefly over land of little value,
and avoids, generally, invading the privacy of pre-
prietors along the line. It is as short a line as can
tie executed, keeping in view the desirable objects
of approaching Winchester and Basingstoke. At
one point only, near Battledown farm, it will be ne-
cessary to have some heavy cutting, or a tunnel of
upwards of a mile in length. The latter is cer-
tainly objectionable, but, as it can be executed at
a much cheaper rate than cutting, it will become
a matter of further consideration which plan will
he resorted to for overcoming the difficulty. In re-
epect to the generality of the line—perhaps no portion
of equal extent in England can present greater facili-
ties for the execution of such a work. The proposed
line has been submitted to many of the landed pro-
prietors through whose estates it will pass, and 1 re-
joice to say that it has met with unqualified appro-
bation. This flattering reception has given US fresh
encouragement to proceed, and the effect which the
announcement of this fact will produce in London,
from whence we expect to draw a large proportion
of subscriptions, will, no doubt, be gratifying, as we
have been repeatedly assured by some of the most
influentiel capitalists of the city, that if we
can carry with us the approbation of the land-
owners and the general support of the country, we
need not fear obtaining a sufficient subscription it.
London to make up any defic'ency left unappro-
priated in the country. This is the position in
which the undertaking now stands, and it will in a
great measure depend upon the support which we
shall this day receive whether or not we shall be
enabled to take the preliminary steps for obtaining a
Bill in the next Session of Parliament. You are
not, perhaps, all aware that the standing rules of
Parliament require that notice should be given in
three different weeks prior to the 30th Nov. of all
parishes through which a railway is intended to be
laid down,—that a plan on a scale of three inches
to a mile must be lodged, on or before the
30th November, with the clerk of tl.e peace of
each county, together with books of reference,shew-
'ing each pet son's property through which it will
pass. In consequence of the great delay which
has been occasioned by surveying the different
lines, there is now barely sufficient time to
complete these documents before the 30th of
November; and, previous to incurring the ex-
pense which such operations must involve, the
Directors are anxious to see some subscriptions
raised sufficient to meet the charge. The Directors
have already incurred expenses in giving publicity
to the undertaking, and sending deputations to
London and elsewhere, raised solely from their own
funds. In order to cover the preliminary expenses,
the Directors and a few of their friends at South-
ampton have subscribed about 500/.; no other part
of the county has been asked to contribute to these
expenses. But now that the exigency of the case
requires a further supply, in older to ensure the
of obtaining a Bill in the next Session,
tPhes'T)liiiretcYt ors hope that those who are favourable to
the measure will allow a portion of their deposits to be
hpel cpa bilree
ct
too trlsi e
as e indispensable p
by their
reli preliminary ch
arges.
The regulations
iolrg
itiases.
not
to incur the expenses of preparing the Act until
one-half of the capital shall have been subscribed
for; they have, therefore, no other means left for
securing the possibility of obtaining an Act in the
next Session except in appropriating, by permission
of the shareholders, such portion of their deposits as
may be necessary to prepare such preliminary surveys
and documents as will enable them to comply with
the standing rules. The Directors are happy in be-
ing enabled to state, that the proprietors of the
Basingstoke canal have shown a disposition to meet
this Company on the fairest and most liberal footing,
and the Directors anticipate a cordial support from
that Company. Hitherto this undertaking has been
confined to Southampton ; and, until the line could
be defined, the Directors were unwilling to press
the matter on your consideration ; but now that the
measure has met with the approbation of so many
of the landowners, and is likely to be taken up
warmly along the whole lint, it becomes desirable
that a certain number of Directors should be nomi-
nated at various points, to represent arid guard the
different interests. Having now, Gentlemen, laid
before you the present state and prospects of the
Company, I shall conclude by expres.ing a hope
that you will cordially join in forwarding an nedere
taking of such vast importance to this part of the
country, arid one which is calculated to produce
such beneficial returns to the shareholders. Yon
will observe that the utmost caution has been
adopted in guarding against the misapplication of
y not
isposed
inaty
tbetimlxeineepi,(reoeit alotlnttii,lid:
have
eihe,
rtvltitebhnsteitit:
recohdf
tesotpthiwbo:ssircid:sisrh;tretisleuetr
tab,
peserd: mitg7a
uched, in
e
aban-
dolled for want of ,fl-4d,,, equal to half the capital,
he Hon.
ting on
which is u contingency that, 1 trust, need not he
contemplated.
eTi.sPel,,,LcntLoAticiouftE,n,„}:iciiodi:gciroattiuslaatect,lhathire.
nisn, whose advice to them fully to ins-es-igate the
subject before they came forward to cepport it was
completely in accordance wieh the views of the Di-
rectors. They hed eatmly applied more than twelve
mete he to its investigation, and now only cailed on
the public to follow their example by dispassionately
considering its merits, and then determine whether
^r not they will enable the Directors to proceed
with the survey, and take. the necessary steps to
a .1.101 in the, next Session of Parliament, in
the event of its receiyiug such countenance from the
community at large as will justify the a }petition.
The worthy Chairman had spoken of the went ot.
information. He would exnlaio ev'oet the Directors
had not earlier nreseed it Gil him. Their first duty
vian. to contrinc4 themselves. This had occupied
much tithe. It was not enough that the deneeatlen
to Liverpool, of which his gallant colleague had just
read some of the entiuees, gave assurance of the
utility of a railway communication between London
as the capital of the kingdom, and Southampton, as
affording a direct connection with the English Chan-
nel ; it was not enough that the inhabitants of the