The Sun.
London, England, 1838-10-10 00:00:00

had been than printed at page 6. In the 45th !
page will befound the following extraordinary ad-
mission with regard to the west of Ireland, upon
which they had previQuely given a decided opi-
nion, which was well calculated to deter capi-
talists from embarking is any line of railway in
that part of Ireland but the value of that opinion and
the merit of the work altogether might be pretty fairly
judged from the following :—' In respect to railway
communications from Dublin westward, towards Sligo
and Galway, we have not thought it necessary, under
existing circumstances, to make any special investiga-
tion; but surveys and sections have been submitted to us
of a proposed line of railway from Dublin in a western
direction to Mullingar, and thence in a north-western di-
rection to Longford, Carrick-on-Shannon, and Sligo.
A line has been laid out in a western direction from Mul-
lingar by Athlone, Ballinasloe, and Loughrea, to Gal-
way.' Now he would beg particular attention to the
concluding part of the pragraph. It stated that
these hoes, which, for their entire length, pass
through a lime-stone country, present no very impor-
tant obstacles--at least none that could not he avoided
in thr-execution, so that we have no doubt that the
railways might he completed at an average cost of
8,0001. per mile.' There was a sample of how the
Commissioners got through the task imposed upon them
at page 6 ; they sav that the west of Ireland is not
entitled to have a railway—and at page 45 they show
the great advantage it must be of to the people, in-
asmuch as it would pass through a lime-stone coun-
try, and, above all, that it could be completed
at the very mintmunt of railway expenditure."
Such reasoning as this may be very conclusive in
Ballinasloe, but it will not do in London. Taking the
language of the Commissioners, as reported in the
Pilot, there is not the shadow of a discrepancy be-
tween tire statement at page 6, and the subsequent
statement at page 45 of the Report. The Commis-
tnissioners did not recommend a western line of road,
because they conceived, from the calculations they had
made, that it would not pay. They stated subse-
quently, it is true, that the cost would not be consi-
derable—would be less, in short, than that of almost
any other line of road; but where, we ask Mr.
DWYER, did _they contradict themselves, by stating
that they believed the profits of transit would even ex
teed the smallest outlay ? It mattere not whether a
railroad cost much or little in the construction, pro-
vided it can be proved profitable to the Shareholders.
A railroad may cost only 5,0001. a mile, and yet
prove a losing speculatioroshereas another costing ten
times that amount, may yield a profit of 50 per cent.
Besides, the Commissioners only speak of the present
' condition of Ireland ; for it is manifest, from the
whole tenour of their remarks, that they regard the
period as not distant when it will be as necessary to
intersect the west of Ireland with as good lines of
commercial communication as either the north or
south. Waiving these points, we cordially concur in
the sentiments expressed by one of the speakers.
Mr. BIRMINGHAM, who observed, that while
Irishmen were quarrelling about Reports, and
contending for particular and private interests,
other countries were running far a-head of them,
not only in making railroads, but in a thousand
other respects. Their quarrels are seriously de-
trimental to the best interests of their country, for
they are hourly sacrificing the practical to the possible.
Each is for impeding the other, because his own pet
scheme is not the theme of universal admiration.
They eschew Government assistance, and in the
same breath lament that we take no interest in the
well-being of Ireland. This is surely neither wise nor
politic.

Letters from Saragossa of the 3d inst. state that
General LEON defeated the Carlists under General
GARCIA at the Venta dcl Perdon on the,l, driving
them with great loss over the Argo. Ti►is is the
very place where the Carlists beat ALA Ix some
days ago.