The Sun.
London, England, 1836-02-03 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1H36

RD BROUGHAM AND LAW
REFORM.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sir—Aly previous letters in your well-conducted Journal
have demonstrated the nature and principles of Lord
Brougham's Law Reform, besides the unprecedented ad-
vantages thereby conferred on the British people. The
consummate abilities of this illustrious statesman have been
unquestionably apparent, in the abolition of many abuses
which long disgraced our judicial establishments, as well as
in rendering the Courts accessible to all classes of the peo-
ple, dispensing impartial justice, and amending the laws,
that they might be loved as they should be respected.
Has the frown or power of faction ever prevented Lord
Brougham from espousing the cause of the oppressed ?—or
l'as any man been a more philanthropic Reformer of our
legal departments, while promoting their adaptation to the
increased intelligence of this enlightened age ?
• Lord Brougham has already effected the greatest Law
Reforms, and purified various institutions of the country
from vices and imperfections which long impaired their
efficiency. Beneficial consequences have uniformly re-
sulted from the improvements of this patriotic senator,
who merits unqualified approbation for applying to the
system of our legal polity the most unceasing legislative
and judicial exertions, to secure what practically ought to
be the paramount object of all our law tribunals—the
cheap, speedy, and effective administration of justice. In-
timately acquainted with the general scheme of our insti-
tutions, los not this learned jurisconsult evinced those en-
larged and comprehensive views indispensably requisite to
originate and perfect salutary Law Reforms ? Having at-
tained the highest judicial rank by the predominant influ-
ence of transcendent abilities, did not Lord Brougham im-
mediately manifest indomitable zeal and perseverance, in
lessening the expense to suitors, besides ameliorating the
principles and practice, applicable as well to Bankruptcy
and Appeals, as the Courts of Chancery and Common Law?
Whilst adverting to Lord Brougham's celebrated motion
respecting the state of our laws, I adduced numerous
amendments that were since accomplished, by some of
which the titles to property have been rendered more se-
cure, and its conveyance more easy ; while by others the
procedure in our Courts has been made more expeditious
and less expensive. In fact, Lord Brougham has been pe-
culiarly distinguished for those uncompromising Law Re-
forms with which his name is inseparably connected ; be-
sides eonsummating the greatest possible good, with the
slightest posAle expense, for the British community. Was
not his active m:nd constantly applied to remedy the many
grievous defects hitfs•erto existent in the Courts of Equity
d Common Law, by'which the most useful and practical
ienaxe n
prrtoiovems ents have been Perfected ? Have not strenuous
been uniformly maje by this patriotic statesman
d iurisconsult, for the last quarter of a century, to refl-
" the dispensation of justice, pure, certain, effective, and
laiamPealittsiraTo 13? t, having previously detailed some of these
f is it not expedient and necessary. to particu-
.further Reforms, accomplished through his auspicious
!fiterPosition, for the purpose of amending the laws, so
ras
Lt(i' make their enactment respected, and their adm t
.a-
on
universally beloved? Justilia virtus est, omniuns vsr-
dutum dornina et regina.
11,,L.s_oridBrougham succeeded in passing the Privy Council
"eals, Act, which established an efficient Court, with
,portant powers and jurisdiction to determine appeals
roar decisions of various Courts of Judicature in the East
Indies, and other colonies of Great Britain. Judges of the
superior English Courts, and retired Colonial Judges, to-
tether with certain members of the Privy Council, have
fen formed into a body, styled " The Judicial Committee
o ts,
Privy Council." His Majesty was empowered to
re.fer all appeals from sentence of any Judge in certain dis-
t lets, together with appeals from the Arches and Admi-
rilt
Courts, to this tribunal ; but they cannot be heard
ess in presence of four members of the Judicial Corn-
-11dt" . Have not those measures been wisely calculated
to render the Privy Council Appeals' Court most efficient
rr the better administration of justice, by duly adjudicat-
11g all matters necessarily referred to its conclusive deter-
Mination ?
Lord Brougham an of
prepared and secured adoption
the Chancery Offices' Act, which abolished thirteen great
"Sees, mostly sinecures, thereby saving to the country up-
wards of 21,000/. per annum. It reduced the income of
kasters in Chancery, thereby saving 14,000/. per annum ;
besides other savings in the Master's Office, by reductions
and abolitions of various places, amounting to 41,000/. per
annum. The vacancies which occur in the Six Clerks'.
Office are not to be filled up mai; the number is reduced
to two ; while Masters in Chancery, henceforth appointed
by the Crown, arc only entitled to annuity for length of
sei•vice. Do not these Reforms, and oth of
siaaar nature, save to suitors of the Court er ,
andmeasures the pub a
lic
generally, upwards of ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS
Per annum .?—and were not these important amendments
adopted by the authority and interposition of Lord
troughani?
The, orders issued by Lord Brougham for regulating the
C!actice and proceeding," of certain Offices in the Court of
hancery, greatly facilitatO the despatch of business, and
tiensiderably abridged the periotl for pleading, answering, or
isawrings New forms of subricen.2s,
Were decrees, and orders,
prescribed, but all drawn in a concise and perspicuous
ulanzer, so as to amend the verbose and intricate system
Which hitherto existed. Besides, the expense of proceeding
Was
erY much diminished by the new schedule of fees, and
4uBtituting the sums to be henceforth received by the
piasters and their Clerks, with the Registrars and their
lion"- Were not all these ameliorations made in addi-
ivito
,abbreviating many other decrees, reforming the
ast
reguiers Offices, abolishing gratuities to the Clerks, and
ter„atilig various over-paid offices in the Court of Chan-
-4 wLord Brougham likewise succeeded in establishing the
bf tim l eentral Criminal Court,
sea_ e
u c which must be deemed one
est public institutions, and well adapted in every
trati et for the despatch of business, and suitable adminis-
tir on of criminal justice. Certain offences committed in
ilveefietropolis and parts adjoining must be tried, at least
ve times in every year, by Justices and Judges of this
alteration
establishment of which has proved an important
in the system of criminal jurisprudence. Sale-
.ll2: advantages have already resulted from the operation of
Measure, in consequenoe of the facility thereby afforded
ii°r the .
netection of criminals, and that prosecutions imme-
L4telY the A,follow the capture of the offenders. But, is not
sati letropolitan Court Act merely a circumscribed appli-
.lo" of, though precisely the same in principle, as the
ttledi Courts Bill, however more extensive in detail, be-
embracing the country within the limits of its juris-
-44-/1" ? Has not Lord Brougham, therefore, procured
a.ers—°lsdeo a most beneficial tribunal ? And, does not ex-
torleieee tienionstrate how salutary that important measure
N,,,ouleie cheap, speedy, and effective administration of justice
obut also prswe, which Isis Lordship has long endeavoured
the ,v ain for all classes of the English people throughout
hole kingdom 2
inee Lord Brougham's memorable motion in 1828,
Julia eixtensive Law ReloTrns, with similar legislative and
c'OmPlhmeiasures of paramount importance, have been ac-
budert4ke4. If this enlightened Statesman had neither
.ba en the subject, nor persuaded Parliament to con-
-131.411'4 necossity of surveying and ameliorating this
ra,,44 el' our naticnal polity, very few of these improve-
or en" would have been sanctioned by the superior Courts,
wa.,, acted by the Legislature, Though Lord Brougham
out
prt,ty
or Power when he first publicly advocated the pro-
tained
the
such reforms, yet Parliament immediately enter-
his e recommendation, from the confidence reposed in
ul' Juris
•Publie wisdom and virtue, conjointly with his knowledge
Ision prudence, experience in practice,
and habits of pro-
,ils.tritt.al acquirements. Desirous of rendering the admi-
lis mra of justice pure, speedy, and substantial, has not
4:)rogi:otid hip perfected various beneficial alterations by
ng many abuses, that caused dilatory and vexatious
awbarraesments ? Have not the tedium and expense of
g proceedings been thus considerably abridged, by the
_
-ablislinient of cheaper and shorter, besides easier and
e rights
one convenient modes of redressing wrongs, and prosecut-
„,:rhe British nation, Sir, fondly tru that Lord
ncigham will yet continue to devote thests energies of his
niiip.reliensive mind to complete those Law Reforms,
n° eh he orioinated and ro oundedllo% W den, oust - P P is-eminentve"r. I have
rated how frequently th Jurisconsult
ap Plied sal," and rational remedies- to abuses, besidkv

~ ~

proving our ancient and modern legal establishments, for
the welfare and happiness of society, by making the laws
simple and certain, with the administration of justice pure
and impartial, adapted to existing circumstances, and suited
to the spirit of this reforming age. Have not such amelio..
rations produced various national benefits, by establishing
salutary principles of justice, and rendering the laws conso-
nant with our renovated institutions ? But, does' not the
British nation, especially the millions guided by this patrio-
tic Statesman, and who feel exceedingly grateful for all
previous improvements, confidently trust that Lord
Brougham will persevere in procuring for the people a
better, cheaper, and more effectual administration of jus-
tice, together with various other practical, and philanthropic
Law Rerorms ?

I remain, &e.

Chancery-lane, February 1, 1636.

DANISH CLAIMS.

MENTOR.

(From the London Review, No. IV.)

We, a few days ago, gave some extracts from No.
IV. of " The London Review," a publication of
great ability and spirit ; and we now give an abridg-
ment of a clever article on the subject of the Danish
Claims, which we insert the more readily, as we are
anxious that Ministers should do themselves, as well
as the claimants, justice, by granting relief to the
ship-owners—a class who suffered so severely, and yet
did-so much for the country in times of the greatest
danger. We cannot too strongly repeat that their
case appears to us to have such a superior claim to fa-
vourable consideration over the class already admitted
by Government, that we trust the Chancellor of the
Exchequer will feel the force of the facts and argu-
ments lately brought forward on the subject, and at
once recommend their case to the House :

Report of the Commissioners for investigating the Danish
Claims, ordered by, the House of Commons to be
printed, 3rd April, 1835.
The Commissioners, in their Report, divided the claims

into three classes : those for book-debts forming the first—
those for goods seized on shore, the second—those for ships
and cargoes seized, the third. Now it appears that it is
only the first of these three closses, making about one-
third of the total amount claimed, that his Majesty's pre-
sent Government have resolved to satisfy.* And that, be
it observed, on conditions that render the justice altogether
incomplete ; for no interest has been allowed, and the,proof
required is such as to exclude a large proportion of this
class of cases.t
With respect to the third class ; Ministers have taken
no account of it ; they have altogether passed it over. The
lawyers who have got hold of this subject have, after their
fashion on like occasions, attempted to complicate and con-
fuse the question by prattling about the law of nations.
But this is not a question between nation and nation ; it is
a question between the British nation and some of its own
citizens : it is not a question of the law of nations, but of
the fundamental laws of every civilized community. The
first law of every independent political society is, that in
return for the obedience which the subjects in that political
society render to the Sovereign of it, they shall receive
protection for their persons and property. The moment
that protection ceases to be rendered, that obedience ceases
to be due. By this fundamental law all the classes of
claimants who lose their property immediately by the act
of their own Government, have an equal claim to redress
from that Government ; and any attempt to draw a dis-
tinction on this occasion between the loss of book-debts
and the loss of ships and cargoes, can only be regarded as a
piece of sophistry got up by the book-debt class of claimants,
to indemnify themselves by throwing their fellow-sufferers
overboard, or by a shuffling Administration to escape the
just payment of a sum of money.
It is evidently the decided opinion of many of the suf-
ferers, who are claimants belonging at the same time to the
class of book-debts and to that of ships and cargoes, that
the hardships of their case as belonging to the latter class,
are far greater than even those of their case as included in
the former. In a Petition printed in the Appendix to the
Votes of the House of Commons, 16 die Julii, 1828,
(No. 1565) it is stated that the petitioners, in August
1807, applied to the Lords of the Admiralty for a license,
(such a document being then required) for a vessel to sail
to Norway with a cargo ; that the said license was duly for-
warded to the petitioners, notwithstanding an expedition
then preparing against Copenhagen, though quite unknown
to the petitioners ; that, in consequence of such license, the
petitioners freighted and loaded at the port of Aberdeen,
the /1/argaret of Leith, to proceed to Bergen, consigned to
their correspondent there ; that the said vessel arrived safe
on the coast of Norway, where she was instantly taken pos-
session of by armed boats, by authority of the Kin°. of
Denmark, carried to Bergen, and condemned, in Septemer
1807, for beheof of his Danish Majesty, notwithstanding
the complaint and claim of their correspondent for himself
and the petitioners ; the only answer to which was, That
the Governn;ent of Britain had ample means of redress in
their hands.'

The petition then goes on to set forth, that the peti-
tioners are yet without any redress whatever, and that they
had also many sums then due in Norway, in the hands of
their various correspondents there, of all which they have
been also deprived. The petition concludes with the fol-
lowing forcible and just statement of the question :—" That
if the Admiralty had warned the petitioners, or delayed the
licence under the circumstances, the evil to their vessel
would not have happened ; and that, with such 'funds in
their hands from the Danish fleet, &c., the petitioners con-
fidently looked for redress and indemnification of their whole
losses, but more immediately fur the cargo so seized and con-
demned by the Danish Government."
All this shows a strong impression in the minds of claim-
ants, who claimed both for book-debts and for ships and
cargoes, that the circumstances under which their ships and
cargoes were taken from them, were such as most unques-
tionably to give to those losses a prior and peculiar right to
indemnification. It would mall) seem, that to a plain 9n-
derstanding, there could be but one opinion on the subject.
To the same straightforward, honest understanding, it
would also seem totally needless to point out the difference
between a case like the present, and the ordinary case where,
in confozmity to the practice and usage of war prevailing
among the naiions of Europa,' every merchant who sends a
ship to an enemy's coast, or to the neighbourhood of an
enemy, does so at his owl, peril ; and being forewarned, pro-
vides against the risk he thereby incurs. Could it be sup-
posed possible that the distinction could be overlooked be-
tween this and the case where no warning whatever has
been given ?—where, on the contrary, the minister of the
power attacked is resident at the court of the assailant, and
where the merchant was lured into the snare by the
mockery of a licensed ?—where, in short, there was no
question of the practice and usage of war at all—as the
question was not of a state of war, but a state of peace—
for it NOS such, as regarded the claimants ?
Again, v;itli respect to the seizure of the Danish mer-
chant-vessels anj cargoes, before any hostile act was so much
as contemplated on L-Ile part of the Danish Government—
it had no excuse whatever, but as an act to secure an in-
demnity to British subjects, for the losses which they might
sustain, in consequence of our attack on Copenhagen.
Even if this precaution had not been taken, the claim-
ants had a right, according to the fundamental principle
of morality and law already stated, to be indemnified by a
general contribution for losses occasioned to: individuals by
an act for the general benefit ; but in this particular case a
sum of money derived from the Danish merchant ships
condemned, was paid into the public treasury, on the ex-
press ground, announced by Mr. Percival, that ' there were
certain merchants who claimed from it compensation for
losses arising out of the manner in which the war broke
out.
The claimants as a body, applied to Parliament for a
committee to investigate and decide on their claims, be-
cause theirs was a case which, as no legislature could have
anticipated, no positive legal remedy had been provided for.
And when it was announced that ministers, yielding to the
unanimous opininion in their favour, undertook to do for
them whatever was just, the claimants little suspected that
ministers, for their guidance in a case such as any plain
observer of the common rules of justice would at once de-
cide, would call on the law officers to determine whether
the claimants have a legal right.

Whatever be the law on the subject, the question whe-
ther the sum of money obtained by the seizure of Danish
It tight to be.remarked that the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer gave a vague pr.rnise respecting the second class,
' Will it be b(4l,ieved, that thaao niggardly dealers out of
justice, not content with allowing no inturest, actually deduct
from the principal two per cent., for the paynizint of their
Commissioners I—in imitation, no doubt, of the happy device,
so well exposed by Mr. Bentham, of reaing the expenses of
the administration of justice a charge upon the pnfortunate
suitors.

f Some of the cases were even stronger than this. In some
instances, the merchants, besides applying for their licenses,
asked the Admiralty, whether it was safe to go to Denmark ?
and received for answer, that it was perfectly safe, at the very
moment when the Admiralty were fitting out tho expedition.
In others, the shipmasters applied to Admiral Gambier, in the
Sound, and were assured that it
vas safe to go up the Baltic, as
" every thing was settled."
§ The King, and the Government of that day, abstaing
from appropriating as droits of the Crown, a sum of money
obtained under such circumstances. For, independently of the
claims of the British sufferers, it was liable to the p)aims of
Denmark, at the conclusion of the war. These were aban..
doned at the peace, but the claims of the British sufferers, the
ground on which the money ha 4 been provisionally during the
war (like the unclaimed dividends) appropriated to the neces-
fities .9f the _State/ have t 9 this moment never beep s4i4ed,

property, prior to any offence conunitted or intended by the
Danes, could be retained by the state without being appro-
priated to indemnify British subjects:who suffered in conse-
quence of that seizure, and for whose benefit the very act
of that seizure was contemplated and justified, is a question
of common justice and honesty ; and to evade it on the
ground that an obvious moral right cannot be legally en-
forced, is to come under the opprobrium usually falling upon
those who " square their conscience by the law."
But if the Whigs expect that the matter will be suffered
to rest here, we hope and believe that they will be disap.
pointed. Some of the leading men of all parties have de-
clared the strongest opinions on this question ; and at least
those of the Tory and Radical parties, it may be hoped,
will not allow their sense of justice to give way to their de-
sire of voting with a Whig Ministry. We trust that, as
soon as Parliament m:ets, some Member with whom prin-
ciple does not yield to party considerations, will take up the
cause of these much injured men, and insist upon the full
acknowleOgnient and establishment of their rights, as Bri-
tish citizens injured by the public act of the British Go-
vernment.

THE MANCHESTER AND LEEDS

RAILWAY.

On Thursday last a meeting of bankers, merchants, manu-
facturers, and traders, was held in the Town-hall, in order to
obtain an expression of their opinions upon the proposed line
of railway from Manchester to Leeds. The meeting was
called by the boroughreeve and constables, upon the requisi-
tion of about eighty of the leading firms and commercial men
of the town ; and we never recollect having seen a meeting of
that extent (there were about 200 gentlemen present) which
represented such an aggregate amount of capital.
The Boroughreeve (JOHN MACVICAR, Esq.) took the chair,
and immediately on his appointment thereto, an adjournment
from the Committee-room in which the meeting first assem-
bled, to the large room up stairs, took place.
The CHAIRMAN briefly opened the business by reading the
requisition, and explaining that his colleagues and himself
had called the meeting from a tonviction of the advantages
which must result to the public generally from such increased
facilities of communication as it was the object of the Man-
chester and Leeds Railway Company to afford.
• J. C. HARTER, Esq., moved the adoption of the first reso-
lution ; but in so low a tone of voice, arising from hoarseness,
that the few words which he uttered were inaudible.
T. SHARP, Esq., seconded the resolution, and took the
occasion to reply to several objections which had been urged
against the holding of a meeting like that. When one of the
Chairman's colleagues had done him the honour to consult
him as to the propriety of convening the meeting, he had hesi-
tated as to its propriety, and had certainly sought for reasons
in support of his objections. He had found, however, that all
his reasons were in favour of such meeting, and lie had, there-
fore concurred as to its propriety.—( Hear.) Among the
arguments urged on the other side, it was said that the Man-
chester and Leeds Railway projection was a private specula-
tion, originating in considerations of private gain; and therefore
that the public had nothing to do with it. Why, let them
trace back the origin of any commercial uudertaking, and
they would find that it had its origin in similar motives, how-
ever general its advantages had afterwards become. The
substitution of waggons by the late Mr. Pickford, as an im-
proved means of conveyance over the pack-horse, arose in
considerations of private advantage ; and yet that had been
productive of great public benefit. The canal of the late
Duke of Bridgewater was also projected with a view to pri-
vate emolument; and yet who denied the public benefit which
had resulted from it 2—( Hear.) And he would ask the canal
proprietors from whom the greatest opposition to the present
scheme was experienced, whether their canals had been pro-
jected for public or for private benefit; and whether their op-
position was of a public or a private nature ?—( Hear.) The
opposition was based on private grounds, in order that they
might continue a monopoly by which they were enabled to
to charge twenty shillings, where they only ought to charge
ten shillings.—( Hear.) f the undertaking were calculated to
secure a public benefit, then it claimed public support, regard-
less of the motives in which it had originated. He hoped the
Parliament would consider this : here were two parties, a
Canal Company and a Railway Company, both of which had
originated in motives of private interest. How was Parlia-
ment, as umpire, to judge between the two ? Why, by the
weight of public opinion, and the comparative resulting ad-
vantage to the public. As to railways in general, they were
a superior means of transit—an advantage which it was now
necessary to extend to the utmost in our power, if we wished
to contend successfully against the strenuous exertions now
making on the continent of Europe, and in America, backed by
the respective Governments of the countries therein, to en-
large the facilities of manufacturing production and commer-
cial intercourse. There were agents at this time in England
from almost all the continental nations, making contracts for
iron railways, and taking other steps to forward the objects just
named. In America the greatest activity prevailed, and rail-
ways were rapidly extending there. But he would not take
up the time of the meeting further, in speaking of the advan-
tages of railways; but would refer them at once to the Man-
chester and Liverpool line, which had been a public benefit,
and has far exceeded the expectations of all, both in regard to
its advantages, its means, and its results. And if that had
been a beneficial line, he contended that a continuation
of the line to Hull, thus uniting two of the principal ports of
the empire, must also be desirable. The Liverpool line was
no doubt a favourable line ; but the one to Leeds would also
have Manchester at one end of it ; and though the line might
be a more difficult one in the formation, still, the increased
knowledge which the Directors would have, profitting by the
experience afforded by the Liverpool line, would enable them
to lay down a more difficult line at a not much (if any)
greater expense. Then it must be recollected that between
Liverpool and Manchester there was hardly a single passenger
or bale to be picked up ; while on the Leeds line there would
be a passenger and a bale for every quarter of a mile. And
as to the means of remuneration, they would be at least equal
to those of the Liverpool line.—(llear.)
R. Peanut, Esq., M.P., said, in the first place it would
perhaps be necessary for him to give some explanation of his
reasons for attending that meeting, as, from his situation as
one of the Lancashire Members, the question then under dis-
cussion woujd come before him as a member of the committee
to which it would be consigned, and he ought to enter upon
its consideration with strict impartiality : he hoped his atten-
dance there would not prevent him doing so.--( Hear.) It ap-
peared some opposition would be made to the Manchester. and
Leeds railway bill, in Parliament; and it would be the duty
of the Legislature to judge between the two parties. He was
glad that he had attended that meeting, as it gave him an op--
portupity of ascertaining that the merchants of that town gave
a warm approval to the proposed railway, a circumstance which
would have due weight in the committee of the House of
Commons.—(Hear.) He (Mr. Potter) could not help think-
ing that the proposed line of railway would be of great benefit
to this community. Wakefield, one of the towns included in
the line, was the great emporium for corn, which would then
be transported with a vastly increased facility to this district;
and Hull being a port of great importance, still further ad-
vantages would result from the proposed junction therewith.
As to the threatened opposition to the railway; he recommended
the supporters of the latter to effect an arrangement if possi-
ble. The House of Commons was not a very satisfactory
court for the settlement of such disputes, for although some
gentlemen might undertake the duty of hearing the case in
committee, others might come in when the preamble was
about to be proved, and by defeating that, upset all that
had been done. This, he believed, was the case with the
same railway bill, on the occasion of the last application to
Parliament.--( Hear.) The committee declared that the
preamble of the Bill had not been proved, although the
gentlemen constituting the majority of the committee had not
heard a single word of the evidence. The system was no
doubt a little amended now, but it was not completely re-
medied, and,therefore it behoved the Company to be prepared.
He (Mr. Potter) also wished to give the Company notice, that
he should take an opportunity, when the bill was before the
committee, to move (as he had done in other railway bills) the
Insertion therein of a clause, providing that the line should not
cross any highways on a level, as he thought such crossings
were highly dangerous to the public safety.—[lt was here in-
timated to Mr; Potter by Mr. Barry, the secretary. that that
been already provided for in the Bill.] He was glad to hear
that this had been already provided for; and the fact being so,
the Bill should, as far as he was able to judge then, have his
concurrence and support.—( Hear.) The resolution was passed
unanimously.
ROBERT GARNETT, Esq., moved the second resolution. If
ever, he said, a scheme was entitled to public support, in a
manufacturing district like that of Manchester and the sur-
rounding country, it was the one, the merits of which they bad
met to discuss; and if they were not to avail themselves of the
full advantages of railway undertakings, they would be behind
hand with other districts, and would be unable to compete
with those countries, the governments of • which were doing
everything in their power to establish manufactures of their
own. When he contemplated the effects of a railway that
should, by extending from Liverpool to Hull, unite, as it
were, the German ocean with the Irish sea, passing as it
did, through the very centre of the populous woollen and
cotton districts of Yorkshire and Lancashire, the advantages
which presented themselves to notice were so numerous that
lie was at loss where to commence his enumeration of them.
Now, if a gentleman wanted to go on business from Manches-
ter to Leeds, it occupied him two or three days; whereas, if
a railway were in existence between the two towns, the busi-
ness might be transacted in one day. The present water con-
veyance for goods was five days, to Hull, at the rate of 305. per
ton, when no doubt they might be convoyed in as many hours
by means' of a railway, at a greatly reduced rate of freight-
-( Hear, hear.) The exports of Manchester goods, from
Hull, were by no meting ineoneiclereble ; thus last- year
we had exported 30,000, tons of cotton twist from Hull;
while flip exports of cotton manufactured goods were also large
and increasing; and towards the close of the year, when the
rates of freight and insurance rose eapietlyi the advantage of
being Ab)e to forward goods to Hull in as many hours as days
were now required, was of no small importance.—( Hear.) It
was not as a shareholder, but as a Therelient cpanected With
the ueeth of Europe, that he (Mr. Garnett) supported the
Manchester and Leeds Railway undertaking ; and it was on
eieeilar geoends that it ought to be gist ivelly supported. Po?'
dues le' eery large extent was aril p. into IL?ieeeppol, from
the Brazils, the iedied, and other pieces, in exchange for our
goods, and a great deal of which Wee re-Chipped to lie cent',"
pew of f.prope. Now, if this could be sent direct to Hull,
and there eeperi.ed, witheet the delays which at present took
place? Liverpoel herself would eNprie!,9e groat advantage,
frertl the increase of such imports into her Pefle; is well as the
incidental beeelite ;•eselting from the tragic on the lone qt rail-
way. From these considerations he ieli; it fo e his duty to
sypport the undertaking. A formidable opposition was three-
, peed and 4ntieipated, but this only rendered it the more in-

cal:bent upon the frien Is of tl e seicme to endeavour to ob-
tai the bill.—( Hear.)
J. P. WESTIIEAD, Esq. seconded the motion. He admitted
that the natural difficulties of the line between here and
Leeds were great, but they had all been surmounted. He
regretted that they were threatened with a severe opposition
from interested parties, although he thought if those parties
took an extensive and enlightened view of the subject, they
would find that the railway was likely to increase their traffic.
—Resolution passed unanimously.
J. E. TAYLOR, Esq. moved the next resolution. Fortu
nately, he said, all the gentlemen present were so fully aware
of the beneficial tendency of railway conveyances, that much
in enforcement thereof would not be necessary from him.
Within the last half hour he had, in connexion with this subject,
turned to a publication which had just appeared, and the
merits of which he was afraid were not fully appreciated—he
meant " Burn's Commercial Glance," and even he, accustom-
. ed as he was to consult statements and receive information,
of this nature, was not aware of the rapid increase which our
manufactures had experienced. He had abstracted from the
above table certain results in figures, which he begged to
read., In 1823 the total amount of cotton twist exported was
27,373,986 lbs., while in seven years after that time, namely,
1830, the exports had more than doubled, being 64,645,3421b5.
The year 1835 gave evidence of a still further increase, the
exports of twist for that year amounting to 84,475,885 lbs.
No doubt all this was not shipped from Hull, but still a great
portion of it would be, being destined for those countries for
which Hull was the principal port, viz.—Russia and Germany.
But it was not in the mere traffic in goods that the anticipated
benefits would result. He looked to the increased communi-
cation which must follow, and herein he thought they would
have a strong point in their application to Parliament, that
although they might in the first instance—he hoped not ulti-
mately—injure the interests of the water companies, in the
conveyance of goods—in the conveyance of passengers they
would have the whole field to themselves. Here there would
be no rivalry ; and that was a consideration which ought to
induce Parliament to grant the application.—( Hear.) They
also saw, and saw with pleasure, the rapid extension of the
town ; and it behoved them to provide for the wants of the in-
creasing population. It was important that the supply of food
should be as large, as cheap, and as much facilitated as possi-
ble. Now it was well known that a large portion of the food
consumed here came from Yorkshire, and no doubt, with the
proposed increased facilities for transit, the supplies of that
food would be greatly augmented. This was another strong
reason for their application to Parliament.—( Hear.) The
markets abroad were not overstocked with goods ; and at
home they were bound to do all in their power to keep up
their onward progress. In would be frightful to contemplate
the consequences, to the population of this country, of a se-
rious interruption to its commercial operations.
JOHN CHEETHAM, Esq., of Stalybridge, seconded the
motion. The subject seemed to embrace three points : first,
to connect the cotton and woollen manufactures of Manchester
and Leeds ; next, to increase the means of transit between
those two places ; and thirdly, to open a rapid communication
between the two important ports of Liverpool and Hull.
The population of Manchester and Leeds alone were suffi-
cient to sanction an undertaking like the present; that of the
former, with its dependencies, amounting to 300,000 souls,
and the latter to 150,000. The wants of two such places
must be great • and he understood that Manchester was be-
coming the depot for goods from Yorkshire. Rochdale,
Todmorden, Halifax, and Wakefield, would also be con-
nected with the two towns just named; but the most impor-
tant result of the proposed undertaking would be the con-
necting- of the extensive ports of Liverpool and Hull. They
had already been informed of the great exports of twist
from Hull in the course of last year. But the imports
would also be attended with good results. Baltic timber,
for instance, when the present impolitic duty thereon was
reduced, must become an article of great consumption in this
town. He believed that a few years ago, such was the
great cost of the inland transit of the Baltic timber, that
it was altogether shut out from the markets in this
neighbourhood. Within the last three years, however,
an arrangement had been made with the Rochdale canal com-
pany, whereby parties were enabled to compete with the timber
imported into Liverpool. And with a reduced tax and in-
creased facilities of conveyance, Hull would become almost
the only port for the importation of Baltic timber. The
hieh o
wasf t he last
mostlyyeareeeseammeoduniete d to
im-
portation of Australian wool, which was of recent date, was
of great importance to some parts of Yorkshire. The im-
ports minions otfwopogunredast,
w
3Yorkshire.
manufacturing districts of Lancashire and Yorkshire had a
common interest in this railway ; it combined two of the most
populous and flourishing counties of the empire, and two of the
largest manufacturing districts in the world. A preceding
speaker had referred to the benefits to agriculture which
would result from this railway. Now he was of opinion
that Ireland would be most benefitted by it in that respect.\
The imports from that country to England amounted to
about four-and-a-half millions sterling per annum. A
great portion of these imports doubtless went into York-
shire ; and when the rate of freight was reduced, and a
saving of time effected, Ireland would reap some of the advan-
tages which this undertaking was calculated to produce. While
politicians were engaged in devising measures for the improve-
ment of that country, their's be the more humble but more
harmonious task of developing her skill and finding employ-
ment for her industry, and encouraging the outlay of capital,
by giving security to it.
S. FLETCHER, Esq., moved the adoption of a petition. Be-
ing no shareholder in the proposed Company, he had no private
interest to serve by giving it his support.
R. H. WILSON, Esq., had great pleasure in seconding the
motion.
The Resolution being carried, the Boroughrceve left the
chair.

MARK Pumps, Esq., M. P., was called to the chair, and
he took occasion to address the meeting at some length. He
said he regretted that his peculiar position, as a representative
of that town, prevented him from appearing at that meeting
other than in his individual capacity as a merchant. They
would readily appreciate his motives in not taking part in
their proceedings as, upon their petition being presented to
Parliament; its merits would be discussed, and he would have
to sit in judgment on the case as made out.--( Hear.) There
might be contending interests of which he now knew nothing,
and an opposition with the character of which he was unac-
quainted. He had therefore wished to abstain from mixing
himself up with the matter, as that would prevent his useful-
ness in forwarding what he could not but think was a great
and important measure.--( Hear, hear.) He thought a case
had been made out, and that little argument would be neces-
sary to show that an improvement like the one proposed was
necessary to enable them to maintain their position as a
manufacturing body. The improved communication be-
tit Manchester . and Hull was only one-half of the
argument. They would never rest content with the internal
communication ; he considered that as the mere adjunct to
those vast improvements in steam navigation which should
bring us, as it were to the very doors of these who are our •
best customers, but who still took little of our produce to
what they would take, were adequate facilities, commercially
and politically, extended to them.—(Hear.) He thought this
case rested on sure grounds, and that its supporters had taken
a wise course in making the public acquainted with their
schemes,.instead of merely calling a meeting of the share-
holders. It would give their petition much greater weight
than it would otherwise have possessed ; and he could only
say that into whatever hands they might entrust the petition,
lie would give it all his support.—( Hear.) Into the details
of the measure he would not enter • indeed, 43 he should
have, as it were, to hold the scales between two parties, he
should say no more than that he cordially concurred in the
present railway scheme, and that as far as he could, he would
help to forward it through the House, with every considera-
tion, of course, for those whose interests would be affected by •
ft.—( Cheers. )
JAMES Noon, Esq., said that all were aware that in every
measure for the public benefit, some private injury was in-
flicted. Some of the water companies might be injured in
this case, when the 13i11 should be carried into full effect ; but
still he must be a bold man who would come forward and say
that because some private injury might be inflicted, a public
object should not be carried into execution.—(Hear.) The
proceedings and petition of that day would also have great
weight with Parliament. Their engineer, Mr. George Ste-
plienFon, was present. lie had been sent fgr in order that he
might answer any objecti ins. on ioale any statements required
and lie would toll thorn that the line from Manchester to
Leeds, rugged as the country was, had a hotter level than the
Manchester and Liverpool line itscif.--( Hear.) Mr. W. con-
cluded by moving a vote of thanks to the boroughreeyo and
coastables, whom he complimented for their courtesy In calling
the meeting.
S. BROOKS, Esq., seconded the resolution, which was, car.
tied unanimously.
GEORGE STEPIIENSON, Esq., then came forward, and said
that all he had to observe was, that the line laid out would bo
perfectly practicable for locomotive engines from ono end of
it to th.! other, and that there would no difficulty whatever
in carrying it through the valleys.—The meeting then
separated.

'he Glamorganshire Political Union held its third
meeting at Bridgend, on the 25th ulto.
RAILWAY FROM MARYPORT TO CARLISLE.—
Mr. Hall and assistants, under the direction of Mr. Ste-
pbenson, commenced their survey on Wednesday last, from
the south side of Maryport Harbour.
INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS.—This
Society held
their Fourth Ordinary Meeting on Monday
r
evening last, and various routine business having been
transacted, the Chairman, P. F. Robinson, Esq. V.P.,
presented to the Institute several specimens of stone used
ii‘r, Parish
restore niconstruction,described
and mentioned some of their peculiarities.
trhiibee d
paintings a n apparatus b
yThornhill,
theby domehim, o
in
order to' f
St. Paul's. Fashion has much decried these productions,
without reason, and it is to be regretted, the funds apper-
taming to the Cathedral will not admit the execution of
Mr. design. T. L. Donaldson, Esq., then read a
snort but interesting paper, on the Towers of Italy. At
the close of the Meeting it was suggested, that all the
Fellows of the Institute who had sent in plans fqr thg
eht.ain a public e*liihition of the rejected
iPtepded senate Howe SIIQIII4 pow 141,00, in nrcler
designs. Mr,
Britton, hovveyer, stated, from information he lied reePive-d%
it %yap prebahle the OetiAssioneils them elves, anxious toshow the integrity of their proceedings, wonld point out tllc
saine course, and as it vyas apparent that it had m
the
uchl4l'4l:;r Plo,ceo frUni them than from the ilnstitute,suggestion was alloWeil to stand over. The Prize MN_
awarded.to Mr. Godwin, jun., for his Essay on Concrete,
will be presented to that entleman, at a General Meetinq
of the Institute, by the Presidents Earl De Or,er.