The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-13 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
RAILWAY ACTS.

It appears from a return just issued of Railway Acts
passed in the session of 1844, 1845, 1846, and 1847, that
the sums authorised to be raised by capital and loan in
1844 amounted to 17,870,3611. for the construction of 1
822 miles of railway; in the session of 1845 to '
60,824,0481. for 2,694 miles of railway; in the session of
1846, to 132,096,2242 for 4,593 miles of railway; and
in 1847, to 40,397,3952 for 1,353 miles of railway;
making a total of 251,188,0681., and of 9,463 miles of
railway. On the 31st of March, 1848, it states that
1,761 miles of the latter were open for traffic, leaving
7,702 miles to be completed.
The capital called up for railway purposes from the
commencement of 1844 to the 31st of March, 1848
amounted to 101,286,309 L, of which the sum of
90,600,319/. was paid by shareholders, leaving
10,686,0101. due, and 98,281,6241. to be called up. The
companies borrowed during that period 26,933,865/., re-
Barring power to borrow 42,387,288/. more; so that the
P.otual amount received on calls and loans in the course
of four years and three months for the construction of
railways amounted to 117,534,1841., being an average of
27,655,0001. per annum.
The amount received on railway calls prior to the year
1844 was 41,310,049/.. leaving 601,966/. in arrear, and
the amount borrowed 6,910,322/., making the total
amount received up to that period 48,220,3711., and the
grand total up to the 31st of March, 1848, 165,754,555/

LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN

RAILWAY.

It affords us much satisfaction to be able to state that
Mr. Creed, who filled for upwards of ten years, with
such high credit to himself and with such great advan-
tage to the shareholders, the secretaryship of the Lon-
don and Birmingham and the London and North-
Western Companies, has been elected to a seat in the
direction of the latter company, and that he will be to-
day officially appointed thereto, in the room of Mr. Ben-
bow, M.P., who has resigned. We trust that Mr. Creed,
whose knowledge of railway management- is not snr-
passed by that of any railway man of the day, will take
an active part in the superintendence of the affairs of
the company, and that the appointment has not
been made merely for the purpose of satisfying the
complaints which have recently been made of the
non-fulfilment of the pl. Anise made by M. Glyn at the
last half-yearly meeting of the proprietors—viz., that
though he (Mr. Creed) quitted his post as secretary, he
would, as a director, continue to watch over the in-
terests of the company, to promote whose prosperity
he had so long and so ably exerted himself. We are
quite pware that the promises of Mr. Glyn, that Mr.
Creed should be elected to the board, was conditional
on the resignation of any member; but when we recol-
lect how many of the five-and forty directors there are
who may be truly called sleeping partners" of the
company, we must express our disappointment at the
great delay which has taken place in what we deem to
be the necessary elect;ln of Mr. Creed to the London
and North-Western :, :ar.l.—Herald.

Cape of Good Hope papers, of the 15th of No-
vember, roper; fairs to he progressing satisfactorily
since the late attempt at rebellion, but there is much
reason to believe that the dissatisfaction of the emigrant
farmers ac:•osa the frontier is not by any means appeased,
nor their passions subdued. They complain of a want
of care, interest, and attention on the part of the British
Government towards them ; but are well-disposed, not-
withstanding long neglect, to aid rir Harry Smith in
his efforts for colonial reform, and the progressive wel-
fare and prosperity of the Cape. tranquillity prevailed
on the eastern frontier, and the war tribute levied by the
Governor had 13,,..en paid with alacrity, amounting to
about, 6,0001. Order was becoming gradually restored
across the Orange River. From KatirlanA the accounts
are good. Aa association for introducing the cultivation
of the cotton plant into Albany and' Kafirland had been
formed at Graham's Town, and a committee appointed
to carry out that object.
BUTCHERS' BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.—Thursday
evening a meeting of this institution was held at the
Freemasons' Tavorn, Great Queen •street, for the pur-
pose of receiving the annual report and appointing
officers for the ensuing year. Mr. J. Sharpe (who was
re-elected president) took the chair. The minutes of the
previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the
secretary proceeded to read the report, from which it
appeared that the income of the past year, including
subscriptions, donations, &c., amounted to 2,8001., the
expenses to 2,3001., leavine a tedance of 5001. in favour
of the society, besides a stock fund amounting to 10,0001.
in the Three per Cent. Consols. It was also stated that
10 persons had heen elected last year as fit recipients for
the bounty of this charity, making a total of 141 ad-
mitted since its formation in 1836. Several members
then addressed the meeting, pointing out the many
claims which the society had to public support. The
usual officers were then elected; and a vote of thanks
having been passed to the chairman, the meeting sepa-
rated.

THE MURDER AT TEDBUBN ST. MART, NEAR
EXETER.—The name of a num in custody on a charge
of having been concern:A in the murder of Mrs. Grace
Holman, at the above village, is Henry Woods; he was
a labourer, and lately resided at Moreton, a hamlet about
twelve miles from Exeter, and six from the scene of the
murder. His apprehension was effected in consequence
of some mysterious expression, in reference to the
awful tragedy, which fell from him a few days since.
His confession, as already stated, implicates two other
parties, the one a labourer, named James Landvick, and
the other a man who has since enlisted into the 85th
regiment. Woods states that they all entered the
house by means of a fir pole, reared against the win-
dows of the deceased's bed-room, after having made
several ineffectual attempt.; to gain admission by other
means; that, as soon as they entered, the deceased
jumped np in bed and began rib cry out, when the soldier
threw himself upon her, and tlaottled her. Woods says
he called out, " Don't murder her," on which the soldier
replied, "If you don't hold your tongue, I'll murder
you." Woods adds, that the old woman died very hard,
and struggled much, the horrid deed being at length ac-
complished by piling the bedding and a large box upon
her, and pressing them down until life was extinct.
Woods has conducted the officer to a spot where he says
the silver spoons were buried, but the mould had been
upturned, and the spoil had vanished, if it had ever been
there. The principal, who, at the time of the murder
was a shoemaker, living at Crediton, afterwards enlisted
in the 85th regiment, and was attested at the Exeter
Guildhall. He has since been apprehended, and arrived
in that city on Tuesday last.
Paws or WHISKY.—The Cork distillers reduced
the price of this article 3d. per gallon on Friday last.
The present price is 6s. per gallon, 25 over proof.—Cork
Examiner.

SAINT CLNMENT DANBS.—Thursday a meeting
was held in the vestry-room of the above parish, fur the
purpose of auditing the churchwardens' accounts, to
make a rate for the necessary relief of the poor for the
fourth quarter, and to consider the suggestion contained
in the report of the co-n-iittee, dated the 13th of No-
vember last, of suitably conveying to Mr. Steele the
thanks of the vestry upon his resignation of the office of
vestry-clerk. The chair was taken by Mr. J. P. Jaquet.
After the minutes of the previous vestry had been read,
the accounts were inspected and proved satisfactory.
Mr. Jaquet then informed the meeting that a sum of
2,1501. was required to be made up for the relief of
the poor, and to be provided by means of a rate. Mr.
Boobyer moved a resolution to the offset that the rate
levied should be lod., which, togs-hr with the rental
of King's Colle,;e Hospital, would make up the re-
quired sum. Mr. Chapman Qeconded this resolution, and
it was unanimously carried. After some argument it
was definitively determined that the style of the vote of
thanks and the manner of conveying it to Mr. Steele,
should be left to the decision of a committee composed of
the following gentlemen :—Mr. Raimondi, Mr. 13oobyer,
Mr. Score, Mr. Peters, and Mr. Stokes. Mr. Peters and
Mr. Howard were then nominated as overseers for the
upper Liberty, and Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Knight for the
lower. A requisition was given in to the chairman, de-
siring him to summon a meeting as speedily as conve-
nient, for the purpose of taking into consideration the
present movement for the construction of fresh prisons
or houses of correction. After some remarks relative to
the situation (which was said to be as favourable as
could be expected under the circumstances) of the chil-
dren at the Tooting Pauper Establishment, a vote of
thanks was passed to the chairman, for his kindness on
the occasion, and the meeting separated.
ROYAL FRNEMASONS' SCHOOL FOR FIIMALB CHM-
DREN.—Thursday a Quarterly General Court of this
Institution was held in the Court-house of this establish-
ment, Westminster Bridge-road. The chair having
been taken by one of the Governors, the secretary read
the usual quarterly report, from which it appears that
there are at present four vacancies in the school, and
that at the next election six children will be nominated,
the four successful candidates being admitted as inmates
of the institution on the receiving day, appointed after
the election. This noble charity was founded in 1788 by
the Chevalier Bartholomew Raspini, and since that
?°d no less than 592 children have been admitted,
Aught up, and educated in it. The school was origi-
nally built at an expense of 3 0004, to contain 62 chil-
dren of Freemasons who have become reduced in cir-
cumstances, but now, owing to the patronage and con-
tributions of the royal famil nobilit and gentry, the
governors ase enabled to accommodate , a
larger
number.
Many of the recipients of the bounty of this institution
have been apprenticed to various trades
by the funds of
the charity. The usual quarterly business having been
gone through, and a vote of thanks passed to the chair-
man, the meeting terminated.
THE IRON TRADE, BIRMINGHAM, THURSDAY.
One of the most numerous and highly influential meet-
ings of the iron and coal masters of this district, which
has been held for a long time past, took place to-day
nyaot,
the Town Hall, in this borough. The meeting was
only numerous and respectable, but highly gratifying in
its results. The utmost firmness prevailed, and the
counts given by all parties of the improved condition of
the trade were exceedingly gratifying. It was reported
that piny excellent orders had arrived by the last two
packets from America, and these, coupled with the fact,
that our home stocks have become nearly exhausted, led
to a determination not to seek orders at present prices.
The engagements entered into during the past quarter
will occupy the furnaces two months, and the masters
are not disposed to accept of fresh orders unless at an
advance. It is now well known that the present rates,
61. 10s. for bar, and 34 19s. ler pig iron, are not remu-
nerative, and nothing but necessity, caused by the recent
destructive competition o' the Welch and Scotch markets,
could have led to such low prices. We have, however,
reached the lowest point, and the prospects for the new
year are cheering.
A letter from Parma, dated the 30th of December,
states that a law was issued there on the 28th, imposing
a forced loan of 7.52,000'. in Z-;-ate Bonds, payab!e in
three instalmenu, viz ~15th of January, 15th of February,
and 15th of March. This measure had occasioned uni-
versal dieoonteat.