The Sun.
London, England, 1841-09-20 00:00:00

main, has been to defer the opening of this part of the '
line, from the summer of 1842, to the spring of 1843.
After the tunnels were put under contract, the first
portion of the line, from the junction with the St. Ger-
main Railway to Poissy, including two of the bridges
across the Seine, was submitted for tenders, and it was
ultimately let to a Company of experienced English
contractors (which had already undertaken the tunnels)
at a price very much below any offer made by the con-
tractors of this country.
The two remaining bridges were next advertised for
tenders, and in the meantime the line between Poissy
and the Rolleboise Tunnel (on which there is no heavy
work) was contracted for at prices still lower than those
between the St. Germain line and Poissy.
During this period the plans, &c., required by the Ad-
ministration of the Pouts et Chdussees have progressed,
and at this moment the plans and sections of the entire
line are completed, and deposited for their approbation.
The plans for the landowners are also much advanced,
and I have reason to believe that the whole of these

operations will be finished in the course of the present

It appears, therefore, that the line is staked out, and
the plans and sections pr;,,pared for the entire distance—
that the portian from the junction with the St. Germain
Railway to Rolleboise, or Bonnieres, a distance of 37
miles, is under contract, and that all the tunnels and
large bridges are also under contract. Besides these,
_ .

offers have been accepted for the supply of about 7,500
tons of rails and chairs, as well as for the locomotive en-

gines for working the line.
The establishment of the workshops at Rouen, in
which some of these engines will be constructed, now
engages my attention, and I hope to have them in such a
state of forwardness as to enable the contractors for the
engines to carry on their operations in the spring of the
ensuing year. In the meantime, the contracting parties

will proceed with such parts of these machines as require
the greatest length of time, in workshops to be provided
by themselves.

On the remainder of the line, about 40 miles, there is
no work of magnitude, but 'preparations are making to
place the whole under contract during the present sum-
mer, so as to secure their completion by the time at
which the works already let are contracted to be done.
The progress made up to this time in the tunnels is
most satisfactory. At Rolleboise, nine shafts have been

sunk to the level of the tunnel, and two others are near
the bottom. The driftway which has commenced from
several of the shafts, has already proceeded 450 yards,
and the open cutting at each end is consi, terobly advanced.
The side walling at Rolleboise is nearly finished. At
Venables and at Tourville all the shafts are sunk, and
the driftway is in operation ; of the latter about 1,200
yards are already driven. These driftways will now be
worked at fifty different faces, and will, I expect, be
driven through the entire length of all the tunnels by
the end of the present year.
The bridges at Bezons and Maisons are also in a state
of forwardness, several of the abutments are founded,
and the masonry built up to the surface of the ground.
The coffer dams for the piers are in course of construc-
tion, and will all be finished during the present summer.
A large quantity of timber for the superstructure has
been procured, and materials in great abundance are now

ready to begin the works at several points.
The contracts for the works on the line already en-
tered into, amount to 600,0001. and from this I can form
a tolerably correct opinion of the cost of the remainder.
That opinion still is, that the capital of the Company
will be found amply sufficient. There may be expenses,
which I may be unable to controul, and against these I
wish to speak with caution ; but I feel bound at the same
time to state, that the requirements of the Administra-
tion of the Pons et Chaussees and the other public autho-
rilies, have almost universally been distinguished by such
a degree of fairness, as to leave no reason to doubt a
continuance of the same spirit.
Considering the peculiar formation of this Company,
the novelty of the system on which the works are being
executed, and the difficulties which invariably attend my
deviation from old established habits, I think there
is every reason to be satisfied with what has already
been done. I wish, however, to be permitted to state,
that if in my endeavours to introduce into this Com-
pany the results of the experience acquired in England
during the development of the railway system there, it
should appear that an attachment is shown to English
customs, I trust that the Directors of the Company will
at least give me credit for possessing no motive but that
of wishing to employ all the means that appear to me
useful and economical in the construction of the work
committed to my charge, without reference to the country
from which they are obtained.
This undertaking is of too great a magnitude to
justify any deviation from the course which shall secure
to the Company its early completion ; and although, as
you are well aware, I have invited and made some efforts
to combiue more French enterprise in the construction
of the works than we have yet obtained, I am neverthe-
less of opinion that we ought to adhere strictly to that
line of conduct which will best secure the object we have
in view, regardless of any observation that may be made
elsewhere.

In conclusion, permit me to express my confidence in
the final success of this undertaking. Whatever difficul-
ties might at first appear to exist, are now overcome.
All the heavy works are undertaken by men wholare able
to execute them ; the rest is easy.
I am, Gentlemen, your obedient servant,
(Signed) JOSEPH LOCKE.
The numerous delays we have met with have caused
a larger accumulation of capital in our hands than the
immediate necessities of the Company require. This is
in some way compensated by the stability which the
possession of so much capital gives to our undertaking.
As we have before stated, almost all these funds have
been invested in Treasury Bonds bearing 4 per cent. in-
terest. • However secure and advantageous this invest-
ment may be, we feel that it was not for such a purpose
that you confided your funds to us, but that we should.
employ them as quickly as possible in carrying on the
works.

According to the statutes, we are bound to call upon
you for one-tenth every three months, and on the 12th of
this month a fifth call will become due.
When this clause was inserted in the statutes, it was
important that we should present to the public and the
Government, by the immediate realisation of a great por-
tion of our capital, all the security which they had a right
to expect; that end being attained, no doubt can now re-
main respecting the completion of our joint engagement,
and a further accumulation of capital in our hands would
be useless, and even contrary to the intention of the sta-
tutes. All that is required for the future is that our
supply be maintained so as to ensure all possible dispatch
in carrying on the works. For that purpose we request
that the future calls, instead of being imperative, may be
left to the discretion of the Conseil d'Administration.
The proposition which we have the honour to lay
before you on the subject, will not allow us to anticipate
the calls before the expiration of a year, we only desire
the power of snaking them according to the necessities
of the undertaking, preserving always during the said
year, the period fixed by the statutes between each call.
According to Art. 49 of the statutes, we have given
notice in the circular of our proposition for modification
of Art. 7.
This modification will be submitted for your consider-
ation, and if you approve it, it will remain with you to
authorise us to take the necessary steps for obtaining the
State's consent.
In conclusion, gentlemen, since you confided this great
undertaking to our care, a considerable portion of the
joint funds has been realised.
The plan of the line fixed ;
Parcellary plans for 36 out of 52 communes deposited.
The inquests terminated in 30 communes.
Contracts signed for upwards of 69 miles, about one-
half of the entire line, including four bridges over the
Seine, and about 5,889 yards of the tunnels, the most
difficult and tedious parts of the works.
The works of the four tunnels, and two of the bridges
are in rapid progress.
A third part of the iron rails has been ordered, and is
now in the course of delivery.
A supply of engines is also secured.
This, gentlemen, is the result of our labours during
the past year, in the midst of political difficulties, which
have affected all the affairs of the country, and parti-
cularly the great public undertakings, and which, from
the very nature of our undertaking, might have fallen on
our Company most particularly.
We have happily overcome these difficulties, and we
have complied with the greatest part of the formalities
which tended most to retard our operations.
If « e have met with serious difficulties on certain
points, they have been amply compensated by the favour-
able reception of our plan upon almost all the extent of
the line ; from the authorities in general we have met
with the greatest kindness.
The Committees of Inquest have every where endea-
voured to reconcile the requirements of our undertaking
with the local interest of the various parties, and up to
this moment we have not had occasion to appeal against
any of their decisions.
The Government and the Ponts et Chaussees, have on
every occasion shown the greatest interest in the success
of our undertaking, and we fully rely on the continuance
of their valuable assistance.
All the data upon which our calculations were founded
have been confirmed by the contracts hitherto signed.
The contracts for the most important and costly works,
have not exceeded the first estimates. These works will
be finished on the Ist of March, 1843. The remainder
present no difficulty, and can cause no difference in the
estimated expense. They will shortly be put in hand, so
that they may be finished at the same time as the others.
`tie
are confident in the successful termination of our
labours, in the undertaking confided to our charge. Our
Report, we hope, will induce you to join us in that con-
ve•tion, and your approbation will be the best reward o
all our cares and anxieties.
* Pareellary plans are those plans which indicate the land
required for the railway.
By the word " expropriation" is meant the power to take
the land required for the railway.

THE SUN FIRE-OFFICE BUILDING.—The
dispute between the City authorities and the Sun Fire-
&lice is at last terminated by the consent of the latter
body to set back the building to the Act of Parliament
line, and to round the corner at the south-east of Bar-
tholomew-lane. The Commissioners of Sewers will pay,
as en e value of the lan I thus appropriated to the public,
such a sum as may be determined upon by Mr. Cocke-
rel!, the surveyor, the Sun Fire-office, and some stranger
to be appointed by themselves. The Directors of the Sun 1
Fire-office have acted, in the opinion of the citizens, most
unwillingly, and ungraciously ; and they think that it would
have been much more creditable to these Directors to
have conceded to general convenience what was never
equitably theirs, than, by persisting in forming this pro-
jection, to have compelled the Commissioners of Sewers
to appropriate public monies to an improvement in which
the Sun Fire-office was really as much interested as the
1 publi._; themselves.
UNCONTESTED ELECTIONS.!r--At.the lAtepleC•
Lion there were in England and Wales alone 232 seats
uncontested ; 119 for counties and 113 for boroughs.