The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-26 00:00:00

LON DON, FRIDAY, FEI3RUARN 26, 11.341.

TO THE RADICAL REFORMERS OF LONDON, and
the FRIENDS of the PEOPLE'S CHARTER.
APUBLIC DINNER to CONGRATU-
LATE HENRY VINCENT on his Liberation from
his Long Imprisonment, will take place at the White Con-
duit House Tavern, on MONDAi-, March 1.
Mr. WILLIAM LOVETT, in the Chair.'
Dinner on Table at Four o'clock.
Tickets,• 3s. each; Lady's ditto, 2s. 6d.
A BALL will take place in the Evening, to commence at
Tickets, Is. each—Double Ditto, Is 6d., may
be had at the following places :—Mr. Cleave, I, Shae-lane,
Fleet-street ; Mr. Hetherington, 126, Strand; Mr. Watson,
15, City road ; Mr. Lovett, 183, Tottenham-court-road ;. Mr.
Dyson, 146, Kingsland-road ; and of the Secretary, H. Mit-
chell, 67, Red Lion-street, Holborn. •
Persons attending the Dinner will be admitted to the Bail
without additional charge. •

AMERICA AND THE AMERICANS. .
AT THE ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION, .
MIL I3LICKINGFIAM will deliver, TO
MORROW, SATURDAY, Feb. 27, the OPENING
LECTURE of his NEW COURSE, embodying. 6'6 expe-
rience of a THREE YEARS' TOUR through the UNITED
STATES, and presenting a faithful Picture of the /Country
and its Inhabitants, frOm rpeent.observations and personal inter-
course with all classes of society. To, commence .p,t Eight
o'clock precisely, and to conclude at Ilalf-past Nine.
The SECOND LECTURE will be on SA,roRDAY, March 6.

AdmisTsin, Two Shillings each (to include the Exhibition
of the Institution).
Tickets for the ,Course of Eight Lectures 10s. 6d„ with a
Syllabus of the whole, to be had of the Secretary.

POPULAR EDITION.
Price Half-a-crown, by post 35. 6d.,
MARRIAGE—Its Intent, Obligations, and
Physical and Constitutiobal Disquilifications Medically
considered; with interesting and remarkable Illustrations, gra-
phic, narrative, and remedial : an original, comprehensive, and
important Work, addressed chiefly to Young Men, and called
PROFESSIONAL RECORDS.
Also, Companion to the same, called MEDICAL CON-
SULTATIONS. Price 2s. 6d.
Sherwood, 23, Paternoster-row; Carvalho, 147, Fleet-street;
Hannay, 63, Oxford-street; Harris, 25, Bow-street ; and all
Booksellers.

Just published, price 2s. 6d.
APRACTICAL 'ESSAY on the DEBILI-
TIES of the GENERATIVE SYSTEM, their Va-
rieties, Causes, Treatment, and Cure.
By a MEM BE II of the ROYAL COLLEGE of SURGEONS,

London, and Surgeon to a Metropolitan Infirmary.
" I am impotent, and no' fit. tt live,"—Last's Records of I.
Suicide.
Sold by Onvihyn, Catherine-street, Strand; Ross and
Nightingale, Liverpool ; Barlow, Birmingham ; and all Book-
sellers in Town and Country,
N.B. Persons in the Country may have this work forwarded
by post (free), upon addressing either of the above Booksellers,
and inclosing a remittance of 3s.

NEW WORK ON STRICTURES OF THE URETHRA.
Just published, price 55.,
A. PRACTICAL TREATISE ON THE
CAUSES, NATURE, and TREATMENT of
STRICTURES of the URETHRA, and their Consequences;
with a Review of the different Modes of Cure, and an account
of the Method of Treatment the Author has found the most
efficacious. The whole illustrated by cases, some of them the
records of thirty-five years' extensive and successful practice.
By FRANCIS BURDETT COURTENAY,
42, Great Marlborough-street.
Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, London; and late
Surgeon to the Metropolitan Infirmary for the Cure of Ste ic-
tureq of the Urethra.

Sold by Bailliere, Medical Bookseller, 219, Regent-street;
Simpkin and Marshall, Stationers'-court; Onwhyn, Cathe-
rine-street, Strand ; Barlow, Birmingham ; Ross and Night.
ingale, Liverpool ; and all Booksellers in Town or Country.
Of whom may also be had, by the same Author, price 6s.
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS on the CHRONIC
ENL 9.RGEMENT of the PROSTATE GLAND in OLD
AGE; with Suggestions for an Improved Mode of Treatment.
To which is prefixed, Remarks on the various other Diseases
to which the Prostate is liable at all periods of life. '

Just published, in royal lBmo., cloth, price 33. ; and sent in
Town or Country free, by post, 3s. 6d.,
MANHOOD: the CAUSES of its PRE-
MATURE DECLINE, with Plain Directions for
ITS PERFECT RESTORATION; addressed to those suf-
fering from the destructive effects of Excessive Indulgence,
Solitary Habits, or Infection •, followed by Observations on the
TREATMENT of SYPHILIS, GONORRHEA, GLEET,
&c. Illustrated with Cases, &c.
By J. L. CURTIS .and COMPANY,
Consulting Surgeons, London.
published by the Authors, and sold 6y Balliere, Medical
Bookseller, 219, Regent-street; 59, Pall Mall; Szange, 21,
Paternoster-row; Pattie, 4, Bryclges-street, Strand; 8,
D'Olier-street, Dublin; Duncas,ll4, High-street, Edinburgh;
and to be had of all Booksellers. . . . .

The Work which is now resented to the public is the result
of very extended experience in a class of diseases and affee-
tious, which far some unaccountable reason have been either
altogether overlooked, or treated with apathy, and almost in-
difference, by the ol dinary practitioner. To enter into the
details of these affections, to 'point out their causes, and to
mark the terrific consequences, social, moral, and physical,
which are sure to follow from indulgence, in certain habits,
would be entirely out of place in an advertisement. We have
no hesitation, however, in saying that there is no member of
society, by whom the book will not be found interesting, whe-
ther we consider such person to hold the relation of a PA-
RENT, a PRECEPTOR, or a CLERGYMAN.
Messrs. CURTIS and CO. are to be consulted daily at their
residence, No. 7, Frith-street, Soho, fro& Ten till Three, and
Five . ill Eight in the Evening; and Country Patients are re-
quested to be as minnte as possible in the detail of their cases,
—as to the duration of the complaint, tne symptoms, age, ge-
neral habits of living, and occupation in life of the party ; the
communication must be accompanied by the " usual Consulta-
tion Fee of U.," without whch no notice whatever can be
taken of their application ; and in all cases, the most inviolable
secrecy may be relied en.
N, B. Seven doors from Soho-vinare.

PUBLICATIONS.

WITH NUMEROUS„ ILLUSTRATIONS,
rrilla COLONIAL MAGAZINE FOR
MARCH, No. XV., Edited by rt. MONTGOMERY
MARTIN, Esq., Containing-
1. British Colonies in South America-2. Origin and Pro-
gress of the Monies of England-3. The Whale. Fishery of the
United States-4. Colonial Medichie-5. Rite and Progress
of the East- India Company-6. The -Positive Necessity of a
distinct Naval Command for Australasia-7. Commercial
Products of African Insects-8, Chivalry of the Mercantile
Illarine-9. East India Company's Petition for Free Trade
iv;th Authalasian Islands-11. Resources of Eng-
land as a Mother Country-11.• Invasion of 'Upper Canada'
from the United States, Battle of Point, au Pele-13. • Varie-,
ties of the Human Race—Colonial Intelligence, Reviews, &c.
Fisher, Son, and Co., Newgate-street, London. •.

UNDER THE ESPECIAL PATRONAGE OF H.R.H.
PRINCE ALBERT;
t HE SPORTING. R.E.VIEW:
t Edited by " CRAVEN." .- -
The MARCH N UM BER . splendidly embellished, will contain
Chap. 11. of • -: . . .
HYDE itt AR.STON ; ..
Or, Recollections of a SPortsman's Life.
By the EDITOR. ' ' ' . ' .
Game Preserving, by the Hon. ! The Royal Stud. - •• '
Grantley Berkeley, M.P. ..,. 'Dogs for Shooting.
Ilizt.wy of the Turf, Cbap.Vl.: The Westminster Boy, by Lord.
The Man of the One Horse;' ' W. Lennox. . .
by Shamrock. , 1 Chronicles of the Chase.
A Month in Leicesterthire, by Vindex on Pedigrees.
Nimrod. -1 Ashdown 'Park Meeting.
Indian Horses, by Mr. J. Kerr &c., &e., &c.
J. Mitchell, 33, Old Bontl.street, and all Beoksellerr.

--T-~ -~
.TOl~l~^

YOR

ACOMMON COUNCIL holden in the
Chamber of the Guildhall, of the,City of London, on
Thursday, the '2sth day of February, 1841.
Resolved unanimously,
That the thanks of this Court be given to Adthiral the Ho-
nourable Sir Robert Stopford, Knight Grand Cross of the most
I-I,nourable Military Order of the Bath ; to Commodore Sir
Charles Napier, Knight Commander of the most Honourable
Military Ortler.of the Bath ; and to the several Captains, Offi-
cers, seamen, and Royal „Ttlarines under the command of Sir
Hobert Stopford, for the zeal and bravery displayed by them
during the operations on the Coast of- Syria, - terminating
in the brilliant and decisive attack on the fortress of •Acre, on
the 3rd day of November, 1840 ; also,that the thanks of this
Court be given to Major-General Sir Charles Felix Smith; and
to the Officers and detachMents of the Royal Artillery and
Engineers, and Royal Sappers and Miners, who served under.
the command of Sir Charles Felix Smith, in the fleet-em-
ployed in the important of erations on the Coast of Syria.
Resolved— •

That the Freedom of this City be presented to the Honour-
able Sir Robert Stopford, Knight Grand Cross of the most
Honourable Military Order of the Rath ; to Commodore Sir
Charles Napier, •Knight Commander of the most Honourable
Military Order of the Bath; and to Major-General Sir Charles
Felix Smith, in boxes of heart of oak, not exceeding tbe value
of 50 guineas each, as a testimony of the admiration enter-
tained by this Court of the zeal, talent, and bravery displayed
by them during their services on the Coast of Syria.
- WOOD THO RPE.

No. 36, OLD BOND-STREET, and No. 1, OLD JEWRY,
CITY.

rimHE VOICE CONDUCTORS invented by
is Mr. E. SOLOMONS are the most powerful instru-
ments for the relief of deafness. From their minute construc-
tion, and convenient form, deaf persons are enabled to wear
them entirely unseen, and they may be inserted and removed
with the greatest facility. By their use the lowest whisper
breathed at a public assembly vibrates on the organs of hear-
ing in such a pleasant manner, as to afford the greatest relief
to those labouring under the distressing ailment of deafness.
Mr. E. SOLOMONS' PATENT SPECTACLES possess
the advantage of modifying bright and strong light transmitted
through the various humours of the eye, so as to render vision
most perfectly distinct by day, or lamps or candles at night,
conveying also a sense of coolness and pleasure to the organ,
with the additional recommendation of being free from the per-
nicious attributes of common glasses. Their superlative ex-
cellence is attested by the following and many other eminent
practitioners, who have examined, used, and recommended
them in preference to all others :
Sir 'Anthony Carlisle, F. R. S. , Langham-place.
Sir Benjamin C. Brodie, Bart., F.R.S &c., Saville-row.
Sir James E. Anderson, M D.,11, New Burlington-street.
James Johnson, Esq., M.D.. uffolk-place.
Bransby B. Cooper Esq., New-street, Spring-gardens.
J. G. Andrews, Esq., Surgeon to the London Hospital, St.
Helen's-place.
C. Aston Key, Esq., St. Helen's-place.
Jhco.in. SBc.o tAt ,
dE. i
ss
E. Nsq., mew.aßo a , Broad-street.
d t.
Old -Burlington-stree
t.J. Copland, M.D., F.R.S., Bulstrude-street, Manchester
square.
R. Keate, 15, Albemarle-street. •
Titus Berry, Chester-terrace.
E. W. Duffin, 14, Langharn-place
John Stephenson, 38, Conduit-street.
J. T. Conquest, M.D., 13, Finsburytseuare.
William Coulson, Frederiellrld Jewry, ,
Martin Ware, New •Dridge-str
Dr. Blair, Physician to the Sussey County Hospital.
John Lawrence, Esq., Surgeon, ditto.
Richard Middlemore, Temple-row, Birmingham.
John S. Soden, Bath infirmary.
Tweedy John Todd, Esq., M.D., Grand Parade, Brighton.
Andrew Plummer, Esq.,Al. D., Old Steyne, do.
Brewster R. Seabrook, Esq., Surgeon, Eye Infirmary, do.
A. Martin, Esq., M. D., Rochester.
Samuel Newsom, Esq., M. It9C. S., do.
Dr. Chisholm, Physician to the Kent and Canterbui y Hospital.
Henry Denne, Esq., Surgeon, do.
J. Hodgson, Es. q., Oculist, Eye Infirmary, Birmingham.
J. J. Ledsam, Esq., do. do. do.
Professor ,Hufeland, Physician to the King of Prussia, Berlin.
Professor Kreysig, Physician to the King of Saxony, Dresden.
Professors Clarus and Kuhl, Oculists, Leipsic.
Professor Ponitz, Oculist, Dresden.
Doctor Schmeisser, Hamburgh.
James M.Donnell, M.D., Belfast, Ireland.
J. Woodroffe, M.D., Cork, do.
B. Bullen, M.D., do. do.
T. L. Mackey, M.D., Waterford, Ireland.
M. Poole, M.D., do. de.
W. Gore, M.R.C. S., Limerick. do.
The public are respectfully r?utioned against some unprinci-
pled empirics who have as.ui.ed Mr. E. S.'s name and pro-
fession, and are from his immediate neighbourhood, and,
with the most unblushing effrontery, issuing from the daily
press puffs about " Newly-invented SpectaCle Lenses," and
Hearing Instruments, which are fraudulently set forth as pos-
sessing the most wonderful powers. The Glasses are highly
detrimental to the sight. The names of some obscure apottfe-
caries and others are used in this absurd quackery, to deceive
the public into a belief that these pernicious glasses possess
some very supernatural powers. These common Lenses may
be purchased for one shilling the pair, and for which the most
exorbitant charges are exacted by the parties, against whom
th public are now respectfully cautioned. Mr. E. S. has re-
ceived for his invention " Royal Letters Patent," and the pa-
tronage of the Royal Family.
Observe—No. 1, Old Jewry, City; and No. 36, Old Bond-
street, Piccadilly-

TO SHIPPERS, OWNERS, CAPTAIN s, and OTHERS
Copies of Testimonials, Gratis, by all Agents.
GRIMSTONE'S EYE SNUFF.—Under the
Patronage of his late Majesty, her Royal Highness the
Duchess of Kent, and the Lords of the Treasury, is universally
recommended by the Faculty for its efficacy in removing dis-
orders incident to the Eyes and Head.
SIGHT RESTORED!—NERVOUS HEAD-ACHE
AND DEAFNESS CURED!
By the most simple, delightful, and fragrant Compound!
Its mode of application is fraught with pleasure ; many thou-
sand cures have been accomplished by its use, at a trifling ex-
pense, yet certain in its operation. If testimonies be necessary
to induce the sufferer to make trial, Kings, Lords, and Com-
mons have used it. The Lords of the Treasury have sanctioned
its use. Their late Majesties, the Duchess of Kent, the most
eminent Oculists, Medical Practitioners—with that gigantic
balance, the Press—have eulogised Grimstone's celebrated
Herbaceous Compound, known as " Grimstone's Eye Snuff,"
for its efficacy in removing all diseases incident to the Eyes and
Head. G. J. Guthrie, Esq., F.R.S. See J. B. Lachfield,
Esq.'s Letter, Whitehall. Dr. Thomas. Dr. Andrews calls
it a national blessing—see his Reports touching its utility. The
late Mr. Abernethy, with many others, recommend Grim-
stone's Eye Snuff, and call it " Man's best Friend," and the
" Student's Vade Mecum."—See the many thousand Letters
of Testimonies, of undoubted medical authority, with others of
the first respectability.
Abstract of a letter from Mrs. L. S. Brewer, Dress-maker
3, Edge-terrace, Kensington Gravel Pits.
To Mr. Grimstone, Inventor of Eye-Snuff.
Dec. 5,1840.
Sir,—l have been a sufferer for seven years, both eyes being
so swollen as to cause blindness. Among the many Medical
Gentlemen who attended me was the famous oculist, Dr.
Alexander ; indeed. I do believe my case was beyond all their
skill. " Physic, Bleeding, Blistering, with a seton, of all
kinds of Lotions, but no relief," till chancing one day, being led
by your house in 39, Broad-street, Bloomsbury, my guide
inquired if I had tried your Eye-Snuff, on which I purchased
Is. 3d. Canister, opened it in the shop—took some, and was
greatly relieved before I reached my home. I car. with truth
assert, and make oath if required to do so, that it was your Eve-
Snuff cured me. Sisal be happy to answer any inquiry.
I am, Sir, yours gratefully,
• L. S. BREWER.
Observe the Caution.—W. GRIMSTONE is the sole in-
ventor, and the only genuine is prepared by him.
This Odoriferous Herbaceous Compound of Herbs is sold in
canisters, at Bd., ls. 3d., is. 4d., 4s. 4d., 83., and 15s. 6d.
each, by the Proprietor, W. Grimstone, at 39, Broad-street,
Bloomsbury, and can be obtained in all the principal towns and
cities. A liberal allowance to shippers, ovrners, captanis, and
ail lendors of Grirnstone's Eye• Snuff. This celebrated Snuff
is shipped to all quarters of the globe, and retains its benign
Iqualities in every climate. 411 Snuffs and Cigars shipped on
the shortest notice,

•
From T. J. Pettigrew, Esq., Surgeon, F.R.S.,
to Messrs. S. and B. Solomons, 39, Albemarle.street, Piccadilly,
opposite the York Hotel, and 76, King William.street, Bank of
England.—" Gentlemen,--I have no hesitation in replying to
your inquiry as to the results obtained by the use of your
improved spectacles; being in the constant habit •f reading end
writing for many hour; together by lamp-light, it is but justice to
say, that your newly invented spectacle lenses have afforded me
the greatest‘comfort When I employed the ordinary pebbles, I
never failcd to experience in the morning a great irritation in the
eyes. Since I have used your admirable glasses I suffer from nn
inconvenience of the kind. I shall ever feel grateful to rnrgood
friend, Dr. Blundell, for having drawn my attention to the subject
—Believe me to be your's, very respectfully, T. J. PErrianew, 8,
Saville.row, Jan. 4, 1839."--,, M. G. Sir Howard Elphinstone begs
leave to say that the Spectacles he has now had some time in use,
have fully redeemed the assurance of the Messrs. S. and B. Solo.
mons as to their excellence, and having found so much comfort and
advantage from their use, far preferable to every other kind of
Glasses which he has been in the constant habit of making use of
fora great number of years.—l 3, Norfolk.street, Park.lane, the 6th
of November, 1840." The Messrs. Solomons' Operative Voice Con-
ductor, when fixed into the cavity of the ear, the faintest whisper
at a public assembly is beard with distinctness.—No connexion with
persons of the same name.

GREAT WESTERN RAIL WAY.

The .Half-yearly Meeting of the Great Western Rail-
way Company took place yesterday at, the Company's
Offices, Prihce,stteet, Bank. At twelve, o'clock the
Chair was taken by CHARLES RUSSELL, Esq., Chairman
of t: e Board of Directors. The room was crowded in
very part.
The advertisement calling the meeting lavirg been rea 1,
Mr. HEYWORTH suggested that they should have the
proceedit gi of the last half_yearly meetirg real in the
first inbtiticc, in order to rt fiesh their memories.—(Cries
of " no.")

A , PROPRIETOR otjected to such a step. They had given
notice cf cer ain proceecings which were to take place,
and he thought no other matters could be entered upon.
The CHAIRMAN said the Directors bad much satisfacti n
in prere icing te the Proprietors that which had been, placed
in their trouts that morning, more particulirly as the pre-
sent was the last account which they would he called upon
to render of unfiuished works; and, in the next Once,
because there was a sum which the Directors thought
might be justly apphena for the first tiler, to the
payment cf a dividend.—(Cries of " Hear, Lear.")
Be would remind the meeting that not one shilling
of the interest on loans was charged agantst the capital of ,
the Company. —( Cheers.) Mr. Brunet's Report contained
a very fell statement of the present state of the works;
and it would be satisfactory to the meeting to find that
the works between Wootton Basset and Bath were in so
satisfactory a state, and that so large a proportion had teen
done. At the last hall-yeaily meeting it had been earnestly.
urged upon the Directors to accelerate the works, and
some additional expense had been Consequently incurred
on that point. He hoped, however, the eesult would be to
eitaale the Directors to open the entire line during seve-
ral of the rcost proftec:Cve months ef the suepnare--( Hear,
hear.) Siace the last me eting they had completed a line
with tee Bristol an 4 Exeter Railway Company, and he
was happy to be al!! to communicate to them that the
Lords of the Trcamry had come to tLe resolution cf mak
ing Dartmouth the station of the West hull; packets,
which could not fan to be very beneficial to the
Great ' Western 'inc.—(lcer.) It must be &Mous
that in woriting and constructing a line of that mrgoi-
tude; -c msiderable sums of money must be locked up- for
ti.e moment in a manner which would prevent its being
applicable for the fir ishing of the line. The Ditectors
would beentetly chargeable with improeiderice if they had
not sought to find an equivalent for thee sums, and left
themselves st-aitened when they required all their
energies to Le devoted to the completion of the line.
He was satisfied, therefore, that they would (incur in
the proposition contained in the Repent, justified as it
was by the exiaency of the case.—( Hear, hear.) Ha
was not aware that there was any other topic-in the Re-
port to which it was teaessary to direct their attention.
But there was one topic which occupied a good deal of
public attention at the present moment, and upon which
he (the Chairman) had formed very strong, opinions. He
alluded to Lord Seymour's Bill of last year for the regu-
lation of railways, which bad been followed by another in
the present year, and would no doubt Le -followed by
others in future Sessions of Parliament. He did
not hesitite to state his . opinion before them, as
he had stated it elsewhere, that he .considered
the- whole course of legislation upon that sub-
ject, progressive and aggressive as it was in its
very ntture, was unsound, unjust, unwise, and none-
cessary.--( Hear, hear.) It was unsound because it was a
violation of all the principles which he believed to be
fundamental and universal in all commercial 'netters, and
wl ich seat well expressed by the French phrase of
" laissez nous faire."—(lleir.) It was unjust, because
it selected one class of interests. only for legislative con-
trol. It was unwise because by dividing the responsi-
bi ity between the Companies and the Government, in-
stead of increasing it rather diminished That responsibility.
It was unnecessary because it proceeded on the assumption
of a peculiar danger being attached to railway travelling,
whereas all the experience that had been calmly and dis-
pa'sionately dire tad to it bad shown that peculiar safety
attached to that mode of travelling.—(Hear, hear, and
cheers.) What said the offirers of the Board of Trade on
that subject? They said there was no inherent danger
in railway travelling—that the danger was very
small, and even upon the present system it was
less then attached to any other mode of conveyance.—
( Hear, bent.) What said the Postmaster-General in his
correspondence with the Grand Junction Railway Com-
pany ? Why, that his Lordship, according to the best
opinion that he could form on the subject, considered the
accidents few in comparison with those which in all pro-
bability would bsve occurred if the service had been per-
formed by the mail coaches, accelerated as they had been
of late years to the greatest degree of spend. He would
now refer the meeting to what Mr. Labouchcre had said
on the first reading of the Bill. The Hon. Gentleman
said that a great dell of panic had been created by the ac-
cidents, but on the whole there was no mode of convey-
ance so safe as railways. Sir Robert Peel, on the second
reading 01 the Bill, observed that with regard to the Lon-
don and Birmingham and the Grand Junction, two of the
longest lines that had been opened, the traffic had been
enormous, hundreds of thohsands of passengers had been
carried, and there had been very few accidents. He was
happy to say that their experience corroborated these state-
ments. It had been open fur twoyears and hire months, and
had carried 2,160,863 passengers, and yet, notwithstand-
ing that long duration of time—notwithstanding these hun
dreds of thousands, nay, millions of passengers, and not-
withstanding the hundreds of millions of miles travelled,
they had had but one accident that deserved that nettle.
That sec:dent had occurred to a goods' train, and it uu-
fortunately happened that an engine man and guard lost
the it lives, and three passengers were seriously hurt ; but
a very searching and intelligent Jury emphatically and
pointedly accompanied the verdict by a statement that no
blame attached to the Company. or any of their officers.—
( Hear, hear.) It was right that merit should. be given
where merit was due, and he should not, he thought, be
doing justice in referring to this remarkable exemption from
accidents if he did not say that that was mainly to be as-
cribed to the vigilance and ability of the executive officers.
—(Cheers.) In spine cf these testimonies, and of that
experience, he admitted that a considerable* apprehension
did prevail in the public mind, and un'orturately it zo
happened that all the great railway accidents were
crowded' into three months Jeer last autumn. What was
the course of reasoning that followed? These accident;
were assumed as the data—they were then multiplied by
4, and the people, lifting up their hands and tarring up
their eyes, said such was the whole consumption of life
by those horrible railways.—( Hear, hea-.) That was
the sort of reasoning and calculation upon which these
accidents were computed, and if the public were so influ-
enced, so far from legislating, it should be a reason for
suspending legislation. What could be so unwise or so
unjust as to legislate, to adopt Mr. Labouchere's own
words, "on a panic." It appeared to hiin, however, that
in the present state of opinion in the House of Commons,
with the present views of the Government, and in the
panic prevailing in the public millet, they must have a Bill,
and he thought it was their duty to render that Bill as far
as possible conducive to the public interests. Its great
recommendation was that it was a police and not a fiscal
lnnasure. It interfered largely with the power and con-
trol of the Companies, but the Government would see
trite propriety of not interfeting with their pecuniary con-
erns. " In its present form many of its enactments
Were extremely unjust. Take for instance the clause pro-
viding that a railway might he left unemployed for ten
days after its completion. Let it be assumed that its
profits would be 1,0001. a day, and he asked them could
anything be more unjust than to render a Company liable
to a fine of 10,0001., when the pies of the public safely
could not Le urged ?—(Hear, bear.) Take the clause
Providing that fifteen minutes should elapse between each
train ; that may be a very useful enactment in long lines,
but in short ones it would be almost impossible to carry it
out. If there were two or three delays in the railways in
the early part of the day, when, that occurred the common
sense practice was to remove the obstruction on the line,
and get back as quickly as possible to the regular time.
The first clause which prohibited the opening of the rail-
way, on certain circumstances, for ten days, Mr. La-
bouchere had himself distinctly admitted to he a hardship.
Mr. BRANDRETIL —What reason. was assigned for the
introdue'ion of such a clause ?
The CHAIRMAN. —He believed the object was to give
the Government officers time for inspection. But the
probability was that that clause would be modified. These
however were the two leading principles of the Bill, and

they gave a large and unlimite-claiscreiienary power to the
Government, and with regard to the system of licensing,
he did not think they would make any ma'erial alte-
ration. He certainly objected very much to the large
discretionary power which was to he invested
l'in lithe Government. It was bad enough when ex-
-1 iercised by parties holding the highest official situations,
tend giving the strongest responsibility for the duo dis-
leharge of their functions, but In matters of routine these
things invariatly fell into the bands of clerks and subor-
dinate officers.---( Hear, hear.) The other subject of
licensing he certainly entertained very grave doubts whether
it would work well. The deliberate conviction on his
mind was, that it would be totally inoperative, and would
place a great many difficulties in the way of their obtain-
ing 'the best men, when the supply was 'already po limited
in proportion to the demand. It would be attended also
r. with a great deal of inconvenience, but the subject was
ultcgAlier one of so much delicacy and difficulty, that be
could not properly discuss it at that moment. All he
could say was, that it was not desirable that it had not
been advocated, and was not approved of by the Great
Western Railway Company. In his capacity os their Chair
man, he bad been appointed one of the Committee to
look after the interests cf the Railway Proprietors, and he
wished to say that while acting as such, he had not haQtily
compromised what he believed to be the legitimate inte-
rests of the railway companie., and the best guarantee for
the safety cf the puhlie ; and he should never give h;s
sanction• to a Bill, from which, in his deliberate opinion,
he gravely dissented. He would venture to add, that if
the Bill passed into a law, no Company would render
more prompt obedience to it than the Great Western Rail-
ia Ay. Company. —( Hear, hear.) He would now call upon
the Secretary to read the Report.
The SECRETARY then read the Report, and also the
Report of the Engineer, Mr. Brunel : and the statement
of receipts and expenditure for the previous half year.
Mr. BRANDRETII rose with great pleasure. is more,
" That the Report be adopted, more particularly as the it
work ne
an approached p
experimentalroch e d its
railway, completion."
but Itit waswas saidn o
ltohnagt
eirt
had been'
one, for it had fully and completely succeeded. Although
the late severe weather, the frosts, and the floods, had
retarded the completion of the works, on the other hand,
.it should afford them some satisfaction, as it bad em.

PRICE. sth

pletely tested their stability. They bad all heard f_ the
great floods that had taken place at Brentford, and all
that immense body of water had passed beneath the
splendid viaduct, of which a copy was exhibited beliih‘d
their Chairman, without doing it the smallest injury.--
(Hear, hear, hear.) He believed most of the Proprietors,
as %ell as himself, had travelled CM their railway, and
he was sure they would agree with him in saying that it
/was undoubtedly the best railway in the kingdom.—(Ge-
neral chre,ing.) He rlso congratulated the Proprietors
on the first dlvidend that was about to be mach-. He be-
lieved when the London and Birmingham line paid their
first dividend it was Less than they were now to receive. He
also congratulated them on the statement that no further
capital would be called far, and Lis last topic was that the
Directors had secured the assistance of a gentlemen in the
traffic de?artment, whose talents and activity gave the hest
as,urance that the line would be managed in the very best

manner.
Mr. E. DANN seconded the motion. It was true the
knd they were to receive was a small one, but it
was an honest one—(Hear and cheers)—and Lad been
declared out of the actual profits of the undeetakinse.
If
it were even smeller, it would Lc infinitely better than if
manoeuvres bad been resorted to to increase its value.—

(Cheers.) He was glad to find the attention of the Di-
rectors had been directed to the subject of coke, as there
was a great difference in the price cf coals raised in the
forest of Dean and in that part of the country, and very
great advantages would result to the Company if they
mcceeded in effecting an arrangement to procure it on the
spot.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. HEYWORTH was glad to find the engineers' ex-
penses had been reduced 4,0001. in the last half-year,
and hoped there would be a further reduction. He
wished to know if all the locomotive power had been
provided ?
The CHAIRMAN said not more than, half the locomc-

tive ergines bad Leen provided, but they had a very large
supply of carriages.
Mr. GURDON wished to say a few words upon the ex-
cellent and judicious (ist rvations that had Leen made by
the Chairman, and particularly that part which referred to
the removal of the West India packet station to Dart-
mouth. The Chairman seemed to think that Dartmouth
was the place fixed upon by the Government as the packet
station of all those msils. Now he believed in would be
found that there would be a great opposition to that place
becoming a packet station, and with respect to the report
upon that subject, he had beard it alleged that it was im-
possisle that any person competent to speak on that sub-
ject could have made such a report as was male to the
Government it the distance bad been measured. He be-
lieved it was the intention of a Member f the Government
when the subject was brought forward, to divide the House
upon the subject He hoped that the Directors would be
diligent in seeing that the packet station was not removed
'0 a pl tee which would rake from them the benefits to be
derived from the adoption of a station with which it would
communicate. It might be taken to Southampton,
and he knew that great exertions had been made by the
Southampton Dock Company to get that place appointed
as the packet station, but he trusted that, by the exertions
of the 'bisectors and ethers, the appointment of that
town would not be fixed upon. In his own mind, inde-
pendent of all interest in the Company, he believed that
Falmouth would be the best packetsstation.—(Cheers. )
With respect to the accidents on railways, and he was
h tppy to hear that the Chairman was one of that body
which had been appointed to watch the progress of the Bill
through Parliament, he thought there should be something
like fair dealing. He thought that the delusion which at
present existed in the public mind ought to be removed.
He hoped that an authorised report, with respect to acci-
dents on railways, would be publisher', not leaving it to the
newspapers to put their own version on the subject—
(Cheering)—and he hoped also that some means would
be adopted to obtain from Ccroners an account of the ac-
cidents that had taken place by other means.—( Cheers. )
With respect to the subject of compensation in cases of
damage, many persons thought it unfair that a compensa-
tion of 1,0001. should be awarded against a Railway Com-
pany or against coach proprietors, and yet that
where a person was killer', and the family de-
prived cf the means of subsistence, no means
existed of compensating the family. Now in his opinion
it would be much more wise to introduce some Bill en the
subject than to adopt the obsolete system of deodand.—
( Hear, hear.) The desdand on the London and Bir-
mingham Railway of 2,000/. was one of the moat ridi-
culous things he had ever heard. The Jury there bad
brought themselves to think that the man who by his own
reckless proceedings had caused his own death, had pre-
meditated that death.—(Cheers.) He thought the Com-
pany were greatly indebted to the Directors for the course
they had pursued in announcing to the Proprietors the
periods at which they would be called upon to pay their
eslls—(Cheers)—and he wished their example had been
followed by other Companies.—(Hear, hear.) He was
a Proprietor of the London and Birmingham Railway,
and he must say that he felt great displeasure at seeing
the Directors of that Company hanging back and hesi-
tating as to what ought to he done. ['he Directors of
the present Company had pursued an honest course, be-
cause the public was lold when they bought a 100 L share
the time when the calls would be made.—(Cheers.)
Thsre was another subject to which he wished to allude,
;Ind that was with respect to the great fluctuation
in the value of the shares of the Company. It could not have
escaped any person interested in railways, to observe the
absurd fluctuations that had taken place in the price of
shares, and, if by any means a remedy could be devised,
it would contribute materially to increase the value of their
property ; he had tried with great anxiety to trace the
malady to its source, but he found the subject surrounded
with diffieultr. He thought •the public mind would be
disabused of the many delusions that took place by a mere
continual publication of the state of their affairs, and their
property would be saved from thorn great depressions to
which it had been subjected. He would not pretend to
do more than to throw out his suggestions for the con-
sideration of the Directors, who, he trusted, would perse-
vere in tracing the evil to its source, and provide a re-
medv. It might be well to have a Statistical Gazette,
in which to publish the state of their affairs.—(Cheers.)
Mr. linvwoarn thought the worthy Proprietor who had

_,- , •
just addressed Uri meeting, had traces the Evil to its
proper source. One greater evil was the uncertainty in
wh;ch the Shareholders were kept, as to the expenses of
the line. He thought the public ought to know, from
time to time, what these estimates and expenses were.
Mr. CROSSWAITE wished to know whether the parties
who had lent money on the fifths of shares had the power
to call for bonds from the Company, because, if they had,
they would be deFrived of their dividends.
The CHAIRMAN said that they knew the time when the
debentures would be called upon to be paid, and they had
so far regulated their loan notes that they would fall to be
paid scon after the debentures, and they would, therefore,
have those debentures to give to the holders of the loan
notes if they chose to take them.
Mr. CROSSWAITE wished to know whether the parties
doing so would be entitled to any dividend that might be
decl-ired ?

The CHAlRMAN—Certainly.
Mr. CROSSWAITE wished to know from the engineer

whether the great outlay that had taken place during the
last half year was upon the line that had been open for
some time, or upon that that had lately been opened.
Mr. BRUNEL said that the outlay on the part that
had lately been opened was considerable, but that it
had been less from Reading to Maidenhead, than from
London to Maidenhead. But there was nothing in the
outlay oa the line that bad been long opened, but what
was moat satisfactory.
Mr. CROSSWAITE WiSlled to know whether in the flrst
tweets-two miles opened the outlay was more expensive
than upon that which had been lately opened ?
Mr. BRUNEL said that it had ; but the outlay upon
that twenty-two miles was not heavy, and, as compared
with a great number of other railways, it was low.
Mr. CROSSWAITE said he had had a promise at the last
_ _

meeting from Mr. Brunel, and he was' anxious to know
Whether it had been carried out or not ; and if not carried out,
be wished to know why it bad not been. It would be in
the recollection of the meeting that the Proprietors, at a
former meeting, urged the completion of the works even
at a greater expenditure. He bad himself been on the
line, and he found that the works were not in so complete •
a state as he should 'have wished. Upon the Wootton
Basset contract the works were far from completion, and
at Chippenham the contractor was very much behind. •
He believed the latter was Price's contract ?
Mr: -BRUNEL said that it was.
Mr. CROSSWAITE wished to know when that contract
ought to be completed?
Mr. BaubrEL—On. the 15th of May.
' Mr. CROSSWAITE wished to know whether the works
upon that contract were in a sufficiently forward state to
be completed by that time.
Mr. BRUNEL said, that he considered they were.
Mr. CROSSWAITE—Then as to the Box Tunnel, be
wished to keow when that contract expired.
Mr. BRUNEL observed, that that was Hemming's cot:-
tract, and that it had long since expired.
Mr. CROSSWAITE wished to know whether there was
any means t f compelling the contractors to complete their
works.
Mr. BRUNEL observed, that there were legal means
of doing so, And that penalties might bo inflicted.
Mr. CROSSWATTE thought if such was tbe case, the
Company ought immediately to proceed to enforce the
completion.
;Mr. HEYWORTH wished to know whether the Directors
had reserved the 10 per cent. from the contractors.
Mr.
.BRUNEI. must decline stating the course that had
been pursued. It would not be wise for him to give the
particular state of the accounts of any single contractor.
It would not be of any advantage t' the Company for him
to do so. With respect to Hemming's contract it bad been
found necessary to adopt strong measures, and those mos-
MITI; bad been put in force to compel the contractor to
complete the work. Of tli; he was certain that Hem-
' ming could complete the work, and if he did not do so it
must be taken out of his hands.
Mr. HEYWORTII must again ask whether they had re-
served a fund of 10 per cent. upon the work done.
Mr. BRUNEL said, that to answer that question
would be to state the balance between the re-
serves and the advances, which would be most pre-
judicial to the inure-Is of the Company. He must
throw himself upon the Proprietors, and beg. of them to.
authorise him to decline answeringth:tistrestton.
Mr. CROSSWAITE observed, that
west end of the. Box flannel, respect to the
there was a great deal still
to be done. He must express his regret that the works of
the western division were not in such a state of forward-
' He
ness as he could desire.hoped that Mr. Brunel
would carry out the assurances he had given him at the