The Sun.
London, England, 1840-10-30 00:00:00

ACCIDENTS ON RAILROADS.

(PROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
Fatal accidents are now of daily occurrence, as if the
terrific scenes which have hartassed up our feelings, ac-
tually increased the carelessness of drivers, &c.
The frightful loss of life inlctcd on the community,
has arisen almost entirely from three causes :-
Ist. From undue velocity of motion.
2d. From collision with preceding carriages.
3d. From animals getting on the road.
Now, all these evils are of easy correction. The re-
medy of the first (which would consequentially, also,
prevent the second in a great degree) is to have a guard
with each train appointed by Government, and inde-
pendent of, though paid by the Company, whose duty
it should be to compel the arrival of the train at a cer-
tain time at each station, recording the very minute.
and reporting to the Home- office every deviation from
the regulated time. A short Bill should be passed
through the Legislature, authorising the Secretary of
State to levy a fine for every violation of the rule, pro-
portioned to the magnitude of the deviation, which
should be equally levied for anticipation of the proper
time as for delay.
Secondly. To insure equable motion, a throttle valve
should be connected with each engine, similar to those
now used in stationary engines, the effect of which is to
let off excess of steam, by the mere action of that excess.
Thirdly. To have two persons instead of one to ex-
hibit the signals of obstruction, &c. (who should be
punished by the treadmill for neglect of duty).
Fourthly, To have strong posts at the sides of the
road, supporting two or more ranges of chains, so as to
render it impossible for cattle to get from the adjacent
meadows on to the road.
F►fthly—(aand of all modes the most effective)—To
subject the Companies to heavy fines for every accident
caused by negligence, and attended by loss of life.

DEATH OF W. SPAItKES,ESQ., OF

THE GUILDFORD BANK.

During the present week, the inhabitants of Guild-
ford, Godalming, and other market towns in the western
division of the county of Surrey, as well as the hop-
factors and others in the borough of Southwark, con-
nected with farmers and hop-growers, of the above
county, have been thrown into a state of deep anxiety
from the sudden death of W. Sparkes, Esq , the banker
of Guildford, whose establishment for some years past
has been one of the most extensive in the county, and
from the general supposed wealth of the deceased, en-
joyed a degree of confidence which can only be pos-
sessed by old established banking-houses. The en•
gagements of the deceased were of a most ex-
tensive nature ; throughout the western portion of
the county his notes possessed as extensive circula-
tion as those of the Bank of England. They were
nutde payable at the house of Masterman and Co., and
the first intimation which the holders of the notes had
of the event was upon Monday morning last, when the
house of Masterma❑ refused to receive those issued by
that of Sparkes. This refusal created en extraordinary
sensation amongst hop merchants and others connect-
ed with the above trade in the Borough. On
Friday night the deceased was seen on the
bridge over the River Wandle, which divides
the lower from the upper part of the town,
by the wife of his gamekeeper, but no conversation
passed between them. Subsequently a labouring man,
in passing the bridge, picked up a hat, which he took
home, but he said nothing about it until Saturday,
when the disappearance of Mr. Sparkes became the
subject of coimoon conversation. Upon the hat being
seen, it was immediately identified ; upon which the
worst fears were entertained for the unfortunate gen-
tleman. The river in consequence was dragged, and in
a dam some distance from the town the body was foui.d
as late as ten o'clock on Saturday night. No docu-
ment was found to give any explan ition as to the cause
of the rash act. As yet nothing definite has been done
respecting the bank business. No event of late years
has cast such a gloom over this division of the county as
the above melmcholy event.

" The Countess of Clifford presents her compli-
ments to Mr. E. Solomons, and is much gratified in b•!-
ing able to say that his " Patent Spectacles," adapted to
her sight nearly six years ago, have continued undiminished
in
the perfect case and pleasure she was so sleligistoil to
have experienced from their use immediately he so skil-
fully applied them, enabling her to read or engage her
sight for the most minute employment, and for any length
of time, by day or candle-light, without the slightest fa-
tigue. This is the more remarkable and gratulatory to
tthhe
Countess's feelings considering the total failure in e
above respects, and consequent mortifying disappointments
attending the various other spectacles she hitherto attent.; ted
to wear; indeed, it is with the greatest pleasure tsnosessful
ile Coun-
tess testifies to Mr. E. Solomons' perfectly
treatment of her sight, and submits her own peculiar
case in confirmation of the strong and deserved recommen-
dations his Spectacles have received, and of Mr. E. So-
lomons' high professional standingo.,ptiLinl,7
OColdnsritaonntdia.
Clifford. To Mr. E. &demons,
Bond-
street, and 1, Old Jewry, City."