The Sun.
London, England, 1840-10-05 00:00:00

(From the Courier)

The accidents that have occurred on railways—we
stop not now to inquire into the causes—are deeply to be
deplored, and every precaution which experience may
suggest, or sagacity discover should be taken by the
different managements to guard against their recur-
rence. But what else is this than saying that Railway
Directors should carefully attend to their duties towards
the public, like all other bodies of tradesmen, and to
their own interests at the same time? We have seen no
evidence of any disposition in the men who have em-
barked their property in railway speculations to neglect
eithcr. There is no reason to suspect them as guilty of
each a mixture of crime and folly, as the supposition
would involve, more than any other class of trachea-
capitalists: The public safety consists in the watcllfur-
ness of the various mnnagernents, and a regard to l':eir
own interests is a sufficient guarantee to the publ • of
the existence of this watchfulness in the governing
dies. Railway Companies and their servants arc of
course as amenable to justice, should the cause of -•-
cidents be traceable to their carelessness and m -
conduct, as other individuals—their property is
liable to be subjected to a heavy " deodand"
that of any other class in the community.
greater amount of security is it fair to exact from
them ? But we are told railways are monopolies, and
that monopolies of all kinds are invariably attended
with mischievous consequences. " Dolus latet in ge-
ne! tlibus," and the source of the fallacy intended to be
craftily conveyed lies here in the term " monopolies."
In what are Railways monopolies more than other en-
terprises, in which bodies of men have embarked, and
for the successful prosecution and management of which
corporate organization, and the privileges it implies,
were necessary ? Or is the word " monopoly" applied
to them as a justification of the extensive " fleecing"
to which they have been subjected at every step of
their undertaking ; or perhaps as a plea for a further
experiment on them of a similar kind

ELECTIDN OF LORD MAYOR.

__,.,~,;

At the close of the poll on Saturday at three o'clock,
the Sheriffs announced the numbers to be, tor

Alderman Harmer ..„ 1,884
Alderman Pirie
Alderman Johnson
which announcement was as usual received with loud
cheering and partial hissing.
Mr. Alderman HARMER then came forward to re-
turn his grateful thanks to those independent Livery-
men who had voted for him in spite of all the odium
attached to such an act. It was said by•some of the
newspapers that he was desponding. Did he look so ?
(Cries of " No," and cheers.) All he could say was
that if he looked so, his looks belied him, for his feelings
did not partake of that colour. He denied that
ho bad ever stigmatised or abused any one, or
any body of men—he had never done so in his
life.—(Cheers.) In his addresses to the Liverymen
he had mentioned what he thought was the unfair con-
duct of those opposed to him, but he had not pointed
out any individuals until he was pressed to do so by his
chief opponent, Mr. Meek, and all that he had then
said had been fully confirmed by Mr. Marryatt. Mr.
Baldwin appeared to be exceedingly sensitive when
the truth was spoken respecting his actions.
Now he (Mr. Alderman Harmer) thought a man's
character could not be of the best when he fancied him-
self calumniated because the truth was :Token of him.
(Cheers.) The unfair extracts from the Dispatch had
appeared before the Livery returned him last year.
That was his statement, but it was now said it was
untrue, because only a msjority of, them had done
r.—(Hear, hear, hear.) Now, he would like to
know how the sensitive Mr. Baldwin would
as he had beb,:cns,clagurdoststly iatca
feel if he were to
in In mh
si a
ot awdn a slan-
derednpdaper?
Even last night there was in :.the Standard a most
although
tii
shameful attack upon him Old
Bailey. Now,erovriashisnolltragltvieene toat btohaes t
be was bound to say orr
btliat. very prac.tice be had
received the encomiums
of legislators.—(Loud oarrtsters, of judges, and
cheers.)eethirnAwllol.lcresowmaentesdpecwlfiacs
that his enemies would
charge, and not deal in insinuations.
a professional life, he dared any A.ter 40 years of
re!eletmemiLtted by him.
on an improper or disgraceful action' put. his finger
—(Loud cheers.) He did not despair.or (freeoduodi cheer-
contenst wered
cheer-
ing.) He believed that the friends
beginning to learn the true history of the
when they knew that he must be successful.--{Cheers.)