The Sun.
London, England, 1840-12-14 00:00:00

LONDON, M_OiN DAY. DECEMBER !4, 1840.

Just published, in One Volume, price Its.
AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR,
with REMARKS on the VARIOUS INCIDENTS
which have occurred during FORTY-FIVE YEARS of his
LIFE, and a FULL DESCRIPTION of his MODE of
TREATING DISEASES, with REASONS EXPLANA-
TORY of HIS SYSTEM.
By SAMUEL WESTCOTT TILKE,
Medical Herbalist, Author of " Random Reflections on In-
digestion, Gout, Tenia Capitis, Scarlet Fever," &c. &c.
" Mr. Tilke is one of those individuals who, born with a
wooden spoon in their mouths, have, by the alchemy of thrift and
industry, converted it into silver, He began the world as a jour.
neyman baker, but every intermission from the labour of the knead-
ing trough, was devoted to the pursuit of medical science. Any
man who makes such unceasing efforts as ha has done to allevia.e
the sufferings of humanity, is entitled to honourable mention."—
Times, Nov. 3.
" In this volume we have the autobiographical memoir of a man,
whose career In life has been a chequered one, but who, by sheer
dint of perseverance, an showing a gallant front to misfortune,
had the satisfaction of seeing all his efforts crowned with success.
The Memoir is an interesting one, as showing what may be accoin
plished by energy and good conduct ; and it is written in a cheerful
and benevolent strain.' As a Medical Herbalist, Mr. Tilke has
effected a variety, of surprising cures in obstinate cases of gout,
rheumatism, and indigestion. His mode of treating some of these
diseases is fully described in the course of his Memoir, and he has
added reasons expianat6ry of his system, so that he who runs may
read."—The Sun, Nov. 5.
Published, and sold by the Author, 8, Thayer-street,
Manchester-square; and by Marsh, Old Cavendish-street.

THE INDIAN NEWS, No. 7, published
on Thursday Evening, in anticipation of the arrival of
the Overland Mail, contains, besides the usual public and pri-
vate Intelligence, Government Notifications, Births, Marriages,
Deaths, &e., an important article on " Slavery in India," ex-
hibiting the actual form of servitude in that country.
THE INDIAN NEWS eontains twenty-four pages small
folio, and is published on stamped paper, for transmission by post,
price Is. ; or l Or. for twelve Numbers, if paid in advance.
Smith, Elder, and Co., 65, Cornhill.

ROYAL LACE QUILT: ' -
itBEAUTIFUL FAC SIMILE of the
splendid Lace Quilt, of British manufacture, presented
to her Majesty for the Cot of the Princess Royal, will be given
with the COURT JOURNAL of SATURDAY next, Dec. 19.
By remitting Eightpence, in a penny-post letter, to any
Bookseller or I\ ewsman, or to the Publisher, 19, Catherine-
street, Strand, the paper containing this beautiful specimen of
British Lace, will be forwarded to all parts of the country and
on the Continent, postage free. To prevent disappointment,
early orders should be given.
W. THON!AS, PUBLISHER, 19, CATHERINE-
STREET, STRAND.

NOW PUBLISHING IN THE ERA,
CAPTAIN MARRYAT'S NEW TALE,
THE POACHER,
To be Continued Weekly, completing at the expiration of six
months, equal to three octavo volumes. Captain MARRYA T,
R.N., C.B. , will henceforth write EXCLUSIVELY for this
Newspaper, and for no Magazine nor other Periodical.
THE ERA NEWSPAPER of Sunday, Dec. 13, contains
the first Four Chapters, and may now be had of all Newsmen,
and at the Office, 20, Catherine-street, London.

INFIRMARY for the CURE of STRIC.
TURES of the URETHRA, SYPHILIS, GONOR
RIICEA, GLEETS, and all DISEASES of the GENERA•
TIVE and URINARY ORGANS.

Notwithstanding the above Instituti: is closed, Patients tub.),
continue to receive the GRATUITOUS ADVICE of the Sur-
geon (Mr. Courtenay, 42, Great Marlborough-street,) by ap-
plying at his own hcase instead of the Charity.
Hours of Attendance, from Eight to Ten in the Mornings
and from Seven to Nine in the Evenings. On Sundays in the
Nlornincr, but not in the Evening.

TO those afflicted with GOUT, RHEUMA-
TISM, LUMBAGO, SCIATICA, TIG.DOLO•.
B.EUX, I'AINS in the HEAD and FACE, often mistaken for the
T) E;
medicine c.
c to whose praise higher and more numerous
testimonials have been given, than to BLAIR'S GOUT AND
It 11 EU M Al IC PlLLS,—from all parts of the Kingdom, and every
(TOhelrielisA C
noll
rank in society, their great efficacy is acknowledged. The recent casz
of the Chevalier de le Garde, Chamberlain to Stanislaus, late King of
Poland, is one of the most convincing proofs of their great and extra-
ordinary virtues. Similar effects were also experienced by the Rev
Doctor Blomberg, of Misperton-Hall, Yorkshire, Chaplain to his late
Majesty, and lector of Cripplegate, London, who, with a spirit of the
kiudca iiumanity, vuluntarly gave his testimony to their happy
&leas. Cases have from time to time been published, as transmitted
by, or whit+ can bear testimony to their extraordinary efficacy from
Mr. Sweeten, Leeds, af. Di ewrj Derby, Mr. Noble, Boston, Mr.
Drury, Lincoln, Mr. hatter..::;, Barton, Mr. Hall, Gainsborough,
Mr. Gardner, Banbury, Mr. May, ENesham, Mr. Walker, Mahnes.
bury, Mr. Ching, Launceston, and a multitude of others throughout
the Kingdom, particularly in Longon and its vicinity, too numerous
for insertion in an advertisement.
The afflicted with those tormenting diseases, Gout, Rheumatic
Gc-..t Rheumatism, Lumbago, Sciatica, Pains in tha Head and
Face, often mistaken for the • Tooth-ache, Tic-DoloretlY will find
from the use of this 11LtIlcine, that speedy relief far which it is so
celebrated. And while its chicory is unparalleled for the foregoing
disaases, it must be consolatory to the afflicted with Gout, to be as_
eared that it possesses the property of preventing the disease flying to
the brain, stomach, or other vital parts.
Sold by Thomas Prout, 229, Strand, London; and, by his appoint-
ment, by all respectable Mcuicine Vender throughout the King..
L.om. Price 2s. 9d. per box.
Ask for Illair's Gout nig, Rheumatic Pills, and observe the name
and address of" Thomas Front, 9:29, Strand, London" impressed on
the (Imminent Stampatfixed to each Box of the Genuine Medicine

rriLIE ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTI-
TUTION, REGENT-STREET, is RE-OPENED
for MORNING and EVENING EXHIBITIONS.
The ADDITIONAL THEATRE, NEW ROOMS, GAL-
LERY, and DECORATIONS have been completed, and
about SIX HUNDRED SCIENTIFIC NOVELTIES and
WORKS of ART, of crreat and general interet, have been
added. (lONS. I'URF.NrS (Jun.) NEW CORNET
BAND, in imitation of the HORN BAND of the EMPEROR
of RUSSIA, will perform both Morning and Evening in the
Great Hall. Morning Admission to the whole,-Is. ; Evening,
commencing- at 7 o'Clock, ls. A atiodified scale for Schools.
The extensive LABORATORY' is open to Pupils. The
Chemist also conducts Assays and Analyses.

QM-TOOL for the INSTRUCTION of EN-
-V.,71 GINE DRIVERS on RAILROADS.
The DIRECTORS of the POLYTECHNIC INSTITU-
TION hereby give Notice, that the SCHOOL for this pur-
pose will OPEN on MONDAY, the 21st inst., for the reception
of CLASS PUPILS. The following is a Syllabus of the
Course of Instruction :-
1. On the expansive property of steam, according to the
density of the atmosphere and the power exerted on the piston.
This to include stationary engines, wtsther condensing or high
pressure, as well as the locomotive. 2. On the mechanical
structure of the steam engine. 3. On the velocity of bodies
on planes, when a certain terse is applied; particularly referring
to inclines or declirtes, in order to shoal when it is necessary to
increase or diminish the force of the engine. 4. On the tan-
gent at which, at any given velocity, the engine is likely to go
off the rails when running on the. curvets. 5. On the strength
or size of rope! or chains necessary to draw weights or loads on
the railroad, whether on inclined planes, or not. 6. On the
strength of tubes rzquisite for boilers, and on the proper weight
with which to load the safety valve. 7. On the power of trac-
tion on engine or rail. 8. On the quantity of water and coke
required per mile. 9. On the resistance of the atmosphere in
high winds.
The Course will consist of Lectures occupying Three Months,
at the rate of Three per Week ; and the Hours of attendance
are from Seven until Eight in the Evening, ia the Theatre of
the Establishment. Fee for the Comae, Two Guineas. The
Theory of Steam and of the_ ill be taught 14 tha Pro.
fesior of the Institution, assisfedleyili experteneeff liPt I VER'
(originally a LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE MANUFAC-
TURER) in the PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATIONS.
The Pupils will have the use of large Sectional and Working-
Models, of Locomotive, Stationary, and Marine Engines, with-
out additional expense. An Examination of the Pupils will
take place at the end of each Course of Lectures, to which the
Directors and Officers of the Railroads will be invited; and no
Pupil to receive a Certificate from the Institution unless he
passes this public examination satisfactorily.
N. B. Analyses, and Assays of Minerals and Earths.
Further particulars may be had, by applying to Mr. Long-
bottom, Secretary, at the Institution, 309, Regent-street.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILWAYS.

(From the Scotsman.)
Among the many interesting matters discussed at the
late meeting of the British Association in Glasgow,
we venture to say that there were none of more im-
mediate practical value to the country at large, than
the views developed in the mechanical section, by M.
Vignoles and Mr. Joseph Mitchell, engineers, regard-
ing the more economical methods of constructing rail-
ways. The discussions on these topics included the de-
portment of bridges, curves, and gradients, and they
bear so directly on the improvement of countries in the
situation of the Highlands, and other less populous
districts of Scotland, that we think it our duty to
invite to this subject the particular attention of our
readers.

With regard to bridges, both Mr. Mitchell and Mr.
Vignoles fully concurred in the opinion that substantial
timber bridges, to last thirty or forty years, and ca-
pable of being renewed without interruption to the com-
munication, could be constructed at less than half the
cost usually expended on bridges by Railway Compa-
nies. Mr. Mitchell was enabled to verify this opinion
by a number of examples from his own practice as engi-
neer to the Commissioners for Highland Roads and
Bridges, and these instances were so completely in point
as to be conclusive on this question,
From the factslerought forward regarding curves in
railways, it was demonstrated that the very large circuits
(hitherto thought necessary in order to avoid sharp turn-
ings), viz., curves having the radius of a mile, are not
indispensable ; the curve corresponding to a radius even
of 500 feet being shown to be perfectly safe and practi-
cable ; and thus a far greater choice of 'surface would
be secured with the certainty of an immense reduction
of expense.
'IN.-atk4et. -of. gradients, or the degree of acclivity
or steepness which attam'earrireges-eadlipmatie-to, as..
cend, was, however, the most important topic discussed,
involving, as it does, most part of the difficulties con-
nected with railway communication. It is quite appa-
rent that if steam carriages can be made to proceed on
such acclivities as are usual on common roads, little
more is necessary than to lay down rails on levels not
much dissimilar to those of our present lines of road,
thereby avoiding to a certain extent the enormous ex-
pense of tunnels, deep cuttings, and long winding cir-
cuits. Until recently, the established doctrine seems
to have been, that a rise of one foot in 330, or six-
teen feet in the mile, is as much as steam carriages
can be made to surmount with advantage. This is
so very gentle an ascent as to render the chance of ob-
taining railways in poor countries, and in countries hav-
ing such features as the greater part of Scotland, almost
hopeless. Mr. Vignoles explained to the British Asso-
ciation, that by lessening the load the engines are
now made to proceed at the required rates of speed on
acclivities of forty feet in the mile ; and several rail-
ways have latbly been laid out with gradients on this
scale. The Sheffield and Manchester Railway, and the
eastern ten miles of the Newcastle and Carlisle, are ex-
amples. But Mr. Mitchell was enabled to state a fact
that had come under his own observation, which opens
up applications of the railway system far more exten-
sive than we have hithero been enabled to anticipate.
He stated that, on the Linlithgow and Slarnaunan
Railway, he had witnessed on a steep part of the line,
intended to be wrought by a stationary engine, the
ascent of a locomotive with tender and five loaded
waggons on an acclivity of 1 in 22, or '250 feet in the
mile. The degree of speed was indeed comparatively
small, being only four or five miles in the hour.
But as such steep acclivities are, in almost all cases,
of very limited length, the difference on the whole
rate of speed in a long line is nut thereby materially af-
fected. It is not possible, we think, to over-rate the
importance of such a fact as this, in its bearing on the
extension of railways—proving, as it does conclusively,
that railways may be formed in the less level and more
irregularly surfaced districts at probably one-third part
of the rate of expenditure hitherto regarded as indis-
pensable ; and, in particular, such facts open up to the
Highlands and more remote counties of Scotland the
prospect of being enabled to avail themselves of this
rapid channel of communication, so soon as the lines
connecting England and the capital of Scotland shall be
in such a state of progress as to render their extension
to the North an object of immediate interest. Even the
country from Perth to Inverness, which may be re-
garded as perhaps the most difficult in Scotland, would in
this way be quite a practicable field for a railway ; the
gradients in it, by a recent survey for improving the mail-
road in that direction, being tixed in their ascents at one
in thirty to the valley of the Spey, where the ground is
almost level for thirty or forty miles. The saving of
expense which the facts elicited at the Association ex-
hibit, would necessarily, in such circumstances, be im-
mense. The cost of railways has hitherto ranged from
4,0001. to 50,0001. a-mile. The London and Birming-
ham was above the: higher. sum.- There is one in
Cumberland nod one in Ireland as low as 4,000/. ;
and the Dundee and Arbroath cost 7,000/. In Ame-
rica and Belgium the expenditure on useful, well-paying
lines is, however, much lower, averaging from 1,5001.
to 12,0001., although in America the price of labour is
one•thiid to one-half more than in England. The
Saratoga Railway, in America, cost only 1,5001. a mile
for the whole line. But, following the system advo-
cated by Mr. Vignoles and Mr. Mitchell, particularly
bearing in view the important facts stated by the latter
gentlewar, proving, as they do, how much has yet to
be known of the locomotive engine, a far lower rate
of expenditure than any hitherto found available in
this country, may now be contemplated as perfectly
sufficient to ensure success.

MANCHESTER AND LEEDS RAIL-

WAY.

COMPLETION OF 'THE SUMMIT TUNNEL.
It is our pleasing duty to record that on Wednesday
the last brick of the last junction length of that great
undertaking, the Summit Tunnel on the Manchester
and Leeds Railway, was keyed in by Barnard Dickin-
son, Esq., the resident engineer, whO was presented
with a silver trowel for the purpose—the gift of the
inspectors and sub-contractors on the works—by John
Stephenson, Esq., contractor. Previously to the ap-
pointed hour, the spacious tunnel presented an imposing
appearance. Gentlemen of the first respectability, cc-
companied by numbers of ladies, were seen with lighted
torches advancing towards the place to witness the ce-
remony of the completion of this great work. Precisely
at the hour of twelve o'clock at noon, Mr. Stephenson,
accompanied by his manager, Mr. George Mould, in
company with Mr. Dickinson and several other gentle-
men, ascended the platform erected for the occasion.
The_ faring of the cannon being suspended, and the ac-
clamations:of the multitude being silenced, Mr. Stephen-
son addressed Mr. Dickinson in the following terms :
Sir, It is a duty which I am respectfully solicited
to fulfil, to present you on this occasion with a trowel,
for the purpose of finishing this great and. important
work. I can assure you, Sir, it is with feelings of a very
peculiar description that I take any part in these pro-
ceedings. I am, however, proud to witness this memo-
rable hour, and congratulate you on the very comfort-
able thought of having overcome the difficulties of this
work, and having brought it to so successful an issue.
Having been connected most deeply with the undertak-
ing, I can bear my testimony to the readiness with which
you have at all times, and especially in seasons of pecu-
liar difficulty, rendered your valuable aid and assistance
to extricate therefrom, which, under any other circum-
stances but those of united skill and perseverance, would
have been next to insurmountable. These sentiments
are fully borne out by my relative, Mr. Mould, whom
you have bad regularly with you, and whom I have
card again and again say, that, in any other hands but
yours, the pleasu;e we this day feel would have been pro-
longed to a much later period. I think, Sir, I have little
more to add relative tothe pt ogress of the works, and their
rapid completion : this I leave in other hands. It but
remains for me, in the name of the inspectors and sub-
contractors, to do myself the pleasure of presenting you
with the silver trowel for the purpose of finishing your
long-cultivated desire.—(Here Mr. Stephenson pre-
sented the handsome trowel to Mr. Dickinson. It is
got up in the most superb style, bearing an engraving
of the elevation of the tunnel front, crest, and inscrip.
Lion.) Mr. Stephenson continued : Long may you live
to possess it, not only as a token of the difficulties of the
undertaking which you will this day finish, but also as a
token of our united respect for your kind and invalu-
able aid, and our esteem for your friendship. I have
only to add, that, when you key in the last brick, you
, will be sure to take care and not waste the cement.
[This last clause was added by Mr. Stephenson in that
I free and candid manner for which he is so remarkable.]
Mr. Dickinson then completed the ceremony by key-
ing in the last brick, amidst the cheers of the assem-
blage around him. Then, addressing the company pre-
sent, he said—
Ladies and Gentlemen,--For the honour, I may say,
the unexpected honour, which you have done me in in-
viting me to preside at the ceremony of laying the last
brick of this great tunnel, and also for the additaanal,
and, I must add, too great honour which you have con-
ferred upon me by this your beautiful and munificent
gift, I beg to return you my most sincere thanks. For
once in my life I covet the possession of those gifts of
nature which would enable me fitly and fluently to
express the language of my heart, the feelings of grati-
fication I experience at receiving from you these marks
of your regard. It is now two year and a quarter
since the first brick of this tunnel was laid at No. 10
shaft by the late Chairman of the Company, Mr. Wood ;
some of you have been my companions and felloW-
\ labourers for a longer, some a shorter, portion of that
1 time ; but unto all, whether you came at the eleventh

PRICE sd.

hour, or whether you have sustained the heat and bur-
den of the clay, I tender my most sincere and hearty
thanks for your cordial co-operation, and for the in-
valuable assistance which you contribu:ed, each in
your proper sphere, to the completion of a work which
will itself be a nobler testimony to your merits, a more
enduring record of your fame, than any words which I
might by possibility make use of. It is to your patient
iudustry, Gentlemen, that we are indebted for the
triumph of this day ; it is through your untiring zeal
that we are enabled this dey to lay the 2.3 d-millionth
brick. The work is finished, and defies the rage of
tempest, fire, or war, or wasting age. Some idea of
the quantity of labour requisite for the construction of
this tunnel might be obtained by putting it in this man-
ner :—Supposing it had been possible to execute it by
the unassisted efforts of one man, and supposing that
one man could have worked as advantageously, in pro-
portion to his number, as the 800 actually employed
have, in proportion to their numbers, it would lase
taken him as much time to complete it as has clajoed
between the commencement of the Christian era and
the present day, or 1840 years. To the ordinary spec-
tator tunnels present few charms. There is no proud
superstructure to please the eye, no splendid vista of
columns to delight the imagination ; their very exist-
ence, like the mole's, is only to be traced by the little
heaps of dirt which they cast up upon the surface, and
the utmost praise awarded to them is, that of being
necessary evils—nuisances which must be tolerated ; in
their utility consists their beauty. But the practised
engineer knows well that they comprise the most dif-
ficult branch of his profession, that they are fraught
with dangers which defy both experience and calcula-
tion, dangers the more to be dreaded because they are
unseen; they resemble the hidden rocks or quicksands
of the mariner—he may make shipwreck upon them,
almost before he. is aware of their existence. In all
rairway iihtlertaiingse - diflieuftiteelersa Oen& or lesser
degree, must be expected. There are hills to be perfo-
rated, valleys to be filled up; rivers to desert the course in
which they had flowed on peacefully for ages, goodly
edifices to raise, as it were, from the treacher-
ous sand. All these things are natural, and are to be
expected ; but, in addition to all these, we have had, on
this line, the elements against us ; avalanches of earth
and torrents of water have opposed our progress ; also
men, and I grieve to add, women, as impracticable as the
elements by which they are surrounded. But we are now
arrived at a great epoch in our history : these things
are, for the most part, conquered. Hitherto we have
been advancing like a train in a tunnel, through mist
and through darkness ; we are now emerging from it
into the bright sunshine of prosperity. May that pros-
perity be great and lasting, and may the Company
under whose auspices this work has been conducted reap
that rich harvest of success to which they are so well en-
, titled ! The opening of the railway will, no doubt, oc-
casion a great change in present Channel communica-
tion. The back-bone of England may be said to be
broken—its spinal marrow, the summit tunnel, has been
touched. Blackstone Edge! thou art no more—the
grouse may still feed upon thy heather—the Canal
Company may drain every drop of moisture from thy
barren surface to support them in their extremity ; but
thy inns will be deserted—thy roads will becothe sheep-
walks—no traveller will henceforth toil up thy steep
sides, or admire thy rugged beauties. Of the con-
tractor, Mr. Stephenson, it is unnecessary for me to
say much ; but that which I do say will be, as it were,
mulluni in parvo, or a great deal in a little compass,
viz., that he has been a good servant to the Company,
and a good master to his men. No doubt, he has, by
his spirited and energetic conduct of these works, in-
creased his previously well-earned reputation ; no
doubt, he has added another laurel to bis wreath. But
solid pudding is better than empty praise ; and he
has, probably, long ere this, discovered that his ex-
ertions are as profitable to himself, as they are service-
able to the Company by whom he is employed. In the
construction of this tunnel, some lives have been lost,
and many serious injuries have been received. These
things, I regret to say, are inseparable from the construc-
tion of tunnels, and no care can entirely avoid them.
Let as console ourselves with the reflection, that we
have done all in our power to diminish their frequency,
and to alleviate the sufferings of the unfortunate vic-
tims. The ceremony which we have now performed is,
in many respects, a triumphant one, one of which we
may all be justly proud ; but there are two sides to every
question, there is a shade as well as a light in every
picture and the melancholy side of this is, that it is a
signal of separation. We have worked together for a
long time amicably ; we are now to be dispersed, as it
were, to the four winds of heaven. Many of you, I
dare say, know not whero your neat lot may be
cast, of which number I acknowledge myself
to be one ; but this much 1 can say, that, wherever
I go, whatever may be my future lot in life,
the recollections of this day will always be a bright
spot in memory's page, a proud and happy retrospec-
tion, of which neither the frowns nor the smiles of for-
tune can ever deprive me. In conclusion, I again thank
you for your beautiful present, the trowel, of which this
is so flattering a likeness. The trowel appears to be a
simple and unpretending tool ; but it may be termed a
great agent in building up the walls of civilization. Its
services are:required for the lowly cottage of the labourer,
or the proud palace of the sovereign. It is useful alike
for the subterraneous passage in which we are now stand-
ingel or for that: proud tower whose top was to reach
to heaven. I again thank you for the very munificent
gift.—(Loud cheers.)
Subsequently the ladies and gentlemen present were
invited to partake of a cold collation at the Summit
Inn ; when several excellent addresses, having reference
to the completion of the work, were made. The work-
men, were regaled within the tunnel.—Maneliester
Guardian.