The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-08 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY MORNING SUN 9 JANUARY 8, 1847.

No. 16,944.

TO the SHAREHOLDERS of the BIRMING-
HAM and OXFORD JUNCTION RAILWAY.
The shareholders in this Company are aware, from the course
which was adopted at the general meetings, held in November and
December;lrist, of the strong dissatisfaction entertained by an in-
fluential body of their brother shareholders with the proceedings of
the Directors, both as regards the proposed amalgamation with the
Birmingham, Dudley, and Wolverhampton line, and the proposed
sale of the two undertakings conjointly to the Great Western
Company.
At both meetings distinct notice was given, in the most formal
manner, that these questions would be submitted for the re-consi-
deration of the proprietors, so soon as those then entitled to hold the
shares were enabled, by obtaining the transfer and symbol of their
property, to give their votes upon subjects of such vital importance
to the shareholders.
Upon general principles the dissenting shareholders are opposed to
anything that would bdar the character of repudiation ; hut the un-
precentesd circumstances connected with this case (amongst which
the following are most prominent) fully warrant them in the course
they have adopted.
I he non-issue of the certificates for the shares for upwards of four
months, the consequent impossibility of obtaining legal transfers;
the admission by the Chairman himself of the fact of a refusal to re-
ssisttr transfers ; the extraordinary circumstance that before the cer-
tificates were issued, and when, therefore, none of the changes of
property which had taken place since the passing of the Act could be
recognised, and the real owners of the shares were thus precluded
from expressing their opinion as to the disposition of their own pro-
perty, the Directors call a special meeting, for no less an object than
to alter the nature of the property by an amalgamation with:another
undertaking (not being authorised to do so by any power in their Act,
owing to which most Inadequate terms were offered for the Birming-
han and Oxford line itself), and then to sell the line so amalgamated
—a proceeding equally unauthorised by their Act—clearly justify the
' holders of the shares in the Birmingham and Oxford Railway, who
are dissatisfied with the result of these irregular proceedings, in re-
sisting to the utmost of their power the accomplishment of the ob-
jects so proposed, and in protecting their property and interests by
those means which the law has provided. The dissentient share•
holders were satisfied that, as soon as the opinions of the real holders
of the shares could be ascertained, these views would be readily
responded to ; and all doubt upon this subject is now re-
moved by the large measure of support which they have
already received, placing beyond a question the fact that
a considerable majority of the shareholders are decidedly
opposed to the arrangements proposed by the Directors, and
are determined to annul them, and to secure for the Birmingham
and Oxford Company at least as good terms as those offered by the
London and North Western Company-151. per share premium.
The shareholders are well aware of the argument which has been
adduced by the Directors to justify their proceedings—that in conse-
quence of the views entertained by Parliament on the subject of com-
petition, there was no alternative but to dispose of this line to the
Great Western Company, although the result might be that they
must have it on their own terms. To this it is replied—firstly, that
the Directors, in making terms, were at least bound, as trustees for
the proprietors) to obtain a full value for their property ; and the uni-
versal admission that the Birmingham and Oxford is a ten per cent.
line (more was originally stated), sufficiently indicates, without
further reference to the offer of the London and North-Western
Company, that the price offered by the great Western is inadequate.
Secondly, as tit, dissenting shareholders consider that the only
result which can be expected from competition is to secure
(ultimately) the lowest charges to the public consistent with
safety, they contend that this would have been more cer-
tainly and readily accomplished by an arrangement with the
London and North-Western Company, who, while they are ready
to give increased terms to the Birmingham and Oxford proprietors,
are also prepared to secure to the public a scale of charges lower
than those provided for by the Birmingham and Oxford Act, and con-
siderably lower than those of the Great Western Railway.
As the dissentient shareholders are now desirous of at once com-
pleting their arrangements for effecting the objects above alluded
to, and as they will be greatly facilitated by a knowledge of the
entire support they may rely upon, they request that their brother
shareholders who concur with them in opinion will tra emit their
names, with the number of shares held by them, without st lay, to
the following parties :—Mr. E. J. Mosley, Liverpool ; Mr. Thomas
Gasquoine, 15, New Market-buildings, Manchester, Messrs. Col-
more and Beale, solicitors, Birmingham, by whom any necessary
information will be furnished ; and all shareholders are particularly
requested to retain their proxies until applied to by the Committee of
the dissentient shareholders.

(Signed on behalf of the Dissentients,)
B. J. MOZLEY, Liverpool.

January 5, 1547.

LONDON, SALISBURY, and YEOVIL
JUNCTION RAILWAY.

The Committee hive now concluded the arrangement with the
London and South-Western Company, enabling them to make the
return of 20s. per share on the shares in this Company. They have
also received a guarantee from the London and South-Western
Company for payment of the further sum of 30s. per share on
each of the shares in this C, mpany, in the event of the Bill for which
the said London and South-Western Company intend to apply to
Parliament, in the next session, for making a railway in continuation
of or out of the Basingstoke and Salisbury Railway at Salisbury to
Yeovil, obtaining the Royal assent.
The Committee, therefore, beg to give notice, that in accordance
with the resolutions of the Shareholders of this Company, passed at
the general meeting, held at the London Tavern, on the 11th of
November last, the Committee are now prepared to make a return
of 20s. per share on the shares in this Company, and to grant a cer-
tificate entitling the holder to the payment of the further sum of 30s.
per share in the event above•mentioned, on their sending in their
scrip to the office of the Company, No. 64, Moorgate-street, on or
after WEnstEsnar next, the 6th instant, accompanied by a letter in
the farm subjoined.

By order,
L. CROJIBIE, Secretary.

64, Moorgate-street, Jan. 1, 1847.
To Lewis Crornbie, Esq., Secretary of the London, Salisbury, and
Yeovil Junction Railway Company.
Sir,—Herewith I enclose scrip certificates,, numbered as at
foot, for shares in the above Company, which I request
the Committee of Management to cancel, and to remit me by
post, addressed as below, an order on the bankers of the Com-
pany for a sum equal to twenty shillings per share (being the
amount agreed to be immediately paid by the London and
South-Western Company, on the number of shares issued in
this Company), with a certificate or certificates entitling me to
claim the further sum of thirty shillings per share on each of
the above shares, in the event of the Bill for which the said
London and South-Western Company intend to apply to Parliament
in the next session, for making a railway in continuation of or out
of the Basingstoke and Salisbury Railway at Salisbury to Yeovil, ob•
bluing the ltoyal assent, and which I agree to accept, in settlement
of all claims by me as the holder of the above scrip certificates.
Dated the 6th day of January, 1847.

Address •.•• • • ..
Description

Number of Value of each.
Certificates.

Numbers. 1 Number of
Shares._
to

Shares.
Forms of application may he had

at the Office, 64, Moorgate-street.

T, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE MANCHESTER, and
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE JUNCTION RAILWAY
COMPANY.—ORDINARY HALF-YEARLY MEETING.
Notice is hereby given that the ORDINARY HALF-YEARLY
MEETING of the SHAREHOLDERS of this COMPANY will be
held at the Palatine Hotel, in Manchester, in the county of Lan-
caster, on the 2d day of FEBEVANY next, at the hour of Eleven o'clock
in the forenoon of that day.
And notice is hereby Rather given, that, in aecordance with a re-
quisition signed by more than twenty shareholders in the said under
taking, holding, in the aggregate, not less than one•tenth of the
capital of the said Company, an EXU:AORDINARY GENERAL
MEETING of the SHAREHOLDERS of the said COMPANY, will
be held at the Palatine Hotel aforesaid,on the day and year afore-
said, at Twelve o'clock at noon of the same day, or immediately on
the termination of the business of the said ordinary Meeting, for the
following purposes, namely—" To receive, consider, and decide, on
:he steps to be taken with respect to the report of Messrs. William
Gibb, George William Cram, and William Nichol, the Committee of
Investigation appointed on Saturday, the 25th day of July last, and
to determine on the propriety of reducing the number of the Directors
from twelve to six, and if thought advisable, specifically to remove
six of the present Directors.

Ind notice is hereby further given, that at the said last-mentioned
meeting the Directors will apply for powers to proceed with, and en-
deavour to obtain, in the ensuing Session of Parliament, Acts for
alteration of Main Line and Hawes Branch, with power to purchase,
rent, or use the Northern Counties Union Railway, and amendment
of Acts relating to the Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle-upon-
Tyne Junction Railway, and to the Northern Counties Union Railway
Companies; Railway from the East Lancashire Railway near Burn-
ley, to join the Burnley Branch of the Manchester and Leeds Rail-
way, with power to sell or lease to the East Lancashire Railway
Company, or to the Manchester and Leeds Railway Company ; and
Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Junction and
Northern Counties Union Railways Amalgamation.
And the Directors do hereby convene the said meetings aecordingly.
THOS. ROBT. WILSON FRANCE, Chairman.
C. MOORE WILSON,I Secretaries.
W. H. INGRAM,
Company's Principal Office, 31, Princess-street.
Manchester, Dec. 24, 1846.
"The Register of Transfers" will be closed, and remain so from the
19th day of January, 1847, until after the aboW-named meetings.

C. MOORE WILSON,/ Secretaries,
W. H. INGRAM,

A F.. 4 STERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.
By COMMAND of the POS f-MASTER-GENERAL.
The 11.30 A.M. Train to NORWICH will on and after MoNDAY,
the 11th instant, STOP at HARLOW STATION.
By order,
C. P. RONEY, Secretary.
Offices, Bishopagate Station, 7th January, 1847.

DATRONISED hyhis IMPERIAL MAJESTY
the KING of the FRENCH,
JR.
The ORIGINAL METALLIC TABLET STROP, with four sides
invented by Mr. GEORGE SAUNDERS, of New York. This article
has been in general use for the last thirty years, and has been pa-
tronised by the first cutlers of Europe and America, by ail of whom
it is pronounced to he the only article that will give to the razor a
keen and snaiothe edge, and make shaving a luxu. y. The American
Institute for the Encouragement of Science awarded to the inventor
of this article a silver medal in token of their approval of the inven-
tion. This strop may be obtained of the principal cutlet's in London
and Paris

THE BRITISH and FOREIGN INSTITUTE
AL. enters on its fifth year in 1847 ; and Members joining it at the
present time will have the advantage of the full Session of the
Soirees, Lectures, Conversazione, and Discussions, which will com-
mence on FRIDAY, January 21, and be contintiedon the Friday Even-
ings of each week from January to June.
The Club attached to the Institute is now ready for the reception
of New Members, and particulars of each may be had at 13, George-
street, Hanover-square.
JAMES S. BUCKINGHAM, Resident Director.

LORD GEORGE BENTINCK.
A highly-finished Engraving of this Nobleman, pronounced
to he an excellent likeness, with an interesting Biographical Sketch
of his Political Life, will appear in THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE,
published on the Ist of January.
We apprehend that there are few farmers but will desire to pos-
sess themselves of the portrait of one who has exhibited a deree of
energy and public spirit in their behalf, which, although unsuccess-
ful, can never be forgotten, or remembered without feelings of gra-

titude.
This number will contain 224 columns of matter on various agri-
cultural topics of a practical character; amongst these will be found
a full report of the discussion upon " Agricultural Statistics " at the
London Farmer's Club ; proceedings at the Anniversary Dinner of
the Members of the Club, and of the Smithfield Club Cattle Show
Resolutions of various local farmers' clubs on the subject of " Tenant

Right," &c. &c. &c.
The FARMERS' MAGAZINE is published Monthly, price Two
Shillings, and may be had of every Bookseller in every Town in the
United Kingdom.
_ .

Office, 24 Norfolk-street, Strand.

PUBLICATIONS.

NEW ILLUSTRATED PERIODICAL FOR ALL CLASSES.
Now ready, in Weekly Numbers, price Three• half-pence.
Contents of No. I of Vol. 111., or No. 53, of
THE PEOPLE'S JOURNAL.
Edited by JOHN SAUNDERS.
ENGRAVINGS.
1. Love and Jealousy. By W. Harvey.
2. The Neglected Genius. By W. Hunt.
ORIGINAL PAPERS.
1. Ara Force, a Sketch. By Harriet Martineau.
2. A Lyric. By Ebenezer Elliott.
3. Cracow and Poland, By Joseph Mazzini.
4. Art Education for the People. By George Wallis,late Principal
of the Manchester School of Design.
5. Social Geography. By Mary Leman Gillies.
6. Sun-rise and Sun-set on the Rhigi. By Angus B. Reach.
7. Love and Jealousy. By Andrew Winter.
S. The Removal of the Chinese Exhibition.
9. Black Gang Chine. By Goodwin Barmby.
10. Proposal for a National Anti-Slavery Remonstrance to America.
11. Address and Poem. By the Editor. Sec. &c.
With numerous important announcements of arrangements made fbr
the forthcoming Numbers.
This Number forms the First of a New Volume (III.) ; and pre-
sents an excellent opportunity for New Subscribers to commence
with it.
Vols. I. and 11. are now ready, 4s. 6d. each ; also, Cases for Bind-
ing both, One Shilling each. A new Illustrated Prospectus may be
obtained, free, from all Booksellers and Newsmen.
People's Journal Office, 69, Fleet-street.

This Day is Published, price Is.
ALETTER to LORD JOHN RUSSELL,
M.P., PROPOSING a MODE Of RECLAIMING THE WASTE LANDS
of IRELAND. By RIGBY WASON.
Edinbufgh : W. F. Watson, 52, Princes-street. London: James
Ridgway, Piccadilly. And may be had of all Booksellers.

AVIES'S CANDLES, bid. per lb. ; Genuine
fi Sperm, Is. 9d. ; Yellow Soap, 485., 545., and 60s. per 1121bs. •
Mottled, 60s. and 645.; Wax Candles, le. per lb.; German Wax,
Is. 2d. ; Fine Wax, Is. sd. ; Transparent Wax, Is. Ild.; Genuine
Wax, 2s. Id. ; Waxed-wick Moulds, 7 d.; Sperm Oil, 88. per gallon;
Solar, 3s. 3d. , Pale Seal, 4s. ; Argand, or Vegetable, 4s. 6d. ; Wind-
sor and Palm Soap, Is. 4d. per packet; Brown Windsor, Is. 9d ;
Rose. 2s. ; Almond, 2s. 6d. ; Sealing Wax, 4s. 6d.; Hale's Paraton
Composite, requiring no snuffing, 9Y2d. per lb.
For Cash—At DAVIES'S Old Established Warehouse, 63, St.
Martin's-lane, opposite Slaughter's Coffee-house. -

THE FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE
NORTH-WESTERN • RAILWAY.
An inquiry into the circumstances attending the late
fatal accident at the Ring's Langley station was com-
menced on Wednesday, at 11 o'clock in the forenoon,
before Francis Osbaldeston, Esq., Coroner for Hertford-
shire, at the Bell Inn, Primrose-hill, a small hamlet in
the parish of Abbot's Langley.
Mr. Hayes (of the firm of Parker and Hayes, solici-
tors to the North-Western Railway Company) was pre-
sent to watch the proceedings.
The bodies of the deceased were lying in an apartment
at the rear of the house. The remains were respec-
tively proved to be those of AN'illiarn Assup, aged twenty-
two years, engine-driver, and George Mathurs, aged
thirty-two years, fireman.
James Owen was the firit witness called. He said—l
am an engine-driver in the service of the North-Western
Railway Company. I came into their service in April
last. On Monday last, being in charge of the engine
No. 16, I was directed to pilot (assist) the goods train,
which left Camden station at half-past one, to Wolver-
ton. I did so, and remained at Wolverton until
half-past eleven at night, at which time a luggage train,
consisting of twenty-six waggons, came up from Rugby.
Eight coke trucks were here attached, and I was directed
'to pilot (assist) this train on to London. The. first
station we stopped at after leaving Wolverton was
Leighton, where we left one waggon. The deceased
William Assup was the driver of the engine behind me,
and after the waggon had ben detached- I asked him
whether I should take in water there or 'at Tring. He
said, as he had nothing to, leave at Tritig, it would be
better to take water at Leighton, and I- did so. The
conducting of a train, where the same is driven by two
engines, is under the control. of the driver of the second
engine, except with regard to looking out for signals,
which devolves upon the firatisdriver. We did not stop
at any station after leaving *gluon natil we came in
here, about three minutea-ate4 axle• o'Cidea" on Tuesday
morning.
CORONER—And when you got in here what hap-
pened ? Witness—l saw a red signal.
CORONER—Was the night foggy ? Witness—Yes,
very. I did not see the signal until we were within
about two hundred yards of the post. I then opened my
whistle, let off the steam, reversed my engine, and put
the steam against her. Ido not know whether my mate
had actually applied the break. When we advanced a
little further I saw three red lights on the main line,
and the next instant a red hand signal lamp. lat once
saw the danger we were in, and jumped off the engine
on to the line. On a clear night there would have been
no difficulty either in observing the signal or in stopping
the train.

CoRoNER—Did Assup let the steam off his engine ?
Witness—l cannot tell. I was too busy in minding my
own duty.

CORONER—You can surely tell whether his steam was
let off or the engine reversed? Witness—lndeed I
cannot. He might have been working his engine by
expansion, and then I could not hear its beat. If I
must answer the question, my impression is that Assup
had certainly not reversed his engine.
CORONER—What happened after you jumped off your
engine? Witness—The luggage train ran directly into
the coal train.

Examination in chief—After the collision I went to
look for the guard of my train. I found that he had
been sent back by the policeman on duty at the Langley
station, to stop all up trains. That policeman's name is
Thomas Smith. He was the only man on duty at the
station when the accident occurred. When a train
passes a station, it is the duty of the policeman to turn
on the red signal for so many minutes, and subsequently
the green for a similar time, before showing the white
light. After the accident, the policeman gave me two
fog signals, and directed me to follow the guard down
the line towards Boxmoor, and place them upon the rails.
I went down the lino until I overtook the guard. I did
not see the station master. On my return, the police-
man told me he had gone on to Watford, on the coal
train engine, for assistance.
CORONER—And what had become of the poor fellows
who were killed all this time? Do you mean to say
they were left unattended? Witness—Yes. The po-
liceman told me they were dead very shortly after the
accident, but owing to the steam and water, which was
flying about in all directions, it was impossible to afford
them any assistance, or indeed to get near them until
nearly an hour after the accident.
The witness was further pressed by the Coroner, with
a view to show that unnecessary delay had taken place
before any attempt was made to extricate the deceased
parties, but nothing of a character to bear out such a
presumption was elicited.
_ .

Exan-iination in chief—My engine lay upon her side
athwart the rails of the up and down lines. The leading
wheels of the second engine had mounted upon my ten-
der, and the second tender had crushed the footplate of
the deceased's engine. The bodies of both the deceased
were crashed by the second tender. The fireman was
fastened between the ieversing lever and the fire box
when I first saw him. He was very much crushed anti
quite dead. I did not see the driver. I was so shocked
at the sight of the firemen that I did not go to look fur-
ther, but I heard that he was in a similar position on
the other side of the engine. My opinion that deceased
had not reversed the engine arises from this fact ; for
had he done so, both men would in all probability have
been found on the reversing lever side of the engine.
When on the road the driver and stoker generally stand
one on each side of the boiler, as the deceased parties

were found.
CORONER (addressing the witness)—Now, Owen, one
word as to your regulations. Does any one time the
luggage trains? Witnes—Yes, the guard. Our train
was late on Monday night. We were late in leaving
Wolverton.
CORONER—What time did you expect to get to Wat-
ford? Witness—l cannot say exactly,
CORONER—The policeman at the Langley station
knew that goods trains wire likely to pass between one
and two o'clock? Witness—Yes, there can be no doubt
of that fact.
CORONER—And, knowing that, he leaves a number of
waggons on the line? Witness—lie was going to put
some of the trucks back into the siding. The luggage
trains have been very much behind of late. We have
had a difficulty in getting through our journeys some •
times, especially during foggy weather, when the rails
have bt en damp.
CORONER—And, in the face of all this, a number of
carriages are left on the line, on purpose to cause an
accident.
Mr. Hayes (the company's solicitor) here rose and ob-
jected to the Coroner making remarks, unsupported by
evidence, which were calculated to bias the jury.
The CORONER expressed his regret if he bad implied
any wilful neglect by his observation, and begged to re•
tract the same.
Examination of Owen continued—Under ordinary
circumstances we can stop a train in 500 yards; but in
foggy weather, and when the rails are damp, we require
a longer distance. The deceased, Assup, had been em-
ployed four years as a stoker on the line, and about
three months as a driver.
The CORONER here suggested that perhaps the jury
would like to visit the scene of the accident before they
proceeded further with the evidence.
Several members of the panel expressed a wish to o
so, one juror remarking that he thought they had
already heard enough to prove that extraordinary rules
ought to be enforced in foggy weather.
Mr. Bruyeres, the superintendent of the railway, re-
marked, that he thought there could be little doubt, if
the driver of the second engine (No. 115) had observed
and acted on the signals as Owen had done, the jury
would not have had to sit there that day. Mr. Bruyeres
kere read the foliowing rule from the book of regula-
tions :—" The engine-man is at all times to use great
r
on approaching
the reula
caution in foggy weather, and especially
stations, from the difficulty of dis ce rning
signals until close upon them ; i
and heis to be pre g
pared
to bring his engines to a stand should tbe required. In
cases of this sort the whistle is to be kept frequently

going."
the witness Owen
Mr. Bruyeres (addressing )—You
-
have said that on observing
the signals at the Langley
' e-
station you shut off the steam
and reversed the engine.
Do you not think that if Assup had been equally in-
vigilant,
your train might have been stopped in ed in ti me to avoid the
collision ?—I am not sure of that,
_I. but, at any rate, he
would have been prepared to jump off as did.
CORONER—The fact is, Mr. Bruyeres, this is where
the shoe pinches. Although it was perfectly understood
that another train was coming up the line, a number of
waggons were left directly in the ordinary track.
Mr. Bruveres hoped that this matter had been satis-
factorily explained. The fact was simply this. If the
Coroner or any other gentleman, in coming up from
t
Birmingham and wishing to ge o
no ut at Tring, were
brought on all the way
to London, it would be
d by the satis-
faction to him to be informed guard that the train
was a quarter of an hour late, and therefore could not
stop at Tring. The proper course would be to stop at
Trine, as usual, taking care to exhibit proper signals.
So, with a coal train, having to detach waggons, the
same principle applied. In the present
tend the signals
had been all duly exhibited, and he contended that the
accident could not have happened but for the neglect of
the deceased parties.
The jury then left the room with Mr. Bruyeres, who
accompanied them to the station, and explained scienti-
fically all that had occurred to him in explanation of the
manner in which the accident happened.
On the return of the jury, ,
William Heaver, stoker to the last witness, was exa-
mined. He stated no new fact. After jumping off the
engle in
of e, h
what had occurred. e becaine, for a time, insensible, and knew-
very
litt
Thomas Smith, police-constable, 211, in the service of
the North-Western Company, was next called. He said—
I have been in the service four years and four months.
It is my duty to turn on the red signal on the arrival of
a train, and also to start all trains which arrive during
the night. I recollect the night of Monday last. On
that night, or rather on Tuesday morin
passed up the line about half-past twenlve. g, a goods tranA
coal train
was the next to arrive ; it was a special train, and came
about one o'clock, five minutes under or over. This
train consisted of eighteen waggons and • one engine.

CORONER—When was the next train due? Witness-
They come so irregular, I cannot say exactly.
CORONER—Oh, indeed. Did you expect any before
daybreuk ? Witness—Yes ; I am always expecting
trains.
CoitoNEß-013, then, am I to suppose they run at

pleasure? 'Witness—No, sir ; but there is a great un-
certainty as to the time of the goods trains arriving.
CORONER—How long had the coal train been at the
station when the collision occurred? Witness—About
three minutes.

CORONER—Did you start it ? Witness—No, sir. I
was assisting the breaksman to detach some waggons
when the collision happened. I had previously turned
on the red signal lamp on the stationary post.
CORONER—Have you not got fog signals? Witness—
Yes, but there was no time to use them.

CORONER—How do you mean no time? You have, I
believe, only to throw them down on the line? Witness
—On, dear no, sir. They would have had to be placed
on the rail at a distance of 500 yards from where I was
to be of any service.

ConoNa—Did you not think it requisite to employ
them on such a night? Witness—highly requisite, and
after the collision I gave some such signals to the driver
of No. 16, in order to place on the rails as a caution to
any advancing train. _

The witness here stated at length the course he had
adopted after the collision, in order to obtain assistance;
and explained to the Coroner that so soon as the steam
and fire allowed any one to approach the spot, every
exertion was made to extricate the deceased parties.
He further stated that on hearing the approach of the
goods train he ran down the line about a hundred yards,
waving his red lamp, and doing all in his power to stay
its progress.

The-foreman said he thought if the fog signals had
been used no accident would have happened. Several
other members of the jury expressed a similar opinion.
Patrick Tomey, police-constable 232, in the service of
the company, was next called. He said, I remember the
night of Monday last. I was on duty at the Boxmoor
station about twenty-five minutes to one, at which time
the special coal train arrived. I expected this train
in consequence of a signal attached to the preceding
train. When it arrived the driver told me he had
five waggons to detach at my station. The night
being very foggy, I brought out the porter and asked
him to uncouple the waggons and attend to the points
while I returned down the line to stop any train
which might come up. I went about a quarter of a
mile, and remained until I heard the coal train go on. I
then returned to the station, and went into my hut,
where I trimmed my hand lamp, on which I came out
on to the line again, when I fancied I heard a train
coming up the Boxmoor Bank. I ran down to the
signal post, exhibiting my hand lamp as I went, but
before I could get there the driver of the leading engine
blew his whistle, and I believe he slackened his pace.
The coal train had been gone by at this time about 11
minutes. As soon as I arrived at the signal post I
showed a green light, to denote that the driver ought to
proceed cautiously. Had there been no coal train so
recently in advance I should have shown a white light.
Even as it was, the time had expired for the exhibition
of the green light, but being a foggy night I was in no
hurry to take off the red signal, and had allowed it to
remain eleven minutes instead of five, as laid down in
our regulations. If the red light had been allowed to
remain on, the effect would have been to stop the goods
train. As it was I was under no apprehension that the
goods train would overtake the coal train.
The foreman thought that if the same degree o
caution had been shown at Langley as at Boxmoor no
accident would have happened.
Mr. Bruyeras—But, sir, you will remember that there
was not the same time between the arrival of the trains.
The foreman—Had there been a porter at Langley as
at Boxmoor, even then I think the collision might have
been avoided.

Mr. Bruyeres—l assure you, under ordinary circum-
stances, the hands employed at Langley are more than
sufficient for the work they are required to perform.
Mr. John Weaver, foreman of the locomotive depart-
ment at the Rugby station, said he knew the deceased,
Assup, who was an industrious and intelligent man. Wit-
ness had furnished deceased with the necessary rules on
his entering the service, and so late as the 29th ult. had
examined him as to his knowledge of his duties. Before
being employed as a driver he had acted as a stoker in
the company's service,
Mr. Weaver was examined at some length as to his
opinion whether the deceased had reversed his engine
or shut off the steam. He was inclined to believe that
the position in which the lever was found was attribut-
able to a blow from the tender, and not from the driver
having touched it. •

Richard Ashby, the driver, and Langley, the breaks-
man of the coal train, were successively questioned, but
their evidence threw no new light on the matter. Ashby
said he travelled about sixteen miles an hour, and was
not aware of having lost any speed between Boxmoor
and Langley.

The foreman said an impression had gone abroad that
the deceased men had been overworked, and in conse-
quence had fallen asleep while on the engine. He should
be very glad to have this point cleared.
Mr. Weaver was then recalled. He said they came on
duty at seven o'clock on Monday night, having had 14
hours' rest previously.
The jury expressed themselves satisfied on this point,
and no other evidence being forthcoming,
The CORONER summed up. He said the case appeared
to him to be a very simple one. If blame attached to
any person, he thought it was to the poor fellows who
had lost their lives. He thought it quite unnecessary to
read over the evidence, inasmuch as he bad no doubt the
jury would agree that neither the railway company nor•
any other person were- to blame in the matter. Ti e
law of deodand, as no doubt they were all aware, had
been abolished, and in its stead, a statute, entitled "The
Accident Compensation Bill" had been passed. This
measure, by the way, he might remark, was a most ex-
traordinary one, for while it professed to give a remedy,
it took away the means of obtaining it (so the Coroner
was understood to say). He did not know whether the
royal Member for Sunderland was in the House when
the Bill passed, but for his own part he should think it
was him who prepared it. However, without making
any further remark, he would leave the case in the
hands of the jury, who would say whether, in their
opinion, the accident had arisen from the negligence or
carelessness of any individual.
The jury, after consulting for a few moments, found
" That the deceased, William Assup and George
Mathurs, were accidentally killed;" and in returning
this verdict the panel felt it their duty to recommend
that more servants should be employed iu futuro at the
King's Langley station.
Mr. Bruyeres remarketl, that if twenty servants had
been employed he felt satisfied the accident would still
have occurred under the circumstances proved in evi-
dence.
The proceedings, after extending over four hours,
here terminated.

CONVICTS UNDER SENTENCE OF
TRANSPORTATION.
A letter, of which the following is a copy, has been
transmitted to the visiting magistrates of all the county
and borough gaols in England, and has caused consi-
derable discussion at the several quarter sessions, many
of the prisons not being sufficiently capacious to accom-
modate more than the usual number of prisoners
sentenced to short terms of imprisonment:—
" Whitehall, Dec. 31, 1846.
" Gentlemen -- am directed by Secretary Sir George
Grey to acquaint you that, in consequence of the sus-
pension of transportation of male convicts to Van
Dieman's Land, it will be requisite to make immediate
provisions for the confinement and imprisonment in this
country of the greater portion of such offenders. In
order to facilitate the measures requisite for the accom-
plishment of this object, it appears to Sir George Grey
that the temporary imprisonment in the county and
borough prisons of a proportion of male convicts under
sentence of transportation may be necessary, where
there is sufficient accommodation for their reception, and
where proper arrangements exist for reformatory
discipline. I am, therefore, to request that you will
state, for the information of Sir George Grey, what
number of prisoners can be conveniently lodged in the
prison under your superintendence without interfering
with its discipline and good order—what has been 'the
greatest number of prisoners actually confined in the
prison at any one time during the past year, and what
system of discipline is now in force in the prison. Sir
George Grey directs me to inform you that a vote
having been taken in the last session of Parliament for
defraying the cost of maintaining convict prisoners in
gaols, no additional expense will be imposed upon the
counties and boroughs in respect of the maintenenca of
prisoners who may be retained in, or sent to, any prisons
in pursuance of the convict arrangements.
" I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,
" S. M. PHILLIPPS.
" To the Visiting Justices, &c. &c."
which B ythe
has adoption t ()n of h
between
t li,soGplan
and
thel,so Milbank
0
under
sentence of transportation within its walls, will be pre-
vented from being overcrowded.

In consequence of the public announcement from
Mr..Byng, that it is not his intention to offer himself
again as a representative for the county of Middlesex,
we understand that the electors in the different districts,
who have carried their venerable Member through so
many struggles, are taking steps to get up a requisition
to Lord Robert Grosvenor, requesting him to come for-
ward as a candidate for the metropolitan county, when-
ever a dissolution may take place.— Tunes.
THE FAMINE IN IRELAND AND SCOTLAND.—Up
to Wednesday, the total amount raised in the metropolis
for the relief of the existing distress in the remote
parishes of Ireland and Scotland, was 13,6511. 14s. 6d.,
of which her Majesty contributes 2,0001, and frinee
Albert 5001.
CONFESSION OF BURGLARY. —At Worship-street
Police-court on Wednesday, two men, named H. Tur-
man and W. Kemp, were charged with having com-
mitted a burglary in the premises of Messrs. Giles and
Beniger, lucifer match makers, near the City-road, on
the Monday night before Christmas-day. It appeared
that Turman, not having received his " regulars" from
his accomplice in the burglary, made a confession to a
policeman for the purpose of having his revenge. Both
prisoners were remanded.
DIE FOG.—Wednesday morning London N% as
darkened by a dense fog, which made gas-light neces
ssry in all the shops and other places of business. The
navigation of the river was altogether suspended, as
it was impossible, with safety, to propel steam-boats
through the darkness. In the afternoon the fog cleared
away.

PRICE SD.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
BRISTOL, JANUARY 6.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Bristol and Exeter,
New, 9—Caledonian, New, 2,i —Eastern Counties, 23 %
Great Western, Fifths, 31—Leeds and Thirsk, Preference,
11/2 p.—Manchester and Leeds, Extension, 1% p.—Manches-
ter and Southampton, 2—Midland, New, 7—West Riding
Union, 21/2 p.