The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-05 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY MORNING SUN, JANUARY 5, 1847.

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' SCHOOLS,
FOR ORPHAN AND .NECESSITOUS CHILDREN.
Offices, 51, Cheapside.
At the Quarterly General Court of the Governors of this Institution,
held at the London Tavern, on Monday, the 28th day of December,
instant,
THOMAS SIDNEY, Esq., Alderman, in the chair,
the undermentioned gentlemen were unanimously appointed to
fill the several offices of the Institution for the ensuing year :

PRIMDIRMT.
JOHN I{ASTEHMAN, Rog., M.P.
11013-PBIWIDVITS.

Edwanl Baker, Esq.
Robert Clarke, jun., Esq.
John Robert Curney, Esq.
Sampson Copestake, Esq.
Joseph Ferguson, Esq.
Janaos Fisher, Esq.
George Hitchcock, Esq.
John 3tair, jun., Esq.
William Nicholson, Esq.
William Peek, Esq.
R. M. Phillips, Esq.
Giles Itedmayne, Esq.
Thomas Sidney, Esq., Aldermen
George Smith, Esq.
James Walsh, Esq.
Matthew Wicking, Esq.
Edward Wiggins, Esq.
Arthur Wilcoxon, Esq.

TatisTlNS.
Robert Clarke, Esq., Cheapside
James Peek, Rsq., I:witches's
Hananiali Teape, Esq., Altigate
TRRASURRI.
George Moore, Esq., Bow-churchyard
AUDITORS.
Geore Hitchcock, Esq., St. fact's-churchyard
William Lawson, Esq.
William WCulloch, Esq.
Ronson Ridley, Esq.
George Stockdale, Esq.
Thomas Tapling, E.g.
BOARD OF 11ANAGENZIFT.
Thomas Sidney, Esq., Alderman
Julius Mere, Esq., Crutehed Friars
John Baggalary, Esq., Love-lane
David Blyth, Esq., Barbican'
J. L. Bootkby, Esq., Upper Thames-street
Thomas Brough, Esq., Liverpool
F. J. Bligh, Esq., Cheapside
J. R. Cuilley, Esq., Monument-yard
J. D. Carter, Esq., Aldgate
J. L. Evans, Esq., Wardrobe-Place
J. r. Foster, Esq. Wood-street
Richard Groucock, Esq., Bow.churchyard
J. Galloway, Esq., Manchester
R. Gilson, Esq., Fenchurch-street
W. G. B. Gunton, Esq., New Weston-street
George Harker, Esq., Upper Thames-street
G. Hewitt, Esc! , Brixton
Jenkin Jones, Esq.. Coles-terrace
J. Ingle, Esq., Wood-street
R. Johnson, Esq., Watling-street
D. Lewis, Esq., Manchester
A. H. Moore, Msg., Calthorpe-etreet
John Main, jun., Esq., Friday-street
J. P. Massey, Esq., Birmingham
R. M. Phillips, Esq., Rood-lane
GUN; Redmayne, Esq., Bond-street
W. S. Rumsey, Esq., Queen-street-place
Thomas Roberts, Esq., Paternoster-row
R. Shillingford, Esq., Old Jewry
Evan Smith, Esq., Sheffield
Henry Sturt, Esq., Wood-street
W. Tilt, Esq., Claremont-square
James Walsh, Esq., Old 'Change
John B. Walker, Esq., Friday-street
Matthew Wicking, Esq., Dorset-square
Thomas Williamson, Esq., Savage-gardens
HONORARY SECRETARY—George Lawrence, Esq.
The Board of Management will meet at the above offices, on Tel
next, the 4th January, 1847, for the purpose of transacting
business, and with a view to preweiL)r an early election of children.
TAM GORDON, Secretary.

AN ENTIRE AND ELEGANT EXEMPTION FROM ENVELOPE

EXPLORATION.
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Is sure a vast discovery."—lludibras.
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the only inviolable letter-seal ever invented. Securely and protec-
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or the Merchant, can be embellished either with the armorial bear-
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The OFFICIAL and BANKERS' SECURITY ENVELOPE,
prepared in the most splendid style, will be ready in a few days
Orders and communications to bo addressed to the Manufacturer,
No. 4, Castle-street, Holborn.

PERFECT FREEDOM from COUGHS in
Ten Minutes, is ensured by
DR. LOCOCK'S PULMONIC WAFERS.
From Mr. John Williams, Surgeon and Chemist, Horsley-heath,
Tipton.

" Gentlemen,—The good effects of your Dr. Locock's Pulmonic
Wafers, in cases of asthma, obstinate coughs, &c., are truly astonish-
ing. Ido not know of a single instance of failure. I can forward
you a list of highly respectable and important testimonials, &e.
I am, &c., JOHN WILLIAMS.
Dr. LOCOCK'S WAFERS give instant relief and a rapid cure of
astlimas, coughs, and all disorders of the breath and lungs.
Price Is. 1 6d., 2s. 9d. and I Is. per box.
Agents: Da Silva and Co , 1, Bride-lane, Fleet-street, London ;
and sold by all medicine venders.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

TURNING THE FIRST TURF OF THE NORTH-
WESTERN BY LORD MORPETH.
This event took place on Thursday, at Cleatop, two
milesi from Settle. The North-Western Railway has
two objects. It is intended to connect the manufacturing
districts of the West Riding of Yorkshire by a near
route with Glasgow and the west of Scotland, and also to
afford to those districts a commodious and easily acces-
sible shipping port on the west coast, at the entrance of
Morecambe Bay. The length of the line is sixty-one
miles, including both its branches. It commences at
Skipton, at the termination of the Bradford Extension
Railway, and proceeds by Gargrave, Settle, Ingleton, to
Kirkby Lonsdale. Its course is thence by the east of the
Lune to Sedbergh, and thence towards Borrow-bridge,
at a short distance from which place it crosses the Lune
by a large viaduct, and joins the Lancaster and Carlisle
line. At a point near Wennington, a branch diverges
through Wray, Hornby, and Caton, to Lancaster, which
is expected to become the great shipping port for the
West Riding. With the North-Western Railway an
amalgamation has been effected, by Act of Parliament,
with the Morecambe Bay Harbour and Railway Com-
pany. The difficulties of the navigation of the Lune, it
is well known, led to the construction of the dock at
Glasson many years ago;' but commodious as that
dock is, access to it is found very difficult at certain
times, and great delay, as well as danger, are often in-
curred. It is proposed to make a dock at Poulton Ring, at
the embouchure of the bay, Which Government Commission-
ers havepronounced to be the most favourable place for a'
harbour to be found, perhaps, on the English coast, and
s railway of four miles in extent will communicate with
the North-Western at Lancaster. The inhabitants of
the West Riding will thus be put in possession, not only
of railway facilities between the different parts of this
kingdom, but the means of export to foreign countries
will be afforded superior to any which they now enjoy.
A glance at the map will show at once that the North-
Western is a very well chosen line, and in addition to
the advantages it offers as a part of a trunk line, it gives
to a large and important district, to the gracing district
of Craven in particular, the privilege of a railway, from
which it has hitherto been quite shut out.
Thursday last (says the Kendal Meretay) was the day
fixed upon fur the commencement of the works, and as
Lord Morpeth had consented to act on the occasion,
great interest was excited. Half-past twelve o'clock was
the hour named, and on our arrival at Settle, about that
time; we found the little town in a stir unequalled, we
apprehend, on any previous occasion whatever. A long
length of carriages and horsemen, extending almost from
one extremetity of it to the other, and headed by banners
and a band of music, betokened that some event was
about to take place of extraordinary and absorbing
interest.

The procession shortly began to move in slow array,
Lord Morpeth being in the first carriage, accompanied
by his host, Mr. Birkbeck, and other gentlemen. Among
se
the private carriages we observed those of Pady Daw-
son, Esq., Hornby, ex-High Sheriff ; HenryAlcock,
Esq., Airville, near Skipton Charles Ingleby, Esq.,
Austwick ; Robert Ingleby, s kland Green ;
G. Hartley, Esq., Settle, Etc. There ' Law
were sixteen car-
riages, besides humbler vehicles, and horsemen and
pedestrians beyond count.
The cavalcade moved slowly on, amid the occasional
cheers of a large body of "navvies," who formed a
conspi-
cuous part of the procession, to the scene of action, a
field belonging to the Rev. J. Swales. A large booth
had been erected on the field, which was filled with
ladies, and those who composed the procession formed
in circle on the ground, either in their carriages or on
foot as they chose. The scene was at this moment truly
imposing, A spot could not have been selected more
happily adapted for the purpose. The beautiful pano-
rama which the hills presented gave a native charm to
the scene, and an assemblage of between 2,000 and
:3,000 anxious and happy spectators imparted an air of
animation which no one who witnessed it will forget.
The arrangements being duly made, which was a
matter of no small difficulty with so vast a concourse,
though they were managed with a skilfulness that was
most creditable to those who had the conducting of the
ceremonial, Mr. Vignoles, the engineer-in-chief, came
forward and presented to Mr. Dawson the silver spade—
a most elegant implement, inscribed with the arms of
the company, as well as with the record of the date of
the auspicious event, in honour of which it was manu-
factured. Mr. Dawson then handed it to Lord Morpeth,
with a suitable address, and as soon as that nobleman
had received it, the Vicar of Giggleswick, the Rev. R.
Ingram, stepped forward, at the request of the chairman,
and invoked in the most solemn and appropriate strain,
the blessing and help of the Almighty on the great work
they were about to commence. His Lordship then doffed
his coat, in the true navvy style, and pulled out of his
breast a veritable worsted navvy's cap, which h4eput
upon his head amid the most vociferous plaudits of the
assemblage, the navvies themselves, who stood around
with their implements, being apparently the most inte-
rested spectators in the scene, and addressed himself to
his work. His Lordship, it must be confessed, did not
seem much used to dig, and the -efforts Oat he made to
cut the stubborn soil, pro%oked the loudest peals
of laughter. His Lordship enjoyed the fun as much
as the merriest of those who watched him in his un-
wonted labour ; and after a short time the mahogany
wheelbarrow, a most beautifully designed and well-
made little vehicle, was filled, and wheeled along the
narrow planks to the end of them, where it was
" tipped. His Lordship resumed his proper habili-
ment, amid greetings more hearty than we almost ever
remember before to have heard, and then proceeded to
address the company.
Lord MORPETH said—l am afraid the Craven sods
have been a little too hard, from the recent frost, for me
to acquit myself like an experienced savvy. Nevertheless
I trust that this may be an auspicious beginning of that
great andertaking to celebrate which we have met here
to-day.—(Cheers,) It is a work which belongs to he
energy and enterprise of the times in which we live
Formerly it was thought a very great thing that rail-
ways were made to connect the largest towns in the
country. It was thought a great thing when a railway
was made between Liverpool and Manchester. Next
people proposed the uniting of the capital itself with
other great towns, such as Birmingham and Bristol.
As people's enterprise crept on, it began to be thought
an easy matter to conduct a railway along levels
and by the side of riven. But we, gentlemen,
under the skill and enterprise of our able engineer,
Mr. Vignoles, are able to accomplish still greater feats
than these. We mean to carry our railway fearlessly
along the upland pastures of Craven. We do not mean
to creep sluggishly by the side of every river, but boldly
to cross them transversely, and drive our line over the
Aire, the Ribble, and the Lune.—(Cheer°') We are
not afraid of driving our line under the giant shadow of
Ingleborough itself.—(Great cheerin Enterprise de-
serves success, and I have no doubt that the success we
deserve will crown the enterprise of the North-Western
Railway Company. It seems, indeed, that since our
undertaking was set on foot, another railway of great
pretensions has taken that same name--(Laughter.) So
happy did they deem the name of the North-Western,
that by that name they have christened the long line of
railway which stretches from London to *Lancaster.
Well, as they have usurped our name, I think they
ought at least to guarantee us their dividend.—(Cheers
and laughter.) However, I believe we shall want no
dividends but our own, for it seems to me that the cir-
cumstances and features of this railway are all of the
most promising character. I am told that there is a po-
pulation amounting to two or three millions in the centre
will be a
counties of England to whom this rttilwaY
saving, if they wish to get to the great town,of Glasgow
and the western districts of Scotland, of 25 miles.—
(Hear.) I am told likewise that from London itself to
Glasgow this railway will afford a saving of 12 miles.
It gives me therefore satisfaction to think thisll , ou.r own
true and genuine North-Western—(Hear)— give all
the vast manufacturing population of that West Riding
of Yorkshire, in which I feel so closely and grate-
fully interested, a ready and convenient access at all
times to the district of the lakes and all the romantic
scenery of that part of England.—(Cheers.) Most
glad shall I be if those hard-working toil-worn men who
are obliged to labour for their bread through a great part
of the year in the smoky streets and close alleys of our
large manufacturing towns, shall be wafted along this
slocepdes t() ;
line through your pleasant fields and sunny
al
that they may enjoy that scenery whiok i
open the minds of all to the beatties of nature, and rub
off the sweat and dust of their daily toil by the glossy
margin of Ullswater, or recruit their wasstkeidhaew.....alth(p-.a
good climb up the rugged steeps of dd
ththateilr hope
pcause.) Allow me only to say, in conclusion,
these works, which are now begun, during
con-
struction, and afterwards during the development
resources of the line, will conduce largely, only
notof the
to
popula-
the comfort and enjoyment of that east bodyof
lit
tion whom it is intended to accommodate, b that they
will lead to the ultimate good of all engaged
them
—(Hear, hear)—that the fruits of their toil will not 1 not be
industry—that
serve
the
but
wasted in idle squandering or drunke
nneriet e y
to swell the independent gains of ho
the beginning, the progress, and the end of e North-
Western Railway works may be a credit to the district
and an advantage to all who labour on it
it, and all be enabled to look back with satisfactionnd travel by
gratitude to the work of this day,—(Cheers.
and
said this, I will now detain you no lon e rs.) Having
to empty the first sod, wishir, from g r, but proceed
conclusion to the works of the' North-Westernmy heart a good
way.—(Great cheering.) Rail-
The Chairman, Mr. Dawson, then took the spade in
hand, and he certainly showed himself much
much more an
adept at the work of an excavator than
Mr. Vignoles, the engineer, who, by the his Lordship.
way,
in appropriate costume of a railway was arrayed
Sharp, the solicitor of the company labourer ; Mr.
Settle, one of the directors, ; Mr. Birkbeck, of
and several other gentlemen
followed ; and it was amusing to observe
with which their performances were the interest
n
standees—the awkwardness so naturally manifested
noticed by the by
affording food for much mirth to the navvies
The ceremony over, a berrel of ale in particular.
Lord Morpeth proposed " Success to the' North-Western
broached, and
Railway," amid repeated huzzas. Theorth-Western
drank the health of his Lordship, navvies then
gradually left the ground. and the company
THE BANQUET.
At half-
past five about 100
gentlemen sat down to
dinner in the assembly-room adjoi • t adjoining the Golden Lion
Inn. The dinner was most sum
presided, having on his left MI) "us'
Mr. P. Dawson Dir. Greene, M.P., Mr. C.

Vignoles, engineer-in-chief, Rev. R. Ingram, &c. On
his right sat the Right Hon. Viscount Morpeth, M.P.
C. J. Geldard, Capelside, acted as vice. Among the
company were Messrs. T. Birkbeck, R. Clayton, G.
Hartley, Thomas Clapham, T. Redmayne, all of Settle ;
H. Roughsedge, Bentham ; J. Sharp. mayor of Lan•
caster ; R. Hinde, E. Sharpe, secretary to the line, all (,f
Lancaster ; C. Nicholson, Stand Lodge, near Bury ; the
Revs. R. M. Smith, incumbent of Rauthmell ; J.Stani-

field, minister of Coniston ; J. Marriner, vicar of Clap

ham ; R. J. Willowby Rooke, curate of Bentham, &c.
In proposing " the Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese,"
the CHAIRMAN said one of the earliest resolutions which
had been passed by the board of directors was to pro-
vide a resident minister where the works were princi•
_ _

pally carried on, and he felt sure that every assistance
would be afforded theirtAaythe Bishq and the clergy,
especially the' clergy more immediately connected with
the district.

The Roy. R. INGRAM very appropriately acknowledged
the toast.

Lord MORPETH rose amid loud applause. He said—
Gentlemen, the chairman has just told us that he has
come to the end of his routine toasts, which we have
drank with due loyalty, respect, and attachment. The
toast which I have now to bring before you cannot be
called routine, because we have to drink it for the first
time; but it will become a routine toast, for it is not the
last time, I trust, we shall drink it.— (Cheers.) The toast
which I am honoured by being allowed to propose is,
" Success to the North-Western Railway."—(lmmense
cheering.) lam sure you Will feel that the sentiment is
congenial to the offices in which we have engaged this
day, and that it is appropriately the crowning work of
this evening.—(Cheers.) I flatter myself that this un-
dertaking has been launched with ail possible omens of
success. Nothing seemed wanted at the beginning. I
only;felt, when we were on the spot where the first sod
was 'dug, stand-the admirable prepays '-which were
made for the ceremonial, and in the centre of the beau-
tiful panorama of hills spread out on each side, I only
felt that the passengers would complain of being hurried
.too rapily along over the most beautiful scenes of the
world, to come to "Settle."— (Most rapturous applause,
which continued for some time.) I certainly think
that the position and circumstances of this line seem
to combine, very happily, all the leading matters that
are desirable in undertakings of this description. Con-
nected as it is with our most busy haunts of manufactur-
ing industry in one direction, and with the most roman-
tic and picturesque spots of our land in another, it forms
a link between the dense smoke of our factories and the
silvery mists of the mountains—(Loud cheers.) I hope,
with mere reference to all contemporary undertakings, it
will be found, in the opposition which it may thought to
offer, to conflict in that opposition with none, but will
maintain its due place, as having uses and benefits of its
own. Indeed, it seems to me, from its very position, to
form an illustration of an old and familiar story, a story
of two men quarelling about the possession of an oyster,
and calling in a third individual to arbitrate between
them. You have one line on the eost, ote on the west,
and another in the middle. On one side, a powerful
western line stretches along a vast extent of country,
from London, we may say, to Perth. On the east, an-
other broad shadow covers with its bulk a great portion
of the territory of our country.—(Cheers.) 'Well, gen-
tlemen, your railway comes in the middle between these
two powerful competitors. Ido not say we must leave
to them nothing but the empty shell; I should be sorry
if any such destiny awaited them; but I hope that occu-
pying, as you do, the middle position, you will have your
due share of the luscious article.—(Vehement cheering).
With the expression of this hope for our future destiny,
and in the full assurance that our future success will be

commensurate with our most sanguine expectations, I
beg to commend to your hearty acceptance the toast
of the North-Western Railway.—(Drunk with three
times three).
Glee—" Life's a bumper."
The CHAIRMAN responded. Among other remarks,
ho said that the fact of his Lordship having consented
to come down from his arduous duties in London to be

present with them on that occasion was itself a proof
that their railway possessed some merit. Some had
called this the iron age, but he trusted that it would
prove the golden age.—(Cheers.) It had once been sup-
posed that insurmountable engineering difficulties pre-
vented the opening out of the lands of Craven to the
benefits of railway communication; but they had found
out a level road, and by means of the branch to Lan-
caster, a port would be opened to the West Riding of
Yorkshire, which would bring the rich produce of Ire-
land in return for the commodities in which that district
abounds.—(Applause.) The Chairman concluded by
giving "The Members of the West Riding."
Lord MORPETI rose amid renewed cheering. He
said, I am almost ashamed to be on my legs again; it is
more than oan be expected in one day, even from any
navvy—(Loud lauk,hter)—and having evinced by the part
I have been allowed to take in the business of this day.
the interest I feel in the matter of your railway, it would
not be right in me to detain you at any length in
speaking on a subject merely personal to myself. I do
not now come to Settle for the first time, and I have
always had reason to be pleased with the reception I
have met with. I may apply to myself the words of
the poet, though, perhaps, in a sense different from that
which he intended,
" Where rise the mountains there to me are friends."
—(Loud cheers.) But however, agreeable my former
visits may have been, the pleasure of my coming among
any neighbours this day is much enhanced by the feel-
ing that there is no shadow of political difference to cast
any obstacle in the way of the promotion of the best in-
terests of the country. To use a railway metaphor, we
are all moving, not only to the same terminus, but tra-
velling on the same line, without any danger of collision,
and without any risk of a crash.—(Renewed cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN next gave " The Members of the
borough of Lancaster."

Mr. GREENE was loudly cheered on rising. The Hon.
Member said he was sure the company would do him
the justice to believe that he felt most deeply gratified
by the handsome manner in which his name had been
received. He did not deserve to be thanked for being
present at their meeting on the auspicious occasion which
had called them together. On the other hand, his thanks
were due to them for the honour they had done him in
sending him an invitation. It was a matter of great
satisfaction to him to have the opportunity of attending a
meeting which had been called for the purpose of com-
mencing a great work, a work designed not only forlocal
convenience, but which was entitled to be looked upon as
a work of national importance. He had been in the habit,
year after year, of travelling along that road to his own
house, and after three days' journey he naturally felt
anxious to reach home. The difficulty of Giggleswick
Brow always presented itself to his mind, and he little
imagined that he should ever be enabled to pass to his
own place of residence at railway speed.—(Cheers.) It
was gratifying to him to witness the extension of the
railway system which was being carried out. He had, a
short time before, been called on to attend a meeting in
celebration of the opening of the Lancaster and Carlisle
Railway, and on his way had passed over the Shap Fells,
which had been pronounced, on high authority, to be
impracticable for railway transit. The result proved the
skill of their engineers, and Great Britain might well
feel proud that she had set the example to all the world
of ability and enterprise which were applied to ob-
jects so useful and importaat.—(Cheers.) lie bad been
much struck with an expression which, when in
London, he had heard used by one of the foreign Mi-
nisters, in speaking of a line that was proposed to be
made from Hamburgh to Trieste. The observation
was, that as lines were carried on to every part of the
globe, and it was felt how one line depended for its
success on another, there was the surest guarantee for
the maintenance of the peace of the world.—(Cheers.)
True, they did not require in England railroads
for the maintenance of peace, but they were necessary
for the purposes of commercial intercourse, and it was
highly desirable that every place should possess the ad-
vantage of them. Feeling strongly, as he (Mr. Greene)
did, the advantages derived from railway communica-
tion, he could not be indifferent to the benefits offered
by the North-Western to a town in whose welfare he
was most deeply interested, being connected with it, as
he had been, from his infancy—he meant the town of
Lancaster. Lancaster would be linked, by means of it,
not only with the manufacturing districts of Yorkshire,
but with the opposite shores, and she would also be
enabled to communicate with Hull and the other ports
on the east side of the island. The lion. Gentleman,
after a few other remarks to a similar purpose, resumed
his seat amid loud cheers.
Mr. SALISIIIIRY, of Lancaster, proposed " The Chair-
man and Directors of the Lancaster and Carlisle and the
Leeds and Bradford lines."

Mr. RAND, of Bradford, responded to the toast.
Mr. BIRKBECK. gave "The Chairman and Board of
Directors of the Blackburn and Clithero and North-
Western Railway."
The sentiment was acknowledged by Mr. ROBINSON,
of Settle.
Mr. R. HINDS, of Lancaster, with a few appropriate
introductory remarks, gave " The Chairman and Di-
rectors of the Wharfdale line," and
Mr. WILSON, jun., of Eshton, briefly acknowledged
the compliment.
Mr. RAND proposed " The Chairman and Directors
of the East Lancashire Railway," observing, that the
North-Western Company was deeply interested in the
success of that line, and that the Rossendale valley con-
tained all the elements to ensure success to railway
enterprise.
Mr. NicnoLsow briefly returned thanks. He said the'
East Lancashire would be most happy to interchange to
an unlimited extent with the North- Western commodi-
ties which must conduce to the comfort of the public to
a large degree, and which would return 121 per cent. to
both lines —(Cheers.)
Lord MoEFETH, in a few very appropriate words, pro-
posed the health of the chairman.
The CHAIRMAN acknowledged the compliment, and
gave the health of " the Engineers."
Mr. VfosoLus, in responding, paid a high compliment
to Mr. Watson, the acting engineer, whose modesty, he
said, was surpassed only by his ability, his integrity, and
his industry. To himself, he said, no credit was due,
except for occasionally casting his eyes over the line, to
see whether certain points were carried out. To Mr.
Watson belonged the praise of managing everything
that related to the details, and every praise ought to be
given to him for the way in which he fulfilled his duties.
lie (Mr. Vignoles) mielt, however, claim for himself
the merit of having laid (i\own principles which, when

PRICE SD.

they were first set forth, were generally condemned as
erroneous and impracticable. Their truth had, however,
been since acknowledged, and the importance of the re-
sults were above calculation. He had always maintained
that level lines should not be the only ones laid down,
but that they should boldly attack the hills. The doc-
trine was pronounced at the first to be visionary, and he
had to encounter the opposition and the remonstrances
of his most valued friends; but he contended that
it was the business of the engineer to seek to
provide for the greatest amount of public good. The
event justified him in his views, and it had been proved
that it was not necessary to seek to obtain a level along
which a maximum load should be carried, but that it was
better to apply extra locomotive power, when any con-
siderable incline presented itself, rather than waste the
resources of the country in refinement for unnecessary
gradients.—(Applause.) Another reason in favour of
the adoption of this principle was the necessity which
existed of affording a far greater amount of accommo-
dation than could be given upon any other system. He
hoped to see the day when villages would have their
railroads, and the farmer would find it cheaper to em-
ploy the railway from parish to parish, for purposes of
agriculture. than the present modes of conveyance:- -Mr.
Vignoles concluded an interesting address, of which we
regret our inability to. present more tLan the preceding
outline, amid grciat applause.
Various other appropriate toasts "fere afterwards
given and responded to ; and the company separated at
a late hour, gratified at the proceedings of the day.

The London and North-Western intend placing under
contract their Rugby and Stamford and Rugby and Lea-
mington lines.
The passenger station of th• Leeds and Bradford at
the former town now about to be built will cover an area
of 500 feet long and 180 wide.

Sir. Culling Smith, one of the_cbief representatives of
the Dissenters, speaking of the prohibition of. Sunday
trains, says—" I will at once say, that while I possess
a carriage, and consider mysej entitled to make use of
it on the Sabbath, I do not think it improper that a
poor man should make use of a railway carriage on that
day."
The Belfast and County Down meditate commencing
with the new year the works on their line from Queen's
bridge, Belfast, to Newtownards, including the branch
to Holywood, 16 miles.
LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN, PARICSIDE BRANCH.
—The London and North-Western opened their Parkside
branch yesterday, accompanying it with changes in the
working of the Prestor. and Parkside section of their line,
whereby detentions, at the latter point, of trains pro-
ceeding north and south will be entirely avoided.
LEVEL CROSSINGS ON THE RICHMOND LINE.—At a
magistrates' meeting at Richmond, on Saturday, Cap-
tain Page and Mr. W. Gilpin reported that they had
viewed several footpaths proposed to be crossed on a
level • that they offered no opinion on the subject of
Mortlake Church footpath, since it had been taken out
of the jurisdiction of the magistrates. In respect to the
other footpaths, vi:,—Forty, Wright's Passage, and the
path leading into Mortlake, through Tinderbox-alley,
they (the magistrates) after the most mature delibera-
tion, are of opinion that the company may be permitted
to cross them on a level, on condition that they make a
paved path across each footway, five feet wide, with
gates on each side, and a proper person to attend to such
sates at each crossing, which appointment they consider
indispensable, in order to protect the public from injury
to life or limb, and the justices from the serious charge
of having sanctioned the same through neglect of the
requisite precautions. An instance of the evil of leav;ng
level crossings unguarded was alluded to, being that of
a girl being killed on the Eastern Counties line, whilst
crossing the level which had hitherto been left un-
watched, but at which, in consequence of the calamity,
the directors of the Eastern Counties forthwith deter-
mined to have gates erected and a man to watch them.
An order was directed to be made, and served upon the
company immediately.

THE SUNDAY TRAINS QUESTION.
On Thursday this subject was debated at great length
before the Glasgow Town Council, the Lord Provost in
the chair, one party contending that the running of Sun-
day trains would deluge Scotland with a flood of conti-
nental immorality and infidelity; and the other, that a
moderate accommodation on the Sunday was absolutely
required by the wants of society, and would be rather
beneficial than otherwise to the morals of the people.
The Lord Provost was in favour of the trains.
The resolutions were as follow:

" 1. That the running of railway passenger trains with
the mails on the morning and evening of the Sabbath
day, between Glasgow and Edinburgh, as has been
practised for four year past, is absolutely necessary,
there being no other mode of travelling or conve) ante
between the two cities.

" 2. That the resolution recently adopted and acted
'upon by the directors of the Edinburgh and Glasgow
Railway Company to stop these trains, is a gross in-
fringement upon the liberty of the subject, and not sane
tioned by the Legislature in the powers with which they
have invested the company—that it ought to be re-
scinded, and that the morning and evening passenger
trains on Sunday ought to be immediately re-established.
" 3. That the railway directors having disregarded
the remonstrances of the city of Edinburgh, the burghs
of Linlithgow and Falkirk, and other places, and parti-
cularly of a large and influential number of the citizens
of Glasgow, this council feel it incumbent upon them to
intimate these resolutions to the parliamentary repre-
sentatives of the city, with a request that they shall
oppose all parliamentary proceedings in which this rail-
way company may be interested, until they comply with
the reasonable wishes of the public so unequivocally ex-
pressed.
" 4. That these resolutions be intimated to the direc-,
tors of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Company."
The council came to the vote, and the resolutions in
favour of the trains were carried by 24 to 17.
The following is the state of the vote:•—
_ _

For Mr. Bankier's resolutions in favour of the Trains.
The Lord Provost; Bailies M'Kinley, Stewart, Bryson,
Orr, and M'Naught; Messrs. Allan, Bankier, Brown,
Callender, Cassius, Chapman, Drummond, Forrester,
Kellar, Imsden George Mitchell, Ord, J. Robertson,
Scott, Small, D:Smith, Stirling, and Wylie-24,
For the previous Question.—Bailies Honeyman and
Smith; the Lord Dean of Guild; Messrs. Brodie, Camp
bell, Clark, jun., J. Fleming, R. Fleming, Gilmour,
Leadbetter, M'Alpin, M'Ara, ll'Douall, M'Gavin,
Di'Lean, Playfair, and Tennant-17.

BORING FOR A TUNNEL UNDER BIRMING-

HAM.

When the project of a central station in Birmingham
was announced, the portion of the plan which contem-
plated the construction of a tunnel underneath the town
was looked upon with considerable uneasiness by a large
part of the community. This arose from a fear that the
foundations on which the town is built being clay-sand
and red sandstone, would give way, and it was confi
dently affirmed by some, that the borings had clearly
shown that the works of the tunnel could not be executed
without great risk to the buildings, underneath which
the tunnel would have to be made. It would appear that
the directors of the London and North Western had als,.
their doubts on this point, notices of removal having
been serveton several proprietors and householders, who,
until they received them, had no thought of b-ing dis-
turbed. But the shaft hich has just been sunk at the
canal wharf in Easy-row by the contractor, for the tun-
nel portion of the works of the Stour Valley—which
have joined the London and South-Western—has disco-
vered the stratum of the earth to be of such a character
as to remove all the fears that have been entertained.
The shaft has already been sunk above fifty feet, and
must be worked six feet farther down before it will reach
the level of the bottom of the tunnel ; but so solid and
adhesive have the strata been found, that the operation
of blasting has had to be repeatedly performed. On
Thursday a large portion of the red rock was thus de-
tached, and altogether the strata is so compact and well
bedded, that even although there were to be no brick-
work in the tunnel, the buildings above would be safe.
Next week the driving of the tunnel commences ; the
whole is to be cased by the most durable quality of brick,
and finished in substantial style.