The Sun.
London, England, 1840-12-26 00:00:00

WOOTTON BASSLTT.

EXTFNSION OF THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY
—O.) Wednesday, the 16th, a vast concourse of per-
sons assembled at Wootton Bassett-road-station, to sec
the extending ,of this line of railway, it having been ad-
vertised to take place on that day ; but in cons( quence
of the line not being completed, it was found impossible
to open it at the time appointed, and the number of per-
sons who hzd congregated (and we understand at on,
time of the day nearly 500 persons had assembled toge-
ther) were doomed to be disappointed, as no engine
could possibly reach the station. On the previous even-
ing it was found impracticable to open the line, and
the Company accordingly had post-horses at the sta-
tion, so that any passengers that arrived should not be
inconvenienced, but forwarded without delay to the
Farringdon-road station. Some little confusion took
place with the Bath and Bristol coaches which bad
altered their route, and in some instances the horses
bad not arrived at their destination when the coaches
drove up. This was, however, obviated by having
post-horses. An engine arrived at five o'clock,
but only brought what is called a ballast-train,
and this came in at a very slow pace, so as
to quite disappoint the countrymen, who had been led
to expect from what they had heard of railway tra-
velling, something very extraordinary. A countryman
who had been waiting at the station for some hours,
returning home was asked if he had seen the
steamer, very simply answered, " he seed un come in
with horses"—at the same time remarking he was not
again going to waste his time for seein; such another
steamer. Great exertions were made during the day,
and on the following morning, Thursday, at a quarter
past ten, the first train started for London. During
the day the trains continued to run at the appointed
hours, and we are happy to add not the slightest acci-
'tent occurred. The distance from the Wootton Bas-
, _f-road station to the railway station at Bath is by the
road about 30 miles.

WOOTTON BASSETT-EOAD STATION.—This place
is in an unusual state of bustle from the increased
number of coaches and other conveyances bringing pas-
sengers, parcels, &c. to the Great Western Railway
Company's office, at the 01(1 Royal Oak-inn. In the
course of twenty-four hours, not less than fourt(en
coaches passed through the town. Independent of this
the clerks and others co: corned with the works flock
for lodgings, so that the place is overflowing with
strangers. In addition there are a great number
of excavators employed in the completion of the
contract below the station. This should induce the
Magistrates to direct the attention of the Captain
of the Rural Police to the circumstance that the
quarter's County-rate for this parish, simply for police
purposes, is upwards of 60/., a sum very much higher
in proportion than the services rendered, only two men
lacing stationed here. Robberies are perpetrated nightly,
and several shops have been entered and most daringly
plundered of their contents. Surely if the police cannot
insure protection to those who are compelled to pay so
very much for what they dislike, the sooner petitions
are forwarded for its abolition the better ; one to this
effect will be in course of signature shortly in this and
the surrounding parishes, the inhabitants of which arc
heartily tired of being compelled to pay for that which
they consider to be neither ornamental nor useful.—
Wiltaiifre

In the neighhourhood of Taunton an extensive
eye em of fraud and roLbery has just been discovered.—ln
April last a man called at the Wilts and Dorset Bank, at
Taunton, with a check for 451., which was cashed, but
atterwards discovered to be a forgery. Endeavours were
made to trace the offender, but without success, until last
July, whien the same person appeared at the Bank, with
'another check for 431. The clerk. recognising him, desired
him to wait whilst he spoke to the other clerk : during his
momentary absence, however, the fellow made off. A good
lookout having been kept, the clerk recognised him in
Tauieon market can the 4th inst., and gave him in charge
of the police. The man turned out to be Thomas Barret,
shopkeeper of Ilchester, who has hitherto borne a re-
spectable charecter. The house of the Rev. William
buckler was recently broken into whilst the family were
attending Divine Service at Ilchester Church, and much
property was stolen by the thieves, who remained undis-
covered. They had, however, the audacity to write a
note to the Reverend Gentleman, thanking him for
et hat they had taken, and intimating their desire to
have more. This aee being shown to Holt, a po-
lice constable, it appeared to him that the hand.writing
was the same as that of the forged cheques, and on
a comperieun the identity was establishes'. lie im-
mediately Proceeded to Ilchester, and examined the pre-
mises of the prisoner, where he discovered some of the
Jperty that had been stolen from the Rev. Mr. Buck-
er, together with some blank cheques that had been stolen
feem the house of Mr. 13 : also several articles that
ead been stolen from Mr. Fraicis. Among these was a
pestle and mortar, which, having been left in the yard.
the servant had to pay for its loss ; and it was remarkable
i het the latter had gone to Barrett, who was reputed to be
.m conjuror, and paid him five shillings. on a promise that
the thief should restore the articles. Barrett is committed
for trial. Wiltshire Independent.
DINNER AT THE MANSION-HOUSE.—The
Mansion-house kitchen continues its operations very ac.
lively in the new Mayoralty. The Lord Mayor on St.
Thomas's day, after having presided over three wardmotes,
held for the election of Common Councilmen, gave a
very elegant entertainment to a large party of gentlemen
of his own ward, when the usual loyal toasts were fol-
lowed by several others which indicated the harmony and
excellent feeling which prevails between his Lordship and
those who have the best opportunity of judging of his
character and principles.
Liz DANGER OF IMPROPER ASPIRATIONS
Brockman, notwithstanding hereducation at a very
polite ladies' academy within three doors of the Parr',
Head, at Camberwell, could not in speaking avoid a whim
she had of cutting off the letter li from its natural posi
tion, aid transplanting it in front of one of the five vowels.
Thus, according to her, a hat was an att, an apple a happle,
an otter a hotter, and an owl a howl. Miss Brockman
was one morning riding on her Jerusalempony, in her nan-
keen pelisse and green veil, Tom following with whipcord,
when she thought that her swain was
the edge was driving rather
e, „.
perilously towards the ocean. Nearer
claimed Miss Brockman ; " you are too near the hedze."
Torn Templeton, believing that the lady expressed her real
sentimeets, and not dreaming that she meant him to seek
the hedge, and eschew the edge, drove the donkey ao cloy,
to the brow of the cliff, that the ground actually batten
crack landward of the lovers; and had not the quadruped'shle
superior wisdom induced him to swerve inward, the whole
party would have made a most abrupt descent upon :t
he
heads of the shell-picking urchins on the shore.—Janes
Smith's Comic Miscellanies.
IRON WAR STEAMERS.—Two iron steamer,
were built early in the present year at Birkenhead, They
were named the Nemesis and the Phlegethon. They
were completely equipped for the purposes of war, and
each carried two 32-pounders on swivels. Every person
who saw these vessels and their equipment supposed they
were destined for the Indian seas; nobody suspected,
however, except the parties in the secret, that they were
built for the Government,
and expressly for the purpose
or forming part of the Chinese expedition, their light
ra 14 ht of water admirably adapting them for ascending
ris, re. The fact of both belonging to the Government
was made generally known by the overland mail. TI-e
Nemesis had reached the Indian Seas, and the Phlegetl on
Wdo expected te arrive there in a few weeks. Long be.
fore now they have joined the Chinese expedition, to
which they would be a great acquisition of strength._
Liverpool Albion.