The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-07 00:00:00

SCOTTISH MIDLAND JUNCTION.

The line, which forms a portion of the Central trunk
line of railway through Scotland from north to south, in
extension of the Scottish, Centel and Caledonian, was
opened for general traffic yesterday (Wednesday). On
the previous day the directors gave their friends a plea
sure excursion along the line to Forfar and back, which
was extended to comprehend all who desired to parti
cipate in the trip, so that eventually nearly thirty car-
riages started from the general station a little before
tnid•day. The country traversed by the line, we need
hardly inform our readers, is a beautiful one through-
out. From no point does Perth look to greater ad-
vantage than from the north, a little beyond the
Almand (which is caused by a stone bridge of three
arches), and Scone Palace, the classic fields of Lun-
carty, the picturesquely-situated cotton-mills of Stanley
all form prominent points of attraction to the traveller.
The bridge over the Tay at Cargill is a beautiful piece
of architecture ; and is considered by competent judges
to be one of the triumphs of the line. It consists of five
arches, each 100 feet span, and CO above the river ; it is
built of Huntingtower stone, except the arches, which
are timber, with open balustrades. M€ikleour, a seat o►
the ancient house of Aldie, now represented by Countess
Fahaulr, is seen to much advantage from this point,
situated on a promontory formed by the junction of th.
Isla with the Tay, and richly clothed with wood. Th,
line continues eastward for two or three miles, when it
turns northward to Coupar Angus, where the Newtyle
Railway to Dundee joins it. This district is rich in
noblemen and gentlemen's seats, among which we
noticed Belmount CiStle (Lord Wharncliffe), Lintrose,
Keithick, Balgersho, Arthurston, Simprim, &c. The
whole line eastward to Meigle village is through a most
luxuriant country and picturesque scenery. Leaving
Perthshire three miles beyond Meigle, we approach the
lovely scenery and venerable castle of Glammis, one of
the most interesting objects in the country. The castle,
which is in excellent repair, is the most perfect specimen
of the old baronial residences of Scotland, and every
facility is afforded to strangers to see all that is inter-
esting connected with it. The line thence to Forfar
presents fewer features of interest. The grounds of
Conde)), Castle, the seat of the Earl of Airlie, Lord-
Lieutenant of Forfarshire, are seen in the distance; and
the whole line of the Grampians, terminating with Ben
Vorlich, on Loch Earnside, in the west, are here
brought into ono view. The station is about half a mile
north of Forfar, where it joins the Arbroath line, and
here the line of continuous railway travelling from Land's
End stops fur the present. The town of Forfar presents
little attraction to travellers; and the party spent the in-
terval tiil the return of the train as they best could.—
Perthshire Railway.

DIRECT LINE BETWEEN LONDON AND PARIS.

A correspondent states that the opening of the Rouen
and Dieppe Railway completes the most direct commu
❑ication between the tno capitals, the total distance,
via Brighton, being 245 mil,•s; that it is 100 miles less
than the route by S. uthampton and Havre, and 40 mite.
less than that by Dover and Boulogne. The Dieppe
line branches out of the Rouen and Havre Railway at
Malaunay, about seven miles from Rotten, and traverses,
the whole way to Dieppe, a beautiful country. The
total length of the line is 30 miles. After leaving the
junction it follows, a demi cote, the Vallee de Cleves. Ii

then enters the Vallee de la Scie, which it traverses till
within two miles of Dieppe, passing by St. Victor,
Auffay, and Longueville, at each of which places stations
have been built. The line quits this valley and enters
the Vallee d'Argues by means of a tunnel a mile in
length, and almost immediately arrives at the Dieppe
station, which, when completed, will afford every ac-
ccmmodution for passengers and merchandise.

POSTPONEMENT OF THE OPENING OF THE
RICHMOND AND WINDSOR RAILWAY.

This branch line of railway, extending from Rich-
mond to the present terminus at Datchet (in connexion
with the South-western Railway), which was to have
been opened for passeger traffic the first week in August,
will not now be in working order for at least three
weeks or a month, in consequence of some of the piers
of the viaduct extending act oss the Deer Park at Rich-
mond having sunk to the extent of upwards of two feet.
'filo unfortunate affair is supposed to have been occa-
sioned by the soil being generally composed of loose
gravel, and the land springs which abound in thatt
neighbourhood. Fwo arches must be entirely rebuilt,
and the piers of a third, it is expected, will also have
to be entirely reconstructed. The foundations were
originally dug to a depth of eight feet below the sur-
face. Excavations have since been made to double that
depth, yet still a sufficiently solid foundation has not
been arrived. at. The original intention of Mr. Lucke,
At.P., the engin( er to the company, who was perfectly
well aware of the treacherous nature of the soil, was to
carry the railway across this portion of the line by
means of an embankment. This plan, however, was
overrult d by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests,
and a clause was inserted in the Act of Parlisment,
compelling the company to construct a viaduct across
the path, to be supported by ornamental columns and
and arches. It is stated that, as the viaduct was con-
structed under the superindence of a Crown official, the
Government will make some compensation to the parties
referred to. Had it not been for the sinking of the
piers of the viaduct, the line would have been opened
from Windsor to Waterloo-bridge, this day.

Inisu INTIMIDATION.-:—ln the afternoon of Wed-
nesday last, an Irishman, who had the appearance of a
reaper, entered the back premises of sume dwelling-
houses in Cartwright-street, under the pretence of so-
liciting charity, and grumbled because he could get
nothing but water. He stole a clasp-knife from a win-
dow-sill, and when ha was desired by the females present
to restore it, he brandished a bared sickle, and threat-
ened destruction to any one who opposed him, defying,
at the same time, the threat with regard to the polkce.
He is a broad-set man, with grey hair, of florid coM-
plexion, and apparently between sixty and seventy
years of age. It is high time that the town was rid of
these dangerous vagabonds.—Doncaster Gazette.

A GOOD LUCKiENNY.—SPEEDY COURT9I.IIP.--An
intelligent farmer, residing within a hundred miles
of \Vigtown, lately visited an extensive sheep dealer
in the same district, for the purpose of selecting
a few of his best ewe lambs. The parties, after
debating for some time on the state of markers, &c ,
were about to conclude a bargain, when the intend-
ing purchaser inquired what sort of a luckpenny
he was to get. The :uarclian of the "fleecy flock," after
some hesitation,maintained he "couldna afford a luck penny
aff the bargain." The other still persisting in his claim to
the usual allowance, the seller declared, in an immoderate
fit of laughter, " Od, gie ye my dochter Janet," who
was, meanwhile, supplying the " twa drovers" with the
necessary ingredients for a bowl of punch. Janet seemed
to relish the joke, but " looked unutterable things."
The lord of the soil followed up the remark, by inquir-
ing " what luckpenuy he would gie wi' Janet ?"
Atweel." says the other, " I'se gie ye twa hater wi'
her." In another instant the arrner exclaimed
(at the same time reaching his hand to his friend)
" Mak' it four and I'm your man !" The old gentle-
man, beginning to thick he was carrying the joke too
far, craved permission to consider the matter till the
following morning—doubtless with a view of consulting
Janet. This request having been granted, the parties
thereafter enjoyed themselves for some time, and
the night " drave on wi' sangs and clatter"—the
luckpenny, of course, forming the principal sub-
ject of discussion. Alter a hearty carousal, they
separated, looking forward with anxious expectation
as to the morrow.. The morrow soon arrived, and
the two dealers met according to appointment, when the
old genrdeman declared his willingness to " mak' it four,"
provided the other was agreeable to take Janet. We
have only to add that the bargain was struck, the luck-
penny accepted, and Janet at the end of eight days, bk.-
c.ime Mrs. --, and. now makes a thrifty wife.— Wig,
totonshire Free Press.
THE GAS QUESTION IN MAIITLEBONE.-011Friday,
pursuant to requisittun, a large and influential meeting
of the Marylebone Parochial Committee, number-hp,
about 1,000 rate-payers, was held at the Westmorland
Rooms, George-s*,reet, Manchester-square, to take into
consideration the present state of the gas question, as
regards the terms required by the vestry for the admis.
sion of the Western Gas-tight Company. After some
conversation, a resolution was carried recommendieg
that the Western Gas-light Company be admitted on the
most
aenxceeding those of the contract
with
h liberal Berme, s, not
Imperial Company.