The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-17 00:00:00

WEST RIDING

My Lord,—On behalf of the oppressed sons and daughters
of the working classes of Yorkshire, employed in factories,
we beg leave respectfully to express our very deep regret that
your Lordship's answer to the memorial of the short-time de-
legates does not give them an assurance that Lord Ashley's
Bill for ten hours daily labour will receive that support at
your hands which it merits, and which they feel they have a
right to expect from your Lordship's professions of earnest
solicitude for the welfare of the factory workers.
We would ask your Lordship in what manner is the de-
graded condition of these persons to be remedied, except by
giving them time to recruit their bodily strength, to enjoy
their homes, and to improve their minds ?
In the present state of the law their time is engrossed and
their faculties worn out by their more than slavish labour,
inflicted by their masters, who justify the procedure by the
prevailing and general practice of the factory system.
We know not to whom we can appeal with so much pro-
priety as to our representatives in Parliament ; and if they
turn a deaf ear to our just request, the responsibility is no
longer ours.

We cannot disguise from your Lordship the fact, that we
think the mass of information which has been advanced,
both within and without the walls of Parliament, during the
last 15 years is a'rply sufficient to enable any public man to
make up his mind as to the course he ought to pursue on this
momentous question.
The gross injustice now endured by these young persons
cries aloud for immediate legislative interference ; and we
submit that no man can expect to be looked upon as the
friend of the working classes who shall in any way oppose
the limitation of labour which Lord Ashley intends to pro-
pose in the approaching session.
We conclude by entreating your Lordship to take that
sound view of this great question which the humane and
enlightened portion of the community have alopted, and to
aid in the emancipation of the suffering factory workers,
whose present, future, and eternal happiness will thereby be
assuredly promoted.
Signed, by order of the Central Short Time Committee of
the West Riding of Yorkshire,
Jan. 14.

M. BALME, Secretary.

THE NORFOLK RAILWAY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—l-laving had occasion a short time ago to pass over
the Norfolk Railway (a day or two after the late fatal catas-
trophe), I had an opportunity of observing the very dan-
gerous state of the line. In one case the rails were in that
stats which would at once satisfactorily account for the recent
accident. The part of the line to which I alluroa is between
Thetford and Ely, about sixteen miles from the former place,
and is indented [one of the line of rails] three inches in
the course of four or five yards; from which it will at once
be evident that an engine passing over this part of the line,
at a speed not less than 45 miles per hour, would most in-
evitably be " jumped" up or off the line.
I mentioned this circumstance to the driver of the engine
which had brought us up from Norwich, who, after calling
my attention to the accident which had just occurred, re-
marked that he was in great fear on every occasion that he
was out with his engine; and added, " that the line sinks so
much during the day and night."
If you think this information worthy of notice, you will
make use of i 1 at your discretion.—l am, Sir, yours, &c.,
Sheffield, Jan. 15, 1846. R. M.

Lord John Russell, accompanied by the Lord
Provost, W. Gibson Craig, Esq., M.P., D. R. Ross, Eeq.,
M.P., and Baillie Anderson, left Carrick's hotel on
Tuesday morning, shortly after ten o'clock, and visited
the College, St. Rollox Works, Messrs. Todd and Higgin-
botham's, Mr. Dixon's iron works, &c. &c., and returned to
the hotel about half-past two o'clock. His Lordship left the
station, head of Queen-street, at three o'clock, for Edinburgh.
—Glasgow Chronicle.
SUNDERLAND.—THE LEAGUE FUND.—A meeting
of the Anti-Corn-law Association of this town was held on
Tuesday at Donkin's, the Bridge Hotel; Alderman Bow-
maker in the chair. The object of the meeting, which con-
sisted merely of a few of the most active friends of the cause,
was to commence a subscription in aid of the quarter of a
million League Fund. Nearly 2001. were subscribed in the
room, and several gentlemen were appointed to canvass the
town.

DEPARTURE OF THE FIRST MISSION SHIP FROM
LIVERPOOL.—The mission ship Warree sailed from the Tra-
falgar-dock, Liverpool, on Tuesday morning, for old Calabar,
on the west coast of Africa, provided vb ith everything that
human forethought can suggest for establishing and prose-
cuting missionary operatings there, under the auspices of the
United Secession Church of Scotland. The idea of this mis-
sion originated with the emancipated negroes in the island
of Jamaica, who have embraced Christianity, and now long
for the evangelization of their fatherland. This desire was com-
municated to the kings and chiefs of Old Calabar, and by
these a formal invitation was given for missionaries to take
up their residence with them. Four of the missionaries who
have sailed in the Warree are coloured persons, two of them
negroes, the other two descendants of the African race. Their
constitutions are thus adapted to the climate. The use of
the ship Warree is the spontaneous gift of an opulent mer-
chant of Liverpool, who has done much for the civilisation
of Africa.—Liverpool Albion.

REPRESENTATION OF LICHFIELD. -- LICHFIELD,
THURSDAY NIGHT.—No candidate has yet declared himself
as successor to Lord Leveson. It is, however, ascertained
that Lord Waterpark, the trustee of Lady Lichfield; (not of
Lord Anson), will not be brought forward in the Lichfield
interest, but that the Whig candidate will be Mr. Mostyn,
another gentleman connected with the family property. The
Conervatives, or " Peelers," are on the alert. Captain
Dyott is the gentleman naturally looked to in this interest,
but it is understood that the gallant officer will not offer
himself, unless operated upon by a strong requisition. In
the absence of Captain Dyott, a gentleman of high standing
on the Oxford circuit, should a contest occur, will be intro-
duced to the electors of Lichfield. There can be little doubt,
that, in case of a contest, the election will be extremely
close. Lichfield, previous to the Reform Bill, and ever
since, has been considered a close family borough. The Con-
servatives have fought several Lave been inva-
riably beaten by small inajoriii. The,,e once
more to assert their cuilbtitatioiial 118:itS; eireunistaaces
will, in the course of a few days, determine the course they
intend to pursue.

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDA Y MOR

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
SHREWSBURY AND BIRMINGHAM.
MANCHESTER, TitußsDar.—To-day, at noon, a meeti, of
the Scripholders in this Company was held at the Star hotel,
Deansgate, in this town, to consider the announ.ment
lately made, x
of an amalgamation with the Dudley, Madeley,
and Broseley.
At the time appointed, about thirty-five Shareholders and
solicitors, representing shares to a very large amount, were
present.
Mr. HARRISON BLAIR moved that Mr. Todd take the chair.
Mr. BLAIR moved that the "proposed amalgamation
between the Shrewsbury and Birmingham, and the Dudley,
Madeley, and Broseley line is highly injurious to the interests
of the Shareholders of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham
Company, and that the following gentlemen be appointed a
Committee, to protect the general interests of the Share-
holders." He would not propose that resolution, but he
would propose the appointment of a deputation, and he would
suggest that they be specially instructed to ascertain whether
the Dudley and Madeley plans had been eompleted and de-
posited according to law, without which they would not be
in a position to go to Parliament.
Mr. SAVERY said that the effect of the proposed amal-
gamation would be to reduce the value of their property by
one third, giving the defunct company three shares for two.
Mr. AINSWORTH, of Bolton, and others, thought that a
deputation should go up to London or Birmingham, as the
case might be.
Mr. JAMES WOOLLEY, druggist, proposed as an amendment,
that Mr. Blair should write to the secretary for official in •
formation on the subject.
The amendment having been seconded, was put and lost
by a large majority, and Messrs. Mawdesley, Davies, and
Blair were appointed a deputation for the purpose before re-
ferred to, and they were directed to report to a meeting of
shareholders to be held at a future day.
LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN.
A numerous meeting of the rate-payers of the parish of
Christ Church, Surrey, was held at the vestry-room, yester-
day, for the purpose of receiving a communication from the
board of highways with reference to the railway proposed to
be carried through the Blackfriari•road by the London and
South-Western Railway Company.
Mr. Pegg, churchwarden, was called to the chair.
Mr. Honsox said they were no doubt aware that it was
proposed to construct a railway through their parish, and
that it was intended to pull down some of their houses. There
were two companies who had this in contemplation : one of
these, the Londcn and South-Western, had served them with
a notice; the other, the North Kent, had not. The Board of
Surveyors on last Friday, held a meeting, and resolved, that
as the meeting of the parishioners, which was fixed for last
Thursday to consider this subject, had not taken place, to
dissent from the proposed railway, from a conviction that it
would be injurious to the interests of the parishioners.
The VESTRY CLERK then read the notice, which stated
that the Company intended applying to Parliament next
session for leave to amend the Bill they had obtained for a
line to Waterloo-bridge, and that they intended to substitute
one which would pass through William street, York-street,
Gravel-lane, and Jane-street. He also read the resolution re-
ferred to by Mr. Hobson,
The -Cii_unstAx said, the line proposed by the London
and South-Western would affect very seriously their in-
terests, and would reduce the property in the parish about
5i per cent., by the pulling down of 163 houses assessed at
2,648/. It was now time for them to see what steps they
should adopt to prevent that; or should they succeed in
getting that railway, to attend to the interests of the
parishioners. The South-Western proposed an embank.
ment, and the North Kent a viaduct, to be carried across
the road.
Mr. BowpiTcu said that they were met to consider what
would b 3 advantageous to the collective interests of the
country, as well as what affected the parish. It was certain
that one-eighteenth portion of the house property in
the parish would be destroyed, and that, consequently,
fifteenpence in the pound would be added to their
rates, or the difference between 8501. and 9001. The
effect would be, that all the property in the parish would
suffer materially, and he would propose a resolution to
that effect. But it was not confined to the pariah to
be opposed to this railway; the public feeling was in
general against it, for it would destroy the beauty of the road
without effecting any adequate benefit in the transit of
goods, which would have been effected much better by the
line before proposed. That line would have been carried,
but that the Company could not agree with Mr. Alderman
Humphery as to the compensation to be given him if
they were to go to London-bridge, By the• Bill that was
obtained last year they proposed to make Waterloo-bridge
the terminus, and that place had the approbation of Mr.
Hawes.
Mr. WEBB concurred in the opinion of the last speaker, for
he was satisfied that wherever viaducts were erected the
neighbourhood was invariably injured. He was also of opi-
nion that the line from Kennington would be more desirable,
for the traffic came chiefly by that way to the west-end of
the metropolis. He, therefore, believed that it would be
more consistent with the interest of the public were that line
adhered to.
Mr. WILSON said that the householders in the neighbour-
hood of Waterloo-bridge had suffered the Bill to pass from a
conviction that the district would be materially benefited by
the railway to that bridge, and that the rental would be con •
siderably increased. And the Corporation of London had
permitted the Blackwell Railway to come to Fenchurch-street
from a similar conviction. They had even proposed that two
of the largest railways should come through Farringdon-
street. It would be a perfectly futile attempt for any Com-
mittee they might appoint, to seek to prevent the passing of
the Bill for the proposed railway. It would be more ad-
visable for them to work with the South-Western Company,
and Government would take care that the interests of the
parish were not sacrificed pending the time of their treating
with that Company. They would also derive great benefit
during the construction of the railway by the employment of
labourers, and it was unwise for them, a small, metropolitan
perish, to offer opposition to an important and useful under-
taking.
Mr. HoasoN conceived that, on public grounds, it would
be better if they paid it out of their own pockets. The houses
that would be pulled down were not old, but most tof them
new, and all of which paid rates. The rental with these
houses was 3,327/., which would be reduced to 2,6481. And
again, the viaduct that was proposed to be erected would be
but 90 feet in width, while the road was 80 feet broad, and
the footpath 40 feet.
After some further discussion, it was agreed that a com-
mittee of sixteen persons, consisting of the overseers, church-
wardens, and other parishioners, should be appointed to watch
the progress of any railway Bill affecting the interests of the
parish, and to report the same to the parishioners, who would
take the necessary steps to oppose it effectually.

METROPOLITAN LINES.
A meeting of the inhabitants of Isleworth was held this
week, in the National School-room, Isleworth-square, Mr.
William Day in the chair, to receive a report from the com-
mittee appointed by the vestry to inquire which of the pro-
jected railways would'be most likely to benefit the parish.
Mr. Charles Stanbrough was the chairman.
Mr. HORATIO DAY read the repines out of the fourteen or
ort, from which it appeared
that only seven of the projected lines
fifteen originally announced, had proceeded so far as to
deposits their plans with the clerk of the parish.—( Hear,
hear.) That four oat of the seven were objectionable, as not
affording the local advantages the parish required, and of the
remaining three, viz., " the London, Hounslow, and Western,"
" the Staines branch from the ' Great Western' at Ealing,"
and " the Great Western, Brentford, and Central Terminus
Junction," it was considered the Staines branch was deci-
dedly the best for the interests of the parish; next the
London, Hounslow, and Western ; and then the Great
Western, Brentford, and Central Terminus Junction. It was
to be distinctly understood that the report was based on the
advantages to be derived by the parish of Isleworth, that
being the limit of the instructions of the committees, and
that it was through
the highly necessary, if any line were to pass thugh
the parish, that the one which appeared to offer the
greatest advantages should be supported. The reasons
assigned for the preference of the Staines branch
from the Great Western were, that it would ac
commodate nearly every part of the parish that
it would contribute more than any other towards the paro-
chial rates that it was much more easy of formation, con-
sequently cheaper, and would be more readily carried out,
and although the Paddington terminus was objectionable, it
was supposed the Great Western line would be shortly ex-
tended to the City.
Mr. Dixox moved that the report be received and adopted.
Mr. H. POWNALL moved as an amendment to that motion,
That the thanks of this meeting be given to the Committee
for the careful report they have made, but that the meeting
did not consider the bran from the Great Western the best
for their interests."—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. HARRISON then addressed the meeting on behalf of the
London, Hounslow, and Western, and
Major BOILEAU on the part of the London and Windsor.
The. amendment proposed by Mr. PowNALL was ultimately
carried, a discussion having first arisen as to the right of non-
parishioners to vote, when the Chairman decided that as the
call for the meeting invited the inhabitants of the district it
was open to them to do so.

AMALGAMATION OF THE SKREWSBURY AND BIR-
MLNIGHAM WITH THE LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM.—We un-
derstand that arrangements are in progress for an amalga-
mation of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham with the Lon-
don and Birmingham Railway Company, and that an agree-
ment is likely to be concluded mutually advantageous.—
Birmingham Correspondent.
THE SOUTHERN EXTENSIONS. Yesterday a meeting
of the inhabitants of the parish of St. Saviour, Southwark,
took place in the vestry room, to take into consideration
" the notices given by the several railway companies of
their intention to construct railways in different parts of
this parish, and also, more particularly, such of them as
interfere with parish property, and to adopt such steps
thereon as may be thought most desirable." Mr. W. S.
Hinton, the senior warden, having been called to the chair,
the vestry clerk read the following report from the paro-
chial authorities with reference to the subject :—" We the
churchwardens, report that notices have been given, and
plans and sections have been deposited by the following com-
panies, viz.:—The South-Western, the North Kent Line,
and the City Extension and North Kent Line The North
Kent Line, and the City Extension and North Kent Line, as
far as the parish is concerned, are nearly the same, both
being promoted by one and the same company. The three
lines, it will be seen by reference to the Parliamentary plans,
will interfere with the parish. The South-Western Exten-
sion is the line which is of more serious consequence to the
parish, and is the only one proposing to take parish property.
The South Eastern Extension Company has also given us
notice of an intended line through Dartford, taking a por-
tion of the parish property, and we have also returned our
dissent." The report having been adopted, a long discussion
en
iosuveadr'aunsdC finally, a committee was appointed to oppose
the companies.

ME. E. ELLICE, M.P.—This gentleman addressed
a very large assemblage of his constituents in Cupar on
Thursday evening last—Provost Nicol hi the chair. Mr.
Ellice went over the principal topics brought before Parlia-
ment last session ; and in alluding to the present condition of
the country, stated that nothing short of the total and un-
conditional repeal of the corn-laws would give satisfaction to
the country, or do any good. At the conclusion of his ad-
dress, a vote of thanks and confidence was unanimously
passed.—Scotsman.
SHEERNESS, JAN. 14.—Commander William Hay-
hurst Hall, who was made a lieutenant in 1826 for his ser-
vices during the Burmese war, and a commander in 1840 for
his services at the capture of St. Jean d'Acre, has been ap-
pointed to command the Electra, 18, corvette, ready for com-
mission at this port. Commander Thomas Bourmaster Brown,
1841, son of Rear-Admiral Thomas Brown, has been ap-
pointed to command the Snake, 16, brig, also at this port.
The Sampson steam frigate, Captain Henderson, and the
Viper schooner, Lieutenant
, Gray, are fitting for sea in the
basin. The Sampson s heavy guns are ready to be shipped.
a n
uVe e t
ou n understand that
etxhta a tthwerin Ma-
jesty
Windsor
The Viper is taking on board herstores, but his expected that
neither will be ready to l•ars the fitting basin for a long
ttme to come.
jCesailytVlewir.Nilaplfstge7rl7ethaee'gtCrSlaiTnaLpdtEeb. —r
of the Order of the Garter. The
`1" the F,EI ~f
r, 4 ariA th, sevefai knights of
that illustrious order, are invited to remain at the royal re-
sidence for the night.

I NG, JANUARY 17, 1846.

LITERATURE.
A HISTORY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 2 Vols.
Ry T. H. Brains.

As a history of the most gigantic colony in the
possession of Great Britain, and as a narrative of its
natural and political advancement " from its settle-
ment to the close of 1844," this production of Mr.
Braim is particularly valuable and important. Truly,
as it is expressed in the quotation upon the title-
page, we may glean from such a work as the present
some conception of the progressive improvement and
future greatness of a youthful nation ; or, as we gaze
upon those vast and populating territories, exclaim—
"As in a cradled Hercules, we trace
The lines of empire in thine infant face!"
Narrating the occurrences and detailing the statistics
of up wards of half a century, from the nomination of
Captain Phillip as Governor down to the administra-
tion of Sir George Gipps in-dusively, allowances must
undoubtedly be made for a certain amount of inac-
curacy ; but when these inaccuracies extend beyond
an admissible limit, no condemnation can be adequate
to such inexcusable carelessness. The office of an
historian is fraught with very great responsibility,
and for all conspicuous errors he is personally answer-
able before the tribunal of criticism. In penning any
fallacy he is guilty of practising deception on
posterity ; and for this prodigious literary crime
he merits all possible blame. No matter if his
mis-statements arise directly from his having consulted
a questionable
i authority, or indirectly from the hur-
ried manner n which his work was compiled, he is
infinitely culpable for those very reasons. 'lt he
could not resort to the most indubitable references, or
could not obtain ample time for the composition' erf
anything laying claim to the dignity of history, he
should entirely abandon the notion of such an under-
taking. We have been influenced in giving utterance
to these remarks from the circumstance of many errors
having insinuated themselves into the pages of Mr.
Braim : not that the misstatements which we our-
selves have detected bear reference to any important
political changes, but simply to several minor details
—which are, however, alone sufficient to shake our
credence in the other portions of the narrative.
Among these egregious specimens either of ignorance
or over-haste, we may particularise the absence of all
correctness in his biographical allusion to the second
Governor of New South Wales, Captain Hunter.
Instead of rising merely to the rank of
rear-admiral, as stated by the author,
Captain Hunter attained, before his death,
the dignity of vice-admiral. And far from " spend-
ing the closing years of his life in the neighbourhood
of Leith, in Scotland," Admiral Hunter lived then
almost exclusively in London, dying at his house in
Judd-place, New-road, in the spring of 1821, and in
the eighty-second year of his age. Mistakes as
intolerable as these sully the pages of this work
beyond all redemption, leaving the reader in un-
certainty as to whether he shall credit other
assertions for which he has to rely solely on
the accuracy of so extremely inaccurate a writer.
Besides this, there are several conspicuous deficiences
in the production before us—deficiences which render
it singularly incomplete. On this point, for example,
no mention whatever is made of Captain Kent, who,
in the command of the Investigator and the Buffalo,
made the first and the most authoritative Government
survey round the coasts of that enormous colony.
besides transmitting his name to posterity through
the discovery of the group of "Kent's Islands" at the
earlier part of the present century. Such oversights
tarnish the entirety of two volumes like the present ;
they render the assemblage of chapters a mere ghost
of completeness. The style of the work is pleasant
and atractive ; and the general estimate of our
Australian possessions—their capacity for culti-
vation and colonization—is shrewd and sensi-
ble. Altogether, Mr. Braim's history is, in
its existing shape, a mere collection of memo-
randa for some future and more substantial composi-
tion ; and from the capabilities which he evidences for
such a labour, even in his present random sketches,
we consider him better fitted possibly than any other
individual to write a really historical account of New
South Wales, from the moment of its discovery to
our own immediate time. This task has not yet been
accomplished; if, however, Mr. Thomas Henry Braim
will submit his two volumes to a careful revision
and extension, he may render himself in truth and
act the historian of Australia.