The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-27 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL, MANCHESTER, AND

NEWCASTLE JUNCTION RAILWAY.
(Faom ♦ CORRESPONDENT.)

The opposition (petitioners) to this line having
been thrown out last night by the Committee of the
House of Lords, I send you the following account of
the line from its first introduction into Parliament :
" This line is intended to join the East Lancashire
line at Burnley, and run north into the York and
Newcastle line at Cowton (near Richmond), in York-
shire, crossing the projected Northern Counties Union
line, which runs to Bedale, and using twelve miles of
that line, the total length being fifty-six miles.
" The company was projected in 1845 under the
highest patronage; the shares were to be 80,000, at 201.
each, with 21. 10s. paid. 'Several other projects were
in the field to occupy the district; there being nothing
nearer than the Leeds and Thirsk on the east side,
the Northern Counties Union on the north side of the
proposed line, and the Lancaster and Carlisle on the
east side of it, into which the rival Northern Coun-
ties line ran. The only project which survived
was the Lancashire and North Yorkshire Company,
which agreed in committee in 1846 to amalgamate
with this line.

" The Bill passed most triumphantly in 1846, and
the amalgamation took place ; the capital then to be
70,000 shares at 201., and the shares were equally
divided, 33,000 to each company or body of pro-
prietors.
" This line shortened the route between Newcastle-
upon-Tyne and Liverpool 25 miles over any other line,
between Newcastle and Fleetwood 541 miles, between
Newcastle and Preston the same, between Newcastle
and Manchester 18i miles, and to Bury 38 miles ; it
commanded the traffic between those places, and of
course the north of Ireland via Fleetwood. The coal
and coke passing over the line was calculated at an
immense extent, and the line itself occupied a rich
grazing country : it shortened the communication
between the terminii considerably more than the
Northern Counties Union line.

" Mr. Hudson had agreed to pay six per cent. on half
the capital for making the twelve miles running west
from Bedale to the Northern Counties Union line, in
other words, that part was to be common to both
companies.

" In 1847 the directors went to Parliament for the
Burnley branch, so as to cut off an elbow, and to
effect other important deviations, and the line, as it
stands, was said to be constructable now for 800,0001.
only. Tke district had become matter of much dis-
cussion between the Manchester and Leeds Company,
the orthern Counties Company, and Mr. Hudson's
companies, and those discussions led to internal dis-
sensions, which had a serious influence on the share-
holders, especially as other companies held large
shares in this undertaking. It also appeared that
the allotments of shares in 1845, and the subsequent
transactions in them by directors and officials, had
called forth strong expressions of disapprobation, and
there is no doubt those irregularities (to use no
harsher term) had influence with the Committee of
the Lords—the solicitors promoting this Bill. having
lately purchased several hundreds of shares at nominal
prices. In 1845, 20,000 shares had been originally
allotted to the officials, 6,000 only to the public, and
3,000 to Members of Parliament! In 1845 the
shares were at 61. to 81. premium—in 1848 at as many
shillings ! and large numbers were bought by the
promoters of this Bill.
" Above 170,000/. had been raised, and above
100,0001. spent ; so that there remained 70,0001., or
nearly 11. per share.
"The. public advantages of the line had been through-
out maintained by all sets of directors up to the pre-
sent application, and there is no doubt that that
weighed with their Lordships, as well as the private
considerations as to the conduct of the promoters,and
the share transactions, which appeared of the most
extraordinary character. The public interests cer-
tainly appear to furnish a fair reason for the making
the line in competition to existing routes on the
north or south, or the projected route of the Northern
Counties Union."

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
(THIS EVENING.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Their Lordships met shortly after Five o'clock.
The Ecclesiastical Patronage Suits Compromise (Ire-
land) Bill went through Committee.
The Prisons Bill also went through Committee.
PUBLIC HEALTH BILL.
Lord CAMPBELL moved the second reading of the
Pablic Health Bill, with amendments.
The Bishop of LONDON thought that the Select
Committee which bad been appointed had improved the
Bill by making the amendments in it, and therefore he
cave his cordial support to it.
The Bill was then read a third time and passed.
STATR OF IRELAND.

Lord BROUGHAM put a question to the Noble Lord
(Lord Lansdowne) relative to the alarming news which
had just been received from Ireland. For himself he
thought they were grossly exaggerated, if they were not
altogether pure inventions.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that with respect
to the rumour which had been circulated in the City,
of the commencement of rebellion in Ireland, he had the
satisfaction of being enabled to state that there was
every probability of its being altogether unfounded. The
Government were in the possession of dispatches from
the Lord Lieutenant, dated at three o'clock yesterday,
whichot were
bya special messenger, but they
nwhatever with respect to any such an
contained
ed no t broughthi
n g
outbreak. Letters had subsequently been received, dated
at six o'clock on the same day, which had come by the
were equally void of the slightest refer-
omnaciol , but
to
o they
such an occurrence. Ho therefore did
not think that there was the slightest grounds
for the circulation of such a rumour. At the
same time ho begged to add that there was the
greatest probability of an outbreak in that particular
qcarter of Ireland in which it was rumoured disturbances
had already commenced.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY blamed the Go•
vernment for the way in which they had allowed the
Irish people to go unchecked until they had arrived at
the very verge of rebellion, but he trusted now that they
would exercise every possible power with which they
were invested to prevent these deluded people proceed-
ing any further.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said he had that
moment received additional intelligence up to seven
o'clock yesterday evening, which was equally devoid of
any information as to the reported outbreak of the people
in Ireland.—(Hear, hear.)

DEGREES OF AFFINITY.
The Bishop of LONDON inquired whether it was the
intention of the Government to introduce into either
House of Parliament, during the present session, any
measure with reference to marriage with a dece4ed
wife's sister?
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE replied that a very
able Member of the other House had pressed a Bill on
the subject,ibut that us he was in no way connected with