The Sun.
London, England, 1848-11-17 00:00:00

THE S UN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER

LITERATURE.

ESSAY ON ENGLISH POETRY. By Thomas
Campbell.
Several months have elo.psed since we had occasion
to notice the piogress made by Mr. Murray in the
publication of his Home and Colonial Library.
Since then several serial works of a some-
what similar character have issued from the
establishments of others of the leading publishers
of the age. On recurring to the mere cata-
logue of th© volumes already comprised in the
Home and Colonial Library, which has emanated
from the distinguished house in Albemarle-street,
we are reminded very forcibly of the critical
adroitness with which the different productions have
been selected, and of the felicitous contrasts produced
by the mere sequence of their publication. In each
of the various departments of literary excellence we
have obtained specimens worthy of preservation upon
the bookshelves of the most fastidious bibliographers
—effusions which, in numerous instances, may be
regarded as masterpieces. Biographies, travels, and
essays, vicissitudes of battle, and sports on the
heather, adventures among the wilds of nature,
and; among the haunts of meek and beau-
tiful barbarians, stories for the fireside, and
narratives amongst the parterres and quincunxes of
science have severally and in succession fallen to the
lot of the subscribers—leading them an agreeable
pilgrimage over the surface of both hemispheres,
without requiring them to withdraw their wadded
slippers from the ottoman, or to move their head
from the cushions of the fauteuil. One while we
have followed Heber to the Indies, at another Mal-
colm into Persia; we have been with Lewis among
the Western Islands, with Hay in Morrocco, with
Borrow in Spain. with Head in the Pampas,
with Ford in Andalusia, with Acland in
Hindostan, with Alelville in the Marquesas,
with Ruxton in Mexico, with Carnarvon in
Galicia ; and elsewhere with Steffens and
Irby, and Mangles, touching alternately on the
shores of the Baltic, or on those of Australia, pene-
trating the deserts of Algeria and the umbrageous
wilds of Paraguay, roving through the streets of
Madras or floating on the waters of the Amazon. We
have pored with the greediest curiosity over the
imaginative :narratives of the "Amber Witch," of
" Bracebridge Hall," of the "Tales of a Traveller,"
and of those of the " Livonians." We have listened
to the anecdotes of glory and horror associated
with the siege of Gibraltar, or the battle of
Waterloo, or the Turkish bombardment of Vienna.
We have gone on the voyage of the Naturalist with
Darwin, and devoured the enthralling " Memoirs of
Father Ripe." Lord Mahon has recounted to us
the life of the Great Conde, and Gleig, the history
of the Great Clive. We have perused also with pro-
portionate interest the allusions made elsewhere to
the existence and the characters of Drake, of Bunyan,
and of Cromwell. Beyond this, it must be borne in
recollection, that amongst the herd of writers who
flood the reading public with the torrent of their lucu-
brations, the Home and Colonial Library of Mr. Murray
has given to the world two authors of peculiar
originality, who, writing in their different ways, are
altogether inimitable. We allude to Herman Melville,
the American sailor, an to Lieutenant George
Frederick Ruxton, the late lamented traveller through
the Prairies and Savannahs of the " Far 'West."
From the pen of the latter young and enterprising
Englishman, Mr. Murray has presented to his sub-
scribers the admirable chapters called "Adven-
tures in Mexico" chapters fraught with enter-
tainment from the fresh and exhilarating manner
with which every syllable is indited. From
the hand of the former have emanated those
two remarkable books " Typee " and " Omoo "
pearls of description ravished • from the un-
known depths of the Southern Ocean. Than " Typee"
there is scarcely a work of more exquisite fascination
in the whole range of travels written since the days
of Marco Polo. It is one of those bewitching volumes
which, once read, haunt the imagination throughout
life, like the recollection of Robinson Crusoe on the
island of Juan Fernandez, or of Paul and Virginia on
that of the Mauritius.

Another volume has just been added to the
thirty already published by Mr. Murray in
his Home and Colonial Library. The work
is a reprint from " Campbell's Specimens
of the British Poets " the specimens
being omitted, so as to condense within the
compass of 436 pages the biographical notices and
preliminary essays given in that voluminous and
standard publication. The notion of such a conden-
sation is, to say the very least of it, felicitous, con-
veying, as the volume does, in one comprehensive
glance, a complete conception of the rise, the ad-
vance, and the fluctuations of English poetry since
the days of Gower and Chaucer down to the com-
mencement of the present century, and the appearance
of the contemporaries of the essayist. To quote the
punning adaptation of a well-known line, the retro-
spect of Campbell turns alternately
" From Gray to Gay, from Little to Shakapere."
Occasionally, it is true, the remarks of the illustrious
poet are singularly superficial, though, when the
extraordinary scope of his undertaking is taken into
account, such an incidental result is by no means
suprising.
For this delightful volume we are again indebted
to the critical niceness of selection which has hitherto
characterised Murray's Home and Colonial Library;
and which is a substantial guarantee for the worth
and excellence of its continuation.

for he kept up a friendly feeling with all around ;
whereas, had he taken on him the bearing of a great
man, ss many do, he might have lorded it over the
world, but he would have missed what was dearer to
him than this—the love of his fellow•men. He was
thankful for everything, and therefore kindly to
every one. As he did not look for much, or stand
upon his rights, he was seldom wronged, and always
happy."

YORK AND NORTH MIDLAND
RAIL WAY.

A general desire having been expressed by share•
holders in railway undertakings for an explicit ac-
count of their financial position, the directors of the
York and North Midland Railway,
in compliance
with that desire, beg to submit the follorling state-
ment of the affairs of the company, and the extent of
its liabilities in respect of the works now in progress,
and the comphtion of such as are at present in con-
templation.

The share capital of the company on which divi-
dend is payable out of the revenue derived from the
lines, comprising the whole of the consolidated stock,
and the East and West Riding shares, on which the
full amount is now called up, is 3,147,5001. Of
this amount, howevQr, 250:0001., being Si. per share
on the East and West Riding capital, will not be
entitled to dividend until next half-yebr. The loan
capital of the company is at present 1,023,931/.
The amount expended on the lines which have been
constructed or purchased up to the prevent time (in-
cluding the sums advanced to the Hull and Selby
Company to complete the lines under lease from
them), is 4,290,415/. Bs. 4d.

These works being now very nearly
completed, the
amount to which the company will be liable in respect
of them can be accurately stated; and estimates have
been prepared of the works required for the extension
from Burton-Salmon to KnoAingley, and for that
which will connect the Market Weighton line with
the Hull and. Bridlington line near Beverley. The
directors compute the amount which will be required
for all these purposes (after deducting the value of the
surplus land) at 330,000/., making the gross expen-
diture of the company about 4,620,0001. The whole,
when complete, "will give to the company
a total
mileage of 211 miles (exclusive of the Hull and
Selby lines under lease), at an average cost per mile
(after deducting the sums advanced to the Hull and
Selby Company as above-mentioned) of 20,0001. per
mile.

The directors having no present intention of con-
structing the other lines for which powers have been
obtained, the arrears of calls, together with the sum
which the company has yet power to raise on deben-
tures, will amply supply the amount required for
meeting the expenditure above-mentioned.
The directors estimate that the traffic to be derived
from these lines and the lines under lease will pro-
duce a gross annual revenue of 520,0001., being at
the rate of 10,0001. per week, and that the working
expenses will amount to 137,000/. The interest on
debentures, including the sum which will have yet to
be provided for the works before mentioned, will be
66,2811. per annum ; and the annual rent of the Hull
and Selby and Bridlington lines, together with the
interest on debentures on those lines, is 76,5721.
After deducting these charges, a net income of
upwards of 240,0001. will remain applicable to divi-
dends, being more than seven and a half per cent. on
the amount of the share capital. The rate of interest
at present paid on the debentures of the company is
at an average of nearly five per cent. ; but the direc-
tors cannot anticipate that in future years it will
amount to that per tentage. It may fairly be hoped
that in times of crdinary prosperity the loans will be
replaced as they fall due at a rate of interest not ex-
ceeding four per cent. _ _

The directors feel the greater confidence in their
estimate of the produce of the traffic when they com-
pare it with the receipts of the last twelve months,
during which the traffic on the lines of this company
has suffered not only from the commercial distress
which has generally prevailed, but also from their
peculiar character, a considerable portion being in a
great measure used as pleasure lines to Scarborough,
Harrogate, Bridlington, &c.
The directors have much pleasure in stating that
they hare made an arrangement with the Great
Northern Railway Company, by which the two com-
panies will have mutual advantage in working the
traffic of that line between York and Doncaster
when the intended Knottingley Extension shall be
completed ; and the directors think they are not too
sanguine in expecting that a very considerable amount
of new traffic, both in passengers and minerals, will
be thereby secured to this company, as the traffic
from the districts through which the Great Northern
Line passes will thus be brought to York over 21
miles of the main line of this company, and a con-
siderable portion distributed on the branch lines.

Part of the traffic of the York and North Midland
line, which was temporarily diverted to the lines on
the western coast previously to the opening of the
bridges across the Tyne and Tweed, may now be
expected to be regained.
A large source of
_traffic has also been recently
opened by the arrangement for the supply of coals
from the north at Hull, and for its shipment at that
port.

The directors have still a confident hope that it
will not be long before the undertaking resumes its
former position with regard to remuneration to the
shareholders. They would remark that an average
increase of 7001. per week in the receipts, which
would not necessarily involve any material increase
of expenditure, would yield 11. per cent. additional
on the share capital, and it affords them great satis-
faction to know that the new lines, some of which
were forced upon them by the competition of other
parties, have placed this company beyond the possibi-
lity of sustaining injury by their traffic being di-
verted, as they are not aware that any line can pos-
sibly be constructed which will riot tend rather to in-
crease than diminish the business on their own lines.
The directors have subscribed 40,0001. to the Mal-
ton and Driffield line, but they have entered into no
engAgement with any other company.
The directors having regard to the general inte-
rests arid wishes of the shareholders, do not at present
propose making any cans on the Hull and Selby
purchase (preference) shares. The shareholders
will have observed that the sum of 300,0001. appears
in the last two half-yearly statements of account
as having been appropriated to the general construc-
tion account, on loan from that stock. The
directors are of opinion that the interest on this sum
ought not at present to be paid out of the revenue of
the company, inasmuch as a large proportion of it has
been applied in providing rails and other materials
for the extensions about to be made, and the re-
mainder in the construction of lines which are not
company, and they are con-
yet productive to
firmed in this the
opinion when they consider that the
whole amount
of interest with which the capital ac-
count of this company has hitherto been charged is
no more than 6,0851.
By Order,
WM. GRAY, jun., Secretary.
York, Nov. 14, 1848.

RAIL WAY INTELLIGENCE.
CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY .--THE
GREAT
TUBULAR BRIDGES.-The final operation of lowering
the second tubular bridge at Conway, for the return line
to London on the Chester and Holyhead Railway, and
the placing it on its permanent bed was accomplished on
Wednesday. The ponderous mass of 1,300 tons was
suspended on chains, hanging and swinging two feet
above its permanent bed, over an area of estuary of 400
feet, and twenty feet above the straits, for a period of ten
days, during which the engineers and pilots were en-
gaged in adjusting the bed plates and rollers and
masonry for its support. The tube was likewise
lengthened twelve feet by the addition of six feet of
similar tube to each end of the mass so raised, this addi-
tional length alone weighing upwards of sixty tons.
Under the direction of Mr. Stephenson, Captain Claxton,
and Mr. Edwin Clark, the whole bridge with its perma-
nent way for the passage of the trains, complete and
ready for use, was then gradually lowered by means of
the hydraulic presses which raised it. on the bed of red
and white lead, spread over the creosoted timber, which
equalised the weight on the cast-iron bed-plates and
rollers, to allow for the constantly varying length of the
tube from charges of temperature. The tube is now in
use for the transit of the trains.
SOUTE DEVON RAILWAY.-The traffic for the week
ending the 10th of November was :-Number of pas-
sengers, 8,077 ; amount, 1,681/. 17s. Id.; Great Western
Railway, 6601. 7s. lid.; passengers by the South Devon
Railway, 1,0211. 9s. 2d.; goods, 1914 13s. 2d.; total,
South Devon, 1,213/. 2s. 4d.
LONDON AND fiLacs,wsm..--Arnount of revenue for
the week ending Sunday, Nov. 12 : Passengers,
31,464 ; amount, 5591. 15s. 7d. ; goods, 34/. 25.; total,
5931. 17s. 7d.-Corresponding week of last year :-Pas-
sengers' 45,236 ; amount, 7511. 13s. 2d. N.B. Single
line only during alterations.
SHREWSBURY AND CHESTER RAILWAY.--Traffio for
the week ending Nov. 12 :-Passengers, Ist class,
1091. 1 ls. 9d.; 2d class, 2821.185.1 d.; 3d class, 81/.115.7d. ;
total, 4741. Is. sd. Parcels, horses, Ike., 32/. 6s. 9d. •
merchandise, minerals, and live stock, 778/ 12s. 2d.;
total, 1,2851. 08.4 d. Corresponding week of last year-
Passengers, parcels, Bce., 227/. 3s. Id.; merchandise and
live stock, 324/. 10&. Bd.; total, 5511. 13s. 9d. Increase,
733/. 6s. 7d.

GREAT 09vviklui AND WESTERN RAILWAY, IRE.

LAND (-pen to Carlow and Limerick Junction, 1301
miles).—Return of weekly traffic for the week ending
Saturday, 11th of November, 1848:—Passenger traffic,
parcels, and mails, . 2,570/. 7s. ; merchandi.z) and
cattle, 6621.55. 3.d.; total, 3,232/. 12s. 3d.
MIDLAND GREAT WESTIRN OF IRELAND AND ROYAL
CANAL COMPANY.—Revenue for the week ending 1211 of
Novemb(-r, 1848, for goods and passengers (exclusive of
mails), to Mullingar, 50 miles, 1,235/. 2s. 6d.
DUBLIN AND KINGSTOWN RAlLWAY.—Traffic for the
week ending 14th of November, 1849:—Daily passen-
gers, 651/. Bs. 10,3.• subscriptions, 501. 7s. 4d.; total
amount 7011. 16s. 2d. Corresponding week of 1847:
Daily passengers, 614/. ss. 7d.; subscriptions, 77/. 14s
10d.; total amount, 692/. Os. sd.

RAILWA It SHARE 'MARKETS.
BRISTOL, Nov. 16.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—The share market continues inactive.
Great Western, Quartere, were done at 33/4 dis.
LIVERPOOL, Nov. 16.
STOCK Excitertoß.—There has been but a limited busi-
ness done to-day. The market was flat, and closed with
dullness. Prices were a point lower. The sales are—Cale-
donian, Preference, % dis.—Great Northern (A Shares),
Deferred, 4—Lancashire and Vo7l.shire, Fifths, c. dis.
—London and North; Western, 117—Ditto, Fifths, Vi P.-
-Ditto, New Quartm, p.—Manclicster, Sheffield, and
Lincolnshire, IW. Neference, 97 ---Aiidland Stock, 132-
Ditto, New halves, 9% dis.—North Staffbrdshire, 61,4 die.—
North Union (A), 20.2—South-Eastern and Dover, No. 4,
Thirds, c. dis.—York, Newcastle, and Berwick (G. N.
E. Purchase), c. dis.
MANCHESTER, Nov. 16.

STOCK EXCHANGE.—The Wes are—Caledonian, Pre 'Cr-
ence, a dis.—Grimsby Docks, 15 3-16 n. dis.—West Riding
Union, 5% c. dis.—London and North-Western, New Quar-
ters, % n. p.—North Staffordshire, 6% dis.—Lecds, Prefer-
ence, 5-16 n. p.—Ditto, Fifths, 4% dis.—London and North-
Western, 117—New Berwick, % dis.—South-Eastern and
Dover, No. 4, 6 11-16.
BIRMINGHAM, Nov. 16.

STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—North British, Thirds,
c.—Great Northern, Half Shares (A), 4—North Stafford-
shire, 6% dis.— Shrewsbury and Birmingham (A), 71. Bs.
9d. dis.—Ditto, Preference, ls. 3d. p.—Shropshire Union, 645.
6d. dis.—Great Luxembourg, 6% die.