The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-05 00:00:00

THE SEA SERPENT.

After all the jokes and jeers at the expense of Ameri-
can skippers, it now appears that the Sea Serpent is to
take rank amongst the veritable marvels and monsters of
the great. deep. The sober and serious Northmen have
again taken his case in hand, and come forward to vouch
for his character. The following is abridged from a cir-
cumstantial narrative of his visits to the fjords of Nor-
way, published in the Norwegian papers, and attested
by clergymen, lawyers, booksellers, printers, and others.
In the neighbourhood of Christiansand and Molde, in
the province of Romsdal, several persons, highly respec-
table and credible witnesses, have reported that they
have seen this animal. In general they state that it
has
been seen in the larger Norwegian fjords, selrdiosija in the
open
in he
open sea. In the large bight of the sea at Ch
it has been seen every year, though only the warmest
season, inthe dog-days, and then only when the weather
was perfectly calm and the surface of the water unruf-
fled. The following persons whose names are here
mentioned give the subjoined testimony :—Nils Roe,
workman at Mr. William Knudtzon's, relates : I saw
the serpent twice, once at noon, and two days afterwards
towards the evening, in the fjord at the back of Mr.
Knudtzon's garden. The first time it was about a hun-
dred feet distant. It swam first along the fjord, then
afterwards direct over to the spot where I stood. I ob-
served it for above half an hour. Some strangers who
were on the opposite shore fired at it, when it disap-
peared. The second time it was further from me. It
was small, perhaps twice as long as this room (about 44
feet) ; while swimming it made serpentine movements,
some to the side, others up and down. I cannot state
what thickness it was, but it appeared to be about as
thick as a common snake in proportion to its length. It
was thinner towards the tail. The head was several
times slightly elevated above the surface of the water.
The front of the head was rather pointed ; the eyes
were sharp; and glistened like those of a cat. From the
back of the head a mane like that of a horse commenced,
which waved backwards and forwards in the water.
The colour of the animal was a blackish brown. John
Johnson (merchant, about 60 years of age) : I saw the
animal some years since in the fjord ; it was about a
thousand paces distant when nearest to me. It swam
very swiftly ; in the same time that we rowed about a
quarter of a mile to the side from it, it had swam about
double the distance. I saw it most plainly when it swam
in a semicircular round a tolerably large rock that ob-
structed its passage ; in doing this it partly raised itself
above the surface of the water. Its colour was blackish
brown, and about the length of this house (55 feet).
With the exception of the head, I did not remark much
of the body, as that appeared but little above the surface.
Judging from what I observed, I should say the thick-
ness of the body was about that of a stout man. The
agitation it caused in the water was very strong. Its
movements were serpentine, up and down like a leech
swimming.—Lars Johnoen (fisherman at Smbelen, about
50 years of age) : I have several times seen the sea-
serpent, but some time since, twelve years ago, in the
dog-days, in the fjord not far from here, one afternoon
as I was fishing in my boat. I saw it twice in the course
of two hours, and for some time quite near me. It came
close to my boat, so that it was about six feet from me.
I became alarmed, recommended my soul to God, laid
down in the boat, and only held my head so far over it
that I could observe the serpent. It swam now past the
boat, that was agitated by the ripple caused by its move-
ment in the water, which was previously smooth, and
afterwards removed itself. After it had swum a con-
siderable distance from me, I began again to fish. Not
long afterwards the serpent came close to the boat,
which now was strongly agitated by its movements in
the water. I laid down and remained quite still, and,
notwithstanding my fright, kept a watchful eye on the
animal ; it passed me, disappeared, and returned, though
not se close as previously, and disappeared entirely,
when a light wind arose and ruffled the water. Its
length was about five to six fathoms, and the body,
which was as round as a serpent's, was about two feet in
diameter. The tail seemed to be eery round. Tlic
head was about as long as a brandy anker (ten gallon
cask), and about the same thickness, it was not pointed
but round. The eyes were very large, round, at .d
sparkling. There size was about the diameter of the
box here (five inches), and they were as red as my
neckerchief (crimson). Close behind the head a mane,
like a horse's, commenced along the neck, and spread
itself on both sides, right and left, while swimming on
the water ; it was of tolerably long hair. The mane as
well as the head and the rest of the body, was brown
as this looking-glass frame (old mahogany). Spots,
stripes of other colours I did not observe, nor were
there any scales ; it seemed as if the body was quite
smooth. Its movements were occasionally fast and slow,
which latter was the case when it neared my boat ; I
could clearly observe it ; it was serpent like, and moved
up and down. The few undulations which those parts
of the body and tail that were out of the water made,
were scarcely a fathom in length. These undulations
were not so high that I could see between them and the
water. When Lars Johnoen had given this explanation,
he was shown the drawing which Pontoppiden has given
of the animal. He locked at it with astonishment,
smiled, and said he found a great resemblance between
it and the animal lie had seen. He likewise said, that
some of the other sea-serpents he had seen were a great
deal longer than the one above described.
Mr. William Kuudtzon, and Candidatus Theologise
Boehlum, gave the following written account :—We to
gether saw the sea-serpent in a narrow fjord. at the
distance of about one sixteenth of a mile (half an En.e
lisp mile), for about a quarter of an hour ; afterwards
it dived, and came up so far from us that we could not
see it plainly. The water was smooth as a mirror, and
the animal had, as it moved on the surface, the appear
ance of a serpent. Its motions were in undulations,
and so strong that white foam appeared before it, and
at the side, which stretched out several fathoms. It
did not appear very high above the water, and its
length was quite discernible. Once it stretched its
head quite erect in the air. The^ body was somewhat
dark, and the head nearly black ; it had nearly the form
of an eel, or snake, and a length of about 100 feet, and,
in proportion to it,_ an inconsiderable thickness. The
breadth diminished remarkably from the head, so much
so that the tail ended in a point. The head was long,
and small in proportion to the throat, as the latter ap-
peared much greater than the former, probably as it was
furnished with a mane. Foged (Sheriff) Gotfsche made
the following remarks :—" I saw the sea-serpent for
some time in a small fjord, first from a boat, afterwards
from the beach, several minutes, at a distance of from
thirty to thirty-six feet. In the beginning it swam round
the fjord at Torvig, afterwards it went in the deeps. I
saw its head stretched considerably out of the water. I
remarked as well two or three undulations of the fore
part of the body. Its motion was not like that of an
eel, but consisted of waving undulations, up and down.
They were excessively strong, and caused tolerable large
waves ; they were largest at the fore part of the animal,
and towards the back gradually lessened. The traces
of them I discerned in a length of eight to ten
fathoms, and a breadth of two to three fathoms
The head seemed blunted, and had the size and
form of a ten-gallon cask, the undulations of the body
were round and about the dimensions of a good timber
stock (12 to 14 inches square). The entire length of the
animal I could not judge, as it was not possible to observe
the extremity. Its colour appeared to be dark grey. At
the back of the head there was a mane, which was the
same colour as the rest of the body.
The writer of this article received letters from Mr.
Soren Knudtzon, stating that a sea-serpent had been
seen in the neighbourhood of Christiansand by several
people, and from Dr. Hoffmann, a respectable surgeon in
Molde, lying on a considerable:fjord to the south of Chris-
tiansand, Rector of Hammer, Mr. Kraft, curate, and
several persons, very clearly saw, while on a journey, a
sea-serpent of considerable size.
The Rev. Mr. Deinboll, Archdeacon of Molde, gives
the following account of one which was seen last summer
near Molde. The 28th of July, 1845, J. C. Lund, book-
seller and printer ; G. S. Krogh, merchant ; Christian
Flang, Lund's apprentice; and John Elgenses, labourer,
were out on Romsdale-fjord, fishing. The sea
was, after a warm sunshiny day, quite calm. About 7
o'clock in the afternoon, a little distance from shore, near
the ballast place and Molde Houee, they saw a long ma.
rine animal, which slowly moved itself forward, as it ap-
peared to them, with the help of two fins, on the fore-
part of the body nearest the head, which they judged
from the boiling of the water on both sides of it. The
visible part of the body appeared to be between 40 and
60 feet in length, and moved in undulations like a snake.
The body was round, and of a dark colour, and seemed
to be several ells (an ell two feet) in thickness. As they
discerned a waving motion in the water behind the
animal, they concluded that part of the body was con-
cealed under water. That it was one connected animal
they saw plainly from its movement. When the animal
was about 100 yards from the boat, they noticed tole-
rably correctly its fore-part, which ended in a sharp
snout ; its colossal head raised itself above the water
in the form of a semi-circle ; the lower part was not
visible. The colour of the head was dark brown and
the skin smooth. They did not notice the eyes or any
mane or bristles on the throat. When the serpent came
about a musket-shot near, Lund fired at it, and was
certain the shots hit it in the head. After the shot hit
he dived, but came up immediately. He raised his head
in the air like a snake preparing to dart on its prey.
After he had turned and got his body in a straight line,
which he appeared to do with great difficuty, he darted
like an arrow against the boat. They reached the shore,
and the animal perceiving it had come into shallow
water, dived immediately, and disappeared in the deep.
Such is the declaration of these four men, and no one
has any cause to question their veracity, or imagine that
they were so seized with fear, that they could not ob-
serve what took place so near them. There are not
many here, 'or on other parts of the Norwegian coast,
who longer doubt the existence of the sea-serpent. The
writer of this article was a long time sceptical, as he had
not been so fortunate as to see this monster of the deep,
but after the many accounts he has read, and the rela-
tions he has received from creditable witnesses, he, does
not dare longer to doubt the exist(nel of the sea-serpent.
P. W. DEINBOLL.

Molde, the 20th Nov., 1845.
The following gives some later particulars
" On Saturda " Sunds Parsonage, Aug. 31, 1846.
y, thh instant, the course beween
the islands of Sartore Leer and To3,in a sea-monster,t sup-
posed to be a sea-serpent, was seen by several persons.
Early on this day, just as the steamer Biorgvin passed
through Rognefior€l towing a vessel to Bergen, Daniel
Salomonson, a cotter, saw a sea-monster whose like he
declares he never met with although accustomed to the
sea and its inhabitants from his earliest years. The
animal came swimming from Rognefiord in a westerly
direction towards his dwelling at Gronnevigskieeset, in
the northern part of the parish of Sund. The head
ap-
peared like a Pcering boat (about twenty feet long)
el
uppermost, and from behind it raised itself forward in
three and sometimes four and five undulations, each ap-
parently about twelve feet long : its rate appeared
to be that of a light boat rowed by four active
men. When it reached Gronnevigskioeset at a
distance of two rifle shots, it turned with considerable
noise and continued its course towards Lundenixs. Lite!.

about eleven o'clock in the same day his wife Ingeborg,
in Daniel's absence, heard a loud noise in the sea, and
she and two little children saw a great monster, such as
described above, take a northerly course, close by their
place at sudh a rate that the waves were da-hed on the
shore in the same way as when a steamer is passing by.
Neither of them say that they saw anything like eyes or
fins, or indeed anything projecting from its round form,
but they declare that the colour of the animal was dark
brown, and that it often rose up with gentle undulations,
sometimes, however, sinking below the surface so that
merely a stripe indicated the rapid course of the gigantic
body. On the same morning a lad, by name Abraham
Abrahamsen Hageaces, was out fishing in the Rognefiord,
not far from Lundenoss, and just ready to throw out
his line when he, as he asserts, became aware that at
about 100 fathoms distance a monster with a head as
large as a %ring beat (about twenty feet long) and a
long body lay upon the sea like large kegs and was
nearing his boat—seized with a panic he exerted all his
strength to reach the shore, and as the animal appa-
rently following him was only about 40 fathoms off he
leaped ashore, drew up the boat and ran up the bank,
whence he viewed the monster, which had by this time
approached the shore within 20 fathoms. He says that
that part of the body which was visible was about sixty
feet in length, and that its undulating course was similar
to the eel ; that the colour of the back was blackish,
shining strongly, and, as far as he could distinguish,
there was a whitish stripe under the belly. Report also
says that the sea-serpent was seen by several persons in
Biornfiord causing a great deal of dread, but of this our
informant wants authentic accounts. Our informant
further says that he has no reason whatever to doubt
the truth of the story of the man and his wife, or the
trustworthiness of the lad Abraham, except as far as
that his fears may have caused him to see several things
through a magnifying glass.

WEvatotrrn.—Colonel Freestun's canvass proceeds
most satisfactorily. The Liberal interest is now so
powerful that no doubt exists of his return, in conjunc-
tion with Mr. Christie. The latter gentleman left us
for London on Thursday last, having fully completed
his canvass, which, we are warranted in saying, has been
more successful than that of any other candidate ex-
cepting Mr. Buxton, just after the passing of the Reform
Bill.—Sherborne Journal.
A shock of earthquake was felt at Algiers on the
21st ult., and at the same time a shock was felt at
Cherchel, which was afterwards followed by others.
This caused such uneasiness that the population of this
latter place passed the night in the open air. Most of
the houses have been cracked by these shocks.
INAUGURATION OF THE grATUE OF THE LATE KING
OF SWEDEN.—At the inauguration of the statae of the
late Icing of Sweden, Charles-Jean, which took place
some time since at Noerkceping, in presence of the
reigning King, his son, and the rest of the Royal family,
a loyal address was presented by the President of the
Ancients of the town, to which the King returned the
following answer:—" Gentlemen, I receive with the
most lively emotion the announcement of the resolution
of the citizens of this town to dedicate a monument to
the memory of my father, which I shall never forget.
I share in your joy that the monument is finished, and
that in a manner worthy of the noble object, proving
at the same time the patriotic spirit which inspired this
homage. Kings are only judged sincerely by posterity.
The commune of which you are the president has given
an example of fidelity and gratitude due to a monarch
who, during his glorious reign, ennobled by peace, sought
no other recompense than the love of his subjects. I
thank you for the reiterated testimonies of devotedness
which you have given to me and my family. I appre-
ciate them in the highest degree. 13,1 pleased, Sir, to
accept my best wishes for the prosperity of the town of
Noerkeeping."
A dreadful accident occurred a few days back at
Pont de Rodez (Lot). A quantity of gunpowder (about
2001b5.) having been deposited by the contractors of
the road from Paris to 'Toulouse in the house of a person
named Vayre, one of the workmen entered the room at
night with a light, accompanied by a servant of the
house, to take out a supply for the next day. A moment
after a dreadful explosion was heard, which shook the
whole village. Vayre's house was blown to pieces, as
was that next door, belonging to an innkeeper named
Ponzalgues, where several persons were at supper at
:be time. The two men who had gone to take the
powder were literally dismembered, the limbs being
found scattered about under the ruins. A servant girl
is in a desperate state, and five other persons are seri-
ously injured.
REPRESENTATION or CAMBRIDGE. (From the
Cambridge independent.)—The near approach of a ge-
neral election has caused the burgesses here, as well as
in other large boroughs, to be up and doing. It has
been determined to bring forward a second candidate
with Mr. Adair, in the Liberal interest ; and it would
have afforded the electors great ph asure to see their
faithful and respected friend, Mr. Richard Foster,
again in the field, when his electien would, front a
variety of caust s, be all but certain. A deputation
waited upon Mr. Foster to obtain his consent, to whom,
after many expressions of kindness, he stated his decided
unwillingness, indeed, his positive refusal, again to
become a candidate. Mr. Pryme, our former faithful
representative has also declined. Under these circum-
stances, some of the electors were anxious to invite
Lord Cosmo Russell, who contested the borough with
Mr. Foster in 1840, to come forward with Mr. Adair ;
and as a mark or respect to the Noble Lord and his illus-
trious family, he has been written to, but, should he not
consent, we understand the non. W. F. Campbell, M.A.,
of Trinity College, and eldest Lord Campbell, Chancellor
of the Duchy of Lancaster, will be invited, and will, in
all probability, in doe time be introduced to the electors.
DRAINAGE Acz.—Already about 20,000/. have
been applied for by proprietors in Caithness, under the
provisions of the New Drainage Bill, which, when once
expended, must lead to a large increase in the growth
of grain and other crops in this county, and in the mean-
time create a very considerable demand for labour.—
John o' G coat Journal.
Yesterday's Poole and Dorselshire Ilerald says—
It is our melancholy duty to announce the death of Mr.
John Sydenham, jun., the editor and senior proprietor
of this paper, which took place at his residence in Poole
on Tuesday evening last. The deceased was well known
in the county, having been for many years the editor of
the Dorset County Chronicle, and having been much
attached to antiquarian research, to which he devoted a
great portion of his time.
STATE OF TRADE.—There is a shade of improve-
ment in the cotton glove trade, but every other depart-
ment of the cotton hosiery manufacture remains stag-
nant. The lace trade in nearly every department con•
tinues in a most depressed state, though in some quarters
there is a faint revival. The plain trade, especially the
plain quilling trade, is not suffering in the same pro-
portion as the fancy branches, but the prices for making
these articles are wretched. The cotton warp lace trade
has by no means rallied : the panic to a certain extent
still continues, and from all appearances is not soon
likely to recover. Speculation of every kind in new ma-
nufactures or new machinery is at a very low ebb, as
there seems but little encouragement in any quarter.
This state of things, we have been informed, has at
length reached Tiverton and the west of England.—
Nottingham Review.
SCULPTURE.—A correspondent from Rome informs

us that Prince Albert has given a commission for one of
Wyatt's Nymphs. " Indeed," he adds, " the countenance
of Royalty seems to smile on sculpture at present ; as
Wyatt, Gibson, Theed, Tenerani, and Wolfe, all have
orders at this moment from one or other of the Royal
pair. Gibson's statue of the Queen will be shortly
finished. He has handled his subject well. The like-
ness is admirably preserved, whilst royalty loses nothing
in his hands. He is about to hazard, however, a no-
velty—at least so far as English sculpture is concerned,
which, I confess, my eyes are unable to endure with
pleasure. Her Majesty wears a slight diadem ; and her
drapery, whieh is very delicate and light, is thrown
loosely over her left arm, inclining gracefully towards
her feet in front. The diadem and the bordering of the
drapery are tinged with blue, and some part is even
. .

pricked out in gold colour.—Athenceum.
MUSICAL GOSSIP.—MILAN.—Reeves continues to
be a great favourite here ; he is said to be engaged at
Vienna, for the spring, as primo tenore. Mr. Jones,
another Englishman, is engaged at Genoa to sing in
Verdi's opera of Attila. He was much liked at Verona,
where he sang in Verdi's Ernani. Miss Susan Hobbs
has made her debut at Varesa, but we have not yet
heard with what success. PARIS.—A new opera, called
Gnbby la Cornemuse, the poem by Leuven and Bruns-
wick, the music by Clapisson, has been produced at the
Opera Comique here with success, the principal parts
sustained by Roger, Mademoiselle Delille, Madame St.
Foix, MM. Henry and Grignon. Clapisson is known as
a popular composer of ballads, Pacini's La Fidanzata
Corsa has been brought out at the Theatre Italien, with
Persiana, Mario, and Coletti ; it succeeded entirely.
Robert Bruce is expected to be produced at the Academie
about the loth of December. A new ballet, La Tatienne,
is in rehearsal for Carlotta Grisi, and a one act opera by
Adolphe Adam. Mr. Lumley, director of her Majesty's
Theatre, arrived in Paris on Saturday last ; he has en-
gaged Madame Montenegro, the Spanish vocalist,
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. —Ernst, the king of German vio-
linists, is on the point of leaving Vienna, on a tour
through Russia. Viardot Garcia is creating a furore
at Berlin in Meyerbeer's Camp of Silessia. Meyer-
beer is going to Vienna to bring out the same
opera. Conradin Kreutzer, a composer of celebrity,
has been appointed director of the Opera to the Court
at Vienna, in place of Nicolai, who has accepted a post
at Berlin. Conradin Kreutzer is the author of a
Night in Grenada, an opera, which was performed by the.
German company in London. Mendelssohn's Paulus
has been given at Vienna by an orchestra of nearly a
thousand. A musical performance took place a Leipsic
on the 11th, to celebrate the anniversary of the birth-
day of Schiller. Verdi is composing a new opera for the
Pergola at Florence ; the subject from Macbeth. Jenny
Lind will receive 100,000 f. for her four moiths engage-

rnent at Vienna. Among the operas she is likely to per•
form in are the Enchant, ess and Daughter of St. Merk
of Mr. Balfe, whose Siege of Rochelle and Bohemian Girl
have already been produced at the Opera House in
Vienna with great success. Benedict is writing an

opera. for the Academic Royale of Paris, per order. Mon-
sieur Hippolyte Lucas is the librettist, and report speaks
favourably of the story on which his book is founded.—
/If usical World.

ANTIQUITY of COURSING.—AS early as A.D. 15(',
Arrear wrote a treatise on coursing. The Gauls. it ap-
pears, first introduced this healthy exercise. Early in
the morning the serfs of the nobles went out with the
dogs to ascertain the hare's route ; having done so, they
returned to their masters, who instantly mounted, and
went in search of puss. In the reign of Elizabeth, when
the ladies of the court, instead of tea and bread and
butter, took for their breakfast good roast beef, washed
down by stout brown beverage, and then spent a whole
drawtba that hoepr a Majestycod eor
loarwdse r ef
far
tiht
se
rDe
day on horseback, coursing was so popular a recreation,
Norfolk to
now is held great respect aet i oonf , which even
by sportsmen.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
GREAT WESTERN.
A special general meeting of the proprietors of the
Great Western Railway was held yesterday afternoon at
the Paddington station, for the purpose of considering two
agreements, one for purchasing the Birmingham and
Oxford Junction, and the Birmingham, Wolverhampton,
and Dudley Railways, the other for the purchase of the
Wycombe and Uxbridge Railways, and also for the pur-
pose of determining upon the expediency of certain
branch lines and extensions, and, if necessary, to autho-
rise the direetors to apply to Parliament in the ensuing
session for powers to make them. Mr. Charles Russell,
M.P., chairman of the board of directors, presided.
There was an exceedingly full attendance of share-
holders.
The CHAIRMAN said that:the rpurpose of the present
meeting was to obtain the permission of the shareholders
to carry out to their legitimate results the measures of
last session, by renewing an application to Parliament
to sanction them in the next. One of the most
important measures which had obtained the sanc-
tion of Parliament in the last session was the
Birmingham and Oxford Railway, the circumstances
with regard to which were so recent, that it was hardly
necessary for him (the Chairman) to detain the meet-
ing with any reference to them. They (the share -
holders) would remember that a Bill was also obtained
for the construction of a railway from Birmingham to
Dudley and Wolverhampton. The connexion between these
lines was intimate, as they formed a continuous line of
communication, and were, indeed, almost promoted by
the same parties. It was, therefore, thought advisable
that they should be amalgamated and brought together
under one direction. Accordingly, a hpecial meeting
was convened to promote the amalgamation, on
the 30th October last, at which he (Mr. Rus-
sell) had thought it his duty to be present.
A long discussion took place as to the pro-
bability of the Great Western Company's being
disposed to lease or purchase them, which many
parties wished that they should do. He (Mr. Russell)
thought, on that occasion, that the proposition should
not come from them (the Great Western), but stated
that they would be prepared to take it into con•
sideration, and that he did not think that
they would offer any opposition to the amal-
gamation of the two lines, or to their pur-
chase or lease' by the Great Western, provided that
certain conditions were complied with, viz., Ist —That
the arrangement should be just; 2d—That the prin-
ciples and purposes for which the railways had been
granted should in no way be violated; and, lastly—That
the rights of the Great Western Railway should in no
degree be weakened. On these agreements, he said,
the Great Western would be prepared to treat. A
resolution was passed agreeing to the amalgamation,
and it was also agreed that a negotiation should be
opened with the Great Western for the lease or pur-
chase of the line. Accordingly, a deputation of the two
companies had met, and the result was, that the
heads of the agreement were drawn up, which
had been circulated amongst them. He (the
Chairman) believed, :and so did his colleagues, that the
terms of that agreement were just and equitable. He
trusted that it was not the practice of the Great Western
Company to ask in their arrangements anything but just
terms. But in the present instance there were strong
reasons why they had thought that the terms should
be liberal. It was their opinion that the London and
North Western Company could not bid for these lines—
that it would be inconsistent with their principles to do
so—and that as they (the Great Western Company)
were the only parties who could purchase the line, they
ought to offer liberal terms. The directors, therefore,
felt no hesitation in recommending to their share-
holders the adoption of the terms, particularly when
they looked to the prospects of the two lines.
They passed through rich districts to the heart of Bir-
mingham, the point where the traffic of the north con-
centrated, before diverging to the various parts of the
south. The terms in fact were such as were just to those
who sold as well as advantageous to those who
bought.—(Hear, hear.) Up almost to the present
time (continued the Chairman) no attempt had been
made by the London and North-Western Company to
interfere with the agreement ; but so late as yesterday
(Thursday), he (Mr. Russell) had received a letter from
Mr. Glyn, the chairman of that company, which
he would now read to them. Though it was
a private communication (as all which passed between
him and Mr. Glyn were), it had such a bearing on the
measure before them, that he should not feel justified in
withholding it from them. (The Chairman then pro-
ceeded to read the communication in question, which
stated that the London and North-Western Company
had received a memoziel from certain parties in the
Birmingham and Oxford, pressing them to come forward
with some proposition for an union between them to
the advantage of the latter. The letter concluded by
stating that it was accompanied by a copy of the answer
sent to the memorial. This document stated, that if
the Great Western should decline entering into any
Legotiation for a fresh arrangement in the matter with
the London and North-Western Company, they (the
latter) were disposed, when the offer of the Great West-
ern was disposed of, to propose an arrangement advan-
tageous to all.) This letter, though dated the 2d inst.,
had not reached him (the Chairman) till the
day before. Its object was evident, and that was,
to sow dissension among them, not at the eleventh,
but the tw hour.—(Hear, hear.) He could not,
therefore, hesitate, and at once, though labouring under
illness, had written an answer, which had obtained the
concurrence of his colleagues. lle had said in it that he
did not anticipate any advantage from the negotiation
proposed. If he (Mr. Glyn) could persuade the share-
holders
of the Birmingham and Oxford to transfer their
line to the hands of the London and North-Western,
and if Parliament should so far stultify itself as to
agree to it, they (the Great Western) would submit, but
they would take no part i❑ it.—(Loud applause.)
The CHAIRMAN having expressed his firm belief that
the agreement would be confirmed, proceeded to say
that, under any circumstances, there would still remain
an appeal to Parliament. He then commented in detail on
the other lines to be applied for in the next session, which
he stated to be for the most part the same as those of the
last, and already approved of. by the shareholders. The
resolution formally confirming the agreement with the
Birmingham and Oxford, and the Birmingham, Wolver-
hampton, and Dudley, for the purchase of these two
undertakings, was then read, and a long discussion
ensued.
Mr. WITHERS, at great length, opposed the agree-
ment, and entered into elaborate calculations to show
that it would never be lucrative. With respect to the
apprehension entertained from the probability of the
London and North-Western Company's getting the lines
if the Great Western did not, he said let them get them.
He concluded by proposing, as an amendment, that the
meeting should be postponed.
Mr. STAMFORD seconded the amendment.
Mr. WILLIAMS, M.P., supported it, and strongly
recommended that amicable arrangements should be
made with the London and North--Western Company.
The CHAIRMAN replied at length on the subject, and
finally the amendment was put to the show of hands,
and negatived by a large majority.
The original motion was then put and carried; after
which a resolution was also carried, authorising the
other lines to be applied for.
The proceedings were concluded by a vote of thanks
to the Chairman, having lasted nearly three hours.

BIRMINGHAM AND OXFORD JUNCTION

RAILWAY.

BIRMINGHAM, FRIDAY NIGHT.—This afternoon an
extraordinary meeting of the above-named company was
held at Dee's Royal Hotel, in this town, for the purpose
of considering and of ratifying an agreement en-
tered into between the directors of the Great
Western Railway Company of the one part, and the
directors of the Oxford and Birmingham Junction, and
Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley Railways of
the other part, for the sale to the Great Western Rail-
way Company of the undertakings of the Birmingham
and Oxford Junction, and Birmingham, Wolverhampton,
and Dudley Railways. Philip Henry Muntz, Esq., the
Chairman of the Birmingham and Oxford, occupied the
chair. Among the proprietors present were Lord Ha-
therton, Mr. Spooner, M.P., Mr. Lawrence Heyworth,
of Liverpool ; Mr. Saunders, the Secretary of the Great
Western; Mr. Bennett, of Liverpool; Mr. Moseley, Mr.
Banks, of London, &c.; but the meeting was, considering
the importance of the object for which it was convened,
very thinly attended.
The CHAIR3IAN very briefly opened the business of
the meeting. It was called to confirm the negotiations of
the directors with the directors of the Great Western
Railway Company, and in conformity with resolutions
which the proprietors of the Birmingham and Oxford
Junction had adopted at a meeting held in that room
some few weeks since. The Chairman then read the
correspondence which had taken place between Mr. Rus-
sell, the Chairman of the Great Western Railway Com-
pany, and Mr. Glyn, the Chairman of the North-Western
Railway, the substance of which will be found in our
report of the meeting of the Great Western Company
held yesterday.
The reading of the correspondence excited several
ironical cheers.
The CHAIRMAN then called upon the secretary to read
the draft of the agreement between the Birmingham and
Oxford Junction Company and the Great Western. It
was as follows:

" 1. The capital of the unitod company to be
,700,0001.

" 2. The Great Western to pay 101. ss. premium on
every 201. share; payable within six months after the
finishing of the line.
" 3. If the line be not made before the Ist January,

1850, the premium to be duo on the lat of July, 1850;
if not paid then, interest at the rate of 5 per cent to be
allowed.

" 4. Five per cent. interest to be allowed on calls duly
paid; !four per cent. on calls paid by anticipation.
" 5 amid 6. The Great Western to find any additional
capital that may be required, and the board of that
company to have effectual control of the management."
The CHAIRMAN begged leave to move that the agree-
ment be confirmed.

Mr. LAWRENCE HEY WORTH, of Liverpool, in second-
ing the resolution, referred to the principle upon which
Parliament had granted the Act for the formation of the
Birmingham and Oxford line—that of its being a corn-
)eting line to the London and North Western—and con-

tended that Parliament would never stultify itself by
allowing its amalgamation, as proposed, with that great
monopoly. A competing line between the manufacturing
and mining population of Staffordshire and Lancashire,
while it increased traffic and increased profits, would at
the same time insure better accommodation and lower
rates of fare to the public.
Mr. G. TURNER contended that the present meeting
did not fairly represent the opinions and feelings of the
shareholders, and that the further consideration of the
question ought to be postponed. The certificates of a
large number of shareholders had not been issued, and the
consequence was, they were not able to vote. The
directors had behaved honestly in the matter. He con-
cluded by moving an amendment to the effect, that in