The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-05 00:00:00

LONDON AND YORK (THE EASTERN

COUNTIES).
Mr. Sergeant WRANGHANI proceeded this morning with his
reply on behalf of the London and York Railway. His
first remarks went to prove that it was a very grave obec-
tion to the Eastern Counties line that it was under the same
management as the lines which afforded accommodation to
the Midland Counties. He did not, of course, wish to cast
any personal reflections on the shoulders of those connected
with him in the management of that line. He considered
it absolutely necessary that there should be an independent
line to London and York. He would not enter into the ge-
neral question of competition ; their Lordships would be able
to form a much better opinion on that subject than he was.
The Eastern Counties line proposed to make use of certain
pieces of the Midland line, for the purpose of completing the
line to York. At present there was the greatest harmony
of feeling between the Eastern Counties and the
Midland Counties Companies. It might not, how-
ever, be always so; and when this harmony of
.feeling
was destroyed, he contended that the character which should
ever attend an independent line would be completely de-
stroyed, and the interests of the public most seriously de-
ranged. The London and York line would go as near as
possible in the direction of the old road, and accommodate
the towns and villages which had grown up on the sides of
the road; whereas by the opposing lines the inhabitants of
these towns and districts would have to migrate to those
places through which the Eastern Counties line would pass.
His Learned Friend Mr. Austin stated that he had a right
and title to the country line between London and York.
The Learned Counsel contended that they had not the
slightest ground for making this claim; as, by an Act which
they obtained in the year 1840, they proposed to abandon
that portion of their line between Bishop's Stortford and
Cambridge. It had been stated by his Learned Friend, with
a great deal of that virtue which was sometimes
called effrontery, and even known sometimes by a harsher
name, that if the London and York Bill was passed the line
would never be made. He (Sergeant Wrangham) considered
that such an assertion came with a bad grace from those
who were obliged to plead to a writ of mandamus, which was
issued against them for not completing their line beyond Col-
chester, that they had not the means of doing so, and they
could not, therefore, complete the work assigned to them in
their Act.

UNITED YACHT CLUB (LONDJN).—A dinner will
take place at, the Club-house, No. 87, St. James's-street, on
Tuesday next, the 9th instant, to celebrate her Majesty's
birthday and the opening of the club. Members and yachts.
men wishing to attend must apply at the Club-house
on or before Saturday noon, the 6th inst., as the number of
tickets will be limited. We understand that the Royal Har-
wich Yacht Club has sent up a list of thirty candidates for
admission into the United Yacht Club, and that several
members from each of the Channel Clubs have been recently
elected.

' DELIBERATE ATTEMPT AT MURDER AT THAXTED,
ESSEX.—The inhabitants of the town of Thaxted were on
Wednesday morning alarmed by a most premeditated at-
tempt at assassination, which, from the circumstances pre-
ceding the act itself, has only been equalled by those of late
perpetrated in the metropolis. About two months age Mr. T.
W. Warner, tinworker and ironmonger, of Thaxted, dis-
charged an apprentice for some misconduct, whose name is
George May Smith, under 19 years of age. A few days ago
Smith applied for work at a shop in London, and being
pressed for a reference as to character, gave the name of his
late master, Mr. Warner, who replied to the application in
no recommendatory terms, and on Smith calling at the shop
again he was told that his former master had been written
to, and the answer was so unsatisfactory that he was desired
to go about his business. Smith, it appears, was now deter-
mined on revenge; he came down to Bishop's Stortford on
Tuesday, that night broke into his own father's house there,
stole a double-barrelled gun, powder-flask, and shot-bag,
walked immediately over to Thaxted, a distance of 12 miles,
and scaling the wall of Mr. Warner's preirises, coolly waited
till he should be up. About eight o'clock Smith saw him com-
ing out into the working-yard, and being but a few yards
asunder, presented the gun and fired ; Providence, however,
averted the deadly effect, the right barrel burst, and the
assassin's left hand was dreadfully shattered. Mr. Warner
received the spent shot on his arm and hand, but not so as
to raise the skin, except in a very slight degree. The fellow,
although thus self-mutilated, attempted to escape, but po-
liceman Dunn seeing him going along the street of Thaxted
with a bloody hand, concluded something serious must be
the matter, and took him into custody. Shortly afterwards
the prisoner was brought to the Dunmow police-station,
where where his hand was examined by Mr. Grice, surgeon.
at
first was judged that amputation of the hand
it was only
must
be resorted
to, but subsequently it was determined that
necessary to remove two of the fingers
attheof Mr. Salt,
Immediately secondjoinl,
joint,
and this operation Mr. Grice, with the assistance
immediately performed. Smithi samewaansdthbeyhim ed fo
draeymeaxn
examined
before the Rev. G. Leapingwei ,
further examination till Monday next.
d
PoTAToEs.—Yester—ay a sale by auction
NonwAy
of about fifty tons of Norway potatoes was offered by Messrs.
Keeling and Hunt, at their auction-rooms, Monument-yard,
which attracted a large attendance of speculators and
dealers,t
the same having been exhibited at the Horticultural
Society. The quality upon examination and trial was
considered to approach nearer to English growth than any
other of foreign importation ; but, there being little dispo-
sition manifested to purchase them, they were bought in at
505. per ton.
FIRE INSURANCE.—From a return just issued by
order of the House of Commons,` relative to fire invirances,
it appears Liu ioliuki,ng -r tile sums insured in the
fire offices in England in farming stock, exempt from duty,
for the different quarters in 1845. In the quarter ending
March 25th, 15,931,660/. ; ending 24th June 5,299,403/. ;
ending 29th September, 7,880,761/.; and ending 2,5 t- Do
c01:Q*36170141A Tigalt 0/0400711