The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-21 00:00:00

ROYAL MARINES.

First Lieutenant Hoeltings is appointed to the Ex-
cellent, vice Shewea. Lieutenants Meade, H. Davis,
and Baynes, have passed into the Artillery Companies.
Lieutenant Budd and 90 men of the Portsmouth division
embarked on Thursday as supernumeraries on board the
Rodney. Lieutenant Ward and 100 men will embark on
board the St. Vincent as supernumeraries.

COAST GAURD.
Appointments—Lieutenant J. Allen, R.N., to com-
mand the Eagle cutter, vice Ray, appointed to mail-
packet service.
Removals—Lieutenant Allen from the Tartar cut-
ter to the Eagle ; Mr. W. T. Smith, chief officer,
Groomsfort to Hope Cove station, vice Lieutenant Hairn,
previously removed ; Lieutenant. J. Reynolds, from
Acklow to Scattery station, vice Collins, previously re-
moved.

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.
CAMBRIDGE, APRIL 18.
CHRIST'S COLLEGE.
The Porteus medals have been awarded as follows :
Latin Essay ..•
... Streatfield.
Reading Prize ••• ••• Baker.
••• Gunson.
English Essay ...
SUMPTUARY LAWS.
In addition to the late special publication of the law
proceedings commenced by Mr. Nightengale, the tailor,
against a member of the University, in state pupillari
without having applied to the tutor of the College to'
which the gentleman belonged, the Vice-Chancellor has
deemed it necessary to re-publish the decree issued by
the Vice-Chancellor and Heads of Colleges on the Bth of
May, 1844 :
" NOT/CE.—Whereas it is expedient, as well for pro-
tecting persons in statu pupillari against impositions or
vexatious proceeding at law, as for securing the regular
and prompt payment of all just and lawful debts con-
tracted by them, that the expenses incurred by such
persons should be brought as far as is practicable under
the inspection and control of the tutors of their respec-
tive colleges ; and whereas some cases have recently
occurred wherein inhabitants of the town have insti-
tuted legal proceedings against persons in statu pupillari
for the recovery of debts without having given any
previous notice of their claims or intentions to the
tutors of the colleges of which such persons were mem-
bers ; we, the Vice-Chancellor and heads Of colleges,
whose names are underwritten, do hereby give notice,
that if in future any inhabitant
institute an_y of the town, engaged in
any trade or profession, shalllegal pro-
ceedings for the recovery of a debt due to him from any
person in state pupillari, without first giving reasotiable
notice of his claims to the tutor of such person, he shall
be punished by disceramuning or otherwise, as to the
Vice-Chancellor and heads of all colleges shall seem fit,
„ vir. HODGSON, ice-Chancellor."
Terra commermos 04 WedaesdaYs April 22.

WORKS OF THE CALEDONIAN

RAILWAY.

The progress and prospects of the new lines now under
construction has come to be a subject of great public interest
at the present moment. Before we undertake any of
the multitude of new schemes now projected, it becomes of
the very first importance that we should ascertain how far
we are in a position to complete the old, both as regards
capital and labour. We hear that already the calls are
corning in slowly, and as a consequence of this, the works
must inevitably go on slowly. We hear also that the exor-
bitant rise in the price of labour and materials is such, that
the labourers and " navies " are beginning to think they
have now got railway contractors and proprietors at their
mercy ! If all this be true, then verily now is our time to
pause and count well the cost of our new enterprise; not
certainly to fall into a foolish panic, but to consider seriously
first, whether with the increased prices of labour and mate-
rial, arising from excessive demand, our new schemes will
be likely to pay us a remunerative dividend when made;
and, secondly, whether we shall have means at our command
so as to lie out of our money without inconvenience during
the tardy progress of such works as we shall resolve on
carrying through. At a time when many of the most fa-
voured lines in progress are pinched for money, and at a sad
discount in price, it is incumbent on every wise man to
count the cost and the gain, not in vulgar panic, but in plain
prudence.

The works of the Caledonian Railway were commenced
last autumn. The contractors are Messrs. Stephenson, Bras-
sey, and Mackenzie, who, it is understood, are bound by their
contract to have the line completed in two and a half years
from the passing of the Act of incorporation. At a late
meeting of the shareholders, the chairman of the directors
held out a hope that the line would be opened for traffic by
Midsummer of 1847, but judging from the present state of
the works there does not appear much probability of com-
pleting it for at least two years to come. In ordinary times
the chairman's prophecy, backed by the skill and persever-
ance of the contractors, might have been fulfilled, but now
when labour is in such demand, when the " navies" are dic-
tating their own terms, and when, in short, every item of
expenditure in the construction of railways is so largely
increased, contractors are less able to concentrate masses of
men on so many given points, a system of working which
has been the great secret of the wonderful progress made
in the construction of modern railways. In the first twenty
miles north of Carlisle, little or nothing has been done
except the mere staking out the line and breaking
ground. At Lockerby, 24 miles from Carlisle, the works are
commenced in earnest, and already hills have disappeared,
and high embankments rear their heads. From Lockerby to
Mid-Annandale very great progress has been made, and
many miles of the line are in a forward state. Here one is
struck with the numerous cuttings and high embankments;
the country, although open, being of.a very undulating de-
scription. From Mid-Annandale to Beatock-bridge little hac
been done, but there appear to be no very difficult points.
A little distance beyond Beatock-bridge the difficult part of
the work commences, and for 30 miles the line traverses a
country of the most formidable and forbidding character ;
indeed, to the eye of the traveller, the attempt to make a
railway there appears almost wild and visionary. The line,
however, is most judiciously selected, and speaks highly fur
the skill and ability of the engineers, Messrs. Locke and
Errington. It skirts the sides of the hills, and wends its
way through the glens and passes in a wonderful manner, and
still it has been found necessary to make one continuous in-
cline for nearly 25 miles, in some places as steep even as one
in five. Throughout the entire length of the line the greatest
attention appears to be paid to the comfort and convenience
of the labourers.