The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-17 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

BIRMINGHAM, TUESDAY.—SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE
JUNCTION CONTRACTS.—COntraCts for rails for a portion
of this company's line were taken to-day at prices that
indicate another advance on the price of iron.
BIRMINGHAM, WOLVERHAMPTON, AND DUDLEY.—
The Directors of this company held a meeting at their
offices at Birmingham yesterday, for the purpose of re-
ceiving contracts for the works on that portion of the
line between Birmingham and Great Bridge, the dis-
tance being a little more than six miles. The number of
estimates sent in was thirteen ; the one accepted was
from Messrs. Hood, Hill, and Hill, of Ramsay, Hants, it
being considerably under the parliamentary estimates.
The works are to be completed within eighteen months,
and it is understood to be the purpose of this company
and of the Birmingham and Oxford Junction to expedite
matters so far that the whole line from Fenny Compton
to Wolverhampton shall bo opened in two years.
BIRMINGHAM AND OXFORD JUNCTION.—The certifi-
cates of the shares in this company were issued at Bir-
mingham yesterday, and with the view to convenience
shareholders, they were supplied to the brokers in all
the large towns.
The EASTERN COUNTIES and the GREAT NORTHERN
are about conjointly to erect two immense docks at Wis •
bech, in connexion with their lines there. One of the
docks will cover an area of thirteen acres.
DISCHARGE OF MASONS ON THE CORK AND BANDON.
—On Tuesday last between sixty and seventy masons
were, by directions of the company's engineer, discharged
from the work between Innishannon and Bandon, many
of them being from remote districts of the country, and
who must by this step be subjected to sufferings and pri-
vations too obvious to need being mentioned. We are
also in a position to state that, in consequence of this
proceeding on the part of the company, the contractor
will be compelled to discharge this evening two hundred
poor people, employed on labour work collateral with
the masonry, who have for some time past drawn their
only means of subsistence from the extensive employ-
ment afforded on the line. We are requested to correct
a report which appears in a contemporary stating that
over sixty masons had been discharged from the work-
at Innishannon, and that no expectation of re-engage-
ment had been given them—the fact being that arrange-
ments were contemplated for affording increased employ-
ment on the earth-works adjacent—which resulted in the
"temporary" removal of a much less number of masons
than above stated ; and we are credibly informed that
the number of men, including masons, will be consider-
ably augmented on the works near Bandon, in the .curse
of next week. The same paragraph states that the com-
pany cannot avail themselves of the sessional grants
lately made in favour of the railway, in consequence of
the non-possession of the land in the two baronies for
e land
ofthoef
required tin the other, and would be in possession of the remain-
der which the presentments were made. Such is not the
fact,
andin actualthree. possession
three-fourths ,
der before the grant could be fiated by the Treasury ;
but we understand that this company, as well as the
other railway companies, decline accepting the amounts
cthe
required i n company one bar beeninyg,
voted, in consequence of the very stringent conditions
insisted on by the Board of Works, which almost totally
prohibit railway companies from availing themselves
of the Treasury minute on this subject. —Cork Consti-
Olen.

The remains of Lieutenant-General Richard Col-
eton Dickinson, late Colonel-Commandant of the 2d
Battalion of Royal Artillery, were on Tuesday consigned
to their final resting-place, in the catacombs at Kensal-
green Cemetery. The funeral was strictly private, none
but the Generas family being present.
PaiCE or GOLD.—The premium on gold 'at Paris
is 15 per mille, which, at the English Mint price of
31. 17s. 100. per ounce for standard gold, gives an
exchange of 25 52 ; and the exchange at Paris on
London at short being 25 52k, it follows that gold
is 0.02 per cent. dearer in London than in Paris.
By advices from Hamburgh the price of gold is 4301
per mark, which, attho English Mint price of 3L 17s. 10d.
per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 13 74;
and the exchange at Hamburgh on London at short
being 13 7*, it follows that gold is 0.29 per cent. dearer
in Hamburgh than in London. The course of ex-
' change at New York on London is 1061 per cent.,
and the par of exchange between England and
America being 109 23-40 per cent., it follov, s
that the exchange is 0.33 per cent. against England
But the quoted exchange at New York being for bills
at 60 days' sight, the interest must be deducted from
the aboYe difference.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
BETTING AT MANCHESTER.—TIIESDAY.
CHESTER Cur.-50 to 1 agst Crim. Con. (t), 50 to 1 agst
Erin-go-bragh, 1,000 to 15 agst L'Hirondelle colt (taken),
1,000 to 15 aget Burgundy, 1,000 to 15 agst Mickey Free,
1,000 to 15 agst Fitz-Allen.
DERBY.-8 to 1 agst Van Tromp, 15 to I agst Epirote,
18 to 1 apt Planet, 25 to 1 apt Glentilt, 28 to 1 agst the
Sister to Cobweb colt, 33 to 1 agst Lunedale, 40 to 1 apt
Johnny Armstrong (taken), 40 to 1 agst Mks Martin colt
(taken), 40 to 1 agst Red Hart (taken), 40 to 1 agst Horn
of Chase (taken), 6 to 1 agst John Day's lot.
The Leamington Steeple Chases are postponed until the
latter end of January or the beginning of February; the
stakes to be re-opened.

MONUMENT TO THE MEMORY
OF THE LATE THOMAS CLARKSON.
Yesterday (Monday) a meeting took place at the Shire
Hall, Woodbridge, to take into consideration the pro-
priety of erecting a monument to the memory of the late
Thomas Clarkson, Esq., in Playford Church. The fol-
lowing gentlemen were present :—R. N. Shawe, Esq. ;
Messrs. Thomas, Jenny. Biddell, Meadows, Wood, Gur-
don, Piper, Francis ; Revs. Moore, West, Webster,
Taylor, &c.__

ROBERT NEWTON SHAW; Esq., as chairman, stated
the object of the meeting, and said that he had received
communications from upwards of seventy individuals,
who were anxious to promote the object in view.
He could not read the whole of them to the meet-
ing, but he should not do justice to Mr. Arcedeckne,
without stating that that gentleman had said he
should feel great pleasure in contributing, although
his property had been greatly depreciated by the
exertions of the illustrious individual alluded to.
One communication had suggested that a monument
should be erected on the Market Hill, Woodbridge.
Various plans had been proposed; amongst them the re-
storation of the church and chancel at Playford, a new
east window, and 1 suitable monument inside. He
would leave it to the gentlemen *sent to determine
what was the best plan to propose, and would be glad to
co-operate in any that met the approbation of the majority.
The Rev. EDWARD MOORE said that he had communi-
cated with the bishop of the diocese, and had received a
reply from Archdeacon Ormrod, who highly approved of
renovating the church, and would be happy to contri-
bute towards it ; but he (Mr. Moore) was aware that
there were many ardent admirers of the celebrated phi-
lanthropist, particularly in the Society of Friends, who
would object to cosntributing towards the renovation of
the church ; he would, therefore, propose that subscrip
tions should be received for either the restoration of the
church and chancel, or for the monument, or for both.

The Rev. H. TAYLOR was opposed to , this plan, as
the chancel was the property of the Earl of Bristol,
and it was unnecessary to put money into that noble-
man's pocket. _

Mr. 11 RTHIIR BIDDELL also objected, on the ground
that there were persons who were bound to keep
the church in repair, and that they were able
and willing to do so ; and besides this, he
observed there would be no security that the
alterations and improvements would continue. The
successors of the present officers might re-alter and do
away with whatever improvements were about to be
made. He wished to see a monument erected that no
one would have power to remove, quite independent of
the church, and unconnected with it—not having in
view the saving of the pockets of the parishioners of
Play ford.
The Rev. T. D. WEST said that neither the chancel
nor the church were worthy, in their present state, to
receive a monument such as it was desirable to erect to
the memory of the deceased. They should both be re-
paired; and then, he thought, the church would be the
proper place for the monument, as it would be open
to all.

The Rev. WEBSTER differed from the last speaker,
As the church would not be accessible at all times,
there would be the trouble of obtaining the key, and
fees would have to be paid.
The Rev. T. D. WEST said the same objections might
be made to St.. Paul's, and Westminster Abbey.
The Rev. H. Taylor hoped the gentlemen would
pause before they carried Mr. Moore's proposition,
as he considered that a place of worship was the
last place in the world in which monuments
should be erected, as they distracted the atten-
tion of the worshippers. But in this case
the objection was stronger than in most cases, as Thomas
Clarkson was a representative of the whole mass of man-
kind—he belonged to no country, snd tolno one sect of
religion. He fell in with the proposition of Mr. Bidden,
that the monument should be erected outside the church,
open to all.
The Rev. WEBSTRR proposed, as an amendment to
Mr. Moore's proposition, that a monument be erected
outside the church.

This was seconded by Mr. Taylor, and when put to
the vote, was carried by a large majority.
It was then proposed and carried, that a committee be
formed to carry out the proposition, and that subscrip-
tions be received at Messrs. Alexander's banks, at Ips-
wich and Woodbridge. _ _

Although it is understood that Lord Brimighain will
propose that a national monument be placed in West-
minster Abbey, in commemoration of the venerable
philanthropist, yet we should consider our locality
disgraced did it not do something to mark the spot
where the sacred remains of Thomas Clarkson are de-
posited.—lpswich Express.