The Sun.
London, England, 1848-11-09 00:00:00

TIIE VACANT BISHOPRIC.

Many candidates are in the field for the vacant
bishopric of Down, Connor, and Dromore; but it is
considered likely that the mitre will he offered to the
Rev. Dr. Sadlier, who, it is supposed, will be suc-
ceeded in the provostship of Trinity College by the
Rev. Dr. Elrington. A year or two since Dr. El-
rington, who is Regius Professor of Divinity in the
University of Dublin, gave his adhesion to the
national system of education. But it is probable that
no appointment will be made until the return of the
Lord-Lieutenant from England.
The following very curious statement on this sub-
ject appears in the Banner of Ulster, an organ of the
Presbyterian body in the northern province :
" The death of Bishop Mont will, in all likelihood,
lead to other great changes in the diocese of Down, and
Connor and Dromore. His Lordship was strenuously
opposed to the system of national education, and there is
every probability that his successor will be a supporter
of that system. We suspect that in a short time the
violent tirades against the connexion of Presbyterian
ministers with the National Board, which have receatly
been so common in this quarter, will be heard of no
more. At all events, if the ministers of the Establish-
ment act consistently, they are bound to withdraw
from the episcopal jurisdiction of Dr. Mant's successor,
should he happen to be an adherent of that system.
A few months will, therefore, test the sincerity of
certain gentlemen to whom we need not more par.
ticularly advert. Dr. Mant, though the author of a
considerable number of publications, never attained
much celebrity as a writer, as neither his style nor his
matter was very attractive. In private life he was, we
believe, a kind and good-natured man ; but his sectarian
prejudices were exceedingly strong, and in many ques-
tions of Church discipline he approached very closely
to the views of the ruseyites. Various speculations are

afloat with regard to his successor. The current im-
pression at present seems to be, that Dr. Sadleir, Provost
of Trinity College, Dublio, will obtain the vacant
bishopric, but in the present state of the matter it is
impossible to speak with any degree of confidence upon
the subject. It is not improbable that the claims of the
present Dean of Raphoe, the Very Rev. Lord Edward
Chichester, brother to the Marguis of Donegal, will be
strongly pressed upon the Government. However, let
who may be appointed, we trust that the mitre will
descend to an Irishman."

RAIL WAY INTELLIGENCE.
THE THREE GREAT COMPANIES.
The proposed amalgamation of the London and North-
Western, the Great Western, and the South-Western
Railway Companies has since its public announcement
engaged the attention of several shareholders in those
companies, and has given rice to much conversation on
the subject. A great practical difficulty presents itself
to them respecting the terms upon which it is proposed
to amalgamate. Shareholiers of the London and North.
Western contend that it would be exceedingly unjust to
them to unite at par with either the Great Western or
the South-Western, the stock of the former being con-
sidered more valuable in every respect than that of
either of the latter. The Great Western shareholders,
on the other hand, believe it would be advantageous
to them to amalgamate, and, as a proof, the prices of
their shares have risen considerably since the announce-
ment. Some of the Liverpool shareholders of the Lon-
don and North-Western look with considerable dis-
may upon the scheme ; they say the object for which
it is proposed to amalgamate—namely, to avoid expen-
sive Parliamentary contests—would be much better
effected by a committee composed of an equal number of
directors or shareholders in the three companies, with
power to decide any question or dispute ,which may
arise between the respective boards as to branches or ex-
tensions. They are alarmed at the probable conse-
quences of further amalgamation, which they say can
only have the effect of permanently reducieg the divi-
dend, stating as a case in point that the Liverpool and
Manchester from its opening in the year 1830 to the
amalgamation with the Grand Junction and the Bir-
mingham in 1846 paid a dividend of 10 per cent. per
annum, that the Grand Junction paid at one period 13
per cent , and never less than 9i per cent. per annum
until after the amalgamation in 1846 with the London
and Birmingham Company. The last dividend of the
amalgamated or London and North-Western Company
was at the rate of 7 per cent. per annum. Those who
were in the habit of receiving 10 per cent. dividend for
the past 16 years feel the reduction, as well as those
who purchased the shares in the London and North-
Western at a high premium, expecting that it wou,d
continue to pay a 10 per cent. dividend, and are of
course anxious to avoid further reduction. The amal-
gamation scheme is looked upon with much distrust, its
magnitude being likely to create public jealousy, and
thereby render it liable to restrictions which might tend
to still further injure the property and reduce it. value.
The general opinion is, that the scheme will result in
no good to the shareholders generally, and that it bas
been concocted more with a view to promote the great
ambition of a few individuals, than to effect any sub-
stantial benefit to the shareholders or advantage to the
iublic.