The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-27 00:00:00

CONTAGIOUS DISEASES BILL.

Several Members of the house were summoned to the
House of Lords to confer on alterations made by their
Lordships in the " Contagious Diseases Bill."
THE LEVANT.

On the return of the deputation,
Dr. BOWRING wished to know if the Noble Lord
the Secretary for Foreign Affairs could inform the
House what the terms of the treaty were which the
Government of Russia had entered into with other na-
tions respecting the trade of the Levant?
Lord PALMERSTON said that he was not at that
time in a condition to lay documents before the House,
but he was glad to say that Russia had shown the
utmost sincerity in her desire to overcome any difficulty
which might arise in negotiating with the natives, for,
with an exceedingly wise and liberal policy, she had
foregone many advantages which she held in the
Levant. He could only repeat that Russia seemed most
desirous to consult the wishes and interests of the other
powers.

COLONIES (REVENUE).
Dr. BOWRING moved for returns, in a tabular form,
for the last year in which they can be made up, of the
gross revenues, under their different heads, of each of
her Majesty's colonies, exhibiting the costs of collection,
and any deductions made in their progress to the public
treasury, together with other returns relating to the
colonies.
After a few words from Mr. HAWES, the returns
were ordered to be laid on the table.
In reply to a question from Dr. BOWRING.
Mr. HAWES stated that Sir W. Finn received a pen-
sion of 3001. a year for the services he had rendered.
HAYDOCK UNION LUNATIC ASYLUM.

Mr. WAKLEY moved for returns from the Haydock
Lodge Lunatic Asylum, and for the appointment of a
commission thereon. He held in his hands petitions
that showed the justice of this motion. The Honour-
able Member then read documents at considerable
length to show that very great neglect had taken place
in the management of the asylum at Haydock Lodge,
and remarked upon the appointment of Mr. Mott, in
March, 1845, as auditor of the unions in the
district, in the midst of which stood this asylum,
over which he acted as superintendent. He was of
opinion that the disclosures made on this subject
reflected far more on certain parties than
any disclosures connected with the Poor-law.
The mortality in these asylums was always less during
the first year. He had no means of knowing what the
mortality was during the first year in this instance,
but during the second year it was 112 out of 450.
The Poor-law Commissioners were aware of this fact,
and yet no inquiry was made; and he therefore sincerely
hoped that the Right Hon. Gentleman would take mea-
sures to have an inquiry into these scandalous proceedings.
In the year 1845 an addition was proposed in the dietary
tables of the establishment by the visiting magistrates.
Upwards of sixty persons had died in the year pre-
ceding the Ist of October, 1845. The recommendations
then proposed had not been carried out, and he thought
the proper course would be to deprive the
proprietors of this establishment of their license; he was
sure the late Lord Chancellor would have done so, and
he did not think the present one would act with less hu-
manity than the late one. The next inspection which had
been made was after the institution had been in existence
one year and eleven months. The result of that inspec-
tion was, that the magistrates were of opinion that the
house should only accommodate 367 persons instead of
the 500 who had been compelled to live in this establish-
ment. What he wanted of the House was a
commission to inquire, not only into the conduct
of the managers of this institution, but also
into that of the Poor.law Commissioners themselves.
The visitors of Haydock Lodge Lunatic Asylum stated
that they had had the pleasure of meeting the Lunatic
Commissioners in that asy'um, and that on the day of
their visit they found that the inmates had one
quart of rice for their dinner, with half a pint of
beer. The rice was formed into a kind of soup,
or rather rice-water. No wonder, therefore, that
many of them died from dysentery and diarrhoea on
account of the water diet to which they were subjected.
The Commissioners ascertained that they had had a
similar dinner the day before, and they suggested that
the regimen should be changed. The Commissioners of
Lunacywere, it appeared, of the same opinion,and thought
they ought not to have such dinners more than twice
a week. No question there was great neglect some-
where, and it was the bounden duty of the Govern-
ment to institute a searching inquiry. The mor-
tality alone was sufficient to demand such an inquiry
—one hundred and twelve demented individuals having
died in the course of twelve- months. Many of the in-
mates
in the coldest seasons of the year were only
allowed one blanket to their bed. This was a great
hardship, especially as the walls were damp, and
as the inmates were not fully fed they were more liable
to feel the cold. No wonder they died of these diseases
Then the Poor-law Commissioners had decided that a
person who held the office of guardian of the Chester-
field Union could not supply milk to the persons who had
contracted to serve it to the workhouse without rendering
himself liable to the 55th Wm. IV., c. 137. In another
case, that of the Plimpton Union, they had decided that
a person could not be a guardian who was the owner
of a lunatic asylum, without incurring similar penalties.
If the Honourble and Learned Gentleman the At-
torney-General declared that a commission would
not be a legal mode of inquiry, he would withdraw
his motion, and give notice of his intention to move for
a Committee of Inquiry on the very first day
of the next session. But, for his own part, he
thought a commission was the best and most legal mode
of inquiry, and he trusted after the facts he had stated, the
Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home
Department would appoint one.—(Near, hear.)
Sir J. FEILDEN said the proceedings to which the
Hon. Gentleman had alluded were perfectly disgraceful,
and he had much pleasure in seconding the motion.
The question having been put,
Sir G. GREY admitted that Dr. Roberts had done a
great public service by bringing forward these facts
concerning the unfortunate inmates of the lunatic asylum
in question. lle regretted that the Hon. Member had
brought forward this most important subject before so
thin a House. All the facts which had been stated
with so much force were contained in the papers
which had already been laid on the table of
the House. He admitted that those facts showed
that private lunatic asylums were in the most
deplorable state, and he was afraid that it was entirely
out of the power of Parliament to remedy that state.
With regard to a Commission of Inquiry, the
Honourable Member must remember that the
Commissioners of Lunacy were not at all implicated in
this ill-treatment of lunatics. lie admitted that it was
most discreditable to any parties employed under the Poor-
law Commission to be connected with the management
of lunatic asylums. After the disclosures that had been
Blade, he thought that the Commissioners of Lunacy
ought to direct their most close attention to the conduct
of the managers of the Haydock Lunatic Asylum.
The only remedy for the evils connected with lunatic
asylums was in the bands, of the magistrates of this
county, who should immediately set about erecting
county lunatie asylums. He hoped, in conclusion, that
the lion. Member would not press his motion.
words After a few from Mr. R. YORKE and Mr. P.
BORTIINTICK,
Mr. WAKLEY replied, and hoped the Right Hon.
Gentleman the Home Secretary would make an effectual
inquiry into the case bef 're the next session of Parlia-
ment; and if this could not be done, he should feel it to
be his duty to move for an inquiry to investigate the
circumstances.

The motion was then, by leave, withdrawn.
The other orders of the day having been disposed or,
the House adjourned at Six o'clock.

IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PORTER
AND ALE.—A patent has been taken out by Mr. Maugham,
for improvements in the manufacture of ale, porter and other
fermented liquors, which appears likely to become of some
-1,,E tiller the liquor has undergone the ordinary
diepw tiltation, it is heated to such a temperature as
:hither Aerrnentation, say from 1.50. to 160 degrees,
;flat chireed to any desired degree with carbonic acid
d
..1y this -rat eof treatment, fermented liquors can
-become sun as the various fermentation is checked
illy by tlk eat, and in close veisel9 there is no Ogpor-
'cv iti Sanklillt remoy4l,-4rtizan,

A a

GUILDFORD EXTENSION AND
FAREHAM AND PORTSMOUTH RAILWAY.

The first general meeting of the shareholders of this
Company was held yesterday, at the South-Western Rail-
way terminus, Nine Elms, for the transaction of the
ordinary business of the Company. The meeting was
also made special for the purpose of receiving a report
from the directors on the subject of selling the under-
taking, authorised by the said Act, to the London and
South-Western Railway Company, and for considering
the same, and determining on the expediency of such
sale, and if deemed expedient they for deciding upon
and fixing the terms thereof.
The chair was taken, in the absence of Mr. Chaplin,
the chairman of the Company, by G. Best, Esq., at
twelve o'clock precisely.
The advertisement convening the meeting having
been read,
The CHAIRMAN said, that as there were several formal
resolutions to be proposed, he would decline entering
into the more important subject to which the attention
of the meeting would be called—namely, the :.ale of this
line to the London and South-Western Company. He
would therefore call upon the becretary to read the
report of the Company.
J. W. HORN, Esq , the Secretary, then read the report
as follows:

" The Act of Parliament incorporating this Company
passed on the 27th of July last, and under the provisions
of the Companies' Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845, a
general meeting of the shareholders becomes necessary
within one calendar month from such passing. Your
directors lost no time in forming the register of share-
holders, and they caused the fullest notice to be given,
in order that the registration might be as complete as
possible before the day of your meeting, which, for the
same cause, they postponed to the furthest limit allowed
by law.
" It cannot be without feelings of regret that your
directors meet you on the present occasion, constrained
as they now are to contrast the purposes of your asso-
ciation with its results. They believe that a more legi-
timate, useful, or comprehensive scheme than that which
was originally proposed by this Company, was never
submitted to Parliament, forming as it did the shortest,
cheapest, and best line between London and Ports-
mouth—completing the then remaining part of the coast
line between Fareham and Chichester, and giving Chi-
chester and West Sussex a direct communication with
London, through Godalming and Guildford.
" Neither can your directors admit, when the integrity
of this scheme was destroyed by the Parliamentary
decision of 1845, that the measure which was then

substituted for it was less comprehensive or beneficial.
Parliament had seen fit to place in the hands of the
Brighton and Chichester Company the line between Chi
chester and Portsmouth. The London and South-Western
Company thereupon made arrangements with the London
and Brighton Company for the joint ownership and use of
that line, and the formercompany were ready to place their
interest in it at the disposal of this Company, so that in
renewing their application in the session of 1846, your
directors were enabled, by increasing the capital of the
Company, and by making a conditional arrangement with
the London and South-Western Company as to the use
of the Portsmouth and Chichester line, again to propose
an integral, and the shortest and best connexion between
London and Portsmouth, and the same benefits as before
to West Sussex and Chichester, with a branch to Mid-
hurst and Petersfield, a second branch to Chichester
Harbour, and a third, into the dock-yards at Portsmouth.
" It is in vain to repeat that this project was infinitely
superior in the judgment of your directors, in every one
point of comparison, to its antagonist. A committee of
peers decided otherwise ; your directors can only con-
sole themselves with the reflection that the lines pro-
posed by this Company were the best for the country at
large ; they entertain no doubt but that public opinion
will hereafter so pronounce.
" Returning, however, to the business more imme-
diately for present consideration, your directors have to
report, that on the rejection of the Bill of 1846, they
immediately obtained from the London and South-
Western Railway Company the means of repaying to
the subscribers of the new capital of 250,0001. (raised in
quarter shares of 121. 10s. each, 11. ss. deposit), the full
amount of their deposits, and these quarter shares are
accordingly in course of liquidation as the holders
present them.
"By the ultimate decision of Parliament, you have
acquired powers to construct two inconsiderable por-
tions of your original line, viz., four miles between
Guildford and Godalming, and about eight miles
between Fareham and Portsmouth ; and your original
capital of 1,000,0001. (divided into 20,000 shares of 504
each), has been reduced to 500,0001., divided into the
same number of shares of 251. each, upon which, if this
Company shall proceed to execute these remnants of
their project as an independert company, it, would pro-
bably be necessary to call from 15/. to 17/. 10s. per
share. The arrangements between the Brighton and
South-Western Companies, which were to have placed
at your disposal the interest of the latter com-
pany in the line between Portsmouth and Chichester,
have, by a subsequent rupture between those companies,
become unavailable, and indeed would be inapplicable
under any circumstances to your present position ; so
that the question which has presented itself to the minds of
your directors, as that on which it became them imme-
diately to form ajudgment, and to submit to you for your
consideration, is—whether, in the now mutilated state
of your undertaking, it would be advisable to carry on the
works which this Company is authorised to execute, or
to sell them at once to the London and South-Western
Company. If the former course were deemed the more
expedient, the London and South-Western Company
would be your lessees, at a rental of 4 per ent. upon
your outlay, and half the surplus profits, to be ascer-
tained on a mileage proportion of the receipts on your
line, and those parts of their line upon which traffic pas-
sing also on yours might be carried.
" Considering that the portions of line granted to you
will, with reference to their lengtb, be costly, and that
the great expense incurred since your association would,
under this state of circumstances, form part of your ex-
penditure, so that your share of surplus profit could
never be great, your directors became unanimously of
opinion that it was far better to sell the undertaking at
once to the London and South-Western Railway Com-
pany if fair terms could be secured ; and they deemed it
their duty to enter upon a treaty without delay with the
directors of that company, in order to submit its results
to you at this present meeting, so that, if adopted, the
expense and delay attending further proceedings might
be avoided.

" Your directors have now the satisfaction to report,
that, subject to your approval, they have agreed with the
directors of the London and South-Western Company
for a sale of your undertaking to that company, upon the
terms, that the purchasers shall pay all the expense, and
take up all the liabilities of this Company of every de.
scription, inclusive of those incurred to the final settle-
ment of its affairs, and shall also place in the hands of
your directors, a sufficient fund to repay to each share-
holder in this Company, his full deposit, with interest at
the rate of 5 per cectum per annum, upon his payments
during all the time the money has been or shall be de-
tained from him.

" Your directors recommend you to sanction this
arrangement, and they will propose for your adoption
resolutions authorising them to carry it into effect."
T. H. HELPS, Esq., objected to the adoption of the
recommendations contained in the report of the directors;
he objected to selling their line upon the terms proposed.
It was quite true that they had only succeeded in ob-
taining two small portions of their line. He believed
that the line would be worth considerably more than
was offered by the South-Western Company. He had
the authority of the directors on a former occasion for
that opinion, and he could not conceive that the reason
stated in the report, namely the expense of the contest,
could possibly have influenced the directors in changing
their opinion upon the subject, for surely no directors
could think of going to Parliament without incurring
great expense. The question really was, whether the
line proved a remunerative one? And upon that
point he wished to know whether the expenses
incurred since October last by the directors
would raise the average price of their line beyond the
average price of the South- Western. They bad ob-
tained the line between Fareham and Portsmouth, and,
wits a station at Portsmouth, he believed that they could
carry a considerable portion of the traffic which was
now carried by the South-Western Company ; for it
was not to be doubted that there was a great superiority
in a station at Portsmouth, compared with one at Gos-
port. That portion of the line would form a link in the
great south-coast communication of England ; and it
would also afford communication with Chertsey, Kings-
ton, Hampton-court, and a number of other places. The
line might have extensions, for instance, to Arundel, to
Chichester, to Horsham, or to other places in the county
of Sussex, which would increase the traffic upon the line.
He believed also that very shortly the South-Western
Railway would have a communication with Windsor
from Woking, and then there would only be one short
g.tp between Godalming and Woking to complete a
communication between Windsor and Brighton, and he
had no doubt that in that case the Loudon and Bir-
mingham, or the North-Western rather, would come
forward, and by a line from Tring communicating with
Windsor, they would make use of that portion of the
then existing line. There was another consideration,
which was, that if this line were worth anything to its
present shareholders, it was worth considerably more to
the South-Western, and he thought that they should
have acted more liberally towards this line than they
had done, not only in their present offer, but also in their
conduct during the late Parliamentary contest. He be-
lieved the directors of the South-Western Company were
perfectly honourable, but he could not help thinking
that by the course of conduct they had pursued most
advantageous agreements had been lost between this
Company and the London and Brighton Company. He
thought that some compensation was due from them for
this loss, and he thought it would be no more than fair
that the South-Western Company should consent to in-
corporate the Guildford. Chichester, andFarehamßailWay
with their own. He thought nothing less than this would
be satisfactory to the shareholders of the Company. He
believed that course would be politic for themselves; they
had complex schemes in the %rest, and it would be well
for them if they would endeavour to stand well in the sight
of these people in consequence of their liberal conduct
towards subordinate companies. If the South-Western
did not act in this manner, he, for one, would be prepared
into the
rnsaemcnotuinn of his s
gt
theirsehheanarees, to
ina efnuctonurreagseessthioendnirfectors
Par-
liament.

The report was then received and adopted.
Several resolutions were also proposed and agreed to,
having for their object the appointment of auditors, the
salary of the secretary, and other matters.
A resolution was al =o passed confirming the appoint-
ment by the South-Western Company, of Messrs.
Chaplin, John Lewis Eyre, George Ilenderson, and
Matthew Uziell, as directors of the company,
The following twelve gentlemen were elected as direc-
tors, in the room of those retiring :—Messrs.-Best,
Currie, Vincent, Eyre, Fuller, Sing, Mangles, mar.

shall, Masterman, Nance, Smith, Lord G. Lennox, and
Mr. G. Henty.
The CHAIRMAN then moved the next resolution, as
follows :

" Resolved—That this meeting sanctions and approves
the sale and transfer to the London and South-Western
Company of the undertaking authorised by the ' Guild-
ford Extension and Portsmouth and Fareham Railway
Act, 1845,' together with all the lands, tenements, and
hereditaments, moneys, securities, and other real and
personal estate whatsoever, of the Company incorporated
by the said Act, upon the terms that the London and
South-Western Railway Company shall pay, or to the
satisfaction of the directors of this Company
adopt, so as to exonerate this Company, all the ex-
penses, payments, debts, and liabilities of this
Company, inclusive of all future expenses incurred
in the winding up and final settlement of this
Company's affairs, and shall also pay to the directors
such a sum as will enable them to return to the share-
holders the full amount of their respective payments on
their shares, together with ten shillings on each share
whereon ten per cent. has been paid, and five shillings
on each share on which five per cent. only has been
paid, without any deductions whatsoever."
T. W. HELPS, ESQ. moved, as an amendment, "That
in the opinion of this meeting, considering the relation
in which this Company stands to the South-Western
Company, the latter would only be acting with reason-
able liberality in assigning to our shareholders extension
shares in that Company, in exchange for shares of the
same amount in this Company ; but that the meet-
ing authorises the directors, if better terms cannot be
obtained, to sell the undertaking with all the claims and
liabilities for such an amount of South-Western capital
as will give every shareholder in this Company one fifty-
pound share for every 501. of deposit, and a proportion-
ate share, or its money value, for any less amount of
deposit."
G. GATTIE, Esq., seconded the amendment.
G. BEST, Esq., chairman, said that the subject of the
resolution had received the best attention of the di-
rectors, and he thought the proposition of the South-
Western Company a very advantageous one to the inte-
rests of the shareholders. He would merely state that
the expenses already incurred by this Company had been
60,0001., the whole of which would be taken off the hands
of the Company by the South-Western Company.
11. CURRIE, Esq., one of the directors of the Com-
pany, thought that a better arrangement could not he
made than the present one. He believed also that in
the present depressed state of the money market it
would be difficult to raise sufficient money even to com•
plete the works of the line.
Mr. HORSMAN, M.P., thought that in all these
matters there was a proper course to be adopted. A course
of fairness between man and man included also a course
of fairness between company and company, and he did
not think the shareholders of this Company should be
governed entirely by a principle to get all they could
out of the South-Western Railway. So far as his pe-
cuniary interests were concerned, he should be pleased to
have his deposits back ; he thought he might do much
better with them ; but he (lid not think that the South-
Western Company would be so soft as to concede to the
terms of Cie amendment, and the consequence would be
that the Company would be thrown back upon their
original resources and strength. He felt bound to say
that constant attendance at the board had given him
ample opportunities of stating that the South-Western
Company had acted in the most perfect good faith, and
in the most honourable manner, with the shareholders
of this company, and it was his decided opinion that the
offer of the South-Western was a most fair and
honourable one, and one which ought to be adopted by
this meeting.
A SHAREHOLDER wisked to know the amount of the
expenses already incurred.
_

The CnAmmix said that the expenses would be about
50,000/.

Mr. GERSTEMBERG opposed the resolution.
The CHAIRMAN stated that the reason why Mr.
Chaplin, who was the chairman both of the South-
Western and this Company, was not present, was in
order to give the shareholders an opportunity of stating
their opinions unbiassed by anything which he might
say, and to remove at once any doubts as to anythipg he
might say being actuated by motives of interest for the
South-Western Railway.
J. RAND, Esq., cordially approved of the resolution of
the committee, and considered the offer of the South-
Western Company advantageous to the shareholders of
the Company.
F. D. BURCHILL, Esq., solicitor to both the South-
Western Company and the present Company, rose
for the purpose of explaining the course of conduct
pursued by the South-Western Company towards this
Company, in which he fully exonerated the South•
Western Company from the charges which had been
brought against it. That Company had made arrange-
ments with the London and Brighton Company, on the
faith of which they had made promises to this Company,
but, in consequence of a rupture between the two com-
panies, the South-Western had not been able to fulfil
their agreements.
A somewhat desultory conversation took place on the
subject alluded to by Mr. Burchill, solicitor to the com-
panies, at the conclusion of which
J. W. I-lELps, Esq., stated that his opinions on the
subject of the sale of the railway remained the same as
when he proposed the amendment, and he should there-
fore press it to a division.
The CIIAIRMA.N then proceeded to put the amendment,
when by a show of hands there appeared—
For the amendment l3
Against it
Majority
The original resolution was then put, a scrutiny being
demanded, when there appeared shares—
For the resolution
Against it
Majority

There were 3,500 shares held by the South-Western
Company, who did not vote ; had they done so, there
woulg have been a majority, instead of 723, of 4,223.
A resolution, authorising the directors to carry out
the terms of the above resolutions, was then agreed to.
A vote of thanks was also proposed to the directors of
the Company for their untiring zeal and services in the
cause of this railway, and for their endeavours to pro-
mote the interests of the shareholders of this Company.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
A vote of thanks was then proposed to the Chairman
for the very able and impartial manner in which he had
performed the duties of the chairman of this meeting.
The resolution was agreed to nem. con.
The meeting then broke up.

SOUTH WALES RAILWAY.
The third half-yearly general meeting of this com-
pany was held at the station of the Great Western Rail
way, Paddington, at one yesterday afternoon. Charles
Russell, Esq , M.P., in the chair. There was a numerous
attendance of directors and shareholders.
Mr. N. ARMSTRONG, the Secretary, having read the
advertisement convening the meeting,
The CHAIRMAN, with the consent of the meeting,
affixed the seal of the company to the register and
transfer of shares, and then addressed the proprietors as
follows :—Gentlemen, in the report which has been cir-
culated among the proprietors this morning, there is
contained a statement of all the proceedings in Parlia-
ment during the session which is just about to be
closed. I think we may congratulate the proprietors
on the results of those proceedings being much more
satisfactory than we at one time contemplated. The
South Wales Railway, like almost all established rail-
ways in the country, was threatened by a multitude of
rival and competing schemes, with which the year 1845
abounded. I think we counted at the time no less than
46 railways extending through the principality of Wales
alone, while not later than the year 1844, great doubts
were entertained whether a single railway could be car-
ried with advantage to the projectors. If we had
resolved to embark in an extensive opposi-
tion to all these schemes, we should have wasted
a considerable portion of the funds of your
company in such opposition, and in preparation for such
opposition. Your directors did not think it expedient to
adopt this course, and the results which have ensued
satisfy them of the prudence of the course upon which
they did determine. The greater number of these rail-
way projects in 1846 to which I have adverted were
still-born; many of them in the course of a very short
period were withdrawn from the notices of Parliament,
some of them failed, and I believe I am right in stating
that not more than five or six bearing any relation
whatever to the South Wales Company survive this
session of Parliament, but of those five or six four at
least were in friendly relation with your own line. The
measures which have been accomplished favourable to
our own views may be classed under three
heads :—First, the completion of the connexion
with the Great Western Railway, by the route of Glou-
cester, which, though circuitous, will unquestionably be-
come much more important, and much more valuable,
than the projected line between Oxford and Cheltenham,
when carried into effect. The second combined the divisions
and improvements of your own line, and two additional
projects which are integral portions of the South Wales
Railway—the one to Swansea, and the other to Haver-
fordwest, conferring very considerable advantages, I
hope, upon those towns. Tho last of these schemes,
which may be regarded as tributary to the South Wales
Railway, adopt+ d by independent companies in
friendly relation with the South Wales Rail-
way Company, consist of the Vale of Neath
Railway, the Llynvi Valley Railway, and Tenby Saun-
dersfoot Railway. These are briefly the objects which
have been accomplished in the last session of Parliament.
Simultaneously with the prosecution of these objects,
your directors have been engaged in giving effect to the
powers they previously possessed. As soon as the re-
vised survey of the line had been completed, steps were
taken by your directors for entering into contracts for
the formation of the heaviest of your works. These occur
in the neighbourhood of the town of Newport and the
town of Swansea, and the contracts for those portions of
the line accordingly were entered into as early as the
month of March or April in the present
year. You are quite aware that the heaviest
works must in the first instance be completed
over the extent of the whole of the line,
and it is useless to enter upon the construction of the
easier portions of the line until these shall have been
considerably advanced. Immediately preceding Mr.
Brunel's departure for the Continent, he entered into
very extensive contracts, contracts Which embrace the
construction of the entire line from Chepstow to Kid-
welly, in the neighbourhood of Carmarthen, and with
the exzeption of an interval of about thirty miles, close
to Carmarthen, and two other short intervals, one being
near the town of Neath, and the other near Loughor: and
Cardiff. Gentlemen, these contracts embrace a distance
altogether of 54 miles, and I hope that the proprietors
will ace that the faith and assurance which the directors
gave to you and the public at our last meeting, that we
would prosecute the works under our superintendence
with the utmost energy and vigour, have been fully
carried out. Let me 'state,- also, that the terms upon
which these contracts have been obtained are, in the
estimative of Dstwel, Perfectly 6411614ctcrY and ad-

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