The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-15 00:00:00

AND cAmniunGE

NJITISBECII, ST. IVES,

JUNCTION.

The Committee appointed to hear the cases in this group met
to-day at 11 o'clock. Earl Grey chairman.
Mr. Caoirraza appeared for the promoters of the above line,
which was opposed by the Lynn and Ely. After a brief address, the
promoters proceeded to call evidence.
THE LONDON AND YORE (WAKEFIELD

hills, which were tile-tunnelled, that point being in fact the great
engineering feature of the line, as the works would be of a heavy
character, witt. a gradient which would have to be worked by assist-
ant power. The tunnel would be three miles and a-half inlength.
The line then joined the Gloucester and Birmingham at the 44th mile,
by which access on the one hand was obtained to Birmingham, and
on the other, by the Worcester and Wolverhampton to Wolverhamp-
ton, and by the Manchester and Birmingham to Lickfteld, which
line he believed had passed a Committee of the House of Commons.
in fact they obtained a direct northern communication by lines,
whose interests were identical with those of the Manchester and
Southampton. From Wolverhampton they went along the
Grand Janction up to Manchester. The Oxford, Wor-
cester, and Wolverhampton was, he understood, to be laid
down on the narrow, instead of the broad gauge. The exist-
ing break of gauge was a serious inconvenience. The distance saved
between Cheltenham and Swindon, as compared with the
existing mode of communication was 17 miles. The entire distance
from Manchester to Southampton, was 212 miles, and would save
25 miles, as compared with the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolver-
hampton route to Manchester, and as compared with the
Rugby route, 19 miles; but he understood the Great Western
were to be compelled to lay down the narrow gauge from
Oxford to Rugby, instead of the broad gauge, as originally in-
tended. The estimated expense of the eighty-eight miles of
new railway was 1,506,8081., including a surplus of 75,1191. for con-
tingencies. The estimate was taken at the rate of 17,0001. a mile.
There would be two tunnels which he estimated at 501. a yard.
The average cuttings were under 50,000 yards a mile. The cost for
construction would be below the average amount. Coals he ex-
pected would be conveyed to Southampton and sold there at 155.
or 16s. a ton. Looking to the line, therefore, with refe-
rence to its affording communication from north to south
at its cost of construction, and the present means of communication,
he was of opinion that it would be a remunerative line to its pro-
jectors.

The witness was cross-examined at great length by Mr. KEATING,
on behalf of the Great Western Railway. The line, by a connection
with the Great Western at Swindon, would form the shortest route
from London to Cheltenham. Persons going to Cheltenham had to
change their carriages twice at Swindon and at Gloucester.
The witness was also examined by Mr. HATHERTON, with respect
to the proposed station at Southampton.
The Committee adjourned until twelve o'cloc4 on Wednesday.

GROUP XVIII.
EXETER GREAT WESTERN.

Mr. Sergeant KrNoLAKE addressed the Committee for Mr.
Frampton, a petitioner against the Bill.
Several witnesses were called to prove the extent of damage done
to the proprietors.
The Committee adjourned till 12 o'clock to-morrow.

Carlow, and Dublin Junction Railway, and the Great Leinster and
Munster (No. 2—Kilkenny to Clonruel) being unopposed, were
referred to Mr. Greene in the usual course.
GREAT LEINSIT3ER AND MUNSTER (No. 2

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JUNE 15, 1816.

Eastern line would not, and would pass through the property
of Mr. Angerstein, who formerly opposed, but who now sup-
ported that project. The line selected was one of an im-
portant public character, inasmuch as it would be a direct
railway from London to Gravesend and Rochester. He pre-
ferred that the Bill should be committed to the members
of the Committee who had heard the whole of the evidence.

After a few words from Mr. Rice, Lord Emelyn, and Mr.
H. Bayley,
Mr. J. O'CONNELL thought the justice of the case would
be met if the House would allow both parties to come before
them again next year. The interest of the public would not
be injured, and such a course would be quite consistent with
the position of both Bills. He saw no mode so well adapted to
meet the case, and he believed if it were adopted both parties
would come forward then better prepared.
Mr. WARBURTON hoped that whatever determination
the House should come to, one point at least would be resolved
on, namely, that Greenwich Observatory should not be de-
stroyed. Let any man read the evidence given upon that
subject, and then lay his hand upon his heart, and say
that this would not be the result if a railway were
constructed through Greenwich Park. Sir John Herschell,
Mr. Baggage, the astronomer from Chatham ; Mr. Challis,
Dr. Robinson, the astronomer from Armagh, had all given
decisive and weighty evidence against the railway, in con-
sequ,-nce of the injury the Observatory would sustain ;
and Professor Airy was the only eminent and scientific
man who had ;riven evidence of a contrary character.
He hoped the House would support the Observatory at Green-
wich; that they would not allow a railway to pass underit, if
there was the slightest chance of the Observatory being de-
stroyed by it.— ( Hear, hear.)
Mr. PLUMPTREE said the Eastern were prepared to
abandon that part of their scheme which passed under the
Observatory, and adopt the loop, if the House would allow
them to do so.
After a few words from one er two Hon. Members, who
called upon the Government to place the South-Eastern
Company in the same position that they stood in before the
Admiralty gave their consent,
On the motion fur resuming the adjourned debate on the
consideration of the report of the South-Eastern Railway Bill
(Greenwich to Chilham),
Mr. A GLIONBY wished to know what the House
was about to do. on this subject, and what position
it stood in. If they were about to re-commit the
Bill, he could offer no objection ; but if they were about to re-
commit it to the same majority which had before decided the
question, they would have the same decision as before. The
present inconvenience arose from the fickleness of the Board of
Admiralty, and the stipulations which they had made, so as to
retain the power to themselves of stopping up the line. Such
a course had produced considerable injury to the South-
Eastern Company, and was calculated to do them still more.
He thought this was necessary, for the expenses were of a
material consideration, and unless these were satisfied there
would be no guarantee to the shareholders.
Mr. O'CONNELL wished now to inquire whether it was
competent for him to move whether it is proper to require its
re-committal this day six months?
The SPEAKER—Certainly; there was a substantive mo-
tion before the House, and he conceived that till the motion of
the Hon. Member for Dover was disposed of no adjudication
could be made as to the inquiry.,
Mr. JARVIS conceived that the case of the South-Eastern
Railway had not been fairly dealt with, and that the North
Kent ought to be thrown out. It appeared that it was a
standing order of Parliament, that no one connected with the
railway should have the power of voting for it. He conceived
that the report ought to be amended, and that the North Kent
line should be beyond the power of opposition. Hon. Members
after spending thirty-six days in inquiry without any personal
interest, had come to an imperfect decision, and he therefore
conceived they ought to have the power of amending the report.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the re-committal
Against
Majority

148

Mr. PROTHER6E then moved that the Bill be re-com.
mitted to the former Committee, for the purpose of considering
the copies of correspondence and reports on the subject oi
a railroad passing through Greenwich Park (which have,
by order, been submitted to this House by the Admiralty,
subsequent to the bringing up of the Report of the Commit-
tee), and the expedieney or inexpediency of sanctioning any
of the altercate lines proposed by the South-Eastern Railway
in substitution for the line through Greenwich Paak.
After a few words from Mr. Plumptree,
Sir R. H. INGLIS should vote for the recommittal of the
Bill, because he was anxious that the South Eeastern Company
should be placed in the same position as they were before
the assent of the Admiralty was given to the North Kent line
passing under the park.
Mr. AGLIONBY would vote for the re-committal on the
same ground, but he hoped the Bill would be sent to a different
Committee to that which gave power to the Admiralty
to stop up a railway on a certain ocntingenc).
He intended to vote for the re-committal of the South-Eastern
Bill ; and he should, if he had the opportunity, vote also for
the re-committal of the rival line, the North Kent. If he had
the opportunity he should also vote that the Bill be referred to
a distinct Committee, in order that the four Members of the
present Committee should not have the same decision to come
to. If it were referred to the same Members, that the Com-
mittee should be constituted as they were when the Bill was
originally referred to them.
Mr. ENTWISTLE (who rose amidst loud cries of " Oh,")
asked, what Hon. Member had moved for the re-committal of
the Bill ?

The SPEAKER said,: that it was on the motion of the
Hon. Member for Dover.

The Gallery was then cleared for a division, when there
appeared:—
For the re-committal ...
For the postponement to that day six months 6B
Majority -57
Mr. PROTHIROE must then move that the Bill be re •
committed to the former Committee, with copies of the cor-
respondence which had passed between the Committee and the
promoters.
11r. RICE must then move as an amendment that the Bill
should be re-committed to the Committee as formerly con-
stituted.

Mr. PROTHEROE said, that this would render it neces-
sary for the Hon. Member for Worcestershire, who had for-
merly been a Member of that Committee, to attend for
two months, to repeat the evidence which he had formerly heard,
He thought this was too great a hardship to impose
upon any Hon. Member, especially as the Committee
could dispose of the Bill without any such impositiog.
Mr. HUME conceived that this would be a great injustice
to the parties engaged, and inflict a great expense, which was
quite unnecessary, as the Committee might dispose of the
Bill without either the cost or the delay.
The gallery was then cleared for a division, but none took
place.

(LEFT SPEAKING.)

ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
SITTING OF JUNE 8.

M. Dumas read a long report of the process employed at
the Royal Printing-Office for printing upon stone, and in
colours, the large geological map of France. It would be
tedious to our readers generally to follow M. Dumas
through the whole cf his report, however interesting it
may be to printers, who are well acquainted with
all the technical details into which he enters. It
will be sufficient for us to state that which has been done
upon a rather smaller scale, with the most perfect success,
by other lithographic printers, and in particular by M.
Engelmann, to whose genius and perseverance so many
beautiful improvements in lithographic printing are
due, is accomplished at the royal printing office upon a
more extensive scale, by the mechanical precision which
has been attained. Printing in colours, whether from metal
types or stone, is, as our readers may suppose, a repitition
of the process for as many colours and shades as are
required. If in letter-press printing, for instance, it be re-
quired to print a sheet in six or seven colours, there are the
same number of forms set up, each containing the words
which are to be in one particular colour. The press-work
upon one colour being accomplished, another form containing
the letters to be printed in a different colour is brought to
the press, and the sheet is so adjusted that the colour may
fall nowhere else ; this process is repeated as often as the
colours are to be introduced. There must be the greatest
care and precision used. It is the same with lithographic
printing. For as many portions of the print as there are to
be portions in different colours, there are so many engraved
stones, and success in the operation depends upon the nal-
chinery, by which the sheet is made to adapt itself exactly
to each. The novelty at the Royal Printing Office appears
to us to consist entirely in the extent to which this mode of
printing is carried, for it appears that no less than 23 or 24
lithographic stones are used for the same map. The me-
chanical part of the process is evidently, from the description
of M. Dumas, admirably contrived; but whilst due honour
is paid to the art and ingenuity evinced in the process at
this establishment, we think it is only fair to speak in terms
of almost equal praise of the individuals who have with so
much public spirit, and at so great a sacrifice of money,
brought the art of lithographic printing to its present state.
A long letter was read from DI. Boussingault to M.
Arago, relative to a tree struck by lightning last month, and
which the writer saw and examined after the accident. M.
Bossingauit gives a very detailed account of the appearance
of the parts rent or carbonised by the electric fluid, but they
are wholly without interest, for the writer admits that it dif-
fered in no essential point from what has been seen in other
ayses of the same kind. What, then, it will be no doubt
asked, was the writer's object in this long letter ? It was
simply to enable M. Boussingault to repeat an opinion which
he has frequently expressed, that the belief that the electric
fluid leaves behind it a strong odour of sulphur is a vulgar
error. He says he was assured by some persons that this
tree gave out such a smell, but that having himself visited
it he was convinced that there was no smell of sulphur,
and that the real smell was precisely the same as that in the
manufactories where vinegar is distilled from wood. These
two odours are very unlike, and consequently if M. Bous-
singault is right, persons who fancy that the electric fluid
eaves behind it a smell of sulphur are wrong. M. Bous-
singault adds, that in no case has he found a sulphurous
emanation from any article struck by lightning. In the
present case, however, he candidly admits that a person who
accompanied him in his visit to the tree was of opinion that
the smell was sulphurous, "notwithstanding all his efforts to
dissuade him from it." M. Boussingault is a great authority
in scientific matters, but his companion seems -to have
thought that, independently of science, a nose is a nose, and
that he had as much right to smell or fancy that he smelled
sulphur as M. Boussingault had to smell or fancy that he
smelled the vinegar of wood.
M. Comay gave a description of a new sound or probe for
detecting the presence of urinary concretions and other de-
posits, and which he calls a stereoscope. It is an ingenious
contrivance, and will, we believe, be found of practical
benefit.

A communication was received from Monsieur Bouchardat
on the functions of the roots of plants. He states that if
the roots of plants be plunged in a solution of several salts
so weak as to be without chemical action upon the tissues,
the plant will absorb these salts in equal proportions. M.
de Saussure came to a different conclusion, but this arose,
says M. Bouchardat, from his not having taken into ac-
count the secretion which goes on simultaneously with the
absorption.
A communication was received from M. de Nothomb, on
the use of ammonia in the preparation of plates for
photographic impressions. Hitherto it
has
s in beenplaces considered
important to carry on the process photography M. de
as free as possible from atnmonial emanation.
Nothomb is of quite a different opinion. He says, nothing
tends so much to increase the rapidity
polfteheinoperatiousualn
aswtahN
with the vapour of iodine. e•
use of ammonia. After preparing his
at
&c., he exposes it to the vapour of
a solution of ammonia, and at the end of twenty or thirty
seconds, it is, according to his account, in a much better state
than it would otherwise be to receive the impression that is
required in the camera obscura.
There was no other paper of general interest read at this
sitting.

BRADFORD MARKET, THURSDAY, JUNE 11.—The
business done in wool sales is very limited. The spin-
ners buy only for present consumption. There is, how-
ever, no fall in price. In yarns there is a fair trade, so
far as demand goes, but prices are such as to give no en-
couragement to spinners to do morebusiness. There
has been no alteration in the piece market for the last
two week.,