The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-31 00:00:00

The fattest train on the broad gauge, from London to
Exeter, is the 5.30, P.M.; that train runs the distance,
1934 miles, in 41 hours, stopping at eight stations, or
every 24 miles—Reading, Didcot, Swindon, Chippen-
ham, Bath, Bristol, Bridgewater, and Taunton. The
speed, including these frequent stoppages, is 43.555
miles per hour. Out of the 41 hours taken in running
the 1934 miles we shall have to deduct SO minutes, or
10 minutes for each station, which increases the running
speed to 61.222.mi1es per hour, and reduces tie time
between Paddington and Exeter to three hours and ten
minutes as the time actually taken up in running,
without reference to any stoppages. It is therefore
sufficiently evident that the speed on the broad gauge is
greater than on the South-Western by 9.222 miles per
hour. I believe the express trains on the South-
Western run faster than those on the other narrow
gauge lines.

I remain, Sir, yours obediently,
A READER OF 71/E SUN.
Taunton, July 29, 1848.

11.7 SOUTH WALES RAILW AY BRIDGE ACROSS TELE
USK.—The bridge is in
_rapid course of re-erection, with
improvements in the trusses; there were in the .first
construction six to each arch, there will now be but
five, which are being placed so as to make the bridge
both lighter and stronger. The danger of the bridge
being again set on fire is entirely removed. Mr. Bamel
visited Newport on Saturday, and inspected the viorks.
The centre arch will be of iron—lighter and more
graceful than wood, and will also conduce to the safety
of the whole structure. The whole work will now
occupy no more than about six months to finish. The
great tunnel, at the back of Newport, is completed
throughout, with the exception of the masonry at the
entrances.

EDWARD BAINES, ESQ.—Last week Mr. Baines
had a very severe attack of illness, and on Sunday last
his friends were under great alarm for the result. We
are happy to say that since that day he has experienced
a gradual though slow revival, and that hopes are now
with considerable confidence entertained of his re-
covery. On Thursday and yesterday, however, the
symptoms were rather less favourable, and his illness
must be regarded as very serious.—Leeds Mercury.
Mr. Baines; M.P., was discharged by the House of
Commons on Monday from future attendance upon the
Dublin Election Committee, on account of the serious
illness of his father. He left town for Leeds the same
evening.

VAI7XIIALL GARDENS.—Among the distinguished
visitors who have honoured the " Royal Property " with
their presence during the past week, may be mentioned
the Duke o: Devonshire, the Duke of Leeds, the Mar-
quis and Marchioness of Abercorn, Lord and the Ladies
Hamilton, Viscount and Viscountess Jocelyn, Viscount
Exmouth, Earl and Countess Enniskillen, Lord and
Lady Abinger, Lord Alfred Paget, Lord and Lady Ed-
disbury, and the Hon. Misses Stanlev, Lord Fitzroy
Somerset, Lord Ossulton, Lady Vernon,Mr. IL Groville,
Mr. and Mrs. Prideaux. Brune, &e.
HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—The Queen's box
at her Majesty's Theatre was on Saturday evening occu-
pied by Lady Marcus Hill and party. In her Majesty
Queen Adelaide's box were her Imperial highness the
Archduchess Maria Beatrice of Austria, Lady Adelaide
Fitzclarence, the Duke and Duchess Medina of Sardinia,
the Hon. Miss Erskine, his Highness the Conde de
Montemolin, attended by Colonel Don Francisco May
and the General Count Juan Montenegro, Don Ferdi-
nand of Spain, the Marquis de Villafranca, Earl Beau-
champ, and Lord. Frederick Gordon Hallyburton.
Among the audience we observed his Royal Highness
Duchess
the
Prince Leopold of Naples, Prince Louis Napoleon,
Prince Richart!, Metternich, his Grace the Duke of Wel-
-1 i n
Leds, the Duchess of Leeds, and Miss Lane
v
,
'..fce and Duchess of Montrose, the Duke and
oX ,
his ":20Cellleesn'eclyantdhe andßussian
LadyA
Minister,u gu Augusta 1h) a t
e Baroness
u 1 eatrto, thenes
Duke `di s
'-',.ecoanow and Mademoiselle Olga de Lechner, his Excel-
lency the Swedish Minister, his Excellency the Hano-
verian Minister, the Marquis and Marchioness of
Douro, the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Marquis and Mar-
chioness of Sligo and the Ladies Browne, the Marquis
and Marchioness of Ailcsbury, the Marquis of Donegal,
the Earl of Bective, the Earl and Countess of Dart-
mouth, the Countess of Blessington and the Misses
Power, the Countess of Glengall, the Earl and Coun-
tess Bruce, the Earl of blunster, Earl Cadogan,
Earl Lonsdale, Viscount Somerton, Viscount Dunkellin,
Viscount and Viscountess Newport, Viscount Clifden,
Viscount Anson, Viscount Ranelagh, Viscount Exmouth,
Count D'Orsay, Lord W. Graham, Lord Burghersh,
Lady Butler, Lord and Lady Brougham, Lord Sandys,
Lady Willoughby d'Eresby, Lord Foley and the Hon.
Miss Foley. Lady Foulis, Lord E. Bruce, Lord Lilford,
Ladies M. F. and H. Bentinck, Lady Dunmore, Mr. Dis-
raeli, M.P., and Mrs. Disraeli, Lord G. Lennox, Lord
Rokeby, Lady Bellingham Graham, Lady Barclay, Lady
Rokeby, Hon. J. Fans, Colonel W. Lockyer Freestun,
M.P., and Mrs. Llekyer Freestun, General the Hon. A.
Cavendish, the Hon. Mr. Leslie, General the Hon. A.
Upton, the Hon. C. Cavendish, Colonel Needham, Col.
Fiudyer, Sir E. Kerrison, Sir B. Hall, M.P., Sir F. Pol-
lock, Sir G. Wombwell, Bart., Sir F. French, Bart., M.P.,
Sir H. Webb, Bart., Major-General Sir Alexander
Woodford, Bart., Sir H. Willoughby, Bart., Sir R. How-
ard, Barr., M.P., Admiral Munday, Lady Lister Kaye,
Mr. W. W. Williams. Captain Williams' Captain Mey-
nell, R.N., Major Baring, Captain and Mrs. Griffiths,
Captain Seymour Sadler, Mrs. Villebois, Mr. and Mrs.
C. J. Palmer, Mr., Mrs., and Miss B. Trelawny, Mr.
Sanford, Mrs. Dennistoun, Mrs. Dodd, Captain Walker,
Mr. Norman Macdonald, Mr. Rote, M. C. Koudrialisky,
Mr. and Mrs. Tudor, Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler, Mr. Mon-
tague Gore, M.P., Mr. B. Baldwin, M.P., Mr. Frank
Mills, Mr. Hubert du Burgh, Mr. 0. Morgan, M.P.,
Major Buckley, &c.
COST OF THE MIXED GUAGE.—We do not hesi-
tate to say that the mixed guage already sanctioned by
the House of Commons cannot be efficiently laid down
under the extra cost of one million, or worked for
less (including the interest on the money) than an extra
annual outlay of 100,0001.—From Robert &Ste-
phenson and Locke's Report.
BIRMINGHAM, SATURDAY.—The Irish Confederates
and Chartists in this town continue to hold their nightly
assemblages; but hitherto they have evinced no dispo-
sition to commit a breach of the peace. The authorities
have adopted all necessary precautions.
Lord Stanley, we regret to say, is confincd to his
house by a severe attack of gout.