The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-06 00:00:00

GROUP XLIV.

The Committee met at twelve o'clock, in Room No. 25, Lord Pal-
merston in the chair; present the same Hon. Members as yester-
iay. They proceeded to hear evidence on the part of the promoters
of the

LIVERPOOL, MANCHESTER,
_AND NEW

CASTLE-UPON-TYNE JUNCTION.

A question was raised to the right of Sir Charles Temple to oppose
the Bill, being a trustee and co-partner in this Bill, though not in
the Lancashire and North Yorkshire, with which it was now amal-
gamated. Sevoral witnesses were called to prove that Sir Charles
Temple was formerly the chairman of the Company, and still held a
large number of shares in the Company. He was one of the original
promoters of the Bill. .

- The Committee decided that Sir Charles Temple being one of the
persons concerned in the establishment of the Company, and having,
it must be supposed, induced many persons to take shares, ought not
to be allowed to oppose the Bill.

Even after this decision there was another discussion, Mr. Ser-
geant Murphy being anxious to obtain a locus standi on the part of
the York and Carlisle Railway ; the Committee, however, confirmed
their former decisions, and the now unopposed case was about to
proceed, when
Mr. Sergeant IdusPnY said that the time of the Committee would
not be saved as might be anticipated, for he had just discovered that
there was a petition against the preamble of the Bill, bearing the
signature of Sir William Lawson, which would give him the same
opportunity of opposing the Bill as he would have under the petition
of Sir Charles Temple.
Mr. Raines, an oil-merchant at Newcastle, was called to give evi-
dence on the necessity for, and general feeling amongst the mer-
chants of Newcastle in favour of, the proposed line. lie had taken
some trouble to inform himself as to the merits of the many pro-
posed lines which had for their object the affording
accommodation
to Newcastle, and he considered th;s line the best of them
aall.view
to
Mr. Sergeant MURPHY cross-examined the witness with
show the superiority of the York and Carlisle Railway.

CHURCH MISSIONARY bOCIETY.—The sixty-sixth
annual meeting of this society was held yesterday at Exeter Hall ;
the Earl of Chichester, president, in the chair; supported by the Earl
of Effingham, Lord Glenelg, the Bishops of Oxford, Chester, Ripon,
Sir R. IL Inglis, Baronet, Sir George Ruse, Baronet, Sir
Hon. and Rev. T. J. Pelham, Hon. and
aDnigdbCyasmhaecl,kworth,
Baronet,
Rev. Montagu Villiers, Rey. Hugh M'Neile, Rev. Hugh Stowell,
Rev. J. W. Cunningham, and several other clergymen and gentlemen
The Noble Chairman having opened the proceedings, the Secretary
read the report, which detailed the society's operations in Eastern
and Western Africa, Greece, Jamaica, British Guiana, North
India, China, and New Zealand ; at all of which mis-
sionary stations have been established. The Bishops of
Oxford, Cashel, and Ossory and Ferns, had accepted office
as Vice-Presidents. The income of the past year amounted to
102,4581., showing a deficiency of 2,7911., as compared with the re-
ceipts of the preceding year ; and the expenditure having exceeded
supported b
the income by 1,0731., it was stated that it would be impossible to
extend the field of missionary labours during the ensuing year, unless
the finances of the society should be greatly improved. Resolutions
was
hnegl
dthein
in furtherance of the society's objects were eloquently
the Bishops of Chester, Oxford, and Cashel, the Rev. W. J. Cunning-
ham,y
meetiAngnostiirliergi
Rev. J. Berndt, Rev. J. fl. Fox, the Hon. and Rev. M. Villiers,the Rev. Hugh Stowell, &c. &c. The report and resolutions havin
Doxology.b been agreed
Thet o, thel large
proceedings dwi eagss closed
completely
crowded. the
meet-
ing, at which the Marquis of Cholrnondeley presided,
the evening, in support of the same object.

THE BLACKBIRD.—It is gritivous to think that this
bird, whose melodious voice gives such pleasure to the ear, and lends
a charm to the ramble through the grove, must, for the sake of a
little fruit, meet with the usual persecution. Its food in spring and
early summer, consists of the larva of insects, with worms and
snails. The enormous number of slugs and snails, so injurious to
vegetation, winch are eaten by blackbirds, should at least save him
on the score of gratitude from the general destruction. In the little
abode occupied by the writer, every encouragement is given by their
presence. A nelgbour once inquired how his lawn was so disfigured
with worm •casts, whilst that of the writer's was so free ? The an-
swer was as ready—" Leave off popping at the worm-feeders from
morning to night, and your lawn will present an equally pleasant ap-
pearance." It is an agreeable sight in early morning to view the
activity of the blackbird, thrush, starling, and ethers, vigorously
tugging the struggling worm from his retreat, more especially if it
should happen that:the grass is covered with dew. It is very tree
that some little fruit falls to their share ; but so grateful is their
cheerful voice and their interesting evolutions in search of food,
deeply would the exchange be deplored that should deprive us of
their presence for the sake of a little fruit, which, in the hot season,
is, in all probability, as grateful to them as to the self-styled lords of
the creation. And, last of all, let us remember that, as not " one
sparrow is forgotten before God," it easy well become us all to reflect
whether, in the grand scheme of an all-wise Creator, these little
creatures, seat undoubtedly for a beneficent purpose, although our
imperfect knowledge may be unable to descry their immediate use,
were not destined by him to partake of some small portion of h
abundance poured forth for the benefit of man.
Mondayhm wnillexbte,
old Tower cons
THE
TOWER.
—On
wate suppliedthep laanede their eol rfthen
fl sergeant,
from the H division, and consisting of thirteen men a a
func-
tions superseded by a detachment of the metropolitan police, drafted
who will have °tarifa of 0144141191) stores, the gatee, and the Interior
rtf *La fkotriNg•