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

(Special Orders, No. 62.)

1. General La Vega and the other Mexican officers,
prisoners of war, will be conducted to New Orleans
under charge of Lieutenant J. J. Reynolds, 4th artillery,
who will report on his arrival to Major-General Gaine.,
for further instructions. The Quartermaster's depart-
ment will furnish a steamer for the transportation of the
party.
2. As many of the sick and wounded now at this
place as may be indicated by Surgeon Wood, will be
sent in suitable transports to St. Joseph's Island.
Assistant• Surgeon Byrne will accompany the detach-
ment, and will return with the convalescents that may
be in condition to leave the general hospital. The
Quartermaster's department will furnish the proper
transportation.
By order of Brigadier-Coneral Taylor,
W. W. J. BLISS,
Acting Adjutant-General.
Extract of letters from Commodore Conner to the
Secretary of the Navy, dated
United Ship Cumberland, off Vera Cruz,
May 3, 1846.

The decided tone of the manifesto of the President of
the Mexican republic, in connexion with other indica
tions, seems to have no doubt that orders have been
given to General Arista to attack the American army on
the Del Norte, should a favourable occasion offer. Under
the belief that an attack is contemplated, I have consi-
dered it advisable, and have determined to sail to-morrow
morning for the Brasos Santiago with the Cumberland,
Raritan, Potomac, John Adams, and Somers. The Fal-
mouth will be here to protect our interests and to
watch the course of events. The appearance of the
squadron at that place, with a knowledge of the consi-
derable reinforcement it can afford to our army, will, I
think, cause the Mexican generals to pause, if not al-
together to abandon their design of attacking General
Taylor. All accounts concur in stating the Mexican
army to amount to nearly eight thousand men. I feel
assured the Government has not the means of main-
taining this force for any length of time in the field ;
indeed, there is not even now a dollar in the treasury.
Hence delay will either cause the army to disband, or
another revolution to take place ; either of which events
it is believed, cannot be otherwise than favourable to the
wishes of our Government in bringing about an amicable
settlement of our difficulties with Mexico. The latter
would undoubtedly contribute to that end, as it would
place in power men wholly opposed to the policy at
present pursued.
Considerable activity has prevailed at this place since
my arrival, in improving and strengthening the defences
of the castle and the town of Vera Cruz. As far as lam
able to ascertain, there are now nearly, if not quite, two
hundred guns mounted in the Castle of San Juan d'Ulloa,
and as many as fifty in the two forts and walls of the
city commanding the anchorage. These guns are all
new, and of heavy calibre, most of them being thirty-two
and forty-two pounders, with a number of eight and
ten• inch Paixhan guns. There are said to be nearly two
thousand men in the fortress, and about the same num-
ber in the town. I am, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, D. CONNER.

Commanding Home Squadron.
Hon. Goore Bancroft, Secretary of the
Navy of Washington.
U. S. Ship Cumberland,
Off the Bar of Brasos San'iago, May 8,1846.
Sir,—As stated in my communication of the 3d, the
squadron left the Roads of Sacrifi,ios on the morning of
the 4th, and has just anchored off the Bar of Santiago,
where I have just been apprised that hostilities have
actually taken place some days since.
As the opportunity by which I send this communica-
tion cannot be detained, I have only time to add, that
after communicating with General Taylor, and ascer-
taining the situation of affairs at Matamoras,
I shall remain here no longer than the pre-
sence of the squadron may be required; after
which it will be necessary for this ship, the
Potomac, and John Adams to repair to Pensacola to re-
plenish their provisions and water. In the meantime
orders will be given to carry into execution your in-
structions in relation to the blockade of the Mexican
coast, and to meet and repel, in the most decisive man-
ner, the hostilities of the Mexican nation.

Some more small vessels are required, also one or two
steam-boats of a draueht of water not exceeding eight
feet. These vessels will be necessary to enforce a strict
blockade of the coast.—l am, very respectfully, &c.,
D. CONNER,
Commanding Home Squadron.
Hon. Geo. Bancroft, Secretary of the Navy.
United States ship Cumberland, off Brasos
Santiago, May 9, 1846.
Sir,—The arrival of the squadron at this anchorage,
of which the department was informed in my communi •
cation of yesterday, was most opportune. To obtain a
supply of provisions from the depot at Point Isabel,
General Taylor, after leaving Major Brown with five
hundred men in charge of the works at Matamoras,
marched for the former place with the remainder of his
forces, consisting of two thousand men. On his return,
when within twelve or fifteen miles of Matamoras, he
encountered the enemy in considerable force, estimated
at from six thousand to seven thousand men, with a large
portion of cavalry. An engagement took place about
ten o'clock yesterday morning, which lasted until night.
A pilot in the employment of the United States at this
bar, who visited the army to-day, informs me that our
loss amounted to sixty killed, and that General Taylor
had offered the enemy battle again to-day, but
that it was declined. From the rapid and
incessant firing, particularly of artillery, through-
out the day, I should infer the loss of the enemy
must have been very considerable. No further particu-
lars have reached me. Shortly after the action com-
menced, I received a communication from Major Munroe,
commanding Point Isabel, requesting a reinforcement
from the squadron, for the defence of that post, where,
it appears, all the supplies for the army are deposited.
In the course of yesterday afternoon and this morning,
five hundred seamen and marines, under the command
of Captain Gregory, of the Raritan, were landed from
the squadron—a force, it is believed, sufficient to defend
it against any attempt that the enemy can make. A re-
inforcement for the army is hourly expected from Gal-
veston and New Orleans.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
D. CONNER, Commanding Home Squadron.
Hon. George Bancroft,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington.
United States Ship Cumberland,
Off Brasos, Santiago, May 13, 1846.
Sir,—ln my communication of the 9111 instant, of
which a duplicate is enclosed, the department wasin-
formed that a battle had been fought on the day previous
between between the American and Mexican forces,nea
moras. On the 9th, General Taylor continuedthe to
ad-
vance towards his works opposite that p
Mexi-
canuntilarwmityhiunntdweor Gaennde raa 1
hArista
and from
aetion en-
works, when it made a stand,
ifalling blaacetkhe 'e before
Americanh i m.
with a large number of
generallaertdes,aronuetearloyf
allth the
his bag-
IVega, andother
sAuleldh his which
artillery,ende sdeivne rtahle standards,
General La
amongui t ion
w. andho m
werestore
prisoners,gageamm
officers of rank, were capturdeidd.
nTotheaheannedmony maintained
without
his position
very severe lobsrsa.reljt; r and
loss is stated to be about sixty
killed and wounded. So signal has been the defeat, that
it is not believed that the enemy will be eble to assemble
in any force for a considerable time. This event, with
the arrival to-day of nearly one thousand volunteers
from New Orleans, has placed the army in perfect secu-
rity. It is my intention to dispatch such vessels of the
squadron, as are not in immediate want of water, to
blockade the Mexican ports—leaving the Lawrence to
cruise in this neighbourhood, for the protection of the
vessels engaged in furnishing the army with supplies.
I am very respectfully,
D. CONNER,
Commanding Home Squadron.
Hon. G. Bancroft, Secretary of the Navy,
Washington.
A resolution to present General Taylor with a sword
was introduced into the Senate on the 28th of May.
The following is the resolution of thanks to General
Taylor and his army, unanimously passed by Congress:—
Joint resolution presenting the thanks of Congress to

Major-General Taylor, his officers and men.
Resolved, by the Senate and Rouse of Representa-

tives of the United States of Ameties in Congress as
sembled—That the thaeta of Congroo are due; and
are hereby tendered, to Brevet Major-General Zactissy
Taylor, commanding the army of occupation, his office'
and men, for the fortitude, skill, enterprise, and coursZei
which have distinguished the recent brilliant operations
on the Ko Grande.
And be it further Resolved—That Congress sincerely
sympathise with the relatives and friends of the officers
and soldiers of the army of the United States who 60
bravely fell in the service of their country on the Rio
Grande.
Resolved—That the President be requested to cause
the foregoing resolutions to be communicated to Major
General Taylor, and through him to the army under his
command.

OREGON.
On the 21st of May, in the Senate, Mr. W esteott,
from the Committee on the Territories, to whom Ws
referred the Bill which has passed the other House td
extend jurisdiction, &c., &c., over the territory of Ore-
gon, reported that a majority of the Committee do not
agree that it is necessary, or in any way expedients to
pass said Bill in its present shape at this session • but
that the Committee, after full and free consultation,
not been able to coincide in opinion with respect to the
several important alterations that it is desirable
should be made in it ; and that the Committee have
therefore unanimously instructed their Chairman to
move to discharge said Committee from the further
sideration of the said Bill. Mr. Westcott further gin
notice, that when the report should move to postpone the
whole subject to the first Monday in December next.
Mr. Benton intimated that, when the report came tll7
for consideration, he shoull have something to say
the subject.
Subsequently, on the 27th May, the Bill to extend
jurisdiction over Oregon coming up, Mr. Westcott moved
to postpone the whole subject to the first Monday e
December next.
Mr. Benton then took the floor and sro'. e at length nn
the subject of the Oregon Boundary. He said it We
his unpleasant duty to have to correct the errors of boils .
parties in this controversy. He said our treaty with
Russia never intended the line for 54 deg. 40 mitt. as our
Western boundary, but was placed there by us as the
Western boundary of Engiend.
In the Senate on the 28th May, the discussion of the
Oregon Jurisdiction Bill, was stal going on.
Mr. Benton on that day concluded his speech, .
He said he had no apprehensions of a war arising with
England on this subject, if we had men with heads--
with beads, Sir ! said he, to manage the negotiations.
He proposed a sketch of a bill which he wovld vote for,
to extend the United States laws over our own citizens
there—for fortifying the mouth of the Columbia, erecting
light houses, &c. After a few remarks from Mr. West-
cott and Mr. Cass, the subject was passed over till MettlaY,
whEn Mr. Cass speaks on the subject.

MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS•

(From The Sun of Saturday Evening.)
The Cotton market at Liverpool yesterday was steadY•
Sales 4,000 bales, of which 500 were on speculation. 1:11.
market was very quiet. Sales of the week, 30,070 bales.
Shares were firmer.
There was a better attendance at the sale of Wearer-
mond and Co. yesterday, and p-iees were well support` •'
sellers do not press sales so anxiously, and much more buss
ness was doing. Dublin, Belfast, end Colerain, 88.
Lincolnshire, 175.-North Devon, 1/. 6d.-Vale of Neath, c
-Northampton. Banbury, and Cheltenham, 1/. Is. 6d..-W,.11_,r-
-wick and Worcester, Bs.-Newport and AlxergavennY,
'lrrena.t
Leicester, Tamworth, Coventry, Birmingham, and
If 35.-Bideford and Tavistock, 7s. 6d.---East
ham and "Norwich, 65.-Buckinghamshire. 11 16s 6 .
Jon cti.oe
L-icester and Birmingham, 6s -Surrey Grand
4s. 6/1.-Direct East and West Junction, 10s.-Den•byellir_eci
Staffordshire, and Worcestershire, 10s.- Great Western_. a„"
Uxbridge, Bs. 6d.-Norrhampton, Banbury, and Cheltenti°7l,
11. 25.-Welsh blidland, 1135.-Shropshire Union and
195.-Leeds and Thirsk, 10L-London and Manchesterl,„
trick's), 3/. 175.-London and York Extension, 1/. 178. 6
York and Lancaster, 1/. 12s. 6d.
As,
The decision in the case of Walstab v. re-
portedSpottiswo-
irs yesterday's Sun, has formed the topic of very gt_l2.a
ral conversation in mat circles here to-day. It is conside_Ta
a matter most consistent with justice that the plaintiff elly`;‘,
11: 041/4'
have the remedy she prayed for, and to have her ,
back, the Company never having gone into existence. be
question, decided definitively, as we believe it now is, momirot
of vast importance in many other points of view, assito..
a few other individuals are placed in precisely the same
ation as the plaintiff in the case under review.
night It appears from the Bank returns made public last nebiessed
the Gazette, that the circulation of notes has been ill
to 28,325,0001., or by 331,120/.
The " Rest" has increasedav 166/.,
increased by 524,8724
5,753,512/.
The other deposits have decreased 23%6071, or t°
15,927,013/.
8521 n
,008Ee seven-day and other bills there is a decrease t852,008E
in'
In the notes in the banking department there is an
crease of 424,620/., or to B,4an increase of 313,5997., 63,180/. or 0
15Imnut,hoeub.ullion there is
nouncedTher from There are not nthoet
oaonlyoniceoslottdayala. been
of a late date an"
The market for the Public Securities has, just now,
rather flat, though an hour or so ago as much as 951,7,°-;
paid for Console for the Account. The present price is 079
f have
or the
QT
Cents.,
Reducedafter
having9s%
uhrearteerppererCZnent
rallied to 971/s. The premium upon Exchequer-11115 has
just been down as low as 11s. East India Bonds are steal"
at 20s. premium.
In the Portuguese Four per Cents. there is a very ball.
market this morning, the re-action having been to the eir''
tent of 1% per cent. since yesterday, sales having just been
M alien ,while
t o t9h6eST,
made at 45%. Spanish Actives are at :2414, the Passives at
5%, the Dutch Four per Cent. Certificates at 91%, Chilean
Deferred at 50, and Peruvian 37%.
The Railway Shares and Scrip are rather firm this morn-
ing. North Stafford Scrip has advanced to 4 premium. In
the French lines there is scarcely anything doing.
BRITISH FUNDS. ONE CLOSII"
O'CLOCK. nircog•
954
Three per Cent. Reduced Annuities 95%r 97
New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cent. Anne. 967 9714 10 S-I6
Long Annuities, Expire Jan. 5, 1860 .. 10 3-16 90
India Bonds, 1,000/. .. 20 9q4
Consols for Opening • • • • .. .. 95 %% %
Exchequer Bills. INd. l tai d. 11
1,0001... .... 15 11 - - PM' 17
Ditto. Small - 16 11 17 - pin. CLOSING
ONE PRICES.
FOREIGN FUNDS. O'CLOCK.
Chilian Bonds, 6 per Cent .. . - 50
Ditto, Deferred, 3 per Cent .. .. 50
Mexican Bonds, 1837, 5 per Cent .. - 165
Ditto, Deferred .. .. 17 37.4
Peruvian Bonds, 6 per Cent. .. 37% 4534
Portuguese Four per Cent .. .. 46 45% 46
Ditto, for the Account .. 46 24%
Spanish Bonds, 5 per Cent .. .. 243 54
Ditto, Passive Bonds .. 5%
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cent .. - 91$
Ditto. 4 Der Cent. Certificates .. 91%
riff)
PRICES OF BUSINESS CLOS-,
RAILWAY SHARES. PAID. DONE AT vax'
ONE O'CLOCK. 34
Aberdeen .. .. 10 - •••• • • • • 26
Birmingham and Gloucester.. ..100 .. .. 126 •• • • " I
-.
Bristol and Exeter .. 75 - ••• • • • 10
Ditto New .. 5 •• • • 10
Buckinghamshire 425. . •••• • • • • 18
Caledonian .. 10 11% ..... •• • I
Cambridge and Oxford.. % ..... • • • • • 65
Derby and Crewe 2 .... .......
Direct Manchester (Rastrick's) .. 534.... - ....... .• • 14
Direct Northern .. 2% 134 •..•• • • • • 2'E
Dublin and Galway .. .. 4 .... 214 ••••• • • • • 235
Eastern Counties .. 141. 165.... 23%1,14 •••• • • P
Ditto New .. .. 10/. 165..... - • • ..... •

Do. l'erpet., 5 per Cent. No. 1. 6/ 13s. 4d. •• •••• • • •• xi V
Ditto, ditto, .. .. No. 2. •
6/. 13s. 4d. /34 p•••• • • • ' 'i
Ditto, York Extension .. .. 105..... h 1••• • • • • ' %
East Lincolnshire .. .. .. .. 114 .... • • • .....
Edinburgh-and Glasgow .. .. 50 .... .. •••• • • •• ii
Ditto i 4 Shares .. .. . .. 10 .... 1714 .. •••• • • •• 224,
Great Southern & West. (Ireland) 20 .... 2214 • • 4
Great Munster .. .. .. .. 2% ....
Great Western .. -.. .. .. 85 •• .. ..., ...... ,
Ditto Half Shares .. .. .. 50 .... ~ ..,
~
~ 8„
Ditto. Quarter Shares .. .. 5 .... 1614 „ I6A
Guildford, Farebam, & Portsmoth 5 .... 4%
London an Birmingham . ..100 ....227
Ditto Fifths .. .. .. .. 2 -..
London and Blackwell .. 161. 13s. 4d. ....
Ditto, New .. ~ .. .. 21% .... .. . ..... • • 356
London and Croydon • • • .131. 15s 9d... 2114%
London and Greenwich .. 121. 15s. 4d.
London and South- Western • 41/. 65. 10d. •• .• ..
Ditto, New Consol. Eighths .. 34 .... 52% ....... •• • s`7*
Ditto, New .. .. .. .. 171% -- 29 29
London and York .. .. .. .. 21rs .... 2..••• • .• • • I
Ditto, Half Shares • • .. .. 2% .. • • 1% .... ••• • • •
London, Salisbury, and Yeovil .. 21% .. - it .. .• • •
Manchester and Leeds .. .. .. 82 124
Ditto, Fifths .. • • • • • • 3 .... ••••• • • • • • 80
Manchester and Birmingham .. 40 ... 80 .. ••.. - • • ,2,i
Ditto, Quarter Shares (B) • • 4 .... 12%34 ••..• • • • . P
Manchester, Buxton, & Matlock 425. •. - % p.... •• .• Is
Manchester and Southampton .. 2 .... IhiNl • •
Midland .. .. • • .• .. ..100 ....148
Ditto, New ~ • • .. .. 18 •• • • 31 30%
Newcastle and Darlington Juliet. 25 .... .. ..
Ditto, New . .. .. .. 1 .... 834 • . • • oil
Newcastle and Berwick .. .. 15 ... - 2414% •••• • • " 3(
Newark, Sheffield, and Boston • • 1% •• • • 31 29li
North British .. .. .. .. • • 22% -• • 29% • ..... •' • • lig
Ditto, Half Shares .. • • • • 8%.... 1115•••••••••• oi
Ditto, Carlisle Extension .. 11% •• • • IX% "•'• • ' • 304',
Ditto, Dalkeith .. .. .. 25 •• • • ••••• • • • • • 6
North Staffordshire. •
Ditto, ditto
Portsmouth 1/Irect • • • • " ,2%•:: _ •:::.....* 30
..., :: :. 425. •• • • 331% 4
.P.....
Preston and Wyre • • " .. To .... —•••••• •• • • 18
Scottish Central • • • • ' ...• 2 • ......•
• • 2
Shrewsbury and Birmingham
.. 425234... ••3i 4 dis• •.•• . •
South Midland • • • • 'zi.. ..4. 3352 44 ...
...
...... —l7ll •: ..
...... :.• • .
South Eastern and Dovor ._._
ho., New (do. 151.) •• ' • • "
Vale of Zleath d London .. .. 425.. " ...
, do
::::
West Ruling Union •• • .3. •• .. 214 r........ 25s
York and Carlisle • • . • • • .. 2 A •
~ l% 1
•
.. FOREIGN RAI:W.A.YS•s
~
......
11,1
7,:ilhNesi:ert.:*Midl. and 1:1: ..•:
.:
8402) s . ....
..
..- - : ••
• • 11 •:. •. •... 1 •••
19
18
P
0. Extension .. .. .. 15 ... - •
York and Lancaster • • • . .. 2% .... li
... 14
York and
and W. Riding Erten... 1 .... 33,
1014 i•• ...-..•••• "
esonagnlnbasouranLgydonAsmions .. . ,
..
Namur and Liege 12 . -.
Ilig
nEast I Hai) .. 72,
Paris
aulxu Boulogne
COn:tllted ::. 5 ........:.. —I6SX .....• ...... ...... :.
:.
.::• 7
Orleans and Vierzon .. • • .10 •• • • 154
JOINT-STOCK BANKS. 25%
Union of Australia 25 .... 2534 .. •••• • • • •
MINES. 3
Real del Monte, Unregistered .. •• • • 3% ••• • • • 4
•• • '
DRURY-LANE THEATRE.—Carlotta
Grisi is no acarrived than she is about to depart, being compelled to of
her engagement in 'Dublin. She has, however, some fiv lay
six more nights to perform here, and will in that tirae,l] no
in Paquita, in the Peri, and the'Devil to Pa y. There ft i 0
question but her delightful performance of these reslnure,
Ptcharacters, coupled with the fact of her immediate de "
geoll
otre
and the consequent close of the season, will fill the t
each evening she appears. ming
THE RUSSIAN TARIFF.—The Manchester Exaz., the
says that the following changes are contemplated '„iour,
Russian Tariff :—The duty on earthen ware of a single %via
not gilded and not having coloured patterns, and ncw_F.Aced
4d. and 9-10 d. per English pound weight, is to be tr,:rad
one half. The better qualities of earthenware DOW theeurn"'
121 d. per English pound weight, are to be reduced
~,' cwt.
same proportion. The duty on Coffee, which is now novo
60. 7. paper roubles, will also be reduced one half; i. 1,4. oer
has been subjected to an export duty of about 21. 3 • "*"butek
ton; this duty is also to be reduced one half. Cloth titulars
and green, Silks of some kinds, and other articles, Part,.e at of
of which are not yet known, will be reduced to the ex
l
20 per cent. disco-
A extensive mine of Roman Cement has been
taw
vexed by Mr. John Sand, in the county of Flint, thel
sup_; for
of which upon chemical analysis is found to be _
to itll7 thilt bile yet been used.—Shrewsbury Chronicle.

CnURT CIRCULAR.
Efis Royal Highness Prince Albert, the ladies and
gentlemen of the Court and the domestic household,
attended Divine service yesterday morning in the private
chapel, Bucking! am Palace. The Bishop of Oxford
officiated.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales. Prince
.Alfred, t},3 Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice, took
airings in carri iges on Saturday. The Royal Famii,
toolsic 'their accustomed walks and rides yesterday in the
ggAen of Buckingham Palace.
Her Majesty the Queen Dowager and her Royal High-
ness the Duchess of Kent attended Divine service yes-
terday in the Chapel Royal, St. James's. The prayers
Were read by the Rev. Dr. Wesley, the lessons by the
Rev. Mr. llomore, and the Communion service by the
Rey. Dr., Sleath. The sermon was preached by the Rev.
Dr. Ilf.jok, who took his text from Ecclesiastes, chap. 7,
vev.es 16 and 17. The anthem was, " I will seek unto
God." (Greene.) Sir George Smart presided at the
organ.

SCOTTISH CENTRAL RAILWAY.
A meeting of the shareholders was hold in the Town-
hall, Perth, on Friday, the 12th current, for the purpose
of considering the Bills for that Company's Extension,
an' for their amalgamation with the Edinburgh and
Glasgow Railway Company, Major Murray Stirling in
the chair.

The for the various extensions were submitted to
the meeting, and approved of unanimously.
In submitting the Bill for the proposed amalgamation,
the CHAIRMAN stated that, from what he understood as
to the sentiments of some of the shareholders, he was
afraid that the same unanimity would not prevail in re-
gard to the arrangement with the Edinburgh and Glas-
gow Railway Company. He felt it to be his duty to
state that the directors had gone into that arrangement
after mature deliberation, and upon the conviction that
it was likely to prove highly advantageous to the Com-
pany. It was most important for them to stand on a
friendly footing with a company like the Edinburgh
and. Glasgow Company, who had the command of a
very large portion of the best traffic of the Central line ;
and by the arrangement which they had made, not only
was this secured, but a conclusion put to the very pro-
tracted and serious hostilities in which they had been
long engaged with that powerful company and whiih
they were likely to continue to bo engaged in unless
some arrangement had been come to. A guarantee of
5/ per cent. had been secured to the holders of the ori-
ginal Central stock, with an equal participation in the
profits of the Edinburgh and Glasgow stock in the event
of their exceeding a dividend of 5Z per cent. They were
entitled to look to this, considering the great prosperity
of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, as a most fa-
vourable alliance ; and the directors had thought it their
duty to the shareholders to close with these terms. He
was aware, however, that a different view was taken by
some of the shareholders, and he would request the
secretary to read to the meeting a letter which the
directors had received on the subject from several large
shareholders.

The Queen Dowager was attended by the Marchioness
of Ormonde, and the Ron. W. Ashley. The Duchess of
sent was attended by Lady Augusta Bruce. Among
the nobility present were the Duke of Cleveland, the
Duchess of Beaufort. the Ladies Somerset and Palmer-
ston, MarTuises of Salisbury and Ormonde, Lords Ban-
don, Cawaor, St. Germans, Bessborough, Gosford,
ton, IleAerton, Palmerston, Cantilupe, Cowley, Canter-
nry- and Byron.
DThe Dukes of Wellington and Rutland, Lords Ta'Lot
artmouth, and G. Paulet, and Sir Fred. Trench, at-
tended the early service yesterday, in the Chapel Royal.
The prayers were read by the Rev. Dr. Wesley, and the
sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Hook.
The Rev. Mr. And«rson will preach the sermon on
bunday next in the Chapel Royal, St. James's.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent, the
PiPen‘las of Cambridge, and Prince George, visited her
Majesty the Queen Dowager on Saturday at Marlbo-
l'eAigh House.
Her Majesty, the Queen Dowager, took an airing in
11 carriage on Saturday.
Her Majesty the Queen Dowager, her Royal High-
!less the Duchess of Kent, and her Royal Highness the
Duchess of Cambridge, honoured the Italian Opera with
their presence on Saturday evening. The Queen
3"-)oWager was attended by the Marchioness of Ormonde,
Ron. Miss Seymour, Earl Howe, and the Hon. William
Ashley. The Duchess of Kent was attended by Lady
Fanny Howard and Sir George Couper ; and the Du-
these of Cambridge was attended by Lady Augusta Ca-
dogan and Mr. E'Jmond Mildmay.
Their Royal' lighnesses the Duchess of Kent and the
Duchess of Gloncester visited her Majesty the Queen
Dowager yesterday,:
Her oval Highness the Duchess of Kent visited the
Duchess 'of Gloucester yesterday at Gloucester House
Tier 7rtnyal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester visited
the TLiuke and Duchess of Cambridge yesterday at Cam-
bridge Rouse.
A meeting of the Radcliffe trustees was held on Satur-
day it the residence of Sir Robert Peel, in Downing--
greet There were present Sir Robert Peel, Mr.
Cartwright, and Mr. Bucknell Estcourt.
Captain Pipon had en interview with Mr. S2cret-ry
Gladstone on Saturday, at the Colonial office.
The Ecelesiastiaml Commissioners for England had a
committee mee•ang on Saturday, There were present
the Bishops of Winchester, Bangor, Gloucester and
Bristol, Hereford, Lichfield, Oxford, Rochester, and
Salisbury ; the Earl of Bessborough, the Right Hon.
11..flothouse, and the Right Hon J. Nichol].
Dispatches from the Governor of the Gambia were
terJeived on Saturday at the Colonial office.

The letter, which was in Vie following terms, was
then read.

London, June 8, 1846.

Gentlemen,—lt was our wish to have attended the
general meeting of shareholders, called for the 12th inst.
at Perth, to consider the Bill for carrying the proposed
amalgamation of the Scottish Central with the Edinburgh
and Glasgow Railway into effect, but as our engage-
ments render that impossible, we take this method of
bringing under your notice the views which we enter-
tain of the proposed arrangement, in which we are
deeply interested, as large shareholders of the Central
stock.

-------
You need not be reminded that the Scottish Central
was promoted, as forming a continuation of the great
central trunk line of communication from England to
the north of Scotland, afforded by the great southern
companies and the Lancaster, and Carlisle, and Caledo-
nian railways. It was upon this ground that it was at
first favourably reported upon by the Board of Trade,
and subsequently sanctioned by Parliament, in the face
of the strenuous opposition of the Edinburgh and Glas-
gow Railway Company. The reason for this opposition
was apparent, in the interest which that company had
to prevent the north and south traffic from proceeding
in the direct, its natural, course, and so avoiding their
line. That same interest is still in operation ; and,
doubtless, it was that which led to their offering the
terms of amalgamation which are now before us.
It is clear, therefore, that the public interests must
suffer by an amalgamation, whatever its effects may be
upon those of the shareholders. You will be met by
this objection the moment the Bill goes into committee,
and, for ourselves, we cannot doubt that it will be fatal
to its passing. To hold otherwise would he neither
more nor less than to hold that the principle which '
guided the Board of Trade, and which subsequently was
established in Parliament, after the protracted contest of
last year, is to be overturned this year, the facts re-
maining precisely the same.
We, therefore, hold the arrangement with the Edin-
burgh and Glasgow Company to have, been from the first
inexpedient, and in violation of the principle on which
we obtained our Act.
But we should, nevertheless, not have made any
effort to disturb that arrangement, if it appeared cer-
tain that Parliament would sanction it. But when the
reverse is the case—when the engagements made with
the Edinburgh and Glasgow Company are likely to be
set aside, whether we desire it or not—and when we
are compelled, by the resolutions lately passed in Par-
liament, to come forward and express our opinions afresh
on the arrangements entered into by our directors,
we think we are bound to consider it in all its bear-
ings, and to act in such a manner as a regard to our
own interests requires. Better terms might, we think,
have been obtained from the southern companies, in-
cluding a guarantee on the new as well as
the old stock ; and it is within our own per-
sonal knowledge—and we vouch for the face—
that these are still within our reach, and might
be immediately secured, if we were in a condition
to treat—in other words, if the present arrangement
were put an end to at the meeting of the 12th, as we
confidently trust it will be. An arrangement with the
companies south of us would not be liable to the same
objections in Parliament as the amalgamation now
proposed. They are our natural allies—they have already
been treated by the Board of Trade and by Parliament
as such. Our interests are identical. The more closely
we can be brought together the better both for the
public and ourselves. For every reason, therefore, we
conceive it to be for the interest of the shareholders to
withold their approval of the present Bill, and so make
way for the adjustment of terms with the Southern Com-
panies, in place of going before the committee and being
defeated, as we apprehend they certainly will be.
'e feel it our duty to record our protest against the
competency of the meeting, called for the 12th, giving
'heir approval to the proposed arrangements. The Bill
deals with the new stock as well as the old, but the
holders of the new stock have not been summoned, and
we maintain that no binding resolution can be come to
at that meeting in a matter in which their interests are
so deeply concerned.
It is most probable that many proxies may be trans-
mitted to you, to be used at the meeting in favour of the
measure, by parties who are in ignorance of the true
state of matters, and of the advantageous terms which
may be secured from the Southern Companies, We
submit that these proxies cannot with propriety be acted
upon without an opportunity being first afforded to the
parties of re-considering their position.
We have to request that you will oblige us by directing
this letter to be read to the meeting, and we remain,
Gentlemen,

Your very obedient Servants.
To the Directors of the Scottish Central Railway.

The Chairman then put the motion that the bill
he approved of, which was seconded by Mr. John
Murray.
Major Richardson, a scripholder of the company's
new stocks, was proceeding to address the meeting.
when it was objected by Mr. Oliphant of Condie, that
he was not entitled to take any part in the proceedings,
as this was a meeting of the company incorporated by
the Act of last year, and not of the scripholders. A
meeting had already been held of the surioholders, and
they had given their decision on the subject. Major
Richardson stated, that his information was that this
Bill had not been submitted to any meeting of scrip-
holders, who, it must be borne in mind, held one-third
of the stock of the whole company, and had, therefore,
a most vital interest in the measure, and begged to ask
the secretary whether his information was correct or
not.

Mr. KERR, the secretary, stated that the Bill for the
amalgamation had not been submitted to any meeting
of the scripholders. .

After some discussion as to the right of Major
Richardson to be heard, the CHAIRMAN stated, that al-
though the meeting would be most happy to listen to
anything which Major Richardson might have to urge
on the part of the scripholders in regard to the subject
before them, it was not, he feared, in their power to
receive his vote.

Major RicnitunsoN then stated that he appeared on
behalf of himself and other large scripholders of the
new stock of this Company to express their views in re-
gard to the proposed amalgamation, bywhich he conceived
their interests to be most deeply affected. The two most
important steps in a man's life were the choice of a wife
and of a partner. Of the two, the latter was the more cri-
tical, because it was more difficult to get rid of a bad part-
ner than of a bad wife. The first point, therefore, for
them to consider was, what were the liabilities of their
proposed partners, the Edinburgh and Glasgow Rail-
way? He should be very sorry to intrude upon them
any exparle views of his own on this subject, but he was
able to bring the most conclusive evidence from the most
unexceptionable quarter. He held in his hand the evi-
dence of the Company's own manager, Mr. Gregson, be-
fore the Select Committee of the house of Commons on
amalgamation, given so lately as the Ist of last month,
from which it appeared that the Company were engaged
in the promotion of seven new lines, and that they were
connected, as guaranteeing a certain dividend upon a
certain capital, with seven other railways, and three ex-
isting canals, In this way, while the original capital
of the Company was only 1,687,5001., it was involved in
schemes embracing a capital of between seven and eight
millions. This was in itself a very startling fact, and
the meeting ought to consider very deliberately before
they entered into a partnership with a company %hich
had so suddenly increased its liabilities to this enormous
extent. They were justified in regarding the manage-
ment of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway with ex-
tremewhen they found from Mr. Gregson's
had been secured with the view
from the insolvent position
of redeeming the Company
evidence
thatsp i suspicion,
hisoii ,
services
y to
en
ce of
into which it had fallen. He was asked by the Chair-
man of the Committee, whether he was employedtake the charge of those railways " in consequence
hisnsequ
tors of these re-
ply ? ~Certainly. The proprie undertak-
ingssuch
the state in which they were ?" and what was i
found that their affairs were n
state that it required some person of much experience
in the management both of railways and canals, to
oughthe
lheld
thtoe ckoetytr t
to
take charge of them with the view to obtain a dividend."
Was this a company with which the Scottish Central
allianceanthewh l ?
thought not. '1 he . Sfriends .
e ~eottish Central, from its position,
lli and himself
must
best,
e h of Scotland, and .
always be one of the eslt, if not the very best, line in
Scotland. Let it stand
dividend than the one, and it must yield a better
teed ; and, if they did stand Edinburgh and Glasgow had guaran-
aloof, he was satisfied that
better offers must be given by
whose interests were naturally
identifiedthe southern companies,
to whom it was of the last importance
with theirs, and
eto secure this im-
portant link in the great trunk line of from north to south. Besides, if the amalgamationum ieation
approved of at this meeting, what would )e
the wereresult
. ?
I' hey would go to Parliament with the
certainty of being
defeated, awl if they were defeated, the southern com-
panies r. ould not have the same incentive to offer them
high terms as they had now. Those partners of the
Company who were in the same position as himself, as
holding only the new stock, had an additional reason for
disapproval of this amalgamation, inasmuch as they had

no guarantee, while they were made to undertake all the
responsibilities of their copartners; he, therefore, begged
to propose the following amendment:—
" That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the
arnalamation propsed by the Edinburgh and Glasgow
Railway Company with the Scottish Central Company,
will not prove advantageous to the interests of the pro-
prietors of this Company in general, and that the terms
are most unjust to the proprietors of the new shares in
the Scottish Central Company, by excluding them from
the Guarantee for the payment of 5i per cent. interest
on their capital.
"Teat, according to the report of the Select Committee
of the House of Commons on the amalgamation of the
railway companies, and the recorded decisions of Parlia-
mentary Committees, there is every reason to anticipate
that the proposed amalgamation with the Edinburgh and
Glasgow Railway Company will not be sanctioned.
That the meeting resolves, that the amalgamation
with the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Company
be not approved."

great, but a comfortable fact.—(Cheers and laughter.)
What they had accomplished that day was the practical
answer which the Great Western Company gave to all
the assertions that had been made against the broad
gauge, and the various arguments by which attempts
had been made to mystify and to falsify the statements
of those who were its supporters.—(Cheers.) What they
had accomplished that day was the answer he gave to
the Report of the Commission on the Broad and Narrow
Gauge—a report which her Majesty's Government, he
was happy to say, speaking through their enlightened
president of the Board of Trade had not thought fit to
adopt.—(Cheers.) That Noble Lord notwithstanding the
report of the commission, had thought fit to say,
that the power of enterprise sbould not be limited
within four feet eight inches.—(Great cheering.) Whatthe
Great Western Company bad done that day all present
had experienced; what they had still to do they and the
public would learn. Owing to an accident that had oc-
curred—the breaking of one of the pumps of the
engine near Slough—they had not attained the high
rate of speed they had intended, but let the public only
give them a fair field and fair play, and he had no
doubt the broad gauge would ultimately triumph.—
(Great clieerinff.) He would say, leave it to itself, and
it would break down all the prejudices that had been at-
tempted to be raised against it.—(Cheers) It would be
extended in this and every other country, and would
give to all the great advantage of quick and secure
travelling—(Cheers)—an ultimatum so greatly to be de-
sired, and so essentially necessary for a mighty com-
mercial country like Great Britain.—(Cheers.) The
Hon. Chairman concluded by proposing " Success to
the Broad Gauge," which was drunk amidst the most
enthusiastic plaudits,
Captain CLAXTON proposed the health of Mr. Brunel,
the engineer of the company, which was drunk most
enthusiastically.
Mr. BRUNEL returned thanks. _ .

The 01I4IRMAN then stated that he feared the amend-
ment could not be proposed to the meeting by Majer.
Richardson, as he was merely a seripholder ; upon
which Major Richardson protested against this decision,
and requested his protest to be entered in the minutes.
Mr. MARTIN, a shareholder, then stated that he was
willing to adopt Major Richardson's amendment, and to
move it. In doing so, he begged particularly to guard
himself and the gentlemen concurring in his views,
against any charge of breach of faith with the Edin-
burgh and Glasgow Railway Company. In ordinary
circumstances they would not have thought of disturbing
the arrangement, however disadvantageous they might
have thought it, after it had been approved of by a gene-
ral meeting, as this had been. But they were specially
called on by the Government resolutions to reconsider
their position, and to record their opinions anew upon
these arguments. It surely was not intended that they
were to meet merely to reiterate their former opinion,
whether they continued the samo or not ; but that they
were to be free to act as if no such opinion had been ex-
pres,ed. In proposing that the amalgamation should
not bo approved of, he did not go so much upon the
question v.'hether the terms obtained from the Edinburgh
and Glasgow Railway were good or not. He was not
prepared to go into an investigation of that Company's
seven or eight millions of liabilities ; nor could he hope
to satisfy any meeting such as this as to whether their
liabilities were judiciously incurred or not. But what
his friends and himself went upon was this—that how-
ever advantageous the amalgamation might be for the
shareholders of the Central, Parliament never would
sanction it. By agreeing to go on with the amalgama-
tion, the Central were again embarking in the expensive
discussion of last year, whether the through traffic was
to be given to the Central lines, or to the Edinburgh
and Glatgow. and the coast lines running south from its
termini ; and in doing so the Central would be driven to
take up the very arguments which had been used against
themselves last year, by this very Edinburgh and Glas-
gow Company, and which they had then succeeded in
overturning. They would have against them the report
of the Board of Trade, the recorded decision of both
Hous-s last session, and, in addition to this, the very
formidable opposition of the Great Central South lines,
and a large portion of their own shareholders. That
this struggle mnst end in defeat he could have no doubt,
and its expense would form a very serious and profitless
addition to their expenditure. He concluded by moving
Maj or Richardson's amendment.

The CHAIRMAN then informed the company that the
train would start for London at a quarter before four
o'clock.
Captain CLAXTON said, before they parted, they ought
to drink the health of the Chairman and the Directors.

—(t3heers.) They had done much for the interest of
the Company, and their exertions on an occasion like
the present, ought to be duly appreciated —(Cheers.)
He would, therefore, propose the health of the Chair-
man and Directors.—(Cheers.)
Lord A. CHURCHILL made a few observations on this
proposition, which were not heard in the part of the
room in which we had taken our seat.

The toast was most enthusiastically drunk.
The CHAIRMAN returned thanks. The desire of him-
self, and all those who acted with him was to promote
by every means in their power the convenience of the
public, and the interest of their proprietors, and he
believed all would admit that they had succeeded in
doing so.—(Cheers.) In stating this he should be acting
most unjustly, if he did not admit that the success of
the dii ectors and himself was mainly to be attributed to
the exertions of those with whom they were joined in
the more practical parts of their great undertaking.—
(Cheers.) Brunel and Charles Saunders—(Cheers)—
were men to whom the Great Western Company were
indebted to an amount which they could never pay.—
(Cheers.) Nor should he forget the name of Gooch,
under whose superintendence and skill that monster
machine, that had that day brought them to Bristol, was
constructed.— (Cheers.) With such men associated
with them, the directors would accomplish far more for
the convenience of the public than they had hitherto
done, and what they had already performed he thought
all would admit was something.—(Cheers.)

Mr. Davin RITCHIE seconded the amendment.
The motion and amendment were then put from the
chair, when there were found to be 206 votes for the
motion, and 140 votes for the amendment. The result
of this vote, we understand, will put an end to the amal-
gamaticn of the Companies. as the approval of " at least
three-fifths" of the proprietors present at this meeting is
required by the standing order!. Three-fifths of the
votes is 207, while only 206 voted for the measure.

The meeting then broke up, after a vote of thanks, on
Le motion of Major Richardson, to the Chairman.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.

Captain CLAXTON then proposed the health of Charles
Saunders, Esq., the Secretary, which was drunk amid
great cheering.
The company then broke up, and the work commenced
of endeavouring to find the different carriages in which
parties had performed the down journey. This was at-
tended with some little trouble, and, in some cases amid
much laughter, the whole train having been reversed for
the up journey . All confusion was, however, soon got
over, and the ladies who had honoured the directors with
their company having been safely ensconed in their res.
pective carriages, the train started for London at two mi-
uutes past four o'clock. The highest speed attained on the
return joarney was about 64i miles an hour
and it was half-past six o'clock before the train arrived
at the Paddington terminus. Thus a journey of nearly
240 miles was accomplished in less than five hours, and
in this short space of time we passed twice the peaceful
cemetery of Mensal-green ; Wormwood Scrubs, alike
famous for its being the arena for the display of the
household troops of cavalry, and the favourite spot
chosen by duellists ; the head-quarters of the Earls of
Essex and Warwick prior to the battle of Brentford ;
the Priory of Berrymead, lately the residence of Sir
Edward Bulwer Lytton, but now of the Sisterhood of Le
Sacre Ceeur de Jesus ; the Abbey of Twyford, which
owes its origin to the late John Willan, the opulent
stage-coach proprietor, who, selecting this spot for a re-
sidence, little imagined that it would behold his favour-
ite and productive mode of travelling totally superseded;
the Hanwell Asylum, generously devoted by the libera-
lity of Englishmen to the reception of the indigent in-
sane ; the village of Iver, which alike to the artist, the
antiquary, and the angler, is replete with ob-
jects of interest and attraction ; the proud
Castle of Windsor, the seat :of royalty from
its foundation by the Conqueror; Eton College,
famou • alike for the misfortune of the monarch that
founded it, the learned men that received their education
there, and its Eton Montem ; Runnemyde, where the
Barons extorted Mugna Ghana from King John ; the
seat of the descendant of the founder of Pennsylvania ;
the church which suggested to Gray his Elegy on a
Country Church Yard ; the village of Bray, famous for
its vacillating vicar ; the remains of the once famous
abbey of Reading, founded by Henry the Ist, and con-
secrated by the haughty prelate, :Thomas A'Beckett ;
Chosley, rendered memorable for a monastery founded
by Ethelred, in atonement for the murder of his brother,
King Edward the Martyr ; Wautage, the birth place of
Alfred tho Great ; the Box Tunnel, one of the
most stupendous works of modern times ; Bath,
oace so renowned in the world of fashionable invalids;
but since the days of Beau Nash terribly degenerated,
and Bristol, the Omega and Alpha of our journey, the
" Metropolis of the West" and the " City of Merchant
Princes." Accompanying the excursion were a number
of scientific gentlemen and others conversant with rail-
way matters, who were unanimously of opinion that the
engine had done all that was expected of it, and that
engine,niwotnooht
uhatlil;;egb beetnl
been
ackneroe
rnapositewti
performance
eopogrrreaamkrbufalgofynore
emar awnlpb
tcrao
oesuwvtehaadsa as yet been paralleled
marvellous,mstoTai
lthteohdu hthasnat
sdthp,
tsefheoatdra
trip
iwpwonhwueeilwlndl
dnot
much
fullye sshtgepoteewtpleceeadorr
mthfdienspee
perfect safety,
cno‘
so'
ynanßuf
tveaehi
txtnyat of
nnhhgaawf
ss
ittthahhsbee
heypGeeeunatabvublyigoec es
been
loads,
thata,a'
displayed
obtained
still tl
pdai
al and
bydhi
yt will
ei
cgdoher
tn
degbbir no ear ded e
gwoai of speed
the narrow gauge supporters. We trust that the time is
not far distant when the directors will take another
trip, in order, if possible, to settle finally the question
so much of late agitated between the broad and narrow
gauges. The public are entitled to this, and will doubt-
less look for it ; but when we say this we feel
bound to admit that the public are greatly indebted
to the directors of this company for what they have
already done.
Among those who attended the excursion we noticed
Colonel Pasley, Lord Alfred Churchill, Mr. Brunel,
Mr. Stephenson, Mr. Samuda, Charles Russell, Esq.,
M.P., Charles Saunders, Esq., Captain Claxton, and
several persons of rank and distinction.

EXPERIMENTAL TRIP WITH THE MONSTER
ENGINE (THE GREAT WESTERN) TO
BRISTOL.
We live in strange and stirring times, and it becomes
our duty therefore to chronicle strange and almost un-
believable facts. In travelling, the slow and sure prin-
ciple of our ancestors has given way to the rapid and
safe principles of the present day. A few years ago
we should have been designated madmen, had we stated
our belief in the possibility of breakfasting in London,
taking our luncheon in Bristol, and returning to the
metropolis in time for dinner. Such a feat, however, we
accomplished on Saturday last, thanks to the daring
energy and unflagging perseverance of those who have
the management of that stupendous undertaking, the
Great Western Railway Company :
A select party were on Saturday invited by the
Directors of the Great Western Company to accompany
them in an experimental trip to Bristol, with the
double purpose of testing the power of their new engine
and of manifesting the advantages which they allege
the broad gauge possesses over its rival, the narrow
gauge. The engine in question was built by Mr. '
Gooch, for the company, and its powers on trial have
been deemed so extraordinary as to warrant the di-
rectors in taking the most effectual means for testing
them, and of placing the results in an unexceptionable
shape before the pnblic. We believe it was at first in-
tended to tax the powers of speed of the new engine to
their fullest extent, and to show what speed could be
attained with a comparatively light load. It was at
first contemplated to carry a load of 80 tons at a speed
of somewhere about 78 miles an hour. It was under-
stood that the engine could accomplish this with com-
pel] tive ease, as in some previous experimental trips the
engine attained the extraordinary rapidityof 79imi1es an
hour with a light load. It was eventually decided that
the trip should:be made with a load of about 110 tons,
at a speed which would accomplish the distance be-
tween the stations at Paddington and Bristol, a dis-
tance of nearly 118 miles, in about two hours and ten
minutes, including stoppages ; averaging, at this rate,
a speed of upwards of 55 miles an hour ; but, allowing
for stoppages, about 56 miles per hour. At a quarter to
12 the mammoth engine of the railway world, The
Great Western, was attached to the carriages, 14 in num-
ber, weighing, as we have before stated, 110 tons,
and at 10 minutes before 12 o'clock exactly the train
set off at almost lightning speed. Nothing could be
more delightful than the ease, smoothness, and safety of
the performance of the powerful engine by which the
train was propelled. Trees, hedges, villages, and sta-
tions, appeared and disappeared with the rapidity of
thought, and yet the passenger—whirled along as swift
as the wind—felt no other sensation than those of plea-
sure and complete security. We passed the Slough
station, a distance of 18 miles from London, at 10
minutes past twelve ; Maidenhead station, 221 miles, at
a quarter past 12 ; Twyford, 304 miles, at 24 minutes
past 12 ; Reading, 35 miles, at 29 minutes past 12;
PangbJurne, 41 miles from London, at 35 minutes past
12 ; Goring, 44+ miles, at 38 minutes past twelve ;
and arrived at Didcot, 53 miles from London,
at 12 minutes to one ; having accomplished 53
miles in 58 minutes. At this station we stopped
seven minutes, and at five minutes to one we dashed off
again in fine style on our way to Bristol. We passed
the Steventon station, 56+ miles from London and 3+
miles from Didcot, at one minute past 1 ; Farringdon-
read station, 634 miles from London and 104 from
Didcot, at nine minutes past one; Shrivenham, 71+
miles from London, and 18+ from Didcot. at 17 minutes
past one, and arrived at Swindon, 77 miles from Lon-
don, and 24 from Didcot, at 24 minutes past one. At
this station we stopped five minutes, and at 29 minutes HALLETTE'S ATMOSPHERIC
past one the Leviathan engine was again in motion, and
SYSTEM.
again we were attempting to annihilate time and space.
On Saturday a series of experiments were made at the
We passed the Wootton Bassett station 824 miles from
Rosemary Branch, Peckham, to illustrate the new at-
London and 51 from Swindon, at 24 minutes to two ;
Chi enham 93i- miles from London and 161 from mospheric system discovered by Monsieur Hallette. The
S w indpp, ,
on, at 13 minutes to 2 ; Corsham, 981 miles from experiments, it is right to remark, have been daily made
Lyndon, and 21+ from Swindon, at 8 minutes to 2 ; we for some weeks past, but:on Saturday a peculiar interest
passed through the Box tunnel, li miles, in less than 2 attached to them, in consequence of its being understood
minutes the Box station 1011 miles from London,
that Mr. Stephenson and Mr. Vignoles, the celebrated
; ,
from Swindon and 2at 4 minutes to 2 the Bath engineers, with other scientific gentlemen, would be pre-
station,4l , ;
1061 miles from London, and 291 miles from sent to test the merits .of the system. Mr. Vignoles
Swindon, at 1 minute past 2 ; Saltford, 111 f miles from having before been known to be favourable to the atmos-
London, and 34;- from Swindon, at 8 minutes past 2 ;
Keynsham, 1131 miles from London, and 36+ from proved pheric system, his warm approval of the system, as im-
tte, did not excite so much surprise.
Swindon, 101 minutes past 2 ; and arrived at Bristol,
21
pastlBhio
hours
eahsnafdvrion2mg4 Lmaocincndouomt i
minutes.
accomplished
l. i
sandh
el:14u:
t+
h fer
readerso
emn
tSwindon,
entire
willidldistance
s tobserve,
bn ase
ete rav i fl, by M. Halle
Mr. Stephenson has always been an avowed opponent of
the atmospheric, as far as regards its practicability ;
and, therefore, the greatest anxiety was manifested by
the friends of Monsieur Halletts's [system to learn his
from these details, that the greatest rate of speed opinions of it, after examining the portion of the model
was between Swindon and Bath, in some parts of that line laid down at the Rosemary Branch. Before
distance 75 miles an hour having been accomplished. referring to what Mr. Stephenson said of Monsieur
Our forefathers would have held that to be a mere idle Hallette's system, it may be proper to mention what its
dream, which is accomplished daily, and is n,,,,„ a mere great peculiarity is. It is the construction of the
matter-of-fact occurrence. We can understand the pro- horizontal valves, which are made en the principle of the
digious velocity with which an avalanche of necessity human lips in their compressed state. The material of ,
descends an inclined plane, but to find the same speed the horizontal valves is India rubber, formed into air-
realised
by mechanical skill, on a plane in which the tight tubes, which, as soon as separated, by the train
gradients are sometimes much beyond the horizontal running along, instantly expands by the force of the air
level, is to the unscientific little short of miraculous. As acting on so elastic a substance as India rubber. One
soon as the visitors were released from the carriages, very great advantage of the employment of India rubber
they proceeded to inspect the wonderful engine apP ro- is, that it remains entirely unaffected by the seasons. It
pristely named " The Great Western"—which had per- is equally available in the summer's heat and the winter's
formed such an unsurpassed feat. The large size, power,
The engine weighed, as we were given to understand,
and beauty of the engine excited universal admiration, irationfor the
cold. Mr. Stephenson having carefully examined
paratus, and put various questions to the inventor ,the ap •
then Pressed purpose
of
his
receiving
very great informationretd
a mirat
admiration
particular t itchuel ar
points,
not less than 20 tons. The directors and visitors improvement
adjourned to the long room in the station
which M. Hallette had made in the atmospheric system.
collation, comprehending the choicest viands and'where wines,a " But, said Mr. Stephenson, " assuming the system to
was spread in Niblett's best style. Turtle, champagne, be not only theoretically and scientifically good, but
and claret were in profusion, and when ample justice had
CITARLES RUSSELL, Esq., M.P., the chairman, said it
even perfect, there are two important practical ques-
been done to all these aristocratic creature comforts, tions which I wish to ask its advocates. In the first
ance at the present moment, not to delay the company place what would be the cost of construction and of
was his intention, as time was of the essence of import- working a line on the atmospheric principle, as compared
by any long speeches. He should onl y propose tv7o
drink most enthusiastically. The first was the health of with one laid down and worked on the locomotive prin-
ciple ? Secondly, I wish to know whether the public
toasts, both of which he had no doubt all present would could rely on its being regularly worked ?"
their gracious sovereign, the Queen, and might she longln reference to the first question, Mr. Stephenson
ed, since her acres-principle
nl
eaiypilnegd downid nnot
a nowsingle
exceedline
reign over a loyal and contented people.—(Great cheer" of
or 7,0001. per mile, while the mere expenses of
ing.) The anxiety she had display
sisal to the throne, for the progress of science and the saidof
onththeeavleorcaogme
locomotive working had been still further reduced.
improvement of the condition of the people, entitled her Though the entire yearly expenses of the London and
locomotiveest
to the love and veneration of every loyal nglishmaes.-- Birmingham were 400,0001., the expenses of the locomo-
(Cheers.) tive department were only 70,000/. Mons. Hallette said
The health of her Majesty was drank with nine times he could not speak so positively about the expenses of
nine, and one cheer more. the construction of a line on his system, but he did not
The CIIAIRMAN said next the
toast he had to propose think it would exceed 6,0001. per mile. In cases where
was, " Success to the broad gauge and the Great Wes-
.the trains ran frequently, the expenses of working would
' " seat cheering.) It was usual in the be. much less than on a line worked on the locomotive
tern engine, (G
of any Principle-
present day to denominate
~the accomplishmentTheexistence With regard to the re 1• gu arity of 1; 1,
-- Wore,ng tee
thingatmos-
unused " a great fact. —(Cheers.)
pheric, Mr. Stephenson had doubts, be
great fact,
i; cause if an accident
of the Anti-Corn-law League was called a
' happened at ono of the en ' ouses, it would take a
and what had been accomplished that day had clearly i
, very considerable time to repair it. On the London and
proved the broad gauge to be a great fact, and the Great 1
Birmingham line t m -
accidents to the engines happened,
Western engine a great fact also.—(Cheers.) That 1
on an average, every day ; but, ,having seventy stationary
engine had drawn a train of fourteen carriages, . line,'
en sines now en the and in a very short time there
110 tons in weight, a distance of nearly
6 d be 130•
woul . always available, these accidents did not
120 miles in two hours and twenty minutes,being
at a speed cause any sensible delay in the arrival of the trains. On
of nearly 70 miles an hour ; such travelling,principle he
and with,the atmospheric thought that accidents at
such weight, he thought all would admit was
another great fact ; and
the ease, comfort, and i
sense of safety they had all experienced
m
was not only a •
unication from one end of the line to the other. Mons.