The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-15 00:00:00

gA-71 7,02
SEPTEMBER 15 1851.
LONDON MONDAY
:40,21
aa\A 7

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN AND GREAT
NORTHERN.
A long correspondence has been printed relative to
the existing competition between the above companies
for the traffic of certain towns. The great part of the
correspondence consists of certain propositions of the
companies for a division of the traffic. Mr. C. E.
Stewart, the secretary of the London and North-
Western Company, on the 31st of March, in a letter
to Mr. Mowatt, the secretary of the Great Northern
Company, after adverting to a minute passed on the
221 of March last by a committee representing the
Midland and London and North-Western Companies,
which was placed in the hands of Mr. Denison, the
chairman of the Great Northern Company on the
morning of its date, by Mr. Ellis, the chairman of
the Midland Company, and Mr. Smith, the deputy-
chairman of the London and North-Western, who
both urged upon Mr. Denison the acceptance of the
offer to continue the existing arrangement of equal
fares, rates, &c., for passengers and goods between all
places to which the respective companies compete,
goes on to state :
" My directors entertain a deep sense of the responsi-
bility which would attach to them, did they fail to use
every means in their power to avert the evils to be ap-
prehended from a course of reckless competition between
such companies as the London and North-Western, the
Midland, and the Great Northern; and since Mr. Deni-
son refuses to accept our proposed partition of traffic, or
to agree to equal rates, with penalties in case of breach
of agreement, it only remains further to propose to leave
the decision upon our respective offers to the arbitration
of two impartial men, with a practical knowledge of the
subject, and with this view the committee instruct me to
propose the names of Mr. Learmontla, chairman of the
North British Company, and Mr. Leeman, chairman of
the York, Newcastle, and Berwick Railway, with power
to esti in an umpire in case of difference."
Mr. SEYMOUR CLARKE, the general manager of the
Great Northern, replied on the part of that company
to the following effect :—That any general arrange-
ment between the two companies for a division of
territory being manifestly premature, from the great
disparity of the views of the respective companies, it
is better for the present to confine our attention to
the towns et which competion has actually commenced,
say York, Leeds, Wakefield, Sheffield, Doncaster,
Lincoln; that as to these, there is no objection on our
part to refer the propositions which have already been
made on both sides to the decision of an arbitrator.
The Great Northern Company, therefore, suggest
Lord Wrharncliffe as a man of standing and of busi-
ness habits on their part, and that the North-Western
and Midland Companies shall select some similar
party to meet him, with power to both, in case of
disagreement, to select an umpire; or the Great
Northern Company propose (if he can be induced to
undertake such an office), that the propositions be
placed singly before Mr. Gladstone for his decision,
leaving the other question (the division of territory)
to he the subject of another and distinct proposition.
If the plan referred to for the settlement of the division
of traffic of the several towns is agreed to, it may be
tlisan as though the companies had come to an agree-
ment, and subject to the bargains for goods already
made by either company in anticipation of the 4th of
April being adopted. Equal rates for goods and
passengers shall then be continued, the money division,
when settled by the arbitrator, to date hack from the
said 4:h of April, 1851.
Mr. STEWART, in reply, stated that the London
and North-Western would willingly concur with the
Great Northern in referring the case to the sole de-
cision of Mr. Gladstone.
Mr. Swift, the solicitor to the London and North-
Western Company, in a letter to Mr. Baxter, dated
June 13, 1851, states :
" Same our preliminary meeting before Mr. Glad-
stone this morning, I have submitted to my elieats the
views then adopted by you, as contended for by Mr.
Seymour Clarke in the correspondence which has passed
between him and Captain Iluish since the execution of
tile agreement of reterence—namely, that your com-
pany would still (notwithstanding any award now made)
hold themselves at liberty to compete, and at any rates
they pleased, to any places beyond, however near to or
far from your line, or the particular towns named in the
agreement as not to be competed to.
" To my clients it appears that this, your view of the
future relations of the two companies, is wholly incon-
eisient with the idea of any practical or real settlement
at all, even to those towns, inconsistent with the avoid-
ance ot that very competition which it is the professed
object of both boards, and of the agreement of reference
itself, to avoid, and inconsistent with your board's pro-
positions to ours, which farm part of that agreement.
" I am, therefore, instructed to claim to have clause 12
of these propositions of yours considered as a part of
any arrangement to be now made, as well as any others
of your or of our propositions which the arbitrator thinks
fit and necessary.
" Indeed, you will fiud that, unless this were so, it
would be impossible to work out any result whatever,
even if an award could he made by Mr. Gladstone, since
there will be no provision for many quite essential
points; among others I may mention the fixing of the
rates and fares to he charged by, and divided between
the two companies (the very essence of the reference),
the penalty for any evasion of the award, the arrange-
ment as to terminal charges, and as to working expenses
in any excess of traffic carried by either one of the two
companiett, sac."
Mr. Baxter, the solicitor to the Great Northern
Company, in reply, said :
" 1 am worry to say that I not only cannot coincide
with you, but it appears to me your proposition is alto-
gether contrary to the understanding upon which the
arbitration was entered into, for you will recollect you
pressed the extene6en of the submission to other matters;
and upon my replying that it could not be conveniently
extended, you said you were authorised to abandon the
request, and to take it as it stood. It is quite clear that
if you wish an arrangement putting an end to competi-
tion upon all points, a great deal ot matter will have to
be considered which has never yet been touched upon ;
but I strongly fear the time has not yet arrived when
your clients would be induced to look at a general ar-
rangement upon a basis which would be permanently
equitable."
On the 20th of June Mr. Baxter wrote to Mr.
Swift the following letter :
" Dear Sir,—l have seen some of the Great Northern
directors and talked over with them the subject of our
conference ; but, after every consideration, they cannot
see the propriety of their being expected to bind them-
selves to take equal rates to any point except where we
may agree for a division of traffic. The adverse combina-
tions which your company has made for the special pur-
pose of excluding the Greet Northern from the natural
course of trafficito those places which they would have
enjoyed had not these combinations been effected,
renders it impossible, so long as these combinations
exist, to abstain from such measures as become neces-
sary to break through the combinations. If your friends
would abandon those exclusive combinations, there
would be no difficulty in agreeing upon equal rate?."
Mr. Swift, in his letter of the 2.31 of June, after

reminding Mr. Baxter that he (Mr. Swift) was not
contending for something previously asked, and
abandoned by himself or his clients, said
I bog to refer you to that note of mine, a perusal of
which will remove this erroneous impression from your
mind. In fact, all which I asked was that Mr. Glad-
stone, in proceeding to deal with the matter referred to
him, should adopt as his basis your manager's (Mr.
S,,yrnour Clarke's) proposition No. 12, as appended to
the agreement of reference, and such others of those
propo.itions us, like it, will be absolutely needful for
carrying into effct the award which he may make. My
clients, I repeat, quite agree with me in considering
that proposition of Mr. Clarke's to be not only proper
in itself, but absolutely essential, for the reasons already
explAined in your presence to 21r. Gladstone, whose
aloe, therefore, we should have been most unjustifiably
wa,ing if we had affected to proceed with the reference
on any other basis; any award which he could have
except upon that basis, must necessarily have been
mrillrafdt practically
referringi'cali
useless."
o the evils of competition, Mr.
Swift goes on to state :
"At all events, that it can only be temporary, and is not
even meant to benefit the public, are points on which we
are fully agreed. I can only repeat my own opinion,
and urge for your re-consideration of it; but in the
meantime I feel constrained to remark on your five-
times-repeated use of the unpopular word combination,'
as applied to my clients in your last note. In point of
fact, the only 'combinations' they have made were ar-
rangements entered into before your line was opened,
are in respect of traffic, on the faith of which our lines
were authorized, and without proof of which they would
not have been authorized, are such only as the public
convenience have called for, and such as you yourselves
have made with us, and with several other companies as
respects other traffic; indeed, such as your only com-
plaint against us now is for not extending to you. If
we are not prepared to carry our combinations with
ypy •
friendlyroo ouu
teeosvrt e
an
theg faui rpn
communicationstushtbe
yri
public
tushor a
m therefore
r tetsrfooobrneege
tauntn b
takingy already
h uasvhaving
gd
vant done, a gwe e
of
oarus t
to
At h
te
af form."
rpme
ce
ira
la rmr aenegt
ie2nm2gde notf the. '
of
July, id a n an
1851,d
Mr.LondonaG
done
ryen
and North-Western joint committee, hebilfedcwoaemt thehaepd
D eni ofs
Denison,
interview
and Gladstone, between
self, Rus-
tone-
ss etacedlf s
.%. t stathattion oi ns
particulars thei r
result being that under the agreement of reference
upon which he was acting, Mr. Gladstone considered
he would not be justified in taking upon himself to
decide anything more than the division of the traffic
belonging to the six towns named in the agreement.
At the same time the arguments made use of before
him had made him strongly of cpinion that a refe-
rence, confined to the traffic of those six towns, and
not embracing the general question of a division of
territory, would be nugatory and futile. Mr. Glad-

stone further stated that he was quite prepared to
undertake a reference for a complete division of ter-
ritory, if confided to him in a definite shape, and sug
gested that the three parties should endeavour to agree
to such a reference. Mr. Denison expressed his
willingness to receive a proposition from the London
and North, Western and Midland Companies for a
territorial division, and his inclination to agree to a
general reference to Mr. Gladstone thereon, provided
his board could be induced to adopt the same. The
manager read letters from Mr. Seymour Clarke, under
date 18th and 19th of July, the latter containing the
proposition for a temporary arrangement as respects
the August excursion traffic, which was responded to
by a resolution of the joint committee, on the ground
that they were anxious to bring about an entire and
final settlement of all differences, and cordially agree-
ing in the adoption of a general reference as suggested
by Mr. Gladstone. At an adjourned special meeting
of the Midland and London and North. Western joint
committee, on the 23d of July, 1851, a communi-
cation from Mr. Denison, M.P., was read, in refer-
ence to the resolution of the joint committee. It
stated—
" With respect to the resolutions of the joint com-
mittee, suggesting that it is absolutely requisite that ar-
rangements, including a territorial division, should be
agreed upon before a satisfactory and permanent traffic
arrangement can be established; and that for this pur-
pose the whole of the papers in connexion with the past
negotiation should be referred to Mr. Gladstone, with
fall power to award such arrangements as he might
think proper. Mr. Denison has to observe, that not
having the opportunity of referring to his board,
or to any committee authoriz:d to act in this
behalf, he can only at present express his
own opinion, which is, that in the present state
of affairs, the towns' lines of the Great Northern
Company not being open, and their system therefore
incomplete, and the London and North Western having
formed treaties with other companies, by which the
Great Northern Company is shut out irons interchange
of traffic to places with which, but for such treaties the
traffic would be exchanged, it appears to him impracti-
cable at present to negotiate for any parse.
neat division of territory, and that whatever arrange-
ments may be contemplated, they must necessarily be
temporary until the hostile treaties alluded to have ex-
pired. It appears to Mr. Denison, that if the division of
traffic for the towns named in the reference to Mr. Glad-
stone were concluded, so much ground would be removed
from disputation. Mr. Denison regrets to learn that
since the parties met on Saturday last, the London and
North-Western and Midlands have further reduced pas-
senger fares between Yorkshire and London. This is a
hostile step. which must necessarily lead to en immediate
reduction of the goods' charges, and would seem, on the
part of the London and North-Western and Mid-
lands, to be provoking the very issue which their reso-
lutions deprecate. The only practical suggestion Mr.
Denison can at present make is, that the companies
should, in order to allow time for the progress of negoti-
ations, adopt equal fares for the ensuing two months to
the towns referred to by Mr. Gladstone, with an under-
standing that tho fares for places to bo approached
through those towns should not be less theta the fares to
those towns themselves; and, in other respects, the pro-
posals of Mr. S. Clarke, of the 19th inst., should be
adopted. Mr. Denison is obliged to request that he
may he informed, before four o'clock toemorrow, whe-
ther the London and North-Western and Midland Com-
panies will immediately restore the passenger fares from
Yorkshire, otherwise the Great Northern Company will
feel themselves at liberty to take nay step they may
think necessary. Mr. Denison would feel obliged by the
answer being sent under cover to Mr. S. Clarke, at
King's-cross station."
The joint committee passed a resolution urging on
Mr. Denison the propriety of at once convening his
board, in the hope that their decision might be ob-
tained without further delay, and with a view to
meet the present position of the Great Northern Com-
pany in respect to making a permanent agreement
with the London and North-Western and Midland
Companies, the committee suggested that the pro-
posed agreement might be limited to a period of three

years.
At an adjourned meeting of the committee on the
24th of July, a letter from Mr. S. Clarke, of the
Great Northern Company, was read. It stated that
Mr. Denison would lay the proposition of the two
companies before the Great Northern board, but that
they would not meet before the 50 of August, and it
was impossible to procure an earlier meeting. The
letter went on to say—
"'This being too late for the Adgust arrangements, I
must necessarily make,them independently; but I must
really trouble you at once to telltniatabether I am to un-
derstand that you continue the reduction of passenger
fares you have adopted at Leeds, Szc.; as, if so, you lay
me under the necessity of taking a similar course with
regard to goods. Mr. Denison authorised me to add
that for the two months proposed to allow time for a
treaty, the suggestion of the North-Western and Mid-
land with respect to the places beyond the agreed terms
may be adopted, via., that the rates to such places may
be increased at a milage rate,"
Toe joint committee then passed a resolution, to
the effect that they had met on the subject three
several times in the hope of bringing the negotiations
with the great Northern Company to a satisfactory
conclusion, and they exceedingly regret the delay,
not so much to their own personal convenience as to
the overwhelming interest of the three bodies of
proprietors, which are seriously injured by the delay
in the settlement of the matter in dispute. The joint
committee reminded the Great Northern Railway
Board that it was now five months since that
board abandoned the agreement for equal rates and
fares, which the London and North- Western and
Midland boards were willing to continue, and that
it having been agreed, after much negotiation, to
refer to Mr. Gladstone the question of an equitable
division of the traffic receipts to certain specified
towns, the only question upon which a serious differ-
ence of opinion existed was, whether the traffic be-
yond those towns should be competed for at equal
rates, and in a manner consistent with a friendly
agreement up m other po nts, or in such a manner as
must inevitably render nugetory the agreement even
es proposed by the Great. Northern Railway board ;
and the joint committee most urgently requested the
Great Northern to consider that this was the only
point which prevented the reference to Mr. Gladstone
being proceeded with, and producing an amicable
arrangement beneficial to all parties. That the pro-
posal now made by Mr. Denison, through Mr. S.
Clarke, to accept the last proposition of the joint
committee for the short period of two months, could
not be acceded to because it would leave undecided
the general question.
At a general meeting of the Great Northern board,
held the 29th of July, the following resolution was
passed :
" Resolved,—That this board considers, until the
whole system of the Great Northern linos is open, and
the treaties for their exclusion from other lines arc with-
drawn by the London and North-Western companies, it
is impracticable to arbitrate for a territorial division.
" That this board is still ready to go on with the sealed
reference to Mr. Gladstone, and to arrange for a money
division of traffic by arbitration, and for equal fares to
all places to which it has access, and to adopt the same
course as to all ether places as soon GS the treaties for
their exclusion are withdrawn ; but this company cannot
pledge itself to abstain from competition at those places
to which by such treaties it is denied access by other
" That this board is also ready to agree with the Lon-
don and North-Western and Midland companies for an
immediate restoration of reasonatle fares."
The joint committee replied that the Great Northern
board appeared to have come to a decision under an
entirely erroneous impression as to all the material
facts of the case, inasmuch as, firstly, they assume
that the London and North-Western and Midland
companies refuse to proceed with the arbitration
pending before the Right lion. W. E. Gladstone;
and, secondly, that the responsibility of having com-
menced the reduction of rates rests with the Midland
and London and North-Western companies.
The joint committee state they have it in evidence
that the first reduction of fares was made by the
Great Northern Company carrying passengers, in
conjunction with the York and North Midland Com-
pany, between Milford Junction and London, at
rates so low as to divert the traffic from the Midland
line; to counteract this, it became necessary to make
a reduction at Normanton. The Great Northern
then reduced at Knottingley, which being within a
few miles of Leeds, a reduction at that town neces-
sarily followed ; and, finally, the fares being at the
rase of ss. for 400 miles, the Great Northern issued a
notice to the effect that the rates on their line would
be fitl. lower than the fares rid the Midland and
London and North-Western route.
In consequence of some misunderstanding as to the
conditions upon which the arbitration between the
companies was to proceed, the following letter was
sent by the Right Hon Mr. Gladstone iu reply to one
from Mr. Swift on the subject :
" Carbon-gardens, July 29,1851.
" My dear S;r,--I think that the case stands nearly ns
follows, 90 far es it depends upon our meetings at Mr.
Baxter's house and yours:—
" Mr. Baxter, on the part of the Great Northern, de-
clsred himself not authorised t 6 include points beyond
the towns named.
"You hereupon stated that you were still prepared to
proceed with the arbitration, adding that you thought
tl-e result would, in all probability, be illusory.
" I seid that there were two conditions which I was
not prepared to proceed; the (list, that the parties should
be Egteed as to the carte matters. to b referred; the
second, that they should be agreedin looking for a sub-
stantial result from the arbitration, and that it appeared
to me that the szcond of these conditions was wanting.

" The immediate occasion, t'nc,ref)re, of our Lilure,
seems to have b.'en my declaration, founded upon the
joint effect of what had been stated by you and Mr.
Baxter.

" I remain, faithfully yours,
" W. E. GLADSTONE.

" J. Swift, Esq."
The correspondence concludes with a resolution of
the Midland and North-Western joint committee,
passed the 7th of August, to the following effect:— '
" Resolved,—That this committee are still willing and
desirous to bring about an immediate restoration of
' reasonable rates' at the six towns, and generally; and
sincerely regret that the Great Northern board, by its
continued refusal to agree to the principle of 'equal gross
charges to all places, without reference to distance or
other circumstances, and with arbitration in case of
difference,' and penalties in the event of breach,' ren-
ders futile all attempts to restore and maintain at the
six towns rates which are necessarily affected by the
rates which the Great Northern Company insist upon
the power of fixing to places beyond."

SOUTH. EASTERN.
The directors of this company have just issued their
report. It states that the receipts of the company for
the half•year ending the 31st of July, 1851, have
been 341,0241., and the working expenses, less the
amount charged on the fund for the reproduction of
rolling stock, 138,899/., in which amount is included
a sum of 5,8601., to ba added to the fund for the re-
newal of permanent way. The rates and Govern-
ment duty amount to 26,9801., and the rents of the
Greenwich, Canterbury, and Whitstable, and Read-
ing, Guildford, and Reigate railways, to 43,302/.;
which sums, in addition to the interest on the mart-

gage debt and guaranteed stock of the company, and
a provision for bad debts of 1,1001., make a

. ,
total deduction from the gruss earnings of
253,1391., leaving together, with the amount

of the credit of profit and loss, after pro-
viding for the last dividend, an available balance of

97,1051. A comparative statement of passenger
traffic on different portions of the railway, for the
half-year ending the 31st of July, 1851, as compared
with the corresponding period of 1850, shows that on
. .

be main line and branches the increase in the number

of passengers was 103,481, and in the receipts
34,192/. ; on the North Kent line, 347,899 passen-
gers, and in the receipts, 7,6101.; on the Reading,
Guildford, and Reigate, 23,914 passengers, and, in
the receipts, 1,1481.; but there was a decrease in the

number of passengers on the Greenwich branch of
75,918, and, in the receipts, of 1,3481. In the goods
traffic during the same period there was an increase
on the main line and branches of 4,3341.; on the
North Kent cf 1,375/. ; on the Reading and Reigate
of 2,2111.; together, 7,9211. The total increase in
the traffic for the last half-year, as compared with the
correspondinz half-year ending the 31st of July,
1850, is 52,7951. The increase in the through traffic
to and from London and Folkestone and Dover

amounted to 23,494?.; the total receipts for the half-

year ending the 31st of July, 1850, having been
51,4771. ; while those for the same period
in 1851 amounted to 74,9711._; but there was

a decrease in the through traffic to and from
London, Rams:gate, and Margate of 5921, the total
receipts for the Itst half-year being 10,8221, as ngainEt
11,4141. in 1850. Toe total increase in the through
traffic during the half-year amounted to 22,901/.

Since the Ist of May lasi a special service has been
performed daily b?tween London and Paris by tidal
trains, in correpondenc(l with the stearn.shipis of the

S mtb-Eastern and Continental Steam-packet Com-
pany, alternately by Polkstone and Boulogne, and by
Dover and Calais; the former journey being pr.-
formed in eleven hours and the latter in twelve hours,
when no unusual delays take place at the Custom-

house. This service gave so much satisfaction that
a second tidal service—viz , one by night—has been
established since the let of August. Every disposi-
tion has been shown by the Board of Customs to

facilitate the speedy examination of baggage both at
Folkestone and Dover. In completing the company's
terminus at Dover, the directors have provided a large
and commodious examination-room, which has been

placed at the disposal of the Board of Customs, and
will tend to remove all ground of delay and complaint.
What is required, however, to facilitate the traffic
between Paris and London, now conveyed in eleven
hours, is, that the baggage of the passengers making
the express journey from one capital to the
other, without stoppage, should be registered and
.plaeed in the control of the railway company at
Paris for through transmission to London ; thus
allowing it to be moved in bulk, and with celerity,
from the trains at Boulogne and at Calais to the
the steamships, and in like manner to be landed and
placed inj the railway carriages at Folkestone:and
Dover, to be claimed in London only by the owners
when examined by the officers of the revenue. A
similar arrangement has for some time existed in re-
gard to the traffic from London to Paris. The direc-
tors applied, in conjunction with the directors of the
Northern of France Railway, to the Board of Cus-
toms and the Lords of the Treasury to sanction ar-
rangements for the examination of baggage at the
London-bridge terminus. The permission of the
Lords of the Treasury has at length been given to
the measure, but in a restricted manner. The rail-
way from Tonnerre to Dijon opened in July, com-
pleting the railway communication from Paris to
Chalons, and reducing the time occupied in the
transit from London to Marseilles from sixty-one
hours to forty-nine hours, and enabling the whole
journey to be made by railway and steam-boat.
First-class through tickets between London and Mar-
seilles are now issued for 61. The amalgamation
between the Northern of France Railway and the
Boulogne and Amiens Railway Companies, cannot
fail to be beneficial to the South-Eastern Company.
The portion of the Tunbridge Wells and Hastings
line from Tunbridge Wells to Robertsbridge, 15i-1
miles, was opened for traffic on the Ist of September.'
This comprises the most expensive section of the line.
From Robertsbridge to Whatlington, four miles, the
tunnels, earthwork, and brickwork are complete, and
a single line laid. It is expected that the whole line
may be finished and opened for traffic by the
middle of November. The directors have made
terms with the directors of the Brighton Company,
to prevent competition for the London and Hastings
and St. Leonard's traffic. The permanent way and
works of the company are in good order. The Lord
Warden Hotel at Dover is already completed, and
ready for occupation. In the course of the half-year
twenty new engines and 40 new carriages and wag-
gons have been added to the company's working stock
at a cost of 65,481/. ; of this sum, 38,0871. has been
charged to capital account, the balance, 27,3941., has
been provided from the renewal fund. The South-
gastern Company are under agreement with the
Reading, Guildford, and Reigate Company, to apply
to Parliament in the ensuing session for leave to
amalgamate the two companies. The effect of the
amalgamation would be, to relieve the South-Eastern
Company of an annual payment of 3001. for the office
expenses of the Reading, Guildford, and Reigate Com-
pany. During the half-year 22,1111. has been re-
ceived of arrears of calls, 143,4371. remaining due.
The directors recommend a dividend to be declared

for the last.half-year of Bs. per share, which, with the
dividend of 103. per share for the preceding half-year,
will make a dividend for the whole year at the rate of
3 per cent, per annum on the consolidated stock of the
company. The directors do not, regard the increase
which has taken place in the continental traffic dur-
ing the six months ending on the 31st of July as in any
way extraordinary, or to be attributed solely to the
Great Exhibition. Oa the contrary, they are of
opinion that the facilities which have been established
will insure a still further development of continental
traffic by the South-Eastern Railway, and will prove
of permanent benefit to the company.
The report of Messrs. C. Child, J. Morgan, and T.
Browne, the auditors, states that they have audited
the accounts,:and find them correct. The balance at
the credit of the reserve fund for rolling stock on the
31st of January, amounting to 34,6401., has been ap-
propriated by the directors in the following manner,
viz., 7,2451., to meet the expenditure that has taken
place in the renewal of the rolling stock (which by
so much increases the amount available for dividend),
and 27,3951. in reduction of the sum chargeable to
the account of capital for new engines and carriages
purchased during the half-year. They propose to
attend at the company's offices on 'Wednesday next,
between one and three o'clock, to afford any ex-
planation with regard to the accounts that may be
required by individual proprietors.
The capital account to the 31st of July shows that
9,967,8591. had been received, and 9,911,301/. ex-
pended, viz., 3,556,6081. on the main line and Brick-
layers' Arms extension ; 2,731,422/. on the North
Kent, Greenwich branch, and London station en-
largement ; 198,958/. on the Folkstone harbour and
branch ; 610,1531. on the locomotive department ;
189,9481. on the Maidstone branch ; 868,387/. on the
Ashford to Canterbury, Ramsgate, Margate, Whit-
stable, and Deal branches; 241,958/. Ashford station
enlargement ; 292 5101. Tunbridge Wells branch ;
679,4801. Ashton, Rye, and Hastings branch, and
541,8741. on the Tunbridge Wells and Hastings
line, leaving a balance in hand of 56,5581. The
debenture account shows that 2,007,125/. bad
been borrowed up to the 31st of July
last, of which 336,1151. was at 5 per cent.;
907,1501. at 41 per cent. ; 226,5301. at,4l per cent. ;
253,330/, at 4 per cent., and 284,000/, at 3i pkr

cent. The consolidated stock of the company
amounted on the 31st of July to 7,709,0301., of which
275,3301. is guaranteed 41 per cent. per annum in
perpetuity. The return of rolling stock shows that
there are 120 passenger engines, 34 goods engines,
and four Royal and saloon carriages, 136 first-class
and composite, 125 second-class, and 101 third-class
carriages, 48 luggage vans, 66 horse-boxes, 73 car-
riage trucks, 1 Post-office carriage, 485 goods wag-
gons, 58 cattle waggons, 891 timber, coke, coal, stone,
and ballast waggons, and 12 break vans. The reve-
nue account shows that 334,0241. had been received,
of which 235,077/. was on the main'line, 14,7001. on
the Reading Rnd Reigate, 64,2531. on the North
Kent, and 24,3321. on the Greenwich branch ; and
165,8791. expended, including 14,7011. rates, taxes,
and tolls, and 12,2781. Government duty, leaving a
balance of 178,1441. To this sum is added 2,965/.
from the last account, and 3,255/. dividends and in-
terest on investment in the company's stock, making
the disposable balance 184,3651., from which is de-
ducted 43,302/. for rents of leased lines, 37,269/. in-
terest on debenture debt, 5,688/. on guaranteed stock,
and 1,000/. reserve for bad debts, leaving 97,105/. for
dividend on the ordinary stock.

SOUTH WALES.—The line between Gloucester and
Chepstow aril Chepstow and Swansea is now com-
pleted. The Government inspector is about to go over
it, and the public opening is fixed for the 19th inst.

IRELAND.
PRIMATE CULLEN ON NATIONAL EDUCATION.
DUBLIN, SATURDAY.—Owing to the gentle pressure
of public opinion the following important letter from
Archbishop Cullen has been dragged from the privacy
to which it was sought to be consigned by some, at
least, of those for whose guidance and instruction it
was written. This decisive manifesto against the
system of national education was, it seems; read
nearly three weeks ago at a meeting of the immacu-
late corporation of Drogheda, and was, for some reason
or other, duly shelved in the archieves of that body,
where it might have remained till doomsday had not
the letter of Bishop Blake, setting forth that prelate's
diametrically opposite views upon the same question,
rendered the publication of this archiepiscopal coun-
terblast a matter of political necessity. A movement,
it appeard, has been made in Drogheda for the purpose
of getting the inhabitants to petition the Commis-
sioners of National Education to establish one of their
model schools there. The matter was brought before
the corporation, where it was argued that Dr. Cullen
was favourable to the mixed system, inasmuch as he
had patronized the national schools in his district.
They, therefore, like obedient sons of the Church, re-
solved to take counsel of the Primate, and, accord-
ingly, Mr. Alderman Boylan was instructed to act as
mediator, and to that functionary was the reply ad-
dressed. The precious document appears for the first
time in the Tablet of this day :
" Fair-street, Drogheda, Aug. 17.
"My dear Mr. Boylan,—l feel great pleasure in
answering the questions concerning education, on
which you and some other respected Catholic mem-
bers of the corporation of this town have consulted
me. Education is the great question of the present
day, and the religion of the rising generation in Ire-
land, and every other country, must depend, in a great
degree, on the character that will be impressed upon
it. It may be made the source of great good or of
great evil. It was, therefore, most consoling to me to
observe that you and your worthy colleagues were de-
termined to proceed with caution and deliberation,
and a due respect to the rights and interests of religion
in discussing the important matter that had come be-
fore you. Too much vigilance cannot be employed
in such an affair, for under a bad system of education
the souls of those little ones that have been redeemed
by the precious blood of Jesus Christ may be exposed
to danger, and impressions made on them that can
scarcely ever afterwards be effaced.
" Before I enter into the subject of your commu-
nication allow me to assure you that I do not yield to
any one in a sincere desire to see our people well in-
structed. You and every Catholic feel as I do, and
our feelings are quite in accordance with the spirit of
the Catholic Church. She has been the instructress
and civiliser of all the nations of the earth; every noble
and useful institution that we possess has originated
with her ; and to her are due the preservation of the
arts and sciences in ages of darkness, and their revival
and diffusion at a later period. The man who accuses
the Catholic Church of promoting or patronising igno-
rance, or of being hostile to the improvement of the
mind, either does not know her history or wilfully
misrepresents it.
"There is, indeed, a sort of knowledged not en-
couraged by our Church, a knowledge without reli-
gion, which, as the Apostle St.:Paul says, puffeth up,
and is described by St. James as earthly, sensual,
devilish. The effects of knowledge of this kind can
be easily traced in the history of Europe during the
last eighty years. Its fruits have been sedition, re-
bellion, immorality, impiety, or, at least, an indiffe-
rence to every sort of religion. 'Within the last
twenty years the occupier of the throne in France
and his Ministers became its patronizers in their
university system, and, though that system was alto-
gether
under their control, yet they fell victims
to the wicked spirit which their favoured Godless
education called into existence and nurtured. Et
nunc reges intelligite, erudimini qui judicatis terrain.'
(B. 2.)
To make these observations more intelligible, I
need scarcely add, that we, as Catholics, cannot sanc-
tion or recommend any system of education that is
opposed to our faith or dangerous to it. We believe
that there is but one true faith, without which it is
impossible to please God ; one true Church, out of
which there is no salvation. Any teaching that is
hostile to these doctrines, or tends to weaken them in
the minds of youth, we must consider as unsuited for
Catholics, and worthy of our reprobation. .
" Without making any further general remarks, I
shall now state that it is my conviction that mixed
education in its general tendency is dangerous to Ca-
tholic
faith, and well calculated to sow the seeds of
indifferentism in the tender mind, and that its effects,
where it has been tried, have been found pernicious..
Such effects may not be immediate—they may not be
verified in every individual case—but still, if the
system work slowly, like some poisons, it produces
its fruits surely and effectually.
" The Protestants of this country seem to admit
and to act on those principles. The education they
give to their children is purely Protestant ; their uni-
versity and their colleges are altogether under Pro-
testant control. They never send a child to any
Catholic college. Would to God that Catholics were
as cautious as their Protestant countrymen. The
contrast in their conduct is rendered more remarkable
when we reflect upon their religious tenets. Pro-
testants do not attach much importance to any parti-
cular doctrines; they may vary their opinions every
week or every month ; they may believe a little more
or a little less, still remaining good Protestants. The
greatest dignitaries in their church hold contradictory
opinions upon the leading truths of Christianity, even
upon the divinity of Jesus Christ ; and it has been
lately decided by their highest authority in spiritual
matters—the Privy Council—that a man may hold
or deny regeneration in baptism without ceasing
to be an orthodox member of their communion.
While their opinions are so unsettled, and
they are tossed about by every wind of
doctrine, is it not strange that Psotestants should
be so anxious to impress certain notions on
the minds of their children, acd to make education
anti-Catholic ? Now, what is the doctrine of
Catholics? We believe that if any one wilfully de-
nies, or even calls into doubt, one single article of our
faith, he ceases to be a member of the true Church, and
must be regarded as out of the way of salvation.
'With St. Paul, we say, that if an angel from Heaven
preach to you a gospel besides that which we have
preached to you, let him be anatherna:—(Galations,
i., 8). Yet, it is a melancholy fact that many Ca-
tholics send their children to schools where our reli-
gion is impugned, and which present many awful
instances of apostasy. When Catholic children are
admitted to such schools it is the fashion to call them
mixed schools, and to speak of the advantages of
mixed education. The truth is, that there is no
mixture of Catholicity in them. It may happen that
a Catholic youth will passed unscathed through such
an ordeal, but even then the parent who thrusts his
child into the furnace of danger must incur an awful '
responsibility in the sight of God.
" It appears that in the discussion on education, to
which you have kindly called my attention, it has
been argued that I must be favourable to mixed
education because I approve of the national schools in
this diocese.
" The explanation of this apparent contradiction is
quite easy. In common with the other bishops of
Ireland, I abstain from either approving or condemn-
ing the national schools in general. Some of these
schools work practically well, and while visiting this
diocese, I was happy to find the children whofrequent
them well instructed in their religion. But
are not mixed schools ; the, managers,ll these
the children are, I may say, the teachers,
Catholics—the spirit
of the schools is Catlioie. ya
mere are two such schools
in this town. A great deal might be said about the
system on which such schools
do not intend, nor is it necessary, to touch ;
onb u
t,a"
are cot
meter now. nducte
which the There are other national schools, in .1
•
managers, masters, and children, are Pro-