The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-31 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE S UN.

SlR,—The mercantile public are heavily indebted to
you for condescending to notice the unwholesome con-
dition of the share market. The mischievous conse-
quences of a railway panic are much more serious than
tnose great journalists who devote a whole column to
the wrongs of a gingerbread dealer can possibly sup-
pose. The. evil effcts are obvious to a moment's reflec-
tion, but, in the desire to be fair, we will state, as a set-
off, one good result. A little army of stockjobbers with
their wives and families are almost entirely supported by
trotting the public up and down by the nose. If ten
people set running in a crowded street with any symp-
tom of alarm, ten hundred will follow in breathless con-
Aernation, till one strong-minded man discovers that it
is only a cow with a crumpled horn increasing hie walk
to a brisk trot; and precisely analogous is that baneful
phenomenon, a railway panic.
Now, in any case of causeless terror a timely word
will avert great calamity. If a church congregation
smell fire, and the clerk shouts in explanation that the
parson's great coat has been too near the stove, a panic
and its effects are happily obviated. In like manner, a
word of assurance or caution when railway speculation
is running to extremes would maintain the market in a
healthy state, prevent groundless despondency, and allay
feverish excitement. And if the daily press, as guar-
dians of the public weal, consider such interference
neither derogatory nor impolitic, their powerful influ-
ence would be exercised in a manner widely beneficial
to the commercial community, of which unimportant
body a very humble member is your grateful corre-
spondent, A. B.

EXTRAORDINARY RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—An acci-
dent of an extraordinary character happened on Monday
night, on the South-Western Railway, near Bishopstoke. It
appears that a man named William Priswell had charge of a
luggage train, and, together with the fireman and a guard,
proceeded along the line; but after some time both the en-
gine-driver and the fireman fell asleep, and the train was
left to proceed on its journey without anyone to take care of
it beyond the guard, who not knowing what had befallen the
two others, made no attempt to get towards them. The fire
in the furnace of the locomotive not having been fed with
fresh fuel, went out, which of course prevented the steam
from keeping up. Upon arriving near Bishopstoke, how-
ever, Priswell, the engine-driver, fell off the locomotive,
and received very serious injuries; it is stated that both
his legs were broken. The guard,-on witnessing the occur-
rence, applied the breaks, and, owing to the steam being sp
low, fortunately succeeded in bringing the train to a stand-
still, when he descended, and on getting to the tender found
the fireman so fast asleep that before he could wake him ha
was obliged to take him by the shoulders and shake hitt,
violently. The injured driver was picked up and removea
to obtain surgical assistance. The fire in the furnace having
been made up, the train was at length removed to its desti-,
nation, but had another train come along whilst the one in
question was proceeding so slowly, it is impossible to con-
ceive what might have been the consequences. Both men
were perfectly sober when they started with the train, but
they were greatly fatigued, having been up they stated for
two days and nights.
LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION, ALDERS-
GATE-sTRRET.—Last evening Mr. Milne, the Scottish vo-
calist, appeared at the above institution, to give his second lec-
ture on the songs and ballads of Scotland. The songs were
excellently selected, and were received most favourably by a
very large and highly respectable audience. It cannot be a
matter of doubt but that Mr. Milne's entertainments are
becoming much more highly appreciated in London as they
become better known to the public, and that he will speedily
achieve that popularity in this country he has for some time
deservedly enjoyed in his own. Amongst the songs that were
most admired we may particularize the "Laird o' Cuckpen,"
" Johnny Sands," and " John Grumlie," which were most
harmoniously given, as well as •' The Flowers of the Forest"
and " The Lass o' Gowrie," which were rendered with much
feeling and sound muaical judgment,