The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-14 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 14, 1856

before they would fit. After that I met Burgess and
Pierc-: at the Niarqui4of Gra,,by, and informed them that
the keys fitted, and said it was time now to effect the
robbery ; it was then arranged th9,t about two cwt. of
shot should be got and put into bags to make up for the
weight of gold to be abstracted, 12,000 i. in value. The
1 safe was in a van in which Burgess rode. The shot was

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

SOUTH-EASTERN.
A. special general meeting of the proprietors of this
railway was held yesterday at the Bridge House Hotel,
to enable the directors to submit a proposition and
obtain authority for an application t 3 Parliament in
the ensuing session for an act empowering the con-
struction by the company of a relief line between the

purchased at different times by me and Pierce at the
shot works near the Suspension-bridge. Oa the first

purchase I waited outside whilst Pierce wade the
purchase. The shot was placed in carpet bags,
and we each circled one on our shoulders across

L,3cvisham and Dartford stations, on the North Kent

Railway.

Tke Hon. JAMES BYNG presided, and addressed the

the bridge to Charing-cross, where we took the
omnibus, and went to my lodgings at Shepherd's-bush.
A. female named Fanny Kay was living with me at the
time as my wife. I have a child by her about two years
of age. I was first introduced to Fanny Kay by Burgess.
Kay was at home when Pierce and I got to Shepherd's-
hu-h with the bags of shot. She asked what we hal in
them, and we replied it did not concern her. The con-
tents of the carpet-bags I afterwards emptied into a
trunk, and about a week afterwards Pierce made a

meeting as follows :—Gentlemen---The circular which
was issued to you about a fortnight ago has already fully
explained to you the views of the directors as to the
proposed relief line between the Lewisham and Dartford
stations of the North Kent Railway. It is, therefore,

scarcely necessary for me now to enter at any great
length into the further discussion of the subject. A
very proper and well•founded jealousy of all extensions

.. . _
and branch lines now prevails amongst railway share
holders, in which feeling railway directors also partici

pate. But it is scarcely necessary that I should point out
to you that the particular case which we have now met to
consider does not fall within the class of ordinary branches
or extensions ; for it is rather to be regarded in the light
of an improvement of your existing railway, and as a
means of doubling it at that part where the traffic bids
fair shortly to outgrow the existing accommodation, if
it have not already done so. It comes within the
class of stations' improvement and additional works
for the better conduct and safer transit of the traffic which
actually exists, as well as for the satisfactory accommo-
' dation of additional future traffic which is certain to
come upon that part of the railway. The proposed relief
line, then, beitz entirely of a different character from
those usually submitted to railway proprietors, I trust
that your jeaousy about extensions will, in this case at
least, be effectually disarmed. Permit me, in a few words,
to state the reasons which have induced us to bring this
subject now under your notice. Ii is scarcely necessary
that I should again remind you that the passenger traffic
of the North Kent line is already about the heaviest in
the kingdom. In 1855 we conveyed over it not fewer
than five millions of passengers, including season ticket
holders. Of course by far the largest proportion of this
passenger traffic is fur short distances—that is, to and
from those stations nearest the metropolis. Thus, in 1855,
upwards of four millions of the whole number of journeys
on tne North Kent line were between London-bridge
and those stations on this side of Dartford. It hap-
pens, therefore, that that part of the railway, espe-
cially between London and Woolwich, is vary much
crowded with trains. At particular hours of the day the
trains require to be run very frequently, stopping at all
stations to take up and set down passengers ; and the
population along that part of the line is increasing so
rapidly, there is so steady an increase in the number of
persons taking up their residences along the railway,
travelling to and from London daily for purposes of
bueinees, that we feel it will be necessary shortly to
increase the number of trains at certain hours in the
mornings and evenings, with the object of increasing
the public accommodation, and rendering the attrac-
tive districts of North Kent still more convenient to
London men of business for the purposes of residence.
We have heretofore found that every increase in the
accommodatioa which we have provided has proved
of marked advantage to the company, and we believe
that it will be for the interest of the proprietors that we
proceed in the same course. In fact, the character of the
North Kent line as far as Dartford clearly points out that
it should be worked as an omnibus railway (if I may
use the term), in like manner as the present Greenwich
line—the trains running very frequently and regularly,
and stopping at ail stations. But here a difficulty arises.
There is, you are aware, other very important traffic con-
veyed upon the North Kent line —that from Gravesend,
Stroud, Maidstone, and other important districts in North
Kent. This may be distinguished as the through traffic,
and it is desirable that it should be conveyed to its des-
tination with due despatch, and without being inter-
rupted or delayed by the stopping trains on that portion
nearest the metropolis. Now, since the opening of the
Maidstone branch, which has brought a very valuable
additional trafficon the North Kent, we have experienced
tae 'difficulty of so arranging the trainees to work them to
the satisfaction of both classes of passengers—l mean those
travelling a short distance, to and from stations between
London and Dartford, and those travelling to and from sta-
tions beyond Dartford. We were therefore compelled to
come to the conclusion that it would be necessary, in order
to afford that proper accommodation which the public has
a right to expect from a company that holds in its hands
the railway eommunicationl of North Kent—to adopt
measures for the sepat ation of the through from the short
local traffic, in the same manner as has already been
adopted on railways similarly circumstanced. I may. men-
tion the case of the Brighton Railway, where the short
trains, as far as Croydon, are separated from the through
trains by means of additional lines of rail laid alongside
the main line. But we soon found that the very expensive
character of the property close adjoining the North Kent
line, especially in the neighbourhood of Blackheath and
Woolwich, and the costliness of the works which would
be necessary-in order to duplicate the present line at
those points, rendered this expedient quite impracticable.
Another objection was the duplicate tunnels which it
would. be necessary to construct at a very great ex-
pense. In additioa to these objections was the com-
peratively unfavourable character of the curves and
gradients on that part of the North Kent Railway,
which, although very conveniently laid out as respects
the population of the district, and capabie of being ad-
vantageously worked as an omnibus line, is by no means
well adapted for the safe and expeditious working of a
heavy through traffic. We therefore fell back upon the
original plan of the North Kent Railway, which was, as
many of you may remember, laid out so that the main
line passed direct from Lewisham to Dartford, with a
loop line by way of Woolwich, though only the latter part
of the line was actually constructed. We are not there-
fore now bringioi, before you an altogether new scheme,
but are merely reviving a part of the plan of the North
Kent Railway, which was postponed until the traffic re-
quirements and capabilities of the district had been aster
tained. We are new of opinion that this important part
of the original plan of the railway should be carried out,
and that the line between Lewisham and Dartford should
be constructed. We see no more economical and effec-
tual mode than this of giving relief to the overcrowded
traffic to and from those stations nearest London, and at
the same time of fully developing the valuable sources
of traffic, some of which cannot now be undertaken,
and others cannot be done justice to, in the district to
the eastward of Dartford. Although the plan of the
N .rth Kent line, which included this revived portion of
the system, has already received the appro , al of the
proprietors at three several meetings, in 1846 and 1847,
I do not nor recommend it to you on thae ground, but
on the ground of its own merits, and that the proper
accommodation of the public, and the true interest of the
company (which is always to serve the public in the best
manner), alike require that it should be constructed, and
that without delay. It has been stated that, in proposing
to adopt this measure, we have only borrowed the plans
of the East Kent Company, which gave notice of their
intention, to apply fir an act to construct this very line in
the last session of Parliament. But nothing eau be wore
incorrect, than such a statement; for, in point of fact, we
are, in proposing to complete this line, merely burrowing
'row ourselves, and reviving a part of onr own oriental
design of the North Kent Railway, as prepared by Mr.
R bert Stephenson, the celebrate.' engineer, in 1846 and
1317 ; and, in adeerting to the Est Kent Company, I
sii-h it to be understood that at this beard no feeling of
hostility extote towards that undertaking. We are desi-
rnus of making arrangements so that we shall be able to
afford every accommodation for the traffic which they
stay bring to us, and the formation of the proposed relief
line will enable us to do this in the most efficient manner.
It would be a very short sighted policy on our part to at-
tempt to throw obstacles in the way of that or any other
company working into our system; and we have no in-
tention of doing so. On the contrary, we believe it to be
the true interest of this company to afford every facility
for the development of the traffic of the East Kent dis-
trict I might also, in advocating the measure now
brought under your notice, point to the fact teat the
proposed relief line will have a paying traffic of its own,
for it will pass through a fine district of country, admir-.
ably adapted for residential traffic, and there is no line
of railway within a circuit of twenty miles of London
through such a country as this which does not, if
constructed at a moderate cast, amply remunerate
its proprietors. I might point your attention to
the map, and show that a wider gap exists in the par-
ticular district now proposed to be opened up to railway
accommodation than exists in any similar district round
London. In conclusion, I will add that we have not
brought this subject under your notice without the ma-
turest consideration We have, of course, consulted the
principal officers of the company, who, I sincerely be-
lieve, have your interests at heart, and they are unani-
mon., in their opinion a, to the necessity of obtaining
powers to construct this relief line. Such are also the
views of.the directors, and I accordingly with confidence
ask your concurrence in the following resolution.
Mr. SMITH asked whether the board had
,made effec-
tive arrangements for raising the 250,0001. estimated
capital, and from what data the engineer estimated the
total cost at that sum ? Had he consulted the land-
owners en the line as to the terms on which they would
dispose of the land ?
The CHAIRISAN—As to raising the capital, when the
Parliamentary power was obtained the company mint
raise it on the best terms they could. With regard to
the estimaee the officers of the c impany Ishd made the
most diligent inquiry, and were satisfied that the line
could be constructed for the sum stated. The landown-
ers were all favourable,to the proposed line, which would
be constructed principally by the company's own officers,
and therefore cheaply.
A PROPRIETOR inquired if the board were unanimous
in recommending this new line?
The CHAIRMAN replied that one member of the board
had expressed some objection in the first instance, but
the resolution of the director in favour of the line was
pa-sed unanimously.
Mr. T. ATKINSoN inquired whether the proposal con-
templated a junction between the loop 'line and the
Greenwich line, and if so what amount of the 200,000/,
was appropriated to that purpose ?
Tue CHAIR2IAN said that such a jnnctirla was intended,
and the stern set apart for it was 20.0001.
Mr. HERAPATH, jun., expressed a doubt of the correct-
noes pf the e,timate, and (reserved that the most expensive
ramie of construction was by means of the company's own
officers instead of by open contract. He wished to know
whether any positive arrangement bad been made with
the landowners ?
The CHAIRMAN answered that that could not be done
until the 'authority of the proprietors for obtaining the
Parliamentary sanction to the line had been given.
A PRO/111E10B asked whether the proposed capital

second purchase of shot, which be brought to my lodg-
ing, in a carpetbag ; it was emptied with the other lot
into the same trunk, and which trunk was found in
Pierce's possession when I was apprehended. I don't
think Fanny Kay knew at the time the bags emptied
into the trunk contained shot, but she noticed the trunk
was very heavy. She had no opportunity of seeing them
emptied that lam aware of. Pierce afterwards brought
a third lot, which made up 2 cwt. The shot was not
taken out of the carpet-bags. After the. shot was put
into the trunk I locked it and kept the key. The
trunk and shot were afterwards moved to
Pierce's residence, in Crown-terrace, where the
shot was made up into Sib, and 41b. check bags for the
canvenience of taking it to the railway. I had a ser-
vant living with me at this time, named Charlotte.
I and Pierce calculated the gold would weigh about
1961b5. We afterwards procured carpet bags and also
four courier bags, which latter we had made at a shop
at the corner of Drury-lane after a pattern I drew on
a board. They were ordered to be made strong to carry
heavy weights. After they were made they were taken
to my house, where their strength was tested by their
being filled with shot, and s ruck violently. Some of
the stitches gave way, and I repaired the bags with a
wax end and an awl. The carpet bags were filed with
hay and some shot, to pass for luggage—the courier bags
with shot. They put them on their shoulders, and took
the carpet bags in their hands to a coffee shop near
the Eagle, Camden-town, from which place we hired a
cab and drove to St. Thomas-street, when I got out,
leaving Pierce with all the bags in the cab. I went to
the incline, between the stati in entrance and the office,
where I met Tester. From him I understood there
was no chance of their effecting the robbery that night.
I returned to the cab, informed Pierce of it, and they
went home. This was repeated nightly for a fortnight
before the robbery. On some occasions I saw Teeter,
and at others Burgess, and I used to go up to the station
and look round and see if the chest was in front of Mr.
Wetherhead'soffice,and marked by the train it was to leave.
The signal between me and Burgess was that if he could
not speak to me, and that if it was alt right, and the gold
was there, he was to lift his cap and wipe his face.. On
the night of the robbery, we went to a coffee shop in
Camden-town, where Pierce called a cab, the same that
had taken us on one or two former occasions, and we
proceeded with our bags and capes, or short cloaks, on
to St. Thomas-street, where we saw Tester, who said it
was all right. Tee cabman, at my direction,
then drove to the station for the Diver train. Tester
then left. We each had two courier bags on, and each
carried a carpet bag in our hands. We took two
first-class tickets and gave our carpet bags to Burgess,
who was the guard of the train. On the platform I saw
Mr. Wetherhead, the present Governor of Newgate, who
was then superintendent of the station. The carpet bags
were put into the van communicating with the guard's
seat. Pierce then took his seat in a first-class
carriage, and 1 wa'.ked towards the engine. Pre-
vious to the train starting I watched the op-
portunity of Mr. Wetherheed's back being turned,
and I jumped into the guard's van, and Burgess shut
the door. The train started about five minutes after ;
Burgess accompanied the train in the van with me. I
saw in the van the two iron chests containing bullion.
Burgess said there was upwards of 12,0001. worth in
these. As soon as the train started I got up and un-
locked one of the chests with the keys I had made.
In it I found a wooden box hooped with iron, and with
a wooden mallet and some boxwood wedges I had with me
I forced open the box, which I found contained gold
bars. I took them all out, filled up the box with shot,
replaced the same nails, and fastened the box up. Pre-
vious to my finishing the box we arrived at Red-hill,
where the train stopped. Pierce there got out of the
first-class carriage and came to me in the van. Arrange.
ments had been made-that Tester was to lighten their
load at Red-hill by -retnrning to London with some of
the gold. One bar was placed in a courier bag which
had been made for Tester and left for him at Red-hill,
and I afterwards understood froin.Burgess that Teeter
returned with it to London. The box so emptied was
replaced in the chest, and the second box I opened with
the assistance of Pierce, was found to contain American
gold coins and some coupons of foreign railways. There
was no bar gold in that box. The box was filled up with
shot and replaced, and the chest locked. I thee opened
the other chest, which I found contained one large box
with ropes at the ends with which to lift it. I
opened it and found it to contain small short bars
of what I believed to be Gelifornian gold. I
did not take all the gold from the box,
because I had not shot enough to make up
the weight. The box was filled up, replaced, and locked
up in toe chest. Whilst opening the boxes we broke
the seals on them, and afterwards resealed them with
seals. Wax and a taper we had provided ourselves
with. The seals were bought at a shop in Shoe-lane.
No particular choice wa, made of the letter or device on
teem. After fastening up the boxes we swept up the dust,
&c , by which time we had arrived at Folkestme,
where the chests were put out, and I and Pierce con-
trived to get back to the first-class carriages and pro-
ceeded on to Dover. Wnen we arrived there we went
to Burgess and had our bags. We w-ut to the Dover
Castle U 'tel, went into the coffee-room, arid placed our
carpet-hags in a o orrier. I did not see Burgess again
that night Pierce vas disguised in a black wiz and
whiskers. We bad our supper at the Dover Castle,
and we were a.ked by the waiter if we iuteteied
,t) remain there that night. I replied no ; that
we had been driven in from Deal, and were going
up to London by the mail train which left at two
,'clock in the .aerning. The courier bags had been
placed in the corner oi the mein with the other baea
c ,ver,d over with our cloaks, and as there was a diffi-
en ty In geitieg th-in eii, fr,eu the ,utter being, inin Lila
ro without exciting su.piei n, I sent him oat
for erandy wa er amid cigars. We afterwards
pros •e eti to the rteatioa where ;he porter wished to
,atie our carpet bags. I refused to let him have
them, but he almost forced them from us and placee
teem ie the carriage. We were a.ked to show our
tickee.s and we did so. Two return tickets Inn) Osteed,
~:stained by Pierce from a roan named Gowes. The
porter reinirked that the boxes were very heavy, and
Coat no passenger from °vend 11,111 that day passed the
Ca-tom•hou.se. I said, No, we came over the day be-
fere," and gave the pouter a few shillings. We returned
by that traiu. Burgess was the guard, and he placed us
in a first class carriage by ourselves. We threw the
hay in the large carpet bags out of the carriage window,
and put the gold and bars fr on the courier bags int )
sma 1 ones we had with u 4. At a station on the road
Pierce jumped out and placed the empty bag behind a
door of a waiting room. rhe porter said to him what
are yen doing there, and he replied looking for a friend.
He returned to the carriage and we proceeded to town,
arriving at 5 o'clock. We then got out with our courier
and other bags, hired a cab, and directed him to drive
to the Great Western Railway. When near there
we said we had m vie a mistake, and told him to drive
to Euston-square. He did so, and we got out at a pub-
lic-house near the station. We remained there half an
hour, and after that we called a cab and drove to near
Pierce's residence. We got out and walked there.
After depositing the gold in Pierce's house we met
Tester near the Borough-market steps, and he gave
me back the bar of gold I had left for him at Red-
hill-station. I and Pierce then left him, and we drove in
a cab to near the East India-house. I remained there
in the cab with the bar of g.)ld, and some of the Ameri-
can gold coins, whilst Pierce went to a silversmith's
shop, at the corner of St. Mary-axe, and sold the rest.
We then drove to the Ha*. market, where Pierce took
the remainder of the American coins to a money-changer's,
I think Spillman'., and sold teem for upwards of 2001.
He was paid by cheque on the Union Bank, which we
cashed immediately. We discharged the cab and re•
turned to Pierce's house.
It being now a quarter pant 5 o'clock, and finding it
impossible to c tmplete the case that night, tee further
examination of the prisoners was adjourned till Monday.
During the whole of the time the court was densely
crowded, The magnitude of the robbery and the daring
and adroit manner in
which it was accomplished mimed
the Mansion-house to be besieged the whole of the after
n'Ou by a large crowd of persons who were unable to
gain admittance to the court.

"THE RATCATCHAk'S DAUGHTER."

BOSTON C01777111'1-1.,4 lY uOURT—Nov. 12.
luits.rnuotiEsoN •. BIETON.
This was a 811
destruction of vermin on the for
for the paytuprit of 3a, 6d., the defendant Barton
caught any
premises.
an alleged catching and
Barton Tney never can
A y„urg woman Stepped fermaia.r:tet
rats in my place, not
a r•irgle one, I can triadertale taony
aetesilliprplort the
claim.
Judge—Who i 9 this? Is this the r
've heard a great deal about that
Bartfin—N,l, y. ur Honour, that's the ratcatchei's
da,ufghheteTerulg,(A_l‘avuegol:.l
celebrated character, but I never had the 13
seeing her before. (Renewed laughter.) Can she pleasure Of
prove
that the claim is just; if not, I will postpone the case
till next court, that the ratcatcher himself may appear.
Postponed accordingly.

CRYSTAL PALACE —One Shilling Day.—Thursday,
Nov. 13.—Admi,aions Li) payment, 871 ; do. by Eta,"
tickets, 80E. fetal vibitcrs, 1)179.

would be raised by means of guaranteed or preference

sbare3

The CHAIRMAN—That will be for the proprietors to
determine hereafter. _ _

Mr. ADAMS did not believe that the land could be
purchased and the line constructed for anything like
250,0001., nor had there been any estimate submitted to
show that upon that limited amount the traffic would be
sufficient to pay 5 per cent., which was the point from
which they ought to begin to talk about profit. He con-
tended that the North Kent was fully capable of carrying

GREAT CONFLAGI4ATION AT T fIR SOUTH
PIETROPOLIT.4IV DIST RIC L' SOROULS„

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE OF 950 PERSONS.
SU rift) N, THURSDAY NIGHT.
The inhabitants of this n-utl.y (pie, suhurbau district
will not forge, fora con pier4ble tune ;lie diytr ssing, in

fact agonising, scenes that took place this morning at the
South Metropolitan District Schools, which stand upon a
large plot of ground about a mile from the railway station
and 14 miles from Louden. The building, which was in the
DizAbetban style, was in front 3 storeys high, extending
between 500 and 600 feet, with wings on either sidenearly

four or five times the traffic which had as yet come upon
it. But it appeared to be the policy of railway d :rectors,
the memeut a dee began to pay, to reduce the dividends
of the proprietors by making new branches. He believed
that the extra mile of junction at New-cross would cost
nearly the whole of the estimated sum. He moved an
amendment, that the question be adjourned until the
original shareholders receive a dividend of five per cent.
Mr. T. ATKINSON seconded the resolution. He denied
that the North Kent was more crowded with traffic than
the London and North-Western, the Eastern Counties,
and many other lines.
Mr. R. BARNETT asked what guarantee the directors
had that the line could be made for the 250,0001. Pro-
vided the cost would not be greater than that amount he
would give his best support to the proposition.
Mr. KAY (a director), from the body of the meeting,
as the represeutattve of a large body of Manchester share-
holders, who held stock to the amount of about 140,0001.,
while he ob,erved that the mover of the amendment held
only 1501., and that but since August last, and the secon-
der, who represented a rival company, only 1001., and that
but for two days, advocated the resolution. He showed
that the Maidstone traffic alone so overburdened the
existing line that they were in constant dread of acci-
dents, and remarked that if accidents occurred the cost
to the company would far exceed in the course of a few
years the-expense of constructing this relief line. If they
slid no go to Parliament and occupy the ground the
East Kent would do so, and that was a g•iod case, for
they would prove that it was impossible for the North
Kent to accommo late the traffic.

100 feet deep. The principal entrance was approached by
a private road leading out of the turnpike road, and on
each side of the principal gateway were lofty towers, upon
the top of which were tremendous iron tanks to furnish a
good supply of water for domestic purposes and to be
made available in case tue premises being invaded by that
most fearful of all elements—fire. Unfortunately, with

all these precautions adopted a fire did take place this
morning, and in spite of every appliance at hand it will
be seen from the following that a fearful amount of pro-
perty has been laid in ruins, and the lives of between
900 and 1,000 persons were jeopardised.
From careful inquiries made of persons who were eye-
witnesses of the distressing event the reporter ascer-
tained that about two o'clock this morning a female nurse
as she lay in bed had her attention directed to a strong
light shining through the keyhole of her dour. This
being a very unusual circumstance it induced her to get
up to learn the cause, when to her no small astonish•
merit she found that a considerable portion of what is
termed the new wing was in flames. Without a moment's
delay she raised an alarm, which aroused Mr. Bicknell,

the master of the establishment, as well as the matron
and several others in the different dormitories. .

The first thing sought to be accomplished by those
persons, and without waiting to fully dress themselves,
was to get the children out of their beds, which vas no
little task, considering that there were over 900 male
and female children in the building, out of which num-
ber 200 were under seven years ot age. 0 sung to the
rapidity with which the flames extended, seizing as they
did upon several of the dormitories almost simultane
ously, even the waiter and matron, who acted in as cool
a manner as the trying nature of the case would permit,
were apprehensive at one time that many of the children
would perish in the flimes. Fortunately they managed
to get the whole staff of officers together, who, with the
master and matron, entered the differ nt rooms, and
succeeded in the brief space of 25 minutes in getting the
whole ot the affrighted children from their beds. The
poor creatures, without shoes or stockings ot, and no-
thing to cover them but their night clothes, were forced
to remain on the gravel road or green sward in front ot
the building, the cold being intense, and at the same
tune snow or sleet was falling freely. Before, no Newer,
the whole of the children (foul be got out, the inom,npt
they became aware the sleeping rooms were on
fire they rushed in the direction where• it burut wort
fiercely, and would no donut have lost thtir lives but
for the presence of mind of the matron, who was com•
pelled to blow the signal whistle as to the direction they
were to take. It is stated that the screams of the chil-
dren nand be heard at the distance of a mile.

Mr. KEET seoke in favour of the amendment, and
denounced the proposition of the directors as a gigantic
job.
Mr. BELL said that the proposed line was the leav-
ings of the East Kent, they having deposited plans for it
in the last session, but had failed, and though they might
apply again, t ,eir pecuniary difficulties, consequent on
the state of the money market, would prevent their sue
cess. The East Kent were in difficulties, and it should

be the policy of the mouth-Eastern to keep them so,
There was no doubt that sooner or later the East Kent
must be bought up or leased by the South-Eastern,
but this project for the straight ran would help that
line to get into London, and thus increase its value
and enhance the price which the South Eastern share-
holders would have to pay for it. He spoke as the re-
presentative of the C sy'a line, which the South Eastern
directors had agreed to co-operate with and to work, and
he urged that as that line would be materially injured
by the relief line, the proposition of the board was a
breach of faith. Thu would also by this relief line
unsettle their relations with the North and Mid Keut
Junction, with which they had a working agreement,
but whose traffic they would to some extent abstract.
Mr. G. F. SMITH had come into the room prepared tic'
vote against the proposal on the ground of the insuffici-
ency of toe information upon which their assent was
asked. As to the over-crowded traffic, he would not
lay out a shilling in new lines to avoid that, for it might
be done by employing additional or more efficient offs
cera, and by putting on au extra number of trains ; but
after the explanation of Mr. King, he thought if they
negatived the resolution, some other company might
occupy the ground and seriously injure the interests of
the proprietors. He should, therefore, vote for the pro-
position of the board.
Mr. MELLoit (a director), who said that he likewise re-
presented a large number of proxies from Manchester,
amounting in the aggregate to 300,000'. of stock, spoke
in support of the resolution, and replied to Mr. Bell's
statements in reference to the Cray's line, by saying that
the proposed relief line passed through a different part
of the country, and would hot compete with the traffic
of the Cray's. The reason why the beard were confident
that the line could be completer; for the sum stated was
that they intended to construct it themselves. He did
not anticipate any difficulty in raising the requisite capi-
tal at a moderate rate. They were now raising money
debentures at 42 per cent.
Mr. COLES CHILD (a director) entered into some ex-
planation in reply to Mr. Ball in reference to the arrange-
ments between the South-Eastern and the Cray's line,
which had been made at his suggestion to the directors
of t-e latter company. He had given no opinion at the
board on tue question of this relief line on that ground,
bat he was prepared to support the recommendation of
his colleagues.
Mr. HERATATH and some other shareholders com-
plained that the resolution involved a complete change
in the policy of the company, which was to abstain from
extending their territory.
Mr. GILPIN (a director), who bad been called upon by
several shareholders, sad he fully concurred in the de-
cision to which his colleagues had come.
Mr. RICH, M.P., followed with some observations,
showing the urgency of the case in reference to shutting
out competition lines.
Mr. EBORALL stated that the landowners upon the
line had been seen upon the subject of the purchase of
the land required, and though no agreement could be
come to till after the present Meeting, the result, was that
there was no doubt whatever that the estimate of the
directors would not be exceeded.
Mr. SMITH was in favour of the resolution; but sug-
gested that by availing themselves of the line now con-
structing from St. Mary's Cray, and making a branch to
unite with it from St. Mary's Cray to Dartford, they
would save the making of some wiles of the line, and
secure the advantage of a West-end terminus.
The CHAIRMAN said the objection to that plan was the
increase of distance.
After some further discussion, the amendment and the
origina' resolution were severally put, and the latter was
carried by a large majority.
A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the
business.

Mr. Overton, a farmer living hard by, on seeing the
fearful sight, the chiluren who nad been rescued scream-
ing and nearly perishing with cold, at once got toe whole
of ors horses out of the stabling, had the same covered
with fresh straw, had every room in the farm house emp-
tied, and each room, and also toe stables, in a co'upa'a-
tively briet period, flied with children. Too much praise
cannot, therefore, be given to a gentleman for suce a
praiseworthy and humane act. The whole of his neigh-
bours are also deserving ot special attention for behaving
with similar kiudnees ; out notwithstanding the ac
commodation thus provided, it was insufficient to
house the whole of the children, and about two
hundred more were removed to the railway station
a mile off, the infants being wrapped in blankets,
sheets, or any other article of apparel that could be
secured from the premises, or kindly tent by the neigh-
oours. It was, indeed, a paiutul sight to witness two or
three of the younger chiluren huddled together in a
heap in the utile of the nurses or laundresses, being
borne away t i a place of security.
Information ot the catastrophe was promptly despatched
to various quarters for the aid of the engines and police,
and in about 20 minutes afterwards the engine from Car-
shalto n arrived, as well as Mr. Inspector Fraser, and
about 18 constables and sergeants .of the P division.
Tuese parties did all that was possible to be done to ex-
tinguish the flames ; but its spite of all they continued
their ravages, passing from one room to another, and
it should be mentioned that some of the rooms were
very large. Eventually the fire penetrated the roof of
the new wing, forming one-third of the entire estab-
lishment. Atter a few ululates the roof of this part
of the premises, 200 feet lung, came down with a
crash resembling a clap of thunder, and the weight of
this caused the several floors to fellow in rapid succes,ion
to the ground. This, instead of decreasing the vigour of
the lames, as is generally the case in London, where
plenty of water can be discharged upon the ruins, seemed
to add fresh fuel to the conflagration, for the fire almost
immediately afterwards rose at least 100 feet over the
top of the building, rendering the neighbourhood as light
as at noon.
Unfortunately, although the water towers and cisterns
were prepared, there appears to have been some over-
sight in nut getting proper hose attached to the cisterns,
for if such had been done the fire might have been ex
tinguistied with the loss of one-halt of the property at
least a hich has taken piece.
Tee police, the neighbours, and the whole of the offi-
cers on the establishment did all they could in conveying
water to the Cersealion eugine, whim was pumped upon
the fire, hut it made nit the leastimpression upon i., and
at length it was feared by all pre. ent that eve y part
it the splendid structure, erected at the cost of nearly
50,0001., independent of the furniture, would be levelled
with the ground. At that cuejuncture, Mr. Rouse, a
builder of the town, and a number of workmen who had
been summoned by the great light, came up, and it was
suggested that they should make an openez ne the build-
ing by cutting away about 20 feet of the flours and walls
near the south tower. This was at once commenced,
and in a abort time the gap required was made ; the
men's heads being, duri• g the operation, exposed to
showers ot sparks, and large pieces of wood in a thorough
state of ignition, which were drifted in various directions
by the high wind which prevailed.
During tue time this was going on a number of persons
kept pouring water down the side of one of the towers
which protected that part of the building, but all attempts
to save any portion of the other adjoining, or even the
wing that branched off behind—over 100 feet in length
and two storeys nigh—was out of the question ; in tact,'
in less than a couple of hours both these last-named
compartments were destroyed.
The gap, however, made, and the stone tower stairs
prevented the conflagration from progressing any tur-
ther in the other direction, but even as late as 6 o'clock
this evening there remained a great deal of smoulder-
ing embers in the walls, the only parts of that portion
of the establishment where the conflagration raged that
has been left standing, and they are in an exceedingly
dangerous state and expected to fall momentarily.
To give anything like an approximate account of the
damage done is at present impossible, but great as it un-
questionably is, it would have been tar more serious had
it not been for the extraordinary exertions of a poor lad,
named Francis Tinney, who saved t•:e greater portion
of the matrou's clothes, and three girls succeeded in
saying the bedding of three dormitories ; butin one room
alone (the needle room) upwards of 1,000 pin-cloths for
thehav
have
hbi lederne nc ,0
n4souOtnieird.soo The ewwh o
le of bonnets,th eafnd ur
rl,
.ItsuffrOe shawls
therein
has been reduced to ashes. Eight or nine of the large
dormitories, the needle-room, workshops, and about
seven of the officers' rooms have been also destroyed.
A number ot the children were sent off to-day to the
respective parishes they belong to, and a still greater
number will be sent off to-moi row, owing to the want of
proper accommodation.
hicbhe
ltohnegcehdi lwd
were
re
en
ow
ah
no
bweerrwe
eel
Nc let
we d
.
iin
thegT en parishesil-Bfated
:ane todh
ools,
St. (Nave's, Itotherhithe, and
Greenwich ; but it will be satisfactory to their friends to
know that none of them received the least personal
injury.
roc property was partially insured.

BANK RETURNS.

wit? .!.

li-
'.41,U1:, Ya
limitedSAlrT/ (FIELD.—Noy. 12.
An Account, pursuant to the ..A. c t seventh and eighth
Victoria, cap. 32, of the Average ,A.mount of Bank
There was 1,1, disposec ison_pply of fat beasts to day, but
'sit
nwt ee k s,
~prices. A good supply of pigs,
Notes of the several Banks of Issue in r, gland and
they were read, 1 The number of sheep was
Wales, in Circulation during the Week ending Satur- also small, at lt,
day, tae Ist day of Ntive.uuer, 1856 : and of very excel. 44- ' gna 'RY. There were but few c:llves
Average offered for sale.
PRIVATE BANKS. Amount. The following we ro the quotations r—Beef, s:y: tc. 6 I
mutton, 6d to 7,1 ; lamb, --d to 0.1;
Andover Bank, Andover—Heath and Co.
Ashford Bank, Ashford—Jemmitt and Pomfret 11,185 00d per lb ; calf-skins, .4d .. Oid
lb. ; pigs, Os 6d to 1 as 0,1 Per score ; rough fat, 5s 6 t,, Os
Aylsham Bank, Aylsham—G. and T. Copeman 4,509 per gib' ; hides, 41'i
Aylesbury Old Bank, Aylesbury—Z. D. Hunt 33,272 \Pe •
.—.........
Baldock Bank and Baldock and Biggleswade
Bank, Baldock—Wells, Hogge, and Co 113,366 El GRAD
Barnstaple Bank, Barnstaple—Marshall and Co 10,965 Sales du
Basingstoke and Odiham Bank, Basingstoke—
Seymour, Lamb, and Co.
Bedford Bank. Bedford—T. Barnard and Sons 30,746 wn on the
i.e top 2s
Bewdley Bank, Bewdley Nichols, Baker, on the t
and Co . ...................... 11,528
Bicester and Oxfordshire Bank and Oxford t IMPER]
Bank, Bicester—H. M. and G. Tubb ......... 15,738
Birmingham Bank, Birmingham— -Attwoods,
Spooner, and Co 25,673
Birmingham and Warwickshire Bank, Bir
mingham—.J. L. Moilliet and Sons 9,045
Blandford Bank, Blandford—Oak and Co 6.040
Boston Bank, Boston—Garfit and Co
Boston Bank, Boston—H. and T. Gee and Co. 15,182
Bridgwater Bank, Bridgwater—J. and J. L.

EDINBITI tGH GRAIN.--Nov. 12.

7,442
35,158

Sealey
Bristol Bank, Bristol—Miles, Miles, and C 0...
Broseley and Bridgnorth and Bridgnorth and
Broseley Bank, Broseley—Pritchards, Boy-
cott, and Co.
Buckingham Bank, Buckingham— Bartlett, Par-
rott, and Co.
Bury and Suffolk Bank, Sudbury Bank, and
Stowinarket Bank, Bury St. Edmunds—
Oakes, Bevan, and Co.
Banbury Bank, Banbury Gillet, Tawney,
and Co.
Banbury Old Bank, Banbury—Cobb and Son 29,900
Bath City Bank, Bath G. Moger and Son -
Bedfordshire Leighton Buzzard Bank, Leighton
Buzzard—Bassett, Grant, and Co' 36,961
Birmingham Blink, Birmingham—Taylor and
Lloyds
30,770
Bradford Old Bank, Bradford, Yorkshire —H.
A. and W. M. Harris and Co.
Brecon Old Bank, Brecon—Wilkins and Co 64,465
Brighton Union Bank, Brighton—Hall, West,
and Borrer
Burlington and Driffield Bank, Burlington—
Harding, Smith, and Co
Bury S. Edmunds Bank, Bury St. Edmunds—
_

J. Worlledge
Cambridge Bank, Cambridge—Mortlock & Co.
Cambridge and Cambridgeshire Bank, Cam-
bridge—Messrs. Fosters
Canterbury Bank, Canterbury—Hammond and

Market well suppli ed. Sales dull for all sorts, and the
prices much easier.
Wheat, on the top , 2a (d up, and on the average 3s 9d
down. Barley, is 6( 1 down on the top, and 25 4d down on
the average. Oats on the top 2s 61 down—on the aver-
age. is 2,1 down F ;eans on the top is Od down, and on
the average 2s ld u p.
AvEnA.Glts PER
IMPERIAL QUARTER.
Wheat 7 410-12th.
Do. new ...
Barley
Oats
Beans

12,481

Co -
Carmarthen Bank, Carmarthen—David Morris

and Sons
Chertsey Bank, Chertsey—La Coste and Son
Colchester Bank, Colchester—Round & Green
Colchester and Essex Bank, and Witham and
Essex Bank, and Hadleigh, Suffolk, Bank,
Colchester—Mills, Bawtree, and Co
Cornish Bank, Truro—Tweedy and Co
Coventry Bank, Coventry—Little & Woodcock
City Bank, Exeter—Milford and Co
Craven Bank, Settle—Alcocks, Birkbecks, and
Co
Cardiff Bank, Cardiff—Towgood and Co
Chepstow Old Bank, Chepstow Bank, Mon-
mouth Old Bank, Monmouth Bank, Brecon
Bank, and Ross and Herefordshire Bank,
Chepstow—Bromage, Snead, and Co
Derby Rank, Derby—W. and S. Evans & Co.
Derby Bank, Derby—Samuel Smith and Co
Derby Old Bank and Scarsdale and High Peak
Bank, Derby—Crompton, Newton, and Co
Devizes and Wiltshire Bank, Devizes—Locke

2,9`A
14,614

48,428

BOS TON—Nov. 12.
We had an abun( lan t supply of wheat, the demand for
wh.ch ruled exceedi mgly inactive, the best samples b'ing
2s, ‘nd inferior qur dities 28 to 3s and in some instances 41
per q.r. under last v reek's rates. Peas dull, at a decline 0
3s to .ts. Barley, (rats, and beans also sold at drooping
prices.
Prices :—Wheat, red, 50s Od to 62s Od; new, —s totes;
white, 60 • I() 65s Od extra 675. Barley, 38s 0.1 to Cs
0,1. .1, 22s to t9s. Peas, 38 co 44s Od Beans, 4511
Od to 50s 6 per qr.

25,909

23,750
•*2,623
18,336

38,315
47,768
8,336
21,231

and Co
Diss Bank, Diss—Oakes, Fincham, and Co
Doncaster Bank and Retford Bank, Doncaster
—Cooke and Co
Darlington Bank, Durham Bank, and Stockton
on-Tees Bank, Darlington—Backhouse & Co
Devonport Bank, Devonport— Hodge and Co
Dorchester Old Bank and Dorsetshire Bank,
Dorchester—R. and H. Williams
East Cornwall Bank, Liskeard—Robins, Fos-
ter' and Co
East Riding Bank, Beverley—Bower and Co
Essex Bank and Bishop's Stortford Bank
Chelmsford—Sparrow, Round, and Co
Exeter Bank, Exeter—Sanders and. Co
Fakenham Bank, Fakenham—Gurneys, Birk
beck, and Co
Farringdon Bank and Bank of Wantage, Far-
ringdon—Barnes, Medley, and Co
Farnham Bank, Farnham. - Messrs Knight ..
Faversham Bank, Fav:ersham—Hilton and Co.
Godalming Bank, Godalming—Mellersh and
Keen
Guildford Bank, Guildford—Messrs. Haydon
Grantham Bank, Grantham—Hardy and Co
Hastings Old Bank, Hastings—Smith, Hilder,
and Co.
Hereford City and County Bank, Hereford—
Matthews and Co.
Hull Bank and Kingston-upon-Hull Bank,
Hull, Smith, Brothers. and Co.
Huntingdon Town and County Bank, Hunting
don—Rust and Veaseys
Harwich Bank, Harwich—Cox, Cobbold, and

72,861

9,384
10,051
42,072

26,965

9,930
10,022

72,284

83,274
9,547

[d'& WAS K —Noy. .12.
To-day we c.'nd a good supply of grain of all kinds,which
met a heavy sale, but wheat in particular at a decline °f
2s to s.
Wheat, white 68i to 70s, red 60s to 6 ts; barley, waltie
46s to 503, grinding 40s to 14s; oats, ,4st. 5s to 378, 2,4 t
32s to 34s ; beans, 50s to 53s ; malt, 72s to 74s ; pees,
to .6s ; tares, 40s t. 3 44s per qr.

48,246

94,994
52,561

47,321
27,481

7,690
12,348
6,067

4,732
13,445
30.028

Co.
Hertfordshire, Hitchin Bank, Hitchin
Sharpies, and Co.
Hereford, Ross and Archenfield Bank, and
Ross and Archenfield Bank, Hereford—
Morgan and Co
Ipswich Bank, Ipswich—Bacon and Co.
Ipswich and Needham Market Bank, Suffolk,
Hadleigh Bank, Manningtree and Mistley
Bank, and Wo idbridge Bank, Ipswich—
Alexander and Co.
Kentish Bank, Maidstone—Mercer, Randall,
and Co.
Kington and Radnorshire Bank, Kington—
Davies and Co.
Knighton Bank, Knighton—Davies and Co
Knaresborough Old Bank and Ripon Old Bank,
Knaresborough—El rri,44in and Co
Kendal Bank, Kendal—Wakefield, Crewdson
and Co.
Kettering Bank, Kettering—J. C. Gotch and
Sons
Lane End Staffordshire Bank, Lane End—C
Harvey and Son,..
Leeds Bank, Leeds--Beckett and Co.
Leeds Union Bank, Leedz Williams,
Brown and Co.
Leicester Bank, Leicester—Pagets and Kirby,
Lewes Old Bank, Lewes—Molineux and Co
Lichfield Bank, Lichfield—Palmer and Greene
Lincoln Bank, Lincoln—Smith, Ellison, and Co.
Llandovery Bank, Lampeter Bank, and Llan-
dilo Bank, Llandovery—D. Jones and Co
Loughborough Bank, Loughborough—Middle-
ton and Cradock
Lymington Bank, Lymington—St. Barbe and

31,020

20,301

• 1 .AOUTEI —NOV. 12.
The market was 'lepressed to-day, the samples bell,
much out of conditiou, and consequently difficult V) se",i
Wheat declined 2s to 3s per qr., barley a, and oats ail"'
beans is each.
Wheat, red 59s to 625. white 675; barley 45s to 48s; ott"
21s to 2 s; beans 43s to 46s p,r qr.

18,720

52,064

5,185

31,133

24,464
21,038

-Co. ................... ..........
Lynn Regis and Lincolnshire Bank, Lynn
Regis—Gurneys and Co.
Lynn Regis and Norfolk Bank, Lynn Regis—
Jarvis and Co
Macclesfield Bank, Macciesfield—Brocklehurst
and Co.
Manningtree Bank, Manningtree—Nunn and
Co.
Marlborough Bank, Marlborough and Wilts
Old Bank, Marlborough Old Bank, Marl-
borough Old Bank and Hungerford Bank,
and Hungerford Bank, Marlborough—Tan-
ner and Co
Merionethshire Bank, Dolgelly—Williams and
Son
Miners' Bank, Truro—Willyams and Co
Monmouthshire Agricultural and Commercial
Bank, Abergavenny—Bailey and Co
Monmouth Cld Bank, Monmouth Bank, Bre-
con Bank, Chepstow Bank, Chepstow Old
Bank, and Ross and Herefordshire Bank,
Monmouth-r-Bromage, Snead, and Co
Newark Bank, Newark—Godfrey and Riddell
Newark and Sleaford Bank, and Sleaford and
Newark Bank, Sleaford—Handley, Peacock,
and Co
Newbury Bank, Newbury—Bunny & Slocock
Newmarket Bank, Newmarket—Eaton, Ham-
mond, and Co
Norwich Crown Bank and Norfolk and Suffolk
Bank, Norwich—Harveys and Hudsons...
Norwich and Norfolk Bank, Norwich—Gur-
neys and Birkbeck ,••
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Bank, Not-
tingham. Hart, Fellows, and Co
Nuneaton Bank, Nuneaton—Craddock and Co
Naval Bank, Plymouth, Plymouth—Harris

and Co. -
New Sarum Bank, Sarum—Everett and Co
Nottingham Bank, Nottingham—Samuel Smith
and Co.
Oswestry Bank and Oswestry Old Bank, Os
westry—Croxon and Co
Oxford Oid Bank, Oxford Robinson, Parsons,

and Co. .... . .. . ..............
Old Bank, Tonbridge, Tonbridge and Ton-
bridge Wells Old Bank, Tonbridge and Ton-
bridge Wells and Sevenoaks Bank, Ton-
bridge—T.
-f
Oxfordshire i. ..
wHit.neyßank, Witney
and S. Beeching .....
Clinchand Co.
Pease's Old Bank, Hull, the Hull Old Bank
and Beverky Bank, Hull—Pease and Co. .
Penzance Bank, Penzance—Batten and Co.
Peterborough Bank and Oundle Bank, Peter-
borough---D• Yorke and Co.
Pembrokeshire Bank, Haverfordwest—J. and
W. Walters.
Reading Bank, Reading—Simonds and Co
Reading Bank, Reading—Stephens, Blandy,
and Co.
Richmond Bank, Richmond—Roper and Co.
Rochdale Bank, Rochdale—Clement, Royds,
and Co.
Rochester, Chatham, and Strood Bank, Roches-
ter—Day and Nicholson
Royston Bank, Royston—Fordham and Sons
Rugby Bank, Rugby—A, Butlin and Son
Rye Bank. Rye--R. C. Podafret, & Co
Ross Old Bank, Heredf,,rdshire, Ross
Allaway and Itlacdougal
Saffron Walden and North Essex Bank, Saf-
fron Walden-..Gibi0123 and Co

68,985

17,960

26,028

21,610

43,889

9,552

5,223
52,276

36,950
31,636
29,055

94,150

'32,209

7,213

3,359

40,231

13,640

15,234

3,078

10,361
17,207

27,830

15,117
26,796

51,671
19,793

22,122

47,069

90,900

11.078
3,150

19,719
9,694

32,374

11,011

34,899

11,321

10,937

4%030
10,955

11,615

12,323
32,489

29.752
6,221

4,583

8,263
15,410
9,429
15.977

5,761

27,940