The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-22 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN BOA ND OP W ORES.

Yesterday the usual weekly meeting of the board was
held at Guildhall.
NEW STREET, SOUTHWARK.
A. deputation from the inhabitants of High-street,
Southwark, was introduced by Mr. Harris. Mr. New-
som headed the deputation, and presented a memorial,
which set forth that the memorialists from long expe-
rience knew that the impediments in High-street, South-
wark, most frequently originated at the Town-hall, and
that the dangerous velocity acquired by carriages on the
decliiity from the bridge did not cease till they arrived
on level ground at the entrance to Three-crown-square.
Believing that the project of the board would be incom-
plete should the Tows-hall and houses contiguous be left
standing, or should the new street be entered by too
short a curve at the end of York-itreet, they therefore
recommended that the Town-hall and the contiguous
houses be removed and Counter-street be obliterated
from the map.
The CHAIRMAN said, as to the removal of the Town-
hall and the houses adjoining he might at once state
that the board had scheduled both the hall and the
houses, though they had not been included in the esti-
mates. It might, however, be a question whether the
board would carry out their powers in that respect.
With regard to the curve the board had determined that
it should commence at York-street. The 'new street
would be 70 feet in width, and no doubt would bring a
'large traffic to it ; it was therefore desirable that the
mouth of the street should possess every facility ofaccess.
The necessary notices had been given of an application
to Parliament in the ensuing session, and that with the
approval of the Government.
In answer to questions by Mr. H. L. TAYLOR and
Mr. Deputy HARRISON,
Mr. NEWSOM said he did not think the memorialists
were sufficiently interested in the matter to induce them
to bear the expense of the alterations they asked for in
case the board refused to give their consent to such
alterations on any other terms. •
The memorial was then received.
THE PROPOSED NEW PARK IN FINSBURY.
A deputation hom the vestries of the parishes of St.
Mary, Islington ; St. James, and St. John, Clerkenwell ;
and the district board of works of St. Andrew, Holborn,
presented a memorial, advocating the fortuation of a
park for the northern suburbs of the metropolis.
Mr. Cox, who headed the deputation, said the plan
had been approved by the Prime Minister, and they bad
a promise of 50,0001. from the Government towards the
carrying out of the plan, and the Parliamentary notices
had been given for the necessary powers for raising the
remaining sum required—viz., 150,0001. What the
committee proposed was, that the board should take up
their Parliamentary notice,, obtain the bill, and do the
work ; but, in the event of the board refusing to do the I
work, the committee proposed to have the execution of
it vested in trustees. The deputation, however, deemed
that this was a fitting werk for the board to undertake,
and one from which they would derive credit and the
public advantage.
The CHAIRMAN asked Mr. Cox if he thought it com-
petent for the board to take up the notices given by the
committee of the united parishes ?
Mr. Cox said that he had taken advice on the subject,
and bad not the slightest hesitation in stating the posi-
tion in which the - board would stand provided they
agreed to undertake the work which would be this they
would have nothing to do save to prepare the bill and
carry it through Parliament, which he thought they
would have no difficulty in doing. The manner in which
the committee propoAed to raise the 150,0001. was by a
general rate.
Ton on
The memorial was received and ordered to be printed,
Friday
The on
A next, the 28th instant.
circulated among the members, and taken into
DEPUTATIONconsider-
atiMAN it
said T
mighto S
be
Hconvenient,
and
was
doubtless expected, that the deputation appointed to
meet the Chief Commissioner should make their report.
All he bad to ea on this subject was that the deputation
andt
Commissioner,h t
went up animatedy by the best spirit to settle the ques-
Etioirns,t
were met in the same spirit by the
report they had now tboill.peresheonptedwoauuldd
theTbhoeaerdlearnkdoithre.pwu
be believedsati
satisfactory
a e tthattheory to
olocirych) then read the following
report :

"1, Greek-street, Soho-square, Nov. 21, 1856.
" The deputation appointed on the 14th inst. to confer
with the First Commissioner of her Majesty's Works, &c.,
on the various plans of intercepting sewage, have to report
that, pursuant th the instructions of the board, they had
an interview with the First Commissioner at the Office of
Works yesterday, and that he then produced to them a re-
port from Ciapt. Bnrstall, suggesting certain points of out-
fall for the intercepting drainage, which he (the First Com-
missioner) said would satisfy the requirements of the Me-
tropolis Local Management Act in that respect ; and the
First Commissioner moreover gave the deputation to un-
derstand, that if the board would submit to him a plan of
intercepting drainage, adopting these points, he would be
prepared to approve such plan so far as concerns the out-
fell. The deputation beg to submit the report referred to
for the information of the board. (The already been
Captain
Burstall was here appended, which has already been pub.
'fished).

" J. TRWAITES.
Mr. FEw moved that there" EDWARD HARRISON."port be Printed, circulated,
instant.
and taken into consideration on Tuesday next, the 25th
A discussion ensued as to the most convenient day for
the members in general, and likewise the engineer, which
led to the withdrawal of the motion.
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR remarked that by that motion they
would be adopting the views, plans, and schemes of the
Chief Commissioner as their own.

(Signed)

Mr. WRIGHT moved "That the engineer be instructed
to prepare a plan and reports upon the points of discharge
suggested iu Capt. Burstall's letter, and approveil of by
the First Commissioner of her Majesty's Works."
Mr. LESLIE objected to this resolution as not being
sufficiently comprehen.sive. It did ❑ot embrace all tho
poir.ts referred to by the First Commissioner, and would,
it passed, fetter the discretion of the engineer

Mr. Deputy HantusoN bad asked the engineer whe-
ther he considered the resolution of Mr. Wright would
involve a report upon the size of the reservoirs, arid that
officer bad applied in the affirmative.

Mr. Tuanii; proved that the following words be added
to the resolution And report upon the other ques-
tions raised in that letter."
Mr. WILKINSON seconded the amendment, which be
said rendered the original motion . mere -explicit. He
was desirous of. bearing from the chairman whether
the subject of deodorisation formed a matter of discussion
yesterday before the First Commissioner ?
The CHAIRMAN thought the proper time to pnt such a
question would be when the report of the engineer formed
the subject of discussion. The point of discharge, it
was evident, must involve the capacity of the reservoirs.
The board then divided, when the motion of Mr.
Wright was carried, and Tuesday week appointed as the
day on which.. the report would be taken into con-
sideration.

PARLIAMENTARY BILLS.
The committee of works were directed to draw 11P
bills for the new street in Southwark and Covent-garden.
FINANCE.

The financial statement showed a total general talance
of 109,008/. 15s. lid.
The beard adjourned at half-past four o'clock.

On Tuesday evening a dinner was given to Mr. Francis
Hunter, of Tamworth, in acknowledgment of the manner
in which he had discharged the duties of the Mayoralty
during the municipal year just ended. The chair was
eccupied by his successor in office, Mr. E. B. Hamel. The
chief persons present were the Marquis Townehend, and
the two members for the borough, Sir Robert Peel and
Viscount Raynham.
The toast of " the army and navy " was acknowledged
by the Marquis TOWNSHEND. He observed that so much
had been lately said about the navy as to compel him to say
something in its defence. (Cheers.) There were no doubt
gentlemen present who were witnesses of the splendid dis-
pl IT of naval strength which took place a short time since.
A finer fleet was never put to sea. But it had been said
that, though the ships were all that could be wished for,
the men were inefficient and wanting in those qualities
Which seamen ought to possess. He regretted to say that
this language was used by the Commander-in Chief of that
fleet. Though that gentleman was an old friend of his, he
could not help saying that he did not believe the statement.
(Cheers.) He could only excuse Sir Charles Napier on the
ground that in a time of war he made use of the expression
as a nise de guerre to bring the Russians out from behind
their batteries; but to hearhim make use of it when peace
Was declared could only be the result of the' squabble
which he had had with the Admiralty. It was hard,
however, that the navy should suffer from any such dis-
cussion. It had been said of Sir Charles Napier that he
was wanting in discretion. He (the noble marquis) agreed
with that ; but no one could say he was wanting in the
diseretion which ;has -4‘ the tenser ' part --dr-fiTtinr."
There was not a more gallant man in the service—(hear)
—and he regretted to have heard Sir Robert Peel, in
a speech at Stafford not long ag'o, make use of words
which were quite uncal'ed fur, and entirely out of
place ; considering the situation he filled at that time as a
member of the Admiralty, he ought to have been the last
to say. a word against any man who might to be said to be
at the top of the service. (Cheers.) He was the more
free to say this because he knew that the hon. baronet—
than
whom no man possessed more kind and gene-
irous feelings, could not but regret that he had wounded
the feeliugs of one who had spent his life in serving his
country, and whose name was covered with renown, though
in later days he certainly had disappointed the hopes of
his country by not bringing about an action with the Rns-
alias. He (the noble marqui.) kneel that Sir Charles had
felt it .deeply as a slur cast upon his character, the more
especially as he felt that Sir R. Peel might be speaking
ndt only his own sentiments, but those of the board to
which he belonged. (Hear.) He was in a state of extreme
pain at that, moment ; and he had written to the Grand
Duke Constantine, and also to the French Admiral, to
know whether the statement of Sir Robert Peel was
or, was not correct. The gallant marquis concluded by
expressing a hope that if ever the opportnnity should occur
as in, whatever the country might be against which we
slibuld take up arms, there would be left no room for
dnubt or question as to the ability of the navy to retain
that name which was England's chief ornament :Cheers.)
" The health of the members for the borough " having
been proposed by Mr. SAMUEL HANSON
Sir R. PEEL, in returning thanks, said, he felt it to
be a great distinction to meet on occasions like that so many
of his personal friends and political adherents. He trusted
that in his support of the Government of Lord Palmerston
he had carried with him the good wishes of his
ccistituents, and in no way imperilled the kind favour
of those on whom he was dependent for his ability to sup-
port that Government. (Cheers.) He looked back to the
past session with considerable gratification, as he believed
he.was justified in sayinc, that, with the exception of a
brief period, when the &vernment, for a particular pur-
pose, gave him a short conge, seldom had he been absent
from the house on any occasion when any subject of public
interest or moment had been under discussion. During the
last session their time had been occupied in talking about
the war and the administration of the army and navy, and
therefore questions affecting the internal interests of the
country were not adequately considered. He hoped, how-
ever, that the next session would be more prolific of mea-
sures intended for the advantage of the country, and that
at its close Government wonld be able toask from the coun-
tryan increased atnoudtof confidence and supporton account
of what they might have done. He could not help express-
ing whathe believed would be the sentiment of the company
and of a very great portion of the public out of doors—his
thankfulness that at a moment of crisis, at a moment of
considerable danger, the Government of this country was
intrusted to a man possessed .of such ability, tact, and
prompt resolution as had marked the Government of the
noble lord the member for Tiverton. (Cheers.) He believed
that that Government had a right to lay claim to the good
wishes of the people of this country for having brought to
a successful issue aperiod of very great and serious diffi-
culty. All who had an interest in the welfare of the coun-
try must congratulate themselves upon the termination of
a war which was affecting the trade of England and our
commercial relations with other countries, and that they
had succeeded, in conjunction with out allies, France
and Sardinia, in bringing about a state of things which
we began war to obtain, and which we did not discontinue
till we had attaimal our object. (Cheers.) It had been a
question seriously mooted of late whether this alliance
was likely to continue. It was his opinion that
the alliance with France had been productive of
groat good, and would yet be productive of great good for
the civilisation of the world Out let any alliance with any
country perish rather than that, as Englishmen, we should
sacrifice anything fundamentally connected with our rights
and liberties. (Much applause.) All knew that recently
a very serious step had been taken by the Government of
this country in ceasing to hold diplomatic relations with
the Government of Naples. It was said that now there
were some concessions to be made. But however this
might be, he, like the country at large, was in entire igno-
rance of the causes which had led to that withdrawal.
Ho thought, however, that when we, in conjunction with
a Government like that of France, made advances for the
purpose of mitigating certain evils, and from some cause
Os other which had not been explained retraced our steps
—when this country found that the fleet destined for Na-
ples had not proceeded to its destination, though imme-
diately afterwards our diplomatie representatives were
withdrawn—every one must feel, as ho did, thatthe causes
which led to this ought to be explained. (Cheers.) As for
the war itself, all must have been glad that it had given
them the opportunityofjudgingof the power and efficiency
of our naval and military threes, and that after a long
period of peace they had been found equal to the greatest
emergencies ; and while on this subject it could not be ex-
peeled that he should refrain from referring to the remarks
a ldressed by the noble marqui t o his (Sir R. Peel's) cons
stituents in regard to what he said at Stafford. Of course
he had as much right to express his opinion about any pub-
lic man as the noble marquis had claimed for himself that
night, for he should not be the independent representative
of ast independent constituency if he were forbidden to give
free expression to the sentiments he entertained on any
public question. Thenoblemarquishad been pleased to say
of him that he had behaved in a most unseemly manner in
speaking of the conduct of the gallant admiral of the
Baltic Fleet. He had said that though that admiral had
disappointed the expectations of the service, it was most
ungenerous, unfair, and improper on his (the hon. baro-
net's) part, as representing the Admiralty on the occasion,
in question, to make use of the observations he did. But
he m
not amenably
u must submitt o whatt hat as m ,
might
trubo for
that
Marquis. (Cheers.) sentimentsboro oufghtlichne wasoble
The Marquis TOwn HEED—You said it at Stafford;
not here.

to the subject as
that the noble marquis made allusion
d ct at Stafford
bearing on the estimation in which his con ue
~
N from the
Sir R. PEEL, resuming, said there could be no doubt
might be viewed by his constituents. (" ,
0„
Marquis.) That was the direct and apparent . meaning. . I
was not his intention. Well, the words were certainly
ceedingly strong, and were such as it was improper for the
the words he used. (" No.") The noble marqmssa
' )consti-
tuents, marquis to use before his (the hon. baronet s
todo,
idexit.
with whom the noble marquis had nothing
and to whom he (Sir Robert Peel) was alone amenable.(Cheers.) The noble marquis might feel very strongly,
so did he, and so did every man in that room ; and it would
have been base iu him, if, knowing this, he had been afraid
to say so. (Renewed
applause.) More than this, he knew
bu
t
that the sentiments he had uttered were shared in by some
of the highest authorities in the country ; and, since the
meeting at Stafford, the very highest authority in the
country had written to him a letter approving of what he
hays d. said, and stating that the conduct of Admiral Napier
most unwarrantable. (Cheers.) But, while on this sub-
ject,
he begged to utter his most indignant protest against
the exertions which were being made by the gallant admiral
—whose failing intellect and shattered nerves made the
effort even more deplorable—to lower the character of
the British sailor by pandering to the power, and endea-
vouring to lend a helping hand to advance the prestige ef,
oar recent enemy. (Cheers.) That Was conduct usa.:yort,hy
ofi ae7 man, and especially one who held such a high posi-
.rquisToWzrsin::::
(Hear, hear.)
thei service of the reentry as did Sir Cti,s. Napier.
dorse thar s)
thanking his eeee-11eut"
iiire wan sure the noble marquis would en-
eghgeond.
him.) esfatuersts for the support they had given
The eta. •
word. All he intend pereen holding the sifea t° say was that he regretted to see a once in a publics .nattob the hon. baronet did giving utter-
stdl4 ah
or allowedeteoli ctiottsdaeydo bne
1 the subject of a a,1.1t) 3erbly to things which ottght td Mile
they came with a u e-tuartial, and he te'rtailly did think
ho being one of the very
bad grave From the hon. baronet,
Napier, he admitted I:,gi..alti• In respect to Sir Charles
pointed the ()oral", he had to a great extent dieap.
much ; but 104,
all which might have expetted too
cora Lame it tlid seem as that had pccurred ie the noise of
said,. met (the noble marlf ' great deal tee much had been
In Which :Napier was plats.) felt for the painful position
i told him from the be Being intimate with him, 1
Lido. (Langhtet.) If he had a senile he would get
would probably have been said - remained quiet nothing
would have regretted that a manercept that the country
dence had dorm nothhsg at all. in whom they had cond-
tunate caccetitcs scribendi with s.rt it hat unfor-
that eternal love of talking—tanch heyeast afflicted—
leaving anything quiet, which had been hatred of
worst enemy. (Laughter.) He (ma been Sir Charles's
not defending him. Ho thought he° noble
n'argeis) was
letting the Admiralty know sooner Why,: to blame in not
He allowed months to pass by, and then was to be done.
you had sent me out so and so I could hsaunPly said, " If
so." Re had brought the storm entirely done so and
But let him remain quiet for the rest of hisyd ony hainmaself"
1 over the unfortunate mistake he had made." --- get
marquis, in conclusion, expressed his regret thThe noble
Pool had taken up the matter in the way he herrtee R.
he had no intention whatever to depreciate him •,
mation of his constituents, which, indeed,
he insti-
felt sure was
in no one's power to do. (Cheers.)
The entente cordiale was subsequentlycompletely restored
between the gallant marquis and the hon. baronet.
latter waaasked to propose the health (Ibis old colleag The
the representation of the borough, and very grAcefulf" -II
h 3 make the tenencle for his suspicion that the 413; dill
Townshend wished to injure him in the eyes of his cozrtii.

tuency. The marquis ,reciprocated those exrressions of
good-will and amity. What had fallen from him was out of
friendship for Sir It. Peel, as he wished to lot him know
that it was the universal opinion that, what ho had said at
Stafford would have been better unsaid.
The or ly other notew. rthy feature of the evening was a
speech from Viscount RAYNIIAM, in which he acknow-
ledged his unbounded admiration of the foreign policy ,of
Lord Palmerston, justified the interference of England and
France in the affairs of Naples, and expressed his confident
belief that if the dark shadows now visible on
the political
horizon did involve us hi another war, England w. uld be,
as willing as ever to put her fortnnes into the hands of the
noble lord the member for Tivertor. (Cheers.)

. • -
BUSSIAN RAILWAYS.

(From a Correspondent_ of the Times.)

ST.• PETERSBURG, Nov. 8.
The nine days' wonder of the season here is the way in
which the Credit Mobilier and Count de Moray have got
the ear of the Emperor, and obtained the concession for
four or five of the principal lines of Railway in Russia.
These lines measure by hundreds of miles' in place of the
more sober reckonings in England of by tens, and it will
therefore surprise no one that the extent of work under-
taken by that übiquitous company should be nearly 2,600
miles of railway, and involve an expenditure exceeding
42,000,000/. sterling in this country, such being their last
addition to heavy engagements for similar undertakings in
Anatria. Switzerland, Spain, and elsewhere.
The story runs that M. Isaac Pereire, who is celebrated
for his skill in financial combinations, has quite excelled
himself on the present occasion; the moneyed folks of course
give him the credit, but gossips are not wanting who affect
to say that political even more than financial objects have'
been kept in view, or perhaps held up to view, by the ad
dress of the representative of France at the recent Corona-
ticn.
It is further rumoured, though it socatir difficult to un-
derstaud this, except on the above hypothesis of political
consideration, that nothing was known in the Daparttneut
of Public Works about the real progress made in the nego-
tiations between De Morny and Co. and a certain entourage
of the Emperor until a very few days before the contract
was actually signed. Even now much remains shrouded in
mystery, and the wart of positive information (other than
the short abstract of the principal canditions which have
been privately circulated, and which have been already
sent to London) has given rise to a variety of reports, most
of which it would be useless to repeat here. Some of them,
however, are sufficiently plausible to be worth mentioning,
and are those which are generally believed to be true.
Each of the parties signing the contract is supposed to
have undertaken the disposal of a certain proportion
of the shares intended to be first issued, being to the
extent of 75,000,C00 silver roubles of Russia, equivalent
to 12,000,0001. sterling, of which one half are to be
issued in Russia, the other 6,000,0001. sterling being
distributed in the money-markets of foreign countries, in-
cluding, of course, England. The shares are to be each of
125 roubles, 201. sterling, or 500 f., without reference to any
variation from those equivalents by any fluctuations in the
rate of exchange, which is thus fixed, qua this railway scrip'
at 6f roubles to the pound sterling, or 38 2-sths pence per
silver rouble—a rate higher than the average of the last
few years, but lower than the exchange of the day, which
is about ;39i pence per rouble, a rise having taken place as
soon as it was known on the St. Petersburg Exchange that
the concession had been granted and the contract for the
railways signed.
Stieglitz and his Russian connections are said to boast of
feeling no difficulty in placing the shares allotted for Russia
in the vaaious parts of the Imperial dominions, including
Poland, where Frankel, the humble servant of Stieglitz,
affects to lead in finance and, to command the purses of the
Warsaw capitalists.

The Credit Mobilier, guided by Pateire and driven by
De Morny, the Hopes of Amsterdam, and the Barings of
London, are believed to spread their quota over their re-
spective countries. We cannot, therefore, expect less than
2,000,0001. sterling of this first issue of Russian railway
scrip to be thrown, or at least attempted to be thrown, on
the• London Stock-Exchange.
Rumour adds that the intention is to call for 30 per
cent. immediately, or nearly so. If such should be the fact,
there must have been caution-money demanded by the
Russian Government. Yet the most careful inquiries have
not led to the discovery that any caution money has to be
deposited. On the contrary, it is supposed that this usual
precaution or condition will not be enforced, and, if so, it
will be another argument at least, if not proof, that politi-
cal, as much or more than technical or financial consiiera-

tions have Wen prevalent, it being well known to have
been, until quite recently, insisted upon in the Depart-
ment of Public Works that caution-money should be
lodged by all who obtained concessicins. And (to revert
for a moment to the circumstances under which the con-
cession for Russian railways has been granted to the Credit
Mobilier of France and their friends) it is quite notorious
that the present scientific and upright Minister of Public
Works for Russia was extremely anxious to begin the
railways on a more moderate scale, and to divide the con-
cessions among saveral, rather than to throw anything into
the hands of one leviathan establishment. And still less
was he, or would any other man of common sense have
been, disposed to give such an association the right of pre-
emption of all other lines of railway to be hereafter pro-
jected iu Russia, which right, it is most positively asserted,
the Credit Mobilier have got.
It is possible, however, that another reason racy exist
for making so heavy a call in the first instance. It would
bind numbers, perhaps nearly all, to continue to pay up
the other calls rather than sacrifice so large an instalment ;
and it may be that it is to repay the Russian Government
the money they have already expended on the works and
preparations for the St. Petersburg and Warsaw Railway,
which is to the amount of between 2,000,01,1. and
3,000,0001. sterling.
The Times of the 30th of October arrived hero last night,
and, though the copies coming to private persons through
the post may probably suffer some excision in the Censor's-
office, those coining to privileged persons are exempt from
that ordeal. Consequently the articles in the paper of that
date have been perused with great pleasure by all those
who have as yet had the advantage of seeing them, and it
is not doubted that every Englishman will rejoice at the
honest warning you have given to them against becoming
dupes to this Russo-Gallic combination for raising the
wind.

Permit me to add some further hints to that warning.
You have already touched with your " Ithuriel spear" two
great points upon which mistrust should be roused—the
sufficiency or insufficiency of the capital to which the gua-
rantee is to extend, and the success or failure of the rail-
way revenue, which is to recoup the Government for the
guarantee ; and there is ne doubt that these are two of the
great blots on the whole scheme.
The railways, as a system, cannot be properly com-
pleted for 15,0001. per English mile (62,000 silver roubles
per Russian veret.) The traffic is not likely to produce a
net revenue over and above the 'working expenses and
other deductions, which will be equal to the gu iranteed
interest of 5 per cent. Of the insufficiency of the estimate
I believe no competent person can doubt—more especially
when it is made known that no regular savings have yet
been made, except from the Warsaw line, Of the insuffi-
ciency orthe traffic none can judge better than those who
know Russia well, and who unanimously agree that with-
out the introduction of groat internal changes no hope of
a sufficient traffic can be entertained—changes to produce
an amount of freedom in commerce and in person which it
can scarcely be expected the Russian Government will
grant in our time to their own subjects or to foreigners,
although I am bound to say that reports are abroad and
hopes strongfy entertained that relaxations are expected
to take place before long, but at present there are no vi-
sible signs of any such thing.
With all the advantages arising from the rebound of
trade in every way since the peace, and from the vast pas-
senger traffic during the coronation fetes on the St. Peters.
burg and Moscow Railway, the receipts of the last six
months on that line do not show a net income of 1 per
cent. on the capital expended, True, the eost of that rail.
way has been enormous, and the egregious folly of the late
Minister of Public Works in his bargains with the
American partners for working the line causes a great
extra cost; still the prospect is anything but encouraging, ,
Against the well-known facts of this case it has been
alleged that railways will be made cheaper in other parts
of Russia, the surface of which is supposed by many to be
favourable in that respect; but this is a great mistake. In
some few parts of the country, especially in Poland,
railways may be made for 15,0001. per mile, always sup-
posing the iron track to be single iu the first instanee,
with passing places; but in the greater part of Russia
the country is extremely undulating, and especially so
in most of those districts through which the new
lines are intended to be carried ; and the earth-
works, and consequently the masonry, will be quite as
heavy as in England and on most parts of the continent.
You might as well take the cost of continental railways
from the specimens exhibited by the lines which run on
how-
ever, I doubt not there are loglish engineers sufficiently
the surface of the plains of Belgium. On this point,
well acquainted with Russia who will be giving their opi-
nions to their friends at least, if not to the public, for oar
into print, It has, how-
ever, of their experiences to get
several circles here that the
ever, been freely stated in Bee
capitalist to study Russian
ginsere sent out by an eminent
Engitli engineers are extremelyd
jedhanroyt.ohfest,uitffaeteritnog
etxhperreess-
ti.
similat opinions to the shot .
, ble that if those best acquainted
it is, however, probable
stream of t
topography)
with the routes along which the raffia would
been allowed to choose their own lines
to Witepsk along the valley- in
of railway the/ *Aid hstc -
totind Some •
„. Which would
' neiailiel the litid Mit Riga toe! Denabqg
be brought hianda railway.
have paid; for
. not, it is meant to hold up that
which the Dwina Rows , that - - --- ---
line as one in which money nii4lit noW,, be
. very advanta-
geouslysense,
anti ith Prbe'ose extension
MVOS i , , , ~, • ted The tail4io6' OWN W the Oran'
eat fret die iWriiii Stlerb*llat soutu 'dib..cigde* 'Little
moat fret die i:tk i4t'jltat soutu l!iti
Aittiandl) in a W.N.W; course across Russia to Lilian
will not only be a parallel and `Ooniliaiing line td the Riga
project; bu will eat tutiitli4 i7Sty vitals 9/ gig },l'ad'e4l.
Riga itselt, by opening the trade of the interior and lead-
ingon the Baltic, near the Prussian frontiers arid„
, of, coiiree,
near Memel • it is rarely blocked bY 116 winter lee fOr mote
it to theport of Li bau. This (at present) email
li‘ossesses very great advantages
place II
than three 4ots, and In some seasons is not blocked at all:
Althodet Libau has been bong known to the naval and cont•
mereial world, it is IllitiOrdr.d that tiko PaeCtiO4 et that
hiratogy than by commercial
° 1 ta
v 5i
guided
g tdutLmicapabilitiesbe.a'6u
prcooornr ter hasadde
re
a, bean
t,ih
and all their attendant advantages and
appendages.
_ It is
not to be denied that the raiKray terminating at Libel;
might yield a fair revenue if it could be constructed at a
moderate cost; but from Little Archangel Until this 144
of railway enters the old previhdd 'a Uourland, south of
Dunalenrg, it has to pass over a very rough country, fur?
rowed by the deep valleys in which fiowthe streams form•
ing the head waters of some of the great Russian rivers and
stho
jeiar,ptrhineciupoarletsriiatttarhieesp—wofiatah,e phnoievilia,
and
of Per, the Desna, the
others
whose name is Legion, the line crossing their innumerable
intervening ridges in its coarse.
Reference having been made to the Lilian line, which as
ypa tro.vifdisebdilfi' for iii datieleo them ta t
hi
to future traffic may be considered as the best, let us look
o nr 1 is c,
to the railway from Moscow to Nishui-brovgerod. The
trade on this line would be almost exclusively dependent
oo
fn
t• thhoeygeraera twfair l heldwould
have antnouba annually
leaving the remaining ten with scarcely any trade. Great
fairs, such as those at MOW-Novgorod, are failing off fast

in all parts of the world, even in Russia. The great fair or
contract meeting of Kieff has dwindled into compara-
tive insignificance. The best-informed Russians admit that
there is nothing for the Nishni Railway to depend upon
but the yearly fair. •
The St. Petersburg and Moscow Railway will be mostly
a passengei line—except in the event of another war, or,
in the winter, for such trade from Prussia as cannot wait
until the navigation is reopened. The most sanguine
hardly look to this line to pay. The guarantee, however,
is for a larger amount than for the other railways, being
for 20,0001 per mile, as it has probably to be made for two
iron tracks ; but unless the engineers of the Credit Mobi-
lier can find an easier course for this railway than the Rus-
sian engineers have hitherto found, such a sum must be
rp abandonaanl
yp aw rki parts
aa
findnrtds o
palace,
at thelaeetheir linea t
too small to complete it, as it is probably expected it should
be finished and provided with stations and rolling plant.
It is very probable, however, that even if they have to
Ffrreesnhchcom
direc-
tions for it in several places. Some 20. or 30 miles
already-made
h interesti
ruhsstelryealgethlioasptryh eeyeb h.ennteffi
ratet,sehysoihocsponu gcaesereteconeinsartr trace the
have been opened to Gatchina, where there is an Intpe-
tvaloKpasfoetessuari
ghfufni
TotowercaTiegthifitowhnhhEht:
tenl:ereeurvinwonor)i
grgnrpgsin.onhderihmi
point
at,
principal
provinces,
ensnnTrtactnr arhiehoidndhhoetpti ceervcir
isallworksraoiii
lifennusissbpsillkbtecepaaotlratsesrhlaicoi
of:isadpnTerfd:
ccartfon
ictgetdebaaot
itioesoln:
tir,o,o,lBinsadwani
rihsnibihcanrtgasofnclocrotanehiyhwastinsoedlhaac
oteefmn
athiniaetirtvisrdwaondisoeotjgamiarwhniitwtetirl.
eroeeentin,i
chbaaytol
stopping; and it is ;aid that to Louga, some miles
farther, the works are so far finished as to be ready to have
rtitotttblgeeoohmteenl(Eeaeyhoacsrieerrseosiensemp:i
gadbmytaysaei
spr:aurtooatyepeabienrlerubao6rafgvepatdtnoetot
erbeehp.
araamndiutwertntnshiiispoosoti(
eivairtedreoais
(comparatively
ltknbp:efbelmtsrety, works
srntl
arearanisooxiittadirr,
gseneio'.ntevi.
light, as in Poland, they have been thrown up, awl several
l
the heaviest earthworks and all the large bridges, all, in
incomplete, or in many places untouched.
that Theodosia (Kaffa) is to rise into prosperity on the
ruins of Odessa, as Libau would rise at the expense of
Riga—for observe, there are no railways through the rich
countries of Podolia and the Ukraine to Odessa, and the
Libau line is in direct rivalry with Riga.
Let any one take the trouble to cast an eye over the map
of Russia on which are drawn the lines just handed over to
the Credit Mobilier,* and it will be evident that commer-
cial interests—certainly existing ones —have been little
considered, except in one solitary instance. What do the
two greatest lines taken together indicate—from Libau to
Little Archangel, a little south of Moscow, and from
.Moscow to Theodosia? Are they not intended to form
a gigantic link between the Baltic and the Black Sea?
What is the St. Petersburg and Warsaw Railway, with
its branch from Kowne towards Konigsberg, but a
double arm thrown out to Austria and to Prussia ?
After these there is nothing left but the line to
Nishni-Novgorod, which seems merely to have been
laid down as a sop for the Moscow traders. Profitable
returns may come after some century of progress in the
paths of commercial and civil liberty ; but when will
the first real steps in those paths be sincerely made? No,
it is not upon the traffic within our time, or that of our
children, or even grandchildren, that dependence must be
laid. It must be solely to the guarantee of the Russian
Government that the contributories to this new stock can
look for their dividends—for those, for their pound of
flesh, and for nothing more—perhaps as will be presently
seen, not even for that beyond a short terra.
It is hardly possible to suppose that Englishmen will not
inquire very closely into the sufficiency of the capital gua-
ranteed; for no railway has of late found favour whereof
the prospect us did not prove satisfactorily that the de-
tailed surveys had been made by competent engineers, and
that respons ble known contractors were ready to engage to
execute the works and stock the road, and pay interest dur-
ing construction at a sum within the capital for which
there was a good guarantee.
But supposing this difficulty got over, then comes
the question of hew long the guarantee is to last?
It is said that the full 5 per cent. is to be paid to share-
holders for the first thirty years, and that the sinking
fund is then only to begin, at the rate of j or t per cent.
There is, however, a remarkable clause which, as it reads
in the copies of the conditions as here circulated, requires
the most careful attention. It is provided that the Govern-
ment, at the end of 20 years from the completion of each of
the railways, shall have the right of purchasing them at a
valuation based on the net profits of the last five preced-
ing years ; and that for the remaining 65 years of the con-
cession the Government will pay such profits. Now, is this
iu addition to or in lieu of the 5 per cent. guarantee ? This
is the important issue. It seems scarcely possible it could
mean that the Government are to pay the profits in addi-
tion, for if the lines net 5 per cent. the shareholders would
get both profits and guarantee ; and if it does not mean
this, what does it mean ? On the other hand, if the
railways make a net profit of 10 per cent., it might be
supposed the shareholders would be well off; but, sup-
posing the contrary, and that the net profits prove to hp
only 1 per cent., will not the Russian Government buy
at that valuation, or continue to pay, not 5 per
cent. guarantee, but 1 per cent., the net profits of the five
years preceding this purchase; and if the clause does not
mean this, but that in every event the Government is to
continue to pay 5 per cent. during the remaining 65 years
of that concession, what is the use of such a clause ? The
only visible effect of it appears to be an encouragement to
keep down traffic. At present nothing is known but what
the high contracting parties have thought proper to allow
to ooze out, and if a wrong interpretation had been given
to this clause it is the natural result of the mystery—a
mystery so great that it is universally believed that until
within a few days of signing the contract nothing was
committed to paper, or, if written down, never left the
portfolios of the illustrious personages, and was not known
to the very Minister in whose department the subject of
this private negotiation lay.
A number of other rumours are afloat concerning the
causes of this arrangement with the Credit Mobilier, at a
time when it was the opinion of the best English financiers
that they had enough on their hands already. But I only
write of what my long knowledge of the face of the coun-
try, the character of its commerce and people, and com-
mon sense have suggested.
It may, however, be interesting to your lady readers to
learn that the sister of the Emperor, the Grand Duchess
Marie, widow of the Duke de Leuchtenberg, is believed to
have married, with our without the consent of her Impe-
rial brOther the Count Gregoire Strogonoff; and that her
Imperial highness and the Count leave St. Petersburg
this very day on a tour of Europe, but whether to return
or to take up their permanent residence abroad is not
known yet.
Apropos of the Duke of Leuchtenberg, I must not omit
to add that there are good rea.!ons for believing that the
French concessionaires have engageto
engineering factory and establishment I.:purchase the great
Inded by the late
Duke, and still belonging to his family. Tn: price named
is a very large one. This privilege will recievt: several
persona from considerable difficulties. It has a br.'.."n
railway from the St. Petersburg and Warsaw line into
the very works, and the managers are contracting for
maintaining the locomotive engines and carriages and for
working the Warsaw line, which they are doing at present
at an acknowledged loss ; I mean the line as far as opened
to Gatchina, with the right of working the whole hereafter.
The winter has set in. Cronstadt is closed by ice, and
much of the foreign shipping will be detained here for the
winter.

English Miles.
* St. Petersburg to Warsaw
Kowno Branch
Moscow to Nishni•Novgorod
Moscow ,to Phceiosia (Kaifu) B4O
Little Archangel to Libau

Total 2,600

RAILWAY TRAFFIO RET URNS.

TRAFFIC RETURNS FOR THE WEEK.

Miles
Opened. NAME OF RAILWAY. -__ Receipts.
--
1850. 1856. 1856.
-- .----...-.....-., -----
sarrISIL X X
115 Aberdeen . - -
1
37X Belfast and Ballymena •• • • .......... ,127 884
11 Belfast and County Down•• • • • • • • • • . - -
33 Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire
2,220 1,754
2634 Bolton, Blackburri,artd West York ...•- ---.
117 Bristol and Exeter ................... 6,038 5,03
104% Ca1ec1air1an............ , ..., . 12,690 11,759
94 N Chester and Holyhead... --•:::: :: :• - - '
191 153
6% Cork, Blackrocli, and kassago •••• • •
20 Cork and Bandon ... • .............. 261 240
56 Dublin and Belfast,l unction • • ...... 1,103 1,032
63 Dublin and Drogheda•• •• .. ......... 1,486 1,638
714 Dublin and Kingstown •• •.•••• • • • • • • -
16,4 Dundee and Arbroath .• •••• • • • • •••• u" 475
31 Dundee, Perth, and Aberdeen Junction 957 1,009
36 Dundalk and Enniskillen. •..• • .• .... 448 09
g73t East Anglian.. .. - ~• •• • • ......., 1,125 1,021
3 East Lancashire .................... 6,228 5,78. E
417 Eastern Counties and N0rf01k...... } 23 383 22,318
Eastern Union.... •• .• ••••..• • • • • • , 17„ c,„„
142 Edinburgh and Glasgow ..• ••• • • • --• • ",..,'" "''
128 Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee .• .• - v,600 5,537
6 Exeter and Crediton.. • • .. • • • • • • • • • • - -
22 Furness Railway ••••••••• • • • • • • • • -9
6,-
18334 Glasgow, and South-Western.• •• •• •• •
6,639 6,036
283 Great Northern. • •
203% Great Southern and Western (Ireland) 6,224 6,925
388 Great Western .• •••. • • • . .... - .... 26,525 21,229
25% Irish South Eastern •• • • -•• ••••• • • • • - -
90 Lancaster and Carlisle .• •••••• • • • • .• 6,01 S 5 794
2861 A Lancashire and Yorkshire •••• . - - 21,759 20,146
1 - Leeds Northern .. • • • • • • • • • • • • • - •• • • - -
of Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport.• • • - -
1797 London and North Western ... •• • ... 59,527 58,117
VA Landon and Blackwall •••• • • • • •..... 1,329 1,170
183 N London, Brighton, and South Coast.. 13,448 12,54)
• 267 Loudon and South Western..• .... - 13,855 12,840
69 Londonderry and Enniskillen .... -• • - -
- Manchester, Buxton, and Matlock, &c. - -
11 :14/4 A(fidloheater,Shefileld,ind Lincolnshire 9,879 9,455
935 qanutABter and South Junction.. •• .. 745. 694
MA.ryport ink: Carlisle .............. 1,096 997
yin• ......... .. 31,252 28,670
4,4 N Ificliiina -•• • :* •,' " •-h) ~ , 4,"d60 3,663
126% st!64 +oat Yv 'ltern gm- •' ' - -
52 51.thitian'if 1• • • -;,,.•_, -,.,...„...: ••••-•• • • •• • • - -
78% Newca.sile dl.fd Uari,ll.' ••• • • ... •. • ' 5 '•l9 5,233
1.2- tfortli T. 14-4211 ..,... • : •.••••'- •• .. •• • . ,1. -
233 North Stailz!:!•-_Uhtte .• ...: , . ~.. ~ .. - 641
41 gortti4Vestern .• .. :!•• :. •... •• ~ 78 i
[111,4J IQo,tt!.2i (34,1tral ••--- - - ~ .... -.---
32 SICCI4-. •o',: Otililila ,• • •,• •••••• • • • • •• . e
1..648 1 477
29% Shrewsbury a...'!" P144)411.111it • ••• •.•
1 9WO 2,699
48 Shrewsbury and Che.:.l` il•*•'•'• •'. •• ‘• 1 -086' ,7 ,5„)
Jo Shropshire Union .. ••••• • • • • • ''-' "" i 2 tc6 2,101
OA•`AotilEkevon ..... •••••••••• • • • • • • ** ' -'
*A' L 17988
269 Sorith tiael'n....• •••••• • • • •• :,7?,,,' 5;844
1713 South Wales .. .• .. •,.•••••• • • • • • • • -3
91 South 'York., Doncaster, and Goole .. 24,5,371 32:5T,
r., Tor yito .... *I St •••• •••• '••••••." 1:375 1,392
36 Mier ..•.• .. '444 • ....... •••• •••• •• 676 1,155
77 Waterford P,nd Limerick .• •••••• •' •• 629 583
27% West Cornwall ••••••• • • • • • •"• •• 337 297
- _
12 Wlyii
ot er 14: va
ne nd
sJunctionorrotithEMidland
0 iN.
di:4: -3: •
L• : :
d' : :.
632 York and Newcastle, and Berwick 84
_
109 Dutch Rhenish •• ••••••• • • •• •• _ -
•328 Lyons and Mediterranean •• •••• • •
•" -
'63 Mentereau and Troyes • • •••• _
- Namur and Liege .• • • • • • • •• -
445 Northers of France ••• •" ''' • • - -
-- Orleani and Central •••• • • • • **" - -
353 Paris and Lyons ••.• •• .... _ _
.•
84 Paria and Rouen. •• ‘• • •
---
'. .' •• •• - . _
- Paris and Strasburgh ••••••" • • •• - -
Rouen and Havre • • • • • • • • • • •
•• "•
, - , i•••• •• ••••
..- • astern of France .• •••• • ' ' .
,

FROM THE TIMES' CORRESPONDENT.)
NEW YORIC,,Nov. 8.
The result of the great political contests, as far
as it was known on the morning of the sth, was
farwarded by the last mail. There have bee❑ some
slight modifications in the figures of the majority
and minority, prodnced by later returns during the
past three days, but they do not affect the issue.
Mr. Buchanan, the candidate of the democratic
party, is President of the United States. The
Electoral College consists of 269 votes, which are
distributed as follows :
Buchanan
Fremont 125
Fillmore

296,
The return from California cannot be received
tillnext month, but the four votes it sends to the
College are set down to Buchanan, who has ob-
tained at least 10, and possibly 14 votes more than
the number absolutely necessary to elect ; which is
149. 'The struggle has been a very sharp one,
much more severe than the Democrats anticipated
when it commenced, as the nomination of Colonel
Fremont by a new and independent party was at
first almost ridiculed by them as hopeless. Yet it
was so near succeeding that the great dominating
party of the Union, which had the advantage of an
organisation of many years'.standing, all the influ-
ence of office, with thousands of agents in every
office-holder, has barely escaped defeat The ma-
jority that returned Mr. Pierce in 1852 was 212 ;
the same party, and an identical policy are repre
sented by Mr. Buchanan, and that majority is
reduced to 31. The blow must shake the demo-
cratic po iver, though it has not sufficed to overthrow
it. The Republicans are by no means dispirited ;
on the contrary, they are surprisingly elate and
hopeful, looking forward already to the next chance.
They have gained experience from the conflict,
and, if kept united as an opposition, will probably
come into the field again with increased strength
and better tactics. Of the sixteen Free States

Fremont carried twelve by large majorities ; all
New England and the "Empire State" of New
York declared for him. It is the votes of the
Southern Save States without exception, and

those of the four exceptions to the general spirit of
the North, which have returned Mr. Buchanan.
Thus, the dividing line of politics begins to follow
the geographical division of North and South more
closely. The overwhelming majority •of the
populous and wealthy Northern States was given
to the candidate who Lhad not a single vote in any
Slave State, and was not even put in nomination
in any one of them. Mr. Buchanan bad all the
South and enough support from the North to turn
the balance in his favour. That " bit" of Free
soil thrown into the Southern scale has always
determined the result. If the old and powerful
party of the democracy is shaken by the Republican
opposition, the native American, or Know-nothing
organisation, appears to be destroyed. It broke
down everywhere; only gaining the majority in
one state—Maryland ; its prestige is gone; At
the last moment its leaders in Pennsylvania made
a coalition with the Republicans, but it did little
except create confusion.. Religious bigotry and a
hatred of foreigners (Irish and German) are the
only two distinct principles of the party; it was
not long since a kind of political phantom ; as long
as its secret organisation disguised its weakness it
was believed to he strong, but, as it bas nominated
a separate candidate, and failed to make even a
respectable demonstration, its political influence
has perished.
In New York the election proceedings were toler-
ably quiet during the early part of the day, but
later there was some severe fighting round some of
the polling-places in the " rough " districts. Only
one ballot-box is reported as having been carried
off ; two others were upset ; but, on the whole, the
fighting was personal and miscellaneous, not or-
ganised and directed into the dimensions of a poli-
tical riot. Such of the police as were present slid
not interfere, for which several officers have been
arrested en charges of neglect of duty ; but pro•
bably not much will come of it. The miserable
arrangements for collecting the votes, especially in
the neighbourhoods most liable to disturbance,
almost invite the more ruffianly partisans of any
particular candidate to take advantage of the
facilities offered for obstructing access to the ballot.
Nothing can be easier than for a few vagabonds to
take possession of a polling place, and either
quietly wear out the patience of the more respect-
able voters, who dislike waiting two hours for a
chance of fighting their way in, or boldly hust-
ling away and refusing admission to any one
who has not the right ticket. Of course if there
are a sufficient number of ruffians of the other

side they want possession also, and there is a
" fight for the poll." In the worst wards—the
worst localities appear to be chosen for the
toting—back rooms behind a small grogshop,
an obscure private house with a narrow door,
or a shed of boards built round a lamp-post, the
last among the meet convenient. If to keep voters
away from the ballot is an object to be se-
cured, many of the stations were well selected for
that purpose. There were some alarming reports
in circulation during the evening, but only two
cases of serious injury are authenticated, though
several pistol shots were fired. The violence dig-
played in the " rough" districts was more excited
by the local squabbles of the municipal election,
that went on at the same time, than by the Presi-
dential contest. The partisans of the two chief
candidates for the mayoralty were the belligerents.
Te,:e Irish population has always gone with the
dernoci.2ey ; but on local elections sometimes split,
and furthei complicate affairs by their own " fac-
tions," an old curse in the country they come from,
not entirely shaken off iu that of their adoption.
The most general fight of the day was between two
of these wretched factions, one preventing the
other from voting as a matter of course ; sticks and
brickbats were freely used, but, as before stated,
the "row" was too stupid and unmeaning to be
called a riot. Politics gave the opportunity, old
faction hatred was ready, as it is everywhere else,
to break out into violence—and bad rum did the
rest. The worst effect of such fights is that in the
districts liable to the outbreaks hundreds of the
quiet and peaceably disposed are deterred from at-
tempting to vote, or are practically disfranchised. If
the citizens of New York had any real anxiety or fear
as to the effect of what is called political ruffianism,
but which is ruffianism pure and simple, that will
use any opportunity to show its nature, they might
prevent such scenes with the greatest ease. The
citizen volunteers aro well armed and well drilled ;
they have been marching up and down the streets
for the last three weeks, with drums beating and
bayonets fixed, in very soldierly-looking masses.
Suppose they took the duty of the police once on
such a day merely as an experiment. Order and
fair play can only be preserved by force, or by the
knowledge that force will be used if 'required. It
would be dreadfully unconstitutional, perhaps, to
have an aimed guard at the polls, but the freedom
of the intelligent, sober, and peaceable would be
secured by it. There could not be a batter occa-
sion for testing the value of the military organisa-
tion of so many of the citizens than by employing
it as a real constabulary. Why be perpetually
playing at soldiers, and evade the easiest and
most useful duty a citizen soldier can discharge ?
The fights, being in districts out of the course of
the principal thoroughfares, did not affect the
general orderly appearance of the city, and the
bulk of the population either knew nothing of them
till the following day, or showed the smallest pos-
sible concern about them if they did.
In Baltimore the election did not pass off with
such an ordinary amount of disturbance. There
was more fighting there and of a more desperate
kind ; firearms were exclusively used, and four
persons wore killed ; 14 fatally wounded, and 70
others more or less seriously. The return of the
names looke like that of the losses' in a regular
action. As in the disturbances in October,
the
native American anti the foreign population ap-
pear to have been the chief parties in the affray.
Why the feud is so much more bitter in Baltimore
than in the more populous city of New York has
not been explained.

The metropolis is settling down into its ordinary
state again, and the external signs of political strife
are fast oi,appearing ; the party banners have de-
scended from the upper windows, except a few stray
flags here and there which seem forgotten. The
bil"icke" are covering their late public work
with placards ou private account ; the portraits of
the candidates are vanishing from the print shops,
and that of Thalberg, the httest arrived celebrity,
is taking their place. Art and literature show
some signs of life ; the newspapers are becomrinhtf
more readable and men more conversable. r
journalists of all parties,
on whom falls the largest
share of the work, openly avow their joy' that the
The expenditure—it would
campaign is over.
be
wrung, perhaps, to call it waste—of energy, talent,
toil, and money
\ mot in n tfhi
fm ones
up
ee
yr i oadl iocna
el eblye c
tt ihoen
diisffee
rneonr -t
the outlaY oi ;
es on the present occasion is calculated at five
part