The Sun.
London, England, 1833-09-23 00:00:00

DUTCH PAPERS.

THE HAGUE, Sept. 19.—His Excellency the
Russian Councillor of State, Potemkin, Ambassador
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from the
Emperor of Russia to the Court of the Nether-
lands, has arrived here from Berlin. Also Prince
Solykoff and Count Fersen, both from London.
(Private Corn spondence of the Handelsblad.)
Sept. 18. —As may easily be supposed, little that
can be depended on has yet transpired respecting
the nature of the information given to the Govern-
ment by Baron Verstolk Van Soelen. In a quarter
which may be presumed to be well-informed, it is
affirmed his Excellency has been sent for to this
place for no other reason than to develope the grounds
of a memorial sent by his Excellency from London,
respecting which no determination has yet been
come to; but in which the unanimous desire of all
the members of the Conference is said to be mani-
fested, to come to a speedy and satisfactory amicable
arrangement respecting the few remaining formal
questions. It is affirmed also that his Excellency,
during his stay in London, has been so thoroughly
convinced of this unanimous desire of the Plenipo-
tentiaries of all the Courts, that the hope of a
definitive settlement, which is so much desired, may
be considered to be encouraged by his return, rather
than as some, judging by appearances, at first thought
that it should be looked upon as an indication of new
differences more or less difficult to be overcome.

BOIS-LE-DUC, SEPT. 17.—Nothing further is at
present known respecting the transferring of the
head-quarters to this place, but it is supposed that
it will be so before the winter. From the surveys
of the ground in the neighbourhood of this fortress,
it seems that the Government has it in contempla-
tion to extend the line of defence in this province.
We learn that it has lately been decided that militia-
men of the years 1826, 1827, and 1828 may, if they
desire, obtain from the military authorities permis-
sion to marry ; that militiamen absent with unlimited
furloughs may, if they require it, return to their
corps; that men belonging to the schuttery who
have engaged to serve during the present circum-
stances in his INlnjesty's navy, may, if they wish it,
obtain indefinite furloughs on condition of their re-
turning to the service when called upon; that
militiamen serving on board the fleet may obtain
furloughs to return to their homes, on condition of
returning at the first summons, but cannot have
furloughs to serve on board merchantmen. Volun-
teers in the navy cannot have unlimited furloughs.
BERLIN, SEPT. I 6.—Their Royal Highnesses
Prince Charles and Prince Augustus have returned
from Magdeburg.
PRUSSIAN FUNDS—BizamN, SEPT. 16.
St. Schuld Sch., 4 per cent
Prussian English Loan, 1818, 5 per cent 103% 103 q
Ditto 1520, 5 per cent.... 103% 1034
Ditto, Bonds lB3O, sper cent.... 91% r 01%
ST. PETERSBURGII, SEPT. 7.—The Board of
Foreign Trade announces to the merchants that,
conformably to the tariff now in force, large and
small carpets (kovri and kovriki), whether entirely
of wool or with a mixture of flax, hemp, or cotton,
as also those of silk, or half silk, are forbidden to be
imported if they have fringe sewed round them.
Up to the 4th of this month 916 ships had ar-
rived at Cronstadt, and 715 sailed.
POLOTSY, AUG. 23.—0 n the 21st the inhabitants
of this town professing the Gre, k Russian religion
were gratified by the arrival of the venerable Bishop
Smaragd, in whose person the see of Polotsk is
restored. This town is well known to have been
the see of a bishop on the first introduction of
Christianity into Russia; but towards the end of the
16th century, some bishops of the Greek com-
munity in the western parts of the empire were
driven by constant oppression and persecution from
the Roman Catholic clergy to join the western
church, and from that time the Greek clergy
seemed to have lost for ever the see of Polotsk, as
the number of their followers in all White Russia
and Lithuania decreased more and more, so that at
present only a few thousands have remained true to
their faith. The deplorable state of the Greek
church in this part of the empire has justly attracted
the attention of his Majesty the Emperor, who to
the numerous favours which he has .41ready conferred
on the Greek church, has added the restoration of
the Greek see of Polotsk, and, consider,ng the cir-
cumstances of the case, his Majesty has been pleased
to select himself the person who should first have
the dignity of Bishop of Polotsk. It is difficult
to describe the impatience with which the small
community at Polotsk awaited his coming, and the
joy with which they received him. The cathedral
built by the Jesuits, and now converted into a
Gre:k church, was filled with followers of all re-
ligious parties, who were addressed by the new
bishop in a manner that did honour to the choice of
his sovereign.

ST. PETIRSBURGII, SEPT. 6.—Exchange on Lon-
don, 10 25.32.

We take the following from the Finisterre
of the 12th inst. :—" The seaweeds with which the coast
f Britanny is covered bad been unapplied to any purposes
but that of manure until a very few years ago, when M.
Guilhem established at Conquet a manufactory of soda, a
produce well known to be extracted from seaweed. This
establishment, commenced upon a very small scale, has,
within a very short space of time, attained a most extraor-
dinary state of prosperity. It produces iodine, the hydriates
and the nitrates of potash, and the sulphates of soda; but
another invaluable result is derived to the country from the
ashes, which the factory is enabled to supply at half the
price at which they could be obtained previously."

The projected extension of the Railway System
through various districts of this country renders it a
subject, at least interesting, if not important, to the
community at large. The advantages or disadvan-
tages of it should be ascertained, before we decide
whether to encourage or repress the enterprise. If
it clearly tends to evil, our opposition should be
strenuous and persevering—if to good, then are we
justified, nay, bound, to promote it, for the public
benefit. It is self evident that three purposes may
be suggested as the ordinary motives for travelling
from place to place—business, health, or amuse-
ment ; and against these may be presented as many
obstacles, arising from loss of time, fatigue of jour-
ney, or expense.
There are two parties deeply concerned in the
issue of this momentous question ; and we shall
consider the consequences upon each distinctly,
with the view of simplifying the argument.
First, let us refer to the Proprietors, who may
unite their means for the construction of the rail-
way, and then to the public, for whose service it
may be so constructed.
We take it for granted that profit is the chief
motive for the advance of money to promote any
public work. o,her considerations may enter into
the calculation of individuals, affecting each in
various degrees; but the leading, ruling principle, in
money matters, is the hope of gain; and the expe-
rience of others, in similar undertakings, is generally
the guide to lead, or the beacon to warn
A mine in South America, in bygone days, may
have presented a sufficient temptation to place at
hazard even the fortunes of individuals; yet, after
the afflicting result of recent experiments, few
would be now found willing to contribute to such a
scheme. Loans to Foreign States, with unsettled
Governments, just emerging from the labours and
difficulties of long continued civil revolt, have been
too frequently the bitter tests of our national credu-
lity to admit of such reverses falling again to our
lot in the present day. Nor have the sufferers in
such instances been consoled for their own loss by
the reflection, that the sacrifice has advanced the
good of their country.
In applying this argument to the Proprietors of
Railway Companies, we are naturally led to inquire
the exact result of those undertakings which may
be considered complete in their execution. Upon
reference to the published list of Shares, we find
that—

The Stockton and Darlington Railway Shares,
costing 1061. 13s. 4d., are at 2971. 10s.
The Liverpool and Manchester Railway Shares,
costing 1001., are at 2101.
The Liverpool and Manchester Railway Shares,
costing 25/. are at 521.
In the next place, we ascertain, from the same
source, that of unfinished works—

The Liverpool and Birmingham Shares, on which
101. have been paid, are selling at 11/. 10s.
The London and Birmingham Shares, on which
51. have been paid, are selling at 71. 10s.
Discrimination in the relative prospects of each
Company will, of course, controul the value of the
shares. Where large expenses may be incurred,
whether arising from the nature of country
through which the railway is to be conducted, or
from persevering and influential opposition, the ex-
pectation of profit must be naturally diminished.
The character of the estimates, both of cost and
revenue, must also affect the prospects of the enter-
prise. No man of sense will blindly league himself
to a cause which bears in name only, and not in
essential qualifications, the appearance of a winning
game. Much may be ascribed, moreover, to the
virtue of names connected with the project. The
inquiry should be made as to their known discretion
and aptness for business. More reliance is to be
placed on the distinction of commercial and general
knowledge, than of rank in the management of such
extensive interests. Where these various advan-
tages may be found to co-operate, no reasonable
doubt can be entertained of an abundant gain to the
original proprietors.
The harvest, we know, cannot be perpetual to all
who may hereafter become interested in them. The
shares will become profitable to those who may first
purchase them, and will, in their possession, rapidly
acquire their intrinsic value; subsequently, they will
be held as an investment upon terms of equality
with other sources for the employment of money.
The present purchaser of a Liverpool and Manches-
ter share will enjoy but 4 per cent. upon his capital.
The original adventurer has either realised 110 per
cent, on his first advance, or is annually receiving Si
per cent. interest on his money:
If, therefore, railroad proper ty, judiciously selected,
be likely to yield considerable emolument to those
who embark their capital in it, we may reasonably
expect to witness an extension of the system; and
it behoves us to consider, in the next place, what
influence it will probably have on the public at large.
It is self-evident, that three purposes may be
suggested as the ordinary motives for travelling
from place to place—business, health; or amuse-
ment; and against these may be presented, arising
from loss of time, fatigue of journey, or expense.
Can we hope that the institution of any human
scheme will be so perfect in itself, as to lessen at
once all the difficulties, and promote all the purposes
of this essential work ? IF, however, we direct our
minds steadily to the effect of Railroads, we shall
find that niuch of this virtue has been discovered in
them. What would now be thought of au eight
(lays' journey from Edinburgh, or even two days'
journey from Bath or Bristol to London ? This
was the ordinary labour of travelling within the last
sixty years. The natural speed of horses, improved
by their breeding, and combined with the ingenuity
of matt, has reduced two-thirds of this severe
fatigue and loss of time. When our minds revert
to it, do they not shudder at the thoughts of tie
toilsome journey as contrasted with the actual facility
of travelling in the present day ? And shall we
then withhold our applause from an invention
which, devoid of all cruelty to animals, in-
power of steam, a rate still
accelerated from ten to five and
furthertr o d in-
troduces, e s , by the
twenty mles per hour ! Adam Smith justly
remarks, that roads and bridges are important ele-
ments in national wealth, and this in proportion to
their relative degrees of applicability to the uses for
which they are designed. Applying this maxim to
rail-roads, we must quickly discern the incalculable
advantages they will confer on the public, with re-
ference to improving the mode of travelling. They
will facilitate commerce and encourage agriculture
by a saving of half the time and expense to those
who, being engaged in such pursuits, have now oc-
casion to travel. The firmer can reach a distant
market and transact his business with a compara-
tively short absence from his dirties at home. 1-le
may, for the same cost, visit and take the advantage
of various markets, with less difficulty than
his attendance at one place now involves. His pro-
duce will be transported whither he may desire it,
at a vastly reduced expense, and the requisite sup-
plies for his land, or his domestic establishment, will
be furnished with similar advantage. The grazier
can insure his cattle reaching the market in the best
condition, without loss of weight, and at a moderate
charge. The tradesman must largely participate in
most of the same benefits. His stock, too, may be
diminished by the facility of procuring a ready sup-
ply, when needful, by rapid communication with

It is unnecessary to point out the many advantages
of this system of travelling to the country gentle-
man, or to those who are induced to move about
for the sake of amusement. It is chiefly to th, in.
firm and invalids that the diminished fatigue will be
of consequence. No person who has made the ex-
periment can doubt the fact of that result.
To all, the comforts must be obvious; but in no
case more closely so, than to the industrious labour-
ing population of the country, who will procure
their fuel at a comparatively low price, and be placed
in possessiOn of many enjoyments to which they
are at present strangers. The facility of intercourse
will enable the higher classes to live, or at least to
frequeo their residences in the country, more
than they now feel inclined to do. Their presence
connot fail to promote the comforts of the lower
orders.

Lastly, we may advert to the undeniable blessing
of procuring, when in sickness, the best professional
advice which human skill can give. The rapidity
of travelling, the cheapness of it, and the absence of
all fatigue, will render that blessing accessible to all
residing in distant country villages, where, under
present circumstances, it it utterly unattainable.
Nor is the security of this mode of travelling to
be overlooked. Under all the disadvantages of
novelty in the system, we have heard only of two
accidents since the Liverpool and Manchester Rail-
road has been opened, which is quite dispropor-
tionate to the number of passengers conveyed on
it, as contrasted with the ordinary travelling by
coaches.

The fear of steam-navigation at first operated
powerfully against its use, and unquestionably some
few accidents, from inexperince, did then occur.
The trial of many years has now proved the alarm to
have been groundless ; and we know that steam-
vessels have been long resorted to by all classes with
entire confidence as to the security of them, and are
greatly preferred to any other means of travelling,
no less on account of time and expense saved, than
of fatigue avoided. Hence we cannot but infer that
the same, if not even stronger motives, will in-
fluence and insure the prosperity of the railway
system.
We have been led into these general remarks by
observing that there are several projects of this
❑ature now before the public. Local interests will
of course be at work to support the schemes most
closely in alliance with them, and we doubt not of
eventual success to many.