The Sun.
London, England, 1834-10-06 00:00:00

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.

A pamphlet is this day published, embodying extracts of
the most important portions of the evidence delivered before
the committee of the House of Commons on the Great Wes-
tern Railway Bill, and calculated, from the facts which it con-
tains, to be highly useful at the present time, as a means of
placing before the public in a portable form the principal ad-
vantages which are likely to result from this undertaking. We
think it will be impossible for any one to look over evidence,
the correctness of which is guaranteed by the names of gen-
tlemen who (from their general knowledge of business and
practical acquaintance with the branches to which they speak)
are well entitled to speak on such a question, and to have their
opinions held in respect—without coming to the conclusion
that the Great Western Railway is calculated to prove emi-
nently beneficial, not alone to Bristol, but to Ireland, the West
of England, the counties through which it will pass, and to the
metropolis of the kingdom.
We regret that the pamphlet came into our hands at too late
a period of the week to enable us to give such an analysis of
its contents as its importance and great local interest might
have warranted ; but, in the absence of this, we must content
ourselves with a sketch of its bearings upon the question, which
our readers will please to take more as an index pointing to
the pamphlet itself, than as presenting anything like a fair
specimen of its contents.
The evidence is exceedingly close to the question which it
is intended to illustrate, and is directed to the following
points :—the origin of the undertaking—its influence on the
value of property—its beneficial effects on agriculture, and on
the supply of the metropolis and other towns with produce—
its advantages to Ireland—to the shipping interest—to the ex-
tension of steam navigation—to the commerce of the sea-ports
within its influence—to the trade and manufacture of the coun-
try—the facility it will afford for the transmission of troops
and military stores in cases of emergency—the character of
the line proposed to be adopted—the cost of its construction,
maintenance, and working—the sufficiency of the sources of
revenue—the prospects of remuneration to the proprietors—
and lastly, the results afforded by the railways already in ex-
istence.
These points are brought out in succession with so much
force that the inevitable conclusion is, that the great Western
Railway must work beneficially for all classes, as far as its in-
fluence extends :—beneficially to the holder of property in in-
creasing its value—beneficially to the great interests of the
country—agricultural, manufacturing, and commercial, in in-
creasing the facilities of internal communication—beneficially
to the community in general from the readiness of supply—and
beneficially to the shareholders for all these reasons in the cer-
tainty which they hold out of an extensive traffic on the Great
Western Line.
The pamphlet appears most opportunely to the public meet-
ing, which we beg to remind our readers takes place on Wed-
nesday next, at the Merchants' Hall ; and we trust that pre-
viously to the meeting it will be extensively read, as the evi-
dence which it contains is calculated to convince the most
sceptical, of the advantages of the undertaking.—Bristol
Mercury.

BRISTOL AND GLOUCESTERSHIRE RAILROAD.
—This undertaking goes on steadily and surely ; there is a
progressive increase of business with the collieries on the line.
The quantity of coal brought down the railroad in July exceeds
that in June by one hundred and seventy tons, and the quantity
carried dow►► in August exceeds that in June by nearly five
hundred tons. —Bristol Mercury.

BODMIN AND WADBRIDGE RAILWAY.—On
Tuesday last this railway was opened for the use of the public.
To the engine seventeen waggons and an omnibus were at-
tached, decorated with flags, &c. The excellent band of the
Royal Cornwall Militia attended and enlivened the scene.
The train moved forward at the rate of six miles an hour, oc-
casionally increasing the speed to about 10 miles in the same
time, and performed to the satisfaction of multitudes assembled
to witness their arrival, without the occurrence of the slightest
accident. In the afternoon a number of gentlemen sat down
to an excellent dinner at Oliver's Hotel, Sir W. Molesworth
in the chair, and the evening was spent in much conviviality.
—Cornwall Gazette.

A new iron suspension-bridge has been constructed
at Friburg, in Switzerland. The chains are 1,800 feet long.
The ravine over which they stretch is 180 feet deep. The ex-
pense has been 24,0001., of which French capitalists have ad-
vanced half. Perhaps it was on this account that on its ter-
mination, but previous to the placing of the planks, a trico-
loured flag was heisted on one of its pillars, to the great in-
dignation of the Friburg aristocrats, who threatened to unbuild
the bridge if it was not taken down. It was so placed, however,
that no workman could be found hardy enough to displace it
until the bridge was planked.—Reparateur.
ABERYSTWITII.—SHOCKING OCCURRENCE.—

A very dreadful circumstance happened on Friday last at a
place called Pennant, in the parish of Llanbadarn, Trefeglus,
in this county, Cardiganshire. It appears that a man of the
name of John Morris had, some days previously, very high
words with his wife, and a disgusting custom prevails in some
parts of Wales, whenever it comes to the ears of the common
or lower order of people, of any serious domestic strife hap-
pening in a family, to p to the man's residence, or to whatever
other place they are likely to find him, and by force to put
him upon a pole, termed a. wooden horse, in Welsh called
Keffel Prem, and in this position (a straddle over the pole) to
carry him round the neighbourhood, exposed to the hootings
anti derisions of the people.
.0n the present occasion, the
unfortunate object of their frolic had been attending an auc-
tion, and, it appears, was returning home therefrom when he
was surrounded, and au attempt was made to seize him, and
place him upon a hurdle, which he resisted (and it is reported
drew a knife on his assailants), upon which a dreadful scuffle
ensued, and Morris received several very severe blows about
the head and body, which caused his death in about three or
four hours afterwards. A Coroners Inquest sat on the body
on Monday last, and after a long investigation, the further
I proceeding were adjourned until next Friday.