The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-25 00:00:00

RAILIVAY INTELLIGENCE.

HERNE-BAY AND FAVERSHAM. .
A meeting of the inhabitants of Whitstable was held on
Tednesday for the purposo of taking into consideration
the proposed line of railway from Herne-bay and Facer-
m. Dr. Williams was in the chair.
• A deputation from Herne-bay attended, consisting of
Mr. Newton, Dr. Godfrey,

Several speakers having addressed the meeting, setting
out the benefits the proposed railway would confer on the
town, _ _ .

Mr. HOLDEN proposed the following resolution :—"That
it is the opinion of this meeting that the proposed lino of
railway from Herne-bay to Faversham will be of great ad-
vantage to the town of Whitstable, and that this meeting
pledges itself to support the undertaking as far as pos-
sible."

Mr. GANN seconded the resolution, which was carried
unanimously-. _

A resolution was then passed, requesting Mr. Ellis to
represent the inhabitants of Whitstable as one of the
directors of the proposed line.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the pro.
ceedings.

PEEBLES.
The report of the directors of this company states that
the total revenue for the half-year ending Aug. 31 amounted
to 4,584/.; and the working expenses, including manage-
ment, to 2,463/., or 53 per cent., being at the rate of
ls. 244. per mile on 39,910 miles run by the locomotives.
The total mileage since the opening of the line has been
87,475,, and the average cost of locomotive power, including
repairs, has been 7.86 d. per mile. Out of the disposa-
ble balance of 2,113/. the directors recommend a dividend
at the rate of ss. per share, which will absorb 1,7501.,
leaving a balance of 3681. to be carried to the next account.
No dividend having been declared last half-year, the above
is equivalent to 2§ per cent. for the first year.

SCOTTISH NORTH-EASTERN.
The first general meeting of this company was held at
Aberdeen on Thursday ; Mr. J. Stirling presiding.
The report of the directors was approved, and resolutions
were unanimously passed to the effect that a dividend at
the rate of .6 per cent. per annum be paid upon the Aber-
deen Guaranteed 6 per Cent. Stock for the half-year endinr,
the 31st of October ; that a dividend of 32 per cent. per
annum be paid upon the Scottish Midland Consolidated
Capital Stock of the company for the half-year ending the
31st of July.; that the directors be authorised to issue divi-
dend warrants to the holders of the Aberdeen 7 per cent.
prefert nice stock, falling due thereon at the Ist of November
next ; that the number of the directors be reduced to 11,
and that their remuneration be 6001. per annum ; that the
directors be authorised to take shares in the Perth, Almond
Valley., and Methven Railway Company to the extent of
7,000/. sterling.

EAST INDIAN.
The report of the directors of this company states that
the bill enabling the company to convert its paid up capital
into stock has received the Royal assent. They do not con-
template any further issue of capital during the present
year. The accounts of revenue received show that the
working expenses, which up to the 30th of June, 1815, had
been at the rate of 67 per cent., had been reduced to 41'85
per cent. for the half-year ending the 31st of December,
1855 ; and that a further sum of 20,6211. had been paid
over to the Government of India in diminution of advan 'es
on account of interest. The Board are informed that for
the succeeding 'Jail-year, the working expenses will bear
even a lesser ratio to the receipts. The number of passen-
gers carried on the line from the Ist of January to the 30th
of June last was 432,321, of which 6,466 were first-class,
23,256 second-class, and 402,599 third-class. The result as
compared with the preceding half-year shows an increase
of 25,794 passengers. The tonnage of goods was 33,010
tons, against 20,020 tons at the corresponding period of
1855. As the inland transit between Ranegunge and the
upper provinces is of a very inferior description, no large
amount of revenue must be expected from goods generally
until a greater portion of the line is opened. The directors
regret to report that Mr. Stephenson's health has broken
down in the performance of his arduous duties, and that
he is compelled to relinquish the company's agency in In-
dia in consequence. While the directors have reason to be
satisfied with the rate of progress during the last six
months on the greater portion of the works, they are dis-
appointed with the proceedings of some of the contractors
on other portions. The section between Allahabad and
Cawnpore will not be opened so early as was contemplated
in India, owing to the difficulty which the board apprehend
might supervene of conveying heavy materials up the coun-
try. The works from Cawnpore to Delhi will be con-
structed by the railway company's own officers.
At the suggestion of the authorities surveys were con-
ducted by Mr. Purser, the company's chief engineer in the
upper provinces, during the working season of 1855.56,
with a view to determine the best means of railway com-
munication between Mirzapore and Juppulpore ; and the
result shows a favourable line of 250 miles, at a cost, exclu-
sive of Polling stock and superintendence, of about
2,000,0001. This line will form one of tho great trunk
lines of India, and the district through which it passes
commands a traffic which cannot fail to be largely remune•
rative. The board of directors are prepared to recommend
the proprietors to enter into a contract for the new line,
on the understanding that, during its construction, the
accounts are kept distinct from those of the line to Delhi,
and that no proceedings under that contract shall interfere
to prevent the shareholders coming into possession of their
share of the profits which may be made beyond the guaran-
teed rate of interest on the capital expended under their
present contracts. In the event of the proprietary adopt-
ing the recommendation of the board the capital will be
offered, when the terms are finally settled, from time to
time, to the shareholders in rateable proportions.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.

TRAFFIC RETURNS FOR THE WEEK.

EDICT OF THE CHURCH 01? ROME
AGAINST HERETICAL CONTAGION.

Is time one and the same thing for all mankind,
flowing on in one unvarying stream, carrying along
with it prejudices, errors, and delusions of all
kinds, and cantinually bringing down new convic-
tions to replace the old ; or is time a different
thing to different people, "galloping," as Shaks-
pere says, "with some, and standing entirely still
with others ?" The question may seem a strange
one, but it really seems impossible to believe that
Thomas Vincent Airaldi, of the Order of Preachers,
Master in Sacred Theology, and Grand Inquisitor
in the diocese of Ancona and certain other lands
and localities, specially appointed by the Holy See
against heretical depravity, can actually exist on
the surface of this planet at the same time with
Humboldt and with Herschel, with the inventors
of the electric telegraph, with Faraday, with Lyell,
'or with Grote ? Was Thomas Airaldi born 300
years ago, and has he slept the sleep of Nourjahad
or Rip van Winkle, and awoke into the 19th cen-
tury with the ideas and prejudices of the 16th
We cannot tell ; but some supposition at least as
extraordinary as this is needed to explain the ex-
istence at the present time of so singular and mon-
strous a phenomenon. This Grand Inquisitor, in
his zeal against heretical depravity, informs us,
" that without the Catholic faith, as the Apostle
Paul writes to the Jews, it is impossible to please
God." The word of the Apostle is " faith, and
" Catholic" is the addition of the Grand Inquisitor,
whose indignation against heretical depravity does
not prevent him from garbling the text of Scripture
by wilful misquotation. The document in ques•
tion proceeds to enjoin all persons to inform and
testify against all persons of their acquaintance
who are heretics, Jews, Mahomedans, or apos-
tates, or " who may have committed acts from
which sufficient proof might be deduced that they
are in open or secret league with the Devil, per-
forming acts of sorcery, magic, or necromancy,
offering to the above-named (that is to say, the
Devil) perfumes, incense, or prayers for the disco-
very of treasures, or other unholy purposes, by in-
vocations or promises of obedience, or by other
practices in which his name or others are invoked
who are familiar with or who practise necromancy,
or no matter what sort of magic." There are a great
many more offences enumerated, and this marvel-
lous document, which is ordered to be posted up in
all shops and hotels, concludes with two especial
denunciations. The first is against those who use
any book not previously approved by the Holy
Office ; and the second against Christians who
sleep, eat, or play with a Jew, or disguise them-
selves in the garments of that stiff-necked race. It
is signed by the same Thomas Airaldi, on the Bth
day of August of this present year (1856).
If the Church of Rome requires from its disci-
ples that they should learn much, on the other
hand it makes them the compensation that it asks
them to unlearn nothing. Every absurdity to
which the human mind for the last 1,800 s ears
has bowed in degrading submission is petrified
for the use of the faithful, and dug up at suitable
intervals to show how far the infallible Church is
raised above the progress of human intelligence,
and how completely she can afford to despise the
lessons of experience and the dictates of reason.
Because, during the dark ages, when the belief in
witchcraft and necromancy was universal, the
Church of Rome, never before and often behind
the age, proscribed these imaginary offences,
the same form must again and again be ;one
through, that she may not be supposed to falter or
draw back from positions which she has once occu-
pied. She is cursed with infallibity, and can there-
fore retrench no extravagance and admit no cor-
rection. It has come to be pretty generally ad-
mitted, whatever opinions existed to the contrary
in the days of Faust and Margaret, that the
" abovenamed" enters into no league with the sons
of men ; and, indeed, the sanity of the late Mr.
Dove was gravely doubted by many persons, prin-
cipally on the ground of his having sought to enter
into a contract of the kind of which the most Holy
inquisition desires to be particularly informed.
We wonder what kind of response such an adjura-
tion as this meets with from the true sons of the
Church—what kind of evidence the Holy Office re-
quires to establish a league with the " above-
named,"—what manner of perfumes and incense
are agreeable. to the nostrils of the enemy of man-
kind. The Prince of Darkness is a gentleman by
reputation, and, as such, probably exquisite and
recherche in his taste. Can the Jesuit tell us any-
thing about him, and where he is to be found?
Magic, too, and necromancy, which the cold
fancy of this northern land finds only in the per-
formances of the Wizard of the North and the
King of the Conjurors ! How delightful to find
that on the coasts of the sunny Adriatic there are
Mill ghosts and enchanters, and that the land of
Ariosto has not subsided into the prose of modern
life ! Let them come—spectres and goblins, en-
chanters, and enchantresses, Astolfos and Admiral
—Thomas Airaldi, Grand Inquisitor, specially ap-•
pointed against heretical depravity, is ready for
them all, and will treat them with as little mercy,
as if they had "abused the locality of penance," or
slept, eaten, or played at cribbage with the Jew.
Perhaps it is good for human pride that the
Church of Rome should offer to us from time to
time these incredible manifestations of folly and
fatuity. We have obtained so large a dominion
over the powers of nature, we are achieving
triumphs so great and unexpected, that we might
be tempted to overrate the scope of the human
faculties if the Church of Rome were not per-
petually there, to remind us of the boundless credu-
lity and infantile superstition of which that same
human intellect is capable. For the Church of
Rome the earth does not revolve upon her axis,
nor perform her annual journey round the sun.
Rome is as sceptical of the most undoubted truth as
credulous of the clearest and most unquestioned
falsehood, yet still she stands erect amidst admir-
ing thousands, denouncing imaginary crimes and
punishing imaginary heresies, and never, probably,
at any former period held so large a portion of
mankind under her sway as at this moment. Pride
was not made for man ;—if any one doubts it, let
him ponder well the history of the Holy Office,
and he will doubt no snore.—Times.

BOILER EXPLOSION AT MIDDLESBOROUGH.

MIDDLESBOROUGH-ON TEES, OCT. 23,

The inquest on Williamson, White, Atkinson, and
Cheeseman, the four men killed by the explosion of a le-
e trnotive on Thursday last, was resumed this morning
by Mr. J. P. Sowerby, at the Exchange.
It, was stated at the commencement of the inquiry
that tw • of the injured men were still in an unfit state
to give evidence, Robson, the fitter, being quite blind.
The only witness called was
R. Archer, engine-driver, who said,—l was upon the
engine at the time of the accident. Thomas Williamson,
Charles Atkinson, Thomas White, Matthew Cheeseman,
and James Robson, a fitter, were also there. We
is,se the steam up by Mr. Williamson's orders. Having
lit the fire at 11 o'clock, the steam was up about two
o'clock, or a quarter past. Mr. Williamson just b, fore
the accident asked what pressure there was upon her.
I told him 781 b., and he said I was to screw the spring
balance down a bit further—down to 100. I proceeded
to do so, and in a moment the boiler burst. I know no•
thing more. I saw no leakage when he gave these orders,
and I certainly apprehended no danger. I had sufficient
confidence in Mr. Williamson to obey his orders. When
a new engine is finished it is usual to test her in the
aNhaamivieelianmbrea,sueonn tewrhoaadsotrftihtiitff eson engines
ascertain her power. There
nesed e
builtoinotnhee
else.works.l. wa
Mr.s
Williamson control, and blown off in the exp!osion, and had my head cut by a
piece of plate. I only saw one of the dead bodies before
they catried me away.
By a Juror— The boiler was full of water at the time.
I bad noticed the glass just before. We had ran her the
whole previous week at 130 generally. It would take
perhaps half an hour to get the pressure up from 72 to
100. Where the boiler was standing she could not be
got up to 72 in less than three hours. I had no chance
to see how high she had got at the moment she burst.
It was by Mr. Willicinson's orders that we had in the
previous week raised the steam to 130. Perhaps 85 or
90 would have done the work, or part of it. We ran
her at 130 the whole week. She was weak from having
so many rivets replaced, but it was not my place to say
anything, so I thought Mr. Williamson knew better
than
I h
I. I expect
screwed them downpectthebalancepr to 100
operlyand w
indicated the
s
lilting my hand off when :he burst.
The C.,,roner asked the jury if there was any other
stoodld
o
i)
the 1 i theyl . surgeon, n
himw fu
that the
rnt havetyh,e h amt e
nl called.loacrpon appeared
dagle
nthdt adhadat
attend.
under.etnehdne
The witness Archer, however, had so satisfactorily Com-
pleted
there s it
seemed to be
us statements aT necessity
jeetunsi ist.eyis
tyecevoof
nieudrcleduanreerbeiyenttvhbi contradicted.i3nntgthfuainsrl
further.
ew,
The Coroner briefly summed up. Thescimxppelreiefnaccetds
d be that here were certain gentlemen build-
ingseemeeslotul lutj (gt)ei nlgyei '1(e).1 terbsd:Lai and employing
o were
et
'theewane public i that'4'a s
abthey should be tested, because it was better that the
wee en the works should run the risk than the pub
lic who lode in railway carriages, or to whom eneines
horse power. This
p‘wyrieol recelet:seonlodfe:tsepsl tloisenilgoungwt°4,ogB:o) nig"entyi in the ordinary way
place, and these fuer men
were accid,-ntally killed.

Tale jury, alter retiruig a abort time, found that rho
men loi,t their lives by accident', but added that they
could not separate with Put censuring the
alsopractice of
substituting copper studs for rivets. They
that a boiler which showed such signs of weakness as
to "start" 40 rivets sh iuld have been condemned ; and
they recommended that these trials of strength should
be made without exposing.so many lives.
The Coroner said the foreman had better comma.
niehte the views of the jury tO Mesi4rs. Bolekow and
Vaughan, his duty being to take their rtrdict
This concluded the proceedinge.