The Sun.
London, England, 1832-10-09 00:00:00

Perhaps the greatest speed attained by any vehicle
was between Kriut.ford arid Hoo Green. The road
is good, and may be termed a fair give and take piece
of ground. The distance is three miles and a half.
The ground was passed over in seven minutes. On
leaving Hoo Green our fuel was found of an in-
ferior quality. The few bags so liberally pro-
mised by the directors of the railway were ac-
cidentally changed for cokes which were rejected
as unfit for their use, and consequently our pro-
gress was retarded, though, at times, considerable
speed was obtained on adding a little coal to the
fuel. We had been kindly warned arid most judiciously
instructed how to proceed, by Mr. Bretherton's
brother-in-law and the guard of the mail, on reach-
ing the embankment at Bold-heath. Many were
the bets that we could not surmount and cross this
soft, shaking, new and high embankment. Many
scientific men deemed it as the last and only test
required to prove to the satisfaction of the most
sceptical the prodigious power possessed by us.
With a full charge of water, several bags of coke,
much luggage, and five persons (the rest of the party
had got down to witness the trial and lighten the
carriage) the vehicle majestically and steadily as-
cended the shaking and waving fabric at full ten
miles an hour. Not a voice was heard, even the
numerous workmen belonging to the St. Helen's
railway stood in anxious expectation, but no sooner
was the summit gained than a simultaneous shout
burst from all the spectators, and the coach with
accelerated speed regained the solid ground. Du-
ring the whole distance the power was evident ; for
steam even at the steepest point of ascent was blow-
ing off at both the valves, and when we stopped, we
were compelled to open the fire-doors and shut the
damper while the party resumed their seats. It
must be remembered that this great feat was achieved
with a portion of the boiler cut out and left on the
road; with one other portion injured, and narrow
wheels. To have verged six inches on either side
would have entailed certain destruction, and though
the shaking mass screwed, as it were, the vehicle
to the left, so completely under command is
the steering, that she was guided truly in the
track. With the exception of the two portions of
the boiler injured, there is riot the remotest appear-
ance of the slightest leak. Rushing down a flinty
hill at fifty miles an hour has not started it one
hair's breadth, the rattling over various pavements,
even after the boiler was red hot, has not produced
the least effect. Every joint is perfectly tight,
which, considering the vibration, arid the pressure
of 200ibs. on the square inch, may be deemed the
acquisition of an important point. The furnace has
suffered slightly, but not so much as might have
been expected, considering that it is made of thin
sheet iron.

The substitution of meehanient Gs.
ror Lne purposes ot pubic transit can no longer be a
question. Perhaps among the improvements to
which it may lead, are the partial levelling of the
hills, making the roads hard and sound; and where
the traffic is great and the speed required upwards
of fifteen miles an hour, a train will be laid down of
hard stone, each about three feet long, one and a
half broad and deep; on which not only steam, but
other vehicles will run. This is contemplated be-
tween Manchester and Liverpool, which would pro-
bably return a considerable portion of the traffic and
personal transit from the railway to the common
road. It may be a question—and a serious one--
with the public, after our experiment, how far the
railways proposed are advisable—either as a mean
of transit or an investment of capital.

N. 0. and W. A. S.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

G UILDHALL.

Mr. Wooler, one of the clerks in Mr. Harmer's
office, attended before Aldermen KELLY and VE-
NABLES yesterday, to answer the complaint of Wil-
liam Adamson, for assaulting him and obstructing
him in the execution of his duty as one of the me-
tropolitan police inspectors, at the New Inn, in the
Old Bailey, on the 13th of September last.
The particulars of this affair have been repeatedly
brought under the public eye in our Bow-street re-
ports. A man named Nicholas Wood (who was
waiting with others to give evidence in behalf of a
prisoner named Jephson, then about to be tried at
the Sessions) was apprehended by Adamson on
tf
eh re suspicioned
prisoner,
jef,r,bpu;Dslhaoir; and Adamson now deposed
that on searching the prisoner Mr. Wooler inter-
cgoimveplayionuarn t
praospideer,tystaoid
thatto
fellow; give it to me ;" and in consequence of this
interruption, complainant did not obtain possession
of a silk handkerchief, which he suspected had been
stolen.

Mr. Wooler said Wood was attending in favour
of Jephson, and when Adamson apprehended him,
he asked him to allow him to remain till he had
given his evidence. Adamson refused to do so, and
he then said, " Let me have the property." On
raking possession of the notes, he gave Adamson
the numbers. He denied that he had touched him,
although he was disconcerted at a m3terial witness in
favour of Jephson being thus taken away.
Mr. Alderman KELLY thought Mr. Wooler wou'd
not have interfered if the case had been an ordinary
one, and, under the circumstances, his conduct was
perhaps excusable.

. .
Mr. Alderman VENABLES thought they should
not decide on the matter in question, but leave the
Police Commissioners, if they considered it right to
take further proceedings, at liberty to indict Mr.
Wooler.

Mr. Wooler said he should be ready to meet the
charge.

Tile MAGISTRATES, in dismissing the complaint,re-
peated that Mr. \Vooler remained open to an indict-
ment, and Adamson said he had no doubt the Com-
missioners would indict him.