The Sun.
London, England, 1835-12-15 00:00:00

I be observed that when this line reaches Nether Whitacre it
I arrives within seven miles and a half of the London and
Birmine am railway at Hampton-in-Arden ; and I have,
therefore (said the Right Hon. Barnet), little doubt that a
junction with it will be effected near that place. I also
think that it will be a great advantage to this 'town
and neighbourhood that such a junction should be effected,
and that we should by no means limit the advantages to be
gain'ed by us from this railway to Birmingham alone, but
that we ought also to have a direct communication with
London. My hope is that this will be effected, and
that this railway will not only connect us with Birming-
ham, but also with the London and Birmingham rail-
way, by. uniting with it at some point near Hampton-
in-Arden. Gentlemen, I state to you freely my belief
is, that this undertaking is likely to succeed, but it would
have been more satisfactory to me to have had longer
time to have considered of it, and ' to have seen the
calculations upon which its success depends. I did not
see the plan of this railway till about six weeks ago ; and
I am now speaking without any accurate details ; but, ar-
guing from a general impression, and a strong opinion I
have in favour of railways generally, and looking at the great
interests concerned between Leeds and Gloucester, I am
inclined to think that it will succeed, ant that it will meet
the encouragement of Parliament ; but I will reserve to
myself, and I recommend you to reserve also, a final deci-
sion, until you see the calculations that are 'essential to it.
Gentlemen, I most cordially hope this project will succeed.
I shall give it my assent as a landed proprietor, and I shall
support it in my place in Parliament, for it does not appear
to me to be one of those speculations with which at pre-
sent the newspapers so much abound. As regards the local
interests of Tamworth, we have the best guarantee in the
character of the gentlemen who are conducting the under-
taking : they arc persuaded that this is the line which will
be of most advantage to Birmingham, and which can be
effected at the least expense, and I confess that what I have
:heard from Mr. Smith still more recommends it to me.
I tell these gentlemen we feel deeply interested in the wel-
fare and prosperity of Birmingham ; it is the great metro-
polis near which we live, and there is nothing which can
tend to produce an increased demand for Birmingham ma-
nufactures, and promote the welfare of Birmingham, which
must not, at the same time, prove advantageous to us, and
increase the prosperity of Tamworth. If we can establish
this proposed communication with Birmingham it will bring
us within half an hour of each other, and promote the mu-
tual good understanding and sympathy which exists between
us. I have now, Gentlemen, stated to you the reasons
which will induce me to give my assistance to this measure,
and I again repeat that it is_ my int :ntion to give it my
strenuous support. I do so, believing it will conduce to the
prosperity of this town and neighbourhood, in which I take
the deepest interest. Mr. Smith has justly remarked that
Birmingham has risen to importance from its central posi-
tion, and from the means of communication which it pos-
sesses with other large and important districts ; and I hope
the gentlemen who originated, and who will have to carry
this railway into execution, will perceive that the interest
we take in it must depend upon the facilities afforded to
us in making use of it as a direct and convenient commu-
nication from this town. The advantages of railways do
not consist so much in the carriage of heavy goods as in
the conveyance of passengers and of the lighter articles
of manufacture, in which they are of infinite impor-
tance. If, therefore, we are to have a railway
.pass through
Tamworth, and the only advantage ,we are to derive from
it is to be the pleasure of seeing passengers comfortably
travelling along it at the rate of thirty miles an hour, the
benefit to us, indeed, will be but very small, not much
greater than we should derive from seeing a balloon pass
over our heads ; therefore, when we say we are willing to
support this line of railway, it is with this necessary reserve
—that the originators of it shall do es erything that is in
their power for the benefit and convenience of this town
and neighbourhood, and with the understanding that we are
to have a station at Tamworth. Where it may be cannot
now be determined, but I hope it will be in the most ad.
vantageous place for the inhabitants, without regard to any
personal considerations. I trust a Committee will be ap-
pointed to confer with the undertakers of the measure, and
after the fullest discussion and mature consideration I hope
that situation will be adopted which will give the greatest
facility for convenience to the inhabitants of Tamworth and
the surrounding places. I hope also the interests of the
agriculturists of the neighbourhood' will be consulted. I
' know we shall derive advantage from having a rapid
transit to the Birmingham market, by which we can, in
half an hour perhaps, deliver our provisions in that
town ; but these advantages will materially depend upon
the facilities afforded to the farmers to get their pro-
duce upon the line of railway, and although I am aware
great inconvenience would arise from a multiplication a
the principal stations, I hope subordinate stations will be
made on the line for the purpose of effecting this object,
without obliging the farmers to carry their produce any long
distances to the station-houses. I am aware that doubts have
been expressed by the agriculturists with respect to fle
advantages of railroads to them, but I confess I do nit
share in these derubts ; I do not think we can do better for
the agriculturists than to open for them. new markets by
the proposed communications with the large towns. It is
thought by some there will not be so great a demand for
horses, and that, consequently, a decrease in the consump-
tion of corn will ensue. In my opinion, these apprehen-
sions need not be entertained. The same objections were
f It with respect to the canals, when they were originated,
lint they have proved groundless. The general prosperity
of the country will be increased by railways, as it has been
by canals, and, consequently,' there will be a general in-
crease of traffic, and the demand for horses will not, on
the whole, be decreased ; of course, on the present main
lines of coach travelling, fewer coaches may be em-
ployed, but the traffic in lateral directions will be ins
creased by the general improvement. When it was pro-
posed in the - House of Commons to have a steam-boat
between London and Calais the innkeepers on the line
of road between London and Dover feared they should
be ruined, and petitioned against the measure ; but
every . one knows that since the establishment of steam_
brats toaere is a far greater traffic on that road than ther
was kefore ; such will, I believe; be the case with rail"
ways. In my opinion railways will increase in number,
and with them not only the prosperity of the manufacturing
but also of the agricultural interests. I shall conclude by
proposing the Resolution. I propose it with a view to pro-
mote discussion, because before you give your consent to this
project, the originators of which admit it will be of advan-
tage to the town of Birmingham, and beneficial to them-
selves, I wish you to make the best terms you can for the
benefit of this place. There is one other subject to which
I will call your attention. The convening of this meeting
by the municipal authorities of this town is the last act
which they will have to perform in their corporate capa-
city, the period having now arrived at which we come
under the operation of the New Corporation Act. I hope
you will all cordially join with me in regarding this, their
last act, as one calculated to promote the prosperity of this
town and neighbourhood, and as gracing their retirement
from an office of which they have zealously and faithfully
performed the duties. The Right Hon. Baronet concluded
a speech which was listened to with the deepest attention,
by moving the Resolution.
Mr. W. PARSONS, jun., seconded the Resolution, with
some very appropriate observations. He remarked that he
could only attribute the fact of Tamworth being without
any considerable manufacture, to the circumstance that it
was out of the line of the various communications of the
country. In one of the neighbouring towns he observed a
large ribbon manufactory ; in another, a large stocking
manufactory ; in another, an extensive hat manufactory ;
and he had no doubt that if Tamworth possessed the ad-
vantagei which this railway offered, it also would rise in
the scale of manufacturing importance. He should support
. the project, therefore, as one tending much to the advan-
tage of Tamworth, and give it his cordial assent.
The Right Hon. Wtaasast PEEL, 111. Pa briefly addressed
i the meeting, and said that he attended rather in the cha-

racter of a listener, to hear the opinions of others, than as
a speaker to deliver his own. His determination was to be
guided by the wishes of his constituents in reference to the

subject then under consideration, and if a majority of them
were favourable to the projected line of railway, he should
most certainly support it in his place in Parliament, and
if. they were opposed to it he also should oppose it. That
was the course which lie considered a representative ought
to pursue. • It might; however, happen, that the interest of
the representative was such as to prevent him from voting
according to the wishes of his constituents, in that case he
thought he ought to resign his seat, and give way to one
whose interests did not interfere with those of his consti-
tuents ; and who could .properly represent their wishes. In
reference to the present undertaking; he must say he felt
sorry it had been found necessary 10 interfere so materially
with his property ; still, if it appeared that the railway
would be productive of benefit to the town and neighbour-
hood, and have the effect of promoting the general prosperity
of the country, he should give it his support, regardless of
perSonal consideration.—(Applause.) He had endeavoured
to induce the projectors of this railway to take a line less
injurious, to him, by carrying it along the boundary of his
estate, or, if he must use a sporting phrase, he wished them
to wing him, and not shoot him point blank. In this, how-
ever, he could not succeed, and lie supposed it must now be
en bill, the whole bill, and nothing but the bill.—(Laughter.)
He- trusted he should, on the present occasion, as lie had
always done, endeavour to promote, as far as be could,
the individual and collective interests of the town of Tam-
worth. He did not wish to impose upon the proprietors
of the projected road, any restrictions incompatible with
their interests, or such as were not generally required
from others in similar cases, but he must say, if he could,
he should like to have them bound to finish the work in
a given- time: He could not conceive anything less pic-
turesque or less useful than an _unfinished line of railway