The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-24 00:00:00

line, and of local accommodation, united with the cer-
tainty of low charges, can be obtained by an economical
combination like that of the Cambridge and Lincoln
scheme, it would be bad policy to risk those great ad-
vantages by preferring a scheme like that of the London
and York, so much more expensive that it must remain
problematical whether, if sanctioned, it would be com-
pleted, or if completed, could be efficiently worked at
low rates of charge.
The same observations would apply equally to any
new trunk line out of London, between the lines already
sanctioned from London to Cambridge and London to
Birmingham. The line to Cambridge was originally
'auctioned by the Legislature as the first link of a trunk
line to Lincoln and York, and the same route has been
subsequently recommended by the C•romissioners who
have reported on the subject. We should not consider
that this circumstance in itself gave any vested interest
to the existing Cambridge line in the northern commu-
nication, provided a line better for public purposes had
been proposed in a different direction. But, independently
of considerations of expense,it is by no means clear to us
that the proposed line of the London and York, by Hunting-
don, Hitchin, Biggleswade, and Barnet to King's Cross,
deserves a preference over that by Cambridge. As a
through line, we have already stated our opinion that
the superior gradients and metropolitan terminus of the
Cambridge route fully compensate for the disadvantage
in actual distance. The town of Cambridge, beth from
its population, its market, and as the seat of the Univer-
sity, is by so much the most important town between
London and York on the eastern side of the kingdom
that it is highly desirable to place it upon the main line
of communication. A large proportion of its traffic,
especially of that connected with the University, is also
towards the north, and the addition of this traffic could
not fail to give considerable support to the main line,
and to facilitate the running of frequent passenger trains.
The extension of the Cambridge route also affords ac-
commodation between Cambridge and Peterborough to ,
St. Ives, Ramsey, Whittlesea, and a larger amount of;
population than the London and York route, which only
supplies Huntingdon.
The advantages which, from the statements submitted
to us, appear likely to result from the metropolitan ter-
minus which it is proposed to afford by the Cambridge
route, constitute another important feature in its fa-
vour. By the proposed Tottenham and Farringdon-
street Extension, a terminus will be afforded in the im-
mediate vicinity of the Post-office and of Smithfield, and
the principal markets, and at least a mile nearer to the
Bank and the West-end than that proposed by the Lon-
don and York Railway at King's-cross. This line will
also afford a station at the most convenient point for the
warehousing and distribution of grain, produce, and
other articles brought up by the railway, and for the
collection and transmission of heavy goods of every de-
scription—viz., at the City Basin, on the Regent's
Canal. Its proximity to Smithfield and Islington markets
may also afford a means of obviating many of the in-
conveniences which have been proved to exist from the
confined state of the former market, and from the driv-
ing of beasts through the crowded thoroughfares in its
vicinity, and of carrying out the views of the Select
Committee who reported open the subject in 1828.
In addition to the advantage of the Farringdon-street
terminus, the connexion with the Eastern Counties line
will afford an alternative terminus, and a means of access
to the river, for the carriage of corn, coals, timber, and
heavy articles.
It must be borne in mind, also, that the advantages of
these improved termini, although they can only be ob-
tained by the adoption of the Cambridge route to the
north, which alone could justify the requisite outlay,
will be participated in by a great portion of the traffic of
Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire, which would
otherwise be confined to the remote and inconvenient
terminus of Shoreditch.
Against all these considerations in favour of the adop-
tion of the Cambridge route, the London and York route
has nothing to oppose but the accommodation of an ad-
ditional district between London and Peterborough.
The most important town in this district, Bedford, is
already proposed to be supplied by a branch to the Lon-
don and Birmingham Railway, which will afford it the
double advantage of a communication towards London,
and towards the manufacturing districts. The popula•
tion of the other towns in the district is very small, viz.:—
Barnet 2,465
• Hatfield
Hitchin
Biggleswade
St. Neot's
Huntingdon . 3,507
and, even if the direct line could have been carried
through them at a moderate expense, it would be very
questionable whether this was a sufficient consideration
to outweigh the advantages of the Farringdon-street
station, and of placing Cambridge on the main line.
When we find, however, that the object of a difeet
line can only be attained by the construction of a line
for the first 112 miles out of London, almost equal in
extent of works to the London and Birmingham, while
all the principal objects of local accommodation may be
attained sufficiently well by comparatively cheap
branches, without endangering the success, or rather
without almost certainly insuring the failure, of the
great object of a comprehensive scheme for a new trunk
line to the north, and for connecting the principal agri-
cultural districts of England with the metropolis, with
the coal fields, and with the manufacturing districts, it is
impossible for us to arrive at any other conclusion than
that the route by Cambridge should be selected as the
first link in an extension to Lincoln and York.

(To be continued.)

THE WEST INDIA MAIL.

SOUTHAMPTON, SUNDAY.—The Royal Mail Com-
pany's steam-ship Severn, Captain Vincent, arrived last
night, at nine o'clock, bringing the usual mails in charge
of Lieutenant Oldmixon, Admiralty agent. Her dates
of departure are :—From Carthagena, Feb. 6 ; Deme-
rara, 19 ; Trinidad, 20 ; Jamaica, 23 ; Barbadoes, 24 ;
Jacmel, 25 ; Grenada, 26 ; Porto Rica, 27 ; St. Thomas's,
March 1 ; Fayal, 15.
The Severn brings as freight a quantity of gold dust
valued at 140,339 dollars, a box of pearls, value 3,800
dollars, 641bs. of plating, and a small quantity of coffee,
being the first ever imported in any of the Royal Mail
Company's steam-ships.
Her Majesty's sloop of war Scylla was at Jamaica, on
the 19th of February, but left on the same day for
Chagres, with Mr. Pritchard, her Majesty's Consul for
the Pacific. The Eurydice arrived at Port Royal on the
12th of the same month, from Antigua, and sailed on the
17th, for Vera Cruz. The Spartan also sailed on the
17th from Port Royal, for Havannah. The Pickle
schooner arrived at Port Royal on the 15th, from Nassau.
Her Majesty's ship Electra, Commander Darley, left
Port Royal on the Bth February, for a cruise ; and her
Majesty's steam-ship Hermes, Lieut. Carr, left on the
same day for Bermuda.
Jamaica papers are remarkably barren of intelligence.
It appears that the small-pox has been raging with
great virulence at Aux Cayes, Gonaives, and several
other places in the island of St. Domingo, and great fears
were entertained that the pestilence would be introduced
into Jamaica. The Governor, Lord Elgin, laid the
foundation stone of the new General Penitentiary, at the
east end of Kingston, on the 18th February, and made
an admirable speech on the occasion. The building is to
be of great extent, and the boundary wall will encompass
rather more than an area of nine acres.

Their Excellencies Sir C. Fitzroy and Sir Henry
M'Leod, and their ladies, had been on a visit to Lord
Elgin, who has given a series of entertainments, consist-
ing of a ball, &c., on a most liberal and splendid scale.
A public entertainment was also about to be got up in
the city, in honour of the distinguished visitors.
From Grenada we learn that the island was in a very
healthy state. There had not been any rain for some
weeks. _ _ _

At Tobago much sickness prevailed, and a great num-
ber of deaths had taken place ; amongst them was the
Governor, General Darling. There was scarcely a family
in the town some of whose members were not afflicted.
'I he principal disease is scarletina. It also prevailed in
some parts of British Guiana.
It appears that the account of the late fire in the island
of Barbadoes has been somewhat exaggerated. A calcu-
lation has been made, and it appears that the outside
amount of damage sustained is about 100,000/. The
principal sufferers are the merchants. The extent of
the fire, too, is not so large as represented, not more than
a fourth part of the town having been destroyed. Two
men have since died of the injuries received at the fire.
At Demerara 220 emigrants had arrived from Sierra
Leone, in the barque Arabia. They were all in high
spirits, and seemed pleased with the change. It is ge-
nerally thought that the system of emigration will be
found to answer exceedingly well in every respect.