The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-19 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 19 044,

FRENCH RAILWAYS.
(From the Sic/e, of the 16th October.)
During the last session, the Chambers began to
understand that the application of the law of June,
1842, to a great number of railway lines, might com-
promise the position of the treasury ; they, therefore,
voted for the railway from Amiens to Boulogne
(which will form the communication between France
and England), a lease (concession) fixed at a maxi-
mum of 99 years without any aid from the State, and
entirely at the risk and perils of the lessee (conces-
sionaire).
The adjudication of this railway took place this
morning at the office of the Minister of Public
Works. It was known beforehand that only one
company would offer, and that, consequently, there
would be no competition of a nature to shorten to
any extent the duration of the line. The adjudica-
tion was, therefore, only an affair of pure form.
Messrs. Charles Lafitte, Blount and Co., have been
declared lessees, subject to the approbation of the
Government, with the insignificant reduction of a
month, making the duration of the term 98 years
and 11 months.

The ordonnance of approval has not yet appeared,
either for the Bordeaux or the Vierzon line ; we have
alluded to the report which is current respecting the
latter, the concession of which, it is said, the Minister
hesitates to confirm, in order not to create a precedent
for a species of premium given to a transaction be-
tween companies placed in competition.
A 3 to the Bordeaux railway the exclusion, without
any reason assigned, of the D'Anthouard Company,
will be the means of formally deciding a point of
jurisprudence of great importance, in reference to
concessions of public works. The D'Anthouard
Company has appealed to the Council of State, de-
manding the annulling of the adjudication, upon the
ground that the company had fulfilled all the condi-
tions required by the law, and by the order of the
Minister issued in execution of the law. This com-
pany is still in ignorance of the causes of its exclusion,
for M. Dumon has positively refused to state them.
'We know how extensive are the powers which the
Chambers have given to the Minister; we do not

pretend to judge of the motives of the very serious
decision come to by him, in regard to the D' Anthouard
Company, since those are a sealed book to all the
world. Without, however, wishing to attack the use
made of the blank seal confided to the Government,
we may be permitted to express our astonishment
that it has not been deemed proper to assign any
cause of refusal, thereby placing the directors of the
excluded company in a most unpleasant position with
their subscribers.

M. Dumon has overstrained administrative rigour,
because his brother and his cousin are among the
founders of the company; but with all due respect
for such scruples, we are bound to state that it is not
under our form of Government that a sentence can
be pronounced without a reason being assigned, thus
leaving strong doubts of its justice. Otherwise the
most well-founded measure might be endangered by
caprice or injustice.
ANNULLING OF THE ADJUDICATION OF
THE RAILWAY OF VIERZON.

(From the Democratic Pacifique of the 16th Oct.)
At the time of the adjudication of the railway from
Orleans to Vierzon and Bourges, a coalition took
place between the two competing companies ; they
made such arrangements between themselves as, that
one tender only was lodged, and the railway adjudged
with an insignificant reduction of the term. Thisfact
was undeniable : we therefore learnt with pleasure
that the Minister of Public Works, M. Dumon, and
the Minister of Finances, M. Lacave Laplagne, have
resolved at length to show some energy against the
speculators who play so audaciously with the fortune
of the State; their intention is neither to cause the
provisional adjudication pronounced on the 9th Oct.,
nor the right which belongs to them according to the
term of the law, to he ratified by royal ordonnance.
But there are powerful interests which will oppose
there result and endeavour to prevent the Minister
from doing justice to that manifest coalition which
has taken away all real character from the public
mode of adjudication enployed to guarantee the inter-
ests of the State.

Being apprised of the intentions of the two Minis-
ters, the parties to which the lines are adjudged will
spare no effort, will put all the means in their power
into operation to ward off the blow which menaces
them. Who will credit it ? They rely upon the re-
sults of their jobbing for authority to continue it.
" You cannnot," they say to the Ministers, " annul
our adjudication—the effect would be to alarm all
those speculators who, for above dmonth, have bought
and sold our promises of shares at enormous pre-
miums already paid or received • the Stock Exchange
itself—the English Stock Exchange—would be in-
jured. Your tolerating the manoeuvres of the Bourse
during so long a time has authorised every one to
believe that you would continue to support them ; the
annulling of the adjudication would annul at the same
time the numerous bargains made upon the rise of our
shares. You would surely not wish yourselves to throw
disorder into the alley 1 You would arm against you
all the bankers and their adherents. Are you sure
of proving the strongest in this struggle ? Take care
that you do not lose your portfolios in it."

Tilet Minister must close his ear to these threats
and sophisms.
Each of the speculators must have known in bar-
gaining with promises of shares that their value was
only a provisional value, and that the Council of
Ministers had the power of ratifying or annulling the
adjudication.

Now the coalition of the above two companies is a
fact publicly known--the conditions of the coalition
have been concealed from no one ; the resolution of
the Ministers would therefore be perfectly well
founded in reason, and we are in hopes they will
know how to elevate the power and dignity of the
Administration by an energetic measure, which cir-
cumstances so imperatively demand.
The determination as to the adjudication once pro-
nounced, what should be done ? The affair should
be disengaged from all those shameful manoeuvres in
which the banking interest is engaged with the
authorities : all jobbing should be put an end to ; and
with that object the Government should, in the name
of the State, take upon itself the !working of these
railways, by organising a special administration to
manage them.
(From the Satan-Corsaire of the 16th Oct.)
The adjudication of the railway from Amiens to
Boulogne took place this day at nine o'clock, at the
office of the Minister of Public Works. One tender
only by the house of Charles Lafitte, Blount, and
Co., was lodged. The caution money was 800,000
francs.
As we had foreseen, the house of Lafitte and Co.,
finding itself alone and without competitors, could
have obtained the concession with the deduction of a
single day of the 99 years, which is the extent of the
privilege. Mr. Charles Lafitte has been more gene-
rous than we expected. He has offered a deduction
of a month. We are assured that the royal approba-
tion will be refused, and we find that it is not neces-
sary that one scandal should follow another.
Another adjudication, that of the railway from
Orleans to Vierzon, has greatly interested the Bourse.
The act of Ministerial pleasure (bon plaisir Ministe-
rial) which has rendered the Orleans Company the
sole lessee of the line, when two companies had been
admitted to compete, causes so much the more outcry
on account of the speculation which is already car-
ried on in the shares of this railway, the price of
which, from 500 francs, has rapidly risen to 685
francs. We cannot too much deplore the conduct
of the Minister under these circumstances ; he cannot,

without compromising himself, longer allow the job-
bing of great speculators at the expense of the public
interest, and of parties who really desire to invest
their capital; he is bound to announce, without delay,
that the adjudication will not be confirmed, without
waiting until disgraceful suspicions of his conduct
appear well founded.
The reports are of the most sinister kind. For our
part we are far from giving credit to them, for culpable
connivance is condemned by the article 412 of
the penal code ; and the Railway Journal of the
12th of October asserts, nevertheless, a most extra-
ordinary fact, viz., that the Leconte Company with-
drew from the adjudication in consideration of a gift
in shares of 35 per cent. of the capital. It even goes
further ; it publishes the circulars addressed to its
shareholders by the above company, to apprise them
of the reduction of 65 per cent., which will in con-
sequence be made in their subscription.
We repeat, we cannot believe in these manoeuvres ;
and if we speak of them, it is to demonstrate the
necessity for a new adjudication. The companies
excluded from competition will, without doubt, again
present themselves ; the public and the Treasury will
have the benefit of a bona fide competition. The re-
duction of fourteen years, offered by Messrs. Luzarche,
Laurent, and Mackenzie, is a good sign, the con-
cession which they have obtained being generally re-
garded as less advantageous than the others.
It is high time to oppose the progress of this de-
moralization, in which money is an object and a
means equally objectionable.

TITS OVERLAND PASSAGE TO INDIA.—The addi-
tional protection and facilities recently accorded by Me-
hemet Ali to the passage through his dominions (parti-
cularly across the Desert between Cairo and Suez), have
given a new interest to this singular route, and will
doubtless direct unusual attention to the forthcoming
work, from the pen of Major and Mrs. George Darby
Griffith, detailing the various features of the journey.
The peculiar advantages which these travellers are known
to have possessed, lead to the expectation of a work of
uncommon attraction ; and if, as we are led to believe,
the volumes should furnimh the long-felt desideratum of
a sort of Handbook to the Overland Passage, they will
be one of the most acceptable and valuable offerings of the
kind that have yet enriched our library of travel. Cer-
tam it is, that no descriptions of the scenes and inci-
dents in question, written on the spot, and at the moment
to which they refer, can fail to include an interest as
strong as their utility must be extensive.

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF
DEER STEALING.

WORCESTER, WEDNESDAY EVENING.---A very ex-
traordinary charge of deer stealing (which, from the
respectable position which the accused occupy in so-
ciety, and the circumstances which brought it to
light, has excited considerable astonishment in the
neighbourhood) has been tried to-day at the quarter
sessions for the county, before Mr. J. S. Pakington,
M.P., the Chairman, and a full bench of magistrates.
The accused parties are too highly respectable farmers
residing at Kyre, named Ephraim Swan and John
Patrick, who were charged with having, on the 21st
of August, 1844, feloniously killed and stolen a buck
deer, in Kyre Park, the property of Mr. William
Lacon Childe. The prisoners had been admitted to
bail, and on being called into court, they immediately
surrendered and entered the bar. They were ar-
raigned in company with other prisoners, and pleaded
" Not Guilty," in a firm but respectful voice.
Mr. Whitmore appeared as counsel for the prose-
cution ; and Mr. Lea and Mr. Huddlestone for the
prisoners.
Mr. Whitmore opened the case in a very temperate
speech, and detailed the facts as he subsequently
proved them in evidence. The offence, though charged
to have been committed in August, 1843, would ap-
pear not to have been discovered, or at least disclosed,
until twelve months afterwards, when a boy named
George Pa%sey made a statement to the effect that he
had seen the deer hunted and killed by the prisoners.
The Learned Counsel then proceeded to call witnesses.
The first witness examined was Mr. Thomas May-
lett, the park-keeper of Mr. Childe, who deposed that
in July, 1843, he noted a certain dark-coloured buck
among the herd of deer in Mr. Childe's park for
killing, but missed the deer on looking for him some
time afterwards. About the same time George Passey
was employed, by witness's permission, in gathering
sticks in the park. At the end of August witness
observed that the fern growing near to a maple tree,
at the outskirts of the park, not far from the residence
of Swan, had been pressed down, as if something
heavy had been dragged over it, and upon one of the
park palings near was some " fens," or deer's hair,
and a little blood.
In his cross-examination the witness admitted that
the deer often strayed from the park and leaped the
fence. Both the prisoners had assisted him to kill
deer, but he had never given them permission to kill
deer in his absence. He was on good terms with
both of them.

George Passey, a boy about fifteen years of age,
was next examined, and upon his evidence the case
entirely depended. He deposed that abont the time
of the corn harvest—he could not recollect more pre-
cisely—he was employed in gathering sticks in Mr.
Childe's park, when he saw the prisoner Patrick driv-
ing the deer. He got up into a tree and watched him.
After a time he left them, and was absent for a short
time, when he returned in company with Swan, who
drove the deer towards Patrick, the latter
having stationed himself in a particular part
of the park, near to where the witness was
concealed. Patrick now had a gun, and when
the herd approached him he fired, and a dark-coloured
buck fell. Both prisoners then ran up, and, having cut
the animal's throat, dragged the carcase along the pass
until they got to the park paling, and, lifting it over,
proceeded in the direction of Swan's house. This
transaction took place in the broad daylight; indeed,
from the witness's statement the deer must have been
shot about noon. Soon afterwards he went home to
dinner, and then told his parents what he had seen,
but nothing more was said of the circumstance until
about a twelvemonth afterwards, during which time
Passey was taken into Mr. Maylett's service, and then
the matter was disclosed. This witness was under
examination a long time, and prevaricated in a slight
degree.
`William Benbow, a carpenter, occasionally em-
ployed by Mr. Maylett, corroborated that portion of
Mr. Maylett's evidence relative to the fern being
pressed down in the park, and the evidence of deer's

hair on the paling. -
Taylor, an inspector of the Worcester county con-
stabulary, proved, that on apprehending Swan he said,
" I did not kill the deer." He also spoke to the situa-
tion of localities described in the evidence of the boy
Passey.
Mr. Lea then addressed the jury at some length for
the prisoners, calling attention to the defective nature
of the evidence has it had been laid before them. lie
charged the whole affair as a conspiracy, and ob-
served that no date had been fixed which would have
given the accused an opportunity of better clearing
themselves from the charge. The Learned Counsel
dwelt at some length on the statement of the boy
Passey, and especially pointed out certain prevarica-
tions and contradictions therein. Remarking on the
fact that the boy's statement had not been made until
after he had entered the service of Mr. Maylett, the
park-keeper, he suggested that it might have origin-
ated in a spirit of ill-feeling, engendered against one
of the accused, who occupied a piece of land in the
centre of Mr. Childe's preserves.

The learned counsel. then called a number of wit-
nesses to character, all of whom spoke highly of both
prisoners, and especially of Swan.
The CHAIRMAN then addressed the jury, and drew
their attention to the leading points of the evidence.
The prisoners' counsel had suggested that the state-
ment of Passey was incredible, and they would have
to consider whether there were any grounds for such
discredit, and also how far his evidence was sup-
ported by that of other witnesses. As to the position
in life which the prisoners occupied, he told them that
they would have to consider that feature in the case
in precisely the same manner as they would a good
character, but not further. In the same manner as
evidence of previous good character would weigh in a
case of doubt, so would their elevated position in life.
The jury, after about a quarter of an hour's de-
liberation, found a verdict of Not Guilty as regarded
both prisoners.
On the verdict being returned there was a slight
ebullition of popular feeling, some of the audience ex-
pressing their approbation by clapping their hands.

SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—A very influential',
meeting of the inhabitants of Honiton was held on
Tuesday, for the purpose of memorialising the directors
of the South-Western Railway Company to extend
their line through Honiton to Exeter, and onwards
through central„Cornwall to Falmouth. A memorial was
unanimously adopted, approving of the central railway.
We understand that a similar meeting is contemplated at
Exeter.— Plymouth Journal.
BUILDING EXTENSIONS WESTWARD OF LONDON.—
From a statement made at the Southwark Literary So
ciety, it would appear that, within the last three years
upwards of three thousand mansions and first-class
houses have been built westward of London. In the
King's-road vast improvements are in rapid progress;
and in the Brornpton-road the noble structure of the
Hospital for Consumption is rapidly progressing under
the hands of the eminent builders, Messrs. Bird, of
Brook-green, Hammersmith.
COLLIERY ACCIDENTS.—It is well known to thos
resident in mining districts thataccidents have frequently
occurred from the dangerous practice of smoking in coal-
pits. The Newcastle Advertiser of Thursday contains the
tollowing case, in which three persons were convicted
and sentenced to be imprisoned in the House of Correc-
dthTihomas Thompson, pitmen, s
Correc-
tion for tampering with their Davy lamps for the pur-
posepractice :—" John Marshall,
rrhcm
+sf
Luckey,pu rst pursuing
work-
ing at the Elmore pit, Hetton Colliery, were brought
before the magistrates at Essington, a few days ego, the
two former charged with having drawn the flame through
their Davy lamps to light their pipes, ,and the latter
with having unlocked and unscrewed his lamp for the
same purpose. After a long and careful investigation,
it appeared that, at the part of the pit where this shame-
ful and dangerous offence was committed, there was no
immediate danger from foulness, and the magistrates
therefore, with the utmost leniency, only sentenced
them to three weeks' hard labour in the House of Cor-
rection."
COLLIERY EXPLOSION. Two LIVES LOST.-011
Wednesday night, about nine o'clock, the village of New-
ton was thrown into a great state of excitement, an
alarm being given that the pit belonging to Messrs.
Micklethwaite and Co. had fired, and that four men were
at work at the time. Providentially the cupola man and
a boy, who were at work near the other two men, had
made their escape to the pit's eye, and were with the
greatest dispatch landed on the surface. The man had
not sustained the least injury, but the boy was much
burnt about the knees, having also received a severe cut
in the forehead. The other two men were found both
dead. A little after one o'clock the bodies were brought
up, and a truly horrible picture was then presented to
view, the flesh on their arms and faces being literally
burnt to a cinder, the skin hanging about them like so
many rags ; they were immediately laid upon stretchers.
and conveyed to the adjoining inn, there to await the
Coroner's inquest, which was held yesterday at the
house of Joseph Gosney, Vine Tree Inn, Newton. No
particulars have as yet transpired as to how the explo-
sion originated, but it is to be feared that the sulphur
must have ignited at the lamp of one of the sufferers,
the semi not having yet been found. The other two
lamps are in a perfect state. The names of the sufferers
aro John Whiteley, a lad, residing at Bragg-lane, and
severely burnt ; James Brown, Westgate-common, a
married man, aged about thirty, dead ; and George
Wild, of Potovens, aged seventeen, also dead. Brown
has left a wife and one child to mourn his untimely end.
The pit continued on fire yesternight, the sulphur hav-
ing ignited the coal. At the inquest the jury returned
a verdict of " Accidentally killed in a coal-pit.' -- Wake-
field Journal.
CHATIIAM OCTOBER 18.--TheMenelaus Lazeretto
was put out of dock this day, having had her rudder
fixed, and otherwise prepared for being navigated to
Portsmouth. The African and Monkey steam-vessels
are waiting to take her away to Portsmouth. She is
ordered to leave to morrow. The Eagle, 50 guns, ad-
vanced ship, was taken into dock on Thursday, the 17th
instant, to be rigged, she having previously got a portion
of her tanks on board. The whole of her gun-carriages,
besides her ballast, are all on board. The Trafalgar,
120 guns, was navigated to Sheerness on the 13th instant
by the African and Monkey steamers. The Thunder
surveying vessel, C. Barsett, still remains in dock,_
making
good her defects and fitting for sea. She fully
completed this week, when she goes out. The Dthgenc
naval transport, Martin master, lies alongside the dock,
eilithire,jog a her cargo stores.

ORLEANS, TOURS, and BORDEAUX

RAIL WAY.

(Prom S 1 cond Edition of the liailway Record of to-day.)
Muc'i mist mception exists with respect to the terms
of fibs lease of this line, mainly owing to the malice of
disappointed parties, but in some degree also to want of
accurate information on the subject. We beliei-e We are
within the mark when we say there is not one English
Shareholder in a thousand who has any clear, well•de-
fined notions respecting the laws and regulations relating
to these French lines, nor in what they differ one from
another ; for it is no less singular than true, that almost
all are based upon different constitutions, as far as they
have yet obtained the sanction of the Legislature
What may be clone in the coming session of the French
Chambers, it is impossible to predict—except this, that
the terms that might have been obtained by companies
during the last two years will never be offered to them
again. The Government and the public are beginning
to be aware of the value of an important main trunk line
of railway, when one-half, or rather three-fifths, of the
whole cost is borne by uther shoulders than those of the
Shareholders.

For the information, then, of those who have not seen,
or do not know the law, or the Cahier des Charges relat-
ing to this line of railway, we will just state that the
works at the charge of the State on the section between
Orleans and Tours are nearly finished, and will be deli-
vered over to the Company almost immediately, to enable
them to commence the upper works and provide the
carrying stock. The Government takes six years to
construct the remaining portion of the whole, that is, at
the cost of the State, between Tours and Bordeaux,
where the ground is not yet broken. The Company are
allowed two years after the final delivery to them by the
Government fi)r completing the upper works, and getting
their currying stock together, so as to be ready to open
the whole line to the public ; and, lastly, the lease will
date only from the end of the two years so allowed to the
Company.
Thus a lease, in the terms of the law relating to this
railway, is, in point of fact, a lease for 27 years 278 days,
plus 6 years of construction by the Government, plus
2 years of completion and stocking by the Company, or
35 years 278 days, of the 72 miles between Orleans and
Tours, and the successive sections of the line that. may
be brought into operation before the whole is completed.
Now, the section between Orleans and Tours, the
connecting link with the Paris and Orleans Railway,
is by far the most productive of the whole line, and will
yield about one-half of the whole revenue, while it is
not quite one-fourth of the distance. Tours is
a point at which concentrates all the traffic
of the west and the south-west of France to
and from Paris, which is itself more than the
mere capital of the kingdom, in consequence of the sys-
tem of centralisation which prevails in the government
of that country. We hear that the Company are about
to arrange with a firm of contractors of known and tried
ability, for the completion and stocking of the whole line,
ready to be opened to the public, and it is expected at a
figure that will leave a good margin still on the capital
of the Company. This would be a most gratifying ope-
ration for the Shareholders, because it would reduce the
sufficiency of the capital to a positive certainty, while it
would relieve the Directors also from all anxiety about
extra Bills, and greatly lighten, in other respects, the
most onerous and disagreeable part of the labours of a
Board of Directors—that which precedes the opening of
a railway.
The section to Tours, we are assured, will be opened
in the autumn, if not in the summer, of next year, at a
cost of not exceeding 5/. per share, and will yield at least
15 to 18 per cent. on the capital expended upon it..
We understand that the Directors will make an official
report to the Shareholders immediately after the royal
ordonnance shall have been obtained ; and lay fully be-
fore them those statistical details, which, with the pru-
dence that has characterised all their management, they
thought proper to withhold from the public while the
conditions of tho lease were yet matter of discussion in
the French Chambers. The ordonnance will probably
issue soon after the return of the King of the French to
Paris. His Majesty will reach St. Cloud this day (Sa-
turday, the 19th instant).

In the meantime, without pretending to know what
precise combination this company have employed to
ensure to their Shareholders the mathematical certainty
of the repayment of the whole capital at the expiration of
the lease, we call the attention of all men of business to
the fact that the operation of a progressive sinking fund,
averaging not more than 1 per cent. on the capital, im-
proved at 4 per cent. compound interest, will extinguish
in 34 years just 56,759,545 f. of that of this company,
leaving only little more than 8,000,000 f. to be provided
for by the valuation of the stock, materials, and stores,
to be paid to the company at the expiration of the lease.
The probable value of this plant will be at the least from
8,000,000 f. to 10,000,000 f., at a depreciation of 50 per
cent. on the first cost.

Thus it is clear that if the lease were but for 34 years
only, the term would be sufficient to liquidate the capital
in the manner just stated.

RAILWAYS IN CORNWALL.

(From the West Briton.)
CORNWALL RAILWAY.—We are informed that the
success which has attended this undertaking since the
prospectus has been issued, is most satisfactory, and that
from the application for shares, which aro upwards of
40,000, the greatest difficulty the Provisional Committee
will experience, will be to give satisfaction to the appli-
cants, to whom it will be impossible to allot the number
of shares for which they have applied. It will be ob-
served that the names of several influential gentlemen
are added to the Provisional Committee this week, and it
is said that confidence in the accomplishment of this great
measure is greatly strengthened. It is also stated that
there is not the slightest foundation for the statement
which has appeared in the columns of a Contemporary
that the associated companies have given encouragement
to the promoters of a central line. On the contrary, it
is said that those companies are satisfied, as are the
Committee of the Cornwall Railway, that the south line
is the only practicable line, and, therefi.re, the line to ob-
tain which their utmost exertions should be directed, and
that of the result of those exertions they entertain not
the slightest doubt.
CORNWALL CENTRAL RAILWAY.—A meeting of the
leading solicitors of the county attending the Quarter
Sessions at Bodmin, was held at that place on Wednes-
day evening, on the subject of this railway. As the
meeting was strictly a professional one, we are unable to
give a detailed report of what took place ; but we un-
derstand that the immediate object of the meeting was
to consider whether the projected central line had as yet
assumed such a shape as to entitle it to support as a
practicable undertaking. The result was an unanimous
decision that there was no longer reason to doubt
the necessary funds for carrying it into effect would
be forthcoming. A requisition is in course of sig:
nature to the Mayor of Bodmin to call a public
meeting in that borough to take into consideration
the best line of railway through Cornwall, and re-
questing him to forward a copy of the requisition to
the Members for the borough, to ask the favour of their
attendance at the meeting on Thursday next. We are
informed that a meeeting is also to be held, on Wednesday
next, at St. Columb, and that preparations are being
made in other towns of the county for holding similar
meetings in favour of a central line of railway through
the county.
WEST CORNWALL RAILWAY.—On Wednesday last a
public meeting was held in the Guildhall, St. Ives, to
consider the propriety of applying to the West Corn-
wall Railway Company to extend a branch of their
railway to that town. John Chellew, Esq., mayor, was
in the chair, and W. T. Praed, Esq., M.P., with most of
the influential gentlemen and merchants, attended the
meeting. Several resolutions were entered into, and a
deputation was appointed to wait on the Committee to
carry the measure into effect.

NEWARK AND SHEFFIELD, OR SHERWOOD FOREST
RAILWAY.—NEWARK, OCT. 12.—The railway mania has
extended itself to this place, and a new line is projected.
A railway meeting was held at Mansfield on the 4th
instant, for the formation of a railway from Sheffield, at
which place a junction is to be made with the Sheffield
and Manchester Railway, and at Ashton and Staley--
bridge, with the Leeds and Manchester Railway, and
thence by Chesterfield and Manchester, to join the pro-
jected London and York Railway at Mansfield, and to
be designated the Newark and Sheffield or Sherwood
Forest Railway. The gentlemen constituting the pro-
visional committee are both numerous and respectable.
13,0001. worth of shares were taken in the room.—Leeds
Times. _ _ _

HELE STATION.—The new line of road from Sid-
mouth to the above station (and not Collumpton, as has
been frequently stated in the newspapers), has been com-
menced in several places, and is proceeding with great
spirit, and from the respectability and experience of the
contractors, is very likely to be completed in a short time.
The sidework of this station is also completed, where
coals and goods are to be had for the neighbouring
parishes.— Western Times.
TEE RAILWAY WORKS IN PROGRESS.—The great•
est activity prevails on the line of rail, more parti-
cularly between this town and Ely, and from the
country through which it passes presenting no very
great engineering difficulties, the progress in the
works is most rapid. From the Chesterton side of
the river, on towards Ely, the road for the recep-
tion of thel rails is being rapidly formed the soil
immediately adjoining Chesterton is admirably adapted
for the purpose, gravel to any quantity being found
immediately below the surface ; at Waterbea,ch, and for
some distance where a great number of men are em-
ployed, the soil is very soft and fenny, to remedy which
an immense quantity of gravel has to be conveyed
there, which the contractors are procuring from land
purchased by them for the purpose. There will be
three bridges over the river between here and Ely, and
the necessary preparations for their erection are rapidly
progressing; a massive frame-work is completed for
the purpose at the crossing near Sturbitch-green.
At Paper Mills, where the line crosses the turnpike-road,
the old way is stopped up for the erection of a viaduct
under which the trains will pass. Workshops, stables,
and every other convenience required, are most substan-
tially built, every device for the shortening of labour is
put in requisition, and no one visiting the works can have
failed to notice how rapidly they are pFogressing. It is
confidently expected that very early in the spring the
line will be opened between Cambridge and Ely.—Cain-
bridge Chronicle.
DREADFUL SnirwitEcx.—We understand that an-
other steamer has just gone down in the
bN oy
trbteh Sea.
She had only one boat, which was swamped
We lament to
des-
perate passengers crowding into ft
state that among them were one Royal Duke, three
Peers, and half-a-dozen Members of Parliament, with
their wives and families. A later Account.—We are
happy to state that there is no truth in the above para-
graph ; but when there shall be—when Dukes, and
Peers, and Members of Parliament, go to the bottom
with common people then—and it would seem not until
then—will there be an Act compelling shipowners to
carry boats of sufficient size to contain the crew and pas.
sengers.—PunQ

NEW BELGiAIi

(From the Correspondent of the Journal des
" BRUSSELS, OCT. 14 —I send you the resolutions
come to here a few days ago, by which several modifica-
tions tyre to be made in the tariff' of the customs of this
country. It *'ill not appear in the liktliteur Beige till
to-morrow. With reSpEct to all articles which can in
any way interest the trade of France, an exception is
made in favour of that country. England alone will be
the sufferer. Printed cottons which pay 211 francs per
100 kil., are henceforth to pay 323 francs. The duties
on bleached, coloured, or printed silks, which were for-
merly at the rate of 4 francs per kilometre, have been
raised to 10 francs. With regard to France, the present
duties ore maintained on cotton eiotits during a year,
and on silks during the period yet to run of the conten-
tion of 16th of July. There is no doubt that the effect
of these differential duties will be to substitute the cotton
manufactures of Rouen and Mulhausen in Belgium for
those of Manchester. Belgian industry ha suffered
from the royal ordinance which recently raised the duties
on machinery on its entry into France. People cannot
conceive here why, at the moment that France was
ringing with the praises of the machinery exhibited
at the Exposition, a duty should be laid upon fo-
reign machinery, which is tantamount to a prohibition,
for the new duty, instead of being twenty-two per
cent. as is pretended, is in fact forty per cent. The evi•
dent intention of the Belgian Government is to do away
with all causes of jealousy or discontent on the part of
France. If it limits the duration of the exemption in
favour of France, it is principally in order to put the
French Government and the Chambers in a position to
come to an arrangement of as broad and durable a nature
as possible. Whatever may be said to the contrary, the
feelings of the great majority of the people of Belgium
are in favour of France."
" LEOPOLD, KING OF THE BELGIANS, TO ALL W 114014 IT

MAY CONCERN, GREETING.

" On the report of our Minister of the Interior and of
Finances, we have resolved, and we hereby resolve, that
the tariff of duties on entry be modified as follows :
" Machinery.—French steam engines, 151. per 100
liilog. ; steam-engines for navigation, 25f. ditto ; locomo-
tives, without tender, 35f. ditto ; all kinds of machines
and mechanism, not specially denominated, 251. ditto ;
cards for combing, 75f. ditto ; tenders, boilers, gasome
tors, &c., in iron or cast iron, 20f., in copper or any other
metal, 401. ditto ; detached pieces in cast iron, 15f., in
malleable iron, 20f., in copper and other materials, 401.
ditto ; machinery in wood, at the rate of other woeden
works.

" Chemical Productions.—Alum, 4f per 100 kilog. ;
soda, &c., 6f. ditto ; sal ammonia; 20f. ditto.

"'Tissues of Cotton.—Unbleached or bleached, the pre-
sent duty ; dyed or printed, 325 E per 100 kilog.
" Tissues of Silk (excepting Ribbons, which continue
at the present duty).—Unbleached or half-bleached, the
present duty ; bleached, dyed, or printed, 10f. per kilog.
" Tulles and Lace.—Cotton tulle, unbleached, as at
present ; bleached, dressed, or coloured, 18f. per kilog. ;
worked, 12f.