The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-25 00:00:00

Cheltenham at the present moment; the produce oi` these
great agricultural districts would he brought for consumption
to this rising and populous town ; foreign traffic would also be
directed to this district; and the famed and health-dealing
springs of this celebrated watering-place would be brought
within easy distance of the foreign valetudinarian. The
Lance from Cheltenham to Southampton would be performed
in two hours; and when it was borne in mind how many
Indian families were co'stantly arriving and departing at
Cheltenham, the advantages of this transit could not be over
estimated. Again, this line, in connexion with others in exist-
ence and contemplation, would make Cheltenham (he radius of a
great circle of railway communication, which could not but
benefit the town.—(Cheers.) As to the probability- of the
completion of the line, the best guarantees were the highly in-
fluential directory of the Company, and the high appr'eval
with which the project had been received, an approval whilla
was greater than had been met with by any line of railway-
ever projected. It had been truly styled a great national pro-
ject—'the great trunk line of the national commerce.—
( Cheers',) In addition to the names already in the Directory,
he had now to mention the name of the Right Hon. Earl
Bathurst.—(.Loud cheers.) The Noble Earl had not joined
the undertaking withoat due deliberation, but the result of that
deliberation was, that he had resolved to support the line by
all his influence. Mr. h'opkinson, the High Sheriff of the
county, Sir J. Tancred, Mr. Cripps, M.P., and Mr. Lyme, of
Mullidine Park, had also added their names to the supporters
of this project.—(Cheers.) Not Daily from the local benefits
which the line would confer on Cheltenham, but also on the
great commercial grounds on which it was projected, he called
upon the meeting to strengthen the hands of the Directors of
the line.
Mr. NEWBERY, of Manchester, Deputy Chairman of the
North Lancashire and Manchester and Birmingham Railways,
spoke to the inconvenience of the present circuitous route to.
Southampton by way of London. The London ancißirming-
ham and South- Western Companies felt that it was imps?ssible
to interfere against the project. They felt that a direct line
between the north and south would and must be carried ; and
he .knew of one Director on the former line who wished his
name Ito be added to the Directorate of the Manchester and
Brice of the landed proprietors on the route, and
Southampton Railway.—(Cheers.) The speaker alluded to
tl'er courtesy and urbanity the deputation had re-
ettis;ccioanlciyurtri;
ceived from Earl Bathurst, whose possessions and influence at
Cirencester were so well known. They brought Manchester
and all the northers: districts in close proximity to one of the
most flourishing seap.'rts in the world. In Manchester the
public feeling was tinanicaous in favour of this line ; the appli-
cations for shares were numerous beyond precedent, and there
was not a doubt entertained of jts successful completion.
Mr. LANCASTER, member of the tow.o council of South-
ampton, said that, to prove the importance o this project to his
town, he need only say that to attend this metaling he had him-
self been cornl•elled to come by the circuitous ron: eof London,
when he ought to have travelled the distance by a chi'ect line in
lest than three hours. He was prepared to contea that
Southampton was the natural port of Cheltenham. From
Cape Fiaistere and all foreign countries to the eastward, it
was 600 miles nearer than the neighbouring port of Glou-
cester, and the saving of lighthouse expenses between the two
places would give in every cargo a sum of 251. in favour of
Southampton. The speaker entered at considerable length
into the advantage' which the line would confer upon the
southern portion of it:"
route, and sat down amid loud cheers.
Mr. STEBRINGS, of S:
uthampton, also addressed the meet-
ing, dwelling upon the unan:unity which prevailed in its south-
ern terminus in favour of the voject.
Mr. WILLIAMSON, of ChelteOhain, thought, before
.the
people of Cheltenham were irrevocibly pledged to the brie,
they ought to insist upon having a few more Weal names on the
direct road. At present the Committee of Management con.-
rusted almost entirely of Manchester and Southampton names,
d —crs
and he did think that some Cheltenham names ought to be
a d
cheers.)
Din. G added.—(Loud LosuNd E h
, the local solicitor, said the subject was by no
means lost sight of, and there was every disposition on the part
of the leading proprietors of the line to gi_ve Cheltenham its due
share of influence in the Committee of Management.
A discussion ensued, in which Messrs. Williams, Newmarch,
Shewell, Aldridge, Captain Watson, Dr. Gibney, and others
took part. A string et resolutions were passed in favour of the
line, and a petition, to presented to the House by the Hon.
C. Berkeley, was unanimo,usly adopted.
On Saturday a meeting of :he inhabitants of Romsey and the
adjoining districts, in pursuancbs of a requisition to the Mayor,
was held at the Town-hall, when resolutions were passed in

support of the undertaking.
BIRMINGHAM AND GLOUCESTER Ran.way..—Th.e half-

yearly general meeting of this Company was held on t.zattowley,
at their offices, Lawly-street, Birmingham. Samuel Bow
Esq., Chairman of the Board of Directors, having taken the
chair, Mr. Saunders, the secretary, read the report of the Di-
rectors, which was merely a recapitulation of the agreement
which had been entered into between the Midland and Bir-
mingham and Gloucester Companies. The report was received
and adopted. The Chairman moved that a dividend of 11. 16s.
per share of lOU. each be declared and made payable on the
15th of September. The resolution having been unanimously
adopted, thanks were voted to the Chairman and the Directors,
and the meeting terminated.