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

THE S N, LON DON, FRInA Y EV EN IN G, AUG UST 8 1845.

The royal assent has been given to the Trent Valley, Bed-
ford,
Dunstable, and West London Bills ; in all which lines
this Company has a direct interest.. The works of the Bed-
ford and Dunstable lines will be commenced without delay.
The Directors regret that the issue of the proceedings in
the Worcester ar.d South Staffordshire, and Rugby and
Oxford Bills, disappointed the reasonable expectations which
had been founded on the able and comprehensive Report of
the Board of Trade. The result has in no respect shaken
their opinion of the superior advantages which these lines
would have afforded to the district for whose accommoda-
tion they were planned on the narrow gauge; and the evi-
dence before the Committees only the more confirmed the
Directors in their belief of the prejudicial effects which
must follow the introduction of a gauge, differing from that
which is uniformly laid down throughout the country, with
which it is proposed that the wide gauge shall be connected.
That a Company whose line is formed on the narrow
gauge, and whose interests appear to be directly connected
with the support of the system, should have aided the op-
posing party, may be matter of surprise, but the Dircetors do
not feel called upon to enter into a discussion of the grounds
on which ilia Company referred to has sought to vindicate
the proceeding. The Directors haV'e a duty to perform to-
wards their own Proprietors, and to this they will steadily
adhere. They a ill oppose what they consider unjust to-
wards this Company, and encourage on the other hand inea-
sures which, in aftbrding additional accommodation to the
public, are calculated to maintain the interests of their Pro-
prietors. They are persuaded that no measures arc better
adapted to this end than moderate charges. combined with
economy of management ; and that a steady adherence to
these principles wilt afford the most eftectual guarantee to
the Company against unfair competition.
Following up their views on this subject, the Directors
made in t;:e last month a further and important reduction in
the rates for merchandise, the effect of which has already
been to add greatly to the tonnage, without lessening their
receipts.
The Proprietors will be called upon to give their sanction
at the present meeting to a creation of new shares, for the
capital which is required to meet their engagements for the
Company's interest in the Chester and Holyhead. Trent.
Valley, Lancaster and Carlisle, West London, and Aylesbury
lines. They recommend, for this purpose, that a new share
of 20/. be offered to each Proprietor of 1001. stock of this
Company, leaving a proportional reserve of shares for the
capital of the Manchester and Birmingham Company—the
new shares to participate in the future dividends from and
after the Ist of October next, subject to the deduction of 5 per
cent. interest on the amount not called for and paid.
A resolution was then proposed by the Obairman and
carried unanimously, to the effect, that the report then
read should be adopted and printed, and circulated
amongst the Proprietors, and that a dividend of 5 per
cent. should be declared on the consolidated stock of the
company of 4,124,526/. ; and that a dividend of 17s. on
each of the 32/. new shares, amounting to 241,7511 125.,
should be declared free of income-tax.

Another resolution was also unanimously agreed to for
creating new 20/ shares ; as was also a resolution to in-
crease the present number of Directors from 17 to 24.
Mr. WILLIams wished to know whether the Directors
had in contemplation any alteration with respect to the
charges for carrying goods ?
The CHAIRMAN said that at present the Directors had
not in contemplation the making of any alteration.
They were aware, however, that abuses had crept in,
but they were devising plans by which the public would
know what was charged by the Company. If, however.
they found that the plan they were now adopting was in-
jurious to the public, they would then consider the pro-
priety of becoming cart iers on their own account.
If combinalon went on with the carriers, the Company,
he was sure, would think it right to interfere ; but the
Directors were of opinion that if they could consult the
interests of the public and act with the carriers, the in-
terest:of the Proprietors would be the result.
In answer to a question from a Proprietor,
The CHAIRMAN assured the meeting that everything
would in future be &me that lay in human power to pre-
vent aceilenti occurring on the railway.
Mr. HOMFREY wished to know if the Directors had
come to any determination to facilitate the attendance
of Proprietors oho lived in the country at the nacettligs
which were held in London ?

The CHAIRMAN said that that .was a subj Pct which
rested vith the Prop ictoi s themselves, rather than the
Directors.

Mr. HODIFREY then gave notice, that at the next miset.
ing should move that all the trains on the railway
should be free to the Proprietors on such occasions.
A PROPRIETOR considered that, while they were re
ceiving such ample dividends, and the Company was
going on so prosperously, they could afford to pay the
fares them-elves.—(A laugh.)
Thanks w.-re then voted to the Chairman and the 1)1-
rectors, and the meeting separated.

LONDON AND BI IGH.TON

RAILWAY.

The usual Imif-yearly meeting of the London and
Brighton Railway Company was held yesterday after-
noon at the London-bridge terminus. The meeting was
made specild, for the purpose of sanctioning
the purchase of the Brighton, Le Nes, and Hastings, and
the Brighton and Chichester Railways. Mr. Rowland
Hill, Chairman of the Board of Directors, occupied
the chair. The report, Avhicil was of yan
exceedingly satisfactory nature, stated that the
late reduction which had talc, n place in the fares
had produce.l the most satisfactory results, and re-
commended the meeting to declare a dividend of
20s. per share. The report having been adopted,
a dividend wai dectired alc,rdingly, and resolutions rati-
fying the terms of tilt purchases of the Brighton, Lewes,
and Hastings, and the Brlght,na and Chich, suer Rail-
ways, which have already be,n made lc,,own to the public,
having been agreed 10, a vote a thanks was passed to
the Chairman, and the meeting terminated.

LONDON AN]) YORK RAILWAY

BILL.

Thy following is the petition of subscribers in the
London and York Railway Company, in reply to that of
Mr. Bruce:—

The humble Petition of the undersigned Persons, being
Subscribers in the London and York Railway Com.

PanY,
Showeth,—That a petition has been presented to
your Honourable House, signed by Henry Bruce, of
Mincing-lane, merchant, which petition has been printed
by order of your Honourable House, and is now pub-
lished, and on sale to the public for one penny.
That the said petition contains false and scandalous
matter, most injurious to the character of your peti-
tioners, and tending to inflict serious damage upon them
in their several stations and callings.
That the said petition contains, amongst others, the
following allegation, namely:—
" That the following names of subscribers to the
London and York Railway subscription contract is, in
respect of their several names or descriptions or places
of abode, fictitious and false."
That among the names to which the said allegation
applies are those of your petitioners (excepting your
petitioners Robert Perks Pitman and Robert Michael
Baxter), and that the said allegation is entirely false
with respect to them, inte.much as the names, descrip-
dons, and places of'abode, so appearing in the said con •
tract, are truly and in fact the names, descriptions, and
placed of abode of your petitioners,. ; •
That, with respect to your petitioners George Hadley,
John Spotter, .57itliatn,French„Edward Filder, tieorge
Thomas Barnes, ,Rager Mortimer, Roberts Perks- Ptt-
man, and Robert Michael Baxter, it is alleged that they
ere persons who, from their circumstances and station in
life, are utterly irreponsihle, and unable to pay the
several sums StiScribed by them.
'1 hat such allegation is, with respect to your said two
petitioners, absolutely false and scandalous.
That the petitioner Henry Bruce is the vice-chairman
of a company promoting the Cambridge and Lincoln
Railway, which was a rival scheme, competing with the
London and York Railway, and was rejected upon its
merits by the Committee of your Honourable House.
That the London and York Railway Bill has passed
your Honourable House, after a long and most expensive
investigation, which lasted 67 days.
That your petitioners verily believe that the said
Henry Bruce has made the said false, and slanderous al-
legations maliciously, and with a view to impede the
progress of the Londe' and York Railway Bill, so as to
forward the interests of the rival and defeated project
promoted by the said Henry Bruce, and in which the
said Henry Bruce has a large pecuniary interest.
That your petitioners are advised that they cannot take
the necessary steps for the vindication of their characters
before a court of,law without b-ing guilty of a breach of
the privile,-;!es of your Henourable House.
Your petitioners humbly pray, flea. if your Honourable
House shall think fit to cause an investigation to be made
into the said subscription contract, the same may be made
without delay ; and that your petitioners may be per-
mitted, in the meanwhile-, to institute such legal pro-
ceedings against the said Henry Bruce, fur his false and
defamatory statements, as they may be advised.
Robert Michael Baxter. Edward Filder.

Thomas Clapham Chadwick. John Haines.
Gorge Hadley. Charles Brown.
John Shotter. Benjamin Badcock.

Benjamin L. Cox. George Thomas Barnes.
Townsend C. Dance. Roger Mortimer.
Thomas Sheridan, late Major William Henry Ince.

Rrn al Marine:.

Rcibc rt Perks Pitman.

W. French.

D. M. Clarke.

LONDON AND Y ORK RAILWAY.

--• - -
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sir,—The allegations contained in the petition of one
'• Henry Bruce, setting forth that the following names of
subscribers to the London and York Railway, is in re-
spect of the several names and addresses false and
fit Ctious," as pr,..mulgated in your valuable journal of
the 6th inst., comprising my name—allow me to say,
that when I paid the deposit, and signed the deed, my
address was co-incident with those set forth, as such
had been for nine years previous, yule any commercial
directory to the present period.
I hope it is not on account of the error which I proved
before the Committee of Group X, in the levels of the
Tottenham and Farringdon Line, that I am selected as
an object of attack. Mr. Bruce may be the Vice-
Chairman of the Cambridge and Lincoln Line, the pre-
amble of which shared a mutual fate with that which I
opposed, that I, in my professional capacity, should be
thus attacked. I therefore trust that equal publicity
will be given to this repudiation of an assertion so
wantonly inflicted on,—Sir, your obedient Servant,
JOHN DAVIS PAINE.
Lincoln's Inn-fields, August 7, 1845.

THE LONDON AND YORK DEED.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Siu,-I attended the Committees of the Houses of
Lords and Commons this day, in order to enable " Mr.
Henry Bruce, merchant," to state the grounds on which
he had ventured to place my name in his list of London
and York subscribers, " who, in respect of their several
names, or descriptions, or places of abode, arc fictitious
and false."
On my being called before the respective Committees,
however, the agents for Mr. Bruce, the petitioner, en-
tirely and at once abandoned that clause of his petition
which had reference to me, Mr. Parkes, for Mr. Bruce,

dmitting that there was not the shadow of a charge
against rne. Mr. Parkes further explained that Mr.
Bruce had never intended that my. name should appear
in the petition ; that my name bad been transferred from
some private list into the public petition by an oversight;
and that when Mr. Bruce read his petition previously to
placing it in the bands of a Member fur pretentation, he
did not observe that I was included therein. .

I beg to observe, Sir, that this apology was made in
privcte Committees of both Houses ; and though I feel
perfect confidence in the justice of Parliament, it is very
possible that the reports of the Committees, which will
do me this justice, may be delayed until next session.
Thus circumstanced, and having no reason to believe
that Mr. Bruce has taken any steps for mak!ng his
apology known beyond the walls of the Committee-rooms,
I am compelled, in self-defence, to ask insertion for this
latter.—l remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
CHARLES BROWN.
New Bridge-stre, t. Bla-kfriars, Aug. 7.

IMPERIAL PA EtLIA 31EN T.

HOUSE OF LoftDs, Amy. 7.

Their Lordships met at Five i;e:oek.
The Consolidated Fund Appropriation Bill was read a
second lime.

The Turnpike (Ireland) Bill was read a third time and
passed._
The Municipal Districts (Ireland) Bill was read a third
time and passe).
The -Naval Medical Supplemental Fund Bill was read
a third-time and passed.
'1 he -Fees (Criminal Proceedings) Bill was read a
third time and passed.
The Commons' amendments to the Lunatics Asylum
(Ireland) Bill were agreed to.
THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO GERMANY.
Lord CAMPBELL rose to. put a question to the
Noble .Lord opposite, the President of the Council,
respecting the approaching visit of her Majesty to the
Continent. He .was far froin wishing to throw any im
pediment in the way of her Majesty's journey-
ing for her gratification, and for the purpose
of cementing the friendly feeling which happily
prevailed between this country and foreign nations, and
which could not fail to be promoted by the interchange
of royal visits and friendly intercourse of the sove-
reigns. There formerly existed an Act which pree
vented the Sovereign of this kingdom from .quitting
it without the consent of Parliament ; but that
law had long passed away, and there was now ne ob
stacle to the Sovereign's travelling where and when
she pleased. King William the Third exercised that
right ; but then the. Queen Regnant, his consort, exer-
cised the royal functions in his absence. George I. also
exercised it ; but he appoint. d Lords Justices, of whom
' the Archbishop of Canterbury was the head, to act as a
regency. That took place in the year 17.16, that was, the
second of his reign. It was true that King George 111.
never - travelled a hundred miles from the place
where he was born. Perhaps it would have
been better if he had done so. Perhaps if he had
done so, and had visited- the banks of the
Rhine; where the principles of -liberality prevailed in a
great degree, he would not so lobe. have re-
sisted the emancipation of his Roman Catholic subjects.
George 1., in a speech which he delivered at the end of
the session preceding his going to Germany. said, fur
the purpose of promoting the peace andprosperity of the
country during his absence, he intended to constitute
his son, the Prince of Wales, guardian of the
realm.-However, there was, subsequently, some misunder-
standing between them, and thirteen Lords Justices
were appointed-in his place, of whom the Archbishop
was one. When George 11. went abroad he app.-pled
his Consort Regent. ebn the 161 h of May, 1735, hi,.
Majesty, in council, was " pbased to declare his in-
-tent-ion of visiting his dominiens in Germany. and that h.
had appointed his dearest Consort to be Regent in his 1
absence_" George IL invariably followed the example tit
George 1., and appointed Lorelsslustiees. He was never
absent from Lenoon I. tee. George 111. never left Ene,
lan 1 ; George IV. was only absent from this. ceuntry.
he believed, once. On the - 17th September, It+2l
Lards- Justices were appointed, conzisting of th.
Duke of York, the Archbishop -of Canterbury.
the Lord Chancellor. and otht:r et-Beers of State, to the
number of nineteen. Great inconvenience must arise
from nut following in this case the precedent which has-
been adopted by preceding sovereigns. He did not like to
see the -royal authority in abeyance. - It ought to be
adopted- fur they security of the monarolly during her ah-
therefouc, -wished to know, whether during
the absence of her Majeste it was her intention to ap
point Lords Justices to administer the'royal timetions ?
The LORD-CIIANCELIAYIt said, in rept), to at,
ouestiOn of his Noble and Leirned Friend, he had to
make
__a very short and slistinct answer-that it
was not the intention of her Majesty's. Government te
advise her'Majasty to appoint Lords Justices during her
absence on the short tour she intended to make.
Previous to her vi.iting France, the Opinion of Sit
F. Pollock, the present Chief—Baron,--and ef the late
Attorney-General were taken on the expediency of ap-
peiuting a Regent or Lords' Cornmission,rs during
her absence, but, after considering the subject, after
giving to it due deliberaticin, they came to th.
decision that it was by no means necessary, in point of
law, that such appointments should bp made. He (the
Lgrd Chancellor) concurred in that opinion. The opinion
orthc.other law officers of the Crown was taken, and i.
was to the same effect. The- peaceable state of the
continent arid the neighbourhood her Majesty intended
.isiting, together with the increased facility of com-
rnuuication, rendered it both unnt.cesary and inexpedient
that such a Commission should be appointed. The in-
fluence of the Queen was not less abroad than at
home; and, besides, the journey home would not occupy
more than two days. The precedents to which his Noble
Friend had referred were . caused by circumstances.
In most of the cases to which he had referred, the word
" short," vi hich was frequently used, denoted that the resi-
dence of these Sovereigns abroad-was likely to be protracted.
Under these circumstances, as the;royal residence must
be fora considerable period on the Continent, it became
necessary, as a matter of convenience, that power should
be given to persons in this country to- exercise some of
the functions of royalty, but this pcivver was merely
nominal, by the restrictions which *ere imposed upon it.
On all important occasions it. was necessary to have
the authority of the Sovereign directly. This royal
visit was unlike those to which his Noble and Learned
Friend had referred. It was but for a very short time,
and at no great distance from this country. Her Ma-
jesty would be accompanied by one- of her principal
Secretaries of State, and under those circumstances it was
unnecestary to have a cumbrous Commission appointed,
and it was on this account the Government had not
thought it necessary to recommend the appointment of
such Commission. _ _

Lord CAMPBELL referred to the visit of George
the Fourth, in whose absence a-Commission had been ap-
pointed. -
The LORD CHANCELLOR—But that was for five
or six- vk eeks.

Lord CAMPBELL said he did not see why a Com-
rnissiO7 qn.ultr nbt be appointed: - His Noble and
beAritd Frieria on tlie wooriick had' given no' good
reason—to the contrary, and he believo there was not a
sinele instance of the Sovereign b,ing 41):,ent without the
a,pp,,i.otnint of _such a Commission say?, 4.1 e, foundation
of the monarchy. . _
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. -

The Earl of- BESBOROUGVI Moved that a letter be
sent to-each Peer on the first week of the ensuing session
0. Parliament,- requesting hint to suy when
,it would be
convenient to him to attend on Committees on opposed

This
.Duke of WELLINGTON Congratulated the
House upon the mode in which :heir Lordships had dis-
charged the laborious duties imposed. on them, and be
felt confident that they would always_ be ready to dis-
charge- the important trusts which devolved upon them.
He meant that the attendance -of those Lords who never
came-to the House at all, and who should have rendered
their-assistance on the several private Committees which
hid been sitting during the -tatter part of the session.
He Would therefore beg that the Nobto Earl would post-
pone The motion of which he bad giien notice for the
present, and when the proper tune arrived he should be
glad to give whvteier aid he could in order to render it
efficient. He trusted, therefore, that the Noble Earl
would refrain from taking any steps on this subject, for
then lie should have good hopes that the business of the
House would be perfiwrned usefully -to the public and
sivhfactorily to the House.

Lord MONTI4T.AG LE thouLtht that the present amount
of business in the House, and with that which had so
lately been in the House, that -54 me regulation should be
made by which a better regulation might be adopted for
the passing "f through the Legislature. The
standing orders had caused a considerable impediment
to the passage of Mils, but the difficulty was done away
wiQi by the resolutions to which the House had come to
carry-on Bills the next session in the same state as they
were left at the close of this. But it should not be con-
cealed that this was a great departure from the principles
of the constitution, and what was done in private Bills
was equally applicable to public Bills. One alteration,
hoa ever, might be effected with advantage. This was a
resolution that Bills for canals, railways, docks, and
other affairs of a similar character, should be brought
into their Lordships' House in the first place. This
course would in no way affect the privileges of the
other House, and the change would enable both Houses
to proceed at the same time, and thus that injudicious
haste to which they were now compelled would be
avoided.—(Rear, hear.)
Lord REDESDALE objecfed to thP motion.
Thp Earl of BESBOROUGH said that, under the
circumstances, he should follow the suggestion of the
Noble Duke, and withdraw his motion.

COL,_ lERY EXPLOSIONS.
TO THE EDI7'OI? OF THE SUN.

Sin,—When, in September last, ninety-five human
beings were deprived of existence by an explosion o
fire damp, at Haswell Colliery, county of Durham, a
vast deal was said and wrote about the necessity of Le-
gislative interference, in order to prevent the recurrence
of such direful events ; and at the eat nest solicitation of
the miners solicitor her Majesty's Ministers agrecd to
send down two or three prolessiurcil persons to investi-
gate into that affair, so as to aseertgin what could be
dune towards :fficiently securing the fives of the miners
in future. Messrs. Faraday and Lyell were selected to report
on that subject, and in that report brought before do
vernment and the public their views thereon, but stating,
in explicit terms that further examination was ilicessary.

order to eatabl6ll any improvetnunt on a pc-rtnanow

uundation.

6hortly after the meeting of Parliament, the miner:,
petitioned the L. gisiature 0:1 the sulker, and pond( d

uc eert ,in IlietL,111": s II: ces,:ay , and which, if adopted,
weult.! prev'.mt. any recurrence such c,larnities ;at the
,aine tune, ui-grog the l:lthseat itive.tign.tiun. Knowing
the in re strict the inquiry, the tn,,re- whu!esome atia
utt:l would he the remedy, the petitioners wt•re met
by tile Govvrnm,ta, assuring them ttJat. the subject was
r consid%ration, :„Luti as soon :46 he rcport was rtottey

;Faraday and Ly,l!) the r,eolumentlaiionb of the sato
.eport stiou d have their immediate atterilio::.
rei.ort has ni:w been out a e.iiiderable tune, and
.lot a word has been spoken on the matter. No cloutY
;he (:xees.ive railway business has run them c!ose for

time, and no doubt also that the estiumb e and worth.)
M.P.'s, Lord Ashley and T. S. Buncombe, have sprc-c
the Government the ii-fliction of repeating the question
(both gentlemen having bten requested to du so a sht,rl
time ago) on the above grounds, yet when I perceive it
the Momday edition of The SUIL that- another of the,e
.ireAdful calamities has hurtled into eternity thirty-nine
of our fellow-creatures, and seeing also that a few tour.

(lays is likely- to close the session, I cannot remain silent
any longer, tor should we have to wait another year,
certai❑ I am that vie shall witness the whttlesale and in-
dividual sacrifice t,f
.human life to an alarming amount,
and that in the face of the pledged assurance of her Ma-
jesty's Government that something should be done a,
soon as the report of the Leained Commissioners was
published. •
beefing that the serious collisions on railways hare
been, and very justly, brought before the Hons., anti
perceiving that the saute promptitude has evinced itself
in Government to make the most searching inquiry into
the nature and cause of such collisions and accidents, I
Mill indulge the hope that they will at least issue a com-
mission of inquiry for the purpose of laying the lasting
oundation or a measure that shalt (if not perfect for
that purpose) be as near an approximation for the pre•
vention of such dreadful and extensi✓e sacrifice of tht
hard toiling and industrious miners of this country a,
possible.-1 remain, yours, in baste,
MARTIN JUDE.
Newcastle-on-Tyne, August 6.