The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-13 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENINGI MAY 13,.1845.

WORSHIP-STREET.

Yesterday Mary Ann Wire was pla:ted at tha bar be-
fore Mr. Bingham, charged with hiving feloniously in •
termarried with ona George Allender, her first husband,
Robert Wire, being then and still living.
It appeared that the prisoner was given into custody
at the instigat;on of the first husband, a tailor, to whom
she was married on the 13th of June, 1819, at the church
of St. Botolph, Aldgate, but who said that be had lived
separate from her for many years past, and who declared
that he was entirely ignorant of the second marriage
until about a twelvemonth ago, since when he had been
using every effort to substantiate the fact, and bring the
prisoner to justice.
Richard Chidley, parish clerk of St. Botolph, pro-
duce,' the register of that parish, containieg an entry of
the first marriage, solemnised on the day above stat-d,
but had no recollection of the person of either of the
parties to it.
George Allender, the second husband, a master car-
penter, was then called, and stated that about twelve
years ago he went to lodge in a house occupied by the
Prisoner in Albany-street, Commercial-road East,
shortly after which he paid her his addresses, and made
her an offer of marriage. The prisoner rejected his
offer, and stated that she was already married to a man
named liobert Wire, who was at that very time lodging
in the same house, ill an adjoining room to the wit-
use's, and Wing with another woman who passed

under his name. The witness said, he was certainly
aware that a man and woman of that name did reside
in the house, as the prisoner had told him, but the state-
ment appeared to him to be so improbable, that he
thought it was nothing but a ruse on her part to get rid
of him, and he therefore pressed his suit with renewed
earnestnels, and as an inducement, threatened to quit
the house altogether, unless she consented to accept him.
In consequence of this, the prisoner, with some reluc-
tance, ultimately acceded to his proposal, and they were
married in the month of June, about eleven years ago,
but he had not the slightest recollection as to what
church it took place at, or in what parish the church
was situated. The first husband continued for a long
tima after the witness's marriage with the prisorer to
reside in the same house, and was well acquainted with
the circumstances of the second marriage, although he
now professed himself to be wholly ignorant of them.
The witness spoke in the highest terms of the prisoner,
whom he described as a truly excellent woman, and with
whom ha had lived in uninterrupted harmony and hap-
piness ever since tha fact took place which farmed the
ground of the present charge.
Police-constable Day, 74 K, produced a copy of an
entry in the register of St. Leonard's, Shoraditch, of the
marriage, in June, 1832, of George Allender to Mary-
Anne Wire, which he had compared with the register,
and found to be correct, but had no witnesses present to
prove the identity of the parties, and the clergyman de-
clined to attend, upon the ground that he was entitled to
a longer notice than had been given him.
Mr. Heritage, on behalf of the prisoner, whose family
he stated to be of great respectability, contended that
the legal evidence of the second marriage was too incon-
clusive to justify his client being sent to take her trial
up ni it ; but said, that if the Magistrate shout' be of a
contrary opinion, he should b 3 in a condition to prove at
the trial, that not only was the first husband entirely
cognizant of the whole f Lets of the prisoner's marriage
to Allender, but that the woman with whom Wire co-
habited was actually in the habit of waiting upon the
newly married couple as an attendant, and that, too,
with the first husband's knowledge and sanction.
Mr. BINGHAM said, though the corroborative testimony
was certainly weak, he felt bound to send the case to a
jury ; but, under the extraordinary circumstances at-
tending the second marri age, be should accept bail for
the prisoner's appearance at the Central Criminal Court.
The bail, one of whom was an offi3er in her Majesty's
service, was immediately put in, and the prisoner left the
Court with her friends.
THAMES POLICE. _ _ _

Michael Sulliva7;:;;;11-knOWn associate of thieves,
who was up at this Court in March last, charged, together
with his wife and others, with stealing a number of sove-
reigns from the person of an engineer, but discharged
from failure of the e% idence, was yesterday charged with
the following daring robbery :
Mr. W. Wilcox, master of the schooner Velocity, lying
in the St. Katherine Docks, stated that he was proceed
ing about one o'clock on Sunday morning, after having
been with a few friends to the hotel where he lodged,
when, in passing through White Lion-street, White-
chapel, he was suddenly kn.icked down, and his watch,
together with a sovereign and a half-sovereign, were
forcibly taken from him.
A woman, named Lodder, who witnessed the trans-
action, stated that she saw the prisoner and two others
come up to the complainant in White Lion-street. The
prisoner seized complainant's watch, which he passed to
the others, who made off. He then knocked the com-
plainant down, and stooped over him in such an atti-
tude as led her to suppose he was rifling complainant's
pockets.
Police-constable 17 H, in consequence of information
furnished by the last witness, apprehended the prisoner
at two o'clock yesterday morning, at the City of Carlisle
public-house, Rosemary-lane. Sullivan, when charged
with the robbery, denied all knowledge of it. He had on
him 6s. 61. in silver, and 9d. in copper.
The prisoner, in his defence, again denied any partici-
pation in the transaction.
Mr. BRODERIP committed the prisoner for trial.
SOUTHWARK.

Yesterday James Harrington, late box book-keeper of
the Victoria Theatre, was charged with creating a dis-
turbance at the stage-entrance of the theatre and ob-
structing one of the door-keepers in the execution of his
duty.

Joseph Edgar stated that he was door-keeper at the
stage-entrance of the Victoria Theatre, and that he re-
ceived directions from Mr. Osbaldiston not to admit the
defendant under any pretence into that part of the house.
That about 11 o'clock that morning the defendant pre-
sented himself at the stage-entrance, and wanted to
enter the lobby, and insisted on his right, but witness
refused to permit him, when he said that he would not
go unless he was taken into custody.
The defendant explained that he had been box book-
keeps of the theatre, for which situation he paid Mr.
Osbaldistou at the rate of 101. per week, and gave
him a sum of money as security, and that at the
period of his engagement it was stipulated that he
was to have a month's notice previous to quitting. He,
however, had been discharged without the necessary
notice; and as he had property in the theatre amounting
to between 30/. and 401., he went there for the pur-
pose of obtaining possession of it, but he was refused
admission, and although he created no disturbance, nor
had he interrupted any person in the execution of his
duty, Mr. Osbaldiston called a policeman, gave him into
custody, and he was conveyed to the station-house and
locked up in one of the cells. He considered that he
had been most shamefully 'treated, his only offence, if
that could be called one, was proceeding to the theatre
to obtain the restoration of his property.
Mr. COTTINGUAM told the defendant that by insist-
ing to enter the theatre was not the way to enforce his
claim ; that if he had property there and was refused
the possession of it, he ought to have adopted a different
course—namely, that of applying for a summons against
the party who detained it. The magistrate, addressing
the complainant, said, that he was not justified by law in
giving the defendant into custody on such a charge, if
he attempted to force himself into the house; then the
complainant might have removed him, and if he met
with resistance in carrying that into effect then he
might have called in the aid of the police ; but it was
clear he had no right to give the man in charge, who
had grounds for an action.
The defendant was then discharged, and he was in-
formed he could have a summons against Mr. Osbal-
diston for detaining his property.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

- _
James William:, a young man belonging to the superior
class of thieves, was charged with having picked the
pockets of several ladies and gentlem::u who attended a
morning concert at the Hanover-square Rooms.
Mr. 011ivier, of Bond-street, said he saw the prisoner
attempt the pockets of a friend, and having watched his
movements closely, he detected him making similar at
tempts on the pekets of several ladies. Ai soon as the
concert was over he seized him, and, with assistance,
conveyed him to the Vine-street station.house.
Police-sergeant Whall, C 16, said the prisoner was one
of the most daring and successful thieves in London.
When brought to the station-house two purses were
found on him, which were afterwards found to have been
stolen from ladies who had visited the concert. The
prisoner had a confederate with him ; but he contrived
co escape in the crowd. The police had succoeded in
finding out the address of one lady who had been robbed,
and it was expected that the address of the second lady
would be also discovered. This witness said he had
reason to believe the prisoner had been at the same
rooms at another concert the previous morning, for the
police had received intelligence of the loss of about
twenty purses at the concerts on Friday and Saturday
week.

Mrs. Hunter, of Maddox-street, said she was at the
Hanover-so:pare Rooms on Saturday week. The purse
now produced was of her own making. and she had it
in her possesion when she went to the Hanover-square
Rooms. She missed it as she was about to leave the
concert.

A police-constable 13.31onging to the M division said,
he wished to make a statement with reference to the pri-
soner's character. Some time ago theprisoner was appre-
hended for firing off a loaded pistol in the public streets.
lie had jewellery worth about 201. about him and other
property, and the. account he gave of himself to Mr.
Cottingham, the Magistrate, was so unsatisfactory, that
he was remanded for further inquiry. It was then as-
certained that he was a notorious thief ; that he had
picked one lady's pocket of 750/., and another in an
o-nnibus of 121. On these two charges he was sent for
trial, but as neither of the prosecutors appeared he was
discharged. Hs was again apprehended, charged with
having stolen the gold chain found on his person from a
jeweller's shop in the City, together with other property of
the cam: sort. As there were others in c mip%ny with the
prisoner at the time the robbery was committed, the jury
could not be induced to believe the prisoner was guilty,
and he was accordingly acquitted, and once more turned
loose on the public. The next accoant the witness heard
was that the three persons in the prisoner's company
when the City robbery was effected, together with a per-
son of the same name, awl who he believed was the pri-
soner himself, were in custody at Manchester for rob
bury. The constable added, that though the prisoner
was known to have been in custody and tried several
times, there was no proof that he had ever been con-
Tilted.
The prisoner, who was provided with a solicitor, de-
clined making any defence.
He was fully committed on one case, and ordered to be
brought up again in case a second charge should be
made out. _ _

James Magnay, the poor labouring man who was
knocked down by a blow with the butt-end of a riding
whip by an officer, who gave his name Walter Murray,
for placing his hand on the gentleman's horse to prevent
himself and child from being ridden over, came, with
his foreman, to this Court, to beg for a small portion of
the 51. penalty inflicted by the magistrate on the perpe-
tratlr of the outrage.
The foreman said the poor man had been enable to go
to his work, owing to the injury lv.l had sustained from
the blow on his head, and as the man had a large family
wholly dependent on him for their bread, he hoped his
Worship would assign him a part of the fine by way of
compensation for his loss of time.
Mr MALTBY said he had no power to award any part
of the penalty to the poor man. He would, howuver,
assist him as far as was in his power, and he would,
th2refore, order him to be paid half-a-sovereign from the
poor-box.
The money was handed to the poor man, who received
it most thankfully.

COAL. MARKET.
Prices per tnn at the close of the market :—Baddle's West
Hartley, 16s 3d ; Chester Main, 15s 6d ; Hasting's Hartley,
17s ; Holywell Main, 16s ' • Nelson's West Hartley, 16s 3d ;
New Tantield, 14s ; North Tanfield, 13s ; Old Pontop, 14s ;
Pott's Primrose, 13s ; Rayensworth's West Hartley, 16s 6d ;
Taylor's West Hartley, 16s ; Townley, 15s ;
West Wylam,
15s 6d ; Wylam' 15s 3d ; Wall's-end Clennell, 15s 6d ; New-
march, 15s 6d ; Hetton, 19s ; Lanibton, 18s 6d ; Pemberton,
lis ; Russell's Iletton, 19s ; Stewart's 19s ; Bawham, 16s 3d ;
Maclean's Tees, Ns 3d ; Tees, 18s 3d ; The Dukes, 17s 9d ;
Wilton Park, 1539 d ; Hartley, 16a 3d ; Llangennech, 21s;
Sidney's Hartley, l7.—ships arrived since hat day, 30.

THE AMERICAN NAVY.

The recent message of President Polk, and his threat-
ened appropriation of the Oregon territory in oppo-
sition to the claims of this country, have naturally turned
the attention of the public to the resources which Arne-.
rica can comvaand in the event of a hostile collision with
England. The following is the list of the American
navy, including the vessels building and in ordinary, to-
gether with an analysis of the power of the various ves-
sels in ;heir respective classes.—

LINE OP BATTLE MIPS.

Pennsylvania . l2O
Ohio • 80
North Carolina BO
Delaware BO
Alabama . BO
Vermont . BO

Virginia . BO
New York . B3
Franklin. 74
Washington 74
Columbus ' 74

FRIG
Independence:
United States . 44
Constitution
Potomac . 44
Brandywine 44
Java. 44
Hudson
Santee . 44
Cumberland

Columbia 44
St. Lawrence . 44
Sabine 44
Guerriere 44
Savannah 44
Baritan 44
Constellation . 36
Macedonian

SLOOPS OF
John Adams 2O
13 .stun
Lexington . 20
Vincennes 2O
Warren... . 2O
Natchez 2O
Falmouth
Fairfield 2O
Vandalia .
SL Louis . 2O
Concord 2O
Levant. 2O
Cyane 2O
Erie. lB
Ontario lB
Peacock
Decattir

WAR, &C.
Preble.
Yorktown l6
Marion l6
Dale l6
Dolphin lO
Porpoise .
Consort lO
Grampus lO
Shark .
Enterprise ...
Boxer . lO
Experiment 6
Flirt 6
Wave . 6
Otsego
Seagull 6
Flying Fish 6

STEAM VESSELS.
Princeton....
Mississippi
Missouri
Fulton
Poinsett .

The Missouri steamer, although included in the above
list, was accidentally burnt and sunk at Gibraltar about
twelve months ago.
From the foregoing list it appears that the total num-
ber of vessels of every description, including steamers,
comprising the American navy, amounts only to 67. Of
these, 11 are line• of-battle ship; 17 frigates; 34 sloops,
brigs, or schooners, and 5 steam-vessels. Among the
line-of-battle ships which we have enumerated, there are
fcur not yet built, viz., the Alabama, Vermont, Virginia,
and New York; and of the frigates there are six that are
in the course of construction, the Santee, Cumberland,
Sabine, Savannah, Baritan, and St. Lawrence; conse-
quently the Ame scans at the present time have only 7
line-of-battle ships and 11 frigates, including those in or-
dinary, available for service in :he event of a war.
Although the numerical strength of the American
navy is not very formidable, the Americans imagine that
the want of numbers is more than compensated by the
power and efficiency of each individual ship, and that
should one of their frigates encounter a British frigate
she would eventually capture her. They say that such
was the case in the war of 1812, and point to the Guer-
riere, the Java, and the Macedonian, as triumphant il-
lustrations of this fact. During that war their frigates
were the largest class vessels they had in their service,
but since that period they have built their line-of-battle
ships, which, although nominally rated at 74 and 80
gun ships, carry considerably more guns than their
rating indicates. They have one first class line-of-battle
ship—the Pennsylvania. This ship, although stated to
be of 120 guns, actually carries 140 guns, and instead of
being a three-decker, is to all intents and purposes a
four-decker. Our first-class vessels, such as the St. Vin-
cent, and others, only carry the number of guns at which
they are rated, 120 ; but, notwithstanding the inferiority
of their armament to that of the Pennsylvania, the dis-
parity is not so Tery great as to preclude the possibility
of any of our first-rates successfully contending with her.
With regard to the American 80-gun ships, such as
the Delaware, they ought to have been rated at 102
guns, for that is the number of guns they actually carry.
They have 34 long 42-pounders on their lower deck, 34
long 42-pounders on their main-deck ; 34 42-
pounder caronnades on their upper deck, The total
weight of metal they can discharge is 3,6161b5., and the
weight of their broadside is I,BoBlb. Thus, although
rated as 80 gun ships, they are of superior force to our
90 gun ships, and throw a heavier broadside by 1521 b.
than they do, for the broadside of the Albion, Rodney,
Nile, and London is 1,6561 b. This class of the American
line of-battle ships may, therefore, be rated as a class be-
tween our 90 gun ships and our three-deckers, such as
the Queen, for her broadside is 1,9721 b, being 1641 b.
more than the broadside of the Delaware.
The American, 74-gun ships actually mount 90 guns ;
30 long 32-pounders on the lower deck ; 30 medium 32.
t 44
guns, but they mount 60, 30
deck. The total weight of
pounders on the main-deck, and 30 32-pounder car-
ronades on the upper deck, consequently the total weight
of metal they can discharge is 2,8801 b., or a broadside of
1,4401 b. This class of vessels, although actually Ciar.l
rying 90 guns, is inferior to our 80-gun ships, which
only carry the number of guns at which they are rated ;
for instance, the Vanguard, 80, can discharge a total
weight of metal, equal to 2,9921 b., consequently the
weight of her broadside would be 1,4961 b., being 501 b.
heavier than that of the Franklin and other nominally
74, but in point of fact 90-gun ships.
As to the American frigates there is no question that,
in the event of a war with this country, these will be the
vessels most likely to bear the brunt of it. If, however,
the Americans anticipate the same results in their frigate
actions in any future war as they experienced in ISI2,
they will find themselves pretty considerably mistaken.
The class of British frigates which they would now
have to contend with is a far different one from
that which they encountered at that period, and if they
then had great difficulty, as in the case of the Java, in
overcoming vessels whose armament was so inferior that
the whole weight of metal they could discharge was
Yereads
w powerfulimth egu of
guns
the
on Ame-
rican
their eiractually much less than the single broadside of their
more powerful antagonists, how utterly impossible will
they find it now successfully to compete with our new
larger class frigates. Although our 50-gunfrigates
in
theirdo
anr(iunt ae vmeenn frigatesnt wow mounthyet
oi
gangways, and far more efficient ; for when the Brandy-
wine and other American frigates carry carronades on
t u tth e
beingsyo
a manyre
aema
rpi
hampered
guns as so
their upper decks, the Vernon, Warspite, and other
British frigates carry long guns on theirs. The American
3lmlong
en.tgpa frigatespounders
2tn
h.
.dapeeryoer
usndischarge 0n32-pounders
e ratedr
their oon a their main-deck, and 30 carronade
only
y a
is upperl,,2olbs• , and that of their
broadside 9601b1. The discharge from our 50-gun
frigates is 1,8161b5., and from the broadside 9081b5.,
consequently there is even now an advantage of 521bs.
in favour of the broadside of the American frigates.
This, however, is more than compensated by having
long guns instead of carronades, and the absence of guns
from the gangways. The Americans, however they
might have been elated with their success in capturing
our frigates during the last war, had in reality little or
flotilla,: to boast of. The discharge from the Java's
broadside was under 4001b5., while that of the American
frigate was 9601b3., being 1601bs. more than double that
of her opponent.
The same excess in the number of guns actually
mounted over the rated number exists in the American
sloops of war. Their 20-gun sloops (corvettes) mount
26 guns, their 16-gun brigs mount 20 guns, and their
10-gun brigs mount 14 guns, and so on in proportion
with their smaller craft. Here, however, their 26-gun
ships have no advantage over our new class corvettes,
the Amazon, and Daedalus (razees), which are rated at
and carry 26 guns ; and they would not have the slightest
chance with our other 26-gun ships, which, having main
decks, would be enabled to fight their guns free from
any entanglement from wreck of spars or rigging. With
respect to the other sloops and small craft of the Ameri-
can navy, those who are acquainted with the improve-
ments that have been made within these few years in
this class of vessels in the British service, are.fully aware
that the Americans have little cause to congratulate
themselves upon their superiority on this point.
We now come to the most important branch of the
question—the comparative strength of the steam navies
of the two countries. From the foregoing statement it
appears that the United States Government have at
present only four effective steam vessels, whereas there
are now in the British service somewhere about 100
steamers of various trades and power. In addition to
this, some hundreds of effective sea-going steam vessels
can be brought into operation from the mercantile ma-
rine. This fact has been ascertained from the result of
an inquiry recently instituted by the Lords of the
Admiralty. In the last war with the United States
considerable injury was done to our commerce
by American privateers. At that period, how-
ever, steam had not been applied to mari-
time purposes ; since then, this great additional
power has come into operation, and its usefulness
has been fully developed. By the applying of this f'orce
to the blockading of the American ports it would be
utterly impossible for their privateers again to injure
our commerce. No doubt many privateers would be
fitted out with this object, but with one or two steamers
in the offing, it would be next to impossible for them
to leave they respective ports. What have the Ame-
ricans got, in addition to the four war-steamers already
mentioned, to compete with this powerful force ? They
have no mercantile steam marine to resort to. It is so
differently emstituted to ours, that is is only applicable
t.) river traffic, and not one of the vessels of which it is
cemprised could be rendered effective for sea or war
purposes.
It must be obvious from the preceding statement of
the comparative naval power of the two nations, that,
should any collision take place, the result cannot prove
satisfactory to the Americans. They must inevitably
suffer greatly in their commerce, while the injury they
can effect with respect to our mercantile marine will be
comparatively trifling. It is needless to add, that should
any e-gagement take place between an American and
An English frigate, the power of the two being now
nearly on a par, the result will be widely different from
the frigate actions already adverted to, and is more
likely to be similar to that of the Shannon and the
Chesapeake.

COALS.—The Commissioners of the Castoms have
issued directions to the Collectors and Comptrollers of the
Customs at the several ports of the United Kingdom, to pre •
pare and transmit to the Inspector General of Imports and
Exports the following account, so far as the same relates to
thsir respective ports, with the least possible delay, viz. :
"An account of the number of tons of coals, culm, and cin-
ders, respectively, shipped at their several ports to other
potre of the United liangdon4 during the year 1644."

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
(From the Morning Chronicle.).

ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.—We understand it is the
intention of Government, in conjunction with the
Chester and Holyhead Rail way Company, to have
the electric telegraph established on that line,
reaching from London to Holyhead, a distance of be-
tween 200 and 300 miles, and embracing in its route
the commercial capitals of Liverpool, Manchester,
and Birmingham. The success of the apparatus in
the South Western and the Adiscombe, between
London and Portsmouth, 88 miles, is said to be the
super-inducing7cause of its proposed establishment on
the Chester and Holyhead line. The adoption of this
invention on a scale of magnitude bids fair to effect a
radical change in the entire correspondence of the
country, by bringing as it were momentarily
into close consolidation and communion, the ex-
changes of London, Liverpool, Manchester,
and Birmingham, conveying with lightning-
like velocity every fluctuation of affairs, and tele-
graphing from mart to mart, with marvellous
exactitude, and over areas of hundreds of
miles, intelligence that may be received
and reciprocated almost simultaneously by every
mercantile community in the kingdom. Great ad-
vantages have already been developed to the Admi-
ralty and commercial world, by its adoption between
London and Gosport. The old senaaphore system is
now nearly superseded, and important Government
orders and intelligence, that-formerly occupied hours
in transmitting by the ordinary semaphores between
London and Portsmouth, are now forwarded and
fulfilled in little more than a few seconds, the com-
municating wires which will shortly be carried from
Nine-elms to the Admiralty, at Whitehall, terminat-
ing in the very barracks of the garrison at Gosport.
The establishment of telegraphic communication be-
tween Liverpool and Holyhead, Lloyd's and London,
will give every facility for shipping purposes ; and in
this respect the invention has worked most efficiently
between London and Southampton, where, as at Gos-
port, there is a telegraphic station, telegraphic notices
being daily dispatched, on the arrival of important
mails and merchantmen. The advantages, moreover,
that may accrue from a line of wires to Holyhead,
in establishing a closer connexion between the metro-
polis and the sister isle, is of a nature not to be
overlooked, either in a political or social point
of view. Lines of telegraph, we understand, have
been or are about being adopted on the following
amongst other lines :—On the South Western, as a
Government telegraph for the Admiralty to Ports-
mouth, 90 miles. On the same line, as a commercial
telegraph, from Nine Elms to Southampton, 77
miles, with branch to Gosport, 21. On the South
Devon atmospheric line, now in progress, 52 miles.
On the Great Western,_ from Paddington to Slough,
18 miles. On the Yarmouth and Norwich, 20
miles. On the Dover line, from Tonbridge to
Maidstone, 15 miles. On the Croydon, atmospheric.
On the Blackwall ; on part of the Manchester and
Leeds and its branch to Oldham; on part of the
Edinburgh and Glasgow ; upon the Dalkey atmo-
spheric branch of the Dublin and Kingstown, appli-
cable alike to the conveyance of commercial intelli-
gence, and to the safe conduct avid working of the
line. The above embraces an extent of nearly 250
miles, over which the telegraph principle is already in
operation ; and its adoption between London, Liver-
pool, Manchester, Birmingham, and Holyhead, will
add about 300 miles more.

EXCURSION TRAINS.—London is likely to receive
this week a large influx to its pleasure population,
arrangements having been made for running cheap
excursion trains from nearly all the great cities and
towns, north, south, east, and west. The Birming-
ham, Great Western, South Western, Dover, and
Brighton, we believe, dispatch pleasure trains, for one
fare each way, and the northern lines run short ones
to the various localities on the route. The Liverpool
and Manchester provide cheap waggon trains from
Man Chester to Liverpool and back, furnished with
seats, and have entered into arrangements with the
conductors of the various Sunday schools for con-
veyance of the scholars. The Manchester and Leeds
propose to convey whole Sunday schools from Man-
chester to Wakefield, and other places on their line,
in waggons at 6d. a head, both ways, and their
teachers for 2s. 6d. each, in second-class carriages.
The Manchester and Bolton run special trains at
reduced fares, every quarter of an hour, to the Kersal
Moor races, and make trips from Manchester to Preston
and Fleetwood, at which latter place pleasure steamers
are to ply in different sea excursions during the day,
the journey from Manchester to Fleetwood to be per-
formed in little more than two hours, allowing visitors
nine hours at Fleetwood. The Manchester and Bir-
mingham undertake to carry the members of clubs,
charitable institutions, and schools, from Manchester
to Aldersley and back, at 6d. each every day, and
the parents and friends of the children at is. They
also run trains to the Chester races, in each case by
special train, so as to prevent a recurrence of the de-
lays of last season. The Hull and Selby and Midland
lines are to send excursion trains, with free trade
freights of visitors to London, from Leeds, York,
Newcastle, and Durham. The Glasgow and Ayr
Company invite visitors by special train to the races
and chases at Eglington Park. The Newcastle and
Carlisle convey visitors to Gilsland Spa, Naworth
Castle, and Carlisle. The Chester and Birkenhead
have made arrangements to secure accommodation to
the influx of visitors from Liverpool to the Chester
races. Most of the metropolitan Hues have made si-
milar arrangements for suburban trips, and the recre-
ation of the holiday folks.
CROYDON AND EPSOM ATMOSPHERIC.—The works
are progressing rapidly, and a qu entity of iron tubes
have been conveyed from the New-cross station to
several portions of the line. A commodious engine
and boiler-house are being built near the Dartmouth
Arms station. The boiler house is constructed to
contain six gigantic boilers, nearly fourteen tons
in weight each. Both of the buildings are covered
with an elegant iron roof. The style of the building
is pointed Gothic ; and the chimney, which is to be
raised to an altitude of 120 feet, is a curious specimen
of its class. A considerable number of labourers and
others are employed in raising and levelling the road,
and in laying the necessary rails, for some distance
beyond the point at which the new way will diverge
from the t_;roydon and Brighton lines. The ap-
paratus for telegraphic purposes is fixed for se-
veral miles, and, from the general activity dis-
played throughout the works, an early opening
may be expected. Three of the boilers ma-le at the
manufactory of Messrs. Maudesley and Co., in the
\Vestminster-road, lie ready for fitting near the new
building on the line nearest the Dartmouth Arms.
At Annerley the works assume an elaborate cha-
racter, long rows of piles being already driven for
the purpose of forming an inclined plane and viaduct
over the South-Eastern line near that village. Dur
ing the last few days the works have been inspected
by several noblemen and gentlemen interested in the
atmospheric principle.
SUSPENSION TUNNEL.—Probably one of the boldest
railway projects of the day, is that suggested by
Mr. Robert Stephenson, the engineer, of crossing
the Menai Straits by means of a tunnel in the
air. Mr. Stephenson proposes to throw an iron tube
over the Straits, by means of suspension chains,
using the:Britannia Rock as a buttress in the middle;
the tube to be 25 feet in breadth, by 15 in
depth, constructed in the same way as an iron ship,
composed of large plates put together in the form of a
great iron tunnel. He also proposes to have
two tubes, one for each line of rails, and expresses
himself satisfied upon the strength and safety of the
tube, having tried experiments on an iron vessel 220
feet in length, suspended by the stem and stern, with
a weight of 1,200 tons in her centre, without the
slightest straining effect. 'lnc plan would be calcu-
lated effectually to prevent interference with the navi-
gation, the great difficulty to be encountered in car-
rying the Chester and Holyhead over the Menal
Straits. General Pasley, we understand, coincides
with Mr. Stephenson in the safety of the method, and
Mr. Rendell, who has reported to the Admiralty on
the practicability of effecting such a passage of the
Straits, so as not to obstruct the navigation, appears to
be of opinion that the proposed tube tunnel would be
preferable to a bridge, since from its having no joints
it would possess more rigidity than a common bridge,
and be less liable to the oscillation of the trains.
BRISTOL AND BIRMINGHAM LlNES.—rhe Midland
Railway has entered into possession and taken the
entire management of the Bristol and Gloucester and
Birmingham and Gloucester lines ; besides assuming
the entire responsibility, an arrangement has been
concluded for commuting the dividend to be derived
from the current half-year from the revenue of the
line between Bristol and Birmingham, at the sum of
26,0001: The Midland Company are, pursuant to
the agreement, to pay six per cent. per annum on the
united share capital of the two lines, amoueting to
1,800,0001. The standing order► in the case of the
Birmingham and Gloucester have been disp easel with
by the Select Committee, provided no right is con-
ferred on the Midland to lease the line.

CEiELTENTIAIL AND GREAT WESTERN.—To-day
this line, which starts from the Swindon station,
opens as far as Glou3ester fur passenger traffic only,
with intermediate stations at Tetbury-road and
Stroud. The remainder of the line will, we under-
stand, be completed without delay. The minor sta-
tions at Branscoinbe and Stonehouse will be opened
by June. By this line two complete routes will be
accessible—namely, via Birmingham and Swindon.
SWIFT TRAINS.---It is proposed, we hear, to start
another fast train on the Great Western, to accom-
plish the distance between Exeter and London in 4}
hours. On Wednesday, one of the express trains on
the London and Birmingham ran the 112 miles in
21 hours. It is expected that the distance between
Liverpool and London, nearly '2OO inileA, will pre-
sently be accomplished in 4 hours. The Midland
lines have joined in the general acceleration.
TESTIMONIALS.—On Wednesday last a service of
plate, value 200 guineas, was presented to Mr. Alder-
man Carr, a director, by a numberjof shareholders in

the North Midland, in testimony of the sense they
entertained of his services in effecting economical re-
forms in connexion with the Corn Tinny. On the pre-
%ions Friday a silver tea service was pre:“mted to Mr.
P. Clarke, late superintende. t of the Midland Rail-
way, by the officers and heads of the establishment, as
a testimony to his efficient services. A similar testi-
monial has-also been presented by the shareholders to
Mr. J. B. Badharn, secretary to the Bristol and
Exeter line, of the value of 100 guineas, accompanied
by a purse of 1,150 guineas, subscribed for by nearly
400 shareholders. Mr. Linn, superintendent of the
Glasgow and Coal-bridge, was last week presented
with a watch and a purse of sovereigns by the officers
associated with him.

We trust it is by an oversight of the Committee of
Selection that Mr. Gibson Craig has been placed at
the head of the committee on the Portsmouth lines.
In this committee is to be decided the question be-
tween the atmospheric and a locomotive line ; and to
have placed at the head of it a former member of the
atmospheric committee, one who has signed his name
to Lord Howick's report, and who, we perceive, in a
majority of Cases, voted with Lord Howick and
against Mr. Hodgson Hinde in that committee, is to
have overlooked all the ptinciples by which men are
usually guided, who wish to provide for a disputed
case an impartial tribunal.—Railway Chronicle.
The Midland Company have purchased the Melton
and Oakharn Canal, at 601. per share.

THE GRAND JUNCTION AND THE BROAD GUAGE.
—There has been, during the last few da) s, a rumour
to the effect that the Grand Junction Company will,
in the event of the Great Western Company proceed-
ing with their line from Oxford to Rugby and Bir-
ming, carry on the broad gunge from the latter town
to Liverpool and Scotland, ifereby reducing the
journey from the metropolis to this town to three
hours and a half—Liverpool Times.

As a specimen of the unscrupulous manner in
which evidence is got up before Railway Commit-
tees of the House of Commons, it was asserted last
week, before the Committee on the North Lin-
colnshire lines, that since the opening of the Rua and
Selby Railway, there had been no coach running be-
tween Nottingham and Hull. The witness was from
Barton-upon-Humber ; and yet there is a daily each
from Nottingham to this self-sa:ne Barton waterside ;
besides which, the Nottingham and Lincoln mail con-
nects with the Lincoln mail to Hull by way of New
Holland.—Notts Journal.

BRIG llTON.—Yesteniay morning the office of the
London-bridge terminus of this line was besieged
by persons anxious to avail themselves of the oppor-
tunity of visiting Brighton, and returning the same
day for 55., the sum charged by the Directors yes-
terday, and which they have given notice will be
continued during the present week, for the third-
class trains. Upwards of one thousand persons were
conveyed by the first train, and nearly the same
number by the second train, the other trains during
the day to Croydon and other places on the line were
also filled, nearly two thousand persons passing up
and down.

RAILWAY BATHS.—The Duh'in ani Kingstown
Railway Company announce that they will receive
proposals from persons wishing to become tenants for
the present season for the Company's bathing places
at Salt-hill, Monkstown, and Blackrock. All sub-
scribers to the line, holders of railway, bathing, and
morning tickets, to have free cold bathing at any of
the Company's baths, the tenant providing attend-
ance, towels, and all necessary accommodation, free of
charge. Baths are in daily use at Crewe for the
officers and servants of the Grand Junction Railway.

DARTMOUTH LINE.—On Wednesday last a meeting
was held at Dartmouth, with the view of promoting
the interests of the proposed line. After some deli-
beration the meeting was adjourned to a future day,
for the purpose of then forming a provisional com-
mittee, and for resolving on future measures.