The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-29 00:00:00

SOUTH WALES RAILWAY.
MEETING AT CARDIFF.
A numerously attended and highly influential
meeting of the bankers, merchants, and traders of
Cardiff, with a number of the gentry of this and the
neighbouring towns and counties, was held on Fri-
day, in the Town-hall, to take into consideration the
expediency of promoting a line of railway through
Newport, Cardiff, the agricultural districts of Llan-
trissant, Cowbridge, Bricigend, Porthcawl, Neath, and
Swansea. A deputation from the Great Western
Railway Company, consisting of F. P. Barlow, Esq.,
one of the Directors, C. Saunders, Esq., Secretary,
W. 0. Hunt, Esq., solicitor, with J. K. Brunel,
Esq., engineer, attended. The presence of these
gentlemen constituted an important feature in the
meeting, and afforded something like guarantee that
the business of the day would be conducted with the
same good faith which has invariably characterised
the proceedings of these gentlemen in the various
localities where, in furtherance of the objects of the
company, they attended. The period that has elapsed
since the last meeting in Swansea afforded time for
a partial survey of the important line of railway
through this county ; this circumstance, coupled
with the interest naturally attachable to so important
a demonstration, led to the expectation that an
authoritative declaration as to a specific and definite
line would be made in the course of the day. A
large and imposing assemblage of persons, deeply
interested in the project, were in consequencebrought
together.
Among those preient we observed the Marquis of
Bute, Lord Lieutenant of the county ; J. Bruce
Pryce, Esq., High Sheriff of the county • Viscount
' Adare M.P.; the Right Hon. J. Nicholl, M.P.;
Sir John Guest, Bart., M.P. ' • C. K. Kemys Tinte,
Esq., M.P.; Edward Divett, Esq., M.P.; J. Gower,
Esq. ; M. P. Traherne, Esq. ' • the Very Rev. the Dean
of Llandaff; R. F. Jenner, Esq. ; J. Homfray, Esq. ;
T. W. Booker, Esq. • Water Coffin, Esq.; Rowland
Fothergill, Esq.; E. H. Lee, Esq. • J. N. Came,
Esq.; Rev. J. Coles ; Rev. Robert Knight ; Rev. W.
Bruce; E. M. Williams, Esq. ; Captain Hewitt; W.
Needham, Esq. ; Rev. Dr. Buckland, Professor of
Geology ; Rev. W. D. Conybeare ; H. Morgan, Esq.,
Mayor of Cardiff; Rev. R. Prichard ; Rev. T.
Stacey ; Rev. W. L. Morgan ; E. P. Richards, Esq. ;
H. S. Coke, J. Randall, W. Williams, David Evans,
J. H. Langley, R. Daw, Wm. Lewis, James Lewis,
Henry Jones, Win. Jones, W. Towgood, R. Reece,
J. Clark, John Richards, J. S. Corbett, Lewis Reece,
Charles James, of Merthyr, Wm. Perkins, of Merthyr,
Montague Grover, A. Miller, Birt Jenner, C. C.
Williams, Evan David, Esqs. ; Dr. Moore ; Messrs.
W. J. Watson, Wm. Richards, Geo. Insole, John
Batchelor, Henry Webber, Wm. Bird, R. Beaumont,
W. Williams, G. S. Strawson, C. Vachell, &c.
The members of the deputation from the Great
Western Company entered, the Hall about half-past
twelve, and were warmly greeted. A few minutes
after the Marquis of Bute entered, and was received
with loud and general cheering.
His Lordship, on the motion of M. P. Traherne,
Esq., was moved to the chair.
The Noble MARQUIS then briefly addressed the
meeting. He ventured to appeal to the knowledge
of all present, that it was his anxious desire to show
his goodwill towards the promotion of the object
which so much interested them all. It was an un-
dertaking in which there was not only individual but
general interest concerned; and, as such, it was, he
believed, of importance to the country. He had re-
turned from the western part of the county, where
the matter, in the course of general conversation, was
pretty freely talked over and from this he could learn
the general good feeling that prevailed respecting it.
It was under these impressions that he complied with
what appeared to be the general wish of the meeting
in taking the chair. He felt, however, that it was
impossible for him to do so without expressing his
thanks for the manner in which that intimation had
been conveyed to him, The Noble Marquis resumed
his seat amid much cheering.
Air. BARLOW- then announced himself as one of the
deputation of the Great Western Company, and next
addressed the meeting. He ventured to address
them as the representative of that Company, which
was warmly interested in the prosecution of the
South Wales Railway. The duty would have
been ably discharged by the Chairman of the
Company, but whose avocations elsewhere rendered it
impossible for him to attend. Mr. Barlow adverted to
the deputation having recently passed through Cardiff,
and apologised for their not then addressing a public
meeting on the subject. The reason principally was,
that the Noble Chairman whose support they were
anxious to conciliate, could not conveniently attend,
and which support he considered essential to the suc-
cess of the undertaking.—(Cheers.) The Great
Western Company had no idea of overlooking the im-
portant town of Cardiff. That was not meant, they
wanted the support of numbers. They not only
wanted that support, but the species of moral support
founded on the good opinions of the people of the
work in hand.—(Cheers.) They wanted the prac-
tical manifestations of their anxiety to go to, and
carry the business through Parliament. They had a
claim on every individual for his support to enable
them to bring the project before Parliament. That
support he would beg to tell them was shown by sub-
scriptions. They wanted to see the local interest
concerned in order to keep up the spirit of the thing.
The advantages of railway communication was so
obvious, so generally admitted, that it would be
needless to descant on them. To the port and town
of Cardiff, peculiarly situated as they were, a railway
was inestimable. As a means of internal communi-
cation for sending the produce of England into Wales,
and transporting into the interior of England the
great mineral resources of this and the neighbouring
counties, the railway contemplated was of great
importance. Some years ago a railway into
Wales was looked upon as rather a wild specula-
tion. But, fortunately for society, mention
of its impracticability at the present day had
vanished, and what was then considered as
visionary and delusive, might now be looked upon
as safe and practicable.— (Cheers.) Even if no pros-
pective remuneration arose from the present project
to shareholders, yet it was worthy the attention of
influential persons as a means of improving property,
for he thought that there were few gentlemen of the
present day who would now be found to complain of
the vicinity of a railroad to their park or mansion.
The proposed line will give a direct communication
between London and Wales. It will work into the
railroads that are about to be constructed, and from
the westward it will open a communication with Ire-
land. It will open a communication between Fish-
guard and Wexford—it will be responded to by cor-
responding lines of railway in Ireland—by lines from
Wexford to Dublin, and from that city to -Waterford.
At present it was the intention of the deputation to
proceed to Wexford, and lay there the foundation of
a project similar to that which he had now the honour
of addressing to them.—(Cheers.) By the proposed
line they would have the most direct communication
with the southern part of Ireland. He had only to
assure them that the Great 'Western Company were
ready to support the project in the most influential
way. They think they will best achieve that object
by incorporating themselves with the South Wales
Board of Directors—(Cheers)—and support it with
their money. He was gratified to find that this
announcement was satisfactory. There had been
times when it was all but impossible to get capital,
but now gentlemen were ready to come forward, and
there was a spirit of enterprise and emulation abroad
that augured well for the undertaking. He would
give an instance of this in the person of one gentle-
man, now near him, who was a member of the South
Wales Board of Directors, and who had taken 2,000
shares in the speculation. This gentleman had come
forward with alacrity, and with as purely disinterested
a feeling as it was possible to fall to the lot of any I
human being.—(Cheers.) The meeting would learn
with satisfaction the gratifying state of the share-
list. If they thought proper to produce their share-
book, it would be seen that it would not be necessary
to get a single name more on it—in other words, the
whole of the share-list necessary to go to Parliament
has been already filled ; in fact the number of shares
necessary to a successful application to Parliament
have been already subscribed for. The list will be
kept open till the Ist of November. After that period
it will be closed. He was aware as an element of
opposition to the present undertaking, doubts were
industriously circulated respecting the traffic on the
projected line. He was happy to inform them that
there was no truth in the rumour. Everything had
been done scrupulously to ascertain that ; and it was
submitted to checks and tests of so rigorous a nature,
as to enable them to vouch for its suffi-
ciency. The statistics of the traffic had been
taken by gentlemen of admitted competency, who
have made their report in the proper quarters. From
that report it has been ascertained that it will produce
full 10 per cent. on the subscribed capital.—(Cheers.)
Now when that report finds its way into the money
market, he could not say with what avidity the shares
would be taken up. He now mentioned the fact to
give an opportunity for making timely applications.
He admitted he was anxious to see these applications,
because they were anxious to be in a position to go to
Parliament with a certainty of success. From this
feature in the transactions, they might see it was not
a mere jobbing speculation they were called to em-
bark in. They therefore wished to have from Cardiff
that expression of feeling which should be the most
efficient representative of the number of shares which
Cardiff would represent. He felt the subject was not
in competent hands ; any application, to the deputa-
tion of the Great 'Western Company, the officers of
which were present, would elicit the fullest explana-
tion of their views. Mr. Brunel in particular, would
give every explanation. He saw around him num-
bers of the South Wales board, who might if necessary
be applied to on the subject. The deputation now
were on their way to Fishgusrd, whence they would
proceed to Wexford, where a demonstration similar
to this would-be made, and where he had no doubt, a
similar triumph would await them.--(Cheers.)

Viscount ADARE, M.P., then rose to propose the
first resolution. After the statements that had been
last made, it was unnecessary for him to enter into
the question whether a railway was necessary for
South Wales. On that subject he apprehended there
could not be a second opinion. He felt particularly
gratified at two things:—first, at the good opinion
which such a company as the Great Western seemed
to entertain of the project ; and, secondly, at the nume-
rous and highly influential meeting which, by its pre-
sence, concurred in the proceedings of the day. This
was particularly understood to be the age of great
undertakings. It was essential to their progress that
unanimity should govern their proceedings, and he
was happy to state that unanimity was the distin-
guishing feature of the present meeting. The most
sceptical on the subject—those who did not belong to
the company, and proposed taking no part in the spe-
culation, nevertheless hailed it as a measure of wis •
dom—as the means of connecting the metropolis of
England with the south of Ireland, and as productive
of those happy results which must proceed from such
an intercourse. The Noble Lord concluded by mov-
ing the folowing resolution:—" That the formation of
a railway in connection with the Great Western Rail-
way, through Newport, Cardiff, and the agricultural
districts of Llantrissant, Cowbridge, Bridgend, and
Pyle, thence to Neath, Swansea, and Fishguard,
thereby both connecting the metropolis of England
with Ireland, and giving scope to the development of
the vast and various resources of this rich country,
cannot fail to be productive of the greatest advantage
not only to the country at large, but especially to the
respective districts which it will traverse."
The Right Hon. J. Nictsom., M.P., said the had
the honour and gratification of seconding the resolu-
tion just moved by the Noble Viscount. It had been
well said that any project that had for its object the
establishment of a communication between this coun-
try and the metropolis must be of advantage to Wales.
When he said that the projected line would be in
Connexion with the Great IVestern Company, ' he
meant to say that it would be in connexion with, the
greatest and bast line of railway that had ever been
constructed in this or any other country, or that had
yet been called into existence. He begged to con-
gtatulate the meeting that it received so great an
amount of support; and he hoped that the town of
Cardiff would show its sense of the proposed boon—
of its interest in the undertaking, not by the sub-
scriptions of single persons, but of numbers. It was
not the wish of the Great 'Western Company, nor
was it necessary that gentlemen alone should come
forward in support of the railway with large sub-
scriptions. It was essential that names should be
numerous as well as influential, and thusiprove that
the town of Cardiff, with the county at large, felt an
interest in the undertaking. He would not detain
the meeting further than to bid the undertaking go
forward and prosper.—(Cheers.)
The question on the resolution was then: put from
the chair and carried.

Sir J. GUEST Bart., M.P., said, that the following
resolution had been put into his hands :—" That com-
mittees be appointed for the purpose of obtaining
subscriptions, and otherwise promoting the under-
taking, and, from time to time, conferring with the
provisional committee and the Great Western Rail-
way Company in furtherance of the measure." After
the interesting explanation given by Mr. Barlow, it
was quite unnecessary for him to say anything, ex-
cept merely in discharge of the duty he felt imposed
on him to call on them to put down their names.
He would only add, with respect to the commercial
prospects of the railway, that as the present line
would be the connecting link between England and
Ireland, much commercial advantage might be in-
ferred. It should not be forgotten, that in this
country they had a profusion of metals, which were
manufactured in the heart of England. If the pro-
jected line were now laid down, the facilities of
transit would be so great, that the produce of their
copper would be sent there, the English hardware
would find its way into this country, and in their
turn they would be able to send into the heart of
England the various metals with which their hills
abounded ; and it was not too much to anticipate that
the trades and manufactures which now flourished in
England would in the course of a few years, find
their way to the hills, and be established among them.
—(Cheers.) As a voucher for this speculation, he
could refer to Professor Buckland, who, he was glad
to see among them. [The Learned Gentleman thus
appealed to, sat opposite Sir J. Guest, and by a nod,
intimated his assent.] That Learned Gentleman
could satisfy them of the abundance of coal on their
hills, and its probable duration. He (Sir J. Guest)
was happy to see that day,—he had long anticipated
it, and the success of the undertaking was what he
had at heart for many years.—(Cheers.)
The Rev. ROBERT KNIGHT said he had been se-
lected for seconding the resolution just now submitted
to them. He could do so with great pleasure. They
had heard of the advantages that would arise from the
proposed undertaking, by joining the two extremities
of the United Kingdom. If they looked nearer home,
they would find in the county of Glamorgan that ma-
terials which lay for many ages unexplored and unde-
veloped, would by the contemplated line be made
available for the uses for which a wise Providence
originally intended them, and make business at both
extremities of this county as active as ever it had been
at the centre of it. He would not detain them longer
than to congratulate the county generally on the
happy prospects held out, and the deputation of the
Great 'Western Company for the flattering reception
which it had everywhere experienced.
The High Sheriff of the county, J. B. PRYCE, Esq.,
said that the accomplishment of the present under-
taking would be productive of the happiest results,
and was certainly the most important that could be
undertaken. A few days ago he observed stakes
driven into a portion of the bank of the Ely, on which
part of his property lay. He was glad to perceive
that his land could afford such a slight facility for
the commencement of this great undertaking, and
he would be glad to find that the best land of
his in the county could serve a similar purpose.
He had the pleasure of bringing with him to
the meeting two of the most distinguished
geologists of the age, Professor Buckland and
the Rev. Mr. Conybeare. Ile was quite delighted to
see those gentlemen unfold their maps and display
the treasures of the mineral world, which they anti-
cipated from this display. He concluded by moving
the following resolution That the best thanks of
the meeting be given to the deputation of the Great
Western Railway Company, for their attendance this
day, and the information so readily given by them,
respecting the prospects of the undertaking."
T. W. BOOKER,
Esq., said he had the high honour
of seconding the resolution which had been just pre-
posed. In doing so, he could not help congratulating
the deputation of the Great Western Railway Com-
pany on the very flattering circumstances under
which they appear before the public. There was a
period, and not a remote one, in which the near ap-
proach of a railway line was regarded by the landed
proprietary with horror. " What," said they, " shall
we have our parks cut up by your railways—our
very kitchens and pantries tunnelled by your boring ?
—(Laughter.) You will not let the country alone,
but tormenting and cutting it up into the most fan-
tastic shapes and forms disfiguring the face of
nature. You will not leave one beauty free
To sink or swell as Heaven pleases.' "

This might at one period form the ground of com-
plaint with many well-meaning gentlemen ; but time
and circumstances are changed, and what at one
period was looked upon with jealousy and consterna-
tion, was now regarded with tolerance, if not com-
placency. Mr. Brunel too, like other artful seducers,
kept out of the people's way, and by a retiring and
delicate reserve, enhanced the value of his presence,
and made people but wish the more for his company.
—(Laughter.) He could not help observing that it
augured well for the success of the undertaking to
find that the South Wales Railway would have less
in amount to pay for compensation for land than other
lines. This circumstance brought him to the railway
itself. In the few observations he felt it necessary to
make, he would avoid treading on tender ground, or
hazarding an observation that would for a moment
disturb the unanimity that so happily prevailed. Ile
would, in all courtesy, beg to put some questions to
the deputation, to which, from the frank and explicit
manner elsewhere shown, he was sure satisfactory
replies would be given. He could perceive that
from Cardiff the railway. passes by the valley of
Ely through a rich agricultural district adjacent
to Llantrissant, Cowbridge, Bridgend, Porth Cawl,
and Pyle, the produce of which would thus be
rendered available towards the supply of the sur-
rounding manufacturing population. Passing thence,
the railway runs through the centre of the great
copper and tin-plate works, situate at Cwm-Avon,
Neath, and Swansea, where it is estimated that three-
fourths of all the copper raised in Great Britain are
smelted, and a great portion is now exported at a very
considerable cost, to London and the north. This
produce from the shorter route, and the greater faci-
lity of transport offered by the proposed means of com-
munication, would necessarily be secured to the rail-
way, and thus speedily and more economically find its
way to the metropolis and all the interior parts of the
kingdom. Leaving Swansea, the course of the rail-
way would be such as to secure to it the entire traffic
of the counties of Carmarthen and Pembroke and a
large portion of that of Cardigan. Some distance be•
yond Cormarthen it is proposed that the rails ay
shall divide into two branches, the one proceeding
southward to Pembroke and Milford Haven, and
the other in a southward direction to Fishguard,
whence a communication with the South of Ire-
land would be effected within five hours. The
length of way was computed to be 148 miles ; the
capital to be expended 2,500,0001.; and 17,000/.
per mile was the estimated cost. Now, as the
gentlemen were in town most conversant with these
details, people would naturally expect the most
explicit declarations on these subjects. Would
Mr. Brunel say whether the estimated expenditure