The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-31 00:00:00

TOE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING-, JANUARY 31 1845.

wed Luitprand. The ceremony is irate; upted by the
arrival of the Count, v.ho is indignant at the sup-
posed fal,eness of Madeleine. The attack of the
vassals on the Castle calls him away, and during his
absence, the priest, who is left alone in the banquetting
hall with Madeleine, puts poison in the Count's drink-
ing cup, notwithstanding all the efforts and persua-
sions of Madeleine to prevent him. The Count returns
victorious, and threatens to hang all his prisoners
unless Madeleine will consent to his purpose.
The Count is about to drink, when the priest rushes
forward, and renews his supplications to him, to in-
duce him to desist from his purpose with regard to
Madeleine. The Count is inexorable—the priest lea ves
him. He has lifted the goblet to his mouth, when
Madeleine rushes forward and dashes it from his
hand, declaring it is poisoned. The Count, struck by
the generosity of her conduct, determines to wed her,
and the priest, who has himself swallowed the poison,
joins their hands as ho is in the agonies of death.
The parts of the Priest and Madeleine were admirably
sustained by Phelps and Mrs. Warner, who were
called for at the conclusion of the piece, and much
applauded. A call was then made for the author,
awl Mr. Serle appeared and briefly addressed the
audience, stating, that he should consider that night
as the proudest of his existence, if this play should
turn out to be only the commencement of a series of
simihr productions at that theatre. He was loudly
cheered, and the piece was announced for repetition
amidst tumults of applause.

LITERATURE.

AUNT MARY'S STORY-BOOK.
Daiton and Clark, London, 1845.

We have here a new edition, carefully revised by
the author, of one of the prettiest children's story-books
we have met with for some time. The language
throughout is simple and natural, without being at all
feeble, the incidents are skilfully put together, and the
volume is embellished with several pleasing coloured
prints.

CADINET Couscm.—Summonses were issued this
morning by Sir James.Grahain to the different Mi-
nisters, to attend a Cabinet Council to-morrow (Satur-
day) at the Foreign-office. Downing-street. It is
PxpEcteri that the new members of the Cabinet will
attend the meeting fur the first time.

THE IMPROVEMENTS IN WESTM IN STER.—Yes-
terday morning, about half-past eight o'clock, a dread
ful accident took place in Orchard street, Westminster.
a part intended for the new line of improvement; The
corner house of Old Pee-street has for some time been
shored up, and he resident lodgers gone away. The
first intimation was by a man who lived in the cellar,
who finding his bed drop three feet, thought it prudent
to move out of the place. The house is stated to belong
to the Green Coat School, and ➢lr. Wardle, of Dart-
mouth-street, collected the rents. At the time above
named, Mt s. Coldniek, who keeps a chandler's shop op-
posite, states that the first intimation she observed was a
brick falling from the roof, and then another from the
side wall. This was followed by the falling of the roof,
and fortunately no person was passing. The ruins are
lying across the two streets, and the next house is in a
very dangerous state. In about ten minutes the children
would have bet n going to the parochial school in Old
Pye-street. Information was sent to the surv:yor, and
Mr. Barefoot and Mr. Taylor, the inspectors of the B
division, directed the men in their force to let ep the
place free of passengers. Men were then engaged to
protect the remaining walls. It need hardly be ob-
served that there has been culpable neglect in some
quarter, as this occurrence might have caused the loss
of many human lives.
A TIDE-WAITER CONVICTED.—At Gravesend
Police•court, on Wednesday, William Thompson, a tide-
waiter in her Majesty's Customs, was charged, at the
prosecution of the Commissioners of Customs, with
having, on the 22d of December, unshipped from the
Wilberforce steamer, belonging to the General Steam
Navigation Company, on beard of which he was acting
tide-waiter from London to Gravesend, ten pounds of
loaf or refined sugar, of the value of it. Bd., including
duty, and eleven ounces of green tea, of the value of
3s. 9d., including duty, the same not having paid duty.
After hearing nee at great length, the Mayor said
that the magistrates were of opinion that the case against
the defendant was full proved; they therefore convicted
him in a penalty of treble the value of the goods
seized. Th, convicted officer will be of course dismissed
the service. The Court during the trial, which lasted
from twelve to half-past three, was crowded with officers
of the Custom and Excise.

MELANCHOLY DEATH.—The Clare Journal re-
cords the melancholy death of a little boy who, on Tues-
day last, followed the gentlemen of the Clare hunt for a
long way on foot, attracted by the excitement and plea-
sure of the chase. He travelled so far from home, how-
ever, that getting fatigued and losing his way, he lay
down in a field when night came on. There he lay the
entire night, exposed to all the inclemency of the weather.
Next morning he was found still alive, but whilst being
conveyed to a place for proper treatment and care, he
expired in the arms of the persons who were taking
charge of him.
THE LATE MURDER AT SALT HILL.—Mr. Fitzroy
Kelly, who has been specially retained, in conjunction
with Mr. Montague Chambers, for the dtence of the
accused has, it is stated, received a retaining fee of three
hundred guineas. The assizes have just been fixed to
take place on the 10th of March.
A LONG FAST.—The Memorial de Rouen says—
" There is a woman 24 years of age, at Vizonchaux,
who has kept her bed for two years obstinately refusing,
during the whole time. to take food of any kind. She
has preserved her embonir)int, and appears to be in good
health, Several physicians, and amongst them some of
the most eminent of Paris, have been consulted, but are
unable to explain this anomaly." The best explanation,
we conceive, would be received from putting a strict
watch over her person ; it would then, probably, be
found that the affair is an imposture.— Galignuni's Ales-
,sneer.

-SU lc IDE IN A WATER-BUTT.—Yesterday Mr.
13alier held an inquest at the Il,•pe, Pollard's-row, Beth-
nal-green, on the body of Edward Knight, aged 36, a
greengrocer, of Bethnal green road. It appeared in
evidence that deceased had been in a desponding state
from ill health for the last three weeks, and that a few
days since his medical adviser toid him he had the small-
pox. Tbis information caused him to faint, and his
despondency increased. On Monday morning his wife
missed him from bed, and on raising an alarm, a neigh-
bour, named Alexander, came, and after some search
found him in the water-butt, in the yard, head foremost.
Mr. Jones, a surgeon, was called in, and tried in vain to
restore animation. Verdict—Temporary Insanity.
STRANGE, IF TRUE.—A circumstance the most
extraordinary that ever fell under our notice occurred:in
the lower part of Exeter on Sunday last. A person,
living in Sherman's-court, having occasion to draw some
soft water from the cock, was surprised to find it of a
reddish brown chlour, and still more surprised, on tasting
it, to find it like good beer I and beer it was beyond all
doubt, though evidently it had been very lately brewed.
He could not conceal his good luck, the news' of which
soon spread zhroughout the neighbourhood. Other
cocks were tried, with the same result, and the police
have now in their possession the particulars of seven
different houses, the tenants of which, paying for soft
water, mo.t unexpectedly obtained general home-brewed.
There must have been a considerable quantity of it, too,
for the drawing and drinking conti ued on Sunday and
part of Monday, and the denizens of the quarter made
the most of the chance, by getting gloriously drunk.
How to account for it is, at present, not so easy, but
it seems quite clear that some brewer in the neighbour-
hood must have suffered, and that the beer must have
been drawn off by the pipes which were only designed
to bring the water in. At present no brewer can be
found who will confess to having lost any beer at all.
Perhaps the same pipes that emptied his vats of their
contents have by this time filled them again with the
pure fluid of the reservoir.— Wes of England Con-
serrative.

TIER MAJESTY'S STEAM-FRIGATE TERRIBLE.—
The preparations fur the launch of this magnificent
vessel are nearly completed. Yesterday, at Deptford
dockyard, the shipwrights commenced painting her
bows, and scats are being erected for the accommoda-
tion of spectators. In consequence of some little delay
which hus occurred in the Woolwich yard in the prepa-
ration of the timber for the builders, it was found that
the work could not be completed by the 23d of the pre-
sent month, the time origitlilly fixed fir the launch.
Now, however, it is definitely settled that the event will
take place on the 6th of February (Thursday next).
During the last few days the vessel has been inspected
by Sir Charles Napier, Sir William Gage, Lord Hastings,
Captain Austen, and several others distinguished in the
nautical world, all of whom have expressed their appro-
bation of the manner in which the whole of the
works have been executed. The vessel has now a
most magnificent appearance, and it is perfectly sur-
prising how so gigantic a work could have been completed
in so short a time, it being sixteen months only since the
first planks were laid. After the launch the Terrible will be
towed to Woolwich Dockyard, where her engines will be
fitted in, the cost of which will be 22,0001., there being
two of them now completed for that purpose of 400-horse
power each. It is not yet officially known who will
christen this leviathan of the deep, but the reporter was
yesterday informed, upon excellent authority, that it is
not at all improbable that either her Majesty the Queen,
or her illustrious consort Prince Albert, may condescend
to give the name to the vessel. Orders have been re-
ceived that immediately after the launch preparations
shall be made for building another steam frigate, of
1,840 tons burden, to be built upon the same principle as
that magnificent vessel, to be called the Odin. The im-
provements now in progress in this once desolate but
now flourishing yard will cost the Government nearly
70,0004 The Spitfire is nearly ready for going off the
stocks ; and the Havannah, which has been lying in or-
dinary in the Medway for some time, lies off the dock-
yard for the purpose of being cut down, and afterwards
sent to sea as a corvette.

'rut 44.rn REGlMENT.—Yesterday a Court-mar-
tial assembled at the Government-house, for the trial of
corporal Spearman Holmes, of the 44th Regiment, for
atrociously attempting the life of colour-sergeant Black-
wall, of that corps, as recorded in our last. Colonel
Aslett, Royal Marines, was the President. The pri-
soner, during the investigation, exhibited an indifference
of manner truly shocking, considering tl e awful charge
hanging over him. The case, which occupie the atten-
tion of the Court for several hours, was fully proved, but
the sentence will not be made known un'il it is confirmed
by the Commander-in-Chief.—Pymouth Advertiser.
We learn from Paris that M. Salvandy ras ac-
cepted the office of Minister o" Public Instruction. This
accession will, no doubt, ten,4
of M. Guizot.—Morningrapers
to strengthen the position

TAXATION.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—The time must soon come when " law-
making will cease. The sooner the better. It is
both impolitic and unjust to tax the weak and omit
the strong. That being the case, it is very disgrace-
ful that personal property should be subjected to
legacy duty, and real property exempt from it ; nay,
it is dishonest, and until real property is subjected to
the duty, dissatisfaction will justly prevail. Sir R.
Peel has the means of imposing a legacy duty upon
real estates, and it is but honest that he should do so.
Jan. 29, 1845. RIGHTDOING.

P.S. If Sir Robert does not steer a manly and
a honest course in the approaching session, I hope he
will get as m9.ny good hot tosses as will pancakes
on the day Parliament meets—Shrove Tuesday.

CO.ORT CIRCULAR.
TNURSDAY.—The Queen and Prince
Albert walked this morning in the pleasure-grounds
adja :..ent to the Castle and in the Home Park. After
the return of the royal party from their early pro-
menade, his Royal Highness left the Castle on a shoot-
ing excursion in the royal preserves, attended by the,
Marquis of Ormonde, Mr. G. E. Anson, Colonel
Bouverie, and Captain Meynell.
Her Majesty, attended by the Marchioness of
Douro, walked for some time this afternoon.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of \Vales, the
Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice, were taken
their accustomed airings in the forenoon.
His Excellency Count Pollon arrived at the Castle
to-day, on a visit to the Queen. The Earl of Aber-
deen arrived in the evening from town. The Speaker
of the house of Commons and Mrs. Shaw Lefevre
also arrived to-day, on a visit to her Majesty.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, Lady
Fanny Howard, the Countess Wratislaw, and Sir
George Cooper, ioined the royal circle at dinner.
The hand of the Royal horse Guards was in attend-
ance during dinner. Her Majesty's private band after-
wards attended in the Castle.

Lord Aboyne attended yesterday at the Board of
Trade, and presented a memorial, numerously signed,
from Peterborough, in favour of the Cambridge and
Lincoln Railway.
Memorials in favour of this line were at the same
time presented by Mr. Henry Bruce, Mr. James
Brand, Mr. William Parker, solicitor, and Mr. C. P.
Roney, secretary of the company, from Stamford,
Spalding, Sleaford, Falkingham, and Market Beeping.
His Excellency M. Dedel transacted business yes-
terday at the Foreign-office.
Sir Thomas Fremantle, Mr. Cardwell, and Mr.
Baring, had interviews with Sir R. Peel yesterday.
A deputation on behalf of parties interested in the
iron and coal trade of South Staffordshire, transacted
business yesterday at the office of the Board of Trade,
and presented a memorial in favour pf the Tring,
Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway.
The Earl of Aberdeen, Sir James Graham, and
other Cabinet Ministers, had interviews with Sir
Robert Peel yesterday.
The Earl of Aberdeen left town in the afternoon,
on a visit to her Majesty at Windsor Castle.
At the dinner given by the Lord President of the
Council on Wednesday for settling the roll of She-
riffs, the following Cabinet Ministers were present :
Sir Robert Peel, the Duke of Buccleuch, Earl of
Aberdeen, Lord Stanley, Sir James Graham, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Earl of Haddington,
and Lord Granville Somerset.

Viscount and Viscountess Folkestone, with their
youthful family, have left Farranee's Hotel for the
seat of the Earl of Verulam, Gorhambury Park.

THE SALE AT CHESTERFIELD
HOUSE, BLACKHEATH.
The remaining effects of her late Royal Highness the
Princess Sophia Matilda of Gloucester were yesterday
br,;ught to the hammer by Mr. Chinnock, of Regent-
street, by permission of her Majesty's Commissioners of
Woods and Forests. The auctioneer was honoured by
a vast number of bidders, and the greater portion of the
articles put asp fetched extraordinarily high prices.
Amongst the books, engravings, &c., were a full-length
portrait of King William IV., in his coronation robes,
the Duchess of Kent ditto, and half portraits of Queen
Adelaide and Prince Albert ; these sold for 20s. only ;
six portraits of the Royal Family, ditto, 20s. ; a royal
elephant portfolio, containing valuable engravings of
battles, landscapes, portraits, &c., brought 64 10s.
Water-coloured drawings of lodges in Windsor Great
Park, very beautiful, but which proved, on close inspec-
tion, to be only lithographic prints skilfully coloured,
fetched 52t. Roscoe's "Monandrin Plants," 2 vols.,
plates, were sold at 70s. ; Lewis's drawings of the
Alhambra, 655.; Beaumont's " Travel's through the
Alps," 325. ; Lewis's " Sketches of Spain," 51. ss. ;
David Roberts's " Sketches in Spain,' 90s. ; "Pic-
turesque Voyage to Geneva, Milan, &c," in French,
plates highly coloured, in Morocco double-gilt,
51. 7s. 61. ; and about 20 other lots of choice books went
off at equally good prices. Amongst the furniture a
handsome bird's-eye maple cabinet, inlaid with ebony
and lined with crimson silk (lot 655), was knocked
down at 24 guineas. Lot 669, an e egant eight-light
glass chandelier and chain to cei.ing, sold at 51. 17s. Of
the china ornaments—lot 632, a pair of white gold
torches with three open-work trays for flowers, 18 inches
high, brought 90s. Lot 683, a small alabaster vase, with
bouquet of rice flowers, and a pair of small china cornu-
copiaa match vases, sold at 48s. Lot 684, eight old real
china cups, embossed flowers and stands, 265. Lot 685,
a carved ivory pzdestal watch-stand, with thermometer
and a bronze sliding candle-screen, 90s. Lot 686, a
Dresden china Grecian vase, 13 inches high, sold for
8 guineas. Lot 687, a pair of small china flower-stands,
with pencil landslapes, fetched 17s. Lot 689, a time-
piece in Dresden china case, 24 inches, with painted
flowers and landscapes, sold for 25 guineas. Lot 690,
a pair of handsome flower vases of old Sevres,
painted in medallions, &c., were knocked down
after a sharp bidding at 29/. 10s. Lot 692, a' pair of
cream coloured china candlesticks and a pair of choco-
late-ground china flower-pot star.ds, small size, sold
at 5/. Lot 693, a pair cf gilt ormolu tazzas, with bor-
der of Cupids, Hymen, and accessories, small, fetched
8 guineas. Lot 694, a pair of or-molu Grecian vases to
correspond, glass shades and stands, were Bola at 1.4 i
guineas. Lot 696, a satinwood scent casket, a ditto with
tour bottles, a glass pen tray, and a soapstone-cat, sold
at 5 guineas. Lot 697, a Paris;an ormolu timepiece,
very pretty, sold at 8/. lls. Lot 698, a dejeuner and tea
service of old white ground Furst. nberg china, painted
pastoral subjects, small set, only 12 cups, saucers, &c.,
sold at 10 guineas. Lot 699, a handsome cu: glass basin
stand with her Royal Highness's coronet and initials, the
harp and Irish symbols, 31. 3s. Lot 700, a case of 17
Chinese drawings on rice paper, and a Turkey morocco
writing case, 50s. Lot 701, a Russia leather paper-case
with painted drawing of the Italian coast, and marble
pap. r- weights, 2 guineas. Lot 702, a bijou envelope-
case of crimson velvet fitted up and a medallion painted
on ivory, 6/. 10s. The sale of about 2,000 ounces of
plate followed, which varied in price from 7s. per ounce
to 31s. 6d. Lot 740, a 13-inch circular salver with em-
bossed border of grapes, engraved centre and coronet,
sold at 14s. an ounce. A quantity of plated articles and
other unimportant things were sold, and the sale closed
at a late hour. A very great number of lots realised
more than twice their original cost.

THE LIBRARY OF THE LATE DUKE OF SUSSEX:—
Yesterday the sale of the fourth portion of the library of
the late Duke of Sussex was commenced, at Messrs.
Evans's. The number of the lots in this portion is 2,648,
consisting of near 7,000 volumes, principally of the Greek
classics, and comprising many rare first editions. The
sale will last eleven days.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, the
Bishop of Chester, the Dean and Chapter, the Marquis
of Westminster, the Earl of Stamford, Earl Grosvenor,
the Bishop of London, Wilbraham Egerton, Esq., Lord
Robert Grosvenor, the Marquis of Cholmondeley, and
Lord Crewe, are among the subscribers of donations,
from 201. to 100/. each, towards repairing and enlarging
the Chester Cathedral, the cost of which is estimated at
5.000/ The Dean and Chapter of Chester has just
given a second contribution of 300 L in furtherance of
that object.
POVERTY REWARDED.—The Hampshire Telegraph
boas.s a paragraph which we have read with a delicious
thrill of the heart-strings. One Ann Abraham, aged
upwards of ninety, has received at the West of England
Agricultural Meeting, as the reward of fifty years'
faithful servitude, the sum of 21.—yes, forty shillings—
a very handsome recompense, though certainly not at
the rate of twelve-pence a year. She has, moreover, re-
ceived—" A handsome testimonial from the Society,
bearing the signature of the Marquis of Lansdowne, and
which, being framed and glazed, now forms an elegant
decoration to her cottage." Ann Abraham has not
touched the forty shillings. No ; she has left the money
"to provide for her burial, without burdening the
parish." Really, there is a fine spirit of economy ani-
mating these rewarding societies. For instance, the
poor man will keep cut of the workhouse--will starve
with a fine heroism for fifty years, so that at the end
of the half century he may obtain the rewarding
forty shillings. He obtain it ? No ; his corpse obtains
thefrom
the mone3,, leaving it that it
may obloquy
of
parish deals.
it , fo r s
ahvee dhoi
se sr e nmoat
n touchsfr
By such swi et:bribes, (not forgetting the " handsome tes-
timonial, framed and glazed,") the poor are not only
tempted to starve through life, but to bury themselves
when starving has done its worst. How most the father
of hypocrisy have chuckled and rubbed his iniquitous
handQ, as he read the " handsome testimonial" made by
pharisaical benevolence to aged penury !_panch.
RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—A fatal accident occurred
on Friday last, on the departure of the night mail train
up, at the Wellington-station, to the night porter, whilst
in the act of connecting two trucks to one of the railway
carriages. The trucks were on another part of the line,
and as the train was returning to take up the trucks, the
man, standing in a position to link them together, was
crushed between the two, and the lamp proj.cting behind
came in contact with his arm and forced it into his side,
breaking in his ribs, forcing his lungs out of place, and
causing instantaneous death. The man has left a wife
with three young children.— Western Luminary.
FRAUDS ON THE REVENUE.—Severat causes in the
Court of Exchequer, at the suit of the Crown against
certain parties, for being concerned in the late frauds on
the revenue, are appointed for hearing at the commence-
ment of the ensuing week, and a number of the Customs'
officers have been subpoenaed on the part of the Crown,
though they can be but ill spared at the present time,
owing to the recent influx of shipping from all parts of
the world, and the consequent pressure of business in
every department of the port.,

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

BRISTOL AND GLOUCESTER.
BRISTOL, THURSDAY EVENING.--A special general
meeting of the Shareholders of this Company was held
this afternoon, at the White Lion Hetel, Bristol, for the
purpose of taking into consideration the union of the
Birmingham and Gloucester and Bristol and Gloucester
Railways, and to empower the Directors to take shares
in the proposed Plymouth and Falmouth Railway.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, said that
at the meeting of the Birmingham and Gloucester, held
the day before, the resolutions approving of the amal-
gamation of the two Companies had been passed unani-
mously.
The SECRETARY then read the report, which stated
that the proposed amalgamation had been adopted from
a conviction that isolated Companies, in comparison
with allied bodies, would seldom be in a position to
negotiate on equal terms with their more powerful
neighbours. It, therefore, behoved the smaller Com-
panies to form a timely union with their natural
always provided they could do so on fair terms. The
present position of the capital of the Company was as
follows: —The entire capital expenditure is expected to
be about 700,0001 Seven thousand five hundred and
thirty-nine shares have been created, on which 241,1701.
has been paid, and the further sum of 165.0001. has been
raised on debentures, which exhausts the Parliamentsry
power of issuing such securities, and the remainder
(raised on loan notes) must be met, as these notes fall
due, by the payment of calls on the existing
shares, and by the calls on new shares, to he
created. The proprietors also exercise the power, when
they see fit, of substituting share capital for their deben-
tures, and of thus covering their whole expenditure by
money paid upon shares. After a number of modes of
uniting the two Companies had been discussed, and at-
tempted, it was considered by both the boards that no
method would be so simple and satistisfactory as that the
amounts to be raised on the shares or stock of each
Copany should bo determined, and tha the relative
amount being fixed, the separate interests of the two
Companies should forthwith he merged into those of one
united Company. The report then went on to propose
the method lately pursued by several Coln-
panies of issuing stock in lieu of shares, and con-
cluded by recommending the proprietors to unite in
conjunction with the Great Western, Bristol and Exeter,
and South Devon, in promoting the proposed line from
Plymouth to Falmouth.
The CHAIRMAN then said, that in addition to
the amalgamation of the Company with the Bir
mingliam and Gloucester, the Directors thought
it would be highly advantageous to promote the forma-
tion of the Plymouth line. They had seen the decision
of the Board of Trade in favour of that line, and there-
fore there could be but little doubt of its being carried
into effect. He then proposed the first resolution, which
proposed to empower the Directors to subscribe 500
shares of 501. each towards the Plymouth and Fal-
mouth line.
Mr. IL 0. WILLS seconded the resolution.
Mr. SOMERS lIARFORD wished to know what advan-
tages the Bristol and Gloucester Company was likely to
derive from a subscription of 250,0001. to the Plymouth
and Falmouth Railway, as proposed by the resolution?
The CHAIRMAN said the Directors could not at present
define what would be the profits, as that remained to be
seen ; but if they wanted a precedent they might look to
the South Devon Railway, to which they had subscribed,
and which he was sure no one now regretted, as the
shares were at a fair premium. The Great Western and
the Bristol and Exeter Companies had both subscribed
to the undertaking.
Mr. SHAPLAND was certain that it would be highly
advantageous to join in the formation of the Plymouth
and Falmouth Railway, as it would be the completing
link from the north to Falmouth; and as Falmouth
would no doubt be the packet station, it would be of the
greatest advantage to them to connect the north with it.
The South Devon Company had subscribed 100,0001.
towards it. The Birmingham and Gloucester Company
agreed in the view the Directors had taken as to a sub-
scription for 500 shares.

The CHAIRMAN, in reply to Mr. Aiken, explained that
the Directors were satisfied, both with regard to the cost
of the construction per mile, and to the increase of traffic
on the proposed line, and that it would be very remune-
rative when Falmcuth became the packet station.
The resolution then passed unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed the second resolution,
having reference to the amalgamation of the two Com-
panies, which was seconded by Mr. JosE.
The CHAIRMAN, in reply to the Rev. Mr. Taylor, who
wished to know if they were to participate in the exten-
sion of the Birmingham and Gloucester line to Wolver-
hampton? said certainly as to the traffic, but not as to
the capital stock.
A PROPRIETOR maintained that the terms of the amal-
gamation were most favourable to the Birmingham and
Gloucester Company, which had not been paying a divi-
dend of 3 per cent.
The CHAIRMAN replied, that the Birmingham and
Gloucester proprietors at their meeting bad contended
that the Bristol and Gloucester Company had the best
part of the bargain.
A long discussion ensued as to the subject of the wide
and narrow gunge, and it was stated that in all proba-
bility the railway from Birmingham to Gloucester would
be altered from the narrow to the wide guage, to make it
uniform with the Great Western and the Bristol and
Gloucester, Bristol and Exeter, and so on to Falmouth,
and probably to the Land's-end, all of which were con-
structed on the principle of the wide guage. It was also
stated that the contemplated South \Vales line was to be
on the wide guage system.
The resolution then passed unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed the third resolution,
which was seconded by Mr. HILL, and carried unani-
mously, to the effect that the Shareholders be allowed
one month from this day to exercise the option of ac-
cepting or rejecting the new stock, and that any stock
not accepted be allotted as the Directors may determine.

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BRIaTOL AND GLOUCES•
TER, AND BIRMINGHAM AND GLOUCESTER.—The fol-
lowing are the heads of the agreement entered into be-
tween the ;Directors for the amalgamation of these two
lines, which have long laboured under various disad-
vantages, particularly in the goods and passenger de-
partment, owing to the want of uniformity in the ma-
nagement, and a consentaneous working of the traffic.
As a remedial measure, the ratification of the treaty will
obieertteeeraddianwotith interest:—" 1. That the Bristol and Glou-
cester
onethe
company,
Birmingham
under
the
and
tonof Gloucester
The
shall be
united Bristol
and Birmingham Railway Company,' and that an Act of
Parliament shall be applied for at the earliest possible
period to carry into effect such union, and to grant the
necessary powers in connection therewith 2. That
until the proposed Act is obtained, the affairs of the united
Company shall be administered by a. B.,ard of Ma-
nagement, to be selected by the respective Boards from
among themselves, such Board to consist of fifteen
members, seven of whom shall be chosen from the
Bristol and Gloucester Board, and the other seven from
the Birmingham and Gloucester Board, but the chair-
man shall be appointed by the members chosen by the
Birmingham and Gloucester Board. 3. That after the
passing of the Act a Board shall be elected by the Pro-
prietors of the united Company, at a period to be named
in the Act, and that such Board shall consist of a number
not exceeding fourteen. 4. That the stock of the united
Company shall consist of 1,800,000/., of which the sum
of 1,142,125/. will belong to the Shareholders of the
Birmingham and Gloucester Company, and the sum of
657,8751. shall be allotted (subject to the following con-
ditions) to the Shareholders of the Bristol and Gloucester
Railway Company. 5. That each Shareholder of the
latter Company shall have the option (such option to
be declared within one month alter notice given, and
not later than the 31st July, 1845) of taking his propor-
tion of such allotment ; and in case he decline to do so,
he shall have 50/. stock in the United Company given
him in exchange for each share he may possess in the
Bristol And Gloucester Company, and shall receive divi-
dends on the whole of such stock, and shall pay interest
at 4f per cent. on such part of it as shall remain unpaid.
6. That the Bristol and Gloucester Shareholders who
shall accept the above-mentioned allotment shall not be
called upon to pay any portion of their unpaid capital
until the Ist of January, 1847, when they shad pay one-
tenth of such unpaid capital every six months until the
whole is puid up ; but they shall have the option of pay-
ing the whole or any part thereof, not less than one-tenth
of the whole, at any earlier:period Cr periods. 7. That any
stock that may be declined by the Bristol and Gloucester
shareholders shell be divided among any other shareholders-
in that Company who may be willing to accept the same,
provided such Shareholders shall have paid, or at the
time of taking such stock shall pay, not less than 20 per
cent, thereon. 8. That in case the Shareholders of the
Bristol and Gloucester Company shall not accept stock
to the full amount of 657,8751, the portion unappro-
priated shall not be created unless the Board appointed
under the Act shall thick fit to do so for joint purposes,
9. That all dividends shall be made on the entire stock,
whether paid or not, and that four-and-a-half per cent.
per annum shall be charged to the holders of stock on
all sums not paid up. 10. That all assets, liabilities,
contracts, and agreements of each Company, shall be
taken by the united Company. 11. That from the Ist
lay of January instant, until the passing of the Act, the
revenue shall belong to the united Company, and shall be
divided on the stock which shall be created previous to the
dividend being declared. 12. That whether the Act of
Parliament be obtained or not, the foregoing agreement
shall be considered as binding from the Ist day of
January instant. 13. That the present agreement shall
form the basis of the Act of Parliament ; and if any
doubt or difference of opinion shall arise between the
solicitors as to the true interpretation hereof, or as to the
manner of carrying out the same in the provisions of
the said Bill, the same shall be submitted tto some bar-
rister, to be agreed upon between them, whose decision
shall be final."

GRAVESEND AND ROCHESTER.—The opening of this
line, now definitively fixed, will form an important link
in the chain of railway communication between the metro-
polis and the south-eastern coast. It has been constructed
at the instance of the Proprietors of the Thames and
Medway Canal, who, conceiving that the days of canal
transit were numbered, resolved on converting, at a com-
paratively small cost, their property into a railway along
the banks of the canal, retaining at the same time the
latter for traffic in goods. The line has been constructed
by Mr. Rastrick, the engineer, within the space of less
than twelve months. It is now, we understand, consoli-
dated, and in good working order. The fares have been
fixed at Is. for the first, and Bd. for the second-class, be-
tween Gravesend and Rochester, including fare by steamer
between Rochester and Chatham.
MEMORIAL TO THE BOARD FROM LIVERPOOL.--A.
memorial of the principal bankers, merchants, and trades-
li
men, is now in course of signature at Liverpool, ad •
dressed to the Board of Trade, in behalf of the general
interests of the town and port, as affected by the amal
gamation of the lines in its vicinity, which Companies
they complain now possess the entire monopoly of rail-
way traffic in and out of Liverpool. The memorialists
state, that great inconvenience is acknowledged to have
been experienced by there being only one terminus at

Liverpool, and that most immtficient, and one railway
cm let from it, emerzing by means of a tonne' of one
mile and a quarter in length. They have reason to ap-
prehend from the recent meetings, that a general nmal•
gamation is contemplated of the Liverpool and Manches-
ter, Grand Junction, North Union, Preston and Lan-
caster, and Lancaster and Carlisle, and the memorialists
consider it to be their duty to submit their belief that the
interests of Liverpool, end the numerous travellers ar-
riving at and embarking from its port, and passing
through the town, require the most direct railway com-
munication that can be provided. Separate lines and
independent termini, they conceive, must insure to Li-
Verpool a great stream of traffic, north and south, and
give a guarantee against detention fr.)m accidental cir-
cumstances and trains conveying traffic to other destina-
tions ; and they trust that the Board of Trade will not
sanction any amalgamation .or railway scheme which
does not secure to Liverpool, either north or south, direct
lines of communication, separate entrances, and distinct
termini.

NEWCA STLE AND BERWICK.-11 EDSON'S LINE.—At
the annual dinner of the Newcastle Chamber of Com-
merce, on Monday last, Mr. Hodgson Hinde, M.P.,
adverted to the proposed Newcastle and Berwick
(Hudson's) line, and congratulated the inhabitants of
Newcastle on the decision of the Board of Trade in its
favour. He hoped the day was not far distant when
Newcastle would enjoy the full facilities of railway com-
munication. and have their mails accelerated to the
utmost—that they would have railways spreading their
net works on all sides—and that sound schemes would
receive the Government support. The recent decision
of the Board of Trade formed materials for congratula-
tion. They had acts d, he believed, on the principle of
giving preference to the old lines, where they could Le
conveniently extended so as to afford the same amount
of advantage as the formation of actually new
lines. The true principle on which the Board
of Trade had grounded their decision, was the
taking into consideration not the mere exten-
sion of a line, but the gradients of it, and
thus measuring the distance, not merely by miles, but
by hours. He believed that the remaining decisions of
the Board would be satisfactory, not only to the public,
bat to parties locally interested. The President, in pro-
, posing the health of Mr. Hudson, the Chairman of the
3lidland Railways, passed a lengthened eulogy on the
enterprise and success of that gentleman in his promo..
Lion of railway communication in the north. Mr. Hud-
son, in returning thanks, observed that the praise be-
stowed upon him by the President was as much due to
the Messrs. Stephenson, the engineers, as to himself,
they having been associated with him in all his labours.
During the whose period of his connexion with railways
he had never forgotten the great principle of railway
management, viz., that of conducting the undertakings,
not only for the benefit of the Shareholders, but of the
public. He hoped the time that had been referred to for
opening the line between Newcastle and Berwick would
be realised, and that the opening would not be deferred,
should Parliament grant the Bill. He trusted that on the
18th of June, 1846, the members of the Chamber of
Commerce would dine with the Directors of the New •
castle and Berwick Railway to celebrate the opening of
the line. An advertisement would be issued in a few
days to show that they were prepared to undertake some
risk, and which would almost be tantamaint to anticipating
that the decision of Parliament would be in accordance
with that of the Board of Trade. The statement that
had gone abroad, to the effect that there MILS a likeli-
hood of the non-fulfilment of the project, was erroneous.
The Directors would, with the most judicious care—with
an anxiety to make the work as magnificent and beauti-
ful as possible, worthy alike of Newcastle and the name
of Stephenson—proceed in the accomplishment of their
purpose. He had always maintained that, so long as a
railway was remunerative, it would be well managed,
and that, so long as it was well managed, it would be
remunerative ; but let it become unproductive, and the
Shareholders became careless as to the management, the
Directors got disgusted, and the railway became a public
nuisance.

IRELAND.

FATAL AND MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT-
ELEVEN PERSONS KILLED.

DUBLIN, JAN. 28.—A melancholy occurrence took
place in Limerick, on Sunday night, which was attended
with :loss of life to a considerable extent. A party
assembled at a " wake" in Change lane, one of the
poorest localities in the city, and the room in which the
body was laid out was densely crowded. The floor
suddenly gave way, and all within were precipi-
tated to the room beneath, which also fell, carrying all
to the next, and that again, being the third, to the
ground. By this melancholy accident 11 persons were
killed, and from 16 to 20 grievously maimed—some with
legs and arms broken, skulls fractured, and one man
had his back broken. The surviving sufferers were taken
to Barrington's Hospital. Many of them were beyond
all hope of recovery when the mail left Limerick last
night.
DUBLIN, Jest. 29.—The following additional details
of this calamitous occurrence are supplied by two local
journals received this morning :
" On Sunday evening, at eight o'clock, Limerick was
horror-stricken, by one of the most tragical events that
ever fell to the lot of a journalist to record. In a small
lane at the end of Change-lane, in the Abbey, perish of
St. Mary's, a public wake was held on the remains of a
young married woman, named Jordan, who died after
her first confinement. The crowd was unusually great,
and every portion of an old, rotten, ricketty tenement
was filled to witness this idle ceremony. The corpse
was laid out on the upper story, which was crowded ;
middle story was likewise filled to overflowing, and the
ground floor was similarly circumstanced. In a second
tho topmost story gave way, and, horrible to tell, the
people, falling on the persons below, the second floor
gave say, and the entire came down with an awful
crash on those occupying the ground floor. This
all occurred in a second of time ; and, of course,
the people wore unprepared for such a catastrophe.
Ten persons were killed on the spot, and sixteen
badly wounded. The arms and legs of several were
broken, whilst others were considerably bruised and mu-
tilated. The first outcry was to bring the bodies of the
dead and dying to Barrington's Hospital ; and perhaps
more dismal or woeful scenes never occurred than took
place in the streets. Husbands shouting for their wives
—fathers and mothers looking for their children—every
one, a member of whose family was out, apprehensive
that his or her child, or relative, was among the killed.
The police, under Mr. Williams, were promptly on the
spot, and rendered every assistance. In less than half
an hour the ruins of the wretched and fatal tenement
were completely cleared out, and the bodies removed to
Barrington's Hospital. The clergymen of St. Mary's,
the Rev. John Braham, P.P., the Messrs. Egan and
Mackey, the Rev. James Quinn, P.P., St. John's ; the
Rev. Messrs. William Bourke and Ryan, were in imme-
diate attendance, and administered the last rites of reli-
gion to the poor sufferers. An inquest was held on the
bodies, and a verdict according to the melancholy circum-
stances returned."

The Limerick Reporter gives the followidg additional
particulars :—" Ten were killed in all—namely, Mary,
wife of Cornelius Murphy, a bailiff i Catherine, wife of
Michael Haneen, labourer, Garryowen ; Catherine Mad-
den (unmartied), Garryowei: ; Mary ➢colony (unmar
tied), Mary-street ; Jane Boland (unmarried), of the
Abbey ; Bridget Rourke (widow), and her daughter
Margaret (unmarried), Garryow•en ; James Enright, a
youth, son of Jaws Enright, and James Lynch, Garry-
owen, labourer. Three of the unfortunate women were
far advanced in pregnancy. There were only two men
present, and one of them escaped, while the other
(Lynch) was killed in the effort to save his wife, who is
dangerously bruised. Of the wounded we have ascer-
tained the following names :—George Mason, Alicia
Grady, Margaret Grady, Margaret Halman, Margaret
Jordan, Catherine Barlow, Mary Hayes, Eliza Jordan,
Catherine Jordan, Ellen Fitzgerald, Bridget Kennedy,
Mary Barlow, Margaret Lee, Henry Enright, and Ita-
chael Lynch. Two of the wounded girls could not be in-
duced even by the Catholic clergy to take wine which
the doctors prescribed as absolutely necessary, and when
they were informed they would die if they persisted in
their determination, they replied that they would rather
die thin taste it."

ROSCREA, MONDAY EVENING.—At church hour yes•
terday an armed party entered the house of a
schoolmaster, two miles from this, on the road to
Birr. On seeing them enter, the owner, named Jones,
seized a dirk, and two of the party, armed with
stones, closing o'n him, he stabbed one of them.
The third, armed with a large pistol, fired and
wounded Jones in the head. Finding the resistance so
determined, the ruffians fled. Jones seized a gun, but
from loss of blood he was unable to fire. The police, in
the pursuit of the fellows, discovered the body of a mur-
dered man in the wood of Bowen, a mile or two from this
place.—Evening Post.