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

SOUTHAMPTON AND MANCHESTER.

CHELTENHAM, SATU RDA Y.—A Jelly influential meeting
of the capitalists and inhabitants of Cheltenham took place this
day, at the public assembly rooms, to consider the best means
of ensuring a direct railway communication between Chelten-
ham and Southampton ; and to bear the statements of a depu-
tation from the Manchester and Southampton Company. for
carrying that object into effect. The meeting was convened
by a full bench of the county magistrates, acting for the Chel-
tenham division, in accordance with a requisition signed by
nearly 500 of the leading gentry and tradesmen of the
borough. In the absence of the Honourable Fitzliardinge
Berkeley, Member for the borough, the meeting was pre-
sided over by James Gardiner, Esq., Lord of the Manor of
Cheltenham.

The proceedings were commenced by Mr. Edward Hopkin.
son, High Sheriff of the county, and Mr. Joyner Ellis Verner,
who spoke of the importance of the proposed line of railway to
the interests of Cheltenham.—( Cheers. )
Mr. WALK' NstiA w being called upon to address the meet.
ing, said he would not debate upon the advantages of the pro-
posed line of railway to the great termini, Manchester and
Southampton, but he would confine himself to the benefit it
would confer upon the town of Cheltenham. Its advantages
to Cheltenham will be, that it will open the counties of Hants
and Dorset, and other districts, almost hermetically sealed to

Cheltenham at the present moment; the produce of thee.
great agricultural districts would be brought for consumption
to this rising and populous town ; foreign traffic would also be
directed to this district; and the famed and health-dealing
springs of this celebrated watering-place would be brought
within easy distance of the foreign valetudinarian. The dis-
tance from Cheltenham to Southampton would be performed
in two hours; and when it was borne in mind how many
Indian families were constantly arriving and departing at
Cheltenham, the advantages of this transit could not be over
estimated. Again, this line, in connexion with others in exist-
ence and contemplation, would make Cheltenham the radius of a
great circle of railway communication, which could not but
benefit the town.—(Cheers.) As to the probability of the
completion of the line, the best guarantees were the highly in-
fluential directory of the Company, and the high approval
with which the project had been received, an approval which
was greater than had been met with by any line of railway
ever projected. It had been truly styled a great national pro-
ject— the great trunk line of the national commerce.—
( Cheers.) In addition to the names already in the Directory,
he had now to mention the name of the Right Hon. Earl
Bathurst.—(Loud cheers.) The Noble Earl had not joined
the undertaking without due deliberation, but the result of that
deliberation was, that he had resolved to support the line by
all his influence. Mr. Hopkinson, the High Sheriff of the
county, Sir J. Tancred, Mr. Cripps, M.P., and Mr. Lyme, of
Mullidine Park, bad also added their names to the supporters
of this project.—( Cheers.) Not only from the local benefits
which the line would confer on Cheltenham, but' also on the
great commercial grounds on which it was projected, he called
upon the meeting to strengthen the hands of the Directors of
the line.

Mr. NEWBERY, of Manchester, Deputy Chairman of the
North Lancashire and Manchester and Birmingham Railways,
spoke to the inconvenience of the present circuitous route to
Southampton by way of London. The London and Birming-
ham and South-Western Companies felt that it was impossible
to interfere against the project. They felt that a direct line
between the north and south would and must be carried ; ens'
he knew of one Director on the former line who wished his
name to be added to the Directorate of the Manchester and
Southampton Railway.—(Cheers.) The speaker alluded to
the concurrence of the landed proprietors on the route, and
especially to the courtesy and urbanity the deputation had re-
ceived from Earl Bathurst, whose possessions and influence at
Cirencester were so well known. They brought Manchester
and all the ncrthern districts in close proximity to one of the
most flourishing seaports in the world. In Manchester the
public feeling was unanimous in favour of this line; the appli-
cations for shares were numerous beyond precedent, and there
was not a doubt entertained of its successful completion.
Mr. LANCASTER, member of the town council of South-
ampton, said that, to prove the importance of this project to his
town, he need only say that to attend this meeting he had him-
self been compelled to come by the circuitous route of London,
when he ought to have travelled the distance by a direct line in
less than three hours. He was prepared to contend that
Southampton was the natural port of Cheltenham. From
Cape Finistere and all foreign countries to the eastward, it
was 600 miles nearer than the neighbouring port of Glou-
cester, and the saving of light-house expenses between the two
places would give in every cargo a sum of 25/. in favour of
Southampton. The speaker entered at considerable length
into the advantages which the line would confer upon the
southern portion of its route, and sat down amid loud cheers.
Mr. STEBBINGS, of Southampton, also addressed the meet-,
ing, dwelling upon the unanimity which prevailed in its south•
ern terminus in favour of the project.
Mr. WiLnrAstsori, of Cheltenham, thought, before the
people of Cheltenham were irrevocably pledged to the line,
they ought to insist upon having a few more local names on the
direct. road. At. present the Committee of Management con-
sisted almost entirely of Manchester and Southampton names,
and he did think that some Cheltenham names aught to be
added.—( Loud cheers.)
Mr. Gwr NNE, the local solicitor, said the subject was by no
means lost sight of, and there was every disposition on the part
of the leading troprietors of the line to give Cheltenham its due
share of influence in the Committee of Management.
A discussion ensued, in which Messrs. Williams, Newrnareh,
Shen ell, Aldridge, Captain Watson, Dr. Gibney, and others
took part. A string of resolutions were passed in favour of the
lire, and a petition, to be presented to the House by the Hon.
C. list keley, was unanimously adopted.
On Saturday a meeting of the inhabitants of Romsev and the
adjoining districts, in pursuance of a requisition to the- Mayor,
was held at the Town-hall, when resolutions were passed in
support of the undertaking.
BIRMINGHAM AND GLOUCESTER RA ll.ve AY.,—The half-
yearly general meeting of this Company was held on Saturday,
at their offices, Lawly.street, Birmingham. Samuel Bowly,
Esq., Chairman of the Board of Directors, having taken the
chair, Mr. Saunders, the secretary, read the report of the Di-
rectors, which was merely a recapitulation of the agreement
which had been entered into between the Midland and Bir-
mingham and Gloucester Companies. The report was received
anti adopted. The Chairman moved that a dividend of 11. I6s.
per share of 1001. each be declared and made payable on the
13th of September. The resolution having been unanimously
adopted, thanks were voted to the Chairman and the Directors,
and the meeting terminated.