The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-29 00:00:00

S

RAILWAYS

" BRISTOL AND EXETER RAILWAY.

RA ',WAY INTELLIGENCE.

GREAT IVEN'ERN ANDTBRISTOL AND EXETER

It will be seen from the following notice, which was issued
on Friday evening, that the Great Western Board have re-
solved upon seeking Parliamentary powers for completing a
dVect line of railway from Hungerford to Yeovil, and then
to Exeter. Our readers will recollect that the Great Western
have an Mt empowering them to carry a line to Hunger-
ford : " Great Western Railway.
"The Directors give notice, that they have entered into
the arrangement (recently published) for the permanent
possession of the Bristol and Exeter Railway, subject to a
fixed rent-charge, for the express purpose of promoting, with
perfect fairness to that Company and a due regard to the in-
terests of all parties, the very best direct line of railway, on
a continuous broad gauge, from the south-western ports of
Cornwall and Devonshire, through the city of Exeter, to the
metropolis, thereby affordii g also a comprehensive scheme
of railway communication in the district between Yeovil,
Bridport, and Exeter.
" The public importance and even necessity of such a line
has beekreco,„;nised by Parliament.
" Thil Dire7tors will, therefore, recommend to the pro-
prietors, at a special general meeting, to be held on the 7th
of November, to undertake the extension of their own line
from Hungerford, through the Pewsey Valley, to Westbury,
with a branch to Marlborough.
By a short change in'the direction of the Wilts, Somerset,
and Weymouth line, between Westbury and Frome, the
main western traffic, direct from London, will reach Yeovil
within a distance of 12G miles, of which 91 miles of rail-
way have been either constructed or already sanctioned by
Parliament.

"Authority will be sought by the Directors at the same
time to form a new Company, for making a railway in the
district through Yeovil, Bridport, and Exeter, upon the same
principle as adopted in the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth
Company, of associating the landowners and influential resi-
dents of the country with some of the Directors in the ad-
ministration of the affairs, upon similiar conditions, of gua-
rantee and prospective increase of dividend, for a permanent
lease of the railway, to be worked in continuity with the
other Great Western lines.

" The surveys and plans are already in great forwardness,
and notices will be given in order that application may be
made to Parliament in the approaching session.
By order of the Three
"CHAS. A. SAUNDERS, See.

"Paddington Station, Oct. 24, 1845."
We understand that a length of railway, which it will be
necessary to construct to complete the direct course west-
ward, from Hungerford to Yeovil, will be thirty-three miles
only, and that it will bring the latter place some half mile
or so nearer London than any of the projected lines via
Salisbury.

This determination of the Great Western Company must
have an important bearing upon the interests of the various
narrow gauge schemes for supplying portions of the West of
England with railway accommodation; and there cannot be
a doubt that it will have its due weight with the shareholders
of the Bristol and Exeter Company, at their meeting on the
7th of November. _

It is not our intention, neither is it our inclination, to touch
upon any mere personal or party matters than may be as-
sociated with the now pending question of leasing the Bris-
tol and Exeter line to the Great Western Company. Such
topics can tend only to embarrass a subject which requires to
be seated with great calmness and discretion. The question
is not one merely between the Great Western and the Bristol
and Exeter Companies; it is one which involves a considera-
tion of the wants of the public, of the favour shown to direct
lines by the Legislature, and of the movements of opposing
parties; and therefore it is that we re„;r•et so much personal
and hostile feeling should have been exhibited at the meeting
of Bristol and Exeter shareholders, held at some solicitor's
office in the former city a few days since. We really cannot
see that abusing Mr. Saunders, the secretary of the Great
Western, whose only fault, by the way, appears to be a most
able and unwearied devotion to the duties of his office, or
ridiculing a man like Mr. Brunel, can in any way tend to
bring about such a state of feeling as should exist among a
proprietary when they meet to discuss a question seriously
affecting their own pecuniary interests.
We doubt whether the relations between the Great Western
and Bristol, aid Exeter are properly understood. When the Bris-
tol and Exeter people were in difficulties, the Great• Western
Company stepped in and efficiently relieved them. The ques-
lion of a direct line between Exeter and London has (we
understand) been the subject of frequent communication be-
tween thshtwo boards, and it is stated that the Great Western
directors filve never hesitated to express their conviction
that the wants of the public and the views of the legislature
would, inevitably, sooner or later induce the construction of
such a railway-. Whether such conviction mixed itself up in
the negcciations which led to the leasing of the Exeter line
by the Great Western Company, We shall not presume to
discuss; but that the necessity of a direct railway commu
nication between London and Exeter ought to, and, . indeed,
must form a material ingredient in the debate to take place
on the ith of November next, not even the holders of the
Bristol and Exeter " thirds," with 10 or 12 premium upon
21. paid up will, we are sure, attempt to dispute. If a direct
I;ne be carried between Exeter and London, the through
traffic will necessarily be lost to the Bristol and Exeter line.
What proportion that traffic bears to the whole traffic upon
the railway we know not; it is, however, considerable, and
its abstraction would, we hesitate not to say, leave the
Bristol and Exeter Proprietors a dividend by several per
cent., less than that which the speakers at the meeting held
in the solicitor's residence, at Bristol, seemed to think might
be realised by repudiating the bargain made between the two
companies, and handing the concern over to Mr. Hudson,
whose purchase of lines are not, if we are to credit the
writer of a clever letter in yesterday's Times, likely to pro-
dnce the great results it was promised would flow from them.

,That sue,' a view of the question has been taken by the Di
recto-is of the Bristol and Exeter line is evident from the fol
lowing circular addressed by them to their shareholders:—

" Bristol, 30, Broad-street,
_Oet,ls, 1845.

Sir,—l am desired by the Directors of this Company to
transmit to you the inclosed copy of the additional agree-
ment entered into with the Great Western Company, for the
sale to that Company of the Bristol and Exeter Railway, and
to inform you that a special general meeting of the Pro-
prietors will be held on Friday, the 7th of November, at the
White Lion Hotel, in this city, at one o'clock precisely, when
the agreeinent will be submitted for their consideration.
" In concluding this provisional agreement with the Great
Western Company, the Directors have endeavoured to take a
comprehensive view of the position of the undertaking.com-
mitted $ their management, and they cordially recommend
to the shareholders to confirm the agreement, as placing their
property on a permanently advantageous footing.
"Zling the responsibility that attaches to them in con-
ducting a negotiation of this nature, the Direction have taken
the earliest possible moment, after the confirmation of the
agreement by the respec ivo boards, to lay it before you.
°I have the honour, to be, Sir, your 65edient servant,
" J. B. BADHAM, Secretary."

We perceive that, at the solicitors' meeting already re-
ferred to, the voluntary increase by the Great Western Di-
rectors, of from four to five per cent. to the Bristol and Exeter
Company, for the remainder of the lease—namely, till 1849
and a further increase to six per cent. at the expiration of
,the :ease, is treated with derision. The increase will give
*the Bristol and Exeter Proprietors an additional 20,0001.
per annum ; and we are inclined to believe that, with a com-
peting direct line from Exeter to the metropolis, the Bristol
and Exeter Company would not find this an insignificant
portion of their gross annual traffic.
With respect to the line now projected by the Great
Western Company, between Hungerford and Yeovil,
no one can doubt that it will meet with the most
favourable consideration from the Legislature. The
Company already have Parliamentary powers for con-
structing lines which will complete the system of railway
communication between the manufacturing districts of the
north and the siuth-west of England. This, in connexion
with the other branches already thrown out or promoted by
them, for accommodating various of the populous districts
not served by the present trunk line between London and
Exeter, and with the lines now projected, leave unriccommo-
dated, between London and Exeter, but a small amount of
population indeed. A glance at the map of country will
show that the purposed line from Hungerford through
the valley of the Pewsey, and by a deviation of the Wilts
and Somerset line to Yeovil, will accommodate several
densely populated districts. True it is that its construc-
tion may endanger the success of a direct line be-
tween London and Exeter, by Salisbury, and thence
through a comparatively barren and thinly populated
country, to Yeovil. Whether a railway be made through
such a line of country, and whether it would, in competition
with that projected by the Great Western Company, pay its
'corking expenses, are questions which we leave to the wisdom
of the Legislature to decide.—Railway Standard.

LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM.
The following, gathered from official sources, shows the
comparative mileage of passenger traffic on the London and
afirmingham, for the half-years from the 30th June, 1839,
to 30th June, 1845, with the half-yearly receipts from all
kinds of traffic. For the half-year ending
Passengers. Miles Travelled. Receipts.
June 30th, 1839
December 31st, 1839 341,420 22,284,830 343,910
June 30th, 1840
December 31st, 1840 394,688 25,931,163 495,040
June 30th, 1841
December 31st, 1841 413,272 27,1.56,212 429,023
June 30th, 1842
December 31st, 1842 407,840 26,563,216 420,958
June 30th, 1843
December 315t,1843 419,963 26,983,482 432,357
Juno 30th, 1844 .. .
December 31st, 1844 480,637 31,122,185 450,478
June 30th, 1845
From the above statement it appears that since June, 1839,
up to the present period, the receipts of the London and
Birmingham have been nearly doubled.

On Tuesday last the first sod was lifted on the Caledonian
Line, between Gretna and Ecclefechan, by Mr. John Bell,
farmer.

The promoters of the Somersetshire Midland propose, it
Is presumed, as a precedent for other projects, to lodge the
amount of their deposits forthwith in the hands of the Ac-
countant-General. _ _

Last evening the Directors and officers of the amalgamated
Manchester lines dined together at the Albion Hotel, to cele-
brate the union of the two lines, and on the occasion of the
Directors baying yesterday, out of the Company's deposits,
amounting to 460,0001., invested 200,0004 in the Three per
Cent. Consols.

WELSH MIDLAND.—On Friday a general assembly of the
Proprietors of the Brecon and Abergavenny Canal was held
at the Shire-hall, Brecon, fur the purpose of taking into con-
sideration the terms offered by the Welsh Midland Railway
Company for the purchase of the canal, when the bargain made
by the Committee of Direction was fully confirmed without a
dissentient voice, on the motion of John Powell, Esq., chie
partner in Clydach Ironworks, seconded by G. J. Lloyd, Esq.,
of Dinas, two of the largest freighters on the canal. After
the business had been concluded, the Canal Company enter-
tertained the deputation of Directors of the Welsh Midland at
dinner, at the Castle Hotel, where Joseph Baily, Esq., M.P.
for Worcester, and principal proprietor of Nantyglo and Beau-
fort Iron. Works, presided; and in the course of the evening
expressed his strong approval of the plans of the Welsh Mid-
land Company, and announced his intention of supporting
the project with all the influence he possessed, both in the
House of Commons and out of it. Other gentlemen of in-
fluence in South Wales expl essed the most decided opinions
in favour of this line and its branches.
BITOIINGHAM AND WORCESTER DIRECT.--The first meeting
of the Provisional Committee was held at the Waterloo-
rooms,
Birmingham, on Thursday ; Mr. Richard Spooner,
M.P., in the chair. The arrangements of the promoters were
approved and confirmed, and a Managing Committee ap-
pointed, with Cull powers to carry into effect the undertaking.
A meeting of e Proprietors of the Worcester and Birming-
ham Canal will shortly be held, at which the terms of an
arrangement between the Railway and Canal Companies will
be submitted.
STAFFORDSHIRE AND NORTH MIDLAND JUNCTION.--On
Thursday a meeting was held at Ashbourne, the Hon. and.
Rev. A. Duncombe in the chair. The names of several land-
owners residing in the vicinity of the projected line were
added to the Provisional Committee. The secretary stated
that lie had received applications for upwards of 130,000
shares, and since computing that number, a letter bad come

to hand intimating that an influential company had offered
to take a considerable portion of their capital, if the committee

thought proper to allol the same.
DIRECT BIRMINGHAM AND LEICESTER.-A meeting of the
Provisional Committee was held on Friday, at their offices
in Birmingham. Mr. G. F. Muntz presided. From the
report of Mr. W. 11. Purdon, engineer to the company, it
appears that the whole of the surveys have been com-
pleted, and that the plans and sections are now being en-
graved. Although an opposition was at first offered by
some of the influential landowners of the district through
which the line passes, it appears that it has been entirely
withdrawn. It was announced that the whole of the de-
posits had been paid into the hands of the bankers, and no
doubt existed that the whole of the standing orders would
be complied with.
SHEFFIELD, BUXTON, AND LEEDS, AND GREAT GRIMSBY,
POTTERIES, AND GRAND JUNCTION.—A meeting of the
Proprietors of these undertakings was held on Fri-
day, Mr. T. Carr in the chair, when it was resolved
that the Great Grimsby, Sheffield, the Potteries, and Grand
Junction Railway, having expressed a desire to consolidate
with the Sheffield, Buxton, Leek, Potteries, and Crewe
Company, the Provisional Directors of the latter appointed a
deputation to confer with the deputation from the former,
when, after the most mature deliberation, the Provisional
Directors of the Sheffield, Buxton, Leek, Potterie., and
Crewe, although anxious to avoid an unnecessary Parlia-
mentary contest, were convinced it would be injurious to
the interests of their subscribers, and without any public
advantage, to identify themselves with a rival line from
Sheffield to the Staffordshire Potteries, in opposition to those
which have been so long before the public fur supplying
railway communication between Sheffield and Buxton, viz.,
the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midland, and Man-
chester, Sheffield, and Midland Junction Railways. They
therefore felt that their only course, consistent with a due
regard to the interests named, was to preserve the integrity
of their project from Buxton to Stoke-upon-Trent and Con-
glettn, uniting at those places with the North Staffordshire

line.
BIRMINGRA3I.—ShouId the various railways now projected
for the Midland Counties be carried into effect, Birmingham
will become the centre of three-and-twenty lines. Some of
those in the immediate vicinity are, however, in progress of
amalgamation, which will reduce the number of projects very
considerably; but, after all, it is now certain that this town is
about to realise the great advantages which its central posi-

tion naturally commands.
SOUTH WALES RAILWAY.-Mr. Brunel visited Carmarthen
on Monday last, and after minutely inspecting the plans, de-
cided that in lieu of the numerous cuttings and tunnels
which must inevitably be constructed if the line, be brought
direct from Kidwelly through the parishes of Llangendeirne
and Llandefeilog, its course should be throught the Ferry
Side; but it will still cross the Towy at the spot first in-
tended.
An important Parliamentary document was printed on
Saturday in respect to railways. Under the Joint•stock
Companies Act, which came into force in November last,
various returns are annually ordered to be presented to
the House of Commons, which returns, now furnishe 1 for
the first time, are of a lengthened description, whence it
appears that, from the Ist of November to the 7th of June
last, 355 joint-stock companies were provisionally re-
gistered, of which no fewer than 252 were railway compa-
nies; and in an appendix it is stated that between the 9th
and 30th June, as many as fifty-seven railways were pro-
visionally registered, on all of which registrations a sum
of 5/. was paid. In the month of May last about 80 rail-
ways were registered, and 17 from the Ist to the 7th
of the following month. One railway company was com-
pletely registered, and four of the same class have no-
tified their intention to abandon their plans. It seems
that of companies that had existed, out of 965, only 105
were railways ; and, as already mentioned, of provisionally
registered companies, out of 355 there were 352 railways.
The fees received from November to June amounted to 2,164/.
in England. In two months after the operation of the Act
the registration fees were 5901.; in the next three months,
310/. ' • and in the following two months and seven days, as
much as 785/. ; making a total for registration of 1,6901.

CONTINENTAL LINES.
AMIENS Ta BOULOGNE.—The following are the accounts
presented in the report read at the late general meeting:—
Receipts. f. , c.
1. Calls
2. Interest on money not paid in at the
appointed time 127,502 79
3. Exchange on money sent from London... 4,689 90

Total
Expenses.
1. Preliminary expenses in forming the
Company, surveys. &c.
2. General expenses of administration and
furniture
3. Engineers
4. Rails, &c. ... .. 162,284 12

Total
Which taken frcm the receipts leaves a
balance of
This balance is thus employed :
Caution money
And sums disposable in bonds and bills
Balance at bankers'

809,163 18

1,596,893 75
7,650,000 00
2,650,895 76

The interest of 4 per cent- granted by the statutes during
the period the works are going on, counted from the date of
each call, will be paid to the shareholders on and after
November, for the year ending October 23,1845, at Paris, at
MM. Laffitte and Co.'s; at Boulogne, at M. A. Adam and
Co.'s; and at London, at Messrs. Masterman and Co.'s.
Each share is entitled to a sum of 4f.

AMIENS TO BOULOGNE.—The municipal council of the
latter town :have approved by a great majority of the ter-
minus of this line being placed at Capecure on the exercise
ground. The Chamber of Commerce hae also approved of
that locality. It is -presumable, therefore, that the plans
presented by the company will not meet with any serious
opposition.
NEVERS TO CLERMONT.—A company has just been formed
at Paris to send in proposals for this railway, as well as for
that from Moulins to Roanne, the Marquis de Itaigeanot,
peer of France, being president. The preliminary surveys
are being urged on actively.
CIIATILLON AND TROYES.—Both these towns are to have
branch lines on the Lyons Railroad. The necessary surveys
are completed,
PARIS TO LYONS.—Three new companies have lately been
formed for this line—one, that of the maitres de poste; the
second, the Compagnie du Commerce, which, however, does
not give the names:of its board of Directors; and the third,
that of the receivers-general. Of these three companies, the
first would have no difficulty in making up its capital, had it
entered the lists earlier; the second requires a capital of 305
millions, which it will be almost an impossibility to find at
this late hour; the third, the receivers-general, are so strong
in local interest, that they will be sure to obtain their funds,
if the Government permits them to stand for the line, which
Is not yet certain.
PARIS TO STRASBURG.—A new company has opened a
subscription for this line, under the presidentship of General
Anthouard. The name is an unlucky one, as the Anthouard
company for the Orleans and Bordeaux line was, it may be
remembered, rejected by Government.
Pains TO STRASSURG.—It may not be uninteresting just
at the moment the day for the adjudication of this line is
announced, to state what are the names of the Companies
now formed for the line. They are nine in number, viz. :
Hainguerlot, Ganneron, Aymard (better known in France by
the name of the banker Gentil et Fol), Becbet, Caumont-
Laforce, Doudeauville, De Hell, Arnoux, and Anthouard.
The three last have not, it is thought, made up their capital,
nor will they be able to do so. A fusion is talked of between
the other six.

-------
NORTHERN OF FRANCE.—The double way is completed as
far as Pontoise, and a single one to Clermont, a distance of 40
English miles. An experimental trip was made this week as
far as Creil, by M. Onfroy de Breville, head engineer of ponts
et chauss&, who directed the works on the first section of the
Northern line; M. Petiet, another engineer, and M. 3. Pereire.

THE GRAND SURREY CANAL

COMPANY.

A special general meeting of the Proprietors of this Com-
pany was held yesterday, at theifi offices, 2, White Lion-
court, Cornhill, to sanction the sale of the canal, docks, &c.,
to a railway company, the namo of which did not transpire
during the progress of the business.
Frederick Heish, Esq., the Chairman of the Board of Direc-
tors, presided on the occasion.
The meeting was opened by the usual formalities ; and,
after the Secretary had read the advertisement convening
the meeting,
The CHAIRMAN called on him to read the following report :
" The very important question which the proprietors are
this day especially convened to consider being stated in the
advertisement that has been just read,your Committee would
express, before entering into details, their earnest desire that
a matter of such moment as the disposal, by sale, of the entire
property and vested rights of the Grand Surrey Canal, may
have the serious consideration of every proprietor.
"Since the annual meeting in April last, various projects
have been brought before your Committee, and in giving at-
tention to such as held out any promise of benefit to the Com-
pany, they have not permitted the consideration of them to
interfere with their attention to your general interests.
"The offer which is the reason of your being called toge-
ther, is for the entire purchase of your property at 250,0001.,
which, after liquidation in full of the loan-note capital, would
yield to the Proprietors of the stock a return of 601. per share,
still leaving a surplus for contingencies of about 8,7001., and
which the Committee unanimously recommend for your adop-
tion.
"Should it be approved, it will be necessary at once to em-
power your Committee to carry the same into effect;o andit
t
being the intention of the parties treating to apply
Parlia-
ment for an Act in the ensuing session, your Committee
have had the agreement and conditions drawn up, and which
are ready for execution, the purchasers being all in attend-
ance, and prepared, on their part, to pay the deposit of one
thousand pounds agreed upon."
The terms of agreement were then read, which set forth
that the 250,0001. should be paid in the following manner :-
1,000/. to be paid on the agreement being sealed ; 9,000/. in
next February, the Canal Company having the power to ex-
tend the term to July, should it be deemed necessary;
140,0001. six months after the Railway Company had ob-
tained an Act, possession being then given to the latter ;
50,0001. twelve months after possession was obtained; and
the remaining 50,000/. two years after such possession, in=
terest being allowed at the rate of four per cent. on the paid-
up capital.
The CHAIRMAN having called on the Proprietors to express
their opinions on the proposed sale,
M 3 Stmsorf expressed himself against the sale on the
terms proposed. He considered that 1,0001. down on the
completion of the agreement was not sufficient. Had the
railway company proposed 10,0001., he would have con-
sidered they were really in earnest.
Mr. Alderman Wnsorf thought otherwise. Ile considered
the proposition was a fair and advantageous one. and ought
to be accepted by the meeting. He would move that the
report be received and adopted, and referred back to the Com-
mittee, to be by them put in execution.
The motion being seconded, Mr. SIMON moved, as an
amendment, that• the sum paid down, on the seal being
attached to the agreement, be 10,000/. instead of 1,000/.
The amendment, with some difficulty, obtained a seconder,
and on being put was negatived by a large majority. The
original motion was then carried almost unanimously.
After a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting
broke up.

THE LATE RIOTS AT CHARLTON FAIR.—Six
corporals of the gentlemen cadets have been reduced from
their rank, and one hundred and thirty of the privates have
been ordered to be confined to their barracks for a stated
period of time, as a punishment for the late outrage at
Charlton fair, and breaking out of the barracks. All the
damage committed by these young gentlemen has been
amply repaid to the injured parties. The Master-General of
the Ordnance has taken a most merciful view of the case, as on
the last occasion of the disgraceful riots at Charlton fair and
Woolwich races some of them were expelled the school.
_uNY:ELL-TIMED LIBERALITY.—The Right Hon. Earl
D le, owing to the failure of the potato crop, has most
toghne
antei
his
oo
ntel
estates,
tl generously returnedtuens,d ra
eat two-thirdshnuas h
fifty
has
e tgtol
afagd
etahresenbrin
his
thei f
great the
heartsa
odfallotmentsmweolire
timed liberality.—. Essex Herald.