The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-26 00:00:00

RAILWAYS IN SUSSEX.

Mr. Rastrick and numerous assistants are now
busily engaged in setting out the lines of railway
from Brighton through Lewes to Hastings, and from
Shoreham to Chichester ; and as soon as these preli-
minaries are completed, the earthworks will be imme-
diately commenced. The Adur is to be passed by
means of a pile-bridge ; and we hear that Mr. Ras-
trick promises to open as far as Worthing in May
next. We also understand, from good authority, that
the line from Hastings to Lewes is likely to be opened
to the public in May or June next.
Once more we may be permitted to congratulate
our townsmen on the prospect of speedy completion
which these railways now present. We all know
how greatly the value of property at Brighton has
been already raised by the London and Brighton line;
or, if there be those not yet aware of the fact, they
need only inquire of any house-agent or auctioneer in
the place what relation the rents and pries now ob-
tained bear to those which were procurable before the
railway was made. At this moment the demand for
large houses is, we believe, beyond all precedent, when
compared with the corresponding period of any former
year; and, judging from present appearances, there
can be little doubt that the season which is just com-
mencing will be one of great prosperity.
Nor will the benefit be confined to Brighton. Our
friends in East and West Sussex generally will
participate in the gain. Mr. Paithfull, it may
be recollected, made the startling statement
at a meeting held lately in Hastings, that
until the new railway was projected, he—one of
the leading solicitors at Brighton—had never visited
that place • nay, what was more extraordinary still,
that one of the most influential noblemen (Lord
Gage) in East Sussex, had also never seen it. Can
any man imagine for a moment that this would have
been the case if a railway had existed ?
In a national point of view, too, the early com-
pletion of these coast lines is of immense importance.

If the madmen who constitute what is called
the " war party" of France should unhappily
succeed in their efforts to embroil the two nations,
the facility of conveying troops from point to point
along the coast will, combined with harbours of
refuge, be among our most important means of de-
fence ; and the evidence on this point given by Sir
Willoughby Gordon before the Parliamentary Com-
mittee cannot be forgotten. There is little doubt that
the branch line about to be made to Chichester will,
at an early period, be continued to Portsmouth; and
we hope that the Eastern line will in like manner be
extended to Dover. When this is done there will be
an unbroken communication between two of the most
important points on the southern coast. —Brighton
Gazette.

Tin n SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY.—In addition to the
information we gave in our last, as to the contracts being
taken for nearly all the line from Exeter to Newton, we
are now enabled to add that preparatory steps are being
taken for the commencement of the road at the Plymouth
end. During the past week men have been employed
in sinking shafts on the ground adjoining Mutley
in order that the nature of the strata may be ascertained,
prior to the contracts being offered. On Saturday last a
tine ship, of upwards of 1,000 tons burden, commanded
by Captain Taylor, entered Catwater, laden with Ame-
rican timber, having on board, as we are informed, 1,400
loads for the purposes of the railway. The timber will
be deposited pro tem. in Hooe Lake, and it is generally
rumoured that it will be prepared at this port and shipped
by barges for Teignmouth, Dawlish, Starcross, &c., as it
is wanted. If this be the case it will give employment
to a great number of men. The contractors are under
heavy penalties to finish a considerable portion of the
works by February next. Mr. Gill, the chairman of the
directors, with other members of the board, have been
during the past week in Ireland, in order personally to
inspect the atmospheric railway, new in operation in
that country, as the question of the propriety of adapt-
ing it to the South Devon line, will shortly be discussed
by the directors:—Plymouth Journal.

TENDURY.—The quantity of rain which has fallen
of late, accompanied with boisterous winds, has proved
injurious to the hop plantations, many poles having been
blown down ; but still there is not so much harm done as
might have been anticipated. It is expected that in this
neighbourhood there will be beeing!? than a&amig,%.rpiy„
quality of excellent. "barley and other
crops, it is feared, will be light.—Ten Towns' Messenger
ALARMING FIRE.—On Saturday forenoon, between
ten and eleven o'clock, a fire was discovered in a stable
at the rear of the Two Bells public-house, facing White-
chapel Church, in the occupation of Mr. C. Vanderstein,
jun. The stable adjoins the back of the premises of
Mr. Banks, the extensive sugar-baker, Osborn-street,
Whitechapel, where it was that the fire broko out. At
this spot inside the bake-house is the large stove which
is used in the manufacture of the sugar, and it is sup-
posed that the iron tires which passed through the wall
were red-hot, and thus caused the wood of the stable to
ignite. The progress of the fire was very rapid, as the
workshops of Mr. Bradley, undertaker, also caught.
Fortunately there was a plentiful supply of water, and
the parish engine, with those from Wellclose-square and
Jeffrey's-square, quickly arrived. Several buckets of
water were promptly thrown over the devouring element,
which was soon got under. The damage done was not
very extensive. llad the fire occurred during the night,
a most disastrous destruction of property would have
been inevitable. The sugar-baker's was burnt down
about eleven years ago.
IRISH CHARITABLE BEQUESTS ACT.—The ob-
noxious principle of this Act—the right of interference
with Catholic doctrine and discipline—has been retained,
and the modifications of detail in the provisions of the
measure, as originally introduced, leave that vicious
principle untouched. As we had all along anticipated, a
feeling of extreme hostility against the Act prevails
amonst the Catholic prelates and clergy, not one of whom
had been consulted regarding a measure so vitally affect-
ing the charitable bequests of the Catholics ; and this
sentiment, we have reason to believe, extends amongst
those portions of the hierarchy who have been remark-
able for their unwillingness to take an active part in
political movements. Several letters, indignantly de-
nouncing the hostile provisions of the Act, have been
published. Indeed, we may go so far as to anticipate
that the Catholic clergy will avoid communication, and
decline all co-operation with a board to be constituted
under such circumstances. There is no remedy but an
extensive modification of the Act.—Dublin Evening Pest.
HEROIC CONDUCT OF A YOUNG NAVAL OFFICER.

—A few evenings ago, as Mr. Walpole, a mate of the
Collingwood, lying at Spithead, was coming on board
from a yacht, a little after twelve o'clock, and when
within about fifty yards of the vessel, his boat, which was
very small, upset. It was blowing rather fresh at the
time, and being encumbered with his pea jacket, he
would inevitably have perished, but for the heroic con-
duct of Mr. Roderic Dew, a brother mate. This young
gentleman, who had taken his place on the watch shortly
before the accident occurred, on seeing a man in th-e
water, instantly jumped overboard, and swam to his as-
sistance. Mr. Walpole was nearly exhausted when he
reached him ; and the sea being very rough, it was not
without the greatest exertion he succeeded in bringing him
in safety to the ship. Mr. Walpole, so nobly rescued
from an untimely death, is a scion of the noble house of
Orford. This incident, unsurpassed as it is in true
bravery, might have gone unrecorded, if accident had
not brottght it to the ears of the gentleman who has fa-
voured us with this account of it.—Sunday Times.
NEW ROYAL EXCIIANGE.—On Saturday work-
men commenced placing the bells in the belfrey of the
tower of the new Royal Exchange, of which there are to
be fifteen. There are seven of them on the grounds, which
weigh above 38 cwt. The bell which is the lightest
weighs 4 cwt. and 26; lbs. This is B flat, and the cord
bell to it weighs 6 cwt. and 27 lbs. The whole of the
bells will weigh above 80 cwt., and will be at the Ex-
change in the course of the next week. The contractor
for them, Mr. Mead, will superintend the placing of
them. It is expected that they will be in their several
positions in the course of ten days. The mechanism of
the clock will then be put up. To-day the stonemasons
will begin to lay down the flag-stones outside the build-
ings, under the direction of Mr. Collingshaw, the super-
intendent of the works. The first stone will be laid
down opposite the Wellington testimonial. The opera-
tion will take place in about three weeks, by which time
the external front of this magnificent structure will have
been cleaned down. From the appearance of the inte-
rior, and the progress of the encaustic painting, the
probability is that• it will be about the middle of October
that the merchants will be able to be admitted for the
transaction of business.
TESTIMONIAL TO A. CLERGYMAN.—IIOSPITAL FOR
CONSUMPTION, &c., AT BROMPTON.—On Saturday the
building committee of this valuable institution held a
meeting at the board-room in Great Marlborough-
street, when it was determined to proceed at once as ra-
pidly as possible towards the completion of the building,
and tenders for such sections as were agreed upon were
received and adopted for that purpose. As a testimonial
to the worth and merits of the late Henry Blunt, the
respected rector of Upper Chelsea, the friends of the
Rev. Gentleman have determined to purchase a bed in
perpetuity in one of the wards, which it is proposed to
name after the deceased. It may be remembered that
Mr. Blunt himself died of pulmonary consumption ; the
compliment is therefore as appropriate as it is deserving.
It is the intention of the committee of management to
hold another fancy fair on behalf of the building fund.
1 %YORKSHIRE JURORS.—" I remember," says Lord
Eldon, in the Anecdote Book, " Mr. Justice Gould try-
ing a case at York; and when he had proceeded for
• about two hours, he observed, Here are
ply eleven
jurymen in the box; where is the twelfth ?" Please
you, my Lord," said ono of tho eleven, " he is gone
away about some business; but ho has left his verdict
with me."