The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-24 00:00:00

LITERATURE

LAW OF RAILROADS, 6-c. By Leonard Sheyord,
Esq., of the Middle Temple, Bar, ister-at-Law.

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A work of this description--properly executed—must
be found of great use to railway companies, directors, &c.,
as well as to the respective shareholders, but at the
present time, when such vast works are in progress, it
becomes indispensable. A few of the subjects on which
the work treats will show the nature of the plan. The
author gives at length the general Acts for the regula-
tions of rail% ays, and especially those of last session,
with explanatory notes. These notes are important in
regard to many of the acts passed before last session, as
they embody the decisions of the Courts of Chancery,
as well as the Law Courts on disputed points. For in-
_

stance :

" When large powers are entrusted to a company to carry
L their works into execution without the consent of the owners
and occupiers of the land, it is reasonable and just that any
' injury to property which can be shown to arise from the
prosecution of such works, should be fairly compensated for
to the party sustaining such injury; and where the intention
to give compensation in such a case has been clearly ex-
pressed, every fair intendment ought to be given to effectuate
that intention. (Reg. v. Eastern Counties Railw. Co., 2
Railw. C. 736., pp. 752, 754.) Lord Cottenham, C., observed,
' It is extremely important to watch over the interests of
those whose property is affected by these Companies, to take
care that the company shall not, in any misrepresentation
they may make, if they have made anv, be %permitted to
exercise powers beyond those which the Act of Parliament
gives them, and to keep them most strictly within the powers
of the Act of Parliament. The powers are so large and so
injurious to the interests of individuals, that I think it is the
duty of every Court to keep them most strictly within
those powers; and if there be any resonable doubt as to the
extent of their powers, they must go elsewhere and get
enlarged powers ; but they will get none from me by way of
construction of their Act of Parliament.' (Webb v. Man-
chester and Leeds Railway Company, 4 My. and Cr. 120; 1
Bailie. C. 599 ; Scales v. Pickering, 1 M. and P. 195 ; 4 Bing.
448.) These companies procure ample powers to be
bestowed upon them; but it not unfrequently happens that
in the course of their works they find that they have not
powers sufficient for perfecting all they contemplated; when
that is the case, they must either make what bargain they
can with the persons whose rights are adverse to them, or
they must again apply to Parliament to have their powers
enlarged. The Court of Chancery does not sit to enlarge
such powers, but to keep both parties within the limits
which the Legislature has prescribed. (Kemp v. London
and Brighton Railway Company, l Railw. C. 508.")
It treats also of " Incorporation of Railway Com-
panies," "Transfer of Shares," "Liability of Railway
Companies as Common Carriers," "Indictments against
Companies," &c., &c., and furnishes a list of cases
which had been decided by the respective Courts, fur-
nishing altogether a very comprehensive and intelligible
book of reference with regard to a new species of pr.).
perty which has been created within the last few years,
and in which the whole nation is interested.

PARIS ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.

TILE POTATO DISEASE.—SITTING OF SEPTEMBER 15.
' Several communications were received relative to the disease
which has this year manifested itself in the potato. The
writers who treat on this subject scientifically are divided in
opinion as to whether the disease is the result of the invasion
of a parasitical mushroom, or solely attributable to the unfa-
vourable nature of the season. One writer thinks that the pa-
rasitical invasion alluded to is common to the potato, and that
it has been developed more extensively by the coldness and
dampness of the summer. With due deference to the
scientific gentlemen who have turned their attention to the
visitation, we beg to observe that it is comparatively of little
importance whether the disease have one origin or the other.
The great questions to be considered are, first, whether the
diseased potato is, as people suppose generally poisonous, or
in any way injurious to health; secondly, whether, supposing
this not to be the case, the disease has deprived the tubercle
of its nutritive properties; and, thirdly, whether these dis-
eased potatoes can be used as seed for the next year's crop
M. Philippon and M. Pouchet say that they have eaten pota-
toes in their diseased state without suffering from them in any
way. This is tranquilising news ; but these gentlemen do
not tell us to what extent the potatoes which they ate were
diseased, or whether, supposing that the diseased potato is
not poisonous, it has not in its affected parts lost all its fari-
naceous character. We have examined diseased potatoes of
the present year in all the stages of the disease, and have
eaten some of those which were least infected, first, how-
ever, removing all the unsound parts with a knife, and cer-
tainly we did not experience any ill effects. This shows that
the malady has only invaded such parts of the tubercle as
give evidence of its existence; and there cannot be the least
doubt that such parts as remain sound are fit for food, whe-
ther for man or beast. As to the diseased parts, we have no
hesitation in saying that they are wholly unfit for food,
whether they be poisonous or not, for they can have no nutri-
tion whatever. As to whether the diseased potatoes may be
safely used for seed for the next crop, we do not think it re-
quires much science to give an answer. If any part of the
potato remain sound it may germinate, and produce as good
stock as that from a potato that is not diseased, and it is very
improbable that the diseased portion should have the power
of propagation, for it is a mass of putrid matter; but it re-
mains to be seen whether the malady will not continue its
ravages between this time and the period for planting, and
so deprive the tubercle of the power of propagation. A letter
then was read from M. de la Rive, of Geneva, on the pos-
sibility of rendering the electric light available for the use of
the workmen in mines. This gentleman states that five of
six elements of a pile of copper, and an amalgam of potassium
sufficed to render incandescent two cones of charcoal inclosed
in a small glass globe. Messrs. Ledoyen and Raphaol in-
formed the academy that they had obtained a liquid of great
utility for the purpose of disinfection in the emanations from
animal excretions, by dissolving 125 grammes-(4 oz.) of ni-
trate of lead in two two pounds of water. This is a valuable
discovery for Paris, half the hou-es in which are infected by
thesismanations to an extent which is dangerous t;., health
as w as repugnant to the olfactory organs. There were a
few other chemical and some medical communizations read
in this sitting, but they did not possess general interest.

WOOL ANt) POPULATION.
(From the Sydney Herald.)
Thirty-seven years ago the population of this colony
consisted probably of tween 6,000 and 7,000 souls ;
the increase within that period has been about twenty-
five fold. The quantity of wool then exported (i.e., in
the year 1807), was 2451b5. ; the increase has been up-
wards of fifty-five thousand fold I
The relative increase of population and wool within
certain periods during the last 22 years, has been as fol-
lows : Per Cent.
From 1822 to 1825.—Population increased l7
Wool ditto l3B
From 1825 to 1828—Population increased
Wool ditto
From 1828 to 1833—Population increased
Wool ditto lOB
From 1833 to 1836—Population increased
Wool ditto ll3
From 1836 to 1841—Population increased
Wool ditto 127
From 1841 to 1844—Population increased
Wool ditto
Another and not less interesting point of view in
which the relation between wool and population may be
regarded is, that of the average quantity exported per
head of the community, in successive years.
In 1832, exported ?lbs. per bead of population
1825, ditto 13Ibs. ditto ditto
1828, ditto 231bs. ditto ditto
1833, ditto 291bs. ditto ditto
1834, ditto 341bs. ditto ditto
1836, ditto 481bs. ditto ditto
1841, ditto 56Ibs. ditto ditto
1842, ditto 591bs. ditto ditto
1843, ditto 771bs. ditto ditto
1844, ditto 781bs. ditto ditto
It is thus seen that. within the last ten years the ratio
of wool to the population has considerably more than
doubled itself.
The population in 1834 was 66,200 souls ; in 1844 we
estimate it at 172,000 •, being an increase of 105,800, or
',bout 160 per cent. The quantity of wool exported in
1834 was 2,246,9001b5.; in 1844, it was 13,542,1701b5;
being an increase of 11,295,2701b5, or upwards of 500
per cent.
It is worthy of remark that the export of wool during
1837 to 1840. was less than three-fifths of the quantity
exported during 1841 to 1844. In the first four years,
the export was 26,022,0001h5. ; in the last four,
44,065,000 ; being an increase of 18,043,000, or nearly
70 per cent. Thus, while bankruptcy was stalking
through the land, and the croakers were crying out that
the country was ruined, and would soon become a desert,
the real wealth of the colony was silently advancing
with rapid strides.

THE CARRIAGES OF THE SIIERIFFS
These very splendid carriages, which have not been out-done
by any former exhibition of the kind, are to be seen at Mr.
Manners' coach establishment, in Oxford. street. The follow-
ing is a description :—Mr. Chaplain's carriage is a beautiful
dress chariot, with side lights hung upon a handsome perch
carriage, the whole painted a pale yellow, relieved with ultra-
marine blue and gold, and highly varnished, the doors and
panels of the body emblazoned with the City arms, richly
ornamented, the front part and quarter panels emblazoned
with the anus of the Innholders' Company, supporters two
white horses en pedestals, the door and hind rails ornamented
with the Sheriff's arms within crimson velvet mantles. The
body lined with superfine white cloth and rich figured silk,
white silk radient roof issuing from embroidered silk, City
arms in the centre, the whole trimmed with very handsome
broad silk lace with scarlet edging. The coachman's box
mounted on richly carved standards and blocks, and covered
with an elegant superfine scarlet cloth hammock trimmed with a
blue fringe and silk hangers of white and yellow. On each
end the City arms chased, chased lamps with the City crest,
and the roof mounted at each corner with the Civic cap. Mr.
Laurie's carriage is equally splendid. The body painted with
bronze green, relieved with lines of white and gold. The
carriage painted a delicate white, relieved with lines of green
and gold, the City arms on the panels, and the arms of the
S Company. Supporters two white horses. The Sheriff's
arandlcirs'sioenthe rails. The body lined with white cloth, white
satin, and white silk lace, scarlet fringe to festoon ; hammock
cloth white, trimmed with green fringe; silk hangings of
white, green, and scarlet, and chased lamps.

MORE PREPARATION.—Orders from the Horse
Guards having been received by the Lieutenant-Governor to dispatch
a field officer from the garrison to inspect the staff of the militia in
this district, Lient.-Colonel Lord William Paulet, of the 68th Regi-
ment (Light Infantry), has been selected for that duty. We trust
this is the beginning only of putting the militia in a state fit to be
called out in the event of an emergency.—Hampshire nlegraph.
ADVERTISPMENT.—THE OPINION OP DOCTOR
CHARLES C. KEANE, OF BERMUDA, AS TO THE EXTRA-
ORDINARY EFFICACY OF HOLLOWAY'S OINTMENT AND
PILLS IN THE CURE OF OLD ULCERS AND SortEs.—The
Doctor expresses himself thus :—" I thought but little of
Holloway's ointment and pills at one time, but I was induced
to send to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to one of his agents, for two
dozen pots and boxes, the effects of which on some of my
patients are astonishing. Old standing sores and ulcers
vanished by their use as if by magic, so that for the future I
am determined to continue to use them. Signed, Charles C.
Keane, Hamilton, Bermuda."—To be had of all Druggists,
and at Professor Holloway's establishment, 244, Strand.